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A month can fly by in the blink of an eye. Things were far from perfect since Kaveh came home, but they both would agree that it was a much better month than the one that preceded. Alhaitham did everything he could to make amends with his lover, even agreeing to visit a mental health specialist together at the Birmirstan. Speaking about his insecurities to a complete stranger was like pulling teeth, but he couldn’t deny the positive impacts it had on their relationship. They still bickered with each other over their differing philosophies, but their arguments rarely escalated to personal jabs. Alhaitham found it easier to express his emotions to Kaveh, both his affections and insecurities. Kaveh was able to more freely discuss the toll his insurmountable debt and endless design projects took on his mental state. He also began to cut back on his drinking to a single night a week. All in all, things were better than they had ever been for the two of them. There remained, however, one event that would disrupt the comfortable routine they made for themselves.
“Haitham, you need to get out of bed. Childe and Zhongli should be getting to the city by lunch.”
Kaveh had already left the comfort of their shared bath to bathe before the sun had even risen. He faced the mirror in their room, holding up two different blouses up to his chest with his eyes narrowed in concentration. Alhaitham rolled over to face him.
“Go with the white shirt. The red one is too much.”
Kaveh hummed and looked at him through the mirror. “Too much you say? Is it the silk or the deep neckline that makes you think that?”
“Both,” Alhaitham grumbled. “You can wear that one when the date is just the two of us.”
Kaveh’s face flushed ever so slightly before he tossed the shirt aside with a laugh.
“Haitham, are you jealous already? You know I only have eyes for you.”
A dip formed in the bed where Kaveh sat next to Alhaitham. His calloused hands ran through grey hair, prompting the scribe to wrap his arms around his partner’s waist to pull him closer.
“And what if I am? You should see the way people look at you in that shirt. If it was up to me, I would only let you wear it around the house.”
“Good thing it’s not up to you then. Beautiful things are meant to be worn and appreciated by everyone, not just a clingy boyfriend.”
Kaveh’s laugh was music to Alhaitham’s ears. He would listen to it all day if he was able.
“I’m a selfish person. Why would I share something so precious when I can keep you here in bed all day instead?”
“And become a recluse like you? No thanks. Perhaps I want to show off my feeble scholar from time to time as well.”
The blonde smiled down at him and brushed his fingers across the scribe’s bruised shoulders. Alhaitham’s face flushed at the tender gesture.
“What do you have in mind, light of Kshahrewar? Are you going to turn me into your new magnum opus?”
Kaveh put a hand over his chest and scoffed. “You offend me. My Palace of Alcazarzaray was penned entirely by my own hand. Your body is a work of art of your own making. Dressing you is simply furnishing a pre-constructed masterpiece.”
“A masterpiece,” Alhaitham mumbled, the word sending butterflies flying through his stomach. “Make it your own then. Design me as you see fit.”
A dangerous glint was in Kaveh’s eyes. “Haitham, be careful what you ask for. What if I sent you into the city in nothing but your undergarments?”
“You wouldn’t do that,” the scribe answered, his words slow and uncertain.
“Ha! You’re right. You never let me dress you. I can’t waste such a rare opportunity. In fact, I already have the perfect thing in mind. You need to get up and bathe first though.”
Kaveh shrugged off Alhaitham’s arms and beelined for the closet. It was hard to see exactly what he was getting into, but the architect’s energetic movements and under-his-breath comments hinted at what was to come. The scribe found himself curious. Kaveh was extremely meticulous about his own appearance; not a single fold of fabric was overlooked. To be dressed by a master of his craft was sure to be an experience.
By the time Alhaitham finished showering, there was an outfit laid across the bed. Kaveh was dressed in a white poet shirt layered with an embroidered corset and black pants that clung to his every curve. His hair was pulled up into a ponytail to reveal earrings with gems the color of Alhaitham’s eyes. The scribe swallowed hard. Perhaps the red blouse wouldn’t have been a bad idea after all.
“Finally done? Come look at what I’ve chosen for you. I know you don’t like too many accessories so I kept them to a minimum. What do you think?”
“I didn’t even know that I owned these clothes.”
“You didn’t. I bought them for you a while back and forgot about them. But that’s not an opinion! What do you think of the outfit?”
Alhaitham’s eyes narrowed in concentration. The clothes laid out in front of him were certainly nothing he would have chosen for himself, but they still suited him. The plainest part of the outfit was a well tailored pair of black pants. There was nothing noteworthy about it, aside from how well it accentuated his thigh muscles. Kaveh had also allowed him to wear his usual boots. The top was something he had never seen before. It was a black turtleneck shirt that was completely sleeveless and appeared to be barely big enough to fit him. There was an outer layer as well, but it wasn’t even enough fabric to be a jacket. It was made of silk and had a pattern similar to the stained glass windows common within Sumeru City. As promised, the accessories at least were minimal: only a belt with a gold clasp and a few different rings sat next to his usual headpiece.
“I think it shows more skin than your outfit.”
Kaveh crossed his arms. Before he could scold Alhaitham, the scribe spoke again.
“It looks good. I can’t promise I’ll wear it again, but it looks flattering.”
“Of course it does! You hide your body behind too many layers. If you don’t wear it in public again, you at least need to wear it for me.”
That comment brought a smirk to Alhaitham’s face. “Greedy, aren’t we?”
“Oh, shut it! Like you have any right to say anything after those comments about the red shirt. Now hurry up and get dressed! But let me help. There’s a certain way I want you to layer it.”
~
Kaveh had, in fact, been very particular about Alhaitham’s clothes. The turtleneck and top were neatly tucked into his pants, the outer layer loose enough that it stayed around his elbows to show off his upper arms. The belt provided just enough luxury to keep the outfit from being too casual. Even the jewelry gave him a slight edginess despite their simplicity. Though Alhaitham felt a little bare with his arms uncovered, it was worth it for the way Kaveh clung to his side.
The architect’s perfectionism made them run a little late for their meeting with their friends from Liyue. The two were already seated inside Lambad’s Tavern when they finally arrived.
“It’s good to see you again, comrade! And nice to meet you, Alhaitham!”
Childe stood from the table and pulled the blonde into a side hug when the pair approached their table. Zhongli stood as well, giving the two a modest bow.
“My name is Zhongli. It is a pleasure to meet you both. Childe has told me much about your hospitality during his last visit to Sumeru.”
Kaveh laughed and pat Childe on the shoulder. “No need to be so formal. Childe talked so much about you it’s like we’re practically friends already. You should have seen him after a few drinks! I think all of Sumeru might know about your love for each other.”
Childe’s face went pink. “That’s not true at all! I may have gone a bit too hard on the wine, but my memories of that night are pretty clear. I remember it being a certain blonde waxing poetic about his roommate.”
The architect scoffed and matched the ginger’s blush. The two shot jests back and forth with each other while Zhongli and Alhaitham stood behind. The scribe had yet to introduce himself, but it now seemed impossible to get a word in. Across from him, the Liyuen man seemed to recognize his discomfort and gave him a small smile.
“Would you like to have a seat? Before you arrived, Childe and I were discussing what drinks would be best.”
Alhaitham nodded and took the seat across from Zhongli. “There is a good selection of wine here, but it is rather early in the day for that. If you want to try a local favorite, I would recommend the coffee. It’s popular among scholars because of its energizing effect.”
“I see,” Zhongli hummed, bringing a finger to his lips while he thought. “That does sound pleasant after the long journey here. I am particular to tea myself, but indulging in a different drink every once in a while is good for the palette.”
“Sumeru isn’t as known for its tea as Liyue, but we still have a good selection. I can suggest a few vendors for you if you’re interested.”
“That would be quite nice. Are you knowledgeable on Liyue’s cuisine at all? It differs quite a lot from Sumeru but I am curious to see what commonalities it has.”
“I know some. I actually spent some time in Liyue during my studies at the Akademiya. I was a Haravatat student so I went on a research trip to study the ancient languages found in some of Liyue’s ruins.”
“Is that so? I know quite a bit about that myself. My work at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlour involves funeral rites for the adepti. Many of the rites were at risk of being lost to time so I spent much effort preserving what information I could.”
“It’s rare to find someone outside of the Akademiya with an interest in preservation. I am very curious to hear an outsider’s perspective on it. Perhaps you may have some unique insight into some other topics relating to the Akademiya as well?”
Childe and Kaveh had both stopped their bickering when they noticed the other men speaking like old friends at the table.
“I’ve never seen Haitham so comfortable with someone so quickly. It practically took him years to warm up to me…”
“Is he actually interested in Zhongli’s history lectures?”
The two exchanged looks and laughed.
“Well comrade, it looks like you were about them being kindred spirits! I almost don’t want to interrupt their conversation!”
“If they keep going too long, they might attract some curious Akademiya students, and we’ll never get them back. Besides, I’m sure you two are hungry after your journey here. Has anything caught your eye yet?”
“You promised me something spicy, remember?”
“Ha, of course! I’m sure Lambad can make you something hot enough to satisfy that masochistic streak of ours. After that, you should really try the charcoal-baked ajilenakh cake. It’s the perfect finish to a hearty meal.”
“That sounds perfect! Order all the food you think we would like, and I’ll pay for it all. I’m not leaving Sumeru this time without the complete experience!”
~
After a lively lunch, Kaveh suggested a trip to the Grand Bazaar to finish off the other couple’s first day in Sumeru City. Zhongli expressed interest in seeing one of Nilou’s performances while Childe seemed eager for any opportunity to splurge on gifts for his loved ones. During the walk through the city, Zhongli asked questions about the intricacies of the city. Kaveh was elated at the chance to share his knowledge about the planning and architecture of his home. Childe and Alhaitham lagged behind, discussing their different exercise routines and deciding on a time and place for a friendly sparring session. It felt like mere minutes had passed before they arrived at the gates to the Grand Bazaar.
“Woah, there’s nothing like this in Snezhnaya! It’s so lively here!”
“Isn’t it? Can you believe that those pragmatists at the Akademiya nearly closed it down? That would have been a tragic loss to both the arts and those whose livelihoods depend on commerce here.”
“It truly is a tragedy that the authorities in the Akademiya were led so astray. The arts have always been an integral part of the human experience. To completely forsake it in the pursuit of knowledge demonstrates a lack of understanding as to what it means to be human.”
“I am inclined to agree. Though I consider myself a more practical person, even I can’t deny the importance of art. The former sages were blinded by their own biases and nearly caused the downfall of the Akademiya as a whole in the process.”
The four of them went from stall to stall, very quickly accumulating a pile of goods that couldn’t even be carried around. Childe spared no expense in spoiling his hosts as a show of thanks for their hospitality. There was perhaps an entire room’s worth of furnishings he bought for Kaveh, and Alhaitham could only feel thankful that it wasn’t mora spent from his own pocket for a change. Zhongli accrued a large selection of teas at the suggestion of Alhaitham, and Kaveh suggested a quality set of drinkware that Childe bought without a second thought. Afterwards, Childe browsed the various toy stalls while telling them all stories about his siblings back home in Snezhnaya. He ended up purchasing a set of toys that Kaveh recommended as being a collaboration between the Kshahrewar and a unique professor he was acquainted with. Their shopping trip was fortunately cut short before they could purchase all of the goods the market had to offer.
Nilou’s performance was stunning, as always. The four of them managed to get the best spots in the theater after Nilou recognized them and insisted their guests deserved the best experience Sumeru had to offer. Afterwards, she even invited them to have drinks with the theater troupe. The night gradually wound down over cups of wine and spirited debates about the arts and the cultural differences between their respective nations. The moon was high in the sky before Alhaitham declared that Kaveh had far too much to drink and Childe conceded that the day’s journey was finally setting in. With one arm slung over Childe’s shoulder and the other over Alhaitham’s, Kaveh was dragged back to his home before Childe and Zhongli would leave for their hotel.
“He really is bad at holding his liquor. I’ll have to rethink bringing out the firewater next time,” Childe laughed as he guided the blonde back to his partner.
Alhaitham smiled softly as Kaveh nuzzled into his chest. “That is probably for the best. I doubt he could handle more than a couple shots of that.”
“Would you mind if we visit again in the morning? I brought along a sobering tea from Liyue in case Childe had too much to drink. It takes several hours to brew, but it is quite effective for hangovers.”
“I’m sure Kaveh would appreciate it. You’re welcome to come over whenever you have the time. I can’t promise that Kaveh will be in the mood to entertain though.”
“No worries at all, comrade! We’ll come later in the morning then. I’m sure we’ll be sleeping in during our vacation anyways,” Childe smirked, giving Zhongli a look that hinted at much more than sleeping.
“On that note, we’ll get back to our hotel now. Thanks again for the tour! It was a pleasure finally meeting the guy he’s so obsessed with.”
Alhaitham’s face flushed slightly at the comment. “Likewise. And, I must thank you. You’ve done far more for me than you know.”
Childe’s head tilted slightly. “Are you talking about all the furniture we just bought? There’s no need to thank me for that! It was my treat!”
Zhongli hummed softly. His golden eyes seemed to pierce right through Alhaitham. “I believe he is referring to something else. Let’s leave them be for tonight. I believe Alhaitham wants to take care of Kaveh before he’s suffering too much in the morning.”
The ginger’s eyes narrowed suspiciously as he looked between the two of them. He glanced back and forth as if there was some sort of puzzle piece he was missing. There was nothing but the night air and Kaveh’s drunken hiccups.
“Alright then. I don’t know what you mean, but you’re welcome! Take care, we’ll see you hopefully before lunch time!”
With another wide grin and a wave, Childe took Zhongli’s hand and walked down the path towards their hotel. Once they were out of sight, Alhaitham readjusted his hold on Kaveh so he could unlock the door. He carried Kaveh all the way to the bedroom and stripped off enough clothes that he could sleep comfortably. After Kaveh was settled in his spot, Alhaitham got a glass of water from the kitchen and some pain killers for the inevitable hangover the architect would wake up with. The scribe then returned to their room to take care of himself. He stripped off each layer of the outfit Kaveh was so proud of and left them in a messy pile on the floor. Then, he slid into bed next to his lover and brushed his golden hair out of his face.
“I love you, Kaveh. I enjoyed today.”
His voice was a mere whisper against the other’s ear, but Kaveh smiled in his sleep.