Chapter Text
Alhaitham had arrived home later than usual.
Technically his work hours had ended a bit before he had departed the academia. But when Alhaitham was doing his usual duties he had come across a few documents that caught his eye. So after he completed all the others required of him, one could find him hidden away in the corner of the archives reading late into the evening.
The house was silent, almost a little too silent.
Usually he would arrive shortly before Kaveh, his roommate, and he would be granted a glorious hour of tranquility to recharge his social battery that was practically non existent.
Though if he was being perfectly honest he spent most of that hour wondering when Kaveh would return.
Once Kaveh did eventually make it back, the first thing he would do was rant loudly to Alhaitham about his most recent client, who had rejected his design proposal yet again. Then he would reluctantly drag himself into his room to sketch another draft.
Sometimes Kaveh didn’t return home, instead he would make a bee line for the tavern and drink until his sorrows were long forgotten at the bottom of a glass. So Alhaitham would take it upon himself to haul his drunk roommate back home.
Seeing, or rather hearing how devoid of sound the house currently was, it was safe to assume that tonight Kaveh most likely ended up drunk in the tavern.
After coming to this conclusion, Alhaitham turned on his heel and headed back out the door with the objective to collect his roommate.
•••
The stinging smell of alcohol mingled with the lively sound of the music and chatter of patrons as Alhaitham entered the tavern.
Lambad, the owner/ bartender glanced over to see who the new patron was. But upon realizing it was Alhaitham, he knew the man wasn’t there for a drink and motioned toward the table that Kaveh could usually be found.
As expected Kaveh was slouched over the table half pasted out, a half downed drink in hand. His cheeks were flushed pink from the alcohol and his eyes were puffy as if he’d been crying. Upon closer inspection, Alhaitham could also see the front of his shirt was wet and sticky. In all likelihood due to liquor that had missed his lips and fell onto his clothes.
Alhaitham sighed as he went over to Lambad to pay Kaveh’s tab. He didn’t mind paying, nor did he mind making the trip to carry Kaveh back home. But seeing Kaveh in such a state made his heart ache.
Once he had paid the tab, Alhaitham made his way back over to Kaveh who was now whining because Alhaitham had pried the glass from his fingers. “Noooooo… jst…. On…e…one…hic.. mor…. Haitamm…”, Kaveh whined, his speech incredibly slurred.
Alhaitham knew it was futile to respond to the drunk, rambling Kaveh. So instead he made an effort to pull him out of the chair and back onto his feet. But Kaveh was not having this and he went even more limp and continued whining, “Nooooo..hic…one…hic…mor….”
Well if he couldn’t get Kaveh up onto his feet he would use a different approach. So Alhaitham scooped up his drunken roommate, draped Kaveh’s arms over his own shoulders so he would be more secure and carried him out of the establishment.
It was quiet as Alhaitham headed homeward with Kaveh is his arms. Well apart from Kaveh complaining.
Perhaps the fresh night air had helped him sober up a bit because he was a little less like a rag doll and he clung to Alhaitham more tightly.
•••
Alhaitham locked the door behind him, Kaveh still in his arms. Then he put his key on the key holder beside the door along with Kaveh’s lion keychain and key.
He didn’t even grab his key this morning. How did he expect to get back into the house? Alhaitham wondered.
Well there was no time to question it further, he had to get Kaveh to bed.
He carried Kaveh to his room and set him down on his bed in a semi upright position. Alhaitham did this so he could attempt to remove to remove Kaveh’s shirt that had been soaked with liquor.
As he began to peel the bottom of Kaveh’s shirt up over his head Kaveh slurred a drunken tease, “Buy m-hic-me a.. hic.. driink firssst.”
Alhaitham replied flatly, “You have had enough of those.” Pulling Kaveh’s shirt over his head then lazily tossed it into the laundry basket.
“You..r….noo..fun.”, Kaveh whined pointing a finger in Alhaithams face.
Alhaitham ignored him. Then he proceeded to gently move Kaveh so he could lay down comfortably. He tucked the blanket around his roommate, fighting the urge to kiss Kaveh on the forehead like his grandmother used to do when she would tuck him in for bed.
He turned to leave but stopped when he felt a hand grasp his wrist.
“Don’t leave.”
Alhaitham turned back to Kaveh. Moonlight streamed in through the window, slightly illuminating his delicate features. His captivating auburn eyes pleaded for Alhaitham to stay.
He should have just walked away. But those eyes drew him back like the teasing laughter of a jinn drawing in her next victim.
Kaveh still held firmly onto his wrist and repeated, “Don’t leave.” Alhaitham sighed as he sat down on the floor, leaning his back against the bed.
“I’ll stay.”, he whispered, unhooking Kaveh’s hand from his wrist then sliding his hand into Kaveh’s. He held Kaveh’s hand gently which seemed to relax Kaveh.
It didn’t take long for the sound of Kaveh’s soft snoring to fill the silence. Alhaitham tried to pull his hand away but Kaveh must have sensed the moment and still grasped his hand tightly.
Alhaitham was too tired and honestly just too lazy to wrestle his hand away. So he just leaned his head against the bed, still holding Kaveh’s hand and drifted off to sleep.