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 :)

Migraine

Just like everyone else, Alhaitham had bad days. Days that he didn't want to be near people he didn't know, days that all light and sounds left his ears ringing and stomach churning, and days that brought both bad and sad memories that would not be shooed away.

The day of his and Kaveh's falling out was a particularly painful day, and a day that solidified his resolve for making sure his personality and emotions were rarely displayed to others. Did he have those pesky things? Yes, he did. He felt as deeply as the next person, and anger and sadness could take its hold. Kaveh had told people that the scribe did in fact have a personality, and emotions, unknowing that Alhaitham set those things aside just for the blonde.

All those years ago, he saw Kaveh, whom he already loved, spiraling towards his own pit of despair during their project. But, as often still happens, he couldn't find the right words to help. They came out as judging and harsh. It pushed Kaveh away. At the time, Alhaitham thought it was forever, and it hurt deeply. He had hurt Kaveh deeply.

The day Kaveh fell back into his life, it was like he'd just learned to breathe again. The blonde was still so angry with him, and Alhaitham pushed back at his tempter, although gently, because it was expected of him. Soon he found that he'd come to enjoy their bickering somewhat, because it was engaging with the only person he had ever wanted to be close to.

Now, since he and Kaveh were together, he had changed greatly. He was more forward with the architect, and his words were usually softer. It helped that Kaveh had started to accept that most of what Alhaitham said to him was not mocking him, but the scribe's way of trying to care for him, because Kaveh was everything. He'd had many people complain that he could work Kaveh's name into almost any question he was asked.

"How has your day been, Acting Grand Master?" Someone had asked as they entered his office, certainly to ask for something.

"I believe Kaveh would call it grating. However, I had no problems completing the work necessary to end my day. I'll be leaving now." He simply walked away from the person without another word. After all, they were holding him back from laying his eyes on a certain beautiful blonde with an attitude made just for him.

"This is quite some weather we're having, isn't it?" A vendor insisted on small talk.

"While Kaveh takes joy in watching the path water droplets take when they hit the windows, I find sloshing through water to be tedious. Also, I highly frown upon water damaging books." That had made him think about the time he and Kaveh had been caught in the rain, and Kaveh had decided to dance around in it, soaking his white shirt until Alhaitham could see everything that lay beneath. The rain was much more interesting that day.

The truth was, Alhaitham was obsessed with Kaveh. Everything about him, from the way he thought, to every single detail the blonde possessed. He knew Kaveh's personality, and exactly what he might say about nearly any given subject. If he didn't know, he'd ask him, because he needed to know what was going through Kaveh's mind. Alhaitham knew where every scar, and every freckle was, he knew where was ticklish, and where was sensitive. He knew what Kaveh's breathing, and heart sounded like, fast and slow. Then, there was Kaveh's scent. To Alhaitham, it was calming, the smell of mourning flowers and wood.

On days like today, that was what Alhaitham needed. He needed to breathe Kaveh. He needed to curl into him and hold on until all the sounds, and all the sad thoughts went away. Cling to the warmth of being wrapped in the arms of the only person on the planet who mattered, until the stabbing migraine that made him feel too much went away.

"Alhaitham?"

He flinched at the sound ringing in his ears, but gradually opened his eyes a bit to look at the miniature Archon in front of him. She looked worried. "Yes?"

Nahida tapped her chin, "You don't look well, is there some way I can help you?"

You aren't Kaveh- "No."

"Hm, I see," she said as she hopped down from her seat, "Alright then, our meeting is over, and I'll leave you be." The Archon turned to leave, but turned back and looked him over again, "You need rest. You should go home."

Without another word, she was gone. Normally, he would stay for exactly as long as was required of his position, but he couldn't deny that he felt terrible. The thought of sun piercing his retinas was unappealing, and sent sympathy pain shooting through his skull. The only sun he needed was the Light of Kshahrewar. At that thought, Alhaitham quickly gathered his things, turned up the noise-cancelling on his headphones, and left.

The sun did just as he expected, blinding him, and he found it hard to keep his eyes open. Relief flooded him as he entered his home, and the dizziness subsided. This time, he opened his eyes to see Kaveh, right there in front of him. Kaveh, however, didn't look nearly as relieved as Alhaitham felt. He pulled his headphones off to hear the blonde's soft voice.

"Haitham? Why are you home early?"

Alhaitham leaned forward and buried his nose in Kaveh's neck, while pulling him into a tight embrace. The blonde squeaked at the sudden constriction, but quickly relaxed into it, and hugged Alhaitham back.

"You're pale, and shaking. Are you sick?"

Alhaitham hummed a "yes" into Kaveh's hair, "Migraine." he mumbled.

Emotions that couldn't be controlled tended to come with his headaches. His mind would focus on the past, on his grandmother, or hurting Kaveh. Understanding this, Kaveh helped Alhaitham stumble to bed, and pulled all the curtains closed. Alhaitham didn't want to let him go, but Kaveh left briefly to make some chamomile tea. It would help, at least a little.

The blonde wasn't gone for more than a couple of minutes when Kaveh could already hear the rattling of glass coming closer. Alhaitham peeked from under the blanket as Kaveh set a tray on the end stand.

"Fast…" he whispered, squeezing his eyes shut again.

"I was already heating water. Here, have some water while the tea steeps."

It took an embarrassing amount of effort for Alhaitham to sit up right, he didn't bother to open his eyes as Kaveh pushed a cup into his hands. He took a few small sips before handing the glass back. The water felt refreshing, but didn't settle the best in his stomach.

"Do you think you can manage some tea?"

He'd rather hide under the covers, snuggled against Kaveh, but he also knew that wouldn't happen until Kaveh felt he'd done everything he could to help. The tea was soothing in a different way. Something about the hot liquid helped his muscles relax, and pushed the nausea away.

After the teacup was taken back, and Alhaitham had hid himself under the blanket again, he felt the bed dip next to him. A pair of warm arms wrapped around him, and pulled his bangs back from his sweaty forehead. With Kaveh's face buried in his back, the humming was very quiet, even to his oversensitive ears. The one tune that could comfort him in the worst of times, sung by his Light, the sun that most certainly carried the other half of his soul.

Alhaitham let himself relax further into the touch, let his mind go blank of anything but his grandmother's lullaby, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

(mushy!)