uncraven @uncraven - Tumblr Blog

——— a gift .ᐟ

⤷ KAVEH & for @aellesira | sponsored by @stellaronhvnters

┆ canon ✦ "short" fic ✦ advent gift

🎅 — dearly, uncraven .ᐟ

"Love is a War I'm Always Loosing." — Kaveh x reader

art credits — @.marama_jpg on x

synopsis ;– you have a week to confess to your long-term crush, only to do it in the most dysfunctional way... but all's well that ends well, right?

feautred;– Kaveh x Reader, Tighnari, Alhaitham, Cyno, mentions of Faruzan and Nilou

contains ;– hurt/comfort, canon complient, dream segment, speckles of royal au (<<), you/your pronouns. gn!reader, 7.3k words, possible formatting issues (tumblr... why..)

You've been put in the hot seat for the third time today. This evening, to be more specific.

The tavern pulses with the liveliness of the weekend. The saccharine smell of alcohol punches through the air with the drunken clamor of other patrons.

Your throat feels ripe and split open, but you will yourself not to say anything.

“So?” Tighnari, that fox-like forest ranger, urges some sort of response out of you. His cheeks are also flushed with the brushstrokes of wine, but he looks at you with those sharp eyes that could sober you up from the intensity.

Why did it have to be Tighnari of all people?

“It's… in progress.” You hum, hoping to placate the man.

He squints, his eyes tell you he isn't pleased by your indecisiveness. That's always something you've hated about him, he looks at you like he could pick you apart with a glare.

“How long has it been?” He asks. “I've had to hear about that one’s—” he jerks a finger at the blond you've been infatuated with for who knows how long now, “-ramblings about you. [Name] I cannot pretend to care enough for this melodrama.”

You suck in your teeth. Maybe you would've chastised his bold gesture. You can only grumble.

“It's not melodrama..” You weakly counter.

Kaveh is right there. Well, far enough away to not hear Tighnari scolding you. Like always, your chest tightens at the sight of him. And like always you let your ribcage press into your heart with a searing agony.

He sighs, “is confessing really such a burden?” Of course it is! Your heart beats once, then twice, and twice in the span of one beat and thrice in the span of two. Archons, even thinking about confessing feels like it might kill you.

You're stuck in a trap lured into by the temptation of cheese with gentle red eyes and a passion for creating. The only escape? Learn how to manipulate the 4th dimension so cheese is never invented.

So you, the mouse about to be pounced on by the fox– er, cat used your last weapon.

“Confess what?” You said.

Tighnari looks at you like you're an idiot. And it doesn't seem like an unfit title.

“See? Melodrama, I really don't want to stand up on this table and yell out your pining for Kaveh but I am seriously starting to consider it.”

The alcohol was clearly getting to him, he would never do that! still….you move his half full glass away from his reach. Just in case.

Then Tighnari inhaled like he was starved for oxygen, and you panicked. “Okay, okay, I'll confess.” You whispered.

Tighnari raised a brow. “If I hear Kaveh complaining a week from now, I will take this into my own hands.” You frowned.

A week? Complaining? Is there a way to complain in good faith? And what was with the deadline? All of a sudden you felt bad for the rangers Tighnari trained.

“Only a week..?” Then Tighnari glared at you, and you felt a year of your lifespan being shaved off.

Before you could shrivel into yourself, Kaveh came back to the table, without a refill, surprisingly.

“What?” He says as you two turn towards him. “Why do you two look so..?” — Tense? engaged in warfare? “weird?” oh. That works too.

Tighnari sends a pointed ‘This is all your fault’ look at you.

“Early night?” You ask, masterfully pivoting the topic (contrary to Tighnari rolling his eyes). Kaveh fumbled with his words, “Er, well— Alhaitham and Cyno can't make it tonight, so—”

Tighnari lets out an exhausted sigh, “Even after graduating the Akademiya still manages to be a nuisance.”

Kaveh didn't have to finish his sentence for everyone at the table (You and Tighnari) to know the cause. Something is happening inside the Akademiya again, according to scattered rumors and overhearing your students.

A few students have been disappearing from class. Each day that number increases— thankfully it's not just your students, or you would've thought something was wrong with your course.

“Should we settle for the night then?” Kaveh and Tighnari look at you, surprised that you're the one suggesting this.

“What? Tighnari looks like he's about to bite my head off—” he scoffs, “and you look exhausted.” Kaveh winced.

There was a weariness to his face, like he was stuck between reality and his own headspace. His eyes— normally alight and incandescent— held a dullness unfitting of the well lit tavern.

“I suppose I've been working a bit harder than usual, but it's nothing to be concerned over.” Kaveh explained, trying to appease you.

Your heart stuttered when he made eye contact, that soft reassuring look which begged for you to surrender, to not push further. You were weak to the heat of his gaze—

Just as you were about to pose a new question, the gritting skreech of the chair across from you and Kaveh interrupted your train of thought.

“I'm heading back to my inn. I don't feel to watch you two make goo-goo eyes at each other for thirty minutes.” Tighnari informs the both of you much to your wordless denials.

What the hell Tighnari?! Did he throw subtlety out of the window when he stood up?

Seconds after Tighnari is out of sight, you and Kaveh are still at an impasse.

Checkmate is acknowledging what Tighnari just said— He's brutally honest, alcohol is no inhibitor to his words. Simply put, if he said it, he meant it.

You move your pawn to e4. (Your gaze flickers to Kaveh's face) He matches your move, meeting you at e5 (His eyes shift to yours) you move your knight to f3 (You tilt your head, an imperceptible quirk of your lips) and he copies, knight to f6 (He swallows thickly, shifting his shoulders to face you.)

You move your pawn to d4 (You poise yourself, a breath on your lips and a teasing sentence in your throat.) he moves his to d6 (He quirks a brow, irises looking at you—

“Kaveh! I found that thing you were looking for.” A gruff voice booms out like a sea chanty, amiable and warm.

The two of you jump away from each other, essentially throwing the chess board up into the air for an impromptu dodgeball session.

“Oh,” Lambad, the owner of the tavern hums.

“Wait– wait-! Whatever you were thinking of that's not—!” Kaveh looks back at you. “We're not—” He stutters, like he's picking up the fragments of his reputation. (Hard to do when he's a regular here.)

‘—a couple’ You realize before those words could even escape his lips

“Uhuh! Yeah what he said.” You lamely defended. Ignoring how Kaveh looked like he wanted to bury his head into the dirt of a nearby pot, Lambad sets a polished compass down onto the table. In its holder was a stubby short pencil that looked like its lifespan cut short with each stroke of graphite.

“Thank you..” Kaveh responded like he was parched for water. Lambad laughed and walked off with a resonating ‘No problem!’

It was a polished brass compass, scuffed slightly along the points. Dulled down by use or unfortunate mishaps. It held a charm to it, one befitting of the architect beside you.

“I'm helping with a few expansions upstairs.” Kaveh explained, catching your question before you could even throw it out.

His face was still flushed, but his brows were furrowed like embarrassment could rest off the ledge.

(Your gaze wasn't helping his recovery.)

“Want me to walk you home?” You questioned.

He sighed, a dense breath escaping his lips. “Yes, please.” Kaveh's words came out weakly.

Really, it was a pity everyone couldn't make it. Kaveh looked tense, from the change of plans or being embarrassed earlier? He deserved a moment to relax.

Right as the two of you open the door, rain falls like there's no tomorrow. Kaveh slumps, clicking his tongue and mumbling about how he knew he should've brought that umbrella.

“Yikes, hope Tighnari made it back to his inn before this downpour.” You comment, trying to ease the atmosphere.

“Oh. yeah.” Kaveh responds listlessly.

You sweatdrop. What's on this guy's mind?

“He'll be fine.” You assure, not wanting to affect Kaveh. The blond was fiddling with the keys in his pocket and chewing the inside of his cheek like he was biting down his words.

!

Kaveh had to be annoyed at something.

“Yeah he will.” Kaveh snapped back, flinching at the intensity of his own words—

Hesitantly, you ask,“You okay?”

Kaveh frowned, his expression dropping. “I'm fine..” He saw your deadpan expression and quickly clarified, “I mean, I don't know?”

“You can say what you want to say to me, y'know?”

“I know I can— I just..” He looked into the rain, watching the steady patter. “My own thoughts don't feel right.”

You lean against the exterior wall of the tavern, listening intently.

“That's normal, Kaveh.” You answer his silent question.

“Even if it sounds selfish?” He doesn't look at you when he asks that.

“Especially that.” You answer gingerly. “Even if they don't feel right, just keeping them in will make more of them pop up.”

In the rain, with the sprinkle of rain hitting his shoes and mist almost dusting his face, Kaveh held a fragility in his jaw, like saying what he wanted to was going to break it off.

“I want to be there for you. You could confess to me that you killed three people, and I would help you hide the bodies—” “[Name]!” “— or even that you want to punch Tighnari,”

“I don't want to punch Tighnari.” Kaveh crossed his arms.

“Huh, how odd. I thought that was a universal experience.” You jested.

Kaveh finally faced you again. “I really can't be pathetic for long in front of you.” You shrug.

“So, you ready to talk?”

Kaveh finally resigned himself to you. “Well, I see now that I was being irrational.”

He looked off to the side, leaving you to fill in the blanks.

“Were you jealous of Tighnari?” You joked. Only for Kaveh's jaw to drop like you just took a hammer to it.

“...”

You accidentally hit the nail right on the head?

Kaveh groans, “It's dumb, I know..” He rubbed his temples, “He already said goodbye, and we're here together, and I just wished..”

“It was only the two of us?”

He doesn't say anything else, shifting his weight across his feet. His cheeks are flushed with embarrassment, the kind of a broken promise or a spilled secret.

“Hey, how about we try to see who can get to your place the fastest?” You suggest.

Kaveh looked to the left, rain still pouring down without an end in sight. Then he looked back at you. “In the rain?”

You smiled, “Only if you promise not to slip and fall.”

He exhaled airily, humored or appalled at your audacity. For the first time that night, he smiled genuinely. Not the type forced from awkward conversations or alcohol.

His eyes sparkled with the childish urge to indulge in doing something so spontaneous, despite the consequences.

“Well, we don't have an umbrella. And who knows when this storm will wane.” Kaveh responded without opposition.

The two of you didn't run through the rain like a dramatic reenactment of a cliche romance light novel.

There were no dramatic declarations of admiration. It sucked. A lot more than you expected.

Halfway through, the two of you gave up and walked alongside the buildings of Sumeru city, doing your best to avoid the rain, and not to sneeze.

Hindsight would've done you wonders, as it only took 10 minutes for the rain to stop. Could've stayed at the tavern, and spared your clothes from getting wet.

The morning after you felt well enough to go to work. Even as you noticed the empty seats spotted around your class like someone snapped and killed half of your students.

You dismissed your class, and immediately started to pack up your bags. You're glad you actually got your work done in a timely manner, so you could head out of the Akademiya early.

After all, first thing on your mind was that today was the day!

Tighnari was right about you dragging this out. Progress was mandatory at this point. And you'll get more embarrassed if you hear about how Kaveh is ‘complaining’ about you.

(You doubt he'd scorn you or something like that. But each wasted second might as well be the wrath of the sun giving Kaveh its blessing.)

It isn't long before you find yourself in front of his house.

Mechanically, you raise your hand to knock on the door. Once, then twice.

The wooden frame door rattled— and you steadied yourself. What are you nervous for? You've practically rehearsed this a thousand times. Yeah, in your head. but it still counts.

An ear splitting creak echoed, as the door opened inwards.

Right! Kaveh had a roommate. Someone you haven't met formally. You know of his existence, but didn't plan to meet him today.

Eh, whatever. If kaveh isn't home, you'll just ask his roommate to pass on the message. An unfortunate first request, but you were too deep into this to contemplate other options.

And then you look up.

You don't know what you expected. Maybe another of your old classmates? Someone Kaveh met through work? Anyone, anyone but Alhaitham.

“Oh.”

The gray-haired man raises a brow. Confused on behalf of you.

“I didn't know you were his roommate.” You remarked. Okay, it made sense. It wasn't unreasonable to think Kaveh and Alhaitham would room together.

But the things you've heard about alhaitham out of context? Ugly ceramic frog decorations in the middle of the room— that was alhaitham?

To think you've told kaveh (jokingly, you swear.) to punch his roommate next time he annoys him. Now you understand why he gave you that utterly unimpressed face.

“Did you need something?” Alhaitham inquired.

You sweatdrop. Alhaitham isn't even this intimidating in meetings? Is his free time this guarded?

“Ah, uh. Is Kaveh here?” You queried, trying not to let your anxiety show through your face.

“No.” He answered plainly.

“Sorry for the bother then.” You apologized. Alhaitham gave you a nod, and turned back into his house.

Ugh. How were you going to get a message to Kaveh?

!

You scrambled into your bag, pushing aside folders and textbooks to grab some paper. Thankfully you had some ink in your bag too as a backup.

You look around. Lonely pot without a plant? Er, can't exactly write on that. Whatever, wall it is.

Doing your best to make your handwriting look nice while writing vertically. “Dear Kaveh…. blah blah blah go out… blah blah… with me… blah blah blah on uhh… yours truly,”

You look at your masterpiece in scribbled ink. Yeah, this'll win him over. It's genuine.

You go in front of the door, winded by the concept of having to write outside of work hours.

You knock at the door and it takes a bit longer to open up. You'd treat your junior to a coffee from Puspa Cafe as an apology.

Alhaitham opens the door, once again. Slower, as if he's exhausted by the motion. He looks at you expectantly, and you.take it upon yourself to speak.

“Could you give this to Kaveh, please?” You requested.

He wordlessly takes the paper. Your heart clenched when he grabbed the paper tighter than you expected. You winced at the subtle sound of the paper crinkling.

“You wrote everything you needed to tell him?” A question you didn't expect from the typically neutral Alhaitham.

But at the same time you sucked in your teeth. That was always a bad habit in your days as a student.

“Right.. the day.” You murmured. “You think Kaveh is free Tuesday?”

“I doubt it.” Alhaitham responds assuredly. “He was complaining about a deadline being pushed up around then…”

That's just great.

Who knows what archon gave you their blessing. Somehow, your visual moping led to you being invited inside. There was a really ugly frog ceramic sitting on a coffee table. It was being used as a paperweight.

But you're in the dining room right now, crossing off plans with a red pen. Plan A to Plan G in a matter of minutes. You were going to get through the whole alphabet at this rate. Timing, location, all of that seemed impossible to figure out. It felt like you were drafting battle plans instead of inviting Kaveh out.

“So the bavarde is definitely not an option.”

“What's romantic about a bavarde?”

“I dunno! there's not much I can come up with impromptu! And since when were you versed in anything romantic?”

Alhaitham sighs “I'm not. You just don't know the basics of coordinating a meeting.”

Geez. Your condolences to Kaveh. You've got no idea how he can live around this full time.

Looking over the letter (if you can even call its scribbled out self that at this point.) You made the better decision to take out a new sheet of paper. This time, able to write horizontally.

Finishing the main body, you contemplated the date. Tuesdays wouldn't work, Mondays wouldn't either. It couldn't be tomorrow either, that was just too soon for your tastes.

The door swings open. From the doorway comes the devil himself. Groggy, tired, and looking ready to collapse.

Kaveh walks past the two of you.

You and Alhaitham share a glance. Then you hear the sound of footsteps turning around.

Kaveh looks back into the dining room. He squints at the sight of you. Then he groans. “It's so bad, I'm seeing them in my house.”

Is he okay? You wonder, as visibly as you could to Alhaitham.

The scribe only shrugs.

Then another call echoes from the hallway. “Alhaitham!” Kaveh calls like he doesn't know where his roommate is. “Where'd you put… my.. ugh… that thing I had?”

I don't think he's okay. Alhaitham also visibly communicates. An odd expression for a stoic guy that knows sign language.

“Alhaitham???” He calls out.

Then you hear a loud bang and the sound of a kaveh sized object falling.

You and Alhaitham quickly get up from your seats, walking into the hallway to see a collapsed architect on the floor.

You walk over him, putting a hand on his neck. It's abnormally warm.

“Officer, he's still breathing.”

“Don't call me that.”

Kaveh makes a strangled “mmmgh?” sound. His eyes open, just enough to see you two looking at him. “I'm dying.. and this is..” He looks at Alhaitham, then you, “purgatory?”

With a sigh, Alhaitham and you know what you need to do.

You swoop your arms under Kaveh's shoulders. Somehow fluttering the delirious blond. Alhaitham picks up Kaveh's legs like a log of furniture. With a combined effort, (More you than Alhaitham. Curse weight distribution) you manage to get Kaveh in his room, and onto his bed.

It's not long before Alhaitham leaves you in Kaveh's company. Likely having less inane things to do.

You let your hand rest on Kaveh's head from his bedside. It feels just as warm as a lantern that's been left on for a few hours.

You suck in your teeth. How did he get this sick so quickly? Should've been more mindful..

“Get well soon kaveh..” You swoop a stray strand of hair clinging to his face out of the way.

“Would you like a dance, my prince?”

Kaveh raised his head. The glimmering ballroom lights almost blinded him. Like always, the ballroom is more than perfect. Gold and amber speckled into the walls, long pillars towering to the ceiling that seemed oh so out of reach.

He sees the guests marvel at the craftsmanship of his palace. Kaveh is proud. Of course he is. This was all his.

You have a hand outstretched to him. A smooth as liqueur black matte mask over your eyes. Kaveh is glad you chose to be so close to him, from this distance he can still see the light bouncing off your iris. Something he's committed to memory a hundred times over.

That makes him aware of the masquerade mask against his own face. Kaveh runs his finger over it, feeling the detailed trims and accents.

His hand falls, and you automatically replace his with yours. Kaveh swallows thickly at the distance. Then you fasten something, he didn't realize the mask almost slipped.

Luckily, none of the other guests had seen this mishap.

“Of course..” He answered before he could think about your question. But it's too late for contemplation, you guide him to the dance floor.

His footsteps fall in line with yours, a dance into the center stage. It's a slow dance, but the two of you move like you're drunk with passion. You lead him with a care that's almost reverent. He can feel the pulse of your palm— it sends a burning flush to his cheeks; he can only hope his mask conceals.

He dances with you for what feels like hours, and seconds all the same. As soon as the music comes to its ending measure, he already misses his feet moving to the same tempo as yours. The synchrony is addictive.

But eventually he parts from you. The lingering touch of your fingertips leaving sparks on his palm.

He looks around, how long has it been since he's appreciated the beauty of this ballroom..? A while.

Kaveh watches the guests now entering the room gape and stare at the glittering venue. Watching them reaffirmed how worthy of a prince he was.

“Do you think the prince is here?”

“Of course! He invited us, it'd be rude to not show up to your own party.”

Could they not tell he was standing so close by? Oh, right. The masks.

Reticently, he stuffed that one off conversation into the back of his mind. Kaveh looks around for something to distract himself. Ah! He spots the food station, a banquet of delicious appetizers from regions across the world. There's even a chocolate fountain.

He doesn't notice you behind him until you walk closer to him, and take a pastry into your hand. A fontainian treat? with a red jelly center, layered between light crusts. You take a bite, then look at him, “Want some?”

“Huh?” He said dumbly. Kaveh's cheeks bloomed a rosy tint when you raised it closer to his face, like you were going to feed him.

“It's worth it.” You urge. Kaveh hesitates, but ultimately he breaks off a piece and pops it into his mouth. It's sweeter than he expected, but it's been made perfectly. The layers are soft, and the jam is well tempered.

“Was it good?” You ask him.

“It was. My compliments to the chef.” He responds.

“Did you like it?” You insist.

He paused. Didn't he say it was good? It was, he didn't lie. Did he like it? The snack tasted good. So he liked it, of course he did.

As if once he reached that conclusion, a piece of his mask chipped off. It quickly fell to the ground, a golden piece. He scrambled to pick it up, only for someone else to step on it. A guest with flaming red hair and green eyes lifted her heel. Only for her eyes to widen when she saw what she stepped on.

The chipping of gold, secreted a dark, inky fluid. It stuck onto her shoe, with an unrelenting will to fall off.

No… That couldn't be right. Kaveg tried to apologize, but his throat was raw and dry. If he tried to speak all that would come out is a gasping croak.

The girl walks away, upset at whatever clung to her heel— ruining the quality.

Kaveh shook his head. Coincidence, surely. Nothing that disgusting and destructive could come from him.

He needed a drink

Kaveh walked to the bar, taking a seat across the shelf of refreshments. He couldn't place a name on any of the fruity drinks, the familiar coloring being his biggest clue to flavors.

Then the bartender, a girl with teal pigtails and a sharp attitude took one look at Kaveh, then handed him a drink.

“You look pretty similar to the prince, so here's something he would like.”

Huh? Kaveh was the prince. He was. Why was it that nobody could recognize him?

He took a sip of it. Of course, it was perfect. a masterful blend of fruitiness, with enough alcohol to sooth him for the moment.

“Did you like it?”

He hears your voice in his head.

Yes? He did. Why wouldn't he? Ugh. Was his head always hurting this much tonight?

Kaveh hesitated to drink again. He looked into the red liquid, staring at his reflection through its surface area.

And, like the fatal chime of a clock at midnight, another piece of his mask broke off. A viridian feather that stood tall on the spine of his mask fell directly into his drink.

Kaveh didn't try to stop it, it felt inevitable that another part of him would break off.

After a moment, he tried to take it out, but as soon as his fingers pinched the vane, it crumbled into a fine black dust.

Kaveh furrowed his brows. Looking at the powder settling over his drink.

Be it impulsion, or a quiet need to prove something to himself, Kaveh took a swig.

Immediately, he resisted the urge to gag. The taste was putrid, barely edible at worst, more than disgusting at best.

Just as he was about to call the bartender, asking her to give him anything else to wash this disgust down— The chandelier, a blooming source of light, flickered. Then, a section of it just… went out? Not a bulb, not the full thing. Just a part, like a slice of a cake. It casted the bar into shadow.

Kaveh put the glass down, promptly leaving the dark, going to the light. Anywhere other than the places his mask broke off in.

Suddenly he could hear the chatter from guests. Their words echoed loudly in his head. Critiques about the prince, the ballroom, and even him, standing off in the distance away from everybody.

He just needed to block them out. It would be okay, he'll ignore this crumbling feeling in his heart.

He covered his ears and closed his eyes. waiting for the noise to stop.

And it did, eventually. He opened them again. Except now, half of the ballroom was cloaked in shadow.

That same black goo creeping over into the light.

Kaveh quickly grabbed a chair and laid it on its side, preventing the inky viscous liquid from seeping over.

But he needed to get out of here. Immediately.

He tried asking the few remaining guests where the exit was.

But they all ignored him. It felt like he was pleading for someone to notice him. He's the one they're talking so badly of in the first place?!

Kaveh cried out.“Hello?! I know you can hear me!”

All at once, the guests turned to look at him. Their eyes were a centimeter too wide. They all looked at him with the scorn of a hivemind. They went silent, not a whisper dropping from their lips.

Kaveh's heart raced in his chest. He backed up, almost tripping over himself.

His back slammed into one of the walls of this oppressive place. And his mask split, a solid piece breaking off. Revealing one of his eyes.

He quickly covered his face, horrified.

He turned around, facing the wall. Closing his eyes like a child trying to seem invisible.

The silence stretched for ages. Their stares made a chill run down his spine. He felt so cold in a warm space.

Then he felt a warm hand on his shoulder. Blinking, he turned around

It's you. The mask you wore on your face, still perfectly affixed. Like it was a part of your visage. Aligning with the curves and slopes of your features.

And… the lights were out. The entire ballroom was dark.

“Don't worry, they're gone.” You affirmed. Kaveh shivered at the tone of your voice.

You were right. Nobody was there. It was just the two of you.

“just the two of us..?”

“Did you like it?”

“Where did they go?”

You didn't honor his question, instead you gave him your hand.

“How about a dance.. my prince?”

He… is a prince? Even after all this.

Kaveh takes your hand. And without music, the two of you dance slowly. It's hesitant on his part. Your unrelenting reverence scares him.

“I don't deserve to be called your prince.” Kaveh cautioned, waltzing in time with you.

You say nothing. As though you have only a few sentences to cycle through, and a response to this isn't one of them.

This feeling? The clenching of his heard. asphixiated breathing, the terror of the darkness. He looks into your eyes.

This love of his..

Did he earn the right to love you?

You say nothing.. of course. Because he didn't say those words aloud.

“I love you.” He professed.

You don't respond, only keeping him in your arms.

When you look at him with those half lidded eyes. He feels so so small.

“I love you.” He repeats, like you didn't hear him the first time.

The silence is deafening.

“Did you like it?”

this love of his… It hurts.

“Did you like it?”

His hands are in yours, and you lead him in circles. Peaks and swells of footsteps together. No music besides the melody his shoes make with yours.

“I hate you—” he doesn't

but still. you say nothing.

if he hated you. Deep within himself. Not with flimsy words, would he be less… Pitiable?

Would you be equals? rivals? would you love him destructively— just as he loves you?

Would you say something back? Reciprocate his loathing?

The last part of his mask falls off. It shouldn't have even been able to hold itself on for that long.

He looks at you, who's stopped dancing. the cast of moonlight lighting your frame. A hole in the wall, gold crumbled, one he never noticed before.

This banquet hall was never structurally sound. The gold could never hold up a ballroom like this. He overlooked that logic.

Prince Kaveh but he's never seen his own crown.

He walked to the hole in the wall, outside was a plain field casted in the cool glow of the moon. Hesitantly, he took a step out, and looked back.

You still stood there, watching him. He outstretched his hand, but you shook your head.

Kaveh nodded, resolving himself to leave without you. You smiled, for the first time this night.

just the two of us?

Kaveh woke up with a strain. His eyes heavy and his body sluggish.

When did he even get into his room? Did he even make it out of the house Saturday morning? Archons, he felt like death itself.

Yet, oddly enough, his stomach doesn't feel empty. And, is his memory hazy or does his room look more put together than what he remembered last.

Groggily, he leaves his room and enters the kitchen, planning a cup of coffee to start the day— only to see you in the living room.

“[Name]?!” He jumps. His voice feels hoarse, like it atrophied over however many hours he slept for.

You turn around, eyes wide, startled. Your face is darkened from exhaustion Kaveh can't understand yet.

“How did you– when did you—” He stuttered

“You got sick, Kaveh. like really sick.”

He paused at your interjection. Oh… That makes sense.

“You were pretty out of it.” You drawled.

Kaveh rubbed the back of his neck."I get like that when I'm sick.”

You stand up from the lounge chair, approaching him carefully. “You okay?”

“mhm.. I feel better.” Kaveh swallows his concern momentarily to humor yours.

Your eyes trace over him, inspecting minute details he didn't have the chance to fix. He swallowed thickly, looking for an escape route.

He managed to ask,“Er, what time is it?”

“About midday.” You respond promptly. Kaveh's eyes widened.

“Shouldn't you be—”

“Clocked out early. Not many students came to class today.” You explained, leaning against the counter.

He gave you a look of pity— no, more like concern. You were acting… off?

“I've been worried about you.” You mumbled.

“I'm sorry, I—”

Frustrated, you interjected.“Why are you saying sorry? I'm the one that got you sick.”

“what?” Kaveh furrowed his brows “No you aren't.”

“I made you run through the rain, the next day?” You gestured to him, “look at you.”

“You're not obligated to take care of me, you know.” He irked, folding his arms in defiance.

You responded with a frown. “I know that, I didn't do this out of obligation.”

“Then why?”

“I care for you?” You seemed exasperated at his persistence.

Maybe if it was a different day, maybe if he was well rested and not sick, he would've dropped it. Apologized for pushing, and hope for your forgiveness. Ah, well, that last part still comes to play.

“You care for a lot of people. Your students, your friends, yourself. So why am I the only one you treat this way?” Even with Tighnari, outside of lambad's. Kaveh knows he wasn't jealous, just— frustrated in how you could believe in Tighnari so easily.

You treat him like he's fragile. That, even though he's studied the structure of building for years— that he'd collapse the moment you look away from him.

You hesitated, the words on your tongue in an odd blend of everything you were feeling at the moment.

Finally, you confessed.“I like you kaveh, a lot. A lot more than I thought I would.”

Kaveh tensed up. Now acutely aware of everything about himself. His fingers trembled at his sides, his breath quickened and his heart almost screamed with a cry of victory.

“What?” He furrowed his brows.

Irrational and Rationality blended together in a cloudy emulsion, it was impossible to pick out a sentence that wasn't layered behind emotion, years of the frustration of love. God, he wasn't ready for this at all.

“You don't have to like me back—”

“Of course I like you back, you lummox!” He saw your eyes light up, but his next words didn't fit in the petals of a budding confession.

“But God, I hate it.” Kaveh admitted, and he felt his chest lighten. Your frozen expression made it tighten even more.

“You do these things that are so confusing. I don't– I can't understand you.”

“We've known each other since we were freshmen in the Akademiya, and I barely know anything about your family, why you chose your darshan, why you chose to stay here when you've always loved research projects that took you out of Sumeru.” The words tumbled out of Kaveh's mouth clumsily.

“I don't know why you like me.”

You stumbled over the information he just dropped on you. A moment of processing, and you resolved yourself to explain.

“Kaveh.. I like you because you're special to me.”

“But what makes me different? Different from Tighnari, Alhaitham, Cyno?” He insists.

“Everything! You're you”

“You've seen so much of my ugliness.” The drunken nights, stress filled mornings, irresponsible spenditures, —everything.

“then maybe I don't just like you.”

Kaveh's heart jumped into his throat.

“I love you Kaveh. This isn't something I can break down into a formula, or a specific incident. It's a truth, a law of myself that I had to discover.” You avowed

“Even now, I can't fully with utmost certainty say why I fell in love with you. I just know I want to be by your side.”

“I.. I want to be your equal.” Kaveh admits through pursed lips. “I want to deserve your love.” I'll be better for you, an unsaid statement. He knows if he did say it,you'd have something else to say. But he's tired, so, will you let him have this?

“So..?” You urge him to make a conclusion.

It pains him to say this, but would he really deserve you if he didn't? “I don't think we should get into a relationship.”

Even though you understand why. Your face can't help but drop.

“At least not yet.” Kaveh quickly blustered, “I want to earn this.”

You give a soft chuckle, admiring his passion. Kaveh's cheeks burn with self-consciousness at his words. An impassioned declaration in his kitchen of all places.

“Okay. But, I won't make it easy.” You warn, a soft smile on your face.

Kaveh huffed, “I'd be offended if you did. especially after that..”

“I guess, this is war then?” You summrize.

“How'd you get to that conclusion?” He quirked a brow.

You shrug your shoulders.

But then you frown, “But… ah… Did we have to do this confession sequence in here? I had a whole scenic day planned out for tomorrow.”

“Uh? tomorrow?”

“Well, not really. I was thinking Tuesday but apparently you had a deadline..?”

“I did?” Kaveh thought back for a moment. “Archons! I did!”

It's Friday evening. Kaveh submitted his deadline on time, a relief for the both of you since you spent the next afternoon walking around the familiar streetways of Sumeru City, stopping by scenic areas and playing a game of 21 questions.

And over the past few days, you've seen your students come back into your class gradually. The few questions you managed to ask them only lead to apologies instead of answers.

You could deal with this all next week, now you're in the tavern with the whole group. Cyno was already into his fourth glass, Tighnari, his second, and Alhaitham was still pacing steady on his first.

Kaveh is sitting right next to you. His hands on his lap, completely sober. It wasn't too surprising to see this, at least for you.

Tighnari took a glance in your direction, sitting at the head of the table as Cyno and Alhaitham were seated across from You and Kaveh.

You give the tighnarian an accomplished grin.

He huffs, clearly not wanting to humor you. Instead he asks something you should have a while ago.

“So, we're all curious. What's going on inside the Akademiya?”.

Cyno and Alhaitham look at you and Kaveh, then back at each other. They mumble something under their breaths.

“ I had to leave—— for this” “You made it a bigger deal” “You put mora in—”

The two of them promptly stopped when they realized the rest of the table were looking at them expectantly.

“Ahem.” Cyno cleared his throat. “Alhaitham will explain.”

Alhaitham made his dissatisfaction very recognizable to the general.“A few students got into bet making. And involved more people than they should have.” For a language major he sure skimps on details.

“Wow. that is a gross oversimplification”

“Then why don't you explain, General Mahamatra.”

Sueprisingly, Cyno immediately rendered himself into his unique ‘storytelling mode.’ He threaded his hands together and rested his head on top of it.

“A bit ago, I got a message from the scribe over here about a developing issue.”

“The gambling?” Kaveh squinted

“It wasn't gambling. It was betting.” Alhaitham clarified.

“The akademiya handbook makes the distinction between the two very clear.” Cyno wags a finger. “Gambling has to consist of two concepts, playing a luck based game, and winning money. You can't exactly consider a discussion between peers a game, even with the exchange of money.”

“A discussion about what, exactly?” You inquire.

Again, Alhaitham and Cyno share

glances between themselves, you, and Kaveh. If they were trying to be subtle they were failing miserably.

Tighnari tsk'ed, “If your aim is to storytell, being vague isn't going to do any justice.”

Cyno pursed his lips. He shot you a look of pity as he spoke. “They were betting on your marital status.”

“Huh?” The uninvolved three of you say in unison.

Then you look at your hands— definitely no wedding band. “I think it's pretty obvious.”

Alhaitham shook his head. “Not just that. Specifically, whether you and kaveh were in a romantic relationship.”

Tighnari hums an Ohh. As if that made everything make sense.

You and Kaveh freeze in your seats.

You quickly sputter out“But you put mora into this bet as well?”

Alhaitham looked to the side, not givinf you the satisfaction of catching his embarassment for doing something so atypical of himself.“There aren't any regulations for non-student participation.”

“Which explains why Madame Faruzan was able to rile up such a crowd.” Cyno comments.

“Huh. She got involved in this.” Tighnari pondered.

“She was the one that started it.” Alhaitham corrected, “The discussion began in her class.’

“What?! Since when was she a gossip?” Kaveh rasped, now being enlightened to her nature.

“A while..” You comment. “Never expected she'd turn against me.” Uou remember the day she tried to have assigned seating, and asked you to help her pair the ‘interesting’ students, in her words, together.

“It was dubbed an extra credit assignment.” Alhaitham concluded.

“Then how did Cyno get involved?” Tighnari queried doubtfully.

“Gambling in some smaller regions of Sumeru is outlawed. And with a few colloquial differences in the definition of gambling, I had to come in to make sure everyone was abiding by all definitions.” Cyno explained.

“With how notable the Akademiya is, hypothetically allowing the students to gamble, would cause unnecessary scrutiny from all around.” Alhaitham monotoned.

“So, let me get this straight. students skipped my class so they could gamble—-”“—bet” Cyno and Alhaitham say in unison. “On my relationship with Kaveh.”

Kaveh shrunk away in his seat. He was too sober for this conversation.

“That's a load of bull.” You conclude. “What if I just dropped a lore bomb and said ‘Oh I can't wait to spend the weekend with my beautiful husband Kaveh for our anniversary.’” You point out. “I should've been the only class they went to!”

“You should ask your students then.” Cyno pointed out.

“Do not. I know you two were much more involved than whatever you're saying here.” You frowned, sending an accusatory point their way.

“Oh, Alhaitham, what did you bet on?” Tighnari interjected.

Alhaitham shrugged, “I went with what I know.”

You and Kaveh listen a little bit closer.

Cyno quickly interrupts for clarification, “Wait, the two of you are dating, right?”

You let out a laugh and Kaveh croaks. He hung his head down so his friends wouldn't see how red his face got.

Tighnari looks at you like you just stabbed Kaveh three times. He mouthed something that you couldn't read properly. Probably something like “I am going to feed you to a rishboland tiger”

You waved him off with a smile, only to say, “That would make this more interesting, wouldn't it.”

Cyno and Alhaitham look at you like you just said the sky isn't real. Kaveh's head is steaming hot enough to cook a fried egg, and Tighnari? Out of sight, out of mind.

“We are keeping this conversation private.” Alhaitham says adamantly. He only bet some mora because he thought it was an easy choice. He'll make sure to get his money back from Madame Faruzan.

The conversation eventually dissolved into scattered chatter. A few updates in life, and even a couple games of TCG.

“Should we order another round?” Cyno interrupts.

“Yeah.” Kaveh answers with a sigh

Tighnari raises a brow, “You aren't even drinking?”

“I know. I need someone do drink for me.” Kaveh quickly explained

“I don't think the four of us could drink for you.” Alhaitham commented.

“Archons, I'm not that bad. Right?”

The table went silent.

“Just get the next round.”

masterlist . inbox . next?

A/n : I am never writing a longfic again. this was so fun to write and brainstorm, but holy. the lag.. I may be going insane. Also! thank you Illu for letting me go a liiittle bit over the 6k word limit.

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