Breaking His Concentration (Alhaitham x Kaveh)

Chapter 28: Our Future

Alhaitham's POV

The drive home Cyno and I were both silent. We didn't say a single word to each other. Neither of us liked each other very much but we both had a common goal which had gotten us far, but now we didn't know what to say. He had dropped me off at the gates of Sumeru city, I was walking alone on the streets with the moon high overhead. I saw people running and walking around, smiles on their faces and I knew Nahida's magic had worked. I silently thanked her in my head for helping us, hopefully I would never have to see Drea's face again. I just wanted to come home to Kaveh. I wanted to tell him that I got his job back and everything was going to be fine, I just wanted to see him smile for the first time in a long time.

I wondered if Nahida had altered his memories. I wondered if he even remembered who Drea was. He needed to. No matter how badly it hurt. It was a part of our story, something that connected us in a deeper way. I needed him to remember, I needed to come home to the same Kaveh that I had left. So I found myself sprinting home, eager just to hold him one more time. So when I saw my house and pushed the door open to find him reading a book on the couch I couldn't have been happier. His blonde hair was falling down his shoulders and he was wearing the architect uniform even though that wasn't what he was. He had bandages all around his body and fingers, his bones had been healing. And then his ruby eyes met mine.

"Alhaitham."

"Kaveh."

I murmured, rushing forward sitting next to him. I reached my hand over for his hand, lacing my fingers in his as I brought our hands up to his face.

"I did it. I saved us. I saved everyone. I got your job back, you're going to be just fine. She's been dealt with, she's never going to hurt you again. I promise. I'm going to protect you forever."

His eyes shifted to mine, leaving his hands in mine. And then I watched his eyes shift, almost to confusion. He tilted his head to the side and looked into my eyes.

"What are you talking about? I never lost my job. Are you feeling alright, Alhaitham?"

Once the words left his lips I could feel my stomach sink. I searched for something in his eyes saying he knew what I was saying but I couldn't find anything. I blinked a few times, inhaling deeply when I looked back into his eyes. He didn't remember. He didn't remember Drea, he didn't know everything I had done for him. He was looking at me like he didn't even know who I was. And then my right hand started to shake as I realized what this meant.

"Alhaitham?"

He whispered again, breaking our hands and reaching his hand up to cup my cheek. He looked so concerned, he still loved me deep inside. But fuck, I was exhausted. I had done so much to save us both and he didn't even remember it. And I couldn't tell him. It would be too much of a burden for him to know. But just for once, for once I wanted to take a break. I wanted someone to take care of me. I wanted him to remember everything I had done for us. I should have expected this was the way it was going to go.

"I'm fine."

I whispered, a cold tone entering my voice. And then I watched his face slowly twist into a smile, his eyes lighting up as he dropped his hand from my face.

"Damn. You should have seen your face."

"What- I-"

I started, but realization entered my head as he kept smiling at me. He grabbed my shoulder with his hands and pulled me into his chest, his cologne wafting into my nose. I was stunned, I felt like I couldn't speak. My hands were shaking and my body didn't want to move, he just held me as close to his chest as he could.

"Of course you saved us. You always save us. I could never forget that."

He whispered, petting my grey hair with his hands as he held me close.