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Another flight again. That is what outsiders thought when they walked past Alhaithams house. It was just a week that Kaveh started living at his house because of his circumstances. But in the meantime they managed to fight over every possible thing. Alhaitham really had the guide on how to push on Kavehs buttons. The fight was over the carpet and how Kaveh got some charcoal on the carpet. It is a living room for Kusanalis sake! It was meant to get through living. After the fight Alhaitham left and Kaveh was lost with his own thoughts.
He needed an outlet. To let all the pain go. He remembered these new paints that he bought with Alhaithams money because they were so vibrant. He went to dig them out in his room but found the piece he picked up at a ruin in search of inspiration. He took interest in it but it was left forgotten after his life fell apart with debt. But now looking at it he really could use it for something.
It took one week of avoiding Alhaitham and working on his project. And then his new baby was born. The proud father named him Mehrak as in little light, because after all this darkness in his life he needed it. And he would meet it more than ever after he came out of his room. Even the greatest artist needed to eat something but he was close to eating the floor after opening his door and what was in front of him was a sturdy chest.
- Why are you standing in front of my door, Kaveh said while rubbing his nose.
- As far as I know I own this house and with it this door, Alhaitham answered back with a huff.
- Do you have to be so insufferable always, Kaveh said back with a sigh.
What Kaveh didn’t know was that Alhaitham was standing behind his door every night trying to apologize but not working the words in his head correctly. While he may be the Scribe who can write reports and academic texts without issues, matters of the heart were difficult to him.
- I am not insufferable, I am just realistic unlike you and your horrible sleeping schedule.
- I have to work to pay back my debt so I can leave you alone! Kaveh shouted back at Alhaitham and for the first time he saw him flinch. Even in fight when a fungus surprised him he did not flinch but the words of Kaveh leaving hurt more than a bloom elemental reaction.
- I have left you alone in your room for a week. Is that not enough? said Alhaitham with more agitation in his voice than face.
- I wish you would leave me alone always because you always nag at me! Kaveh yelled back.
And with that Kaveh ran back into his room, picked up his new child and left the house, throwing back his keys into the living room before closing the door. He knew all of his stuff was inside. He knew it was stupid but he had to get away. He let Mehrak go to let him float behind him and started to walk. He didn’t have an aim. He just walked. It was something for his body to do and not let the pain take control of him.
He walked for a couple of hours until he reached a hutt build for forest rangers to use during their rounds. With it getting dark and with no material with him Kaveh took shelter inside. With feeling emotional in the moment he could not fall asleep so all he did was to talk to Mehrak.
He talked and talked about his life, about his inspirations, about the pain he held, about his care for Alhaitham, everything that crossed his mind. He talked until his throat was sore and his body was without any energy left. But with all this talking Mehrak reacted to everything. With his small “beeb” and “poobs” and his small facial expressions. For the first time Kaveh felt like he had been heard. Like there was somebody listening sincerely for him, not just for their own gain or the need to feel like a good person.
He woke up to rain the next morning with Mehrak next to him. Looks like while Kaveh slept it had gone to sleep mode to conserve its energy. Kaveh went to pick some nearby berries that he knew were safe to eat and came back to Mehrak. It still did not help his hunger but when Kaveh thought that at home there would be food he realized that it was not his home. Alhaitham was the homeowner, not him. It was not his home, it was just a temporary set-up. And all the while all Kaveh did was complain to Alhaitham. He had offered him his house but he let his ego get in between them. He had been acting like a child and not talking to Alhaitham calmly. He ran away like a child that took their most loved stuffed animal with them and ran away from home. But how could he even get back to Alhaitham. He threw away the keys.
While thinking this Kaveh realized that he was just sobbing. He wanted to give Alhaitham an hug and ask him to forgive him. He would never complain about the carpet. He would never complain about the books in every corner of the house. He was sobbing so loudly that even Mehrak woke up from sleep mode. But with no hands to comfort Kaveh, all he could do was to let out a small string of beeps. He looked as his creator cried out his eyes and could do nothing to comfort him.
Kaveh cried for a long while and then the exhaustion of sleepless nights took him over again. But Mehrak stayed awake. He knew that his creator needed help. So he went outside of the hutt and looked around. There was nothing that could help around, so Mehrak went a little further, and there was Tighnari fighting fungus. Mehrak waited there a while but after the fight was over he went towards Tighnari. Him just getting out of the fight, shot an arrow at Mehrak which created a Quicken reaction.
Tighnari, noticing his mistake, ran to Mehrak to look at him. With the reaction going on Mehrak let out a series of beeps and then started to float quickly towards Kaveh. After reaching his master with Tighnari in tow he shut down with all of his energy used. What waited in front of Tighnari was a shut down robot and Kaveh lying down with his face a mess. Knowing Alhaithams and Kavehs situation he could guess why Kaveh was here but this little guy was new to him. Tighnari had a fondness for all living beings so while he preferred to stay out of the couple's fights he had to help Mehrak. And of course the mess in front of him was Kaveh.
He could wake Kaveh up but with Kaveh forgetting to eat for many times he was lighter than he looked. So, not wanting to deal with this situation in the forest, he took Kaveh on his back and Mehrak in his hand and started to walk toward Gandharva Ville. It was uncomfortable while holding Mehrak in his hand and the weight of Kaveh over the same hand but he could manage. The work of a forest ranger was hard and rough and with it came muscles.
When he reached the Ville, it didn’t take long for Cyno to run to him. With that being normal, what was not normal was Alhaitham following him behind. In a moment Kaveh was off of Tighnaris back and in a bridal carry in Alhaithams arms. With Alhaitham rarely showing his emotions on his face, everyone could tell the worried look on his face.
- What the hell happened to him? Alhaitham asked.
Cyno, also being a stone face, gave a look of surprise. Alhaitham never cussed so he was really surprised but given the situation it really should not have been.
- He is fine, just passed out of exhaustion and a little dehydrated but nothing serious. What I am more concerned about is what the both of you are doing here? Tighnari answered.
- Alhaitham got worried and ran to me as the general to look for Kaveh. While I was angry he made me stop doing work, I am still happy I got to see you sooner, Cyno answered.
- Are you going to help him or keep on flirting with each other, Alhaitham asked.
- With you promising me the rare card back for this, I really am in a good mood so of course I am going to enjoy the attention of my beloved, Cyno asked back with a small smile.
- Don’t worry I will give him some medicine, just take him to my hut and I will take care of it. But after it you will leave the two of us alone and you two will have a talk, Tighnari answered.
It took five hours for Kaveh to wake up. But with him opening his eyes he saw the blurry figure of Alhaitham and closed his eyes as it could not be real.
- I know you are awake Kaveh so stop pretending, Alhaitham said shortly after.
With that Kaveh flew up. He was left staring at Alhaitham with unusually dark circles under his eyes. After a moment of staring he remembered what he wanted to do and started talking.
- I am sorry, I know you took me in and I have not been nothing but cruel to you and taking my anger on the world out on you, Kaveh started.
Now it was Alhaithams time to be silent for a moment but he continued.
- No, I should be the one to apologize. I offered to share my space with you but in the end I did not try to see your world and not change to it.
- But I will not be there for a long time, you should not change your life for my short visit.
After Kaveh said this Alhaitham looked sad and that was something Kaveh did not understand. Why would he be sad about this?
- Why are you looking sad? Kaveh asked, not being able to hold back his curiosity.
- Because I wished you would be more in my life in the future but you are trying in every way to get away from me, Alhaitham answered in a rare moment of vulnerability.
Kaveh could not do anything else but to stare at him. He stared at his beautiful eyes that were so full of life that nobody else saw.
- Cyno said to me to be truthful to the one I care about so I am trying his advice. Clearly it was not worth it, Alhaitham rambled but stopped when he saw Kaveh crying.
- But I thought you wanted nothing to do with me, that I was just an impulse buy like a rabbit on easter that is given away after, Kaveh said between sobs.
- If it were up to me I would never let you go. I care about you Kaveh, I am just bad at expressing it, I expressed it more to your room door that I have been staring at for a long time.
Maybe Kaveh didn’t need to name Mehrak Mehrak. Because there was light in his life already. So he took a leap of faith towards the light and took Alhaithams face in his hands. It was him asking for permission to do a move that would change his life. And with that Alhaitham captured his lips. Then he knew he had a home to return to. What if he didn’t own it. He held the keys to the person's heart who owned it. All he needed was this person.
After the shared kiss, all Kaveh could do was look the person he loved in the eyes and give a couple more. It felt like for the first time he had been completed. That in his life all the pieces were together. Except one.
- Wait, where is Mehrak!? Kaveh shouted.
- Mehrak? Alhaitham asked, very confused at the sudden interruption at their special moment.
- He is my child! Where is my beautiful boy!? Kaveh shouted.
Alhaitham felt at that moment that he could faint. He finally got to spend this special moment with his love and he has a child that he didn’t know about? How could this happen? He thought that they knew everything about each other? But thankfully Mehrak came flying towards Kaveh before Alhaitham could fall into despair. Behind Mehrak walked a proud looking couple.
- It took a while to figure out how to help him, with the Quicken reaction messing things up but now he is all well and charged up with the help of Cyno, Tighnari explained.
- My baby boy, oh how could I forget you for a moment. Wait, what, what Quicken reaction, what happened, why am I here! Kaveh yelled in confusion.
- You really are more of a mess than trying to figure out how to get that thing working again, Cyno said plainly.
- So this is Mehrak? I really thought you had a son that I didn’t know with some stupid student at the Academy.
- You guys really need to figure out how to talk to each other, this thing can express itself more clearly than you two with just beeps, Tighnari said while holding his head.
At that moment Alhaitham and Kaveh both started blushing. Or more so with Kaveh turning just red and Alhaitham having a small color change.
- Wait, really? You guys finally figured out your feelings and talked about it? Tighnari said in surprise. With the silence continuing while the other two refused to look at each other, all Tighnari could do was take out his bag, out of it a card and give it to Cyno.
- Did you guys really bet on our relationship with the TCG cards!? Kaveh yelled
- Well somebody had to score with you two pining at each other for years! Cyno just answered back.