Chapter Text
Kaveh sighed as he looked up at the dreary night sky and he wondered if it would rain soon. Normally he enjoyed being outside and admiring the architecture on campus, but it was too dark to see much now and the weather wasn't really suitable to be sitting outdoors like this. But here he was anyway. It was a fitting backdrop to his miserable life.
A slight buzz lingered in his head from his last drink and he wished he had brought another with him. An actual plan for tonight would have helped, instead of drinks, but Kaveh was always content to remain helpless. He didn't deserve anything better anyway.
"Seriously, what are you doing out here?"
Kaveh hummed and turned toward the somewhat familiar voice. The tone matched the owner's face, equally angry and bored. "Oh Hat Guy…I mean Scaramouche."
"Just say Scara."
"Mmkay," Kaveh replied, his head tilting. "How are you?"
"Why do you care?" Scaramouche crossed his arms as he looked away.
Kaveh smiled, a genuine one that wasn't caused by the alcohol. "Because we're friends!"
"That's news to me."
"Oh, well," Kaveh's voice fell a little. "If you don't want to be, it's fine. But I consider you a friend anyway."
Scaramouche sounded increasingly annoyed. "Are you really that desperate, or is everyone you meet your friend?"
"I dunno, it doesn't matter I guess," Kaveh sighed. He pulled one of the longer strands of his blonde hair over his shoulder to the front, running his hands through it aimlessly as he stared down. Sometimes it felt like he had no friends, even though he knew that wasn't true. But at times like this when he needed someone…well he was used to it anyway. He told himself he shouldn't be greedy and be grateful for what he did have.
Footsteps began again and Kaveh just listened as Scaramouche left, until they stopped again shortly after. "Well, are you coming?"
"Huh?" Kaveh looked up, confused.
"You aren't actually gonna stay out here are you?" Scaramouche stood at the door of the student apartments, tapping his foot impatiently.
Kaveh wondered if he should just stay. He didn't want to be a bother or receive another person's kindness that he didn't deserve. But then he worried that not going would be rude after such a genuine offer had been made.
He decided to follow and hurried along after Scaramouche. His gaze lingered on Scaramouche's back and Kaveh checked out the man's appearance with mild curiosity. Tonight Scaramouche was wearing all black that swallowed up most of his features under baggy clothing, which complemented his indigo hair. Black nail polish and several rings matched the piercings on his ears and tongue, and his purple eyes were surrounded by dark eyeliner.
The outfit was a bit more dramatic than he usually saw on the loner student around campus, so Kaveh assumed that Scaramouche had been out partying or something. What Scaramouche lacked in height he made up for in attitude.
Their walk was silent. Kaveh didn't really know what to say. It was true he barely knew Scaramouche. The international student had just shown up one day, introduced by his friend Lumine. Kaveh had attempted to be friendly towards the new student but was met with the same standoffish attitude as now. It's not like they had much in common anyway, since Scaramouche was in Vahumana while Kaveh studied architecture under the Kshahrewar darshan, so they barely ever saw each other.
People had taken to calling Scaramouche "Hat Guy" as a nickname since he sometimes had a penchant for wearing hats, and Scaramouche didn't seem to care either way. Kaveh wondered if he should have tried harder to be more friendly, thinking it must have been tough transferring from so far away.
As Scaramouche opened the door he muttered, "I don't know how much you've had to drink, but you'd better not throw up on anything."
"I would never, on my pride as an architect," Kaveh gasped. The thought of ruining a designer couch or expensive rug was horrific.
"Right…whatever."
Kaveh stepped inside and looked around. He noted that it was one of the single-bedroom layouts; the apartment building had both one and two-bedroom layouts. He was almost jealous. Roommates could be annoying, but Kaveh also didn't like to be alone.
Scaramouche's room was normal looking. Kaveh wasn't sure what he was expecting, probably dim lights and chaotic organization to match the man's style. However, things weren't too messy or too neat, and there weren't many clear indications of hobbies or interests. Scaramouche was a mystery, and Kaveh was beginning to think that was intentional.
"Just sit wherever," Scaramouche said, throwing his bag down on a chair and slumping into the couch.
Kaveh stood for a bit, unsure what to do, before following suit and joining his companion on the other side of the couch. "Thanks, Scara…I really owe you."
"Not really."
Nothing but awkward silence remained and Kaveh was unsure what to say, but he needed to come up with a conversation topic quickly. He began fiddling with the gold bracelet around his wrist, an identically colored feather dangling from the chain: a cute piece that he had picked up at the mall a while back that had become his favorite. Normally he was a decent social butterfly, but for some reason, he couldn't turn on his usual charm right now.
Scaramouche shifted in his seat. "Want a drink?"
"Please," Kaveh said quickly. Anything to relieve the awkwardness.
Scaramouche got up and went to rummage in the fridge before returning with two open bottles. After handing Kaveh one of the drinks he turned on the TV and computer nearby. "Just entertain yourself. I'm not used to guests."
"I'm sorry for imposing," Kaveh fretted. "Thanks again."
"Don't mention it," Scaramouche replied, not saying anything else for a while. He turned on a game and started playing while Kaveh watched with half interest, sipping his drink. Scaramouche was wearing purple cat-eared headphones and playing some sort of shooter game that Kaveh wasn't familiar with. The only game he ever played were ones that had building and decorating.
Finally, Scaramouche slid one side of the headphones off of his ear spoke again. "Alhaitham, huh?"
Kaveh sighed dramatically. "Naturally." It didn't come as a surprise that everyone knew of his infamous issues with his roommate Alhaitham. "He has a date over tonight and I didn't want to get in the way. He always complains about every little thing I do, even when there's nothing going on, so I wouldn't want to know what he'd have in store for me tonight. Like the time I bought a painting to put in the hallway and…"
Kaveh realized he was rambling again. "Sorry, I won't bother you any further. "
"It's really not that big of a deal," Scaramouche said, "you're just talking, no need to apologize. Just don't waste my time with pointless conversations like the weather."
Kaveh was slightly taken aback by Scaramouche's frankness, but in a good way. Usually he felt like such a burden for just existing, but Scaramouche was telling him it was fine. He decided it was safe to continue talking. "Well interior design differences aside, I'm just about at my wit's end. Anyway, he's busy now so it doesn't matter. And I'm happy for him, I really am…but I just don't want to be there right now."
"Isn't it your place too? Kick him out instead," Scaramouche pointed out, sounding annoyed at the obvious solution.
"I could never," Kaveh gasped. He would never do something so mean, even when mad. "And anyway, I do owe some rent…"
Scaramouche rolled his eyes but kept them facing the screen.
"Usually when I have any issues with Alhaitham I go to Tighnari's, but he's out with Cyno tonight. And I think Faruzan is busy too. Dehya's probably with someone. Oh and of course Lumime was–"
"So I was your last choice. Some friends we are," Scaramouche scoffed.
Kaveh began sulking like a wounded puppy. "Well I don't even have your number. And I didn't want to bother you."
"You worry about that a lot, don't you? Anyway, at least there's not a chance of me being busy on a date." He chuckled bitterly.
It was kind of a relief to Kaveh; misery loves company, after all. Still, Kaveh felt a little bad for Scaramouche with the way he had said that. Surely a guy that cute could find someone if he wanted to…
"You can use the bed." Scaramouche's words jolted Kaveh out of his thoughts.
Kaveh blinked, letting the words sink in. "Oh, I couldn't impose any further. Don't worry about it."
Scaramouche just shrugged.
Kaveh didn't remember how much longer he had rambled. He had started by talking about curtains and somehow ended on the topic of hair care of all things. How embarrassing.
When he woke up the next morning he was comfortably positioned laying down on the couch with a blanket tucked over him. The fabric had a unique scent that was comforting to him in a way he hadn’t felt in a while.
When Kaveh finally sat up he slowly started to remember where he was and what had happened the night before. He blushed in embarrassment, realizing how much trouble he had caused Scaramouche. After quickly getting ready by making sure his clothes and hair were somewhat presentable, he made ready to leave but ran into Scaramouche standing just inside the kitchen.
"Oh, good morning," Kaveh smiled sheepishly.
Scaramouche's eyes were intense and he looked as unamused as always. "What do you want in your coffee?"
"Huh?"
"I'm making coffee."
Kaveh was completely confused. Scaramouche's demeanor didn't match his words and actions at all. "Oh my gosh, please don't worry about me."
"I'm not worrying," Scaramouche chided. "If you don't tell me I'll just guess."
"But I'm the one who owes you?"
"Idiot. You would have done the same for me."
Kaveh was surprised at Scaramouche's declaration, though it was probably true. Still, he was beyond shocked to be receiving such nice treatment. The sorts of lengths he went to for others usually weren't understood, or reciprocated. It was probably just a one-time thing though, he figured. Kaveh made a mental note to make this up to Scaramouche in the future.