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Kaveh is cleaning Alhaitham’s study when he first finds the marriage certificate. It’s an inconspicuous document, just a simple sheet of paper that Kaveh never would’ve seen or taken notice of if he hadn’t decided to clean Alhaitham’s old desk today.
Neither of them use the rickety thing anymore and so it’s been shoved into a corner of their shared study, left to gather dust and take up space. Kaveh swipes a finger across the surface, frowning when his fingertip reveals the lovely shade of mahogany brown hidden beneath the thick layer of dust.
Good grief—just how much time has passed for it to become this dirty? If this is the surface then Kaveh can’t even imagine how bad the drawers are.
He curls his hand around the handle of a drawer and pulls it out to peek inside. Kaveh’s not sure what he’s expecting but what he finds is very disappointing.
A simple stack of yellowed papers sits in the drawer. It’s a disappointing discovery because—perhaps a little foolishly—Kaveh had been hoping to find something embarrassing like a secret stash of risqué Inazuman light novels.
But Alhaitham is a shameless man in every sense of the word. Even if Kaveh did uncover something mortifying, Alhaitham wouldn’t be embarrassed at all. He’d probably just reproach Kaveh for snooping through his things instead of working on his projects.
Not that Kaveh needs the lecture; he’s only “snooping” because he’s finished all his other work for the week and as some would say—idle hands are the devil’s workshop.
Kaveh bites his lip and eyes the stack of papers again. Is it really snooping if he’s just innocently sifting through some old documents in their shared study? Sure it’s Alhaitham’s old desk and the papers likely have absolutely nothing to do with Kaveh himself but it can’t hurt to take a little peek.
Unable to curb his curiosity, Kaveh temporarily discards his own shame and reaches for the stack of papers.
He tries to ignore the twinge of guilt twisting in his stomach but Kaveh’s never been good at turning off his moral compass. Said moral compass is already askew considering he’s been snooping around without Alhaitham’s permission.
Still attempting to ignore his guilt, Kaveh vows that if he does find anything embarrassing, he won’t tease his roommate for it. Even though Alhaitham’s been relentlessly teasing me for my Aranara plushie collection, Kaveh thinks with a strained smile.
Kaveh will be the bigger man, despite how the breadth of Alhaitham’s broad shoulders significantly trumps Kaveh’s leaner frame. Kaveh will be magnanimous.
The stack of papers is thicker than expected. Kaveh clicks his tongue as he fully pulls the papers out from the drawer. He briefly wonders why Alhaitham kept so many old documents but he supposes that he’ll find out soon enough anyway.
Something slips out from the stack while Kaveh moves it from the drawer to the desktop. The blond almost dismisses the sheet, absently picking it up to place atop the other documents but he freezes as his eyes catch on the paper’s large, fancy title and the two names printed neatly beneath it.
CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE
…
Alhaitham of Sumeru and Kaveh of Sumeru
Kaveh does a double take. He blinks rapidly like he’s expecting the words to magically change in the milliseconds between each blink. When that doesn’t work Kaveh resorts to roughly rubbing his eyes to clear his vision because there is no way that he’s reading the document’s title properly.
There’s just no way that he’s looking at a marriage certificate for him and Alhaitham.
A marriage certificate, Kaveh repeats distraughtly, for him and Alhaitham.
Kaveh snatches the certificate up to scrutinise it more closely, eyes rapidly searching the document for any sign of forgery or the smallest indication that it’s just a fake.
If his eyes aren’t deceiving him then the marriage certificate would suggest that Kaveh and Alhaitham had tied the knot nearly two years ago. That would also imply that Kaveh and Alhaitham have been married for two years.
There’s no fucking way this is real, Kaveh stresses in his mind as his thumb glides over the official stamp depicting the insignia of Sumeru’s Department of Marriage. The stamp’s olive-green wax feels very real to the touch and if it’s authentic then Alhaitham and Kaveh are—at least in the eyes of Sumeru’s legal system—very married.
What the fuck.
An explanation must be sought immediately.
“Alhaitham!” He hisses, storming into the living room where Alhaitham is standing with his back turned to Kaveh.
The man is casually perusing a bookshelf. There’s a vast assortment of literature lining each shelf but Kaveh knows that Alhaitham’s already read everything from cover-to-cover at least once. He’s probably just looking for something quick to reread before dinner.
None of the books on the shelf are particularly short but Alhaitham’s always been a very fast reader; it’ll be easy for him to finish whatever book he chooses before it’s time to eat.
Kaveh fumes silently. For Alhaitham’s sake, it better be easy for him to provide a fast explanation for this marriage certificate too.
Alhaitham is slow to acknowledge Kaveh. He languidly turns his head to meet Kaveh’s incensed stare and even then, all he does is boredly say: “Yes?”
Kaveh is nowhere near as composed as his roommate. “What the hell is this?!” He demands though it comes out strangled, the syllables high and reedy like he’s somehow winded from the anger.
Without waiting for his roommate to reply, Kaveh shoves the marriage certificate under Alhaitham’s nose. He’s still seething as he waits for Alhaitham to take it from his grasp.
Kaveh taps his foot impatiently—anxiously, against the floor. The rapid rhythm of his tapping makes him feel like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. He’s a bit bitter to note that the comparison isn’t untrue.
Alhaitham finally takes the document from him and just barely skims his eyes over the page before handing it back to Kaveh. Completely dumbfounded by Alhaitham’s casualness, Kaveh can only take it back with a hanging jaw.
“Oh, that.” Alhaitham says casually, then turns back to the bookshelf. His tone is so casual that it borders blithe flippancy.
It’s infuriating.
“Care to explain?” Kaveh grinds out through clenched teeth.
He’s still holding the marriage certificate but he’s trying his best to calm down. As angry as he is, Kaveh’s careful not to grip the paper too tightly. He doesn’t want to crease the edges or otherwise damage the marriage certificate because—
The reason isn’t important. What’s important is the lecture that Kaveh’s about to give Alhaitham about respecting his seniors, since the younger man is apparently determined to be as unhelpful as possible today.
Kaveh opens his mouth to start scolding but he’s intercepted by Alhaitham.
The grey-haired man’s eyes flick to the document again for a moment before returning to the bookshelf. “Can’t you read? If you can’t then it’s a wonder that you ever graduated from the Akademiya in the first place, let alone with high honours.”
This little—
Kaveh resists the urge to throttle Alhaitham. He takes deep breaths to calm himself before speaking again. “I can read just fine, thank you very much.” Kaveh pauses to frustratedly glower at the document in his hands. “I’m just baffled as to why you have a marriage certificate with our names on it!”
He’s not looking at Alhaitham for his reaction; Kaveh’s eyes are still fixed on the marriage certificate, trying to gauge its authenticity. He inspects the document shrewdly; it certainly looks real.
Kaveh squints as it again, specifically at the signatures signed above two dotted lines which were beneath their printed names. Alhaitham’s simple signature is scrawled across one line and Kaveh’s own flamboyant signature is right beside it, clear as day in Kaveh’s pretty penmanship.
“How did you forge my signature?” Kaveh asks suspiciously as he tilts the certificate to inspect his penmanship from a different angle. It’s a remarkable copy of his signature; it looks so real that Kaveh’s suddenly worried about how susceptible he’s apparently become to identity theft with such an easily forged mark.
“I didn’t forge your signature. Have you forgotten? You signed it yourself.” Alhaitham replies in a lilting tone. He’s smiling a little, a small grin that lifts the apples of his cheeks and indicates Alhaitham’s amusement in lieu of laughter.
Kaveh isn’t so amused himself. In fact, he’s quite distraught by Alhaitham’s words.
When? When had Kaveh signed this sheet of paper? He certainly can’t remember signing a marriage certificate legally binding him to Alhaitham forever.
No, it can’t be true. Kaveh can’t have signed this and Alhaitham must be pranking him; there’s no other possible explanation. But when had the other man discovered Kaveh’s feelings? All these years—he thought he’d been so subtle!
Glancing at the other man furtively when Kaveh was sure that he wouldn’t be caught.
Keeping his fantasies to himself and daydreaming in the privacy of his bedroom, hidden from Alhaitham’s incredibly perceptive eyes.
Sighing wistfully into the night and waking up alone in the mornings, secretly wishing that he’d fallen asleep in the arms of Alhaitham instead.
Clearly, he hadn’t been discrete enough. His unrequited feelings did not escape the notice of the ever-astute Alhaitham.
Kaveh knows that Alhaitham is an incredibly observant man—he just never expected him to be so cruel.
“Do you think this is funny? Are my feelings a joke to you?” Kaveh demands again but it’s not angry this time. The syllables are still distorted but they’re broken in anguish and not rage.
Kaveh feels like he’s seconds away from crying and it must show on his face because Alhaitham quickly straightens up. The amused look is wiped from Alhaitham’s face immediately, replaced with a serious but not unkind expression instead.
“I’m sorry for teasing you; your feelings could never be a joke to me.” The grey-haired man takes Kaveh’s hand. His thumb traces soothing circles over Kaveh’s skin, calming Kaveh’s thundering heart and wracked nerves. “But the signature is real; you really did sign it yourself.”
Kaveh falters at Alhaitham’s response. How could that be true? And what does this mean for their relationship and for everything that’s transpired within the last two years of their life?
If his own signature is real then that would mean that Alhaitham’s signature is also real. The grey-haired man had willingly signed it too, completely of his own volition, which subsequently can only indicate…indicate what?
There’s so much to consider. There’s too much to consider.
Kaveh feels completely overwhelmed: he doesn’t know what to think and his heart is beating uncomfortably quickly in his chest. His thoughts are jumbled, they’re too loud in his mind and he needs to do something but what?
What the hell can Kaveh even do with the knowledge that he’s married to Alhaitham—the man he’s oh so hopelessly in love with—when he doesn’t even if know if his feelings are reciprocated?
Of course, there’s a very simple solution to this problem. An obvious solution that even the most oblivious or obtuse person would immediately think of.
Kaveh rips his hand back from Alhaitham, surprising the other man with the abruptness of the action. The blond feels a little apologetic for startling him but he needs to speak first.
“I want a divorce.” Kaveh demands.
“No.” Alhaitham declines.
Kaveh’s face burns a bright red and his cheeks puff up until they’re round like Harra Fruits and just as hot as them too. He’s sure he looks like an angry anemo slime, as he often does when he’s dealing with Alhaitham’s bullshit.
“What do you mean no?” Kaveh is angry but his tone is also laced with confusion because, well, he’s confused.
He doesn’t understand why Alhaitham won’t divorce him. It’s baffling because refusing a divorce would mean that Alhaitham actually wants to be married to Kaveh and that just doesn’t make any sense at all.
Alhaitham’s response is not enlightening. “Sorry but you signed the certificate and it’s as they say: ‘til death do us part.”
“Give me thirty seconds with my claymore and I’ll fix that clause right away.” Kaveh purrs while flexing his hand, preparing to summon his claymore. Mehrak’s currently charging in his room but the blond is confident enough to wield his weapon alone.
Alhaitham dismisses the implied threat. The grey-haired man steps forward and glances at Kaveh meaningfully. But maybe he does heed Kaveh’s threat a little because Alhaitham takes hold of Kaveh’s hand again so the blond can’t manifest his claymore.
“Mariticide is genuinely frowned upon, also I think you’d be quite sad if you murdered your husband.” Alhaitham drawls, half teasingly and half seriously. His eyebrows are raised mirthfully, even if his tone is flat.
“And why is that?” Kaveh frowns suspiciously. It’s never good when Alhaitham’s face adopts that amused expression and Kaveh’s learned to anticipate the teasing quips that usually follow.
“You don’t have to lie Kaveh; I know you’d miss me.” Alhaitham’s mouth curves up into a cheeky smile. Oh dear Archons his dimples are showing. And he’s still holding Kaveh’s hand.
“You insufferable man!” Kaveh immediately snatches his hand back but he can’t deny Alhaitham’s words.
Thankfully, his roommate’s teasing has calmed him down enough that he can also find amusement in the ridiculous situation. Kaveh still can’t grasp the reality of it all but he’s relaxed enough to crack some jokes of his own.
“I cannot believe that you married me without proposing properly!” Kaveh jokingly chides. “And we didn’t even have a wedding either, our poor friends and family never got to witness our union!”
Alhaitham laughs as he plays along. “From what I gather, you seem to be more upset about how we married rather than the fact that we are married.”
“Well…I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t marry you.” Kaveh quietly mumbles, playing with his hands out of shyness.
It’s true, he really would be lying. Alhaitham is the man of his dreams—he’s loved him for years now and he doesn’t think he’ll ever stop. For all their arguments and inability to see eye-to-eye at times, there’s no one they trust more than each other.
Moreover. Alhaitham’s been such a steadfast presence in his life, an unstinting pillar of his support for all of their acquaintance barring the days after their fallout. He’s always been there for Kaveh through the highs and the lows, always looking out for him and keeping a roof over his head in both a literal and figurative sense. Alhaitham is undoubtedly kind, no matter what his tone or choice of words would leave some people to believe.
How could Kaveh not love this man?
He’s about to confess when Alhaitham interjects with his own abrupt confession. What comes tumbling out of his roommate’s mouth completely knocks Kaveh’s world off its axis again.
“The marriage certificate is fake.” Alhaitham blurts out.
Kaveh feels like he’s been doused with cold water. “What?! So you did forge my signature?” Shock, anger, and a deep sadness penetrates his body as he considers the implications of Alhaitham’s words.
There’s a sharp pang in his chest and it twists deeper with the knowledge that Alhaitham had just been pranking him.
The sting of tears burns Kaveh’s eyes but he won’t cry in front of Alhaitham; Kaveh hastily tries to escape to his room.
“Wait, no!” Alhaitham quickly denies. Desperately, he tries to grab Kaveh’s hand but the blond jerks back like he can’t bear the thought of being touched by Alhaitham.
Alhaitham recoils back a little. He looks hurt by Kaveh’s rejection of his touch and no matter how ironic it is, seeing that hurts Kaveh too.
“Then what? Why did you make a fake marriage certificate?” Kaveh whispers in response instead of escaping. He’s fighting his instincts to keep his feet in place—they beg him to leave, to run far away and keep running until they ache as much as his heart does.
Alhaitham takes a deep breath before he explains. “No, Kaveh I never—The marriage certificate is fake but I didn’t forge your signature, I swear.” He hesitates for a second. Then he looks up with such sad eyes that Kaveh can’t say no when Alhaitham asks: “Can I please hold your hand?”
The blond shakily extends his hand to Alhaitham who takes it gingerly. He wraps both his hands around it, rubbing soothing lines back and forth in an attempt to comfort the both of them. The stabbing pain in Kaveh’s heart subsides a little; it’s working.
“Thank you.” Alhaitham murmurs then sighs before he continues. “You made the marriage certificate.”
“What?” Kaveh’s stunned by the accusation. Accusation is a strong word to use but Kaveh isn’t sure what else to call Alhaitham’s statement; he doesn’t know if it’s the truth.
“You got drunk one night,” Alhaitham averts his gaze momentarily but then he looks straight back into Kaveh’s eyes. Clear teal orbs, so honest and sincere that Kaveh knows he’s telling the truth now. “You came back late in the evening with the marriage certificate half signed, declaring that you were sick of dancing around your feelings and that I should sign the other line so we could argue about soup versus solid food forever.”
Oh Celestia. A bright blush erupts over Kaveh’s face as he starts recalling the mortifying events of that night from two years ago.
He remembers now.
He remembers everything.
Oh Celestia! He mentally cries to himself again. Kaveh had gotten drunk and then pitifully begged Cyno for hours until the other man agreed to make him an official looking copy of Sumeru’s marriage certificates. He then quickly signed it himself before running home to find Alhaitham and asking his roommate to sign it too.
The other man had declined at first, insisting that Kaveh should ask him again in the morning when he’s not horrendously intoxicated but Kaveh had tearily insisted. In fact, Kaveh distinctly remembers sinking to the floor and, crying and clinging to Alhaitham’s leg until he finally acquiesced and signed the document.
Mercifully, or perhaps not, Kaveh can’t remember much after that. But the memories that he can recall are vivid in his mind, a torturous highlight reel that plays over and over again in his head, incessantly and with no signs of stopping.
The blond pulls his hand back from Alhaitham’s grasp. He buries his face in his hands and wishes that he could disappear. The loop of memories still repeats in his mind, humiliating him with every rewinding moment.
Alhaitham hasn’t said anything for a while. Or maybe he has and Kaveh’s been too consumed by his mortification to hear. Preferably, Kaveh would like to continue pretending that he doesn’t exist and that this is all just a terribly realistic nightmare but the blond knows that he can’t avoid the conversation forever.
Somewhat miserably, Kaveh musters the courage to look at his roommate.
Alhaitham is already watching him with a gentle smile on his face.
Kaveh’s face warms under Alhaitham’s attention. It’s rare that the other man’s face is softened with such a sweet tenderness. When he looks at him like this—and Kaveh wishes that Alhaitham would look at him like this all the time—it makes Kaveh feel so treasured and safe. Under that affectionate gaze, Kaveh feels like he has nothing to fear or be embarrassed about.
Unfortunately, it also makes him feel so shy that he might just have to bury his face into his hands again, this time for forever or at least until the redness in his face subsides. Judging by the heat still lingering on his cheeks, there’s not much of a difference between the two.
“I’m guessing you remember now?” Alhaitham asks in a gentle tone.
Kaveh only nods, unable to speak. He goes back to shyly playing with his fingers. The blond really wants to hide his face again—the urge is so strong that he has to keep his hands occupied lest they come flying up to his face without his permission.
He can’t hide his face though because that would mean looking away from Alhaitham and Kaveh isn’t willing to do that right now. Nothing is worth the sight of the other man’s handsome face when he looks like this, so kind and adoring that Kaveh thinks he could melt under that gaze.
Alhaitham smiles again.
And then he drops down on one knee.
Kaveh’s breath hitches.
“Well, in that case,” Alhaitham starts softly. He pauses to pull a small box out of his pocket, thumbing it open with a click to reveal the most gorgeous diamond-emerald ring that Kaveh has ever seen. “I have something to ask you.”
“Alhaitham.” Kaveh whispers, covering his mouth with a trembling hand.
He feels incredibly nervous but he’s clearly not the only one—Alhaitham’s smile is wobbling now and the ring box visibly tremors in his lightly shaking hands as he speaks.
“Kaveh, you’re the most precious person in my life. I cherish not only every moment I have with you, but every memory that we’ve ever shared is also forever etched into the walls of my mind. And you’re beautiful too, the most gorgeous person I’ve ever seen who’s equally as kind and compassionate as you are stunning.
“And as an architect, you are like no other. So passionate and brilliant with such remarkable intelligence that it should astound me, but I really can’t be surprised anymore. My other half: you are the genius who completes me.
“I’ve never known pain like the days ensuing our falling out. Those days without you were bleak and desolate. When I met you for the first time, it was the beginning of vivid technicolour bleeding through the periphery of my vision until all I knew was your resplendent beauty. Losing you was like losing the colour in my life, Kaveh. Having you back was like finally finishing the masterpiece.
“But it’s not finished yet and I hope we never finish it. Every day for the rest of our lives, I want to paint your skies cerulean blue even through the darkest storms. As long as you’re with me, our light will always cut through the darkness and the haze. Kaveh, my dearest mirror, I never want to be apart from you ever again.”
Kaveh’s struggling to hold back his tears now. Soft sobs leave his lips as his eyes brim with unshed tears. The droplets cling to his lashes, obscuring his vision and making it hard for him to see Alhaitham clearly.
He rapidly blinks the tears away—he doesn’t want to miss a moment of this.
“If that monologue wasn’t enough then allow me to profess my affection for you, every day for the rest of our lives. I love you so much, more than anything.” Alhaitham’s soft smile is steady and broad now. And in his teal eyes swims the sincerest adoration as he finally pops the question: “Kaveh, will you marry me?”
“Yes!” Kaveh cries, completely overjoyed. “Yes, yes, yes!” A litany of affirmatives pours from his mouth as he dives into Alhaitham’s arms. He hugs Alhaitham closely, squeezing tightly to physically convey just how much he loves him through his touch.
Alhaitham laughs wetly. He never thought that he’d cry after proposing but the relief and affection that flooded through him from hearing Kaveh’s ‘yes’ brought a deluge of tears to his eyes. Still, he eagerly returns the embrace, wrapping his arms around the blond just as tightly.
Kaveh nuzzles into the nape of Alhaitham’s neck, breathing deeply to inhale the other man’s signature pinewood cologne that he’s grown to love. It’s a familiar scent but this time it feels like he’s breathing new air into his life.
Then he wriggles around a little, like he’s trying to get impossibly closer to Alhaitham’s body and soul. The other man returns the sentiment, pulling Kaveh even further into his arms and it’s at this point when they both know—this is the best day of their lives.
How could it not be when they started it with a marriage certificate and ended it as fiancés? And with how much they love each other, the happiness of their days can only be transcended by joys of their tomorrows.