[ Of course Alhaitham's response to being told not to do something is to immediately do it. Kaveh's not sure why he's surprised when the scribe is known as a contrarian even among those with whom he is significantly less acquainted, but he is, a muted sound on his lips a frustrated mingling of that feeling with something much more acquiescent and accepting. The latter is all too evident in the way his body leans willingly back into the other's touch, left hand lifting to cover one of those locked over his stomach even as he sighs (and oh, it's such a pained, suffering sigh) and uses his right to remove the pan from the heat once more. ]
Mm, but it'll only take five minutes to toast bread, [ he points out, the pedantry something of a whine in the back of his throat. ] Buying the market out means putting on clothes, and leaving the house, and walking down there...
[ And Kaveh doesn't want to do any of those things. Kaveh wants to stay here, with Alhaitham tantalizingly close, a temptation he tells himself firmly that he can ignore for five minutes even as he knows that he can't. Realistically, the market option is probably wiser if only because in public they would both be forced to keep their hands at least partially to themselves, which would make it easier to focus on the task at hand.
The task, of course, being breakfast.
It's getting harder by the second to remember that.
Kaveh turns off the heat before letting his eyes close, sinking back fully into the circle of Alhaitham's arms with another sigh— this one notably soft and content. ]
Do we have to eat? Can't we just stay here like this?
[ - is alhaitham's matter-of-fact response as kaveh leans into his hold. he weighs little to him, solidly built but lithe as anything, all wiry muscle and graceful curves. kaveh's the one who's light on his feet and makes anything he does look like a breeze, just a warm summer wind passing through; whereas alhaitham is the one who is much more grounded, stable as a rock (and about as personable as one, too). ]
I don't need something to soak up all the alcohol I downed without a second thought last night, [ - which sounds a little like he's chastising kaveh because he absolutely is in that way he always does, but this time it's a barb without an edge, murmured into the soft skin of the blonde's neck just below his ear. ] - unlike you, who is lucky to still have a functional liver. Medical scholars are stunned.
[ he mildly regrets suggesting the endeavour in the first place, even though it's absolutely something kaveh requires, if simply because he could've gotten his hands over so much more of the other by now - explored more, analysed more. maybe that's selfish, that his mind is somewhat singularly focused on the vision splayed against his chest right now, but alhaitham is absolutely fine with serving his own self interest every now and then.
still...
mm. he huffs a short sigh into the crook of kaveh's neck, trying not to take note of the enticing scent of exotic cologne on his skin and feeling of his pulse underneath his lips. ]
I suppose I should let you finish - I just don't want to.
None of the alcohol was "downed without a second thought".
[ And yes, Kaveh makes quotation marks in the air with his fingers as he huffs out the words, voice argumentative and arch despite the contented little smile on his lips, the way he practically melts back into the gust of breath at his neck. ]
I was only drinking in the first place to try to forget about the way I was feeling. Something for which, I might add, you are responsible.
[ There is of course something deeper to unpack there, even if the architect will never admit it even to himself. Kaveh has had a habit of getting drunk when depressed for a long time now, and this latest reason is just one more symptom rather than the root cause.
But a symptom eased is a symptom all but forgotten, and this particular ailment has been alleviated by the muscled arms around his waist and the lips at his neck and the low rumbling voice admitting that Alhaitham doesn't want to let him go. His brain, caught up in the warmth permeating through the moment, is too content to worry back over his debt or his reputation or any of those other issues in his life that exacerbate his bad habits.
And with the stove off again, so too has it given up on worrying about the toast; Kaveh turns once more in Alhaitham's arms and just looks at him in comfortable silence for a few seconds before grazing his lips over the taller man's, a warm little smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. ]
Then don't.
[ Time and coffee are already working in his favor, and while there's no denying that food would help him further, he can't say he minds putting it off a little in favor of enjoying Alhaitham like this. He's going to feel sick for a while regardless, so what does it matter?
His arms loop around the scribe's neck and lock at its nape as Kaveh presses another kiss to the corner of his lips. ]
I'm responsible? [ alhaitham replies in mild disbelief as kaveh turns back around to face him. ] I can hardly be responsible for something I didn't even know about until you graciously decided to blurt it out all at once.
[ the chores they'd been attending to at the stove now sit cooling and forgotten, which is probably for the best, really - distraction was only one step away from a house fire, and after the door taking a beating the previous night, alhaitham's happy not to have to worry about more damage.
yes, he should probably let kaveh eat, and yes, part of him does want the rapidly cooling (and likely slightly burnt) coffee in the percolator at the back of the stove, but at this juncture? he wasn't willing to trade the man in his arms for it. selfish, selfish, selfish. ]
Fine. [ alhaitham acquiesces, gaze inscrutable as slim arms sling around his neck and kaveh's lips brush against his own again. oh, the blonde was trouble. ] But, in that case -
[ and without much warning, the scribe easily but carefully picks kaveh up from the ground in a bridal style hold, because it always seems to be the first method to come to his mind rather than actually suggesting they go somewhere. glancing down at the other in all seriousness, eyes distantly fond; ]
- we're going back to bed.
[ by that, he means his bed, of course - not one that reminded him of the blonde tousling with other nameless faces, because that was still a hill he needed to climb without claws of fury dragging him back down it. bare feet padding against the polished wood of the house as he carries kaveh through it, alhaitham adds; ]
And don't take this necessarily as a suggestion. [ even though he'd already entertained that rather alluring possibility. ] You're unwell, I'm still tired. Bed's the sensible place to be.
[ To be entirely fair, Kaveh isn't sure what he's expecting Alhaitham to do— and yet he's not expecting to be lifted into the scribe's arms all of a sudden, one strong limb curled under his legs and the other supporting his back. The resultant response is something of a yelp, half-indignant and half-protesting, although once he finds himself actually embraced in the other man's hold, he's remarkably quick to settle, his body canting into the other's broad figure, his own fingers remaining linked at the back of his neck.
His face shifts to nuzzle itself into the space under Alhaitham's chin, a brush of lips against his larynx, down over the hollow of his neck, willfully inhaling the mingled scents of clean skin and musky cologne that embrace his senses.
There's no need for verbal clarification; even without asking, without looking up to see where they're going, he knows the layout of the house well enough to realize they're headed to the scribe's bedroom, not his own, and despite the taller man's words— Bed's the sensible place to be— Kaveh can't help the heat that stirs to life in his abdomen at the thought, the knowledge, that he's being taken to Alhaitham's bed.
And so he marks his disapproval of the scribe's words with a nip of his teeth against sensitive skin, just a hint sharper in action than he should be, a scolding without any real desire to hurt. ]
What if I want to take it as a suggestion, hm? You're allowed to clarify your meaning, but you know just as well as I do that I will ascribe my own understanding to the things you say, whether originally intended or not.
[ An academic argument by all counts, even if the reasoning behind it is far less scholastic. Alhaitham isn't the only one of them wanting to be selfish right now. ]
You are, of course, right - as usual, you'll do as you like regardless of what I say.
[ is the scribe's flippant reply, hoping that he sounds as unaffected as he'd like to despite the soft lips against the sensitive skin of his neck and the graze of teeth in protest. what's even worse is when kaveh decides to fully switch on that ridiculous mind of his, flaunting clinical, scholarly words in a sultry context - and yes, it's just another exasperating reminder of why the man in his arms is so worthy in every sense of the word.
nudging the door to his rooms open with the side of his foot, alhaitham lets them both in. the warm midday sun is still filtering lazily through the stained glass windows, throwing light over a bedroom that's so very much his - meticulously clean and looked after in almost every regard except for the stacks of books that pepper the place, left on almost every flat surface that wasn't the floor in varying clusters of relevance. even his bed is freshly made, being part of his routine after he (reluctantly) gets up for the day, but it's one chore he's willing to resign himself to doing again.
it takes little effort to place the blonde down on top of the covers, again, more gently than one would expect from someone with such a surly persona; and he lies down next to him immediately after, sinking into the plush surface with a sigh that could be argued as being content.
he doesn't, however, relinquish all contact though (because why would he do that?). alhaitham is stubborn, bossy, and simply pulls kaveh into him as he lies on his back, arms wrapping around the architect in a way that says 'mine' without using any words.
if he slips his eyes closed, perhaps kaveh won't notice how satisfied he is in this moment. ]
Do you have any further theses you'd like to discuss, or was that it?
[ Alhaitham's sigh ends up being an echo of Kaveh's, the blonde contentedly stretching out and allowing himself to sink into the softness of the bed in almost the same second that his back is laid out on it, a gratification that also shows in his smile as the scribe settles next to him, wrapping arms around him to pull him close.
Admittedly, the wordless greediness in the embrace has him wondering a little: how didn't he pick up on this sooner? But those are thoughts for later, not to dwell on now. Now is the time for rolling over within the circle of those arms, shifting himself so that he can look down at those closed eyes, at the sharp cut of that jaw,
the nearly-imperceptible warmth that only years of familiarity allows him to see.
Absent-mindedly, his fingers lift, tracing the hard lines of Alhaitham's lips. ]
Mm, I suppose at some point I'd like to put forth an inquiry into your habit of kicking doors open— [ even though this time it was far gentler and actually made sense given the blonde being carried in his arms ] —but I think for now that's everything.
[ Fingers are followed by his thumb, a slow skate of the digit over Alhaitham's lower lip, tracing the path of an upward lift that Kaveh can see even if isn't really there, and then his hand drops to cup the scribe's jaw as its place at the other's mouth is replaced with a soft but firm press of his own, lips slotting together in a kiss both sweet and insistent.
And Kaveh sighs in content, because he's wanted this for far too long. ]
[ alhaitham doesn't flinch or open his eyes as kaveh moves or a deft finger maps the angles of his face, the blonde's touch as graceful as every other part of him and something he's going to selfishly enjoy as much as he was relishing the rare luxury of being back in bed while the sun was still up.
he does, however, crack them open at the soft jab if only to shoot kaveh a withering look at the statement. the efficacy is unfortunately (?) reduced by the firm kiss that follows it, every bit as earnest and pure as the man on top of him.
it's really hard to be sore while on the receiving end of such a thing, really. ]
There's no substance to such an inquiry. [ the scribe mumbles contrarily against kaveh's mouth, voice a low rumble. ] In both cases, it was simply the most convenient thing to do.
[ which is absolutely not true, considering the significant effort it had taken him to kick the door in last night, but he had an image to maintain and he'd maintain it.
despite the fact that kaveh had shifted around in his arms to face him, alhaitham still keeps him held close as one hand moves lazily down the dip of his spine. his fingers are none of the light finesse of the architect's; instead his touch is purposeful, steady, strong - much like the kiss he returns as his eyes slip closed again.
an idyllic saturday? ]
I've never known you to run out of demands, but there's a first time for everything.
[ wry humour is weaved into his words, the comfortable push-and-pull they'd shared since they'd met. ]
[ Kaveh breaks the kiss with the words— something he doesn't actually want to do, if he's honest, but is serving in the moment as a type of punishment— and he pulls back to look down at Alhaitham, hand shifting back to thumb and tug at the scribe's lower lip. The close way the other man holds him, and the low, purposeful dip of the hand at his spine don't help, very much make him want to give in and kiss him until they're both breathless; but at least for now his willpower holds, carmine eyes taking in the other's features as he holds his face just out of reach. ]
This morning, yes. But we both know that last night called for no such thing.
[ Hadn't he only just decided to take mercy on Alhaitham in regards to this exact topic? Yet it's a mercy pushed aside in favor of teasing, his free hand moving to splay wide over the other's chest, the fingers at his mouth giving another little tug at his lower lip. That possessive darkness that had glimmered in the air as clearly as the tell-tale lights of Alhaitham's Vision— yes, it's still very much something Kaveh wants to unwrap. Even if it means teasing him about it. ]
You can call it "taking out the trash" as much as you want, but you should at least admit that you were jealous. [ Something of a playful, teasing light glimmers behind ruby irises as he thumbs at Alhaitham's lip again. ] ...Mm, you could even say I demand it.
[ Translation: no, he's not out of demands. Nor is he ever likely to be, at least when it comes to the man spread out underneath him right now, all silver hair and contented face and muscled body. ]
[ he asks incredulously, turquoise eyes cracking open slightly and staring down long lashes at the crimson eyes just inches away from his own. sometimes - okay, a lot of the time, things come out of kaveh's mouth that throw alhaitham for a loop because of the sheer ridiculousness of the statements. the scribe hadn't been a 'relationship person' (until now, apparently), but envy was generally a rather undesirable trait. so, he looks down at kaveh with that trademark expression of skepticism as his hand continues downwards - over the small of his back, and stopping just at the hem of his underwear. ]
I don't see how that would benefit you or me - nor me stating as such.
[ because the jealousy that kaveh triggers in him is fierce, wild, and it triggers feelings so intense in the scribe that even he would worry about truly losing control - about wielding whatever power was at his disposal as a means to an end to assert to the world in general that the blonde was his and no-one else's.
exhaling in a sigh, alhaitham briefly considers raising his free hand to flick kaveh in the forehead for suggesting such a stupid thing, but the comfort of their current arrangement is getting the better of him. instead, his eyes drift over the beautiful, angular face in front of him in a way that always makes him look as if he's committing it to memory. ]
As for last night, it absolutely called for it. Your door always sticks.
[ alhaitham murmurs, voice low as if challenging kaveh to dare take this further - and then he presses a soft kiss to the pad of the blonde's thumb, still lingering against the corner of his mouth. ]
Grandiose conclusions are certainly your specialty, though.
[ It's true that envy is generally something considered undesirable. However, in this specific circumstance, there's something indescribably attractive the possessiveness that sneaks into Alhaitham's manner, in the way he acts— firm grasp of fingers, searing kisses, flashing somethings behind emerald eyes— and the way he speaks. And perhaps part of it is the scholar in him, the want to understand it, but Kaveh is sure that most of his eagerness to unwrap it comes from his own attraction to the scribe, the want to see that stoic, inscrutable face snap into something revealing and honest.
Like the fury burning in his eyes as the light of his Vision shimmered in the darkness of Kaveh's room. Or the firm lips and scraping teeth leaving marks to replace those the architect so thoughtlessly paraded in front of him. ]
Maybe I do.
[ He would clarify it further, really he would— Alhaitham's comment requires a rebuttal, after all, an explanation— but he's distracted by the hand now resting just over the hem of his underwear, the searching drift of the scribe's eyes over his face, the soft purse of lips against his thumb—
and then by the insistence that last night did call for it, that his door sticks, and Kaveh almost laughs, stopped in the end only by the challenge in Alhaitham's voice, the low tone making a shiver of attraction reverberate down his spine.
And oh, he's not one to back down from a challenge. ]
How strange— [ he murmurs, thumb pressing a little more firmly to the plushness of his lower lip, free hand drawing idle patterns along lines of muscle, ] —that despite it always sticking, the one night you decided to actually go ahead and kick it in was the same night you felt the need to insist that the only person who should be touching me is you...
[ he shouldn't have expected any less - after all, they were (to their detriment) both the type of person who would use spite as a motivator, who would do the exact opposite of what they're told if there was a pot to stir or hackles to raise. alhaitham simply stares down his nose at kaveh, the feathered touch against his lip threatening to begin cracking his resolve - but the scribe had a will of steel, which was a requirement for orbiting the blonde in the first place. ]
It was punctuation to a point. [ he states flatly, hooded turquoise eyes flickering with the beginnings of a dark heat. ] The point being, you flaunting yourself being tangled up in someone else simply to crawl under my skin. Kicking down a door seemed justified.
[ the hand on kaveh's lower back sinks further southwards, looping around the angular jut of his hips and pulling him flush against him in a strong movement, arm flexing. recalling the previous night still stirred up a tempest of feelings too wild for him to entirely control, and there's a flash of something unreadable that crosses his face as his other hand raises to hold kaveh's chin.
their faces are so close there's only a hair's breadth and change between them, giving alhaitham a captive audience. ]
I'd do it again. [ the scribe murmurs, voice low and husky. he repeats; ] I'd do it again because I was emphatically correct - the only person who should be touching you is me.
[ long fingers curl into the muscle of kaveh's backside possessively as his eyes meet the blonde's crimson unflinchingly. ]
[ "Punctuation to a point," Alhaitham says, and Kaveh's halfway to a scoff when that look flickers across the other's face, when he's pulled flush against the other, chin caught and fingers pressing into his backside in a way that makes his breath hitch, and his fingers tremble and stutter over the other's chest for a moment or two as he steels himself toward a recovery.
It's unfair, he thinks, how easily the scribe can catch him off-guard.
But he was the one who brought them here, and he's not about to back down, even though the husky sound of his roommate's voice makes him want to give himself over without a second thought, when the flash behind the emerald of his eyes turns Kaveh's insides to jelly.
There's a small part of him tempted to tease Alhaitham further, to disagree with him simply to rile him up further, but he rejects it— for one because this thing between them is still too new for him to feel comfortable testing it, and also because for once in his life he doesn't know what he would say to counter the other when he is indeed so emphatically correct.
Kaveh doesn't want anyone else.
His smile is slow, a teasing answer to the scribe's possessive grip, and he thumbs at the other's mouth before withdrawing his hand, inching close enough that his lips ghost over Alhaitham's when he finally answers him. His other hand resumes its halted pattern over that broad chest as the architect slides a leg between the other's knees. ]
For once, I think you'll find we're in perfect agreement. [ A pause, crimson eyes searching the darkened expression written over the other's sharp features, and whether he's taking pity on him or oversharing even Kaveh isn't entirely sure, but he continues: ] You know, when you kicked down the door, it was the first time all night I actually felt something.
[ it's wild, how a simple few words can burrow under his skin with such fervor. of course, kaveh's choice of bedfellows or otherwise was his own prerogative, but selfish words slip past alhaitham's lips without him being able to catch them in time - that he should be the one to hold kaveh's attention, that he should be the only one privileged enough to be beholden to the full gamut of emotion the blonde had to offer. just when these desires had manifested themselves in such immovable form was unbeknownst to the scribe, but there's a quiet, calm relief that washes over him when kaveh agrees.
it's an internal war that he's fighting beyond the stoic expression he's wearing, but his grip softens imperceptibly as the blonde affirms him, slinking a leg inbetween his all litheness and grace. unfair, for someone who was nursing a world-ending hangover. ]
Even the planets align once every two hundred years, [ the scribe murmurs flippantly back against kaveh's soft lips, hot breath mingling in a heady way that encourages him to do pretty much anything other than have a catnap. ] I suppose today is simply that day.
[ and then that lyrical voice keeps talking, musing as his fingers danced distraction over alhaitham's bare chest. for someone who prided themselves so wholly on focus and objectivity, it was hard to keep his mind in that detached, neutral state when kaveh was splayed over him like this, spouting things so charming that alhaitham's unsurprised how easily he'd been able to snag whoever he'd wanted to bring home and paper over other problems.
and the touch - even that's enough to cloud his otherwise unaffected expression, because while he's not a true stranger to intimacy, dalliances were far different to being handled by the man on top of him.
he's sure this new blindspot in his emotional armour would cause trouble for him somehow later on, but right now, the scribe is finding it very hard to care as his free hand reaches up and sinks into kaveh's soft blonde hair. for a second he pauses - and then gently tugs the messy bun free, causing golden locks to cascade downwards.
beautiful, like all those paintings the other liked to harp on so much about. ]
Are you sure you weren't just feeling the foundations of the house shake?
[ the scribe replies in that signature matter-of-fact tone as he tucks the locks obscuring those beautiful ruby eyes behind kaveh's ear. ]
[ Selfishness is, one could say, right up there with jealousy as an undesirable quality in a person... and yet Kaveh can't even remotely bring himself to complain about the words on the other man's lips, not when he can almost see— and certainly feel— Alhaitham's relief in response to his reply. He can't help but reward the scribe with a slight press of his lips, a hum and a smile on his own. When he draws back, his eyes are fond, searching the other's face as he listens— and chuckles— to the comparison made between them and the stars, as he tilts his head to chase the other's touches once his hair is freed to fall around his face.
And the truth is, maybe he is pushing things a little too far for someone who's as hungover as he is. But his secret— which isn't really a secret? He's often hungover. That, and it's hard to focus on the woes of feeling ill when he has an incredibly attractive man spread out under him, teasing him with words and mouth and hands alike, a man who he's wanted for longer than he's even sure he can quantify... only that it's a long, long time.
What's said next, though, makes him roll his eyes and shove playfully at that broad, naked chest as he scoffs. ]
Aren't you the one who goes around telling people you're some kind of "feeble scholar"? And now you think you're powerful enough that you made the foundations shake? I know adrenaline boosts strength and all, but that's still a mighty rich claim...
[ This time, when Kaveh closes the space between their mouths, it's more of a bite than a kiss, dragging the other's lower lip in his teeth as he pulls back, a glint behind his crimson pupils. ]
Either you're arrogant enough to think you know what I felt better than me, or you were far angrier by what you saw than you let on.
[ The words are punctuated with a slow, teasing smile, his knee inching closer toward the crux of the space between Alhaitham's thighs, his mouth dipping to run a trail of wet kisses (and the occasional punishing nip of teeth) from the corner of the other's mouth to his jaw. ]
[ hands push playfully against his chest, to which alhaitham simply gives kaveh a bemused look. ]
Honestly, how much force do you think it takes to break a door down? Even you could do it... probably.
[ after all, the less intimately people knew his power, the better - alhaitham had no desire for reknown, or awe, or any of the above - so the 'feeble scholar' bit served him well. at least, until kaveh and their other close acquaintances had decided to start making a show of debating who'd best who in a fight loudly in public settings, emboldened by the resolution of the archon's situation and the akademiya's own dramas.
he's about to start again with some contrary epithet but kaveh closes the scant distance between them with a swift kiss and the quick sting of teeth against his lips, causing his train of thought to be soundly derailed. frustrating.
of course, the blonde is testing him, pushing the boundaries of their bickering now that they could be explored further, and the scribe can't help but let a soft hiss of what could only be described as pleasure escape his mouth as he's caged in. grazing kisses trail over his jawbone and a slim knee presses gently into his groin, kaveh suddenly everywhere - challenging him with that musical voice, which only sounded more lewd for how it was buried against his skin.
it happens in the blink of an eye, really. unlike kaveh, alhaitham only had minor fatigue weighing him down and not a night full of bottom shelf liquor - and if he wanted an answer from him, would it not be rude to deny one?
kaveh's so light to him that it's easy to leverage his core strength and flip their positions, muscle flexing as large hands encircle the architect's shoulders and pin him down into the mattress on his back in a fluid movement. there's still very little distance between them, but now the taller man is hovering above him, thighs on either side of kaveh's hips as if to cage him in himself.
silver hair brackets his face as he gazes back into those crimson eyes with an inscrutable look. it was never a great idea to challenge the scribe of the akademiya, but then again, they were both stubborn until the end. ]
Perhaps I was both. [ he offers, one hand reaching forward to grasp kaveh's chin in a gentle but firm grip. ] On one hand, the Akademiya was very eager to give this house away, so I can only assume there was some catch or another - perhaps skimping on the foundational structure, or using lacklustre materials. If the door came off so easily, I imagine it'd take little more force to shake the rest of the structure, don't you agree?
[ for a moment, it looks as though he's going to soundly kiss the other - but instead, alhaitham's head cocks to the side, his mouth grazing hotly against kaveh's ear instead. so strange to see him without his earrings in - ornate jewellery always suited him so well - but that in itself opened up other... possibilities. ]
On the other hand - yes. I was angry. [ his voice is a low whisper now, lips brushing against the shell of the architect's ear before biting his earlobe gently as if emphasising his point. ] Was that what you wanted to hear? That I'd happily tear the house down if it meant getting you out of the arms of another man?
[ Every part of Kaveh's brain is practically dying to offer a smart-ass answer to the insult levied at his strength. But he's otherwise distracted— and then soundly silenced in his efforts when Alhaitham proves his strength, an effortless movement and then suddenly Kaveh is the one with his back against the mattress, his shoulders pinned and his hips caged by the other man's thighs.
(Silenced in his efforts, but not voice; there's a definite yelp as he's flipped downward, and then a shaky exhale when the grasp of his chin guides him to meet the inscrutable glint in those emerald eyes more directly than he may have otherwise.)
Kaveh reaches, his arms circling Alhaitham's lower back, fingers splaying across the broad expanse of muscle. ]
That's a lot of assumption for someone likes to deal in facts, [ he rasps out, filling the gaps between Alhaitham's words with a voice breathier than he would like— but to be fair, how can he help it when he's being looked at like that, like the scribe is about to kiss the life out of him? ] Perhaps it would behoove you to investigate and find answers, rather than simply— guess—?
[ The last syllable of his speech comes out more whimper than word when he feels the scribe's heated breath against his ear, his body answering the sensation with a tremble running down through his spine. His eyes close, and it's a mistake because it lets him hear Alhaitham's whispered words more clearly, enhances the impact of that emphasizing bite, and his answer before he can recover himself is naught more than a hitch of his breath, a tremble of his fingers across the small of the other man's back.
It's unfair, how easy it is for Alhaitham to reduce him to this.
Still, he wouldn't be him if he didn't have an answer stored up for that question, and so when he recovers enough to think, his eyes blink back open, fingers trailing up Alhaitham's back to the nape of his neck, threading through his hair. ]
Maybe it is. [ His gaze slides to the side, looking at the scribe as well as their position allows. How does he explain how attractive it is— how does he even begin to explain why it's attractive in the first place? ] You said I should be yours— Knowing you would tear down the house to prove it— to keep me—
[ He chuckles, a breathless sound. ]
You're the one person I can't figure out, but seeing you angry like that, I felt like I'd gotten beneath the surface, at least a little bit. [ He pauses, eyes twinkling with mirth despite the gentle sweetness of the words having just left his lips. ] Also, it's kind of hot when you go all spinokrok-brain.
Seems like a fool's errand for me to investigate it when a perfectly decent architect lives here. Sounds like a good chore to add to the list whenever your hangover wears off, doesn't it?
[ kaveh's reactions don't escape the scribe's watchful gaze as he draws back a couple of inches to face the other again. once more, those artistic fingers are dancing across his bare skin and slinking up into his now-dry hair, the touch making him want to shiver despite the room becoming stuffy from the trapped heat of the midday sun. he's not used to people touching him in general, but to weather kaveh's touch without breaking?
it's a challenge. ]
I don't lie. [ a beat, deadpan. ] And the house can be replaced.
[ - is his simple response to the recollection of his words from the previous night, because he has nothing to recant or defend. alhaitham isn't familiar to fury, but he knows the taste of it - which is less than he can say for jealousy or insecurity. whatever he had said last night was stated fact and nothing less, something that's only ramified by the quiet, deep swell of his heart as he watches the blonde quietly laugh.
oh, this would cause problems.
then kaveh says he can't figure him out, which puzzles alhaitham because it's quite the contrary - it feels like despite their polar opposites and misaligned points of view, only kaveh had ever come close. or perhaps he'd only come close because he'd been the only one who'd given enough of a shit to deal with an attitude that only ever put others off.
either way, the final comment throws him for a second because the scribe is genuinely at a loss as to whether he should be flattered or insulted. his expression is bemused as he looks down at kaveh, the pad of his thumb reaching to brush over the blonde's bottom lip - but there's a hint of amusement buried in there. ]
I'm on top of you pouring my heart out and you compare me to a swamp dweller? Unbelievable.
Decent? That's offensive. [ His gentle touch is interrupted briefly by a pinch, fingers catching the skin of the other's muscled pectoral between them and squeezing, a hint of punishment for calling him average. ] You have a genius architect living here, and don't you forget it.
[ The complaint is quickly forgotten in the face of the other's gaze, though, and Kaveh finds himself looking back at Alhaitham with a fond smile on his lips. The hand in his hair drifts to brush at the side of his face, pushing back some stray silver strands and generally just enjoying the sensation of the other's pale skin under his fingers.
This is so much nicer than anything he dreamed about. Not that he could ever have imagined this, lying in bed enjoying laughs and smiles with someone who up until now has served mostly as a point of frustration. Teasing, but knowing it's taken the way it's meant and not read in some horribly wrong way. Knowing that Alhaitham wants him here, that he isn't just some thorn in the other's side.
Warmed, Kaveh laughs again when the scribe complains at his choice of words, and his mouth purses briefly against the finger at his bottom lip, a slight shake of his head as his expression turns only more adoring, a softness in his eyes as they search over the other's face. ]
Idiot. Don't go twisting my words when I'm trying to compliment you. Besides— [ and his eyes sparkle with mirth, a warning perhaps of brattiness to come ] —I'm not the one who called you only decent. Clearly, your offense is the worse of the two!
[ With that said, he reaches to tug Alhaitham's thumb from his mouth, using the hand buried in his hair to pull him closer and into a kiss, a smile pulling at the corners of his lips. ]
I'm not calling you a genius. [ alhaitham replies with impudence at both the correction and the pinch, eyes flicking between the blonde's fingers and his gaze. ] It'll go straight to your head.
[ even if kaveh is objectively correct.
true compliments still don't come as easy to alhaitham as they would to a normal person - he simply doesn't see the majority of the purpose in giving or receiving them. if it's not objective fact, then it's simply pandering to an ego, something which was incredibly popular among the ranks of the akademiya's insecure. he'd operated most of his life not requiring the validation of others; not particularly caring about what people might think of him, or the whispers they wove behind his back.
but, strangely? hearing words of praise from kaveh rang differently to those who used them only to get something from him, or his position.
it was an odd feeling. ]
As usual, you choose to interpret meaning in the most abstract way possible. [ alhaitham admonishes, his hand moving slowly across kaveh's skin to cup his cheek instead. a thumb traces his cheekbone as the scribe gazes down at him, as impassive as ever. ] I could, of course, start referring to you only by your popular title, 'the Light of the Kshahrewar' -
[ though before he's allowed to continue what could be the start of a very impressive sarcastic tirade, he's silenced by a pull downwards, his lips meeting kaveh's in a sound kiss. sometimes it's so easy to forget how strong the man underneath him actually is - for all his dancer's grace and light weight, he's almost entirely smooth, lean muscle.
kaveh. so full of contradictions and impossibilities, such a dichotomy of frustration and joy: a puzzle, all for him to figure out, and alhaitham was going to spend his time meticulously doing so.
so when the blonde tugs him down, the scribe stops thinking, thinking and overthinking for once - instead, simply gives in and returns the kiss with a dizzying passion, tongue snaking over teeth and hand threading into golden hair to deepen it. all his pillars of wisdom give way to instinct instead, his free hand snaking down the edge of kaveh's jaw, across his collarbone and coming to rest on the angle of his shoulder in a comforting grip.
when they break apart for a heated moment, his graveled voice murmurs against raw lips; ]
Offensive that the Kshahrewar gets to claim you as their light anyway, [ alhaitham whispers with a hint of annoyance, nose brushing against nose. ] when really, you're mine.
[ If it wasn't for the fact that he was tugging Alhaitham down into a kiss, breaking the other's tirade in two, Kaveh would almost certainly have something smart to say in response to the gibe. Something about how even a title like that (high praise that sometimes makes him uncomfortable) is preferable to being called "decent", or wondering what the scribe has against his name— a name he quite likes to hear on the other's lips.
But he's rewarded in his moderation with a returned kiss that has little restraint, a dizzying press of Alhaitham's lips and tongue into his, and Kaveh lets out a trembling sigh as he answers in kind, and his free hand slides down the scribe's side and around his waist, holding him closer now in two places. By the time Alhaitham pulls back from him, his breath is ragged, gusting in short bursts over the other's as he speaks, and it's all Kaveh can do not to chase him, allowing himself to breathe instead.
And then Alhaitham says something that has his eyebrows raise, curiosity in his eyes. ] Why? [ he asks before the other can finish speaking, and he's about to say more but the scribe is finishing his sentence, and Kaveh can only stare for a moment, caught somewhere between embarrassed, touched, and amused, the myriad of emotions playing themselves out over his face.
Little does he realize that the annoyance creeping into the other's whispered voice is genuine, something that might be evident in the way he chuckles, presses a teasing kiss to those red lips and nips at the lower, ruby eyes sparkling with a playful light. ]
Belonging to my darshan is a very different thing to belonging to you, [ he answers lowly, that same amusement in his voice, fingers soothing an intricate pattern over the other man's hip. ] And in their defense, they made their claim a lot earlier than you did.
[ At least in this, he thinks, Alhaitham will have to share him. But that's not a big deal, is it?
A pause, and then: ]
Also, unlike some people, they're willing to acknowledge my status as a genius.
True validation is internal, you know. [ because he's still not going to say it, as much as kaveh is angling for him to admit it out loud. alhaitham might be mildly besotted, but he was still obtuse. raising an eyebrow; ] I don't know why you need me to reassure you about your intellect.
[ and then he lets the other free of the cage he'd created around him with his body, sinking back into the mattress on his side - but pulling the blonde into his arms as he settles. alhaitham's words might be acerbic, but his touch was strong and gentle as his face presses into that crown of soft, golden hair, a sigh escaping his lips that sounds almost like contentment. ]
I probably still have some sway after my stint as the Grand Sage, [ a measured voice murmurs against kaveh, impossible to tell if he was actually being serious or not. ] Perhaps I could have a word with Kshahrewar - we could even come to some sort of agreement.
[ the midday sun was doing nothing to help fend off the encroaching fatigue, the warmth, comfort and proximity of his partner (if that's what they were calling it) a soporific combination. weekends were designed for self-indulgence, and alhaitham was exactly where he wanted to be.
idly, his fingers stroke down the small of kaveh's back in a soothing, repetitive rhythm. ]
[ When he has time to think about this later on— outside, that is, of the saccharine pink fog of Alhaitham Alhaitham Alhaitham that currently clouds the parts of his mind not already shrouded by the hangover— he'll be amazed at the contented laze they slip into when the scribe slides off him and pulls him back into his embrace.
Never before now has he been able to just lie in bed and not worry about something— about work, about mora. Even with other partners he's found himself restless, trying to initiate something extra or even getting out of bed to cook. Lying around in bed has always been his roommate's thing, not his, and yet—
Really, Kaveh can't imagine he'd rather be anywhere else. Between the soft sigh on Alhaitham's lips and the rhythm of fingers at his back, paired with the idle ridiculousness of the words on his tongue, the architect feels like he could lie here forever.
It's in the spirit of that feeling that he lets the comments about his intellect go— someday he'll have Alhaitham admit it out loud, screw this internal validation thing— and instead just presses his own face into the hollow of the scribe's throat, a soft chuckle on his lips, lazy kisses left sweetly against the skin. ]
If I get to have a say in this— [ he murmurs, a playful lilt in his voice, ] —I would suggest that you each "get" me full time, but in different ways. Experience has shown that you and I shouldn't work together, after all, and quite frankly I'd rather not be like this with any of my colleagues.
[ A tilt of his head and a graze of his lips along the bottom of Alhaitham's chin emphasize his statement. ]
Mm. [ is his quiet, displeased hum into kaveh's hair at the idea of him lying in bed with his kshahrewar colleagues. ] I'd rather that not happen, either.
[ but the calm atmosphere that had fallen over the two of them is enough to assuage the jealousy such a thought could trigger, the scribe's eyes sliding closed as being awake becomes too much of a chore. between the almost-stuffy warmth of the room and kaveh's lyrical voice reverberating against his skin as he peppered gentle touches across it, alhaitham hadn't really a hope of fighting off the nap he'd unceremoniously dragged the blonde in here for. ]
We'll see, light of Kshahrewar.
[ he murmurs against the crown of kaveh's head, the scribe's voice somehow losing some of its insufferable edge now that he was falling asleep. because of that, it's hard to tell if he's using the other's title as a sarcastic response or a genuine compliment considering the knowledge he now had that kaveh actually liked the name.
no further inquiry would be had either, because aside from a kiss so soft on the side of kaveh's temple that one might imagine it had simply not existed, alhaitham's breathing slows to a steady rhythm that suggests he's completely, immovably asleep.
if he stirs, it's only to subconsciously pull the other closer to him. ]
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sempiternals2023-02-11 10:39 pm
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Mm, but it'll only take five minutes to toast bread, [ he points out, the pedantry something of a whine in the back of his throat. ] Buying the market out means putting on clothes, and leaving the house, and walking down there...
[ And Kaveh doesn't want to do any of those things. Kaveh wants to stay here, with Alhaitham tantalizingly close, a temptation he tells himself firmly that he can ignore for five minutes even as he knows that he can't. Realistically, the market option is probably wiser if only because in public they would both be forced to keep their hands at least partially to themselves, which would make it easier to focus on the task at hand.
The task, of course, being breakfast.
It's getting harder by the second to remember that.
Kaveh turns off the heat before letting his eyes close, sinking back fully into the circle of Alhaitham's arms with another sigh— this one notably soft and content. ]
Do we have to eat? Can't we just stay here like this?
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[ - is alhaitham's matter-of-fact response as kaveh leans into his hold. he weighs little to him, solidly built but lithe as anything, all wiry muscle and graceful curves. kaveh's the one who's light on his feet and makes anything he does look like a breeze, just a warm summer wind passing through; whereas alhaitham is the one who is much more grounded, stable as a rock (and about as personable as one, too). ]
I don't need something to soak up all the alcohol I downed without a second thought last night, [ - which sounds a little like he's chastising kaveh because he absolutely is in that way he always does, but this time it's a barb without an edge, murmured into the soft skin of the blonde's neck just below his ear. ] - unlike you, who is lucky to still have a functional liver. Medical scholars are stunned.
[ he mildly regrets suggesting the endeavour in the first place, even though it's absolutely something kaveh requires, if simply because he could've gotten his hands over so much more of the other by now - explored more, analysed more. maybe that's selfish, that his mind is somewhat singularly focused on the vision splayed against his chest right now, but alhaitham is absolutely fine with serving his own self interest every now and then.
still...
mm. he huffs a short sigh into the crook of kaveh's neck, trying not to take note of the enticing scent of exotic cologne on his skin and feeling of his pulse underneath his lips. ]
I suppose I should let you finish - I just don't want to.
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[ And yes, Kaveh makes quotation marks in the air with his fingers as he huffs out the words, voice argumentative and arch despite the contented little smile on his lips, the way he practically melts back into the gust of breath at his neck. ]
I was only drinking in the first place to try to forget about the way I was feeling. Something for which, I might add, you are responsible.
[ There is of course something deeper to unpack there, even if the architect will never admit it even to himself. Kaveh has had a habit of getting drunk when depressed for a long time now, and this latest reason is just one more symptom rather than the root cause.
But a symptom eased is a symptom all but forgotten, and this particular ailment has been alleviated by the muscled arms around his waist and the lips at his neck and the low rumbling voice admitting that Alhaitham doesn't want to let him go. His brain, caught up in the warmth permeating through the moment, is too content to worry back over his debt or his reputation or any of those other issues in his life that exacerbate his bad habits.
And with the stove off again, so too has it given up on worrying about the toast; Kaveh turns once more in Alhaitham's arms and just looks at him in comfortable silence for a few seconds before grazing his lips over the taller man's, a warm little smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. ]
Then don't.
[ Time and coffee are already working in his favor, and while there's no denying that food would help him further, he can't say he minds putting it off a little in favor of enjoying Alhaitham like this. He's going to feel sick for a while regardless, so what does it matter?
His arms loop around the scribe's neck and lock at its nape as Kaveh presses another kiss to the corner of his lips. ]
Just be here with me like this.
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[ the chores they'd been attending to at the stove now sit cooling and forgotten, which is probably for the best, really - distraction was only one step away from a house fire, and after the door taking a beating the previous night, alhaitham's happy not to have to worry about more damage.
yes, he should probably let kaveh eat, and yes, part of him does want the rapidly cooling (and likely slightly burnt) coffee in the percolator at the back of the stove, but at this juncture? he wasn't willing to trade the man in his arms for it. selfish, selfish, selfish. ]
Fine. [ alhaitham acquiesces, gaze inscrutable as slim arms sling around his neck and kaveh's lips brush against his own again. oh, the blonde was trouble. ] But, in that case -
[ and without much warning, the scribe easily but carefully picks kaveh up from the ground in a bridal style hold, because it always seems to be the first method to come to his mind rather than actually suggesting they go somewhere. glancing down at the other in all seriousness, eyes distantly fond; ]
- we're going back to bed.
[ by that, he means his bed, of course - not one that reminded him of the blonde tousling with other nameless faces, because that was still a hill he needed to climb without claws of fury dragging him back down it. bare feet padding against the polished wood of the house as he carries kaveh through it, alhaitham adds; ]
And don't take this necessarily as a suggestion. [ even though he'd already entertained that rather alluring possibility. ] You're unwell, I'm still tired. Bed's the sensible place to be.
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His face shifts to nuzzle itself into the space under Alhaitham's chin, a brush of lips against his larynx, down over the hollow of his neck, willfully inhaling the mingled scents of clean skin and musky cologne that embrace his senses.
There's no need for verbal clarification; even without asking, without looking up to see where they're going, he knows the layout of the house well enough to realize they're headed to the scribe's bedroom, not his own, and despite the taller man's words— Bed's the sensible place to be— Kaveh can't help the heat that stirs to life in his abdomen at the thought, the knowledge, that he's being taken to Alhaitham's bed.
And so he marks his disapproval of the scribe's words with a nip of his teeth against sensitive skin, just a hint sharper in action than he should be, a scolding without any real desire to hurt. ]
What if I want to take it as a suggestion, hm? You're allowed to clarify your meaning, but you know just as well as I do that I will ascribe my own understanding to the things you say, whether originally intended or not.
[ An academic argument by all counts, even if the reasoning behind it is far less scholastic. Alhaitham isn't the only one of them wanting to be selfish right now. ]
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[ is the scribe's flippant reply, hoping that he sounds as unaffected as he'd like to despite the soft lips against the sensitive skin of his neck and the graze of teeth in protest. what's even worse is when kaveh decides to fully switch on that ridiculous mind of his, flaunting clinical, scholarly words in a sultry context - and yes, it's just another exasperating reminder of why the man in his arms is so worthy in every sense of the word.
nudging the door to his rooms open with the side of his foot, alhaitham lets them both in. the warm midday sun is still filtering lazily through the stained glass windows, throwing light over a bedroom that's so very much his - meticulously clean and looked after in almost every regard except for the stacks of books that pepper the place, left on almost every flat surface that wasn't the floor in varying clusters of relevance. even his bed is freshly made, being part of his routine after he (reluctantly) gets up for the day, but it's one chore he's willing to resign himself to doing again.
it takes little effort to place the blonde down on top of the covers, again, more gently than one would expect from someone with such a surly persona; and he lies down next to him immediately after, sinking into the plush surface with a sigh that could be argued as being content.
he doesn't, however, relinquish all contact though (because why would he do that?). alhaitham is stubborn, bossy, and simply pulls kaveh into him as he lies on his back, arms wrapping around the architect in a way that says 'mine' without using any words.
if he slips his eyes closed, perhaps kaveh won't notice how satisfied he is in this moment. ]
Do you have any further theses you'd like to discuss, or was that it?
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Admittedly, the wordless greediness in the embrace has him wondering a little: how didn't he pick up on this sooner? But those are thoughts for later, not to dwell on now. Now is the time for rolling over within the circle of those arms, shifting himself so that he can look down at those closed eyes, at the sharp cut of that jaw,
the nearly-imperceptible warmth that only years of familiarity allows him to see.
Absent-mindedly, his fingers lift, tracing the hard lines of Alhaitham's lips. ]
Mm, I suppose at some point I'd like to put forth an inquiry into your habit of kicking doors open— [ even though this time it was far gentler and actually made sense given the blonde being carried in his arms ] —but I think for now that's everything.
[ Fingers are followed by his thumb, a slow skate of the digit over Alhaitham's lower lip, tracing the path of an upward lift that Kaveh can see even if isn't really there, and then his hand drops to cup the scribe's jaw as its place at the other's mouth is replaced with a soft but firm press of his own, lips slotting together in a kiss both sweet and insistent.
And Kaveh sighs in content, because he's wanted this for far too long. ]
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he does, however, crack them open at the soft jab if only to shoot kaveh a withering look at the statement. the efficacy is unfortunately (?) reduced by the firm kiss that follows it, every bit as earnest and pure as the man on top of him.
it's really hard to be sore while on the receiving end of such a thing, really. ]
There's no substance to such an inquiry. [ the scribe mumbles contrarily against kaveh's mouth, voice a low rumble. ] In both cases, it was simply the most convenient thing to do.
[ which is absolutely not true, considering the significant effort it had taken him to kick the door in last night, but he had an image to maintain and he'd maintain it.
despite the fact that kaveh had shifted around in his arms to face him, alhaitham still keeps him held close as one hand moves lazily down the dip of his spine. his fingers are none of the light finesse of the architect's; instead his touch is purposeful, steady, strong - much like the kiss he returns as his eyes slip closed again.
an idyllic saturday? ]
I've never known you to run out of demands, but there's a first time for everything.
[ wry humour is weaved into his words, the comfortable push-and-pull they'd shared since they'd met. ]
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[ Kaveh breaks the kiss with the words— something he doesn't actually want to do, if he's honest, but is serving in the moment as a type of punishment— and he pulls back to look down at Alhaitham, hand shifting back to thumb and tug at the scribe's lower lip. The close way the other man holds him, and the low, purposeful dip of the hand at his spine don't help, very much make him want to give in and kiss him until they're both breathless; but at least for now his willpower holds, carmine eyes taking in the other's features as he holds his face just out of reach. ]
This morning, yes. But we both know that last night called for no such thing.
[ Hadn't he only just decided to take mercy on Alhaitham in regards to this exact topic? Yet it's a mercy pushed aside in favor of teasing, his free hand moving to splay wide over the other's chest, the fingers at his mouth giving another little tug at his lower lip. That possessive darkness that had glimmered in the air as clearly as the tell-tale lights of Alhaitham's Vision— yes, it's still very much something Kaveh wants to unwrap. Even if it means teasing him about it. ]
You can call it "taking out the trash" as much as you want, but you should at least admit that you were jealous. [ Something of a playful, teasing light glimmers behind ruby irises as he thumbs at Alhaitham's lip again. ] ...Mm, you could even say I demand it.
[ Translation: no, he's not out of demands. Nor is he ever likely to be, at least when it comes to the man spread out underneath him right now, all silver hair and contented face and muscled body. ]
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[ he asks incredulously, turquoise eyes cracking open slightly and staring down long lashes at the crimson eyes just inches away from his own. sometimes - okay, a lot of the time, things come out of kaveh's mouth that throw alhaitham for a loop because of the sheer ridiculousness of the statements. the scribe hadn't been a 'relationship person' (until now, apparently), but envy was generally a rather undesirable trait. so, he looks down at kaveh with that trademark expression of skepticism as his hand continues downwards - over the small of his back, and stopping just at the hem of his underwear. ]
I don't see how that would benefit you or me - nor me stating as such.
[ because the jealousy that kaveh triggers in him is fierce, wild, and it triggers feelings so intense in the scribe that even he would worry about truly losing control - about wielding whatever power was at his disposal as a means to an end to assert to the world in general that the blonde was his and no-one else's.
exhaling in a sigh, alhaitham briefly considers raising his free hand to flick kaveh in the forehead for suggesting such a stupid thing, but the comfort of their current arrangement is getting the better of him. instead, his eyes drift over the beautiful, angular face in front of him in a way that always makes him look as if he's committing it to memory. ]
As for last night, it absolutely called for it. Your door always sticks.
[ alhaitham murmurs, voice low as if challenging kaveh to dare take this further - and then he presses a soft kiss to the pad of the blonde's thumb, still lingering against the corner of his mouth. ]
Grandiose conclusions are certainly your specialty, though.
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Like the fury burning in his eyes as the light of his Vision shimmered in the darkness of Kaveh's room. Or the firm lips and scraping teeth leaving marks to replace those the architect so thoughtlessly paraded in front of him. ]
Maybe I do.
[ He would clarify it further, really he would— Alhaitham's comment requires a rebuttal, after all, an explanation— but he's distracted by the hand now resting just over the hem of his underwear, the searching drift of the scribe's eyes over his face, the soft purse of lips against his thumb—
and then by the insistence that last night did call for it, that his door sticks, and Kaveh almost laughs, stopped in the end only by the challenge in Alhaitham's voice, the low tone making a shiver of attraction reverberate down his spine.
And oh, he's not one to back down from a challenge. ]
How strange— [ he murmurs, thumb pressing a little more firmly to the plushness of his lower lip, free hand drawing idle patterns along lines of muscle, ] —that despite it always sticking, the one night you decided to actually go ahead and kick it in was the same night you felt the need to insist that the only person who should be touching me is you...
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It was punctuation to a point. [ he states flatly, hooded turquoise eyes flickering with the beginnings of a dark heat. ] The point being, you flaunting yourself being tangled up in someone else simply to crawl under my skin. Kicking down a door seemed justified.
[ the hand on kaveh's lower back sinks further southwards, looping around the angular jut of his hips and pulling him flush against him in a strong movement, arm flexing. recalling the previous night still stirred up a tempest of feelings too wild for him to entirely control, and there's a flash of something unreadable that crosses his face as his other hand raises to hold kaveh's chin.
their faces are so close there's only a hair's breadth and change between them, giving alhaitham a captive audience. ]
I'd do it again. [ the scribe murmurs, voice low and husky. he repeats; ] I'd do it again because I was emphatically correct - the only person who should be touching you is me.
[ long fingers curl into the muscle of kaveh's backside possessively as his eyes meet the blonde's crimson unflinchingly. ]
Do you disagree?
no subject
It's unfair, he thinks, how easily the scribe can catch him off-guard.
But he was the one who brought them here, and he's not about to back down, even though the husky sound of his roommate's voice makes him want to give himself over without a second thought, when the flash behind the emerald of his eyes turns Kaveh's insides to jelly.
There's a small part of him tempted to tease Alhaitham further, to disagree with him simply to rile him up further, but he rejects it— for one because this thing between them is still too new for him to feel comfortable testing it, and also because for once in his life he doesn't know what he would say to counter the other when he is indeed so emphatically correct.
Kaveh doesn't want anyone else.
His smile is slow, a teasing answer to the scribe's possessive grip, and he thumbs at the other's mouth before withdrawing his hand, inching close enough that his lips ghost over Alhaitham's when he finally answers him. His other hand resumes its halted pattern over that broad chest as the architect slides a leg between the other's knees. ]
For once, I think you'll find we're in perfect agreement. [ A pause, crimson eyes searching the darkened expression written over the other's sharp features, and whether he's taking pity on him or oversharing even Kaveh isn't entirely sure, but he continues: ] You know, when you kicked down the door, it was the first time all night I actually felt something.
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it's an internal war that he's fighting beyond the stoic expression he's wearing, but his grip softens imperceptibly as the blonde affirms him, slinking a leg inbetween his all litheness and grace. unfair, for someone who was nursing a world-ending hangover. ]
Even the planets align once every two hundred years, [ the scribe murmurs flippantly back against kaveh's soft lips, hot breath mingling in a heady way that encourages him to do pretty much anything other than have a catnap. ] I suppose today is simply that day.
[ and then that lyrical voice keeps talking, musing as his fingers danced distraction over alhaitham's bare chest. for someone who prided themselves so wholly on focus and objectivity, it was hard to keep his mind in that detached, neutral state when kaveh was splayed over him like this, spouting things so charming that alhaitham's unsurprised how easily he'd been able to snag whoever he'd wanted to bring home and paper over other problems.
and the touch - even that's enough to cloud his otherwise unaffected expression, because while he's not a true stranger to intimacy, dalliances were far different to being handled by the man on top of him.
he's sure this new blindspot in his emotional armour would cause trouble for him somehow later on, but right now, the scribe is finding it very hard to care as his free hand reaches up and sinks into kaveh's soft blonde hair. for a second he pauses - and then gently tugs the messy bun free, causing golden locks to cascade downwards.
beautiful, like all those paintings the other liked to harp on so much about. ]
Are you sure you weren't just feeling the foundations of the house shake?
[ the scribe replies in that signature matter-of-fact tone as he tucks the locks obscuring those beautiful ruby eyes behind kaveh's ear. ]
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And the truth is, maybe he is pushing things a little too far for someone who's as hungover as he is. But his secret— which isn't really a secret? He's often hungover. That, and it's hard to focus on the woes of feeling ill when he has an incredibly attractive man spread out under him, teasing him with words and mouth and hands alike, a man who he's wanted for longer than he's even sure he can quantify... only that it's a long, long time.
What's said next, though, makes him roll his eyes and shove playfully at that broad, naked chest as he scoffs. ]
Aren't you the one who goes around telling people you're some kind of "feeble scholar"? And now you think you're powerful enough that you made the foundations shake? I know adrenaline boosts strength and all, but that's still a mighty rich claim...
[ This time, when Kaveh closes the space between their mouths, it's more of a bite than a kiss, dragging the other's lower lip in his teeth as he pulls back, a glint behind his crimson pupils. ]
Either you're arrogant enough to think you know what I felt better than me, or you were far angrier by what you saw than you let on.
[ The words are punctuated with a slow, teasing smile, his knee inching closer toward the crux of the space between Alhaitham's thighs, his mouth dipping to run a trail of wet kisses (and the occasional punishing nip of teeth) from the corner of the other's mouth to his jaw. ]
Which is it, scribe?
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Honestly, how much force do you think it takes to break a door down? Even you could do it... probably.
[ after all, the less intimately people knew his power, the better - alhaitham had no desire for reknown, or awe, or any of the above - so the 'feeble scholar' bit served him well. at least, until kaveh and their other close acquaintances had decided to start making a show of debating who'd best who in a fight loudly in public settings, emboldened by the resolution of the archon's situation and the akademiya's own dramas.
he's about to start again with some contrary epithet but kaveh closes the scant distance between them with a swift kiss and the quick sting of teeth against his lips, causing his train of thought to be soundly derailed. frustrating.
of course, the blonde is testing him, pushing the boundaries of their bickering now that they could be explored further, and the scribe can't help but let a soft hiss of what could only be described as pleasure escape his mouth as he's caged in. grazing kisses trail over his jawbone and a slim knee presses gently into his groin, kaveh suddenly everywhere - challenging him with that musical voice, which only sounded more lewd for how it was buried against his skin.
it happens in the blink of an eye, really. unlike kaveh, alhaitham only had minor fatigue weighing him down and not a night full of bottom shelf liquor - and if he wanted an answer from him, would it not be rude to deny one?
kaveh's so light to him that it's easy to leverage his core strength and flip their positions, muscle flexing as large hands encircle the architect's shoulders and pin him down into the mattress on his back in a fluid movement. there's still very little distance between them, but now the taller man is hovering above him, thighs on either side of kaveh's hips as if to cage him in himself.
silver hair brackets his face as he gazes back into those crimson eyes with an inscrutable look. it was never a great idea to challenge the scribe of the akademiya, but then again, they were both stubborn until the end. ]
Perhaps I was both. [ he offers, one hand reaching forward to grasp kaveh's chin in a gentle but firm grip. ] On one hand, the Akademiya was very eager to give this house away, so I can only assume there was some catch or another - perhaps skimping on the foundational structure, or using lacklustre materials. If the door came off so easily, I imagine it'd take little more force to shake the rest of the structure, don't you agree?
[ for a moment, it looks as though he's going to soundly kiss the other - but instead, alhaitham's head cocks to the side, his mouth grazing hotly against kaveh's ear instead. so strange to see him without his earrings in - ornate jewellery always suited him so well - but that in itself opened up other... possibilities. ]
On the other hand - yes. I was angry. [ his voice is a low whisper now, lips brushing against the shell of the architect's ear before biting his earlobe gently as if emphasising his point. ] Was that what you wanted to hear? That I'd happily tear the house down if it meant getting you out of the arms of another man?
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(Silenced in his efforts, but not voice; there's a definite yelp as he's flipped downward, and then a shaky exhale when the grasp of his chin guides him to meet the inscrutable glint in those emerald eyes more directly than he may have otherwise.)
Kaveh reaches, his arms circling Alhaitham's lower back, fingers splaying across the broad expanse of muscle. ]
That's a lot of assumption for someone likes to deal in facts, [ he rasps out, filling the gaps between Alhaitham's words with a voice breathier than he would like— but to be fair, how can he help it when he's being looked at like that, like the scribe is about to kiss the life out of him? ] Perhaps it would behoove you to investigate and find answers, rather than simply— guess—?
[ The last syllable of his speech comes out more whimper than word when he feels the scribe's heated breath against his ear, his body answering the sensation with a tremble running down through his spine. His eyes close, and it's a mistake because it lets him hear Alhaitham's whispered words more clearly, enhances the impact of that emphasizing bite, and his answer before he can recover himself is naught more than a hitch of his breath, a tremble of his fingers across the small of the other man's back.
It's unfair, how easy it is for Alhaitham to reduce him to this.
Still, he wouldn't be him if he didn't have an answer stored up for that question, and so when he recovers enough to think, his eyes blink back open, fingers trailing up Alhaitham's back to the nape of his neck, threading through his hair. ]
Maybe it is. [ His gaze slides to the side, looking at the scribe as well as their position allows. How does he explain how attractive it is— how does he even begin to explain why it's attractive in the first place? ] You said I should be yours— Knowing you would tear down the house to prove it— to keep me—
[ He chuckles, a breathless sound. ]
You're the one person I can't figure out, but seeing you angry like that, I felt like I'd gotten beneath the surface, at least a little bit. [ He pauses, eyes twinkling with mirth despite the gentle sweetness of the words having just left his lips. ] Also, it's kind of hot when you go all spinokrok-brain.
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[ kaveh's reactions don't escape the scribe's watchful gaze as he draws back a couple of inches to face the other again. once more, those artistic fingers are dancing across his bare skin and slinking up into his now-dry hair, the touch making him want to shiver despite the room becoming stuffy from the trapped heat of the midday sun. he's not used to people touching him in general, but to weather kaveh's touch without breaking?
it's a challenge. ]
I don't lie. [ a beat, deadpan. ] And the house can be replaced.
[ - is his simple response to the recollection of his words from the previous night, because he has nothing to recant or defend. alhaitham isn't familiar to fury, but he knows the taste of it - which is less than he can say for jealousy or insecurity. whatever he had said last night was stated fact and nothing less, something that's only ramified by the quiet, deep swell of his heart as he watches the blonde quietly laugh.
oh, this would cause problems.
then kaveh says he can't figure him out, which puzzles alhaitham because it's quite the contrary - it feels like despite their polar opposites and misaligned points of view, only kaveh had ever come close. or perhaps he'd only come close because he'd been the only one who'd given enough of a shit to deal with an attitude that only ever put others off.
either way, the final comment throws him for a second because the scribe is genuinely at a loss as to whether he should be flattered or insulted. his expression is bemused as he looks down at kaveh, the pad of his thumb reaching to brush over the blonde's bottom lip - but there's a hint of amusement buried in there. ]
I'm on top of you pouring my heart out and you compare me to a swamp dweller? Unbelievable.
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[ The complaint is quickly forgotten in the face of the other's gaze, though, and Kaveh finds himself looking back at Alhaitham with a fond smile on his lips. The hand in his hair drifts to brush at the side of his face, pushing back some stray silver strands and generally just enjoying the sensation of the other's pale skin under his fingers.
This is so much nicer than anything he dreamed about. Not that he could ever have imagined this, lying in bed enjoying laughs and smiles with someone who up until now has served mostly as a point of frustration. Teasing, but knowing it's taken the way it's meant and not read in some horribly wrong way. Knowing that Alhaitham wants him here, that he isn't just some thorn in the other's side.
Warmed, Kaveh laughs again when the scribe complains at his choice of words, and his mouth purses briefly against the finger at his bottom lip, a slight shake of his head as his expression turns only more adoring, a softness in his eyes as they search over the other's face. ]
Idiot. Don't go twisting my words when I'm trying to compliment you. Besides— [ and his eyes sparkle with mirth, a warning perhaps of brattiness to come ] —I'm not the one who called you only decent. Clearly, your offense is the worse of the two!
[ With that said, he reaches to tug Alhaitham's thumb from his mouth, using the hand buried in his hair to pull him closer and into a kiss, a smile pulling at the corners of his lips. ]
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[ even if kaveh is objectively correct.
true compliments still don't come as easy to alhaitham as they would to a normal person - he simply doesn't see the majority of the purpose in giving or receiving them. if it's not objective fact, then it's simply pandering to an ego, something which was incredibly popular among the ranks of the akademiya's insecure. he'd operated most of his life not requiring the validation of others; not particularly caring about what people might think of him, or the whispers they wove behind his back.
but, strangely? hearing words of praise from kaveh rang differently to those who used them only to get something from him, or his position.
it was an odd feeling. ]
As usual, you choose to interpret meaning in the most abstract way possible. [ alhaitham admonishes, his hand moving slowly across kaveh's skin to cup his cheek instead. a thumb traces his cheekbone as the scribe gazes down at him, as impassive as ever. ] I could, of course, start referring to you only by your popular title, 'the Light of the Kshahrewar' -
[ though before he's allowed to continue what could be the start of a very impressive sarcastic tirade, he's silenced by a pull downwards, his lips meeting kaveh's in a sound kiss. sometimes it's so easy to forget how strong the man underneath him actually is - for all his dancer's grace and light weight, he's almost entirely smooth, lean muscle.
kaveh. so full of contradictions and impossibilities, such a dichotomy of frustration and joy: a puzzle, all for him to figure out, and alhaitham was going to spend his time meticulously doing so.
so when the blonde tugs him down, the scribe stops thinking, thinking and overthinking for once - instead, simply gives in and returns the kiss with a dizzying passion, tongue snaking over teeth and hand threading into golden hair to deepen it. all his pillars of wisdom give way to instinct instead, his free hand snaking down the edge of kaveh's jaw, across his collarbone and coming to rest on the angle of his shoulder in a comforting grip.
when they break apart for a heated moment, his graveled voice murmurs against raw lips; ]
Offensive that the Kshahrewar gets to claim you as their light anyway, [ alhaitham whispers with a hint of annoyance, nose brushing against nose. ] when really, you're mine.
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But he's rewarded in his moderation with a returned kiss that has little restraint, a dizzying press of Alhaitham's lips and tongue into his, and Kaveh lets out a trembling sigh as he answers in kind, and his free hand slides down the scribe's side and around his waist, holding him closer now in two places. By the time Alhaitham pulls back from him, his breath is ragged, gusting in short bursts over the other's as he speaks, and it's all Kaveh can do not to chase him, allowing himself to breathe instead.
And then Alhaitham says something that has his eyebrows raise, curiosity in his eyes. ] Why? [ he asks before the other can finish speaking, and he's about to say more but the scribe is finishing his sentence, and Kaveh can only stare for a moment, caught somewhere between embarrassed, touched, and amused, the myriad of emotions playing themselves out over his face.
Little does he realize that the annoyance creeping into the other's whispered voice is genuine, something that might be evident in the way he chuckles, presses a teasing kiss to those red lips and nips at the lower, ruby eyes sparkling with a playful light. ]
Belonging to my darshan is a very different thing to belonging to you, [ he answers lowly, that same amusement in his voice, fingers soothing an intricate pattern over the other man's hip. ] And in their defense, they made their claim a lot earlier than you did.
[ At least in this, he thinks, Alhaitham will have to share him. But that's not a big deal, is it?
A pause, and then: ]
Also, unlike some people, they're willing to acknowledge my status as a genius.
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[ and then he lets the other free of the cage he'd created around him with his body, sinking back into the mattress on his side - but pulling the blonde into his arms as he settles. alhaitham's words might be acerbic, but his touch was strong and gentle as his face presses into that crown of soft, golden hair, a sigh escaping his lips that sounds almost like contentment. ]
I probably still have some sway after my stint as the Grand Sage, [ a measured voice murmurs against kaveh, impossible to tell if he was actually being serious or not. ] Perhaps I could have a word with Kshahrewar - we could even come to some sort of agreement.
[ the midday sun was doing nothing to help fend off the encroaching fatigue, the warmth, comfort and proximity of his partner (if that's what they were calling it) a soporific combination. weekends were designed for self-indulgence, and alhaitham was exactly where he wanted to be.
idly, his fingers stroke down the small of kaveh's back in a soothing, repetitive rhythm. ]
They get you weekdays and I, weekends.
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Never before now has he been able to just lie in bed and not worry about something— about work, about mora. Even with other partners he's found himself restless, trying to initiate something extra or even getting out of bed to cook. Lying around in bed has always been his roommate's thing, not his, and yet—
Really, Kaveh can't imagine he'd rather be anywhere else. Between the soft sigh on Alhaitham's lips and the rhythm of fingers at his back, paired with the idle ridiculousness of the words on his tongue, the architect feels like he could lie here forever.
It's in the spirit of that feeling that he lets the comments about his intellect go— someday he'll have Alhaitham admit it out loud, screw this internal validation thing— and instead just presses his own face into the hollow of the scribe's throat, a soft chuckle on his lips, lazy kisses left sweetly against the skin. ]
If I get to have a say in this— [ he murmurs, a playful lilt in his voice, ] —I would suggest that you each "get" me full time, but in different ways. Experience has shown that you and I shouldn't work together, after all, and quite frankly I'd rather not be like this with any of my colleagues.
[ A tilt of his head and a graze of his lips along the bottom of Alhaitham's chin emphasize his statement. ]
What say you, O Grand Scribe?
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[ but the calm atmosphere that had fallen over the two of them is enough to assuage the jealousy such a thought could trigger, the scribe's eyes sliding closed as being awake becomes too much of a chore. between the almost-stuffy warmth of the room and kaveh's lyrical voice reverberating against his skin as he peppered gentle touches across it, alhaitham hadn't really a hope of fighting off the nap he'd unceremoniously dragged the blonde in here for. ]
We'll see, light of Kshahrewar.
[ he murmurs against the crown of kaveh's head, the scribe's voice somehow losing some of its insufferable edge now that he was falling asleep. because of that, it's hard to tell if he's using the other's title as a sarcastic response or a genuine compliment considering the knowledge he now had that kaveh actually liked the name.
no further inquiry would be had either, because aside from a kiss so soft on the side of kaveh's temple that one might imagine it had simply not existed, alhaitham's breathing slows to a steady rhythm that suggests he's completely, immovably asleep.
if he stirs, it's only to subconsciously pull the other closer to him. ]