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If Kaveh told anyone that his current best friend was a crow, they would call him insane.
Especially as a single man living alone, with barely enough time to do anything fun with his actual human friends outside of overworking himself on commissions, stressing over clients, and crying himself to sleep over the occasional glass of wine.
It all started simply enough. Kaveh had some spare food, and he noticed that the crow looked hungry — at least that was how he interpreted its behavior.
The beautiful black bird stared intently at him while he sat on a bench outside the Akademiya, having a late lunch. As Kaveh dropped a couple of pieces of bread on the ground, he could have sworn he saw an arrogant glint in the crow's eyes, as if it were considering whether Kaveh deserved its attention. After a few moments, the crow picked up one of the pieces in its beak and flew away. Kaveh didn't think much of it.
The next day, Kaveh saw the crow again at a different time, still in the same spot. The bird was perched on the bench, looking directly at Kaveh as if expecting him to visit. Carefully, he sat down next to it and shared another piece of his food. This time, the crow eagerly accepted the offering. They enjoyed each other's company for the short duration of Kaveh's lunch before he retreated inside the House of Daena.
The third time he encountered the crow, Kaveh was about to head home when a flurry of black wings fluttered around his face and then stopped in front of him, dropping a small pebble at his feet. Kaveh crouched down to pick it up and examined it closely. It gleamed in the late afternoon sun, and he could understand why a bird would be attracted to it. Kaveh thought it was charming—he had fed the crow, and now it seemed to be trying to repay him.
"Is this for me?" He smiled, and the crow spun in a small circle in front of him as a response. "Well, thank you. I'll keep this safe," he said, tucking it inside his pocket.
"I'm going home now. Let's meet tomorrow for lunch, yeah?"
As Kaveh walked toward his house, he noticed the crow following him. He found it somewhat strange, but animals could be strange sometimes. If a bird wanted to follow him, he certainly wouldn’t try to scare it away.
Before he knew it, Kaveh had a crow for a friend who joined him for lunch every day. He always made sure to bring extra bread to share with the bird, and in return, the crow would gift him interestingly shaped rocks, shiny coins, or little flowers plucked from the grounds behind the Akademiya. Kaveh kept all of these gifts. After all, how many people could say they were friends with a crow?
When the bird began to appear outside his house, Kaveh didn't think much of it at first. By that time, he had already become somewhat of a crow expert, having borrowed books on bird behavior from the House of Daena to learn more about his friend. As he had suspected, the books reported on how crows were intelligent creatures that could memorize faces and often bring gifts to the humans they had a good relationship with. Judging by his growing pile of gifts, Kaveh suspected that his relationship with the crow was more than just good.
The bird often perched outside Kaveh's study window, tapping the glass with its beak until he opened it. Once inside, it would settle in the same spot on his desk, watching Kaveh work for hours. Sometimes, when Kaveh worked for too long without a break, the bird would fly away briefly, only to return with fruit, which it would drop on Kaveh's desk as if to remind him to eat.
Kaveh would say, "I know, I know, I just need to finish this," and the bird would respond with a moody "ka-ka-ka." This always prompted Kaveh to rush to the kitchen, where he would cook dinner to share with the crow.
Kaveh once tried to touch the crow, and to his surprise, it did not pull away. Instead, it allowed him to gently scratch the top of its head while letting out a soft cooing sound. Kaveh quietly wondered if the crow was trying to domesticate itself and live in his house, and the thought made him giggle.
"Is that your plan?" He joked. "Becoming my pet?"
The crow turned its head away as if offended and pecked Kaveh's hand gently.
"Okay, sorry! Not my pet. My friend then."
Another peck.
"Not my friend either? My companion?"
The crow paused, looking at him, and cooed again, pushing its head into Kaveh's hand.
"Alright, we're companions now," he smiled.
Maybe Kaveh was being silly, but he could have sworn that the crow understood him. He would often have long one-sided conversations with his friend, ranting in frustration whenever one of his clients requested an absurd change, or excitedly talk about a new project he was eager to start. Kaveh found himself confiding in the bird, comforted by its silent presence and knowing gaze.
Surely, if he told anyone about the unspoken bond he had with a bird, and how human-like its eyes seemed when it looked at him — so full of emotion that it sometimes frightened Kaveh — they would likely look at him with concern and suggest he visit the Bimarstan for a consultation.
Alhaitham thought the human was interesting.
In truth, Alhaitham had known about Kaveh for much longer than Kaveh had known about him. He had been observing the blonde from the safety of the tallest branches, hidden among the leaves. Although Alhaitham was not typically swayed by feelings or impulses, there was something about Kaveh that made him want to abandon his usual discretion and approach the other man.
Kaveh was even more beautiful up close than he had thought. He radiated a captivating charm that almost made him want to look away, and he was kindhearted to a fault. Alhaitham thought he had successfully carved himself a spot in the man's routine, but in reality, it was the opposite. He found himself wanting to visit Kaveh every day, completely enamored, eager to shower him with unique gifts that only he could offer.
A heart-shaped rock. The shiniest coin that slipped out of someone's pocket at the Bazaar. A mourning flower that reminded Alhaitham of the color of Kaveh's eyes. Kaveh kept every single gift he brought him, and that made his chest swell with pride.
It was only logical for him to start courting Kaveh.
When they were outside, Alhaitham soared through the skies. He spun and turned, showcasing his agility and vitality with intricate maneuvers, calling out to get Kaveh's attention. When he finally landed, he spread and flapped his wings as Kaveh flashed him the most beautiful smile.
"That's amazing, you're very talented."
That was not the reaction he wanted, so he pecked Kaveh's bare ankle. Not enough to hurt, just to show he wasn't pleased.
"Hey!" Kaveh pulled away, startled. "I was complimenting you."
Too condescending. He spread his wings once more, gliding in circles around Kaveh.
"Are you trying to court me?"
Yes.
"I guess we've known each other for a while, huh? Okay, I will accept your proposal."
Finally. The crow hopped onto his shoulder to preen his hair, and Kaveh laughed.
"Someone's happy," he ran his soft hand down Alhaitham's body. If he were a cat, he would have purred. Instead, he let out a sound closest to a chirping noise.
Alhaitham wasn’t naive. He knew Kaveh was human, his body made of different properties from his own. Even though Alhaitham chose to live most of his life as a crow, for them to truly be together, he needed to reveal his human form to Kaveh.
He couldn’t recall the last time he had walked through Sumeru as a human. Living as a bird allowed him much more freedom and far fewer responsibilities. However, if inconvenience was the price for having Kaveh by his side, he would willingly pay it.
Kaveh was tired when he got home.
He had woken up early for a client meeting that left him a little more than frustrated. He then spent the rest of his day overseeing the construction of his latest project, inhaling dust and inspecting the quality of the materials to ensure his vision was being honored. By the time he headed home, he realized that he had forgotten to eat all day. He was sweaty, thirsty, and in dire need of a bath. After that, he wanted to work on his blueprints until he inevitably fell asleep at his desk.
Kaveh unlocked the front door, making his way inside as he lazily kicked off his shoes and shed the outer layers of his clothes. Mehrak beeped next to him as he sat on the living room divan.
"I won't fall asleep, I just need to rest for a minute…"
Beep, beep.
"I know… But they needed my help, so what was I supposed to do?"
Beeep, beep, beeeeep!
Kaveh perked up, intrigued when Mehrak floated toward his office, seemingly eager to show him something. He followed and stood beside her as she stared at the door with what Kaveh thought was an accusatory expression. He turned the knob and slowly opened the door to peek inside.
He screamed.
The man in his office stood up from his chair, frowning as if Kaveh's outburst were a nuisance to him after apparently breaking into his house while Kaveh was away. And, as if to make things even worse, the man was completely naked.
"Who are you?!" Kaveh shouted, averting his gaze with a furious blush. "What are you doing in my house?!"
"Kaveh," The man spoke. He had a deep voice, and Kaveh had a feeling he did not use it often. It instantly sent a shiver down his spine. "Calm down. It's me."
"I don't know you!" Of that much he was certain. He would definitely remember seeing a tall, muscular man with messy gray hair and turquoise eyes before. A man who was a little too attractive for Kaveh's taste, considering the situation they were in.
The stranger frowned, hurt evident in his eyes, and for a brief moment, Kaveh felt guilty. He had to remind himself that, whether he actually knew him or not, breaking into someone's house while naked was a crime, and he had every right to be yelling at him.
"We see each other every day," the man tried again.
It still didn't ring a bell. If they truly spoke every day, he was sure he would remember him. Could it be that the man was a stalker?! Perhaps he was watching Kaveh from a dark corner while he went about his day, waiting to prey on him when he least expected it. Kaveh was no stranger to receiving confessions from people he barely knew who had fallen in love with his beauty, but this felt like a whole new level of unsettling.
"I think I would remember if I saw you. I don't know what you're here for, but you need to leave."
The man hummed, "You are much more agreeable when I'm in my other form."
Kaveh raised an eyebrow, confused, "Your other what?"
"Perhaps this will jog your memory."
The man turned around, and Kaveh had to remind himself not to admire the defined muscles of his back. His attention was quickly drawn to the two small nubs protruding from the skin over his shoulder blades. Kaveh watched in astonishment as they transformed into two large black wings. The wings flapped and stretched, creating a strong gust of wind that swept the papers off Kaveh's desk and onto the floor.
The realization dawned on him.
"C-Crow?!"
"That took you longer to deduce than I expected," he turned to face Kaveh. "And my name is Alhaitham."
Kaveh blinked, speechless.
"You're a…"
"A hybrid, yes."
"All this time?!" The man nodded. Kaveh moved past him to sit on the chair Alhaitham had previously sat on. He needed a moment to collect his thoughts.
Kaveh was well aware that Teyvat was home to many incredible creatures that interacted with humans and had integrated into human society. He also knew that hybrids — beings capable of freely shifting between human and animal forms — were quite common in Sumeru. Some of his former classmates and clients were hybrids, which did not surprise him. What caught Kaveh off guard was how long it took for Alhaitham to reveal his true identity to him.
"Why did you only tell me that now?"
"I figured that if you are to be my mate, then it should be in this form. The other one would be inconvenient."
"Your what?"
"My mate. Bride. Boyfriend. Companion. Whichever word you prefer."
Kaveh felt dizzy. The cute little bird he had befriended for months had revealed itself to be a hybrid with a body that seemed to have been sculpted by the finest marble artisans. Now, this handsome bird-turned-man was claiming that Kaveh was his mate?! Perhaps Kaveh had forgotten that he had stopped by the tavern after work, gotten too drunk, and was now dreaming while passed out on the table at Lambad's.
"What are you talking about?! I don't even know—"
Could he even finish that sentence? They had known each other for months. Perhaps he was unaware of Alhaitham's true identity, but to claim he didn’t know him would be a lie. Even if he didn't recognize Alhaitham in this particular form, Alhaitham certainly knew him after all those afternoons spent chatting, drinking, and working together.
"I courted you," Alhaitham continued. "For a few months. And you accepted."
Kaveh recalled the moment. He asked Alhaitham, as a bird, if he was courting him, and said yes. He hadn't taken it seriously then, after all, how could he possibly mate with a crow?
"Listen, I didn't realize what I was accepting—" he tried to explain, but one look at Alhaitham's face made him stop.
There was hurt in Alhaitham's eyes, and Kaveh was immediately overtaken by guilt.
Yes, the situation was insane, but when Kaveh considered it from Alhaitham's perspective, he realized he was the one at fault. He had unintentionally led Alhaitham on, and the painful expression on the other man's face during the rejection reminded him of a kicked puppy.
Kaveh took a deep breath.
"Okay, you're right. I did say yes when you were courting me," Alhaitham nodded. "But let me at least get to know the human you, okay?"
"There is no human me. Both are me."
"You know what I mean!"
"I don't." Alhaitham's face remained stoic, and Kaveh wasn't sure if the man was toying with him.
"For example, I didn't even know your name until now."
"And you agreed to mate with someone whose name you didn't even know? You should have been more careful." There was a hint of teasing in his words.
Kaveh felt a surge of anger. He had been trying to be kind to Alhaitham, who looked so pitiful and adorable while being rejected, and yet he dared to make fun of him? Kaveh should have known that the same crow that would peck at his ankles whenever he did something it didn't like would give him attitude as a human as well.
"Whatever! You were cuter as a bird. At least you didn't talk back to me."
"I did talk back. You just didn't understand what I was saying."
"As if that makes things better!" He threw his arms up in frustration. "And put some clothes on, don't just stand there naked!"
Alhaitham raised an eyebrow, as if confused, "I have been naked every time we met. Why is it different now?"
Kaveh felt his cheeks heat up, unsure if it was from embarrassment or irritation. He had a feeling this was going to happen a lot around Alhaitham, if he didn't just lose it and kick him out.
"It's not the same when you're human!" He got up from his chair and started making his way to the bedroom. "Come, I'll get you some clothes. Human-sized."
When Kaveh agreed to let Alhaitham court him as a human, he did not expect that he would end up staying at his house.
As a bird, Alhaitham had been more than happy to sleep in a nest, safe in the tallest branches, with no possessions to his name. Meaning he had no house, no clothes, no job — nothing. Kaveh silently wondered how someone could live such a minimalist life, especially since he was now forced to have a roommate against his will.
It was only made worse by the fact that he had only one bed in the house.
Kaveh tried to argue, insisting that Alhaitham should sleep on the couch and that it wouldn't be appropriate for them to share a bed. Alhaitham had looked at him silently with pleading eyes that compelled Kaveh to make space for him in his bed. If Kaveh enjoyed the warmth of Alhaitham's bare chest before he forced himself to wake up and scold him for being too close, that was a secret he kept to himself.
To make things worse, Alhaitham always seemed to always be looking for an excuse to touch Kaveh.
In the mornings, while Kaveh prepared breakfast for both of them, Alhaitham would sneak up from behind, wrapping his arms around him possessively, and lean down to nuzzle Kaveh's hair as if he were a bird gently preening him.
When Kaveh lay on the divan with a sketch, Alhaitham would climb on top of him and bury his face in the space between Kaveh's neck and shoulder, content to simply enjoy his company. He did all of this in complete silence, leaving Kaveh red-faced and mortified as he dealt with his self-conscious thoughts.
And if Kaveh were honest with himself, he was a bit touch-starved.
He dedicated so much of his time to his projects and helping others that he had almost completely neglected his love life and any potential romantic relationships to the point where the closest he had come to experiencing emotional intimacy was with that stupid bird. So, Alhaitham's touch was certainly not unwelcome.
Alhaitham was so open about his affections, acting as if he had nothing to be ashamed of, as if it were perfectly natural for a man to show his feelings in front of the one he cared for. He spoke through his actions rather than words, showering Kaveh with gifts, cuddles, and playful teasing to elicit a reaction from him, and Kaveh found it hard to push him away. His body yearned for the warmth of Alhaitham's embrace.
And, Archons, his body was also worthy of note. Kaveh tried hard to control himself and not stare, but he was built like the statues of Al-Ahmar, with a broad chest and strong biceps that easily pulled Kaveh in and even lifted him over his shoulder. Kaveh didn't know how a man who lived exclusively as a bird could possess such an impressive form that made his knees weak and, to his embarrassment, crept into his dreams at night.
As if to make him even more heated around the collar, Alhaitham couldn’t fit into Kaveh’s clothes — his shirts wouldn’t button up around the chest, and the pants were too tight in the crotch. This left them with two options that Kaveh found equally indecent: having Alhaitham walk around his home in just underwear or wearing poorly fitted clothes that left little to the imagination. He didn't know how he was managing to survive that situation.
And, despite his unwillingness to admit it in front of the stubborn man-bird who drove him crazy, Kaveh found that having Alhaitham living with him was not difficult to get used to. When he wasn't with Kaveh, the man mostly kept to himself, spending his time reading the books in Kaveh's office. On occasion, he would transform back into a bird and soar outside, returning with glittering gifts for Kaveh.
Although Kaveh didn't know Alhaitham very well yet, Alhaitham was more than familiar with him and wasn't shy about showing it. He seemingly remembered every single thing that Kaveh had ever told him, even when he was in his bird form, and frequently brought them up in conversation. It was endearing — unless, of course, Alhaitham chose to use one of Kaveh's previous points against him in an argument, something he did way too often.
Kaveh felt like he didn’t deserve all of that. At times, he couldn’t tell if he was dreaming. Befriending a bird that turned out to be a handsome man interested in him felt like something out of a cheesy, low-effort romance novel.
There were moments when he had to pinch himself or touch Alhaitham to confirm that it was all real. Whenever he did that, Alhaitham would gently take Kaveh's hand and kiss it solemnly, as if he understood Kaveh's thoughts.
Alhaitham had a way of understanding Kaveh that was almost frightening. Kaveh didn't know how to be that vulnerable, and he wasn't sure if he even wanted to be. At night, he lay awake, half expecting Alhaitham to vanish and for him to return to his usual, lonely life.
But it didn't happen.
Alhaitham stayed there, with snarky comments and all, determined to court Kaveh in this new form as well. He made sure Kaveh knew that he was present, that he was his mate, friend, and companion.
Kaveh didn't think he could resist him much longer.
Two things were true about Alhaitham.
One, he wanted a peaceful life. After his grandmother passed and he graduated from the Akademiya, Alhaitham chose to live as a crow instead of leading a human life. He admired the freedom that animals had to act as they wished and felt fortunate for his hybrid condition.
Alhaitham appreciated certain human experiences, like picking up a book and effortlessly flipping through its pages. However, the freedom he felt living as an animal was unmatched by anything he could achieve as a human — until he met Kaveh.
Two, he was a patient man. Especially when it came to Kaveh. Courting him, much like the mating rituals of birds, required time, care, and patience. If Kaveh wasn't ready to accept his affections yet, Alhaitham was willing to wait. He would wait as long as he needed for Kaveh to be ready for his feelings.
The first time Alhaitham saw Kaveh, they were both still wearing their Akademiya uniforms and trying to finish their theses. Kaveh was beautiful even back then, radiating youth with his golden hair braided to the side, longer than it was now.
Alhaitham watched from a distance as rumors of Kaveh's accomplishments and intellect reached him almost daily. When Kaveh graduated, Alhaitham followed suit soon after, never expecting to encounter his childhood's first love again.
Now he had him. Sort of.
Alhaitham didn't know what had happened to the blonde and why he had built so many barriers around his heart. Kaveh never seemed interested in talking about his feelings when he was sober, anyway. And when he was drunk enough to shed tears over ghosts of the past, Alhaitham preferred to hold him gently rather than pry information out of him.
He would wrap his wings around Kaveh, keeping him safe in his embrace until he fell asleep, lulled by the softness of the feathers and the warmth of his chest. In the morning, he would wait until Kaveh was ready to feel embarrassed about it and push him away, his cheeks adorably flushed.
Alhaitham wanted nothing more than to hold Kaveh close and kiss him, to show him that he was safe and loved, even if Kaveh wasn't ready to hear those words yet.
Expressing his feelings through actions was not difficult. He continued to court Kaveh in the same way as before. Alhaitham would pull Kaveh into his lap and lovingly brush his beautiful golden locks, braiding them just as Kaveh used to wear them when they were younger.
He allowed Kaveh to run his fingers through his wings in return, plucking out a loose feather to give to him as a gift. Kaveh admired it as if it were priceless jewelry, replacing the one on his head with Alhaitham's own. He felt a swell of pride in his chest and couldn't help but pull Kaveh into an embrace. Kaveh only resisted the affection for a moment, calling him a silly bird before settling comfortably in Alhaitham's arms.
Alhaitham also chose more suitable gifts for Kaveh, even using some of his inheritance money to buy him a proper engagement ring — a golden band adorned with a large ruby and many small emeralds, which felt distinctly fitting for him.
When Kaveh received the ring, he looked at Alhaitham with confusion and shock, surprised by the casual way it was presented to him.
"Where did that come from?!"
"The jeweler in Sumeru City."
"Did you steal it?" He sounded worried.
Alhaitham frowned, "What do you take me for?"
"You're a crow, Archons know how you find the things you give me!"
"I bought it with mora. Living as a human, I figured it would be the appropriate gift. Humans give their companions a ring before they mate."
Kaveh blushed, looking away, "You didn't have to go that far, you know…"
"I know. I wanted to," Alhaitham took Kaveh's hand in his. "Will you accept it?"
"I already accepted, didn't I?"
"I suppose you did."
"Don't make me say it again, then! It's embarrassing when you're human."
Alhaitham hummed softly as he carefully slid the ring onto Kaveh's finger. Kaveh brought his hand close to his face to examine it, a shy smile brightening his expression. That made Alhaitham's heart feel at peace.
"It's beautiful," he said.
Alhaitham nodded, "I thought it suited you."
"I might never take it off," Kaveh held his hand up to admire how it reflected the light.
"Well, that is the point."
"Thank you, Alhaitham."
He wanted to kiss Kaveh. Alhaitham was a patient man, but Archons, he never said it wasn't hard.
Kaveh had taken Alhaitham shopping with him that day.
Well, he had mentioned to Alhaitham that he was going out to run some errands, and, without a word, the man stood up to follow him as he always did. Kaveh told himself that he needed Alhaitham's strong arms to help carry his things, but the truth was that he appreciated Alhaitham's presence outside their home.
The first time Alhaitham tried to leave with him, Kaveh quickly stopped him at the door. There was no way he could go out dressed — or rather, undressed — like that. A part of him felt that the poorly-fitting clothes were an affront to public decency, but in truth, he didn’t want anyone to see Alhaitham’s body looking that way.
They weren't officially lovers, but Alhaitham had given him a ring, goddamn it! Of course, he would feel jealous and a little possessive about it.
The next day, Alhaitham provided Kaveh with a list of his measurements along with a mysterious bag of mora, instructing him to buy clothes that suited him. And if Kaveh happened to choose a tight shirt that highlighted Alhaitham's broad chest, that was a secret he would keep to himself. Ever since then, Alhaitham had begun following Kaveh every time he went out to run errands.
He would hold Kaveh's hand and the grocery bags as they strolled through the Grand Bazaar, a routine that Kaveh had grown quite fond of. Whenever he wanted Alhaitham's attention, he would tickle the man's palm or trace shapes with his thumb, finding the surprised grunts Alhaitham made to be adorable. It was amusing to him how someone of his size could be so ticklish.
The sun was already setting when they stopped at a bench on the way home. On the horizon, a flock of birds flew across the sky, and Kaveh quietly wondered if Alhaitham felt any longing for their freedom.
"Do you miss it?" He asked. "Living as a crow."
Alhaitham hummed, thinking his answer over before speaking.
"It has its advantages. But I wouldn't say I miss it. I enjoy the life I have now, although flying is a much more convenient method of transportation."
Kaveh smiled with interest, "What is it like?"
"I could show you, if you'd like."
"Show me?"
Alhaitham bent down to lift Kaveh into a bridal carry. Behind him, his wings emerged and stretched, flapping eagerly. It all happened too quickly, and before Kaveh could protest, they were already soaring high in the sky.
"Alhaitham!" He shouted, scared that the man would accidentally drop him. "Wait! Go slower! Aah!—"
Kaveh couldn't tell if Alhaitham was always this reckless or if he was trying to show off. They spun through the air at a speed that felt dangerously fast, the wind whipping across Kaveh's face as Alhaitham attempted to perform intricate maneuvers while holding him in his arms. Eventually, they began to slow down, allowing Kaveh to take in the view properly.
He could see everything.
High above the trees, with no buildings to block his view. Kaveh had seen Sumeru from the tallest window of the Akademiya before, but nothing compared to the breathtaking sight from the sky. As he felt the soft breeze and pressed close to Alhaitham's chest, his cheeks hurt from smiling so much. When he glanced up at Alhaitham, he noticed that Alhaitham's expression mirrored his own.
"This is what it's like," he said.
Before Kaveh could stop himself, he reached for Alhaitham's face and cupped his cheek, adrenaline rushing through his veins. Alhaitham looked down to meet his gaze, and for a moment, Kaveh allowed himself to stop thinking. He pulled Alhaitham down, and the man came willingly.
Their lips brushed shyly against each other, sharing a ghost of a kiss. Kaveh smiled, painfully aware that it was his first kiss, and he had no idea what he was doing. He looked at Alhaitham, who was smiling as well, and pulled him in closer for a proper kiss. It was clumsy — Alhaitham tried to slide his tongue inside Kaveh's mouth unexpectedly, causing Kaveh to nearly bite it. They broke the kiss and laughed, then tried again.
Kaveh parted his lips to let Alhaitham slip inside, letting out the softest sound as he tasted the other man and allowed himself to be tasted in return. The hand that had been caressing Alhaitham's cheek moved to his messy hair, scratching his scalp gently.
Alhaitham eagerly explored every crevice of Kaveh's mouth in a passionate kiss. Kaveh didn’t know how long a kiss was supposed to last, but he didn’t want this one to end. When Alhaitham finally pulled away, Kaveh looked at him with shiny, pouty lips.
"Kaveh… You must know by now that I am in love with you."
"I… I know." He didn't want to believe it, but he did. Alhaitham was in love with him, and he was tired of telling himself that he didn't deserve it.
"And, if you let me, I will remain in love with you until the day I die."
"Alhaitham…"
"So, if you feel the same for me, please accept my feelings and let me love you properly."
Words were too difficult. Kaveh didn't understand how Alhaitham could speak so much when all Kaveh could think was, "I have to kiss him again." So he did just that, pulling Alhaitham into another kiss filled with emotion.
Kaveh wondered how Alhaitham hadn't dropped him yet. His own limbs felt like jelly, weak and shaky from the rush of adrenaline. He wanted to embrace his feelings. He wanted to be loved. That infuriating man-bird had carved out a space in Kaveh's heart that was shaped just like him, and the thought of losing Alhaitham felt unbearable. It felt silly that, even after accepting Alhaitham’s courting twice, he still had not managed to express how he truly felt.
He finally broke away from the kiss, panting.
"Archons, Haitham. I accept them. I do."
If Kaveh thought they had been flying recklessly earlier, that was because he hadn't seen what an eager Alhaitham, who was desperate to have him, was like. He laughed when they landed, and Alhaitham quickly retracted his wings and clung to Kaveh as he attempted to unlock the door. His trembling hand dropped the keys twice before Alhaitham steadied it and guided them into their home.
Not even a second after closing the door, Kaveh's body was pushed against the wooden surface with a pair of hands on his waist. Alhaitham had always touched Kaveh freely, but this new type of touch, so possessive and full of desire, was all too new for him.
He moaned into Alhaitham's mouth as soon as he felt his lips on him again, hands exploring the body that he had lusted for since the very first day, when Alhaitham had shown up naked in his office. The muscles were deliciously firm, flexing under his touch, and Alhaitham was just as into it as Kaveh.
Without breaking the kiss, Alhaitham lifted him with two strong hands under his thighs, and all Kaveh could do was cling to him tighter, chest to chest. He needed their shirts off. He needed to be skin-to-skin with Alhaitham. He had yearned for so long that he needed his fill of Alhaitham to make up for the time he lost wondering if he even deserved the other man's affection.
Kaveh could feel Alhaitham hard between his legs, pressing his erection against Kaveh's own. Tentatively at first, then all in as soon as he heard Kaveh's muffled moan, thrusting up slowly as if to give Kaveh a taste of the real thing.
Kaveh was losing his mind — he needed that inside him, to be joined with Alhaitham. He craved the closeness, the intimacy. He needed all the love Alhaitham could give him, and that included being fucked so hard that he couldn't think of anything else or question his self-worth.
"Bedroom," he said between moans. "Please…"
Alhaitham grunted and wordlessly carried him to their bedroom, only stopping halfway to steal another kiss that made his head spin. He gently lowered Kaveh onto the edge of the bed, taking a step back to remove his shirt and pants.
Kaveh was free to look at Alhaitham's body without any shame now, taking in the sight of his firm pectorals and ridiculously defined abdomen, paying extra attention to the trail of sparse gray hairs leading lower, lower…
He felt his mouth go dry as he stared at the hard line of Alhaitham's cock in the confines of his underwear, so ready to take him. Kaveh was familiar with the human body in the nude, but for the first time in his life, he felt a thirst that he could not quench. He didn't care that it was his first time and that he had no idea how to go about it. He needed that in him.
"Kaveh?" Alhaitham called softly, and Kaveh realized he had been staring at him in silence for probably far longer than it was normal for the situation. "Can I undress you?"
He blushed when he was asked so directly, but nodded. Alhaitham joined him in bed, hands gliding over Kaveh's body as he helped the blonde pull his shirt over his head and reveal his bare chest. Alhaitham lay him down, taking in the sight, as enamored as Kaveh was for him. He kissed down his body, and Kaveh felt goosebumps while being touched in places no one had touched before. His fist tightened around Alhaitham's hair to ground himself.
Alhaitham continued to kiss down his stomach, attempting to bite a spot where the flesh was particularly soft and eliciting a yelp out of Kaveh. The man just looked at him and chuckled at the reaction, continuing his way down and nosing at the waistband of Kaveh's pants.
"Is this okay?"
Kaveh nodded enthusiastically to encourage Alhaitham, gasping at the cold air when his pants and underwear were pulled down. Despite Alhaitham's matching eagerness, Kaveh could tell he was trying his best to control himself and take it slowly.
He did not want to be taken slowly. He wanted to be consumed and loved, to be embraced by Alhaitham, so they were intertwined to the point where they could not be separated. The intensity of his feelings frightened Kaveh, but by now he knew that if he handed Alhaitham his heart, he would treat it gently.
Alhaitham kissed down his thighs, pressing his cheek against Kaveh's skin and inhaling his scent. Just the sight of the other man between his legs was enough to make him throb, anticipating something he wasn't sure about yet. Alhaitham turned his head and kissed his cock, looking up at him in search of a reaction, and Kaveh almost choked.
"Haitham!"
"Did you not like that?"
He liked it far too much, "I didn't say that."
"I want you in my mouth, Kaveh. Can I?"
Kaveh hated Alhaitham's ability to say the most embarrassing things out loud and make them sound so matter-of-fact. He was asking to suck on Kaveh's cock, for Archon's sake!
"You can do whatever you want…" He averted his gaze shyly.
"That's a dangerous thing to say."
"I trust you."
Alhaitham kissed his thigh, "Just tell me to stop if you don't like it, then."
He leaned down, beginning to take Kaveh into his mouth.
The sensation was unlike anything he had felt before while touching himself. It was so wet and warm, and Kaveh wanted to thrust all the way inside and fuck into it like an animal in heat, chasing the pleasure. His plans were stopped by a pair of hands pinning him down by the hips, as Alhaitham slowly swallowed up his cock until the tip hit the back of his throat with ease.
Kaveh arched his back, hands flying to Alhaitham's hair to keep him there, while he tried to make sure he hadn't just come embarrassingly early. Alhaitham waited for him to even out his breath before pulling away and then repeating the motion. He was slow, careful at first, so he didn't accidentally hurt Kaveh with his teeth. Kaveh stared at the ceiling, already halfway out of his mind.
He hoped he would survive having Alhaitham inside him, because he wanted to do that again. Hopefully soon.
Alhaitham grew more confident, now fully bobbing his head up and down Kaveh's length and humming in appreciation whenever Kaveh would scratch at his scalp with blunt nails as he attempted to remain somewhat in control of himself. Alhaitham was way too good at that, and a part of him was jealous and annoyed at the idea that he might have practiced it with someone else before. Alhaitham was his and his only.
Kaveh wanted to make a snarky, jealousy-fueled remark about that, but Alhaitham once again managed to keep him on his toes. Apparently, when he said he wanted Kaveh in his mouth, he wasn't only referring to his cock.
His knees met his shoulders, and Alhaitham let go of his cock with a lewd pop, not wasting a second before moving lower and licking over Kaveh's hole. He continued to stroke Kaveh's cock, combining a pleasure he already knew with an entirely new sensation to get him to relax and accept Alhaitham's tongue inside him.
It felt ticklish at first, soft in a way Kaveh didn't think something going inside him should feel. Alhaitham licked and sucked on his rim, using his free hand to spread Kaveh's hole open and sticking his tongue inside. Kaveh gasped, wanting to keep him there.
Alhaitham ate him out messily and passionately, as if Kaveh were a variety of sweet fruit meant to be devoured. He moaned around and inside Kaveh, the vibrations traveling up his body and making his cock twitch in Alhaitham's hand. He was like a man starved, insatiable, addicted to the taste of what lay between Kaveh's legs, and all Kaveh could do was take it until he was on the brink of coming again.
"Haitham," he called weakly. "I'll cum… Stop…"
Alhaitham immediately pulled away, shooting him a confused look.
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"Yeah, I just…" Kaveh took a deep breath. "I want to cum with you inside. Together."
Kaveh saw the fondness in Alhaitham's eyes when he said that, almost palpable. He nodded and kissed Kaveh's thigh.
"Okay. Do you have oil?"
He reached blindly for it, and Alhaitham did the rest of the work of taking it out and uncapping it. He poured a generous amount over his fingers, then moved to spread Kaveh's ass once again. For some reason, having Alhaitham staring directly at him in that position was more embarrassing than having the man licking between his legs like his life depended on it.
Kaveh pulled one of the pillows over himself, and Alhaitham raised an eyebrow.
"What?! It's embarrassing when you look!"
"You know I've done more than just look, right?"
"I know!" He groaned. "But I'm the one about to get fingered, not you."
Alhaitham looked at him like he didn't understand Kaveh's problem.
"Would you feel better if you turned around? You can't see I'm looking that way."
Kaveh could make an argument of how being head down and ass up in front of Alhaitham was somehow even worse, but he decided that just wasn't the time. He just put the pillow over his head and urged Alhaitham to continue.
"Really?"
"Really," his voice came out muffled.
"Alright."
Kaveh could feel Alhaitham gently pushing a finger in, and he clenched at the intrusion, willing his body to relax and accept the touch. He wanted that, he wanted him.
Alhaitham thrust in and out carefully until the digit was all the way in, wriggling it inside and making Kaveh gasp when he brushed against something inside. He continued to massage that spot until Kaveh had relaxed enough to accept a second, pushing both in and focusing on that one spot that made Kaveh melt and spread his legs wider for more.
The heat and pleasure inside him made Kaveh abandon the pillow he had been using as a shield, moving his hips to meet Alhaitham's hand and moaning every time he pushed in to the knuckle and pressed down on his prostate. He looked at Alhaitham, finally seeking eye contact, and saw that the man was blushing at the sight of Kaveh wrapped around his fingers, eagerly accepting the pleasure he was giving him.
And that was just two fingers. Was Alhaitham bigger than that? Kaveh tried to peek at Alhaitham's bulge, almost drooling when he saw the tip poking outside his underwear with a bead of precum leaking out of it. It was definitely bigger than two fingers.
Archons, he wouldn't survive being fucked by that cock.
"How do you feel? Do you think I can put it in now?" Alhaitham asked, lust thick behind the concern in his voice.
Kaveh shouldn't act too eager in saying yes. He should maintain at least a little bit of his dignity.
"Gods, please!" He failed.
Alhaitham chuckled affectionately and carefully pulled out his fingers so he could finally focus on getting fully naked. He oiled his cock and guided it between Kaveh's legs without pushing it inside, and Kaveh whimpered in need. He thought Alhaitham was teasing him, but one look at the man's face revealed he was just as desperate as him, trying to feel the blonde in every way possible before the main act.
"Haitham," he called, suddenly self-conscious. "This is my first time, okay?"
Alhaitham nodded in acknowledgment.
"Mine too."
Then he pushed it inside.
Kaveh's first instinct was to hold his breath, but that quickly made him feel dizzy for all the wrong reasons. He inhaled deeply, feeling Alhaitham push inch by inch inside, filling Kaveh in a way he didn't know was possible. It was so much thicker than fingers, the stretch bringing tears to his eyes. Alhaitham stopped momentarily to confirm Kaveh was okay and wiped them away before kissing him and continuing.
Kaveh brought his knees up to his chest once again, spreading himself to make it easier for Alhaitham to get deeper. Kaveh clenched and gasped at every minuscule thrust the man gave, earning a grunt out of Alhaitham. He was probably holding himself back not to shove it all the way inside and fuck into Kaveh. The look in Alhaitham's eyes said he wanted to make love to him.
Their hips finally met, and Kaveh felt the urge to reach down and feel his stomach — he was sure there would be a bulge there from how big that cock was, but alas, there was none.
He took deep breaths, relaxing despite how strained Alhaitham looked. He reached out for him with both arms, longing to have Alhaitham close to him, and the man leaned down so they could be chest to chest again. They kissed slowly, savoring the closeness and the sensation of being joined as one. Kaveh reached between them to feel the place where they were connected, blushing at how wide Alhaitham stretched his hole with his cock.
It was Kaveh who took the initiative to start, rolling his hips to signal to Alhaitham that it was okay to continue. Alhaitham matched the small movements, pulling out slowly and pushing it back in, the tip of his cock pressing on Kaveh's prostate and forcing more precum out of him. He angled his body, so Alhaitham was hitting that spot every time he thrust inside, and Kaveh's tight walls loosened up as he relaxed from the pleasure.
Alhaitham increased their speed, and Kaveh gasped the first time he heard the sound of their hips snapping together. He clung to Alhaitham, feeling his muscles flex under his palms with the rougher thrusts. Alhaitham was so strong, and it turned him on to the point where he thought he was going insane. He greedily felt up the man's body, groping and squeezing possessively as Alhaitham grunted in his ear at being wanted by Kaveh in return.
"Kaveh…"
Alhaitham sounded so wrecked, barely able to keep himself together. Kaveh had never seen him lose his composure like that before — consumed by his desire, pounding into Kaveh like he was his entire world and he wanted to claim him from the inside out. Even when they were like that, Alhaitham was so earnest about his feelings towards him. It made Kaveh want to give himself to him completely. He wanted to accept Alhaitham's love and for Alhaitham to accept his in return.
Kaveh tried hard to articulate words amid the waves of pleasure coursing through his body as he was thoroughly loved. He cradled Alhaitham's face in his hands, looking into his eyes despite his body urging him to close his own and take it.
"Alhaitham… I love you. I do— Ah! I love you!"
Alhaitham blinked, his expression softening and his eyes overflowing with affection. That was the first time Kaveh felt himself deserving of love since he was a child, and he hid his face against Alhaitham's shoulder so he wouldn't be able to see him tear up. Receiving the love of another was a heavy, overwhelming weight when he spent his entire life denying himself of it.
"I love you too, Kaveh." Alhaitham's voice matched the intensity in Kaveh's. "I've loved you for so long…"
In the back of his mind, Kaveh wondered if there was more to it than Alhaitham had told him, but he would ask about that later.
He had been holding back his orgasm since Alhaitham's tongue was in him, and it was harder to stop himself now that he was being so passionately fucked by the man he loved. He reached down with one hand to stroke his cock, but was stopped by Alhaitham, who seemingly had the same thought.
Kaveh came from another person's touch for the first time, the tension in his body dissipating as he finally reached the ending they had been building up to. He moaned Alhaitham's name weakly, spilling over himself and the other man's hand, clenching so tightly it made Alhaitham follow suit, emptying himself inside Kaveh and filling him with his warm seed.
He didn't allow Alhaitham to pull out, wrapping his legs around his waist to keep him close. He wanted to be full of him forever, in all possible ways.
Alhaitham brushed Kaveh's sweaty bangs away from his face and kissed his forehead. Then his nose, and finally his lips. He noticed the tear stains running down Kaveh's face, looking at him with worry.
"Were you crying? Did I hurt you?"
Kaveh shook his head, "No! You didn't hurt me." It was his turn to kiss Alhaitham's forehead. "I just didn't know love could be so overwhelming until now. But it's a good thing, because I love you."
"I love you too, Kaveh. I will make sure my feelings are not too overwhelming for you," he said in all seriousness. "But I meant what I said when I told you I'd love you until the day I die."
"You don't need to act so serious, you know?"
"My feelings for you are always serious."
"Speaking of it, you said something earlier that made me think," Kaveh continued when Alhaitham gave him a questioning look. "You said you had loved me for a long time."
Alhaitham's cheeks flushed red as he realized he had let that information slip out. But it was too late now.
"Ah, well, that is a long story."
Kaveh was more than willing to hear everything about it.