“He’s always angry in the morning!” Kaveh bemoans. Exaggeratedly, with his head falling into his hands. One would think that he’s talking about some great injustice instead of an argument about granola bars.
Granola bars that aren’t even good, Tighnari thinks. But he doesn’t say anything about that. He’s sure his opinions on granola bars aren't what’s wanted here.
That’s why he simply smiles and nods.
“Are you not a morning person, Alhaitham?” he asks.
“I would be if Kaveh didn’t eat the bars I set aside for breakfast,” Alhaitham says. Coldly. The complete opposite of Kaveh, sure, but still far too cold for a breakfast cereal.
“So I said Kaveh ate it at night?” Tighnari nudges gently. “Long after you went to sleep?”
Alhaitham hesitates for a second before nodding a yes.
Tighnari turns to Kaveh now, maintaining his smile.
“And why did you do that, Kaveh?”
“I was hungry while working late,” Kaveh mumbles.
“You’re always working late,” Alhaitham rolls his eyes.
“Ah,” Tighnari interjects when he sees Kaveh open his mouth. He has to de-escalate before they go off on it again. “How does that make you feel?”
Again, Alhaitham hesitates. And Tighnari swears he sees Alhaitham glaring at him for a split second before sighing.
“I’m worried,” he admits. “I wish he would rest a little more.”
“With you, perhaps?” Tighnari suggests.
“Sure,” Alhaitham shrugs.
“Hayi?!” Kaveh exclaims. Now he’s happy. Far too happy for a simple sure, but whatever. “I never thought of it that way!”
As the two of them make up, Tighnari leans back on his chair and takes a swig of his beer.
Cyno laughs, shaking his head as he signals for the bartender to get Tighnari another.
“You should start charging them for couples therapy,” Cyno says.
“Yeah,” Tighnari clicks his tongue. “They could at least pay for that beer.”
But they’re too busy making up now to remember they should really get counseling that isn't their friend at a bar.
