[ He huffs against Alhaitham's lips as the other mutters his disdain, and when he can't complain with nipping teeth against the scribe's neck, he does against his lips instead— at least until he's distracted and enveloped in the kiss. His hands lift, threading up into Alhaitham's hair, a contented sigh slipping off his tongue as he licks into the other's mouth, only pulling back to speak when he's short of breath. ]

I had to make sure you hadn't lost interest in the process of kicking our friends out.

[ The words are light, teasing, and yet of course there's the edge of something more serious behind them even now, an insecurity that Kaveh can't quite keep from creeping in. ]

I was waiting, and now you're back, and I want you.