Nobody had told Kazuha that Sumeru was quite this hot and humid. Sweat beaded on his forehead even in the dead of night, the occasional breeze an absolute godsend. He shifted atop the large, flat rock he'd been sitting on for the past hour, just experiencing the town's sounds and smells. His haori was spread across his lap rather than worn, half-undone, on his body, for it was too warm to stand the extra layer.

Somewhere nearby, a tavern had called last orders. A stream of drunken people had taken their time parting, some shouting, some slurring, and some cackling with unrestrained glee.

When the throng had cleared, however, there was one man left. A striking young blond shuffled past Kazuha, paused at a door, and rustled through his pockets. The samurai's sharp eyes followed the motions; several attempts were made before the whole affair became frustrating, and pockets began being pulled inside out. The drunken blond's posture became agitated as he checked himself for more pockets that weren't there, then crouched and cupped his hands around the keyhole.

'Haitham! Alhaitham, let me in,' he hissed. The door did not budge. 'I know you're in there, you absolute git.' A breath of wind scurried round the street; despite the warmth, the samurai could see him shiver. 'Alhaitham! It's cold out here, let me in!'

For several minutes, the futile endeavour continued, much to Kazuha's surprise. Had it been him locked out of his home, he'd have found himself a space outside, or at least tried to find a corner to snooze in… He folded the haori across his arms, pushed himself to his feet, and approached.

'Roommates can be petty, can't they? Here, if you're cold, wear this for a while.'

'Oh! How kind of you, but won't you be cold, too?' A heavy flush was written in the man's face, the intoxicant still visibly affecting him.

'Sir, I promise you, I will not be cold. Far from it, in fact – I feel like I am melting in this heat. Your home is a lot more tropical than I anticipated.' Kazuha offered the garment with a smile, then paused, assessing the man's build. 'It may not fit you well, for obvious reasons, but it should be warm enough.' By this time, Kaveh, for it was he, had noticed the arm wrapped so liberally in bandages. Concern creased his face as he reached out to touch, swaying. Swaying a little too much for Kazuha's liking, actually…

The shorter man zipped in close and wedged himself beneath the architect's arm, steadying him before he could stumble and fall.

'Careful, sir. Let's get you somewhere you can have a nice seat and a bite to eat, cushion your system a little bit.'

'I don't understand why he won't let me in,' Kaveh said for the fifth time as Kazuha gently guided him onto a mat under a hastily rigged umbrella of leaves. 'I told him I'd be home tonight.'

'Sometimes, people forget. Or maybe, sometimes, they're upset about something. But maybe something good can come of it. What's your name, sir?'

'Ka-Kaveh, my name's Kaveh…' The architect in him squinted at the makeshift canopy, as if he doubted the structure would hold. 'How did you do that so fast?' He gestured widely upwards, and then turned his squint on Kazuha.

'I listened to nature. I find it's quite eager to help, if you let it. And while that's true of any place, it's even moreso here. There are friends in this world that exist beyond our sight, Kaveh, and their understanding of it is intimate and all-encompassing.' As the samurai spoke, Kaveh felt a warmth creep through him. Genuine admiration flowed from the foreigner, his voice soft and soothing; it was a balm to an aching, hurting soul.

'How do you know?'

'I hear it. I smell it. I see it all around. Here, listen with me.' Kazuha joined Kaveh on the mat, their bodies touching slightly. 'You can feel me beside you, yes? Close your eyes, and really feel it.'

For a time, they sat in silence, two men of different mind, letting the sounds of the night break over them. The gentle fluttering of wind through trees. A river trickling nearby, interspersed with the soft _plap, plap_ of slimes at play. During it all, childlike whispering, full of repeating, gentle vowels. Kaveh slumped sideways against the samurai, resting his head on the man's shoulder, and heard the soft thrum of a heartbeat, the blood pushing slowly round the body.

The architect's breathing had slowed and steadied, matching Kazuha's own. Smiling, the shorter man trailed a hand up to cradle at his newfound acquaintance's head. Fingers gently traced at his scalp, as if rewarding the efforts.

'You can hear, can't you? Those are the voices of nature. They're welcoming you.'

'Really?' Kaveh lifted his face to Kazuha, some childlike enchantment in his expression. It ignited an affectionate feeling the Inazuman hadn't felt in a long while. He raised the other hand and brushed stray strands of blond from Kaveh's face.

'Really. Nature will always welcome you if you listen to her and her children. It's her who sustains us, after all.'

'I never thought about it that way.'

'A lot of people don't, and that's okay – but it helps on nights like tonight.' Kaveh's gaze had dropped once more, his eyes closed as he drank in the sounds and sensations, basked in the warmth of a kind stranger's arms. Kazuha's gentle smile returned as he pressed his cheek to the top of Kaveh's head.

'If my haori wasn't enough, you can stay like this tonight. I've missed holding a kindred spirit. You can rest easy, Kaveh; I'll keep you safe.'

Even if it was just for tonight, it made his whole journey worth it.