sprout's stories
@storysprouts.bsky.social
growing stories from my favorite little worlds | current fandoms include: #genshin #hsr | pfp by @monmiimel.bsky.social
The warmth that had left Kaveh during the day blooms again in his chest as Alhaitham presses soft lips to his forehead.
"Especially when you are useless."
"Especially when you are useless."
October 19, 2024 at 6:06 PM
The warmth that had left Kaveh during the day blooms again in his chest as Alhaitham presses soft lips to his forehead.
"Especially when you are useless."
"Especially when you are useless."
Alhaitham exhales, setting his novel on the nightstand and shifting so that he can see Kaveh's face. Satisfied, he notes that the gray of the afternoon is no longer present in Kaveh's eyes and features.
October 19, 2024 at 6:06 PM
Alhaitham exhales, setting his novel on the nightstand and shifting so that he can see Kaveh's face. Satisfied, he notes that the gray of the afternoon is no longer present in Kaveh's eyes and features.
"...Haitham?"
"Yes?"
"Do you still love me?"
"Yes."
"Even when I'm useless?"
"Yes?"
"Do you still love me?"
"Yes."
"Even when I'm useless?"
October 19, 2024 at 6:04 PM
"...Haitham?"
"Yes?"
"Do you still love me?"
"Yes."
"Even when I'm useless?"
"Yes?"
"Do you still love me?"
"Yes."
"Even when I'm useless?"
Some time later, the covers of their bed shuffle and an arm drapes itself across Alhaitham's chest, hugging his side while he continues to read. Shifting his novel to one hand, Alhaitham uses his other arm to adjust the covers around Kaveh and gather him closer to Alhaitham's side.
October 19, 2024 at 6:01 PM
Some time later, the covers of their bed shuffle and an arm drapes itself across Alhaitham's chest, hugging his side while he continues to read. Shifting his novel to one hand, Alhaitham uses his other arm to adjust the covers around Kaveh and gather him closer to Alhaitham's side.
Pursing his lips, Alhaitham helps Kaveh out of the tub. He towels Kaveh's hair before wrapping the towel around him, retiring to their room as Kaveh is left to find his own way from there.
October 19, 2024 at 6:00 PM
Pursing his lips, Alhaitham helps Kaveh out of the tub. He towels Kaveh's hair before wrapping the towel around him, retiring to their room as Kaveh is left to find his own way from there.
Kaveh is still sitting in the tub after the water has drained, shivering slightly as Alhaitham returns with a towel.
October 19, 2024 at 6:00 PM
Kaveh is still sitting in the tub after the water has drained, shivering slightly as Alhaitham returns with a towel.
He adjusts his position by the tub to gain better access, and finally sees the unshed tears gleaming in Kaveh's eyes.
Without words to offer, Alhaitham lays a hand on Kaveh's cheek for a moment before continuing to massage soap into his leg.
Without words to offer, Alhaitham lays a hand on Kaveh's cheek for a moment before continuing to massage soap into his leg.
October 19, 2024 at 5:59 PM
He adjusts his position by the tub to gain better access, and finally sees the unshed tears gleaming in Kaveh's eyes.
Without words to offer, Alhaitham lays a hand on Kaveh's cheek for a moment before continuing to massage soap into his leg.
Without words to offer, Alhaitham lays a hand on Kaveh's cheek for a moment before continuing to massage soap into his leg.
The silence between them is now filled with the scent of Kaveh's honeysuckle shampoo, as Alhaitham works it gently through the locks of Kaveh's damp hair. After rinsing, Alhaitham turns his attention to Kaveh's arms and legs.
October 19, 2024 at 5:57 PM
The silence between them is now filled with the scent of Kaveh's honeysuckle shampoo, as Alhaitham works it gently through the locks of Kaveh's damp hair. After rinsing, Alhaitham turns his attention to Kaveh's arms and legs.
When Alhaitham returns, Kaveh's clothes are in a pile on the floor and Kaveh is seated in the tub, hugging his knees once more in the depths of the water.
October 19, 2024 at 5:55 PM
When Alhaitham returns, Kaveh's clothes are in a pile on the floor and Kaveh is seated in the tub, hugging his knees once more in the depths of the water.
In the bathroom, Alhaitham sets Kaveh down at the edge of the tub, peeling the blanket off of him. He plugs the tub and turns on the warm water, nodding to Kaveh as he turns and leaves the bathroom to dispose of the blanket in the laundry.
October 19, 2024 at 5:54 PM
In the bathroom, Alhaitham sets Kaveh down at the edge of the tub, peeling the blanket off of him. He plugs the tub and turns on the warm water, nodding to Kaveh as he turns and leaves the bathroom to dispose of the blanket in the laundry.
Without a word, Alhaitham stoops and lifts Kaveh in his arms, carefully maneuvering him through the door, and carries him inside.
October 19, 2024 at 5:53 PM
Without a word, Alhaitham stoops and lifts Kaveh in his arms, carefully maneuvering him through the door, and carries him inside.
Some hours later, the gray of the afternoon begins to fade along with the rain, leaving clouds darkening only with the absence of light. The sliding door opens again, and this time Kaveh glances up to see Alhaitham in his sleeping clothes.
October 19, 2024 at 5:53 PM
Some hours later, the gray of the afternoon begins to fade along with the rain, leaving clouds darkening only with the absence of light. The sliding door opens again, and this time Kaveh glances up to see Alhaitham in his sleeping clothes.
This last is accompanied by Kaveh's stew, and Alhaitham glances at the balcony every so often at the lump of blankets seated there. Kaveh hasn't moved an inch.
October 19, 2024 at 5:52 PM
This last is accompanied by Kaveh's stew, and Alhaitham glances at the balcony every so often at the lump of blankets seated there. Kaveh hasn't moved an inch.
Alhaitham fills the rest of the silence with the rest of his usual tasks--reorganizing his bookshelf, going over paperwork, and reading a few more chapters in his latest novel.
October 19, 2024 at 5:52 PM
Alhaitham fills the rest of the silence with the rest of his usual tasks--reorganizing his bookshelf, going over paperwork, and reading a few more chapters in his latest novel.
Only a quarter of the toast gets consumed, but Alhaitham has better luck with the three-quarters-empty mug of tea, noting with satisfaction that the spoonful of honey he added seemed to have served its purpose as he brings the dishes back inside.
October 19, 2024 at 5:47 PM
Only a quarter of the toast gets consumed, but Alhaitham has better luck with the three-quarters-empty mug of tea, noting with satisfaction that the spoonful of honey he added seemed to have served its purpose as he brings the dishes back inside.
The silence in the apartment is different now that Alhaitham knows where Kaveh is. It is patient and pensive, willingly broken by the door sliding open at various intervals to replace a blanket, set down a tea mug, and place a plate of plain toast.
October 19, 2024 at 5:43 PM
The silence in the apartment is different now that Alhaitham knows where Kaveh is. It is patient and pensive, willingly broken by the door sliding open at various intervals to replace a blanket, set down a tea mug, and place a plate of plain toast.
"...Is there anything you need?"
Kaveh shakes his head.
Alhaitham's eyes trace down. "That blanket is getting wet at the edges. I'll get you another."
"Okay. Thank you." Alhaitham closes the sliding door, initial worry replaced by a quietness that demands, for the moment, that Kaveh be left alone.
Kaveh shakes his head.
Alhaitham's eyes trace down. "That blanket is getting wet at the edges. I'll get you another."
"Okay. Thank you." Alhaitham closes the sliding door, initial worry replaced by a quietness that demands, for the moment, that Kaveh be left alone.
October 19, 2024 at 5:39 PM
"...Is there anything you need?"
Kaveh shakes his head.
Alhaitham's eyes trace down. "That blanket is getting wet at the edges. I'll get you another."
"Okay. Thank you." Alhaitham closes the sliding door, initial worry replaced by a quietness that demands, for the moment, that Kaveh be left alone.
Kaveh shakes his head.
Alhaitham's eyes trace down. "That blanket is getting wet at the edges. I'll get you another."
"Okay. Thank you." Alhaitham closes the sliding door, initial worry replaced by a quietness that demands, for the moment, that Kaveh be left alone.
They both know better, which is why Kaveh in turn hasn't spewed some insult at Alhaitham to make him go away.
October 19, 2024 at 5:38 PM
They both know better, which is why Kaveh in turn hasn't spewed some insult at Alhaitham to make him go away.
"...It's cold."
"Mm."
"You'll get sick."
"I took some time off."
Alhaitham exhales quietly. His former self would either haul Kaveh back into the warmth of the apartment or leave him there to suffer the consequences of moodiness, but in this moment he knows better.
"Mm."
"You'll get sick."
"I took some time off."
Alhaitham exhales quietly. His former self would either haul Kaveh back into the warmth of the apartment or leave him there to suffer the consequences of moodiness, but in this moment he knows better.
October 19, 2024 at 5:38 PM
"...It's cold."
"Mm."
"You'll get sick."
"I took some time off."
Alhaitham exhales quietly. His former self would either haul Kaveh back into the warmth of the apartment or leave him there to suffer the consequences of moodiness, but in this moment he knows better.
"Mm."
"You'll get sick."
"I took some time off."
Alhaitham exhales quietly. His former self would either haul Kaveh back into the warmth of the apartment or leave him there to suffer the consequences of moodiness, but in this moment he knows better.