Wherein Kaveh reads his mother's diary after he comes back from his favorite location in the desert - 🌱🏛️

Reading his mother's diary changes Kaveh. He knew it would, to a degree - just not in a way he expected. Especially after Tighnari caught him on his way back to the city,

ironically just as his friend was about to leave.

'Companionship' was the advice she gave. All the more reason for Kaveh to accept Tighnari's invitation to dinner, though he would've went anyway for Collei's sake.

'Companionship' , he thinks involuntarily, when Alhaitham walks him home.

Their home. He can't even blame the drink, what with holding back to give sober advice.

But it was true, wasn't it? Even if Alhaitham stayed on the shore as he swam out to sea, he was still there. And he may not choose to get wet, but at least...

At least he had offered Kaveh a lifeline. More than once. It would be so easy to ignore, if it was just once.

Kaveh still remembered the notes left for him during the Interdarshan Tournament.

He wonders then, mind turning back to his mother's diary - If Alhaitham was just awkward?

Before, Kaveh would have laughed at such a thought, one with bitterness and conviction that his old friend could be anything but calm and composed and cold. But now, he wonders. Because under the hurt, he remembers.

There was a time when they were the closest of companions. Where like now, Alhaitham could be rude and blunt, temperamental and even funny in his sarcastic witticisms, but not cruel. Where even his being difficult had a reason behind it, and they worked it through.

Suddenly Kaveh is hit by an epiphany, pausing to stand up a little straighter. Alhaitham takes a step or two ahead, before turning to look at him with an inquisitive gaze.

Kaveh immediately knows he can't handle the scrutiny, not right now, and waves the attention away.

"Ah, I just realised I should really chase doen that client which gave me trouble. I think there's more there than first appears."

Which... Well, is true, now he thinks about it. Alhaitham hums, and gestures for Kaveh to keep walking, as if he's about to hit his stride again.

"As nice as it is to see you seek clarity for what is likely a misunderstanding, chase them tomorrow. It's late and I won't be keeping the door open for you."

Ugh, this guy...! And to think, Kaveh was actually contemplating giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Except, well. He doesn't stop contemplating. When he gets home he finds his mother's diary and reads it again. And again, to make sure. He thinks about how he's also awkward at expressing himself sometimes, how the client might have been too scared to be honest.

He also thinks about the annotations he left for students in the library. How there were complaints about them, but one student clearly knew their worth. How Alhaitham would've clearly read them and knew what he was talking about too, to a degree.

(His sense of artistry obviously could use some work.)

He thinks of how Alhaitham also keeps notebooks, and prefers the written word more than anyone Kaveh knows.

Mind churning, Kaveh knows he won't be getting any sleep without doing anything about these discoveries. So instead, he decides to test this companionship hypothesis. Not to doubt his own Mother, but these things should be tested before making further leaps.

And who better to test it with, than his own roommate?

Taking a page from her book, so to speak, Kaveh writes a short note to Alhaitham. In their shared language of course, to have this discovered by outsiders would be embarrassing.

Many pieces of paper are written and discarded, before he finally chooses to settle on: 'With a job like yours, what gets you through the day?'

Simple. To the point. Seeking a different perspective on the very trouble he himself was having earlier too. More sources never hurt.

Besides, he knows Alhaitham doesn't exactly enjoy his job either, though being surrounded by books is likewise a dream come true for his roommate. It still does involve actual work, after all.

Somewhat satisfied, but still nervous, Kaveh gives up on sleep.

Instead he decides to make coffee. It's now early enough in the morning he can leave some aside for when Alhaitham wakes up too, and he'll place the note next to it.

Then, with the excuse of having to get to Port Ormos to hunt for his wayward client, Kaveh sets off.

It's better than sticking around and seeing Alhaitham's reaction to the note, that's for sure. If things work out with the client, he might be lucky enough to make it home when Alhaitham isn't there to watch him read the response either.

Somehow, the trepidation Kaveh is feeling almost seems like excitement.

- from

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