sempiternals | Hang up all my fragile thoughts

[A moment of silence, granted to the coffee grinder, as he twists and swivels it manually instead of using an electrical one. Alhaitham nods, tilts his head as he measures the amount of coffee to be placed into a French press. He feels like drinking something a bit stronger, today.

Focus.]

I was not going to leave you sleeping on the floor.

[ Archons.

It's not like Kaveh can ever read Alhaitham, he thinks, but now just seems so much worse than normal. After an embarrassed, discomfited moment of silence, he pushes himself off the counter and takes a few steps forward, not drawing too close to the other lest he make him uncomfortable, but close enough that he—

that why? Does he need to be this close? ]

I'm sorry. [ The words are blurted out before he can stop them, emotion making his voice catch. ] I don't... I feel like I took advantage of you, and.. and I'm sorry.

[He has poured the warm water into the container and pressed the filter slowly to allow the coffee to bleed through. Suddenly Kaveh's voice sounds closer.

Alhaitham frowns, turns around to face him.

He feels weak to the knees, he wants to reach out immediately, stroke his hair, stroke his cheek.

Instead, he only shakes his head, puzzled.] You didn't. You don't have to apologize. In fact, I have to be the one to apologize. I told you I would not act on it unless you wanted me to.

[ Oh, no. Being this close to him was a mistake. Even written half with sleep as he is so early in the morning— ah, and why is he up at this hour anyway?— Alhaitham looks good, serious and soft in a way the blonde never could have imagined before they came to know one another that little bit better. Maybe it's just impulses left over from last night, but—

Kaveh takes a sharp breath. ]

You don't have to apologize either. I knew what you wanted to do, and I didn't.. I didn't stop... I even told you it was okay. I don't think that was fair for me to do, considering everything.

[In the end, Alhaitham does reach for Kaveh, but only to gently flick a strand of hair that was swooped onto the wrong side of his usual parting, still messy from the morning—and a shower, as the strand feels damp on his finger.]

You made sure to let me know how you felt beforehand. I may have acted impulsively, but I'm still accountable. [After that, he decides to brace himself back against the counter, before his hands get the better of him again.] Do you regret it?

[ And Kaveh— Kaveh's eyes close against his will, a slight tilt of his head into that touch before it withdraws, and he blinks them open again in mortification, eyes averted from the other's face for a moment or two as he catches himself. ]

No, it's really—

[ He's still caught on the apology when Alhaitham's next question comes, and Kaveh's cheeks flare pink as his lips part on an answer he doesn't know how to say.

No, he wants to say, I don't regret it; actually, I want to kiss you again right now—

But— ]

It's complicated, [ is what he says instead, taking a shallow breath and closing his eyes. ] It's not that I regret it. I don't. But.. I have feelings for that guy I told you about. And I'm seeing him tonight. And..

[ And fuck the whole thing is so confusing...! ]

Kaveh…

[He reaches for him again. This time, he does let his hand linger on his nape, thumb rubbing into the scalp in what he hopes is soothing. Nothing about the action makes sense except that Kaveh seems to relish more on being grounded by touch.] I know.

[He does know. He knows more than Kaveh thinks, but somehow he can't really say that. A lot of it could become more complicated if he approached it.] And it's alright. You didn't use me, and I don't want to be a deterrent to your relationship, I'm happy just supporting you in whatever way you'd like.

[ And once again, Kaveh can't help himself. His eyes close, his head tilts into Alhaitham's touch; there's a soft sigh on his lips that he can't stop, something lingering and content as he rests against the other.

It makes no sense, he thinks, that the other man can have feelings for him but encourage the relationship Kaveh has already started to form. That he's okay with Kaveh kissing him, making out with him, falling apart under his touch and his movement all the while insisting that it means nothing.

(But does it?
Fuck, he wants to cry.)

Before he can stop himself, Kaveh leans forward, presses a soft kiss to the corner of Alhaitham's mouth. ]

I feel like I should have something to say, but I.. I guess I don't know what.

[Oh.

Of all reactions, he's not expecting that. It marvels him, how Kaveh melts under his touch, softens and surrenders and leans in—

And then presses the cutest of kisses.

Alhaitham sighs, drops his hand. But only to curl his arms around Kaveh's shoulders and bring him close to a hug.]

Then don't. That's alright, too.

Okay. [ He leans in, curling himself into the other and tucking his head onto his shoulder, breathing in softly as he nods. ] Okay, I won't.

[ And yet, even as he says it, he feels like he's still not saying enough. Like there's something else that is stretching between them, waiting for more to come to the light...

A breath, and he presses in closer. ]

I..

He said it was okay, you know. What happened with you and me. We're... we're gonna talk about it but.. I guess he didn't mind.

[Knowing that this situation is temporary only makes Alhaitham wish for a resolution, but at the same time, Kaveh feels nice and warm against him, the proximity of them the most comforting thing since he fell into his own bed.

He hums, tilting his head again, but this time making it so he can rest his temple against Kaveh's.] Does it bother you?

[ In response to Alhaitham's question, Kaveh finds a frown forming on his face.

It does bother him.

Maybe he has no right to feel like that, especially when he's the one going around making out with other people, but... ]

I guess I don't really understand his feelings. He's pretty private. I know he likes me, but... [ He shrugs a little, helpless. ] When I like someone, I don't want them to be with anyone else. Maybe it's just me being selfish, but..

You expected him to be upset about it.

[Gently, he strokes his hair, thinking about how else he could have replied to Kaveh as Euler. But then again, he couldn't really be upset or pretend to be. Not when Kaveh was thinking that he technically cheated on him with himself. Not when Kaveh was a streamer, who exposed his own vulnerabilities for others and money. And yet, Alhaitham knows that Kaveh is valid to want some sort of exclusivity.] Maybe affection doesn't necessarily mean ownership for him.

[He clears his throat, explaining.] I mean, I've read about how truly liking someone means to like them with their idiosyncrasies, not despite them. [He pulls back to peer back at Kaveh.] He seems willing to listen, maybe give him that expectation.

You..

[ Kaveh stares at Alhaitham in wordless silence for a moment before he looks away again, that frown still gracing his features. Everything the other man says makes sense, and yet he can't help but feel that something about it is strange, that there's something he's missing. Even as Alhaitham says all of this.. ]

Are you able to see that in him because you're the same? [ he asks after a moment, unknowingly saying something liable to give the other man a moment of brief panic before he continues. ] It seems like it... I mean, you're supporting me, you're encouraging me to go for him, and yet you say you like me too, so.. I guess that's kind of the same thing. Right?

[ Because he did. He did expect Euler to be upset. He expected Alhaitham to be upset. Neither of them seems particularly bothered by the fact that they're not the only one in Kaveh's sights. ]

[His eyebrows arch.

Very clever. Strikingly clever, even. But this was part of why Alhaitham was finding himself drawn to Kaveh in the first place. He knows that perhaps his desire for a quick resolution will eventually happen, if Kaveh remains like this.

And that, somehow, makes it more exciting. He only hopes it doesn't light up a bridge between them enough to become a fire.]

You're wrong. [Bluntly said. And yet, Alhaitham's eyes narrow with fondness. The hand on Kaveh's hair drops to the small of his back, splayed wide. Firm.] If we go by what I want, and what I want alone, I wouldn't let you leave this building today.

[His thumb still swipes across the thin fabric of Kaveh's shirt.] But I know it's not just what I want that matters. I'm happy with a compromise.

[ You're wrong, Alhaitham says, and a hand drops to the small of his back and presses firm against him, and Kaveh's eyes widen.

Oh.

He's not sure why, but the blunt tone of the other's voice sends tingles down his spine. The idea that if Alhaitham were to have his way, Kaveh wouldn't leave the building at all. The understanding that he...

Fuck, what's wrong with him? Is he really that selfish? That needy for attention? It's almost embarrassing, and yet even as he stands here, wrapped up in the other, only one thing comes to mind, words that rise to his lips before he can stop himself: ]

Let me— let me talk to him about it. To Euler. If he.. if he's serious, and he really doesn't mind, I... I don't see why you couldn't keep me to yourself tomorrow instead.

[ Archons, wasn't it just weeks ago that he thought he hated this man? What has happened to him? ]

[This man will be the death of him. Alhaitham's hand, the other still braced back against the counter, holding himself back with a vice grip, slides up the length of the architect's spine, feeling each bump and dent along the middle of his back with his fingers. He drops his head, resting his forehead against Kaveh's. And sighs, a deep breath that flutters the veil of restraint in his body, even if he stares at Kaveh's lips intently and he needs to swallow hard.] I'm looking forward to it.

[ It's yet another thing Kaveh isn't sure about, the need to hold back a soft sound at the sensation of fingers dragging against his spine. A shudder of delight passes through it in response to the other's sound, though, the deep breath against his lips even as those coppery emerald eyes settle on them, the outright statement of his anticipation. It makes Kaveh want to kiss him, to give in to everything Alhaitham told him he wants—

But he has his date, and he wants so desperately to see Euler; he's missed him all this time, he's been waiting...

It's all Kaveh can do to summon up one strong breath and take a step back, withdrawing slightly no matter how much he finds he wants to stay. ]

I'll.. [ Deep breaths. ] I'll tell you what he and I discuss. Okay?

[How interesting, that he finds himself smiling even if Kaveh steps away, even if he can witness the foolishness of holding back in the line of his shoulders, in the heave of his breath. Alhaitham reaches out again, but this time to stroke his cheek, and down his neck, to squeeze his shoulder. He nods.]

Alright. I'll be waiting.

[Some hours later, he finds himself with dark hair dye in his hair and wiping the remains of it that seem to seep onto his scalp for no reason. He's frowning as he rubs his hairline with a towel. It seems to do the job relatively well, even if the towel needs to go to the wash right away.

He leans over his sink, contemplating, eyes fixed on the mirror but not the reflection it casts. He's a bit concerned about the complications of their situation. He thought that, his own feelings aside, Kaveh wouldn't show much interest in Alhaitham as Alhaitham. Surely, some attraction was present between them—it's why it became messy in the first place—but Alhaitham had expected the architect to shun him in that regard.

Well, he'll figure things out one step at a time.

All that introspection has him knock on the door of the club's room, one he reserved in advance to ensure they have everything they need. Fortunately he could explain that they were working on their contracts, and they provided everything - a small desk table, two chairs, pens and extra papers, a guidebook that they could consult.

Not that he looks straight at it, he's too fixated on how Kaveh—Pharos—looks.]

Hi, [he sighs with a smile.]

[ The day goes by in a strange mix of anticipation and trepidation. The whole time, Kaveh is so, so eager to see Euler— and yet he's nervous too, worried about what the other might think about what's happening with Alhaitham, or that their contracts won't match up well, or that something else will go wrong and ruin the night before it can even really begin. And so when he arrives at the private room Euler booked in advance for them, he finds himself pacing instead of sitting at the desk table, moving back and forth across the floor as he chews on his glossed lower lip and tries to calm down.

And then there's a knock on the door and he's not alone anymore, and Kaveh's stomach does a series of flips that he's sure could win first place in a tournament. He moves to answer the door, mask affixed carefully to his face, a sheer, glittery black shirt barely providing any modesty and form-fitting black trousers practically clinging to his legs. His hair is his natural blonde, down around his face. His eyes are purple. ]

Hi.

[ His voice is a whisper as he steps aside to allow the other to come in. Part of him wants to close the distance, to move between them and wrap his arms around Euler— but anxiety has him wait, has him smiling and watching and waiting to see how the other will react to someone who just last night made out with someone else entirely. ]

You look really good. And, um. They... they set up a table and chairs for us. I guess so we can go over the contracts.

[Like a skittish wild animal that doesn't know if the forest's visitor will do him harm, Kaveh's shoulders are hunched under the glimmer of his see-through shirt, his lower lip reddish, the gloss almost gone.

Alhaitham reaches for him, gently guiding his wrists closer by circling his fingers around them, stepping in, closing that distance, just enough to keep Kaveh in place before he leans in and kisses him sweetly.]

I see, [he says, eyes still fixated onto Pharos, warm, tender, before he kisses him again.] Hi, baby.

[ For a singular moment, Kaveh isn't entirely sure how Euler will react to him.

And yet he seems totally himself. The reach, the circled fingers around his wrists, holding him closer before he kisses him, making Kaveh's breath catch. The taste, the sensation— it's all familiar ~~in more ways than one~~. He reels, leaning into him, all but swooning into his arms. ]

Hi, Mister E. [ Another whisper. ] I missed you. I'm.. I'm really glad you're here.

[ I was worried, he wants to say, but he doesn't, instead just leaning up to kiss him once more. ]

[There's something to kissing Pharos as Euler, as though there's nothing holding them back, as though it's familiar, and yet free. Alhaitham's hands skim over Kaveh's sides, feeling the fabric of the shirt as he tilts his head, deepens the kiss just an increment to get a better taste of the gloss.]

Hm, [he hums, bringing his hands to Kaveh's cheeks and setting him in place as though kissing him felt like an indulgence (it is). He smiles, taunting Pharos' lips apart, nipping them gently, suckling on his tongue.] I missed you, too. I dreamed of this.

Mnn.

[ Kaveh's hum in reply is one of sweet content, the parting of his lips all too willing and a tremble in his spine. Euler's words bring a hint of alarm though, and he's quick to free one wrist from the other, doing his best to turn the tables and to catch the other man's wrist in his hand instead. ]

But no tickling.

[ A pause, because even as Kaveh says it he's confident he won't get what he wants on that front. He sighs, tilting his head to give Euler more freedom, to step forward so he can slide a leg around behind the other, drawing them closer together. ]

At least not until we've talked about everything.

Aw, [he taunts, though he chuckles, opting to wrap his arms around Pharos instead, to hold him close, not even leaving enough space to speak without brushing their lips together.] But you were laughing so cutely.

[Another soft, deep kiss, and Alhaitham takes a deep breath. Reaches to stroke that lovely hair of his. He has a penchant for it, it seems, as well as for his hands. He thinks it shows but he doesn't care.] Do you want to do that now?

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