Cy

me to haitham and then haitham to me

We run around the house, both trying to catch the other and tickle them. It ends in Alhaitham grabbing me while I try to wrestle out of his grip, laughing the whole time.

We’re both home for the weekend. I’m playing a game and Alhaitham is reading his book while occasionally gazing over at me. About an hour into gaming he grabs my controller and starts tickling me, I jokingly shove back at him while laughing. Trying and failing to tickle him back.

together again. We both vowed to never let the other ago again. The year away from each other was taxing in a way neither of us thought was possible and neither of us were keen to experience it again.

part we share a long but gentle kiss and wipe away the tears of the other.

From that day on, we were again one. Any argument was talked out, any comment that hurt was immediately discussed. We put our all into fixing our relationship and planning for our future now that we were

Alhaitham stands up and walks over to me, my breath catches in my throat as he gently envelops me in a hug. I hug him back tightly, letting the tears fall as I cling to him like the world was coming to an end. He holds me equally as tight, both of us being a lifeline for the other. When we finally

usual monotone voice, yet his eyes portray deeper emotions; hurt, anger, fear, and desperation.

“Alhaitham, I really am sorry. I don’t know how to make it up to you, but I want to. I still love you” I state, my eyes welling up with tears as I toss out the takeout container in my hand.

“I- Alhaitham… I’m sorry. That night it all happened… Kaveh told me. I didn’t know…” I stutter out, unsure of what to say.

“He told me. For the longest time I was still mad at you, but then it became fear and anxiety. I didn’t know if you even wanted to come back.” he states in his

containers. With a loud sigh, I enter the living room, holding a container in my hand.

“This is not healthy for you Alhaitham, you need to eat home cooked meals once in a while. This isn’t healthy.” I say in frustration

“Well the last year hasn’t exactly been easy Cyanide.” he states bitterly.

The tension was so thick it could be cut with a knife, neither of us sure of what to say or do.

“Uhm, have you eaten?” I ask softly, “I can make something if not..”

Alhaitham shakes his head, sitting on the couch and grabbing a book. I sigh and go into the kitchen, finding nothing but takeout

home together. I knock on the door and he opens it. When I enter, it’s like a time capsule. My papers are still in my desk from a year ago, my coffee mug still beside the coffee pot, my favorite blanket and stuffed animal on the couch. It’s almost as if we haven’t been broken up for a year… almost.

my phone buzzes, picking it up it’s a text from Alhaitham. It read simple “Come over tomorrow after work”. I can barely sleep wondering what’s changed after an entire year of no communication.

They day drags on so slowly but finally I’m standing in front of Alhaitham’s home.. what used to be our

to text Alhaitham anymore, I never got responses anyways, always just “read”.

Two more months go by, marking a year since we’d split over my comment. I run into him at a ceremony in Fontaine to celebrate a new library that Kaveh had built. He ignores me and talks to Kaveh instead. Later that night

to work. I do it again the next day, then the next, then the next. They days start blurring together, I go from sleeping on Kavehs couch to sleeping in his spare room. After a few months have gone by, the spare room has basically become mine and me and Kaveh are going halfsies on rent. I don’t try

thong. I immediately feel guilt gnawing its way through my chest, I start crying not knowing what else to do. I eventually fall asleep on Kavehs couch after crying myself to sleep.

The next morning I text Alhaitham, asking him to meet up to talk and he ignores me. I force myself to get up and go

get out. Not knowing what else to do, I listen and call Kaveh to crash on his couch. By the time I get there, Alhaitham has called Kaveh and told him what happened. Kaveh sits me down on his couch and explains what happened to him and Alhaitham years ago and how Kaveh did almost the exact same

eyes.

Finally, Alhaitham stands up very slowly and heads to the door, opening it and turning to me with an expression on his face I had never seen before.

“Get out.” He says in a cold voice, the tone chilling me to my bones.

“Alhaitham please-“ I start but he cuts me off, again telling me to

watch his expression change from indifference, to confusion, and finally to hurt. He doesn’t say anything for a long time, he just stares at me silently with that hurt look on his face.

Not knowing what to do, I open my big mouth again, “Well, what are you staring at me for?” I ask, rolling my

During the time Alhaitham is Acting Grand Sage he decides to write a paper. I come home from work one night in a bad mood already and Alhaitham asks me to proof read his thesis AGAIN. In a fit of frustration I tell him his thesis is ass and I don’t want to read it again. I visibly

we’re all going to go sit on the couch, put on a movie and relax until it was time for bed. We all cuddle on the couch, full of smiles and laughter, throwing on some random movie no one is really paying attention to as we’re all excited for the date that’s still two weeks away

weekend.” Alhaitham offers out, seemingly the only one not frustrated by this ordeal.

Slowly, one by one every nods their approval. Finally after about an hour of trying to figure something out we had reached a decision. Now figuring out what to do? That was a battle for another time. Right now we

at 1. I’m free for two hours between my classes.” Ratios speaks next, not even hiding the evident frustration in his tone.

“No can do, I’m meeting Chasca for some peacemaker training” Xilonen states uncrossing her legs and leaning forward.

“How about two Sundays from now? I’m free that entire

“Does Saturday work for everyone? I’m free around 6pm” I state, looking up from my phones calendar an air of frustration to my tone.

“No, I’m hosting a presentation at this big science conference on the progress I’ve made on the cat cakes,” Ruan Mei answers with a sigh.

“I can do Tuesday

Ruan Mei would be on the other side of me, probably already asleep from her tendency to stay up for days focused on projects. Xilonen would be at our feet like the cat she is, curled up all comfortably, watching whatever we have on the tv while i mess around with her hair.

They’d insist on me being in the middle despite the fact I move a lot in my sleep. Despite Alhaitham and Ratio constantly stating they hate each other, they’d cuddle together sharing a rare moment of vulnerability with Alhaithams head on his shoulder while Ratio softly strokes his hair.

my f/o’s get along well. Ratio and Ruan Mei romantically, same with Xilonen and Ruan Mei. The only two not romantically involved, more from their own stubbornness than any actual lasting issues are Ratio and Alhaitham much to everyone’s dismay

worse than when Alhaitham and Ratio are together. There are explosive arguments, some days where Ruan Mei will only calm him Veritas in a short clipped tone. Yet, they quite often end up cuddled beside each other during movie nights, smiling and giggling along with everyone else.

Overall, all of

smith a blade with her guidance.

Ruan Mei and Xilonen also get along well. They work through problems together, more often than not ending up in each others rooms by the end of the night.

Ratio and Ruan Mei…. what more do I need to say? They get along yet they clash so drastically. It’s almost

vast knowledge of things but tends to get annoyed when he wants to help with blacksmithing. Not because there’s anything wrong with him, she just prefers to do it herself. She does allow him to help with blueprints and picking materials, occasionally he does even get to help

out on her tendency to neglect her creations, especially the cat cakes. Which makes Ruan Mei deeply annoyed but she does understand where he is coming from. Overall, they have a very loving relationship and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Alhaitham and Xilonen get along just fine. She respects his