Chapter Text
Kaveh was aware that he had sworn to himself and all the archons that he would buckle down and take his final academic year seriously. But, he was also aware that Nilou was hosting a mixer in the Vahumana dorm to kick off the upcoming semester. Alcohol was a guarantee. She needn’t say more.
So, that’s how Kaveh found himself three beers deep into a fiery and rather dramatic karaoke session with his dancer friend. A projector was set up against a blank wall in the basement of the building, flashing lyrics to the songs of choice in obnoxious colors and fonts. A crowd of Akademiya students surrounded them as they set up to perform their next song. Kaveh chugged the rest of his drink and then began.
Yo, I'll tell you what I want
What I really, really want
Nilou joined in.
(So tell me what you want
What you really, really want)
I'll tell you what I want
What I really, really want
(So tell me what you want
What you really, really want)
I wanna (Hey!), I wanna (Hey!)
I wanna (Hey!), I wanna (Hey!)
I wanna really, really, really wanna zig-a-zig, ah
Everyone was dancing freely and really seemed to be getting into the song (with the help of liquid courage of course). Nilou and Kaveh were known for being the life of Sumeru Akademiya’s parties, and it seemed that all their scheming and researching for the perfect song to turn the mixer up a notch had paid off.
If you want my future
Forget my past
If you wanna get with me
Better make it fast
It was Nilou’s verse, so Kaveh made it his current life goal to find himself another drink. He walked a few feet over to a table that looked like it had been ravaged by starving shroomboars and began searching for anything ingestible and alcoholic. He found an unopened bottle of vodka, and though he knew all his nights involving this substance resulted in severe memory loss and the ghost of regret, he couldn’t find it in himself to care.
Now, don't go wasting
My precious time
Get your act together, we could be just fine
The blond haired man poured his drink and made it back to Nilou in time to join her for the chorus.
If you wanna be my lover
You gotta get with my friends (Gotta get with my friends)
Make it last forever, friendship never ends
While he was singing, Kaveh scanned the room for his eyes to be met by smiling and red-faced young adults at every turn. He was entirely pleased with his entertainment skills until he spotted a lone figure leaning against a back wall. The first thing Kaveh noticed were his headphones. Because who the hell brings headphones to a karaoke party? The second was that he was reading a damn book. How could he even see in this lighting? The third was the fact that he was, unfortunately, handsome.
It was now Kaveh’s sacred duty to get this guy to participate in all the fun everyone else was having. For research purposes, of course. Kaveh sang his next verse staring right at the strange party-scholar man.
Oh, what you think about that
Now you know how I feel
Say you could handle my love
Are you for real?
Kaveh even pointed at him to try and get his attention, but alas, he continued reading.
I won't be hasty
I'll give you a try
If you really bug me, then I'll say goodbye
At this point, Kaveh couldn’t tell if the man didn’t sense his gaze or if he was just ignoring it. So, the blond decided to step up his game. Throughout the rest of the song he slowly made his way toward the back wall. The guy’s eyes flickered up for a second, but just as quickly jumped back to whatever sentence he was on. Kaveh took this as encouragement and ended up right in front of him for the final chorus.
If you wanna be my lover
Kaveh reached out and took the man’s headphones off his ears, moving them to sit around his neck.
You gotta get with my friends
“What the FUCK—” the guy flinched and snapped his book closed.
Make it last forever, friendship never ends
Kaveh grabbed his hand and attempted to lead him out into the crowd of dancing students.
If you wanna be my lover
You have got to give
The man easily shook off Kaveh and shoved him back for good measure.
Taking is too easy, but that's the way it IS —
Kaveh’s back slammed against somebody else in the crowd and he threw his arms out to attempt to find his balance in his drunken state. What he happened to forget was that the cup of vodka was still in his hand. As if in slow motion, the liquid splashed out of the cup and headed for the target directly in front of it like a magnet. The target being party-scholar man’s black t-shirt.
“Ohhh shit.” Kaveh said lamely, as he slowly tore his eyes away from the vodka-soaked apparel (that clinged to the man’s abs rather nicely, might he add) to meet a murderous glare. The man looked like he was angry enough to beat Kaveh to a pulp, but he turned away to face somebody next to him.
“And this is why I don’t come to these types of things.” he stated darkly, shoving a finger into another guy’s chest. Party-scholar-vodka man began stalking away when Kaveh realized who his other friend was.
“Is that you, Cyno?” Kaveh was trying desperately not to slur his words.
“Oh. Hey, Kaveh. Long time no see.” Cyno said calmly. They both saw party-scholar-vodka man stop dead in his tracks and slowly turn around again.
“You know this idiot?” he yelled at Cyno.
“Um, sort of.” the white-haired man started uncomfortably. “We had a class together a few semesters ago. So, uh, Kaveh meet Alhaitham. Alhaitham, meet Kaveh.”
Alhaitham . Kaveh turned the name over in his head.
What kind of name is that?
“What kind of name is that?” Kaveh clapped a hand over his mouth after he realized what he had said. I should’ve known vodka makes me lose my filter! Party-scholar-vodka man’s or, Alhaitham’s expression hardened.
“One that has far too much dignity attached to it to be coming out of your mouth.”
Kaveh struggled to keep up through his brain fog. “I didn’t mean to say that, at least let me help you!” He reached for a wad of napkins off a nearby table and guiltily attempted to soak some of the liquid out of Alhaitham’s shirt. This seemed to anger him more.
“Stop it dumbass, I’m just going to have to wash it!” he seized Kaveh’s wrists and ripped the napkins out of his hands. “I don’t need your charity.”
“I was just trying to fix my mistake!” Kaveh shot back. “You seemed lonely all by yourself over there, and I wanted you to join in on the fun! Well, then I guess I tried a little too hard. Because, you know. The drink.”
“It was worth a shot, Kaveh.” Cyno added robotically. “Get it? Shot? Because shots are alcoholic? And you spilt alcohol on Alhaitham?”
Both Kaveh and Alhaitham stared at the white-haired man.
“Anyway,” Alhaitham gained back his sneer. “I don’t need your help. And for the record, I am not lonely. I would have gladly stayed in tonight, but Cyno here insisted I come.”
“Hey, don’t act like I was being unreasonable. I even let you bring your headphones.” Cyno crossed his arms.
“Well, sorry for traumatizing you, Mr. Alhaitham. I hope you can live the rest of your life undisturbed with your little headphones and books, and devoid of the likes of people such as me.” Kaveh could feel his words slurring in his mouth, but he couldn’t even bring himself to pretend to be sober. All he wanted to do was go back to his room with a Charcoal-Baked Ajilenakh Cake and sulk.
The last thing he heard was someone calling his name before his world went black.