Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Alhaitham wanted to live a peaceful life. A well-paying job, some work-life balance, a decent house in the vicinity of his workplace and some peace and quiet was all he needed. There was nothing else he wanted. Companionship was unnecessary, fame was a hassle, and leadership positions were more trouble than what they were worth. No, he just wanted a perfectly average life so that he could live out his days peacefully, with the freedom to do as he pleased. There was no room in his heart for anything else.

Most people don’t understand this sentiment. But they don’t need to. These were the goals Alhaitham had set for himself, and he was going to achieve them no matter what. Nothing was going to change his mind.

Or so he thought.

The view outside Aaru Village was foreign to Alhaitham. He had never set foot outside of the rainforest. This would be the first time he would ever be journeying to an environment that was vastly different from what he was used to. One could see the old structures of the ruins peaking over the horizon of the desert.

“Isn’t this exciting?” Kaveh came up from behind him. “I’ve never been to the desert.”

Alhaitham turned away from the window to face Kaveh, stepping aside to silently invite his senior to join him. He took the invitation and came up to the window, looking out with wide eyes. He was surprised that Kaveh was so elated to be out in the desert. The talk of the Akademiya was that his father had died out there and that death affected his remaining family. One would think that approaching the very area that claimed one’s father would have more reservations, but Alhaitham was witnessing the opposite. Perhaps he was hiding some of his true feelings regarding the situation. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s attempted to hide them. Alhaitham made a mental note to address the situation at a later point. After all, Kaveh had asked him to work together on a project. If they were going to be a team, they had to be honest with each other.

“It’ll be both our first times,” Alhaitham answered as he peeked outside again.

“Your topic of choice was excellent, this is a nice challenge and any breakthroughs we have will be revolutionary,” Kaveh turned to him and gave him a smile. “I think we’re going to make a good team.”

Alhaitham’s lips turned upwards as he answered, “I think so too.”

“Anyway,” Kaveh turned away from Alhaitham to admire the stars once again, “it’s a shame everyone else isn’t able to go on this first trip. They’re missing out on the view.”

“They thought taking the venture would be too much,” Alhaitham shrugged. “At least they didn’t cancel last minute and try to push all the workload onto us.”

“Hey, don’t be harsh on the others. They’re trying their best. Next time they’ll tag along.”

There was a moment of silence shared between them. Their project which involved decoding the ancient scriptures left behind by King Deshret and discussing the architecture was not for faint hearted. The trips alone to the desert were going to be hard work. When some of the other students started backing out of the plans, Alhaitham suggested cancelling the trip entirely but Kaveh had insisted that they should at least go since they were the ones spearheading the assignment anyway. In the end, he relented, but that didn’t mean he still disapproved of the others’ actions. If they weren’t even up for taking trips to the land their project was based off of, he wasn’t sure how long these people were going to last.

“If they can’t even find it upon themselves to participate in something as simple as a trip, how are they going to handle the workload when the going gets tough? They’re going to drop like flies as soon as a problem is encountered,” Alhaitham argued.

“I don’t want to discuss this right now,” Kaveh huffed. “Can we please save it for another time? Let’s just go to bed, we have a big day tomorrow,” Kaveh yawned as he stretched his arms. “I don’t want to miss out on the sunrise by sleeping in. A classmate said it’s better than the ones in the city.”

Alhaitham glanced at Kaveh. He had an attractive face. One that was pleasing to look at. He’d dare say it was the most beautiful face he’d ever seen. Alhaitham wouldn’t describe himself as somebody who had many bodily desires, but looking at Kaveh made him believe he could. Or at least, if he had to choose someone, Kaveh wasn’t a bad option.

He was grateful that he had decided to look at Kaveh at that moment. It was by chance that he was able to quickly spot the strange light emitting around Kaveh. He opened his mouth to warn him but before any words could form the light grew brighter, forcing Alhaitham to look away.

When the light finally dispersed, Alhaitham turned his head to find that where Kaveh had stood just a moment ago was empty. In the blink of an eye, he was gone. Alhaitham’s blood ran cold. How could that be possible? Just a moment ago he was standing right before him!

“Kaveh?” He hesitantly called out.

There was no response.

Alhaitham ran out the door and began calling out his name in a hurry. His heart was beating erratically and he felt a large lump in his throat as he hurriedly ran around the house they were accommodated in. This couldn’t be. Nothing made sense. People don’t disappear in the blink of an eye, and yet that was exactly what Alhaitham witnessed a moment ago.

“Kaveh!” Alhaitham called out more assertively.

He was beginning to go over in his head all the possible things he could do to resolve the situation when he heard a knock on his door. Alhaitham turned toward the entrance of the house and stared at it in confusion. It was an odd hour for someone to be visiting, but then again, the neighbors seemed friendly. Perhaps this was someone who wanted to check up on the scholars before heading off to bed.

Taking a deep breath, Alhaitham composed himself and opened the door. Before him stood a familiar face. A face that belonged to someone he had witnessed disappear right in front of his eyes.

“Hey,” Kaveh awkwardly waved in front of him. “Mind letting me in?”

Upon second look, there was something off about the Kaveh before him. Yes, it was undeniably him. Nobody had shimmering blond hair or crimson eyes with a ceaseless fire burning inside them like him. He’d recognize those plump pink lips from anywhere. And yet, the person standing before him was a stranger all the same. He looked older, taller, and his voice was deeper. Not to mention the complete outfit change. He’d never seen Kaveh wear this outfit before, and he thought he’d seen it all. Something was not right, and a terrible feeling began to pit inside his stomach.

Alhaitham shut the door in Not-Kaveh’s face and turned away from it. His mind whirled in confusion. Just what was going on? Why was this stranger that looked just like Kaveh at his doorstep? What was even worse was that he had conveniently showed up after Kaveh disappeared. Who was this guy? And was he connected to Kaveh’s disappearance?

“Hey! Ugh, I forgot how much of an asshole you can be,” Not-Kaveh growled as he pounded on the door. “Open the fucking door, Alhaitham! It’s me, Kaveh!”

Alhaitham wanted to ignore it, but something inside of him was nagging to do it. He considered his options. Letting someone who looked like your only friend but older into your space was a recipe for disaster. There were a lot of reasons not to. Such as the fact that this person could have bad intentions. At the same time, the person could have answers to what happened to Kaveh.

He placed a hand on the knob and pressed his ear against the door.

“Are you really Kaveh?” he asked.

“Yes! I know it sounds crazy but I am truly your friend. Trust me!”

“Then, prove it.”

There was silence on the other side for a moment. Alhaitham was half-convinced that the person had given up. There, that was proof that this person wasn’t Kaveh. The Kaveh he knew was persistent, even if it was at his own expense. He was about to turn away from the door in satisfaction when…

“How old are you?”

“How is this relevant—

“Just answer my question.”

“Eighteen.”

“It’s been 15 years, so I can’t remember if you have told me this yet, but if you haven’t, you will soon,” he softly explained.

The tone sounded exactly like Kaveh when he was telling Alhaitham something serious. Humble, but affirmative, leaving no room to doubt that this was a conversation to be treated accordingly. But it was still gentle as if he were coaxing someone to relax. Like how one would talk to a skittish kitten when trying to get them to approach. It was working on him at the moment, despite the fact that he knew this wasn’t Kaveh speaking. They just sounded so alike, that Alhaitham couldn’t help himself from relaxing, giving in to the voice speaking to him.

“Your grandmother had a journal that you carry with you all the time now.”

“I carry a lot of books with me, what’s so special about this one?” Alhaitham asked.

“If you open to the title page there’s a message from her that was addressed to you.”

He reached into his bag and took out the journal this man was talking about. He opened to the title page and traced his hand along the lines left behind by his late grandmother.

“What was said?”

“She wished for you to live a peaceful life.”

It was as he said. He’s never told anyone about this, but if there was someone he was willing to share this information with, it was Kaveh. Considering what he said and his appearance, it was safe to conclude that this was Kaveh from the future. And if they were one and the same, that meant that the Kaveh on the other side of the door knew things that only his Kaveh would know, things that Alhaitham would be willing to tell him. Present or future, he knew that Kaveh was and for the foreseeable future was going to be the person closest to him. That was the only logical explanation as to how this person knew something that he kept guarded.

Giving in, he opened the door and allowed this man to come into the room.

“Thank you,” Kaveh sighed as he bolted over to the table and sat down. He heaved a sigh and rested his head against the table. “I know you have a million questions right now, and I’ll answer them, but I need a moment to breathe.”

Alhaitham watched as Kaveh took out a canteen and drank the contents inside. It was strange. This man had all the same mannerisms the Kaveh he knew had. It was reassuring in a way to know that the Kaveh in the future was still himself.

“Okay,” Kaveh sat up and patted the seat next to him. “You can ask away.”

“Are you the Kaveh of the future?” Alhaitham asked as he took his seat.

“Yes,” Kaveh answered.

“How is that possible?”

“Leyline disorders,” Kaveh began to explain. “It’s a long story but basically, somebody forgot to mark the date on the calendar and when we went out to study an unstable leyline, I got too close, got absorbed into it and before I knew it I landed here.”

“And where is my Kaveh?” Alhaitham asked.

“Your Kaveh?” A teasing grin formed on his face.

Alhaitham felt his ears turn red as he averted his eyes. “Don’t twist my words. You know exactly what I meant by that.”

Kaveh laughed. It was the exact same laugh his Kaveh had, except it was more open and carefree, not caring who could hear or see him in this state.

“I’m sorry, I just miss my cute little junior,” Kaveh said as he ruffled his hair. “You’re easier to tease than I remembered.”

“Can we get back on topic? I want to know if my friend is safe.”

“Yes, sorry, I can assure you he’s alright,” Kaveh said. “He’s with someone I trust.”

At that moment, Kaveh tucked a strand of his blonde hair behind his ear. As he did so, something on his finger began to shine and immediately caught Alhaitham’s eye. It was a ring. Kaveh of the future bore a ring on his finger. Was he married? And if he was, who was he married to? He wondered what kind of person Kaveh would decide to spend the rest of his life with. He deserved the best, someone who loved him unconditionally and treated him right.

His thoughts immediately wandered back to himself. He wondered what sort of person he was in the future. Was he still the same person? Had he become someone else? His mind went back to the ring on Kaveh’s finger, and more questions arose. Questions pertaining to his relationship with Kaveh in the future. Did they still talk? Was he still in Kaveh’s life? Were they even friends anymore?

Now that the questions have been thought of, they were burning inside Alhaitham’s mind and soul. He wanted to know the answers, he wanted to know if he was still relevant in Kaveh’s life—

His mind stopped in its tracks as realization dawned on him. Why did he care to know about his future relationship with Kaveh? And most importantly, why was he feeling so antsy about Kaveh being married to someone? They were nothing more than friends, and Alhaitham wasn’t interested in Kaveh in that way. Besides, the Kaveh of the future told him that his Kaveh was safe. He should be focusing on the present and acting accordingly instead of worrying about a future he had no business in knowing.

Alhaitham averted his eyes as he replied, “So the two of you switched places in the timeline?”

“Switched is a good way to put it, yes,” Kaveh nodded in agreement. “But don’t worry, this leyline effect won’t last forever. It’s only twenty-four hours.”

“I see,” Alhaitham answered, eyeing his senior. A full day with someone he knew well, but was at the same time a complete stranger. What a strange situation to be in.

“If I remember correctly, we were supposed to go on our first desert expedition tomorrow, right?” Kaveh asked.

Alhaitham nodded. “Are you going in your past self’s stead?”

“No,” Kaveh replied. “Surely you’ve heard of the theories on time travel, considering how much of a bookworm you are.”

“I’ve read them, but that doesn’t mean I agree with any of it. Until a few moments ago, I wasn’t sure if it was even possible.”

Most of the books he read on that topic were works of fiction anyway. Time travel was not considered a legitimate field of study at the Akademiya, and so most research on it had been confiscated and stored in the forbidden library. It would be nice to browse through that selection one day but that was only accessible by those who worked for the Akademiya.

Upon second thought, working for the Akademiya doesn’t seem too bad… especially if it allowed him access to the interesting research…

“Well, you should know that interfering with certain events can end up destroying the current path we are on, and I like my future very much, thank you. I’m leaving the entire project to its proper participants,” Kaveh gave Alhaitham a melancholic smile. “They should enjoy every moment they have.”

From the way he was looking at Alhaitham, one would think that there was some underlying message beneath the words. He had an inkling that those words were directed towards him but whatever the meaning behind those words had was lost on Alhaitham. Perhaps this was a message meant for future Alhaitham, one that only he would understand over time.

“Okay,” Kaveh stood up and began to stretch his arms. “I think that’s enough of an explanation for now. If everything goes smoothly, everyone will return to the right timeline by tomorrow night. Let’s get some shut-eye.”

Alhaitham watched him as he reached into his hair and began to take out his hair clips. He then began to undo the braid he had on the side of his hair. It was a familiar sight, another indication that the man in front of him was Kaveh.

Watching brought his attention back to that damned ring on his finger, still sparkling under the candlelight. His stomach began to twist in discomfort as the burning questions he had before returned to the forefront of his mind.

Noticing Alhaitham’s staring, Kaveh snorted and tied his hair up into a tiny ponytail.

“You’re not subtle at all,” Kaveh teased as he lifted his hand with the ring. “You’re curious about this aren’t you?”

“The Kaveh I know is single,” Alhaitham explained. “It’s…strange to see it.”

“Is it strange to see that I’m taken, or are you just jealous?” Kaveh chuckled.

Alhaitham felt his ears grow hot at that moment as he struggled to find the right words to say. The truth was that he didn’t know what he was feeling. All that he knew was the prospect of Kaveh being taken made his head hurt, his stomach twist, and his heart sink. Was this what jealousy felt like? But why be jealous? It wasn’t like he was in love with Kaveh.

Kaveh continued to snicker in amusement which only made Alhaitham more annoyed. What was so funny to him? What was he trying to hide from Alhaitham?

“I’m not married if that’s what you’re thinking about,” Kaveh explained as he stared down at his ring with a fond smile on his face. His crimson eyes were filled with so much love and adoration in them, that Alhaitham knew that the person who gave it to him was someone special. “He called it a promise ring. A reminder that no matter how many years go by, or whatever happens, he will still love me at the end of the day.”

The pit in Alhaitham’s stomach grew. He could tell by those words alone that this person Kaveh was talking about was just as in love with him. It was good. Great even. He deserved somebody who adored him. So why did Alhaitham feel like his heart was splitting apart?

“That guy is really lucky,” Alhaitham managed to say as he turned away from Kaveh. If he caught another glimpse of that ring, he might just explode.

“Yeah,” Kaveh sighed. Even though he couldn’t see his friend’s face, he knew he was still staring at the ring like a love-sick fool. “And I’m lucky to have him.”

Alhaitham stood up abruptly, still refusing to face Kaveh. He felt like he was going to be sick, his stomach uncomfortably twisting so much that it was hurting. His mind once again supplied him with a simple explanation: he had enough of hearing about this lover of Kaveh and it was time to leave the situation.

A wave of tiredness washed over him, signaling to him that it was time to sleep. Perfect. It was an excuse to make a tactile retreat and one that would raise the least amount of suspicion.

“I’m going to sleep,” he said curtly, stretching his arms and yawning before walking over to his bed.

“I don’t miss your bluntness,” Kaveh sighed.

“It’s how I am,” Alhaitham defended himself.

“Believe me, I am well-acquainted with it.”

Alhaitham took a risk and turned to Kaveh. He was staring right at him with a disappointed look on his face. The look ran chills down his spine. Kaveh crossed his arms.

“You should fix that attitude of yours. You’re going to hurt someone if you’re not careful,” he warned.

“I fail to see where this concerns you,” he shot back as he tucked himself in bed. “If my attitude in your timeline is so troublesome, perhaps take it up with him instead.”

“It does concern me, because I care about you. And the problems I have with Alhaitham today are different from your time.”

The last sentence caught his attention. He spared Kaveh another glance. He wasn’t looking straight at Alhaitham anymore but was instead staring out the window as if he were searching for something from beyond the stars. Perhaps he was. He was in a different place in time after being removed from his own. Even if it was certain he would soon return, being forcibly taken most certainly would weigh a toll on him. He wondered what Kaveh meant by their problems being different. It was a clear indication that they were still in communication, but it gave no hint of whether or not they were still friends. Different problems… Alhaitham tried to wrap his head around the concept. Whatever lay in the future for them, it seemed like not everything was going to be smooth sailing. This was to be expected, neither of them have had a picture-perfect life. It was only natural that life was going to throw even more hurdles at them. Though the two had similar backstories, they were two different people. It was inevitable that a disagreement would arise. They’ve already begun to have small disagreements over the project, and he was positive they would continue to have more in the future. Was Kaveh thinking of something in particular?

He wanted to ask what Kaveh was referring to. He wanted more context. If he knew what the warning was about, maybe he would understand where Kaveh was coming from. Instead, he was faced with mystery upon mystery, with every little thing he learned about the future only leaving him with more questions.

It became clear to him that the Kaveh in front of him had more baggage to carry. He thought back to his Kaveh. He was ridden with guilt and always acted upon that guilt as if he were repaying some sort of karmic debt. It irked him to no end. Kaveh had never done anything wrong, he was just unfortunate and yet he still put it upon himself to help others. He could not imagine Kaveh continuing that way of living for another 15 years. That would inevitably destroy him. But he also didn’t believe that there was a future with him in it where he wouldn’t try to stop Kaveh from the path of destruction he had set himself on.

“What happened between us?” Alhaitham asked.

Kaveh whipped his head over to Alhaitham, eyes widened in surprise. “What?”

“I get the sense that being here stirs mixed feelings in your heart. You’re simultaneously excited and reserved around me. Something drastic must’ve happened.”

“Observant as always,” Kaveh shook his head with a defeated smile on his face. “Of course you noticed that, this is you we’re speaking of. You notice everything.”

“I do,” Alhaitham nodded. “I notice everything even when you think you’ve hidden it from me.”

Kaveh was the kind of person who appeared to be flawless on the outside, but if one examined closely one would find themselves staring at all the cracks threatening to crumble apart the entire facade. Alhaitham saw all those flaws, and he saw the way it was hurting him. Part of him had agreed to work on the project with Kaveh to keep an eye on him, watch closely and hope that he wouldn’t burn himself out to get the work done or help others.

Kaveh’s face fell as he stared at the ground. “You’ve never been afraid to vocalize your observations. Even if I wasn’t ready to hear them.”

He was lost in thought again. Whatever he was thinking about was an unpleasant thought judging from the way he bit his lip and his eyes began to be filled with pain. Perhaps it was an unpleasant memory, a memory Alhaitham had yet to share with him.

“Anyway, you should stop asking questions about the future. The less you know the better,” Kaveh stretched his arms. “Get some sleep.”

“Okay,” Alhaitham said as he pulled the blanket over his head. He was disappointed that his question was left unanswered but he figured that Kaveh had his reasons for not sharing.

“Goodnight, Alhaitham,” Kaveh replied.

Alhaitham lay in bed waiting for sleep to claim him. Kaveh remained awake for a while longer, bustling around the room and murmuring to himself. He could not catch any of the words he was saying. When he turned to lie on his back and stare at the ceiling, his thoughts returned to Kaveh. His Kaveh, the one that was now 15 years in the future, was too far from Alhaitham’s reach.

It must be frightening to suddenly be transported to the future all alone with no guidance. Whatever Kaveh was going through, Alhaitham only hoped that he was safe and sound and that he would return to him.

His heart began to ache. He felt like a part of him was just ripped away and that the hole left behind could only be filled upon Kaveh’s return. He wanted Kaveh back already so he could lift his head up and check on his senior one last time before succumbing to sleep.

Instead, he found himself staring at the ceiling, wishing for someone who was present, but not the version he wanted.

He missed Kaveh.

That was the last thought he had before his consciousness faded away, finally surrendering to his sleep.

Alhaitham woke up to the smell of coffee. At first, he thought his mind was playing tricks on him. Even though he loved coffee, he didn’t remember having packed anything to make coffee with. But then he felt eyes on him and heard footsteps approaching his bed. The presence of another so close to his sleeping form was enough to snap him awake. He groggily opened his eyes, the sun’s rays hitting his face before glaring at the form that was standing at his bedside.

“Good morning sleepyhead,” Kaveh said.

Now, Alhaitham was not a morning person. He hated waking up, and if he didn’t have something in his system to wake him up, he was extremely grumpy. Kaveh said that Alhaitham acted like a grouchy snow leopard upon waking up.

This Kaveh from the future was standing by his bedside with a cup of coffee ready for him, dangling it in front of his face as one would with catnip to a cat. Alhaitham rubbed his eyes and sat up.

“Morning,” Alhaitham grumbled.

“Here’s your coffee,” Kaveh said as he handed him the mug. “It’s your favorite.”

Alhaitham took a sip of the coffee only to find himself surprised by what he tasted. It was a blend he’d never had before. It was bitter, but had a smooth and earthy flavor mixed with it. He liked the flavor, in fact, it might be the best coffee he’s had in a while but to so much as call it his favorite? “This is not my favorite coffee.”

“Yes it is,” Kaveh argued. “You told me so. I give it to you all the time.”

“I’ve never had this coffee before,” Alhaitham countered.

“Ah,” Kaveh awkwardly replied. “I guess you haven’t told me yet.”

Because this is the moment I find out, was left unsaid. Instead of saying anything, Alhaitham took another sip of the delicious coffee, his heart beating excitedly at the implications behind Kaveh’s words. I give it to you all the time.

That meant that they still regularly talked to each other. Alhaitham wondered what role he played in Kaveh’s future. If he wasn’t his lover, then perhaps they were still close? He wondered how often they saw each other. The night before left him worried that their relationship was rocky, but that statement soothed the edge he felt. They were still at the very least friends, and Alhaitham was more than relieved at that revelation.

Peering at Kaveh who crossed the room to serve breakfast, his mind supplied that he wanted to wake up to Kaveh’s face more often. If Alhaitham in the future didn’t manage to do that, he would be disappointed.

“C’mon, I made us breakfast,” Kaveh called out to him.

“Do you normally make breakfast?” Alhaitham asked as he came up to the table.

“Sometimes. We—I mean—My roommate and I take turns. Most of the time I end up in charge of breakfast and he ends up in charge of dinner, but he has made me breakfast.”

“Your roommate?” Alhaitham questioned as he lifted an eyebrow. “You’re not living with your boyfriend?”

“It's the same guy,” Kaveh awkwardly laughed. “I’ve been living with him for 5 years. We were roommates before we started dating.”

“Why were you trying to cover it up right now?”

“I wasn’t,” he said.

“You were, you cut yourself off before pivoting. I heard it.” Alhatham insisted.

Kaveh’s shoulders sagged, a small smile on his face as he shook his head in disbelief. He then pushed over a plate of food toward Alhaitham’s direction. “Eat, We have a big day ahead of us.”

Alhaitham was once again ignored. Expected, but still disappointing. No matter, if interrogating wasn’t a guarantee he was going to get answers every time, so be it.

“I thought we weren't going to go out into the ruins.” Alhaitham lifted an eyebrow.

“We aren’t,” he confirmed. “I’ve got something else planned. Just dig in already, the faster we’re done the sooner we can head off.”

Alhaitham complied, picking up his fork and cutting through the food with it before trying the piece. It tasted sweet with a hint of tartness in it, not something Alhaitham particularly liked on a normal basis but the balance was acceptable. He found himself taking another bite of the food, relishing it with each bite.

Across from him, Kaveh watched him eat, eyes sparkling in amusement as he rested his chin on top of his hand.

“Do you make this often?” Alhaitham asked in between bites.

“It’s the breakfast I normally make,” Kaveh nodded. “Not to your taste, but then again you only complain if I serve you soup.”

“You’re right, I’m not the biggest fan of sweets. But the balance of flavors in this is passable.”

“Passable, huh?” Kaveh chuckled in amusement. “That’s ‘Alhaitham’ for you liked it.”

He ignored that comment, choosing to take another bite. Kaveh was just teasing him after all.

After breakfast, the two of them left the room and made their trek through the desert. Alhaitham recognized the direction they were heading in, having followed this exact path with Kaveh the day before. It appeared as if they were backtracking, heading out of the desert instead of venturing further in.

“Where are we going?” Alhaitham asked as he followed Kaveh.

“You’ll see soon enough.”

He took Alhaitham into the forest and paused once they reached the edge of a cliff. He sat down at the edge and patted the ground next to him, inviting Alhaitham to join. He did so, dangling his feet over the edge. There they sat in silence for a few minutes taking in the fresh air and letting the cool wind hit their faces. As Kaveh observed the scenery before him, Alhaitham took another moment to glance at him. It was in this position that he noticed the Dendro vision on Kaveh’s hip, glimmering in the sunlight.

Seeing the vision on his hip made Alhaitham feel proud. He knew that visions were granted to those whom the gods deemed worthy, and he couldn’t agree more that Kaveh was worthy of one. He too wondered if he would receive one in the future. He didn’t care about being considered worthy enough in the eyes of the gods, but if it was something Kaveh had, he wanted to know if he too followed.

After a couple more minutes of silence, he decided to finally break it.

“Why did you bring me out here?” Alhaitham asked.

“It’s a selfish reason actually,” Kaveh answered. “I just wanted to gaze upon the old Sumeru one more time.”

The statement he said was heavy. A lot could change in 15 years. Even if things mostly stayed the same, minor differences would be noticed. People change, environments change, and sometimes even an entire world can change. Change is inevitable, and the passage of time is always its culprit. Alhaitham wondered about the Sumeru Kaveh was now living in and how different it was from the one in front of him.

Did he miss the old Sumeru?

When he vocalized this question, Kaveh remained silent for a second. When he spoke up, his voice was quiet, and it was clear he was hesitating on what to say.

“In some ways, yes,” Kaveh confessed. “I miss the old Sumeru. There are shops that have closed years ago that are still open. People who have died who are still mingling about. Friends,” Kaveh took in a sharp inhale, “Friends who I have fallen out with who still think the world of me or vice versa. I mourn the loss of all of that.”

He turned to Alhaitham, teary crimson eyes sparkling under the sun as he gave him a melancholic smile.

“But I like what Sumeru has become. I have people that love me and will stick by my side. There are new and exciting businesses. The things that I have achieved, and the life I have lived so far are all part of what has shaped Sumeru into what it is today. If things had happened differently, I’m not sure if I would’ve been able to follow the path I wanted to.”

Kaveh took Alhaitham’s hand and patted it gently. The touch was enough to set Alhaitham’s soul on fire, his skin burning where they touched, and his heart pounding so loud he could barely hear Kaveh’s words over the drumming beat of it.

“You once told me that things happen for a reason and to let everything run its course.”

“I haven’t told you that yet,” Alhaitham reminded him.

“I know.” Kaveh gave him a smile that was brighter than the sun. “But you will.”

Their hands remained clasped together for a few more seconds before Kaveh finally broke away. Alhaitham instantly missed the contact. He was tempted to bring their hands together again but he decided against it.

Kaveh took out a hair tie and began to tie his hair up. As he did so, he began to wince in pain.

“Ow… my hand hurts,” Kaveh mumbled.

Alhaitham’s eyes widened as he watched Kaveh’s hand shake while trying to tie his hair up. He instantly recognized the movement. It was the same thing his grandmother did when her hands would flare up as a result of hours upon hours of working with machinery.

Seemed like all Ksharewar students suffered the same fate. Or maybe this was the result of Kaveh overworking himself.

“Alhaitham,” Kaveh’s tone changed into something more demanding, “tie my hair up for me, my hand is cramping up.”

He said it so naturally that Alhaitham didn’t question it at first. His hands flew to Kaveh’s hair and he began to tie his hair up. His fingers brushed through the soft blonde locks of his hair before finishing up.

And then, it hit him. At the same time, Kaveh must have noticed his slip-up as his face turned bright red and he coughed awkwardly.

“Thank you,” Kaveh said as he went back to gazing down at Sumeru.

Alhaitham felt his ears grow hot. Why did he do it without question? It was as if Kaveh’s words flipped a switch and he obliged like a dutiful husband would. If it was the Kaveh of his time, he would have to watch Kaveh struggle with his hair for some time before he could even suggest helping him out. But if he asked to do it? He’d do it in a heartbeat. He’d do almost anything Kaveh asked him to—

Oh.

The realization hit him like a charging sumpter beast. He was in love with Kaveh. He’s been in love with him for who knows how long. He should be horrified at the realization but instead, he felt relieved, as if a veil had been lifted from his eyes. It explained everything he had been feeling over the past day in regards to Kaveh, and especially in regards to his mysterious lover. It explained why he found Kaveh so fascinating, and how from the start he felt like gravitating towards him.

His mind returned to the ring on Kaveh’s finger. Now that he knew how he felt, his wonderment turned into hope. Hope that the lover Kaveh refused to name was him. Really, why else would Kaveh constantly tease him about it? Why else would he be so cryptic about this mysterious roommate he had? And now that Alhaitham was aware of his feelings, he didn’t believe he would be silent about them. Now that he was in his heart, he was refusing to let him go. It had to be him.

But at the same time, if he was wrong, then he wouldn’t know what to do with himself. Perhaps Kaveh knew of his feelings and was granting him mercy by keeping him in the dark. That could be an explanation as to why Kaveh was keeping it a secret.

Alhaitham cleared his mind, ridding all those thoughts from his head. Whatever the reason, it was best to find out in his own time. As Kaveh said, it was best to let things run their course.

“Well, we should start heading back,” Kaveh pushed himself up. “If my memory serves me correctly, we need to be back in the house before I return to my timeline. We can grab some dinner in Caravan Ribet since it's on our way back.”

He offered his hand to Alhaitham who graciously took it and allowed himself to be pulled up. They silently made the trek back to the town and made a quick stop for dinner before continuing on their way. By the time they made it back to Aaru Village, the moon was already high in the sky.

As they made it back to the house Kaveh turned to Alhaitham and grabbed both of his hands, intertwining their fingers together. The gesture was strangely intimate and Kaveh seemed almost transfixed by their joined hands before turning to Alhaitham.

“It’s almost time for me to go,” he announced.

Alhaitham nodded. He did remember him stating that this would only last 24 hours. How quickly had time flown by. He was just starting to get used to this Kaveh as well. Part of him wished the two Kavehs could meet. He thought that the Kaveh of the present would like to see himself in the future, see the changes in him and how happy he was. Maybe it would bring some ease to him, knowing that everything would be okay in the end.

“I just wanted to thank you for keeping me company this past day,” Kaveh said.

“You didn’t leave me with any choice,” Alhaitham retorted.

“And yet, I still believe you would’ve done so anyway,” he responded. He tightened their hold as he continued, “It was nice to see you again.”

“Don’t you see me often enough?”

“Everyday.” He smiled. “But I meant that it was nice to see a younger you again. It’s opened my eyes to things I missed when this was my time. And you’re not as cute now as you used to be. I miss your big cheeks and doe eyes. Why did you have to grow up?!”

He cupped Alhaitham’s face and pinched his cheeks causing Alhaitham to frown.

“Don’t treat me like a child.”

“I’m seventeen years older than you right now,” Kaveh chuckled. “You are a child to me.”

He didn’t want to be seen as a child, he wanted to be something much more to Kaveh. If this was how Kaveh saw him now, then what hope did he have for the future? Maybe he should work out and build some muscle.

Noticing Alhaitham’s discomfort, he retracted his hand and shifted topics. “Your Kaveh will be back soon. If it’s any consolation, as somebody who was in his shoes once, he doesn’t see you as a child.”

Alhaitham perked up, his heart skipping a beat. Was he hinting at something? Or was he simply trying to make Alhaitham feel better?

“What does he see me as?”

“His equal.”

Kaveh stepped back and opened the window revealing the stars twinkling in the night sky. It was just like how it was the night before, when this whole bizarre encounter occurred.

“I would say goodbye, but I’m not even leaving you,” Kaveh chuckled. “I’m just returning to the right place in time.”

Once again he found himself transfixed by the beauty of Kaveh as the moon's light illuminated him in the dark. This was the Kaveh he was going to be seeing many years from now. There were many things he didn’t know, but that was okay, he’ll get to know this Kaveh eventually. He’ll get to see Kaveh become the man who stood in front of him. But right now, under the stars of his own time, all he could think about was how desperately he wanted his Kaveh back.

In the end, despite everything, he still preferred the Kaveh he met first. That was the one he fell in love with after all. In time he’ll grow to love this one too, but this was not his Kaveh yet.

But hopefully one day he will be.

“Then I’ll see you later, Kaveh,” Alhaitham waved.

Kaveh laughed and shook his head, tucking a blonde strand behind his ear as he replied, “See you soon.”

Another beam of light shimmered around him. Alhaitham tried to watch him go but the light became too bright. He looked away for a split second and when he turned around, he found himself staring back at Kaveh. The Kaveh of the present. Finally , his Kaveh had returned to him, safe and sound.

Kaveh stumbled forward and Alhaitham rushed forward to catch him. “I’ve got you,” Alhaitham said, as Kaveh grabbed onto his arms.

He slowly opened his eyes, crimson meeting teal. He really was beautiful. Alhaitham knew that he was going to be in love with him forever, and he couldn’t wait to grow and evolve with him.

Kaveh wrapped his arms around Alhaitham, pulling him in for a hug. The familiar scent of Padisarahs washed over him, and he hugged him back, melting into his touch. “I missed you. The future isn’t bad, but, every second I was there I spent wanting to come back to this. To you.”

“I missed you too,” he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.

When they pulled apart, arms still holding onto each other as if they were afraid to let go, Kaveh reached out to Alhaitham and cupped his face in his hand.

“You won’t believe what I’ve been through this past day,” he stated, his eyes sparkling the same way they did whenever he was hit with a wave of inspiration. “A lot has happened.”

Alhaitham felt the corners of his lips lift up into a smile.

“We have all night.”

“Nah,” Kaveh gave him a teasing smile. “I’ll let you experience it yourself when it’s your time.”

That was alright with him. There was so much he wanted to tell Kaveh as well, but he knew that the man in his arms would experience them himself eventually. He didn’t want to spoil anything for his friend and he had a feeling Kaveh felt the same way.

Alhaitham took Kaveh’s free hand, locking their fingers together as he hoped the expression on his face conveyed everything he felt at that moment. Judging by the way Kaveh looked at him, he’d say he was successful in that.

“I look forward to it.”

Chapter Text

It was supposed to be a relatively normal night. He was looking out the window with Alhaitham, excitedly chatting over the next day’s exploration. Kaveh was a bit nervous about the exploration, his unease towards the desert evident ever since his father had died out there, but he felt reassured that he at least had Alhaitham coming with him. As long as he had someone with him, he could stave off the sense of dread in his heart. When he had expressed wanting their classmates to come along as well, an argument broke out between the two of them.

“They thought taking the venture would be too much,” Alhaitham had said. “At least they didn’t cancel last minute and try to push all the workload onto us.”

“Hey, don’t be harsh on the others. They’re trying their best,” Kaveh said in their defense. “Next time they’ll tag along.”

The project was going to be a lot of work. It was best to let everyone do what they felt like they could do without forcing them to step out of their comfort zone. That would create burnout. Besides, Kaveh wanted to maintain a good relationship with everyone else involved so that they could help each other out. Alhaitham however, saw things differently. From the start, he’d been apprehensive about the others that have joined the project, but Kaveh just assumed that Alhaitham preferred to work alone. He was still trying to figure out why Alhaitham had agreed to work with him in the first place. Surely there were less taxing projects that he’d be willing to work on.

“If they can’t even find it upon themselves to participate in something as simple as a trip, how are they going to handle the workload when the going gets tough? They’re going to drop like flies as soon as a problem is encountered, “ Alhaitham argued.

Kaveh felt irritated as he watched Alhaitham from the corner of his eye. How could someone make himself so closed off from the rest of the world? Even when standing right beside him, it felt like he was far away. Did Alhaitham even care about the well-being of the others involved? It seemed like he was only concerned with himself and his own part in the project. Kaveh couldn’t wrap his head around the reasons why Alhaitham even liked Kaveh. He wasn’t anything special. Sure, he was smart, but lots of students were and he doubted Alhaitham cared about looks and personality. He was like a cat that attached himself to one, refused to let anybody near them, but also refused to let the one he had attached himself to give him any sort of attention for long. But Kaveh supposed he was no better. After all, he masked his true emotions from Alhaitham all the time and kept several things from him. They knew each other best, but maybe it was because they were alike in a way no one else would be able to understand. In the end, they really only had each other.

“I don’t want to discuss this right now. Can we please save it for another time? Let’s just go to bed, we have a big day tomorrow,” Kaveh pivoted the conversation with a yawn. He wasn’t in the mood for an argument. Seemed like that was all they did these days. “I don’t want to miss out on the sunrise by sleeping in. A classmate said it’s better than the ones in the city.”

Alhaitham turned to face him and Kaveh wondered what he was thinking about. Was he going to call him out on the excuse? Or was he going to go along with it?

Alhaitham opened his mouth to say something when Kaveh was suddenly enveloped by a blanket of light. He didn’t have time to register what was happening. One moment he was standing right next to Alhaitham in their rented room in Aaru Village and the next he was dumped into the middle of the woods outside of Sumeru City.

He stumbled forward, unable to find his footing. If it weren’t for a pair of strong arms grabbing his shoulders, he would’ve likely fallen face-first into the mud.

“I’ve got you,” a familiar voice reassured him in a soothing tone.

The world around him felt like it was spinning. He looked up at the man holding him but his brain couldn’t piece together who he was looking at. All he knew was that he felt comfortable and safe.

“How troublesome,” the voice sighed. “We forgot to mark the date on the calendar, Kaveh.”

“What date?” Kaveh muttered in confusion before darkness consumed him.

When he woke up, he was lying on a divan in the middle of an unfamiliar room. He sat up and took in his surroundings, trying to decipher where he was. Nothing around him was familiar. It wasn’t his home or any of his friends’ houses. He placed his feet on the floor and stood up to begin exploring his surroundings. As he studied the contents of the room, he began to recognize some items as his own. There was the box his mother had given to him when she left for Fontaine sitting on a shelf, along with a few books he knew belonged to Alhaitham. Who owned this place? Why was he in this strange house? And why were some of Alhaitham’s belongings mixed with his?

Kaveh heard footsteps coming from somewhere inside the house and he whipped around to see who was his companion.

He found himself face-to-face with his friend, but he knew that was impossible. Alhaitham was all the way out in Aaru village and he didn’t live in a place like this. At the same time, it was unmistakably Alhaitham. No one else had teal eyes with red irises and looked upon the world as if he was studying it every waking moment. There wasn’t a single person Kaveh knew that had silver hair as untameable as his. Yes, the person before him had to be the one and only Alhaitham. Yet at the same time, the Alhaitham before him was completely different.

For starters, this man was taller and broader than the Alhaitham he knew. Last he checked, they were about the same height, and his friend had a lanky physique. Not to mention the fact that this man who resembled Alhaitham had muscles as if he was somebody who worked out regularly. Alhaitham?! The guy who spent all his time reading a book and then would take a nap right after because nothing else has ever interested him?! The thought of him working out a single day in his life was laughable.

“Who are you?” Kaveh asked as he went into a defensive stance. “What are your intentions with me?!”

“I’m Alhaitham and you traveled fifteen years in the future,” the man said bluntly.

“What?!” Kaveh gasped. “That’s not possible, time travel isn’t meant to be--”

“Possible? I’ve seen it happen in front of my own eyes more than twice,” Alhaitham answered with a shrug.

“I don’t believe you.” he huffed. “A person doesn’t just get snatched out of their timeline and get deposited somewhere else.”

“It’s the truth,” he explained. “Look.”

The man lifted his shirt to reveal a birthmark near his belly button. Kaveh’s eyes lit up in recognition. It was the same birthmark Alhaitham had. He’d seen it every time Alhaitham had taken off his shirt to cool off during those hot summer days. That was something that couldn’t be replicated by anybody else. This person was undeniably Alhaitham of the future.

15 years in the future. That would make the Alhaitham in front of him 33 years old. He certainly looked older. The roundness of his cheeks was gone and he had a more pronounced jawline. Not to mention how hot the Alhaitham before him was. Kaveh always thought Alhaitham was decent-looking but his baby face and lanky figure made him want to squeeze his cheeks. What happened to his cute little junior?! Now that he had grown up and gained some muscle, Kaveh found his face heating up at the realization that he may be attracted to this Alhaitham.

As Kaveh’s mind continued to spiral over his newfound attraction to his own friend from the future, Alhaitham chuckled in amusement as if he could read Kaveh’s thoughts. How embarrassing would that be if he could?! Kaveh coughed awkwardly into his fist as he averted his gaze, choosing to instead study the photographs on the shelf.

“Okay, I believe you, but what are we going to do now? I mean, I can’t just stay here, right?”

“Nothing,” Alhaitham shrugged as he sat down on the divan.

“Nothing?! So am I just stuck here forever?!” Panic began to settle in his heart. He couldn’t stay in the future forever! He had an entire life back home! What about his mother? His Alhaitham? He couldn’t leave them behind!

“No, the ley line’s effects will only last twenty-four hours,” Alhaitham explained in a calm tone. “You’ll eventually return to your own timeline.”

“Whoa, whoa, slow down! Ley line effects? What even happened?” Kaveh asked as his mind tried to decipher the information he was being presented with. His brain felt like it was on overdrive trying to decipher the information being given to him all at once. Just a few minutes ago he didn’t even believe time travel was possible and all of a sudden he’s standing in the future in front of an older version of his friend!

“The two of us were surveying some ley lines earlier. You got too close to an unstable one and ended up switching places with yourself when you absorbed its essence.”

“I see,” Kaveh sighed. It seemed like even 15 years later his bad luck was chasing him. At least the effects of this weren’t permanent. The initial panic he had dissipated and he began to relax. That was one issue out of the way.

“Now that everything has been explained to you, I’m going to get some reading done. If you’re hungry, let me know and I’ll cook dinner. Otherwise, I’ll start preparing dinner in the evening,” Alhaitham announced as he crossed his legs and took out his book. “Feel free to explore the home. It’s your place after all.”

“This is my home?” Kaveh asked as he looked around. “Then why are there some things that also belong to you?”

“Because we live together. We’re roommates.”

Kaveh’s face turned red. “We live together in the future?”

“Have been for the past five years,” Alhaitham confirmed.

Five years. Five years living with the hottest man he’d ever seen. What did future him think of Alhaitham? Did he find him just as attractive as he was currently finding him to be? And if so, how does future Kaveh do it without wanting to explode? Surely living in close quarters with somebody as attractive as him was a recipe for disaster. Not to mention his personality. He was largely unagreeable, stubborn and not to mention a loner. He had to be insufferable to live with.

Kaveh walked over to the shelf with all the photos. There had to be pictures of him and Alhaitham right? Maybe it would give a hint to what awaited him in the future. As his eyes scanned over the photos, nothing special stood out to him. There were photos of the two of them in various locations across Tevyat. It was odd to see a photo of himself in the future. So that was what he looked like? Though he still looked the same for the most part, it was still odd to see an older version of him out on display. There was something about looking at those photos that made his heart flutter. This was what he was going to look like in the future! And he was going to travel all over Tevyat with Alhaitham. If only his friend was with him, he was aching to see Alhaitham’s reaction to all of this. Would he too be happy to see that they were still friends years later? He hoped so.

He focused his attention on the next batch of photos. Photos of the two of them in their Akademiya uniforms, photos of the two of them hanging out with unfamiliar faces at the tavern. Without fail, both Kaveh and Alhaitham seemed to be happy in each one.The photos displayed two friends who spent a lot of time together. There was nothing special about them outside of the fact that Kaveh was taking a glimpse at his future. He should be relieved that his friendship with Alhaitham would be long-lasting, but after examining for a while his stomach began to twist. What exactly was he looking for? Why did he feel disappointment when he found the photos were nothing out of the ordinary? Was there something missing in these photos that he was hoping to find?

“If you’re bored, your section of books is on the right side of the study by the smaller desk,” Alhaitham interrupted. “The bottom shelf should have the books you were using at that time.”

“I’m not bored.”

“I’m not saying you are.”

“I’m serious! I’m not,” Kaveh insisted. “I’m just looking around.”

“If that’s what you’d rather do, then I won’t stop you,” he continued with a nonchalant shrug, not even bothering to look up from his book.

“Like I said,” Kaveh snapped as he reached up to grab a frame on a higher shelf, “I am just looking around and-- ah!”

As Kaveh’s fingers grazed the edge of the frame, he accidentally pushed it to the side, colliding the object with a random knickknack displayed next to it, which in turn began to fall directly onto Kaveh. Or at least it would’ve fallen onto Kaveh had it not been for Alhaitham. It had happened so fast, he wasn’t sure how Alhaitham did it. One moment Alhaitham was reading a book across the room and the next he was towering over Kaveh, shielding him from the object that had toppled over the edge. Kaveh’s back was pressed against the shelf as he stared up at Alhaitham in surprise. Above him, Alhaitham was staring down at him with a worried expression.

His head swam in confusion. He had never seen Alhaitham make such a face, in fact, Alhaitham rarely ever stepped out of his comfort zone for anything. Imagining the Alhaitham he knew doing this made his mind go blank. Had it been the other, Kaveh’s head would be throbbing from the collision and the other Alhaitham would stare blankly at him before berating him over his recklessness. How could these two be the same person? “Are you alright?” Alhaitham asked as his eyes scanned over Kaveh.

“Yeah,” Kaveh replied quietly, ignoring the pounding sound in his chest as his eyes fixated on a scratch on Alhaitham’s cheek. “But, you’re not.”

He reached up to where the wound was and placed his thumb against the thin line. Alhaitham hissed in pain from the pressure but no blood was drawn. It didn’t seem like much, but he still got hurt because of Kaveh. The least he could do was patch it up.

“Hold on,” Kaveh said as he began to dig into his pocket. “I always carry some bandaids on me.”

“It’s okay, I can grab one from the cabinet,” Alhaitham chuckled.

“No, no, I can handle this,” Kaveh said as he pulled out the bandaid. “You’re my junior, it’s my responsibility to take care of you as the eldest. Besides,” He tore the package open and began to line the bandaid up with the wound, “it’s my fault you got hurt.”

“Don’t blame yourself. It was my choice to take the hit for you. And need I remind you that I am currently thirteen years older? I think that warrants me as the senior.”

“Stay still and stop joking around, I need to make sure it sticks,” Kaveh chastised him as he placed the bandaid onto the wound. His eyes remained transfixed on the area as he smoothed over the edges before his hands returned to his side.

His eyes locked with Alhaitham and he swore the world stopped for a moment. There was an unfamiliar look in those eyes, one he hadn’t seen in years. It was the same way his late father looked at his mother whenever she did anything. A look of adoration and love. And that was when it all clicked for him. This Alhaitham cared about him. Overwhelmingly so. There may even be a chance that they were lovers. It wasn’t a far-fetched conclusion to make, right? There was no concrete evidence yet, but surely no one looked at someone they weren’t in love with the same way Alhaitham looked at him. That had to be the explanation. The realization was so much that Kaveh had to turn his head away before his brain exploded.

“There, all better,” Kaveh coughed awkwardly, his heart sinking as he thought about his present. The Alhaitham he knew would never look at him like that. How was it possible that Alhaitham, his Alhaitham, would become this person in front of him? “We’re even now.”

“Thank you,” he said as he bent down to pick up the fallen object and place it back where it belonged. Thankfully, it seemed like there was no damage to it.

Alhaitham placed a hand on Kaveh’s shoulder, dragging him out of his thoughts. He still refused to face Alhaitham, his face burning as he felt eyes on him. Knowing Alhaitham, he was studying him, taking in his expressions and coming to conclusions about what was the next best course of action to take.

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

Kaveh wanted to answer no but the rumbling of his stomach betrayed him.

“Come with me, dinner won’t take long,” Alhaitham said as he began to walk away.

He did as told, crossing the room over to the doors that led to the kitchen. Upon entering, he was met with a decent-sized kitchen, with a nice sink, stove for cooking and a pantry that stored all their food. His eyes roamed over the counter and noticed a pair of mugs and a pair of wine glasses drying off the rack. A few feet away, two matching aprons were hanging off their respective hooks. It seemed like the two of them had pairs in everything. Kaveh wondered why that was. Did they simply buy each other matching sets as gifts? Or did they go shopping together and frequently buy them together? Either explanation made Kaveh’s cheeks red at the thought of them. To think that in the future he and Alhaitham were this domestic with each other, they had to be dating, right?

“Take a seat at the table, I’ll serve you a drink,” Alhaitham said as he began pouring something into a cup before placing it on the table.

Kaveh took the drink, noticing the vibrant coloring before taking a sip. It was thick and cold, but tasted just like some of his favorite fruit. He gleefully took another sip of it before turning his attention back to Alhaitham.

“What’s this? A smoothie?” Kaveh asked.

“Yeah, it’s a blend we do to preserve the fruit a little longer,” Alhaitham answered as he began chopping vegetables.

“Oh, I see,” Kaveh drummed his fingers against the cup as he studied the rest of the room.

There was a calendar on the wall written in a familiar script. He couldn’t recognize all the words, but he could pinpoint what the exact language was. It was the ancient language that they were decoding for their project. It amazed him to see their relationship was so sturdy that even 15 years later they were still talking in that language. It also gave Kaveh newfound confidence in their project. If they were still conversing in that same language, then that meant everything went well. He couldn’t wait to return to his time to work on it. Alhaitham would probably like the reassurance of its success as well, he was the one who selected the topic after all.

A bowl of soup was placed in front of him, and Kaveh’s eyes met Alhaitham’s. He gave him a reassuring look before turning back to the stove to continue cooking.

“You’re not going to have soup?” Kaveh asked as he picked up his spoon.

“I am. Just making some modifications before I eat,” he replied.

“Okay,” Kaveh shrugged as he lifted the spoon to his mouth. It smelled amazing, and he was pretty sure it was going to taste just as great. When the flavor hit his tongue, he moaned happily from the exquisite flavor on his tongue. Who knew that Alhaitham in the future was going to be such a great chef? The Alhaitham of his timeline could barely boil water. He was so used to his grandmother’s cooking that after she died, he spent all his money on takeaway meals since he didn’t know how to cook for himself. Kaveh ended up pitying him and began preparing lunches for the two whenever they met up at the Akademiya, just so Alhaitham could save some mora.

Once again, the dichotomy between the two Alhaithams left Kaveh’s stomach twisting. He missed the hopeless junior who claimed independence and yet relied on his money to have meals on the table and watched his senior cook meals as if it were a class. That teenager was gone, replaced by a man who now knew how to take care of himself without resorting to money. He swallowed down his food and willed his heart to go down. It was only natural that he was going to grow up someday. Heck, Kaveh was in a similar position as Alhaitham once. When his father died he had to learn meals to help his mother out and those first years were rough. Of course, after years of practice, he had improved. This was the same case here. The Alhaitham in front of him wasn’t the teenager still learning how to live on his own.

As he took another sip from his smoothie, Alhaitham joined the table with his dinner. It seemed like he had converted the soup to something drier. Kaveh stared in fascinated disgust as Alhaitham began to dig into his meal. He took back that comment about Alhaitham being a great chef, he was clearly a menace.

Noticing that he was being stared at, Alhaitham chuckled, “You know I don’t like soup.”

“Yes, but,” Kaveh stared down at his bowl before looking back at Alhaitham’s dish, “you can’t just destroy soup like that!”

“I served it to you as you like it, I served mine as I do,” he shrugged as he took a bite. “As long as it tastes good, the presentation doesn’t matter.”

“I guess,” Kaveh shrugged. “It’s still a crime against soup.”

“Then I guess I’m a felon.”

Kaveh couldn’t hold himself back. Laughter escaped his lips and once it came out, stopping was no longer an option. He held his stomach as he bent over in his chair and erupted with another round of laughter. As he sat up straight again, he could feel tears pricking out of his eyes. He wiped the tears off his face and took in a deep breath, willing himself to calm down.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh,” Kaveh wheezed. “It was just unexpected for you to crack a joke like that. I’m used to my cute little junior whose most expressive emotion is an angry pout. You’re just… so different from him.”

Alhaitham tilted his head in confusion, “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know, you’re just different. You’re more expressive, not as tight, you’re more agreeable and you’re nicer to me. Fifteen years ago you’d never say or do half of the things you’re doing right now.” Kaveh frowned before he shifted his eyes over to Alhaitham, crimson eyes meeting teal as he confessed, “I wish you were like this back then too.”

Alhaitham crossed his arms and leaned back into his chair, a frown forming on his face as he stated, “Did you not like me?”

“No! Of course I like you! And it’s not like you’re a bad friend. It’s just that… well, if something fell off a shelf I don’t think you’d take the hit to protect me.”

“It just never happened, if something did fall off a shelf I would’ve taken it for you.”

“No, you wouldn’t have,” Kaveh refuted.

“I would’ve,” he insisted. “Or at least I would’ve in the best way I knew how to. You just never noticed.”

“I see.” Kaveh bowed his head in shame, feeling his heart sink.

He was a fool. Of course, he knew that Alhaitham made several exceptions for him. It was evident from the moment they met in the House of Daena that Kaveh was the first one to have ever managed to breach that wall he had set up. But the Alhaitham he knew was also an 18 year old boy who didn't know the first bit about maintaining friendships and had a long way to go. Kaveh knew he was trying, but some days felt more like an uphill battle than others. And when faced with an Alhaitham that had grown and matured, had learned to truly express himself, and was more open with his feelings, the Alhaitham Kaveh wished he could be, how could he not want that?

“It’s been fifteen years. It would be bad if nothing has changed,” Alhaitham pointed out.

“Right…” Kaveh sighed defeatedly. In his own longing, he had failed to consider that.

“Listen,” Alhaitham took hold of Kaveh’s hand, “neither of us were perfect back then, but we grew, and we learned to grow together. We made each other better people.” Kaveh felt Alhaitham’s thumb run across the back of his hand in soothing circles. “The relationship you want isn’t going to appear overnight.”

“Is this some convoluted way to say to be patient?” Kaveh asked, eyeing their joined hands before shifting his gaze over to Alhaitham.

The corner of Alhaitham’s lips turned up, “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“I’m sorry,” Kaveh apologized. “I guess I failed to consider that fifteen years is a long time.”

“It is a long time,” he nodded in agreement. “And I’m not the Alhaitham you should be apologizing to.”

“Right,” Kaveh laughed bitterly. When he returned he would be sure to make it up to his friend for putting such little faith in him.

The rest of the dinner went by quietly. When Kaveh finished his soup, Alhaitham had taken their dishes to the sink and suggested they go to the study. Kaveh once again took in his surroundings. Kaveh spotted blueprints on one of the desks and couldn’t hold back a giddy smile. It was a relief to know he did manage to follow in his mother’s footsteps into becoming an architect.

The two of them in the future really do make their lives revolve around each other. There were two desks in the room but he couldn’t tell which one belonged to whom as they both contained items that belonged to either roommate. It was as if they shared the space, just like how they shared everything else.

Alhaitham crossed over to one of the bookshelves and began to sort through it as if he was searching for something. Kaveh observed him once again. He truly was handsome. Someone like him had to turn heads. There was no way he was single. Even if he wasn’t the outgoing type and preferred his peace, there had to be someone who had his heart.

The realization washed over Kaveh like waves crashing against the shore. It was him, wasn’t it? He was the one that managed to capture Alhaitham’s heart. All the signs around the house pointed to yes. He just needed confirmation.

“You know, I’ve been thinking,” Kaveh started as he examined the books on the desk. “Five years is a long time for two men in their thirties to be just roommates.”

Alhaitham paused in his search to look over at Kaveh, eyes studying him for a moment. He turned back to the shelf and retrieved a book from it, opening the book and flipping through it to read its contents.

“It’s not uncommon for people to have roommates nowadays,” Alhaitham answered before he returned the book to its original spot.

“But we both had our own houses and neither of them were bad.”

Alhaitham snorted, “A great architect once told me that a house is not a home unless you make it one. This is our home.”

Kaveh’s face turned red, “Can you just outright say if we’re dating or not? The suspense is killing me.”

“Why do you wanna know that?” Alhaitham asked teasingly. “Trying to get a sneak peek?”

“No,” Kaveh huffed as he crossed his arms. “I just can’t think of any other reason why we’d be living together.”

“You should find out for yourself,” Alhaitham chuckled. “Knowing everything will ruin the fun.”

Oh, they were so dating. His lack of response only confirmed it. Kaveh couldn’t help himself from smiling as he turned over to the bookshelves. He wondered when they had gotten together. He doubted it would be anytime soon but maybe by the time the project would end? It seemed reasonable. It was going to take years to finish and the two of them were going to have to work together a lot. Maybe the “learning to grow together” Alhaitham mentioned will happen then. He can imagine it, being with Alhaitham for several years. It felt right. Perhaps that's why they eventually moved in together to a new place because the two of them loved each other so much that they couldn’t bear to be apart.

He glanced over at Alhaitham. He just seemed so dedicated to Kaveh, even to one from the past who had no idea what was in store for them. There was no other explanation for this devotion. His adoration was overwhelming, he wondered if in the future he could handle it. Maybe he just got used to it after so many years. It was a bit scary to think about an entire lifetime with someone, but if this was who Alhaitham was going to turn out to be, he completely understood why he stayed. They just had to be the type of couple everyone was jealous of. The infamous Akademiya sweethearts trope.

Kaveh knelt to look for where he remembered Alhaitham mentioned the books related to the project were. He recognized the titles of the books for most of them were ones he had already collected himself. If he could remember which book he had left off at, he could get some more research done.

Thinking about the project made him wonder how it turned out. It was an extremely ambitious project, but he had faith that it would go well. Surely all the hours of work that they were about to put in would be worth it, right?

Kaveh’s eyes fell onto a folder that was tucked between two books. Curious, Kaveh pulled it out of the shelf. It was worn due to its age, but the content inside seemed to be even older. Kaveh opened up the folder to take a look.

“Wait, don’t look in there,” Alhaitham warned. “That’s—

Kaveh found himself staring down at an academic paper. He’s seen a million of them but what was special about this one was that the title was the exact title he and Alhaitham had agreed upon for their project. Their own names were written at the bottom where the authors should be. It was their project, and the paper had been torn apart, haphazardly taped back together as if someone had attempted to salvage the damage after the fact.

“—spoilers,” Alhaitham said defeatedly.

Their project… he slammed the folder shut and shoved it back where it belonged. He wished he could erase the memory of having seen that, but the image of the torn-up paper was already etched inside his mind. He took in several deep breaths in an attempt to calm himself down but his heart was pounding and his head was racing with a million thoughts.

What happened? Why was it torn? The damn thing didn’t even look finished! Why was their project in such a state? He felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned to find Alhaitham had knelt beside him and was trying to comfort him, but his face was the last thing he wanted to see. Anger began to well up inside him.

“What the hell was that?!” Kaveh said through gritted teeth.

Alhaitham’s eyes shifted over to the offensive object, a look of pain in them before they returned to Kaveh.

“It’s not a pretty story,” Alhaitham answered. “We both agreed it's best to not discuss that night anymore.”

“I don’t understand. Did we do that to the paper?”

“No,” Alhaitham said quietly, “it was all you.”

“But I wouldn’t do that to something I value. What happened?!”

Alhaitham remained silent for a moment mulling over what to say.

“I can’t tell you.”

“Why?!”

“Because if I did, you’re going to try and change it,” Alhaitham answered. “And I can’t let you do that.”

“I don’t get it. Wouldn’t you want to change this? I thought this was important to you too.”

“It was,” Alhaitham replied without hesitation. “But I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

“You’re fine with everything going down the drain?” Kaveh curled in on himself. He felt betrayed, and now that he knew that this would be the result, the temptation to quit was high. And it was like Alhaitham couldn’t care less! “How could you want this?”

“Because I like where I am today, that project’s end provided a valuable lesson in my life. It was a wake-up call of sorts.”

Wake-up call? Kaveh’s head spun as he thought about what that meant. What kind of wake-up call would that be? The more he thought about what could’ve happened, the more he was afraid to experience it himself.

Noticing Kaveh’s distress, Alhaitham pulled the two of them up and began to gently guide Kaveh out of the room.

“It’s late. You should get some rest, and clear your head,” he advised.

Kaveh couldn’t bring himself to say a single word. Instead, he allowed Alhaitham to guide him over to the bedroom. He didn’t point out the fact that the room clearly was inhabited by two people or that Alhaitham was a little too good at making one feel comfortable around him. When he crawled into bed and pulled the sheets over his head, sleep immediately began to take him. He was already losing consciousness when he felt a hand comb through his hair.

“Goodnight Kaveh,” Alhaitham said.

Kaveh didn’t reply. His last remaining conscious thoughts had returned to the boy with teal eyes who spent all his time away from everyone else reading. The cute little junior that somehow became attached to his hip. He missed him terribly, and his heart ached to see him again.

He dreamed about the two of them sitting together in the House of Daena, enjoying each other’s company as they worked on their respective homework, just like any other day. He knew that once he woke up alone in an unfamiliar room in a place far far away from his own, his heart would only ache to return to his time more.

Kaveh stepped into the kitchen the following morning, only to find himself alone. This was expected, Alhaitham was never the type to rise early unless he absolutely had to. He was also extremely moody before his daily morning dose of caffeine. Guess some things never changed. It was likely Alhaitham was going to sleep in for a while, and Kaveh didn’t want to bother him. He’d already done so much, the least Kaveh could do was let him rest. After making himself some coffee and toast, he exited the kitchen and headed over to the living room. He was just going to have breakfast in a more comfortable spot to mull over the events from the night before, but he stopped when he noticed Alhaitham lying on one of the divans. His heart twisted at the sight. Did he have nowhere else to sleep? Why did he give up his bed? Kaveh would’ve gladly taken the divan.

He turned to leave but Alhaitham began to stir. He sat up on the divan and stretched his arms before squinting at Kaveh.

“Are you having breakfast?” Alhaitham asked as he eyed the coffee in Kaveh’s hand.

“Yes.”

“Why did you wake up so early? I could’ve done it.”

“It’s almost noon, you just slept in,” Kaveh hummed as he took a sip of his coffee. He offered it to Alhaitham. “Here, take a sip of this while I make you a cup.”

“No need,” Alhaitham pushed the coffee away before standing up and walking away. “I’m going to make my own.”

Kaveh followed him into the kitchen and watched as he made himself his own pot of coffee.

“You know, you didn’t have to take the divan last night,” Kaveh said. “It’s your house, you should’ve claimed the bed.”

“I’m not going to let you sleep on the divan,” Alhaitham answered as he plucked a fruit from the bowl and began to cut it. “It’s not uncomfortable, but it’s not right for you to sleep there if a bed is available.”

“But—”

“No buts,” Alhaitha interrupted, plopping pieces of fruit onto a plate and pushing it over to Kaveh. “The night has already passed, and you’re leaving in a few hours. It’s meaningless to debate over this.”

“Okay,” Kaveh quietly answered as he picked up one of the pieces of fruit on the plate. He nibbled on it as Alhaitham poured his coffee.

“Speaking of last night, how are you feeling?” Alhaitham asked.

Kaveh winced at the question, swallowing the last bit of food in his mouth before pondering over what to say. He wasn’t sure what there was to say. Up until he had seen that folder, the future looked so bright. It was everything he could’ve ever wanted. But now that he knew everything wasn’t as perfect as he originally imagined, he wasn’t sure what to think.

“You’re disappointed,” Alhaitham pointed out.

“How could I not be?” Kaveh answered, gripping his mug.

“Nothing in life is perfect. It’s naive to believe so.”

“I wasn’t expecting it to be. I just really wanted something for once to go right.”

His father’s death. His mother leaving for Fontaine. He didn’t expect people to stay anymore but after spending so long with a future Alhaitham that he was possibly dating in 15 years, he had thought that maybe at least one thing was going to be fine. Was it wrong for him to hope so?

“It’s going to go right,” Alhaitham reassured him. “Eventually.”

“My future isn’t set in stone yet,” Kaveh argued. “What if it doesn’t work out?”

Alhaitham stepped closer to him. Kaveh went to take a step back but was stopped by a hand gently taking hold of his own. He looked up to find Alhaitham staring down at him with so much love and devotion in those teal eyes of his, Kaveh’s heart stopped for a second.

“Is this the future you want?” he asked.

He thought back to the photos on the shelves depicting an older version of him smiling with his best friend. The blueprints left behind on the desk, the lovely home he had been inside this whole visit, and a familiar face who held him like he was the world to them all came to mind as well.

He didn’t need to think about it for long. The answer was obvious. A future where he had a career, a cozy home that he could proudly call his and someone who loved him? What more could he possibly ask for?

He thought about his present. The late nights he spent on his projects, the empty house he occupied that was but a memory of a past that will never return. His best friend who could use a lesson or two in relationships but remained by his side. Someone he loved, and wanted more with. Someone who he might one day have that ‘more’ with.

“I do,” Kaveh said. “This is something I want.”

“Things happen for a reason, just let it run its course. What is meant to happen will happen,” Alhaitham said, intertwining their fingers together. “Trust that you will one day get to where you want to be.”

“Do you really think I’ll make it?” Kaveh softly asked.

Teal eyes met crimson and Kaveh could see a hint of a smile on Alhaitham’s face, “I’m currently living through it. You just need to believe in yourself, and enjoy every moment in the present.”

Kaveh felt his eyes tear up and he quickly wiped them off before they fell down his face. He gave Alhaitham a grateful smile.

“Thanks.”

They released their hands to enjoy the rest of their breakfast. After finishing, Kaveh had expected to spend the rest of his time in the future at the house, but to his surprise, Alhaitham dragged him outside.

“We need to be back at the forest before the switch,” Alhaitham explained as he trudged on his cloak.

As he followed Alhaitham out of the house, Kaveh found himself in awe of his surroundings. Sumeru City was simultaneously the same and yet so different. The streets looked familiar but the structures looked different, even the shops were completely replaced. Nothing looked the same, and yet, it still resembled the Sumeru City he grew up in.

Kaveh found himself tempted to explore a bit more, but Alhaitham was quick to notice the distraction. He came up to Kaveh and grabbed his wrist before dragging him away, steering clear of the stalls and shops on the street.

The sound of laughter escaped Kaveh’s mouth.

“Sorry, sorry,” he apologized as he fell into step with Alhaitham. “It’s just that everything looks so interesting.”

“You’ll have plenty of time to check it out in the future,” Alhaitham chuckled. “I’ll take you to some one day.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” Kaveh muttered as he blushed.

“I’m positive that I will keep this one.”

If he could blush anymore, he would be doing so.

Once they were in the forest, Alhaitham squeezed Kaveh’s hand.

“Stay close, the forest is dangerous,” he warned before summoning his sword. As they walked through the forest, Alhaitham slashed away at the trees and bushes to create a clearer path for the two of them. It was at that moment Kaveh realized that the sword was made purely out of dendro. Alhaitham had a vision. Dendro suited him well, and the fact that he even knew how to create a sword from Dendro demonstrated how proficient he was. Kaveh wondered if he had a vision too. Surely, if Alhaitham proved himself to the gods, he had to have done so as well, right?

When they got to a clearing with a red ley line in the middle, Alhaitham stopped.

“This was the same ley line Kaveh got absorbed into yesterday,” he explained, putting up a protective arm to block Kaveh’s path. “Be careful, we don’t know if it’ll absorb you again and I don’t want you to be further displaced in time.”

“But, what if I have to walk in there to go back to my timeline?” Kaveh countered.

“It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

The two walked around the outer rim of the clearing, examining the ley line from afar. Kaveh had to admit that it was abnormal. Aside from its color, it crackled and groaned as it rotated in its ball of matter. The smell of rotten eggs made Kaveh gag every time he breathed in.

“It’s almost time, isn’t it?” Kaveh said as he glanced at the sky. The sun was beginning to go down, turning the sky’s color into a fiery red. He didn’t see the sky when he first appeared but given that it was night by the time he arrived at the house, time had to be up.

“Almost,” Alhaitham answered.

Kaveh glanced back at the ley line.

“Kaveh…” Alhaitham said in a low voice, as if he could read Kaveh’s mind. “Don’t do it.”

“I think I have to,” Kaveh answered. “If I fell in there earlier then maybe the only way to reverse this is by going back in.”

“I can’t risk losing you,” Alhaitham’s hold on him tightened.

When Kaveh looked into his eyes he could see the fear in them. Ah, that’s right. This all happened because he lost Kaveh earlier. Watching somebody you loved disappear in front of your own eyes had to be mentally taxing. Alhaitham had done well in masking the turmoil emotions the entire time but now that he was faced with the possibility of losing Kaveh again, he was hesitant.

Even 15 years later, Alhaitham was still his junior. It was Kaveh’s responsibility to make things right.

Kaveh gave him a sympathetic smile, “You miss him don’t you?”

“More than anything,” Alhaitham confessed.

“And I miss someone too,” Kaveh cupped Alhaitham’s face. “Someone very dear to me. Risks have to be taken if you want him back.” He dropped his hand and stood up straight. “Thank you for taking me in. Goodbye.”

“Don’t say goodbye. We’ll see each other again soon enough,” he replied with a smile on his face that didn’t reach his eyes.

“Right,” Kaveh chuckled, feeling tears forming in his eyes. “I’ll see you then.”

Kaveh turned away from Alhaitham and took a deep breath, willing his heart to calm down. He took a single step forward before turning back to face Alhaitham. He wanted to have one last look at him, commit that face to memory. He wanted to remind himself that this was what was waiting for him in the future. Alhaitham looked at him in surprise, confusion and worry written all over his face. He began to walk backwards, still facing Alhaitham as he gave him a reassuring smile.

“Kaveh, watch where you’re going—”

“What is meant to happen will happen, right?” Kaveh asked. “If that is so, then I’m trusting everything will work out.”

He stopped once again. He could feel the tendrils of the ley line reaching out to him, beckoning him. As if under a spell, he felt himself drawn to it, inching closer and closer. He resisted the spell, stopping once again to meet Alhaitham’s face one more time.

“By the way, you were cuter back then!” Kaveh shouted before stepping into the ley line. It immediately reacted to his presence, enveloping him in that same bright light that had taken him earlier. In the blink of an eye, it was all gone and he found himself stumbling forward again.

“I’ve got you.”

He was caught by a pair of arms, holding onto him tightly. When he looked up, Alhaitham, his Alhaitham was holding onto him. It felt nice to finally be back. It felt like returning home after a long vacation. He pulled him in for a hug.

“I missed you,” Kaveh confessed as he held onto his friend tightly. He felt like his heart was going to rip out of his chest as he continued. “The future isn’t bad, but every second I was there I spent wanting to come back to this. To you.”

“I missed you too,” Alhaitham muttered into Kaveh’s hair.

When they pulled apart, Kaveh reached out to cup his friend’s cheek, taking in every detail as if he were seeing him for the first time. As he looked into Alhaitham’s face, he saw it. He saw where the chubby cheeks would fade, and then would form into that of an adult. It wasn’t that he became hot, he had always looked that way. In a few years, he would blossom into the handsome man who remained by Kaveh’s side. His heart was beating in excitement at the prospect of getting to grow older with him. He should cherish his cute little junior while he still could.

And Alhaitham was right. Even if the project was doomed to fail, even if there were hard times ahead and there was a risk of losing it all, he should still enjoy every moment to the fullest. Alhaitham was important to him and he wanted to cherish every moment he had with him. And maybe one day…

Alhaitham tilted his head as he looked down at him. Though reserved, he could see the adoration on his face. To think this man would one day unashamedly bask Kaveh in all of the love he had to offer had him blushing. It’s always been there, hasn’t it?

He was going to let things run their course. Whatever happens, even if it gets bad, the best is yet to come.

Chapter Text

What is meant to happen will happen.

Those were the words Alhaitham told him when he had been displaced in the future.

Trust the process.

Even with those encouraging words, the knowledge he had was a burden to carry.

A burden that he was afraid would mess everything up.

They rarely talk about that strange day. There wasn’t much to say really. They both knew that revealing too much could end up destroying the timeline so they had silently agreed it was best to keep things vague. But Kaveh was dying to know what had happened between Alhaitham and his future self. Why? Well, because whatever happened that day seemed to have struck a nerve in Alhaitham. Ever since then, he’d been acting strange.

Strange in a good way, but still unnerving. Whenever they met up for the project, Alhaitham was touchy but subtle. He would often graze his fingers across his arm in passing, or take his wrist to guide his hand across the maps laid out on the table. It was so subtle that if Kaveh wasn’t painfully aware of Alhaitham’s presence he wouldn’t have noticed it.

It was somehow worse whenever the others involved in the project were around. In group settings, Alhaitham remained close by, his hand ghosting over Kaveh’s as they went over the checklist of what needed to be done. One time, Kaveh had been approached by one of the group members, asking if Kaveh could do something for them when Alhaitham rudely interrupted the conversation and told the person to just do it themselves and not ask others for their charity.

“I don’t mind doing it,” Kaveh sighed after the person left. “It was something minor.”

“Don’t let others take advantage of you,” Alhaitham said as he crossed his arms. “Today it’s a small favor, tomorrow he’s going to be asking you to do all his work.”

“He’s not going to do that,” Kaveh argued. “This is a group project. We should be helping each other out whenever we can.”

“We are helping each other out, by doing the roles that have been assigned to us so that one person isn’t doing all the work.”

Alhaitham’s hands found their way to his, and Kaveh found himself staring directly at Alhaitham, who looked at him with pleading eyes.

“Doing your part is ensuring the project’s success.”

Kaveh felt his mouth turn dry at that moment. He had been to the future, he knew what was to become of this project. If he told Alhaitham what he knew, what would he do? Was there a right way to go about this? If he knew that everything was doomed to fail, would he just abandon the project right then and there? Would that be the projected downfall? Or was it something else? Kaveh didn’t know. Part of him wanted to selfishly save the project, but what if his actions in order to save it would inevitably cause its collapse? The scariest part of it all was that he was painfully aware that the knowledge he possessed was insignificant to the grand scheme of things.

Kaveh knew that the burden was on him, but since he didn’t know what he was doing, he decided to just go with his instincts. If he thought it was the right choice to make, then he would go forward with it. Questioning every step would drive him crazy over what was an already stressful project. But part of him wondered, if Alhaitham knew in his stead, would he still make the same choices he had already made?

“I’m going to do what I believe is best for the project,” Kaveh replied. “Whether you agree or not.”

Disappointment flashed across Alhaitham’s eyes before he averted them, a frown forming on his face.

The topic was never brought up again. Each time a group member approached Kaveh over a matter, he would do everything in his power to help them out. They were encountering several difficulties after all, and Kaveh was one of the few who could keep up. He stayed up long hours working on the parts he agreed to help out with, much to Alhaitham’s annoyance.

“You’re wearing yourself thin,” Alhaitham warned one night. Kaveh felt his hand grip onto his forearm as if he was holding onto a lifeline. “Stop doing the others’ work.”

“Some of them have already dropped out,” Kaveh argued. “If I don’t pick up their work, who else will?”

“Divide the work with someone else,” Alhaitham advised. “There are others, who are only doing a tenth of what you do. Have them do it.”

“But none of them are at my skill level—

“Then hand them easier tasks that are at their level,” Alhaitham suggested. “Take a break, go to bed.”

“After I finish this—

“You can finish it in the morning,” Alhaitham said as he began to drag Kaveh away. “Come.”

Kaveh protested the entire time, insisting that he should finish another assignment before sleeping. This, however, all fell on deaf ears as Alhaitham pushed him onto the bed.

“Go to sleep,” he commanded.

“Asshole,” Kaveh groaned as his back sank into the mattress. “Do you need to be so pushy?”

“I wouldn’t need to be if you had any sense of self-preservation.”

Kaveh sat up and glared at Alhaitham. “You’re an asshole.”

“You said that already.”

“Just,” Kaveh held out his hand, “come to bed with me. I’ll rest if you lay beside me.”

Alhaitham stretched his hand out for a moment, his fingers hovering over Kaveh’s for a moment before he retracted them. He bowed his head, eyes fixating on the floor as he said in a quiet voice, “I shouldn’t.”

“I’m not asking you to, I’m telling you to,” Kaveh laughed as he grabbed Alhaitham’s wrist and pulled him onto the bed.

Alhaitham stumbled forward, releasing a surprised gasp before tumbling onto the bed. Kaveh fell backwards, his back hitting the mattress again as Alhaitham broke his fall by putting his hands in front of him. Kaveh found himself trapped underneath Alhaitham, staring up at his face. Alhaitham was staring right back at him, a glint of awe in his teal eyes for a fleeting moment. His face began to turn red as he averted his eyes.

“Now you’re the one being pushy.”

“C’mon, you live on the other side of the city, you knew there was no way I was going to let you go home this late,” Kaveh gave him a coy smile. “You might as well resign to your fate and give in to me.”

As soon as the words slipped out of Kaveh’s mouth, he instantly regretted it. His eyes widened and he clamped his mouth shut with his hand, drowning out the surprised gasp he released. His face turned red as he stared up at Alhaitham who also stared at him in shock.

He couldn’t believe he just said that. Give in to me. Could he be any more obvious? Sure, the two of them are together in the future, but he had no idea when that was going to happen. For all he knew, Alhaitham wasn’t even the least bit interested in him yet. Did he somehow mess up the timeline with this slip-up?

Kaveh closed his eyes, begging his beating heart to calm down as he wished for a hole to open beneath him and take him right then and there. He was done for. Alhaitham had yet to say anything and the suspense was killing him.

After what felt like an eternity, he felt something lying on top of his chest. Kaveh opened his eyes to find that Alhaitham was resting his head on top of him, and wrapping his arms around his waist. Now that they were this close to each other, Kaveh was painfully aware of everything. From the breath that tickled against his skin, to the hold of those arms, his entire body felt like it was on fire wherever they touched.

“Goodnight, Kaveh,” Alhaitham mumbled, slowly drifting off into sleep.

Kaveh’s heart soared, embracing him as he closed his eyes. He placed a hand on top of Alhaitham’s head, running his fingers through those soft silver locks.

“Goodnight, Alhaitham.”

“Omar dropped out of the project today,” Alhaitham announced as he walked into Kaveh’s house.

“That’s the third person this month…” Kaveh sighed. “I don’t think I can pick up Omar’s work as well…”

“You won’t,” Alhaitham stated, as he took off his shoes in the foyer. “Give the work to someone else. Aisha is also part of your darshan, right? She can handle it.”

“I’ll send her a message later to see if she’s up to it.”

“She should be. Isn’t she only a few ranks below you?”

“Yes, but she’s said before that our skill levels are vastly different. I might have to guide her anyway.”

“In any case, the job should fall onto her, not you.”

“Thanks,” Kaveh sighed as he closed the door.

He rested his head against it, taking a deep breath. Another person had dropped out of the project. They were one day closer to the inevitable downfall. It was approaching, and despite knowing that it was going to happen, Kaveh was still nowhere ready to face it. He had poured everything into this project for the last year and a half. Could he really allow it to fall apart? Not to mention all the work he picked up for the others, could he really let everyone else’s work go down the drain by having everything fail? He once again wondered what Alhaitham would do if he knew the outcome. Would he call it quits, or would he push forward? Entertaining either answer brought Kaveh no comfort.

“Are you okay?” Alhaitham asked.

“Yeah, it’s just frustrating to lose someone else,” Kaveh replied.

He felt a hand rest on his shoulder. Kaveh turned to face Alhaitham who looked up at him with a worried look in his eyes.

“Let’s forgo the project today,” Alhaitham suggested.

“But we have so much to do,” Kaveh protested.

“I think a break will help clear our heads,” Alhaitham replied as he grabbed Kaveh’s hand. “Take me to that market you’ve been raving about.”

There was a determined glint in those teal eyes. It seemed like Alhaitham wanted the two of them to get away from the tension the project was creating. He really wanted to cheer Kaveh up. It was a sweet gesture, reminding him of the Alhaitham he was going to become. The attentive man that knew everything Kaveh needed without ever needing to say it.

“Sure,” Kaveh answered, his face heating up as he opened the door again. “I’ll show you around.”

The market was bustling with life. One would think the entire city had decided to visit the place on this particular day. The crowds were so overwhelming, Kaveh could tell from the displeased look on Alhaitham’s face that he was already starting to regret having suggested the visit. Right before Kaveh could say they should find somewhere else to go, Alhaitham’s grip tightened around their joined hands and pulled Kaveh into the crowds.

There were plenty of stalls that captured Kaveh’s attention, and he stopped at every one to take a look at what was being offered. There was a stall that sold paintings from Fontaine. It reminded him of his mother who was currently residing there. He hoped she was doing alright, it had been a while since he'd received anything from her. There was a stall that sold stationery, which Kaveh ended up buying a stack of paper to use for his next letters to Faranak.

The two had approached a jewelry stall when a pair of earrings caught Kaveh’s eye. He approached the stall, unable to look away from them. They were gorgeous golden earrings with ruby gems fashioned into the shape of a bird mid-flight.

“Hi,” Kaveh greeted the vendor as he came up to the counter, “These bird earrings are gorgeous. The craftsmanship is impeccable. I can tell the artist behind this is incredibly talented.”

“Thank you,” the vendor bowed his head humbly. “Most of the jewelry here is my own, but that was designed by my daughter.”

“May I ask for the price?”

“Thirty thousand mora,” the vendor answered.

That was way too much. Even if he could haggle the price down, he doubted the vendor could lower it to a range he could afford. Kaveh stared at the earrings in dismay.

“Ah, nevermind,” he replied solemnly before busying himself by looking at the other jewelry offered.

Kaveh was about to point out a funny necklace to Alhaitham when he spoke up.

“That ring,” Alhaitham stated, pointing at the display. “Did you make that?”

“Yes, one of the oldest in my collection actually,” the vendor replied.

“What’s the size?”

Kaveh looked at Alhaitham in confusion. He had never shown any interest in jewelry before and yet he was staring at that ring as if it was the most important item in the world. What was it about that ring that captured his attention? Was it just that gorgeous to him? No, aesthetics never mattered as much to him as it did to Kaveh. There had to be something else going on in Alhaitham’s mind.

“I can fit it to whatever size you need,” the vendor explained as he took the ring off of its display stand. “Do you know the size?”

“Whatever his is,” Alhaitham replied, taking Kaveh’s wrist and showing his hand to the vendor.

“Huh?!” Kaveh stared at Alhaitham in shock as the vendor measured his ring finger. “Why mine?!”

“It’s yours,” Alhaitham replied.

Kaveh’s face turned red as he squeaked, “You’re joking, right?”

“No,” Alhaitham shook his head as he handed the vendor a bag of mora, “Why would you think I’m joking about this?”

“This is… too much, I mean, a ring, just for me? How much does this thing cost anyway?”

“I can afford it,” Alhaitham assured him.

“That’s not the point! Something like this needs purpose. You can’t give me a ring just because.”

“We can give it purpose if that’s your only objection,” Alhaitham said as he was handed the ring.

Kaveh’s heart skipped a beat as Alhaitham gently lifted his hand. He found himself unable to look away from those mesmerizing eyes as teal met crimson.

“It’s a promise ring,” Alhaitham explained as he began to slip it onto his finger. “I want it to serve as a reminder that no matter how many years go by, or whatever happens, my feelings for you will always remain the same at the end of the day.”

Something warm and fuzzy exploded inside Kaveh’s chest and it was spreading like wildfire throughout his body. He felt like he had lost control of his senses, everything around him muting except for the person in front of him. All he could feel was Alhaitham’s hands holding his, see the determined, yet loving, expression on his face, and hear Alhaitham’s voice.

Kaveh looked at Alhaitham again, realizing how much he had changed since that night at Aaru Village. He had grown taller, some of his baby face was already starting to go away, and it seemed like he was starting to build some muscle. He still didn’t look anywhere close to how he was going to look in 14 years, but he was still growing. They were both growing, together, and there were going to be even more changes in the years to come.

Alhaitham admired the ring on Kaveh’s hand, a fond smile forming on his face as he stated, “It fits you perfectly.”

His eyes tore away from Alhaitham to look at his hand. The band around his finger sparkled under the sunlight. It was beautiful, and to think that Alhaitham spontaneously decided to give it to him…

“Your feelings for me,” Kaveh began, lowering his hand as he met Alhaitham’s face again. “What are they?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” He tilted his head.

“Ah…” Kaveh flushed as he looked down at the ring again.

“You don’t have to answer me now,” Alhaitham added. “I just wanted you to know.”

Sometime in the next 14 years, Kaveh would give Alhaitham his answer. He had no idea when or how it was going to happen, but he had a feeling that this was a moment he needed to respond accordingly.

He smiled, taking Alhaitham’s face in his hands and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek. When he pulled back, he noticed the way Alhaitham stared wide-eyed at him, his ears turning a bright shade of red.

“That’s my answer,” Kaveh replied.

Alhaitham stilled, his face before he quickly recovered, clearing his throat.

“We should get something to eat and then get back to work,” he suggested.

“Okay,” Kaveh laughed, as Alhaitham took his hand and began leading them out of the market.

As they exited the market, Kaveh couldn’t help but admire the way their hands fitted together perfectly, and the way the ring glistened under the sunlight.

In the evening, after Alhaitham returned to his home, Kaveh would find himself lying in bed and appreciating the band around his finger again, watching the way the lights in his room bounced off the metal. This was Alhaitham’s gift to him, his promise. Kaveh placed the hand on top of his heart and closed his eyes, unable to fight back the smile on his face as he thought about their future together.

The Alhaitham he met in the future told him to trust the process. The Alhaitham of the present promised that his feelings would never change. With these reassurances in mind, he knew everything would turn out to be okay in the end. In due time, it will all fall into place.

For a moment, Kaveh forgot about the impending doom of the future, and basked in the ray of hope that was inside his heart.

Kaveh yawned and stretched his limbs. He had been working on this assignment for most of the night. There was an error in the calculations, someone else in the group had accidentally added an extra number, and now it was up to him to fix it to bring the project back on track. Finding what was the extra number, however, was proving to be difficult. He had been running several math equations for the past hour, and something was still wrong with the calculations. Still, he knew the only way to fix it was through trial and error, so he pressed on.

“Everyone else’s mess isn’t yours to fix,” Alhaitham’s voice cut through the silence.

Kaveh turned around at his desk to find Alhaitham standing at the doorway with a tired look on his face. A few months back, the Akademiya provided their group with a research center, allowing everyone to be in close quarters at all times. Currently, the two of them were the only ones sleeping at the place, everyone else having gone home to spend time with their families. It seemed like Alhaithan had gone to bed earlier and had woken up to check on Kaveh.

“It’s my responsibility,” Kaveh argued.

“It’s not.”

“Do you ever get sick and tired of this argument? We’re going in circles here,” Kaveh snapped as he picked up his pen. “Why can’t you just drop it?”

Alhaitham remained silent for a moment before answering, “I just don’t understand.”

“Understand, what?”

“You. You sacrifice everything for this project, expending yourself night and day for everyone. I don’t understand how you’re still standing with that burden,” Alhaitham explained.

“It’s none of your concern,” Kaveh retorted as he returned to his work.

“It is if I think you’re going to tear yourself apart at this rate.”

Kaveh furiously whipped his head around, “I’m not—

He paused mid-sentence, catching the fury in his voice and taking in a deep breath before exhaling slowly. “I’m not going to tear myself apart. I know my limits.”

Alhaitham frowned before turning away, a displeased sigh escaping his lips as he said, “For your sake, I hope you do.”

Watching him disappear into the darkness, Kaveh found himself alone again. These days, it seemed like all they did was fight over the project. With a shaky breath, Kaveh turned back to his work, ignoring the beating of his heart as he glanced down at the ring on his finger.

At the end of the day, Alhaitham still cared for him. Even as the project dwindled down to its last five members, and was crawling on its knees, at least he would still be walking out of this with the one person that mattered.

It took two and a half years for everything to finally come to an end. What had started with a group of over fifty researchers led by ten, had now been completely downsized to just two.

The remaining members were furious with the turn of events. Despite the loss of members, the project was still progressing, though the weight of the workload on each of the members began to prove to be too much. In the end, the only one who wanted to hold onto that responsibility was Kaveh, as the others couldn’t handle it, and Alhaitham refused to take over other’s work. The project was falling apart at its seams, and there was nothing either could do to save it.

“This is your fault,” Kaveh griped as he picked up one of the abandoned models and placed it into a box to be given back to the Akademiya. “If you weren’t so selfish, people would’ve been more inclined to stay.”

“My fault?” Alhaitham scoffed. “It was a lost cause. Everyone who left was a quitter.”

“Don’t talk about them like that. They did their best.”

“Why are you defending these people?” Alhaitham probed. “They have done nothing worthy of acknowledgment.”

“You are selfish and egotistical, you know that? These people needed help and you just ignored them.”

“And you consider yourself to be selfless? All of this is just a flight from reality for you. The reason you put yourself out there for others is because you can’t escape your sense of guilt and want to make up for it to feel better about yourself. Using your own logic, you are just as bad as me.”

Kaveh’s entire body froze as he stared aghast at Alhaitham. His words have always been sharp, but he never imagined that Alhaitham could ever dare to cut this deep with them. Not towards him.

“If you want to continue on this path of destruction, go ahead, but I want no part of it. I don’t want to witness you fall apart,” Alhaitham stated as he took out his thesis and crossed his name off. “I’m dropping the project.”

“Fine,” Kaveh said as he snatched his own thesis. “If you don’t want to be part of this project, consider it done!”

He ripped the thesis in two, watching as Alhaitham’s eyes widened in shock.

“Kaveh—“

“You’re right,” Kaveh answered quietly, feeling tears start to roll down his face. His heart was aching, and his head was spinning, but all he could think about was how betrayed he felt in the moment. “Maybe this is all just a flight from reality. How can someone like me ever be friends with you?”

“Kaveh,” Alhaitham began, “That’s not—”

“We shouldn’t have ever met!” Kaveh declared before running out the door.

“Kaveh—!” Alhaitham called after him to no avail.

His legs carried him out of the research center and before he knew it, he was back at his home, lying in his bed as he stared at the ceiling, trying to make sense of it all. Everything had happened so fast that before he realized it, it had all come crashing down. That was the outcome of the project. It lay beside him on the floor, torn into pieces. When the time came, he had walked out the door, slamming it shut behind him.

He should feel relieved that the timeline was going exactly as predicted, and yet, he felt nothing but hollow, as if a part of him had been ripped out. He not only lost the project he spent years working on, but he also lost his best friend in the process. Was this the right step in the direction he had to take? Was losing Alhaitham all a part of this? What if he had messed up and not only lost the project, but the future he had seen?

Kaveh lifted his hand, eyeing the ring on his finger. Gritting his teeth, he pulled it off his hand and threw it across the room.

“You’re a liar,” Kaveh shouted as he heard the ring clang against the wall before hitting the floor. “You promised— you promised me that you’ll—

He paused, wiping his tears before sitting up and crawling across the ground as he searched for the ring. In the darkness of his room, he searched aimlessly for it, sliding his hands across the wooden boards in the hopes that his fingers would graze across the metal band. When his hand finally knocked against something, making it slide further away from him, he cursed under his breath. He couldn’t lose the ring, not when he needed it most.

Following the source of the sound, he managed to find the jewelry he had discarded, picking it up and placing it in a safer spot this time.

“You promised me that no matter what, your feelings will never change,” Kaveh stated as he stared down at the ring.

Another tear rolled down his face as he shook his head.

“Is it still true, even after today?”

He saw a glimpse of the future he had with Alhaitham. He desperately wanted whatever they had in that timeline, and yet, he had no idea how to get there. After what had just transpired, he was convinced that he had ruined it all. How does a relationship heal after a fallout like that?

After their fallout, Kaveh placed the ring in his jewelry box, and carried on with his life. His heart was still aching, for both the project and Alhaitham, but as the months went by, the wounds he had inside his heart began to heal. Kaveh threw himself into his work, dedicating everything he had into graduating. This included an academic paper on some of his findings over the last couple of months. He was proud of how the paper turned out, and he couldn’t wait to see what the others had to say about it. While his findings weren’t revolutionary, they definitely were a step in the right direction on how to provide better housing in remote areas.

He was out with some classmates when they brought up the subject. Kaveh immediately perked up, curious about what they had to say about it.

“As expected from the best student to come from our darshan in years,” his friend, Aarush said as he lifted his glass of wine. “To Kaveh and his amazing works!”

They all cheered before taking a sip of their alcohol.

“No, but seriously, it was great, good job Kaveh,” Hunar, another one of his friends, praised.

“Yeah, the guy who responded to your paper doesn’t know what he’s talking about. What a loser.”

Kaveh stared at his friend in confusion. “I’m sorry, somebody responded to my paper?”

“Yeah, some guy from another darshan had a bit to say about your writing. He tore the entire thing apart. He makes some excellent points, but I think he’s wrong—

“Show me the response,” Kaveh demanded as somebody handed him the sheet of paper.

He immediately recognized the handwriting the moment his eyes laid upon the elegant words written across the page. The style of writing was even the same. Kaveh groaned as he read through the response.

“I get the feeling that you know this guy,” Aarush pointed out.

“He’s…” Kaveh trailed off as he continued reading the argument the reply had. He wasn’t sure what was the best way to describe their relationship. Former friends? Ex-partner? Dismissing everything they had between them felt insulting, but he also had to face the fact that he and Alhaitham were no longer on speaking terms.

“Oh,” Hunar grimaced as his two friends gave each other a knowing look. “It’s that guy, isn’t it? The one you used to always ditch us for?”

“I didn’t ditch you guys for him,” Kaveh defended himself. “He was my research partner, and we had a lot of work to do!”

“Well, it seems like the breakup was rough if he’s seeking your attention this way.”

“He’s not seeking any attention,” he rolled his eyes as he continued to read. “He just likes to be argumentative for the sake of it.”

“Ah, you haven’t gotten to the part yet,” Hunar said.

‘What part?”

“Section three, paragraph four.”

Kaveh immediately skimmed down to the part his friend told him to look at and read it. As he read the argument Alhaitham had, Kaveh gritted his teeth.

“What?!” Kaveh shouted as he finished reading the piece. “He’s so wrong! I’m using the word exactly as it is meant to be used in relation to the topic! The nerve of this guy. He read a few books on architecture and now he thinks he’s some sort of expert and can criticize me as he likes!”

“Here we go…” Aarush mumbled.

“I am going to reply to him,” Kaveh declared as he began to dig through his bag. “No way am I letting him get away with this!”

“Like moths to a flame, he can’t resist the guy.” Aarush rolled his eyes.

“I am defending my work here! You’d do it too if you were in my shoes.”

“No, I wouldn’t.”

“But I’d do it if my ex was the one replying to me,” Hunar joked before taking a sip of his wine. “I’d do anything to get her back.”

Over the next couple of years, the two would continue to argue across different academic papers. Sometimes it would be in reply to one of their own, and other times it would be replying to a comment left behind on someone else’s paper. There was just something about seeing Alhaitham’s handwriting, curtly correcting someone on their theories and findings that would send Kaveh into a fury. Before he could think twice, he would be replying to whatever Alhaitham said, attacking him in whatever way possible. Alhaitham in reply, would do the same.

This was their only form of communication during this time. Neither made an effort to reach out or strike up any conversation. Instead, it was this game of cat and mouse, chasing the other through the messages left behind on these papers, leaving remnants of themselves for the other to find. It was like leaving behind crumbs on a never-ending trail, waiting for a special someone to follow him.

Kaveh was cleaning his room when he heard the sound of a crash. Turning around, he quickly realized that he had knocked over his jewelry box. The entire thing shattered upon impact, causing his jewelry to scatter across the floor of his room. Kaveh sighed in exasperation. He was already having a rough day. His proposal had gone through its fifth rejection and his boss decided that they needed to talk about Kaveh’s “unrealistic” ideals in regards to his profession. Needless to say, Kaveh came home already feeling down and decided to clean his room to keep his mind off things.

This incident was clearly doing the exact opposite of what Kaveh had hoped for. Sighing in exasperation, he got down on his knees and began to clean up. As he inspected the state of the jewelry, making sure nothing was scratched up or broken, memories of each of them flooded back. There was the necklace that used to belong to his mother, the bracelet that his grandfather used to wear all the time, the pair of earrings his grandmother gave him as a birthday gift, and more. Each piece held significance in one way or another, but their memory had faded from the forefront of Kaveh’s mind as they were out of sight. As he set them aside to place them in a new box, he lifted another ring, only to find himself face to face with something he had completely forgotten about: Alhaitham’s ring.

A few years ago, the sight of the ring would have made him start to cry but instead, he just felt numb inside. Looking back on it, it was naive to believe that the words Alhaitham told him that day would remain true years later. It’s been years since they last spoke face to face, and he was positive Alhaitham had moved on just as much as he had. Aside from the times they would argue in academic papers, he hadn’t spared a single one of his thoughts toward him in months. He was preoccupied with other things in his life, such as work. The ring was useless at this point. Alhaitham did not keep his promise, and Kaveh had no intention of holding onto something that once was.

Kaveh went to throw the ring out when his foot kicked something, causing it to slide across the floor. Looking down, he found himself staring at another ring. He picked it up and examined the object further before his eyes widened in recognition.

It was his father’s wedding ring. The very same one he used to wear all the time before he took it off and headed off to the desert. With both rings in his hand, he couldn’t help himself from comparing the two. They were both beautiful, but his father’s ring stood out more due to the gemstone attached to it. The ring Alhaitham gave him was in better condition, his father’s wedding ring already rusting from the inside out.

His heart ached as he thought about his father. Even years later, Kaveh found himself grieving his loss. This was one of the only things he had left of his father. Whatever caused his father to remove his most precious possession before leaving, must have been divine fate. The rest was lost when he died in the desert.

Setting the wedding ring aside, he turned back to look at Alhaitham’s. Just like his father, he used to wear the ring all the time. Every time he looked at it, he was reminded of the promise Alhaitham made to him. A small part of him was reminding him to throw it out, unlike everything else he kept in that box, this ring held memories he shouldn’t hold onto.

Another memory began to resurface. Wise words from someone he met once.

What is meant to happen will happen.

He couldn’t believe he had forgotten about the fact that he had seen a glimpse of the future. After the end of the project, Kaveh had given up all hope that it was even possible. After all, what was the point of holding out when nothing seemed to be going in the right direction?

But maybe… just maybe… there was still something there. Kaveh could sense it, deep in the crevices of his heart that his feelings were there, dormant, but still present. He had been ignoring them for years, wanting to hide the stinging pain they brought, but if he still felt something then maybe…

Ten years. He had an entire decade to wait and see if what he had witnessed that day would come true.

Trust the process.

He was going to do exactly that. Trust the process, and see if he was on the right track. After all, if this was his fate, then Alhaitham was going to come back into the picture sooner or later.

Instead of putting the ring back onto his finger, he brought out a chain and attached it to the ring before slipping it above his head. It fell far enough that it could be hidden by most of his tops. Out of sight, but not completely out of mind. Nobody had to know of the ring Kaveh was holding onto as if it was his last thread of hope.

“Another drink, boss,” Kaveh slurred as he pushed his cup across the table.

“You got it,” Lambad said as he went behind the counter to make another drink.

Kaveh sighed, resting his head on the table as he closed his eyes. He had a headache coming on, and he had a feeling it was because of lack of sleep. He would’ve just gone back to his house to get some rest but he had nowhere to go. He had been living homeless for about two weeks now - He gave everything he had into building the Palace of Alcazarzaray, spent the past 5 years giving it his all and now he had nothing.

After Lambad served him another drink, he ignored it, choosing to instead close his eyes for a moment. Surely, nobody would bother the drunk man in the corner of the tavern if he looked passed out.

After drifting in and out of sleep for a bit, he noticed footsteps walking his way. He quickly lifted his head and straightened his back, turning to face the newcomer. It wasn’t the first time he had run into someone he knew at the tavern, and he managed to plaster a smile on his face and catch up with them without raising any suspicion every time. He could do it again. Nobody was going to know the truth of the horrible state Kaveh was in.

When he opened his mouth to greet the person, however, his words were cut short as soon as he realized who was standing before him. It had been so long since he last saw this person, that they were like a completely different person.

“Alhaitham?” Kaveh gasped.

He was all grown up, having completely lost the youthful face and lanky build he had as a young adult. The person before him was a man, much like the one he had met over ten years ago.

Alhaitham remained silent, his eyes never leaving Kaveh. He gave no indication on whether or not he was happy to see Kaveh, his face remaining impassive as they held eye contact.

“What are you doing here?” Kaveh finally asked after a moment of silence.

“I ordered a crate of wine and I’m here to pick it up before heading home,” he answered.

“So you’re leaving now?”

“Do you see me with a crate in hand?” Alhaitham held out his hands to show that they were empty.

“No, I suppose not,” Kaveh grumbled as he nursed his drink.

“I am still waiting for Lambad to process my order, so I will be here for a while,” Alhaitham explained as he took out a book.

“So, you’re just going to read while standing?”

Alhaitham ignored Kaveh’s question, choosing to instead turn a page of his book.

“You can sit with me and rest your legs before you have to drag the crate back.”

Alhaitham’s eyes lifted from the book for a moment, studying the empty seat across from Kaveh before shifting them over to the man himself. He stared right back as those teal eyes studied him.

“Well? Are you going to take the offer?”

Alhaitham closed the book and pulled a chair out before joining the table. Kaveh leaned back in his seat, a huff escaping his lips as he raised an eyebrow.

“Wow, here I thought you were going to just walk away,” Kaveh said as he picked up his drink and offered it to Alhaitham. “Are you going to join me for a drink as well?”

“Not tonight, I want to finish this book.”

“Suit yourself,” Kaveh shrugged as he took another sip.

Alhaitham leaned back into his chair and crossed his arms. “So, how have you been?”

“Really?” He scoffed. “It’s been about seven years since we’ve last spoken, you have not reached out to me once this whole time, and that is what you start with?”

“Technically, we’ve spoken through other means,” Alhaitham pointed out. “But if that is what you are concerned with, yes, I want to know how you’re doing. They say the Palace of Alcazarzaray is a work of art, the greatest architectural feat of our generation. You must be proud.”

“Of course I am, and I’ve never been better,” Kaveh pretended to boast. “I’m at the top of the world right now.”

“Then tell me; why are you sitting alone in a tavern with dark circles under your eyes?”

Kaveh faltered, his smile falling as he stared at Alhaitham in shock. It seemed like even after all their years apart, Alhaitham knew him better than anyone else. Everyone was fooled by him, every wall he had up was impenetrable, and yet, Alhaitham saw right through him as if his walls were made of glass.

A tear began to slide down his face and he caught it with his hand. No, no, no. It was a bad moment to start breaking down. Not in the middle of this tavern where anybody could see him.

Noticing Kaveh’s distress, Alhaitham moved his chair to block the view from any wandering eyes. This only caused another tear to fall. Without saying anything, Alhaitham understood what Kaveh needed at that moment.

“You…” Kaveh began to sob. “How do you always see right through me?”

“I’m observant, and you’ve always had my attention,” Alhaitham answered.

Kaveh spent the next couple of hours telling Alhaitham the events that happened in their time apart. Alhaitham listened intently, soaking in every word Kaveh had to say. At the end of Kaveh’s retelling, he bowed his head as he wiped away his tears.

“So that’s the end of it. I am now homeless, in debt, and don’t have a single mora to my name. I don’t even know where to go from here.”

Alhaitham nodded in understanding, pondering over everything Kaveh had just told him. When their eyes met again, Alhaitham was staring at him intently.

“How has realizing your ideals gone for you?” Alhaitham asked.

“It’s been rough,” Kaveh replied. “But I am still holding out hope.”

“I figured you’d say that.”

Alhaitham stood up from the table and stretched his arms. Kaveh watched the way his muscles flexed as he did so. He really was handsome. Kaveh wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or if Alhaitham was just that attractive, but Kaveh couldn’t help himself from feeling flustered just from looking at him.

He thought that Alhaitham was just going to leave, but to his surprise, he reached out a hand to Kaveh.

“I have a spare room at my house if you need a place to stay,” Alhaitham offered.

Kaveh stared at the outstretched hand before meeting his eyes.

“I don’t know,” Kaveh said as he turned away from Alhaitham, taking another sip from his wine. “This sounds like a bad idea.”

“Maybe,” Alhaitham nodded in agreement, “But if you have nowhere else to go, perhaps it is best to take the offer.”

Kaveh pulled out the chain he was wearing around his neck. The ring attached to it reflected off the lights of the tavern. He gave Alhaitham a cold stare as he showed him it.

“You still have it…?” Alhaitham’s voice sounded like it was in a trance as he approached Kaveh.

Kaveh ignored the question, dropping the chain back into his shirt before taking another sip of alcohol. He placed a hand on his heart, right where the ring rested. Was it fate that they had run into each other in this tavern, or simply a coincidence? Was Kaveh destined to forever be intertwined with Alhaitham, or was this just another passing?

“You promised me something when you gave me this ring,” Kaveh stated, before meeting Alhaitham’s eyes. “Are you going to keep your promise?”

A smile appeared on Alhaitham’s face, teal eyes sparkling with an emotion he’d rarely seen before as he offered his hand again, “I never go back on my word. Now, are you going to let me take you home?”

He took the hand and allowed Alhaitham to guide him out of the tavern.

Warm water ran down Kaveh’s body as he began to wash himself up. He hadn’t had a bath like this in some time, not since he sold his home. Time was beginning to sober him up as well, each passing second helping him clear his head.

As he turned the faucet off and stepped out of the shower, he grabbed a towel and began to dry off his body. The familiar scent of something woody hit his nostrils as he wiped his face. It was a scent that reminded him of the old books in the House of Daena, which in turn, always made him think of Alhaitham.

He supposed it only made sense that the scent was so prominent. It was Alhaitham’s home after all. This was Kaveh’s life now. He was going to be living with Alhaitham. After years apart, they were together again.

Kaveh didn’t know how to feel about that. The change felt sudden, perhaps even too fast. Then again, he was tipsy when he made the decision. If he was sober, his pride wouldn’t have let him even set foot in the house.

Still, it was the right call. Kaveh had water, food, and a roof over his head for the foreseeable future. He wasn’t sure how long this arrangement was going to last but at least he could take a few of his troubles off his ever-growing list.

As Kaveh finished putting on his pajamas, he lifted the chain with the ring. His mind wandered, remembering the days the ring made him feel giddy at the sight of it. He was so convinced that the future he saw all those years ago was written in stone, that the ring might as well have been a proposal.

How wrong he was. Instead of focusing on saving the project, he should’ve focused on Alhaitham. If he had done that, then maybe he wouldn’t have lost both.

Kaveh thought back on the future he saw. It had been so long ago that his memories had become hazy, but if he recalled correctly, didn’t that Alhaitham tell him that they were living together for five years at that point? How many years ago was it, if he did the math, he could definitely ascertain if this was the correct year...

Kaveh decided he was going to stop thinking about it as he placed the chain around his neck and tucked it inside his shirt. He shouldn’t get his hopes up. For all he knew, this could be a fluke.

Kaveh pushed open the door to the bathroom and stepped inside the bedroom. He found Alhaitham sitting on the edge of the bed with a book in hand, shirtless, with a towel on his shoulders. Kaveh’s eyes couldn’t help themselves from roaming across the expanse of his tan skin.

It was odd to see the lanky boy he used to know all muscular. Not to mention, he was really hot. Alhaitham just ticked all the boxes of things Kaveh found attractive in a man. Tall, handsome, smart, strong, and...

Noticing Kaveh’s entrance, Alhaitham placed his book down and stood up to greet Kaveh. As he did so, Kaveh got a full view of his chest. It took everything inside Kaveh to not react to how attractive Alhaitham was. If he wasn’t able to reel himself in, he would be visibly swooning as much as he was inside his head.

The two of them stared at each other awkwardly, neither knowing what to say. Then, Alhaitham snapped out of his stupor, indicating the bed.

“We should get some rest,” Alhaitham said as he began to pull back the sheets.

“No need,” Kaveh shook his head. “I’ll just take the divan.”

There was no way he was going to sleep in bed with him! Not only was this not his own bed, Kaveh was positive he wasn’t going to get a wink of sleep knowing his former best friend was next to him!

“Spending the entire night on the divan won’t be good for your back. It’ll just be for tonight,” Alhaitham insisted. “Tomorrow we can go shopping for furniture so that you can have your own bed.”

Realizing that they were going to end up arguing all night at the rate they were going, Kaveh relented, taking one side as Alhaitham took the other. They silently lay in bed together, their backs facing each other as they both snuggled into their blankets.

“Goodnight Kaveh,” Alhaitham mumbled.

“…Goodnight.”

As Alhaitham’s breathing slowly evened out, Kaveh continued to stare at the wall in defeat. As he had predicted, he didn’t get a wink of sleep that night. His mind was too preoccupied with his worries, holding back his desires, and dread for what the future had in store.

Kaveh groggily stepped into the bathroom, yawning as he turned on the light inside. As he moved to turn on the shower, he stumbled forward. He would have face planted into the bath if he hadn’t managed to grab the counter for balance first. After recovering, he looked down to investigate the source of the incident and found a pile of clothes on the floor.

Alhaitham. Kaveh angrily huffed and picked up the clothes before heading out the door. He pushed open the door to his roommate’s bedroom to find that he was already awake, sitting up in bed with a book in hand.

“Pick up after yourself. I’m not your maid,” Kaveh said as he threw the clothes onto the bed.

Alhaitham silently put down his book and reached out to grab the clothes.

“You sure make a habit of leaving messes behind,” Kaveh continued, “You leave dishes in the sink, never put away anything in the right spot, and the sheet of dust that covered every surface in this house when I first moved in was abysmal.”

“I’m used to living alone,” Alhaitham shrugged. “And I never asked you to clean up after me, nor did I ask you to clean up the entire house.”

“Well,” Kaveh snapped, “if I ask you to clean up after yourself more, just do it.”

“Okay,” Alhaitham angrily huffed, clearly annoyed that his reading time was being interrupted over something menial.

“That means, to stop leaving your clothes on the bathroom floor so that your roommate doesn’t trip over them and break his face.”

“You tripped?” Alhaitham immediately turned to Kaveh, his face full of worry. He crawled over to the edge of the bed and grabbed Kaveh’s face, inspecting it thoroughly. “Are you okay?”

“I’m okay,” Kaveh softly answered, turning his head away as he felt a blush creep up his neck. “I didn’t actually trip, I was just making a point.” He pried Alhaitham’s hands off him. “You can stop worrying now.”

Alhaitham’s hands dropped to his sides, but Kaveh could still feel his eyes on him. It was as if he was making sure things were really alright. It irritated him to no end. If he knew what was truly going on in Kaveh’s head, why won’t he just say something? It was all too much. He had to turn away to take some of the pressure off him.

“I always worry.”

Alhaitham’s confession was barely above a whisper, and Kaveh could feel the ghost of his hand brushing against his.

Kaveh’s hand immediately shot up to his chest, right where the ring lay hidden underneath his shirt. He felt his heart beating underneath his palm. It was unfair that after all this time, Alhaitham still had this effect on him. Combined with the fact that he was hotter than the volcanic lands of Natlan, Kaveh was doomed. There was no way he was going to survive living with him for an indefinite amount of time.

“Maybe you shouldn’t,” Kaveh whispered back.

If Alhaitham heard him, he said nothing in reply.

Kaveh sat at his desk and inspected his work. The client had asked for several adjustments to the original blueprints but left out criticism in a few key places. Now, Kaveh was left to make decisions to improve the safety of the structure, all while retaining the wishes of the client.

Kaveh took out a model and began to build off what he had before. Perhaps if he could see it outside of the blueprint, he could figure out what he needed to do.

He had only managed to hammer in three nails to the base when Alhaitham entered the room. His hair was disheveled and his eyes were half-lidded as if he had been asleep. Their eyes met for a brief second before Alhaitham’s shifted over to the project.

“What are you doing? Alhaitham asked.

“What does it look like? I’m working.”

“It’s two in the morning.” Alhaitham yawned. “I can’t sleep with this noise.”

“And I have to finish this draft before noon,” Kaveh argued. “Can’t you put on your soundproof earpieces?”

“Cause I don’t want to sleep with them on, besides, it’s late. You should go to sleep and finish everything when I’m awake later,” Alhaitham suggested.

“I can’t just stop and wait to start again when you wake up, by then it’ll be too late. I won’t have time to finish it. I’m going to work straight through the night until I’m done.”

“So are you just not going to get any sleep? That can’t be healthy.”

“I’m fine, I did this all the time when we were students, remember? Pulling all-nighters to finish my projects is what I always do.”

It was how he had always been. When a deadline was approaching, the only thing Kaveh could focus on was the task at hand. He would turn down invitations to go out, skip meals and even stay up late to finish before the deadline. It always worked out for him, so how was this any different?

“Yes, I remember. And then you’d spend the entire day half-asleep or worse, I’ll find you passed-out in the middle of the study,” Alhaitham reminded him. “You should’ve planned this out better so that you’re not stuck doing this in the middle of the night.”

“It’s not like I’m purposely leaving things for the last minute. I work hard on these projects, dedicating every hour I have to produce perfection so that I can give my clients the best I can offer.”

Then again, even during their time as students, Alhaitham never liked this habit of his. It was evident in the way those teal eyes stared down at him in disapproval, the only hint of emotion on an otherwise impassive face.

“What if you pass out in the middle of a meeting with a client?” Alhaitham countered. “It’s foolish to think that pushing everything off to focus on a singular thing is in any way effective. And all for a smile from the client? You should reconsider your priorities as to how—

“I don’t have a choice!”

The outburst stunned Alhaitham, his neutral expression morphing into concern. He cautiously stepped forward, eyes scanning Kaveh up and down before he quietly asked, “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine!” Kaveh insisted. Realizing that he was still shouting, he took in a deep breath and adjusted his tone. “I’m fine. Just really stressed out over this deadline, and my payments being due, and my lack of funds, and if I can’t make this deadline then I won’t be paid and I definitely won’t have enough money this—”

“You’ll be alright. You always figure things out in the end because you’re smart. If you’re that worried about making your payments this month, you can hand me this month’s rent when you have the money.”

“No, I can’t be behind on my rent too. It wouldn’t be right.”

“You’ve been on time so far and you have more pressing matters to take care of,” Alhaitham pointed out. “Lord Sangemah Bay only cares about money, but I care about you. Your health and wellbeing is what matters above all else.”

Kaveh found himself at a loss for words. He bit his lip, as he mulled over what to do. Alhaitham had a point, but every fiber of his being was screaming at him to finish his work above all else. In the end, his anxiety conquered all rational thought, and there was only one way to alleviate it.

“I’m sorry, but I have to continue,” Kaveh said as he turned back to his work. “I’ll keep quiet so I don’t disrupt your sleep.”

Kaveh expected Alhaitham to leave after that. After all, his biggest concern was the noise preventing him from sleeping. Instead, Alhaitham remained beside the desk, his eyes still fixated on Kaveh.

“I’m sorry too,” he confessed.

Kaveh paused his work to turn back to Alhaitham. “What are you— whoa!”

In one swift motion, Alhaitham lifted Kaveh and threw him over his shoulder. Kaveh remained in shock for a total of three seconds before he began to protest, hitting his roommate’s back.

“What is wrong with you?!” Kaveh protested as Alhaitham carried him out of the study. “I have work to do!”

“Since you clearly have no sense of self-preservation, I have to have it for you,” Alhaitham explained. “You’re going to sleep, whether you like it or not.”

“You can’t force me to do that! I’ll just get right out of bed and continue!”

“Not if I can help it.”

Alhaitham opened the door to his bedroom and entered it before gently laying Kaveh on the bed. Kaveh sat up, glaring at Alhaitham as he closed the door.

“This feels illegal,” Kaveh began. “In fact, it probably is.”

“There is nothing that states I can’t force my roommate to get some sleep,” Alhaitham said as he crossed over to the bed.

“You practically kidnapped me,” Kaveh argued. “You are holding me against my own will.”

“In your own house? I’m not even restraining you. You are free to get up at any moment if you really feel trapped. I won’t stop you.”

Kaveh opened his mouth to argue further but Alhaitham took off his shirt and every single rational thought he had flew out the window. All he could think about was just how attractive Alhaitham was, and what it would feel like to run his hand across his body. Kaveh flushed, suddenly feeling dirty from the thoughts plaguing his mind. He averted his eyes, but the image was already burned inside his mind. Every time he blinked, Alhaitham’s muscles would flash across his vision.

“Is it really that hot in here that you have to sleep shirtless?” Kaveh mumbled. “At least sleep in the other room if you must.”

“It’s my room, and my house. I can do as I please.”

Kaveh sighed as he laid back down on the bed, “You’re the worst.”

Alhaitham chuckled as he crawled into bed, “If that is how you wish to see it. Now sleep, I’ll wake you up in four hours. It’s not enough rest, but it’s better than nothing.”

“Fine,” Kaveh said as he buried his head into the pillow.

He ignored the excited beating of his heart as Alhaitham pulled a blanket over his body. He went to sleep facing away from Kaveh but as soon he succumbed to his sleep, one of his hands instinctively reached out to the small of Kaveh’s back and firmly held onto his shirt. It was as if his subconsciousness wanted to hold onto Kaveh in the ways he couldn’t while conscious.

Kaveh sighed as he turned around and studied Alhaitham’s sleeping figure. His lips were parted and his snores were quiet. It was an adorable sight, reminding him of their days as students. Kaveh couldn’t resist the laughter rumbling out of his chest as he closed his eyes and made himself comfortable.

“I miss what we used to be,” Kaveh whispered as he drifted off into sleep.

He wasn’t sure if anything was real after that. All he knew was that at some point between his last remaining conscious thoughts and fully sinking into his unconsciousness, he heard a familiar voice whisper something back.

“So do I.”

It was late in the evening when Alhaitham finally came back to the house, carrying a crate of alcohol. This immediately caught Kaveh’s interest. Alhaitham rarely brought alcohol home. The last time he saw him do that, was the same night they ran into each other, and that had been over three months back.

“What’s the occasion?” He asked in curiosity as he followed Alhaitham into the kitchen.

“It’s for you,” Alhaitham answered.

“Me?”

“I wanted to apologize for my behavior last night,” Alhaitham explained. “I was tired and upset that you weren’t taking care of yourself properly so I forced you to sleep. It was tactless of me to just throw you into my bed like that, and if I caused any issues with your work, or caused too much stress with your deadline, I sincerely apologize for that as well.”

“Wow,” Kaveh ran his hand across the crate, examining the alcohol within. He could tell by the casing alone that they ran on the expensive side. Kaveh may be broke, but even with money he would have hesitated to purchase an entire crate of this kind of wine. “You don’t have to apologize. I was out of turn too. My lack of sleep and stress was getting to me and I will admit that I get tunnel vision when I have deadlines to meet.”

“I’m glad you’re finally recognizing your unhealthy habits.”

“Shut up, I’m trying to be sincere here,” Kaveh looked up at Alhaitham and gave him a smile. “I was able to complete everything on time despite all the anxiety. In fact, I think the rest helped me clear my head enough to fix the problem. So…”

“I think a ‘thank you’ is in order here.”

“And let it get to your head? Never,” Kaveh chuckled. “But I do appreciate your help. Really, you did the right thing last night.”

“Then we should celebrate that you’re getting paid on time,” Alhaitham said as he pulled out a bottle of wine from the crate.

“You’re joining me for a drink tonight?” Kaveh’s face lit up. Alhaitham never joined him whenever he invited him out, so for Alhaitham to suggest they go drink to celebrate was a pleasant surprise.

“I believe it is only fair if I do.”

“Great,” Kaveh excitedly responded as he crossed over to the stove. “Dinner is about ready, you should set the table as I finish up here.”

“Sure.”

Dinner between them was usually tense. They hardly spoke to each other and if they did, it always ended in arguments. But this time, dinner turned out to be different.

There wasn’t a lot of talking between them, but at least Kaveh was enjoying Alhaitham’s company. The two sat on opposite sides of the table, and Alhaitham even went so far as to compliment Kaveh’s cooking. A rarity given how he always had something to critique. Kaveh wasted no time in pouring himself the wine. By the time the two finished their meal, Kaveh was two glasses in.

As Kaveh went to pour himself a third glass, Alhaitham’s hand covered his. He looked at Alhaitham in frustration.

“You’ve had two glasses already,” Alhaitham warned.

“I know my limits,” Kaveh insisted. “And besides, tonight’s for celebration!”

“Very well,” Alhaitham relented as he released his hold on the bottle. “Just don’t get sick.”

“I won’t!” Kaveh assured him.

They moved over to the living room, and that was when Alhaitham finally poured himself his second glass of wine for the night. Kaveh was already starting to feel tipsy, but the warm buzz the alcohol gave him outweighed it. He was happy. Everything was going well. Since he moved in with Alhaitham, this had to be the most pleasant moment the two have ever shared.

“So, how often do you drink?” Kaveh asked.

“Pardon?” Alhaitham lifted an eyebrow.

Oh. The alcohol may be doing more to his head than he originally thought. Still, his curiosity had gotten the best of him and the alcohol was giving him the confidence to ask it. If the words already slipped out, he might as well push through.

“I’m asking because I rarely ever see you drink. What is it? Once a month? Once a quarter?”

“Whenever I feel like it,” Alhaitham answered with a shrug. “I could go months without alcohol but sometimes it could be just days in-between. There’s no pattern to it, just when I feel like having a drink.”

“That is a very ‘you’ answer.”

“I assume you are the same, though, I think your reasons for why you are in the mood for a drink are different from mine.”

“It’s a good de-stresser,” Kaveh supplied. “Don’t you agree?”

“I do, but again, I think our need to de-stress differs.”

Alhaitham glanced over to Kaveh, giving him a knowing look. Once again, he was proving to know Kaveh better than he let on. It was frightening to know that there was someone who knew him just as well as he knew himself. What was even more frightening, was knowing that wherever Kaveh turned, whatever decision he was going to make, Alhaitham probably had it already accounted for. There was no use in lying, because he already knew the truth long before Kaveh thought about saying it out loud. That was how well Alhaitham knew him.

Kaveh released a frustrated sigh. Alhaitham could read him like a book but whenever Kaveh looked at Alhaitham it was like looking into a kaleidoscope with a myriad of patterns but no way to understand them. He probably was the closest person to being able to decipher the enigma that was Alhaitham, and yet, he was still nowhere close to it.

Alhaitham’s piercing gaze was still on Kaveh, and he gave in, taking the rest of his drink in one go before slamming his glass onto the coffee table.

“Okay, you caught me. You assumed correctly,” Kaveh sheepishly confessed. “Sometimes, I turn to alcohol to forget rather than for pleasure.”

“To forget what exactly?”

“Anything,” Kaveh slurred as the alcohol began to hit. “Everything. My proposal gets rejected and I go for a drink. Dori hounds me over my debts and I go for a drink. I have a misunderstanding with someone I care about and I go for a drink. My former best friend takes me in and I can’t seem to wrap my head around why he would do such a thing and never expect anything in return when I—”

Because he was rambling, he had to pause to take several deep breaths. Alhaitham stared at him, motionless, as if he was too afraid to make any sudden movement while waiting for Kaveh to finish his sentence. Kaveh collected himself together, and cleared his throat.

“Why did you take me in?” Kaveh asked.

“I thought the reason was obvious.”

“It’s not, because if it was, I wouldn’t be asking,” Kaveh retorted. “So tell me, why would you take someone who causes such a disruption to your life into your peaceful home?”

Alhaitham did not answer. Instead, he pointed at Kaveh’s chest.

“Take it out,” Alhaitham commanded. “I know you’re wearing it. I see hints of the chain around your neck right before it disappears under your shirt. So take it out.”

“Oh, this?” Kaveh asked as he dug into his shirt and pulled out the ring.

“Yes this is the exact one,” Alhaitham replied as he gently took hold of the ring and held it up between them. “Do you remember why I gave you this ring?”

“It was a promise ring,” Kaveh recalled.

“And what did I promise you?”

Memories from that day at the market flashed inside his mind. He remembered the way Alhaitham looked at him, love and adoration in those teal eyes as he slipped the ring onto Kaveh’s finger. He remembered the way time seemed to slow down around him, like nothing else mattered. But most importantly, he remembered the words Alhaitham told him as he declared the purpose of the ring.

“You promised…that your feelings for me would never change.”

“You know what those feelings are, right?”

Kaveh knew exactly what Alhaitham promised. Even if the words were never uttered out loud, promise rings always revolved around one thing. He remembered the shocked expression on Alhaitham’s face when he pulled it out in the tavern all those months ago. Kaveh’s eyes widened in realization. Was it really possible that…? He turned to his roommate for confirmation. Alhaitham took the opportunity to inch closer to him, their faces mere centimeters apart as he declared his next words.

“What I promised still rings true. I asked you to live with me because I’ve never stopped loving you, Kaveh.”

Hearing those words should have been a relief. He had spent years begging and praying for it to be true. He stayed up late at night after they parted ways agonizing over the fact that he may have screwed everything up. This should’ve been exactly what he wanted to hear but instead, Kaveh felt like ice had been poured over his head.

This was…it? It felt too easy, and wrong like they were turning to the next page of a story and abruptly skipping several important bits needed for the part to be satisfactory.

If he was being honest with himself, he had doubted everything for so long, that it was unbelievable to hear those words come from Alhaitham’s mouth. After all this time, it just wasn’t enough anymore.

Or perhaps, he had kept his heart guarded for so long, trying to prevent it from breaking further and trying his best to move on from having destroyed everything he wanted, that he lost the ability to believe it was even possible for things to go right.

Alhaitham leaned forward but Kaveh turned away from him, trying to make sense of his racing thoughts.

“I don’t believe you,” he confessed.

“I figured you’d say that,” Alhaitham said. He was keeping his expression neutral but Kaveh recognized the disappointment in his voice. “But I think deep down you want to believe it.”

“I…”

His head was starting to hurt. Maybe his emotions were becoming overbearing or maybe it was the alcohol finally getting the better of him that was causing it. He wasn’t sure anymore. He wasn’t sure of anything really. He wished he knew more about the future. If he knew what to do in order to not mess things up further, maybe their present wouldn’t exist in the first place. Maybe Kaveh wouldn’t be doubting every single moment and decision he made, wondering if this was what set them on the right course, or if this was finally what was going to bring him past the point of no return and completely destroy his chances of the future he wanted.

Was he doing this right? Was he doing anything right? How could he trust Alhaitham’s words when he couldn’t even trust himself?

“Because why else would you wear the ring over your heart?” Alhaitham asked. “You could’ve just stopped wearing this ring entirely, or even thrown it out, but you kept wearing it. There has to be a reason for it, right?”

Kaveh turned back to Alhaitham, allowing him to see all the doubts he had swirling around in his head. Should he tell him that the only reason he was holding out any hope for the two of them was because of the future he saw? What would Alhaitham think if he told him that he wasn’t sure if the future he saw was going to happen? Would he tell him that they should be on the right path? That they were definitely on the wrong one? Could he share with him the burden of this uncertainty?

Alhaitham looked back at him with the same level of uncertainty, nervousness creeping into his expression as he began to backtrack, “It’s okay if you don’t feel the same. I just thought that you should know.”

Why was Kaveh even asking all these questions when he already knew the answer? It was useless to tell him, because Alhaitham already gave him his answer before.

What is meant to happen, will happen. Trust the process.

Wise words from the man himself. It was obvious. If Alhaitham knew what the future held, he wouldn’t spend years agonizing over whether he was doing something right. He would just carry on, believing that the future he saw was his to take. With that knowledge in mind, Kaveh gained newfound confidence. If Alhaitham believed in their future, then he was going to finally stop letting his fears control him.

“We’ve been apart for seven years, Alhaitham. Not to mention how things ended badly between us. If you want to prove that your feelings never changed, you’re going to have to do a whole lot more than just let me live with you.”

“You’re seriously asking me to do more?” He chuckled, teal eyes sparkling with intrigue. “You truly are remarkable.”

“What? You’re not up for the challenge?” Kaveh teasingly asked. “I guess you don’t love me as much as you claim you do.”

“I never said that,” He answered quickly. “If you asked me to overthrow the government for you, I would.”

Kaveh couldn’t resist laughing at his words. What an outlandish thing to say. As if that was ever going to happen. His eyes met the determined glint in Alhaitham’s eyes as he said, “Good to know.”

“It’s true, and I’ll prove it to you. Can you do something for me?”

“What?”

Alhaitham lifted the chain over Kaveh’s head and began to unclasp it before removing the band from the chain. Without saying anything, he lifted one of Kaveh’s hands, gently holding it in his own. As they locked eyes, Kaveh could see Alhaitham’s intentions. Intentions that were about to propose something Kaveh knew he wasn’t ready for.

“Put the ring back onto your finger,” Alhaitham requested.

“But—”

“How are you supposed to remember my promise if you keep it hidden away?”’ Alhaitham declared as his hold on Kaveh’s hand tightened.

Kaveh was breathing, but he felt like all the air in his lungs had been stolen the moment Alhaitham slipped the ring onto his finger.

“Wear this everyday, so that you are reminded of its existence every time you lift your hand, when you look down on your drafts late at night, when you go to take it off before you sleep, and when you put it back on after waking up.” Alhaitham’s eyes darted down to their hands, a small smile emerging as he said, “Let it serve its purpose, so that you are constantly aware of my love for you, and so that you remember that I fully intend to make good on my promise.”

When Alhaitham released his hand, Kaveh pulled away, his eyes trained on said band. It had been years since he last wore it, and he was surprised that it still fit him. It was a testament to how little had changed since that time, even if it felt like they were in a completely different era.

Kaveh couldn’t stop the tear running down his face as he traced the ring with his other hand. It was warm to the touch, indicative of how much attention it had received in the past few minutes.

“I’ll wear it,” Kaveh promised as he wiped the rogue tear off his face. “Because I’m trusting the process.”

“You shouldn’t trust the process,” Alhaitham said as he grabbed both of Kaveh’s hands.

Their faces were close again. Kaveh’s head felt like it was spinning as Alhaitham leaned closer, until their foreheads were touching. Gazes interlocking, Kaveh’s heart pounded in his chest as he watched Alhaitham close his eyes. Kaveh did the same, swallowing hard as he waited for Alhaitham to clarify his words.

What did he mean by that? He was the one who said to trust the process! Kaveh remembered those words so clearly, even if he barely remembered anything else from that time. “You should trust in us,” Alhaitham declared. “Whatever happens, happens, but at the end of the day, you are still the one in my heart.”

Oh. Of course. Leave it to Alhaitham to upstage his own self. To take the very words that have guided Kaveh this whole time and twist them into something more, something better than before.

Kaveh pulled away, feeling the blush spread across his face as he answered, “You’re unbelievable.”

“So this is what I was able to come up with based on your request,” Kaveh announced as he rolled out the blueprint. “I can’t fulfill everything because some of it is just impossible to do with today’s technology, but I found some alternatives that are close to what you wanted if you’re interested.”

“Sure,” the client replied. “Show me what else you got.”

Kaveh began to explain all the alternatives he had. He explained the reasons why the request wasn’t possible, and then showed what he could do instead. The client seemed upset that some of his requests were rejected, but was alright with all the suggestions.

After some more negotiation, the meeting was concluded with a firm shake of the hand between both parties and a bag of mora in Kaveh’s pocket.

Finally, he had just enough mora to pay off this month’s debts and the rent. He even had some mora to spare. Since he had the money, he decided that he should treat himself for once.

With a pep in his step, Kaveh went down to the Bazaar to find something to purchase. He should find something useful, but also rewarding. It had been some time since he got into a new hobby, so maybe he should pick something new.

Kaveh walked past the stalls eyeing what each one had to offer. There were a plethora of things he could buy to start a new hobby. The knitting stalls had not only colorful yarn, but also guides for beginners, making it easy for anyone wanting to start. He walked up to the stall, and began to examine options in front of him. He was just about to take out his wallet and pay for a beginner’s kit, when a familiar voice reached his ears.

“I’ll take it all.”

Kaveh turned his head, searching for the source of the voice. A few stalls down, where a merchant was selling their wood carvings, stood Alhaitham, carrying what had to be the ugliest wood carving Kaveh had ever laid eyes on. Blood began to boil in his veins. Was Alhaitham seriously going to buy something this hideous? He knew his roommate had horrible taste in aesthetics, but this seemed to be too much.

Before he knew it, his feet were carrying him over to Alhaitham’s location. It wasn’t until his hands were grasping around Alhaitham’s, taking the bag of mora away from him, did he realize why he walked over there.

“You are not buying this,” Kaveh stated.

Alhaitham gave him a confused look as he replied, “Yes I am.”

“No, you’re not,” Kaveh repeated, taking the carving from Alhaitham’s possession.

Upon closer inspection, the carving looked worse than it did farther away. Kaveh couldn’t even tell what it was supposed to be. It vaguely looked like a human body, but its arms and legs were twisted in impossible ways. There was no head, but there was still a face, and Kaveh could only shiver as he stared at what looked like teeth falling out of its mouth.

“This is the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen,” Kaveh complained. “Why would you buy this?’

“Because I can,” Alhaitham replied with a shrug.

With a sigh, he set the carving down and gave the vendor an apologetic nod before grabbing Alhaitham’s wrist and dragging him away.

“Since you are clearly lost on what makes for good decoration, it is up to your senior to teach you.”

“I don’t need a lesson on beauty and aesthetics.”

“You clearly do,” Kaveh huffed before stopping in front of another stall and picking up a new carving.

This new one was better than the one before. It depicted a woman carrying a vase on her shoulder, her face neutral as she concentrated on carrying it to the destination she had in mind. It was detailed, giving the woman beautiful jewelry, a delicate face, and long curls that framed her face.

“You see this?” Kaveh said as he showed Alhaitham the carving. “This is the sort of thing you should be bringing home. We’ll be taking this.”

“I didn’t agree to you selecting the decoration I would like to add to my own house,” Alhaitham protested.

“And yet, you’re still reaching for the mora,” Kaveh teased.

“It’s my money,” Alhaitham muttered. “It’s my decision.”

“Let me guess, he’s been bringing home the wrong decorations for your house?” The vendor asked.

“Yes, but luckily I caught him in the act,” Kaveh replied as Alhaitham handed her the mora. “You see, I’m the one who does all the cleaning in the house and if I have to dust off some carvings, they better be something pleasing to look at.”

The vendor chuckled in amusement, “You two remind me so much of my husband and I. He too loves to bring home random trinkets to impress me, but unfortunately, his sense of style isn’t the best. I’ve had to return too many things to count at this point. How I wish I could stop him before he does it. Sometimes I think he does it just to annoy me.”

“Tell me about it,” Kaveh grumbled.

“He’s not.”

Alhaitham picked up a second carving, examining it before placing it back down. Noticing that the other two were staring expectantly at him, he added, “He does it because he loves you, and wants to show you it in the best way he can.”

The vendor’s eyes widened and began to tear up as Alhaitham finished speaking. Kaveh too stared at Alhaitham in surprise as he turned to face Kaveh, his eyes telling him the words that remained unspoken.

“Yes…” The vendor replied, wiping away a tear, “He really does love me.” She handed Kaveh the bag with the carving before adding, “Pick another carving dear, on the house. My one condition is that it should be something that reminds you of someone you love.”

Alhaitham immediately picked up a carving of a pair of birds perched on a branch and placed it into the bag.

“Without hesitation,” she remarked. “You had your eye on it this whole time, didn’t you?”

“You said to get what reminded me of someone I love. There’s nothing else that could possibly make me think of him.” Alhaitham replied.

“What about the carving makes you think of him?”

“I like to think of us as two birds from different species on a branch, together despite all the odds against us,” Alhaitham explained.

“That’s a lovely analogy, you should gift it to him so that he knows exactly how you feel.”

“No need to give it to him, he lives with me and heard me loud and clear,” Alhaitham stated as he came up to Kaveh and took the bag from him.

As their fingers brushed, Kaveh looked up to find Alhaitham staring at him with a soft look in his eyes. His lips parted, a soft gasp escaping through as he stared at Alhaitham.

“I see,” she giggled. “I hope you remain happy together.”

“Oh, we’re just roommates,” Kaveh quickly clarified. “We’re not together in that way.”

“Yet,” Alhaitham added.

The glare Kaveh gave Alhaitham had been noticed by the vendor, her laughter ringing in his ears as they walked away. The two wooden carvings were proudly displayed on the shelves once they got home. Little did Kaveh know, this was the first of many wooden carvings Alhaitham would bring home. Unfortunately for him, they will never look as nice as the first two that were brought in.

“I can’t believe you did it!” Kaveh exclaimed. “You actually managed to get yourself into a plot to overthrow the government.”

“You really doubted me?” Alhaitham asked. “I told you I’d do it if you asked.”

They were currently sitting in the middle of the living room side by side as they continued to talk about recent events. It had been an eventful couple of months. Kaveh’s trip in the desert ended up with him coming back to an entirely new government and Alhaitham being at the center of the plot. Despite all the chaos in the aftermath since his return, it was nice to be back at the house again, relaxing on the divan with good wine and company.

“Except you did it while I wasn’t around or even aware of any of it happening,” Kaveh huffed as he took a sip of his drink. “Nor did I ask you to do it.”

“It was better that you weren’t here,” Alhaitham reassured him. “It was dangerous to be in the city.”

“No kidding, being trapped in some weird dream loop sounds like torture,” Kaveh said. “People could have died, and using the Akasha terminal without our consent? The experiment is completely inhumane! I’m so glad we got rid of the Akasha, I feel sick knowing what it’s capable of. I threw that out as soon as I found out.”

“That’s not the only thing,” Alhaitham said as he lifted his glass of wine and brought it to his lips. “Azar wanted me to outlaw the arts.”

“What?” Kaveh gasped. “These sages truly have no self-respect. They have always had it out for the arts and made my life impossible with their aversion to it. If they weren’t so against beauty and aesthetics, my struggles in architecture wouldn’t have gotten so out of hand.”

“That’s exactly why I’m glad you weren’t around for all this. Knowing that you were safe and sound away from all this chaos helped me stay focused during the entire coup.”

“You’re incredible,” Kaveh confessed. “And the fact you did it all because it interfered with your peace is… astonishing needless to say. That kind of thing is usually not enough of a motivator for most people.”

“Perhaps for most people, it’s not enough, but for me it is. I am perfectly fine with my life as it currently is, so why would I want that to change? Besides, I knew Sumeru was going to turn into a place where you’d be unhappy if I didn’t do anything, and I couldn’t stand by and watch that happen to you.”

He reached out and grabbed Kaveh’s hand, bringing it over to his chest. Under the palm of his hand, he could feel the steady heartbeat under Alhaitham’s chest. Kaveh’s own heart skipped a beat as he felt the way it began to accelerate under Kaveh’s touch. Was this really the effect he had on Alhaitham?

“Don’t you get it? My peaceful life means nothing without you in it,” he confessed.

Even after removing his hand from his chest, Kaveh could still feel the rhythmic beating under his fingertips. He ran his fingers through his hair, nervously fidgeting to get rid of the lingering touch. But just like with everything related to Alhaitham, it had already sunken under his skin, and was refusing to let go.

Alhaitham chuckled, causing Kaveh to glare at him. The nerve of this guy! He was toying with him! Spouting romantic bullshit because he knew it would rile Kaveh up. Kaveh gritted his teeth in frustration.

“You’re quite the charmer aren’t you?” Kaveh huffed. “Anybody else would fall for that.”

“Those words are only meant for you,” Alhaitham cooly retorted.

“I know,” Kaveh mumbled. “Which is why I hate it.”

“Do you actually hate it, or do you just say that because you can’t accept that someone cares about you in that way?”

Kaveh remained silent as he twisted the band around his finger. Called out.

“I hope that one day, you’ll learn to accept the love you deserve,” Alhaitham said quietly.

Would it even change anything if he did? Kaveh still had the scars left behind from their time as students, the dreams that were crushed, and the uncertainty that plagued him for years. If he accepted Alhaitham’s love, what if something were to happen and they broke up? What if Alhaitham stopped loving him?

Unfortunately for the both of them, Kaveh felt like if they got together any sooner, they were to be doomed.

As Kaveh served dinner at the dining table, he watched Alhaitham’s movements, keeping an eye out for anything strange. Alhaitham claimed that his encounter with his crazy ex-classmate, Siraj was nothing and that he was fine, but it didn’t relieve Kaveh of the worries in his heart.

And so, he studied the way Alhaitham lifted his cup of tea and drank from it. Observed Alhaitham’s expression as the plate of food was placed in front of him, noticing the twitch on the corner of his lips as he lifted his fork and began to eat, a satisfied hum releasing from his lips as he savored the food.

“Well,” Kaveh began as he sat down at the table and picked up his fork, “it’s been a long day for you, so you should eat as much as you can.”

Alhaitham nodded in agreement, “It certainly has.”

“That traveler you brought with you is interesting,” Kaveh continued. “How did the two of you meet?”

“It’s a long story,” Alhaitham answered. “But we worked together in the coup.”

“Oh, are they the traveler?” Kaveh asked.

He had heard stories about them. Known as the Hero of Teyvat, the Savior of Liyue, the Enemy of Eternity, and the First Sage of Buer, they were renowned and loved everywhere they went. Kaveh could see why. Their feats and heroic deeds rival the gods. The traveler was somebody so impressive, Kaveh felt a little embarrassed that he hadn’t made the connection before. He only hoped that he made a good first impression.

“The one and only.”

“And to think you felt comfortable enough to bring them back here even though you value your privacy says a lot about your relationship with them.” Kaveh beamed.

Alhaitham frowned. “It’s not like that–”

“I’m saying that you made a friend. That’s a good thing,” Kaveh quickly added. “I’m glad you’re making friends now. Here I thought the only friend you’ll ever have is me.”

Alhaitham’s lips pulled up into a smile as he teased, “We’re friends? Didn’t you just tell the traveler an hour ago that we’re not anymore?”

“It’s just a saying!” Kaveh blushed before turning his head away. “We’re not friends, I was just saying that it’s nice you’ve made some new ones.”

“I suppose Cyno and the others count as friends now, yes,” Alhaitham remarked as he picked up his knife and began to cut into the meat on his plate.

“Now, I can finally invite you over to Tighnari’s without it being awkward if you do decide to go.”

“Why invite me if you know I won’t go?”

Normally, Kaveh’s response was just as quick and witty as the rest of their banter, but the question had Kaveh stop to think. Alhaitham was right, why invite him? Of all the times Kaveh had invited Alhaitham to get to know his friends, he declined each time. He had never shown any interest in getting to know them. So why was Kaveh continuing to invite him, even though he knew what the outcome would be every time?

Was it because he hoped that Alhaitham would one day change his mind? No, Kaveh learned a long time ago that it was near impossible to get Alhaitham to do something out of the norm. Kaveh can count on his hands all the times Alhaitham had said yes to going out when it was just the two of them. Alhaitham did whatever he wanted without a care in the world about what anyone had to say about his actions.

So what was it? A sense of responsibility as his senior? Sure, Kaveh still felt like he had to watch over his junior, but he knew Alhaitham was perfectly capable of handling himself. He was a grown man after all. The cute little junior he used to know was gone. The sense of protectiveness Kaveh had whenever he looked at Alhaitham was gone as well. It had been replaced with a different feeling, a longing of sorts.

“Who knows?’ Kaveh shrugged. “Maybe it's a habit at this point. Or maybe it’s because I was raised to be more welcoming than you were. I don’t know.”

“Do you want me to go?” Alhaitham pressed.

“It would be nice if you came with me for once. Ever since you all rescued Nahida, they haven’t stopped asking about you,” Kaveh confessed.

“That didn’t answer my question.”

“Yes, it did. You asked if I wanted you to come with me.”

“Yes, and you answered for everyone else, not yourself,” Alhaitham pointed out. “What about you? How do you feel about me going?”

Kaveh stilled, his face falling as he quietly confessed, “I want you to come with me for once.”

“Then I’ll go next time,” Alhaitham said.

“What?” Kaveh blinked once, twice, and then one last time before his eyes finally focused on Alhaitham. He must have misheard what Alhaitham said because there was no way he had just agreed to go.

“You said you wanted me to, did you not? Then I’ll come with you.”

“You’d really do that? For me?”

Alhaitham reached across the table and took Kaveh’s hand, sliding his finger across the ring. Kaveh’s heart skipped a beat from the contact, and he knew that his face was bright red. When their eyes met, Kaveh could see just how serious Alhaitham was. He looked at Kaveh as if he was the only thing that mattered. For a moment, Kaveh believed it.

“Of course, when is the next time you’re seeing them?”

“We’ll be at Lambad’s to play some TCG this Friday. Think you can come?”

“I’ll be late because of work, but I’ll be there,” he promised.

“Okay,” Kaveh quietly said, a smile slowly starting to form. “I can’t wait.”

Despite all the surprises that had already happened, what surprised Kaveh the most was the way Alhaitham smiled as he replied, “Me too.”

Kaveh enjoyed the light breeze that flew by as he overlooked the city below. Razan Garden had always been one of his favorite places to hang out, even as a student. It was a nice secluded spot, away from everything. The perfect place to clear his head without any onlookers, and the view of the city and the rest of Sumeru was enjoyable from where he sat.

“Hey,” a familiar voice called out to him.

Kaveh turned around and saw Alhaitham walking up to him with a bottle of wine in hand.

“Care for a drink?”

“What are you doing here?” Kaveh asked as he graciously took the bottle and popped off the cap. “I thought you went home.”

“I was going to,” Alhaitham began as he joined Kaveh’s side, “But I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“It’s been a long week,” Kaveh sighed as he brought the bottle to his lips. “I believe you of all people would understand.”

“I do.”

The Interdarshan Competition had ended with Kaveh as the victor. Despite his declarations of wanting to move out with the prize money in the day leading up to the competition, he ended up giving it all away and chose to remain with Alhaitham. With all the revelations related to his father coming to light, and the fact that Alhaitham confessed to having gotten involved to help investigate in those manners, Kaveh had a lot on his mind. Grieving and longing were a deadly combination, and he needed time to process his thoughts.

Alhaitham turned to face Kaveh, crossing his arms as he studied him. There was a knowing look in his eye as if he was silently urging Kaveh to confess what was on his mind. And so, he relented, knowing that resistance was futile.

“Do you remember that time eleven years ago when I got swapped with my future self?” Kaveh asked.

“Vaguely, yes,” Alhaitham answered.

“We never really talked about it.”

“Because we both agreed it was best to not discuss the future in case it could jeopardize it,” Alhaitham said as he took the bottle from Kaveh’s hand.

“You’re right, and I won’t ask for the details, but, do you ever think about the things you learned that day?”

“All the time,” Alhaitham answered. “I’ve thought about it everyday.”

“For over ten years?”

Alhaitham nodded, bringing the bottle up to his mouth and taking a sip. He handed it back to Kaveh, their fingers brushing together for a split second before Alhaitham released his hold. Kaveh felt his face start to burn from the contact, and he took another sip from the bottle.

“An entire decade. Really?” Kaveh gave him a doubtful look.

“If I told you the things I learned that day, I think you would think about it everyday too.”

Believe me, I think about it more than you do!

“Is it a future you want?”

Alhaitham paused and looked at Kaveh before he bluntly quipped, “If it wasn’t a future I wanted, I wouldn’t be so protective of it.”

“Right,” Kaveh half-heartedly chuckled. Of course, it was a stupid question, and he felt embarrassed that he ever asked it.

Kaveh looked up at the sky, searching for the constellations his father used to tell him about when he was younger. That was another great thing about Razan Garden, you had a perfect view of the night sky.

“And what about you?” Alhaitham asked. “What do you think of the future?”

Kaveh remained silent for a moment, reflecting on his thoughts. Just like Alhaitham, he had always been protective of it, because it was a future he wanted for himself. But here he was, five years away from the deadline, and he felt like he wasn’t anywhere close to that future.

“The Rtawahist darshan believes that our fates are written in the stars,” Kaveh commented. “Nobody can escape their fate.”

Alhaitham nodded, “Your father believed in that too?”

“Of course, he spent his whole life dedicating his studies toward proving the theory,” Kaveh said. “But if I’ve learned anything over these years, I don’t think seeing my future sets my fate in stone. They’re two different things. Fate is what is unchangeable, and the future is just one possibility of many.”

“How do you know your fate is different from what you saw?”

“I don’t,” Kaveh answered. “But there’s the possibility that it is. Nothing is set in stone. Trust me, if you knew what I did, you wouldn’t be so confident.”

“I know enough to know that I shouldn’t be afraid of failing,” he argued.

“But what if you do?” Kaveh countered. “Wouldn’t that suck? Imagine knowing your future and accidentally messing things up so bad that you don’t end up with what you saw. I would be devastated.”

Alhaitham sighed, his voice dropping to just above a whisper as he quietly confessed, “I already have.”

Kaveh tore his eyes away from the sky and faced Alhaitham. There was a distant look in his eyes, as if he was remembering something unpleasant. But then, his eyes met Kaveh’s, and his entire expression changed. His face hardened, but he still looked at Kaveh as if he was the brightest star in the sky.

“I’ve failed before, which is why I’m going to make up for my failures, by making sure I don’t do it again.”

Kaveh eyed the ring on his hand before looking back at Alhaitham. He was no longer looking at Kaveh, eyes trained on the horizon. Kaveh moved his hand over to Alhaitham and grasped the free hand before looking out as well.

They stood in silence for some time, too lost in their thoughts to have any words to say. Eventually, Kaveh’s head found its way onto Alhaitham’s shoulders.

“And if you fail again?” Kaveh quietly asked, heart beating as he awaited Alhaitham’s answer.

“Then I’m going to keep trying until I get the future I want. My fate is in my own hands. Nobody can take that away from me.”

“It’s in your hands, huh?” Kaveh wondered out loud. He glanced down at their joined hands before smiling to himself. “That’s not a bad way to put it.”

It was just like him to think like that. Even if his fate told him otherwise, Alhaitham was the type to get whatever he wanted. He completely understood Alhaitham’s resolve. Suddenly, everything Alhaitham was going to tell a younger Kaveh in a few years made sense, because Alhaitham truly believed in the future he saw.

Maybe Kaveh should start believing in it as well.

“Sorry I’m late,” Kaveh said as he took his seat at the dinner table. “My insufferable roommate wouldn’t let me go until I cleared my name.”

“No worries, we all just got here. What did he do this time?” Tighnari asked as a knowing smile formed across his face.

“He accused me of having taken one of his books. And while he has many interesting reads in his collection, I don’t have time to read anything. Besides, I would never take any of his belongings without his permission! Unlike him, at least I have the decency to at least ask before helping myself to his beer!”

Tighnari and Collei burst into laughter as Cyno nodded along. Kaveh huffed as he poured himself a glass of wine. They wouldn’t understand how infuriating he was, they don’t live with him!

“Speaking of him, is Alhaitham not coming today?” Collei asked as she looked around the room with a frown on her face. “It was nice of him to hang out with us last time.”

“He wanted to come with, but unfortunately, he’s sick,” Kaveh answered.

“Oh no, is he okay?!”

“He’s fine, just recovering from something respiratory. He’s well enough to function but he said he didn’t feel comfortable going out if it would get others sick,” Kaveh answered.

“And you didn’t stay with him?” Tighnari pressed.

“Who do you think has been taking care of him all week?” Kaveh grumbled as he crossed his arms. “I needed a break out of the house.”

“I think I see now why he accused you of taking one of his books.”

Kaveh tilted his head and gave Tighnari a curious look. “What do you mean?”

“It’s clear that he wanted to keep you around a while longer, but didn’t want to say it outright.”

“Why him!” Kaveh gritted his teeth. He wanted to be mad but the erratic beating of his heart betrayed him.“I can’t stand him!”

How was Alhaitham able to be so straightforward when it came to his feelings for Kaveh, and yet struggle to vocalize something as simple as wanting him to forgo dinner with friends to be with him instead? If he had asked, he would’ve said yes! He might have to order extra takeout as an apology for not realizing his true intentions, with a side of beration of course.

“You know, if you really can’t stand the guy, just move out,” Tighnari advised. “Don’t you already pay rent with him? What difference does it make to rent a studio in the area?”

“You see, the problem is that he charges only a quarter of what I would have to pay to live in a place the size of a closet around these parts. Not to mention, the house unfortunately is also located in a great part of the city. It’s close to everything but still not in the hustle and bustle of it all. I can’t pass it up,” Kaveh explained.

“Or maybe,” Collei leaned forward, her eyes sparkling as she teased, “You stay because you love him.”

“It’s not like that!” Kaveh denied, face turning red.

“Oh, then mind explaining the story behind the ring on your finger?” Tighnari pointed out.

As their eyes locked, Tighnari gave him a smug look that outmatched his glowering stare.

“What?! You have a ring from Alhaitham?!” Collei gasped.

“I didn’t realize the two of you were that close,” Cyno added.

“It’s just a promise ring,” Kaveh explained as his face turned red. “Honest. I haven’t worn it in years and I only did it because he asked me to.”

“Is this about that bet you made with him?” Tighnari pressed.

“It’s not a bet,” Kaveh defended himself. “He’s proving himself to me.”

“I don’t know Kaveh,” Tighnari sighed as he passed a plate around the table. “From the way you talk about him, it seems like the two of you have way too much animosity to ever have the romance I know you seek. Is he really worth it?”

Kaveh glanced down at the ring on his finger before smiling to himself. They don’t know Alhaitham like he does. They don’t know about the man he met ten years ago, the man he hoped Alhaitham was going to become. He was the only person in the world who had a glimpse of what lay ahead of him, and how he had every intention of trusting that what was meant to happen, was going to happen.

“If he really intends to keep his promise, it’s going to be worth it.”

Kaveh woke up to the sound of pots clanging in the kitchen. It seemed like Alhaitham had woken up earlier than usual. Kaveh hopped out of bed and immediately joined his roommate in the kitchen scanning the area as he examined the mess Alhaitham made.

As soon as he stepped inside, he was greeted with the smell of… tea?

“What happened to the coffee?” Kaveh asked as he began rummaging the pantry for their coffee beans.

“We ran out, we’re stuck with tea for the morning.”

“Okay, I don’t mind having tea instead, but you’re miserable and quite frankly, intolerable without your coffee.”

“This tea has some caffeine in it so I’m alright for the time being,” Alhaitham answered as he mixed something in a bowl. “But coffee is not the only thing we’re out of.”

“It’s not?” Kaveh asked.

“Yep, here’s the list of all the items we’re missing.” Alhaitham lifted a sheet of paper off the table and handed it to Kaveh. “Can you buy the groceries?”

“I can do that after my meeting,” Kaveh answered as his eyes scanned over the list. “Hold on, there’s something off about the coffee you requested.”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“Well, it’s not the usual brand we get.”

“That’s because I listed two different coffees to get. Normally, we just use the bag I have since it's my favorite, but I know you prefer something else. Did you not recognize the name on the list?” Alhaitham chuckled. “It’s your favorite, right?”

“It is…?” Kaveh looked down at the list again to confirm. “How did you—?”

“It’s the coffee you used to serve me when I stayed over at your house. But ever since you moved in, you’ve always drank mine and have never bought yours again. Why is that?”

“Well yeah, I don’t exactly have the money to buy my own coffee at the moment, I like your coffee, and you have never said anything before so I thought it was okay. But if you want me to stop, that’s also okay, I’ll just start buying my own then.”

“I never said it wasn’t okay, I just wanted you to have your favorite coffee again,” Alhaitham explained as he dropped a bag of mora on the table. “This should cover all the expenses for the groceries.”

Kaveh nodded as he took the bag of mora. It was heavier than he expected, did Alhaitham add in extra mora in case of an emergency? Or was this just a mistake? Regardless, Kaveh was going to take great care of the money.

“You know, you didn’t have to consider my tastes when making the list. I’m okay with just your coffee.”

“But it’s not the one you prefer. You deserve to have your favorite things lying about the house as well. This is as much your place as it is mine,” Alhaitham stated.

“Right,” Kaveh blushed.

There was something about the implications behind those words that made Kaveh’s heart flutter. This was their house, which the two of them shared together.

As Kaveh moved to exit the room, a hand grabbed his wrist, holding him in place. He slowly turned his head and faced Alhaitham who was looking down at him with pleading eyes.

“Stay for breakfast,” he said. “I’m almost done. I’m making Adasi.”

“You are? Actual Adasi and not the weird thing you do to avoid soup?”

“Yes, exactly how you like it. Just set the table and I can serve it in a minute.”

“Okay,” Kaveh replied as he walked over to the cabinets and began pulling out the dishes. “I can stay.”

He looked down at the ring on his finger, before turning to face Alhaitham. He watched as his roommate lifted the spoon to his lips and tested the flavor of the meal. A fond smile emerged on his face as he turned off the stove and walked over to the kitchen to place the food on the table.

Adasi wasn’t the only thing he did. There were eggs, flatbread, a variety of jams and even an assortment of cheese all at the table, ready to be served. Alhaitham wasn’t saying anything, but these were all his favorite things. Was it so far-fetched to believe that he was somehow doing this all to make Kaveh happy?

As Alhaitham finished setting up the food, he looked up from the table and met Kaveh’s gaze.

“Are you going to set the table?”

“Oh, right, sorry,” Kaveh blushed as he came up to the table and began to organize the dishes.

Alhaitham chuckled, “Your mood drastically improved. Are you that easy to please?”

“No,” Kaveh lied.

Alhaitham stared at him in disbelief before his smile turned mischievous. “Oh? Then maybe I should just take this all back.”

“God, I was just joking,” Kaveh laughed. “This is nice. What gave you the idea for this?”

“You skip breakfast a lot,” Alhaitham answered. “I wanted you to have something in your stomach before you meet with your clients today.”

Kaveh couldn’t contain his giddiness as he ate. It was true then. Alhaitham prepared the entire breakfast for him. He was smiling the entirety of breakfast.

As they finished cleaning up the table, Kaveh came up behind Alhaitham and tapped on his shoulder. Alhaitham turned around, ready to listen to what Kaveh had to say.

“So um…” Kaveh fidgeted as he struggled to find the right words to say. “I wanted to thank you.”

“It was nothing.”

“It’s not just for breakfast. It’s… for everything really.”

Alhaitham’s eyes widened in surprise. Before he chuckled in amusement.

“Everything I do is for you.”

“I know,” Kaveh replied. “Which is why I thought…”

Alhaitham tilted his head and gazed curiously at Kaveh, “You thought…?”

Kaveh took in a deep breath before taking Alhaitham’s face in his, bringing their heads together. He watched in amusement as Alhaitham’s face turned into a lovely shade of crimson. Alhaitham was confused, which was rare considering that it was normally Kaveh who was always getting thrown off by Alhaitham’s actions. He reveled in the way his teal eyes sparkled under the lights of the kitchen. Kaveh was sure he would never stop finding Alhaitham attractive.

Closing his eyes, he planted a kiss on top of Alhaitham’s forehead, and then pulled away. After opening his eyes, he caught a glimpse of Alhaitham’s ears turning red as he gave Kaveh a dumbfounded look.

“Thanks,” Kaveh quickly said, giggling from the excitement in his veins over what he had just done. He was so giddy, he could barely look Alhaitham in the eyes.

Alhaitham smiled back, looking at Kaveh in fondness as he replied, “You’re welcome.”

The pounding sound of the hammer hitting against the nail vibrated across the house. Kaveh’s model was coming along well. Everything was falling into place like he had drawn out, and there didn’t seem to be any structural concerns. In fact, this was probably the smoothest sailing project he’s had in years. He was even shaping up to be able to finish this model before his next meeting, giving him some time to take off before he should work on his next project.

Just as Kaveh finished hammering in the last nail to secure everything in place, a sharp pain in his wrist emerged. Kaveh yelped and dropped his hammer, the object hitting the floor with a loud thud. He’s had bouts of aches and pains in his hands, but nothing felt as bad as this. The pain was so intense, tears began to run down his face as he bit back a cry for help.

The door to the study slammed open and Alhaitham rushed inside. His hair was wet, his pants were on backwards and he had no shirt on. It seemed like Alhaitham was in the shower when he heard the commotion, and he dropped everything to run to Kaveh’s side.

His heart fluttered from the thought of it. It reminded him of the night he time-traveled into the future and accidentally knocked over something from the shelf. Alhaitham had quickly shielded him from the falling object. Come to think of it, that event was only four years away now. Was it possible that they really were the same Alhaitham? Was the one before him just as caring as the one he met in the future? Was this finally the Alhaitham he had been waiting for?

In a flash, Alhaitham was in front of Kaveh and taking hold of his wrist, running his fingers across the expanse of his skin to inspect it. Once he made sure nothing was noticeably out of place, he gently guided Kaveh over to a chair.

“Tell me what happened,” Alhaitham demanded as he pulled out a first aid kit from the other desk. “Did you hurt yourself?”

“I don’t know,” Kaveh confessed. “One second I was hammering away and then the next my wrist was flaring up.”

“Does your wrist regularly have flare ups?” Alhaitham asked as he came back to Kaveh and knelt in front of him wrapping around his wrist a gauze bandage.

“Every once in a while, but, it’s never been as bad as this,” Kaveh answered.

“And you never said anything about it?” Alhaitham asked. “You could have something serious going on if it's constant.”

Alhaitham tightened the bandage before releasing his hold on Kaveh. He experimentally moved his wrist to find that the pain was manageable now that he had something to keep it aligned.

“It’s nothing to worry about,” Kaveh insisted.

“Nothing to worry about?” Alhaitham’s face fell as he gently held up Kaveh’s hand. “Do you see this? If this wasn’t something to worry about, I wouldn’t have had to wrap a bandage around your hand.”

There was frustration in his voice, similar to the tone he had on the night they parted ways. But the way he looked at Kaveh was anything but. There was so much care in his eyes, Kaveh would’ve thought that they weren’t on the brink of an argument, but rather sharing a tender moment. Kaveh’s heart pounded as Alhaitham’s grip on him tightened.

“If this wasn’t worrying,” his voice dropped to barely above a whisper, “I wouldn’t be here.”

Kaveh closed his eyes, feeling his face burn. This was it. This was going to be the Alhaitham a younger Kaveh would meet and instantly fall in love with. The very one he was going to spend the next decade yearning for, hoping he didn’t lose the future he was so excited to have.

When he opened his eyes, Alhaitham was transfixed on his hair, his fingers twirling around a strand of blonde hair.

“Alhaitham…?” Kaveh asked softly.

Teal eyes shifted over to him before quickly darting away and he removed his hand. There was an awkward silence for a minute as Kaveh continued to stare at Alhaitham and he continued to be lost in thought. Then, as if a switch had been flipped inside his head, he turned back to Kaveh.

“You need to rest,” Alhaitham advised as he stood up and offered his hand. “If your wrist still hurts tomorrow, I’ll accompany you to the Bimarstan so it can be checked.”

Kaveh sighed as he took the hand and allowed Alhaitham to help him up. “I guess it can’t be helped. If I try to continue, you’re just going to drag me to bed.”

“Glad you’re understanding how the process works by now,” Alhaitham chuckled. “It only took you a year.”

“Wait, hold on, before I lie down, I want to tie my hair up first,” Kaveh said as he went to do his hair. He only managed to grab half of his hair with his good hand before he lifted his injured one and another sting of pain erupted inside his wrist. Kaveh hissed in reaction, immediately lowering his hand.

Alhaitham stepped forward, gently taking Kaveh’s wrist and massaging it to help ease off the pain.

“Is this helping?”

“A little,” Kaveh answered.

A lot. The pain he was having had dulled down enough that he could form clearer thoughts than before. In the past, he had tried to relieve his own aches with his hands but he was never satisfied. Under Alhaitham’s hands however, not only did Kaveh feel the effects of the massage, but he also felt relaxed under his touch. He could see himself falling asleep like this, safe and sound under Alhaitham’s caring touch and watchful eyes, knowing he wasn’t going to let anything happen to him.

When Alhaitham released his hand, Kaveh found himself chasing after the touch, craving for more. He didn’t want Alhaitham to just massage him, he wanted him to roam his hands all over his body, until every inch of him had been blessed by his hands. He wanted to touch Alhaitham back, run his hands up and down his chest and feel every muscle underneath his fingertips, feel the way they moved as Alhaitham breathed, feel Alhaitham’s heartbeat under his palm as—

“Do you want me to tie your hair up?” Alhaitham asked.

Kaveh pulled himself out of his thoughts and stared at Alhaitham in confusion.

“What?”

“Your hair, I can tie it for you since your wrist hurts,” he offered.

“Oh, yeah, go ahead.”

Alhaitham’s fingers ran through his locks and he found himself in a trance as Alhaitham gently scooped up his hair and tied it into a ponytail. Kaveh could instantly feel that it wasn’t perfect. Alhaitham tied it too tight, some parts of his hair were still out, and the ponytail felt a little like it was to the side of his head, but it was enough.

“There,” Alhaitham said as his hands found their way to the small of Kaveh’s back. “Let’s get you in bed now.”

They walked back to their rooms in silence, Alhaitham’s hand still resting on his back. It was the only thing on his mind. He needed those hands to do more, to hold him until the world around them faded away and it was just the two of them.

As they entered the hallway that led to their rooms, the pair stopped. It was time for them to part ways and head into their rooms, but Kaveh didn’t want that. As Alhaitham began to remove his hand, Kaveh turned to him and grabbed the hand, looking up at him with pleading eyes.

“Sleep with me tonight,” Kaveh asked.

Alhaitham nodded as he allowed Kaveh to drag him inside the bedroom. They lay in bed side by side, face to face, and hand in hand.

“Tell me what’s on your mind,” Alhaitham said.

“Do you still love me?” Kaveh asked quietly.

Without looking away, Alhaitham brought their joined hands up to his lips, pressing a kiss on the finger where the ring sat.

“That’s my answer,” Alhaitham replied with a small smile on his face.

“What do you even see in me?”

“Lots of things,” he answered easily.

“Like what?”

“Let’s not go there,” Alhaitham chuckled. “We could be here all night if I answered that.”

“Don’t list them all then.”

“Okay,” Alhaitham scooted closer to Kaveh. “You’re the only person who is just as smart as I am, you understand me better than anyone else, you’re easier to talk to than others because of that.” Alhaitham gently tucked a loose strand of Kaveh’s hair behind his ear, teal eyes gazing at him with unending love in them. “And most importantly, you make me feel at peace, like you’re all I could ever need in my life.”

Kaveh felt his face burn as Alhaitham’s hand slowly retreated. All he could do was remain frozen, eyes trained on Alhaitham as his thoughts raced. He never imagined someone’s love for him could run so deep, much less Alhaitham’s.

“I told you before that you don’t have to answer me, and that still applies,” Alhaitham assured him.

“But how long will you be willing to wait for me?”

“As long as it takes.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything,” Alhaitham lifted their joined hands, showing off the ring on Kaveh’s finger. “I promised you didn’t I?”

Kaveh nodded, “You did.”

“Then just remember that every time you have your doubts,” Alhaitham yawned before closing his eyes. “Goodnight Kaveh.”

“Goodnight…”

He watched as Alhaitham drifted off into sleep. Everything in his body was screaming at him to get closer, his heart beating so hard he could nearly faint. But he was paralyzed, stuck at the finish line, and too afraid to cross over and take his prize.

It was while he laid beside Alhaitham, unable to sleep with all the thoughts running inside his mind, did he finally choose to accept that the only obstacle in his way of the future he longed for, was himself.

He was the issue the entire time. It was his own self-doubt and pessimism preventing him from being able to seize what should’ve been his a long time ago.

Kaveh was a coward. A pathetic one at that. He truly didn’t deserve Alhaitham.

He reached out and grabbed Alhaitham’s hand, using his thumb to run circles over the back of his hand as he quietly confessed, “I love you.”

If only he had the courage to say it while Alhaitham was conscious. He only hoped that he could find it sooner rather than later.

The next evening, Kaveh found himself staring across the room, eyeing Alhaitham as he laid on the divan and engrossed himself in a book. There was a perfect opportunity to discuss things, to finally lay out everything he had been feeling for years, and yet, Kaveh was unable to move. He was completely frozen, unable to find the courage within himself to speak up.

What was wrong with him? He knew that he needed to make the first step. He knew that he was barring himself from the things he wanted, and yet, he couldn’t bring himself to do anything about it.

The war inside his head was doing him no favors. His desires conquered his fears, only to be massacred by hesitation. But he needed to move forward. He shouldn’t be tied down any more by the looming threat of the future.

Kaveh lifted his hand and examined the ring on his finger. Recalling everything Alhaitham has ever told him. Every reassurance, every word of wisdom, and every confession ever uttered from his roommate played in his head like a movie.

What is meant to happen will happen.

Reminded of Alhaitham’s words once more, Kaveh took a deep breath and walked up to the divan, only stopping once he was in front of the man in question.

“We need to talk.”

As soon as those words were vocalized, Alhaitham looked up and slammed his book shut, giving Kaveh all of his attention.

“What about?” he asked, tilting his head in curiosity.

Kaveh sat down, twisting the ring on his finger as comfort before turning around to face Alhaitham. He took both of Alhaitham’s hands in his, feeling the warmth emanating from them. Taking a deep breath, his eyes met Alhaitham’s.

“I’m sorry,” Kaveh apologized.

Alhaitham looked at Kaveh in confusion, eyebrows knitting together as he pulled Kaveh closer to him.

“What brought this on?”

“Talking to you last night made me realize something. I know we agreed we shouldn’t talk about the events in the future, but there’s something I’ve been hiding from you this entire time, and you deserve to know,” Kaveh began.

“What do I need to know?”

“When I switched places with myself that time, I landed right into future you’s arms and you took me back here. I don’t remember the exact details but I was looking through the study and stumbled upon the thesis I tore up when we had that project.”

Alhaitham stiffened at the mention of the project, face paling as he stated, “You knew the entire time what was going to happen.”

Kaveh nodded, waiting with bated breath for Alhaitham’s reaction. Kaveh recognized the expression on him as the face Alhaitham made whenever he was so distraught, he had to pause for a moment to just think. And then, his face lit up in realization, his mind finally connecting the dots. His face was still discolored but instead of the look of anger and betrayal he expected, it was sympathy and care.

“That explains a lot,” Alhaitham sighed. “I never understood why you were so desperate to hold everything together near the end but now I see why.”

“Well, I also did really believe I could help everyone but that was part of it,” Kaveh confessed. “And my desperation ended up blinding me. I failed to realize what mattered most at the time.”

“And that was?”

“You,” Kaveh answered earnestly. “The entire time I was so focused on trying to save the project that I neglected you. Because I knew about our future relationship, I just assumed that you’d always remain by my side. I treated it as a given that even if I failed to save the project, at least I’d still have you. But then I lost you both and I realized how badly I fucked up everything.”

“The blame isn’t entirely on you, I also messed up. Back then, I believed if I was right, you would eventually realize it and come to my side. I said things that I shouldn’t have, thinking it would help you, but it only pushed you away.”

“I’m glad you were able to reflect on yourself and realize your faults, but none of it could’ve helped my own inner turmoil. I spent years believing I ruined everything and by the time we reunited, I was too scared to make that mistake again.”

“I understand your fears,” Alhaitham consoled him, squeezing their joined hands in reassurance. “I have them too. Which is why I waited for you to make your answer. I know my feelings, but I cannot speak for yours. You needed the space, and I wanted to give you all the time to sort things out. Perhaps you were right in your hesitation. We both needed to grow and reflect on ourselves before we were ready for the next step, not to mention the years of hurt between us. If we rushed things before their time, maybe we would’ve messed up again.”

Alhaitham gently took a strand of Kaveh’s hair in his hand and began to twirl it around his finger, “I’m just glad you’ve come forward with your feelings. Keeping all this bottled up inside must not have been easy.”

Kaveh’s heart began to beat erratically as he braced himself. It was now or never. If he didn’t share the last of what was on his mind, he may never do it. If he was going to confess to Alhaitham everything that plagued his heart, all his worries and insecurities, he was going to do it properly.

“This entire time, I was waiting for, I don’t know, something, for the right moment, for when it will all click together and I can finally feel free to be with you. But then I realized that as I’m waiting for a perfect moment that will never come, you’re waiting for an answer that should’ve been given a long time ago. So, I’m sorry for making you wait. For being unable to return your feelings for a long time, and especially for hurting them in the process. But now I know I have to be the one to take that step, so, if you’ll have me…”

Alhaitham’s lips quirked up into a smile. “The wait was more than worth it.” He cupped Kaveh’s face, looking at him with unfathomable adoration. “Of course I’ll have you.”

He leaned forward and pressed a kiss on Kaveh’s forehead, before pulling away. Kaveh, however, wouldn’t let him get too far. He grabbed Alhaitham’s face and dove in, capturing his lips for a passionate kiss. Alhaitham did not hesitate to reciprocate, kissing him back with as much fervor and wrapping his arms around Kaveh’s waist.

“Losing you is my biggest fear,” Kaveh confessed in between their kisses. “I can’t bear to think of a future without you.”

“I feel the same,” Alhaitham replied, squeezing Kaveh’s waist and pulling him closer until their bodies melded together. “I lost you once. I won’t ever let it happen again.”

“You won’t,” Kaveh promised before they connected their lips again.

4 Years Later

His consciousness faded for a moment as he stumbled into Alhaitham’s arms. How unfair. He’s been tossed between timelines four times now, and his body still refused to get used to it. At least he had Alhaitham to catch him this time. Landing face first into the pavement in Aaru Village was embarrassing enough.

As Kaveh recovered from the time jump, Alhaitham cupped his face before littering it with kisses. Kaveh giggled, wrapping his arms around Alhaitham’s neck before pushing his face away.

“I’m okay,” Kaveh said.

“I missed you,” Alhaitham confessed in between kisses.

“What, mini me wasn’t enjoyable?” Kaveh teased. “I’m offended.”

“No, he was perfect,” Alhaitham said. “But I can’t smother him with my kisses like I can with you.”

He continued his assault, pecking him a few more times before mashing their lips together in a searing kiss. Kaveh’s heart soared as he wrapped his arms around Alhaitham’s neck and deepened the kiss. He really missed Alhaitham. Though it was nice to see a young Alhaitham again, his Alhaitham was right, there are things he can only do with the Alhaitham of his timeline.

When they pulled apart, Alhaitham brought his hand down to Kaveh’s and intertwined their fingers. He brought their joined hands up and gave them a quick kiss before leading the way out of the forest.

“Did you enjoy your trip to the past?” Alhaitham asked.

“It was great. You used to be so cute, and it was nice seeing the you that was all scrawny and baby-faced before you became this. And you were so jealous of yourself,” Kaveh teased. “Every time I lifted my ring up I could just see your little face contorting as if the idea of me being with anyone else but you is the worst thing ever. I question how I didn’t see it back then.”

“Everything happens for a reason, and that’s all behind us now,” Alhaitham shrugged. “We have our whole future ahead of us now, and we can enjoy it without worrying about anything anymore.”

It was strange to think that the future Kaveh had seen was now completely in the past. Everything that was meant to happen, happened. It all fell into place. Perhaps it wasn’t the magical alignment Kaveh had hoped for, but, at least he had the future he had wanted since the moment he discovered it. He was free.

Kaveh grinned, squeezing the hand in his as he said, “Then, we have a lot to look forward to.”

Alhaitham smiled back, “We sure do.”