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Kaveh grabbed the straps of his overloaded backpack and pulled it forward to get some of its weight of his back. Gods, it really was so heavy. Alhaitham might have been right when he grumbled about no one needing three different sets of pencils and four sketchbooks on a weekend trip.
Of course, Kaveh would rather die than admit that Alhaitham was in the right, like, ever, so he grit his teeth and ran a couple steps forward.
"Wait for me!" he called out into the crowd of tourists. Alhaitham's silver hair stood out like a sore thumb in the mass of darker heads, and Kaveh saw him stopping in place. "Sevens, why coouldn't you just give me a minute—"
When Kaveh caught up to him, Alhaitham was sporting a blank expression. His eyes were invisible from behind his utilitarian sunglasses, but Kaveh knew that face. He'd seen it a million times during their time at the Akademiya, mostly days before the exam week started.
Alhaitham was exhausted.
The heat was something they hadn't calculated for in their brief and rushed packing. At the sight of cheap flight tickets to Port Ormos they'd decided to buy them immediately; each of them pushed some clothes into their bags in a hurry and off they went.
Apparently the nice, pleasant breeze of the sea that they had expected was being countered by a heatwave of massive proportions that week. Once in a lifetime weather, said the shopkeeper who shrugged and said they'd sold all of their bottled water for the day. UNPRECEDENTED, screamed the newspapers on their register.
"So pleasant," said a male gruff voice behind Kaveh's back and he whipped around to see the maniac enjoying this hellscape.
"Liben, dear, it is so not pleasant," a short woman chided the lava temperature enjoyer, and Kaveh stared at them for a while, trying to understand why they were both carrying what seemed like small tents on their backs.
Alhaitham tugged on Kaveh's shirt sleeve. "Let's go, Kaveh. What's next on the itinerary?'
Kaveh fished the list he scribbled on his knee in the airport terminal (while Alhaitham went to buy himself a crossword or some other old man activity) out of his pocket. The paper was already soft on the edges and turning blue from his jeans.
"We've already seen the port and the seaside walking path, so next it should be…"
Kaveh hummed to himself, feeling the steady presence of Alhaitham at his side. Next he'd planned visiting the local bazaar. No doubt smaller in scale and splendor than the one they were used to in Sumeru City, but apparently the place to go for local crafts and delicacies. Kaveh could already see the souvenirs he would make Alhaitham pack inside his significantly emptier backpack.
"Okay, so next we're going to—"
Someone rushed past them and Alhaitham stumbled back a step uncertainly. Kaveh shot him a look; Alhaihtam seemed way too pale under the grill in the sky. His skin looked clammy and dry, so unlike Kaveh's face covered in a thin layer of sweat.
Alhaitham blinked sluggishly and shook his head. "Then… it's the bazaar, right? I think it's that way."
Kaveh followed behind him, thoughts laced with worry. Alhaitham's steps were in a slightly wrong rhythm; each one seeming like a fight to get his feet off the ground.
They'd shrugged their jackets off ages ago—practically the second they'd left their hostel. The hot morning air had hit their faces like fumes of an open furnace and Kaveh had realised with horror that his jeans, cotton T-shirt and light jacket were going to get him cooked alive.
Alhaihtam wasn't much better. Always the scrupulous planner, this time he'd relied on Kaveh for clothing advice and was now pushing against the swell of travelers and tourists in his khaki cargo pants (so ugly, yet Kaveh had to admit they were practical) and a black tank top, his hoodie wrapped around his slender waist.
Sun sizzled on their heads; Kaveh felt like if his brain had been an egg, it would have scrambled long ago. Sweat trickled down his neck and back, and Sevens, did he regret not cutting down his hair last week when he'd almost trimmed it himself in the middle of the night in a fit of anger. At least now he would have a semblence of relief.
Instead his golden half-ponytail stuck to his skin, the stubborn silky strands refusing to stay up inside the hair band on the top of his head like he'd pinned them up this morning.
The path took them up a winding set of stairs; there was still no shade nor breeze as they climbed slowly, like some ancient pilgrims up to a temple of their life's god.
Sunshine spilled across the street like molten gold when they finally emerged on the upper level of the city. Everything seemed a little dustier and a lot more tattered here and Kaveh rushed to pull on Alhaitham's backpack to comment on it.
"Alhaitham, are you sure we're in the right place? Maybe we should pull up maps on the phone?"
The internet bill be damned.
"Alhaihtam…?" Kaveh repeated louder. The backpack slipped between his fingers as Alhaitham continued his steady march, leaving Kaveh behind more with every passing second. "Hey, when will you learn—"
Kaveh pulled him by the shoulder, ready to give Alhaitham a couple of sharp truths. "You cannot leave like—"
Alhaitham stumbled, his head turning towards Kaveh sluggishly.
"Kaveh?" his lips were ashen. "…why are we here? Didn't you want to see the port first thing in the morning?"
Kaveh laughed incredulously. "You think spouting nonsense will save you now?
Alhaitham creased his brows. "I…"
There was a beat of silence. A couple of cars honked at each other in passing; someone opened a window and echoes of music spilled across the pavement. Kaveh was hot and irritated but kept looking at Alhaitham instead of turning his eyes away, the first rule of a trip to an unknown city with only one companion.
It was good that he was a stickler for that one particular principle. Alhaitham parted his lips, tilted his head in thought and properly blacked out, falling straight into Kaveh's surprised arms.
"…tham! Alhaitham!"
His head throbbed as if he lost a sparring match with Cyno.
"Hayi, open your eyes, please—"
Alhaitham blinked and the cool, soothing darkness behind his eyelids turned into something bright and hurtful. He squeezed his eyes back shut; his head felt even worse, if possible.
"Are you awake? Thank the Sevens— Hayi, are you okay?"
The minute shake of his head upset his stomach and Alhaitham clenched his teeth. The voice seemed nice enough, kind yet somewhat frantic, and he could listen to its owner for longer if only he wasn't so parched.
His lips parted; he gathered his strength to ask. Before he uttered a single word there was a cool plastic edge against his bottom lip and he drank in big, greedy gulps. Hopefully it wasn't poison. Didn't taste like it.
"Don't drink too fast!"
The pressure disappeared from his mouth and Alhaitham pouted.
"You're so cute like that, little junior. Come on, open your eyes."
But it was so bright…
"I'm shading your face," the voice said again, with a familiar tinge of anxiety seeping through. Kaveh? "Please, look at me?"
In what felt like the biggest effort of his life Alhaitham frowned and let his eyelids flutter open. There was a sharp immediate brightness, punishing like a well-aimed kick, and he fought through it with tears welling in the corners of his eyes.
Pure gold filled his vision. Kaveh.
Alhaitham's heartbeat stuttered then came to a standstill. The reaction wasn't caused by whatever was wrong with him at present; he'd reacted to Kaveh like that ever since they'd first met.
His face must have shown the unsteadiness in his mind because Kaveh frowned and carefully pushed the half empty water bottle into his hand. "Drink some more. How do you feel?"
Alhaitham obediently gulped down more water while surveying his physical state. He was slumped on the pavement, his back against a wall warmed by the whole day's worth of sun. There was pain in his head, dulled and throbbing, and he was still so thirsty. His hand could barely sustain the grip on the bottle and he realised with a blinding certainty that in the quest of not worrying Kaveh he'd pushed himself too far.
"Did I pass out?" he settled on asking. Kaveh was kneeling between his legs, doing something weird with his hands. Shading him?
Fear flashed through Kaveh's face. "Yeah, you did. Thank the gods I managed to catch you…" Kaveh bit his lip harshly. "I think we should go to the hospital."
Alhaitham suddenly realised there was still life going on outside of their little bubble. Afternoon traffic was picking up along with a steady stream of passerbys who shot them dirty looks, forced to change their walking paths.
He quickly analysed his physical state; he found out he didn't quite agree with Kaveh's statement; it seemed like overdoing it.
"It's just heat exhaustion," he sighed with annoyance. At himself, of course. "I will be fine in a second."
"Yeah, but—"
"Hey, you can't sit here!" there was a gruff male voice to Alhaitham's right. His eyes adjusted to the distance to see a disgruntled man leaning out of a door and shaking his fist. "I swear to gods, those tourists—!"
Kaveh jumped up immediately. Alhaitham's mind supplied him with an image of a cat hissing with its fur puffed up. "Don't you see he's sick?!? We're not staying forever, leave us alone!"
"Isn't he just drunk? I know how you kids party when you come here!"
There was tension growing in Kaveh's shoulders; Alhaitham knew perfectly well how long his roommate could argue when he felt the need to. In an effort to diffuse the situation he cleared his throat.
"I believe I am suffering from heat exhaustion," he said as loud and clear as he could. Which he had to admit wasn't very audible in the chaos of the street.
"What nonsense is he spouting? See, so drunk he's slurring!"
Sun was blinding Alhaitham now that Kaveh had left his post to scream at the shopkeeper. He groaned under his breath and lifted up his hand to shield his eyes a bit. Ugh. He really preferred colder climates.
"Are you blind or stupid?!?" Kaveh screeched, short of stomping his feet in anger. "He blacked out minutes ago cause it's so hot in this damn city!"
"Then…" the man faltered. Alhaitham felt his eyes scanning him over once more. Probably noting the obvious signs; the paleness he could see himself spreading over his arms, the weak way his head had fallen back against the shop wall. "Did you really pass out?"
A tired nod. Alhaitham had no strength to waste on such a conversation.
"You still can't stay on the street. Come on in, I'll sit you in front of the fan."
The initial animosity turned into concern and Kaveh sputtered in confusion. Alhaitham's mouth twitched; oh, he loved to be the one to do that to him during their arguments. Lead Kaveh on and bait him enough, and then watch as he imploded on himself once the rug'd been pulled out from under his feet.
The amusement disintegrated into dust when Kaveh kneeled next to him and wrapped his arm around Alhaitham's waist. Their eyes met; Kaveh still flushed from annoyance and heat, his pupils wide despite the brightness surrounding them. Alhaitham shifted uncomfortably.
"You're sweaty," he blurted out.
As expected Kaveh took the bait and stopped looking at him with that strangely soft gaze. Alhaitham couldn't risk any fondness escaping onto his face and he was too scared his emotions were showing plain as day now that he was so exhausted.
"And you're such an annoyance," Kaveh spat back, lifting him up with a grunt. They both swayed when upright, Alhaitham's legs weirdly uncooperative and his head swimming. "Come on, walk with me. You should feel better in the shade inside."
"I'm trying—" Alhaitham grit his teeth against the heave in his stomach. The fact that he'd been bested by some heat and managed to ruin their trip wasn't helping.
Kaveh's fingers dug deeper into his side and they stumbled across the shop entrance. Alhaitham's back was weirdly light and he realised with a start his backpack was gone.
He stopped in his tracks, making Kaveh swear quietly as he lost his balance. "Where's my bag?"
"Don't you worry your overheated head," Kaveh mumbled and pulled him along. "I have it."
There's no way you're carrying it yourself, was left unsaid, but Alhaitham heard it loud and clear.
The shopkeeper beckoned them closer. "Put him down here, there's enough space for him to lay down— I'll get some more water."
Alhaitham sat down on the edge of an old couch in the back of the shop. Kaveh fretted over him innecessantly, untying his hoodie and folding it into a makeshift pillow. Then with a gentle but decisive push to the shoulder he made Alhaitham lay down.
There was indeed a fan sputtering a cool breeze right into his face. It must have been an old model; its base creaked as it rotated left and right. The net casing was left half open, the dent near the latch enough proof of someone knocking it over more than once.
"Kaveh, I'm fine,—" Alhaitham said, fighting through the fog in his head. "We still have so much to see."
Kaveh laced his fingers through Alhaitham's hair, the touch gentle as he scratched his scalp, sneakily trying to make him fall asleep. "Just rest for a bit. I'll ask for directions, and maybe we'll even find something more exciting in the neighbourhood than an old dusty bazaar."
"But you—" wanted to see it. "—had a plan and we should stick to it."
"You're so stubborn," Kaveh gently tugged his hair. Alhaitham heard a quiet sigh escaping his lips. Was it contempt? Concern?
"No more than you."
A silence fell in the room. Alhaitham's eyes were heavy, but he wanted to stay awake. He felt better already, truly.
The couch dipped under Kaveh's weight as he shifted slightly. There was a clock ticking somewhere, slow and persistent. Their money dripping away while they wasted time.
"Here's the water," the shopkeeper was back with an ice cold bottle. Condesation dripped on Alhaitham's fingers as he lifted himself up on his elbow and took a careful sip. "Do you need something else?"
"Actually," Alhaitham said, "we won't take up more of your time—"
Kaveh jumped up from the couch. The springs creaked in protest; water spilled down Alhaitham's cheek. "I have some questions. Do you mind if Alhaitham stays here for a while while we talk?"
"Of course not. Let the lad rest."
Protest died on Alhaitham's tongue as Kaveh slipped out the room, closing the foor halfway. In the balmy dimness there was nothing to keep him to tethered to reality and he slipped down on his hoodie pillow, defeated.
He wasn't going to give in. He would just lay down and wait until Kaveh came back, then ambush him to get moving.
Kaveh sighed as he peeked inside the room and saw Alhaitham sleeping soundly, curled on his side, hair brushed aside from his tan forehead. The pale green tinge was gone from his skin, thank the Sevens.
He hadn't enjoyed seeing his stoic roommate falling like a cut tree. Neither had he enjoyed the minute of panic while he held Alhaitham's limp body in his arms and there was nothing to do but pray he woke up. Gods, he didn't want to think about it. The heart-wrenching fear was still clinging to his bones, chills sending shivers up his spine every once in a while.
His hand slipped from the door handle and he turned back to the register. Oman, the shopkeeper, was solving a crossword puzzle behind the counter, the map of the city spread where they'd discussed it just minutes before.
Kaveh now knew where they were—far from the bazaar, but surprisingly close to the main bus station. They had to catch a connection from there; their flight back was tomorrow morning and they'd booked a cheap hotel near the airport.
He cleared his throat and leaned against the counter. "Thank you," he said and slid a bill across the smooth surface. "For the water and for letting Alhaitham rest."
Oman pushed the money away with a scoff. "If you try it one more time, I'll kick you out. Help is free."
Kaveh wanted to argue some more, but his energy was drained. In the end he just nodded and pushed the bill back in his pocket.
"Your boyfriend can rest until I have to close for the day," Oman added, going back to his crossword.
"My—" Kaveh's heart was suddenly trying to leap out of his throat. "My what—"
"Well, your boyfriend. Or husband? Sorry, you're both pretty young so I didn't want to assume."
His pen scratched against the paper and he smiled in triumph. "Another one down!"
Kaveh quietly choked and lowered himself to a crouch, his hand still holding onto the counter tightly. Sevens, they were not—anything. Roommates, yes. Friends? He didn't think they'd come back to that yet.
Boyfriends? Kaveh would have more luck asking Oman out. Fuck. Alhaitham would never… And Kaveh would never either.
Right?
"We're not dating," he said loudly and pulled himself up. "We're just roommates."
"Oh?" the shopkeeper's brows shot up his forehead. "But you two argue just like me and my wife used to."
Kaveh's mind was spinning. "It doesn't mean anything. It doesn't. We don't even like each other very much."
The entrance door opened with a quiet jingle of a bell. A customer walked in, gazing at them disinterestedly, and pushed past Kaveh to get to the refrigerator in the back. Oman pursed his lips in thought, but stayed blessedly silent. Good.
"Kaveh…?"
Alhaitham's voice, thick with sleep. With a start Kaveh threw himself in the direction of the back room. Was Alhaitham well now? Should he eat something? Should he drink?
Behind him Oman laughed wholeheartedly and shook his head.
"Oh, to be young and foolish and in love," he called out and Kaveh wanted to correct him so badly, but he was needed more at Alhaitham's side. His hand ruffled the silver hair sticking out wildly at the top of Alhaitham's head and he laughed at the disgruntled mumbled protest.
"Hey, Hayi," he whispered to his sleepy junior and smiled softly. "How are you feeling now?"
The fan creaked steadily, bathing them in a stale breeze, and Alhaitham smiled back, eyes crinkling at the corners.
"Better now."