Archive of Our Own ^beta

The apartment was quiet save for the sharp clicking of keys. Kaveh’s final semester at college was coming to a head as he pumped out his final essay. He was an architect major so the majority of his course load as of late were hands-on projects and models. However, to Kaveh’s dismay, he had forgotten to take one of his general education classes needed to graduate for his major: History of Architecture, Sumeru. 

It was a simple class really. Kaveh had taken it upon himself to research the history behind Sumeru’s grand structures and designs way before he had enrolled in college. Architecture was simply his passion, his thing. This essay was a piece of cake for Kaveh, the words flowed out of his fingers onto his screen effortlessly.

As he typed away, the front door to his shared apartment creaked and very faint footsteps could be heard. Kaveh averted his eyes for a brief moment away from the words he typed to the tiny clock on the corner of his screen. 11:02pm. 

“Welcome back.” Click, click, click. “I thought you said you were staying at Cyno’s tonight to study or something?” Kaveh hadn't bothered to look up, his eyes still glued to the screen in front of him, fingers dancing across his keyboard. There was no response given, only a faint creak of the floorboards. With a scoff, he finally looks up to the front door only to be met with an empty hall. Strange. Narrowed eyes scan the shoe rack that lives by the door for his roommate’s sneakers, only to find his own oxfords sitting alone. “What?” Kaveh mumbles to himself, digging the heel of his hands in his eyes. Without giving it much further thought he returns his attention to his paper, dramatically sighing before typing again. His mind refocuses to his laptop immediately, so he doesn't hear when a door creaks shut in the hall, mere feet by him.

It wasn't until two hours and two energy drinks later that footsteps were heard again from the front door. This time Kaveh made no effort to react, he was far too invested in his essay. A loud thud and a huff of breath finally brings Kaveh back into the real world, out of his screen. Jumping in his skin, Kaveh gripped his laptop and looked wide-eyed at the door. There stood his roommate, clinging onto the wall with one hand while the other yanked at his sneaker.

“What is wrong with you? Making a ruckus at–” Kaveh pauses to look at the time on his laptop, “One in the morning.” Gods, I should really head to bed soon. With both shoes now off his body Alhaitham stands still at the door, staring at Kaveh with an empty expression. Kaveh raises an eyebrow, prompting the other to say something back. When Alhaitham remains unmoving, a small pit forms in Kaveh’s stomach, “Are you okay?” His roommate’s complexion was paler and his eyes glossy. It looks as if he had seen a ghost. Alhaitham then looks off to the side, a foreign look of timidness sketched across his features. Kaveh opens his mouth once more to prod a little deeper when Alhaitham suddenly retorts back, all traces of uneasiness wiped from his face.

“Why would I not be? Why are you up? Sleep.” This only elicits grumbling from Kaveh as he watches his roommate disappear down the hall. With a defeated sigh he saves his work and shuts his laptop, deciding that Alhaitham was probably right. Not that he would ever admit that. There's still a small trace of unease that sits in Kaveh’s stomach. Maybe he worked himself sick? It is quite unusual for Alhaitham to stumble in so noisily, let alone this late at night. So, just to be a pest, and because admittedly he was growing quite concerned, he decides to evade sleep just a little longer and question him. He approaches Alhaitham’s room with his laptop clutched to his chest and he lightly knocks on his door.

“Alhaitham?” The faint shuffling from beyond the door came to a sudden halt. Kaveh leans in, pressing an ear to the door, holding his breath. He suddenly feels nervous as the air around him grows cold and stale. Retracting his ear from the door he brings his hand to the doorknob, hesitating, “If you don't say anything in the next ten seconds I'm coming in.” He waits– very impatiently, listening for signs of life. It’s not often that Alhaitham gets sick like this, let alone express it on his face so fowardly as he had done. When he is met with nothing but silence, he slowly pushes the door open. “Alhaitham?”

Kaveh was greeted with darkness and air that assaulted his lungs. He stumbles a bit as his eyes adjust to the lack of light. The air hung heavy around him making it hard to catch his breath he suddenly lost. Shaking his head, Kaveh steps further into the room. 

“Are you asleep?” He knew the answer once he spotted the Alhaitham sized lump on the bed. He hadn't bothered to change from his day clothes and it looked like he hadn't bothered to get under the covers either. Also strange. “Of course you are.” Kaveh takes in a gulp of air, still feeling weighed down by the room’s atmosphere. “I came in to ask if you were okay but,” He takes a knee by his roommate’s bed, placing the back of his hand to his forehead, “Clearly you’re fine, hm maybe a bit warm.” His hand lingers a bit, the heaviness in the air making him drowsy. He lets himself have this moment, tracing Alhaitham’s face with his tired eyes. Kaveh smiles soft and solemnly, savoring every second of being this close to his roommate. As if urging him out the room, the door slowly creaked open a bit wider, startling Kaveh. Wide-eyed he looks from the door then back to his roommate multiple times. “Yeah that's my cue, I'm out. Have fun with your ghosts.” Grumbling to himself, he hurries out of the room.

As the door clicks shut behind Kaveh, a figure steps out from the corner of Alhaitham’s room. Its long legs drag over to his bed, looming over Alhaitham as it observes his every movement. From the way his chest rises and falls with every breath, to the way his lips part as he sleeps peacefully. The figure continues to stare, reaching out towards Alhaitham’s face. It curls a finger under his chin as its pitch black eyes bore into Alhaitham’s closed ones. Alhaitham stirs.

“Mph, Kaveh?” Blindly he swats at his face only to be aggressively gripped by bony hands. With a sharp gasp, his eyes shoot open. What he sees stuns Alhaitham into silence. The figure above him is dark; an endless void of mass. All that was recognizable was its two eyes. These eyes wrapped Alhaitham’s own, unallowing him to look away. He tries to yell out but all that comes out are raspy gasps. The figure tilts its head, taking its free hand and gripping his forearm, pinning him down on the bed. The ghostly touch sends ice cold waves through Alhaitham’s body, pure fear striking him. Goosebumps appear over every inch of skin on his body. Silent tears start to roll down his face as he squirms in its grasp trying– but failing, to yell out for his roommate. He had never been so scared before, the feeling of fear startling him further.

The room begins to spin as Alhaitham’s vision blurs. Creating a nauseating sensation that only heightens his panic. He scrunches his eyes closed as he lets out a strangled sob. His usual stoic composure completely breaks as he begins to feel lightheaded and lose sensation in his feet. It rapidly spreads to his calves all the way to his hip bones, spreading across his broad chest, then down his arms to the tips of his fingers. His limbs lax as they numb, now helpless in the grasp of the figure towering over him. He opens his eyes and what he sees makes him choke on a breath. He is met with his own face smirking down at him. It speaks.

“I think I’ll give your body a go, yeah?”

~ ✦ ~

Kaveh awakens to the scent of warm and fresh coffee. Hair ruffled and feet dragging, he makes his way to the kitchen. The moment that Kaveh had woken up, his mind fixated on finishing his essay. It was the last thing he needed to complete after all. He just wanted the semester to be done and over with so he could graduate. Approaching his roommate, he spots two steaming mugs.

“G’morning” Kaveh yawns as he reaches for his mug. He is the only one of the two to add numerous extra ingredients to sweeten his coffee, so it was easy to tell which cup was his by the color of liquid. Alhaitham eyes Kaveh with an observant gaze, humming in response. Plopping unceremoniously at their dining table, Kaveh strikes up a conversation. “You came home late last night, thought you were staying at Cyno’s till the morning to finish that report, no?” Alhaitham stills, glancing up at Kaveh curiously from behind his cup.

“We finished early.”

“Hm, one in the morning doesn't seem like early for someone of your...” He pauses to squint at Alhaitham, trying to decipher where he would place his annoying roommate, “your kind,”

“My kind?”

“Your kind, yes. I mean seriously, when did you become the roommate that stays out late?” Alhaitham places his cup down and away from his face.

“My apologies, Kaveh. Sorry for disturbing your late night studying, it won't happen again.” Kaveh’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. The air turns awkward. Alhaitham stares, but his eyes seem empty. It makes Kaveh’s stomach churn so he moves his eyes to his cup of coffee. Since when does he apologize? There isn't a sliver of sarcasm either, maybe he really is sick? Stressed or– “Kaveh?”

“What? Sorry, I think I’m still waking up. I'm just going to..” He sheepishly looks back towards his roommate, only to find eyes still boring into him. A wave of uneasiness washes over him, “Alhaitham, are you feeling alright?” The same pit from last night formed in his stomach once again, telling his body to leave the room.

“Fine.” Alhaitham states flatly, smiling politely at Kaveh. “I am fine, Kaveh.” Kaveh nods as he moves his eyes back to his mug, tightening his grip on it. Alhaitham only stares with his arms crossed, his cup of coffee untouched. The eyes that face Kaveh are empty and dull. Its usual warmth and softness missing. Kaveh feels like an animal in a cage, being watched and analyzed. The observer waiting for his next move, anticipating. It makes Kaveh feel stripped to the bone. Suddenly, too uncomfortable to sit any longer, he takes a quick and deep breath.

“Well, if that's the case then I'm going back to my room. That essay isn't going to finish itself.” With an awkward laugh he stands from his chair. Alhaitham copies. He stands up in the same motion as Kaveh, down to the way he pushed his chair in with a screech. His wide eyes never leaving him as he analyzes his every movement. The air around them stills as Kaveh locks eyes with Alhaitham. Giving him an unsure smile, he retreats to his room.

Before he opens his door he takes a final look back down the hallway and into the living space. There, Alhaitham stands still, staring at him with a soft smile. He gives him a gentle nod before shutting his door.

The second Kaveh had disappeared, Alhaitham’s smile dropped. Flexing his fingers he stalks around the house, observing the books that littered the coffee table. Alhaitham– or this monster, found itself in front of a mirror. As it gazed into its own reflection, it began to poke and prod at its new body. A finger poking its cheek, a hand running up and down its bicep. It begins to lightly laugh to itself. 

It's then that it makes the decision to play house a little while longer. It grew curious about its first victims. It wanted to know more. If it really wanted to go along with its plan of wiping out the city of Sumeru, it had to be strategic.

It thought it had been smart stalking the quiet one and starting with him. It seemed like an easy start, a warm up. It had followed him around campus all day, lurking in the shadows. It watched as Alhaitham stopped for coffee, sat through lectures, and read on a bench. It sat through the very short study session Alhaitham had with a friend, watching from a corner. He strived off the growing unease it felt oozing from Alhaitham’s body. Following only a few feet behind as he took a walk around town, seemingly to shake off the nerves flowing through his body. Although, it didn't realize there was a clingy roommate attached to his hip. Now it had to take two out at once. Inconvenient. Its only way now was to pretend to be Alhaitham, lower Kaveh’s guard, replace him, then finally go after a now weaker and fearful Alhaitham.

Lost in thought, it didn't hear Kaveh’s footsteps coming down the hallway. “Can I ask you something?” Kaveh peeked his head out from the hallway, looking at his roommate with deep concern in his eyes. Alhaitham’s eyes shoot to him, boring holes into Kaveh’s face. He only responded with a grunt, still not entirely sure of the pair’s conversation patterns. He moved to stand by the couches, silently inviting Kaveh to sit. “Okay, okay.” Kaveh fiddles with his fingers as he emerges completely from the hallway, sitting down cross-legged on the soft cushions. Alhaitham remains standing, crossing his arms, staring at his roommate.

“Are you really okay?” Kaveh avoided eye contact, squeezing the life out of his fingers as nervous energy spilled out of him. He just spent the last five minutes pacing his room as his unease and worry for his roommate grew. He cares deeply for him, more than he would like to admit. “Sorry, I’m not trying to be annoying, it's just… I mean like, you seemed kind of out of it when you got home last night..” His voice trails off as he struggles to find the words he wants to say. He opens his mouth to speak but is cut short by Alhaitham’s hand grasping his shoulder, a little too tightly.

Alhaitham crouches in front of Kaveh with his head tilted and lips pursed. His eyes turn sharp as he scans his roommates face. It was starting to get annoyed. Kaveh gulps as its hand moves from Kaveh’s shoulder to cup his cheek. “Why did you have to be so clingy?” Anger and annoyance washes over its face as it tightens its grip on his cheek. “I was trying to have fun.” Kaveh winces as the words roll out of his roommate’s mouth.

“W-what?” Kaveh whispers out, confusion overtaking his features. He takes a shaky hand and tries to place it over Alhaitham’s. “I’m sorry if I upset you I just–”

“Stop. Just stop.” Alhaitham’s voice grew stern and commanding, silencing Kaveh immediately as he shut his eyes, incredibly annoyed. Kaveh’s hand freezes in the air. With a heavy sigh it loosens its grip on his cheek, slowly standing. “As I have told you, there is nothing wrong that you should be concerned about.” Kaveh’s worry turns into anger as his jaw tightens.

“You know what?! I'm so sorry for being concerned about my fucking friend!” Kaveh springs off the couch and stomps towards Alhaitham, face scrunched in fury. “This is so typical of you! You can never just let me in!” Kaveh’s eyes drew glassy and his cheeks began to flush. His voice softened as he approached the younger man, “Alhaitham, did we not just talk about this?” He paused, averting his eyes to the ground. “I thought we were getting somewhere. I thought that maybe you–” He was on the verge of tears as he locked eyes with Alhaitham again. His glassy eyes are filled with what can only be described as longing.

It understands now. What a mess these two are, pathetic. Deciding it would toy with its food a little longer before divulging, it grabs Kaveh’s hand. “I know, I know.” Its eyebrows crease as it gazes into Kaveh’s eyes. “You are not mistaken, he does feel that way. Which is why I feel so bad.” Its voice was lathered in sarcasm as its grip tightened on Kaveh’s hand. It began to laugh hysterically. Its eyes filled with uncanny euphoria and its new set of teeth shone as it cackled. Kaveh only shrank in his skin as his stomach dropped. Alhaitham was never one for showing emotions so outwardly. It was like pulling teeth to get him to talk about how his day was. So seeing his roommate– his friend, showing an extreme amount of emotion was frightening.

“Alhaitham you’re– you’re scaring me.” His voice trembled as he began to squirm in Alhaitham’s grasp. It only further tightens its bone-breaking grip on Kaveh’s wrist. “What’s wrong with you?! Are you okay? Haitham!” Kaveh begins to sob as he watches his friend’s face twist and morph. He watches as one side of his face begins to droop, revealing a black mass under his skin. Alhaitham’s once beautiful, smooth, tanned cheek now hangs below his eye. The fingers that incased Kaveh’s wrists turned into claws, piercing into his skin drawing blood. The stench of iron quickly floods the room as it begins to slide down his arm. Horror racks through Kaveh’s body as he pleads to who he still thinks is Alhaitham, “Please stop! What’s happening? Alhaitham please!”

The monster morphs and twists, switching from fully embracing Alhaitham’s form to a mixture of its true self and his prey. It was thriving off the fear it brought onto Kaveh. Meanwhile, the real Alhaitham stirred in his room as he felt his consciousness slowly come back to life. The monster became hysterical, letting its guard down and showing its true form to Kaveh. Its face became a mess of black mass and parts of Alhaitham’s face. All it wanted to do was scare the life out of him before killing him. It was having the time of its life seeing him so shaken. Upon hearing his name multiple times and the monster loosening its grip on his consciousness, Alhaitham had fully awoken.

“Please stop, that hurts!” Kaveh’s sobs made him choke on his words. “Please, I-I love you Alhaitham!” Upon hearing this, the monster became quiet. All that could be heard was Kaveh’s labored breathing and thick sobs. He was now crouched on the ground gripping the arm that was captured by the monster, blood smeared across his arms and hands. The monster hovered over him with a death grip on Kaveh’s forearm. His face now a mixture of both Alhaitham and Kaveh, as well as his true form.

“Cute, you love him?” The voice that came from the monster was hoarse and distorted. Rapidly switching from Alhaitham’s blunt and low voice to Kaveh’s bright and gentle one. “Too bad he will never know, it's really a shame.” 

The hysteric laughing begins again and it begins to yank at Kaveh’s arm. “Look at me.” It sternly commands. Its smile vanishes from its face, a scowl replaces it. “Your turn now, Kaveh .” Kaveh only kept crying and desperately calling out for his roommate. His fear rendered him too scared to even think of a way to defend himself. He couldn't help but just wail. “Look. At. Me.” 

The room fell silent. Kaveh slowly tilts his head up, meeting eyes with his predator. A choked gasp escapes Kaveh as he suddenly finds himself unable to move or speak. As it did with Alhaitham, it starts with his feet. Cold numbness slowly moves through his calves, making its way to his thighs. Before it could travel any further Kaveh was suddenly released and he fell flat to the floor with a grunt, the air rushing back into his lungs. He shuffles backwards into the wall, clawing at his heaving chest.

A chair had been thrown across the room and hit the monster square in the back of its head, forcing it to release Kaveh. It broke into splintered wooden pieces as it hit the ground. With a roar, the monster twists its body around to face its attacker. In the kitchen, stands a deathly pale Alhaitham. A look of pure horror etched on his face as his body trembles.

“Now why would you go and do that?” It begins to slowly walk towards Alhaitham, eyeing him up and down. “I should have never left you under your bed. I only wanted to play pretend for a few days. Your roommate seems like a fun guy to be around. Very loyal.” The monster’s face begins to morph once more, any remnants of Kaveh and Alhaitham’s face disappear, replaced by its true form, a black mass. 

“What do you want?” Alhaitham tries his best to keep his voice stern and level as he shuffles backwards into the hallway. The monster only chuckles in response. Alhaitham breaks eye contact for a split second, desperate to find Kaveh’s eyes. Still pressed against the wall, Kaveh breathes rapidly, unable to look away from the monster’s backside. Blood cascades from the punctures on the wrists he holds to his chest, ruining his cream colored t-shirt. The entire room now reeks of blood. Taking notice of Alhaitham’s concern, the monster takes advantage of the brief second of vulnerability. It lunges towards Alhaitham, tackling him to the ground.

“No!” Kaveh shoots an arm out as he launches himself upwards, half running to the pair that was now wrestling on the ground. A bout of dizziness washes over him as he latches on to the monster’s arm and tries to pry it off of Alhaitham. But he had grown too weak, both from blood loss and fear. He was immediately thrown back with incredible force. His back slams into the floor-length mirror and glass shatters all around him, stray pieces nesting in his hair and scraping his exposed arms. The impact was so powerful it rendered Kaveh unconscious and slumped against broken shards.

“Kaveh!” The monster let Alhaitham hurry to his friend, finding amusement in what he had caused. It was having fun . Alhaitham sits on his ankles as he takes his friend’s face in his hands, carefully picking glass shards out of his hair. “Kaveh? You're fine– I, you'll be fine.” Alhaitham’s voice betrays him as his voice shakes violently. His head aches from being thrashed around by the monster that was creeping up behind him.

It slowly inches closer to the pair, humming to itself. “So tragic. It's a pity, really. Now if you’re done wailing over your soon to be dead boyfriend, I really would like to get on with it, yeah?” Alhaitham feels pure rage enter his body. Adrenaline takes over as he rises. He takes a glass shard in his hand, gripping it so tightly that it draws blood from his shaking fingers.

“I don't know what you are, or what you want.” Alhaitham takes a brief pause as he adjusts his grip on the glass he holds to his chest, “But you will not be touching him.” The monster began to hysterically cackle again as it steps closer to them.

A sudden chill sweeps over Alhaitham’s body as a voice whispers in his ear, “Are you done with your goodbyes?” A heavy hand gripped his shoulder, yanking him backwards. As his body was forcibly twisted around, Alhaitham screams. With the hand that clutches the glass shard, he stabs the monster, throwing his entire body weight on it. The monster pushes him off and crawls on top of Alhaitham. Its arms reach out for his throat, locking its claws around it and pierces his skin. It was going to end this right here, there was no need for it to take this body before discarding it. It had enough, it simply wants him dead.

As the claws that grip Alhaitham’s throat begin to push harder, he lifts his arms and prays to the Gods. With the shard still in hand, he stabs at the claws on his throat, hoping it wouldn't pierce him too. With a grunt the monster retracts its hand to rip the shard out, but upon looking at the glass sticking out of its hand, it shrieks. Stumbling backwards on the ground it holds its hand away, refusing to look into the mirror shard. Gasping for air Alhaitham sits up. Confused, Alhaitham gawks at the monster. Then it clicks. Alhaitham springs into action, being run by pure adrenaline.

He stood and raced to Kaveh’s side once again. Skidding on the ground, glass pierces his knees and blood seeps through his clothes. He began to push glass shards around on the ground until he found one of decent size. Lifting it up to his face, he couldn't help but let out a breath of relief. That relief is short-lived when he hears angry and fast footsteps approaching from behind. He quickly turned around and used the mirror shard as a shield, practically shoving it in the monster’s face. There was a loud, ear-piercing shriek as the monster was met with its own face. It stumbled around, hands clawing at its face as its body began to smoke and disintegrate. It kept screeching as its body began to die, first a hand, then a leg. Once it hit the ground its entire body seemed to turn into a pile of ash on the floor.

The room fell silent, all that could be heard was Alhaitham’s heavy breathing. His body began to tremble as the adrenaline quickly wore off. A shaky hand drops the glass, shattering into smaller pieces when it hits the ground. With much effort, he turns his body back around to Kaveh who was still unmoving against the mirror. Pain began to erupt in his body. He feels every piece of glass injected into him, every cut, every bruise. He can feel the blood dripping down his neck from the claws that moments ago threatened his life. The living room was a mess. Glass littered the blood covered floor, and there was a pile of ash where the monster just stood. None of that matters as he weakly crawls towards his friend. 

“Kaveh?” Alhaitham’s voice comes out ragged and strained. He lifts a bloody hand to cup his face once more, making a mess on it. Tears clouded his vision as his trembling thumb rubbed soothingly under Kaveh’s eye. “It's over now. You can come back to me. Please. ” His voice turns into a whisper as black dots begin to dance in his vision. He doesn't have the chance to say anything else before he slowly slumps against Kaveh. His cheek rests tiredly on his chest as he loses consciousness. 

~✦~

Two days later, Kaveh wakes up in an unfamiliar room lit by the worst LED lighting. Groaning, he slowly turned his head to observe his surroundings. There's a warmth encasing his hand that rests besides him. Still adjusting to the sudden light, he finds the source of the warmth. He can't help but laugh at the sight. Alhaitham’s head was resting next to his thigh with his hand lightly clamped over his own. Light snores escape his mouth and his hair was the most unkempt he had ever seen it. Hearing his light laughter, Alhaitham woke up with a start. He lifts his head and blinks hard as his eyes shoot to Kaveh.

“You're awake?” Alhaitham’s voice is laced with worry and holds a slight roughness. There’s a bandage wrapped around his throat where claws once did. Kaveh shares an identical bandage around his own throat. The bags under Alhaitham’s eyes were prominent and his eyes themselves were filled with exhaustion. Kaveh gives his hand a reassuring squeeze and offers a small smile.

“I am.” Kaveh’s voice comes out small and dry. His smile slowly fades as memories come back to him. Sensing his anxieties Alhaitham scoots closer to Kaveh in his chair– if that was even possible.

“It's getting resolved. It–” He inhales sharply as he recalls the monster that had terrorized them days prior, “Its gone– dead, authorities are just investigating the apartment.” He averted his eyes to Kaveh’s hands as he took a thumb and lightly rubbed his knuckles, making sure to be careful of any cuts or bruises. “Cyno is letting us stay at his and Tighnari’s place until we can go back, though I'm not sure how long that will be.” Kaveh nodded in understanding, exhaling deeply.

“Are you okay?” Kaveh locks eyes with Alhaitham. Alhaitham bites his bottom lip as he lightly squeezes Kaveh’s hand. Alhaitham doesn't think he will ever erase the sight of Kaveh lying limp on the floor covered in blood and glass. He had been so scared he would never see his beautiful and lively carmine eyes again.

“As long as you are.” This elicits an airy laugh from Kaveh. “I only needed a couple of stitches on my palms and some salve for my throat, you on the other hand are deeply concussed.”

“Yeah I can tell.” Kaveh’s dilated eyes blink hard as he moves over in his small hospital bed, patting the space next to him. “Come here.” Alhaitham furrows his eyebrows in question which only prompts Kaveh to lightly pull at his hand, urging him up. He sticks his lower lip out as he pouts, trying not to let a laugh out, “Please?”

“Okay, okay.” Alhaitham lets himself relax and climbs into bed next to Kaveh, sitting against the small headboard of the bed. Kaveh easily slots himself under Alhaitham’s arm, resting his cheek against his collarbone and curling in around him. Alhaitham squeezes lightly as he rubs a hand up and down Kaveh’s arm, his chin finding home on the crown of his head. A few beats of comforting silence pass them. Both men are drained both mentally and physically, scared to death of losing the other. To be able to relax and just hold each other felt like the greatest gift either could have received

“Kaveh?”

“Hm?” Kaveh was slowly falling back asleep, finding comfort and safety in his roommate’s arms. “I'm awake, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong, not anymore.” Alhaitham takes a hand and begins raking it through Kaveh’s hair, a silent assurance. “I just wanted to give you a response.” This confuses Kaveh and he lifts his head slightly to meet Alhaitham’s eyes.

“Response to what?” Kaveh’s eyebrows furrowed as he searched his eyes. Very quickly he connects the dots and a deep flush overtakes his cheeks and ears. “Oh, that.” He laughs nervously as he begins to retract from Alhaitham. Before he could stray too far, he is tugged back in and squeezed a little tighter. A calloused hand meets Kaveh’s warm cheek as he is guided to look up at his roommate. Alhaitham smiles down lovingly at him, building his courage to give an answer to Kaveh’s silent question.

“I love you, too.”