Merry Christmas everyone!
Whether or not they are directly linked, or the characters know each other, I think of my stories as all having happened within the same little world! In my stories. I frequently mention things that have happened in others I have written, but most of them should be able to be read stand alone without issues.
Also, while I try to keep it very close with Genshin lore, I don't know every single bit of lore, and can't remember it all. So, some things are slightly different, there are also some things that are only guessed. I'm just here to write stories for people to read, should they choose!
As always, thank you for reading, I hope everyone enjoys it!
Feel free to leave a comment :)
Merry Christmas, Kaveh
Honestly, Alhaitham had seen Kaveh do some pretty odd things. He once wove a blanket, an actual blanket to use while sleeping, out of large palm leaves. At one time, Alhaitham came home to find him meditating. Not on the couch, or the floor, but on a tube he'd made out of a pair of his pants, stuffed full of socks -on the dining table. Once, Kaveh washed every single piece of cloth, blankets and clothing alike, that Alhaitham could use to cover up with. He had even "adopted" a slime, and named it Fluffy. This was just another thing to add to the long, and growing list.
In the living room, on the coffee table, was a decorative bush of some sort, with flashing lights, vines with flowers wrapped from top to bottom, and baubles on various branches, and a handmade star on top. Overall, it was quite large.
Having just gotten home, Alhaitham stood in the doorway, blinking at the display. Kaveh was on the other side, talking to himself, and the bush.
"You are so beautiful!" Kaveh exclaimed, then switched to baby talk, "What a pretty tree you are!"
Alhaitham turned to leave, ready to seek out Tighnari for help, because obviously Kaveh had finally lost his mind, when an excited voice stopped him.
"Haitham! Look at it, isn't it wonderful?!" Kaveh spread his arms to present the bush.
Of course, Alhaitham couldn't help but point out the obvious to the blonde, "It's a bush."
"Yes! Well, a tree…"
"In the living room."
"Um, Correct."
"On the table."
"You-! Stop making fun of me! It's something called a Christmas tree! Lumine told me about it. On a world called Earth, during the winter solstice people put up these decorations, exchange gifts and enjoy their family." Kaveh explained.
Alhaitham was trying to make the connection of what decorated trees, presents and family time might have to do with each other, but he didn't understand it.
"Why are you glaring at it?" Kaveh asked quietly.
Kaveh was starting to pout, and that was not Alhaitham's goal.
"I'm simply attempting to understand the logic behind bringing a live bush into our home, decorating it, and how it correlates to spending time with family."
That was the wrong thing to say.
"Kindness and love, Alhaitham. It's about kindness and wanting to be closer to those you love! Not that you would understand." The blonde sounded very upset at this point.
Alhaitham understood wanting to be closer to the one he loved just fine. He still didn't know why a tree, or bush in this case, was a symbol for such a thing. Kaveh had stomped off to their room, and Alhaitham knew that was a sign to leave him alone for a time. He needed to find Lumine.
He left a note for Kaveh, assuming he would eventually come out of the room before Alhaitham returned, and went in search of their blonde traveler friend. As it turned out, she wasn't too difficult to find.
Alhaitham arrived at Lambad's tavern to find Lumine playing Invokation TCG with Cyno, while Tighnari watched, half listening to Paimon rambling on about which mushrooms taste the best. When the ranger saw Alhaitham, he perked up, obviously looking for Kaveh.
"He's not with me," Alhaitham said bluntly, and sat down.
Tighnari narrowed his eyes at the scribe, "What did you do?"
"It's rather preposterous for you to assume that I did something wrong simply because I am in public without Kaveh." Alhaitham crossed his arms and waited patiently for Lumine to finish her game.
"Let me rephrase that. What did you say?"
Alhaitham wasn't prepared to openly admit anything to everyone at the table. As much as he loved pushing Kaveh's buttons while they were out and around company, their friends didn't need to know about every single argument they had. Especially when Alhaitham wasn't quite sure what he did wrong. Something he would not often admit, either way.
He was here to get information from Lumine about whatever it was she had told Kaveh to warrant a large bush being moved into their living room. He needed more information to process Kaveh's reasoning, and she was the one who would have it. At Alhaitham's lack of response, Tighnari sighed and shook his head, and mumbled something about the lack of a book, but he didn't question further.
Alhaitham turned on his headphone's noise cancellation, and waited patiently. By the time they were done, he was quickly losing that patience. He was slightly anxious to go home, but he hoped that if he was armed with more information, he would have a better understanding behind Kaveh's actions.
When the game was finally done, Tighnari took Lumine's place, and Alhaitham pulled the traveler aside, "You introduced Kaveh to something called a Christmas tree. I would like for you to explain the idea and purpose behind this tree."
Lumine blinked at him, then smiled, "Kaveh put up a Christmas tree, didn't he?"
Alhaitham simply stared back at her, and waited for the explanation.
"Alright, fine," she said, and began to explain the ideas behind Christmas, and what they meant, and other traditions for the holiday, "Ultimately, in their modern times, people see it as a time to spend time with, and show appreciation for those closest to them, usually with a well-thought-out gift. Sometimes they even give gifts to those who are involved in their lives, but they don't know quite as well. It's about kindness and love."
Kindness and love. That was exactly what Kaveh said, but with the rest of the information, it made much more sense.
"What is the process of giving a gift?"
"It's usually something small that the recipient would greatly enjoy. You wrap it in paper, much like a birthday, and give it to the person on the morning of December 25th," Lumine said, "They say a plump man named Santa Claus, with a fluffy white beard, dressed in a red suit comes while everyone is asleep and leaves a gift."
Alhaitham was certain that first part was something he could do, but he had a new concern, "When you put up a Christmas tree, a man breaks into your home while everyone in your household is at their most vulnerable?" That was disturbing.
"Santa lives on Earth! I don't think he could make it to Teyvat."
He supposed the man probably wouldn't be able to make it to their planet, but Alhaitham had to wonder at letting someone you don't know into your house while you sleep. No matter, there was one more thing he needed to know, "Are the days on Earth the same as Teyvat?"
Lumine nodded, "To the day, actually. Down to the months being named the same. It's quite odd."
That was far too coincidental, he filed that information away for another time. He bid Lumine and the others goodbye, and headed for the Bazaar. December 25th was only a few days away, but he already knew exactly what he wanted to purchase.
After he bought what he wanted for Kaveh, he stopped and thought about the others. He did enjoy the time he spent with them, and they had all become close. Perhaps he could get something for each of them.
An Invokation card for Cyno, a new journal and the book on the more rare plants of Inazuma Tighnari had been saying he didn't have, a photo album for Lumine, he would put some pictures of her friends from Sumeru in it, and she'd have more space for other friends, and he decided to pick up free meal tickets from the local restaurants for Paimon. He wanted to get something for Nahida, but he wasn't sure what she might like, until he saw a set of hair clips with three little green hearts set into them.
He bought some boxes, and paper to wrap everything in. His arms were full when he returned home. He peeked inside to make sure Kaveh wasn't in the living room, or somewhere else in sight, when he smelled food, and heard Kaveh's humming coming from the kitchen, he knew he was in the clear. He hurried to the small attic space, and shoved everything up and out of sight.
Alhaitham went into the kitchen, and leaned against the door, waiting for Kaveh to notice him. It didn't take long. The blonde looked at him, huffed, and went back to what he was doing. Still a little mad, then.
Alhaitham came up and wrapped his arms around Kaveh's waist, "I apologize, your tree is aesthetically pleasing." he whispered into the other's ear.
Kaveh laughed, "How romantic," he said with a small hint of sarcasm.
"Alright, it is a remarkable sight, but it pales in comparison to the sublime elegance of its creator." Alhaitham corrected.
"Oh my god. Finally using your Haravatat education, I see! Couldn't you have just said that before?!" Kaveh turned to face the scribe and his little smirk.
"You are very lucky. You're the only one who gets to see that part of my education."
"Yet everyone gets to see that ego. It's so large that it's impossible to miss." Kaveh sighed, "We can take the tree down. I just thought it would be fun."
Alhaitham smirked, "It's fine. I may be green on the matter of Christmas trees, but it's already begun to grow on me."
"... That's it! No more hanging around Cyno for you!" Kaveh groaned, and buried his face in his hands.
~xxxxxxxxxx~
Alhaitham had everything planned out and ready. Early, on the morning of the 25th, he snuck out of the room to put the neatly wrapped presents around the tree. Kaveh didn't know, but Alhaitham had asked their friends to come over very early. He had also prepared a drink Lumine had mentioned. Now that everything was all set up, he was getting impatient for the blonde to wake up.
He crept into their room, and up to the bed. Kaveh was facing the edge of the bed, so Alhaitham got down on the floor, and put his own face only a couple inches away from the other, and poked his shoulder until carmine eyes slowly opened. The scream Kaveh let out a second later would have been piercing, if Alhaitham hadn't turned on the noise cancellation in his headphones. The scribe's laugh echoed through the room, as Kaveh's face turned the same shade of red as his eyes.
"AL-HAITH-AM! You are worse than a child! What in Teyvat are you doing?!"
He repeated the words Lumine had taught him, "Merry Christmas, Kaveh."
Kaveh blinked up at him, "What?..."
"It's what you are supposed to say to others on December 25th, is it not?"
"I- well… yes, but how did you know that?"
Alhaitham smiled and kissed Kaveh. He knew the genius architect would figure it out right about…
"You spoke to Lumine? … Why?" he asked as he pulled away.
"Because, it was obviously important, and had meaning to you." Alhaitham pulled a box out of his pocket and opened it. Inside were two matching plain gold rings.
Kaveh looked at the rings, "What's this?"
"A promise. I know that you worry about me, about us. So I promise that no matter how bad a fight between us is, where I end up going, or whatever weird thing you come up with next, I'll always be coming back to you."
Kaveh stared at Alhaitham, tears sparkling in his eyes, "I- wh… I- I…."
A speechless Kaveh was something completely new, for a moment, and as much as Alhaitham enjoyed that he'd rendered him so, he was beginning to worry that he'd done something wrong. Slowly, Kaveh picked up one of the rings, and took Alhaitham's free hand. He smiled and slid the ring on. Alhaitham thought his heart might beat out of his chest as he did the same for Kaveh with the other ring.
Only a moment later, the blonde had him on his back against the bed as he straddled Alhaitham and kissed him. They were lost in their actions before a knock at the front door interrupted them. Alhaitham cursed his own lack of foresight as Kaveh yelped and jumped away.
"It's not even light out, who would be here so early?!" The architect started frantically putting his clothes on.
Alhaitham kind of enjoyed the panic, and a small smile crept onto his lips, "Oh. I asked our friends to come over, so they could celebrate with us," he said as he moved towards the door, "Also, you might want to calm down a bit before you come out."
Alhaitham could see the bright blush across Kaveh's cheeks as he left the room, and in his own opinion, it was glorious.
"You-!"
All of their friends were gathered at the front door, waiting to be let in. Alhaitham greeted them with a smile, causing concern to each of them.
"Paimon doesn't understand why you had us come so early!" the fairy suddenly gasped, and her hands flew to her mouth, "Are you two having a baby?!"
Lumine shook her head, "They… don't have the right parts, Paimon."
"Maybe they're adopting!"
Tighnari came forward and started to visually give Alhaitham a check-up, "Are you alright? Why did-" the Valuka Shuna saw Kaveh coming down the hall with red cheeks, and out of breath, "Are the two of you sick? Why did you ask everyone here so early?" he asked as Kaveh tried to swat his hands away.
"And why is there a flashing bush on your Genius Invokation TCG table?" Cyno added.
"Ah- well, that's a coffee table Cyno, and that is a Christmas tree on it. As for why you are all here, I have no idea. You'll have to ask the mastermind, apparently," Kaveh said, putting his hands on his hips and looking at Alhaitham, along with everyone else.
He could see that Lumine understood, with this all having started with her, and Nahida was quietly admiring the tree. He wouldn't be surprised if she knew, or at least had an idea. As for the others-
"An interesting tradition from another world was brought to my attention by Kaveh and the traveler. My intention was to make this a tradition of our own."
He waved for them to all sit on the divans, and handed each of them a present. Again, they stared at him in confusion.
"The tradition is to spend time with those you love, and give them a gift to show their appreciation for them on the day of December 25th each year." Lumine chimed in, and Alhaitham nodded.
"Aww, but Paimon wasn't ready to give anyone a gift! Maybe we should do it on another day?"
"I've got everything I need," Alhaitham said, "Each of you have been brought into my life, and stayed. I am not an overly sentimental person, as you all know, but I do have an appreciation for what I have."
"... That was a long-winded way to say you like us." Kaveh laughed.
Alhaitham looked his partner in the eye, "Like isn't a strong enough word for you, Kaveh." That had everyone but the dendro Archon's cheeks turning red, "Please, open your presents."
Cyno tore into his with vigor, then stared at it as though he had received a precious gem.
"How did you know I didn't have this one?"
"I've played with you far too many times, and have your complete deck memorized." Alhaitham replied.
Cyno nodded, "Nice job, Scribe."
"I've needed a new journal, and I didn't have this book. Thank you!"
Nahida opened hers, and her eyes lit up as she pulled the clips out, "How beautiful. They match my outfit perfectly. Hehe, thank you, Alhaitham."
Lumine was looking at her photo album. In the front of the album was the picture of Aether that Kaveh had drawn for Lumine's missing person posters. There were several pictures of her with each of them, and one where they were all together at Lambad's. Alhaitham had even managed to get a picture of Hat Guy with Nahida.
She hugged the album to her chest and smiled up at Alhaitham, "This is wonderful, thank you so much."
Paimon opened hers, and Alhaitham was glad he'd put them into a box as paper went flying everywhere, "WHAT?! You got Paimon SO many meal coupons! Oh, this is Paimon's favorite Christmas present ever!"
"You've never had a Christmas present, Paimon." Lumine pointed out.
"Exactly! It gives Alhaitham a chance to out-do himself next year!"
Alhaitham silently accepted that challenge. That left one more person. Kaveh sat and silently looked at his present before he stood and left the room. He returned a moment later with a small wrapped package, and handed it to Alhaitham.
"Merry Christmas, Haitham," he said as he pulled the scribe down to sit next to him.
Alhaitham hadn't planned on receiving any gifts. He had everything he needed or wanted, especially with Kaveh by his side. He looked at the blonde, who smiled and opened his own present. It was amazing how excited someone could get over basic art supplies, but Kaveh always did.
Alhaitham carefully unwrapped and opened the box in his hands, inside was a book. It looked well-used, and much older than himself. He pulled it out of the box and opened the cover. The book was from the House of Daena, pulled from the shelves because of wear, as the stamp just inside indicated. He began to flip through the pages, when faded handwriting he knew nearly as well as his own caught his attention. His grandmother.
"Keep going," Kaveh said quietly.
As he turned the pages, more of his grandmother's notations stood out to him. It was when there were two more sets of handwriting that he recognized from journals he'd read hundreds of times, his parents. All three of them had made notations throughout the entire book.
"They were removing older books, and I couldn't let this one go… who knows where."
At a loss for words, he put a hand over Kaveh's to give it a squeeze, and the blonde squeezed back.
Tighnari sniffed the air, "What's that smell?"
Alhaitham had almost forgotten, "I prepared a drink that Lumine said was a Christmas treat."
He disappeared into the kitchen with Kaveh, and they returned a few minutes later with cups for everyone. The friends chatted and laughed together for hours before they decided to go to Puspa Café for breakfast together.
On the way out of the house, Alhaitham grabbed Kaveh's hand and kissed him. Their friends paused at the sight in the doorway, but quickly turned away.
"I'm surprised you took to celebrating this random holiday so quickly." Kaveh said as they waited for the food they ordered.
They had fights, and they had love. Alhaitham was grateful for Kaveh in every form. Having taken so long to get to where they were, he felt like he'd missed too much, and he knew he had played a very large part in that. Now, here they were, and Alhaitham knew he would never let go of Kaveh again. Instead, he would find every way he could to show the architect that he appreciated him, and couldn't live without him anymore.
Alhaitham simply hummed and gave a small smile as he fiddled with the ring he'd given Kaveh hours earlier, "Merry Christmas, Kaveh."