[ Somehow, the tension written all over Alhaitham goes right over Nasser's head, even as the other men in the group are looking back and forth between them with visibly mounting anxiety. The same concern is also starting to twist in Kaveh's gut; his boyfriend is getting more acerbic despite the gentle tugs at white sleeves, and when he's busy trying to make a good name for himself, the last thing he needs is for Alhaitham's spinokrok-brain to start a fightโ even if it's sexy as fuck that he's getting so irritated over Kaveh's company.
(He should probably shrug Nasser's arm off his shoulder, shouldn't he? But he's not quite sure how to go about it without seeming rude. So he just links his fingers in Alhaitham's sleeve a little tighter, tugs a little more firmly. As if somehow it will work when it hasn't worked so far.)
Meanwhile, the men around them are murmuring in uncomfortable agreement, and an irritated look is crossing over the culprit's face, and Kaveh thinks he's either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid, because he's glaring right back at Alhaitham, squaring his shoulders as if to fight.
"That junior might think he's debunking it," he scoffs, "but I can assure you he's incorrect." Something of a tirade begins on Nasser's lips, explaining the high standards of his own work and the lack of room for error in his calculations. It's about halfway through the stream of consciousness that Kaveh decides that the answer is clearly that he's stupid, because he can hear the note of challenge in the scholar's voice as that arm drops, circling Kaveh's waist instead as he insists, "I'm sure the light of Kshahrewar understands, even if you don't, scribe."
Kaveh's brows crease, and this time he does reach to push the grasping hand away from him, a flash of annoyance over his face even as he tries to keep his voice even, aiming for pleasant even when he feels like being anything but: ]
I'd thank you not to put words in my mouth, Nasser. Quite frankly, Alhaitham has a stronger understanding of academia than anyone I have ever met.
[ What he wants to do is tell him the fuck off, ask him why he thinks insulting the former Acting Grand Sageโ one of Sumeru's saviors at thatโ is a good idea, not to mention the fact that he's a fucking hypocrite who's only playing nice now to get something from him. But the last thing he needs to be doing is making a scene right now, even if Nasser deserves it and then some. ]
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(He should probably shrug Nasser's arm off his shoulder, shouldn't he? But he's not quite sure how to go about it without seeming rude. So he just links his fingers in Alhaitham's sleeve a little tighter, tugs a little more firmly. As if somehow it will work when it hasn't worked so far.)
Meanwhile, the men around them are murmuring in uncomfortable agreement, and an irritated look is crossing over the culprit's face, and Kaveh thinks he's either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid, because he's glaring right back at Alhaitham, squaring his shoulders as if to fight.
"That junior might think he's debunking it," he scoffs, "but I can assure you he's incorrect." Something of a tirade begins on Nasser's lips, explaining the high standards of his own work and the lack of room for error in his calculations. It's about halfway through the stream of consciousness that Kaveh decides that the answer is clearly that he's stupid, because he can hear the note of challenge in the scholar's voice as that arm drops, circling Kaveh's waist instead as he insists, "I'm sure the light of Kshahrewar understands, even if you don't, scribe."
Kaveh's brows crease, and this time he does reach to push the grasping hand away from him, a flash of annoyance over his face even as he tries to keep his voice even, aiming for pleasant even when he feels like being anything but: ]
I'd thank you not to put words in my mouth, Nasser. Quite frankly, Alhaitham has a stronger understanding of academia than anyone I have ever met.
[ What he wants to do is tell him the fuck off, ask him why he thinks insulting the former Acting Grand Sageโ one of Sumeru's saviors at thatโ is a good idea, not to mention the fact that he's a fucking hypocrite who's only playing nice now to get something from him. But the last thing he needs to be doing is making a scene right now, even if Nasser deserves it and then some. ]