✩ ‧₊˚ ✩。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 😭
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“I think,” Eddie declares, bursting into the room making his way to where Steve is laying on his bed. He’s relaxed against some pillows and has a magazine in his hands.
“Oh no” Steve blandly, flipping a page. Eddie flops on top of him, making the other yelp. Shuffling until he was comfortable, Steve holds the magazine up out of the way. He settles when he’s laying on Steve’s chest, chin perched on folded arms to look up at him.
“Rude” he huffs. “I think, that baby Byers has a crush on Gareth.”
That makes his boyfriend actually put down the magazine. “Your drummer?” He hums an affirmative. “He’s too old for Will!”
Protective Mama bear mode activated. Eddie laughs to himself. “Not to worry dear, Gareth has no interest. But it’s good news!”
“Will liking older men is not good news”
“He’s not that much older. And you say that like he hasn’t crushed on you” the magazine makes a return, rolled up to slap the top of Eddie’s head. “Ow.”
“Explain to me how this is a good thing.”
“It means he’s at least a little over Wheeler! He’s expanding his pallet. It’s a cause for celebration.”
“How did you even figure this out?”
“It was subtle,” he grins impishly “at first. A few glances during Hellfire Meetings, nothing to write home about. But the kiddos came to the garage to see us practice today.”
Steve sighs despairingly “And he was enchanted by the drummer”
A delighted laugh at his word choice springs from Eddies mouth. “Exactly that.”
“We should talk to him”
“We can. But don’t you want to see the baby gay in action before we do? It’d be so cute when it’s not so painful like how it was with mike”
“The sooner the better”
“Fiiiine”
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