#kaveh platonic

[strxnged]

TIGHNARI: # the waning.

— Teaser and Table of Contents.

Summary. Nine months after a sudden breakup, you discover a drastic increase in dead zones throughout the forest. The unknown threat to the heart of Sumeru needs the best researchers, which includes you. As everybody and their dog knows, it also includes your ex-best friend and research partner, Tighnari. What will happen when you're forced back together for a greater cause?

Word count. 15k across 5 chapters. Genre. A story of grief and reconciliation. (Or, lovers to strangers.) Other tags. Collei, Naphis, haikaveh, cynonari, gender neutral reader, ambiguously romantic (past) relationship, roommate!Kaveh, alcohol, pre-Archon Quest, so much angst, resolution not reuniting, some cursing, vent in plot form from yours truly.

Author's note. Happy birthday Tighnari! Get written about, idiot! While this fic may not have the happiest connotations, I promise this fic is a demonstration of my love for his character. In very different ways than in Roots of Ambition, however.

Posting schedule. Weekly from Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. + reply or send me an ask if you would like to be tagged on release of each chapter.

☘︎ CHAPTER I: Imperative. 3.9k

CHAPTER II: Relapse. 2.5k

CHAPTER III: Circle of Death. 2.8k

CHAPTER IV: Sting. 3.2k

CHAPTER V: End of the World. 2.6k ☘︎

GENSHIN MASTERLIST

[byorkewkew]

training in combat

[mirrology]

Just saw that you write for genshin too!! Yay!!

I wanted to request a child reader who doesn't like talking to people but shy way- but bc she feels like there is no point in it also is a genius but doesn't go to the akademia bc of financial reasons so alhaitham adopts her? Also, kaveh and alhaitham act like parents towards her? Like kaveh scolding her for not making friends at the akademia and scolding alhaitham bc he is not a good example? Basically, kaveh being the worried mom and alhaitham being the cool dad

Sorry if this request was too long and specific 😅 I had this brainrot for a long time and wanted to share it with you

ノ Demure .ᐟ ʚɞ

୨୧ reserved, modest, and shy.

alhaitham, kaveh & gender neutral reader. platonic. | wc: 1.1k

tags/warnings: child reader, typical kavetham bickering, reader is considered a genius, reader has no parents, a little bit of angst regarding reader's backstory

notes: WOW THIS IS SO SO LATE!! I'M SO SORRYY, I've been having a really hard time with my mental health.

she/her pronouns were used in the ask, but the reader is gender neutral so everyone can enjoy. sorry if that's not what you wanted!

· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·

— For as long as you can remember, you were alone. In a house that brought back nostalgia, but those memories were buried deep into your mind, and no matter how hard you tried to dig them up, they stayed hidden.

— You took up small jobs around sumeru to get by, to at least look presentable in public. Even though it was considered child labor, you didn't care. Although when it came to speaking to people, it was difficult. People could be stubborn and rude, you didn't grow up knowing social cues or ways to respond. So, the only option you had was not speaking.

— When you didn't respond to the person that was talking to you, they either assumed you were mute or that you were rude and just didn't want to speak to them.

— Once, you were out in the desert in search of materials for your employer. You had crouched down as you spotted something shining underneath the grains of sand. It was a gem, and it looked quite expensive. The next thing you knew… you were surrounded by people in outfits that you hadn't seen before. Each and every one of them had a sort of red blind fold on. They demanded that you hand it over.

— You couldn't get a response out as your body froze up in fear. Just as one of them was going to swing their weapon down, it was intercepted by a sword.

— It was a man in green, before anyone could react the man knocked out the people who were previously surrounding you. Your eyes sparkled in awe, watching as the man swiftly landed on his feet. His head turned to you, causing you to flinch at his cold eyes, but they slightly softened in something you couldn't quite put your finger on.

↳ Your mouth hung open as you stared at the man in green. He beat up the scary looking people, he… he was so cool! Your eyes sparkled and were basically radiating light. His head turned to you, his eyes were narrowed, and that made you jump and quickly close your open mouth. The man started approaching you — you, not exactly trusting him, looked around for an opening to run away. The man knelt down to your height, yet still at a comfortable distance, his eyes trailed over your face, taking in your features and searching for any injuries. A small bead of sweat ran down the side of your face, discomfort written on your face. “Do you have anywhere to go?” The green man asked. You reluctantly shook your head. Your former house — that was barely staying together - didn't really count. He offered you his hand. “Would you like to come with me?”

You stared at the hand that he held out, should you agree? I mean it's not like you have anywhere else to go, and you weren't exactly made for hard labor jobs… you put your hand on his and nodded, he stood up with your hand is his. “My name is Alhaitham.” He said while looking down at you expectantly. “I'm (Name)...” You muttered but you could tell from his nod that he heard it.

— When you went with Alhaitham, you expected to be taken to an orphanage or taken to the authorities, yet that wasn't the case. He had taken you to his house and given you clean clothes, a warm bed to sleep in and… a roommate?

— After you had taken a bath and changed, Alhaitham had sat you on the couch and explained that he wasn't the only one who lived in the house. You really hadn't expected it since he seems like the type of person to like his alone time, but you understood.

— Once Kaveh came home after a long day of dealing with indecisive clients, he was met with you, and Alhaitham engaged in a game of chess and… The former was actually losing. To Kaveh It felt like a fever dream, so his only response was to stand in the doorway. But once he realized that there was someone other than him and Alhaitham in the house, and that someone was a CHILD.

— oh boy, Kaveh is immediately asking 1000 questions per minute. How did you get here? Where are their parents? Do you even know if they have any other relatives? and so on and so forth.

— Once Kaveh and dwindled down from his flurry of questions, Alhaitham explained your situation.

↳ Kaveh put a hand on his chin as he took in the information provided by his roommate. He hummed “So… they're staying with us?” He asked Alhaitham with a raised eyebrow. “Yes, that's right.” The scribe nodded and crossed his arms, Kaveh sighed “Alright…” He trailed off and met eyes with your wide ones. “I'm Kaveh, nice to meet you, (Name)” He gave you a small smile. Your mouth turned into an ‘o’ shape ‘he's pretty’ you thought.

— As the days went by and the three of you got adjusted to living together, Alhaitham noticed something peculiar about you. You were much more perceptive than other children, often pointing out details that even some adults couldn't have seen, and you learn surprisingly quickly for a child your age.

— You also took a strange interest in the akademia. Whenever you, with either of your guardians, would pass by the akademia, your eyes would be immediately glued to the entrance doors. Alhaitham, seeing your subtle hints of interest, decided to talk with Kaveh to see if they should enroll you in the akedemia.

— and surprisingly, it didn't take much convincing to get Kaveh to agree. The both of them had acknowledged your perceptive nature and quick interest in the akademia. They decided to give you a chance, since it seems that you never had a proper education. They sat you down to tell you, and once they did… you lit up, a rare but well received squeal escaped your mouth as you rapidly thanked them as you ran up to hug them. Your wholesome reaction forced a smile out of Alhaitham and a hearty laughter out of Kaveh.

— You loved your time in the akademia, learning about different plants, animals, and complicated equations that you came close to solving. The only slight problem was… that you didn't make an effort to talk to other kids your age. It was just that you went the best at talking to people, and you got really anxious when you did. It didn't help that you froze up when someone approached you.

— Alhaitham in return, assured you that you didn't need to interact with people. You just needed to focus on your studies and yourself, but Kaveh had the opposite opinion. He believed it was essential to have friends or just people to talk to. It would build up social skills and help with public speaking. At Kaveh's rambling, Alhaitham muttered a quiet "Don't listen to him”, yet Kaveh heard his remark and started to scold him for encouraging the anti-social behavior. Although you kept Kaveh’s advice in mind, you weren't planning on public speaking or speaking to people anytime soon.

[aviiarie]

cws & notes: reader (and kaveh) are VERY implied to be aromantic or on the aromantic spectrum. mentions of kissing. lots of platonic affection. platonic kaveh & gn!reader. 1.1k words. wrote this for myself tbh

“So are you two dating?”

You wish you could say it's the first time you've heard the question. And you wish you could bring yourself to be annoyed about hearing it again, but you know there's no malice or spite in the words. Only a polite sort of curiousity, unaware of the way your stomach turns at the thought.

And maybe you wish you could tell Nilou 'no, we're not, why would you think that?' but you know your hand is intertwined with his, and his knee is touching yours, and you have his cheek leaning against the top of your head. You know how it looks, but that never mattered. It felt comfortable, like you fit together just right. Affectionate, with no strings attached.

That was the part that no one seemed to get. You and him were at an understanding that seemed to make sense to no one but yourselves; the squeezing hugs, and nicknames, and nights spent staying up until 3am didn't mean a thing. When you fell asleep on his shoulder, when he chastely kissed you goodbye before leaving on a work trip, it wasn't because you both harboured a secret love you were too shy to say out loud.

You adored him, of course. He was your best friend. But that was it; no strings.

There were always those who couldn't wrap their heads around the thought, the ones who insisted that they had to be at least into each other a little bit. So much time spent being friends, such closeness had to speak to a blossoming romance that just hadn't quiet bloomed yet, right?

What they didn't know was you had tried, your senior year at the Akademiya. It was after all of the comments about how odd it was that they were so close without being a couple finally started to get to them. During a party hosted by a classmate you don't remember the name of, when the teasing and jabs had gotten a little too much, you had found him taking a breather out on the front steps.

Conversation came easily, comfort came quietly, and soon the topic shifted to what people were saying. It was always talk, rumours, gossip. But he could see how they were weighing on you. He could see the look of doubt in your eyes, wondering if this was something you were supposed to want.

If you can't bring yourself to fall for the most important person in your life, then what was wrong with you? Was love a prize that you were never going to win, a lock that you're never going to find the key for?

“Will you kiss me?” You blurted out, and his eyebrows raise. “J-Just once. I just... everyone keeps telling me I'm supposed to like you, and you're supposed to like me, but I just...”

“You want to see?” Kaveh asked hesitantly. You swallow, and nod. “I don't want to do something you don't want to do.”

“I want to. Please, I... I don't want to ask anyone else.” You paused, before quietly adding on, “If there's truly something wrong with me, I want to know now.”

The pinch between Kaveh's eyebrows deepened, but there was a flicker of vulnerability behind his eyes. Some part of him was flashing with the same fear, wondering if there was something wrong with him too, all because he couldn't muster up enough emotion to see you in a romantic light.

Carefully, he placed his hand on your cheek, bringing your face closer to his. There was a pause, before he met your lips in an awkward kiss. There were no sparks that crackled against your mouth, no butterflies in your stomach. It was a unpleasant clashing of teeth together, with your cracked lips pressing against his soft ones for a second too long.

You pull away, face flushed with embarrassment more than anything. “I... I don't think I want to do that again.”

“Me neither.” Kaveh grimaced. He sighed, leaning back to give you a bit more space. “Why do you worry so much about what they say?”

“Because! I'm supposed to enjoy it, aren't I?” There were tears in your eyes, but you didn't care. If there was one person you could cry around, it was him. “What is wrong with me? Why can't I even fake it?”

“You don't need to!” Kaveh said quickly. He ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “Maybe... maybe some people just don't like that sort of love. I know I sure don't, and I've known you long enough to figure out you don't either. We don't have to be a couple to care about each other, right?”

You stared at him, slightly dazed. “...I guess not.”

And since that night, you've never been able to forget his words, and the way he said them. It was like your world got shifted around, and nothing seemed quite the same. All the stress about love, all the worry about whether people thought you were a couple seemed so insignificant all of a sudden.

Yet, your new lighter worldview never stopped that burning question, that followed the pair of you like a shadow.

“So, are you two dating?”

The question echoes in your head, sounding over and over. Nilou is still staring at you, waiting for an answer, although her gaze occasionally flicks to your linked hands resting on his lap.

“We're just friends,” Kaveh responds smoothly. He lets go of your hand long enough to wave away the question, laughing lightly. “Honestly, the amount of times I've been asked that...”

“O-Oh!” Nilou's eyes widen, and her cheeks turn pink. Part of you feels bad for making her look so flustered, but the uncomfortable twist in your gut reminds you that it was her question that started it in the first place. “I didn't mean to assume... you just look so close!”

“We are.” He smiles gently. “But I can assure you we are very happy as friends. Neither of us are interested in that sort of relationship, much less with each other.”

She nods, as if she understands, but there's still confusion behind her expression.

It didn't matter. People didn't have to get what was so special about the two of you. They didn't have to understand what you had, and what you lacked, and why it didn't make much of a difference at all.

You were friends, best friends. And that was plenty enough love for the both of you.

© aviiarie 2024. do not copy, repost, translate or use my work to train ai

[mrpenguinpants]

Cat Distribution System [ Commissioned ]

— Recently, there have been reports of a large food shortage sweeping across Sumeru. The culprit? It's a...cat? Hang on- is this the right script?

Word Count: 4.8k

— Kaveh, Alhaitham, Wanderer + Cyno

Request: [ A platonic first encounter fic with a lazy/messy demon cat boy who is the personification of gluttony. ] Reader is based on an OC, so there are a few extra details/lore, but no OC names or physical details are mentioned. This is still an x reader fic. [Masterlist]

Thank you for commissioning me and trusting me with your OC again! While I didn't go as deep into the origin story as last time, I hope I did justice to his lore and character traits. I hope you like it!

“So, let me get this straight,” Kaveh starts, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms. His brow furrowed slightly as his eyes flicked toward the figure across the table, who was happily stuffing his face with bits of chicken and Baklava—a bizarre combination that made Kaveh’s stomach turn. How was that not the worst flavor combination? Sweet, followed by the lingering taste of meat? And was that the crunk of teeth grinding against bones as well? Absolutely revolting. “You went out to investigate the food shortages in the desert, and somehow, you returned with... that?”

“Correct,” Alhaitham replied, his voice calm and detached, not even bothering to glance up from the pages of his book. He was so absorbed in his reading that it was as if the entire world around him had faded into the background. The giant elephant in the room—wait, no, cat—was the more appropriate term, Kaveh realized, his gaze drifting to the source of his growing exasperation seemingly dismissed. With a resigned sigh, he cast a pained glance to the otherfg side, where two fluffy ears flicked back and forth in a way that might have been endearing, had the man not been in the midst of devouring half the dishes they had. He was eating through Kaveh’s body weight in food, and with each bite, the pile of empty plates grew, a silent testament to the chaos of it all. Who exactly was going to foot the bill for this little catastrophe?

Kaveh stared. He stared hard. “What… is that?”

It wasn’t as though Kaveh was unacquainted with people sporting animal-like features—after all, he’d spent a good part of his morning discussing dwindling resources with Tighnari, whose sharp ears and bushy tail were as much a part of him as his sharp wit. But this? This was something else entirely. Never in his wildest dreams—or nightmares—had Kaveh imagined the source of Sumeru’s mounting food crisis would manifest as two twitching ears, an equally fluffy tail, and a bottomless appetite housed in what could only be described as a walking, purring catastrophe.

“Looks like we bit off more than we could chew,” Cyno said, lowering himself into a chair with the deliberate weight of someone resigned to his fate. Arms crossed and tone as dry as Sumeru’s deserts, he added, “And now we’re all stuck digesting the consequences.”

A long, theatrical groan followed, drawing attention to the figure at the table who was steadily sliding downward like butter left out in the sun. Kaveh collapsed further into the wood, his head resting on folded arms, his posture and overall energy reminiscent of a melting slime abandoned after battle—defeated, formless, and thoroughly unappealing.

"If you can still joke like that, I’ll take it as a sign that everything’s perfectly under control?" Kaveh sighed, his tone soft but laced with a hint of exasperation as he rubbed his temples, as though the pun had somehow caused actual harm. He shifted slightly closer to Alhaitham, who despite already having checked out of the conversation leans in, raising one hand to his mouth like a makeshift shield. Lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, Kaveh added, "But seriously… if everything’s fine, then why exactly is the culprit here?"

“He followed us back,” Alhaitham said, his voice cool and dispassionate as if recounting a minor inconvenience rather than a monumental lapse in judgment. Kaveh blinked, his mind briefly short-circuiting as it tried to process the absurdity of the situation. The infamously meticulous scribe—who went out of his way to ensure his time card was never a second past overtime—took work home with him?

“He followed you back? And you didn't do anything to stop him?” Kaveh echoed, his voice tinged with disbelief as if repeating the question could somehow rewrite the reality he was hearing. The light-hearted atmosphere faltered, quickly replaced by a heavier silence as Cyno and Alhaitham exchanged a glance, one filled with a silent understanding Kaveh couldn’t quite place. Cyno’s expression darkened, his usual sternness sharpening into something far more severe, like a storm suddenly gathering on the horizon. His gaze flickered toward the corner of the table, where their... unwelcome guest lingered, before returning it to Kaveh with an almost apologetic weight.

“We didn’t exactly have a choice,” Cyno muttered, his voice edged with a reluctant resignation, as though the truth of the situation was one he was still struggling to fully accept. The words hung in the air, heavy with the uncomfortable reality of their predicament. The young man—cat? Kaveh paused, wondering if it was offensive to think of him as a “cat” in his mind. Maybe it was too soon to make that judgment, but the behavior was hard to ignore. The man gave a small huff, his tail flicking with a quick and irritated motion.

“You didn’t have to bring me,” he muttered, his voice laced with casual defiance, “I could’ve found more food on my own.”

“And left more skeletons in the rainforest?” Cyno shot back, his tone dry. The cat man shrugged, the movement causing his ears to twitch with a playful smile. No remorse whatsoever.

“I was hungry,” he said with a casual shrug, his tone almost too smooth, as though hunger itself were a completely reasonable excuse for his behavior, “It’s not my fault this place has no decent food.”

“Wait, hold on. You’re telling me that this kid—who, by the way, looks like he hasn’t seen a bath in weeks, and that’s putting it lightly—has been roaming around the forest, eating his way through everything he comes across, and leaving carcasses in his wake like some kind of... monstrous scavenger?” Kaveh’s eyes narrowed, his mind reeling as he tried to piece together the chaos of the moment. Cyno let out a quiet sigh, his shoulders sagging under the weight of the situation. He glanced briefly toward their uninvited guest, whose tail flicked lazily in the corner. Truly the embodiment of a menace, even the stray cats who knocked over flower pots had the same content look. As if they stood above the Archon's themselves.

“That’s... the gist of it,” Cyno admitted, his voice a reluctant blend of resignation and mild disbelief, as though he still couldn't quite wrap his mind around how things had gotten this far. Kaveh’s jaw dropped. His hands shot up in a dramatic gesture of utter disbelief, and he slowly turned his incredulous gaze back to Cyno, then to Alhaitham, and finally to the creature occupying the corner of the table like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“And you—you brought him here?! To our place?!” His voice had risen to the point where the last question practically exploded from his mouth, punctuating his growing sense of utter absurdity. He wasn’t sure whether to be horrified, exasperated, or just completely lost for words. Alhaitham exhaled slowly, his fingers pressing against his temples as if trying to stave off the headache threatening to bloom. At least he was starting to realize he couldn't avoid faking deafness to Kaveh's ever-mounting overthinking.

“He’s not a threat to the city. As long as we keep him fed, he won’t cause any trouble,” Alhaitham gestures with his hand, his voice steady, but there was an underlying weight to it. Kaveh, not at all convinced, raised an eyebrow, his skepticism practically radiating from him. He crossed his arms, looking from Alhaitham to their “guest” with barely contained frustration.

“That’s a big assumption,” he muttered, his words laced with more doubt than a stack of building materials. His eyes flicked toward their unwelcome companion, who was now happily licking the remnants of some forgotten dish off his fingers, completely oblivious to the growing tension around him, “What’s to stop him from eating his way through the city next? And I’m not just talking about food. Shouldn't you be more worried than I am Cyno!?”

“If he does, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, he’s just… a nuisance," Cyno glanced over, who, now finished with his meal, was lazily lounging in his chair tipped so far back that it would take the slightest breeze to knock him over.

Kaveh pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to process everything, “So, let me get this straight once more. You went out to solve a food shortage, and instead of fixing the problem, you brought home a cat with a black hole for a stomach? And before you even start Alhaitham, I know you said he "followed" you back.”

"Ah, so you do listen."

"You-!"

Kaveh opened his mouth to continue arguing but then paused, his eyes narrowing as the gears in his head turned, “Wait a minute. When you invited me out for dinner...was this your way of pushing your problem onto me?! Does this mean I’m stuck dealing with him now?”

“That depends,” Alhaitham hides his mouth with his book, the bastard, “Are you offering to take responsibility for him?”

“This has to be some kind of cosmic joke. I knew I shouldn't have trusted in your good faith! I didn’t sign up to be part of the accidental cat distribution system!” Kaveh's up onto his feet, the chair pushed back with his palms flat against the table in protest.

The visitor tilted his head, his ears twitching. “I don’t know what that means, but if you’re offering food, I’ll stay.”

“I’m not offering food!” Kaveh said quickly, almost defensively.

“It’s not a matter of being fine with it,” Cyno said with a weary sigh, “It’s a matter of necessity. If we left him alone, he’d cause more problems. Alhaitham is still the Acting Grand Sage, and I have to scout the forest for any other "visitors". You’re the only one we can count on, Kaveh.”

Kaveh stared at him for what felt like an eternity, his gaze flicking between Alhaitham and Cyno. His chest tightened, and his mind spun in circles, torn between his growing anxiety and the strange tug of responsibility. His heart twisted and twinged, at war with his brain, which insisted that he had no idea how to take care of a cat, let alone a full-fledged person. Hell, he couldn’t even manage to keep his own life together! But... the look Cyno was giving him was enough to make him falter, his resolve weakening by the second. How many times had Cyno helped him, without question? And technically, wasn’t Alhaitham also turning to him, a trusted senior, to step in? With how much of a brick wall these two were, they’d likely leave a bowl of water and food, lock the door, and pretend this entire mess didn’t exist. But even if the “cat” turned out to be some dangerous menace to Sumeru, he was still just a kid, wasn’t he? It was hard to tell with all the grime and disarray, but Kaveh could never turn his back on someone in need. It didn’t matter if he didn’t know what he was doing—he had a soft spot for lost souls. He sighed, rubbing his temples in frustration, resigning to his fate, “This is a disaster waiting to happen.”

“Perhaps,” Alhaitham, ever the picture of composure, stood up, brushing invisible dust from his clothes as though this entire conversation wasn’t nearly as catastrophic as it felt, “But for now, it’s your disaster too.”.

---

A few weeks had passed since Kaveh found himself reluctantly sharing his space with you—a strange, cat-like humanoid creature who seemed to have no sense of personal boundaries, let alone normal social conventions. Things, as he had feared, had barely improved. Kaveh leaned back in his chair, the creak of the wood echoing in the otherwise quiet room as he squinted up at the ceiling, silently counting the seconds until he would inevitably lose his patience. His life, it seemed, had morphed into an ongoing exercise in suppressing the instinctive desire to be a people-pleaser. Sure, he’d grown accustomed to dealing with clients who would endlessly revise their requests or scrap entire projects at the last minute, but this? This was an entirely different level. At least his clients didn’t sprawl across his desk or raid his fridge as though they were entitled to every last bite of food in the place. And they certainly didn’t follow him around like a persistent shadow, knocking over everything in their path.

Lately, your favorite pastime had been trailing after him, meticulously upending his carefully constructed systems. His drafting room—which had once been a sanctuary of messy but organized—had now become an unrecognizable battleground. Stacks of books, once aligned neatly on the floor, were scattered haphazardly, their contents not even spared the mercies of a half-hearted attempt at organization. More disturbingly, there were signs of clutter everywhere: empty plates left licked cleaned, crumbs scattered as though you’d been purposely grinding the bags into dust, and the occasional abandoned cloth or discarded paper—all remnants of your uninvited presence.

Today, Kaveh watched in silence, eyes narrowing as you sat cross-legged in the corner of the room, flipping through a book with the kind of careless disinterest that set his teeth on edge. Your tail swayed lazily behind you, brushing against the floor with a gentle brush, as though you weren’t inches away from toppling over a lamp if he didn’t keep a vigilant eye on you. It was frankly, unfair. Every time he glanced over, there you were—completely at ease in a space that used to be his own.

“You could at least sit in a chair like a normal person,” Kaveh said, his tone edged with the discontent that had been steadily building up inside him. He gestured toward the chair beside him, pulling it out with a theatrical flourish as though offering you a seat at some royal banquet, “I’m not asking for much here.”

“Chairs are uncomfortable,” you replied without sparing him so much as a glance, your voice casual, almost dismissive. How oddly familiar huh? “And besides, the floor’s warm from the sun.”

Before Kaveh could fire back, the soft sound of deliberate footsteps, accompanied by the faint clinking of bronze, sliced through the tension in the air. Oh, thank god—Alhaitham was home, so he could finally take you off his hands—

But when he turned to look, his words faltered in his throat. It wasn’t Alhaitham.

Instead, it was a young man with blue eyes, fair skin, and short midnight blue hair with choppy bangs falling over unimpressed eyes. Well, at least one of those details was right?

“You’ve certainly outdone yourself this time,” Wanderer remarked, his eyes sweeping over the room with a mix of bemusement and something Kaveh couldn’t quite place. Then his gaze landed on you, relaxed and utterly unfazed, lounging in the corner, “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. You’ve always had a remarkable talent for collecting problems.”

Kaveh’s eyes widened in confusion, his mind scrambling to process the unexpected sight. He had no idea what Wanderer was doing here, or why he’d chosen this exact moment to make his appearance. He didn’t even know the man all that well—certainly not well enough to waltz into his home and deal with the complete disaster Kaveh had found himself trapped in. Kaveh opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Instead, he let out an incredulous laugh, his hands trembling slightly.

“W-Wait, what?” Kaveh spun around, his mind struggling to catch up with the scene unfolding in front of him. He glanced from you to Wanderer, and then back to you again, his confusion intensifying with each passing second, “Why you? Why—what are you doing here?”

“Me? I was under the impression you were in need of assistance," Wanderer’s lips curled into a barely perceptible smirk, his voice dripping with the same wry tone he always carried. He leaned casually against the doorframe, the sound of his hat ornaments clicking against each other rings in the room, “You do seem to have a knack for making things... complicated.”

Without missing a beat, his gaze shifted back to you, scrutinizing you with a sharpness that almost seemed to pierce through the haze of frustration Kaveh was feeling, “And this must be the stray I’ve been hearing so much about.”

“Stray? Careful with your words, I bite,” You echoed the word with a flicker of annoyance, the corners of your mouth twitching downward as your eyes narrowed. Kaveh, too caught up in the whirlwind of thoughts, barely registered the subtle shift in the atmosphere—until he saw it. Small flecks of dark energy, swirling and bubbling up from the surface of the floor like ripples in a disturbed pool, were slowly spreading outward. Kaveh had never seen anyone—let alone you—manifest something like that before. Even when he was hauling your limp body away from his paint water, you only acted as a limp body, “Bold choice of words for someone who looks like they blew in on a bad breeze."

Wanderer didn’t so much as flinch at the jab or the unsettling energy bubbling from the floor. His gaze remained steady, almost bored, as his hand flicked in a smooth motion, summoning a frenzied swirl of anemo that danced wildly in his palm, his expression betraying no sign of concern. Meanwhile, your ears flicked back, irritation flaring within the depths of your gaze, but a sly, almost mischievous grin crept across your face, as though you were ready for whatever came next.

"Spirited, aren’t you?" he mused, his voice as dry and unaffected as ever, "Usually, that’s just a mask for trouble."

"And you’re all business? What, are you his boss now?" You punctuated your question with an almost mocking tilt of your head, letting the tension in the air thicken.

"No," he said bluntly, voice devoid of warmth. Wanderer’s lip curled slightly in disdain, the sharpness of his gaze intensifying as he responded in a tone colder than before, every word clipped with precision, "I don’t have the time—or the patience—to monitor his poor decisions. I’m here because someone asked me to keep an eye on the bigger picture."

"Enough!" Kaveh barked, his voice ricocheting off the walls as he sprang to his feet. His finger jabbed accusingly toward Wanderer, the motion sharp enough to cut through the tension in the room, "If you two want to start duking it out, take it outside! I’ve had enough of this nonsense!"

Wanderer’s gaze remained inscrutable, his expression as neutral as ever, though there was a subtle shift in his eyes—something fleeting, almost imperceptible. The swirling anemo energy in his palm began to wane, dissipating in a controlled, deliberate manner as he flicked his wrist dismissively. The unspoken truce also retracted your claws as the dark elemental energy drifted back into the shadows as if it had never appeared in the first place.

"Overseeing you is hardly necessary," Wander replied, his tone returning to its smooth and cold tone, "The results of your decisions speak for themselves."

He stepped closer, his gaze sharpening on Kaveh, "Are you really prepared to handle the mess you've made? Do you have even the slightest idea of what you've invited into your life? Or are you just fumbling along, hoping it’ll all sort itself out?"

Kaveh’s jaw tightened, fingers twitching as if he might snap at Wanderer, but the words stuck in his throat. His room was a disaster—papers scattered like confetti, books in disarray, and an undeniable scent of half-eaten food filling the air. It was a mess, sure, but it was his mess. He glanced toward you, still sprawled out in the corner like you owned the place, and for a moment, his frustration wavered.

Sure, you were a walking, talking disruption, eating him out of house and home. But... you hadn’t been all that bad. At least you hadn’t burned the place down or knocked over any shelves yet. You were mostly quiet when you weren’t eating his food or moving things around in what he was starting to suspect was some bizarre attempt at helping. It wasn’t perfect, but somehow, despite the mess, things could’ve been worse. With a resigned sigh, Kaveh rubbed his temple and shot a glance at Wanderer. Regardless, Kaveh had taken on the responsibility to house you, even if it was a reluctant decision, but you were still his responsibility. Kaveh let out a heavy sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose before waving a hand in Wanderer’s direction as if to brush off his concerns.

“Okay, fine. I’ll admit it—you’re right. I don’t really know who he is, where he came from, or why he insists on eating everything in sight like they’ve been cursed by a bottomless pit of hunger,” He shot you a pointed look, but there was no real malice in it, “But if he truly wanted me dead—whether for my so-called ‘poor decisions’ or because I’m his only source of free food—I think he would’ve made his move by now. I mean, he's had plenty of opportunities.”

He gestured vaguely toward the mess around him. “Like the first night, he crashed here? I was out cold. He could’ve done anything. Poisoned my food, set the place on fire, stolen my mora, or even used me as a chew toy for whatever dark energy nonsense he's capable of,” Kaveh waved his hand dramatically as though painting a dire scenario, then stopped, folding his arms with a huff, “But no. What did he do? He ate their fill, curled up in a corner, and passed out. Hardly the behavior of someone plotting my untimely demise.”

Kaveh turned to Wanderer, his tone shifting from exasperated to firm as he pointed a finger at him, “So, yes, maybe I don’t have all the answers. But at the very least, he's my responsibility right now. If anything goes wrong, it’s on me—not you. And as far as I’m concerned, this house has survived enough without you adding to the chaos. So, if you’d be so kind as to, I don't know, maybe don’t blow the place up, yeah? I’d very much appreciate it. I’m already stressed enough without adding structural repairs to the list.”

There was a brief pause as Kaveh adjusted the collar of his shirt and muttered under his breath, “Honestly, you’d think this house has a giant target painted on it the way things keep happening…”

Wanderer fixed Kaveh with a look that could only be described as utterly unimpressed, letting the heavy silence hang between them like a drawn-out sigh. His blue eyes bounced between the two of you and the tiniest hint of a smirk curled at the corner of his hips. Instead, he leaned back ever so slightly, his posture oozing casual indifference, and gave a shrug so languid it might as well have been an insult in itself.

“Choice,” he began, his voice slow and razor-edged with that detached condescension that always managed to crawl under Kaveh’s skin. Seriously, now that he thinks about it, where did Wanderer even come from to perfect that tone? “It’s the crutch people lean on when they can’t face the fact that they’re at the mercy of fate. A comforting little delusion, isn’t it? But you—”

Wanderer's lips curved into the faintest shadow of a smirk as he gestured vaguely up and down at Kaveh, “You’ve made your bed, Kaveh. Now get comfy.”

Well. That was a rather optimistic outlook. Really did wonders for Kaveh's self-esteem. Thank you for the pep talk—truly inspiring. He needs a better social life, he can only have one pessimistic realist in his life stomping on his poor little emotional heart.

"It’s not about optimism; it’s about reality," Wanderer continues with a new teasing edge, as if reading Kaveh's mind which he really hopes isn't possible, "Not everything goes according to plan, but hey—That’s the fun part, isn’t it? Keeps life… unpredictable."

The way Wanderer said it made Kaveh’s irritation spike, as though he genuinely took pleasure in the spectacle unfolding before him—or more specifically, Kaveh’s exasperation. For a moment, Kaveh paused, his frustration giving way to a fleeting sense of disbelief at just how far things had spiraled out of control. It didn’t ease his headache, but it did make him wonder if the universe was playing some elaborate joke at his expense.

"Fun? This?" he shot back, gesturing wildly to the room. Books were scattered across the floor, random objects you’d somehow decided were yours cluttered every surface, and the whole space felt like it had been turned into your personal domain of disorder, "If this is your idea of fun, I don’t even want to imagine what you’d consider a total disaster!"

Wanderer’s lips curled even further, a light yet equally heavy laugh escaping him, "Well, you could always take notes. You’re already halfway there."

He gave Kaveh a long, appraising look, his eyes flashing with a mix of mild amusement and something resembling skepticism. Kaveh stood his ground, still bristling with frustration, but there was a strange, unwavering conviction in his posture. While he didn’t seem to be particularly impressed by the show of defiance, but there was something in his gaze—a flicker of reluctant respect. It wasn’t approval, Kaveh knew, but it was something. Perhaps Wanderer had expected him to fold under the pressure, to back down in the face of the power difference between them all, but Kaveh wasn’t that easily swayed. Without a word, Wanderer gave a dismissive wave, his hat tipped once and his cloak swirling as he turned to leave. The faintest remnants of anemo stirred around his feet as he moved, but he didn’t look back. His visit, brief yet harsh just as the winds he uses, hung in the air, almost an afterthought. The door closed quietly behind him, leaving Kaveh alone once again.

Kaveh exhaled slowly, tension seeping from his shoulders, and for a brief moment, the weight of the situation lifted. The main source of concern had left, but there was a strange sense of having passed some kind of unspoken test. He didn’t know what Wanderer had seen, if anything at all, but Kaveh felt... a little more resolved. Even if Wanderer thought he was making a mistake, Kaveh had decided. He was going to handle this. He would handle it, somehow.

He glanced around his room, still a mess, still a monument to his questionable decisions. But it was his responsibility, and no amount of judgment was going to change that.

“Is he always this warm and fuzzy? Must be fun at parties.”

And he already spoke too soon.

You had been silent for what felt like an eternity, tucked away in the corner like a quiet spectator to the whole scene. The back-and-forth between Kaveh and Wanderer had been something to behold, the tension so thick you could almost taste it in the air. You had sat there, content to watch, half-amused by the spectacle and half-interested in how Kaveh would handle it. The way his frustration simmered, the way Wanderer barely seemed to care—it was all too entertaining. But now, the storm had passed. The tension had broken, and the silence in the room had settled into a comfortable lull. You could almost feel the scene winding down like a well-performed act. So, as the sound of Wanderer's footsteps faded, you finally pushed yourself up from the corner, stretching leisurely, and let a sly, mischievous grin spread across your face. The playful glint in your eyes returned, a clear signal that you were about to add your own touch to the show.

“You two have a weird vibe,” you remarked, still stretched out lazily on the floor, your posture an unholy mix of casual indifference and quiet mischief, “Are all your friends this charming?”

Kaveh gave you an exasperated glance, a thin line between his brows deepening as he muttered under his breath, “Not a friend. We're barely acquaintances.”

The words hung in the air, but you hardly noticed the growing tension. It only seemed to entertain you more. The silence between the two of you stretched for a few moments, thick and palpable until you broke it once again—oblivious to the discomfort you were causing. You propped yourself up on one elbow, looking over at Kaveh with a grin that was equal parts mischievous and playful.

“You’re a good guy, Kaveh. I think I might stick around longer,” you said, voice light and teasing, though there was an edge of sincerity buried under your usual nonchalance. However, in spite of your sincerity, Kaveh’s eyes narrowed, lips pressing into a thin line as if trying to will your words away.

“Not a chance,” he shot down bluntly, his tone more biting now, though the faintest trace of amusement tugged at the corner of his mouth, “This isn’t permanent.”

You let his words slide right off, your grin only growing wider, a silent challenge in your eyes. With a lazy flick of your tail, you topple the lamp that Kaveh had sent you too many warning glances at, completely unbothered. “Sure. Whatever you say.”

---

Hi, thank you for reading! I couldn't explore the full lore of this reader, but if you're interested in knowing more, please reach out to the original creator: @thezboss

[lvnesart]

Honestly? Their sketch was my favorite to line

Edit: updated with the correct flag

[impactedfates]

hehhaharhar i so totally not deprived of father figure! genshin men with kidnapped child reader? pls pls 💓💓💓any man is fine but perferably the tall ones ☝

★ A/N: Yeah sure you aren't...anyways, yep I got you covered with this request :))

☆ Genre/Trope: Platonic + Familial

★ Format: HeadCannons (Characters Included (Separate): Diluc, Zhongli, Kaeya, Childe, Kaveh)

☆ Warnings: Mentions and hints of kidnapping // Mentions of death (In Diluc and Childes) // Spoilers for the Liyue Archon quest if you have not done it yet // Mentions of going to the hospital (Kavehs)

★ Extra: Reader is adopted in Zhonglis one // Reader is shorter then most characters (They're about 6-7 age wise) // Reader has no vision // Reader is ofc NOT traveler

For whatever reason I can see it being a Fatui that kidnapped you. Perhaps to get payback for the massacre Diluc caused back in Snenznaya. Whatever the reason, once Diluc finds out you’re gone and it was because of the Fatui? Oh he’s more then pissed.

If they wanted to upset him, they succeeded. Perhaps too successfully as when he finally finds you, most of the Fatui that’s been there to ensure you don’t escape has been soaking in a pool of their own blood. He of course won’t hurt anyone violently if you’re in the room, but he will knock the other people in there out. He’ll pick you up and hide your face in his chest as he calmly walks out.

When you are back home, he’ll take a few days off work to ensure you’re okay after what happened, and maybe if it comes to it he may actually ask some of the Knights of Favonius for help as well.

Honestly whether or not he actually hurt anyone is up to you, however I do think that when it comes to family, he isn't that hesitant to be a bit more violent then usual.

Getting adopted and having your father being the ex-archon of Liyue had it's ups and downs, especially as you witnessed your father continuously forget his wallet, however never have you thought you'd get kidnapped.

You weren't sure why though, Zhongli had kept his identity a secret and the only ones knowing were other Archons and the traveler as far as you knew plus Zhongli in his "mortal" form isn't that much of an important figure to others, nor is he famous. Yet here you were, treasure hoarders surrounding you.

Meanwhile, Zhongli was panicking wondering where you went. One second you were close behind him, the next you were gone. So he quickly called upon some of the adeptus to search for you and thankfully, you also had the privilege to call upon Xiaos name and he'll come right to your side. Whatever happened to the treasure hoarders?

You're not sure, Xiao simply teleported you away and right into your fathers arms as he held you tight before disappearing into the green mist once again. Zhongli checks all over you to ensure you aren't hurt. After that day, he's sure to always have an eye on you and when he cannot. An adeptus will look out for you from afar.

Being a Knight, and a captain in fact. Kaeya definitely encountered people wanting to push his cool persona over the edge. It's part of the reason why he's a bit hesitant on growing closer to certain loved ones.

He's afraid of loosing them, so when he lost you. He did not take it well, despite his cool demeanour when he ordered some knights to go search for you, people like Jean and his brother Diluc were quick to see he was in a state of panic, Jean even offered to take over the search so Kaeya could relax but he didn't want too. He had to find you safe and sound, even if that meant he had to get hurt.

When you are finally found, he's quick to take whoever's responsible away and have Jean deal with them properly as he himself brings you to Barbara who checks for injuries you may have sustained. He's by your side at all times and may even be hesitant to leave your side.

Even though Jean likely did give him some time off to spend time with you and for him to cool down after what happened, he's still unwilling to leave you alone, even with another babysitter. He does reluctantly agree when his older brother offers to take care of you. He knows Diluc is strong and will be able to protect you. (Better than Diluc protecting him anyways)

Whoever kidnapped you must have a death wish or something...

Of course it's easy to see why someone were to kidnap you. I mean, being the kid of not only the fatui, but a harbinger. It's clear why someone tried to kidnap Tartaglia's kid but...it's not smart either.

The Fatui have a large amount of people working for them, and most aren't afraid to attack. And due to the fact Childe is a harbinger, it's easy for him to get people to find you as soon as he knows of your disappearance and when you are found, he asks his subordinates to take you back to his house where his family will look after you whilst Childe *cough cough* uh...deals with the perps responsible.

He'll come back soon, cleaned up but faintly smelling of blood and double checks to see you're okay. Now he does go back to work faster then anyone else, this is mainly because I don't think he'll really be allowed time off, however he does have some subordinates keep an eye on you from afar.

Oh archons, he is p a n i c k i n g. Once Kaveh finds out you've been kidnapped he's so worried, it takes Alhaitham to actually shake him to get him to finally focus on finding you. Unfortunately unlike the others listed in this post so far, he cannot easily go looking for you himself. However being friends with Cyno does mean you have the General of the Mahamatra looking for you and he is good at his job.

It may take awhile but eventually Cyno does find you, and after dealing with the kidnappers and arresting them. Takes you to the Sumeru hospital (they have one right?) to get healed as he tells Kaveh that you've been found.

Kaveh stays by your side no matter what, he'll sleep on the damn floor of the hospital if he has too, he doesn't even leave you once you're discharged from it either. He feels so guilty about what happened and blames himself so he tries his best to make more time with you. Even if this means his debts may increase, he just wants to spend as much time with you as possible encase this happens again.

And hey, Alhaitham may be kind enough to dismiss Kavehs missed rent payment that month.

Weehee. I actually enjoyed writing this :D However next time please make sure to check to see if my requests are open before sending one in, in any case I hope you liked this <33

[cynyari]

Tighnari is Kavetham's no.1 hater because he sees how much Kaveh holds Alhaitham's opinion to a high regard even if he won't admit it and that Alhaitham isn't good at communication and he'll eventually say something and Kaveh will jump to some conclusion and spiral and then Tighnari will have to be the one to help his friend out of it afterwards

Cyno is Kavetham's no.2 hater cause he thinks alhitham is a dickhead and doesn't like his ass

[arisewanekosuki]

Traveler's little helper -Extra-: Curiosity - Nahida (feat Sumeru Boys x Fem!Reader)

This is something I wanted to post before... I went to the small hiatus, now I finished this short thing but sorry for mistakes, it's 1 Am now and I'm tired... [ Teyvat , Mondstadt , Liyue ] ------

Nahida found it interesting, how can you still not be able to  see those boys holding affections towards you. At first she wondered “Are you really blind for their courting? Or maybe you don’t want to see it?” You’re very friendly, no matter if it’s a guy or girl, if you want to take someone somewhere you won’t hesitate to hold their hand, if someone is sad you always offering a hug. But she did notice that when it comes to guys, there are sometimes a moments when you do realize that you got ‘too close’ and start to feel a bit shy, apologizing to them. But then how could you not notice how they pout for not feeling warmth of your hand anymore?  The easiest way is to ask you and she did. -“Those boys really like spending time with you…but I can’t help and wonder…which one do you like the most?” you looked at her with confusion -“Which one? Hmm.. I like them all, after all they are my good friends!” You smiled so brightly to her. “Ah so you’re just that oblivious.” She thought back then. Nahida always liked to observe people and because of this she noticed the difference in behavior for some of the guys. Wanderer was the first one she noticed the changes in him. That’s not a secret that Wanderer enjoys watching people expressions, especially the negative ones. Making others angry is his little fun in everyday live. And at first it was the same with you, being rude or ignoring you to just see your angry face but this changed. To Nahida’s surprise she noticed how lately he have been only teasing you just to see your embarrassed face and not only that. It seems Wanderer started to like seeing your smile. When at first he would complain when you asked him to help with commissions, now he ‘offers’ help himself to do them. The next one was Kaveh. Always stressed and troubled by many things. But after you invited him to the Teapot he seems more relaxed and happy, of course you couldn’t take away his debt but you helped him a bit whenever you could. She noticed that Kaveh is more calm when discussing things with the clients about his projects. Before he would get angry quickly because of the stress and not wanting to be scammed again but now it  looks like he’s more clearheaded to find common ground on both sides. There is less arguments between him and Alhaitham those days as well, but in exchange now most of the time they clash with each other when it comes to you. The General Mahamatra have two modes, the work on and the work off, but at some point Nahida noticed that there one more “(Y/n) is here mode on”. You don’t mind his jokes, you would smile or even let a small laugh when he tell ones and when you do that, Nahida can see Cyno smiling too. Everyone knows how serious Cyno is when it comes to TCG, he won’t even show mercy when playing against you. But if someone paying close attention to Cyno they would notice how sometimes he gets deconcentrated by watching you choosing next cards. You’re good player but sometimes he lose because he got lost in his thoughts about you. Tighnari was better at hiding his affections towards you, at least when there were more people around. Nahida was watching you two as a little bird, you would listen to Tighnari talking about flowers but sometimes he would decorate your hair with some or giving you bouquets but you never knew the meaning behind them, this is only fact that Tighnari hid from you. You’re the only person who have permission to brush his tail or touch his ears, Nahida can’t count of her fingers now how many times Tighnari was so close to kiss you in moments like this. The little Dendro Archon can always see how Tighnari is protective over you, especially if you get hurt. No matter if the wound is small, Tighnari will always take care of it and softly scold you.

The hardest one to see their affections towards you is Alhaitham. Nahida is sure many other people didn’t even realized that he too takes part in the race of winning your heart. Alhaitham is very subtle with his affections, many may even mistook them for just him being kind to you. But if they know him better they can notice how he would enjoy to have conversations with you, after work he would invite you from time to time for some coffee or tea whichever you prefer. To Nahida, and even your surprise he do offer to read some books for you, when he sees that Paimon is busy and you are curious of the new book you found in your adventures with Aether.

The little Dendro Archon can’t help but be curious how this will go. Will one of them manage to win your heart? Or maybe someone else from another Nation will charm you? But there is something that has been bothering Nahida for a while now, whenever you spend time with the boys and they leave for moment or don’t look at you, she can see your eyes fill with sadness. The Dendro Archon started to wonder “Maybe you’re not that oblivious like everyone thinks?”

[tr4gictea]

May I request Alhaitham and Kaveh taking care of teenage reader that is sick, like, reader sees them both as older brothers so they hang out sometimes but now reader is sick so they take care of them 🥲

Kaveh & Alhaitham w/Sick!Reader

❥Masterlist

Tags: fluff, sick reader, overworking

Including: Brother Figure!Alhaitham&Kaveh

word count: 1,662 words

A/n: Second post after coming back :D idk if you wanted a headcanon or a story sooooo I wrote a story d:

The morning you woke up with a headache you had beams of sweat running down your head, and your whole body felt hot. Piercing pain went through your skull as if you had just been shot sending you to grip your head in pain.

After adjusting to the pain you hobbled over to the medicene cabinet and grabbed some headache reliving medication.

This had to be one of the worst days to get sick as this was your scheduled date to enter the restricted section in the akademiya library. They only let a few select in and you were lucky enough to get on the waitlist. you had to wait at least three months before you could enter the restricted library. If you wanted to go in a different time from your scheduled time you would have to wait another three months or more.

This was something you could not miss.

After a slow start to the morning, you arrived at the akademiya looking ghostly. The medication you took earlier helped your headache but did noting for the stomach ache you had afterward. Gripping your stomach you opened the doors of the akademiya you hobble over to the restricted libraries front desk. The woman at the desk reading the book she had on the desk and handed you a form to sign before entering the library. It was probably for the best she had he nose in a book, cuz if she looked up she would have thought the zombie apocalypse started.

Handing back the filled out form the woman at the desk pressed a button on her desk and the doors opened.

"Please no food, drinks, or other items that can damage our books. Thank you and have a good time." She said it as if she rehearsed it a million times and didn't take one eye off the book the entire time.

Entering the library you took in the sight of all the books hidden from the public eye, the ones that you had free reign to read through for exactly 2 hours. With only a small amount of time to cram information. Opening the first book you looked at the old pages and began reading through at a rapid pace. Take all the information you can in and stopping every once and a while to blow your nose or sneeze.

Thirty minutes into your time you felt a searing pain in your head. Your headache was coming back worse than ever. Rubbing your temples aggressively you kept trying to focus back in on the book but the pain of a headache, stomach, and stuffy nose combined was too much to bear.

Unnoticed passing by you was the acting grand sage. You had often had talks with the man as he was like a mentor to you. He had gone down to the restricted section to find a topic that wouldn't typically be found in the normal library. But on his way, he stumbled upon you hunched over your book with your head in your hands.

Approaching you from behind intending to see what you were doing he was met with a ghastly sight of you with your eyes closed rubbing your temple, face hot with beads of sweat rolling down your face, and teeth clenched. Around you was a hoard of crumpled tissue paper.

Alhaitham leaned down to your level and called out your name. "(Y/n)?"

Opening your eyes you jump back in surprise to see your mentor in front of you looking at you with a straight face. Though most can't see it, the expression looked concerned to you.

"Alhaitham!" You exclaim "Sorry I didn't see you,"

"I can tell, it seems as you were busy with other things."

Thinking he's referring to your research you pick up the book to show him the cover "Ah, yes I am doing a paper on-,"

"No (Y/n), that's not what I mean." he cuts you off "You look unwell, I believe that you should go home and take time to rest."

"I will after my time is up, I still have about an hour and thirty minutes left to finish my work and go home."

His expression remains unchanging and he reaches out to close the book. "Yes, but that is time you could use to rest and get better. This is how your body fights infections."

You let out a sigh "You sound like an old man right now," laying your head on the desk and burying in your hands and try to stop the pain in your head.

"I do not. I am just informing you on how to help yourself get better faster since you obviously aren't taking the initiative on your health right now." He retorted back in a matter-of-fact tone.

"See the words 'informing' and 'initiative' make you sound old,"

"That's not the point (Y/n)," he says sighing at your comeback. "You are acting so immature right now," he says under his breath, you let out a small chuckle.

"Look Alhaitham," you call out to him as you reopen the book Alhaitham closed. "I'm well enough to stay for a little longer unt... til... ACHOOO until my sniff time is up."

Unconvinced, the acting sage stands up straight and rests a hand on your forehead. "Your temperature is well over a hundred and ten, from your facial expression I can tell you're in a lot of pain but are trying to hide it, even though it is freezing cold in here and yet you still managed to break a sweat. From these signs and a few others, I can tell you are in a lot of pain right now."

He was right, as much as you hate to admit it he was right. the pain in your head was still searing your brain, your stomach ache got worse and you felt like you needed to throw up. But you waited 3 months for this spot you can't just walk out thirty minutes in.

"I have some medicine that I can grab you from my house." hesitant to follow his instructions your eyes dart between the books on the desk and the doors leading outside.

Probably sensing your hesitancy he says "If you need to I can schedule another time for you to come to the restricted library two days after you make a full recovery."

"Really?" You say perking up slightly.

"Yes if that is what it takes for you to start your recovery process."

"Thank you Haitham." He smiles slightly at the nickname.

"Please come with me, i need to go grab some medicinal supplies from my house."

Having been to his house many times for tutoring, you knew it was only a long 15-minute walk. Entering his house you were greeted with warm-colored furniture and books and blueprints scattered all across the floor. In the middle of all this mess, you see a blonde-haired man peek out from behind a couch.

Kaveh was Alhaitham's roommate and biggest hater. He probably complains more about the man than he sees his own family.

"(Y/n)!" he jumps up from his spot on the ground and rushes to your side. "You look terrible! Are you sick?"

"ACHOO, no," you say sarcastically

He scoffs at your answer. "(Y/n) lay down I'm going to get you some tea." he looks around the room til his eyes land on Alhaitham slowly taking his shoes and coat off. "ALHAITHAM! What are you doing go make them some tea immediately and get them some medicine"

"If you would give me a second I was going to get them some medicine but the walk here was a little long-,"

"WALK?!? DO YOU MEAN TO TELL ME YOU MADE HER WALK HERE SICK!?!"

"Yes, what else am I supposed to do? Pick her up?"

"YES YOU IDIOT SHE'S SICK!" Kaveh storms off into the kitchen. "And I thought the scribe was supposed to be the smartest!"

Alhaitham sighs shaking his head "Here, take this in case you get cold." and hands you a blanket "And feel free to grab any book off the shelf as long as you don't spill or ruin it in anyways."

"I know," he has stated this rule to you one too many times. You learned that it was a big rule for him when you accidentally split juice on one of his books. He gave you the book that you spilled juice on and when you came back the next day he had three more copies of that same book.

While waiting on the couch and checking out the building blueprint, Kaveh comes out of the kitchen with two teas.

"This one has herbs that help with stomach aches and headaches," He says while giving you the cup. He takes a sip of his own cup and rests it on the table.

"Don't I get a cup?" Alhaitham questions Kaveh.

"Make your own." the architect stats plainly.

"I like your new designs Kaveh," you say point to the big one on the ground. "Who's it for?"

"Oh yeah this one is for a client out of in Fontaine. He wanted an 'exotic style' for his house." He said putting air quotes on 'exotic style'.

"But it looks like a city house style?"

"Yes but the client insisted that it made him feel like he was in a jungle," Kaveh said rolling his eyes.

"The stone outer walls are not helping him prove his point," you chuckle

"hehe, the stones he wanted for that aren't even from Sumeru hehe, they're from Liyue." he chuckled with you "You feeling any better?"

"not really.."

"Well, you'll feel better after you rest up." Alhaitham suddenly speaks up.

"Rest, we will wake you up later but for now sleep."

"Ok, yawn." Pulling the blanket that Alhaitham gave me over me. Resting your head on the pillow you immediately drift to sleep, while the acting grand sage and the light of kshahrewar watch over you.

[iridescentmirrorsgenshin]

An example of queercoding in Alhaitham and Kaveh's relationship: Madam Faruzan edition

Due to the rules in place for game development in China, the possibility for queer confirmation within Genshin Impact is denied, which therefore renders the usage of characters alluding to the potential romantic connection between two same-sex characters as impossible. However, the same insinuation can be made by omitting specific language which strictly conveys romantic sentiments, such as ‘couple’. Instead, the idea of secrecy or something unmentionable can be drawn upon as indicators, as this draws parallels to the taboo of homosexuality practiced within certain cultures and media forms, which the real world audience can identify.  

For example, Alhaitham and Kaveh as secret housemates. This can be used to convey an idea of ‘taboo’ as Kaveh desires to protect his reputation by concealing his shame of having to live with Alhaitham. In-game, the context here is that Kaveh wants to uphold his reputation of a successful architect, but within Alhaitham’s Story Quest, upon the player’s discovery of Kaveh living with Alhaitham, this context is omitted for some time. This prompts Paimon to question what exactly Alhaitham and Kaveh’s relationship is, with Kaveh denying that the two used to be friends but are not anymore: “I wouldn’t say ‘friends’ exactly”.

This tactic of double entendre can be seen again in A Parade of Providence when Paimon almost reveals Kaveh’s living situation to Faruzan.

Faruzan’s can be observed to resort to a thinking pose, in comparison with Layla, when Alhaitham is mentioned in relation to Kaveh wanting to buy property, as Paimon almost ‘outs’ the truth, that Kaveh resides with Alhaitham.

She then seemingly dwells upon the subject, as she returns to it after Kaveh requests for a change of topic later in the conversation. Here, Faruzan follows up on whether Kaveh lives alone, which he fails to deny. 

Here, it can be seen that she has already began associating Kaveh and Alhaitham, possibly speculating that the two live together. When Kaveh fails to supply an answer, therefore not denying her theory, she explicitly ties the two together, and asks if the two are “hiding” something.  

This question evokes a physical reaction from Kaveh, as he denies this question out of fear of being revealed, with Paimon opting to leave in order to cover her role in revealing Kaveh’s predicament.  

A deliberate potentiality has been created here in regard to what Faruzan has inferred, as her phrasing of “are you two hiding something from me?” is non-specific. Rather than asking: “are you two living together?”, she asks a question which holds multiple connotations. Due to the ambiguity of her meaning, her question can be observed as a non-explicit version of the: “are you two a couple?” question.

On the surface, this question is a reference to their situation as roommates, however, her phrasing is non-specific, and hints to another cause for “hiding” something. For Faruzan, Kaveh’s blatant evasion of the topic and dismissal of Alhaitham’s name, could easily be inferred as “hiding” a romantic connection – which is something that the player, too, can pick up on from her gesture of suspicion, her inquisitive questioning, and her excitement when piecing together the clues. The ambiguity of her question generates multiple meanings as to why she has surmised the two could be “hiding”.  

This overt secrecy in Kaveh’s living with Alhaitham, another man, prompts the player to generate associations between this in-game secrecy and real world queer shame. In this, there is an implication of the need for Kaveh to confirm the status of his relationship between him and Alhaitham. Not only does this scene connotate an ‘outing’, in which a queer character has their queerness forcibly revealed to a heteronormative audience, but this creates a sense of secrecy, which, again, can be interpreted by the player as ‘taboo’.  

Kaveh does not want to tell anyone of his living situation out of preserving his stellar reputation, however, Faruzan is missing this context. She relates Alhaitham and Kaveh together in the phrasing “you two”, coupling them together in a secret that they “hid[e]”. The player understands this as indicating to their living situation, however, this creates a separate context which Faruzan has interpreted and that, we, as the audience are not privy to, but can interpret based on her allusions to cohabitation between two men being a secret.

Whilst this is not explicitly romantic within Genshin’s world of nameless sexuality, Faruzan’s ambiguous questioning here draws parallels between real world understanding of sexuality and the connotations of queerness which stems from two men living together in secret. 

(Update: For more analyses like this, the essay this is taken from is now uploaded! It can be accessed here and here as as a pdf <3)

[strxnged]

KAVEH: # perennial.

word count. 0.8k. genre. platonic, painter!gn!reader.

warnings. alcohol, love confession gone wrong (… right?).

“I think I’m in love with you.”

Kaveh’s voice was loud, forceful, and impatient. It was as if he’d been turning the words over in his mind for a few minutes and finally decided to spit it out and bear the consequences. His face contorted imploringly. “Please don’t kill me,” he added.

“Kav, you interrupted me!” You realized you were probably scowling at him.

“I—I know, I’m… sorry.”

You huffed and shut down your still-screaming thoughts about the inflation of paint prices. How were you supposed to make a living from your art if you couldn’t afford deep blue paint? You would have to change your entire style. How could you paint the sea, the sky, the— No, you had to focus. 

You grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the crowds of the city street to stand under a tree. “Kaveh,” you said in a more hushed voice, “where is this coming from?” 

His eyes darted around your face, anywhere but your eyes. His cheeks were aflame. As much as you took pleasure in seeing him embarrassed, this needed to be resolved immediately. 

“You can’t just say things like that when we’re out in public.”

He frowned. “What?”

“People are going to think…”

“That I mean it? I do!”

Up until now, you’d been sure there was another explanation. But now you saw his crimson cheeks, furrowed eyebrows, and red eyes settling on yours, and you let yourself absorb it.

“Oh,” you said.

Your chest tightened and your throat closed. Archons, were you really about to lose your best friend? Did everything have to change, now?

“I’m sorry,” he said again. “I just— I’ve never felt for anyone the way I do for you. God, it sounds so stupid. I just love you. A lot. I don’t want to be apart from you.”

“It does sound stupid,” you said bluntly. “Because I feel the same way.”

“You do?”

“Kaveh…”

He looked pained, mouth opening and closing with no words coming out.

“Kaveh,” you said, more firmly. “It’s not about whether or not I love you. It’s about what you want, and what I want. So instead of saying words that are so plainly obvious, why don’t you give me something to go off of so I know what you mean.”

Kaveh sighed. “I don’t know…”

“Fine. Let me get a drink or two into you. Then you’ll talk.” You took to the street again, and beckoned to him. “Don’t linger, loverboy.”

Sure enough, in Lambad’s Tavern, Kaveh’s tense expression melted after a drink. He pursed his lips, gazing a bit more calmly into the bottom of his empty glass.

“Well?” you urged him.

“I want to understand my feelings. Alhaitham told me I should talk to you about it instead of bothering him so much.”

You sputtered. “You want to understand your feelings, so you confessed your love for me?”

He sighed. “Yes.” His eyes met yours defiantly. “It’s not like I knew what else to say. I do love you.”

“Yes, you’ve mentioned that. That’s a great word that means a whole lot of nothing new to me unless you want things between us to change.”

“Change how?” he asked. 

“Kaveh, I should kick you.” You swung back your glass and emptied it. “My best friend’s a fool. That’s up to you. I’m content with how we are.”

“Well, so am I. I just love what we have. You’re everything to me.” He huffed and ordered another drink from the bartender. “You know, you just put me in my place and knock senses into me. You’re like—Alhaitham, but you don’t have terrible taste and worse opinions.”

You laughed. “Is that a compliment?”

“That’s how I love you.”

“Hmm…” You kicked your feet back and forth. “How else?”

“Like, I like being close to you. Hanging out. Lying around with you while we’re doing seperate art. I like your smell. I really… really like making you laugh.” Kaveh looked almost defeated, but his tone was tender and meaningful. “That’s how.” He looked at you again, and his expression turned angry. “You’re enjoying this! You prick.”

“Of course I am, Kaveh. I don’t know why you’ve held back these feelings. Is there anything else?”

He rolled his eyes and propped his head up in his hand, elbow on the bar counter. “I’m just in love with you. Like I love a new design.”

“And I love you like I love painting.” You smiled and let out a relieved sigh. “So nothing has to change?”

“No. God, no.”

“Good. I have enough to deal with, with paint prices these days.”

author’s note. i wrote this in like 20 minutes and did not proofread don’t come for me. i love queerplatonic affection and kaveh. ♥

[idyllic-affections]

general friendship headcanons (sumeru).

summary. what is it like being friends with some of sumeru's citizens?

trigger & content warnings. brief & hypothetical mentions of people being creepy towards you.

tropes, pairings, fic length, & other notes. fluff. alhaitham & reader, collei & reader, cyno & reader, kaveh & reader, nahida & reader, nilou & reader, wanderer & reader, tighnari & reader. 0.9k words. no pronouns for reader.

author's notes. just a lil filler post while i continue working on requests <3 should i make this into a series? i think i will HSKDHDLD sometimes i need things to post in between requests, especially when i get a wave of longer requests.

alhaitham is the kind of friend you can just... sit in the silence with. it's not uncomfortable silence whatsoever—it's, on the contrary, rather comforting and calming. he'll let you sit right up against him if you so please as he reads a book of his. you want to take a nap on him? go for it, he doesn't mind. i like to think that alhaitham finds the weight and pressure to be soothing (neurodivergent alhaitham my beloved...). you want to read your own book? that's fine. maybe you're doing something else—crocheting, knitting, drawing, writing... he really doesn't mind. whatever it is you choose to do, you're welcome to curl up against his side while you do it.

collei is another one you can sit in comforting silence with. she finds it nice just to spend time with her friend! if either of you aren't really interested in doing anything in particular, or if one or both of you aren't feeling great mentally or physically, she's totally cool with sitting in the calm quiet and cloud-gazing together. if you do want to do something, however, she's up for that too! she would also take you on patrol with her, i think, even if you need special accommodations. she'll figure it out. if you want to go with her, she'll find a way c: she's also the kind of friend that would enjoy trading easy & convenient recipes with you.

cyno is definitely the card game friend. you will learn to play tcg. you have no choice. it is your fate. /lh but i also like to think he's a considerably protective friend! he's the one to ask all the questions if you let him know you're planning on going out. he wants to know all the details. are you going with someone? yes? who is it? where are you planning on going? he literally just wants you to be safe, so sometimes it might come off as overbearing or infantilizing, but he really doesn't mean it that way! he genuinely just wouldn't forgive himself if something happened to you that he could have prevented.

kaveh is the kind of friend you could stay up until atrocious hours of the night talking to. also 100% the gossip friend. he'll sit there doing your hair, makeup, nails, or skincare routine—regardless of your gender, whatever you're comfortable with! kaveh genuinely doesn't care as long as you're happy and content—and tell you all of the terrible awful drama he overhears. he's also somewhat protective, but not to cyno's level. he'll inquire about your plans and will then tell you to be safe and have fun! he would feel really bad if something happened, though. really bad. will definitely, 100%, without a doubt tell off any creeps bothering you. he can pretend to be your brother or your boyfriend, whatever you need. he'll do it.

nahida is the therapist friend, in a way. she doesn't completely understand human emotions and thought processes, but she is totally happy to listen to whatever you need to get off your chest! it helps her understand you and other people better, and it (hopefully) helps you feel better. her advice is a little difficult to understand, admittedly... she tries her best though! if you don't understand, feel free to tell her. she'll try to be clearer. it may or may not work, and she has a chance of making her point even more confusing, but she really does try.

nilou is the kind of friend who's happy to do activities with you. she's happy to do anything as long as it's with her friend! she'll take you out to the shopping (only for you two to inevitably return with a ridiculous amount of free gifts for nilou, namely from the grand bazaar vendors...) if you'd like, or she can get you guys tickets to some of her favorite performances! she'd also love to teach you her style of dance if you'd be willing to and are able to learn. if you're not able, though, that's okay! she really doesn't mind. i like to think she'd also be super supportive of you and all your pursuits.

the wanderer is, quite simply, the begrudging friend. he will NOT admit that he cares about you and will claim the exact opposite. he'll say that he absolutely does not care whatsoever (but will then, in the same sentence, berate someone for so much as glancing at you in a way he deems to be wrong). he's a bit emotionally inarticulate—and rightfully so—but he really does care. his ways of showing it are just a little odd and unconventional. he acts like every display of affection ever is such a terrible burden that should not have been put on his shoulders, but secretly really loves holding your hand or giving you a hug. also really likes being held. like. he would die before admitting that but he... he just needs to be held, you know?

tighnari is the kind of friend who tells you all sorts of things—he shares his knowledge so freely with you, it's sort of like a love language. he'll tell you all about the local flora, explaining what plants you could eat in the case of an emergency and what ones you should never even touch. also as his friend you are allowed to touch his ears and tail. imagine habitually fidgeting with them while tighnari doesn't even flinch because, as long as you're always careful and gentle, he trusts you enough for that kind of thing. i bet he is very soft. anyway, i can't explain it, but i just know his hugs are warm and comforting and protective. he definitely gives really good hugs.

please consider reblogging, it helps me out quite a lot!

[lovehypegirl]

OF GOLD AND GREEN

Synopsis: Being the adopted child of Alhaitham and Kaveh

They're both really good parents

But they have different parenting styles

Like how at fancy dinners Kaveh lets you have a sip of his wine and Alhaitham is glaring at him across the table

Alhaitham is always the one who wakes up before the rest of the world and Kaveh sleeps in snoring his head off

On your school days Alhaitham gently wakes you up and gets you ready for school after he prepared breakfast

Kaveh has already dragged himself out of bed and is pouring more syrup on his pancakes then needed and Alhaitham snatches it away

Kaveh is always in charge of doing your hair

As usual, Alhaitham will listen to the conversation that you have with Kaveh, talking about your friends at school and what your new favorite things are, and why your favorite color is your favorite

Let's assume that your elementary school is near or at the Akademia so Alhaitham usually takes you to school and Kaveh picks you up since Alhaitham works late

When he works late Kaveh spends the evening with you and shows you what his blueprints look like

He draws random buildings for you to color in and will always complement you on your 'artistic eye'

Going off of this, Kaveh nurtured your ability to draw and now many a drawing of Kaveh, Alhaitham, and you sit around the house

Sometimes Alhaitham takes you to work with him and you sit in his office and doodle while he works

Alhaitham reads to you before bed every night as a routine

On weekends when Alhaitham has to work Kaveh takes care of you and he brings you all over Sumeru and shows you his architectural designs

Or he will draw with you and shows you how to make a blueprint

Sometimes when they're both working they need to leave you in the care of Nahida or the Traveler

Alhaitham always makes sure that you are on top of your work and he gets really proud when you show him a good test score and a smile saying you are at the top of the class

You're their pride and joy

© 𝙇𝙊𝙑𝙀𝙃𝙔𝙋𝙀𝙂𝙄𝙍𝙇 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 | modification and translation of my works on any platforms are strictly prohibited

[aviiarie]

“𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐀 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊!” — feat. kaveh & reader !

synopsis. kaveh is not having a great week. luckily, he has a best friend to distract him.

✦ contents. platonic! they are friends! best friends! modern au (they're still in university though.) some sumeru character cameos. gn!reader. fluff. 3.1k words.

✦ notes. this is my secret santa gift for.... @tragedy-of-commons! merry christmas gwen, i hope you enjoy!!! i did my best to make this as silly and fun as possible :"))

“Wow... you look even worse than I left you.”

Kaveh groaned, squeezing his eyes shut. The desk was cold under his forehead, a sweet relief from the headache pounding behind his eyes. Maybe he could lay there a little while longer, languishing in his misery, and you would lose interest and leave him. Maybe...

“Hey! Don't fall asleep on me!”

Alas, such mercy would never find him. If your voice—far too loud for a library, he would say—wasn't already enough to disturb his brooding, then the rolled up paper in your hands definitely did the job.

“Ouch,” He mumbled, rubbing the back of his head. “Leave me 'lone...”

“Nope, not a chance.” You slip into the seat directly across him, your chin resting on the palm of your hand. “So, how much progress has been made?”

“I'm at about—” Kaveh sat up wearily, sifting through his scattered papers. “—21%.”

“Weren't you at 30% an hour ago?” You blinked.

“Yes.”

“Oh, Kaveh—”

“I'm fine, I just need... some time.” Kaveh gritted out, scanning the dozens of failed designs and hastily written notes. “And... and some inspiration. And maybe some coffee too.”

“And some sleep?”

“Are you kidding?” He scoffed, as he gathered the papers into a neat pile. “I can't sleep now. I need to get this project done, or else I'm failing this class. I can't afford a fail right now, this is making up 50% of my grade, and I only scored an 85 on the written exam, and my draft is due in a week and—”

A smack in the middle of his forehead snapped him out of his rambling. Kaveh reeled back, nursing the faint sting, as you re-rolled the paper in your hand.

“What was that for!” He cried.

“You can't keep wallowing, you're never going to get anything done! It's about time you took a break.” Carefully, you unroll the paper you were holding, to reveal a colourful poster. “And I know exactly what we can do!”

Kaveh squints at the flyer. It looked to be hand-drawn and photocopied, depicting a bustling market with smiling visitors holding mouth-watering food and bags stuffed with souvenirs. Across the top, the text read: Come visit Sumeru's Fair!

“A fair...” Kaveh murmured, reading the fine text. “This says it's only open the last week of December.”

You paused, shooting him a suspicious look. “Kaveh, do you know what day it is?”

“Uh... December... something?” He guessed.

“Well—Well, yeah.” You huffed, snatching the poster back to wave in his face. “The point is, you need some time to clear your head, and I don't want to go alone. So...?”

-----

By some miracle, your persuasion (and Kaveh's weak will towards anything you try to convince him to do) is effective enough to leave his project behind. The gates are swarming with people when you arrive, a few familiar faces sticking through the crowd, along with dozens of families and couples enjoying the festivities.

“Two tickets, please!” You grinned, handing over some money to the salesperson before Kaveh could even offer to pay for his own. The tired-looking employee hands over the tickets, and you grab Kaveh's hand to drag him towards the entrance. “Thank you!”

As soon as you step through, there is a rainbow of colours filling his vision. Brightly coloured stalls are set up with carnival games, food, and other attractions on either side, forming an aisle. Behind them, he could see a Ferris Wheel peeking out over the tents, as well as some other rides he couldn't quite make out.

“What should we do first?” You asked excitedly, scanning your surroundings.

“Wasn't this your idea?” Kaveh raised an eyebrow. “Shouldn't I be asking you that?”

“Ever heard of living in the moment?” You chided, looping your arm through his to lead him forward. “Do you have money?”

Kaveh rolled his eyes, allowing himself to be pulled along. “Do you think I—”

“No, you're broke, I don't know why I asked. Okay, I have some money. Enough for a few rides and some food, at least.” You paused to take a breath, glancing over to a stall on your left. “Woah, look at that!”

Kaveh followed your gaze, to a small stand set up with a simple throwing game. There were a few old cans stacked up, and a grinning attendant looking back at the two of them with a beanbag in his hand. That wasn't what caught your attention though. No, your eyes were firmly fixed on the stuffed animal hanging at the back of the stall, dangling just out of reach like Tantalus' fruit.

“It's a peacock!” You gasped, hand reaching out as if to try and touch the plush feathers sewn into its tail. For a carnival prize, it was remarkably well-made, and utterly adorable; there was no wonder you looked entranced by it.

“Something you like?” The attendant crooned. He tossed the beanbag from hand to hand, casually throwing it in the air and catching it again. “You get three tries, knock all six cans over and pick whatever prize you want.”

Kaveh squinted at the cans. It looked easy, deceptively easy. The beanbag was soft, but appeared to be sturdy enough to knock the cans down in one go, and yet none of the prizes had been won yet. The entire game seemed fishy, but the prospect of the peacock plushie in your hands was enough to distract you. Before he could even voice his skepticism, you had bought three tries.

“Here you go,” The man behind the booth tossed you three beanbags and stepped out of the way as you lined up your throw. The first hit one of the cans squarely in the middle, but bounced right off.

“Argh!” You gritted your teeth and aimed again, as Kaveh's frown deepened.

The second throw was heavier, and hit one of the middle cans, dislodging the structure but failing to knock it down.

“Last go! Good luck.” The man laughed brightly, and you scowled. You threw the beanbag one last time, knocking the can at the very top over with the sheer force of your throw. “Nicely done! Let me get your prize.”

Your eyes lit up in anticipation, before he handed you a dusty pack of cards, the flimsy kind you would find in a discount store. “Oh... is that it?”

“Try knocking them all over, if you want something better.” He chuckled. “Unless you wanted to try again...?”

You thought about it for a moment, considering the obvious baiting versus how badly you wanted that prize. You nodded, and Kaveh sighed.

This time though, he paid attention.

The way that the cans moved when you hit them was odd. Hitting either in the center row, or the middle one in the bottom row didn't shake it enough to move much at all, but the top can knocked over easily. If he had to guess, they were weighted differently to make the structure more stable, and much harder to topple. The closest you got to tipping over any of them was when one of your beanbags hit the one on the far left, moving it slightly out of place.

Interesting.

“Ugh, this is impossible,” You groaned, after wasting another three tries.

“You're getting better each time!” The attendant said, while he fixed the can that was askew.

“Let me try.” Kaveh cut in. He handed over some of the little money he'd brought with him, and took the offered bean bags.

“Good luck,” You told him ruefully. Kaveh took a deep breath, steeling himself. His aim wasn't terrible, but with the game being as obviously rigged as it was, he wasn't certain he'd be able to hit it.

The first throw, he hit the corner can directly in the middle, just hard enough to push it backwards slightly. It didn't topple the structure, but after zeroing in on the weakest link, knocking it down would be easy.

The second throw was slightly short, only hitting the side of the can. It moved it, causing the stack to wobble, but did little to actually achieve his goal of making it fall over.

Finally, he lined up his last throw. This was it, his last chance. With all his force, he hurled the beanbag at the tower of cans, hitting the corner squarely and pushing it right over. Without the bottom to support it, the second and third layer fell down, knocking over the other cans as well.

“You did it!” You cheered, squeezing Kaveh in a quick hug.

“Congratulations!” The man said, fishing behind the counter for something. “Here you go.”

In his hands was an ugly stuffed bear, with fluorescent pink fur and beady black eyes. He held it out like it was a diamond ring, grinning at Kaveh with finality.

“Oh... but didn't you say if I knocked down six cans I could choose whatever one I wanted?” Kaveh asked, wondering if he misheard the man. He nodded towards the plush you were eyeing. “I actually wanted the peacock over there.”

“Well, see, you have to knock them down in one try if you want the big prize.” The attendant scoffed. “Or else it doesn't count.”

“You didn't say that!” You protested. “You only said knock three cans down.”

“And I did knock them down in one try,” Kaveh argued. “On my last try, they all fell down at once.”

“It has to be your first one, boy.”

“You didn't say that either!” You threw your hands up in frustration, voice reaching a shout.

“Fine.” Kaveh snatched the ugly looking bear, and shoved it at you. He dug around for his wallet, slapping the last of his money on the counter.

“You already won a bear, don't you want to let someone else have a turn?” The attendant protested. Sure enough, there was a small line of people waiting for their turn. Still, Kaveh shook his head.

“One more turn, and I leave.”

The man, perhaps hoping to make him leave quicker, or perhaps just interested in more of his money, handed him some more beanbags with a grumble. He turned around to set up the cans again, arranging them into another pyramid.

Kaveh watched him carefully, noting the way he paused before placing down each can, clearly feeling the weight of each. He noted the way the man was sure to place the slightly lighter can on the other corner, probably hoping that Kaveh would aim for the same one and fail to knock it over.

“Hit it as hard as you can,” You whispered to him, once he was done. “Picture it as something you hate, and hit it with everything you've got.”

Kaveh squinted at the cans. Something he hated...

Nothing immediately came to mind. Perhaps his roommate, who had a personality as enjoyable as a rainy, downcast day. Maybe that engineering professor who marked him down for a tiny spelling mistake. Or even the attendant glowering back at him as he waited for his throw.

Of course, he could always picture that project he was working on, the one that cost him far too many days and nights and still remained unfinished. As he stared at the rusty metal, all he could see was the crossed out sketches and scribbled notes, all a mess that he couldn't decipher. They taunted him; a monument to his failures and shortcomings, a reminder of the progress that he has yet to make—

Without thinking, he reeled back his arm and hurled the beanbag as hard as he could, slamming it into the can. The entire tower toppled over, cans falling from the table onto the floor.

“Yeah! That's my best friend!” You yelled, pumping your fist in the air.

Kaveh tried not to look smug, but a wide grin was already spreading across his face. “The peacock, please.”

The stuffed animal was reluctantly taken down and handed over to him, before he passed it to you.

“There. Consider it my thanks for the ticket,” Kaveh said proudly.

“Thank you,” You smiled down at the peacock, running your hand through the soft tail feathers. “I love it.”

-----

After a few more games with far less luck, the pair of you stopped by the food stalls to get something to eat. There was a wide variety, with some fried foods, some sweet snacks, even a stand selling freshly squeezed lemonade.

You settled on a stall selling pita pockets, and Kaveh had no objections. The smell alone was enough to convince him to line up.

“Oh! Hi [Name], hi Kaveh!” A familiar voice chirped. Collei was stood at the counter, smiling widely.

“Collei, I didn't expect to see you here!” Kaveh greeted her warmly.

“It's my after-school job!” She explained. “I'm trying to earn some extra money for my treatment. I can't be dependent on Tighnari for everything, you know!”

Kaveh's smile faltered for just a moment. Collei's declining health wasn't a secret; there was a reason that her brother had to take care of her so much, but she was still so selfless, even with all of her struggles.

“Ah, I should have asked!” Collei jumped suddenly, scrambling to grab her notepad. “What can I get you today?”

“Just two pita pockets please,” You ordered. “And a water, too.”

“Coming right up!”

After getting your food, the two of you sat down to eat in a shady spot by the fence. The pita pockets were warm and fresh, the perfect thing to quell Kaveh's hunger. When was the last time he had a cooked meal, or any food that wasn't straight out of a vending machine? The focus on his project had stolen away all his attention, leaving him to neglect his own appetite.

“What's next?” You asked through a mouthful of bread, your words slightly muffled.

Kaveh hummed, surveying the rest of the fair. You had walked through most of the surroundings, leaving only a small section unexplored. That portion happened to be the part with all of the rides, where the Ferris Wheel loomed over the food stalls.

“How about the Ferris Wheel?” Kaveh suggested.

Your eyes lit up again, and you jumped to your feet. “Yes! Let's go!”

-----

In hindsight, you should have expected the line, but neither of you even considered the possibility until you were stuck in the middle of it. It was cramped and uncomfortable; the overwhelming crowds were almost enough to deter you. Almost.

“This is taking forever.” You groaned, slumping against Kaveh.

“Have a little patience.” Kaveh sighed, even as his own patience was wearing thin.

Directly in front was an irritated boy with a bowlcut who Kaveh was certain was in one of his classes, accompanied by a young white-haired girl holding his sleeve. Ahead of them, there was a family of four, several couples, another group of friends, and many more waiting for their turn.

It was going to be a long time before they even saw the ticket booth, let alone made it on the Ferris Wheel.

“Oh my, [Name]! Is that you?” A sweet voice called out to you.

You turned to see Nilou, a cheerful girl and another student at your university, waving to catch your attention as she walked over.

“Oh, hi!” You greeted. ��How are you?”

“I'm good! I came with Dehya instead, and it's been a wonderful day.” She smiled back, smoothing down the front of her dress.

“That's good. We're just—” You jerked your head to motion towards the line. “—Waiting, as you can tell.”

“Ah, I see. Well, I'm glad you ended up coming, even if you didn't come with me. Isn't it wonderful?” Nilou gushed.

You nodded, with a slightly strained smile. Kaveh noticed the change instantly, studying your expression with a frown. “Yeah, it is.”

“I'd better go, Dehya is waiting for me. Take care, [Name]!” Nilou gave you a brief side-hug, before waving goodbye and dashing off.

“I didn't know you were friends with Nilou.” Kaveh said as soon as she left.

“Yeah, she's a classmate.” You said simply, leaving it at that.

After some time, you managed to make it into the compartment and on the Ferris Wheel. Kaveh sat across from you, pulling his legs close so you had more room to get comfortable, and your peacock plushie rested on your lap. The entire box was filled with windows, giving you a full view of the fair as it rose into the air.

“Woah... you can see everything up here.” As the box began to dip back down, your head swiveled to see as much of the area as possible.

“It's amazing... everything looks so small.” Kaveh breathed, as you hummed in agreement.

The two of you lapsed into a comfortable silence, simply basking in each other's company as you observed the landscape below. There wasn't a need for awkward small talk or idle conversation to fill the space between you; you were happy to just exist with each other for a moment.

“There's one thing I don't get.” Kaveh said suddenly. You looked away from the window with a curious expression, silently waiting for him to elaborate. “You said you didn't have anyone to go here with, but Nilou implied she already asked you and you turned her down. Why is that?”

“Oh. Yeah. I lied.” You shrugged, turning back to watch the Ferris Wheel move upwards.

“Why would you lie?” Kaveh spluttered at your nonchalant response.

You made a noncommittal noise, shrugging again. “Nilou could find someone else to go with. I wanted to go with you.”

He stumbled over his words, trying to get out a coherent response. “But—But why?”

“Do I need a reason?” You laughed, bright and clear. “You're my best friend. And besides, you needed a break. I haven't seen you this relaxed in a week.”

Kaveh fell silent. You had a point, he hadn't felt as relaxed in a while. In fact, he had barely given all of his stresses a thought, since you dragged him to the fair.

You always had that way with him, able to pull him out of his own head and get him back on his feet. Ever since you became friends, you were the ray of sunshine peeking through the clouds and bringing light to even his most dull days.

Maybe that was the foundation of your relationship, all the times you had seen each other at rock bottom, and still stuck around to bring the other back to the surface for air. He'd been witness to many of your own late-night breakdowns over failed assignments and miserable group projects, but he would never dream of leaving you to deal with it on your own.

It was you and him, against the world. As close as two friends could be, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

“What would I do without you?” Kaveh sighed, with a smile on his face. You looked back and grinned at him, the sunlight on your face making it look like you were glowing.

“No idea. But you're stuck with me now.”

🏷️ taglist: @tragedy-of-commons, @mollzaj, @wystiix, @mikashisus.

© aviiarie 2024. do not copy, repost, translate or use my work to train ai

[watatsumiis]

Intense Concentration (Part 1)

Reactions to a reader who sticks their tongue out when concentrating intently on something.

Featuring: Ayato, Kaveh, Neuvillette, Thoma, Yae Miko, Zhongli

All platonic fluff!

Ayato finds it rather amusing. He won’t tell you, but you’ll find that he’s sneaking glances at you far more often than usual, hiding his smirk behind a gloved hand. After a while, he simply can’t help himself, and before you can react, he’s reached out and swiped the seal of an envelope over your protruding tongue so that he can close it. He won’t even make eye contact with you, acting as if it was an entirely sane and normal thing for him to do.

Kaveh mimics you. Not consciously, he doesn’t even process the fact that you’re doing it until all of a sudden he’s been doing it for ages while working on some diagram or other and now the tip of his tongue is all dry and he can’t quite figure out why. Once he’s finally savvy to it, he finds this habit of yours utterly adorable and will do it along with you on purpose just so that you match.

Neuvillette tries to disregard it, though he ends up failing rather spectacularly. He finds it super adorable, and recalls that Melusines will do the same thing. Once he’s drawn that parallel, he can’t seem to stop thinking about it, and may end up just looking over at you more often than not with a tiny smile on his face. He may eventually bring it up, but he’s sure to be polite about it and explains that he’s simply curious, not judgemental.

Thoma calls you out on it. Every. Single. Time. “Hey, put that thing away!” “I don’t think you’ll have much luck catching flies like that.” ��You know, if you’ve been up to something mischievous, you’re obligated to let me know.” He seems to have infinite quips up his sleeve for this exact situation. He may occasionally stick his tongue out at you in return if he’s too busy or distracted to pull you up on it verbally.

Yae Miko thinks it’s weird, but also quite fascinating. She’s drawing all sorts of conclusions in her head, comparing you to different animals she’s caught with ‘blep’ expressions in the past. She’ll just watch you without a word and wait to see how long you might take to notice. If she starts to tire of this ‘game’, she may just reach out one finger to prod the tip of your tongue, then chuckle at your perplexed reaction.

Zhongli doesn’t really think much of it. He’s met plenty of people who do the exact same thing. Though he’s also a little bit fascinated by the reasoning behind why others do it. He may occasionally try it himself, though it may look a little unsettling thanks to his abnormally long forked tongue, and the fact that it tends to subconsciously flick about, much like it would when he’s scenting the air for danger in his more draconic form.

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