featheradrift | Inbox (The City)

Let me? [ kaveh says, incredulous. and then, in that exact same tone: ] Let's go?

[ kaveh looks between alhaitham and wanderer as if he isn't certain who to get terribly annoyed at first. but he uses alhaitham's shoulder as leverage to stand, and then, holding back a wince at the gash in his leg, tilts his head out towards the exit. ] Well, I suppose I'd rather you come with us than not, Yuu, given that we don't know where Kromer is and there's safety in numbers. That's alright. You, Alhaitham - what makes you think you could stop me from doing as we needed to?

["Let's go" Yuu says. Alhaitham's gaze moves around the two of them and the restaurant as he considers that before he just shrugs. Kaveh winces as he rises first. Alhaitham narrows his eyes.]

Hmm, maybe this. [It's all at once the way he hooks his arm behind Kaveh's knees as he stands, lifting him right off his feet as the other catches his back and then he's tucked securely into Alhaitham's arms.]

Alright, let's go. [And he immediately walks for the exit, Kaveh in hand.]

[ Oh, how cute. He can already hear how Kaveh will squawk and protest but for all that he is a hurricane at times, other times, he is like a whimpering whisper who can be stopped by something as small as this.

The drifter jogs slightly ahead of them so he can turn around to face them, walking backwards, for one purpose. He whips out his phone and activates the Kamera function, holding it just still enough to get a clear shot of the pair. A couple of snaps later, he tucks away the phone and turns as if he didn't just do that. Time to be alert for danger. ]

Edited 2024-01-22 00:54 (UTC)

[ all of a sudden, kaveh's feet are no longer touching the ground. ]

Alhaitham! [ and then, in that self-same tone: ] Yuu!! [ as the kamera flash goes off and kaveh realises he's being ping-ponged between two irreverently rude juniors. how, kaveh thinks, with some measure of despair, how did it come to this? ] Delete that! The distance and angle is entirely wrong, I'm willing to bet you've half the building in that frame. Alhaitham, I can walk, put me down, you brute. As if you're not just as injured as I am - I saw her go for your arm!

[What Yuu gets within the frame: Alhaitham, looking at Kaveh in his arms as they leave the restaurant door to swing shut behind them. The slight tense in his grip to keep Kaveh in place as he flusters. The curve of his eyes as the amusement waxes and wanes across it.]

The wound on your leg is bothering you. [An establishment. And then, softer, a plea:] Let me.

[ The drifter laughs quietly at Kaveh's indignation but doesn't turn around to respond, only waving his hand to indicate that he heard the architect. The two of them could have their tender moment. Or, Alhaitham could try and Kaveh would probably continue screeching.

He monitors their surroundings as they walk. He doubted Kromer, or anyone else, would be foolish enough to attack them, but it never paid to be negligent. ]

[ 'let me', alhaitham says.

kaveh sucks in a breath sharp enough to cut. for a moment, there is nothing. and then: ]

... fine. [ he says. he says this with the breath of a man still living in that singular, frozen moment, hovering over a plate of liver with the odd power to decide the fate of five lives in the mix. kaveh's hand tightens where it's wound into alhaitham's collar. then, finally, he allows his arm around alhaitham's neck, so he can hold himself there. ] It's not that bad, really. It hardly hurts.

Of course, you're just indulging me. [It's a gentle murmur that speaks the motion he can't quite make. Let him, and Kaveh allows him to care.

His gaze lifts forward. Yuu handles most of the scouting.

Alhaitham doesn't falter the whole way back. Not once across half a district and up three apartment floors. It's a safe venture. There was little chance it wouldn't be.

They stop in front of the door. Alhaitham minutely shifts his hold.] Kaveh, do you have your key? Otherwise one of you grab mine out of my belt pouch, please.

[ The Wanderer looks over to Kaveh expectantly. Even if Kaveh confirms he doesn't have the key, he's not about to reach into Alhaitham's belt pouch and put himself way too close to the scribe. There's a reason his hat is as wide as it is. ]

[ the walk back is simultaneously the longest road taken and the shortest route chosen. kaveh looks up to see their apartment building loom. the elevator is a stifling silence cloistered in the warm cove of alhaitham's arms. there is nothing to say, and everything to say, and into the silence, kaveh casts his consternation. he is just indulging alhaitham, but they've always done so for each other.

their door is a mosaicked pattern, doorframe carefully wrought to resemble sumeran patterns depicting repeating moorish-style geometric patterns. kaveh looks to yuu, then to alhaitham, and grimaces as he slips his hand into alhaitham's pouch for the key. he tosses it to yuu so he can open their door, his head tipped against alhaitham's shoulder. ]

... sorry for this, Yuu. We came to warn you, but it seems you were on guard duty in this entire time. Would you like to stay the night at least? It's relative safety, in this city.

[Alhaitham waits until Yuu unlocks the door before striding in. Their conversation, he thinks, they can have while he carries Kaveh to the divan and sets him down on it.

Then he leaves for a couple minutes to retrieve the first aid from the bathroom. He sits down next to Kaveh, unpacking it before gesturing for Kaveh to roll up his pantleg.]

[ The Wanderer catches the keys without fuss and opens the door, stepping back to let the pair enter first before he follows. He gently closes the door behind himself, ensuring it's properly locked before setting aside his hat and leaning against the wall nearby the entrance. Ever vigilant against danger.

The Wanderer considers Kaveh's offer for a moment. If he mentions that he doesn't sleep at all, Kaveh is going to kick up a fuss, isn't he? And if he rejects the offer... he'll also kick up a fuss, won't he? Despite knowing that he is a puppet, and was created by a god. ]

...Fine.

[ But he doesn't budge from his vigil next to the door. ]

[ fine, says yuu. the word is a single, drawn-out, dragged out acquiescence. kaveh knows he is being humoured. the smile he offers yuu is all the same, gratitude and relief into one. he rolls up his pantleg to let alhaitham begin tending to the cut on his leg. the blood has dried, leaving it merely exposed, paper-thin scabs crusted like gems. it reminds kaveh, he realises, of oripathy crystals. the reminder is not a kind one.

instead, he tips his chin up to yuu. ]

I'll prepare one of the divans for you. Feel free to use our apartment as you need and as you like.

[Alhaitham pops upon the aid kit. He lines up gauze and cotton pads and disinfectant and a towel, and gets to work cleaning the leg wound first. Just enough alcohol to clear the blood and bacteria, not too much pressure.]

Kaveh will feel much better with you here. [He starts, without looking up. The gauze is unwound.] Maybe he'll even sleep tonight.

[Alhaitham knows he doesn't exactly plan to. He'll stare at the ceiling until the weight of his thoughts becomes too much and then set to pace around the apartment or drink his thoughts away. Alhaitham may not sleep either.]

[ It's at this that he pauses, and then gives Alhaitham a flat look. He's on to you buddy. He knows exactly what Alhaitham is doing. And worse, he's soft enough to let it work. Because it's Alhaitham making the request, no matter how indirect it is, and because he's not lying, Kaveh probably would sleep better knowing the drifter is safe and not about to run off to get himself in trouble.

Perhaps the most mortifying of all realizations is that Alhaitham thinks he would acquiesce because he cares. But Alhaitham has always been far too perceptive, especially if it stands to benefit him, and the Wanderer's affection for him and Kaveh is certainly something he would benefit from.

His ears burn with the knowledge of being seen by the scribe, which he tries to dispel with a loud exhale of displeasure. ]

I said I would, didn't I?? Leave me alone.

[ He pushes off from the wall and vanishes into the kitchen. ]

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