ally of what you see, enemy of what you read
alhaitham x gn!reader
word count: 1.2k
sfw, fluff, friends to lovers, allusions to Ibyn Al-Haytham (direct quote)
synopsis: you are blind to what you see, and an ally of what you read, when what you see is alhaitham, and what you read is lies. i hope people understand this, i’m tired and should be studying for a bio exam, but instead i’m feeling my english major self so here you go.
His eyes always caught your attention. The way they would sit under a pair of half-lidden lashes when reading a book while hands were covered with the fancy scribe gloves spreading the book out by its spine. Eyes moved slowly across the page- just as gorgeous as a painting, with a major centerpiece with several details evolving around it. The blue and green all melded together to be a background for his iris-almost cat like. A fine line was pressed onto the scribe’s face, deep into thought.
You decided to grab a table at the House of Daena to be a productive scholar. You had your iced coffee from Puspa cafe and opened your notebook. You swiftly took out your feather quill and began transcribing information from your book into your notes. Along the way however, your head lifted up to grab a sip of your liquid caffeine only to find a work of art sitting on the window sill, by a bookcase with a red cover in between his hand reading. You found it interesting how he always sat with one leg over the other-you weren’t one who sat “correctly” either.
His eyes shifted towards you-almost seeming he sensed your gaze. You quickly put your coffee down, and dove back into the pages of the books-but those eyes seeped into your mind. They burned onto your skin, and suddenly, you were blind. You could still see the words in front of you, and you continued your day as someone with sight-but you were blind to the obvious in front of you.
What you didn’t see was his smile when your head dipped down, or the way his vision lingered onto you moments after. What you failed to see was those iris soften, and the tips of his lips tilt up beneath his book. You glanced up once again, but instead of him reading, you saw an empty window seat with the sunlight seeping through-putting the red book in the spotlight.
“Oh, he forgot his book.” You whispered, walking over to pick it up. You brushed your fingers along the embellishments and held it carefully, until something slipped out. A white piece of paper fell down at your feet, tickling you to pick it up. You put the book into your satchel with your other things, and looked at the note.
“If learning the truth is a scientific's goal, then he must make himself the enemy of all that he reads”
You tilted your head in confusion, but kept the note, after discarding your empty coffee cup. You walked out of the library with the note in your hand flickering between your fingers.You were a scholar and those words were written in your favorite Scribe’s handwriting-so carefully delicate with precision. This had to mean something.
You flipped the note over to find a note on the back as well.
Razan Garden, nightfall.
You sigh to yourself, walking along the path that stretched along the trunk of the massive tree that covered Sumeru city. You immediately took note that it was nightfall, and a silver haired scholar awaited your presence.
“I believe you have my book.” He spoke, straight to the point. You nodded, slipping into your bag to grab it out. His hands brushed against yours and you gave it back to him.
“Thank you.” He said softly, as you nodded, an expression on your face that piqued Alhaitham’s interest.
“What’s up?”
“Why did you write this quote on this?” You asked him, as he scoffed. His eyes piercing your soul.
“You’re a clever thing. You’ll figure it out.”
“Alhaitham…” You whine, as he chuckled.
“It doesn’t make sense. You love to read, why do you want to be an enemy?” You asked, earning a laugh from him.
“Who said I was the enemy?” He smiled, walking away under the night sky, as you groaned.
************************
Sighing, you ran through your brain for an answer or an explanation to the phrase he wrote. You tapped your foot on the floor of the tavern, as you listened to the sound of scholar’s giggling. You were also reading one of the new editions of the paper of Sumeru City-published by the Akademiya. You came across a section about the scribe.
“Oh yes, that cold-hearted and romantically distanced Scribe. He most likely is in love with his books.” was a quote someone wrote, which made your heart sink. You hit your head on the side of the table, causing you to say ow, earning laughter from the other side.
He stood there with his arms crossed, holding two cups of coffee. He invited himself to the table, despite you clearly being a mess and panicking.
“Remember, be an enemy of what you read.” He whispered close in your ear, causing you furrow your eyebrows in thought, when immediately you stared into his eyes.
“You’re blind to the evidence supporting everything, and yet you are an ally of what destroys you.” He continued, sipping his coffee, watching you carefully. Eyes moving catlike, observing you. She tapped her finger, right on the tip of finally uncovering it.
“What it says in the newspaper is wrong! You’re not cold-hearted and romantically distant.” You shouted, standing up, causing a few people to turn, but then turned away-seeming it was another student coming up with a brand new thesis.
“You’re a clever thing.” He whispered, but then looked back.
“So the next part is being blind. Look at me.”
You stare at him, eyes looking deep into his, as his gaze softens. You look down and find his hands shaking, and back up to find his cheeks red. You notice his lips parted awaiting for the future, and you gasp.
“Eyes are the gateway to the soul. Through those eyes can you figure out someone’s true intentions. Once you stop being blind, you can see their soul through their eyes, and begin to be an enemy of what you read.” You thought out loud, as his lips opened more in surprise. His eyes softened once more as you chuckled.
“So what did you find?” He asked, his hand reaching for yours under the table, and you politely accepted.
“That your heartbeat quickens everytime I’m here. That your vision sparkles with more power than before, that your cheeks turn red, that your ever-so steady hands shake. That your parted lips wait for a kiss….” You lean in, but hesitant.
“You like me?” You widen your eyes in shock. He nods, terrified for this moment, as you look at him.
“And you accuse me of being blind, yet you stand here.” You speak with a giggle in your words, as the scribe is left dumbfounded.
“Be an ally of what you see, Alhaitham.” You chuckle, leaning in quickly.
In a small corner of the tavern, the light was barely enough to read or see the table, concealed by a curtain that was a style choice, and buried from sight due to the many chairs placed everywhere- lips touched.
