Affection Points || Alhaitham x Kaveh

Chapter 1: 520 = I love you

Kaveh's body feels sore, sore and painful. Still, he forced his eyes open, blinking rapidly just to be jump-scared by a...box?

[+12]

It was semi transparent with pink lettering that faded into red at the bottom. Kaveh had to turn his head to read it clearly.

Haha...I must've hit my head too hard. Right?

He winced as he sat up, who knew getting slammed against rocks by a full charging mitachurl would hurt this much? Kaveh felt his hand brush against something soft in this action. He looked down to his side; Alhaitham had his arms on the bed, with his head resting on his arm and eyes half-lidded. He looked tired, like he hadn't slept in a while. Alhaitham didn't say anything but the way he stared at Kaveh sent shivers down his spine. Kaveh wasn't sure how to describe the expression, it almost looked like the normal Alhaitham expression but for some reason he had the inkling he might be a bit upset. It was also kinda—

I must've hit my head REALLY hard.

"Alhaitham?" Kaveh rasped.

[+5]

There was the text again, maybe he needed to be admitted into a mental hospital...The text appeared on top of a number on top of Alhaitham's head. The number was a pretty crimson red. The same red in Alhaitham's eyes.

520

Alhaitham handed him a cup of water, "You're a moron."

How classic it was for the first thing his dear roommate says to him after an accident to be an insult. Regardless, Kaveh accepted the cup and took a few sips.

[+2]

Kaveh really hoped those texts would disappear soon.

Is this some sort of annoyance counter or something? Is that why Alhaitham...ugh, this guy isn't even making eye contact! Maybe the number is an indifference score.

Kaveh downed the cup of water, "Oh please, I am not in the mood for bantering right now. Where's Mehrak?"

Kaveh scanned the room, he didn't recognize it. They were probably at the hospital. It wasn't too big of a room; it only contained a bed, table, and chair. A perfectly fine chair that Alhaitham was evidently not using. Seriously, why would he kneel on the ground, doesn't his knees hurt???

"Mehrak...you're asking about that chunk of metal?" Alhaitham asked, "Surely there are more important matters you want to know about."

[-5]

Was that a ding? Haha, I am really going crazy. Now I'm hearing stuff as well!

"But if you really want to know, Mehrak is right here." Alhaitham pulled the suitcase up from the floor.

Kaveh snatched the suitcase. Mehrak was a little busted up, a few dents and scratches but thankfully nothing too severe. Its little digital expression was of pure happiness at seeing Kaveh. He had the stop the suitcase from just running into him from his excitement. Instead, he opted for hugging the suitcase. Somehow the metal felt warm and cozy.

[+7]

"Anyways, why was there so many hilichurls?" Kaveh asked, deciding to just ignore and not talk about the weird numbers he kept getting.

Alhaitham flinched, something Kaveh thought wasn't possible for the man to do. "A ley line disorder attracted all the monsters. You're lucky Cyno happened to be nearby...otherwise..."

Kaveh thought Alhaitham looked strange with such a grim expression. He supposed it would be quite tragic for him to die.

"I'll go grab you some food. The hospital food isn't too good." Alhaitham told him, quickly leaving.

A doctor entered the room soon after, giving him a thorough check up. She wrote down some things and then quickly left. The doctor also had a number above her head.

23

Finally, Kaveh was alone. Now he could look at the other weird icons...

In the top left corner of his vision, there was a small black circle with what seems to be a white shadow of a headshot. Kaveh reached a hand towards it and a window popped up.

Hp: 5,000/10,000
Occupation: Architect
Name: Kaveh
Age: 27 years old
Condition: Bruised. 1 broken rib. Currently being treated. Conditions will fully disappear in about six weeks.

A status window with all my information?

Kaveh closed the window. Clicking on the question mark icon instead. Maybe it could tell him what the numbers are.

"Kaveh. I got you some soup and—." Alhaitham interrupted, "What are you doing?"

Kaveh closed the window. He could figure it out later, he could read it later.

"Nothing! Uh...thanks?"

[+1]

Ah...there's the text again...strange, the number is higher than it was before Alhaitham left.

525

"Eat. The doctor said you'll be discharged in about a week." Alhaitham told him, setting the takeout bag on the table.

Kaveh set Mehrak down. Alhaitham opened the bag and took out the containers of food. Kaveh practically devoured the food, it was his favorites. But he couldn't help but notice the constant texts every few minutes. At this point, they might be all he ever sees. Alhaitham didn't eat anything, instead, he sat and read a book.

After eating, he stuffed the trash into the takeout bag. The door opened and Tighnari rushed in.

"Kaveh! You're awake. Are you ok?"

Tighnari also had a number above his head.

279

"Huh? I'm fine...really, I just got in an accident." Kaveh responded. He really hoped the number wasn't something bad.

"Cyno told me what happened. Speaking of, he should—"

"I hope this is a cool-veh to enter." Cyno entered from the window.

...

"I think that's the worse one ever so far. And I didn't think it could be possible to beat the Collei ones." Tighnari commented.

"...ok so entering from the window is—"

"We get it Cyno. Quiet down, I'm trying to read." Alhaitham said.

Tighnari stared at Alhaitham, "Huh? You're reading right now? But you were so worried about—"

"I think I will just go read at my house instead." Alhaitham interrupted, getting up and swiftly leaving.

Kaveh stared. Leave it up to Alhaitham to be that heartless.

Kaveh laughed a few times in between Cyno and Tighnari's interactions. It was mostly Cyno cracking dad jokes and puns and Tighnari being done with him. Regardless, he enjoyed their visit very much. Eventually they had to leave and Kaveh bid his goodbyes. They promised to visit him again and wished him a speedy recovery.

Kaveh stretched, which was a mistake because ow, and got up from his bed to use the bathroom. When he got back, he noticed a small bag at the base of the bed. Kaveh opened it to find a mixed media sketchbook and some art supplies. Along with some books in his to be read list. The sketchbook was of his preferred size, 8in x 10in with thick, quality paper. It was also his favorite brand, Strathmore. The art supplies were simple but of quality: two pencils, a sharpener, an eraser, a kneaded eraser, and some color pencils. The ones that were generally not too messy to work with if you don't count the graphite getting on your hands or the eraser shavings. It was strange, Kaveh didn't remember Cyno or Tighnari having any bags.

Wait...did Alhaitham leave these here?!