Incorrect. [ he replies quickly, voice firm as he watches as kaveh looks away. ] I simply did what was necessary of me at the time.
[ of course, there'd been a lot of talk about the carry-on after the fact, all of which had been decidedly uncomfortable. alhaitham had carved out this quiet corner of the world for a specific reason, certainly not to draw attention to himself - and as such, being called misnomers like 'hero' and 'saviour' sat on his shoulders like dead weights. there was no doubt he possessed great talent - alhaitham was sure of that himself - but it didn't warrant any of the idolatry that had followed.
anyway, that chapter was thoroughly behind them now. a frown furrows his brow as he maintains that unwavering gaze, though it seemed more curious than anything - confused, maybe, if alhaitham was ever capable of such a state. ]
It begs the question, then, is that really it? [ he murmurs thoughtfully. ] I simply, what - solve a problem that requires solving, and that's all it takes to suddenly want my attention?
[ at least to him, it wasn't a significant development, nor an inciting event. but his mind is currently warring between collecting all the answers to his questions and doing other, much less analytical things to the architect trapped in front of him. he could feel kaveh's warm breath against his lips, could see every halted breath and fluttered eyelash, and it was undoing him.
so he takes kaveh's chin in his fingers and tilts his head back towards him so that looking away is a much less convenient option, something hungry flickering across his face as some semblance of realisation begins to set in. ]
As for wanting to make me jealous, [ he breathes, having just mapped out the marks someone else had left behind for him to find, ] don't you think that's a risky bet to be taking? You always do make rash decisions... I suppose I shouldn't be surprised.
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[ of course, there'd been a lot of talk about the carry-on after the fact, all of which had been decidedly uncomfortable. alhaitham had carved out this quiet corner of the world for a specific reason, certainly not to draw attention to himself - and as such, being called misnomers like 'hero' and 'saviour' sat on his shoulders like dead weights. there was no doubt he possessed great talent - alhaitham was sure of that himself - but it didn't warrant any of the idolatry that had followed.
anyway, that chapter was thoroughly behind them now. a frown furrows his brow as he maintains that unwavering gaze, though it seemed more curious than anything - confused, maybe, if alhaitham was ever capable of such a state. ]
It begs the question, then, is that really it? [ he murmurs thoughtfully. ] I simply, what - solve a problem that requires solving, and that's all it takes to suddenly want my attention?
[ at least to him, it wasn't a significant development, nor an inciting event. but his mind is currently warring between collecting all the answers to his questions and doing other, much less analytical things to the architect trapped in front of him. he could feel kaveh's warm breath against his lips, could see every halted breath and fluttered eyelash, and it was undoing him.
so he takes kaveh's chin in his fingers and tilts his head back towards him so that looking away is a much less convenient option, something hungry flickering across his face as some semblance of realisation begins to set in. ]
As for wanting to make me jealous, [ he breathes, having just mapped out the marks someone else had left behind for him to find, ] don't you think that's a risky bet to be taking? You always do make rash decisions... I suppose I shouldn't be surprised.
[ unfortunately, it had absolutely worked. ]