The frustrating thing about stress was that understanding its mechanics did little to make the physical manifestations of it vanish any faster. In fact, someone might argue – if they had the time to waste – that it made everything worse, because although the immediate danger had passed, Alhaitham couldn’t make his body acknowledge that.
So even though he’d made his excuses as soon as he could and headed home, his heart still racing, his frame tensing at every movement in the corner of his eye, his jaw still clenching whenever he stopped paying attention. He was walking faster than usual, too, but that he could explain away as a simple desire to be back home, the only place he wanted to be after the commotion of the past days.
He fumbled with the key, clumsy in his impatience. Kaveh would probably have something to say about a unique connection between a person and their home, but then again, his partner had something to say about most things. But he’d been away for weeks by that point, and so he couldn’t tell him the house was only half a home when his laughter didn’t ring through the halls. He wouldn’t tell him even if he were in the city, because that would invite questions he didn’t feel like answering, such as: Are you unwell? Is this a joke? Are you dying? Am I dying?
Just as he jammed the key into the lock, the door swung open and the man he was just thinking about was waiting for him in one of those statistically improbably but not impossible coincidences.
“You’re back already?” Alhaitham remarked, a hint of a smile on his lips. “So much for a relaxing evening.”
Kaveh rested his hands on his hips. “Don’t even try – I know everything.”
Alhaitham cocked his head to the side. “Really? Then where’s my Encyclopaedia of Language Isolates? I’ve been looking for it everywhere.”
And the hint of a smile cracked into quiet laughter at the face the other made as Alhaitham crossed the threshold and entered the house, glad to be away from the dusty street. His shoulders relaxed, almost imperceptibly, even though Kaveh bombarded him with questions while he went about hanging up his cloak and wandering off to the kitchen to pour himself some water.
His hands were still shaking when he set down the glass, his skin pricking with restless energy. Finally, he turned around to face his partner directly. “If you already know everything, then there is no point in me telling you,” he pointed out.
Kaveh’s eyebrow twitched. “The point is that I can hardly believe most of what I’ve been told.”
Alhaitham’s hands weren’t shaking when he pulled him closer and wrapped his arms around his waist. “Give me a moment, I just got home,” he whispered before he brushed their lips together, half a caress, half an apology.
Kaveh tried to respond, but only managed an indistinct murmur, a fair enough indication that the discussion wasn’t over. Postponed, but not over. Alhaitham wouldn’t have it any other way.
The kiss grew deeper, unhurried and sweet – relief rather than hunger. For the first time in days, Alhaitham could feel tension melt out of his body, replaced by exhaustion so deep that when they parted again the mere thought of moving filled him with revulsion.
And so they stayed still, embracing in their kitchen. And it was enough. And it was perfect. They were home.
We know the whole ‘sugar, spice, and everything nice’ rhyme. But what metaphorical (or literal) ingredients make up MY Muse? Whether it be salt or cinnamon or an unhealthy obsession with crows, let me know in my inbox!
I've been wondering if I should watch banana fish and your posts are making a strong case for it :D
Oh man, I feel honored! I really recommend Banana Fish, I am having a great time watching it/ reading the manga! You should definitely know your own limits before diving right in though, since this series can be highly triggering to people. Still, I think the series does a fantastic job at tackling and talking about the themes it presents, and would certainly give it a watch if you can handle it.
If needed, I can go more in depth to the triggers or other things. If that is something you’d be interested in, let me know and I’ll shoot you a PM about it.
I remember something about the ending of the curse of the monkey island being cut, it would have been amazing if they remade it for this version for the game on steam
that would have been amazing; i didn’t know about this! i remember something about how there was supposed to be a whole cutscene showing elaine fiddling with the rollercoaster controls, is that this or something else?
