The Other Side of Our Hearts

We Gaze Upon the Blossoms of Hope

As the hot water was shut off, Kaveh stepped out of the shower and proceeded to dry himself off. The clothes left for him to sleep in were oversized and made the architect feel tiny, since they were Alhaitham's after all. He smelled Sumeru roses in the fabric which allowed his form to relax further. As he dried his hair, Kaveh couldn't help but catch his reflection in the mirror. His eyes fell on the small dark bruises that decorated his neck and collarbone, unable to stop the deep crimson blush that spread across his face. 

It still seemed surreal to Kaveh. Not being able to keep their hands or eyes of each other and indulging in each other so lovingly but so very primal as well, like it had been the combination of both time lines apart before reuniting. It was much more fulfilling than his previous trysts with casual encounters, but he knew it would be different because there was love and respect connecting the two. 

He didn't expect Alhaitham to be a vocal lover at all though. He said many things to Kaveh, whispered nothings as if they were flowing like that. Affirmations and praise came easy to the scribe it seemed. He could still hear the words echoing through his mind like the pleasant sounds of wind chimes. 

"You're so beautiful, so perfect for me."

"I love you, how are you so perfect?"

"I have you, I'll always have you."

He only made him stop recalling everything to avoid getting wound up and aroused again. But he would never deny it was a warm and happy sensation to recall. At least he could re-distract himself by leaving the bathroom, having finished his nightly routine. 

He was unsure earlier whether or not he would sleep in his 'old' room, but Alhaitham had been adamant that they bed together. Kaveh was glad his boyfriend wanted that. He was so used to sleeping alone in his own bed, excluding the odd night where he occasionally found himself sleeping beside the scribe when he was intoxicated or found himself having nightmares about his past. Each of those times were comforting in that he wasn't alone, but it circled back to not much affection reciprocating. Once or twice perhaps he recalled waking up to a muscular arm wrapped around his waist and holding him close, but questioned if it even counted or not.

At least in the moment now, he felt happy to know that those affections he experienced are no longer fake. He could have and enjoy it, let it fill his heart and let it swell with love. 

He made his way to Alhaitham's room and stepped inside, finding the other standing with his shirtless back facing the floor as he was drying out his grey hair from his own shower. As much as Kaveh wanted to fawn over the exposed attractive male before him, his attention was immediately drawn to a slew of fresh scratches on his skin. He shook his head and placed a palm against his forehead at how bad it looked.

"Haitham? Do those hurt?" 

"Hmm?" Alhaitham turned around to face the blond. "What?"

"I-I clawed your back up to shreds! And some of them look pretty deep!" Kaveh started toward the en suite bathroom attached. "Where are your salves and bandages?!"

"To shreds?" Alhaitham couldn't help but laugh as he followed the architect and picked up the medical kit in the corner. "Kaveh, did you become a rifthound all of a sudden?"

"You-" He paused and allowed himself to laugh in response. It wasn't going to be like their old arguments he reminded himself. "What did you expect after going three rounds?!"

"I went two rounds on you and you went one on me."

"Yeah yeah, specifics." The two walked back toward the bed and sat down, Alhaitham handing over the medical kit to Kaveh. "It's not like you weren't enjoying both ways."