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Alhaitham didn't think that he was desperate. Alhaitham has a cushy job as a scribe in the Akademiya, he clocks in at 7 in the morning and clocks out at 5 in the evening. Alhaitham's also not short on mora, he has everything he thinks he needs and tucks away the spare mora for emergencies. Although Alhaitham is unmated, it is by choice.
Alhaitham knows the other scholars have been gossiping about him not having an alpha yet. Alhaitham personally thinks it's utterly none of their business. It's not like there's a shortage of alphas wanting to court Alhaitham. Alhaitham just does not like any of them.
Those useless alphas did not even have feelings for him. Lust, maybe, but never like or love. Alhaitham sees it in their eyes, the way they act. They just want to see him submit to them and have him vulnerable underneath them. In short, those alphas just want to dominate him. Alhaitham huffs. do they think he's stupid enough to fall for their empty, sweet words and promises?
Months passed and Alhaitham is still unmated. Alhaitham does not particularly care about it. All those "omegas need to have an alpha to pamper them" bullshit doesn't cross his mind even once. Even if Alhaitham's an omega, he can handle himself well without a domineering alpha on his side.
Then, Alhaitham met Kaveh in Lambad's. Alhaitham was just there to buy a quick drink to smother his irritation away, an alpha who tried to make him submit by surrounding him with pheromones. There, Alhaitham saw a familiar figure slumped into the counter.
Alhaitham looked at that supposedly proud figure, heart slightly breaking when it was so different from his memories. Kaveh should be standing proud and stall, chin up, and ready to spread his passion to anyone. The Kaveh he's seeing right now is so downtrodden, looking like the passion that fueled him during their Akademiya days has been stripped away from him.
Without thinking, Alhaitham made his way to Kaveh and sat beside him. Kaveh twitched, feeling that someone is near him. Kaveh slowly looked up, dull carmine meeting calm teal. Alhaitham pursed his lips, not liking the way Kaveh's bright and lively eyes became so empty. How much did it take for him to be like this?
Alhaitham shared a drink with Kaveh, listening to Kaveh tell him everything that happened. Alhaitham, not knowing how to comfort him, gave Kaveh an awkward hug. Alhaitham felt Kaveh stiffen up in his arms and was about to pull away when he felt Kaveh relax in his arms. Kaveh's arms snaked around Alhaitham's waist, pulling him closer to the trembling alpha's exhausted body.
"Haitham, Haitham, Haitham. I'm so tired. I'm so, so tired." Kaveh's shaking terribly in his arms. Alhaitham tightened his embrace, irrationally thinking that Kaveh will crumble into dust if he so much as loosened his grip on him. Alhaitham lifted a hand and placed it on the back of Kaveh's head, scratching at his scalp gently. In a soft voice, Alhaitham offered.
"Come home with me."
-
It's been a year since Alhaitham invited Kaveh to live with him. Saying that he's regretting it is an understatement. Don't get him wrong, Kaveh is a good addition to Alhaitham's otherwise bland life. Kaveh does the household chores, pays rent on time mostly, and challenges Alhaitham's perspective on many things. If anything, Alhaitham is looking forward to their debates. It keeps his mind active and also entertains him greatly. Not that he will tell Kaveh that.
The downside of it all is that Alhaitham realized he's head over heels for Kaveh. Alhaitham had an inkling that the feelings are always there, just buried deep within. Now that they live and see each other almost every day, those bottled-up feelings burst open and overwhelmed Alhaitham.
The strength of said feelings scared Alhaitham. If Kaveh told Alhaitham to recklessly rush into a fatui camp, Alhaitham will tell him something borderline offensive before entering the camp. With no other people to turn to, Alhaitham approached Tighnari. Tighnari just told him to confess so Alhaitham got up and left after saying his thanks. Of course, he did not confess.
A year of an omega and an alpha living together, there are things bound to happen. Things like them helping each other through heats and ruts. They trusted each other so they did not refuse each other's offers. So now, Alhaitham has Kaveh as his heat partner. Kind of not helping with his crisis, by the way.
It's not that Alhaitham is insecure. Alhaitham just knows that Kaveh's ideal omega is not him. Kaveh probably likes the omegas who are soft-spoken, someone who wouldn't rile him up every second just for fun. Kaveh probably likes an omega who smells sweet, like vanilla or just something unlike Alhaitham's scent of newly opened books tinged with an aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
Alhaitham thought that if Kaveh wouldn't be attracted to his personality, maybe he had a chance with his body. But after spending countless ruts and heats together, Kaveh is still not attracted to him. Maybe Kaveh likes his omega slim and smaller than him. Too bad that Alhaitham is almost the same height as Kaveh and is much more muscular than him.
Maybe it is quite hopeless after all. Still, Alhaitham does not decline Kaveh's help for his heat and Alhaitham still continues to help Kaveh through his ruts. These little tastes of warmth and intimacy with Kaveh, Alhaitham could never let go. Let Alhaitham stay by Kaveh's side until Kaveh no longer has a need for him. At that time, Alhaitham will willingly part away with Kaveh.
Although Alhaitham does not understand why. Alhaitham always wakes up with breakfast already waiting at their table, with Kaveh humming softly while brewing them coffee. Kaveh wouldn't allow Alhaitham to go outside if Alhaitham isn't covered with Kaveh's scent. Alhaitham will come home to a still hot dinner, with Kaveh waiting for him before he starts to eat. Alhaitham and Kaveh now share Alhaitham's room, at the insistence of Kaveh. Alhaitham sleeps with his back flushed on Kaveh's chest, an arm slung over his waist protectively and another under his head, acting like a pillow.
Alhaitham doesn't understand but he likes it. Alhaitham loves it. It made him think that Kaveh loves him too. That Kaveh wants him as a mate, a lifelong one. But most of the time, those thoughts will get crushed and Alhaitham will be kicked back to reality. That Kaveh does not feel anything to him and everything that Alhaitham is enjoying right now will be snatched away from him. The scenting, the cuddling, the soft touches, everything will be given to Kaveh's future mate.
Then, Kaveh suddenly brought him a ring. It's a simple one, silver with intricate carvings that you couldn't see unless you look closely. Just up to Alhaitham's tastes. When Kaveh said he was the one who made it, Alhaitham accepted Kaveh's gift and put it on his ring finger. It's not like he would accept any other ring from other alphas. With the silver ring that Kaveh personally made, Alhaitham can fool himself into thinking that they are married. Alhaitham even developed an unconscious habit of gently prodding the ring, caressing it with utmost care.
Now, Alhaitham is very confused. Every time he goes out, every people he passed by stops him to say their congratulations. Alhaitham knows it's just a misunderstanding but he selfishly didn't explain and just accepted their congratulations. But, even their closest friends started congratulating him. They even asked him when is the wedding. What wedding? Is Alhaitham missing something?
When Alhaitham got home, he went to Kaveh and told him about what is confusing him. Kaveh just laughed and hugged him, peppering his face with kisses. Alhaitham grumbled but did not resist, letting Kaveh kiss him until he was satisfied. After a while, Kaveh finally released him.
"Silly, of course, they are asking when is our wedding! I'm thinking of-" Alhaitham started choking on nothing but Kaveh paid him no mind. Wedding? Their wedding? Alhaitham and Kaveh's wedding?! When did this happen? Alhaitham didn't even know Kaveh reciprocated his feelings and now he finds out they are getting married?!
"-Maybe in autumn or spring. I like those seasons the most so I'm making you choose between them-"
"Kaveh-"
"-Already have venues in mind! I personally don't like to have our wedding in a church, I kind of think it's going to get stuffy-"
"Wait-"
"-Maybe an outdoor one! We'll just have to make sure the weather will agree so our wedding will go smoothly. Also, which flowers do you-"
"For Lesser Lord Kusanali's sake, Kaveh shut up for a minute!" Kaveh immediately stopped talking. Alhaitham can feel him pouting but Kaveh just pulled Alhaitham's body closer to him and buried his face on Alhaitham's neck, feeling wronged.
"What do you mean our wedding? When did we get engaged?" Kaveh mumbled something into Alhaitham's skin. Alhaitham nudged him until Kaveh was forced to lift his head from his hiding place.
"We got engaged after three months of me moving here. You don't remember? It was when I asked if you want to be partners. I didn't have a ring that time because I couldn't afford the materials yet." Alhaitham thought back to that time. Kaveh indeed asked if Alhaitham wanted to be his partner. Oh.
"I thought partner, like partners that help each other during heats and ruts with no romantic feelings involved." Kaveh sighed, looking at Alhaitham with disappointed eyes. It's weird because it's usually the other way around. Alhaitham blushed, averting his gaze.
"Then, are we still going to continue planning our wedding or-" Kaveh haven't even finished asking when Alhaitham pounced on him, fervently agreeing. Kaveh laughed gleefully, bridal carrying his blockhead of omega and walking to their bedroom. There, he makes sure that the omega thoroughly understands what their relationship truly is.