Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Alhaitham was notoriously recognised for his knowledge.  All across the region, people knew that the scribe of the Akademiya was not to be doubted. His intelligence covered nearly every relevant topic and it had quite literally saved Sumeru from doom. Despite taking on too many responsibilities nowadays, his attempts to separate his work life from his own scholarly pursuits mostly succeeded. 

However, on one chilly, windy night, one of his closest friends, Cyno, had the brilliant (not) idea of playing drinking games. Alhaitham had learned about them from Kaveh, who had been to way more parties than him. Kaveh would tell him scandalous stories while cooking breakfast for the two of them, a wide grin always dancing on his face. 

He’d learned the rules rather quickly — for every thing you’d done, you had to take a sip of your drink or put a finger down if you weren’t drinking. Never Have I Ever had been the game that had got him feeling self-conscious, a notion he wasn’t familiar with. 

Alhaitham looked around to realise that his best friends had done all sorts of things. They had been blackout drunk before. They had kissed someone. They had had intercourse. Every time they took a sip of their beer, Alhaitham’s fingers trembled at their own stillness. 

“What’s wrong with you?” Kaveh wondered, stepping foot inside their house at the sound of the lock clicking. 

Alhaitham shrugged, allowing him to pass through first. He locked the door behind them and slipped out of his boots. “Nothing,” he lied through gritted teeth. 

Kaveh raised an eyebrow back at him. “Seriously?” He scoffed, shaking his head. “You must be forgetting the fact that we’ve been living together for ages,” Kaveh folded his arms close to his chest.

“I know something’s wrong just by looking at your eyebrows.”

His chest tightened, eyes darting to the bookshelf. Alhaitham wondered if Kaveh had any books that could teach him how to do the things he’d never done before — such as kissing and the feeling of being drunk. He didn’t have to put it to practice. Theory should be enough, right?

“No reply? Don’t tell me I’ve finally managed to shut up the great Alhaitham,” Kaveh kept on running his mouth as Alhaitham’s feet made the hardwood floors creak on his way to their bookshelf.

Alhaitham’s eyes attentively searched for any book, fingers tracing several spines as he failed to find what he needed. His heart had slowly begun to tremble, stomach on fire as the realisation that there were fields of study he didn’t excel in downed on him. How could he know so much about every little thing, and nothing about the human experience? 

“You’re not gonna read at this time of night, right?” His roommate wondered, concern written all over his face. “Alhaitham!”

Kaveh’s yelp and the hand wrapped around Alhaitham’s wrist had been enough to take him out of his trance. 

Alhaitham had made eye contact with Kaveh enough times to recognise his red irises anywhere. Those sharp eyes crossed his mind at least five times a day, and it could be rather bothersome. Sometimes, he would be at the Akademiya on a busy work day, and he had to stand up and walk around his desk to be able to concentrate again. Alhaitham had decided that the only plausible explanation for the way his eyes made him feel were how different they looked from everyone else’s. 

“Alhaitham,” Kaveh’s voice lowered, rising in authority. “Tell me what’s going on.”

Alhaitham sighed. He knew Kaveh too well — his friend wouldn’t give up until he spelled out what troubled his mind in an insufferably detailed manner. “I’m just looking for a book. That’s all.”

He could sense Kaveh rolling his eyes even though his attention had now returned to the bookshelves. “About what?” 

“About how to make you go away,” Alhaitham knew his reply would result in banter, which would distract Kaveh for a while as his mind searched for a better lie. 

Kaveh gasped. “I’m standing here, begging you to tell me what’s wrong so I can help, and this is how you treat me?” He feigned offence, managing to pull a small, discreet smile from Alhaitham’s lips. “I’m not leaving until you talk to me.”

Alhaitham might have argued with Kaveh for years now — they fought even over the littlest things — yet, Alhaitham had never needed to argue with Kaveh about his promises, since he always, always kept them. Despite everything, Kaveh was a man of his word (for better or for worse). 

“You just won’t give up,” Alhaitham stated, fingers abandoning the spines of the books he’d read at least thrice. Kaveh nodded, confirming Alhaitham’s affirmation. “I was looking for a book about the human experience.”

Kaveh cocked his head to the side. “The human experience? What do you mean?”

The sofa seemed to be Alhaitham’s saviour that moment. He plopped onto it, the green fabric supporting his back just enough for a sliver of relaxation to radiate through his body. “At Cyno and Tighnari’s gathering, I realised that there’s a study field I know little about,” Alhaitham confessed, a hand running through his grey hair. “The human experience.”

His roommate circled around the sofa, looking for the spot closest to Alhaitham. Their knees accidentally touched once Kaveh threw himself against the cushions. The sensation sent jolts of electricity that began at the back of his head and finished only at the tip of his toes. Alhaitham had never understood what Kaveh possessed that always made him have some sort of physical reaction. Be it eye contact, hands reaching for the same book, knees accidentally touching. He remembered each touch and how it made him feel things that weren’t taught to him in books. The feeling of absence of knowledge settled in his stomach and simply wouldn’t leave. 

“Like… evolution?” Kaveh wondered, his knee refusing to abandon Alhaitham’s.

“No, Kaveh,” Alhaitham sighed. He inhaled a sharp breath before he let the confession slide off his tongue. “About all of the things you, Cyno and Tighnari mentioned during that game.”

Kaveh’s confusion had been wiped off his face. His gaze softened, a small, breathy chuckle easing Alhaitham’s worries. “You want to learn about kissing, drinking and all of that… from a book?” 

Alhaitham nodded firmly. “It’s not like I’m going to put it into practice anyway.”

“How can you be so sure?” Kaveh scoffed, his right arm lying on the back of the couch just behind Alhaitham’s neck. “Is it because you just don’t feel attracted to people or is it something else?”

It’s not like Alhaitham didn’t find people attractive. He had met enough people to at least know that he is only attracted to men, unlike his roommate. Alhaitham could tell when a man was conventionally attractive — he just didn’t feel anything at all. All of those talks of sparks and fireworks didn’t do it for him, at least not with someone he hadn’t known for a while. 

“I need to feel a connection with the person,” Alhaitham told him at last, a burden the size of an anvil slowly fading away from his chest. “I know when someone is attractive. I just can’t relate to people who immediately want to jump into action.”

Kaveh hummed. “I see,” he replied. “That’s totally fine. I think it makes sense.”

His response had made Alhaitham turn his head to face Kaveh, once again falling under the spell of eye contact. One day, he swore he would draw those eyes of his from memory. “You do?”

He nodded softly. “Do you think that if you found the one person that made you feel that way… you’d want to kiss them?”

Alhaitham wasn’t used to Kaveh making such reasonable questions. His understanding of the situation made Alhaitham shift in his seat, wondering how Kaveh managed to make him feel so at ease when speaking of such a complex topic for him.

“I think so,” he replied sincerely. “I just don’t like the feeling of being behind everybody else,” Alhaitham explained, his body now fully turned to Kaveh. “The first person I’ll ever kiss will have to deal with inexperience. I absolutely loathe it.”

Kaveh’s weight now rested upon his shoulder, hand closed in a fist against his temple. “I’m sorry to inform you, but books will not help.”

“Books always help,” Alhaitham countered, his turquoise eyes still locked in on Kaveh’s. 

“Not with this,” Kaveh argued. “Sure, you might learn that you shouldn’t bite down the person’s lip too hard or that you shouldn’t use too much tongue,” he progressed as Alhaitham took mental notes of his words. “But it won’t teach you how to do it.”

Alhaitham grunted quietly. “How am I supposed to learn, then?” He complained, closing his eyes in frustration. “I am not going to kiss a stranger just so I can ditch them later. I am not wired that way.”

Silence fell upon the living room as the two men looked around. No moment between them ever felt uncomfortable, be it quiet or not. They had known each other for years now, enough to be able to coexist in the same space without having to say a word. Alhaitham would never admit it, but if he had to point out one of the best things in his life, it would be becoming friends with Kaveh.

“What if…” Kaveh lifted a finger, but quickly put it down. His eyes stared down at his lap, cheeks flushing bright red at his own words. “Never mind.”

“I normally wouldn’t ask for your advice,” Alhaitham said. “But since you have an idea, share it. After all, you were the one who forced me to talk about my issue.”

Kaveh shook his head, bright blond strands of hair swaying accordingly. “It’s a stupid idea.”

“Let me be the judge of that,” Alhaitham stated plainly, watching the spark in Kaveh’s eyes return.

He let out a sharp breath. “If you’re comfortable… and if you want it…” Kaveh’s hesitance made Alhaitham’s leg restless, “I could… teach you.”

Alhaitham’s heart skipped a beat. Kaveh’s suggestion made him suddenly too aware of his body. Their knees still brushing against one another, his heart pounding against his chest at the sight of Kaveh’s flushed cheeks, his skin burning just at the thought of it.

It took his brain a while before returning to its natural state. There were too many risks to his suggestion — mainly, the loss of their friendship. It would make things way too awkward between them, no? Wouldn’t it be weird for his roommate to teach him such intimacy? 

“I’m sorry,” Kaveh blurted out. “I don’t know why I would suggest such a thing.”

Alhaitham’s arm stopped Kaveh from abandoning his side, forcing him back down. “It’s… not a bad idea. I just need to think about it, alright?”

Kaveh’s beaming eyes looked up at him, his back drowning further on the cushions. He nodded, still staring deeply at him. Alhaitham felt the weight of his stare piercing his soul abruptly. 

After Alhaitham’s confessions, Kaveh’s suggestion hadn’t seemed so ridiculous. After all, he did say he wanted his first kiss to be with someone he felt close to. Someone he knew and trusted. It was practical due to the fact that they lived together, so they could train more often. 

“I’ll sleep on it,” Alhaitham announced, hands on his knees as he slowly stood up. “Goodnight, Kaveh.”

“Goodnight, Alhaitham.”

It would have been a good night if Alhaitham hadn’t spent at least two hours attempting to fall asleep to no avail. His mind spiralled endlessly. Thoughts that he’d never had before. Body sensations that he hadn’t noticed before. Feelings that flourished like a beautiful flower on a sunny spring. Had all of these things been present within him and he’d just ignored them? Or had they suddenly crept up on him?

It all began when Alhaitham closed his eyes and pictured what could happen if he knocked on Kaveh’s door at this time of night. He knew that Kaveh didn’t go to sleep early on weekends, either tucking himself in bed with a project due next week or watching a cooking show. 

How would Kaveh do it? Would he just reach for him, kiss him and be done with it? Would he tell him that, after all, it was a bad idea he’d had and shut him out? What if he actually taught him what he’d gathered from his own experience, though? Would Alhaitham enjoy it? Would he hate it? 

A worse thought crossed his mind.

Would he want more? 

And would Kaveh allow him to want more?

Alhaitham tossed and turned for about ten minutes before it dawned on him that he wouldn’t be able to catch any sleep unless his mind sought after the relief of knowledge. He stood up, pacing silently to his mirror to fix a few strands of grey hair. One look in the mirror and he wondered what drove him to such insanity.

The pursuit of knowledge truly cursed his life sometimes. 

He needed merely two steps outside his door to get to Kaveh’s room. Alhaitham knocked gently, using only his index finger in case Kaveh had fallen asleep. 

“Come in,” Kaveh’s muffled voice allowed. 

A lump formed on the back of Alhaitham’s throat. He swallowed hard at the sight before him — Kaveh’s wet blond hair falling down his temple just like a water cascade. The golden silk robe covering his naked body, long and slender fingers holding the handle of a steaming mug. 

“Is everything alright?” Kaveh wondered, placing his tea down on the coaster atop his bedside table. “You look so pale.”

Alhaitham needn’t look into a mirror to know his statement to be truthful. He wasn’t one to feel anxiety in such a way. He never knew it could stick to one's bloodstream and glue to your chest, aching with each step he took towards Kaveh. 

“I couldn’t fall asleep,” Alhaitham said, pointing to the bottom of Kaveh’s silk green sheets. “Can I…” 

“Sure,” he nodded, a few water droplets falling from his hair. “Wanna talk?” 

He confirmed, hand brushing against the sheets. Alhaitham swallowed a few times to try and get the lump out, knowing he’d been defeated after five tries. He’d just have to handle it.

“It’s about what you suggested,” he blurted out, noticing how Kaveh’s eyes had widened immediately. 

“I’m so sorry about that, Alhaitham,” Kaveh began to stumble over his words, straightening his back against the bed frame. “It was just an idea… a stupid one,” the anxiety dripping from his words made Alhaitham feel slightly more relaxed about his own nervousness. 

“No, Kaveh,” he mumbled under his breath. “I… I think it’s a good idea.”

He cocked his head to the side, eyes flying up to meet Alhaitham’s. “Wait… seriously?” 

Alhaitham nodded continuously. “It makes sense, if you think about it,” he stated. “You are the person closest to me. I would only feel comfortable doing it with someone I truly know. And since you don’t seem to mind… why not?” 

Kaveh’s jaw dropped, fingers running through his damp hair. “It… yeah, it does make sense,” he stuttered. “When… when do you wanna start?” 

He shrugged. “Are you sleepy?”

Kaveh shook his head too quickly. “Not at all,” he said, taking the sheets off his body. “You want to start now?” 

Alhaitham hadn’t been ready for the feeling occurring on his stomach. Electric shocks pulled at his muscles every second Kaveh’s scent came closer, nearly making him forget about the question. “If that’s alright.”

“Alright. Get up,” Kaveh demanded, doing the exact same. 

He adjusted the silk belt around his waist. Alhaitham had to look away so as not to feel his stomach twitch once more at the sight of Kaveh’s messy hands handling his clothing. 

“So,” he cleared his throat, standing in front of Alhaitham. “You know that you have to look at me, right?”

Alhaitham turned his attention back to Kaveh, red eyes sparkling as he looked up at him. He could not begin to describe the feeling inside of him that made it almost impossible to stand next to Kaveh all of a sudden. They had been roommates for years and bonded for so long, despite all the bickering and teasing between them. 

He had learned to identify emotions such as sadness and happiness, sure. Yet, Alhaitham seemed to lack knowledge in one more thing — the reason as to why his fingers trembled, his mouth seemed to lack saliva out of the blue, his heart raced like he was being hunted for sport. 

“Usually, people start by getting close to one another,” Kaveh told him, one step taken towards Alhaitham. “This should be enough,” he decided, looking at him up and down. Alhaitham’s brain short-circuited at how Kaveh had eyed his black sweatpants and dark grey shirt, almost like he… like he wanted him the same way he’d wanted other people Alhaitham had watched come in and out of their house on early mornings. “Now, it usually starts with soft touches,” Kaveh explained, his hand lifting up to Alhaitham’s face. It hovered there for a second, his turquoise eyes studying Kaveh’s slightly opened mouth. “Can I… touch you?” 

Alhaitham let out a breathy affirmation, Kaveh's warm palm contrasting drastically with his icy skin. They stayed in that position for what had felt like years before Kaveh cleared his throat, slicing the tension with something sharper than a knife. “Then, the person would usually do something like this.”

Kaveh’s thumb proceeded to brush against his skin gently, treating him as if he was made of glass. Alhaitham thought that physical touch would set him off, make him give up on his research and just drift to the back of his mind. However, he found that he revelled in the feeling of the softness spreading across his entire face. 

“It’s your turn to do something now,” Alhaitham briefly mourned the loss of Kaveh’s touch. 

Alhaitham’s cheeks burned. “I don’t know what to do."

“I’ll help.”

Kaveh's hand wrapped around Alhaitham’s wrist, guiding it to his head. “Play with my hair.”

“How…”

“Like this, silly,” Kaveh played with Alhaitham’s fingers on his own smooth hair.

After a few seconds, Kaveh abandoned Alhaitham’s wrist so he could learn how to do it himself. At first, he noticed his touch had been quite rough. So, his fingers slowed down, attempting to mimic the softness of Kaveh’s hand on his cheek. They explored the right side of Kaveh’s head, from Alhaitham’s perspective, noticing that he must have been enjoying it, since his eyes had been closed for at least a good minute. 

“Was that good?” He wondered, hand returning to the side of his body. 

Kaveh let out a high-pitched “yes” before looking up at Alhaitham at last. “Now… we need to get closer.” 

Alhaitham wanted to ask why, but something in him stopped the words from rolling down his mouth. Kaveh found support in Alhaitham’s biceps, placing him exactly where he wanted him to be. 

He had always been aware of their height difference. Kaveh had been taller than him growing up, yet Alhaitham had been a late bloomer, gaining a few inches over him. However, in that precise moment, the realisation became something rather important to him. Alhaitham couldn’t quite put his fingers on why he enjoyed Kaveh being shorter than him. Was it due to Kaveh’s uncertain eyes slightly looking up at him? Or was it the way he could count each freckle on his face if he paid enough attention?

“Put your hand on my cheek just like I did to you,” Kaveh demanded and Alhaitham did as he was ordered. Mimicking Kaveh’s gentle touch seemed an impossible task, yet he promised to try his best. 

Kaveh’s fingers travelled to Alhaitham’s hair, playing with the strands so carefully his whole spine shivered. If he’d known his hair would end up so dishevelled, he wouldn’t even have bothered to arrange it before coming in here. 

“Now,” Kaveh’s tone lowered, licking his bottom lip. “You’ll be the one to initiate the kiss, alright?” 

“Me?” He whispered, erratic eyes looking around the room. “How?” 

“Don’t worry,” Kaveh replied, a small smile creeping up onto his lips. “I’ll tell you what to do.” 

He had placed his trust in Kaveh way before this. Surely he could trust him with such a task, right? 

“So, cup my cheeks,” Alhaitham’s palms did as demanded. “Pull me closer. Until our noses are touching.”

They truly were about to do this. Alhaitham was about to give his first kiss to Kaveh, his roommate, his oldest friend, his most trusted one. He had to breathe in before their noses collided lightly. 

“You sure you want this?” Alhaitham almost couldn’t hear Kaveh through their equally hot, shaky breaths. 

Alhaitham nodded, brushing their noses together. “What do I do now?” 

“Lick your lips,” Alhaitham’s gaze remained locked in on Kaveh’s, who did the exact same thing. “Now, tilt your head a little to the side,” his lack of coordination had made Kaveh chuckle softly, his hand fixing Alhaitham’s posture. “Like this.”

This feeling that he couldn’t describe… it rivalled what he felt when he had to solve a problem. Alhaitham’s need to know what knowledge required him to know how to fix something. The need to want to figure out more about the topics he cared about. The need to consume each word splattered on the books he picked up from the library.

It hit him right then and there.

Desire. 

“You have to press our lips together now,” Kaveh allowed, stuttering a little. “You don’t have to worry. I’ll tell you if anything goes wrong, alright?”

Alhaitham couldn’t stand to hear Kaveh utter another word. It’s not that he wanted him to shut up (much to his surprise). He simply wanted to kiss him. The feeling blooming inside of him was brand new — his desire to study not a subject, but a person. 

Then, after what had felt like months of them staring at each other’s mouths, Alhaitham pulled him closer for a kiss. He had absolutely no clue how to do it, freezing the instant their lips met. Despite his heart burning at the touch, Alhaitham could tell that he was supposed to do something else. 

“I’ll help,” Kaveh whispered quickly before his mouth returned to Alhaitham’s. 

Kaveh tilted his head gently in both directions, lips completely taking over Alhaitham’s entire mouth. His tenderness had been something he’d never had and somehow began to starve for at the same time. 

“This is a normal kiss,” he rasped, his breath haunting Alhaitham’s mouth. “Do you know what a French kiss is, Alhaitham?”

He shook his head. “Show me,” he dared to reply, unaware of where that boldness had come from. 

Kaveh began the next kiss softly, much like the last one. Alhaitham eagerly awaited for the moment Kaveh showed him what a French kiss was, distracting himself with brushing his thumbs against both his cheeks. 

Then, he had been overwhelmed by the feeling of Kaveh’s tongue sliding inside his open mouth. The warmth had made Alhaitham’s brain scatter all over, forgetting the most basic of tasks — how to breathe properly. His hands subconsciously trailed down Kaveh’s body to meet his slim waist, gripping it tightly as he pulled him somehow even closer. Alhaitham knew little as of that moment — the one thing he was certain of was of how much he needed Kaveh’s body pressed against his.

“You try to do the same now,” Kaveh said between sloppy kisses. 

Alhaitham wasted no time in sliding his own tongue inside Kaveh’s warm mouth, tasting the mint from his toothpaste as his mind attempted to retrace back to how Kaveh had done it to him.

He had been so self-absorbed he hadn’t even noticed Kaveh’s desperate moans fighting against his tongue. His fingers gripped tightly at his grey hair, their bodies moving to the bed purely out of instinct.

Alhaitham watched as Kaveh pushed him against the edge of the bed. He couldn’t think, couldn’t speak and definitely couldn’t hear anything other than the desperation slipping out of their mouths. 

Kaveh placed himself on top of Alhaitham, straddling his legs tightly. He initiated yet another desperate tongue kiss, and Alhaitham’s hands now reached for Kaveh’s back, trailing his spine up and down. He had absolutely no idea if his touches did something to him, but he had completely surrendered himself to his own instincts. Alhaitham had stopped being a man of reason from the moment he walked out of his room and knocked on the door to Kaveh’s bedroom.

Alhaitham lay down on Kaveh’s mattress, his strong arms able to pull Kaveh up so their eyes could meet for the first time in a few minutes.

“Do you still want this? Is it too much?” Kaveh’s raspy voice depraved Alhaitham of any rationality. Since when had Kaveh acquired such powers?

“Kaveh,” he said, Kaveh’s name becoming a slightly annoyed plea. “Shut up.”

Kaveh’s smirk had made the bulge between Alhaitham’s pants tighter. He hadn’t even noticed it before Kaveh began to grind against it as his lips consumed Alhaitham’s. It’s not like he’d never had a boner. He just never had another person provoke it for him. And he surely wasn’t expecting Kaveh to be the one to make it happen. 

He couldn’t be upset about it when Kaveh had awakened something that had been buried deep inside of him. Alhaitham had been a starving man and he’d had zero clue about it until tonight. One taste of Kaveh’s smooth, wet lips and he’d been completely and pathetically doomed. Desire had never burned inside of him like this before — it had never felt like a flame that wouldn’t go out no matter what one did to it.

“Do you want me to teach you other things as well?” Kaveh wondered, still grinding against his cock.

“What do you think?” Alhaitham said between moans, breathlessly attempting to act casual. 

Kaveh smirked at him, taking his cocky question as a challenge. His fingers found the hem of his shirt, helping him out of it. Alhaitham threw it on the floor, caring little about where it’d land. 

“Damn,” Kaveh’s cockiness had toned down at the sight of Alhaitham’s upper body. His fingers traced each defined line, his body shamefully squirming underneath his touch. “You’re… handsome.” 

“You’ve seen me like this a million times,” Alhaitham reminded him, noticing the shift in his eyes as he kept exploring his body. 

“I never got to touch you, idiot,” Kaveh replied. So, their bickering would never quit. Not even in bed. That had strangely amused Alhaitham. “Ready for the next lesson?”

Alhaitham looked down to find their hard clothed cocks brushing against one another. “I feel like you skipped a couple classes there, professor.”

Kaveh’s mouth opened in shock. Had that word done something for him sexually? Alhaitham took a mental note to use it once more to make sure he liked the term or if it had just been in his head. “Well, you’ve always been a prodigy, haven’t you?”

He couldn’t help but give him the smallest of smiles. “You’re right. Go on, professor. Show me what’s the next lesson.”

“If you keep calling me that I will have to skip more lessons and just hand you a test,” Kaveh’s hopelessness made Alhaitham’s cock twitch. “Before you keep running your mouth,” Kaveh adjusted himself on top of him. “Remember when we talked about hickeys? That’s your next lesson.”

Alhaitham nodded. “I don’t really understand the purpose of hickeys."

Kaveh smiled like his innocence made him somehow look hotter instead of dumber. “They make you feel good if done right,” Kaveh crawled on top of him, meeting his eyes yet again. “I’m going to give you one wherever you like. Then, you’re going to do the same to me exactly as I will teach you. Deal?”

He let out a breathy confirmation before Kaveh took off his golden robe, revealing a pair of boxers covering his genitalia, much to Alhaitham’s disappointment. He couldn’t believe that he actually felt this way about not being able to see Kaveh’s intimate parts when earlier this day they’d been arguing about the right way to eat cereal. 

“Do it on my neck,” Alhaitham decided at last. 

“You sure?” Kaveh frowned. “Won’t the people at the Akademiya think of you as unprofessional?”

“I’m the Scribe of the Akademiya, Kaveh,” he reminded him. “Do you think anyone will try and question me?”

“Good to know that you’re still as annoying in bed,” Kaveh snorted through his nose, his face lowering down to meet the skin of Alhaitham’s skin.

His tongue teased Alhaitham’s sudden fragile neck. He didn’t even attempt to muffle his groans — there was no need to do so. They had no neighbours that could possibly listen to them. Plus, if Kaveh made fun of him, which he wouldn’t, he could simply blame it on this being his first time. 

Kaveh’s lips finally stopped at the crook of his neck. He licked them once more before beginning to suck gently at the skin, the spot becoming more fragile with each second that passed. He let out soft whimpers, sounds that he had no idea he could even produce. How had this been his best learning experience in years? 

“Did that feel good?” Kaveh whispered against his ear, nibbling at his earlobe. 

Alhaitham hummed, holding back a desperate whimper. He couldn’t believe that all of his arguments with Kaveh about how Love couldn’t possibly outdo Reason were now being proven wrong. Alhaitham had never been high, yet the man on top of him felt exactly like a drug he’d never stop taking.

“Your turn,” he reminded him. 

He straddled Kaveh’s hips, rolling him over to stand beneath him. Alhaitham’s pupils dilated just looking at him, a daze he couldn’t quite describe dancing in Kaveh’s eyes. As if they were high on the same drug. 

The fingers of his right hand traced the fabric of his robe, eager to know how it would feel to touch his body. Alhaitham had seen it before, usually when he got out of the shower or when summer arrived, but he’d never felt the need to run his hands all over him. Not until that fateful moment.

“Can I?” He wondered, pointing at his robe.

“I’ll be naked,” Kaveh warned, looking down at their bodies.

“Want me to take off my pants in solidarity?” Alhaitham sarcastically joked around, earning a light tap on the shoulder. “If it makes you more comfortable, I’ll do it first.”

“No, no,” he shook his head lightly, waving a dismissive hand. “I’m the teacher here. I’m not about to waste this opportunity.”

Alhaitham scoffed at his remark, undoing the knot around his waist carefully. He inhaled a sharp breath as Kaveh’s body revealed itself with each second. 

He began to study his body from his hardened nipples, pausing to admire the length that had been grinding against his own. Alhaitham had never expected it to be so… big. His eyes widened in surprise, which made Kaveh let out a loud laugh that echoed through the walls of Alhaitham’s brain.

Despite his sudden desire to wrap his hand around his shaft, Alhaitham knew this current lesson encompassed hickeys only. Before his mouth landed on Kaveh’s neck, he decided to take off his sweatpants in an attempt to make him feel slightly more at ease. 

Then, his mind had been struck by a long lost memory. Alhaitham suddenly remembered a show Kaveh had watched in their earlier days as young adults. One specific scene showed a man kissing the woman’s body from the hem of her underwear all the way to her neck.

So, instead of just adjusting his weight on top of Kaveh to head straight for his neck, he began to kiss his V-line, trailing his body with short pecks all the way up to his destination.

“Where the hell did you learn how to do that?” Kaveh whispered, fingers gripping at Alhaitham’s hair.

He shrugged his left shoulder. “Instinct, I think,” Alhaitham lied through gritted teeth. “Neck?”

Kaveh muttered an affirmation. From that point on, Alhaitham wet the crook of his neck, licking it shortly before beginning to suck on it the same way Kaveh had done. He’d wanted validation from Kaveh that he was doing it right — but he simply assumed that his moans were all the confirmation he needed.

“What the hell,” Kaveh let out a breathy laugh of disbelief. “Woah, alright,” he chewed on his bottom lip the second Alhaitham attempted any form of eye contact. “Alhaitham, I…” 

“What? Is everything alright?” He asked, brows furrowing at his hesitance. “Did I cross a line?”

“No, no, not at all,” Kaveh slid out from underneath him, sitting up against the bed frame. “Come here.”

Alhaitham crawled to his side, watching as he caught his breath before he said whatever he needed to. 

“Look, I’ve never had the courage to tell you this before,” Kaveh began, swallowing hard. He lifted his knees up to his chin, resting his head there. “Alhaitham… I want to go forward with this. I do. But… I’ll regret it.”

Something tugged at Alhaitham’s heartstrings. His stomach twisted and turned as he watched Kaveh’s weary eyes. “Is it because I’m inexperienced?”

“Of course not,” he said, running a trembling hand through his hair. “I’ve been holding this secret for so long that I don’t really know how to reveal it.”

“I can wait,” it was no news to anyone that Alhaitham wasn’t the best at comforting people. He could give advice, but words of consolation were not his strong suits. 

Those words drew a small laugh out of Kaveh. “I never thought I’d have to say it out loud. I know Cyno and Tighnari know about it, but I never had to actually say it,” Alhaitham frowned at the thought that there was something their friends knew that he didn’t. Nevertheless, he allowed Kaveh to continue speaking. “I’ve been holding this with me ever since we were teenagers,” he stated, exhaling an unconscious breath. “I… I have feelings for you, Alhaitham. I never thought I’d have a chance to say it but I do. I couldn’t have sex with you without telling you. It would be unfair to both of us.” 

Alhaitham remained in silence so he could digest the information properly. How could he have been so oblivious to Kaveh’s feelings all this time? Was that simply who Alhaitham was? Naive and foolish? And could he possibly have been oblivious to his own feelings all this time?

“Thank you for telling me,” he said, hand lingering in the air, unaware of where to place it. It ended up on Kaveh’s back, thumb rubbing against his shoulder. 

“I know you don’t feel the same, don’t worry,” Kaveh gave him that specific fake smile that he despised. 

Alhaitham huffed. “How would you know?” He asked, offence clearly wrapped in each syllable. “I don’t know what it’s like to be in love, but… I think about you.”

Kaveh finally turned his head to face Alhaitham after what had seemed like an eternity. He found himself missing his red eyes giving him his undivided attention. “What do you mean by that?”

He sighed, and proceeded to confess the truth. Alhaitham told him that he thought about him at work, and sometimes he’d have to pace around the room in order to gather his thoughts. Alhaitham told him that he thought about him when going grocery shopping and sometimes spent fifteen minutes deciding on which apples Kaveh would like the most, since he had a stupidly particular taste when it came to fruit. Alhaitham told him that he had never truly pictured one of them moving out to go live with someone else. Alhaitham told him that he would look at pictures of their teenage years when no one was around. Alhaitham didn't forget to mention that Kaveh was his first and last thought of the day, whether he wanted to or not.

“When you suggested that we kissed,” Alhaitham began yet another sentence, “I knew I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep until we did.”

Kaveh’s faint smile relieved Alhaitham’s tight chest. “I know these were supposed to be just lessons, but…” Kaveh hid his face between his knees. “I didn’t think you’d actually agree to it. Now I’m worried you think I took advantage of you.”

“I don’t think that,” he reassured, his hand trailing to the back of his neck. “Kaveh… I have never known desire outside of the need for knowledge. But from the moment you touched my cheek the way you did… I was doomed.”

His face revealed itself once more, hope gleaming in his eyes as he heard Alhaitham’s confession. “I want to know you the way I know about most things. I crave the knowledge of you. I'm thinking of calling it the Kaveh effect.”

Kaveh laughed, his smile forcing Alhaitham’s hand to squeeze the blond man’s knee. “That was the most Alhaitham thing I’ve ever heard,” he mumbled softly. “In a good way, of course.”

The corners of Alhaitham’s mouth slowly rose upwards. He wasn’t one to smile often, and yet Kaveh had been the only person to ever pull the most truthful, peaceful grin out of him. 

“Does this mean that we are like Cyno and Tighnari now?” Alhaitham questioned, brushing Kaveh’s knee. 

“I mean,” his cheeks flushed immediately. “Wanna have that conversation before or after sex?”

A scoff escaped his mouth despite his nerves being on edge. “I’m kind of… scared?”

Kaveh scoffed, his arm lazily pulling him closer. “What are you scared of?”

“Of everything,” he muttered, uncertain of how to act when he was this close to Kaveh. “The pain, the fact that I’m inexperienced, doing it wrong…”

He gently placed his finger on Alhaitham’s lips. “I got you,” Kaveh whispered, eyes locked in on him. “We don’t need to rush things, alright?”

Alhaitham nodded, watching as Kaveh’s fingers lifted his chin. “If you want to, I can just finger you.”

His eyes widened. He really knew nothing about sex. However, Alhaitham did not want to pass up the opportunity to be with Kaveh. “Not before you teach me how to do the other stuff.”

“You’re as filthy as I imagined,” Kaveh stated, quickly realising his small confession. 

Alhaitham’s amused eyes studied his tense expression. “So you’ve imagined this before?” 

Kaveh gulped. “Is it really that surprising? I’ve had a crush on you for years.”

Instead of feeling dirty like he thought he would when someone attempted something like this with him, Alhaitham felt his cock twitch. “Then… it’s time to make your imagination come to life.”

It didn’t take long before Alhaitham was lying on his back, completely glued to the mattress. Kaveh climbed on top of him, arms imprisoning his entire body. He did some of the stuff he’d taught him, such as marking him once more on his neck and on his unintentionally defined abs. 

Kaveh’s fingertips traced his V-line, circling around the area where Alhaitham desperately needed him. His mind had stopped thinking about every trivial thing and it only thought of one thing: Kaveh. 

He took his boxers off at last, the ache in his cock slightly dimming. Kaveh’s eyes grew at least twice in size as he looked at him. “What the fuck,” he choked on his own words, close to drooling as he observed it. “You… man, what the fuck.”

“That’s a good thing, I suppose?”

Kaveh looked up at him, cheeks flushing the brightest shade of red. “Better than anything I ever imagined,” his hoarse voice mumbled. “Let me take care of you."

He spat on his hand, hovering around his length. Alhaitham hadn’t ever been one to pleasure himself — he’d done so, like, a few times in his life. It was rather rare for him to actually feel the need to do so. This brand new feeling, though… it couldn’t compare to anything else. 

Alhaitham muffled his whimpers when Kaveh’s hand began moving up and down in soft strokes. His right hand had to grip Kaveh’s hair for some balance, his left hand grabbing the sheets.

“You know you don’t have to be quiet, right? We live alone,” Kaveh laughed, continuing with his soft strokes.

“You’re not giving me enough of a reason to do so,” Alhaitham had no freaking clue what had driven him to say such a thing. When did he become a sex depraved man? Had this been inside of him all along, waiting for the right chance to bloom?

“You’ll wish you never said that,” he replied.

Kaveh had now started to speed up the process, alternating between different velocities. He’d stop every single time Alhaitham’s moans led him to believe he was about to come, his thumb brushing against his tip.

His hand left his cock, only to be replaced with his mouth. Alhaitham kept his hand on Kaveh’s hair, eyes rolling back as he felt the sensation of his girth warming up with each stroke of his mouth. 

“Kaveh, I…” he cried out, his grip tightening on his hair. “Don’t stop.”

His mouth abandoned Alhaitham’s dick, only so he could talk back. What a Kaveh classic. “What’s the magic word, pretty boy?”

He wished his pride had kicked in right then and there. Alhaitham hadn’t thought of himself as one to beg, especially not in a situation like this. And yet, he found himself saying the word “please” in a tone that he would cringe at if he hadn’t been so desperate for the sweet release only Kaveh could provide him with.

Kaveh returned his mouth to where it belonged, taking him in with no struggle whatsoever. Alhaitham’s back spasmodically hit the mattress, shocked at how much he’d moaned, screamed and cried out due to a simple blowjob. However, was it really simple if the one giving it to him was Kaveh?

“Kaveh… I’m gonna… I’m gonna come,” he stuttered, struggling to get the words out as Kaveh’s movements quickened. “Kaveh, oh my…”

His lower back jumped up and down slowly as he came into Kaveh’s mouth. Kaveh swallowed each and every drop of the white liquid Alhaitham had spilled against his tongue before coming back up to face him.

“Did you like that?” Kaveh asked, thumb rubbing against the corner of his own lip like he already knew the answer.

“What do you think?” Alhaitham breathed out, legs still trembling from the pleasure. His mind had gone completely blank, heart pounding against his chest. Were these signs of insanity or simply the Kaveh effect? 

Kaveh harshly pressed his lips against Alhaitham’s mouth, sliding his tongue inside. He could feel the sour taste of his own liquid, too weak to try and fight for dominance. 

“It’s my turn,” Alhaitham declared.

“Are you sure? You look pretty defeated,” Kaveh smirked at him, earning a middle finger right in the middle of his face. “Alright, alright. I’m definitely not one to pass up on this opportunity.”

Alhaitham’s mind tried to trace back to everything Kaveh had done so he could pleasure him properly. If only his mind hadn’t gone completely blank and forgotten about everything except for the dirty images of Kaveh doing unspeakable things to him. 

“I apologise for my inexperience,” instead of ignoring him, Kaveh’s hand pulled at his hair so he’d face him.

“Alhaitham,” Kaveh called out softly. “I don’t care. The fact that it’s you already makes this my best experience, alright? Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”

He nodded, reassurance warming his veins like a tight embrace. Alhaitham kissed every square inch of Kaveh’s body, hands sliding down to his slim waist. His eyes lingered longer than he’d expected on that particular aspect, noticing how his large hands managed to cup his waist so perfectly.

“You like that?” Kaveh wondered through a dizzy laugh. “Cyno does tell me I have a slutty waist.”

“Please don’t bring up Cyno when we’re in bed,” Alhaitham’s request had made his laugh echo through the entire room. 

His mouth kissed each side of his waist before he finally gathered the courage to do something about Kaveh’s hard on. Alhaitham remembered how he used to do it to himself, spitting on his hand so as to get him properly wet. 

He began with light strokes, much like Kaveh. Alhaitham's eyes looked up at him more often than not to make sure he wasn’t faking enjoyment. 

“Focus, Alhaitham,” Kaveh demanded in the middle of a moan. “I’m literally moaning your name and you think I’m not enjoying this?”

The fact that he could read his mind didn’t surprise him one bit. They’d always been like this — it was impossible not to spend every single day of most of your life with someone and not know them completely. 

Alhaitham kept his hand on Kaveh’s shaft, mouth opening to take him all in. At first, he’d struggled a little — he’d never done it before, after all. 

“Don’t force it, alright?” Kaveh reassured and Alhaitham tried a poor attempt at nodding. 

He eased his mouth down his length, not minding the inevitable gagging from sucking on his long cock. Once comfortable enough, Alhaitham’s hand began to move along with his mouth. He’d started off slow — yet, at the sound of Kaveh’s whimpering and begging for more, he had to speed it up. How could this have suddenly become his favourite sound? How hadn’t this been so completely overwhelming to his ears?

“Do you wanna swallow?” Kaveh questioned, to which Alhaitham responded only with a thumbs up. He had no time to laugh at his gesture, since he was too busy in between moans. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

It took Kaveh only another minute for him to come inside of Alhaitham’s mouth. He swallowed him whole, the bitter taste making his spine tingle.

Alhaitham crawled to Kaveh’s side, pressing a subconscious kiss against his temple.

“Are you sure that was your first time?” Kaveh wondered, hyperventilating as he tried to get his composure back. 

“Yeah,” he confirmed. “It was a bit sloppy, I know, but…”

“I don’t care,” he interrupted him right then and there. “Practice makes perfect, right?”

He couldn’t help but let out yet another laugh at his stupid words. Alhaitham had been so high on whatever drug Kaveh exuded that he’d managed to let out genuine laughs at his stupid jokes. 

They lay there in silence for a while, Kaveh’s head pressed against Alhaitham’s chest. Kaveh drew invisible circles over his torso, kissing the side of him gently. Alhaitham’s fingers played with his smooth, blond hair, focusing on their calm breathing. This felt exactly like it always did when they were in the living room doing separate things in silence. Never uncomfortable — just familiar.

“Can I…” Alhaitham broke the ice, the last bit of  rationality inside him falling to pieces as Kaveh looked up at him with his doe eyes. “I’m still horny.”

“Damn,” Kaveh raised his eyebrows. “Now that you have it, you don’t wanna go without it, do you?”

“Shut up,” he ruffled his hand through his own messy hair. “You’re the one who looked at me like that.”

“Like what?” He asked, shooting him the same innocent look. 

Inevitably, Alhaitham’s cock began to harden once more. Kaveh seemed to notice the shift in his posture, looking down at him. “There’s something we can do to prepare you for the big deal.”

“Say it,” his demanding tone earned him a false look of offence from Kaveh.

“Would you like me to finger you?” 

Holy shit, he thought. Alhaitham nearly choked on his saliva at the suggestion. “Would you be okay with that?”

“As if I’m not eager to pleasure you once again,” he giggled against his skin. “Turn your back to me,” Kaveh ordered, and Alhaitham did as he was told. “Oh, and get me the lubricant. It’s in the first drawer.”

Alhaitham stretched his arm to open the drawer, eyes squinting to read the label. He grabbed it immediately, handing it to Kaveh as his mind already thought of how it would feel. “Be gentle, please.”

“Don’t worry, love,” the pet name had slipped out without him realising. “Is that okay?” 

“Yes,” Alhaitham thought of what to call him that would be equally as sweet, but nothing seemed good enough. He loved the way Kaveh's name rolled off his tongue — he wouldn't trade it for any pet name in the world.

Kaveh took his sweet time to pleasure him once more. His hand had touched nearly every inch of his body while mouth pressed soft kisses against his spine. Goosebumps crept up his entire body when Kaveh played with his leaking tip, a small moan leaving his mouth. 

His right hand held one of Alhaitham’s butt cheeks. “You might wanna lie down for this one.”

Alhaitham, with the help of Kaveh’s tender hands, turned to lay on his stomach. Kaveh opened his legs, able to feel the eagerness in the way his body twitched whenever his fingertips touched him even for just a second.

“Are you ready?”

He hummed against the pillow, listening to the bottle of lubricant being opened and then thrown around the bed.

“If you want me to stop…”

“Will you fuck me already?“ Alhaitham whined.

“Fucking brat,” Kaveh said, and yet, Alhaitham knew he’d liked that attitude of his, since he felt Kaveh’s cock press against his inner thigh.

Alhaitham had been so close to getting what he wanted — Kaveh’s index finger teased his entrance, rubbing circles on it. Until Kaveh decided to be unbearable. “Beg for it.”

“Ugh,” Alhaitham grunted against the pillow. “Kaveh, are you serious?”

“I’m dead serious,” he took his finger away from Alhaitham’s hole, making him whine. “Beg.”

Alhaitham would cringe at himself for doing so. However, if he didn’t get to experience Kaveh’s finger fucking, he might lose it. So, he rolled his eyes. “Kaveh. Please. I’m begging you,” he’d said it and meant it, every single word coated in despair. “I need you inside of me.”

Kaveh kissed his lower back. “Good boy.”

He shivered. He was fucked before Kaveh even managed to get his finger inside.

Kaveh kept on edging his entrance, possibly addicted to Alhaitham’s desperate whimpers and pleading. When he mumbled yet another request, Kaveh had fulfilled his one wish. 

“Fuck,” Alhaitham grunted, hands gripping at the pillow.

It had stung a little at first. His hole tightened around Kaveh’s finger. “You’re so tight, love,” he whispered as if it were a compliment. “Don’t be nervous. I got you.” 

Alhaitham took a deep breath. He wished he could be calm about this moment, but not only had he never done this with anyone, he hadn’t experienced such emotional intimacy. He couldn’t tell which one he was more attracted towards, but the last one had a secret taste to it. Something he couldn’t put his finger on.

Kaveh’s softness had turned to something more serious. He was now beginning to really explore Alhaitham’s hole, finger brushing against his walls, going as deep as possible. He couldn’t stop moaning against the pillow, no matter how hard he tried. Kaveh’s name became one of the only few words on his dictionary, other than “please” and “fuck”. 

His fist deepened against Alhaitham’s hole, a sign his finger had reached the maximum it could. Kaveh curled it, pushing it in and out according to Alhaitham’s muffled sounds. 

"Can I add another one?"

Alhaitham nodded desperately against the soft fabric of Kaveh's pillow. His body had let go of most tension by now, simply relishing in the pleasure of another finger fucking him deep.

It didn't take long for Alhaitham to realise that Kaveh's fingers wouldn't be enough, no matter how skilled or amazing they felt inside of him. He needed his cock inside of him, warm and deep, crashing against his tight walls.

“Kaveh… Kaveh,” he cried out, this time louder and clearer. “I need you inside of me.”

“I am, silly.”

“Do I have to spell it out for you?” Alhaitham complained, each word said between desperate moans. “I need your dick inside of me, Kaveh. I need you. Please. It feels too good.”

He knew his desperation was getting to Kaveh’s head when he heard his laughter. Alhaitham would usually humble him, but Kaveh had every right to feel proud as of that moment. He had been Alhaitham’s first time and, hopefully, the only person he would have to do this with for the rest of his life.

“Alright, since you asked so nicely,” Kaveh giggled, taking his fingers out. Alhaitham whined, finding it unbearable to go even just a second without his touch. He was still not totally convinced that he wasn’t under the effect of some drug. 

Kaveh’s lubricated tip mimicked the exact same first movements of his finger. He teased Alhaitham’s entrance, spreading his legs as wide as possible once more. 

“Are you ready?”

Alhaitham hummed against the pillow, his slender fingers wrapping around the bed frame this time. Kaveh’s hands rested on Alhaitham’s lower back as his cock slowly entered his hole. 

“Does it feel good, love?” Kaveh wondered. 

“So fucking good,” he replied between sharp breaths and helpless groans.

Kaveh started out slowly, preparing him for what he knew would be the most earth-shattering experience of his life. When they’d gotten home, Alhaitham had expected to find information about sex in a book. Hours later, he was under Kaveh’s control, his hole tightening around his cock. He couldn’t believe he finally found something he would rather do than read.

When Kaveh pushed deeper against a certain spot, Alhaitham screamed so loud the walls nearly collapsed. “Found it,” Kaveh chuckled filthily. “That’s your G-spot, baby.”

“Please,” he shouted each time Kaveh pressed against it. “Don’t stop, Kaveh. Please, please.”

As Kaveh fucked him hard and good, Alhaitham cursed himself for not realising his attraction sooner. He could’ve had this for years now. It was literally just next door to his. This body. This cock. This man. And he was only getting it now? They surely had to make up for lost time.

“Can I come inside you?”

“Please, please do,” Alhaitham found himself begging subconsciously, despite all the attitude he’d given Kaveh before. 

The warm liquid splattered against Alhaitham’s walls. He allowed Kaveh to take his time coming back up, drops of cum spilling all over his sheets. He didn’t seem to mind as he used the remaining strength to turn Alhaitham to him, red eyes locking onto his turquoise ones. “You somehow look prettier after getting fucked.”

He exhaled deeply. “Kaveh, if you have the energy, please help me,” Alhaitham’s head tilted to his own cock. “I’m almost there.”

Kaveh’s dazed eyes looked at him before leaving a peck on his lips. “On it, love.”

It took Kaveh only about thirty seconds to get Alhaitham off, this time allowing his cum to dip all over his hand. Alhaitham couldn’t understand how Kaveh managed to impress him every damn second that passed. 

He got up from his bed and into his own bathroom. Alhaitham’s brain had been so drained of energy he couldn’t even think about anything else other than the fact that he deeply missed Kaveh’s presence even if it had just been two minutes since he’d left.

Once he came back, he had two warm towels on his hands. “Let me help you,” Kaveh said. “It’s probably going to hurt when you walk tomorrow, but this might help temporarily.”

Kaveh pressed the warm towel against his butthole, leaving the rest up to Alhaitham. He used the other towel to clean up the drops that had fallen to his bedsheets and his own cock.

After getting all cleaned up, the two of them turned to face the other. Kaveh’s hand caressed Alhaitham’s cheek, a smile haunting his lips. “Was it enjoyable for you?”

“Yes,” he confirmed, closing his eyes as he eased against Kaveh’s palm. “You were so… fantastic.”

Kaveh smiled at his reassurance, bringing him closer for a gentle kiss. “So, you wanted to know if we were like Cyno and Tighnari now?”

Alhaitham nodded, hoping, begging to every entity above that Kaveh desired exactly the same as he did. 

“We are,” Kaveh confirmed. “However, let me take you to dinner first.”