Work Text:
It’s too hot in Kaveh's room right now to even function properly. Despite having the windows open and the lights off with an addition of not one, not two, but three electric fans surrounding the room, it wasn’t enough to beat the heat surrounding the room. Kaveh doesn’t mind a little sunny weather as a break from the horrendous snowstorm that occurred 3 months ago, but this is way too much.
The poor man cannot even lay comfortably on the bed without switching positions every 5 minutes or so because of how sticky the air made him feel. The sun was directed to where the open window was, practically heating the floor tiles that once used to be cold that he would lay down on as he worked on his previous sketches. Only being in his shorts isn’t enough to cool him down either, and oh my god the disgusting feeling of his hair dripping in his sweat.
If only the hot weather isn’t stopping him from going up to his bed right now and buying two ice creams just to cool off, added with cold soda drinks.
Oh how he desperately wishes to have them surrounded his room right now.
As if his prayers were answered, the sound of his apartment door was unlocked with the familiar sound of keys that echoed through the living room. His eyes shot awake as he crawled off the bed, running to the doorway to take a quick peek of who it was. Well, not like there’s anyone else who has access to his apartment door aside from Alhaitham.
Yes. Alhaitham was the one who just entered with two grocery bags both in his hands. Kaveh looked at the bags with curiosity and hope. The only thing he wishes for those plastic bags to be filled with is ice, cold and fresh soda drinks, with two ice creams in them that are straight out of the freezer. He was too busy to not realize that Alhaitham wore like 3 layers of clothing.
Well, not until he took his jacket off and hung it at the coat rack.
“What the hell. Why are you wearing so many layers in this hot weather?” Kaveh spoke as he walked towards him with a raised brow. Alhaitham stood there for a second with confusion, wondering what is Kaveh going to complain for the thirteenth time of this month. When he eventually understood what the ordeal was, he shrugged.
“Just felt like it, and please put on a shirt. There might be guests coming over.” Alhaitham sarcastically said, but maybe Kaveh took a little too seriously as he gasp before following him from behind, rambling about how it’s too hot to even put a shirt on and how it’s not his fault if Alhaitham gets a heat stroke with all of that layers he wore earlier.
Alhaitham didn’t mind the noise much as he walked to the kitchen, placing the plastic bags on the counter. As Kaveh continued his rambling (and possibly more complaints), Alhaitham examined the inside of the fridge. He was making sure he got everything he needed for this summer season. After all, he was prepared whenever he went out grocery shopping. Cyno likes to joke that he’s such a “grandma” for preparing lists whenever he would go out grocery shopping, but Alhaitham did not mind. Kaveh likes to join along with the banter with Cyno as a way to provoke Alhaitham, but it backfires.
Kaveh stopped mid-way from his rambles, deciding to check what Alhaitham purchased from the grocery store. He still stuck to his expectations of what’s going to be inside the bag. The only question lies is whether it will come true or if he will jinx it somehow.
Before checking the bag, he gently rubbed his chin with his thumb, making a soft “hmm” sound under his breath as if he’s thinking. He then opened one of the bag as he spoke, “It’s ice cream–”
It’s not.
Kaveh stood there with an open mouth. His expression was hard to read. It was either he’s shocked, confused, or agitated, or both. The bag was filled with some fresh fruits that were Alhaithams favourites and some tissue for the bathroom. Either way, that’s one hope down.
He stood there in silence for a minute before taking a deep breath and exhaling. He muttered something underneath his breath, but it didn’t seem too clear as to what he was talking about. Either way, he didn’t seem to have given up just yet since there was another plastic bag that he hadn't checked. He looked at it with a confident smile, as if he’s expecting for
that
one to be the one he wants.
Alhaitham on the other hand watched this scene unfold. He had a mug filled with water in his hand, taking quiet sips as he observed what Kaveh was doing. While yes Alhaitham can read whatever Kaveh’s intentions or his emotions, this particular moment wasn’t very clear to him. One thing he knows for sure is that it’s enough to entertain him, especially with the way he looked so speechless when he didn’t get what he expected in the first plastic bag he opened. He wanted to see how long Kaveh kept up with the act of expecting something, and not getting it.
Kaveh stood in front of the second bag on the counter, examining it as he rubbed his chin once again with his thumb. Alhaitham continued observing his actions, getting a little more concerned as seconds passed by. Why did Kaveh have to put so much effort and thinking just for a plastic bag? Is there really something he wants? If so, what was it? Alhaitham can’t help but wonder if he should speak and just encourage Kaveh to be straightforward with his intentions and open the bag.
“Just open the bag, Kaveh. No need to make such a fuss for all of that.” Alhaitham finally spoke as he crossed his arms, still holding the mug close to his lips. Kaveh’s brows furrowed together as he looked up at Alhaitham. He pointed a finger at him as his lips opened
“Well
excuse me
, if it weren’t for the fact that it’s hot in this apartment, I wouldn’t be examining the plastic bags and hoping that you got something
useful
for once!” He exaggerated some of his words as he spoke. Alhaitham shrugged before gently signalling Kaveh to just get on with what he’s doing so he can get over with it.
He wanted to see if Kaveh’s expectations were exact with the last grocery bag. He wasn’t bothered to ask what he wanted since he already figured what he wanted, and his reactions to the items inside the bags were priceless. He liked– no, loved it.
Kaveh took a deep breath one more time before getting ready to open the plastic bag. He cracked his fingers like this is something so serious, which Alhaitham found rather funny. He then stepped forward just a little, and before Alhaitham knew, he suddenly opened the bag with so much excitement and hope.
All that additional exaggeration over a plastic bag came crashing down when the stuff that Kaveh was expecting was not inside. The last bag consisted of Alhaithams wallet, an empty water bottle, and chinese take-out that he must’ve bought on his way back home.
Alhaitham snickered before walking towards the counter and leaning on it. He shook his head, but not in a disappointed way. He found this whole scenario funny. Just watching Kaveh’s expression come crashing down felt like true entertainment than the books he bought that he repeatedly read at least every month. This was as equal as him complaining about the “ugly” or “horrendous” furniture he would buy for the apartment whenever he’s going to ikea. In his eyes, they weren’t that bad, but of course him and Kaveh don’t have the same equal taste in aesthetics.
“So? What were you expecting?” Alhaitham asked out of curiosity as he remained his eyes on Kaveh. He read his disappointed expression before his head turned up, directly making eye contact with him. Kaveh sighed as he shook his head, truly disappointed that his expectations were let down not once, but twice.
“Ice cream, soda, ice, anything cold.” Kaveh sighed as he rested his head on the counter with a frown. Alhaitham chuckled. He could tell that Kaveh seemed rather irritated with both of the grocery bags not filled with what he wanted. Still, that doesn’t mean he didn’t know that he wanted those items. In fact, he actually made someone buy them for him when he forgot he didn’t have enough money to include all those things.
They should be here any minute–
Knock knock.
Kaveh looked up to the door, wondering who is knocking right now. Alhaitham made his way to the door, unlocking it and opening it to the sight of Cyno and Tighnari together with paper bags both in their hands. Kaveh noticed the two at the door and called out for them as he followed along with Alhaitham.
“Cyno! Tighnari!” He sounded excited to see him. Cyno saw Kaveh and let out a chuckle as the two entered.
“Gee Kaveh, you look like you got out of the desert with this one.” Cyno commented as a joke as he followed along with Kaveh to his room. Kaveh rolled his eyes as he went to look for his shirt that he dumped somewhere when he was feeling too hot. Alhaitham and Tighnari on the other hand were in the kitchen, taking every item out of the paper bags and placing them on the counter.
By the time Kaveh and Cyno came back, there were glasses filled with ice and soda bottles. There were also two boxes of ice cream with the spoons ready on top of the lid. Kaveh’s mood quickly rose up as he ran to where the stuff was, looking at it with an excited smile and a seemingly hungry one too.
“Finally! What a way to beat the heat!” Kaveh sighed in relief as he sat down on one of the high chairs and served himself some ice cream. Alhaitham also joined shortly, sitting beside him as the atmosphere seemed lively. They didn’t realize Cyno and Tighnari had already left once again, but they didn’t pay too much attention to that. After all, it was too hot to even focus on anything else if you have ice cream served right in front of you, along with some cold drinks.
After the quick eating session, Kaveh washed the dishes and started cleaning up the kitchen so that it’s not messy. Alhaitham was already preparing himself in the bathroom since it was too hot to even continue doing his tasks.
As he was stripping and placing his used clothes into the laundry basket, a familiar voice echoed through the other side of the door, and it was none other than Kaveh.
“May I join?”
What?
It seemed like a sudden out of character for Kaveh to ask such a thing. Alhaitham stood there in confusion for a minute before Kaveh’s voice repeated once again. He sighed as he realized that perhaps he needed it just to cool off. Not like he was planning to reject his request either way. They were together after all, so the idea of showering together with your significant other didn’t seem so bad.
“Sure. Just make sure not to slip or something.” The corners of Kaveh’s lips curved into a small smile before entering. Once he was inside, he locked the door and stripped it from his clothing. He joined in along with Alhaitham in the shower. When the cold water touched his sticky and wet body, he sighed in relief at the feeling of it. Alhaitham didn’t hesitate to gently rub on Kaveh’s hair with the shampoo that he uses. Of course, Kaveh didn’t mind this small act of service as he also helped along with scrubbing Alhaitham’s body in return.
…
After the shower, Kaveh prepared the TV and the cold drinks while Alhaitham turned off the lights and turned on the air conditioner. It was already night time at this point, so the usage of windows being opened was debunked. The two eventually settled at the couch, bantering for a bit before finally picking a movie that they’ll watch together on this ‘cool’ summer night.