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!
Thank you to my husband for being my proofreader!
As always, thank you for reading, I hope everyone enjoys it!
Feel free to leave a comment :)
Kaveh
"Your client's increasingly excessive demands are causing you to neglect other responsibilities," Alhaitham said for what must have been the tenth time.
He was obviously angry, but Kaveh was tired of hearing it. They had been arguing about the neglect of his health, having to revise plans too many times, both schematics, and dates with Alhaitham, and the usual "You're principals and work ethic are doing you more harm than good, Kaveh." for at least an hour. Probably more.
He was tired, and irritable. Alhaitham wasn't wrong, Kaveh had been working far too hard on this. He hadn't been sleeping, hardly eating, even when Alhaitham would bring food to him. This customer was never going to be happy. That much was made very clear, but Kaveh hadn't been able to bring himself to abandon the job. It was against his morals, and the customer had no problem taunting him… and he still needed the money.
Alhaitham constantly asked Kaveh that he let him help pay his. He apparently felt that since he and Kaveh were together, Kaveh's commitment was his own. Kaveh hadn't expected that from him, and really, it was very romantic for someone like Alhaitham, who would publicly scold him for not paying his own drinking tabs, or spending the scribe's money on random things. The truth was, Kaveh felt the need to do this himself. It was his debt, from his own mistakes, and nobody else deserved to take on that kind of obligation.
Right now, though, he was wasting his time arguing about nothing important, and Alhaitham followed Kaveh, wherever he tried to settle back into working, and pestered him. It started out slow.
"Drink, Kaveh."
"You haven't eaten today."
"Have you eaten yet? Why haven't you drunk the water I brought you?"
"Why are you still awake? When was the last time you slept?"
"Kaveh, you are neglecting yourself in lieu of another proposal that the client is going to turn down anyway."
That was the one that made Kaveh snap. He finally looked up at Alhaitham, through blurry, sleep-deprived eyes, and told him to go away, that he didn't need his help, nor opinion. Alhaitham frowned. Honest to gods frowned, but he left without another word, nonetheless.
The next morning, Kaveh was jostled awake, suddenly weightless, then pulled against something warm. In his sleepy state, he curled into the feeling at first, so comfortable and nice smelling. Then he realized he had fallen asleep at his desk, and was being carried away from his work by Alhaitham.
"Put me down! You know I have work to do, you should have just woken me! I can't believe this! Why do you want me to fail so badly, Haitham?!"
For a split second, Alhaitham looked like a wounded puppy, freshly kicked. That immediately turned into anger.
"I did try to wake you," he raised his voice, "but you deemed it necessary to work yourself until you literally passed out, just to please a customer. That is not good, Kaveh." Alhaitham sighed, "Come to bed, I'll stay with you."
Kaveh didn't go to bed, he ignored Alhaitham's dumb words, and stomped back to his desk, like the mature adult he was. Alhaitham simply followed, continuing his pestering, and insistence that what Kaveh was doing was stupid, that he was acting stupid. Those weren't his exact words, of course, but in Kaveh's eyes they might as well have been.
Fine. If Alhaitham wanted an argument, Kaveh would give him one. Maybe then he would leave him be.
Alhaitham
Alhaitham didn't want this. It wasn't one of those times he was merely trying to rile Kaveh up, he was seriously worried about his partner. Kaveh hadn't eaten, drank, or slept, and hadn't even bathed. He was pale, and looked sick. He had also been coming home from every meeting looking more drained than Alhaitham had seen him in a long time, and he was ready to confront the client who had been jerking Kaveh around. Enough was enough.
After their fight the previous night, Kaveh had finally fallen asleep at his desk, but he was about to fall out of his chair. It hadn't been his favorite choice to try to wake him, but Alhaitham gently shook Kaveh's shoulder. The architect hummed, but didn't wake. He tried two more times before he figured it was best to just carry him to bed.
He reached out to lift Kaveh, just as his head and shoulder slid the rest of the way off the desk, and caught him. The blonde made a noise, but snuggled into Alhaitham's chest as he was lifted. Relief flooded the silver haired man, for a whole three seconds. That was how long it took for Kaveh to realize what was happening and begin to yell at him.
Alhaitham's heart ached for whatever was happening to have Kaveh be spiraling this way, and he had to use every bit of logic he had to tell his brain that Kaveh didn't actually think he wanted him to fail. He didn't understand the other's obsession with this building, he didn't understand why he was hurting himself to these extremes. This had gone too far, and the anger he felt at Kaveh's client flared to life. The argument began.
When they had been in Mondstadt, Kaveh found out that Alhaitham, with Cyno's help, had been checking on his clients. He made him promise to stop, and Alhaitham wouldn't go back on a promise to his beloved, but this was killing Kaveh, and he couldn't take it anymore.
Alhaitham returned any harsh words Kaveh threw at him with his own reasoning. He remained as calm as he could, and tried hard to make Kaveh see that he needed to drop this client, before it was too late. Unfortunately, Kaveh was tired beyond reason, and didn't want to hear what Alhaitham was trying to tell him. The blonde was angry, crying, and shaking. This was not what he was trying to do.
Alhaitham walked away. Out the door, to where his feet carried him automatically, Cyno's office. He explained the situation to their friend, who listened patiently, but tensed as the conversation continued. He half expected the General to make a joke about a lover's quarrel, but he didn't. Instead, he brought out a folder. It contained a background check on Kaveh's most recent client. Kaveh hadn't even told Alhaitham the name, but Cyno had managed to find out everything.
He took a deep breath. Kaveh was going to be angry with him for looking at the file, but he would deal with that anger when it came. Cyno suggested they have Tighnari speak with him, and for once, Alhaitham agreed. At this point, Kaveh would take everything Alhaitham said to him the wrong way. Having the information he needed, he left, and sent a note to their Ranger friend.
He stopped just outside their door, but didn't go in. Would it be best if he gave him more time to cool off, or maybe fall asleep? Perhaps he should wait until Tighnari was able to come. He could try getting Kaveh's favorite food from Lambad's, while he waited for their friend to show up, and see if he could get the blonde to eat something.
It was midday, so Lambad's was fairly quiet, being filled with people eating rather than drinking.
"Mister Alhaitham! You aren't usually at this time of day. What can I get for you?" Lambad greeted.
"Kaveh's favorite, with some extra bread on the side. To go."
Lambda gave him a knowing look, "Another fight, huh? That explains his mood today."
Before Alhaitham could ask how he would know Kaveh's mood, yelling rose above the rest of the chatter. Every other patron quieted down, and the words coming from the second level could clearly be heard.
"No wonder your mother left you! You are incompetent, as a human and an architect! She must be so disappointed to have such an incapable son trying to follow in her footsteps. How much did you pay for the title? You'd think the akademiya would have had enough respect to give such an extravagant title as Light of Kshahrewar to someone who actually knew what they were doing!"
Alhaitham rushed towards the stairs, and Lambad was right at his heels. Kaveh didn't notice them, he simply sat there, taking the nasty insults being flung at him.
"Faranak had talent. Obviously that talent didn't carry on to her offspring. It's not surprising that she chose to start another family, perhaps her other children will do something worthy of her pride."
An audible growl left Alhaitham's throat, drawing the man's attention.
"Ah, the ex- Grand Sage! I suspect you could do something about the title that this man obviously stole. I suspect he bought it with mora, or maybe even favor. I doubt-"
"OUT!" Lambad shouted, undoubtedly saving the man from the advancing Alhaitham, who stopped himself at the word echoing through the loft, "I won't have you degrading my patrons in any such manner. Especially not a respectable man like Kaveh."
"You can't kick out a paying customer!" The man looked like an incredulous fish, with its eyes popping out.
"I can, and I will. If you don't leave, I'll let Mister Kaveh's close friend here escort you out." He nodded towards Alhaitham.
The man didn't miss Alhaitham's glare this time. He was well-known to seem emotionless, that was the way he liked it. He had no interest in other people and their lives, and he didn't want people to approach him. However, Kaveh was a nerve that people should steer clear of.
With the man gone, he approached the silent architect. It was almost as if he were frozen in place, staring at the ground in front of him.
"Kaveh."
He didn't respond. Alhaitham dropped himself into Kaveh's line of sight, and put a hand on his cheek.
"He's right. I just keep failing, over and over. I'm not good enough. I was never good enough for my mother or anyone else to want me, and that stupid title is undeserved. I always hated it anyway."
Kaveh's words were quiet, defeated. Had his client been treating him this way the entire time? Bullying him, hurting someone just for the sake of hurting them? He obviously had no interest in Kaveh's designs, Alhaitham had seen each one before it was revised again. They were all beautiful, and anyone should have been happy with them. He had picked Kaveh out just to hurt him. It was no wonder that he was worn down. If someone else were being hurt this way, Kaveh would have stepped into trouble without batting an eye, but not for himself.
"That's not true. None of it. Why didn't you say something when he was speaking to you that way? Your usual fire and pride? He was completely wrong, and needed to be set straight."
Kaveh shook his head slowly, but didn't answer.
"I want you, Kaveh. I need you. They call you the Light, because you shine brighter than the sun, and earned such a title through the beauty you bring to the world. Because you are important to them. One man who merely wanted someone to tear down means nothing. The world would be dark without the Light, Kaveh. I would know, I've been there."
"I know Cyno, Collei and I would be lost without you, too. You are part of our family, and I couldn't imagine it any other way." Tighnari spoke up from the stairs.
The tears that Kaveh had been holding back rolled down his cheeks, and he leaned forward into Alhaitham's embrace. He would stay like that for as long as Kaveh needed. Which was quite a while.
Tighnari had sat at the top of the stairs, not letting anyone up. If Lambad had a problem with that, he didn't say so, and he wasn't shy about putting a stop to things he didn't like. Eventually, Kaveh sat up, and wiped his eyes.
"I want to go home."
Alhaitham got to his feet, and pulled Kaveh up, and pulled one of his arms over his shoulder. It was just like when he had to come get the other when he'd gotten too drunk to get home alone, except this time it was because Kaveh was drained of energy.
Tighnari walked with them, carrying the soup and bread Lambad had sent them off with. During the walk, Kaveh sank into something like a sleepwalking trance. His body was going through the motions, but he wasn't quite there mentally anymore. Alhaitham got him out of his dirty clothes, and onto the bed.
Tighnari brought some of the food on a tray, but Kaveh didn't even attempt to eat it, obviously lost in his thoughts. Alhaitham brought a spoon of the soup to Kaveh's mouth, he was pleasantly surprised when he ate it. In fact, he'd managed nearly half the bowl, and a couple small pieces of bread before his body's need for sleep won. Alhaitham tucked him in and went to see their guest.
"If you don't mind, I would like to stay the night, and make sure he's alright tomorrow morning. I'll gladly sleep on the couch." Tighnari said as Alhaitham entered the living room.
Alhaitham nodded his agreement, "I believe that would be best. There's still a bed in Kaveh's old room."
As he changed the linens on the bed, Alhaitham mentally went over the information in the file Cyno had shown him. There were no mentions of him knowing Kaveh's mother, but after what they heard the man say, it was a good bet that he did. Was that why Kaveh didn't put a stop to it? Alhaitham fumed at the thought that Kaveh might have been bullied like every time he had to meet with that client over the last few weeks.
"You don't look so great yourself, ya know?" Tighnari was giving him an appraising stare, "I'm guessing you haven't slept well in some time either?"
That was unfortunately true. His worry for Kaveh had been keeping him on edge, and awake, to keep an eye on him. He'd done his best to try to get the blonde to eat, and drink. He'd even tried to entice him away from his work, if only for a short time, but it hadn't worked. That alone was a red flag. It didn't matter now, though. Kaveh was asleep, and Alhaitham would be making sure he would never see that client again. They could both rest.
"No need to be concerned, I'll be going to bed now."
Alhaitham left Tighnari to his own rest, and went straight to bed, pulling only his shirt off on the way. He sat on the unoccupied side and looked at Kaveh, thankful that he seemed to be in a deep sleep. He pushed the blonde's hair out of his face, his beautiful, expressive face.
Alhaitham loved every feature of that face, and the expressions Kaveh would make are part of what always brought the scribe to egg him on, or find any other possible way to see every single face Kaveh could make. He never could get enough of it.
There were some faces that he couldn't stand to see. True anger, pain, and sorrow. Truly, it wasn't uncommon for Kaveh to express these things, his emotions ran deep. Kaveh was also strong. He would wait until he was in a place he considered safe to let out the deepest, most true things he was feeling.
For Alhaitham, regardless of letting most people think he was basically emotionless, Kaveh knew better, and even had the audacity to tell people that he wasn't a robot. In truth, most people weren't worth his time and effort, and he'd simply ignore them. For a few others, they saw certain things, because they were close to both Kaveh and himself.
When it came to Kaveh, even though he didn't always outwardly show it, he felt all the emotions. Happiness and joy, contentment, attraction like he's never experienced with anyone else he's ever met, and worry with a possibly unhealthy side of fear. For Alhaitham, Kaveh simply felt right, and always had. The one single person in all of Teyvat who could make him lose his mind, and control.
Alhaitham laid down facing Kaveh, tucked himself as close as he could without waking the blonde, and drifted off to sleep.
~xxxxxxxxxx~
Alhaitham woke to Kaveh's scarlet eyes staring back at him, tired and shining with tears. He had obviously been crying for some time, and it sent a sinking feeling straight to his stomach.
"Are you alright?"
Kaveh hesitated before he nodded, "I will be. I'm… I'm sorry, Haitham."
Alhaitham wiped the tears from Kaveh's cheeks. This was one of those times he needed to be delicate, to use his words the right way. It could be incredibly difficult when it came to the kind architect with a quick temper, which he seemed to save for Alhaitham. It was likely deserved, since he had such a hard time telling Kaveh what he really meant, that he was sincere, not simply making fun of him.
He could succeed at that for once, right?
"You're not responsible for Kurris' cruelty."
"I should have put a stop to it, I should have, but I just felt… I felt trapped. Like I deserved it, Haitham. I do deserve it!"
"…What?" Alhaitham was at a loss for words at that.
"I am a failure, and I can't even argue that my mother could stand to be around me, she left me because she couldn't." Kaveh sobbed.
"Kaveh…"
"Nobody likes my designs, no one wants them. I'm dependent on you, I live off of you, and I'll never be able to pay off my debt!
"Kaveh, please-"
"He was right a-about me, Haitham, h-he was right! Why would anybody love me? How could they?!"
"Kaveh!"
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… I'm sorry…"
Alhaitham pulled Kaveh up, and wrapped his arms tightly around him, "No, he wasn't. I don't know why he targeted you, but he was a liar. Your mother was wrong to leave you, and she has missed out on whom you have become because of it. You are not a failure, others fail to see the genius and beauty in your designs because you have a vision that is impossible for them to perceive. Your debt was a mistake that could have happened to anyone, and you work hard to pay it off. You are incredible, Kaveh. Ignore the people who can't see that, because they are simply wrong and not worth your time. I love you. I love you, Kaveh."
Out of everything Alhaitham had said, it was the last three words that made Kaveh tense up. He had hoped that he was good at letting Kaveh know through actions, because it was such a big thing to put into words. He had never said it out loud, and this wasn't how he intended for it to happen, but he was happy to have said it.
With the silence, time seemed to stand still, and with that came fear that Kaveh was about to reject him. That could destroy him, he realized. He hadn't dared take into consideration that Kaveh might not love him back, not in the same way. It was unbearable to think about, so he just didn't do it.
The relaxing of Kaveh's muscles against him came with a crashing wave of relief.
"I love you too, Alhaitham."
Alhaitham pulled him tighter, those words, and the relaxing of Kaveh's muscles came with a crashing wave of relief.
Although he might have been a little more relaxed, Kaveh continued to cry against Alhaitham's chest. This was a part he knew. Kaveh was still tired, and still needed to get the pain out of his system. It would take time and rest.
Tighnari took his time in coming to check on Kaveh, likely having heard their conversation. They managed to get Kaveh to eat, bathe, and go back to sleep. Alhaitham played with the ring he'd given Kaveh for Christmas recently, the twin to his own. Neither ever took them off. Alhaitham wasn't keen on symbolism, but he had seen the ring as the perfect way to show his promise to Kaveh, to show him the words that he was having trouble finding at the time. The three words that were present, but hadn't come forth just yet.
Kaveh laughed at him for being someone who could speak so many languages, but often had a problem with speaking the right words. Ironic as it was, all that mattered was that Kaveh understood.
He loved Kaveh.
Epilogue
He was still working what seemed like endless tangles out of his hair, but Kaveh was feeling a little better. As usual, though, when things happen that plant seeds of doubt in yourself, it would take time to sort it out. Although, he wasn't really certain if he ever "sorted out" anything, instead just learned to set it aside and ignore it, if it helped, then he'd take it.
Despite his troubles, he was also happy, Alhaitham said the words. As always, he'd felt selfish wanting to hear those particular words. It had been so many years since anyone had cared enough to say they loved him.
Alhaitham had made it clear how he felt through the things he did, of course, and Kaveh knew he needed time to be able to say what he was feeling on his own terms. His silly scribe was terrible with words and expressing himself with them. There were certain things that easily flustered him, discussing his feelings was one of them, sometimes.
He wasn't even sure if anyone else actually knew that about Alhaitham. He was certain his grandmother must have, and he often wondered if they were alike in that way, or if Alhaitham had taken after one of his parents. Kaveh would have loved to meet any of them.
Thinking about Alhaitham's family brought forward another wave of his own sorrow. He set down his brush, and stared at himself in the mirror. It could be difficult to remember his father's face, sometimes, the memories had become more of a feeling. Love, joy, contentment, and safety. Things that he had only started to feel again when he met Alhaitham.
Then, they spent years apart, and he had to put himself back together. He had to get used to the emptiness once more, that brought pain. Without Alhaitham, nobody wanted him, nobody cared. His mother would send a letter every few years, to let him know how she was doing, but she never asked how he was.
That didn't matter to him because she said she was doing well, and that was a relief to him. It was the most important thing, she was far away from where he could hurt her anymore. Far away from where he could ask her to do something stupid, like try to love him once more. She didn't deserve that.
Kaveh was so lost in his thoughts, staring at the sad person in the mirror, that he didn't notice a few things. One, that Alhaitham had come up behind him, and was looking at him with worry. Two, that it was because he had started crying again. There had been a lot of that, and they would eventually pass, but the waves crashed hard on his soul.
Alhaitham didn't ask if he was alright, he simply pulled him into a hug, instead, and let Kaveh cry how he needed, repeating that he loved him into his ear.
He needed time, but he would find a place of peace.