[ Perhaps, Kaveh thinks, he should have let them continue the conversation while Alhaitham was drunk. It wouldn't have been right, of course, but it would have been easier— right now, the architect can practically see the shell Alhaitham has projected around himself in his sober state, the stiffness to his form that comes from being forced to speak on his feelings—

Which means, Kaveh reasons, that there's more to it than the other man is letting on, that the "why" of the matter he's so carefully avoided is something deeper than he wants Kaveh to know— perhaps deeper than he knows himself. And he doesn't want to make the other man uncomfortable, especially not now, but if they want to fix this, to truly mend it and prevent similar things from happening yet again in their future, he needs to understand.

So, he tightens his hold on the other's hand, looks at him in silence for a moment, considering the things he's said, the things left unsaid, the things floating indecipherable in the space between them. ]

I promise I'll answer you— [ he replies, voice soft ] —but first I need you to trust me enough to tell me everything, Alhaitham. Even the parts you don't want to tell me.

[ The coffee is put aside with the plate, and Kaveh's free hand moves up to brush fingers along the younger's jaw, gently urging— without force, so that the other can resist if he wishes— Alhaitham to look at him instead of their tangled fingers. ]

If I don't understand why you were testing me, then I promise you that I'll fail every single test you design for me in the future, and I don't want to put us through this again.