The Small Things (Chapter 1) (Patreon)

[Content: HaiKaveh, SFW/NSFW, stress, overwork, fluff, kiss, cuddling, heart warming, feel good, Drunk Kaveh. Time: After the CynoNari comic, Tighnari drinking buddy]

[This is my first ever attempt at “writing” a romance short story, I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did writing it! Yes, I will be drawing this out since I’m more accustomed to drawing 😆 but I hope to continue writing as well if it‘s enjoyed by everyone 💕]

The Small Things

Kaveh is sound asleep after pulling an all nighter to work on a special custom project. Faced with many trials and errors, he was forced to dismantle and rearrange according to the clients’ order. With a restless Kaveh, whose room was just a hallway away from Al-Haitham’s bedroom, Al-Haitham also could not get a wink of sleep. He had to put on his sound proof headphones to bed. He did not appreciate it whatsoever. He tossed and turned with his headache and sore ears, their mechanical structure did not mix well with his head pressed against a pillow.

Al-Haitham takes off his headphones after reaching his limit, just to realize that it had actually gone quiet. He has no way of telling when things toned down, and almost questions if he has finally gone deaf. Just to make sure, Al-Haitham got out of bed to check on Kaveh’s condition. He bets Kaveh has worked himself to death. Of course the acting grandmaster wouldn’t quite understand the stress of overworking as he rarely, quite frankly, almost never feels the need to take on more than he can chew. The spoiled well paid Al-Haitham enjoys his full 8 hrs of restful ‘night’ sleep(when Kaveh isn’t working), and relishes in proper meals compared to Kaveh’s caffeine only diet(not really).

Al-Haitham strides toward Kaveh’s bedroom, knocks a few times at the door and waits, though there’s no response. Knowing Kaveh, the door is most likely unlocked due to his careless demeanor. Regardless, if he’s greeted with Kaveh’s bickering, he at least has the excuse that he knocked before walking in.

The room in shambles would be an understatement, usually Kaveh is a bit of a clean freak, or to be precise, he hopes he could pay his bills by slaving for Al-Haitham even if it hasn’t really gotten him out of his debt.

Papers were scattered all over his floor, fragmented and torn. Perhaps his project is the mountain full of unwanted blueprints, because he’s sure nailed it. Tools scattered, empty cans of paint, chipped wooden pieces enough to cause a splinter at the mere sight of them, among other things he’s too sluggish to observe. One thing he notes is that the bed seems to be the only thing cleared from the clutter, yet with no traces of Kaveh sleeping on it. To his right there’s the working table, full of empty glue containers, moss to create what looks to be small trees and bushes, paint brushes, a coffee mug with a little bit of green discoloration, and a paint brush sticking out of it.

What a mess Al-Haitham thought to himself.

The sight almost makes him feel bad, not really he hasn’t done anything wrong, he still feels sour for needing to wear his sound proof set to bed… nonetheless, the sight of Kaveh drooling, cheek pressed down against the table, hair tattered and dark baggy lower lids forces him to have the courage to at the very least grab the blanket from off the bed and cover him with it. To assert that the blanket wouldn’t slide right off his slender back, he presses it down against Kaveh’s neck. He has no understanding of the word ‘overworked’, he is still very capable in recognizing it.

Seeing Kaveh in this state doesn’t sit right with him. He’s used to Kaveh stirring crowds with laughter and fun, his words often loud and chaotic are still exciting, leaving people intrigued to fall into conversations with him. Even when he’s arguing with Al-Haitham and his face puffs up in frustration, he can’t help picturing a cute feisty kitten in his place. Cute? Al-Haitham brushes the image from his head. However, this doesn’t mean that he knows how to decipher this ‘overworked’ problem let alone where to start in assisting him. It is the job that Kaveh chose after all, and Al-Haitham has no say in the matter. Al-Haitham steps back, he’s idled long enough in Kaveh’s room, so he turns to walk himself out not knowing that Kaveh was awake since the moment he stepped in.

Kaveh opens his heavy weighted eyes ever so slightly at the sound of the closing door, and buries his face in his arms while holding the corner of the blanket which was left warm from Al-Haitham’s touch.

//

Cheers! Kaveh wells along with Tighnari at the lambad’s tavern near the south edge of Sumeru City. The two sit to celebrate Kaveh’s achievement in completing his hard worked project with great success. A few days had already passed since his quandary, and today was the due date. He had managed to submit his work for the client who left a great review, and before long his full payment will be deposited. He’s ecstatic that he won’t be hearing about his debt from Al-Haitham for a few moons.

“I’m telling you! One day I, Kaveh, will be a renowned architect all across Tayvat, I’ll be so rich, it’ll drop Al-Haitham off his high horse with a big bang!” Kaveh boasts and chugs, toasting for his future.

“I’m sure you will Kaveh, but do you really want to be a renowned architect just to get back at Al-Haitham?” Tighnari chuckles in disbelief at the ridiculous main goal.

“‘Just’ to get back at Al-Haitham?” Kaveh gasps with his eyes wide open “Have you forgotten just how shitty Al-Haitham makes me feel?” Kaveh slaps his hand with a hesitation against the table, in consideration to Tighnari’s sensitive ears.

“Of course not.. you make sure I’m always there to hear all about it” Tighnari recalls how often Kaveh gushes his venting about the so-called feeble scholar. If it weren’t for his poor sensitive ears to loud noises, he’d have already given Kaveh his opinion of how similar they are to a married couple. The fear of drunk Kaveh bursting in shock, makes him curl in chills.

“Exactly, I will make sure to get back at him if it’s the last thing I do. '' Kaveh continues to chug, while Tighnari sips from his cup in concern for what’s to come of the intoxicated Kaveh. “Where’s Cyno anyway? I thought you two were planning to meet up for another round?”

“Another round?!” Tighnari turns red to the tips of his ears, it’s not visibly red to others, yet the way it trembles in response it is not something easily overlooked. Kaveh looks to Tighnari who’s in complete panic. “Huh? What’s up with you? Didn’t you two plan to play Genius Invocation TCG again at the tavern?” Kaveh sideeyes Tighnari while lifting his cup for another drink.

“R-right! Ahahah, he.. uh, he got busy tending to some things..?” Tighnari replies as if he’s unsure of what he’s saying and leans in to intake what’s left of his cup.

“Seriously, you’re so easy to read Tighnari, I’m surprised you haven’t confessed to Cyno yet” Kaveh blurts mid drinking and Tighnari spits out his mouth full of wine. Somehow hearing that from Kaveh makes him feel ridiculed. Tighnari wipes his mouth, just once, if he could smack some sense into Kaveh he would. Yet the fact still remains that they’ve been friends for quite some time, so he retracts his clenched fist, for now “You say that, but I think it’s the same for you too Kaveh” Kaveh looks to Tighnari, his cup still lifted mid air from drinking with the rest of his drink now streaming down his mouth from shock.

“WHAT!!” The tavern turns silent, Tighnari manages to grab his ears just in time before bursting his eardrums. As expected, mentioning anything related to their controversial relationship will indeed result in a dispute.

The bustling noises of the tavern proceeds, and Kaveh sighs “Yeah right.” he looks back to his empty cup revealing his masked lonely expression “Our relationship is nothing like that”. Kaveh waves to the bartender for more drinks, and for the remainder of the celebration, he drinks in silence.

Their relationship is not something to boast about. Them being roommates is also something known to a select few, Cyno and Tighnari included. It’s rather awkward to bring up how he came to live with Al-Haitham in the first place. Going bankrupt, having Al-Haitham pay for his stay and fees. Obviously people would think he’s lashing onto Al-Haitham for financial benefits. He feels guilt, and shame when he thinks about it. And he’s definitely thinking about it. In the back of his mind, he recalls the small instances like a few days ago when Al-Haitham engulfed him in a blanket to keep him warm. The wine is not enough to clear his thoughts, so he orders a stronger drink.

//

Tighnari helps the sulky drunken Kaveh back home resting his arm around his shoulder. “Where are your keys Kaveh?” He helps him look for it but it’s nowhere to be found. The time is rather late around midnight, the chances of Al-Haitham being awake to let Kaveh in is close to zero.

Just as Tighnari gets ready to knock on the door, it swings open with Al-Haitham greeting them at the entrance startling Tighnari “Oh, hello Al-Haitham, I tried looking for his key to let him in without waking you-”

“He left his key inside” Al-Haitham interrupts. Tighnari looks at Al-Haitham wondering if he has been waiting to let Kaveh in. Tighnari’s ears didn’t even pick up on Al-Haitham walking towards the door. “Thanks, I’ll take him inside, you can head home now” Al-Haitham goes to shift Kaveh off Tighnari’s shoulders onto his.

“You two take care now” Tighnari turns to leave and Al-Haitham shuts the door behind him after waving goodbye. Their conversation is cut short, the restless Al-Haitham just couldn’t bring himself to waste more time standing around chatting. He didn’t know how long Kaveh would be out, but he waited for him near the door regardless. Kaveh being reckless as ever leaving without his key to the house, he reckons Kaveh’s little brain had much to think about to forget the key again and again, but he never stays out this late. Something must’ve happened.

Al-Haitham takes Kaveh to his room. It hasn’t been cleaned yet, but seeing how he’s gone out to drink, perhaps his work isn’t what’s weighing on him for once. Unlike his last visit to Kaveh’s room, the bed that was once clean from the masses, is now covered in a mountain full of papers.

“Mm~” Kaveh mumbles in his drunken state, feet dragging on the floor with no attempt at supporting his own weight. Al-Haitham starts to grow impatient, but he wouldn’t dare clean up such a mess. He adjusts Kaveh over his shoulder again before turning around to lead him to the living room.

It’s quite common for Kaveh to drink, but he never drinks so much that he couldn’t stand up on his own two feet. Perhaps something bad happened to his project, though he’s already established that if he had gone out to drink, it wouldn’t be his concern. Unless he’s submitted the works and received bad reviews? He thought, not knowing that it was his fault Kaveh is in that state.

Al-Haitham’s long legs were enough to support them both to the living room. The living room lights were still left on from earlier when he was waiting for Kaveh. Before the clock struck midnight, he was pacing around in circles waiting for Kaveh’s arrival after finding the key he left behind. Shortly after he got ready to leave the house in search of Kaveh, Tighnari arrived at his doorstep with him. Like a cat left abandoned in a cardboard box titled with a poorly handwritten ‘I need a home’.

He takes a peek at Kaveh’s face, he hasn’t really looked at him due to his urgency to drop him in his room to get himself some shut eye. But he’s still curious as to what his complexion appears to be after coming to the conclusion that he’s suffering from a predicament. It’s not easy to read people when they’re sound asleep, or to make matters worse, completely drunk. His face flushed like a fever has taken over him, but there’s not a wrinkle in sight. His skin looks as smooth as ever and the thought of touching him to confirm swiftly gets tossed to the back of his head. His peaking turns to staring. Studying. He couldn’t come to any terms as to what could weigh in on his actions tonight.

He sighs and bends forward to rest Kaveh on the living room couch, his hand lightly pressing against Kaveh’s bare back window on his way down. His smooth overly warm skin tingles his fingertips as he slides him over. However, Kaveh didn’t let go of his shoulder dragging Al-Haitham down with him.

The subtle touch of Kaveh’s nose brushes to his, if there was ever a slight movement, their lips would touch. Al-Haitham tries to push himself back when Kaveh opens his eyes to intertwine his fingers around his neck, preventing him from breaking free.

Kaveh reeks of alcohol, and the smell urks Al-haitham enough to overlook the fact that Kaveh has lifted his knee to press in between his legs. The moisture of Kaveh’s breathing so close to his lips brings him back to his senses, and quickly retracts to lock the palm of his hands onto Kaveh’s wrists, pressing them over his head “What are you doing?” he asks with his brows piercing the center of his face. but soon as he had voiced out his vexation, regret befalls him. Kaveh’s eyes resonate no ill intentions, rather they carried a sorrowful glimmer.

“Why do you treat me like this?” Kaveh asks, slurring his words, while his dreary eyes fill with tears confusing Al-Haitham.

Al-Haitham didn’t show it, but he internally panics from seeing Kaveh in tears and steadily lets down his guard. His grip around Kaveh’s wrists slack and Kaveh takes this opportunity to spring up and flip Al-Haitham over and under him. Now Kaveh has the upper hand, pressing Al-Haitham down. Face up.

A tear drops and lands on Al-Haiham’s cheek, what’s gotten into him? His mind wanders until Kaveh lets loose his list of complaints, “So many days you treat me like dead weight..” the warm tears continue to find their way to Al-haitham’s cheeks “..You complain about this and that, always looking down on me for being a nobody unlike you. Always insensitive, And then…” Kaveh lays his heavy throbbing head against Al-Haitham’s chest, exhaustingly tapping at him with his clenched fist “And then you go and do something that makes me forget all about it”.

Kaveh swings back his head with his eyes pressed shut in annoyance “AHH!” He yells out “Maybe I AM the problem!” eyes moisturize in tears no matter how hard he wipes at them “I could just ignore you, or even go to a ditch somewhere and sleep. It wouldn’t cost me much that way would it?” Kaveh locks eyes with Al-Haitham. Looking for any signs or words even, something that would give him the answers he’s currently quenching for. Al-Haitham lays there, lifting his upper body with his elbow. His mouth gapes open as though he’s thinking of words to speak, except there is nothing but silence amidst his confusion.

Al-Haitham strays in thought. He’s by no means a man capable of expressing comforting words. His words are always firm, quick to the point, in some ways too honest. Never affectionate. He’s fully aware of what Kaveh is waiting for. Despite what he wants to say, his lack of practice harbors a grip to the back of his throat making it difficult for him to gauge his words. Words of reassurance.

The silence speaks loudly to Kaveh. “Just forget it. What was I even expecting-“ before Kaveh turns away Al-Haitham grabs a hold of his neck to pull him in for a quick kiss, only to let go of him right after.

For a moment, Al-Haitham looks to be as awe struck as Kaveh, perhaps he didn’t plan for taking such an initiative. Kaveh sits there speechless, processing what has just taken place. A drunken idiot who just let out a bunch of complaints, slobbered, cried and snotted all over the man in question’s chest, suddenly got a kiss from him? Excuse me?

Kaveh feels his heartbeat pound away at his chest. Huh? Wha-? His head fills up in uncertainty, almost hallucinates a big question mark at the top of his head. While Kaveh is questioning what took place, Al-Haitham slips his legs back from under Kaveh in an attempt to walk away, wearing his infamous poker face. “WAIT!!” Kaveh grips on Al-Haitham’s pants, jerking him back to the couch. “You can’t just walk away after doing that!”

“Doing what?” Al-Haitham acts as though the kiss hadn’t just occurred, but the weight of their lips touching still remains as a reminder.

“You just..” Kaveh stammers in embarrassment “..kissed me” and shakily reaches to touch his lips. Al-Haitham averts his eyes and lifts his hand over his mouth. He could feel his face flare up but does a terrible job at hiding it, giving Kaveh the chance to observe Al-Haitham’s cheeks as they seethe with red. This is all the proof he needs to confirm that the kiss wasn’t just in his drunken pretty head. They both sat there in silence facing each other. In contrast to Kaveh, Al-Haitham is looking the other way until Kaveh exclaimes “That’s it?”. The question takes Al-Haitham by surprise “You call that a kiss?”.

Kaveh knows how to sound loud and clear when it matters, and right now, that poor excuse of a kiss was not enough. Though he wasn’t promised a kiss to begin with, he’s in shock that it wasn’t anywhere near how he had imagined their first intimate interaction would be. Sure he’s fantasized about it, yet could never find the courage to make the first move. He’s in a constant dilemma between whether Al-Haitham hates his guts or has an ounce of appreciation towards him. Perhaps this is an invitation, a shot to test out his limits.

Kaveh leans forward to Al-Haitham who sat there wide-eyed, he then crawls closer until he sees his reflection in Al-Haithan’s eyes. Slowly closing the gap in between them. Their lips shadow over each other. “You’re drunk” Al-Haitham backs away from the kiss. Kaveh is flabbergasted at the quick rejection. He thought he had read the signs correctly, but then again, Al-Haitham is a tough individual to crack.

Disappointed. Kaveh attempts to lean in again with his eyes tightly shut, except, what pressed against his lips didn’t feel like the soft lips he experienced for that mere second, instead, they were the palm of his hand. The same words previously spoken are now whispered “You’re drunk”.

“Oh come on!” Kaveh’s face puffs up, the familiar expression Al-Haitham is so used to. Brows creasing in frustration, his lower lips hanging just slightly below his top row of teeth in a furious grit. A cute kitty, Al-Haitham brushes the thought from his mind once again. Somehow, seeing Kaveh in this state is reassuring. The shimmering tears that dribbled from his eyes almost completely drained.

Al-Haitham lets out a surge of wind through his lips before announcing, “I’ll wait here until you fall asleep”, relaxing Kaveh’s visible veins. It’s not at all what he had hoped for. Nevertheless, it’s a considerate offer seeing how inconveniently not in the right state he is to act on his desires. His lips pucker “Fine..” before he drops his body against Al-Haitham’s chest and wraps his arms around him firmly “..But you’re not going anywhere, even after I sleep”. Kaveh presses his head against Al-Haitham’s firm yet soft chest, waiting to see if he’ll be rejected yet again. To his surprise, he perceives as Al-Haitham slowly adjusts himself to lay flat on the couch under him. His stern arms, which could be mistaken to only be used for hostile battle, indulges him with a light embrace. His heart flutters, unable to tell the difference between his and Al-Haitham’s heart beats. Melting further onto each other leaving no space between them.