sic semper tyrannis

memento vivere

Departure from the desert began all too familiar. The caravan was once again packed up, Alhaitham led Kaveh to his seat, and they sat patiently, waiting for the group to leave. Or, well, Alhaitham sat patiently. Kaveh seemed absolutely depressed.

He picked idly at the edges of his shirt with one hand, the other touching over the edges of the feather behind his ear, and he looked out the window with a gloomy expression.

"I thought I told you not to miss this place too much," Alhaitham tried, reaching over to place a hand on Kaveh's shoulder.

The prince turned his head, red eyes only slightly misty with tears. "I know. I won't too much, but just let me be sad for now, okay?"

Alhaitham sighed. "We'll be moving soon. It'll be easier then."

Kaveh nodded but didn't say anything in return. He simply lifted his feet onto the edge of the seat of the carriage, hugging his knees to his chest and placing his chin on top of them. A pathetic display for a prince.

"Do you want to sit on my lap again?" Alhaitham asked. At least if Kaveh was close, he could hold him and offer what little comfort he could.

Kaveh turned his head back again, mouth held open as he considered the offer. Then, of course, he moved slowly onto Alhaitham's lap, wrapping his arms around his shoulders to bury his head into his chest. "I really don't want to leave, Haitham," he muttered into the fabric.

"I know," Alhaitham sighed again. "You'll be able to come back another day."

Kaveh just grumbled something incomprehensible against his shirt, shaking his head slowly from side to side.

That was enough though, and Alhaitham slowly wrapped his arms around him in return, hugging him close. He leaned his face close to his head, strands of blond hair brushing against his face as he opened his mouth to speak. "How about you go to sleep this time? I'll wake you when we get there."

"But I—" Kaveh cut himself off quickly. He sighed, shifting uncomfortably, and then nodded once. "Okay. But if something cool happens on the way, you'd better wake me up for that too, okay?"

"Of course," Alhaitham answered without hesitation. He kissed the top of Kaveh's head gently and raised a hand to smooth his hair back over. "I'd never dream of withholding anything from you."

Kaveh huffed. "You'd better not."

"Why would I ever?"

"I—" He bit his lip then huffed again. "Whatever. Good night, Haitham."

"It's still morning," Alhaitham murmured. "Sweet dreams."

Kaveh didn't answer him again. He instead found comfort in resting back up against his chest, eyes fluttering closed. It didn't take long before his breathing stilled to a rhythmic rise and fall of his chest and his grip around his shoulders slipped. Fast asleep.

It didn't take long before they were moving too, the soft rocking of the carriage as they went over the desert sand making Kaveh's body shift on occasion. Alhaitham didn't mind it though. Even in his sleep, even with the movement of the vehicle and the clamor outside as the desert gave their send-off, Kaveh kept to peaceful sleep. And perhaps he preferred it that way. Like this there were no expectations, no kingdom to someday save, and no crown to someday lay on his head.

Asleep he could just be fifteen. Asleep he could just be Kaveh with no strings attached.

The trip was uneventful. With Kaveh in his arms, it was all Alhaitham could really do to sometimes close his eyes and drift into fleeting unconsciousness as well, though he'd never stay like that for long. There was still a job at hand after all and, if he wasn't awake, he certainly didn't trust anyone else along the caravan to take after Kaveh.