#oh alhaitham wouldn’t stand a chance

[saetoru]

✩ ‧₊˚ ✩。PLAN B — ALHAITHAM.

alhaitham has long resigned to the reality that as long as he’s dating you, there can never be an argument he can fully win with logic alone. all his life, his brain has carried him above men in the most impressive of ways, granted him effortless victories that he’s strategized in just a few quick seconds—except no matter how impressive, his brain is no match for your stubbornness.

one time, he even overhears the general mahamatra mumble, it seems like he’s met his match. to this day, the moment haunts him in his sleep sometimes.

but he figures cyno is right (though no one should ever tell him this) because otherwise, alhaitham, the akademiya’s scribe and current acting grand sage, would never be buying flowers and standing before you to apologize for something he didn’t even do.

well, he did—it’s just that he did in a dream, not reality.

“oh, has the cheater come back for my hand again?” you spit, crossing your arms and looking to the side with a hmph.

the universe must be having a field day with this show, he thinks, the show of alhaitham’s life taking complicated turns in places they simply do not have to. woefully, he’s sure kaveh is enjoying this, at least. otherwise the architect wouldn’t be sitting on the opposite couch and watching in pure glee.

“technically, i didn’t cheat,” alhaitham argues, “that was the alhaitham of your conjured imagination. the real alhaitham was peacefully sleeping until he was rudely pushed off of the mattress despite having work in a few hours—”

“i don’t speak to cheaters,” you huff.

alhaitham figures it’s now time to put plan b into action. plan b is as follows: to buy your favorite type of flowers and present them to you, all while dinner from your favorite restaurant sits on the table waiting. as soon as your eyes light up at the sight of the flowers, he’ll be able to skillfully sneak his way beside you on the couch, pull you close with one arm, and before you realize what he’s done, he’ll lead you to the dining table with your usual order waiting for you.

it’s a fool proof plan, he thinks—all plans of his have always had a ninety nine percent success rate, and this is no different. the only reason there’s not a one hundred percent success rate is solely and entirely due to the fact that he cannot plan for unforeseeable circumstances that occur last minute. these circumstances are beyond his control, but the small statistical chance of them occurring puts his mind at ease that in a few short minutes, all will be back to normal.

“these are for you,” he says, holding out the bouquet he bought—which was rather expensive, might he add.

and then, because the universe hates him, that one percent chance of an unforeseeable circumstance presents itself at the most inopportune of times.

“why is this one dead?” you raise a brow, pointing to the flower in the corner he failed to notice.

wonderful, he thinks. kaveh snorts, and alhaitham simply let’s his shoulders sag.

“well,” he starts, “i didn’t notice that one. forgive me—”

“just like you didn’t notice my presence while you cheated on me, huh? yeah, for the akademiya’s scribe, you sure do miss a lot,” you glare daggers at him.

“but i didn’t—”

“it’s your fault i dreamt that in the first place,” you hiss, “who’s plan allowed the people of sumeru to dream again?”

“yes,” kaveh adds from the corner, “do tell, alhaitham. who’s brilliant plan has lead to this situation?”

“certainly not yours,” alhaitham shoots back, crossing his arms as he raises a brow at the insufferable blonde, “if it were up to you to make the plans, we’d have quit before we even start.”

“don’t be rude to kaveh,” you scold, “kaveh would never cheat on me.”

“of course i wouldn’t,” kaveh agrees.

alhaitham pinches himself in hopes this is all his dream and he can wake up from this torturous nightmare.

“kaveh is behind on rent and acutely single. the only place kaveh could cheat on you is in his own dreams,” alhaitham argues, which earns an offended sound of indignation from his roommate.

“if this is your way of apologizing, it sucks,” you sulk, refusing to meet his eyes.

with a heavy sigh, alhaitham sets down the flowers and hesitantly—he does not wish to be shoved to the floor a second time in one day—settles beside you on the couch.

“i would never be unfaithful to you. i love you,” he says simply, but his voice is delicate, serious, like he means it. “i love you because you brighten each day, and make them far more tolerable by your side—even despite your occasional illogical fits of rage. and i will continue to love you even when i am the target of them.”

“seriously?” kaveh gapes in disbelief, “that’s your apology? are you trying to be broken up with—”

“really?” you ask, hopeful.

“of course,” alhaitham nods, and if the corner of his eyes shoot kaveh a smug look…well, only kaveh sees it.

“you’ve never cheated on me?” you narrow your eyes, searching for confirmation in his.

he grabs your hands, nodding. “never,” he assures.

“okay,” you nod, “as long as you’ve learned your lesson, i can look past the mistakes of the alhaitham of my dreams.”

“the alhaitham of your reality is so graciously thankful,” he says sarcastically.

you giggle. he smiles softly. kaveh rolls his eyes and walks to his room.

“well, alhaitham of my reality,” you hum, moving to cup his cheeks and lean in until your lips are just barely touching his, “i love you too. even despite how you infuriate me—including in my dreams.”

“it’s an unfortunate quality all potential versions of alhaitham come with,” he chuckles, and then his lips are pressed to yours firmly.

and you know, from this kiss alone, from the way he holds you like you’re the first bloom of spring after a harsh winter, that you’re the only one he has room for in his heart.

plan b had a few unexpected complications, but as always, alhaitham adds another successful attempt to his list.

this reader is so me-coded pls look away 😭

#i’m still on hiatus don’t throw tomatoes at me i just rly had to get this idea out there #teepods.writings #drabbles. #alhaitham x reader #alhaitham x you #alhaitham fluff #genshin x reader #genshin x you #genshin fluff #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact x you #genshin impact fluff

[ddarker-dreams]

The Good Ol' Days.

Yan Alhaitham x F Reader x Yan Kaveh.

Warnings: Yandere themes, unhealthy relationships and implied kidnapping. Word count: 2.1k.

The sweeter the past, the more bitter the present.

“Seriously, this isn’t fair! Let her roll again!”

“I’m not sure what you expected from a game that revolves around chance.”

You've heard this before, you think. Not the exact verbiage, no, but the sentiment strikes a chord. Plucks at your heartstrings in a familiar melody. 

“Well, fine, let me lend her some of my money then.” 

“First, we both know that’s against the rules; and second, even if you sold your single Mondstadt property, you wouldn’t have enough to cover the charge. Your strategy of holding out in case you land on a Waypoint is as brilliant as ever.” 

The hot passion met by cool indifference that leaves you forces you into the mediator role. This position was specially formed for you, shaped in such a way that no one else could ever fit. Consequently, it adheres to your person too well, you can’t go forward or backward. You’re stuck. The more you struggle, the tighter your restraints become. 

“You…! I won once, when I got all four Waypoints. It’s a viable tactic. Right, [First]? Don’t you remember how huffy he was the night he came in last? … [First]?”

When opposing temperatures meet, condensation forms. 

“... You’re crying,” Kaveh sounds as if he’s seen a ghost, but it’s only you. “Is something wrong?” 

The better question would be what isn’t wrong. He won’t ask that, though, so you’ll never get to properly answer. You sit as still as a statue on the couch. From your display stand, you sense you’re being stared at by two sets of eyes, one distraught, the other scrutinizing. The former comes from your left and the latter from across the table. 

Kaveh’s hands cup both sides of your face. He wipes away the few wayward tears with the pad of this thumb, his eyebrows pinching together. Wordlessly, Alhaitham gets up from his cushion on the floor and takes his place by your right side. Their towering forms seal you in place. 

“You made her cry,” Kaveh accuses, his eyes narrowing. “You should’ve just let me go bankrupt for her.” 

“For someone who claims I have the emotional intelligence of a rock, you can be rather dense yourself. I sincerely doubt that has anything to do with this.” 

“Then why is she—” 

“I remember,” you somehow manage to squeeze the words out of your tight throat. Their attention returns to you. Your next words come out quietly. “That game, I mean. When you won. You had another glass of wine to celebrate, and… kept drunkenly throwing your victory in Alhaitham’s face. You slept through your alarm the next morning and missed a meeting with a high-profile client.” 

“Oh, yeah, that’s right,” Kaveh nods along slowly. He’s using that gentle, soothing tone from when this nightmare began and he didn’t want to upset you further. You can tell he’s trying desperately to follow along despite not having the directions necessary.

“After that, you started a campaign to not speak to Alhaitham until he apologized, but he didn’t even realize you were ignoring him,” the sound you let out is in between a choked sob and laugh. Kaveh’s arms fall limp as if they’ve lost all strength. “He told me… ‘Lately, Kaveh is more tolerable to be around’, or something like that.” 

You hug your knees to your chest. “Since you weren’t willing to talk to Alhaitham, you’d have me relay messages. It was silly. Eventually, I got you guys to make amends. It was like pulling teeth though. Heh. Thinking about it now, I can’t help wondering how many times I dug my own grave.” 

Kaveh softly speaks your name, but Alhaitham finds words before he can.

“So that’s what this is about,” Alhaitham notes. When you first met the brilliant Scribe, you mistakenly interpreted his rationality for apathy. You know better now. If he were truly disinterested, he wouldn’t bother stringing words together, curt as they may be. “Dwelling on the past only leads to unnecessary grief.” 

Kaveh sends a halfhearted glare in Alhaitham’s direction. “What he means to say is that you shouldn’t blame yourself.” 

“Because it wouldn’t have changed anything?” You question, staring deep into Kaveh’s eyes, their color reminiscent of the burning sun setting over the desert. 

He averts his gaze and swallows thickly. “Well…” 

“What he wants to say is that yes, it wouldn’t have mattered,” Alhaitham chimes in where Kaveh is hesitant to. Such is the nature of their dynamic when you’re involved — barbed truths or coddling lies. “The future we were envisioning had already been decided.” 

“The condemned can’t condemn themselves, huh?” You chuckle mirthlessly. 

They both frown. 

“You aren’t condemned, you’re— you’re free from having to worry about those things you used to stress over. Rent, bills, deadlines, you know. The worst parts of life. You can focus on your passions without any restraints now,” Kaveh reasons. Or so he tries. 

You gnaw on your lower lip. It’s been a while since you’ve bothered arguing with either of them on the subjects that truly matter, those topics have been deemed taboo. You can complain about Kaveh’s clinginess when he’s drunk or how tight Alhaitham holds you at night, but should you try to steer the conversation toward your captivity, it’s shut down. Kaveh makes you wish you never brought it up whereas Alhaitham instills regret that you dared to try. 

They’re both bracing themselves, you can feel it in the air. Sitting and awaiting a tempest of emotions that one will try to soothe and the other wave away. 

You think about fighting then remember why you stopped, falling into this limbo of existing without living. 

You could challenge Kaveh’s weak point. Demand to know why he doesn’t do the same then, never leaving the four walls of Alhaitham’s house, committing himself wholly to drawing up blueprints. Alhaitham might make some dry comment that he wouldn’t allow Kaveh to leech off him, or maybe Kaveh would apologize, and say that he didn’t intend to upset you. He would mean it too. You’d cry, beg, scream until your throat was raw and your voice scratchy, but in Alhaitham’s own words, it wouldn’t have mattered. 

Their minds are made up. Their resolve is an unshakable foundation upon which your gaol is built. In the same way they soundproofed the house, so too are their hearts insulated from any argument that’d champion your cause. You tried and failed and tried and failed again. 

At least if you don’t try, you won’t experience failure. 

“... Alright.” 

They exchange brief looks. 

“Alright?” Kaveh parrots the word, but without matching your listless tone. “That’s— oh. Huh. Okay.” 

He mumbles the last few words to himself, as if trying to process them aloud. You can’t fault him for his confusion. 

It’s silent then, the kind that holds weight. You uncurl yourself from your protective shell. You feel like a specimen being subjected to naturalistic observation, neither researcher willing to interfere, lest it negatively influence their data’s results. There’s a lot you can get used to — you had no other choice, really — yet that never fails to make you uncomfortable in your own skin. Unwilling to endure it any longer, you quickly form an escape plan. 

“Well,” you start, earning their rapt attention, “I think I’m going to, uh, call it a night.” 

You stand up as you say this. There’s a light pressure on your wrist, chaining you in place. 

“Stay,” Alhaitham’s voice urges. Your muscles go taut, then you hear a subdued sigh. “If you don't mind.” 

Kaveh must’ve given him quite the nasty look for Alhaitham to get that close to saying please. You sit back down, almost in a trance, as if the Scribe had cast a spell. Glancing down, you realize it’s Alhaitham who grabbed your wrist. He doesn't let go when you situate yourself back into place. 

Kaveh takes his chance to tether you as well. Lithe arms encircle you, gently pulling you into him. The side of your face presses against his chest, his bare skin exuding copious amounts of heat. He smells familiar, for this scene is familiar. Desperation with a hint of citrus and spice. He cradled you a lot in the beginning, shushing your sobs and drying your tears. At first, you’d resist, flailing your limbs wildly like you were a feral cat. Inevitably, his strength and stamina outlasted yours. 

His nose brushes against the crown of your head. “I care about you more than I could ever properly convey. Whatever you’re thinking, I can take it. Er, we can take it. I’d prefer that over you blaming yourself for anything.” 

Dazedly, you nod. He goes quiet, then, preparing himself for an onslaught you can bring yourself to unleash. Seconds bleed into one after another. You hear the furious pounding of Kaveh’s heartbeat. How if you twist your body, his breath hitches in his throat. It’s nice to know that at least his body will always be honest with you where his well-meaning words fall short. 

“You’re trying to regain a semblance of control by thinking ‘had I done this, or had I not done that, it wouldn’t have ended up this way.’” 

Kaveh exhales sharply through his nose. “Alhaitham, that’s enough.” 

“Let me finish,” he continues. His fingers creep onto your chin and take your face captive. He peels you away from your position against Kaveh, who stubbornly refuses to relinquish his grasp on your torso. Alhaitham’s countenance is close to yours so as not to leave any room for you to cower away. Those analytical eyes that can pick apart the world have you in their sights. “Do you know why you’re here, [First]?” 

In the past, when you struggled with an assignment or class, the infamously disinterested Alhaitham would take it upon himself to tutor you. He was a fair yet strict teacher. On those long nights spent hunched over a messy desk, he’d have a different air about him. He stretched you. In the moment, it felt like he was demanding more than what you could provide, but upon further reflection, he just knew what limits you could be pushed to better. 

“I’d like an answer.” 

You take a deep, shaky breath. “Because you both claim to hold some sort of affection for me.” 

Kaveh would look like a kicked puppy if you said this to him. It’s Alhaitham, though, and his composure is infallible. 

“Word it however spitefully you want, you get the gist of things,” he drawls. The intensity behind his gaze is enough to make you shiver. “If nothing you’ve been able to say or do has changed our mind now, why would it have back then? It might feel good to sulk, but your logic is erroneous. You’re making yourself miserable only to see if this wallowing is more palatable than the kind you’re used to.” 

You hate when Alhaitham’s right. It’s a shame he so frequently is. 

“Can you blame me?” 

“... No,” he admits. “But this proto-nihilism is worse for your mental well-being than anything else you’ve tried so far. I’d like to nip it in the bud.” 

Your smile is thin and far from kind. “Because it makes you uncomfortable?” 

“I’ll leave that to your overactive imagination to decide.” 

He relinquishes his grip on you, leans back into the couch, and crosses his legs. That posture positively irks you. Sparks from kindling flitter throughout your being like confetti. 

“Seriously, you have no tact,” Kaveh rests his chin atop your head. “They should study you in a lab somewhere.” 

“Says the one who’s taking advantage of [First]'s emotional vulnerability to cling to her like a parasite.” 

“Hey! Don’t listen to him, [First]. He’s just being a grump. You don’t think that’s what I’m doing, right?”

“I’d like to roll again,” you adopt a sickeningly sweet tone while addressing Alhaitham. “Please.” 

“... Right? [First]?” Kaveh tries again.

Alhaitham speaks up before you can even consider entertaining the whining male behind you. “And why should I bend the rules for you?” 

You lean forward with enough momentum that you’re able to break free from Kaveh’s grasp. Newfound vigor burns inside you. Perhaps a day will come when it extinguishes, but as for now, the flame ignites anew. Hot and ready to burn. 

Your lips brush against Alhaitham’s ear. “Are you afraid of losing?” 

He looks at you from the corner of his eyes, bemusement evident. The start of a smirk dances on his lips. 

“Not at all. Roll as many times as you please.” 

And so you cast the die again. 

Come what may — an unlikely win, tense truce, or total loss — you refuse to capitulate without trying.

#yandere alhaitham x reader #yandere kaveh x reader #alhaitham x reader #kaveh x reader #genshin impact x reader #yandere genshin impact x reader #yandere #yandere x reader #my stuff

[azullumi]

“are we…” ; kazuha, ayato, alhaitham, & tartaglia

details — here on another agenda of listening to songs, reading the lyrics, realizes how it would sound so good on a fic, and boom! slapping it on a character i think would suit it; basically, songs and tropes as some genshin men

characters — alhaitham, ayato, kazuha, tartaglia (w/gender-neutral reader)

tags — a sprinkle of angst, some of them are out of character, nothing happy is going on (my life relates to it) ; headcanons/scenario

words — 1558

note — getting back to writing so sorry if this fic seems shitty, i’m trying to get my style back by reading the fics i wrote. also i’ll be mostly writing in lowercase now bcs i’m typing on my phone

waiting ; unrequited love — kazuha (bags by clairo)

“can you see me? i’m waiting for the right time.”

kazuha settles on a boundary between you two, standing close behind it, afraid to take a step and cross. and though he was a man who had no fears and wouldn’t let anything hold him back from attaining what he wants, he was scared of going past the boundary as if he would be treading the path of misery once he chooses to do so.

there is always the urge to touch you, the desire to feel your skin underneath his fingertips and unbeknownst to him, his hand would act on its own—he would reach out, his fingers stopping close to your skin before immediately taking his hand back once the realization of his actions had sunk inside his head: “what is it?” you have asked him upon noticing his actions and he could only shake his head before saying, “there’s something on your hair.”

he has this strong sense of denial whenever he does something for you or says something to you, reasoning the flowers that he gives from time to time as an act of friendship and appreciation or the poetry that he creates with you in mindbut he keeps hidden was just because you were too beautiful to not have your being expressed in words and written in poems—

—and every single day, in each morning that he wakes up, he strongly believes that his feelings for you had already dissipated into thin air as if it never existed in the place but only to see your stupid smile and mesmerizing eyes and having himself fall in love again. oh, the amount of times he convinces and tells himself that he’ll avoid you from then on only to have himself basking in your presence later on: “this is the last time,” he tells himself.

there are only two states he would end up in if he decides to go further the line, without you and with you, and he wasn’t stupid to not know that he’ll only have the former happen to him.

he would rather have you close to him and yearn for you despite being so near than the heartbreak and admiring you afar.

“it’s not like you’re in love with me or anything, right?”

toxic ; unhealthy relationships — alhaitham (cry by cigarettes after sex)

“saying you’d wait for me to stay, i know it hurts you.”

you don’t have a toxic relationship with alhaitham nor did you have a healthy one but instead it was miserable, simply one-sided. however, it wasn’t like that at first, he wasn’t like this at first when you two would decide to start over again and create a fresh new page of your love story only for it to end in the same way.

he was good, was great, was wonderful—was. you don’t even know how it got to this point. how did the gentle and sweet murmurs of love and compliments turn to endless shouting and fights at every chance you two get? alhaitham, despite already having raised his voice at you on several occasions, had never raised his hand at you but nevertheless, it doesn’t make anything less hurtful.

“let’s just stop this, i’m tired,” it was clear, it was obvious that the only solution for this wretchedness was to simply just stop and end everything, to cut yourself off him but it doesn’t seem to happen. alhaitham, who possesses such great knowledge and intelligence to know the answer to nearly every problem, never seems to understand that. moments of begging, of asking for forgiveness, for a chance that you always give him, that you always provide him outright, seemingly served and topped with the syrup of your tears and blood.

he only loves you when he’s about to lose you, you know that. you weren’t blind but perhaps you were dumb with that but he loves you then, right? if he really does love you at those moments, then perhaps he did love you right from the start and he just never realized it—it was an endless cycle of gaslighting and making a fool of yourself, finding the reason and making logic out of his actions and words.

it was hard to lose him, you were too used to his presence always guiding you, helping you, and encouraging you that the moment you lost him, you just never seemed to know anything—like a child that was just taken out of the womb, you knew nothing, even yourself. it was a clear fact that you were nothing without him and without you, he was nothing.

“what happened to us, alhaitham?”

convenience ; arranged marriage w/ one-sided feelings — ayato (you’re losing me by taylor swift)

“i wouldn’t marry me either, a pathological people pleaser.”

it was a marriage of convenience—oh, how you hated the word itself. it feels like a painful slap on your face whenever you hear it being used along with the word marriage, one that would leave a burning mark on your skin.

ayato tried to be a good husband, he tried, really. even when he would come home late, he would always have something to give you. despite not having that many conversations and seldomly seeing each other outside the dining room and bedroom, he would still treat you rather kindly and gently, even when you spend most of your nights alone in a bed that was too large for one, you never felt lonely (perhaps you do, you just don’t want to face it because then you’ll realize that your good husband wasn’t good at all); “i apologize, my dear. here, i bought you something on the way back.”

perhaps all of those acts of kindness and sweetness are his way of saying sorry but what’s there to say sorry for even? was it because he failed to arrive for dinner every time or was it just the whole marriage experience overall?

everything was built on convenience, the only time you two would talk to each other is when it’s needed and the conversation you two will have would end rather shortly and the only time he would touch you in a way that makes you feel loved and cherish—making love—is when it’s convenient for him; you were just never a priority, not anything of importance in his life.

what hurts even more is that ayato isn’t even doing any of this because of a boundary that you two had made but rather there was really nothing in between you two, nothing, not even a speck of dust could be found in the distance you two had.

ayato wasn’t even in a state of turmoil, he wasn’t in a position wherein he had to choose something, to sacrifice, to risk something, it’s just that you were there—you were convenient and not because he chose to choose you over anything else. you were easy to woo, easy to hold, easy to fool.

did he really lose you when he never even wanted you to be his in the first place?

“isn’t this convenient for the both of us?”

pleasure ; one-night stand turned to friends w/ benefits— childe/tartaglia (k. by cigarettes after sex)

“we had made love earlier that day with no strings attached, but i could tell that something had changed how you looked at me then.”

it was simply a relationship that was born out of pleasure; created with the foundation of desire, lust, and need. formed in a single night to escape the reality of the misery of your own lives and consistently being nurtured like a seed that was dropped into the soil and naturally taken care of by the rain and sun—it all seemed natural, him inviting you out for dinner, enjoying your time with his stupid jokes and flirty remarks that is luring you to another night of passion just to wake up with a note and a cold bed the next morning.

and there are times you wish to disappear from his life, to stop whatever you two have, and simply just release yourself from his grasp and though he also wishes for the same, childe always holds onto you so tightly as if he never wants you to leave, as if he always want you to stay even if he knows that he’s hurting you, even if you’re just hurting each other; somewhere deep inside his bones, in the crevices of his mind, he doesn’t wish to see you with someone else other than him despite the fact that he wants you to be happy; “stay with me,” he had told you as he kissed and held you.

but childe was a romantic, he always shower you praised in and out of the bed, he was sweet to you; a gentleman with his words and actions. he was lovely, so breathtaking, so poisonous and it wasn’t hard to love him. and he was well-aware of how your gaze seems to linger at him, how there’s something swirling and drowning in the depths of your eyes, and he was well-aware of what it was. and yet, he chooses to ignore it—was it for the good of himself? for you? either way, he can’t have himself falling.

had you known that night with him would end up in this way, you wouldn’t have taken his rough yet gentle hand on that night.

“what’s there for me to stay for?”

© azullumi — do not plagiarize, copy, repost, nor translate any of my works.

#genshin impact #genshin x reader #genshin imagines #genshin #genshin angst #genshin kazuha #kazuha x reader #genshin ayato #ayato x reader #genshin alhaitham #alhaitham x reader #genshin childe #genshin tartaglia #childe x reader #tartaglia x reader #genshin fanfic #genshin x you #genshin headcanons #genshin impact x reader #azul.writes

[teaberrii]

Chapter Eight: A Step Back?

Alhaitham has the looks and the smarts. He will also be the stand-in CEO for his grandfather's company for a year.

But, he's been mysteriously cursed to turn into a cat every night since his eighteenth birthday… until he meets you, an employee at his grandfather's company, who rescues him as a cat and changes him back with one kiss.

Alhaitham/You

Notes:

Cross-posted on AO3

Female reader

Chapter index at the end of chapter one

“Daaamn. So, he held her hand in front of you and mom and everything?”

You and Lumine are visiting Aether at the hospital. Lumine has just finished telling Aether everything that happened during that evening. You’ve been casually listening, ensuring Lumine doesn’t exaggerate the truth. By the end, Aether smiles at you.

“It’s like one of the stories you write, Sis.” Then, he lowers his voice and says dramatically, “What did they talk about after the mother and sister left? Stay tuned…”

Lumine laughs. “It definitely sounds like a cliffhanger.”

“Well, if things really go well, I’m happy for ‘ya, Sis.” Aether tears open a chocolate bar. “It’s about time that ginger gets some competition.”

A soft knock comes at Aether’s door.

You and Lumine are surprised to see a girl about the same age as the twins. Her eyes are slightly darker than the colour of her hair that's tied into a high ponytail. She's wearing a dark hospital gown that makes her skin look even paler than it already is.

“A-Ayaka!”

You and your sister glance at each other. Ayaka? Since when did Aether make a friend?

She walks in, and you see she’s holding one of Aether’s video games. “Hello. I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything.” She gives you and Lumine a slight bow.

“No! Not at all!”

“I came to return the video game you lent me the other day," Ayaka says, putting the video game on the nightstand beside Aether's bed.

“You lent her one of your video games?” Lumine gasps.

Aether shoots her a warning look, but his twin remains unfazed.

“Yes.” Ayaka smiles. “He was kind enough to lend me one when I was recovering.”

“Well, well, looks like Aether’s all grown up!”

Ayaka looks at Aether. “Are these two…”

“They’re my sisters.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Ayaka,” you say. “I should thank you for giving my brother company.”

Lumine nods. “That’s why we brought him his games in the first place. He wouldn’t stop complaining about how bored he was.”

Ayaka doesn’t see Aether’s deadpan look toward his twin. “I quite enjoy Aether’s company. He’s a fun person to talk to.”

“Oh, is he now?” Lumine asks with a smile. “That’s good to hear!”

Then, Ayaka bows once. “I should return to my room. My brother will be coming soon.”

“You have a brother?” Lumine asks.

“Yes.” Ayaka looks at you. “He should be around the same age as you or maybe a little older. His name is Ayato.”

“Ooh, perhaps we can all get lunch together sometime!” Lumine says excitedly.

“I think that would be a lovely idea.”

“I second that,” you say.

“I, uh, anytime’s good for me!”

“As long as you get to see Ayaka, right?” Lumine says quietly. Aether glares at her, and she returns it with a smile.

Ayaka chuckles. “I guess Aether and I can arrange something.”

“Yeah!”

You and Lumine give Ayaka a small wave just before she leaves.

Once Ayaka is out of sight, Lumine turns to her brother and asks, “Pickin’ up girls at the hospital, are we now?”

You laugh. “She seems like a nice girl.”

“Maybe the only girl who will give Aether a chance.”

Aether sticks his tongue out at his twin. “Ha-ha. Hilarious, Lumine.”

As your siblings continue to bicker, you look at your watch. It's almost time to meet your friends. You grab your bag off the armchair, which gets Aether's attention.

“Leaving already, Sis?”

“I’m meeting Candace and Dehya to get my dress today.”

Lumine gasps. “Oh! For the Awards night, right?”

“That’s the one.”

Once you leave the room, you see a woman walk out of the room next door. Isn’t that the room Alhaitham’s grandfather is staying in? Her long, blue locks make her stand out. Coupled with her fair skin, she would turn heads down the street. Could this woman be a friend of Alhaitham’s? Or…

You walk in the other direction, trying and failing to kill your curiosity.

◆◆◆

As soon as you enter the high-end boutique, Candace waves at you while Dehya goes in for a hug.

“There she is!"

You walk up and hug Dehya, a friend from school who you introduced to Candace a few years ago. 

"I should get your autograph now before you become too famous!"

"And what?" you ask. "Sell it?"

Dehya laughs. "You got me."

“Did you have lunch yet?” Candace asks.

“Yeah, I already ate. I came from the hospital, actually,” you say. “I was visiting my brother.”

“Aether?” Dehya asks. “What did he get himself into this time?”

“He broke his leg while snowboarding.”

“Ouch… but the kid’s learning to snowboard now?”

"Well, he isn't sure he wants to go again after that incident."

Soon, you and Dehya get caught up with what's happening in your lives. Unlike you and Candace, who are creatives, Dehya works in law enforcement. You aren't surprised. She was incredibly athletic in school, having more physical strength than some of the boys. Her grades were also good. Her intelligence and athletics made her intimidating to most of the students, but it was also the reason why the two of you became friends.

Dehya looks around the high-end boutique. “So, Candace, care to give some recs?”

Candace looks at you. “Do you already have something in mind?”

“Not really… but I guess I’d like to try something different.”

She smiles. “A bolder look, maybe?”

“Something that’ll truly knock people off their feet!” Dehya adds.

“Let’s start with the overall design,” Candace suggests. “Once you like the dress, we can start looking at colours.”

After a while of you and your friends going through racks and racks of dresses, Dehya brings up the school reunion, something you’ve been thinking about.

“I haven’t replied to Collei yet,” you say. “Are you going?”

Dehya nods. Then, she quietly says, "He won't be there, you know. Collei wouldn't invite him."

You know that Collei wouldn't invite your ex if she's inviting you. She's not that type of person. 

“...I know she wouldn’t.”

Is it bad to say that you don't want to see any of your old classmates? It's not like you're close to them. They're acquaintances at best. Some knew your ex and probably still kept in touch. However, you didn't want to deal with any questions about him. He used to haunt your dreams; his influence left harmful traces in almost every aspect of your life. 

"I don't want to see them." You sigh. "Don't get me wrong. I don't have anything against them. It's just…."

“Hey. You don’t have to explain yourself to me,” Dehya says kindly. “If you don’t want to go, don’t go.”

You give her a small smile, and she returns it with one of her own.

"...I haven't decided, though, so I haven't replied."

“Something wrong?”

You and Dehya look at Candace, who’s holding a black satin off-sleeve dress that’s round and low-cut at the front with a slit on the side.

“I didn’t know dress shopping would be such a downer,” she jokes.

“Oh, it’s not that,” you say.

Dehya quickly gets Candace up to speed about Collei's invitation to a school reunion. Candace quickly catches on; she knows, after all, that your ex went to school with you.

“The reason you haven't replied... Is it because you might want to go?” Candace asks.

She's right. A part of you wants to show off this incredible person you've become. But would there be a point to that? The more you think about it, it seems like you'd be going for all the wrong reasons. Maybe it's best to leave it all behind.

The bell at the entrance sounds, signalling a customer. You, Dehya, and Candace turn around, and your eyes widen when you see Alhaitham… with a woman. The same woman you saw at the hospital earlier today.

“Haitham?” Candace asks, obviously surprised.

Alhaitham is just as surprised to see you.

“Layla!” Dehya exclaims.

“Dehya?” the woman smiles. “I never thought I’d see you at a boutique.”

“That’s cuz I’m here with friends!”

“Well, it looks like we all know each other,” Candace says. “Care to introduce us, Dehya?”

You learn that the woman with Alhaitham is Layla, a Sumeru native living out of the city until recently. She and Alhaitham are old friends, while she and Dehya met at a city event a few years ago. 

“I’m not surprised Haitham knows so many great people,” she says. “It’s wonderful meeting you.”

“So… are you two on a date?” Dehya asks.

“No.”

“That was quick.”

“You must excuse his bluntness,” Candace says.

Layla chuckles. “But it’s true. We aren’t on a date. He’s just accompanying me for the day.”

“What brings the two of you here?” you ask.

"I want to get a new suit," Layla says. "Haitham says that he has a friend who works in the fashion business and thought she could help out." She looks at Candace. "I guess he was referring to you."

“At least he knows a good designer when he sees one,” Candace jokes.

“What about you?” Alhaitham asks, looking at you.

“I’m looking for a dress for the Awards Night."

Candace holds up the black dress. “What do you think about this one, Haitham?”

“Have you tried it on?”

“Not yet.”

Alhaitham smiles at you. “Go try it on.”

“What? So you can judge me?” you ask jokingly.

He leans close enough to whisper in your ear, "No, silly. So, you can see how beautiful you'd look in it."

Your eyes go wide.

“Something wrong?”

Looks like no one else heard what he said. You aren't surprised. With how he lowered his voice like that, it's only loud enough for you to hear but also sends a surprising shiver down your spine. You feel someone's hands on your shoulders. When you turn, you see Candace.

“I bet he told you to try it on, right?”

“Yeah…”

Candace smiles and hands you the dress. “Then, hurry and try it on, girl!”

Once you leave for the dressing room, Dehya points her finger at him. "Who are you to her? How come I haven't heard about you?"

“I’m her neighbour,” Alhaitham answers calmly.

“And her C—”

“She lives across from me,” Alhaitham quickly interrupts. He gives Candace a look, and she catches on and subtly nods.

“You two seem too... close to just be neighbours,” Dehya says.

“She’s also a friend.”

It’s obvious Dehya doesn’t buy it.

Layla chuckles. “Let’s stop grilling them, Dehya. Perhaps they’re a work in progress.”

Dehya jabs Alhaitham in the chest. "I don't know who you are, but you'd better not try anything funny."

“Don’t worry,” Candace says. “I’ll keep an eye on them.”

Dehya still looks suspiciously at Alhaitham as she says, "Well, if you're friends with Candace, I guess you should be okay."

“I appreciate you’re looking out for her,” Alhaitham says.

Dehya blinks once. Twice. Then, she turns to Candace. “Is he always like this?”

“Like what?”

Dehya looks back. “Like… I don’t know. Polite?”

“If it’s any reassurance, Candace already gave me a similar warning,” Alhaitham says. “I do not plan on trying anything’ funny’ with her. If anything”—his gaze turns stern—“I’d like to look out for her.”

You come out of the dressing room with the dress on. Candace is the first to walk up to you.

“It looks good!”

"You think?" you ask, looking down at yourself and then at the large mirror on the opposite wall.

Alhaitham approaches you, and you see his subtle smile in the mirror.

“Are you going to wear heels?” You see Layla just behind Alhaitham. “I think it would look nicer if you wore heels.”

You turn around. “I appreciate the suggestion, but aren’t you two here for something else?”

Layla chuckles softly. “Well, it seems like you completely grabbed Haitham’s attention.”

“Oh, I wonder why.”

You give Candace a look, and she smiles back.

“Well, I also think the dress looks nice on you,” Dehya chimes in. “The guy has a good eye.”

You and Alhaitham look at each other, but you’re the first to look away.

Sometime later, in a twisted series of events, you and your friends end up having lunch with Layla and Alhaitham at a nearby restaurant. After telling Layla about what you do, she looks visibly impressed.

“Wow, so you’re the scriptwriter for Love in the Spotlight? I binged it in one day,” she laughs. “It was so well done!” She takes a bite of her food. “How did you come up with the idea? Or… is that a secret?”

“Actually, it was inspired by something I read in the news.”

“I guess when inspiration strikes, it strikes hard.” Layla looks at Alhaitham. “Didn’t you watch it too, Haitham?”

“I did.” He looks at you. “And I enjoyed it.”

You aren’t sure why you find it difficult to meet his eyes. You’ve always taken compliments nicely. So, why do you feel… unexpectedly nervous?

“What did you particularly like about it?” Dehya asks. You gently nudge your friend underneath the table. “Whaaat? I’m just curious! Maybe he didn’t actually watch it and is just saying it.”

Candace cuts into her steak. “So… you’re testing him, is that it?”

"It was the characters who made it enjoyable," Alhaitham answers. "Perhaps it's a personal preference, but I especially enjoyed watching the female lead. From a rookie, unconfident actress to winning awards and giving advice to her juniors... her growth is quite inspiring."

You're pleasantly surprised at his response. You expected to hear "an interesting plot," "the high production value," or something similar. It never really crossed your mind that he'd comment on the characters.

"I'm sure many people would find strength in watching her as well," he continues. He looks at you. "It was a story with substance."

Curious, you ask, “I suppose you like character-driven stories then.”

"Truth be told, I've never thought about it," he says, slightly smiling. "But if my experience with Love in the Spotlight is anything to go by, it depends on whether I think the show delivers meaningful value."

Dehya whistles softly. “What a compliment.”

You can’t hide your smile, and you don’t want to. You feel a new sense of accomplishment as creating something purposeful and inspiring has always been at the top of your creative goals.

“That’s very motivating,” you say honestly. “I appreciate your thoughts, Catman.”

“Catman?”

You slowly look around at the confused faces. Alhaitham, on the other hand, has a slightly amused smile at your blunder.

“That’s… an interesting nickname for Haitham,” Layla says. “Never heard that one before.”

Candace chuckles. “It’s definitely a more creative one than Nerd or Bookworm.”

“Is it because he likes cats?” Deya asks.

Layla laughs. "Or… maybe he's like a cat. I can definitely see that."

You and Alhaitham glance at each other, and he enjoys seeing your little smile as you continue eating.

◆◆◆

You’ve just finished your shower that evening when you hear a knock at the door. You open it to find Alhaitham dressed in a black tank and pants.

“You’re… early,” you say.

"I was wondering if you'd wanted to come over instead."

You raise a brow. “You aren’t going to kidnap me, are you?” Alhaitham gives you a slightly deadpan look, and you shrug with a small smile. “Just making sure.” You lean against the doorframe. “Why, though?”

“I don’t think it’s fair if we keep using your place. If you’re comfortable”—he nods at his unit—“you could come over.”

You look past him and see the closed door. Alhaitham’s place… what would it look like? You’d imagine it would be minimalistic with a black, white, and gray colour scheme.

“...Curious?”

You immediately turn to him when you hear his low voice near your ear. Your lips almost brush against his cheek.

Then, he chuckles. “You can take a look at my book collection.”

“...Your book collection?”

“You have a bookshelf in your room. I assume you like reading.”

The bookshelf in your room isn't big and can be easily missed. So, you’re a little surprised that he remembers the detail.

“It sounds like your book collection is something private.” Then, jokingly, “Don’t tell me you have some R-rated stuff in there.”

To your surprise, Alhaitham looks at you mischievously. “...If you mean sensual literature, I assure you’ll find a little bit of everything.”

You laugh. “Is that what the academics are calling it nowadays?”

"So... is that a yes?"

And that's how you end up at Alhaitham's place.

It's just as you'd imagined, but it's also very clean. You're still standing at the entrance, looking around, when he comes out with tea.

“Take a seat.”

“Your place is nice,” you say, sitting on the black couch. “No cat fur.”

Alhaitham sits on the couch adjacent to you. “You should know I don’t shed.”

You almost choke on your tea. “Right. Of course, you don’t.”

"...There's something I'd like to talk to you about."

You put down your cup.

“The Best Hit Awards…” You already have a feeling you know what he’s getting at. “I’ll need you that night.”

You remember he’ll be the one giving the awards to the recipients. The event also takes place at night… but he would be a cat by then.

“You want me to change you back at the event?” you ask.

"Unfortunately, I don't see any other way."

“I guess not attending the event would leave a bad impression.”

Alhaitham nods.

"...That's a huge risk. But, if we plan carefully…."

“There’s nothing Catman and Batwoman can’t solve together.”

You cross one leg over the other. “What should I take that smile as, hm? Do you have something in mind?”

“Perhaps.”

“Well, I’m all ears.”

You're thinking over Alhaitham's plan later that night when he walks out of his bathroom in all his fluffy, four-legged glory. He jumps onto the sofa, and you turn to him.

“If I wasn’t here, I wonder what your plan would be.”

Alhaitham walks onto your lap and sits facing you. It almost looks like he’s smiling, but you can’t be sure.

“Don’t tell me you expect me to turn you back like this,” you deadpan. “It’s not going to happen.”

He steps toward you, and you stare at each other in silence. Finally, you scratch him behind the ears, and he nuzzles against your hand. Is this his cat instincts, or…?

“I thought you were going to show me your book collection.”

Alhaitham meows and jumps onto the floor. You eventually follow him to his room, where it's just as clean as the rest of his place. Your eyes almost widen at the wall completely filled with books. What surprises you more is that many books look old and have sticky tabs on the pages. Alhaitham jumps onto one of his bookshelves just as you walk over.

A book titled A Drunkard’s Tale gets your attention. “Did you read all of these?”

Alhaitham meows again. He walks along the edge and puts his paw on the spine of a green book. You put the one in your hand back on the shelf and grab the one Alhaitham is pointing to.

“...Heart’s Desire?” You look at him. “Is this the sensual literature you were talking about?”

You flip to a random page and start reading the first paragraph. But, Alhaitham suddenly puts his head on the page you're reading. His eyes are wide and innocent. He slowly inches closer, making reading anything on the page impossible.

You almost chuckle. “I thought I said you should behave if you want to change back.”

Behave? Pssh. He wants to drive you crazy. In a good way, of course. Alhaitham jumps onto the bed, patting the space beside him using his paw.

You assume he’s giving you permission to sit on his bed. So, you close the book and sit on the edge of his bed. You turn away from him, but that ends up being a mistake. Alhaitham jumps on your back, and his paws are on either one of your shoulders. You yelp in surprise. Then, you reach behind you and grab him off your shoulders.

You’re holding him in front of you, his belly exposed. “What was that all about, hm?”

His paws start moving up and down as if reaching for something. You slowly bring him closer until he’s close enough to bonk his head against yours and hug you. His head is against your neck, and you hear him meow softly.

“Is this your way of convincing me to turn you back?”

If that’s how you see it.

Once you put him down on the bed, you stand to face him as he looks up at you expectantly. Finally, he walks to the edge of the bed, his tail straight up. You lean down, not expecting Alhaitham to give you a light lick on your nose. Then, you and he stare at each other for a short moment before your lips curve into a small smile.

As soon as you kiss the top of his head, you almost gasp when you feel Alhaitham grab your wrist.

Then, you hear him whisper in your ear, “You’re getting harder to resist.”

You pull back. Alhaitham has a blanket over his lower half. The two of you stare at each other; his words are still sinking in until…

“I… I should go.”

You don’t wait for a response and hurry out the door.

Chapter Nine

Tag list: @suoshiii @lordbugs @lxry-chxn @seirenspinel @sakiimeo @ashtree-and-the-cats @ceylestia @forsh4dow @deathkat657 @kalpie @elernity @sentieence @chichibleeps @sunsethw4 @hjjks @tanspostsblog @nqctre @just-simping-over-genshin @uchihaeirin @vynbin @ayanokomu @dksfl920 @alatus2716 @itztaki

#alhaitham x you #alhaitham fluff #alhaitham x reader #alhaitham #alhaitham x yn #alhaitham x y/n #genshin al haitham #al haitham x reader #al haitham x y/n #al haitham fluff #al haitham #genshin impact alhaitham

[scarlxtleaves]

genshin questions meme / accepting / @eternalbxtterfly​

🌳: Which is your favourite nation so far?

📝: Favourite story quest?

✍: Favourite non story quest?

😡: Least favourite quest?

🏔: Favourite spot to take photos?

👻: Favourite boss to fight?

💀: Least favourite boss to fight?

🦴: Favourite enemy design?

🧍‍♂️: Favourite NPC?

💥: Favourite and least favourite domains?

⛏: Least favourite resource to farm?

Liyue, I find it’s practically one of the most stable countries in the game so far in terms of a story. Like literally anything can happen and the citizens can deal with the problem. I can say without a doubt 90% of the time Liyue really doesn’t even need Aether. That kind of independency I can get behind.

Kazuha’s introduction quest. From meeting him on the ship to finding a criminal with him, it was ALL a good time. Honestly if the traveler wasn’t shit at keeping his ability a secret Kazuha would have been the first one to notice something off. OH That would have been great wouldn’t it?

I can’t remember how it started but we got an item to see people’s imaginary friends and the fact that Timmy’s a ruin guard freaking KILLED me. Someone’s gotta find that quest for me so i can relive it.

It’s kind of a tie between the first Lantern rite, Scaramouche’s whole quest and Genshin Impact’s version of Groundhog day where we relived the same day over and over. Quests like those we just need a whole skip button.

I don’t have a favorite spot I just spontaneously only take photos whenever there’s a rare chance i’m playing with a friend. Stupid stuff like Diluc checking Jean out in her summer outfit, Xiao standing near Keqing talking about how standing around is absurd, or that one time I took a pic of my Kazuha and my friend’s Ayaka and Yoimiya, one more wife and he’d be Genshin’s Tengen.

In a gameplay sense I’ll have to go with Magu Kenki, so far I still think he’s one of the most polished bosses we’ve gotten.

FUCKING RUIN SERPENT, FUCKING BIG WOLF THING, FUCKING ALHAITHAM’S BOSS. I hate three of these sons of bitches equally.

Dainsleif, and I know what y’all finna say in the comments or your minds: ‘But Jay Dainsleif is a friend of ours’. Yes he is BUT we WILL have to fight against him, he said it HIMSELF in that REALLY early leaked trailer. IF we want to save Lumine then we’ll have to show him our resolve and go through him. THEM’s right there be fighting words which makes him an enemy. That makes him the one with the baddest drip, though I can do without the shoulder pad thingies.

I might have had one once upon a time when I was COMPLETELY into this game and it’s lore but it’s really been a while for me and I CAN’T remember. WAIT I do love Nimrod, anyone that fucking drinks before 10AM has a caribbean’s soul. 

My most favorite Domain is the one where you can farm for Veredent. Cause it’s straight forward, HIT EVERYONE. The one I hate the most, is the one that inflicts hydro on you and your cooldown becomes a freaking eternity. THANK GOD for Ganyu.

ANYTHING THAT CAN’T FREAKING GROW IN THE SERENETEA POT IS THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE.

#❛ mail ━━ you're losing your way but i'll carry you home. #eternalbxtterfly #tw long post

[teaberrii]

Chapter Twenty-One: We've Come Full Circle

Alhaitham has the looks and the smarts. He will also be the stand-in CEO for his grandfather's company for a year.

But, he's been mysteriously cursed to turn into a cat every night since his eighteenth birthday… until he meets you, an employee at his grandfather's company, who rescues him as a cat and changes him back with one kiss.

Alhaitham/You

Notes:

Cross-posted on AO3

Female reader

Chapter index at the end of chapter one

You have a few options.

The first is to ignore him and act as if he isn’t the cause of your past trauma. The second is to do what you’ve always wanted to do: slap him. The third is taking a civilized approach: give your best convincing smile and greet him. The last is to walk out the door and never look back.

“You haven’t changed much, kitten.” Dottore stands in front of you now, enjoying the attention of your old classmates. He leans forward, and you step back. “Still as pretty as always.”

You don’t see it, but Dehya rolls her eyes. Instead of responding to him, you walk around him and casually greet Collei. She gives you a hug, and you two quickly start a conversation.

As Dottore watches you, he’s certain now. He’s certain you're no longer the timid, shy girl he once messed around with before. There’s something different about you that he can’t put his finger on.

“You don’t mind Dottore is here, do you?” one of your classmates ask. “We’re all still friends, aren’t we?”

"...I told you he wasn't invited," Collei says quietly.

“Ouch. Don’t talk as if I’m not here.”

Everyone turns to Dottore, including you. You surprisingly give him a tiny smile. “No, I don’t mind if he’s here.”

Dottore slightly narrows his eyes. Does he still have an effect on you? He can’t tell.

Soon, everyone is sitting around the table. After the waiter takes everyone's orders, the conversation returns to what's happening in everyone's lives.

“What’s Childe been up to these days? I was hoping he’d be here!”

“Didn’t he cancel like… last minute?”

You catch them looking at you, so you ask, “What?”

"Oh, well, we thought you would know what's been happening with him. Aren't you two still pretty close?"

“Something came up,” you say. You’re obviously not going to gossip about Childe, especially not in front of these people. “Maybe you should ask him.”

A girl sighs and says your name. “I envy you.” You look at her. She looks back. “Childe was pretty popular, you know. But you were the only girl who got close to him… even though you two didn’t meet until after we graduated, right?”

That's true. You and Childe met at university, and you didn't know much about each other even though you two attended the same high school. He knew you were Dottore's girlfriend but nothing more. Perhaps it was because you were in two different friend groups.

“And you also dated Dottore!”

“Hey,” Collei says sternly. “Let’s not talk about that.”

“What about now, kitten?” You glance at Dottore, who’s looking at you. “Are you seeing anyone now?”

You slightly narrow your eyes. What does he want? What is he after?

“She’s busy thinking of her next award-winning script,” Dehya says.

Collei smiles at you. “That’s right. I saw you on TV!”

“I watched the show,” Dottore says. “It was very well done.”

Is that a genuine compliment? It sure sounds like it. It catches you off guard as that's something he never gave you even when you were dating. 

You turn to Collei. “I saw you’re going back to school to get a Ph.D.”

“Oh, yes! I’m pretty excited.”

“You got in Akademiya, right?” Dehya asks.

“Yup!”

“This is Collei we’re talking about,” a girl says. “Of course, she would get into Akademiya.”

“Akademiya…” Dottore shoots you another look. “Isn’t that temporary CEO at your company an alumnus?”

“Oh! I saw him on TV,” another girl says. “He’s hot.”

One of the guys rolls his eyes. “You wouldn’t stand a chance.”

She hits him. As they casually start bickering, you look at Dottore, who has a smile you can’t read.

Then, the bell at the entrance rings.

“Oiii! Hi, Sis!”

You recognize that voice and that nickname anywhere. You turn and see Kaveh and Alhaitham. Kaveh is the first to come up to you just as you stand.

“What are you two doing here?” you ask.

“Boys’ night out,” Kaveh says.

Dehya and Dottore aside, the others, including the guys, look starstruck at Alhaitham and Kaveh. Collei, however, is better at hiding it. You look at Alhaitham who shoots Dottore a quick look. When he looks back at you, you subtly nod.

“Haitham told me you were having a reunion here,” Kaveh says. He looks around the table, and one of the girls waves at him. He smiles and waves back.

“I wanted to surprise you,” Alhaitham says, stepping toward you. Your eyes widen when he puts his arm around your shoulders, pulls you close, and gives you a kiss on the forehead.

“Oh, my God!”

“Wait… you two are going out?”

“Damn.”

Dehya tries to hide her excitement but ends up clapping. “I guess the secret’s out, huh?”

Alhaitham looks at the group, and his eyes eventually land on Dottore. “Sorry to interrupt.”

Dottore narrows his eyes.

“Oh, do you two want to join us?” one of the girls says.

You look at Collei, who quickly says, "I don't mind!"

Alhaitham takes a seat beside you while Kaveh sits next to him. Dottore gives you a tiny smile. “Dating a CEO now, kitten?”

“Kitten?” Kaveh asks.

“I’ve always called her my kitten."

Alhaitham crosses one leg over the other and looks him in the eyes. “...She's my woman now.”

Some of your classmates try but fail to hide their gasps.

You shouldn’t be surprised that Alhaitham is as calm as he always is. But you’re still a little dumbfounded at how relaxed he seems.

Dottore leans forward. “A CEO dating his employee. Aren’t you taking advantage of her?” Then, he looks at you. “...You always fall for the bad ones.”

“I guess you’re one of those people who judge others based on their standing in life,” Alhaitham says. “...Or, are you asking because that’s something you’d done to her in the past?”

Dehya's jaw almost drops. She side-eyes Dottore, whose calm facade is slowly melting away.

“Oh, the food’s here!” someone says.

“Do you want to share?” you ask Alhaitham.

Alhaitham smiles at you. “You should eat.”

As you do, you keep sensing that Alhaitham is looking at you. When you look back, you ask, “Is something wrong?”

“I’m just thinking that I should make this for you next time. Perhaps… add a personal touch to it.”

“You cook, Alhaitham?” Collei asks.

“I do.” He looks at you. “I tried surprising her with breakfast in bed, but I was a little too slow. I need to do better next time.”

“Breakfast in bed?”

“So lucky!”

Soon, a waiter brings you a custard pudding you did not order. You're about to ask when Dottore says, "I ordered that for you." You slowly look at him. "It's your favourite."

Alhaitham picks it up and takes a bite. “...While the quality is good”—he looks at Dottore—“I can do better.”

“So, did you two meet at work?” someone asks.

“Yeah, spill the beans!”

You and Alhaitham look at each other. “Oh, well, that’s…”

“I fell in love with her first,” Alhaitham says, putting the empty custard cup on the table.

“And what do you like about her?”

Alhaitham looks at Dottore. “She’s intelligent. Capable. Pretty. She’s everything I like in a woman.”

One of your classmates hit the boy next to her. “Why can’t you be more like that?” she mutters.

“You seem so keen on saying good things about her,” Dottore says. He looks at you. “What about you, kitten? You’ve barely said anything.”

Is he expecting you to go on and on about how happy you are with Alhaitham? No. You aren’t going to fall for that. But since Dottore is so curious about your personal life, you might as well give it to him straight.

“What is there to say?” you ask. “I’m dating the man of my dreams. I won the award for Best Screenwriter. I’m happy with where I am in my life. I’ve come so far." You smile. "Didn’t you say you would be proud of me, Dottore?”

“What do you think?”

It was a short story for an English assignment, but you spent almost all of your free time planning and writing. It was something you noticed you loved to do. You loved telling stories, and if it was possible, you really wanted to make a career out of it. However, you never let your friends or your boyfriend read your work for fear of being judged.

Not until now, at least.

You waited with bated breath as your boyfriend read through your story. When he finally looked up at you, you smiled slightly.

“W-well?”

Dottore shrugged and handed you your assignment. “Keep doing what you’re doing.”

Huh? What kind of feedback was that?

“Um… so… did you like it?” you asked, taking it from him.

Dottore turned his chair and returned to doing whatever experiment he was doing before you disrupted him.

“You have quite an imagination, kitten.”

That didn’t really answer your question, but you took it that he liked it.

You sit next to him, but he didn’t look at you. “I’m thinking of studying Creative Arts after we graduate. What do you think?”

He turned to you. “Creative Arts?” You nodded. “He turned back to his experiments. Are you sure?”

“...What do you mean if I’m sure?”

“You have to have the talent to really make it, don’t you? Real talent.” Your face instantly fell. Real… talent? You weren’t expecting him to be fully supportive, but surely he could’ve worded it better than that. As if realizing what he’d just said, Dottore looked at you. “Oh, but if you do go into it and succeed… I’d be proud of you, kitten.”

You stand and excuse yourself for the bathroom.

Moments later, you’re standing outside at the back of the restaurant for some much-needed fresh air. You’re about to head inside when Dottore appears, startling you.

You’re about to walk past him when he says, “Can we talk, kitten?”

“No,” you say flatly. “And stop calling me that.”

“...You’ve changed.” You slowly look at him, meeting his eyes. “If only you were like this when we met, I would’ve treated you better.”

This fucking bastard.

“Fuck off,” you mutter.

"Did you see the video?" That smug little grin on his face is so annoying. "No one knows about your relationship, huh? Well, after tonight, I guess the secret's out. But I wonder what the rest of the company will think."

"What is the point of doing this?" you spat. "It's not like you will get anything out of blackmailing us."

"I just wanted to see if it was true," Dottore says, looking at you. "The timid little girl I once knew sneaking around with people who she shouldn't be."

When he grabs your wrist, you're about to slap him until something fluffy with four paws comes flying and lands with his claws on Dottore's face. He lets out a short scream and lets you go. You quickly step back, watching Alhaitham make Dottore's face his scratching board. Before Dottore can grab him, Alhaitham jumps in front of you, glaring and hissing at him.

Dottore can feel his face bleeding as he glares at Alhaitham. “Where the hell did this stupid cat come from?”

You quickly pick Alhaitham up and hold him tightly in your arms. “...Sneaking around with people who I shouldn’t be?” You glare at him. Then, before you can stop yourself, you say, “Stop worrying about other people and start minding your own business, Dottore.”

“I’m just worried about you, kitten.”

"Right. You've always cared so much," you say flatly. "I bet you were thinking so much about me when you were sneaking around with people you shouldn't have been."

Dottore exhales sharply. Is there a point in revealing the biggest misdeed he's done to you? Probably not. But you want to get it off your chest as it's something you've always known but never had the guts to confront him even after you broke up.

"I know you cheated," you say sharply.

You happened to be at school early that day, wanting to surprise Dottore as you knew he was often staying late or getting to school early to work on his experiments. What you weren’t expecting, however, was to hear a… questionable conversation between him and one of your friends.

“Oh, so you’re ticklish here, hm?”

You saw your friend sitting on Dottore’s lap through the crack in the door. His hands were around her waist, laughing as he playfully touched her in places that made her squirm.

“Hey, hey,” she said, grabbing Dottore’s hands. “Aren’t you scared your girlfriend might walk in on you?”

“Who? Her?” Dottore rolled his eyes. “Not really. I told her not to come.”

"You're tired of her, aren't you? Why are you still dating her?"

“Tired of her?” Dottore chuckled. “How can I get tired of someone who I can sleep with whenever I want?”

“...So, you just want a friends-with-benefits relationship with her? She's not even that pretty."

Dottore smirked. "Well, she's not bad in bed."

Your friend hit him. “Don’t say that in front of me!”

“You’re the one who made me say it.”

She leaned him and smiled. "Well, you already know I can do better."

The rest of their conversation fell on deaf ears as you were shaking with fury. But instead of confronting him and your “friend”, you spun around and walked the other way, pretending you heard nothing.

“We’re done,” you say.

Alhaitham stands on his hind legs, looking over your shoulder as you walk away. As much as he wants to claw Dottore's eyes out, you're holding him a little too tightly. Perhaps you know he'd try to get his paws on Dottore again. And, well, he is just not worth it. Obviously.

Once you head inside, Kaveh immediately appears from behind the corner.

“Sis! I’ve been looking for you! What happened to Haitham? Do you…” Kaveh’s eyes land on the cat in your arms. Then, he says quietly, “Oh, God… don’t tell me…”

Alhaitham looks at Kaveh and meows while you nod. “...Didn’t he change earlier than expected?”

Kaveh sighs. “Yeah, he did. That’s weird, though.” He scratches Alhaitham behind the ears. “Do you know what happened, hm?”

Alhaitham looks down and meows softly.

“I’ll take that as a no.”

“Hey!”

Kaveh instantly turns around while you stiffen when you see Collei come around the corner.

“Hey, Collei,” you say. “What, uh, what brings you here?”

“I was looking for you!”

Then, she notices the cat in your arms. “Oh! Where did you come from?”

Collei moves to scratch Alhaitham’s head, but he politely ducks. Then, he rubs his head against you, just underneath your breast.

“He, um, doesn’t like to be petted,” Kaveh says.

Collei chuckles. “Well, he sure likes a certain someone though.” Then, she sees the clothes Kaveh’s holding. “Where did those clothes come from?”

“Oh, um…”

“And is Alhaitham okay?” Collei asks. He looks in the direction of the male washroom. “He’s been in there for a while.”

“We’ll check on him,” you quickly say.

Collei nods. “By the way, what happened to Do—”

Just then, Dottore walks in, surprised to see the three of you huddled around the bathrooms for goodness sake. But as soon as he sees you, he looks at Collei, who looks stunned at the scratches on his face.

"What happened, Dottore? You're bleeding!"

“...Something came up,” he says. “So, I’m going to leave early.”

“Oh, um, okay.”

As soon as Dottore’s out of sight, Kaveh turns to you. “...Did something happen?”

“...I said what I wanted to say.” You smile as you scratch Alhaitham's head. Then, you say quietly, “He helped, too.”

“Well, I guess he’s going to miss out on some free food.” You and Kaveh turn to Collei. “Lambad gave us some cake on the house.”

You hear a hearty laugh, a laugh that you instantly recognize. Collei ushers you and Kaveh back to the table, and Lambad smiles.

“Well, well, look who it is.” Then, he sees Alhaitham. “Oh? Who’s the fluffy guest?” Lambad scratches Alhaitham underneath the chin. “Ain’t he a cute one?” Then, Lambad looks at you. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it, lil lady?”

“Lil lady?” Kaveh asks.

“You two know each other?” Collei asks.

“Ooh, do I sense a story coming?” Dehya smiles.

Lambad laughs. “Oh, this one will really blow your socks off.”

Lambad’s been keeping an eye on the young woman sitting at the end of the bar. It was just her third shot, but she was already getting red. When you asked for a fourth shot, Lambad finally spoke up.

“...Somethin’ the matter, lil lady? You’re getting a bit red there.”

“I’m fine,” you muttered.

“...You sure?”

You clearly weren’t, but Lambad wasn’t going to ask. But he ran this pub long enough to see his fair share of heartaches on people’s faces. You were no different.

“...I’m sure.”

Then, the bell at the entrance rang, and Lambad looked up. He gave you a quick glance before walking over to the two young men who entered the pub, one of whom he was familiar with.

“Ooh, a friend of yours, Kaveh?” Lambad asked.

“He’s my cute little junior,” Kaveh said cheekily as he and Alhaitham took seats at the other end of the bar.

“...Hello. My name is Alhaitham.”

Lambad let out a hearty laugh. “A soft-spoken one, it seems. The name’s Lambad and this pub’s been in my family for generations.”

“This dude just turned eighteen,” Kaveh said. “So, his drinks are on me tonight.”

“Ooh, the big eighteen, huh? Then, why so glum, chum?”

When Alhaitham stayed quiet, Kaveh said, “Bring me your best beers, Lambad!”

What was going on with people today? As Lambad walked by you, he noticed that you were looking at your phone; he didn't think you could look even gloomier than you did.

“Do you need anything, lil lady?”

You looked up just as you slid your phone inside your pocket. “I’ll…. I’ll get one of those chocolate lava cakes.”

Soon, Lambad returned with the beers on one tray in one hand and your cake in another. But just as he puts it down in front of you, you say, "Oh, um… actually…"

"Don't tell me you're runnin' back to whoever broke your heart," Lambad said.  Your eyes widened, and he knew what you were thinking. "It was written all over your face."

That surprisingly gets a genuine smile out of you. “I’m happy to say you’re wrong.”

Lambad laughs. “Well, good! Maybe this means that young lad will be looking brighter soon, too.” You looked in the same direction Lambad was. Alhaitham’s back was facing you. “He’s here celebratin’ his birthday, but he is lookin’ as if he has a lot on his mind.”

You turned back. “His birthday, huh?” You looked at your chocolate lava cake. “Well, maybe this will cheer him up a bit.”

Kaveh’s jaw drops. “So… let me get this straight,” he says, looking from Lambad to you. “Sis was the girl who gave Haitham that chocolate lava cake almost like… ten years ago?”

“I never thought the two of you would meet,” Lambad says. “Small world, huh?”

“Dude, that sounds like fate or something,” someone says.

So… it turns out that day with the bike accident wasn't the first time you and Alhaitham have crossed paths. You remember him telling you that is the night he first turned into a cat. Does this mean something?

You look down and see Alhaitham staring up at you. He meows softly as if knowing you’re thinking the same thing.

◆◆◆

Kaveh is the one who drives you and Alhaitham back. You thought about changing him back at the restaurant, but it's too risky as the place gets busier. So, you and Kaveh made up an excuse and left early.

“That was the day Haitham first turned into a cat,” Kaveh says. You’re sitting in the passenger seat of his car with Alhaitham in your lap. “It must mean something! I know it does. I can feel it in my bones.”

You can feel it, too. Is this the missing puzzle piece?

“But… what does it mean, exactly?”

“Does it have to have a deep meaning?” You and Alhaitham glance at Kaveh as he chuckles. “Stop thinking like Haitham. Not everything has to have a deep meaning. It could be you two are meant to be.

"But, if you really want to think about it… Haitham has tried literally everything to try to break his curse. But nothing worked. Not until you came along. So... you have to meet at some point."

You scratch Alhaitham behind the ears, and he leans into your touch. Kaveh pulls up to the apartment building and parks the car.

“Y’know, this is just a thought,” he continues. “But what if you had always been in each other’s lives but just didn’t know it?”

Now, there’s an interesting thought.

Kaveh smiles. “Gives you something to think about.”

Before getting out of the car, you thank Kaveh for the ride back. 

You changed Alhaitham back before you went for a shower. Eventually, the two of you end up at his place, mulling over what you'd just learned. You're sitting on the couch. Your bare legs draped over his.

"What made you leave that night?" Alhaitham asks. For once, you can read him.

You smile. "I didn't go see Dottore. I went to see Dehya."

Alhaitham kisses your forehead. "...I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was going to Lambad's Tavern tonight."

"Oh, I welcomed the surprise," you say with a smile. "But didn't you change back earlier than usual tonight?"

He nods. "That wasn't the only thing that was different. Before I met you, the transformation has always been painful. Tonight was the same."

"How odd..."

"Still, it's as if everything has come full circle." You look at him and meet his eyes. "Lambad's Tavern was the place we first crossed paths. The day I first turned into a cat."

"Then... does this mean that is where it will end?" After a silence, you continue, "This is just a thought... but what if we didn't get along at all?"

“I would’ve kept chasing you.”

You gently hit him. “You can only get away with saying that because you’re handsome.”

Alhaitham chuckles. “Who knows? But our story would’ve turned out differently.”

You put your head against his chest, and he puts his arm around you. “What do you think about what Kaveh said?”

“...About us unknowingly being in each other’s lives?”

You nod. “I wouldn’t be surprised if our paths crossed more than once. But… I’m glad we met now and not earlier.”

“Why do you say that?”

You sigh. “If you’ve met me when I was younger… well, I highly doubt you’d like me.”

Alhaitham kisses your head. “But because of her, you’re the person you are today. The woman I love.”

You look up just as he tilts his head down to look at you. You straighten your posture so you’re on eye level with him, the silence teeming with unspoken messages.

Then, both of you lean in, and as soon as your lips touch, it sends a zing of electricity across your nerves. You want more. You need more. His fingers weave into your hair, his body closing the gap. With you flush against him, his tongue runs along your bottom lip, igniting a fiery desire that you know you won’t be able to control.

One of his hands lightly touches your waist as if seeking permission. You move to sit on his lap as if giving him permission. Now, you’re facing him with your legs on either side of his waist. As soon as you feel his touch against your skin, you arch your body against his. He pushes himself off the couch, still kissing you, as his hands slowly move up your back.

You pull back only slightly and look him in the eyes.

“...Well, Catman, I think we’ve gone as far as we can with our clothes on.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

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