[ in his sluggish state, alhaitham hadn't expected simple words to break the dam of kaveh's tears and for a moment he simply stares at the other with a blank, bemused look as the architect laughs the reaction off. it's incredibly silly, but somehow oddly endearing at the same time in that way that the blonde had always perfected - and with a quiet huff, the scribe shakes his head. ]

You're ridiculous.

[ because he is, they are, and even though he hadn't consciously thought about the phrase itself, alhaitham supposes it had merely become a solidified fact over the week they'd been apart. his mind never had trouble dispensing objective truths, and this one was no different - kaveh's departure had proven to him something which he'd half-thought was impossible, that someone had managed to become such an integral part in his life that continuing on without them was somewhat of an empty existence.

it surprises him a little, perhaps, but the scribe would never dare argue with evidence.

seeing the blonde cry still makes something twist inside him though, even if they were 'good tears' (a concept alhaitham will never understand), and so in a subtle, functional gesture of comfort, a large hand comes to rest on top of kaveh's knee.

perhaps it wouldn't make him stop crying, but it would make the taller man feel a little less conscious of the fact he'd let his hands go earlier. ]

Also, that's not an answer to anything I asked. I can offer more options, but I imagine they'll start becoming either more irrelevant or more absurd.