Veiled Truths (kavetham fic)
Chapter Two: "He is the reason companies write instructions on shampoo bottles"
Link to previous chapter: here
To read on ao3 click: here
Warnings: none! Word count: 2265 Notes: as promised, NEW CHAPTER YAAAAAAAY this is about all I have written so far lmk if you'd want to see a continuation of this fic!! ANYWAYS enjoy the read, lovelies <3
*thud*
Two cups of freshly brewed coffee found their regular spot on the living room table. Kaveh plopped down onto the divan soon after, a loud sigh escaping his lips. In response, Alhaitham bookmarked this evening's “light reading” of about 700 pages, and turned his attention to the one by his side.
Ever since Kaveh became an Akademiya professor, his time at home had been cut short. In retaliation, the two roommates established a comfortable routine of midnight coffee and conversation. A shared love for the drink made it all the better. Quickly, said routine became one of the most pleasant parts of the day for the two companions.
“I don’t even want to guess how things would have played out if you hadn’t joined the lecture hall”
Kaveh took a sip of his coffee. Its strong aroma washed away all concern the day had brought.
“Mr. Faris is the type who learns things exclusively the hard way. Quite the unyielding individual" - Alhaitham added onto the conversation, replicating his companion’s sigh. He never would have guessed that such a situation could rile him up. And yet, here he was, repercussions of today's event clear as day. - “Do you think he will grant you peace following today’s encounter?”
“…I don’t know.”
“Is he too tenacious for that?”
“...I think so. I expect him to pry into your personal life now too, just to know whether I lied or not. Sorry I got you involved in this…” - Kaveh put his cup down on the table. Throwing his back against the divan, he covered his face with his hands, slowly dragging them down into a praying formation. - “I don’t know how much patience I have left, this has been going on for over a month. No matter what I tell him, his comprehension is that of a preschooler. I’m starting to think he is the sole reason companies write instructions on shampoo bottles.”
Alhaitham let out an involuntary cackle, almost choking on his coffee.
“I’m serious! I told you, I wouldn't be surprised if the pattern repeats tomorrow, and he attempts to initiate a coffee date. Again! Ugh. The thought of it makes me want to quit, just so I don’t run into him anymore!” - the frustration was too much to handle for our overworked professor.
The situation's seriousness made Alhaitham place his cup of coffee down.
“Slow down now, no one is quitting their job. Especially not you. Not over Jabir, at least”
“Great, so I do not even have that option! What else do you suggest then? Because I cannot handle one more day of this idiocy”
Alhaitham went quiet. After all, contemplation requires focus.
“Have you considered bringing this case to the authorities? Mr. Faris is clearly breaking staff policies, let alone the Akademiya code of conduct”
“Of course I have! Who do you take me for?” - the blonde retorted with a frown - “That is the first and most obvious course of action!” - Does his roommate truly think so low of him? - “On one hand, a young professor who has been teaching for a few months at most, on the other, a staff member, holding years of teaching experience at the Akademiya, familiar with everyone. Pha, take a guess whose side the staff would take.”
“You underestimate your popularity amongst Akademiya staff, Kaveh. Besides, no matter the accused one's identity, breaking Akademiya code of conduct is serious enough. People would at least look into the matter”
“Oh, sure, let me run off and do exactly that. I’m certain he won’t make up some fake alibi, and claim I’m trying to ruin his reputation for the sake of taking over his higher paying position. Come on, both you and I know how Akademiya politics work. This strategy would guarantee losing the trust of Akademiya staff at best, and losing my job at worst” - the architect finalized with a frustrated huff. Settling down on the shared divan, he seemed to have accepted his cruel fate - “I’m truly done for”
A few moments of Alhaitham’s contemplation resulted in a thought.
“Not unless Jabir backs off himself”
Kaveh couldn’t help but scoff.
“As you see, the Archons simply do not wish to grant me such an honor”
“Well don’t you think it’s time to take things into your own hands then?”
“...and how would you suggest I do that, o wise Scribe?”
“Well, first and foremost, the oldest trick in the book would be requesting a favor from Dehya. Mr. Faris receiving a personal visit from her would resolve any problems you may be having. Considering your situation, I’m also certain she would gladly lend a helping hand. But I know you are not one to enjoy solving things in such a way”
“Ugh, it’s not just that, I also do not want to bother Dehya. She has more important matters to deal with than an Akademiya professor asking me out for coffee”
“You very well know it has far crossed that line”
“Fine, your point has been made. Still, I’m not using that approach, and you know it”
Silence fell upon the room of scheming minds. This is certainly no unsolvable equation. Surely there has to be an answer. One which excluded any confrontation with authority…Akademiya politics…and asking for favors…unless…the one who the favor would be asked of…
“Kaveh”
“...yes, Alhaitham” - the sulking architect echoed.
“You have already found the solution”
A confused expression formed on Kaveh’s face.
“You solved your own problem this evening. The formula was derived by you. Like scholars who solve multiple equations using the same formula, all we have to do is keep utilizing it”
“Stop phrasing everything as if you’re the one giving Akademiya lectures daily! And, excuse me? We? You and I? Plural? Today’s chaos has not been enough for you, I see. Whatever the solution is, I’d strongly prefer to avoid dragging you in once again.”
“As you wish, then. Best of luck figuri-”
“Wait, okay, okay, fine, goodness” - Kaveh sighed, desperacy evident in his tone - “Go on. What is this brilliant solution you speak of?”
“Never thought I’d get to see you admiring your own ideas”
“Would you stop with that?! You know exactly what I meant!”
“You know exactly what I meant as well”
After a moment of contemplation, Kaveh spoke:
“...having you barge into the lecture hall every time Jabir shows up? That’s hardly an effective strategy”
“Let me phrase it in an understandable way. If we would be playing a game of ‘hot or cold’ I’d say your guess is extraordinary warm”
“How is that supposed to be more understandable? It is not remotely indicative of the answer!”
“I guess I should contact Dr. Zakariya and sign you up for a checkup, if you cannot remember ideas you came up with just this evening”
“Quit making fun of me and just-”
Kaveh paused, realization dawning. Alhaitham wasn’t even making fun of him. He was right.
“The only way to make Jabir back off himself would be to…”
”Convince him I am actively seeing someone, just like I did today…”
“Precisely”
A moment passed. Then two. Kaveh turned the idea around and around in his mind. His chest tightened.
“...so…you are suggesting I find someone…to…pose…as my partner?”
“You already did”
“It was pure coincidence”
“And yet, it worked, didn’t it?”
“Just for the evening”
“So who’s to say it wouldn’t work again?”
As much as Kaveh hated admitting it, his roommate was correct. The idea did make sense. Perhaps it would not keep Jabir from interacting with him completely…and yet, whatever courting plans the arrogant man may have had would require cancellation, or, at the very least, postponement. However, implementing the idea would mean pretending to date Alhaitham…a wave of emotion washed over Kaveh, drowning any attempts at rational thinking.
“Well I- Ugh, it was by pure chance! Not my fault you just randomly showed up at the lecture hall”
The sentence earned him a raised eyebrow and a faint grin from Alhaitham. His companion’s attempts to justify the decision about to be made were weirdly amusing.
“I never claimed it to be your fault to start with”
Kaveh groaned in agony, and the scene was comically familiar. It reminded Alhaitham of their younger Akademiya years, workload and deadlines testing the limits of their capabilities. A lot of things have changed since then. And yet the look of anguish on his seniors' face remained the same.
“Wow, senior. What a reaction. Fake-dating your roommate for the sake of repelling a vigorous suitor who may ruin your career. The mere prospect of it brought you to agony. Your roommate must be quite unbearable" - Alhaitham chuckled.
“You know perfectly well that’s not what I meant, not even slightly! And you’re enjoying yourself too much, especially for a situation that puts my career on the line, Alhaitham!”
Alhaitham simply stared back, the formerly faint grin turning evident. Kaveh concluded his dearest friend simply found enjoyment in his suffering. Seemingly even more if he was actively participating in it.
“Wipe that grin off your face, would you?!” - this day was not planning to go easy on Kaveh, not even during his favorite part of it. But what other choice did he have? Alhaitham’s conclusion was painfully correct, both understood that much - “As much as I dislike admitting it…” - Kaveh sighed - “you’re right. The easiest solution is to play along with what Jabir witnessed today, and make him truly believe it”
“Took you long enough to comprehend”
“Well excuse me for not being a whizz past midnight, after a day of chaos, and patience being tested, first by Jabir, and now you too”
Seeing his roommates' state tugged at Alhaitham’s heartstrings: dark circles under his eyes; gaze cemented to the floor; empty coffee mug in hand;
The Scribe stood up. Reaching towards his companion's hand he gently took the mug from it. The brisk interaction made their fingers lightly graze each other. It was enough contact to grab Kaveh’s attention, gaze shifting from the floor to the one in front of him.
Alhaitham swiftly grabbed his own cup from the table and headed towards the kitchen, supposedly leaving his roommate alone to contemplate. Kaveh remained glued to the divan, observing. He kept Alhaitham in his line of sight, letting him disappear in the kitchen doorway.
* * *
“Clank”
Two coffee mugs were placed in the metal sink. Alhaitham gloved his hands, giving a start to the kitchen routine. He scrubbed, rinsed, and gradually the pile of dishes previously clouding the kitchen dissolved.
“More than half the work has coincidentally been completed for us. A shared living space forges a believable foundation for shared routines, presumed proximity, and voluntary regular presence. Unless Jabir is not only vigorous but also unobservant, a few visible adjustments should suffice.”
Pouring a glass of water for the sake of rehydration, Alhaitham made his way to the living room, eager to share the analysis with his roommate. Before having the chance to utter a word, the Scribe came across a sight which made him pause in his tracks. Kaveh had fallen asleep in the living room.
His hand curved around the divan armrest, head placed against it. Strands of hair loosely fell on his face, curtaining his line of sight. His chest slowly rose and fell, even breaths meditatively keeping him asleep. A twisted spine, and a leg dangling off the divan’s edge sealed the deal. Alhaitham pictured his roommate showing up to breakfast full of complaints and grumbles. “Ugh, my back is killing me…”. He could vividly reconstruct Kaveh's voice in his mind. The only reason for that being how common it is for the architect to doze off before reaching his own quarters.
Alhaitham allowed himself just a minute to spare. Attempting to make as little sound as possible, he gently placed the cup of water on the table, and made a few steps towards the divan. Kaveh’s hair was an absolute mess, braid half undone, loose strands tickling his face. It seemed quite uncomfortable, at least in Alhaitham’s eyes. He took the liberty of fixing the mess, tucking the loose strands behind his roommates’ ear. Now, that’s much better. His fingers gently grazed the architect's cheeks, tracing the blush. “Just by coincidence” - he told himself - “The loose strands couldn’t remove themselves”. But the touch lingered. Kaveh’s skin felt warm and smooth against his own hand.
Content with the intervention, Alhaitham debated further actions. A Kaveh with back pain is a mental pain for all. Making his way to the architect’s room, he took a blanket, as well as two pillows. The blonde constantly claims: “Sleeping with just one is impossible!”.
Alhaitham carefully slid a hand underneath, cupping Kaveh’s shoulders. Slightly lifting them, he made some space between his sleeping roommate and the divan. Two pillows went in that space, followed by a gentle return of said roommate. A blanket now also covered the divan’s surface.
The Scribe stood up, leading a final visual survey of his work. Safe to conclude, everyone's mood for the upcoming day had been saved. His roommate seemed comfortable enough to greet the morning with no back pain. Kaveh stirred in his sleep, settling in the newfound warmth and comfort. Something about the action reminded Alhaitham of a desert fox nestled in a burrow. “Hm. How amusing” - he thought to himself.
A final glance was thrown, lasting longer than intended.
“Goodnight, Kaveh”
With that, Alhaitham left the room.
