Alhaitham X Kaveh - Love and Logic

6. The Rational

Alhaitham watched as Kaveh tried to find his keys. He's been slapping his legs for the last five minutes. He knew a good friend would unlock the door, especially since he had both keys, but if he remembered correctly, they weren't friends. Mehrak tried to be supportive as Kaveh cursed. Suddenly he turned to face him, slowly walking towards him. His eyes are so beautiful he thought as they stared at each other in silence. Kaveh pouted as his hand reached around Alhaitham's waist. What was he doing? Alhaitham tensed, as Kaveh pulled something out of his back pocket and raised it to his face. The lion keychain twirled for a bit. He kept staring at Kaveh as he went on a rant about him stealing his keys. Even if he wanted he wasn't able to focus on his words. The blonde's braid began to fall apart, giving him a messy look. It reminded him of their project, how Kaveh would stay up all night working on the designs, perfecting them. Every morning a cup of coffee would be waiting for him, even though he never asked for it. He would always be there an hour early to catch up on his reading before everyone else was there. But Kaveh was always there, working or sketching. One time he found him asleep on the table. He never knew why he decided to get him breakfast that day or why he kept doing it for the remainder of the project. Those memories came flooding back, memories he swore he would lock away forever.
"Alhaitham, are you even listening to me?"
Hearing his name snapped him back to reality. Kaveh looked at him, expecting an answer. Alhaitham took back the keys and went to unlock the door, mumbling: "You talk too much."
Kaveh let out a groan, stating Alhaithams arrogance was going to kill him one of these days. Alhaitham told him to stop being dramatic as he held the door open for him. Kaveh gasped: "Don't be absurd." he entered the house. Mehrak giggled as they followed. Kaveh threw himself on the couch, groaning into the pillow. Alhaitham began to take off his shoes as he saw the blonde stand up and walk into the kitchen.
"Don't tell me you're going to make coffee now," Alhaitham shouted after him. Kaveh yelled back: "Why, you want some?"
Alhaitham rolled his eyes and followed him into the kitchen. While waiting for the water to boil, Kaveh decided to take care of his hair. Alhaitham watched as he struggled to get all the clips. He stood up, saying: "Let me do it."
Kaveh tried to shake his head but Alhaitham interrupted him before he could refuse: "You're too drunk and I won't be able to sleep with you hammering on another project anyway."
Kaveh nodded, not being able to argue with him at the moment. He expected Alhaitham to tug at the clips, readying himself to stay silent through the pain. But there was none. Alhaitham watched as Kaveh relaxed, being as gentle as possible. How can one head contain this much hair? After he was done with the braid, he took off the remaining clips, letting the last bit free. Kaveh let out a satisfied moan, blushing the moment he realised Alhaitham heard it. He quickly stood up, mumbling a thank you as he turned to the stove. Alhaitham watched as he struggled to make coffee, rolling his eyes as he asked: "Do you even have anything to work on tonight?"
"Of course. I got a few orders that I haven't gotten through yet and since two clients accepted my designs, I can take on one more." Kaveh explained as he poured the coffee into their mugs. As he proceeded to wash the coffee pot,  Alhaitham grabbed both mugs and took them to the living room.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Kaveh asked as he left the kitchen. He quickly rinsed the pot, leaving it in the sink as he followed him. Alhaitham was sitting on the couch, reading one of his books. Kaveh grabbed one of the cups when he realized they are both empty. He slammed it against the table yelling:" DID YOU DRINK MY COFFEE ?"
Alhaitham shook his head, still not looking away from his book: "I watered the plants. I am testing a hypothesis."
Kaveh just stared at him in disbelief. He threw it away. He made him coffee like a good friend and he threw it away. He took a deep breath. Alhaitham raised his hand to touch his earpiece.
"Oh no, you don't. " Kaveh yelled and grabbed his hand.
"I made you coffee and this is the thanks I get? What is your deal?"
His face turned red with anger, he was giving him the same look that he gave the guy at the tavern. It took Alhaitham less than a second to grab him and throw him on the couch. But instead of pushing him down, he let him go as soon as he hit the pillows.
"What the archons are wrong with you?" Kaveh gasped as he sat back up. Alhaitham's next words stopped him from punching him.
"Why did you lie?"
Kaveh blinked, confused. What was he talking about? Alhaitham laughed at his expression. That laugh again Kaveh thought to himself. He moved closer as Alhaitham leaned back, closing his eyes. "Are you drunk?" he asked poking him in the shoulder.
Alhaitham chuckled: "Are you not?"
Kaveh sat back as he mumbled: "Well yeah, but I am always drunk."
Alhaitham sat back up, his face suddenly a few centimeters away from his. Kaveh wanted to move away but couldn't. He kept staring at Alhaithams lips, imagining their taste. Alhaitham smiled when Kaveh blushed, but he didn't move away. Instead, he repeated his previous question: "So, why did you lie?"
Kaveh shook his head saying: "Haitham, you're drunk. I don't know what you're talking about. That guy..." Kaveh stopped when he saw Alhaitham shake his head. Before he could stop him, Alhaitham lifted him and sat him on his lap. Kaveh yelped when he grabbed and pulled his hair, whispering in his ear: "We both know you never wondered about Cyno." Kaveh felt his body heat up, moving his head to be able to stare Alhaitham in the eyes.
"Since when do you care who I wonder about?" he hissed, angry because he didn't sound as confident as he wanted to. Suddenly Alhaitham let him go, looking away.
Kaveh realized what they were doing. He tried to get off of Alhaitham when the silver-haired man grabbed him again and trapped him in a hug. Kaveh didn't know what to do. He gently tapped his shoulder, whispering: "Haitham, are you ok?"
Alhaitham smiled, Kaveh was worried about him when he hurt him. He looked up at him, his red eyes full of fear. He could hear himself saying all the things he knew Kaveh wanted to hear. How amazing he thought he was, how even though he annoys him so much, he can't imagine living without him. Who is the emotional one now he thought as Kaveh waited for his answer. He awkwardly cleared his throat before saying: "You need some rest."
Kaveh looked shocked for a second, then he switched to anger. He began to pounce on Alhaitham's chest, shouting all kinds of insults. At some point the Scribe gave up and stood up, making Kaveh grab onto him so he didn't fall.
"What the hell Alhaitham?" he hissed as Alhaitham carried him to his room. He tried to lay him down when Kaveh grabbed and pulled him onto the bed with him. Alhaitham made sure he didn't hurt him when they fell, but Kaveh wasn't done with hitting him yet.
"What is your deal? You can't grab me like that, you can't say those things and then just pretend like it didn't happen! I FUCKING HATE YOU! "
Alhaitham had to hold him down. Kaveh knew he was acting pathetic but he couldn't care less at the moment. "You made me worry. Do you feel better about yourself now? Is this one of your sick power plays? Congratulations, you made a worthless piece of shit believe you cared!" he kept yelling at him as he struggled to break free.
"I am sorry."
Alhaithams voice was barely a whisper but it made Kaveh stop fighting. His red eyes were filled with tears that he angrily blinked away as he avoided Alhaithams gaze.
"No, you're not," he said, his voice harsh and emotionless. After Alhaitham loosened his grip he pushed him away, telling him to leave. Alhaitham sat there, trying to find the right words. Kaveh tried to conceal his crying, waiting for his roommate to leave. He felt movement, then hands pulling him into a tight hug. He froze, afraid of what will happen if he tries to turn around. He whispered: "What do you think you're doing?"
Alhaitham's voice was muffled as he talked into his hair: "I read cuddling helps if you're emotionally fragile."
Kaveh elbowed him in the stomach, but since Alhaitham took better care of his body than him, his elbow probably hurt more. He heard him chuckle as he groaned. He was done with him. After a few minutes of silence, he spoke up again: "You hate physical touch."
Alhaitham nodded. Kaveh rolled his eyes in frustration before mumbling: "Just don't yell at me tomorrow when you sober up and realise you're lying in bed with me."
Alhaitham turned him around, their noses touching. Kaveh tried to stay angry, while Alhaitham tried to explain: "I don't hate YOU. You need some sleep. Besides, you ask me to sleep with you every time you're drunk so..."
Kaveh flushed as he put a hand over his mouth, denying everything: "No I do NOT." He sat up and tried to turn around when he felt Alhaitham pull him back again, this time throwing the covers over them.
"Let's just go to sleep Kaveh. If you want to fight, we can do it in the morning."
Kaveh felt his body relax as Alhaitham fell asleep. He doesn't hate him. He thought about the way he grabbed his hair, his eyes full of ... Kaveh sighed, he couldn't make sense of things anymore. As he felt his body tense, he also felt Alhaitham squeeze him tighter. Maybe he was right, he needed some sleep. But he will make sure he gets what is coming to him in the morning. With that thought, he slowly fell asleep.

Alhaitham woke up to Kaveh smacking him across the face. "What the hell?" he mumbled grabbing him before he could do it again. He realised his roommate was still asleep, probably having another one of his nightmares. He hugged him tightly, trying to prevent Kaveh from hurting him or himself. Kaveh mumbled some words as he kept struggling. Alhaitham whispered his name, telling him to wake up. He felt tears in his chest as Kaveh kept mumbling an apology. He finally woke up, freezing when he remembered who was sleeping next to him. He cursed, hiding his face in Alhaitham's chest. He felt Alhaitham rest his chin on his head, his breathing slowed down. Kaveh hated to admit it, but the hug did help with calming down. After a few minutes of silence, Alhaitham heard him whisper his name. He loosened his grip, letting him move away a bit. His face was puffy from crying and he still had dark circles under his eyes. But before he could ask about the nightmares, Kaveh began to pout again stating: "This is all your fault."
"And how exactly is you having a bad dream my fault?"
Kaveh scoffed, but at least he didn't try to leave again. Alhaitham was too tired to chase him.
The blonde man laid on his back, angrily stating all that he saw wrong in his roommate: "You spied on me in the tavern, then you yelled at me, then you decided to hug me, but when we got back to the table, you couldn't even look at me anymore AND when we got home, you let me search for the keys, even though you fucking stole them again, you then proceeded to throw away MY COFFEE and if that wasn't enough, you flirted with me, I ..." He started to mumble something under his breath, suddenly confused by what was the point of this list. He looked at Alhaitham and noticed his eyes were closed. He poked him in the chest, trying to figure out if he was asleep. After no reaction, he rolled his eyes and whispered:" And now you're asleep."
As he turned the other way to leave his bed, he felt being pulled back again. He groaned: "Can you let me go, for fuck sake!?"
"I can."
Kaveh waited. When Alhaitham's arms didn't move he continued: "Will you let me go?"
"I will not."
"WHY?"
"Because you need sleep, you idiot., Alhaitham whispered roughly into his ear. He felt the familiar heat on his cheeks, but this time it was not from anger. He hissed he can sleep on his own and then stated he is being irrational. After saying that, he felt Alhaitham turn him on his back, grabbing his wrists and pinning him down.
Kaveh didn't even have time to ask what he was doing before he began to speak, his voice still calm, given the situation: "Since you refuse to wait until tomorrow, I am here because I know you. You overwork yourself, you refuse to sleep and every time you do, you have nightmares. Nightmares that end up waking me too. The rare times when you didn't have them, was when your drunk ass decided to use me as a body pillow,  which you wouldn't remember because I carried you back to your room every morning. But because I am tired, I surmised it's best if I sleep here with you, so you can get some actual sleep, instead of overdosing on coffee and working all night again." He paused, taking his breath. Kaveh just stared at him. He thought those nights were dreams. Alhaitham continued: "You look like shit, so instead of arguing with me, can you just go to sleep and you can yell at me when we wake up?" He felt him let go of his wrists. He laid back down beside him, leaving him alone with his thoughts. After a few minutes of silence, he heard him speak again.
"I didn't mean to hurt you. When I grabbed you."
Kaveh turned to him, waiting for him to go on. When he thought he won't get any more answers, he spoke up again.
"I don't want you to die. You're annoying and loud and yet I prefer you alive. Now stop pretending you don't enjoy my cuddles and let me sleep." With that, he grabbed him again and pulled him in another hug. Kaveh chuckled. He did enjoy it, even though he refused to say it out loud. He still had some questions but decided to get the answers in the morning. His last thought was that Alhaitham cared enough to help him, in his arrogant know-it-all way. He had no more nightmares that night.

Comments are always welcome. Hope you enjoyed reading this part.