Can't We Be More?

Chapter 9. Akademiya Extravagenza

The next morning, they woke up together.

They instantly made eye contact and just sat there for a bit.

"Sooo... are we.... more than...friends?" Kaveh asks.

"I would have more concerns if we weren't." Alhaitham responds.

The two of them get up together and get ready. Kaveh peeks his head into the living room and walks back into the bedroom with Alhaitham. "They left." Kaveh updates. "I would hope they did, the Sumeru Akademiya festival is today and starts soon." Alhaitham stated. "WAIT THATS TODAY?!" Kaveh shouted as he ran to finish getting ready. Kaveh was throwing everything on last minute as Alhaitham slowly followed him around. Alhaitham was all ready and has been for the past 10 minutes. Kaveh was about to run out the door when he stopped in his tracks as Alhaitham called his name from behind. "Take a guess at what you're missing." Alhaitham told Kaveh. Kaveh looked frantically around him and on him. He looked up at Alhaitham in confusion. Alhaitham picked up Kaveh's keys from the shelf by the door. "OH!" Kaveh called as he grabbed the keys from Alhaitham and impatiently waited for Alhaitham to walk outside.

Alhaitham drops Kaveh off where the event starts and then walks over to the commentator stand with Nilou. Kaveh is talking about last night with Tighnari and Cyno, while Tighnari gives him a side eye. They talk with the other competitors while Alhaitham is off sitting silently at the stand while reading his book. In a few short minutes, the event started. The first few rounds have come to an end, with the most important thing that happened being Tighnari almost passing out. Hours pass and the only time they've seen each other was the occasional glance they got when they passed the station for the next round. After the round ended and the winner was announced, they moved over to where Alhaitham and Nilou had moved for round 2. Alhaitham explains the next round and they all rush to complete it first. Once again a round comes to an end and everyone is freed for the night. Kaveh goes home and Alhaitham leaves to go do who knows what during his free time. Kaveh is home alone in his room when there's a knock on the outside door. It's Traveler and Paimon. He invites them in and they talk about lots of things. Including how he's feeling about living with Alhaitham. After they finished talking, the Traveler and Paimon left. Alhaitham sees them leave and walks through the door. 

 "What were they doing here?" Alhaitham asks as he places his things down and walks over to Kaveh. "They just came to talk." Kaveh answers. "About?" Alhaitham questioned. "Just to check in on me and to have little chats." Alhaitham's eyes softened. "Check in?" He questions. Kaveh sighs and sits down on the couch. "I told them about my dad and life from when I was a kid." Kaveh murmured. Alhaitham sat down next to Kaveh. "I know I was there when most of this happened, but if you want to tell me about it you can always talk to me." Alhaitham comforts. Kaveh smiles softly as he starts to tell Alhaitham about all the things he never showed or told him over the many years of their friendship. Kaveh talked about how it affected him and how it made him feel guilty for anything he does. How he feels like he never had a proper childhood. Alhaitham sat there and listened. Once Kaveh told him everything, Alhaitham pulled him in for a hug. Kaveh hugged him back, taking everything in him not to break down in front of Alhaitham. They just sat in the silence and the calmness of each other's presence. "You always seemed so happy, i'm so sorry I didn't ask how you were feeling any sooner" Alhaitham apologized. "I never really told anyone, so I didn't expect you to need or want to know.' Kaveh replied. "I'm just glad I now know more about you. And I want you to know, if anything ever happens, you can always tell me." Alhaitham adds.