[ kaveh's right - he had been about to retire back to his own quarters, mostly to try and put this entire night out of his mind. alhaitham's routine had been interrupted enough by all this chaos recently, and standing here next to a half-broken door and a drunk but breathtakingly beautiful man who could say all the wrong things but still make him want to protect him; hold him; take him -

well. alhaitham is wondering if this is his karmic retribution for letting such unpredictability in instead of eschewing it like he would've done in the past, for uncharacteristically embracing the tumult instead of locking it out.

so, yes, he's a second away from turning on his heel despite kaveh's protests, until a slim hand grabs at his wrist. his eyes dart down to look at it - then back at the blonde's crimson gaze, brimming over with emotion, vulnerability and the ghost of tears, as it so often was.

what a terrible pair they made; one wearing his heart on his sleeve, the other keeping his sealed away. ]

You? Say something wrong? That's never happened before.

[ - is his kneejerk response, in that same flat tone before kaveh tries again. this back and forth, the argumentative dynamic where they took easy pot-shots at one another was so much easier. maybe they should just go back to that? because they were both obviously unsatisfied with it, but at least they remained in one another's orbit. that much would be better than losing him - seeing him move out, when he thought he couldn't wait to get rid of him when he moved in.

but then kaveh just... keeps talking, which is probably mostly the fault of whatever cheap liquor the man he'd kicked out of his house had plied him with. idly, alhaitham wonders if he's not alone in the fact he's never had a 'proper' relationship, considering how hamfisted the blonde is going about this entire process himself - but the words he's speaking are... nice. soothing, even. affirming.

not just because it's a giant stroke of his ego, which alhaitham would never refuse, but because even he could tell that they were finally scratching at the door of the truth. he was no stranger to compliments or idolatry, especially after the mess with the lesser lord and the akademiya's own corruption - but they normally slid right off his back, like oil on water. alhaitham simply did not care what the general public thought of him, nor his colleagues, nor even his friends, really - but kaveh?

loud, annoying, frustratingly talented, beautiful kaveh?

for some reason? what he thinks seems to matter. for alhaitham, that's earth-shattering.

expression thoughtful, the scribe continues to observe the other with that piercing stare. ]

In that case, fair's fair. You're obnoxious, apparently ignorant of the definition of 'quiet'; you're terrible with finances despite being more than intelligent enough not to be; you're far too emotional and overreact to every situation, jumping to conclusions and throwing yourself in the line of fire when it's rarely necessary; you always do your chores several days late - if at all - and you work yourself to death like it's expected of you, when really, it's just another way for you to escape.

[ it doesn't look like he's done speaking, but in the brief pause, alhaitham takes the other man's chin in his free hand, touch far more gentle than his rebuttal. ]

But - and it pains me to say this - you're one of the most talented scholars we have; you have interesting perspectives and points of view that I enjoy the challenge of considering, even if they're as scattered as you are; you're charismatic to the point of magnetism and you always, frustratingly, put everyone else before yourself because of the kindness you harbour - not for any ulterior motive or gain. Genuine, in every sense of the word.

[ alhaitham wavers for a moment, as if considering whether or not to check if his words landed - but then, as always, decides he doesn't care. ]

I meant what I said, the other day. You are irritatingly, breathtakingly beautiful.