Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

     "It isn't my fault she's a terrible person! And it's not yours, either. Honestly, they can do whatever they want with each other, and karma's gonna bite 'em!"

     "You sound like a child... I'm not going to wish poorly upon her just because of some high school romance. There are worse people in the world."

     "What, like your ex? Let's not lie to ourselves now, he's such a terrible person he's probably Spider-Man!"

     "Twenty-four," Hu Tao counted. She was walking down the road alongside Alhaitham, Itto, Shinobu, and Kuni. The New Arataki Gang- yes, that was their new name, courtesy of Itto- was under the guidance of Hu Tao's girlfriend, Yanfei, who was leading them to a local pride parade. Alhaitham looked at the younger girl curiously, wondering what she was counting.

     "Twenty-four what?"

     "Twenty-four times I've heard someone accuse someone else of being Spider-Man over something basic in June alone. Over five hundred this year. Putting aside how unoriginal it is, there's still no actual evidence that those deaths were his- or her- doing! Right, Fei?"

     Alhaitham glanced at the Old Arataki Gang- just Shinobu, Itto, Kuni- and they glanced back at him. Had anyone told Hu Tao or Yanfei about his secret identity? No, of course not. People had to be secretive about those things, especially when the entire police force was after that secret identity. Regardless, both Hu Tao and Yanfei were ardent supporters of Spider-Man. It was rare, but people believed he was innocent. It gave him a reason to keep protecting the city, albeit more underground.

     "Mhm. Finding inhuman DNA on the captain's body proves absolutely nothing. For all we know, Spider-Man could have been hurt whilst attempting to rescue the captain from a dangerous situation. For that scientist, I believe the autopsy showed he ultimately died due to a piece of bad tech in his neck, which could have been anything. And for Kaveh..."

     Yanfei glanced behind her sympathetically, eyes locking with Alhaitham's. Hu Tao also tossed a glance back at him, but ultimately had nothing she could do for comfort. Wanting to kill the tension in the air, Shinobu cut in, "There was webbing found on his chest. I assume it was another rescue situation gone foul. Yanfei, how long until we're there?"

     "Let's see, it should be... oh, it's just two blocks away. Everyone ready?"

     "Yeah," the group collectively agreed, each person in a different piece of pride merch. Yanfei had her hair pulled back with a lesbian bandana, Itto was wearing a large tank top with "Homo-flex-ual" written on it, Shinobu was wearing an equally tacky Rock, Paper, Scissors shirt, Kuni was wearing a Trans Rights or Else sweatshirt layered over a Miku binder, Hu Tao was in her pansexual ghost t-shirt, and Alhaitham was wearing a demi bracelet. Apart from that piece of jewellery, he wore his Spider suit, passing it off as just a pair of pants and a tied sweatshirt, just in case something came up and he had to act quickly.

     The group finally reached the crowded site of the parade and quickly lost each other amongst the people. Floats, volunteer groups, and even a marching band passed through, playing Good Luck, Babe!. It seemed like the community expanded tenfold each year, and with it, the parades. Alhaitham was planning on sticking to the sidelines, enjoying the energy but never tapping into it, when he saw the red flourish of twin tails. Slipping through the crowd, he was met with Hu Tao, separated from Yanfei and in a genderfluid plum blossom shirt. 

     "Hey, Tao," he greeted. She noticeably jumped and whirled to look at him, seemingly not recognising him.

     "Oh, hey... you! How's it going? Enjoying the parade?"

     This was definitely not Hu Tao, but they had the same name and looked identical, and Alhaitham was bored, so he played along. "Yeah, it's nice this year. Do you remember three years ago when my partner spilled his drink all over that guy?"

     "Oh, yeah, of course! He was livid, I don't know how he didn't attack... um... them?"

     "He died earlier that year, which essentially confirms you're not my friend. At the same time, you look and sound exactly like her, plus you have the same name. What's your deal? Alternate universe?"

     "You clocked that one quickly. Who guesses that first try?" she questioned. Her scarlet eyes flitted over him, skeptical.

     "The company I work for has been attempting multiversal travel for a while. We cracked into it last week, but it didn't stay open for long. What's your secret?"

     Not-Hu Tao checked something on her wrist. Alhaitham could hear her quietly mutter, "Last week. That's when we got the ping, alright. Again, why didn't this place show up sooner..? Unless..." she looked back up at him curiously, cocking her head to the side. Her hair swayed mesmerisingly with the motion, but her voice cut through, "Sorry, does this universe have any superheroes or anything?" Alhaitham opened his mouth to respond when a scream erupted from down the parade. People began running, and when he looked back, there was a large, inky monster attacking one of the floats.

     Well. That was new. He was about to excuse himself to Not-Hu Tao, but she had already disappeared. They could regroup after Alhaitham did his job, already slipping into an alley and pulling up his suit. He'd made some design improvements over the years, removing the bright green accents and making the suit more solid-toned. The mask now included headphones to play his epic rock music on, and he had some teal sashes tied around his waist for decoration. Wanted criminals can feel pretty, too.

     He first had to get the thing away from the crowd. He absolutely did not need to be blamed for any more murders, thank you very much. However, he barely managed to jump out of the alley before someone threw themselves at it. Curiously, he perched on the roof as the red-clad hero started playing a high-frequency tone, which seemed to disarm the thing. Their outfits were similar, both having exposed shoulders. Their skin was a warmer shade of his own complexion, which nicely complimented the pink and red hues of their suit. They had burgundy gloves similar to his, only with crimson cuffs at the biceps and golden steampunk designs embroidered into them. There were clocks and chains crossing their belt, and their auburn pants would have been poofy and old-timey if not for the fact they cut off just around the knee. They also had boots that matched the gloves; however, one had a ribbon trailing around it where the other had small belts. However, the most tell-tale sign were the two large twin tails that ended in red. So, that other Hu Tao seemed to be another Spider-Man. Spider-Woman? Spider-Person. 

     He likely wouldn't have interfered if the police hadn't shown up; she clearly had it handled, and the thing dissolved into ink before disappearing completely, leaving only a human host behind. However, the police did show up, and she seemed completely unafraid of them. Until, you know, they started shooting at her. Same way they always shot at him.

     Friend or not, Alhaitham had enough of a guilty conscience, and quickly swung down to evacuate the poor girl. In his efforts, he felt a searing pain in his leg, but getting shot really was nothing new.

     "SPIDER-MAN!"

     "Up yours, pig!" he called back, pitching down his voice and flipping them off. Hu Tao scrambled against his arm, only calming down a bit once he said, "So, does this answer your question from earlier?"

     "It does indeed. Thanks for the assistance."

     "Don't mention it, but you owe me some answers."

     Alhaitham placed her down in one of the safer alleys so they could talk freely. She stood on the ground, watching him as he flipped to hang upside down. He dug his fingers into the bullet wound and pulled it out, then asked, "So, you're another... Spider-Person?"

     "Spider-Lily, to be exact. I'm from Universe 20115, and this is Universe 11122."

     "How'd you get here?"

     "Literally? Through Nowhere. According to the founder, it used to be the remains of Universe 81259 before it was reformed. Now, only Spiders can get in, and you can't go anywhere else in the multiverse without stopping in Nowhere. More technically speaking? The door just... showed up one day. Went through it, and I was in Nowhere. And they hooked me up with one of these," she explained, pointing to the cuff on her wrist. "Transporter. Also contains a sound emitter to deal with the parasite you saw back there."

     "How come I haven't seen any of you before?"

     "Probably because you weren't on the map. How long have you been doing this again?"

     "Four years, going on five in the fall."

     "And you've experienced your canon event?"

     "My what?" he asked, cocking his head to the side.

     She huffed and crossed her arms. "Your canon event. It's only a theory, really, so forgive me if this is presumptuous. You lost someone doing your job, right? Traditionally, it's a police captain and some kind of mentor or love interest. Mine was... a girl I should have noticed sooner. And my dad’s husband."

     Alhaitham straightened his head again as Hu Tao lowered hers. The eyes on her mask drooped as if she were sad, which was a mechanic he had yet to implement on his. With a quiet voice, he explained, "I'm sorry. For me, it was my boyfriend, my boss, and our city's police captain. Deaths got blamed on me, hence... the shootout."

     "That must've been hard," she mused, raising her mask to wipe her eyes. "Nowhere is a place for us to come together. These days, it appears a month or so after the event happens to a Spider, so they don't have to be alone in their grief. But for you, not having a place like that whilst also being called a murderer... I think you needed to join us a while ago. Come on."

     Hu Tao pressed some buttons on her cuff, and a pale green, near-white door of light appeared. She beckoned for Alhaitham to follow her in before jumping in and disappearing into nothing. He got back on his feet, and despite some hesitancy, followed her in.

     He didn't know what he was expecting, but it wasn't this. It was big. Seriously, it was absolutely massive. Roughly the size of four football stadiums laid into a square, then stacked thrice. And, oddly enough, completely chrome white. Spider-People littered the area, some standing on the bridge he arrived on, some standing below on the base of the universe, some on paths above. There were several halls leading to unidentified areas, but the labelled ones noted there was a sleeping quarters, a cafeteria, a bar for the cafeteria, and a recreational area.

     "Hey, are you coming? Let's walk and talk, I'd like to check in with my girlfriend and introduce you to our founder. How about a tour along the way, too? My treat."

     Alhaitham followed her down the path, walking with shorter steps to make up for their height difference. When a comfortable amount of silence had passed, he asked, "So? What was up with the thing?"

     "Fault of the founder. His universe got hit with this parasitic infection, and when he broke into the multiverse, it followed. The worst of it is manageable, but another big reason we're together is the fact they're getting stronger. We fear they may be able to infect us some day."

     "Mm. You mentioned a girlfriend? Aren't you-"

     "Get used to it, nearly everyone here likes to get with a different version of their old partner. Turns out, a lot of people just so happen to be part of the same couple in every universe. As far as I'm concerned, if you're two legal, consenting adults, and you've both accepted your grief, I have no qualms. Speaking of consenting adults, up there's the sleeping quarters. If you wanted, you could sell your apartment and live there rent-free. Plus, the rooms are almost totally soundproof from the inside, but you can sometimes hear noise from the outer area. Anyways, for me, it's been almost eleven years, so I've gone through that process and I'm okay to do this whole second chance."

     Alhaitham looked at her quizzically. She took off her mask, a dusty red faceplate with gold accents on the left half, and nonplussedly wiped away some of the parasite that had gotten on it before putting it right back on.

     "How old are you?"

     "Turning twenty-seven next month. You?"

     "I'm twenty-five, you've been doing this since you were sixteen?"

     "Could never tell you what happened the day I turned seventeen," she chuckled, then added, "Yeah, that one never gets old. Oh, if you look that way, there's our food court. Everything's free and restocks when needed. Plus, we have an amazing bartender and chef."

     Although Alhaitham had absolutely no idea what she was talking about, he moved on. They seemed to be approaching a pair of people loudly talking about something ghastly, as the girl seemed shocked. The boy she was talking to was laughing and making exaggerated hand movements, each thing he said seeming to surprise her further and further. 

     As they got closer, Alhaitham could distinctly recognise that the girl was Yanfei. Her suit consisted of an imitation of an actual suit, with a black sleeveless vest and a pink tie. Her strawberry blonde hair was pulled up into a nice bun, and on top of her hat sat a fedora with white horns attached to the sides. The area under the vest from the elbows up was a shade of white, and everything else was black. There were pink diamond shapes on the sides of her waist, her wrists, and her ankles as well. Tied to her thigh with a pink belt was a journal, the colour matching something Hu Tao would wear closer than Yanfei herself.

     Speaking to her was a blond man with long hair that reached just past his shoulders. His suit was nothing short of beautiful, and something about it seemed so painfully familiar. Triangular stripes of black reached up past his elbows and knees, topped with a thick row of crimson. Covering what remained was a creamy grey colour, but that wasn't all. Black diamonds hugged his waist similarly to Yanfei's, but unlike Yanfei, a blue band of cloth mostly covered them. A cyan sash with golden patterns crossed over the blue and attached back to a red cape-like scarf, the back of which was designed with an hourglass on each tail of the scarf. Over the scarf laid a brown hood, of which the outside was decorated with a repeating diamond pattern in pale yellow where the inside was a medium blue with white web designs. A faux choker was printed around the lower part of his neck. His mask was off, showing off his sharp face with soft features. Every part of him was a contradiction so familiar, so painfully similar to...

     Kaveh.

     Alhaitham couldn't stop the tears from welling up in his eyes when he saw him there, living. He was grateful for the mask still covering his face, not because he was scared of his emotions, but because he was scared of Kaveh. More specifically, he was afraid to be no one to him, perhaps even hated. But the rational part of his mind brushed that away. Hu Tao had said that most Spiders had the same relationship in every universe, so this Kaveh had probably also lost an Alhaitham.

     Not caring about his hesitancy, Hu Tao ran forward and called, "Cakes! Yanfei! I come bearing a gift!"

     The pair turned, and Hu Tao immediately hugged Yanfei. Alhaitham shuffled after, attempting to give Kaveh some space and inadvertently standing closer to the pair. 

     "Tao, who's this?" Kaveh asked. He was smiling, but something about him seemed off-put by Alhaitham. Hu Tao placed Yanfei back down, darted over to Alhaitham, and pulled up her mask, revealing her red, flowery eyes.

     "This is..!" she started, cutting herself off before she could finish. "I'm so sorry, I don't think I ever caught your name. And you're free to take your mask off, if you'd like!" 

     ...Somehow, Alhaitham didn't feel like it was an offer. Ignoring that fact, he hooked a thumb under his mask and answered, "Right. I'm called Spider-Man. Didn't pick it." He pulled a sleight-of-hand to quickly wipe his tears before the mask came off properly, and continued, "You may call me Alhaitham, though."

     He looked up at Kaveh and felt his heart sink at what he saw. He was completely right to have his fears. The man he knew in another life had become sickeningly pale within an instant, and pure disgust seemed to be evident in his eyes. There was no salvaging this.

     In this universe, Kaveh hated Alhaitham.

Chapter Text

     Kaveh felt as if he went noticeably pale when he removed his mask, revealing a face he hoped never to see during his time there. Having to deal with a completely different Alhaitham was something he could not do. Or maybe, even worse, they'd be the exact same.

     To add frost to snow, Hu Tao noticed his palloured expression and took it for attraction. As such, she pushed the boys closer together and exclaimed, "Well, Cakes! You were looking for a partner, and now our good friend Alhaitham's here to take that spot! You should go take over the mission in Fei's universe while we handle an incoming hiccup in my own."

     Shockingly, Alhaitham gently explained, "I don't believe that would be a good idea. I'm not sure how things are organised here yet, and I was enjoying the tour."

     "I'll wrap it up another time! Go, have fun with your new partner! Don't quit on us now, buh-bye!"

     Without further argument, Hu Tao opened a crimson doorway back into her universe and dragged Yanfei through, leaving the two boys alone. Kaveh was about to shun the younger man when said man pulled his mask back on and quietly said, "I am aware when I am disliked. If you want to decline me as a partner, I won't stop you."

     Oh, who was this fucking guy to tell him what to do?!

     "No, it's fine. If you want to do this, let's just do this. But I have a strong feeling we were the same thing to each other, and I'm just going to say that isn't happening again, understand? That ship has sailed."

     Alhaitham shrugged, seeming not to care about the whole ordeal under his mask. "Whatever you say, Kaveh. Lead the way."

     "It's Kav. Or any other shortened name."

     "Alright. Again, lead the way."

     As if the shoulders weren't a good enough indicator, this Alhaitham was one pretentious fuck.

     "Here," Kaveh said, grabbing one of the multiversal bands from a hidden stash for situations like this. He passed it to Alhaitham and explained, "It'll help you cross through the multiverse, plus some other things. Said things include sound emitters for the parasites and a crime scanner, once you sync it to your universe. To get to somewhere from Nowhere, you just tap this yellow button and input the universe numbers. I'll open Yanfei's, it's 25114."

     A dusky, melon-coloured door opened in front of them. Kaveh slipped through, tempted to close it while Alhaitham was entering, but ultimately decided not to. The area the door had opened into was a large, empty building. Perhaps it had been a storage area at some point, but now, the only thing it was storing was a mutated victim of the virus.

     "If it just takes a noise to finish them off, why do multiple people need to go on these... missions?" Alhaitham asked. Kaveh really wanted to say his voice was annoying- grating even- but it was smooth and calm. Relaxing. There was something human about it in the way his original Alhaitham's wasn't. Overall, this Alhaitham was just... softer. It was cruel. There was no point in trying to be polite, though. He was still an Alhaitham, and Kaveh wouldn't let his heart break again.

     "It's mutating. What we're dealing with is an almost impossible virus-parasite hybrid, and since it has a natural predator- us- it's rapidly evolving. We thought we got rid of the cause, but as it turns out, it can lay dormant and airborne. Our Evil Scientists are working on a way to wipe it out multiverse-wide, though."

     A long moment of silence passed, and Kaveh was about to comment on it when he turned around. Alhaitham had an ear pressed to the wall and was listening intently. His lips moved as he whispered to himself, occasionally counting on his fingers.

     "The fuck are you doing?" Kaveh asked. Great, he was a cruel Alhaitham copy AND a total weirdo!

     Alhaitham tapped a finger to his lips in a shh motion. In fact, that was the only hand gesture Kaveh understood, as he proceeded to watch as the other moved his hands delicately. Was he trying to say something? Upon seeing his confused face, Alhaitham loudly whispered, "You don't know sign?"

     "Why would I know sign?" he asked, completely ignoring his volume.

     "Be quiet!" Alhaitham urged, gesturing to the wall. "I think it's-"

     The monster they were hunting crashed through the wall at that moment, wall crumbling directly onto Alhaitham. Well, that was two problems solved. He then heard a coughing sound under the rubble, so it was actually only one problem solved. However, the mutation walked forward, bumped into the next wall, and turned.

     "It's blind," Kaveh reasoned, only for it to come charging at him. It was fast, too, the only thing stopping it from body-slamming him being the danger sense.

     "I was trying to tell you that," Alhaitham sputtered. "Fuck, that tasted nasty."

     "I don't need your fuckin-"

     Kaveh was cut off by its charging again, this time getting the upper hand by activating his wristband. Thanks to its sound sensitivity from the blindness, it rippled and burst quicker than usual, only leaving behind the human host.

     "Good job," Alhaitham remarked, standing up from the rubble and dusting himself off.

     "Yeah, thanks, some help you were."

     "Pardon?"

     "I had to do that whole thing myself, and the only thing you did was get buried under a wall. Of course I did a good job, I was the only one doing it."

     The younger man crossed his arms. He was silent for a long while, probably thinking of some way to shift the blame. He was absolutely-

     "I'm sorry."

     "...What?"

     "I'm sorry that I wasn't helpful. I had tried to warn you with sign since the Kaveh of my universe had learned it with me, but I should have remembered that you're different people, so you wouldn't have the same skills. After that, I raised my voice despite knowing the danger, and I didn't react quickly enough when I realised I made a mistake. This was my fault."

     What the fuck.

     The storage center was dreadfully quiet after that, Alhaitham waiting for him to say something and Kaveh absolutely stunned at the declaration. It was a joke, right? Maybe some kind of weird manipulation tactic.

     "Yeah, whatever, just... let them know what happened when they wake up and go home. I'm going back to Nowhere."

     "Alright. I look forward to working with you in the future."

     "I do not," Kaveh muttered as his slipped back into that familiar white space. Diluc was playing some music from his dimension again, this particular album being one of Kaveh's favourites. That was one of the nice things about intermingling between so many universes. Some bands were constant, others were not. One universe could have Weird Al and Rock-Drinking Goblins, another could have both of those as well as Nxdia, and one could have none of those but instead have June Buggy.

     Nothing like a hot bartender to forget your woes, right? Kaveh slipped off the main platform and swung down to the small eatery and bar. The music flooded his ears, but it wasn't loud enough to drown out his voice when he called, "Hey bartender! Fuck me up!"

     Fuck me up was the common call for a Rose Kennedy cocktail after a long-running joke. The drink slid down the counter, lime replaced with an orange, and Diluc followed suit after.

     "Day drinking on a Tuesday?"

     "Don't judge me, I've had a day. My ex finally showed up here."

     "Oh, you're going to need something stronger for that." He pulled out the bottle of Everclear from behind the counter and poured two shots. "Most people would be happy about that. I get you though, I wouldn't be happy either if my brother suddenly showed up."

     "You've said. Keep your shots, I'm honestly not a fan. They don't work with the whole metabolism thing anyways. Think I'll smoke at home instead."

     "I'm not drinking your vodka shots."

     "Oh, right, I forgot you're the only bartender in a billion universes to not drink- those aren't even my shots!”

     Diluc made a face at him. Maybe it was a habit of appeasing customers, but the man was a decent conversation partner. If he weren't aroace, Kaveh might have asked him out, but fate apparently had other plans for his love life.

     "Hey, Diluc! Playing Divide again?" a joking voice suddenly called from behind.

     "When am I not?" Diluc scoffed, retreating back into his bar when Cyno and Tighnari approached. The latter flitted his ears, sending spores scattering across the counter. Both men took Kaveh's shots and quickly downed them before pulling him and his cocktail away, back to their usual place in the cafeteria. Hu Tao and Yanfei were quick to join, and the five were back together at last.

     "KK, how'd the mission with the new guy go?" Yanfei asked politely. Her mask and hat laid on the table in front of her, exposing the natural look of makeup she'd done for her other job.

     "Oh, our dear Kav finally got himself a partner? What's he like? Are you going to stick together? Get it? Because-"

     "We get it," Tighnari groaned, flattening his ears against his head and twitching his tail with irritation.

     "He's just a guy," Kaveh explained. "I doubt we'll be working together much longer."

     "Just a guy- he's a hot guy," Hu Tao quickly corrected, nudging him. "And Cakes was totally into him, too! You should have seen him!"

     "Fei," Kaveh pleaded, looking at the harasser's girlfriend for any assistance. Her teal eyes were indifferent, and she instead opted to poke and prod at the seams of her hat.

     "Don't ask me for help," she teased. "No matter how much I like women, I can appreciate a good-looking man, and if he was a girl I would have broken up with Hu Tao on the spot."

     "You're cruel!" Hu Tao exclaimed, turning her full attention back to Yanfei. "You love me too much."

     "He's insufferable and incapable!" Kaveh exclaimed, keeping his voice low. Other people did not need to know that their leader was being harassed over a crush he didn't have.

     "What, did he get you into a sticky situation?"

     "Stop," Tighnari interjected.

     "Yes, actually. He just let the monster incapacitate him, and I had to do the hard part of breaking it down!" Kaveh cried, tapping the table in light frustration as he remembered the events.

     "Seriously? He didn't even mention it to you?" Yanfei asked, incredulous.

     "...Well, he apologised."

     "Kav."

     Kaveh glanced up, only to be hit with that awful disapproving mother look that Yanfei was ever-so-good at.

     "It's whatever," he said, turning his attention to Hu Tao. "You brought him, right? Learn anything?"

     "Oh! He got framed for murdering his canon events! He has three, if you can believe it: a love interest, a mentor, and a police captain. And yeah, that's another thing! He should have appeared here from the start; his event was four years ago."

     "How's that possible?" Tighnari asked, finally curious and invested in the conversation.

     "Dunno, he wasn't lying though. The police shot at me, and I think they hit him." She turned back to Kaveh and smirked at him. Then, in a sarcastic sing-song tone, she called, "Still incapable? I could have gotten wounded if not for him."

     "You don't know him yet, trust me," Kaveh muttered, standing up from the table. "I'm going back to my universe, see you guys tomorrow."

     He opened the deep blue door back to his universe, only to hear Hu Tao excitedly say, "We should bring the new guy here tomorrow so we can share our stories! I'd love to hear his as well, and hey, maybe Kaveh will finally give us something other than 'it's personal.'"

     His back bristled at the comment, and he was glad to be swiftly back in his apartment. His roommate was sitting on the couch crocheting, Mehrak nowhere in sight. She was playing fireplace ambiance, and the lights were turned down just low enough so she could see her work.

     "Welcome back," she greeted, then looked up from a stitch. She must have immediately clocked that something was wrong, because her smile faded and she asked, "What's wrong? Want me to put on a movie? If you want, we can do leftover Chinese tonight. Or I can cook something."

     "Not hungry," Kaveh grumbled, ambling over to Furina without taking any of his hero gear off. Even his thin shoes stayed on, and he flopped down beside her on the couch, his head finding her shoulder rather comfortable.

     "I get you had a rough day, but Christ you're heavy. Off with you."

     "Oh no, gravity's increasing on me."

     "Kav! Come on! Don't quote at me."

     "I'm not, the same thing happened yesterday."

     "It happens every day because you do this... Kav?" Furina suddenly placed her yarn down and moved his head slightly. "You're crying."

     It was true. Kaveh could feel the tug in his throat and the tears in his eyes. Furina must have felt the dampness from a tear gone rogue. He knew he couldn't speak, so he tapped into their communication system instead to say, "It happened."

     "Well, shit," she muttered, running a hand through his hair and reaching for the remote. She removed her hand only to pull a thin blanket down on top of him, simultaneously pulling something up on the TV. "Since you can't seem to stop quoting it, we'll watch the movie. You want popcorn?"

     "I wanna die."

     "With butter or with candy?"

     "...Candy, please."

     "M'kay. You coming to the kitchen with me, or you staying here?"

     "I'm gonna bitch."

     "Let's go, then," she announced, hoisting him up with her. He kept the blanket wrapped around him, moving out of it only to help her get the popcorn ready. As it popped, she asked, "So? What's he like?"

     "He's... hang on. He's the complete opposite. There's nothing familiar in him at all, he's like an empty husk of someone I used to know. They hardly even look the same, their faces and skin tones are completely different. And everyone's complimenting him and saying all these nice things about him, but I know the real him. He's just acting, and his true nature is hiding. When they see who he really is, though, they'll hate him. It's what he deserves."

     "Mm. He recognised you?"

     "Of course he recognised me, what are you-"

     "What do you think his Kaveh was like?" she cut in, deep blue eyes staring him down. He had no answer for her even as the popcorn finished, even as she added all kinds of sweets onto it, even as they walked back to the living room and watched the movie. He replayed the question over and over again in his mind, careful to not direct it back towards her.

     "...He was kind," he finally said during a lull in the movie. "And he wasn't damaged. He was the best version of myself."

     "How can you believe another version of yourself, the one you think is better than every other Kaveh, ended up with another trashy version of him?" she questioned, scooping up another handful of popcorn. "It doesn't make sense. If you honestly don't trust him, I trust you, but give him a chance."

     "And what if I get close to him just to see him ripped away again? I'd rather stay bitter than open my heart and see it ripped to shreds like I'm in a toxic loop."

     Furina exhaled a long sigh, but only dissented, "I can't force you into or out of anything. Even so, I know that I'd rather have lived and loved over having loved and longed."

     "...Do you think he's worried about the same thing as I am?"

     "Depends, did you say any confirmation to him one way or the other?"

     Sheepishly, Kaveh raised a hand to rub his wrist against his neck. Furina immediately knew he was anxious about something and nudged him gently to coax him into answering her.

     "I told him not to try and get into a relationship with me..?"

     "Kaveh, what the fuck."

Chapter Text

     "Welcome to Hu Tao's Private In-Depth Tour of Nowhere! Our stops today include immersive looks inside our living quarters, recreation hall, eatery, and laboratory! Those are our main facets, anyways, so feel free to explore afterwards as well."

     The older girl had exchanged the tank top of her suit for a classic tour guide shirt, also in red. She'd tied her hair back into a high ponytail, only leaving her bangs in their usual position. Her mask was also attached to her belt, so her excited face was on full display. She even had her gloves tucked away, but those weird metal braces were still around her wrists. One of the components was the same as the transporter bands, but the rest looked like a compartment to eject something. It seemed every Spider but him had them. In contrast, he was sure he looked as bitchy as usual, possibly even more so with his bangs tucked behind a hairband. He just got out of a fight and came straight to Nowhere, so he still had his full hero suit on.

     "So, Haitham, what are you most looking forward to on this tour?" she asked, guiding him towards the living quarters with hyper feet. She held out her hand to him as if she were a reporter holding a microphone instead of a tour guide.

     "First of all, it's just Alhaitham, please. Both Haitham and Hayi are nicknames that my boyfriend and his mom would use, so I don't really do shortened names. Second of all, I suppose I'm looking forward to meeting some of the other people here. How many are there?"

     "Oh, yeah, of course! Everyone's got their name preferences, even Cakes. Most of the other Spiders- maybe about seventy?- are out at any given time, either because of jobs or family reasons. Everyone still gets a room, though, and it's tailored to their desires! Wonder what'll be in yours."

     Alhaitham managed to keep up with her surprising speed. She was like a rabbit in the excited way she was moving, never taking a moment to look back or rest. A question rose to his mind, and he asked with pure curiosity, "Why do you call him Cakes? I get the nickname thing... kind of. But how does that shorten?"

     "Some people call him Kav or K, but Yanfei calls him KK. There are two Ks. Therefore, Cakes. If he didn't have a gender preference, he'd be pan Cakes." For the only time in the walk to the living quarters, she turned back, smirked, and continued hurrying along.

     "You like puns?"

     "For the most part. Cyno likes them more, though. I think Nari hates them, but he's the one who chose to fall in love with a near-duplicate of his dead boyfriend. Anyways, this is it! Our residential living space!" Hu Tao exclaimed, gesturing to an elevator, a stairwell, and two rooms. She then explained, "First floor's reserved for anyone with a... more physically restrictive disability. After than, floors go up based on the time you got here, so you should be on the top floor and have the biggest room number. Wanna check it out?"

     "Sure." He slipped past her and into the elevator, taking note that the floors happened to skip the fourth and the thirteenth. Someone was superstitious. He pressed the number for the highest floor, the nineteenth, as Hu Tao entered after him. 

     The elevator took them up, and Alhaitham was greeted to a square of four doors. One was empty, but the other three were each uniquely decorated. The two on the left were red and ice blue. The former had flaming music notes covering it, whereas the latter had subtle snowflake patterns crossing it. There was also the white half of a yin and yang circle on it. On the right side, a door decorated with a green diamond and painted to look like a bookshelf sat quietly, invitingly. Oddly enough, the door was almost exactly the same as an old tattoo sketch Kaveh had done for fun once. Maybe that was why it was his door, then.

     "Would you like to check it out with me?" Alhaitham politely offered. Hu Tao nodded enthusiastically and bounded over to his door before he could even take a step towards it. When she opened the door, the smell of old books and fresh vanilla stormed out like a warm blanket. It settled on him like the feeling of being home.

     "There's so many books," Hu Tao admired, and Alhaitham saw what she meant. There were bookshelves everywhere, and where there was space, there were little handmade trinkets. Some were hideous, bought at markets to annoy a certain roommate, and some were handcrafted by said roommate. There was a small kitchen with a large oven off to the side, a drafting table in a corner, a window gazing across the rest of Nowhere with a divan in front of it, and two more doors that led to a bedroom and a bathroom.

     "It makes sense, honestly. Reading's always been one of my favourite things," he mentioned quietly, picking up one of the handmade trinkets. It was a little clay calico cat. Kaveh called it Cookie Butter and said he'd have one just like her someday.

     ...He never got to have Cookie Butter.

     "What I find confusing is how some of this stuff clearly isn't yours," Hu Tao called from the bathroom. She emerged holding two bottles, one containing the nice scentless shampoo he tended to use and the other with Kaveh's honey and lemon scented shampoo inside. "I mean, I don't think you use the scented shampoo. Not to mention, there's two of a lot of things. Two towel hooks, two toothbrushes, two coasters on the table, two- oh. Oh, shit, I am so sorry."

     "Don't be, it's reasonable," he softly laughed. Hu Tao quickly put the shampoos back.

     "It's funny, when I first saw him interact with you, I could have sworn that you and Cakes were soul-linked,” she called from the bathroom. When she returned, she continued, “That's what we call two people who were each other's canon events and are now together. But seeing that drafting table, I think that's a completely invalid theory. After all, he's a photographer."

     "Ah, I see," Alhaitham said, smiling to himself. His own Kaveh wanted to be a photographer originally, but he apparently had a hard time holding cameras steady. Hu Tao didn't need to know that, though. He put Cookie Butter back down in her place, gestured towards the door, and asked, "Ready for the next stop?"

     "As always! I'm taking you down to the recreation hall next. After that, I'll introduce you to our communal chef and bartender, and then we can go meet the Evil Scientists."

     "Who are the Evil Scientists? Why are they even called that?" Alhaitham questioned as they entered the elevator and slowly descended back to the first floor.

     "They're a group of five Spiders who each have a pretty significant role in Nowhere. They don't do much combat, though. As for why they're called that, ask them. No one else has really bothered, we only know it started as an in-joke among them and slowly spread."

     The pair stepped out of the elevator, and under Hu Tao's lead, swung via web to the Rec Centre. It was a long hall with one of those airport conveyors, and a gap appeared wherever there was a new room.

     "Up first," Hu Tao began explaining, "there's the cooking room. If you wanted to, you could just eat Diluc's food, but he doesn't like sharing the space if you want to make something yourself. We have the pool next, and sometimes there are polo, volleyball, or diving events. I'm actually not allowed to do diving events anymore ever since... aha, let's move on. We have some different courts for sports. Basketball, badminton and volleyball, tennis, table tennis, you name it. Oh, here's the arts room... and then there's the ice rink."

     "There's an awful lot of activities, not to mention the apartments. Are you trying to slack off?" Alhaitham teased, but they both knew there was a secret truth behind his words.

     "I'd say yes- trampoline park, by the way- but the crime features on our transporters stop that. If the cops can't handle it, or lives will be lost if we don't interfere, then they'll go off and we'll be back home quickly. We also get the first alert when there’s a Venom in our universe, and we can choose to accept or decline it. After that, everyone gets alerted, and it’s free game. However, not all of us have nice universes. Ask Yanfei and Cyno specifically. I don't even think some of us have a place to sleep apart from here... it's hard to keep a job when you're constantly leaving. Oh, hey, there's the self-care area."

     Although he hadn't meant to, he put a serious dampening on the tour. Hu Tao's eyes dimmed, and her introductions of each room became more forlorn. At least, until she saw a sparring room. She excitedly pulled Alhaitham into it, her light returning immediately when she saw three people inside.

     "Xingqiu! Xinyan! Chongyun!"

     There was a boy reading off to the side while a dark-skinned girl and another boy sparred with each other. Upon hearing Hu Tao's voice, they all looked over and waved politely. The girl greeted, "Heya, Tao! Who's the new guy?"

     "He's you and Yun's new floormate!" Hu Tao eagerly responded. She quickly turned to Alhaitham after that and excitedly introduced, "These are some of the friends I made here. The girl is Xinyan, the one reading the book is Xingqiu, and the boy with Xinyan is Chongyun. Twenty-three and two twenty-twos, respectively. They're also the newest Spiders."

     "Nice to meet you," Alhaitham greeted, face staying mostly flat. Maybe he should have smiled, though. They each looked... slightly off-put by him. Whatever, it was usual. It was as if people just knew he was different his whole life, so it was absolutely nothing new. The only person who'd ever really treated him normally was...

     You could see him again.

     Alhaitham stifled a groan. Hu Tao glanced at him while she was talking but otherwise showed no sign of seeing something was wrong. Since his first mission with Kaveh, there'd been an annoying voice trying to tempt him into something, he wasn't sure what, and he didn't think it knew either. There was also the issue of coughing up something similar to the substance he'd seen on the monster, only in a deep red colour. The only things stopping him from considering it was blood was that it was too thick and not metallic enough.

     "Well," Xinyan said, cutting through his concerned thoughts, "it was lovely meeting you. I'll see you 'round, partner. And treat Tao right, he's the best tour guide a Spider could ask for!"

     Alhaitham paused for a second while what Xinyan had said caught up to him. Then, turning to Hu Tao, he asked, "I never asked for your pronouns, did I?"

     "Oh my gosh, it's totally no problem. They're he/him today, but they/them is usually a safe bet. And don't worry, they were she/her when we first met."

     He was about to ask another question when he remembered the shirt Hu Tao had been wearing when they met. Genderfluid. With the question in his mind answered, he bid farewell to the younger Spiders and left the Rec Centre with Hu Tao.

     "It's great, right?" Hu Tao said, fixing his ponytail as they left. "There're so many things to do, but we may never get to do all of them. Not with the people we care about, anyways. Each of our lives are so busy..."

     "Mm, yeah, I get that... it's funny, you can think you have all the time in the world with someone, only to have them die before your eyes."

     Hu Tao hummed. When Alhaitham turned to look at him, he was giving a concerned look to the younger man.

     "What's your story, morning- hey, actually, you should meet the rest of our crew! We're heading down to the eatery anyways, so we might as well get drinks and get you acquainted with our main group. Especially since you're Cakes's new partner. Come on!"

     Alhaitham felt his stomach lurch when his guide suddenly jumped off the side of the walkway, a grin on his face. However, he remembered that they were all skilled in navigating tall buildings, and that fear dwindled back down into a nagging unease. Still, it seemed like there weren't any stairs anywhere, so he followed the jump off the side. On the ground level of Nowhere was a medium-scale cafeteria, each of the seats being booths. At the front of it, a counter was split into a bar and a café, with the latter leading into a kitchen in the back. A man with red hair in a high ponytail was cleaning a glass, and once Alhaitham got a bit closer, he could see the other man had light freckles. The guy was probably Diluc, the cook Hu Tao had mentioned earlier. He'd been a student in Alhaitham's college, although he strangely looked like the former police captain. Not to mention, his last name was also... Alhaitham decided not to introduce himself to the man, instead following Hu Tao to a booth where Kaveh was excitedly talking to other versions of Yanfei, Cyno, and Tighnari (who, apparently, had fox ears in his universe?). The latter two were still distant from Alhaitham in his own universe, but they did play card games occasionally. When Kaveh saw his approach, however, his face became a strange mix of surprise, disgust, anger, and hurt.

     "Hey, Tao! How's the tour going?" Yanfei greeted, then turned to Cyno and Tighnari. "Guys, this is Alhaitham, KK's new partner."

     “Nice to meet you,” Tighnari pleasantly greeted. The torso portion of his suit was a light grey-green, while his arms and legs were a near-black shade of the same colour. He wore all-black sneakers and fern green cargo pants that cinched at the ends. The dark green hoodie he wore over his suit was cropped under his ribcage and at his elbows. His green and black hair was tied back into a ponytail, however the pieces in the front had long since slipped out. He seemed to keep his transporter on his left hand, where Alhaitham further noticed his suit left his fingers exposed. On the back of his hand was yet another spiderweb design. Beside him sat Cyno, who was keeping his mask near the top left of his head. He was wearing an indigo headscarf, allowing his white box braids to fall through an opening in the back. His undersuit was a deep brown colour. The left side of his mask had an Eye of Ra, and the forehead had an orange Ankh. He wore a dark purple shirt and a pair of dusty Byzantium purple harem pants, the latter of which had even more spiderwebs. Seriously, what was up with all the spiderwebs? Did some creator just get tired of coming up with original designs? Just because they had spider powers didn’t mean- whatever. Alhaitham nodded politely in response, then turned his attention back to Hu Tao.

     "It's going great! Hey, you guys mind if we sit with you? I was about to ask for Alhaitham's story, but I figured it'd be fun if we went over ours in a more cohesive format. We've only ever done bits and pieces, right? It'll be especially fun since a certain blond hasn't spoken much about his own story," Hu Tao suggested, already squeezing into the booth beside Yanfei. She was sitting next to Kaveh, and on the other side sat Cyno and Tighnari. Deciding it was probably a good idea to not have four people on one bench, he took the seat beside Tighnari. Kaveh glowered at him anyways, only fixing his face when someone finally glanced his way.

     Everyone agreed to the idea- everyone except Kaveh, of course- and they would go counterclockwise around the table with their stories, therefore starting with Yanfei and proceeding to Hu Tao, Cyno, Tighnari, Alhaitham, and finally Kaveh.

     "Gosh, I'm not sure how to start this... alright. Hi guys, I'm Yanfei Li, I'm twenty-eight years old, my pronouns are she/they, and for the past... geez, the past ten years I have been my universe's Eighth Law. I'm from New Amsterdam- the old name for New York, I've learned- in a world where laws mean nothing and have never meant anything. Seeking refuge from discrimination, my Chinese father and Irish mother fled to the colony, one of the very few places that attempted to uphold and enforce rules. When I was young, I decided I would study the seven laws of our community and become a lawyer to uphold them. We didn't have things like law school, but we had lawyers, judges, and juries. If you knew the laws thoroughly enough, you could be a lawyer. Don't get me wrong, though, there was no guarantee you'd get a lawyer in several cases. It was far from a perfect system. Anyways, after I turned eighteen, I was bitten by a radioactive spider and got my powers. When the law couldn't uphold itself, I'd do it behind the scenes... not very legally, I'll admit, but there were cases where the guilty could just go free. It was disgusting. That's how I got the name Eighth Law: when the other seven laws failed, the eighth would follow through. Even so, I made a miscalculation. A criminal I was prosecuting in court for murder went free, and as revenge, he killed my girlfriend and my mother, the one who arrested him." Yanfei glanced over at Hu Tao, sighed, and continued, "That was the only time I ever broke my 'an eye for an eye and the world goes blind' mentality. But hey, I came here pretty early on, met the ever-lovely Hu Tao, and life's been better since! I've got all of you by my side, and apart from the whole Venom thing, it's peaceful."

     Hu Tao rubbed his girlfriend's back comfortingly and smiled at the rest of them. Following a beat of silence, he said, "Well... I think I forgot how tough this would be for some of us."

     Kaveh seemed elated at that statement, nearly jumping out of the booth, and declared, "Yeah, so how about we all leave and-"

     "Get back here, blondie, you're not getting out that easily," Yanfei scolded teasingly, pulling him back down. He pouted and scowled at Alhaitham, to which the latter only shrugged and turned his attention to Hu Tao for his story. Not his fault that Kaveh simply did not like him.

     "Alright; y'know, I think I can beat that one! Hello everyone, my name is Hu Tao- unlike Yanfei, my surname comes first- I'm twenty-seven, genderfluid, pronouns are he/him today, and for the past eleven years I've been Spider-Lily, my universe's own spider-themed vigilante. I'm a second-generation Chinese immigrant, and my parents always said I was just going to follow my family's funeral business my entire life. However, when I was seven, my parents were... they were killed. The business became mine when I turned eighteen, but until then, an employee of theirs ran it and took care of me. He had a son of his own from a previous marriage, and to my little self's shock, a husband. I thought it was weird at first, two men being together, but now look where we are. Now, this next part needs context for Alhaitham specifically: not many people are allowed in my dimension because of a disease. It's existed for centuries and has killed hundreds of thousands. It's called hanahaki. Basically, if you're not saying something that you think needs to be said, those repressed words take root in your lungs and give bloom to a plant. The more you fight it, the quicker it kills. Therefore, if you feel guilty about hiding anything at all, you can't enter my dimension. The only way to get rid of it is to spit out your feelings, and trust me, the feeling of spitting out an entire plant that was growing inside you is uncomfortable. If it kills you, your body gives way to whatever plant was growing inside you, creating a human-sized field of it."

     "Question, sorry," Cyno interjected. "What about cactuses?"

     Hu Tao sucked in a breath through his teeth and groaned. "Yeah, cacti are possible. Sucks too, even if you spit out your feelings, the spikes will rip up your lungs and you'll die anyways. What's worse, though, is the suicide plant. Roses kind of suck too, which leads me back into my story: I was watching a spider die when I was sixteen- don't ask- and when it finally stopped moving, a single rose bloomed in its spot. I thought it was amazing, so I picked it to give to my best friend, but a thorn cut my thumb. Unfortunately... turned out the flower still had the spider DNA in it. On the plus side, though, I can produce sedative gas now!" He quickly provided a demonstration on his hand. Red smoke curled out of his skin and around them, but there wasn't quite enough to knock anyone out.

     "That's cool," Alhaitham noted.

     "Isn't it? Anyways, my best friend ended up having romantic feelings for me that she was hiding, and... well. I got my second chance, though! ...And then my dad's husband died from an attack designed to hurt me. So yeah, that happened."

     "Hey, plant-spider gang, though," Tighnari suggested, chuckling.

     Genuinely curious, based on the way he angled his body towards the other man, Kaveh questioned, "What's that meant to mean?"

     "You'll find out after Cyno's story. Speaking of which, no jokes."

     "Fine, fine," Cyno conceded. "You realise my hero name is a joke, though, right?"

     "That doesn't count," Tighnari argued, suddenly thumping a previously hidden fox tail against the seat in annoyance.

     "Okay, okay. Hello new guy, my name is Cyno Ashour, also known as Sandstorm. I'm twenty-six, my pronouns are he/him, and this is the story of how my heart stopped and I died six years ago."

     "What?" the table collectively blurted, nearly everyone shocked at that opening sentence. Cyno only chuckled in response as questions flooded his way, the only quiet one being Alhaitham. If he had a question, someone else would probably ask it. Kaveh was also quiet as he continued to glare at him.

     "Okay, I hear your questions, and I bring answers. And yes, sorry for not mentioning it sooner. As most of you know, my universe was destroyed by heatwaves and nearly became a global desert. That's the Sand part of my name. We have just enough water to be able to farm things, and most of our power is solar. I was guarding our water and power one night when we got raided. I went to pull the raid alarm, but since it hadn't been used in ages, the box it was in was covered in spiders. And, of course, as I was trying to pull the alarm, they all bit me several times. Once the alarm was up and I was running to go protect the main water storage, I realised the spiders were poisonous. How, you ask? Great question, you tend to know when you're actively dying. Anyways, I got to the storage, and I put up a good fight against the raiders. Only one capsule of water spilled, I was able to fight them off, and only one of the machines was damaged. Still poisoned, I fainted, and my heart stopped. I was dead. At least, that's the only way I can explain why I woke up when the damaged machine fell into the water puddle and shocked me. There's the Storm part. I got cool scars out of it, and I can even do this," Cyno explained, then zapped Tighnari with a little spark of electricity created between his fingers. The other yelped and swatted at his partner, but both were clearly amused by it.

     "Okay, lovebirds, continue," Kaveh teased, a smile finally crossing his face. There was something about the way he smiled when he was being genuine, like the sun shining through the clouds after a storm. He was gentle, but sassy. Not the way his Kaveh was, but in a way that showed he had been through a lot. But when he caught Alhaitham staring at him, he glared again and ignored him, the smile disappearing as quickly as a sudden downpour.

     "Right, of course. Raiders came back a while later and killed Nari, as well as Kaveh's dad." Cyno looked at Kaveh and grimaced. "Sorry."

     "Not like he was my dad," Kaveh said, shrugging. "Nari, you're next."

     "Yeah, okay. My name's Tighnari Amanar, in my universe I'm called Zombie Spider-"

     "Spider-Fox," Cyno corrected.

     "No. Seriously, I'm trying to move past that name. That's like calling Yanfei Spider-Lesbian or Alhaitham Spider-Man."

     "I'd love to be called Spider-Lesbian," Yanfei jumped in, smiling.

     "Yeah. Also, my name is Spider-Man."

     Tighnari looked at him, stunned, and quickly reasoned, "Yeah, but you didn't pick that, right?"

     "No. I just don't care enough to get anyone to change it."

     "Can we move on?" Kaveh impatiently asked. Alhaitham was tempted to rip the band-aid off and ask what his fucking problem was, but it wouldn't solve anything. Instead, he gestured for Tighnari to continue his story.

     "The name I prefer being called is Zombie Spider. I use any pronouns, and I'm also twenty-six. I've been doing the spider thing for nine years now. As you can see, I come from a universe where everyone is some kind of animal hybrid. Foxes, fennecs included, tend to face discrimination because of our trickster reputation in mythology. I won't get into it, but I was bullied a lot as a kid, both for the fox thing and for being kind of nerdy and feminine. Kids suck. Anyways, an... event happened, and I was just laying on the ground afterwards. Didn't really feel like moving. I saw a spider, though, and it had this weird white stuff covering it. Found out later that it was a fungus, but I wanted to take it outside, and it ended up biting me. Now, I'm doing the whole hero thing, trying to stop people from unnecessarily murdering over what species someone looks like. Cyno, my best friend- thank the gods I hadn't had any feelings for him at the time, my species is strictly monogamous- was a victim of another crime. He was part jackal, which had its own set of issues. I also lost my dad closer to my powers first emerging. It hit Mom pretty hard. After all, monogamous. So yeah, that's that."

     "Nari also has spores in his hair," Cyno explained. "Resulted from the fungus getting in his system from the bite."

     "Shit, I forgot that part. Thanks."

     "I'm sorry," Kaveh mumbled, fidgeting with his hands on the table. "I sort of know what you went through. Someone close to me experienced something similar. I've gotta ask, though, Cyno was one of your canon events, right? Even if you're monogamous, it's still the same person."

     "What? No, of course not. They're two entirely different people."

     Kaveh glanced from him to Alhaitham, then closed his eyes and sighed. "Well, I'm going to go get drinks for the table. What are your orders?"

     "I want sweet tea!" Hu Tao brightly exclaimed, even raising his hand like a kindergartener. "The kind Diluc makes is the best."

     "Horchata for me, please," Cyno politely ordered.

     "Uh, lemonade, but KK, don't you wanna stay for Alhaitham's story?" Yanfei questioned, glancing between the two with confusion.

     "I'll pass. Tighnari?"

     "Green tea, please and thank you."

     "Got it." Kaveh began walking away, only for his hand to be grabbed by Yanfei. She tilted her head towards Alhaitham, who received yet another scowl. Even so, the rest of his group was watching, so he asked, "What do you want?"

     You should get a really complicated coffee order.

     Alhaitham mentally told the voice to shut up, despite how tempting it was. Their relationship really didn't need to get any worse. "Chai, if they serve it. If not, I'll take anything non-alcoholic." Turning back to the table, he quickly explained, "I don't drink."

     "'Kay, tell your story," Kaveh dismissed, walking away.

     "Alhaitham, I am so sorry. He usually isn't like this, I swear I don't know what his problem is," Yanfei offered once he was out of earshot.

     "It's fine, you didn't do anything. We had a bit of an issue on our mission together, that's all. Anyways, let's start this from the beginning one last time. My name is Alhaitham I'm twenty-five, I use he/him, and for the past four and a half years, I thought I was the one, and only, Spider-Man."

     "Well, clearly you aren't. Also, you're twenty-five? You're the youngest of all of us."

     "Shh, I wanna hear the story!"

     "Ahem," he pardoned, quieting the table as politely as he could. "The story's going to focus more on my boyfriend, so bear with me. We met in high school and became friends when he asked me to tutor him. It turned out he never needed it; he was a genius. We grew up together, went to the same college, but he had issues with alcoholism. He finally decided to quit for my twentieth birthday, and later that year, I was doing experiments on a spider he asked me to take care of when it bit me. Surprise, I get home, and my body decides to screw me over. Then my boss's company shuts down. He takes the project we were working on, puts an implant in his neck before it's ready. That chip caused him to go insane. He killed a police captain who was helping me solve a case, he shot me, and he kidnapped my boyfriend just because he wanted a fight. He got his fight. Took my boyfriend up on this unfinished building, and he ended up... falling off." Alhaitham buried his head into one of his hands, trying to stop his voice from choking up.

     "Hey, you don't have to continue if you don't want to," Hu Tao offered, his eyes glistening slightly. Actually, the whole table was uncomfortably giving him that pitying look.

     "It's fine. I just haven't really been able to talk about this to anyone, so... anyways. I couldn't save him, and in a fit of rage, I killed my former boss. All three deaths ended up getting blamed on me, and I believed it for a while. His mom referred me to his stepdad, now his stepmom, for a job, and she hired me. That's actually how I got here: my department was trying to attempt multiversal travel. But yeah, he made me promise to stay away from alcohol, so I never touched it. I'm like an alcohol virgin."

     "Yeah, but are you an actual virgin?"

     "Why the hell would you ask that? Anyways, I'm impressed. You managed to go that entire story without saying your boyfriend's name at all."

     "Almost slipped up once, actually. But I'd like to forge my own path, not get stuck to another version of him, you know?" he half-lied, and in his opinion, convincingly.

     "What are you guys talking about now?" The sixth member of their table walked over, drinks in hand. "Tighnari, your tea. Cyno, you got horchata. Tao, you also got tea, and Yanfei, you got lemonade. Haitham, they were out of chai tea, so I got you hard seltzer."

     "First of all, don't shorten my name like that. Second of all, it's just chai. And third of all, I told you I don't drink."

     "Oh, darn, my bad. Guess you'll have to go get your own drink." Kaveh made a fake sad face, then opened the can of seltzer. Alhaitham frowned and closed his eyes in an attempt to regulate himself, and thankfully, it worked temporarily.

     "K, no need to be so mean to him. I'm sure he was chai-ing for his tea," Cyno joked, even including finger guns.

     "No, please, we went so long. I beg of you," Tighnari pleaded, his ears flattening against his head, which then slammed down onto the table.

     "It's fine, my thirst for jokes has been quenched now."

     "Cyno, you really don't chai away from a pun, huh?" Hu Tao retorted, a smile playing at his lips.

     "Thanks, I chai."

     "Please, to every god of every universe, stop the puns," Tighnari groaned, covering his ears. "That was basically the same joke three times. At least be original."

     "You say that, Nari, but I'm sure you missed them."

     He stayed quiet for a second before responding, "Yeah. I do." The table was silent after that, each sipping their drinks. Alhaitham opened his eyes and stared away into the distance, deep in thought, until Tighnari piped up, "Hey Kav, it's your turn to tell your story. You're the only one with secrets yet."

     "Really? You guys wanna know that badly?" He sighed and took a long swig of his seltzer. After he swallowed, he looked everyone at the table in the eye. "Are you paying attention? If you are not listening carefully, you will miss things. Important things. I will not pause, I will not repeat myself, and you will not interrupt me. Understood?"

     Alhaitham huffed, still not facing him, and muttered, "Yes sir, Alan Turing." He felt the glare, but he did not acknowledge it.

     "Fine. You asked for it, then. You all know my name, I recently got the hero name changed to Black Widow, I'm turning twenty-seven next month, I use he/him but don't really mind they/them. My world got attacked by an extraterrestrial parasitic hive mind. I watched my current roommate get possessed and try to kill me, a week later I witnessed my boss kill himself while also possessed, and that same day I watched my asshole boyfriend die even after I gave him the cure. I started smoking, ended up founding Nowhere, and now we're here. Questions?"

     "...I think that was even worse than Alhaitham's," Hu Tao mentioned, almost horrified but trying to keep his face straight.

     Kaveh cast a glance towards Alhaitham, who was doing his best to keep his face plain. The words rang in his ear, threatening to silence everything else out. Asshole boyfriend. Coupled with his treatment towards him, the resentment, the attitude... what exactly had the other Alhaitham done to him?

     "You gave that whole speech at the beginning, just for that..." Tighnari noted, taking a long sip of his tea. "Out of us six, I rank Cyno's story the highest."

     "What?! No fair, he's your boyfriend!" Hu Tao complained petulantly.

     "Actually, Cyno's was pretty awesome," Yanfei argued. "I mean, how often do you hear someone surviving an extreme voltage and coming out of it with powers?"

     "Shocking, I know," Cyno joked, grinning. "Though my vote's on Hu Tao's. Literal demon flower."

     "Fine, Cyno's was pretty cool. Sorry, Fei, but I think based on origins alone yours wasn't great. Still love you to pieces!"

     "I'm over it. We can't all have flashy powers. Right, Alhaitham?"

     "I'm leaving," Alhaitham announced, turning away from the table. He couldn't stay. Staying meant having to explain to Kaveh why he started crying.

     "Wait, what?!" Hu Tao exclaimed, jolting upright. "We haven't finished the tour, though! I still need to take you to the lab!"

     "It's right over there," Alhaitham noted, gesturing to the hallway sign that literally said Lab. "Keep talking. We'll catch up later."

     He left immediately after, swinging away just as the first tears slipped. He felt bitter and angry, one of the first times he had felt so in a while. Between Kaveh treating him like garbage and finding out it was because of something another version of himself did, he was absolutely livid. At least Hu Tao wasn't with him, so he could more freely ask the scientists about what was going on with the voice in his head.

     He managed to find the lab pretty easily beyond the sign and entered. Green lights flashed around the room, and the ring of a bell sounded as he both opened and closed the door. Weird, but there'd been weirder.

     A girl with light orange hair in a messy bun and wearing a pristine lab coat entered soon after, smiling at Alhaitham and gesturing for him to wait a moment. She walked over to a desk off to the side, picked up a tablet, and quickly typed something on it. Soon after, a robotic voice spoke, "Hi, welcome to the lab. What do you need help with?"

     Assuming she just didn't like speaking, Alhaitham opened his mouth to speak, but she tapped her ear and gestured for him to take the tablet. Deaf. 

     'Do you know sign?' he signed, hands moving with years of experience. 

     Her face lit up, and she nearly threw the tablet to the side. She gave a quick nod before signing, 'I'm deaf. Lost my hearing in an accident. I can read lips and kind of speak, but I don't like to. Excited to meet another deaf person!'

     'Sorry, not deaf. I learned to talk to my grandmother, and I kept practicing after she died.'

     The girl's shoulders sagged before she shrugged, her hands moving to fingerspell, 'Yoimiya.' She showed what he assumed was her namesign after that, a Y sign that exploded like a firework, then gestured to him and cocked her head.

     'My name's Alhaitham,' he signed, then showed the namesign he'd been given: book, which then opened into the sign for a bird on a wire. Weirdly enough, there was actually a sign for specifically that.

     'I like your name. Why are you here?'

     'Voices in my head after swallowing some liquid from a Venom monster,' he explained. 'Coughing up liquid too, not black though. Red.'

     'Red?' she repeated, turning back to the desk and shuffling through the papers, then turned back and asked, 'Was the monster you swallowed mutated? Mutations vary between people, so even if it wasn't red, it could have mixed differently with you.'

     'Yes. Blind mutation.'

     Yoimiya sighed and looked at Alhaitham helplessly. 'Collei and Albedo, our consultants for this, are both out right now. I'm not good with this line of work. Come back another time, okay? Or just stay and talk. You'd be surprised that not many other people have learned sign.'

     'I will. Are you, by any chance, looking for a combat partner?'

     'Oh, no, you wouldn't want me. I'm... nevermind, you can sign, so me being deaf won't be as much of a problem. Sorry, I'm used to using that as an excuse. Didn’t they already give you a partner?'

     'Yes, but he's my dead ex. Kaveh.'

     'Kaveh?' she repeated, combining the sign for lonely (although with the context, it more likely meant loner) with the letter K. They both chuckled at the sign together, and she proceeded to ask, 'How could you date him? His smiles are so... fake.'

     'He wasn't like that where I'm from. He was-'

     His hands froze as the bell to the lab door rang. Kaveh came in, brows furrowed and avoiding eye contact. Alhaitham turned to Yoimiya for support, but she slipped back through a door, giving him a pair of thumbs up before disappearing.

     "What was that?" Kaveh squawked, causing Alhaitham to wince slightly. He made eye contact for a moment, only to turn to the side and cross his arms.

     "I found a new combat partner," Alhaitham explained. Kaveh whirled on him in shock, lips parted and eyes wide.

     "The fuck you mean you found a new partner? I'm your partner!"

     "You've made it rather evident that you don't like me. Is this not what you wanted?" Alhaitham challenged, crossing his own arms.

     "You didn't even talk to me about this! You just skipped off to here, became friends with the deaf girl-"

     "Watch it."

     "-and then you just decide to abandon me all over again?!" Kaveh shouted, biting his lip after the second part. 

     And really, that more than anything felt like a stab to the gut. The time on his transporter indicated that it had been an hour and a half since he'd first gotten there. Hurt and tired, Alhaitham only responded, "I'm going home. Goodnight, Kav."

     "Shit. Alhaitham, wait-!"

     But he'd already slipped through the door back to his dimension, the slightly chilled night air biting him. In his wish to go home, the door had taken him to the graveyard, right in front of Kaveh's grave. Alhaitham sat down in front of it and sighed, pressing his wrists against his eyes. His breath came out in a shudder, not quite crying again but visibly not okay.

     The wind ruffled his hair and blew the leaves of the trees, causing the light from the moon to dance on and around the graves. It looked full... well, full enough.

     "Kaveh, are you there?"

     "What a shit-show," the short-haired ghost replied, sitting on his own grave. The wind grew stronger when he appeared, but eventually died back down into a gentle breeze. He soon noticed the dampness on his former partner's cheeks and floated off of his perch, taking that damp face in his hands. "You okay?"

     "...No. It's just," Alhaitham muttered, cutting himself off with a deep sigh. "I'll be honest, I was finally able to stop thinking about you every day. But now that he's around, I'm missing you all over again. I don't know what to do with myself. And he's... god, Kaveh, how is he an alternate version of you?"

     "He's been through a lot," Kaveh explained. "The biggest difference is that I forged a darker path. It's no wonder I'm not the hero, not the protagonist. Unlike him, I actually... nevermind. I think I'll tell you another day. There is another thing, though. You know how, even when we're not talking like this, I'm still at your side?"

     Alhaitham nodded gently.

     "You're also still at his side. Well, his you. And the difference between you two... I'm sure you already know, but I can just tell that other version of you hurt him badly. And that's not your fault, okay? Please understand that. In their universe, bad things happened to you, too. Give him some time. Either he'll drop you and you'll never see each other again, or he'll warm up to you and we can put the animosity to rest. I will say, though, he was being a total douche today. To my Haitham! Can you believe that?! I'd say you should try going out with Yoimiya, she seems sweet."

     Alhaitham laughed, the last of his tears slipping out with the action. He laid a hand over one of Kaveh's, careful not to accidentally pass through it, and replied, "She's all yours. You know that men are the bread to my butter."

     "If anything, I'd say I'm the butter to your bread."

     "Why?"

     "Because we're both yellow!" Kaveh exclaimed, beaming. "And we both taste good. Bread is so serious and straight-faced, that's why you're bread."

     Alhaitham chuckled, then fakely pouted, "But the butter's supposed to go on top of the bread."

     If there was any actual blood in his translucent body, he's sure the other would have lit up bright red with the shocked face he made. He swatted at Alhaitham, the feeling of ghost limbs passing through him making him shudder again. But they were both laughing on the ground of that cemetery, the living hero and the dead love interest.

     Kaveh rested his cold forehead against Alhaitham's, both of their eyes closed. Very quietly, he uttered, "I wish we had more of this. I wish we hadn't been cut short so soon. But most of all, I wish you happiness, even if it's not with me. Okay?"

     "Okay. I love you so much."

     "Talking to a grave?" Kav's voice called from down the path. The ghost of Kaveh skittered back and sat on his grave, watching the scene play out.

     "What are you doing here?" Alhaitham asked. It came out more accusatory than he would have liked, but he was upset. Kav sighed, handed him a coffee cup, and sat down next to him. Sipping from the cup, it was (pretty bad) chai.

     "You got me-?"

     "I wanted to apologise," he grumbled, cutting him off sentence. "That's why I came to the lab in the first place."

     Mentally sifting through what flavours he thought had been added to the tea, Alhaitham swirled the cup around. However, he quickly realised Kav was just going to leave it there and ordered, "Apologise, then."

     "I just did," he rebutted, facing the younger man with a scowl.

     "No. You said you wanted to apologise," he corrected, keeping his face still even as Kaveh's ghost chuckled atop his grave.

     Kav looked like he wanted to argue but must have realised he was wrong. Instead, he wrapped his arms around his legs, chin resting on his knees, and clearly stated, "I'm sorry, Alhaitham. I've been intentionally rude to you since we met, and that wasn't okay. I was trying to push you away and get you to leave Nowhere, but then I got jealous when I saw you talking so happily with Yoimiya. It's just... I keep seeing him in you, and I know it's not fair, but I don't think I've gotten over him as much as I pretend. But you're not him. The fact you're sitting here in front of his grave is enough of a testament to that."

     He mulled the words over in his head, his once warm beverage cooling in his hand. The wind ruffled the trees again, and he knew deep down they were two sides of the same coin. Fated to be together, never fated to face. But they'd lived the same life, lost the same things.

     "You really don't think he loves you?"

     "Of course not," Kaveh stated, using a hand to tuck his bangs behind his ears. Then, changing the subject, he added, "I can't believe I'm a year older than him. Weird how that works."

     Alhaitham looked back at the grave. The place where a ghost once sat was now empty, his spirit blown away with the wind. He was no doubt still there, likely only choosing to hide for the illusion of privacy. Smiling, he parted his lips to agree.

     "Hey, who's there?"

     He never got the chance to say what he wanted to before shoving his drink into Kav's hand and quietly demanding, "Hide." Surprisingly, Kav wordlessly went invisible. Who knew he could do that? The wordless part.

     Alhaitham only had enough time to pull on his mask when a light was shined on him. Looking past it, the wielder was Cyno. Tighnari and Nilou stood behind him, the latter holding flowers. Seemed like they'd all planned a visit and didn't pass the invite to him (what the fuck?). After the officer recognised the figure sitting in front of the grave, he pulled out his gun, aiming it at Alhaitham.

     "Put your hands up! You have the right to remain silent!"

     "Detective Cyno," he coolly greeted, trying to remain calm. Letting his false voice slip wouldn't be good for any of them, at least not yet. After all, this encounter was bound to happen at some point.

     The officer's eyes narrowed in disgust, and the grip on the gun got tighter. "Don't act friendly with me. You're under arrest for first- and second-degree murder. Anything you say can and will be used-"

     "Against me in a court of law. I didn't kill them."

     "Stand up, you piece of shit. You have no right to act so blasé about the fact you killed innocent people."

     He stood up slowly, careful not to move too quickly and pull the detective's finger, even going so far as to hold his hands up in surrender. Even so, that didn't prevent him from arguing, "I only committed one of those. The rest were-"

     "You expect me to believe you?! One of your victims was our friend!"

     "And he was my partner," Alhaitham said, pulling the mask off and staring Cyno dead in the face. The detective's hands shook and slowly lowered, his anger turning into horror. After a long moment of silence, he continued, "You really think I would have killed him?"

     "...You have the right to an attorney," Cyno continued. The shock was replaced by a stony rage as the barrel of the gun was raised back up, pointing directly at Alhaitham's forehead. "If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided to you. I doubt you'll have to worry about that, though."

     The gun fired, but a door to Nowhere opened under his feet just in time. He landed on the divan in his apartment, Kav landing on top of him shortly after. Maybe Kaveh was right, he really was bread.

     "Dude, you almost got shot. What was your plan there? Power of friendship?" Kav scolded, quickly getting off the other and giving him back his drink. He proceeded to look around the apartment and added, "Your ideal living space is just a library?"

     "Mhm."

     "Okay then, whatever. See you around, Haitham."

     Kav turned to leave, only for Alhaitham to quickly jolt up and grab his wrist. He offered a small smile, slipped his hand down to the other's, and asked, "Partners?"

     "...Yeah, of course," Kav agreed, albeit reserved. "Just... we're only friends. Nothing more. So don't, okay? Don't expect much from me. You'll only be disappointed."

     "Okay." Alhaitham's hand slipped away, and he turned back to the divan, only to be pulled into a tight hug.

     "Thank you," he heard mumbled against his skin, the warm breath tickling his generally cold skin.

     "Earnest thanks are given thrice."

     "The fuck are you talking about?"

Chapter Text

     "How's it going with your new partner-guy-friend?"

     "He's... I mean, he's still kind of irritating. By which I mean incredibly irritating. He doesn't like shortened versions of his name, so when I give him a nickname, he uses my actual name. I still don't think I like him, but I respect him. That said, I think he's hiding-"

     Kaveh's phone suddenly rang on the counter, cutting him off mid-sentence. Picking it up, he realised it was his sister and answered on speakerphone.

     "Hey, Ezzy. You're on speaker."

     "Happy birthday!" she greeted, blowing some kind of kazoo on the other end. He and Furina glanced at each other, jaws tight.

     "Thank you, Esmé. I'd... honestly forgotten."

     She immediately clocked the change in tone and asked, "Did I say something wrong? I'm so sorry-"

     "No, no, not at all," he quickly reassured, looking for help from Furina. She shrugged helplessly, flipping the pancakes they'd been making together. "I just... ah, I don't celebrate it much, you know?"

     "Oh, okay. Do you have any plans?"

     "Not yet. Why, you gonna throw me a surprise party?" he teased.

     "Ooh, invite me!" Furina jumped in, flipping the pancakes to reveal a beautiful golden-brown shade.

     "Hi, Miss Furina! And no, Mom would kill me. Speaking of whom, I can hear her moving upstairs, so I should probably go. Sorry it was so short. Have a good day, both of you!"

     "Stay safe," Kaveh bid. He hung up the phone, only for Furina to toss a finished pancake at his face.

     "So. Birthday plans?"

     "Probably going to go to Nowhere and wreck some shit. I only hope that Tao- speak of the devil, they're also calling. I was going to say I hope they didn't remember when my birthday was, but here we are." He answered the call coming in from his multiversal band, taking a deep breath and donning a new mask. A small group could be heard singing 'Happy Birthday' cheerily, deeply contrasting the ache in his heart. He bit into the pancake to ground himself, the fluffy texture and juice from added blackberries feeling absolutely lovely in his mouth.

     "Morning, Cakes! Happy birthday! Pronouns are they/them this morning. The four of us are using Yanfei's place to set up a party for you, so we'll call when it's done. Stay away til then!"

     "Wait, sorry, four? Where's-" Kaveh almost asked before cutting himself off. After a quick glance at Furina, he finally continued, "Where's my partner?"

     "Dunno. He hasn't answered any calls from us."

     He finished off the pancake and noted, "That's odd, I wonder- wait, no, I know where he is." He and that other Kaveh had the same birthday, after all. "Any new sightings?"

     They paused for a while, then responded, "Mm... yeah, there's apparently a mutant in Noelle's universe. She's dealing with one in Barbie's right now, so it'll be a while before she can handle it. It's being barricaded in a high school for now. Apparently this one is vicious, so be careful. Don't split up."

     "Got it. See you soon. Cíao." The line disconnected, and Kaveh let himself unwind a bit. He pulled his hair up so it wasn't touching his neck anymore, smiling in relief when the physical and mental pressure was off him. At least for a while.

     "Well, aren't we busy?" Furina asked, the pancake batter have been fully cooked into eight pancakes. Only three remained uneaten, and they were all Kaveh's.

     "I'd invite you, but-"

     "I know I technically count as a Spider; we had the same damn canon events. I just really don't want to. I'm blessed to have that choice, so I'm choosing it."

     "Kudos. Alright, I'm changed and I'm out."

     "Like hell you are! Finish your cakes, Cakes. We worked hard on those."

     Kaveh begrudgingly turned his attention to the plate of pancakes, already dressed in butter and syrup.

     "You know what?" he declared after looking at the pancakes for a minute. "I'll just eat later, with the party and everything-"

     "Kaveh Mahan, you're not skipping breakfast on your birthday."

     "Don't you have work right now?"

     "It's Sunday. Do I need to feed you the same way I fed Carole? Here comes the fucking airplane-"

     "No, I'll eat. Promise." Kaveh finally picked up his fork and cut into the delicious pancakes.

     "Thank you," she said, casting her gaze down to the ground and lowering her voice. There was something about it, but he didn't ask. 

     "How'sh Neuv doin'?" he asked, mouth stuffed.

     "Oh, the paperwork just went through. If all goes well, we'll be meeting Little Miss Sigewinne soon. He's still in therapy with Wriothesley, but these days it's less for their own sake and more for not letting it affect the kid."

     Kaveh hummed, swallowed, and responded, "That's good. Are we out of honey?"

     "Used the last of it for the brownies," she responded with a shrug. He sighed, took another bite of food, and closed his eyes in thought.

     "'Kay, put it on the list. Sleeping medicine, too."

     Furina eyed him warily as she took and unlocked his phone, opening the shopping list note. "Faruzan just wished you a happy birthday, as well. Regardless; are you already out? How much have you been taking?"

     "Doesn't matter," he mumbled, taking the dirty dishes over to the sink and rinsing them off. "It's not enough no matter what I do. Alright, I ate, so I'm heading out. Call me if you need me."

     "Wait a second."

     He stopped in his tracks to him room, Furina having quickly grabbed him. Her eyes were locked onto at him sternly, unblinking in their stare-down.

     "I'm no grief expert, I can safely say that. But you should visit him."

     Kaveh's face softened, and his gaze dropped along with her arm. She continued muttering under her breath and adding things to the list, allowing him to slip into his suit and pass through Nowhere into Alhaitham's universe. As expected, the man was at the grave, although there was a duo of younger adults alongside him. They were all sitting and talking in front of the grave, which now had a ridiculous number of flowers around it. He faded into invisibility and stalked over to the group. There was a girl with green hair and a smaller boy with black hair.

     "...thinking about making brownies today, but I don't exactly want to have to go to the store."

     "We could pick the ingredients up for you, just let us know," the girl offered. Alhaitham only huffed a laugh and shook his head.

     "You guys are too young, unfortunately. Maybe in a couple years."

     "What, is it alcohol? Shinobu's twenty-first is in two weeks, but I can still grab it. Itto could too, if he weren't busy tutoring," the black-haired one retorted coldly, gesturing between himself and the girl. 

     "...What? Wait, when we met, you guys were... oh. Has it really been that long?" he asked, looking sadly towards Kaveh's grave.

     "...You okay?" the girl, apparently called Shinobu, asked, putting her fingertips against his arm. He used the same arm to reach up and dab at his eyes, laughing softly at something.

     "Yeah, I'm alright. It's just weird. I miss him every day, but I don't miss him at all anymore. Might have something to do with... current events in my life. I keep seeing flashes of him, and as much as I want to cut it all out-”

     "Achoo!"

     Kaveh immediately felt his face heat up. He wanted to kick himself. Of everything that could have blown his cover, it was his allergies from the flowers acting up and causing him to sneeze. Alhaitham looked like he was a mix between shocked and disappointed, but he clearly knew what was going on.

     "What the fuck was that?" the black-haired boy asked, face clearly disturbed.

     "...Come out, they both know about me. You two, a quick explanation: you know how I have that job Katalina gave me, right? Well, we've been working on multiversal travel, and..."

     Kaveh took the opportunity to reappear, thoroughly startling Alhaitham's friends. The attention was weird, so he joked, "You guys look like you've seen a ghost."

     Shinobu whipped around to face Alhaitham and accused, "Do you know how fucked up this is? I should get my degree in psychology to analyse what the hell you were thinking-"

     "We're not together, just combat partners. Nothing more," Alhaitham assured.

     Nothing more.

     "...Right, of course. Sorry that I jumped to conclusions and got so upset; either way, it's not my right to dictate who you date... though I will say, I'm concerned about the flickering."

     Kaveh glanced at his hand and sighed, trying to calm himself down. When that didn't work, he instead instructed Alhaitham, "Come with me. There's been a sighting, and your help is requested."

     "Yeah, sure. Sorry, you two, we'll have to continue another time. Meet at the café with Kazuha and Itto next week as planned?"

     The two agreed, and each went their separate ways. Alhaitham, although not technically wearing a proper costume, claimed he was fine as he was and didn't need to change. Kaveh noted that he was wearing a green hoodie with rolled-up sleeves, a black tank top, capri jeans, and a comfortable-looking pair of sneakers, his mask having been stuffed into one of his hoodies. Did he mention it was early July, and this lunatic was wearing all of that? Maybe he himself was no better, but still. He opened the door to Nowhere, then put in Noelle's universe code while thinking about the school where they said the Venom monster would be. The door was a warm cappuccino colour and emitted a light, rose-like scent that was rather comforting.

     The pair stepped through the door and immediately noticed it did not at all match the interior. It was dark and trashed, as if something much more feral had been released.

     "You go right and find a way up, while I go left and find a way down?" Alhaitham suggested, pulling his mask over his head after pushing back his hair.

     "Yeah, sure. Don't hurt yourself, Spidey."

     "Understood, Butter Boy."

     "Wh- wait, what the fuck does Butter Boy mean?! Quit walking away!" Kaveh yelled after the other, who didn't acknowledge the calls, only doing a scan in each classroom before moving onto the next. He sighed, realising he wouldn't get an answer, and proceeded to do the same, although a bit more haphazardly. His scans over the rooms were a glance at best, and he didn't take much care to not knock anything over. Place was already trashed as it was, so why should he care if it got a bit dirtier?

     He reached the main stairwell with neither the target nor Alhaitham anywhere in sight. Should he really have been checking the classrooms better? Unless Alhaitham was being attacked, which would explain both of their disappearances. He shook the idea out of his head; there would be more noise if there was a scuffle going on. Maybe it was worse that it was completely silent.

     He shuffled down the stairs, the sound of his steps echoing through the stairwell ominously. There was a sense of foreboding about going down here, one like his spider sense was on a constant warning. He brushed it off as he navigated the basement of the school, keeping an eye for suspicious dark shadows.

     Behind you.

     Kaveh turned around, only for the monster to backhand him into the wall. His reaction time to it was piss poor, even with his powers. By the time he caught his balance and finished staggering, it had picked him up like a river stone and threw him down the hall. He crashed into the wall at the end of it, dizzy, barely having enough time to dodge when it came barrelling at him. He got up and was about to use his frequency emitter when it grabbed him by the exact same wrist as the band and threw him again. This time, however, he was expecting it and landed in a decent position to kick the monster in the jaw when it approached again.

     The monster growled and staggered back. Kaveh went for the frequency emitter again, but it charged forward and grabbed the leg that had kicked it, flipping him upside down. With a terrifying amount of pressure, it tightened its fist around his shin, snapping the bone inside. Comfortable with its revenge, it threw him again, causing him to tumble down the hall.

     The pain didn't kick in at first, but when it did, Kaveh knew he screamed. No matter how durable he was, no matter how fast he could heal, he knew he wasn't going to win this fight alone. The monster seemed to know too, taking slow, agitating steps towards him for its finishing blow. Maybe this was his chance.

     "Alhai-!"

     The monster suddenly charged forward again and picked him up by the throat. The movement jolted his leg and caused his call for help to be cut off with a pained groan. He quickly realised the new situation he was in and began struggling, kicking the monster with his good leg and clawing at the appendage around his neck. It slowly cut off his air supply, leaving him gasping and choking, dangling in the air with no help in sight. Tears pricked at his eyes before he suddenly remembered he still had his band. He quickly scrambled to find the button and desperately pressed it.

     It was jammed.

     Sometime during the fight, the button to get this whole mess over with had gotten jammed.

     "I didn't survive this long to die now, so what the hell?!" Kaveh screamed, words raspy as he lost more and more air. It was a miracle he'd managed to stay conscious even as the pressure on his throat became tighter and tighter, eventually pushing dark spots to the edges of his vision.

     He was going to die. He was going to die in another universe, completely alone, the only person able to report back to anyone being a clone of the man he loved.

     What would happen to Furina? She'd probably move back into her parents' apartment. Maybe she'd move in with her brother and help raise her new niece. The apartment would be put back up for rent, and all of his and Alhaitham's remaining possessions would be sold off. She'd have to take over leading Nowhere and his role as the Black Widow, which wasn't fair at all, but she'd get used to it.

     Would Esmé be okay? She'd be stuck with her parents for who knows how long, possibly believing her older brother abandoned her again. She'd never find out why he left, but maybe that was for the better. She could live a normal life without him.

     What about Faruzan? She'd be upset for a while, but she'd be okay. She could help Furina with the new work. She didn't need his photos.

     His aunt? No, she had her café and her husband. Honestly, as long as she had Rostam, she'd be fine.

     Alhaitham?

     Flipping through the people he knew in his mind, he wouldn't be missed all that much. Maybe this was for the better.

     His vision had darkened further when he noticed a pair of people standing, watching him. There was a boy who looked just like him, although his blond hair had been cut shorter. He'd been pulled into the other to be stopped from watching, the other being... Alhaitham. His Alhaitham, not the other one who was Arachne knows where doing Arachne knows what.

     "It hurts," he whispered, voice strained. His hand reached for his partner, desperate for any kind of comfort and company in his death. "Please."

     Alhaitham took his hand, still holding the other Kaveh with an arm. They were both translucent, but he must have been close enough to death to still feel the physical chill of his hand. Kaveh smiled pathetically at the younger man, tears finally spilling from his eyes.

     "I really do love you, despite everything." Kaveh said softly, struggling to remain conscious. But he'd lived long enough. It was time for them to be reunited. Closing his eyes, he made sure his final word was, "Haitham."

     Red flashed across his vision as he was suddenly dropped. The groan of pain was cut off by a sharp intake of breath, coughing as his lungs readjusted to the ability to work again. His ears rang, and his vision was entirely blurry. Something in him registered that the red had been the other Alhaitham, who was now causing the thing immense pain. Its screams and wails of agony were finally cut short by the sound of the frequency emitter, and a satisfying squelch alerted that it was finally over. Kaveh heaved, tears spilling from his eyes freely now.

     "Shit- Kaveh! Are you okay? Please, please don't let this happen again, please tell me you're alive... Kaveh, please!"

     "Don't use my full name," he groaned, only to yelp when he was brought up into a tight hug. "And be careful, you ass! My leg's broken... actually, shattered is probably a better word for it."

     Alhaitham gently moved him so he could sit against the wall, his entire body suddenly aching as the adrenaline finally died down. He disappeared for a while, only to reappear with a cup of water. Raising it to Kaveh's lips, he ordered, "Drink. Slowly."

     The water helped relieve some of the raspy pain in his voice, and after a while, his vision returned to normal. Alhaitham was worriedly looking at him with... red eyes. Maybe it was just his imagination. Still, there was something inhuman about the way he was able to take down such a vicious monster so quickly and easily.

     Vicious...

     Kaveh's eyes quickly began producing more tears. He brought his hands up to cover his face and sobbed, "This is all my fault."

     "What? Hey, no-"

     "It is! Tao told me over the phone this morning that it was especially dangerous, and I still agreed to split up, and then I didn't try and get help, and-"

     "Slow down-"

     "-and then when it was choking me, I barely even tried to fight back, I just wanted to let it kill me, and I'm so sorry, I'm so-"

     Kaveh's tearful rambling was cut short by Alhaitham firmly putting his hand over the other's mouth and staring at him, deadpan. He took a deep breath in and gestured for Kaveh to do the same. He did. He exhaled. Kaveh did as well.

     After some time of just breathing together, Alhaitham finally removed his hand and asked, "You good?"

     Kaveh nodded, wiping away the last of tears with a pitiful, "Sorry."

     "No, just- come here," he groaned, sitting beside Kaveh and wrapping an arm around him. "This isn't your fault whatsoever, okay? I'm the one who even suggested we split up in the first place. It overpowered you; that's something you can't control. That's the whole reason the Spiders have been pairing up, right? We're a team. I ignored that, and you got hurt. I should be apologising."

     "Why the fuck do you keep doing that?" he suddenly accused, leaving the other's hold to face him angrily. "Yell at me, tell me this is all my fault, call me an idiot for letting this happen, blame me for getting hurt- do something! You keep fucking apologising, and it's weird! Just let me be the punching bag, at least I'm used to it."

     Alhaitham was looking at him with a mix of disappointment and horror, hand still holding Kaveh to him.

     "Why would I do that?"

     Without a proper reason, Kaveh buried himself into the other's shoulder. He smelled foreignly of something indescribable, but warm and comforting. No other scents intermingled with his own, leaving his skin as natural as it could be whilst still being clean. But it wasn't right. It wasn't Alhaitham.

     "You'd better be gone by the time I wake up," he threatened, closing his eyes and letting sleep take him.

     He waited for the nightmares.

     But they never came.

     He woke up some time later, both Alhaitham and the monster gone. Feeling his neck and leg, both had mostly healed from his rest, and he felt comfortable enough to stand.

     The bastard had actually left him.

     Something about him was crestfallen, distraught that he'd been left so easily. He sighed deeply and groaned, "I fucked up again."

     "Oh, you were kidding. I see," a voice teased beside him, startling him thoroughly.

     "What the fuck?!" Kaveh shouted whirling. "You can't just sneak up on people like that!"

     "Ah, well, my apologies. I took the victim up to the police outside- very polite, by the way- and then a new call came in, so I answered it, and now I'm back. You doing okay?"

     He stretched his body dramatically, declaring, "Minor aches and pains, but I guess I'll live. What's the time?"

     "It's about... four," Alhaitham responded, using his band to check. "Why? Did you have plans today?"

     "It's been five hours?! There's no way you were doing a job for five hours- how long were you with me?!" Kaveh cried, face flushing in embarrassment.

     "Probably a little over four hours. But I wasn't here when you woke up, was I?" he teased further, a smirking playing on his lips.

     "You are a terrible fucking man, you know that?! You absolute lunatic, I should wring your neck and-" he yelled, only cut off by Alhaitham's band ringing with a call from Hu Tao.

     Alhaitham answered the call, saying, "Hey, what's up? New job?"

     "No, tell Cakes when he wakes up that we've finished setting up the party. Is he okay?"

     "Tao, I want a new partner!" he cried, sending both them and Alhaitham into a fit of laughter, although the latter was more reserved.

     "Got it. See you two in a bit!"

     They hung up, leaving a flustered and embarrassed Kaveh with a smug and grinning Alhaitham.

     "Let's just go."

     "Hang on, I was asked to make sure you change clothes, so here," Alhaitham said, passing a small pile of clothes to him. "They belonged to the you from my universe- he said he was okay with it- so they should fit."

     "Hey, yeah, about that," he replied, taking the clothes. They seemed to consist of a jacket, a cropped undershirt, and some capris. Perfect. "Did he happen to have shorter blond hair? Like, pixie cut, almost."

     "Uh... yeah, why? And how did you-"

     "I'm getting there. When I was... you know, dying earlier, I saw him standing with you. Well, no, not you, my you."

     "Hm. Well, good for him. I'll turn around so you can change, but let me know if you need help."

     "You're not upset?" Kaveh asked, slipping out of the suit. He shimmied into the rather comfortable crop top, noting that he probably shouldn't raise his arms if he didn't want anyone to ask about the scars.

     "No proof they're together, plus we haven't been able to be a couple in years. I have his permission to move on, so why shouldn't he have mine?"

     "Fair. Hey, I think this hoodie's actually yours. Look."

     Alhaitham turned around, some form of recognition flashing in his face. Considering Kaveh was wearing his partner's old clothes, and he still had his hair tied up, he probably looked nearly identical.

     "...You okay?" he asked, taking a step forward to gently touch Alhaitham's shoulder.

     "...No. But I will be."

     "I can change-"

     "Don't! Uhm- don't. It's fine, I swear," Alhaitham reassured, stepping back and away from Kaveh. "Ready to celebrate your birthday?"

     "Nope. Let's go. My band's busted, so open it up."

     The doorway opened. Kaveh stepped through first, the sounds of the party singing 'Happy Birthday' once again swarming him. He reached back for comfort, and comfort found him seconds later.

     "...happy birthday to you! Feeling any better?"

     "Yeah," Kaveh half-lied with a smile. "So, what's planned? Anyone get a piñata?"

     "I tried, but they wouldn't let me," Cyno grumbled. However, he was able to quickly brighten up his mood and explained, "Honestly, we just have things set up for party games and cake- speaking of which, what kind of cake do you like? We made a few different kinds with Diluc's help, and whatever isn't eaten will be handed out at the café tomorrow."

     "Guess," Kaveh stated, shrugging. "I'm a pretty picky eater, so you're likely to be wrong."

     "Oh!" Yanfei quickly cut in and explained, "We made a strawberry cake with lemon icing-”

     "I don't like strawberry baked goods."

     She seemed to immediately wilt away but shrugged it off. The next person to speak up was Tighnari, who guessed, "Chocolate?"

     "You're close, and it's a safe option. Half points."

     "German chocolate?" Hu Tao suggested. "My music teacher had this amazing recipe-"

     "I don't like coconut, and the texture's weird."

     "What?! Bullshit, you loved that coconut cake- wait, is it coconut cake?"

     "What? No. Only that one really specific store brand. Cyno?"

     "You don't like cake."

     "Incorrect. Alright, who's ready for the correct answer?"

     "You didn't let Alhaitham respond," Yanfei noted, almost disappointed. She probably still thought they weren't getting along.

     "I'm banking on him having the right answer, that's why." He released Alhaitham's hand and mixed in with their friends, a faint smile on his face. "Alright, Mr. Autistic Man, wow us with your detective skills."

     "KK, you can't call every smart, non-emotive man autistic."

     "Actually, I have a diagnosis. Anyways, it's something close to chocolate, but it isn't chocolate. Additionally, last week you were complaining about cream cheese ruining everything." Alhaitham crossed his arms and smiled contentedly, as if he was assured he was right. Confidently, he finally answered, "It's red velvet with vanilla icing."

     "He's almost right. It's red velvet with chocolate icing."

     "Why would you do that?!"

     "Come on man, you remove the best part and don't even care to make it vanilla? That's a cardinal sin."

     Kaveh smiled and laughed as his friends questioned him. He snuck a glance at Alhaitham, who was looking back at him with a sort of fondness. It was the kind of face that made his chest feel warm and tumbly, the same way he felt when he and his Alhaitham first started dating-

     No.

     No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

     Him?! Why him again?! It wasn't possible, it wasn't fucking possible. No way in hell was he falling for that stupid asshole all over again. It was doomed to go the exact same way: he'd fall into a one-sided love and end up heartbroken. How the hell did he end up letting his guard down?!

     Alhaitham seemed to notice his change in demeanour and cocked his head slightly. Kaveh only narrowed his eyes in response, his smile completely withdrawn into a frown. He couldn't let himself get hurt again. The history book could not repeat this chapter again. However, remembering there was an audience, he quickly put his cheery face back on and asked his friends, "Who wants to go grab cake? I'm all in for some good chocolate, honestly. Is it in the kitchen?"

     "Yeah, let's go!" Hu Tao exclaimed, nearly dragging everyone to the room. There were about six sheet cakes total: strawberry and lemon, chocolate, vanilla, marbled, coconut, and funfetti. Hu Tao and Tighnari shot for the marbled, Yanfei went to the strawberry lemonade cake, and Cyno and Alhaitham went for the funfetti one. Kaveh himself aimed for the chocolate one.

     "Nobody hold back," Yanfei called, almost a quarter of her chosen cake on her plate. "None of us planned any kind of dinner, so grab whatever you want."

     "You're only going for that much? That's barely a sprinkle. Unless you're going for a bit of everything?"

     Kaveh glanced over at the voice, coming from where Cyno and Alhaitham were standing. Cyno had roughly a sixth of the funfetti cake on his plate, where Alhaitham had a much smaller portion.

     "Mm, I'm going to get takeout later. It's a... tradition, of sorts. You know?"

     "Ah, so this party's just the icing on the cake?"

     A small cut of coconut was whipped at Cyno's head before he could explain, the twitch of Tighnari's ears being the only indicator that he was the culprit.

     "They always said a coconut was less likely to hit you in the head than you getting attacked by a spider, but that's two layers with one slice," Hu Tao mused, only to be the next target of an attack.

     "Guys, come on," Yanfei groaned, already halfway through her piece of cake. "Can someone please take these down to Diluc before there's a food war in my apartment? I'd rather not have to sleep in New Amsterdam again."

     "I will," Alhaitham immediately volunteered, putting his plate down. Before anyone could protest, he managed to combine some of the different cakes into less pans and was able to pick them all up with very little struggle. "Be back in a bit."

     No one had much time to speak before he was gone, leaving the five of them with each of their portions. The silence didn't settle for long, though, as chatter picked back up among the two couples. Kaveh could only stare at the piece of untouched funfetti cake, as if it were for someone else.

     "Alright, once everyone's finished their cake, we can head into the living room!" Yanfei's declaration sifted through the air and landed on everyone's ears. She then suggested, "They're a Ten, anyone?"

     "What are you, fourteen?" he teased, picking at his small slice of cake.

     "Come on, KK, some of us didn't get to be kids. Are you in or not?"

     "Yeah, I'm in. Some of us didn't get to be kids, after all."

     The group finished their cake and migrated to the living room with excitement flitting between them. They moved a small coffee table to the center of the room, then sat around it in a way that felt comfortable. There was space between Yanfei's left side and Kaveh's right side to allow Alhaitham, but other than that, there were no rules for where to sit. 

     "Okay, Hu Tao. They're a ten, but they leave unwashed dishes in the sink. They do laundry, they cook, they clean, they just don't do dishes," Yanfei started.

     "They're a four," they said, crossing their arms. "I refuse to wash dishes, and someone has to. Cakes, they're a ten, but they don't change the clocks correctly after they lose power."

     "Mm... a six. Cyno, they're a ten, but they have a habit of hiding sand in your clothes.

     "An eight."

     "Really?" Kaveh asked, incredulous. A glance around the table showed similar faces.

     "Yeah! We actually have really soft sand, if you can believe it-"

     The apartment door opened, and Alhaitham re-entered, wiping at his face with the inside of his wrist. When he saw the others staring at him, he waved and whispered a small, "I'm back."

     "Are you crying?"

     "...Yes. Nothing to worry about. In other news, I have a coffee date with Diluc."

     "What?!" Kaveh exclaimed, startling the others. He quickly realised his mistake and excused, "I thought he was aroace."

     "I'm not sure," Alhaitham mumbled, taking his designated seat. "What are you doing?"

     Cyno quickly explained, "It's called They're a Ten. You'll pick it up. Yanfei, they're a ten, but they're allergic to seafood."

     "Oh no, this is going to sound awful... they're a three. I'm not giving up seafood," she sheepishly explained, a hand reaching up to scratch under her jaw. "Okay Tighnari, they're a ten, but they're very handsy."

     "Sssseven, they're a seven," he answered hesitantly. Then, turning to Alhaitham, he asked, "You get the gist?"

     "Hypothetical person would be perfect if not for some factor, and you guys are rating their new worth."

     "Well... yeah, okay. Don't really have a grasp on you yet, so... they're a ten, but you hate their music taste."

     "Ten," he said bluntly and immediately.

     "Really?" Hu Tao cut in, clearly not believing him. "Not even a nine?"

     "They can find some songs I'd actually like, and I'd get to try something new. I don't like musicals except for one that, ironically enough, is about a guy who doesn't like musicals."

     "Hey, a travelling theatre troupe performed something like that in my area recently!" Yanfei related.

     Kaveh looked down at the table as the game went on. Furina wrote some background music for a TV show similar to the premise and got hooked on it. There was a new song each episode, and the overarching enemy was an alien hive-mind from space.

     ...Needless to say, he didn't really like the show.

     "Kav? Hey, Kav!"

     He suddenly looked up to the rest of the table watching him like scavenger birds. It sent bugs up his back and under his skin, and subconsciously, his wrist reached up to rub against his neck.

     "Yeah?"

     "It's your turn, dude. They're a ten, but they say bisexuality isn't real."

     "Five, whatever."

     "You okay?" Tighnari asked, flicking an ear. "If you need to talk-"

     "I'm fine. Just haven't had much time to sleep on a normal schedule lately. Moving on- Haitham, they're a ten, but they've got mental health issues."

     "What the hell kind of question-" someone started, only to be cut off.

     "Hey! I found a deck of cards, how about we play that?" another suggested, skittering a small pack of playing cards across the coffee table.

     "No, I want to hear his answer."

     "KK-"

     "They are still a ten, and they always will be. The hardships one has endured does not make them any less human, any less valuable. A damaged good is still good," he asserted, voice harshly smooth and sure of itself.

     "Yeah? And how far can you carry that belief-"

     "HEY!" Cyno shouted, the loudest Kaveh had ever heard in his life. Electricity crackled around him subtly, similar to the way Kaveh would blink when he was anxious. Tighnari's ears flattened from the noise, and everyone seemed to still. In a stony voice, he continued, "Let's play cards. Loser has to do whatever the winner says. There's a game called Circus that my dad taught me. Everyone gets five cards and takes turns drawing and discarding. One joker is removed. When the other is drawn, the game ends, and whoever has the highest poker hand wins. The one who draws the joker also loses."

     He shuffled the deck and passed cards to each person, who all turned out to have rather various faces when it came to gambling. Hu Tao was the most expressive, furrowing or raising their eyebrows, and occasionally smiling. Tighnari would have been good had his ears not twitched and his tail thumped at every bad card. Alhaitham, Yanfei, and surprisingly Cyno were all incredibly good at staying unreadable, though the last kept glancing up and counting whenever Kaveh drew a card.

     Speaking of whom, he was losing. He must have had a great poker face, since he was constantly upset at his hand and his scowl was therefore unchanging. Finally, in a small act of mercy, he pulled the joker. Deciding to be dramatic, he raised his arm as high as he could and slapped his cards on the table at full force before finally declaring, "Game's over."

     "Damn, we both ate shit," Yanfei confessed, laying out the seven of spades, the two of hearts, the queen of hearts, the three of clubs, and the five of diamonds.

     "Ooh, tough luck, both of you. I didn't do much better though, two pair," Hu Tao announced, showing off the fours of hearts and spades, the eights of hearts and diamonds, and the ace of spades. "So close to a full house."

     "Straight flush," Cyno revealed, with the five, six, seven, eight, and nine of clubs following the others down onto the table.

     "No clue what this is," Tighnari confessed, showing off his hand. King of hearts, five of spades, nine of spades, nine of diamonds, and four of clubs. At least he had a high card.

     Praying against the inevitable, Kaveh quickly stated, "Well, Cyno wins. Congratu-"

     "Royal flush." Alhaitham tossed his cards down. Ace, king, queen, jack, and ten. All of diamonds. Kaveh expected a smug smile, but the other almost looked... disappointed. They stared at each other for a moment before he continued, "Meet me outside."

     They both stood and exited, Kaveh hyperaware of the eyes on them. The group could barely wait to begin whispering without even waiting for them to shut the door, which Alhaitham was quick to do once they were both out.

     "What?" Kaveh started, knowing damn well he was antagonising again. He didn't want to, but he absolutely meant to. He had to keep them distanced. He couldn't, under any circumstances, let himself get hurt again. He wouldn't survive it.

     "Did I do something to you? I thought we were doing well. What happened?"

     "Oh, fuck you, Haitham! You don't get to fucking make heart eyes at me and act like you're innocent. You-"

     "I'm not interested in you, Kaveh."

     "Bullshit, and don't call me that-"

     "Don't call me Haitham," he shot back, crossing his arms. "We don't know each other. We're not friends. We're not lovers. You made that... real clear, okay? So stop trying to deny the absolute truth."

     "Yeah? And what's that?" he challenged, stepping towards Alhaitham, borderline daring him to say it.

     "I. Am. Not. Him."

     Kaveh scoffed and took another step forward. "Yeah, he wasn't at the start either, but-"

     "Christ, Kaveh, what did I- what did he do to you?!" Alhaitham snapped, uncrossing his arms and taking a step forward of his own. "With the way you act when he comes up, you'd think he was an abusive, manipulative guy who was using you for a quick bang and a hot meal."

     "Don't talk about him like that, you fucking prick! You don't know him and you don't know me, so quit acting all high and mighty like you do!"

     "Clearly you have some kind of feelings for him, but so far? Based on the way you are as a result of him? He's not a good person. And I..."

     "If you've got something you wanna say to me, then just do it. Whatever you need to get off your chest, I beg of you, do it. If you can't even do that, then-"

     He was suddenly swept into a tight hug, Alhaitham's arms slipping under his own and pulling him close. A hand pushed between his shoulders while the other pressed against the back of his head. His assailant's head rested against his own, breaths tickling against his ear and neck.

     "What the fuck?! What are you-"

     "Shut up, just- shut up. Okay? You told me to get this off my chest, so here. I want to apologise to you for something I didn't even do. But the thought that some other version of myself made you this wary, made you so resentful even though you claim to love him, it makes me sick. Just... I want to ask what happened to you. But I doubt you'll tell me. That's the kind of person you are."

     He could feel tears stinging his eyes, but he bit them back "You... you can't just compare me to him. Even with the cake-"

     The hug tightened, without much else to do, Kaveh rested his own hands on Alhaitham's back. They'd gone through so much in just one day. And it was his fault. Once again, all of it was his fault.

     "He hated red velvet. He liked funfetti. As for me, I don't like cake." The hand on his back lowered for a second, hesitated, then went back up. "Can I ask... what's up with the scars? They don't look recent."

     "How did you..." Kaveh started, but he remembered. The crop top, combined with that dramatic card move... of course it was noticed. That was the kind of person he was. He... really wasn't Alhaitham. Kaveh sighed, then quietly answered, "They're from years ago. Thought he'd stop loving me... not that he ever did, mind you... so I stopped. I think I deluded myself that wasn't the reason over time."

     "No part of you is unlovable, I swear to god. No matter if you hate me, I care about you. I've seen the person you can be, the person you are, and he is amazing. But you can't... Kav, you cannot fear that everyone's going to hurt you. Not all roses have thorns, so stop trying to avoid them on the ones that do."

     "Yeah, I know. Yanfei already told me... so, can you let go now? This is weird."

     Alhaitham squeezed him again and laughed. It was warm and pitiful, almost broken. "Not happening. I don't want you to see me crying if you think this is weird."

     "I'll turn around, then. They're going to start asking questions if we're gone too long, though."

     "Alright," he finally conceded, releasing Kaveh and turning around as soon as they separated. "Tell them I went home. Enjoy the rest of your birthday- wait, hang on. Close your eyes."

     Kaveh complied and felt his hand lift, then felt something placed in his palm. His fingers were curled around it, and he only listened as a portal out of Nowhere opened.

     "Happy birthday."

     He heard it close, and only then did he look at what was in his hands. A pair of blue flower earrings lay in his palms, a small note explaining they were forget-me-nots. He put them in, smiling faintly at the weight. Butterflies fluttered in his stomach, but this time he didn't try to push them away.

Chapter Text

     "Welcome to the lab, I'll be with you momentarily. Just let me..."

     Alhaitham waited patiently by the door of the lab, intrigued by the scene playing out. An older man with shaggy black hair was adjusting something on another woman's mask. She seemed to come from a universe like Tighnari's, as she had pink fox ears and a few tails. The metal mask she was wearing covered her mouth like a muzzle.

     "Alright, it should be more secure now. Try it out," the man instructed, tapping the side of the mask. The woman seemed to struggle against it for a while before giving him a satisfied thumbs-up.

     "It's perfect. Thank you, Wriothesley. Send the others my warmest regards." The woman waved to Alhaitham as she left, tails swaying behind her.

     Wriothesley stretched and stood before heading over to a desk other than Yoimiya's. It had dozens of tools for machinery work scattered about, each with a unique grip. "Okay, now for you. What do you need done?"

     "I'm here to speak with Yoimiya."

     The scientist paused for a moment, then asked, "Who are you?"

     "My name's Alhaitham, I'm-"

     A chime rang as another door opened, and Yoimiya stepped through, holding a large, smoking box. She smiled and waved to Alhaitham, seeming to completely ignore Wriothesley until she acquired her tablet and used the text-to-speech to say, "Meet our new test subject."

     "Oh, this is him?" Wriothesley asked, turning to face the sound of the tablet he answered. "Did you grab the others, then?"

     "They're on their way," the tablet responded. Just then, three more people entered the lab. The first was a boy with short blond hair, the second was a girl with green hair in a wheelchair, and the third was a sleepy-looking dark-haired girl whose desk was just a bed hidden in the wall. The last girl flopped into her desk-bed and promptly fell asleep, but the other girl smiled and waved at him. The boy only stared.

     "I'm out, then. I've got projects. Collei, your shooters are working fine?"

     "Yup! Thanks for checking," the green-haired girl piped up, smiling at him. She proceeded to turn to Yoimiya and signed, 'This is the sick one?'

     As Wriothesley navigated out of the room using the wall, Yoimiya signed, 'Yes. Alhaitham.'

     He smiled slightly and waved at the group, then signed, 'So you're Collay?'

     'Collei,' she corrected in sign, then said, "I'm sorry about the chair, I know it's off-putting-"

     "Not at all. And he's..?" Alhaitham asked, signing the conversation so Yoimiya didn't have to focus on their lips.

     "Albedo," Collei replied, picking up on the sign translations. "He doesn't communicate at all, he just doesn't like to, but he can understand us. Right, 'Bedo?"

     True to what she'd said, Albedo didn't make any mention of understanding. He just stared at them, eyes both blank and far too understanding. He seemed to be a living uncanny valley, as if he weren't quite human.

     "Nice to meet you," Alhaitham greeted. "So... how do we do this?"

     "Hm... Miss Yoimiya, you can go back to work. I'll bring you back to one of the labs, and 'Bedo can take notes and analyse them. Sounds good to everyone?"

     Yoimiya flashed two thumbs up and turned back to her desk, and Albedo kept staring. Collei turned away and exited through another door, and Alhaitham and Albedo both followed.

     "So, a mutant infected you? It's pretty rare... as in, you're our first case. And it's completely dormant in you, right? No side effects?"

     "I'm hearing voices. Also, when my partner was in danger the other day, I blacked out. I only remember seeing red- literally. I think it took over my body for a second, but I got control back. Not before it... to make a gruesome scene short, it's violent. Plus-" he explained, cut off with a watery cough that produced the dark red liquid he'd been coughing up more and more of with each passing day. With the liquid in his glove, he showed it to Collei. "Plus that."

     "Oh, red's new. Okay... we use that as a sample, run a few tests on it, run a few tests on you, and then with all that info, we can hopefully get a cure before it causes irreparable damage. Considering this also means Spiders can get infected, we should develop a proper cure for the more resistant mutations. The sound alone won't cut it, considering you've been using it with no change. With that, Albedo, you run tests on him while I run tests on... that."

     Albedo gestured for him to drop the liquid into a petri dish and followed up with a paper towel, which he graciously took. Once the almost-liquid was off of him, Alhaitham threw away the paper towel, only to turn back to Albedo looking at him rather intently.

     "He wants to know how much control you can surrender without it taking over," Collei explained before rolling over and taking the dish from Albedo. Alhaitham shrugged and sat on top of the table in front of him, which he didn't seem to protest.

     "I'm not sure how I did it the first time," Alhaitham confessed, looking towards the wall. "I remember wanting to save my partner, and then I was gone."

     "Well, yeah. It's all a mental battle, from what we can tell. More difficult to do in practice, I know, but fear it less. We can lock down the lab, and all five of us can handle ourselves."

     Alhaitham took a deep breath and hesitantly let the voices in the back of his head creep forward, bit by bit, slowly lessening his resistance on them until they were almost too loud to hear himself. He only vaguely registered Albedo poking and prodding him, taking a picture at some point, before feeling two taps on his hand. The voices immediately receded into the back of his head, and he struggled to catch his breath.

     "This may be significantly worse than we initially thought," Collei murmured darkly, glancing behind her. "Think of something else for a bit. Anything on your mind?"

     "Why are you called the Evil Scientists?" he blurted, chest starting to heave more controllably with each breath.

     "Ah. I'm afraid the meaning of evil has been terribly distorted. You see-"

     "See no evil," Albedo cut in quietly, covering his eyes. Moving his hand back over his ear, he continued, "Hear no evil." The hand moved to his mouth, his other hand, and his forehead, and he continued, "Speak no evil, do no evil, think no evil." Finally, pointing to Alhaitham and narrowing his eyes, he accused, "You are evil itself."

     "He doesn't mean that- well, he does, but not the way you're thinking," Collei cut in, whirling around with a slightly horrified chuckle. "It's started as an in-joke of what we can't do. Yoimiya was the first of us, and she lost most of her hearing. Hence, hear no evil. Wriothesley's blind, see no evil. Albedo doesn't like speaking, so... yeah. Layla's got narcolepsy, so that's where think no evil comes from, and then came me. I came up with the idea of the Evil Scientists, and because of my Ehlers-Danlos, I can't do much- do no evil. That's what a lot of people think, Spider or not. Despite that, the five of us stick together. We installed lights and bells so Miya and Wriothesley know when someone enters, we gave them a tablet so they can still communicate, we asked for the doors to be wide enough to fit my chair, we keep spare beds around for Layla, we learned to read Albedo, we installed microphones everywhere to both record data and make sure Yoimiya's never really left out, and so much more. Wriothesley even made me some crutches that double as web-shooters, and the only reason I'm not using them now is because it's honestly easier to do lab work in the chair than it is on the crutches. And then, you know, my nickname was bastardised by people who don't even understand."

     "That doesn't explain-"

     "Yes it does. When Albedo says you are evil itself, he does not mean you are disabled nor that you're a bad person. He is referring to the concepts of humanity versus monstrosity, living versus being alive, love versus evil. Just because you are inhuman doesn't mean you are a monster. Just because you are alive doesn't mean you are living. Just because you are evil doesn't mean you can't love. Love is everywhere, love is what it means to be human. And not just the kind of love you feel for a partner, but the kind of love you feel when you think you'll never fit in and the gruffest person in the group you've been forced into gives you such a special gift that it makes you feel like you belong." Collei was crying at this point, wiping away tears but still determinedly explaining, "If being evil means that you would do anything to protect the love in the world, then you'll be evil, no questions asked. It's... I do a horrible job of explaining it, but you understand. You are evil itself because you are the change this universe needs."

     "...I meant his eyes turned red. Eyes are the window to the soul, and his turned red when he let it take over, and the soul is the essence of one's being. Ergo, red eyes equal evil. Sorry," Albedo clarified quietly, showing them a picture of Alhaitham's eyes. Sure enough, they'd turned red.

     "...Oh." Collei realised, stunned slightly. She quickly recovered and redirected with, "At least you seem to be warming up to our new friend."

     "I like explaining the evil, and I had to clarify," he answered nonchalantly.

     "Mm. Alhaitham, it's going to take a while for us to get any proper results, so we'll keep in touch. My advice until then is to let go a little bit more every now and again, just to get some more control over it. Let it deal with some of your opponents, but cut it off before it goes too far. I think that'll help as a temporary solution," Collei offered, taking a disgusted look back towards the contents petri dish she'd slowly been dividing while they spoke.

     "Are you sure?"

     "If I'm wrong, you'll become a destructive monster that none of us yet know how to stop, so what's the worst that could happen?"

     "...Of course. Thank you both for all your help. Good luck on your research, and I hope you find an answer quickly," Alhaitham bid, a light smile betraying the trusting nature of his skeptical mask.

     "'Kay! Stay safe out there and remember that you've always got a home here in the lab," Collei called as he left, waving until the door slid shut behind him. The dark-haired girl, probably the Layla Collei had mentioned, was awake and working on some sort of research, but she took a moment to look up and smile at him as he re-entered the main room of the lab. It also looked like she was eating some sort of soup out of one of the beakers. Yoimiya turned around and, though slightly startled by his appearance, waved at him. She then turned to Layla and pouted slightly.

     “Stop eating out of the beakers. It isn’t safe,” she gently scolded, using her voice for the first time Alhaitham had heard her. It was surprisingly clear, although a bit loud.

     Layla looked up at her and slowly signed, ‘They’re the only dish we have here. Plus, microwave safe.’

     ‘When you get infected because you ate out of a used beaker, I don’t want to hear... I don’t want to see you complain about it.’ Yoimiya sighed and turned back to Alhaitham, then signed, 'How was it?’ and smiled at him, nodding vaguely towards the door he came back through.

     'There's hope.'

     'There always is. By the way, I don't think we should be combat partners after all. I have my style, and I don't want to change it.'

     'That's fine. Besides, I think I'm starting to understand Kaveh now,' he returned, replacing his partner's original namesign with that of a combination between K and the sign for friend.

     Yoimiya immediately picked up on the change and grinned even brighter, then turned back to her desk, her hands working more excitedly than before. Alhaitham huffed through a smile and finally exited the lab quietly, using his sleeve to make sure he didn't have any remaining sickness on him. Good news, he didn't. With nothing left to do for the rest of the day, he slipped down to the café, where Diluc was cleaning one of the machines.

     "Good morning. Are you busy?" Alhaitham greeted, approaching the counter.

     "Keeping myself busy, really. You want something?" Diluc responded.

     "Chai, please."

     "Huh, you're the chai drinker. I was wondering who it was when Kav mentioned he was getting it for someone else. Believe it or not, no one else here drinks the stuff. I wasn't even aware we had it," Diluc commented, filling a nearby kettle with water. "It's going to take a while, so feel free to sit down nearby," he dismissed, only to pause at the hesitant look in Alhaitham's eyes. "...Or, were you planning on talking about that little piece of information today?"

     "It's best to rip the bandage off quickly."

     "We can agree on that. Come around the counter, there's a room in the back we can use."

     Alhaitham passed back and through, quickly finding the way into the back room. There were two couches perpendicular to each other with a coffee table in the middle. He took the one further from the door and sat patiently, albeit awkwardly, as he waited for Diluc to come back. The other man entered a few minutes later, passing Alhaitham his (strangely dark?) chai and holding a dark liquid himself. When he had a free hand, he closed the door behind him, leaving the pair alone together.

     Following a beat of silence, Diluc arraigned, "You said you got my father in your universe killed. How is that my problem?"

     "I want to know what kind of man he was," Alhaitham confessed. "I never spent more than a few moments with him, but it's my fault he's gone."

     "Back up. As a bartender, I've heard 'It's my fault' far too many times. What exactly happened? And what do you know about him?"

     "He has two sons, you and a boy I've never met. His other son had a boyfriend, at least the last time I heard anything. The boyfriend had a young girl with him, too. He liked to smoke, and he wanted to do something with wine after he retired. My old boss, though, he... if I had convinced him not to come with, maybe-"

     "Don't do that to yourself. Going down that route of what-ifs will only bring you more pain, believe me. With Dad's stubbornness, he would never have conceded. Especially if he was worried about a kid like you. Besides, you can't stop a canon event. That's the real reason we don't bring Spiders who haven't gone through it yet here; because they'll try to change it. And they can't. Nobody can change fate."

     Alhaitham took a long, pondering sip of his chai (it still tasted weird, and at this point he was sure the bartender wasn't adding milk), looked towards Diluc, and sighed. "I appreciate this meeting. You're a lot like him."

     "If I was anything like my father, I'd have called you kid by now," Diluc chuckled, swirling the drink in his glass.

     "Mm, you're not much older than me, though."

     "...How old do you think I am, exactly?" he questioned, confused amusement crossing his face.

     Alhaitham pondered the question, then responded, "I thought you were Kav's age. Are you not?"

     "I'm nine years older than him. Thirty-six. Definitely one of the older folks here."

     "Oh, my mistake. I had college classes with you-"

     "And assumed I was as young as you? Now I know why Kav likes you so much, you're both so quick to assume."

     "You're mistaken," Alhaitham refuted, his tone soft. "The only reason he and I are ever together is for our work. He's already established that he doesn't want any sort of relationship with me, so I'm respecting that."

     "...You're Kav's partner. And I'm willing to bet you're his ex. That explains a lot, truthfully." Diluc sighed and finished off his drink, then set the empty cup down and looked Alhaitham directly in the eyes. "Kav doesn't care what others think. It's one of his fatal flaws. Unless he feels like he's genuinely made a mistake, he does not apologise when someone is upset. When he does, it's through words only. You are the first and only person I know of who has gotten something from him as an apology. As an unlicensed therapist, go find your boyfriend and spend time with him. You might gain a new perspective."

     "I don't-"

     "He's on the lowest crosswalk near the apartment area. Ninety percent chance."

     Alhaitham finished his own drink, sighed, and stood up. "Alright. If you're certain-"

     "Just go."

     "I'm going," Alhaitham said before half-hurrying out, only slowing his pace when he was a good distance from the cafeteria. It really wasn't that he didn't want to see Kaveh. If anything, his partner had gotten kinder after his birthday. The issue was that it was Kaveh, but it wasn't his Kaveh. The sting of missing him every time the other Kaveh acted just slightly out-of-character was almost unbearable. He still couldn't separate the two in his mind's eye, and that was the real problem.

     When he hopped up onto the crosswalk Diluc had indicated, he noticed a small group had swarmed Kaveh, seemingly interrogating him. Each person asked a question, and before he could even answer, a dozen more had been asked. He was smiling, but behind it, Alhaitham knew nobody could possibly like that sort of attention. Taking a deep breath, he approached the small crowd and took Kaveh's hand.

     "Sorry to interrupt, but we've got a mission. Let's go."

     Hands intertwined, he pulled Kaveh out of the crowd and through a lovely red portal he'd opened, quickly closing it as soon as they were both safely through. Kaveh glanced around before accusing, "There's no actual mission, is there?"

     "You caught me. Welcome to my apartment, as well as my dimension."

     "...Thank you."

     "Sorry, what was that?"

     "I just said thanks. What, did you expect me to yell at you for helping? That's my amazing training at work: I'm trying to be nicer to people, so I'm letting them help me. How do you like that?"

     Alhaitham stared at his smug face with surprise, only to break out in a small laugh. 

     "Is that a laugh? Did I make you laugh?" Kaveh questioned, chuckling slightly himself as he did.

     Alhaitham froze for a moment, then shook his head. "You're just... your logic is so strange, Kav."

     "What's strange is that you haven't let go of my hand yet. Explain that one, Alhaitham."

     "Thank me a third time, and I might. As they say, earnest thanks are given thrice. Are you not earnest?"

     "I am the earnest-est, so thank you," Kaveh teased, twisting his hand out of Alhaitham's grip. "Well, what now? You've taken me back to your apartment, so are you planning on committing some devious acts?"

     "Great question... we're both wearing regular clothes today, aren't we? Hang on then, I've got an idea. Wait here," Alhaitham instructed before heading back to his bedroom. Opening the closet, he peeked onto the top shelf and quickly grabbed what he was looking for, then hurried right back over to where Kaveh was waiting. 

     "Whatcha got there?" Kaveh asked, trying to get a better look at the items.

     "First of all, a baseball cap. You're pretty famous in this universe, and we don't want anyone recognising you. Second of all, an absolute rose told me you like photography, and we just so happen to have an old camera laying around."

     "Wow, what a cliché disguise," Kaveh scorned, despite covering his head with the hat and tying his hair up through the opening in the back. "So, you suggest one of us takes photos in the park while the other just watches?"

     "If you'd rather-"

     "I'm messing with you. Say cheese!" Kaveh commanded before quickly taking the camera out of its carrying bag, wrapping an arm around Alhaitham's shoulders, and beaming at the sudden flash. He turned the camera back around and examined the photo with a smile. "Huh, this actually turned out pretty cute. Nice camera."

     "Glad you like it. Here, you should take these as well, just in case," he instructed, passing the other a pair of false glasses.

     "Yeah, these'll definitely hide my identity. And to think it couldn't get any more stereotypical," Kaveh teased, putting the glasses on. "And what's up with your bangs pushed back like that?"

     "I don't like the hair in my eyes," Alhaitham explained curtly. "Did you only just notice I have my hairband on?"

     "Kind of, yeah. Well, the future's waiting for us to make it. Lead the way, Spider-Man," Kaveh demanded, slipping the camera into its bag and crossing the strap over his head to rest on his opposite shoulder.

     Alhaitham slipped out of the apartment with Kaveh on his trail, the latter fidgeting excitedly. Once they were in the elevator going down, he instructed, "Two rules. One, no Spider-Man talk. If you hear anything, no you didn't. Two, if I tap you twice, do whatever you need to do to go invisible. No questions. If you have questions after it's over, I'll answer them, but it could be a matter of you needing to act fast."

     "Come on, there's absolutely no way people hate you that much," Kaveh reasoned, gently nudging him. The doors opened, and Kaveh excitedly exited, waiting just near the front doors for Alhaitham to catch up before mixing into the crowded sidewalk. Since he'd forgotten any noise blockers, he was forced to listen to the slander against himself as they walked to a nearby park. People watched news broadcasts out loud, kids played games of the police versus Spider-Man, businesses had put up signs prohibiting spiders as a widespread joke, and to make everything worse, there happened to be a parade celebrating the police on that day.

     After only a block of the usual hatred, he found Kaveh's hand slipping into his. The older man's warm thumb rubbed against his own comfortingly, but he showed no emotion on his face. The only time he slightly showed any support for Spider-Man was when somebody tried to give them propaganda brochures, and Kaveh shoulder-checked them so hard that their papers scattered everywhere.

     "Hey," Alhaitham chided when they had passed a decent distance.

     "No one wants those shitty papers." Despite the cold tone, he felt his hand be squeezed, and he squeezed back.

     After a while, they'd finally reached a decent park, and Kaveh brought the camera back out. His hands remained steady while he lined up each shot, and there was a cute exhale he did as he was taking the shot. It seemed like he didn't even notice it. While he was busy, Alhaitham studied him, and became more and more interested with each small detail. When he knelt, his shin was more parallel to the ground rather than actually touching it. When he walked, he moved in such a way that his ponytail would intentionally swing behind him like a pendulum. He had a habit of adjusting his full arm, not just his hands, to take the perfect picture. And, most notably...

     "You're wearing the earrings."

     Kaveh glanced over after he'd said it, smiling softly. "Naturally. They're nice. Are the flowers your favourites? Or were they his?"

     "Neither. He liked yellow flowers, and I like green carnations. What about you?"

     "Never really thought about it... purple hyacinths, I suppose. Speaking of thinking, though, there's been something on my mind. Why does everyone despise you?" He sighed, finally lowered the camera, and stared Alhaitham directly in the eyes. "Your event happened years ago. Yanfei... well, she sort of filled me in. Tao, as well. But wouldn't it have died out by now? It's old news."

     "The police keep the fires going. It's good for them." He sighed and broke eye contact with Kaveh. He felt sick thinking about it, and it was even harder to actually say what he knew had been happening. "Whenever I deal with any criminals, the police have a tendency to kill them, cover up any crimes committed, and blame their deaths on me."

     "Wait, how do you- dumb question, of course you'd know murders you didn't do are being blamed on you. Does Cyno know? Why is he still against you?"

     "I'm sure he knows, but he doesn't care. His friends cared about Kaveh, Kaveh worried about my boss, and obviously he respected the captain. He probably wants justice for them more than anything."

     "But that's not fair to you, you didn't do anything! Why can't you-"

     "It's okay," Alhaitham reassured, finally returning Kaveh's angry gaze. He stood and walked forward towards a lake, and as he did, he continued, "If they need to hate me, they can. I know that I didn't do what they say I did. I hate their ignorant words more than anything else in this world, but there's nothing I can do, so I can only keep doing a thankless job. There are worse fates for a person."

     He heard Kaveh sigh behind him. With that topic laid to rest, he took off his headband and inspected it carefully for a moment. As he did, he heard the click of a camera shutter and turned just in time to see Kaveh lowering the camera.

     "What was that? Did you see a bird or something?"

     With a coy smile, Kaveh slipped the camera back into its bag. He stood up, brushed off his legs, and gently bumped Alhaitham with his approach. "Just something that's becoming important to me lately, you know?"

     "O...kay?"

     "It's nothing," Kaveh suddenly declared as he once again clasped their hands together and started off. "Let's go see if there's anyone we can people-watch."

     "You know I'll see it when they get printed, right?"

     "God, don't print them. A lot of these are downright awful. A kid could get a better picture with a broken white crayon."

     "I doubt that, but sure. What's people-watching?"

     "Hmm... ah, okay, did you see those two girls who just passed us? So, people-watching is just making up a story about them. The blonde girl is from a mafia family, and the other one is her bodyguard."

     "Actually, the other girl is from a rival family, and they're not supposed to be together," Alhaitham argued, playfully nudging Kaveh.

     "Well, she was, but when she killed the blonde girl's father, he made her promise to protect his daughter."

     "Ah, I see. My mistake. Now they're going to buy a new umbrella because hers broke."

     "Perfect! You're a natural," Kaveh complimented before pointing to another person. They made up stories like a mother who doesn't remember her son, a pair of sisters who never got to spend any time together, and a failed exorcist who could never find any spirits. Each was more eccentric than the last, and the pair was smiling and laughing as though they'd been friends for ages. 

     Finally, they came across an oddly familiar tan, red-haired girl at a fountain. She was completely alone and just sitting there, her eyes closed in contemplation. Keeping his voice low, Kaveh suggested, "She's a dancer waiting for her husband to come back from the army."

     "Little does she know, her husband passed away, and she's about to receive the news when she gets home," Alhaitham played.

     "No, no, her husband faked his death and ran away with another... man. Another man. His childhood best friend, in fact."

     "But it's actually a great fortune for her, because-" he started, only for his eyes to widen in horror. He quickly double-tapped Kaveh, who was thankfully swift with his disappearance, as when the girl opened her eyes, she quickly recognised him.

     "Alhaitham?"

     "Nilou, wait."

     Her eyes darted to both sides like a caged animal, but Alhaitham quickly approached her and gently took her arms.

     "Get away!" she screamed, thrashing and trying to bolt, but Alhaitham grabbed her shoulder with just barely enough force to stop her.

     "Please just let me explain, okay? Five minutes, then you can go."

     She must have realised he passed up any opportunity to hurt her and relaxed only slightly. He allowed her to sit back down near her things and gave her a good bit of space, standing back a few feet to help calm her nerves.

     "I didn't kill him. Any of them, for that matter. Nilou, I loved him."

     "...And you don't anymore?" she questioned hesitantly, keen on his word choice.

     "I always will, but I'm allowed to move on. Everyone else has."

     "The difference is that you're the reason we need to move on," Nilou softly accused, hardly sounding like herself. Alhaitham took a deep, shaky breath, steadied himself, and exhaled slowly.

     "I'm not, okay? There was a project I was working on with the professor, he tested it on himself, and it went haywire. He went insane, he- …he was the one who killed the captain and Kaveh; I was trying to save them."

     "...And who killed him? And all the others?"

     Alhaitham stilled, but he knew the question had to be answered. "I really hadn't meant to. It was just after I lost Kaveh, and I just... that's the only death I committed. The rest were all falsified by the police, I swear I never killed anyone I apprehended."

     "Those people you apprehended all turned out to be innocent... Besides, why would the police release false information?"

     "They weren't innocent at all, they were robbers and muggers and murderers, but I never killed even the worst of the worst. And the police-"

     A shot rang out, though it unexpectedly didn't hit Alhaitham. He spun around to see Kaveh start flickering, holding his hand to his shoulder. Cyno stood behind him, and had Kaveh not been standing there, the angle was perfectly aligned to Alhaitham's head. Alhaitham was there to catch Kaveh when he stumbled, and helped him stand, gaze flitting between the other Kaveh's former friends.

     "What is this?" Nilou asked shakily, looking between the two Spiders with horror.

     "I should ask you the same. You called the cops on me?" Alhaitham accused.

     "Hey, you don't have to protect him," Cyno called, trying to appeal to Kaveh. "Come over here, and when backup arrives, the police will do whatever we can to help you. Whatever he manipulated you into doing-"

     "Oh, shut the fuck up!" Kaveh yelled, causing Cyno to flinch. "Self-righteous bastards, the both of you. He was trying to explain himself, trying to explain the situation, and neither of you even tried to give him a chance based on bullshit and lies!"

     "The police haven't lied about anything, right Cyno?" Nilou asked, still keeping her distance near the fountain. However, when his facade wavered, her faith did as well.

     "Yeah, why don't you tell her, Cyno? I'm sure we'd all love to hear this one," Kaveh sneered. At some point he'd pulled out the bullet with his fingers and began fidgeting with it.

     "You good?" Alhaitham murmured, nodding at his shoulder.

     "'M fine. It'll heal, and I've had worse," he returned, sending a goofy smile towards the other. "Thanks for worrying, though."

     "They're lying, right?" Nilou asked cautiously. Realising quickly she wouldn't get the answer she wanted, she switched her question to, "Cyno, what's going on? What have you been keeping from us?"

     Instead of answering the very, very good question of "what the hell do you mean the very corrupt police force has been falsely accusing a man of several murders over the past four years," Cyno turned his glare back to Kaveh, seemingly still not recognising him. With a harsh tone, he interrogated, "Who the hell do you think you are?"

     "Me?" Kaveh asked, pure mischief in his voice as he got closer to Alhaitham. He took his bloodied hand away from his shoulder and, with an evil grin, simultaneously pulled off the hat and glasses in one fell swoop. He only gave the other two a brief moment to process his identity before he answered, "I'm the man who's going to burn your house down with lemons."

     Within the next instant, Alhaitham had caught Kaveh against himself after they fell through a door the latter had subtly made into the former's Nowhere apartment.

     "You proud of yourself?" he asked, setting Kaveh down before moving to the kitchen to find a first aid kit.

     "Extremely. Do you know how long I've wanted to use that line? By the way, who was that girl?"

     "You mean Nilou? You don't know Nilou?"

     "What's a Nilou?" Kaveh questioned. Alhaitham returned with the first aid kit soon after and, with assistance, removed the older man's shirt to disinfect and dress the wound.

     "She was his best friend of fifteen years. Surprised you don't have one. Hold tight, this is going to sting," he warned before dabbing the wound with hydrogen peroxide. Kaveh sucked in a breath through his teeth and groaned, but held still.

     "No Nilou from me. I have a Faruzan, though."

     "Like the brat who works at the Daily Bugle?" Alhaitham scorned, taking up the bandages and finally wrapping Kaveh's shoulder.

     "Hey, I'll have you know I work there too. She got me a job."

     "Oh, I didn't know you were a nepo baby," he teased. They were rather close; they had to be in order to apply the bandage properly, but still. It felt like he could feel Kaveh’s body heat radiating onto him.

     "I'll have you know I'm not a baby, I'm twenty-seven. I'm a nepo toddler," Kaveh returned. He smiled at himself before returning his attention to Alhaitham at his shoulder. "You don't have to do all this, you know. It would have healed fine regardless."

     "I know," was the only response he gave. He secured the bandages in place and leaned back, only for his eyes to subconsciously drop down to the scars littering Kaveh's sides. He noticed what he was doing rather quickly and averted his gaze, but it didn't go unnoticed.

     "...Thank you."

     "For?"

     "Everything. For the today and the camera, for the bandages, for not judging me, for not mentioning the scars around everyone... all of it. It's nice."

     "Yeah, of course. Why would I bring something like that up publicly?"

     "It's just... I'll tell you another day. But really, thank you."

     Alhaitham sat beside Kaveh, who very quickly nestled up to him after setting the camera and disguise aside. He was a warm, comfortable weight against him, and it felt familiar. Not familiar in the sense that it reminded him of the Kaveh from his universe, but familiar in that it was nice to have a close friend again. Someone he could make new memories with and laugh along with, someone who he could rely on wholeheartedly. He realised that the two Kavehs couldn't be any more different, and he found comfort in that fact. The pair fell asleep like that, leaning against each other, and standing against the world.

Chapter Text

     "You know, I suspected something was up when you invited Faruzan over on a random Saturday in August."

     Kaveh shot a glare at a nonchalant Furina, who was texting on her phone beside Faruzan on the couch.

     "Can you take this seriously? It's important."

     "Like how you woke me up at midnight the other day because you couldn't remember the name of a song?" she questioned, raising an eyebrow at him.

     "Or how you made me rewrite an article because your height was wrong?" Faruzan chimed in, twisting her hand as Mehrak crawled on it.

     "No, just- say there's this person that you kind of knew, but didn't really know, you just thought you knew him and you hated him based on what you thought of him, but then you actually spend time with him and you end up falling for him and now you don't know how to proceed with the relationship especially because tonight you have a stargazing date with him and two other couples and you two are the only single ones-"

     "Deep breath. When were you going to tell us you have a crush on a new boy?" Faruzan asked, her eyebrows raised in surprise.

     "Wait, no, that's not the important part. You have a date tonight and didn't bring it up until now?!" Furina interjected before he could respond. She rose to her feet and grabbed his shoulders, deceivingly strong despite her smaller size, then shook him. "Explain yourself!"

     Kaveh grabbed her hands to steady himself, took a deep breath, and looked between the two. "It's really not that important, since he's just a friend. And it's not a date. I'm just... trying to figure out how I navigate this."

     "But he's important to you. Tell you what: we'll call your aunt and sister over, and the six of us will get you all prim and proper to see this guy. We'll even give you all the advice you need to win his heart, I guarantee it," Faruzan assured, approaching the two whilst carrying Mehrak. She passed her to Kaveh, and the little spider crawled onto his shoulder happily.

     "Alright. I trust you both. I just don't understand how you'll get them over here in time, my aunt's an hour away-"

     "Don't worry about it. Just go take a nice, relaxing bath, and the Pussy Squad will handle the rest."

     "...Never say that ever again."

     "No promises! Go hygiene yourself, pretty boy! Pussy Squad out!" Furina responded mischievously, pulling Faruzan with her through the front door. Kaveh was left alone, but didn't mellow in it, instead doing as he was instructed and running a bath for himself. After leaving Mehrak on the sink and removing his clothes, he sank into the warm water soon after and lowered himself all the way until the tip of his nose was tucked under.

     What did his feelings really mean? Genuinely. He loved being around Alhaitham, but was that all there was to it? The company? No, there was something more. Alhaitham cared about him, cared about his health and well-being. Glancing down at his now-healed shoulder, Kaveh remembered the dedication in the other's eyes when the wound was being treated. The blanket that had been laid over him when he woke up. The patience and care granted to him, even when he offered nothing but cruel words in response. But it was all too good, it was false hope all over again.

     ...Right?

     He took a breath above the water, then sank under. The bathroom turned to swirls above him, and his hair floated about around him. Alhaitham at least had the capacity to love, he'd demonstrated that with the other Kaveh. But what if that was only for him? This Kaveh, in this universe, what if he was unloveable? People cared for him, sure. Hell, his best friends were out collecting his family to help him with a guy. But was that love? What even is love?

     Kaveh rose back to the surface and grabbed his shampoo. His thoughts swam as he massaged it into his scalp, careful to keep the suds away from his eyes. He used to define love as simply caring for another, doing anything for them and putting them over oneself. If that were the case, his friends and family would love him, too. Rosalyne he could attest to, but the rest? He barely knew them, any of them. Was that his fault? Should he have been trying to get to know all of them better? Maybe that's why he was so unloveable, he wasn't trying hard enough. But how do you try harder to love?

     He dipped back under the water to wash out his hair, salty tears dissolving along with the soap. Better to not open his eyes underwater anymore. The truth was, they were just friends. Unnecessary feelings could be swallowed down, and once the honeymoon phase was over, they'd be forgotten. Everything would go back to normal.

     Kaveh finished off his bath shortly after and simply threw his old clothes back on, watching for a while as the water drained from the tub. He wouldn't stop the girls from making him look nice, even if he wasn't going to actually try and achieve their goal. No, definitely not. Alhaitham deserved better than some former human turned half-assed dimensional god with spider DNA.

     As he was drying his hair with a towel, he heard the front door open, and a loud conversation was being held by the girls. That was... surprisingly fast. Kaveh exited the bathroom with Mehrak, hair still damp and falling in waves around his face, and saw the pair had expanded into a group.

     "If it isn't the man of the hour," Rosalyne commented, smiling warmly at him. Esmé also waved politely, but she had her earbuds in and refused to speak. They were each holding bags containing something.

     "How did you two get them here so fast?" Kaveh asked, directing his gaze towards Furina and Faruzan.

     "Kaveh, we took nearly an hour- anyways, Faruzan just drove. As for me, a lady never reveals her secrets," Furina explained, to which Rosalyne gave two thumbs-up. Their hair was rather wind-swept, so Kaveh had a pretty good idea of how they arrived.

     "Regardless of how we got here, we have work to do. It'll take some time for Kaveh's hair to dry, so we can't start immediately. Let's see..." Faruzan muttered, looking between the girls. "We talked about it on the way back; Furina's on clothes, Miss Rosalyne's on nails, Ezzy's on makeup, and I'm on hair. For now, we can have... Furina, go with Kaveh to pick out an outfit from his wardrobe. Ezzy, since it's almost lunch, you can come with me to grab some sandwiches somewhere. And finally, Rosalyne... can you make us some snacks?"

     "Of course. As long as the owners of the apartment are okay with-"

     "I'll personally buy whatever ingredients you need. Come on, Kaveh, let's see what I'm working with," Furina instructed as she hustled him over to his room.

     "Don't you think this is a bit much?" Kaveh asked, sitting on the bed to watch as she scoured his wardrobe.

     "Maybe, but so am I. Now, let's see... tell me more about this stargazing date."

     "Well, sometimes the Spiders like to hang out in other universes, and Cyno in particular lives in a desert. He knows most of us have never seen the stars at all, so he's taking us out. He also says there'll be a major meteor shower."

     "The desert?" Furina asked, tutting to herself after. "People say it gets cold at night there, so we should keep you warm. You may also fall asleep out there, so comfy clothes are an absolute must. Do you have any underlayers? We can build on those."

     "Yeah, they should be in the bottom drawer."

     She crouched down and opened the drawer. As she looked for the aforementioned underlayers, she asked, "So, why do you even have them? How often do you use them?"

     "Oh, right. In my high school cooking class, my partner was this super-smart girl. She was popular in the sense people knew her and were nice to her, but you wouldn't catch the actually popular kids hanging around her." Kaveh sighed and easily caught the clothes Furina suddenly threw back. "Thanks. Anyways, I had a thing for her, and I'd come to football games to watch her perform with the band. It'd get cold around November, so I picked them up."

     "Did you two ever get together? Also, where do you keep your socks?"

     "Upper drawer. And nope."

     She looked back at him, bewildered. "Well, why not?"

     "She just didn't like me that way. We stayed semi-close after the class ended, and she sent me a get well soon card when I was in the hospital. Haven't seen her since before I graduated, though."

     Furina tossed back a pair of thin, royal blue, star-patterned socks to him, then jumped back up onto her feet and started rifling through the shelves in his wardrobe. "That's a bummer. Hey, why are there shelves in your closet? And what the hell is this organisation structure?"

     "Oh, I found out that I hate unfolding clothes to put them away as well as the sound of dresser drawers, so Uncle Rostam installed some shelves. Top shelf is for pants, middle shelf is for everyday wear, and bottom shelf is for the 'undesirables'... and extra sweatshirts."

     "Yeah, you've got a lot of those. Grey is definitely your colour, so take this," she noted, tossing a soft, morning grey sweatshirt behind her. "Now for pants... damn, these jeans are the perfect shade, but the rips won't make them very warm. You mind if I sew them up?"

     "Oh, those," Kaveh muttered, looking at the pair of jeans she was holding up. "Go for it, a friend got me them a while ago. I don't wear them because the rip over the knee causes too many issues."

     "Perfect! I have this beautiful patterned fabric leftover from a music video that'll fit our theme nicely. Now, of course, don't go putting on the full outfit yet, just the shirts so you don't mess up your hair later. Anything more and you'll overheat. I'm going to patch these up in the main room while we wait for the girls to get back with the sandwiches. Toodles!"

     Before Kaveh could protest, she was out of the room, leaving him alone in the quiet with Mehrak. It never stopped being quiet, huh?

     "Are you okay?"

     "I'm fine. This is just... a lot. I appreciate their help, I really do, but..." Kaveh audibly sighed and dropped his shoulders. His body felt so tense, but he had nothing reasonable to be stressed about.

     "You were projecting your thoughts in the bath. I thought Dad was gone. Is this about him?"

     He stiffened, then sighed again. No avoiding it. "...Yeah. In another dimension, there's another version of him. That's who I'm seeing. I'm just scared that I'm rushing into this too quickly. What if he doesn't want me like that? What if-"

     "You're making yourself more anxious. Talk to him."

     "...Right. Thank you, Mehrak." He wandered over to his bedside drawer aimlessly and opened it. Kaveh took the uppermost jewellery box and locked the contents into place. It was something he had done countless times before, and he had no qualms putting on the earrings again. As he was placing the box back in the drawer, however, his hand brushed against the other jewellery box.

     With a hesitant determination, he took the other box and opened it. He swore he could see his reflection in its like-new polish. After not even a single day of wear, it shined like the star it displayed within its red surface. Kaveh soon had the ring on his finger before he could decide against it, and within the next instant he did as Furina had instructed and changed into the warm undershirt and sweatshirt. This was going to be the first, last, and only time he'd ever wear it. Even if he couldn't say goodbye properly, he could let that bastard know wherever he was that this was Kaveh's way of moving on.

     He exited his room and met with his aunt in the kitchen, who was diligently making a batch of sugar cookies. She waved him over with excitement and passed him the spatula, asking, "How does the dough taste so far? I feel like it's missing something."

     "I'm not a kid anymore," Kaveh teased, taking a bit of dough off the spatula. Nevertheless, he took a bite of it. "Salt. And... a dash of cinnamon."

     "I can agree with you on the salt. Cinnamon, though? You must get that from your father; he was always trying to add spices to his food.”

     “I can imagine. Must be genetic. Do you need any help in here?”

     “Sure. Putting cookies on the trays or washing dishes?”

     “Dishes, a hundred percent,” he decided, laughing softly. He took one of the hair ties they kept in the kitchen and pulled his hair back into a low ponytail, then grabbed the messy dishes from the counter and dumped them in the sink. He also made sure to slip the ring back into his pocket for the time being.

     “Those look new,” Rosalyne commented, gesturing to the earrings. “Where’d you get them?”

     “Birthday present.” Gently, he took one of the bowls in his hands, added soap, and washed away the stuck-on ingredients. “Believe it or not, they’re from the guy I’m seeing tonight.”

     “They’re gorgeous. So, what’s he like? Smart? Athletic?”

     “Both of those, definitely. He’s attractive, too. He can be insufferable, but it’s for the better. He puts other people first, but not in an altruistic way. He’s kind, he’s patient, he’s...” Kaveh’s voice trailed off as he stared down into the soapy water. Mehrak crawled down to his wrist and turned to face him knowingly, but stayed quiet.

     “I’m happy for you, Kaveh- sorry, Kav.”

     “No, no. Kaveh’s fine,” he reassured, placing another dish on the drying rack. He then wiped his hand on a towel and very gently pet Mehrak.

     “...I see,” she responded knowingly, her grin creeping into her voice. Behind him, Kaveh heard the cookie trays being lifted off the counter and placed into the oven. “On the topic of nicknames, I want to talk to you about your sister.”

     “You’d be better off asking Furina. We don’t talk all that much,” he confessed quietly.

     “She’s still your sister. Besides, she’s going through the same issues you went through as a kid: she’s quiet, she isolates herself, she doesn’t have many friends, the kids at her school don’t like her, and then there’s the issue of your mother... if she could be called that. You know much better than Furina where that road leads.” His aunt sighed and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “Just talk to her, okay? You were lucky. She might not be.”

     “...Alright.” He let silence dominate the air for a moment before finally attempting to ask, “Do you think she’s-”

     “We’re back!” Faruzan called as she opened the door. The smell of deli meats wafted into the apartment, and the crew gathered in the living room. Faruzan looked through the bag of sandwiches and the labels on each, then passed them out. “Kaveh, Furina, we got you these turkey, brie, and fig jam sandwiches. They seemed fancy enough for your tastes. Miss Rosalyne, you seemed like you’d enjoy the Caesar wrap special they’re doing this week. Oh, here’s the spinach wrap and the grilled chicken sandwich.”

     “We brought spicy chips, too,” Esmé added, bringing them out of a separate bag.

     “Oh, hell yeah,” Furina delighted, immediately picking up her sandwich, unwrapping it, and taking a large bite.  The rest of the group followed in her footsteps and dug into their sandwiches. Soon enough, Furina opened the chips, although...

     “Why the actual fuck would you open them from the bottom?” Kaveh asked, nearly dropping his sandwich in dismay.

     “Because all the seasoning goes to the bottom, so it’s the best part of the bag! It’s simple physics,” she explained, crossing her arms and pouting.

     “No... that’s just... no,” Esmé frowned, looking just as distraught as Kaveh was.

     “That is an actual, federal crime. I’m calling the cops,” Faruzan agreed.

     “Anyways,” Rosalyne interrupted coolly, smiling at the mild chaos, “I think we should catch up, since we likely won’t get the chance to do this again anytime soon. Mausbär, youngest first.”

     “What? Um... I mean, I’m doing a project on the Black Widow before school starts. The instructions are pretty vague; the teacher just wants us to present to introduce ourselves.”

     “The spider, or the hero?” Kaveh asked, picking up Mehrak from his shoulder and showing her to his sister. “You could bring in a living example. Bonus points.”

     “The hero- I really don’t get how you and Miss Furina hold her so casually. What if she bites you?”

     “Wouldn’t be the first time,” Furina quipped as she took a chip from the bag. “Anyways, I’m working on a debut album for this kid. Recording starts soon, so I’ll probably be at whatever studio she chooses more often than I’ll be here.”

     “Ooh, what genre?”

     “Gay pop.”

     “Ah.” Faruzan sighed, then look up at Kaveh mischievously. “You’re next. What does your date like to do? Is he a bad boy? Oh, I’ve got it: he’s a criminal, and this is an enemies to lovers story.”

     “Wh-?” Kaveh started before deciding it wasn’t worth it. He sighed and crumpled his sandwich paper into a ball. “I mean, he’s never been arrested...”

     “Ah, good, he hid the bodies. I can respect that,” Rosalyne teased.

     “I wouldn’t say they were very hidden, actually.”

     “What?”

     “What?”

     “As long as you’re being safe. I’m ashamed, I’ve got nothing new going on,” Faruzan mused.

     “Welcome to the being old club. All the kids go out and have new experiences, but we're stuck living the same old lives," Rosalyne joked, smiling at the group warmly. "Now, what's our next step in preparing my nephew for his big date?"

     "Hair would be the best option. It still looks a bit damp, but I can use a hair dryer. If you keep an eye on the cookies, the rest of us can try to find out more about this mysterious guy Kaveh's courting," Faruzan responded. She wrapped up her sandwich paper and threw it in the old plastic bag the sandwiches had been brought in, then wrapped up the chips. The rest of the group followed her actions and split, with Faruzan heading to the bathroom for a hair dryer, Mehrak and Furina going back to the latter's chair to fix the jeans, Rosalyne going back to the kitchen to tend to the cookies, and Esmé sitting nearby to do more research on the Black Widow. Kaveh pulled the ring out of his pocket and slipped it back on, sighing at the feeling of cool metal.

     "So, why this guy?" Faruzan asked once she returned. She plugged the device into the outlet nearest Kaveh and gestured for him to sit closer. "We know what you think of him, but give us some warm memories the two of you have shared."

     "Isn't that a bit personal?" Kaveh returned with a chuckle, adjusting his body so she could work on him better. He flinched at the sound of the hair dryer turning on, but melted at the feeling of warm air against his scalp and hands moving carefully through his hair. He let his mind wander until he imagined Faruzan's hands as Alhaitham's, after which he promptly brought himself back down to Earth.

     Once his hair was sufficiently dry, Faruzan turned off the dryer and unplugged it before returning, "It doesn't have to be. Just give us something he did for you or something he said."

     "Well... he saved my life," Kaveh sheepishly admitted. Faruzan's fingers stilled in his hair for a moment before returning to pushing the strands about, trying to find the perfect style.

     "Did he stop you from getting hit by another truck?" Furina teased from her perch, then let out a squeak of surprise as she poked herself with her needle.

     "What do you mean, another?" Esmé interrupted with evident concern. "Kav, were you hit by a truck?"

     Furina looked like she was about to poke more fun, but her voice suddenly cut through his mind quietly: "Was it related to those bruises on your neck?" She must have taken Kaveh's total silence as a yes, because she changed her question to, "Is it one of our coworkers?"

     "Yes," Kaveh responded, internally applauding Furina's use of their coded "Is it a Spider?". He then continued, "He's one of the newer ones. I didn't care for him at first, but we've gotten close."

     "Hold this. Furina, I wasn't aware you were still working at the lab," Faruzan commented as she had Kaveh hold his hair in place.

     "There are less guests after the ownership transfer, and I still get paid to work on music in my downtime. And... the jeans are done. My job's taken care of."

     "That makes two of us. What do you guys think? I was trying to go for this messy, braided sort of style."

     "I like it," Esmé commented. "It's my turn now, right? Would you guys mind giving us some space for sibling bonding?”

     The pair nodded and entered the kitchen, leaving the siblings together in the living room. Esmé approached Kaveh with her makeup bag and sat on his left first.

     “So... you excited for school?” Kaveh asked politely.

     “Not at all,” Esmé responded, her voice a melancholic chuckle and her face twisted in anxiety. “I wanted to ask you something.”

     “Oh. Yeah, of course,” he replied, trying to keep a comforting air about him. “You okay?”

     “Yeah, just... home stuff. Was Mom okay with you being... this?” Esmé asked, gesturing vaguely from the makeup to him.

     “Do you mean gay, male, or astonishingly attractive?” Kaveh joked, but sighed when his sister’s face scrunched. “I’m sure I already know, but why are you asking?”

     “Kids have always known I don’t fit in, but... let me start over. There’s a popular girl in my school, and for some reason, she’s my girlfriend. There was a culture day in my geography class, and we met because she’s also a Pacific Islander. Unfortunately, people really don’t like us being together. When she’s gay, it’s iconic and she’s brave. When I’m gay, they threaten to tell my parents if I tell anyone about what they’re doing.” Esmé swept her brush against Kaveh’s eyelid and frowned. Her voice was barely a whisper as she continued, “I just wanted to know if I had to worry about Mom kicking me out.”

     “If I were you, I wouldn’t. Mom adores you. Besides, if she’s missing both of her kids, that’d be a bad look,” Kaveh reassured, pushing some of her hair out of her face. “Furina and I would be happy to take you in, though.”

     “I thought you hated me,” she mumbled back. If Kaveh were anyone else, he likely wouldn’t have heard it, but he didn’t have that luxury.

     “What do you mean?” he questioned, trying to meet his sister’s eyes. “Why would I hate you?”

     “Mom says you left because you hated me. She said you were jealous of the attention she gave me and Dad, so you tried making up stories about him and ignored me.” She was on the brink of tears as she spoke. Her hands trembled, and she forced herself to put her brush down.

     “I left because it was for the better. I was in a lot of bad situations living with your dad, so I got out to protect myself. I didn’t want to leave you behind; I almost stayed for your sake,” Kaveh confessed, leaving out a lot of major details.

     “Why did you call him my dad? He’s your dad too...”

     Kaveh heaved a deep sigh. Of course their mom hadn’t told her that they were half-siblings. He quickly grabbed his phone and pulled up an old family photo he’d gotten scanned. He wasn’t in it, but their mother was visibly pregnant with him. He passed his phone to Esmé, whose face went through a mix of shock, confusion, and sadness.

     “If you swipe left a bit, there should be a photo of him in uniform,” Kaveh advised, picking up her mirror and checking her progress. Even though very little had been done, it was still clear she was good at the art.

     “Who’s this?” she asked, passing his phone back. The screen now showed a picture of him with Alhaitham, who had fallen asleep at his desk before college finals.

     “That is my ex-boyfriend. I had to put him to bed directly after. Looking back on it, I don’t blame him for passing out there. He had a doctor’s appointment that day, so I’m sure he was exhausted.”

     “People are exhausting,” Esmé agreed. “Okay, let me wrap this up. The cookies smell like they’ll be done soon, and I’d like them warm.”

     Within the half-hour, she had finished his makeup and skipped off to the kitchen in excitement. He opened his phone camera and gasped softly at his reflection. He was almost unrecognisable, but in a good way. His face looked softer and less tired. He didn’t look like he despised the person staring back at him; he looked trustworthy and kind. He looked like a real hero.

     “And what are we examining so thoroughly?” Furina asked as she entered the room, two cookies in hand.

     “Just the fact that my sister is an amazing artist.”

     “She barely did anything. Granted, you do look great, but it’s a very natural look.”

     Kaveh took one of the cookies from Furina and bit into it thoughtfully. The subtle butter flavour mixed with the slight pang of salt nearly melted on his tongue, and it made him grateful that his aunt was there in the first place. After swallowing, he argued, “Just look at me, ‘Rina. For once, I don’t look like I hate living.”

     “I hate to burst your bubble, but you haven’t looked that way in a while. I would know; you looked like you hated being alive when we met. Trust me when I say you’ve slowly been getting better every day for the past few weeks,” she replied casually, then bit into her own cookie. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you’re happy. It’s refreshing. I just don’t think you realise you’re genuinely happy for, like, the first time in your life.”

     “I’ve been happy before!”

     “Yeah? When?” Furina teased and gently nudged him.

     “I was happy when my dad was alive and for a few years after Alhaitham and I got together, so there,” Kaveh triumphantly declared. At the mention of his ex’s name, though, Furina flickered briefly and seemed to withdraw into herself. Before she could dismiss it, he asked, “What’s wrong?”

     “Ever the detective, aren’t you?” She sighed, and the next thing he knew, she was looking away and her voice was in his head, saying, “It’s getting worse. The voices have been getting louder- I think they’re planning something. I’m worried about how everything will turn out. If this guy that you’re interested in ends up...”

     “He’ll be okay. He’s not sick. He’s strong, strong enough to defend himself from this. Besides, you’re still the only Spider to have gotten sick. The rest of us can defend ourselves from a little space goop, unlike you-”

     “Oh, shut up!” Furina said, grabbing a nearby pillow and hitting him in the head with it. “I saved your ass, don’t forget it! That little outbreak could have gotten a lot worse if I hadn’t erased the source.”

     “Are you two seriously fighting again?” Faruzan’s voice called from the kitchen. “It’s a happy day, a day of celebration, and you two are only bickering.”

     “He started it!” Furina accused, only to receive a strong thwack on the back of her head from the pillow. “See?!”

     “Yeah, and I’m ending it. Are you ready for your aunt, Kav?”

     “Sure, whatever,” he grumbled teasingly. Faruzan called for Rosalyne, who then came out into the living room and sat in front of him.

     “I didn't bring any polish except for a clear coat, so we’re going for a modest look.”

     “Got it. Furina, can you put on a movie or something?”

     “You know, I would, but I’m suddenly so sleepy,” she replied sarcastically, slipping down to lean on his shoulder. “I think you gave me a concussion.”

     “If you're concussed, you need to stay awake. Get off.” Kaveh shook his shoulder, but she remained firmly planted on him.

     “Good effort, really, but you can't move dead weight.”

     “Trust me, you can.” In retaliation, he dropped his own head onto hers and locked himself in place. She squirmed against him and tried to wriggle away, but it turned out months ago that his Spider powers were better than hers. Whether it was a gender thing or a chronological thing, they couldn't be certain, but it was a blessing in the sort of sibling rivalry they had with each other.

     “Okay, I surrender. Let me up, I’ll put on your dumb movie.”

     “I would, but that whole thing just took me out. My eyes are so heavy,” he complained, slumping more weight onto her whilst keeping his hand steady. If he messed up his aunt’s concentration, that’d be a fatal mistake. “I’ll just take a little nap, and then you can get up.”

     “Come on, my phone and headphones are in the other room, and you snore. Let me up,” she whined. Kaveh couldn't see her face, but from her tone, he could tell she was pouting.

     “Mm-mm. It’ll be such a quick nap. You won't even notice.”

     It was not, in fact, a quick nap. It wasn’t meant to be a nap at all, but he couldn't be blamed for being exhausted. People were exhausting, not to mention the fact he still wasn't sleeping well. By the time he woke up, everyone except Furina had left the apartment, and he could tell his nails were long since dry. Speaking of his roommate, she’d fallen asleep on his shoulder and was breathing softly. He did his best to slip away, and once he did so successfully, he draped a blanket over her and went to his room to change into the rest of his clothes.

     “Are you leaving?” Mehrak asked from some unknown location. Kaveh slipped into the rest of the outfit Furina had set out, including the jeans someone else must have moved and his cigarettes from a drawer, and sighed.

     “Mhm. I’ll see you tomorrow. Be good for ‘Rina, and don’t worry about me. Love you.”

     “I love you too. Be safe.”

     As quietly as he could, Kaveh opened a portal to Nowhere in front of Diluc’s café, only to find Hu Tao and Yanfei waiting to order. The former had their hair in space buns and was wearing a navy star-patterned sweater. They also had spacey makeup dusting their cheeks, and further analysis showed that they also painted their nails. Yanfei, however, was wearing a long trench coat and a black turtleneck not unlike something the head scientist would wear. She also carried a guitar case on her back, and her hair was done in its usual formal style. When they noticed him, they enthusiastically waved him over with smiles.

     “Hey KK, you look great!” Yanfei greeted warmly. “Going on a date or something?”

     “No way, you know it’s not like that. What’s up with the guitar?”

     “It’s mine!” Hu Tao chirruped, waving excitedly. “It’s for Cyno, though. Trust me, I’d play myself, but my nails are too long and just got done. We’re grabbing drinks and food for everyone, but we can’t decide between mozzarella sticks or something with garlic. Your thoughts?”

     “Get the sticks, they still taste good even if Diluc’s in a mood,” he decided. “What drinks were you getting for everyone?”

     “Nothing too special, mostly the same drinks everyone always gets. Nari’s green tea, my sweet tea, Cyno’s horchata... I think Fei’s getting milk and honey today. Warm, of course. I think Alhaitham likes chai tea, if I recall correctly. Did you want some kind of spiked coffee?”

     “Hot chocolate today. No alcohol.”

     “Geez, are you sure you’re our Cakes? Are there two Black Widows? First you glam yourself up, now you’re saying you don’t want your favourite beverage in the whole world?” Hu Tao teased, looking dramatically between him and Yanfei.

     “Hey, the only reason I look like this is because my friends and family went overboard, okay? They did a great job, sure, but this isn’t a date.”

     “I can take whoever’s next,” Diluc called from behind the counter. The three went up to the counter, and Yanfei placed the order while Kaveh and Hu Tao continued arguing about whether or not it was a triple date. After the order had been placed, Yanfei turned around and crossed her arms.

     “If the one going on the date says it isn’t a date, then legally it isn’t a date. Anyways, sorry Tao, but Diluc says the oven isn’t working for cookies. Miza’s offered to work on it tomorrow, but for now...”

     “The oven’s not working?” Kaveh asked, confused. One of the rules of Nowhere was that appliances never broke. “Sorry, I need to check on something. Be right back.”

     “Wait, Cakes-!”

     He walked away and turned a corner, and when he was sure no one was watching, he summoned the cat’s cradle that controlled the dimension. It still had a semblance of structure, but it was clearly breaking apart and returning to its original state. He took a deep breath to clear his mind, then worked the string back into its correct form. Despite that, it felt like there was a lump in the string, as if something that was never meant to be there had suddenly worked its way in. Despite attempts to remove it, it remained firm, so the only thing he could do was make it less noticeable and work it into the string evenly. Functionally, he made the knot into a rule, but he had no idea what exactly the rule entailed. Sensing someone’s approach, he decided not to dwell on it and dispersed the string.

     “You know, if you’d woken me up, I could’ve told you that Rosie left us about a dozen cookies. Instead, I’ll have to eat them all myself,” Furina mused, Kaveh’s backup transporter locked around her wrist. She then tossed him the bag of cookies and asked, “You good?”

     He caught the bag easily and looked at her in confusion. “Yeah, why?”

     “I don’t know, something feels off about this place... it feels like something bad’s about to happen. Like something dangerous was just given full control. And... it’s getting closer- Kaveh, what did you do?”

     “What do you mean?” Kaveh urged, but his voice came across as more of a plead. “Furina, what is getting closer?”

     She doubled over and grabbed at her head. Her pupils seemed to shake as they darted for something to focus on. With a strained voice, she responded, “I don’t know, but it’s going to destroy everything if you don’t-”

     “Kav?” Alhaitham called, rounding the corner. He wore a leather jacket over a white shirt and navy jeans. Upon making eye contact, they both smiled faintly. However, noticing Furina, he frowned and asked, “Is she okay?”

     “I don’t know, this just started happening. She gets headaches whenever I come back too soon after a mission, but this is worse than that,” Kaveh responded, voice quiet with worry. He moved to place a hand on her shoulder, and she looked back at him with some semblance of clarity. Her gaze shifted to Alhaitham when Kaveh felt her heave. Trying to figure out what happened, he asked, “Are you okay? I know this is sudden, but-”

     “There is something seriously wrong with you- you're disgusting. God, I’m going to be sick,” she muttered, then opened the portal home and staggered through it. After the portal closed, a mortified Kaveh glanced at Alhaitham, who was staring at the ground dejectedly. Feeling guilty, he passed the cookies to his friend with a gentle smile.

     “Your universe’s version of me was pretty terrible, wasn’t he?” Alhaitham softly asked. Kaveh laughed, assuming it was a joke, and that seemed to cheer him up. “You look nice, by the way. I almost feel underdressed.”

     “Ah, don’t. That girl, she’s my roommate, and she got my best friend, my sister, and my aunt to help me get ready. She makes mountains out of molehills so often that you’d think she formed Appalachia.”

     Alhaitham laughed, then responded, “I didn’t know you had a sister, much less an aunt. I feel like your mom would have mentioned them.”

     “I wouldn’t expect her to have mentioned my aunt, since she’s just a work friend of my dad. Not talking about Esmé, though, that’s a weird one... not quite as weird as her actually talking to you; Is she not homophobic in your universe?”

     “Considering she’s married to my transfemme boss, I’m going to say no.”

     “She’s what?”

     “Her name is Katalina, and she would hire a gay, Arab American college student if he were a good fit for the job. Respect her,” Alhaitham teased, though there was some truth behind it.

     “I respect her identity, trust me. I just... wish my mom could have met my boyfriend. And, well, not freaked out. My aunt was always more of a mom to me.”

     “Maybe you could come to my universe and meet them.”

     “I don’t think that’s such a good idea-”

     “Oh, I see what’s going on here,” Hu Tao said, having snuck around the corner and nearly giving both of them a heart attack. She then turned and called, “Guys, they’re flirting again!”

     “Tao, we aren’t flirting. Kav and I are just friends,” Alhaitham said, then exited their hiding place and met with the others. Kaveh lingered behind, heart fluttering in his chest. Alhaitham was right, they were just friends. But what if they were more?

     Shit, he let Furina get in his head again.

     He followed him out and saw the group, minus Cyno, joking around and laughing happily. Standing outside the crowd, he pulled out his phone and took a photo of them, then mixed in with the merriment.

     “If everyone’s ready, Cyno said we could open a door to his dimension and that he’d be at the watchpoint. We good?” Tighnari asked, swishing his tail behind him. He was dressed the plainest of all of them in a thick turtleneck, harem pants, and combat boots.

     “We good. Leggo!” Hu Tao cheered, opening an indigo portal and at once jumping through. Yanfei followed her partner, and Tighnari followed her, leaving Kaveh and Alhaitham to cross through together, intertwining their fingers slightly. As soon as they entered the other dimension and looked up, their breath was nearly taken away.

     “Stars.”

     Thousands and thousands of stars.

     They dotted the sky like the freckles of a goddess. Shades of blue and white pierced the inky darkness like small explosions, colouring the ground beneath them with the midnight hues of space. Kaveh reached a hand upward as if to touch them, but they were far out of his reach. Even so, for the very first time in his life, it felt as though he could reach out and touch the moon itself.

     “Sorry, guys,” Cyno’s voice cut in. He wore harem pants matching Tighnari’s and a tank top. How he wasn't cold was anybody’s guess. “It looks like they closed off the gates, and I left my web shooters back home. Anyone else got theirs?”

     It was at that point Kaveh noticed the large stone wall beside him. The barbed wire on the top looked unnecessarily painful to cross over, and the gate was closed shut. If one of them had their web shooters, they could get on top of the watch tower and help the others, but it seemed no one had theirs- scratch that, Alhaitham was taking off his jacket and tying it around his waist, so maybe his web shooters were under- nope, double scratch that. He was wearing a baseball-style shirt, which effectively revealed that the only thing on his wrist was his transporter. Seeing this, Cyno sighed and turned to walk back to the village, presumably to get someone to open it.

     “Hang on, I’ve got it.”

     Somehow, without web shooters, Alhaitham shot a line from his wrist to the watchtower, then jumped and landed not-so-gracefully on its roof. Despite this, Kaveh and the other Spiders on the ground stared up in awe, even as Alhaitham stuck the string to the roof and sent the rest down.

     “Did that come out of you?! ...What’s it made of?” Hu Tao asked, only to get hit gently on the back of the head by Yanfei.

     “Life’s too short to not touch another man’s congealed cum,” Cyno declared as he tightly grabbed the string.

     “It’s just web fluid,” Alhaitham called down. When Cyno was about halfway up, the next person was gestured forward, which happened to be Hu Tao. “From what I’ve studied, it’s made up almost identically to human bones, plus some spidery stuff. It’s pretty durable, but heavier and thicker than whatever you guys use.”

     “Yeah, okay, I fuck with that,” Yanfei said, beginning her ascent when Cyno safely reached the top. “I just can’t believe I’m stuck being normal-ish again.”

     “Normal is safe! Normal keeps us protected,” Hu Tao reassured, soon reaching the top. They took Yanfei’s hand and helped her up once their girlfriend was close enough, tipping a false hat and closing, “That’s what you always say, milady.”

     “Never call me that again.”

     Kaveh laughed softly as he climbed the silk, looking up to his destination fondly. Wherever they were going, whatever the journey, he could look forward to it. He reached the top and anchored an arm to pull himself up when Alhaitham extended his hand to him. His head was cocked slightly to the side, and he was looking down with a sort of softness Kaveh could pretend was love. Their hands linked as they were brought together onto the roof, only to cross the line over to the other side so they could get down somewhat safely. Their hands never unclasped until they had to separate, and even then Alhaitham looked back somewhat longingly before slipping down. Once everyone had their feet on the ground, Cyno led the way further from the wall, and conversation picked up amongst them.

     “…Nice weather we’re having.”

     “Archons above, dude.”

     “I mean, I think it’s a fair statement. There’re no clouds or anything,” Hu Tao argued.

     “Hu Tao we are in the desert- also, Nari, what's an Archon?” Yanfei asked, looking at the semi-human curiously.

     “They're the gods of my universe. You guys don't have gods?”

     “I can't speak for everyone,” Cyno responded, “but there are myths for us. Personally, though, I don’t believe in any sort of god. Wouldn't they have protected us?”

     “Cynical… but I get it. Maybe they can't intervene?” Hu Tao suggested, then gazed upwards. “Maybe they're human, just like us. Not fully, but… you know. Maybe they’re trying their best.”

     “Maybe the Spiders are gods. Us, I mean,” Yanfei replied. “Alhaitham, penny for your thoughts?”

     “Maybe he’s on our side. Maybe she’s not. Maybe they’re not even real. The concept of God is awfully human of us, isn’t it? Putting labels on beings higher than us,” he answered with all his usual snarky wisdom. Despite the attitude in his voice, he looked at Kaveh softly and smiled that dopey smile, the one that put Kaveh’s organs in a washing machine. “What about you, Kav?”

     He almost wanted to kick himself for his own attitude as he scoffed, “God’s a standoffish bitch who throws a fit when Her plans don't go perfectly and makes it everyone else's problem.”

     “…Well, then.”

     “I didn't really… I mean that I’m with Cyno. It’s a god. If this is some kind of sick test, what's being tested? If someone will step up, given the opportunity? The fact we've gotten almost no help except for each other just shows that if there is a god, it's lazy.”

     “If I didn't know any better, I’d say you've met God. Since it’s a controversial subject, how about this: what were all of you afraid of when you were really young? Or, hell, maybe as pre-teens,” Yanfei suggested, then contributed, “I was afraid of being falsely accused, so much so that I did everything I could so that everyone I knew would defend me.”

     “Aw, I would have loved to meet your little self being all nice and helpful. This one's probably self-explanatory; I was afraid of turning into a flower,” Hu Tao followed up with, gently nudging their girlfriend to reassure both of them.

     “I can’t say I was really afraid of anything… I’d just get twitchy whenever I wasn’t in my bedroom with my glow-in-the-dark stars. I don't know if that counts as a fear or not,” Tighnari mused, flitting both his tail and his ears.

     “Nari, your spores,” Cyno coughed, covering his mouth and nose with a hand.

     “Oh, sorry.”

     “You’re okay. I was a basic kid living in the desert: quicksand.”

     Kaveh hummed and drummed his fingers against himself. Smiling as he decided on his word choice, he added, “I think mine was the most unrealistic here. Deathly afraid of secret mines in my house or at the park. It was difficult to take me anywhere. I think that got replaced when I was ten, maybe eleven.”

     “Needles for me. Getting me vaccinated was difficult for my grandmother. I had to be held down until I was about fourteen, and until I was seventeen, I would do whatever I could to avoid appointments altogether. Which reminds me, I should schedule my appointment for this year,” Alhaitham concluded.

     Kaveh walked closer to him and locked just their fingertips together, then squeezed gently. He dropped his voice to a whisper and asked, “Want me to come with?”

     Alhaitham chuckled, the warm air of his breath penetrating the cold night. “I’m alright. Your support is appreciated, though.”

     “Aw, you really have grown up. I’m almost disappointed,” Kaveh pouted.

     “Why? You have an interest in watching grown men try not to cry at pharmacies?”

     “Maybe it’s a kink.”

     “Ah, maybe you should join me then.”

     “Watch it, Spider-Man. I know your tricks.”

     “Oh?” Alhaitham expressed coyly, a smirk playing at his lips as he cast his gaze to Kaveh. “And what are my tricks?”

     “You-”

     “We’re here,” Cyno called, stopping the group near a radio tower at the edge of a cliff. “This thing is a remnant of the old world. Surprisingly, it’s still structurally sound. My universe’s Kaveh set it up to send out a pulse to scare off the bigger animals every few minutes, so we’ll be safe here. Yanfei, pass the guitar?”

     “Aye aye, captain. If you drop it, I think Tao will slaughter you.”

     “Would you defend her in a court of law?” Cyno asked, taking the guitar and sitting against one of the tower legs. He plucked the strings and tuned them accordingly as the others found their places.

     “All I’ll say is that the quicksand got you. Whether she pushed you in or not, I couldn’t see.” Yanfei took a seat beside Hu Tao, who had found their own seat beside Cyno and the guitar. Tighnari dangled his legs over the edge and laid down on the sand, making sure to set the food and drinks down nearby. Kaveh and Alhaitham sat behind them, the former dangling his head over the edge and the latter sitting awfully close beside him. The guitar music slowly began, Hu Tao using her phone to show Cyno sheet music.

     “Please don’t fall,” Alhaitham muttered, pulling a piece of hair out of his face to stare at Kaveh. “I don’t know if I could catch you.”

     “Sure you could. I trust you.”

     “It’s not about trust, just... just be careful.”

     Alhaitham sighed and looked at the stars wistfully. With a playful smirk, Kaveh locked his fingers onto the ground and started pushing himself closer to the edge, casually saying, “I’m falling.”

     His friend glanced over, and within the next instant, he was pulled away from the edge. He could feel fingers pressing against his neck, searching for something- a pulse. Alhaitham was searching for his pulse.

     “I’m good, dude. Are you okay?” Kaveh asked, batting away his hand.

     “Kaveh, seriously. Don’t. Do. That.” Alhaitham sighed, sounding almost angry. He turned away, but Kaveh could still see the starlight sparkling in his eyes.

     He snuck over to Yanfei and gently tapped her on the shoulder. She turned her head slightly and asked, “What’s up?”

     “How did Alhaitham’s boyfriend die?”

     “He said he fell from a high place. Give me those cookies from your roommate, and I’ll pass you your hot chocolate and his chai. And why not, you’ll get two mozzarella sticks.”

     “How did you-”

     “Lawyer. Clock’s ticking.” With a huff, Kaveh passed her the bag of cookies. True to her word, she passed back the drinks and the mozzarella sticks and cheekily commented, “Pleasure doing business with you.”

     Kaveh snuck back over to where Alhaitham was sitting and placed his chai by his side. His eyes flicked a glance toward the cup, but that was the only acknowledgement he gave it. Kaveh sighed and sat against Alhaitham’s back, gazing at the stars in the opposite direction.

     “I’m sorry.”

     “Hm.”

     He passed one of the mozzarella sticks over their shoulders and offered, “Peace treaty?”

     “What is this?” he asked. Even so, he took the stick from Kaveh.

     “Mozzar-hella stick.”

     Alhaitham scoffed out a small laugh and again asked, “Any reason you said it like that?”

     “Because Diluc makes them hella good,” Kaveh answered, then took a bite of his. The cheese practically seeped out of the open wound in the breading, forcing Kaveh to tip it upwards to retain its contents.

     “I see.” Kaveh heard the distinct crunch of the stick behind him, followed by a long moment of silence. Only after he had put the second half of his mozzarella stick in his mouth did Alhaitham continue, “I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that; you don’t know what happened. I’m so-”

     “Don’t you dare,” Kaveh interjected, mouth still full of cheese and breading. “Sorry, I know it’s rude to talk with a full mouth...” he said, taking the pause to swallow. “...But don’t apologise. You told me not to mess around near the cliff edge, and I pushed you anyways. That’s on me. Doesn’t matter if I didn’t know, I shouldn’t have done it.”

     “Mm,” Alhaitham hummed, less dismissively than before. “You’ve changed.”

     “Have I really?”

     “I believe so.” He leaned his head back to lay on Kaveh’s shoulder, to which Kaveh mirrored. He felt his jaw move against his cheek as he spoke: “It wasn’t really about you getting near the cliff’s edge. The way gravity works, your neck was hanging there, and... I told the group that he fell from some high scaffolding, but that wasn’t the full truth. I- I tried to catch him. With my web. And it worked, he didn’t hit the ground, but...”

     “You snapped his neck,” Kaveh concluded. He pressed his cheek against Alhaitham in reassurance, but it didn’t feel like enough. Reluctantly, he recalled, “So long as we’re confessing to our sins, I’m sure you’ve already figured out that this whole Venom thing is my fault. I damned us all by opening that portal. Regardless, that means my universe was ground zero for the attacks. What you don’t know, and will thankfully never have to deal with, is the passive Venom sickness. We eradicated it pretty quickly, and the only thing we can’t get ahead of is the mutating active Venom. Best we can do is keep taking down anyone who mutates from it. My original point: I mentioned to you and the group that despite giving him the cure, he died, but that wasn’t the whole truth. There was an original form of the cure that I was supposed to get cloned, but I stopped by his hospital room. I would have killed... god, probably billions of others if he hadn’t woken up. But I didn’t care. For a long time, I regretted letting him stop me. So. At least you’re not me.”

     “Grief can make us do and think terrible things. You have a lot more strength than I do.”

     “Maybe it has to do with the fact you loved him more than I loved mine,” he suggested, sounding almost pathetic in the way he delivered it.

     “I’ve been wanting to ask about that.”

     “…Then ask.”

     Alhaitham gave his usual soft laugh and seemingly nuzzled closer to him, although he could have just been readjusting. “Why don’t you like him? How long were you two together?”

     “Roughly five years. Met at a New Year’s party. That’s all I’ll say though; I don’t know if I’m ready to tell you the rest.” Kaveh pulled himself away from Alhaitham reluctantly, his back feeling dreadfully cold afterward. He faced his body to his left, to which Alhaitham faced his body to his right so they were sitting beside each other, both facing the endless desert. “I’m hiding a lot from you, I fear.”

     “Is that so? Would you care to elaborate?”

     This was it. They were alone under a beautiful sky, and if he didn’t let Alhaitham know how he felt now, he never would. He first reached a hand forward to cup his jaw and keep it in place, and, by the adrenaline of his beating heart, rushed forward and kissed him gently on the cheek. He kept his head close as his impulsiveness wore off, leaving him ashamed and guilty. If he could see himself, he just knew he’d be flickering again.

     “Kav...”

     “Forgive me...” he choked out, holding back tears. “I am a selfish, shallow fool.”

     Kaveh allowed the invisibility to take full hold and moved away. Alhaitham looked around for him, but he was gone. He’d silently climbed the tower and found purchase near the top. The view was stunning from so high up, and the ground seemed to evaporate below him.

     From his pocket, he pulled out one of his cigarettes and his lighter. The latter was last year's Christmas gift from Furina. It was in the style of one of those old-timey ones and had a blue butterfly wing design upon it, and he carried it wherever his cigarettes went. He used it to light the cigarette, as he had done so many times before, and gently inhaled the smoke. It burned his lungs perfectly, the stinging pain setting into him and making him feel less awful about himself. For a fleeting time, it killed the loneliness in his heart.

     When he was almost done with the cigarette, a certain someone crept up and sat upwind of him. Feeling guilty, Kaveh refused to make eye contact and just took another puff of his cigarette.

     “I think you already know, but I’ll say it anyways: That’s a bad habit.” Alhaitham reached up and looked like he was about to move Kaveh’s hair out of his face, but hesitated and dropped his hand at the last moment. “How long?”

     “...Since my birthday.”

     “I wish you’d said something sooner.”

     Kaveh took the last puff of his cigarette, then extinguished it on his own hand. “Why?”

     “You’d said you weren’t interested. As such, any feelings we shared got buried and hidden. If you’d told me sooner, we could have fixed it.”

     “What is there to fix, Alhaitham? I’m trying to do better, to be better, but it’s not working. I fall back on pushing boundaries and sulking because, deep down, there is something wrong with me. I am not built for intimacy; I am built to fight and make people feel better about themselves. There is something wrong with me, and I am pushing my feelings down to protect you.”

     “Then stop protecting me. I want to feel the full attack of your emotions, and I want to be here when the onslaught is over. Neither of us have to bear this alone,” Alhaitham declared, grasping Kaveh’s hands, intentionally sweeping away the ashes that had fallen from the cigarette. “You will never be alone. As much as you may try, you cannot push me away. I refuse to lose another person I care about. So, I’m staying with you.”

     “What do you stand to gain from this? What is the-” Kaveh started, only to make the mistake of looking up from Alhaitham’s hands to his eyes.

     Oh.

     That’s what.

     “You... are... absolutely unbelievable.”

     “Is that a bad thing?” Alhaitham asked, tilting his head to the side and giving a slight smirk. Kaveh scoffed and was about to make a retort when his skin ran over cool metal on Alhaitham’s fingers. He pulled their intertwined hands closer for a better look, and it turned out to be two rings on each of his middle fingers. One was a simple silver band, while the other was inlaid with orange citrine and teal tourmaline, matching Alhaitham’s eyes.

     “I didn't realise you wore these until now. Any special meaning to them, or do you just like them?”

     “Ah, the rings,” Alhaitham remarked with a smile. He was compliant in letting Kaveh examine them and explained, “The one on my right is from my boss. He gave it to me when he was packing his things up after losing his job. It was his old wedding band, but his husband had been dead for a while. The one on the left was a gift from my Kaveh. Nilou gave him a pair of old promise rings, and they happened to fit us.”

     Yeah, that’s bullshit, Kaveh thought. The citrine just happened to be in the middle while the tourmaline branched out around it, just like Alhaitham’s eyes did. Maybe that other Kaveh wasn't as pure as he seemed. But that was his problem, not Kaveh’s. Instead, he shrugged and complimented, “They suit you. I’m glad you still care about and honour them.”

     “Of course. This way, I know they're always with me. But what's your story with your own ring? It’s beautiful; under this starlight, your eyes look just like it.”

     “My ring?” he asked, pulling his hands away and twisting them to find what he meant.

     “This one,” Alhaitham clarified, taking up Kaveh’s hands in his own and moving them to show off his engagement ring. Oh. He’d honestly forgotten he was wearing it.

     “If you like it, you can keep it. Really,” he said, taking off the ring and curling it around the other’s fingers. It felt almost... nice to be rid of the thing.

     “Are you sure? This looks special.”

     “Positive. You’ll love it more than I ever did.”

     He hummed to himself for a second, then passed that beautiful citrine ring to Kaveh. “An equivalent exchange,” he claimed.

     “I’ll have to make this into a necklace, then. Nothing that fits on your baseball glove hands will ever fit my slender, princess hands,” Kaveh teased, slotting his fingers between Alhaitham’s and pressing their palms. With his other hand, he slipped the ring into his pocket, to which Alhaitham followed suit.

     “Baseball glove hands? I’m offended.”

     “My apologies, then.” Kaveh turned his body, manoeuvred their hands to a better position, and leaned against Alhaitham’s chest. He could hear and feel the steady pulse of his heartbeat under his ear. His nose was touching Alhaitham’s collarbone just right, and he could feel soft breaths tousling his hair and pulling him into sleep. Without thinking, he murmured, “I wish we could stay like this forever.”

     “I agree with you, but... nothing lasts forever, Kav.”

     “Yeah, I know.” As he laid there, he felt Alhaitham shift slightly, then his leather jacket was draped over the both of them like a blanket. Above them, it felt like the stars began to move, only for them to realise it was the beginning of a meteor shower. Not wanting to bring up bad memories, he closed his eyes and started letting sleep take him, but not without claiming, “Nowhere lasts forever.”

     “...Goodnight, Kaveh.”

     “Night, Haitham.”

Chapter Text

     ‘Overall, everything looks good. It seems like the advice we gave you is helping to calm it down. We’re about halfway done making the cure for your specific mutation, and then you should be rid of it. We’ll have you come down in a month or when it’s finished; whichever comes first.’

     ‘Thanks, Yoi,’ Alhaitham signed, shortening her namesign to just the Y moving up. She smiled at him, then sat up on one of the few clear spots on her desk. Alhaitham himself remained sitting on one of the chairs set out for other guests and patients. ‘Anything new apart from that?’

     ‘I should be asking you that,’ she signed cheekily, her hands fluttering in the usual way as when she meant mischief. ‘Rumour has it you and Kav are dating,’ she clarified.

     ‘What?’ Alhaitham signed, putting as much confusion as he could behind it. She didn’t have time to respond, however, as Wriothesley walked in, followed by an alternate version of Kuni. This version had joints like a doll, but he seemed like he was struggling to move.

     “Yoimiya, do you know where Collei put the joint oil the last time she cleaned?” Wriothesley asked, looking more in Alhaitham’s direction than a disgruntled Yoimiya’s.

     “Don’t know what you’re saying if you’re not facing me,” Yoimiya shot back, allowing the slightest smirk to cross her face.

     Turning to face her, Wriothesley argued, “I don’t know how to face you if you’re not speaking. At least I was facing someone. Where’s my joint oil?”

     “It’s on your desk, about a foot right of your screwdriver.”

     Wriothesley stepped over to his desk and found his screwdriver with one hand, froze for a second, then moved the other right until he grasped the joint oil. After passing it to the other Kuni, he faced Yoimiya and said, “I forgot about your tablet. It’s under the screwdriver.”

     Yoimiya rolled her eyes and tried to disguise the sarcasm in her voice as she responded, “Really? Can you finish fixing it?”

     He nodded and started working on the tablet. There was something about the way his fingers gently brushed over the parts without disrupting them that was mesmerising.

     ‘You have a nice voice,’ Alhaitham signed to Yoimiya. ‘I’ll admit, for a while I thought you couldn’t speak.’

     ‘Thank you. I only went deaf in my late teens, so I can speak fine. I still prefer signing to speaking, though. I don’t want to be friends with someone who won’t learn for me.’

     ‘You like being deaf?’

     ‘Hell no, what gave you that idea? I’d give almost anything to hear again. But I can’t, so the least I can do is keep myself happy and surround myself with people who don’t need me to change. That’s why I like you, Alhaitham. You go out of your way to talk to me, and you make an effort to know me outside of my deafness. You have no clue how much that means to me.’

     ‘You’re one in a small number of friends who don’t want me dead. It’s the least I could do.’

     Yoimiya chuckled at that, which caused Wriothesley to turn and ask, “What’d you tell her this time, Layla?”

     Making sure to translate everything said, Alhaitham responded, “Not Layla. She isn’t here right now.”

     ‘Someone is fumbling today,’ Yoimiya signed, ‘But he has a point. Layla’s not here, which is... odd.’

     ‘Maybe she’s dealing with something in her universe? That, or she’s asleep.’

     ‘Let me check,’ Yoimiya signed, raising her transporter and typing something. ‘Looks like she’s been alerted of a Venom monster in her universe, 12125, but she hasn’t accepted or declined it. Considering the alert is about two hours old, I think something’s wrong. Alhaitham, can you grab your partner and check on her? You should grab a third as well. Just in case.’

     ‘Yeah. I’ll keep you updated. See you in a bit,’ he signed. After waving goodbye to her and informing Wriothesley of the situation, he exited the lab and called Kaveh to find out where he was.

     “Hey, what’s up?” Kaveh asked when the call connected.

     “Layla’s having some issues in her universe. Yoimiya just asked me to check on her with you, preferably as a trio. Do you know anyone who’s free right now?”

     “I do,” he replied hesitantly, “but I don’t think either of you will be happy about it. How urgent is it?”

     “Layla hasn’t responded to a two hour-old alert to her dimension at all.”

     “Ah, so urgent urgent. You’re at the lab?”

     “Outside of-” Alhaitham started, only for Kaveh to land on the catwalk in front of him, wearing a sweatshirt and pants. Compared to Alhaitham in his hero suit, he looked almost unprepared. Almost.

     “Hi,” Kaveh said, his voice doubling due to the call. The word came out in a soft laugh, his smile wrinkling his eyes and making them sparkle. Alhaitham subconsciously reached up and brushed the fabric over where the ring necklace sat. Kaveh ended the call and half-jogged over, golden hair bouncing with his movements.

     “Hey,” Alhaitham greeted, allowing a smile to cross his face. “Who’s this mystery person?”

     “Secret. I know exactly where they are, though. Come on.”

     Kaveh opened a blue portal, and they both stepped through. When they emerged on the other end, it seemed like they were in some kind of recording studio. In the booth was a young blonde girl, and watching her was an older man and... Kaveh’s roommate. Lovely.

     Without Kaveh having to say anything, she turned to the man and asked, “Do you need me for anything else? I just remembered I have an appointment.”

     The man shook his head and responded, “Things have been going smoothly. Kid’s a natural, but we’ll call you if anything comes up. Oh, and say hi to your brother’s family for me.”

     “Mhm.” Kaveh opened the portal back to Nowhere behind the man’s back as Furina turned to them, and all three re-entered the space in front of the lab. She stretched and looked around at the white walls, her gaze eventually falling on Alhaitham. She froze at this and hesitantly said, “Hello...”

     “I know you don’t like doing Spider things, and I’m sorry, but you’re the only one who isn’t busy right now,” Kaveh explained, tapping her shoulder.

     “Bitch I am busy, you took me away from my job- it was boring anyways, but still. Principal of the thing,” she retorted, her voice not as harsh as her words would have suggested. She sighed and flicked her eyes between the two, cocked her head at Kaveh, then asked, “So? Where are we going?”

     Alhaitham shifted slightly, then muttered, “Yoimiya said 12125 was Layla’s universe code, so...”

     Kaveh quickly punched the code in, likely to distract from the crackling tension in the air. “I’m just going to head to her approximate location. No telling what might have happened. She’s our main concern right now.” As soon as the portal opened, Alhaitham was the first one through. He entered a run-down warehouse filled with wooden crates and shelving. Bodies littered the ground; chances were this was the hideout for some sort of crime group. 

     “Jeez... those had better not be corpses,” Furina commented, entering after Kaveh. “Imagine dying in a warehouse.”

     “Especially one as structurally unsound as this one. It feels like it’ll crash down at the slightest hiccup,” Kaveh agreed, then walked over to one of the bodies. He crouched down and watched for a moment, then clarified, “They’re alive. It looks like they’re out cold, though.”

     “I think that’s more off-putting. Are either of you getting a weird feeling about this?”

     “Are you hearing anything we should be concerned about?” Kaveh asked. Worry flickered in his eyes as he looked up at her.

     “A lot of garbled noise. I can try to get some information if I focus, so shh.” Furina proceeded to close her eyes in concentration, her breathing becoming heavy. Her fists clenched into themselves so tightly her knuckles blanched. Suddenly, her voice cut through his head, demanding, “Who and where are you?”

     A voice that wasn’t his own, but still came from him, answered, “Wouldn’t you like to know, traitor? You broke our deal, so we’ve moved on. Makes us feel less terrible about your little niece-”

     “FUCK YOU!” Furina screamed. In an act of rage, her leg was swallowed by the same Venom that coated the other mutants, and she kicked a nearby crate. The wood splintered and shattered, and only then did the inky mass disperse. Furina huffed, pulled her hair back behind her ears, and quietly said, “There’s two. One’s using a more feminine voice, and the other is indeterminable. I can’t tell where the latter is, but the former’s a bit further ahead.”

     “Are you okay?” Kaveh asked, voice quiet. His eyes flashed with something between terror and sympathy, his body hesitant on whether to comfort his friend or defend himself.

     “No,” she urged, a bit too harshly. A watery effect distorted her voice, and her eyes shone black instead of their prior blue. Kaveh flinched, and upon noticing that, she seemed to calm herself. “I’m fine. I’m good. I’ve got it under control. Sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you.”

     “What just happened?” Alhaitham asked, head still ringing and spinning. He was almost certain he was the other entity she mentioned, but he couldn’t possibly mention that. Not after her earlier outburst. Not after what it said.

     “Furina’s connected to the Venom’s source more than most other infected are,” Kaveh explained. “Despite... what, three doses of our cure?.. she can still activate its power and contact anyone else who’s been infected.”

     “Don’t glorify it like that. Just because I have control over it doesn’t mean it's not a nuisance,” she retorted, rolling her eyes. “Let’s just get this over with, I’m starting to get a headache. The girl we’re looking for is called Layla, right?”

     “Yeah. Let’s hit the back, and then we can work our way forward,” Alhaitham instructed, taking the lead. He heard Kaveh and Furina fall in step behind him, but they remained oddly silent. He glanced behind him, and the two were just glaring at each other, occasionally making vague gestures with their faces or hands. Weird. Anyways. Further ahead, a figure sat on a crate in the middle of the room.

     “That’s one of them,” Furina quietly confirmed, then shouted, “Hey! What’d you do with this universe’s hero?”

     The figure looked up, their host’s long hair swaying with the motion. They hopped off the crate and slowly approached, eventually coming close enough for Alhaitham to recognise her.

     “It’s Layla.”

     “Truthfully, I was elated when I came in contact with this girl. It’s a shame she has very little energy; I can’t even show my true form,” the figure spoke, Layla’s voice having taken on a very sassy tone unlike her. Looking at Alhaitham, she smiled sweetly and said, “She seems to know you, though. Are you friends?”

     “Let her go,” Alhaitham quietly pleaded. “Take over someone else here, and then we can settle it. But we’ll cause her serious damage if you fight us without your shell.”

     “And why would I do that? You just exposed your weakness,” she taunted, stepping ever closer. “You care far too much. You play with fire to protect others. Besides, this girl is special. She can give others the sweetest of dreams. The people you see on the ground? All peacefully asleep thanks to her.”

     “Shit- hold your breath!” Alhaitham called back, only to see his companions already asleep on the ground. When had they fallen?

     “Alhaitham, it’s not a gas. For someone so smart, you should know that.”

     He turned back around after he felt a pair of lips ghost the back of his ear. Narrowing his eyes, he retorted, “If you know so much, you should know I’m not into girls. Sorry.”

     “As an alien parasite, darling, I find relationships inherently useless. This girl mixes her saliva in with her webs. That’s what causes the sleepiness.”

     Alhaitham staggered then, legs becoming the first to succumb. He glared up at Layla’s body as he went down, trying to fight sleep. It was useless, though. This was entirely on him. If he’d ever asked how Layla’s power worked, if he’d recognised her sooner, if he’d warned Kaveh and Furina, then maybe... if he fell here, it’d take full control. He just knew it. Even so, he couldn’t stay awake.

     “Don’t blame yourself for this. I need to talk to Red, okay? Just take a little nap.”

     His head whirled as he found himself suddenly sitting beside Kaveh on the first building he’d ever swung to. It was a painfully familiar scene, the time when Kaveh had confessed that Alhaitham was his home, but this time the sky was splayed with the starry sky from the desert. Alhaitham’s head rested on Kaveh’s thigh, a position that would have usually been reversed due to Kaveh’s preference of having his hair played with, but now Alhaitham was on the receiving end of it.

     “I have to compliment her, this is a memory worth staying in,” Kaveh said softly. “Unfortunately, you know this is too unbelievable. It’s almost heavenly.”

     “I can’t fight a drug, Kaveh. What am I supposed to do here?”

     “Your escape is coming, so be patient. That’s all.” He sighed, running his fingers through Alhaitham’s hair. “While we have this moment, though, I wanted to congratulate you. You two deserve each other. That’s what you wanted to hear, isn’t it?”

     “Kaveh-”

     “I’m dead, Haitham,” he scolded, looking down with a certain tenderness in his eyes. Then, softly, he murmured, “No dream can fix that. You deserve to move on. It’s time to let go.”

     “I know that. I know, and... I hope that you’ll forgive me, but I won’t change my mind. I want to be with him, Kaveh.”

     Kaveh sighed, then stared at his hands. Slowly, they were becoming translucent and ghostly, just as each star in the sky flickered and burned out. They looked at each other longingly, but resolutely.

     “Do you think, if I was faster, I could have caught you?”

     “Nope. I know because I’m psychic, and in three seconds, you’re going to say ow. That could just be your spider sense, though.”

     Alhaitham opened his mouth to ask what he meant, only for a searing pain to shoot through his jaw. He was suddenly back in the warehouse, the taste of blood strangling his tongue.

     “Ow- what-?”

     “Welcome back,” Furina greeted. “Sorry, I had to hit you in the jaw. Full force. No other way.”

     “That hurt,” he groaned.

     “Oh noo,” Furina said half-heartedly, rolling her eyes. She then stared at Kaveh, and after a moment, he sat up.

     “You two are so weird,” Alhaitham muttered, rubbing his jaw.

     “You woke him before me? ‘Rina, you hurt me,” Kaveh accused, returning to his feet. “Where the hell did she go?”

     “Up here, you three. Don’t you know it’s rude to interrupt a conversation?” a voice taunted from an upside-down perch. Which raised a fantastic point: Alhaitham was already standing when Furina punched him. He wasn’t asleep on the ground. Which meant... Furina knew. Probably. So why wasn’t she saying anything?

     “Certain conversations shouldn’t be had. Especially not the one you were having. Not to mention, those dreams of yours sucked,” Furina challenged.

     “I could give you a nightmare, if that’s what you wanted. No, I have a feeling you’d break them out all over again, girl... I cannot call you girl. What’s your name?”

     “You don't have that honour,” Furina spat, taking a step forward, then went invisible. Which was Kaveh’s power. Wh- no, there were more important things to focus on. He’d find out later.

     “Cute. Unfortunately, I still have the upper-”

     Layla’s body fell from the ceiling, impacted by Kaveh swinging up at her with his full force. Furina caught her swiftly and wrestled her to the ground, using her control over her own Venom to keep her pinned.

     “Let go of me!” she screeched, thrashing.

     “Kaveh, do whatever it is that you do with your fancy wristwatch! I can’t hold her forever!” Furina screamed, anchoring against another thrash. “Stay still, you-”

     A flash of pain suddenly shot through Alhaitham’s head, and red coated his vision. He keeled over and groaned, which was the exact opposite of what he wanted to do. Past the red, he saw Kaveh redirect towards him with concern while Furina looked up in shocked horror. Beneath her, the monster controlling Layla bucked out of her grip and shot webs at the three of them. Each line connected with flesh simultaneously, sending each of them back into sleep.

     She threatened them with nightmares, and nightmares she shared. Not their own nightmares, though.

     The substance of the parasite surrounded him, burning his skin and forcing him to watch a gruesome scene play out in front of him. One of his monstrous hands had Kaveh pinned to the ground while the other reached forward to suffocate him. Evening light and soft grass surrounded them, sharply contrasting the fear in the eyes of the hero who'd given up too soon. But it wasn’t his colour of parasite. It was the common black, which meant this probably wasn’t his nightmare; it was Furina’s. He tried everything to take back his control, but nothing was working.

     Kaveh was going to die by his hands.

     “He doesn’t die here,” Furina coached through his mind. “You need to wake up.”

     “I’m trying. I can’t. He’s going to die, and-”

     “First of all, drama king, this is a dream. He can’t die. Second of all, he won’t die because this is a real memory. All of the nightmares rely on things that have reasonably happened. He didn’t die then, and he won’t die now. I need your help to beat her, so wake. Up.”

     He opened his eyes, and he was back in the warehouse. Furina and Kaveh were both still on the ground, and not-Layla was sitting on one of the crates, occasionally glancing at him and huffing.

     “She’s waiting for that... other you to take control. I have a plan, though. Wait until just after she does another check, then get Kaveh to safety. I can’t wake him up.”

     Alhaitham watched not-Layla for a minute. After she finally conducted another impatient check over their bodies, he moved as little as possible and sent Kaveh back to Nowhere. Not knowing how to send messages back to her, he shrugged slightly in a “Now what?” motion.

     “I’m guessing she’ll go on her guard when she sees him missing. At that point, we’ll sneak up behind her and activate the sound thing on both her transporter and yours. I’m sure you’ve noticed, but I don’t wear one. How do you..?”

     “Big red button,” he attempted to send back. Thankfully it seemed like she got the memo and nodded at him, determination sparkling in her eyes. Not-Layla looked over again and immediately shot up, looking around for Kaveh. She muttered curses under her breath and dashed to where he was supposed to be, placing a hand to make sure he wasn’t just invisible. She dashed over to Alhaitham next, ignorant to Furina’s approach behind her. Once he believed his ally was close enough, he activated his own transporter and grabbed not-Layla's arms securely to make Furina’s job easier.

     “You bastards!” Layla’s voice spat out, trying to hit and claw Alhaitham. She even managed to drive her knee into his stomach, but the noise from his transporter was already doing its best to weaken her. He held her tight until Furina arrived and activated Layla’s frequency emitter. Not-Layla screamed and broke free, immediately grabbing Alhaitham’s transporter and crunching it beneath her grasp. She kicked out again and sent him into one of the warehouse’s ground support beams. It creaked and broke from his impact, and thanks to how awfully the entire building had been made, the ceiling groaned and started to collapse. The only good thing to come from the ambush was Layla coughing out the parasite violently, leaving her limp in Furina’s arms.

     And then the world crashed down on the three of them.

     When the dust cleared, there was a small gap under the rubble. Layla laid at one edge, and Furina crouched between him and her protectively. Seeing he was awake, she sighed in relief and said, “Good, you’re alive. I tried to clear you out as much as possible, but your fancy wristwatch arm is pretty stuck. Can you get it out?”

     “I can feel it- I think the weight caused the metal to get caught in my arm. This is going to hurt,” he muttered. He adjusted his body to a better angle, used his free arm to ease the weight on the trapped arm, and pulled it out as quickly as he could. It was a bloody, mangled mess that made Furina look away and heave.

     “Christ- are you okay? That looks...”

     “It’s fine. I barely feel it. Can you help me pull it off?”

     “There is something wrong with you,” she mumbled, scooting over to him and digging her fingers into his flesh and under the transporter. He grabbed the end opposite of her securely, stomach churning at the feeling of his pulsing flesh against his fingers. She looked up with two-toned eyes and instructed, “On three. One, two... three!”

     They pulled at the same time, and with their combined strength, the metal came apart in three. His arm started quickly regenerating without the obstruction, and soon the only mark that remained was the blood on their hands.

     “You Spiders…” she muttered, eyes glazing over the healed injury. “You get hurt, you heal, and then you’re supposed to just keep fighting. You make death feel meaningless.”

     “We aren't immortal,” Alhaitham corrected. “Sometimes we take a while to heal. Especially if we’re lacking sleep or food. If it can bleed, it can die.”

     “Yeah, yeah, I know. I see the shape Kaveh's in some nights. On the topic of death… when were you going to tell him you were infected?”

     “Preferably never. At first, he didn't care; now, I’m afraid he’d react too harshly. I have it under control.”

     “No, you don’t,” Furina urged, moving to look into his eyes again. “Alhaitham, I may not know you very well, but I know two things. The first: Kav doesn't like lying. He’ll find out one way or another, and the longer you wait, the more upset he’ll be. The second: it’s playing you like a fiddle. It took over your body to talk to that other parasite the first time you were out- I heard it. Whatever you’ve been doing to pacify it is doing the opposite; you’re making it stronger. If it ever takes control like that again, you’re not coming back. I’m sure you and him are great friends now- it’s in his gods-damned nature to forgive- so I swear, I won’t let you break his heart again. You need to be stronger than it.”

     “I appreciate the warning, but what about you? What aren’t you telling Kaveh?”

     “He prefers Kav.”

     “Answer the question.”

     It looked like she decided against another bitter retort as she sighed. “All I’ll say is that I’m sicker than I’ve told him. That has its benefits, but it also has its drawbacks. At least all the voices telling me to end it are better at convincing me not to.”

     Alhaitham laughed dryly, which seemed to shock Furina. Nothing new, really. He rubbed his wrist to make sure it was healed, then suggested, “We should get out of here before the rubble collapses on us.”

     “I’d love to, but her transporter has a passcode on it. Which means we’re stuck here until someone comes to get us or until she wakes up,” she huffed, crossing her arms.

     The air seemed to crackle with tension again. Struck with an idea, he gestured to Layla and asked, “You know how Kav does that weird shake as he’s falling asleep?”

     “Oh my gods, yes,” Furina shouted, breaking into fits of laughter. “He doesn’t believe me when I tell him about it! He falls asleep on my shoulder, I wake him up, and he pretends he wasn’t falling asleep, but he absolutely was. Not to mention, he starts producing heat like a campfire as soon as he’s out.”

     “Are you really complaining? I think it’s cosy,” Alhaitham playfully argued, pulling out Kaveh’s ring from its confines under his suit. He’d wrapped a spare necklace chain around it and swapped it with the green, diamond-shaped necklace he used to wear.

     “Sure, it’s lovely when it’s cold out, but... what are you fidgeting with?” She suddenly scrambled over and took the ring in her hands. “This is the ring Kav was wearing when he went to the desert- why do you have it?”

     “He gave it to me, and I gave him my ring,” he explained. He kept his voice level and let her examine the ring carefully, but it only seemed to deepen her furrowed brow.

     “That’s impossible, Kaveh said he gave it to the guy he was going to the desert with, the guy he’s had a crush on. If you have it-”

     “Kav told you he had a crush on me?”

     “-I can’t believe this, oh my gods,” she stammered, starting to laugh. She sounded so genuine that Alhaitham understood their friendship in just that second. Furina wiped a tear from her face, looked at him with sparkling eyes, and softly asserted, “That’s so painfully like him; I can’t believe I didn’t realise it sooner.”

     “You’re not upset?” he asked, blinking in surprise.

     “I am, unbelievably so, but not at you. And not because it is you. I’m upset that he didn’t feel safe enough to just tell me,” she confessed. “Alhaitham wasn’t fantastic to him, he had a rough childhood, and he’s only just starting to get better from all of it. We’ve been through a hell of a year together, I just thought... maybe that’s selfish.”

     “I don’t think so,” Alhaitham responded, looking up at the criss-cross of metal beams protecting them from the rest of the rubble. “It’s natural. There’s not a single person- neither human nor Spider, in any other universe- that understands our Kaveh as well as you do.”

     Furina smiled at him, then followed his gaze up to the metal beams. She let a comfortable silence pass over them, then confessed something else: “I like you, Alhaitham. I really don’t mind him falling in love again if it’s you. Just don’t break his heart, and make sure you tell him about your Venom. He’ll be upset, but he’ll understand.”

     “I’m glad you changed your mind.”

     “What do you mean?” she asked, turning her head to gaze in his direction.

     “I thought you hated me,” he answered, making eye contact. “It sure seemed that way when we met.”

     “We only met today, and I thought I was being cordial,” she responded, confusion lacing her face and voice equally. He opened his mouth to insist when Layla finally stirred from sleep, sat up, and blinked at them slowly. Then, without a word, she opened a portal to Nowhere under them. They landed on the floor of the lab, thoroughly startling Collei. The portal then closed without Layla coming through.

     “Where did you two come from? And... who’s she?” Collei asked, eyes wide and staring at Furina. Looking around, Alhaitham could tell they were in the lab’s medical bay. Clean beds with IV poles lined the floors, cool air blew in from the unseen ventilation, and the clean smell of sterility clung to everything. Unlike other hospitals, however, the fluorescent lights were toned down, and there were infinitely more floors with infinitely more beds. He’d never been in or seen anyone in here beyond the tour he’d received from Yoimiya, so it was a surprise to see Collei as well. She was also on her crutches, so maybe she was patching herself up from a mission.

     “This is Furina, she’s a friend of Kav’s,” Alhaitham explained. “Speaking of whom, where is he?”

     “See for yourself,” Collei responded, hopping back. He stood up, helping Furina after. He then looked where the scientist had gestured and felt his breath catch in his throat. Kaveh was laying on one of the hospital beds, looking feverish and unwell. Based on the machines he was attached to, his heart rate looked like he was running marathons, and he was struggling to breathe. Not to mention his temperature, which was an alarming 104° Fahrenheit (or 40° Celsius, he heard corrected in the back of his head. Scientists were so pretentious; everyone knows what a Fahrenheit is).

     “What’s wrong with him?” Furina asked, rushing over and sitting on the bed beside his. It looked like she was concentrating on something, but after a moment she shook her head and looked at Collei desperately.

     “If I had to guess, it looks like he’s having a bad dream... normally, we’d ask Layla for help with this, but 'Miya said you guys were busy trying to find her. Did you?”

     “Yeah, about that, she got possessed. Um... sorry, I don’t know your name, but do you mind leaving the room? There’s something I want to try,” Furina requested. Collei, though shocked at her revelation, nodded and quickly left. Alhaitham was about to follow, but Furina barked, “Not you. Get your ass over here; I’m going to try to do something I don’t even know is possible.”

     “Sounds trustworthy,” he muttered, but sat beside her anyways. She intertwined his and Kaveh’s hands together, then placed her own hand over the union.

     “Don’t sass me when I’m trying to help your boyfriend. Here’s my plan: I haven’t been able to reach him alone. You were experiencing my nightmare, and I was experiencing his, which means he’s experiencing whatever yours is. Finally, I have a link with you through the parasite, and I have a link with him because of the spider that bit us. If I act as a bridge, you can get through to him and wake him up. Probably. Got it?”

     “Mm-hm,” Alhaitham nodded.

     “Good. And don't try anything weird; I’ll be able to see it. Starting the connection now, then...”

     Alhaitham allowed himself to connect with Furina’s mind, and shortly after, he was whisked into another dream. Much like his nightmare was a memory of Furina’s, this was a memory he knew all too well. From the eyes of the villain, he watched his Kaveh fall, Kav chase after him, and the loop repeat when Kav failed. What didn’t seem to loop was Alhaitham’s state, so he shimmied out of the webs and crossed over to the beam where the loop started.

     “You’re not going to catch him,” Alhaitham warned when the loop restarted. “There’s not enough time or momentum-”

     Kaveh dived again anyways.

     “Furina’s worried about you,” he tried again when the loop reset.

     He dived again.

     He tried a few more times to convince Kaveh, but he kept diving. The question was why. It was obvious he heard him, but these Kavehs had no association with each other. There was no reason to be so hell-bent on this.

     Finally, frustrated and confused, Alhaitham grabbed Kaveh and stopped him from diving. Tears flowed from his eyes and stained his cheeks, and he fought hard against Alhaitham’s grasp.

     “You don’t understand, Haitham! I’m so close, I’ve almost got him, I can just feel it-”

     “It’s impossible, Kaveh. He had too much of a head start. If you drop as fast as you can, you don’t have enough velocity to catch him in time. If you take the time to get into a jumping position and jump with momentum, he’ll get further and further the longer you take.”

     “You don’t know that! If I can just go faster, I have to catch up eventually, but you have to let me try!” Kaveh yelled, trying to pull away. Just as he broke free, Alhaitham pulled him into his chest; if not to ground him to reality, then to at least try to stop him from trying anything stupid.

     “It’s science, Kav. No matter how many times I’ve done the equation, no matter how I’ve changed the numbers, he is gone. I majored in physics; I know this far better than anyone else.” The world finally began cracking. The skyline began to disintegrate and blur into less and less detail. The dream was ending. He had to keep pushing. “Why do you need to save him so badly? You don’t know him. You never did.”

     “Because he makes you happy,” Kaveh whispered. “If he’s alive, you can be with him, and then... and then...” He suddenly shot up as the scene fully disappeared. Finally. Their eyes locked into contact just as Kaveh let out a short laugh. “I just realised how stupid I’m being. If he lived, we wouldn’t have even met.”

     “Really? That’s what makes this unbelievable?”

     “Yes! Tao always says dead things should always remain dead, and I believe them. Besides... I think I should be allowed to be a little selfish. At least in a dream.”

     “Right. About that, Furina’s worried about you. Time to wake up,” Alhaitham ordered, placing a soft kiss to Kaveh’s hairline. It was a dream, so why couldn’t he be a little selfish, too?

     Alhaitham opened his eyes, and he was back in the lab. Furina removed her hand from over theirs, and he quickly slipped his fingers out of Kaveh’s before he woke up.

     “If you have places you need to be, you can go. I’m going to take him back to our universe,” Furina muttered. When she was quiet like this, her voice gained a slight rasp, and she tended to look towards the ground rather than anything else. “He needs this. He just... never sleeps anymore. Hardly eats, too. So long as he’s not suffering, he needs the rest.”

     Alhaitham stood and took one last look over Kaveh, who was now sleeping much more peacefully. Hair clung to his forehead from sweat, but his temperature and heart rate had decreased. That was good. He was breathing softly, lips slightly parted. Is it bad to want to kiss an unconscious man? Probably. Forcing his gaze away, he steadily walked to the exit of the medical bay.

     “Be good to him.”

     He made his way to the entrance of the lab so he could grab a new transporter, passing Layla and Collei on the way. The former was wrapped in a blanket and holding a cup of some brown liquid, while the latter conducted some sort of verbal evaluation on her. Neither acknowledged him, but he didn’t need them to. He was able to exit the lab without any further encounters and grabbed a new transporter. After setting it up, he opened a portal back to his universe and soon after entered his apartment. To his shock, Nilou was sitting on the couch, Tighnari beside her.

     “We’re not here for trouble; I brought them because we needed answers,” a voice explained from behind him. He turned and was met with Cyno, staring at him with an unreadable gaze.

     “You won’t shoot me again, right?” Alhaitham asked warily.

     “You won’t run again, right?”

     “I only ran because you wanted to shoot me,” he countered.

     “We’re getting nowhere this way. Cyno, give me your gun. Alhaitham, give me your... thing. I’m putting them in the kitchen,” Tighnari interrupted, standing up. Both men, although begrudgingly, handed over their offending items compliantly. After taking them, he was true to his word and put them in the kitchen, then blocked the entrance with his body.

     “Can I at least get changed before we do this?” Alhaitham asked, gesturing to his suit. Cyno nodded and waited patiently for him to change into a tank top and pants, only eyeing him cautiously when he sat in his comfy chair and stared back at him. “Well?”

     “You were telling the truth. And for that, I’m sorry.” Cyno sighed and crossed his arms, looking conflicted. He turned his gaze over to Tighnari, receiving no support from his fiancé. “I mean, I knew you weren’t killing those criminals. I had to kill a few myself. But I thought there was a good reason for it, you know? After we talked, though, I started looking into it. Turns out, we've had evidence of the truth since nearly the beginning. You just happen to be a fantastic scapegoat for the cops to look like heroes. But we aren’t. You are.”

     “Wait, what evidence?” Alhaitham asked.

     “What evidence do you think? There was a security camera at the build site and in that old warehouse. They’ve known you were Spider-Man, but as long as they don’t catch you, the public has a common enemy. But there’s also proof that we killed most of those people over the years. There’s proof that your 'murders' were accidental; they wouldn’t hold up any charges in court.”

     “...That’s not the only reason you’re here, is it?” Alhaitham accused, not knowing what else to say. Based on the way everyone seemed to shift, he was right.

     “Who was he?” Nilou asked quietly, this being the first time she’d spoken through the entire exchange. He didn’t even know she could be so silent. “Where has he been taking you?”

     “You’re referring to Kav,” he muttered. “You don’t know him, and he doesn’t know you. He’s from an alternate universe, one where I died instead. He has powers similar to mine and runs a society of people like us from more universes. We met about two months ago, and we’ve been slowly getting closer.”

     “What’s he like?” she pressed, tilting her head. Her silky, long hair swished like a red curtain from the motion. Even out of the studio, everything about her was graceful.

     “Very different,” he chuckled. “He used to hate me, and I’m slowly finding out why. I don't blame him, though. He can be sassy and sharp, but he also knows when he’s crossing the line. I think he really is trying to be a better person; not sure he likes you three very much, though.”

     “Better?” Cyno interrogated. “Was he a bad person?”

     “We agreed not to tell him,” Tighnari hissed, stepping forward to the other. Alhaitham narrowed his eyes at the pair but decided to stay quiet for the moment.

     “Regardless of that,” Nilou interjected, “it sounds like you really like him. I’m happy for you. Maybe, one day, we can meet him? On better terms, of course.”

     “Yeah…” his voice trailed off, calculating eyes still flicking between Tighnari and Cyno, who’d begun glaring daggers at each other. Nilou looked back at them and concern immediately flashed across her face. Her gaze darted back to Alhaitham for a moment, then back to them, almost as if debating if she should speak or what she should say.

     “Cyno, we all voted on this…” she decided, curling her legs into herself.

     “That doesn't make it right!” he shot back, only lowering his voice when Nilou flinched slightly. “It wasn't a unanimous decision, and we can't play God about what’s good for other people. He needs to know.”

     “Oh, like you weren't playing God earlier when you tried to kill him,” Tighnari retorted. If this were his variant, he was sure that his tail would be swishing behind him angrily.

     “Fuck this- Kaveh murdered people, Alhaitham!” Cyno shouted, turning to face the man with a bitter, disappointed look across his face. Tighnari slammed his forehead into his wrist, muttering under his breath, and Nilou sank further into herself.

     “Oh.”

     “Oh?” he repeated. He stepped toward Alhaitham angrily, stopped, then took a breath. It seemed to do nothing to calm him, however. “What do you mean?”

     “He may have had his reasons,” he said calmly, narrowing his eyes. “How did you even figure this out?”

     “I’ve been collecting department favours my entire time there. Cashed every single one in to dig up every police record we buried, and found out in the process that someone paid a generous amount of money to cover up three murders and one attempted murder.” Cyno took something from a bag near the door and walked to Alhaitham, handing the manila envelope over to him. “I’m sorry you had to find out this way.”

     Alhaitham took the envelope and opened it, revealing several photos and papers that had been copied off various records. His stomach churned as his eyes flitted over the papers, various pieces clicking into place and falling back apart. The first man he didn't recognise at all, but was listed in the report as Kaveh’s stepfather, murdered in 2012. The second victim was a man named Rostam Lohefalter, another Alhaitham didn't know, though it was recorded that Kaveh had been staying with the man. A family member? The third was one Alhaitham only recognised by surname: the husband of his former boss. His death was seven years after the first two, when Kaveh would have been seventeen. Finally, there was a record on the victim he’d stabbed, but who’d ended up surviving.

     At the time of the incident, her name was Faranak Amaru. There was a note that it had since changed to Faranak Moreau-Lopez, combining her maiden name with her wife’s surname. There was a note that included her name was once Mahan and that she was pregnant at the time of the attack.

     Kaveh’s mom. Kaveh had stabbed his own mother.

     “What is this?” Alhaitham asked. His stomach swirled like a typhoon raged inside it, and he was doing everything he could to keep his voice steady.

     “Keep reading.”

     Against his better judgement, he did. The woman who’d paid off the police was named Rosalyne Lohefalter, the widow of the second victim. The report stated she continued to house and raise Kaveh, even paying for his college attendance. But why? Did she really hate her husband so much? Alhaitham turned to the next page and collected only a few answers: she’d been in the army when she was younger, serving in a division under Sergeant Mahan. Kaveh’s father. After his passing, she became a successful lieutenant and later retired, working her way up in the corporate world. Once Alhaitham was out of papers to meticulously read through, he was left frustrated and with more questions than answers.

     “Are you absolutely certain you know everything about this new Kaveh?” Cyno asked, taking a cautious step back as Alhaitham slipped the papers back into the envelope.

     “He has a younger sister. That’s something our Kaveh never mentioned. I’d say that’s a sign things went differently for him. Now, get out of my apartment.”

     “What the hell?” Cyno charged, stepping back forward. “You don't get to kick us out now, not when-”

     “For your own safety, I’m telling you to get the fuck out.” Alhaitham warned, stumbling to his feet. He was seeing red and trying to push it down; he needed to regain control, otherwise-

     “Alhaitham, what's wrong with your eyes?” Nilou asked gently. Her hand had extended in an aborted gesture to help him, but she stayed frozen between moving forward and backing away.

     “Please don't,” he begged, using one arm to clutch his side and the other to press against his mouth, fighting off the awful parasite in his head. “All of you need to leave, it’s not safe-“

     Footsteps rushed forward to help him as he retched into his hand, pure red spilling through his mouth and falling onto the floor. But it was gone. Temporarily, his vision had returned to normal, and the noise in his head silenced for a moment. Crimson stained his clothes, and the terrifying part was that he didn't know what was blood and what was something else. Everything had swirled together in him, the lines so deeply blurred that he didn't know where he ended and where it began. Hands rested on his shoulders and rubbed his back, pulling him to reality. It seemed like Nilou had decided to make her move, her shirt stained by how protectively she was covering him. Looking up, Cyno had thrown a protective arm in front of Tighnari, who had grabbed his partner's gun and was shakily aiming it at him.

     “I’m sick,” Alhaitham confessed. His throat was watery and hoarse, so after clearing it, he raised his voice and continued, “It’s incurable. For now. And there’s a chance I may not live to see that cure completed. It’s incredibly slim, but even so… if I suddenly disappear one day, or if Kav comes and tells you all that I’m gone, I need you to tell everyone the truth. About who Spider-Man really was.”

     Cyno gestured for Tighnari to lower his weapon, took a shaky breath, then nodded. His eyes flickered with determination as he walked forward and offered him a hand up.

     “Okay. For Kaveh.”

     “Always.”

Chapter Text

     The first thing he felt when he woke up was warmth. Not the warmth of a million blankets that made you sweat and feel heavy, but the warmth of genuine love and belonging. Kaveh hadn't felt that in a very long time.

     The second thing he felt was relief. Another night without any nightmares, and he was starting to realise why. Maybe he should have realised within the first week of this arrangement, or maybe after his dark eye bags were but a vague memory. But no, it was October, and he was only just starting to realise that everything got better when he slept with Alhaitham.

     Wait, no. Back up.

     Kaveh’s head was pressed gently against Alhaitham’s chest, listening to the sound of his beating heart. Both were on their sides, arms wrapped around each other and legs intertwined. He didn't know what compelled him to stumble into Alhaitham’s Nowhere apartment the first time he did it after a nightmare, and he certainly had no idea why Alhaitham decided to show up that same night. But it was their arrangement now: if they had no other commitments, both went to Alhaitham’s apartment to cuddle and sleep every night. Honestly, if Kaveh was being delusional, he'd think the temperature in the room had decreased since they started doing it as an excuse to huddle even closer.

     Some might call it intimate. And if it were anyone but Kaveh, they’d probably be right. But it was Kaveh. Every time he thought too hard about the leg between his or the arms surrounding him, loosely caging him, he’d send himself into a nightmare of his own. He’d slip out of the position quickly, trying to control his breathing; if Alhaitham woke up from his panicked escape, he excused himself and said he had something he needed to do urgently. In truth, he ran back to his and Furina’s apartment, jumping in the shower and scrubbing his skin raw of phantom hands. His guts burned, and he could feel an ache in his hair like it needed to be pulled. Or did it ache from being pulled? Lines blurred when he got like this, twisting and turning and strangling him-

     “You’re breathing weird again,” Alhaitham mumbled. The sound of his sleepy, early-morning voice both panicked Kaveh and got him to relax.

     “Maybe I’m turned on,” Kaveh joked in an attempt to deflect. It evidently wasn't working, though, as Alhaitham turned his head down and locked eyes with him skeptically. Doubling down, he claimed, “It’s not every day I’m in bed with the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

     “Don’t lie to me, ‘Veh. You sound like you’re terrified,” he chastised, moving an arm to push some of Kaveh’s hair out of his face. “Was it another nightmare? If you're claustrophobic, I can-”

     “I promise it’s not you,” he reassured, plastering a smile on his face from the gentle touch. “It isn't any sort of nightmare, either. Just getting in my own head.”

     “Care to elaborate?” Alhaitham shifted down to Kaveh's level, moving one arm under himself and the other on Kaveh’s back. Kaveh adjusted his own arms and wrapped them around the other’s neck, internally stuffing down the urge to giggle and kick his feet. Now was absolutely not the time; they had serious things to talk about.

     Maybe Alhaitham should stop being so damn cute, then.

     “You’re asexual, right?”

     “Not quite… closer to demisexual. Even so, I’m surprised you're thinking about that right now. Are you sure you aren't rushing yourself?”

     “Ah. My Alhaitham was, so I never had to worry about the whole thing. You're right, though. I’m getting ahead of myself,” he sheepishly excused. It was only a half-lie; that was allowed in healthy relationships, right? He really was anxious about their progression, but not for the pretence of innocence or rushing. “How long were you and Kaveh together before..?” If it took a while, maybe he’d have more time to sort out his fickle emotions- nope, nevermind, this pathetic man was averting his gaze and biting back a smile.

     “That really can't be a basis for analysis… we’d been dancing around each other for about four years. If you truly wished to move forward though, I can't say I’d be entirely opposed,” Alhaitham muttered, running his hand from Kaveh’s back, up and over to his waist-

     Kaveh flinched abruptly, painful memories flickering from what was supposed to be a gentle touch. What was wrong with him? He was supposed to be happy now, and he was supposed to be making Alhaitham happy. Instead, he was being stared at with confusion and hurt, and his beloved friend withdrew his hands closer to himself.

     “Like I said, I know I’m getting ahead of myself!” Kaveh quickly backpedalled. “I mean, there’s a whole bunch of things that need to be done before we even consider that: we should define what we are, we should have our first proper kiss, we should exchange ‘I love you’s, not to mention the situation is still fresh and young! Anything done now would be rushing way too much, and we have so much more time than that, so… I’m going to grab a shower, okay? Bye!”

     Before Alhaitham could protest, he’d quickly removed himself from the bed and slipped away to the bathroom, locking the door behind him. The chill of suddenly being alone crept into every crevice of his skin except for his sides, those god damn phantom hands manhandling him and making his scars itch painfully. He wanted- no, needed to tear his skin off just to get their grip away from him-

     “Kav, you okay?” a voice asked behind the door, gentle knuckles knocking against the wood. “I’m sorry, I hadn't meant to startle you. Can we talk?”

     “I’m… I’m fine, Haitham. Really. I just need a shower and I’ll be right out.” Kaveh sighed deeply, resting his head back against the very wood separating him and his partner. Deep breath in. Deep breath out. He was okay.

     After one more breath, he got up and turned on the shower. It sputtered just a bit before starting completely, already at the perfect temperature when he ran his hand under. The pressure was also delightful; maybe he’d have to start showering here more often. No, Furina and Mehrak might start getting fussy if he started being gone too often. The latter had already started begging to come with him everywhere, and he had to keep denying her due to the danger it’d cause her to be in.

     He slipped his clothes off and placed them in a heap beside the sink, then stepped under the warm water. The rhythmic thrum of the water against him grounded him to what was real, to the facts: he had a protective support group, he never had to see his stepfather again, and no one had even attempted to try anything similar in a decade. Ten years. So why in the multiverse was he remembering it now? For years, he had only thought of it as just something that happened. It’d happened so often he just got used to it. While it felt gross- and it made him feel gross- it was normal. Shit, was this some sort of trauma thing?

     “I need a therapist,” he muttered, looking at the bottles on the shower shelf. Unscented shampoo and conditioner, but he used vanilla Dove body wash? What a fucking weirdo. To Kaveh’s relief, there were bottles with honey and lemon scent, so he used that for his hair. Part of him wondered why Alhaitham had the spare bottles, but the rational part told him he knew exactly why. It was for the other him.

     Kaveh could sort of understand why Alhaitham was still attached, but was he worth that much? He was a variant of himself, after all. It didn’t seem like he revealed his background to Alhaitham, though. That was strange. He almost wanted to summon his ghost with a Ouija board and ask him what he was thinking. No other way to figure it out, unless...

     ...There’s an idea. Maybe Kaveh was dead, but his mom wasn’t. Assuming his stepfather- no, stepmother- worked the same hours, they wouldn’t run into each other, so it was safe. With a newfound fire in his heart, he rinsed away the rest of the soap bubbles and hopped out of the shower, quickly towelling himself off and slipping back into his old clothes. His transporter was in the bedroom, though, as was his jewellery. He’d have to grab them before leaving.

     The bathroom door creaked open as Kaveh exited, determination covering his face. The smell of something delicious hit him like a truck (he’d know a lot about getting hit by trucks, wouldn’t he), causing his stomach to growl angrily. Fine. Breakfast, then meeting his other mom. He really hoped she wasn’t a bitch.

     “What’s good?” Kaveh asked, slipping into the kitchen, trying to peek at whatever Alhaitham was stirring on the stove.

     “Masala chai and bagels. Hope you like cinnamon raisin,” he responded, tilting his head to the side for Kaveh to watch. “You okay?”

     “Yeah! I told you I just needed a shower. Good as new!”

     “You told me so,” Alhaitham repeated affectionately, tapping his spoon on the side of the pot. “Pass the milk?”

     Kaveh stepped back to the fridge, quickly grabbed the milk jug, and handed it to him. He hummed appreciatively in that smooth, warm timbre he possessed.

     “Can I ask about your past?” he quietly asked after a moment, still stirring his precious chai.

     “That really depends on what you ask. For the most part, though, yeah. Ask away.”

     “Your stepfather-”

     “Absolutely not,” Kaveh interrupted, crossing his arms. “Anything but that.”

     “Figured. Okay, your sister, what’s her birthday?”

     “April ninth. Why?”

     “Year?”

     “How ominous,” Kaveh muttered, taking a moment to do the math in his head. “She’s fifteen, so 2013. Again, why?”

     “I’d rather not tell you until I figure it all out myself, if that’s okay. You mentioned an aunt a while ago; what’s her name? And what’s her husband’s name?”

     “You are so fucking weird, but fine. Aunt Rosalyne and Uncle Rostam, they were friends of my dad. They run a bakery now, though,” he explained, hopping up on the counter and tying his hair up with a spare hair tie. “As they should; my aunt makes the best damn baked goods around. She’s great with finances, too.”

     “I’m sure…” Alhaitham grumbled, opening his mouth for another question, only to be cut off by a knock at the door. “Can you get that, please?”

     Kaveh stepped out of the kitchen and over to the front door, opening it quickly before the person outside could knock again. He was met with the surprised gape of Hu Tao, who was holding a stack of papers stapled together.

     “What are you doing here?!” they nearly shouted, forcing Kaveh to cover his ears.

     “Just having breakfast here, nothing scandalous,” he replied. “Sometimes I sleep over on the couch.”

     “Actually, that’s an amazing idea. I wonder if the others would be down for a sleepover in Yanfei’s apartment- wait! Is Alhaitham here?”

     “No.”

     “Oh, what a bummer,” they muttered, holding up the papers. “The head scientist asked me to bring these to him. Don’t bother peeping, since it’s all in these weird symbols. I was at the lab due to my gas clogging up for some reason. Just… health issues, though. Do you know where he is?”

     “No, but I can take these inside, and he can look at them later,” Kaveh offered, extending his hand. Hu Tao shrugged and plopped the stack into his hand, then jogged off with a small goodbye wave.

     “Who was it?” Alhaitham called from the kitchen. Kaveh shut the door and hurried over to him, papers in hand. He had started pouring the chai into two separate cups, and two bagels had appeared on plates beside the toaster. Butter was already melting on them, making them look shiny, golden, and altogether delicious.

     “Hu Tao, they were dropping off some papers from Yoimiya. Can't read anything, though. It's all in this weird code.”

     Alhaitham put down the pot, took the papers, and laughed. “She always puts the first page in wingdings to stop others from peeking. Looks like it worked again,” he explained, putting the papers off to the side. “Pick whichever tea you want. Careful, though; they're hot.”

     “Oh? And what sort of secret does our head scientist have with Spider-Man? Don't tell me you're in a secret love affair,” he teased, picking up the mug on the right.

     “Hopefully, I can tell you soon. But no, nothing like that. No matter how many people ask, I am not into girls.” Alhaitham picked up the remaining cup and immediately sipped it. Didn’t he just say it was hot? Kaveh took a sip and- yep, nope, it was scalding. Tasted fantastic, though. Looking back up, though, it seemed like his friend was deep in thought. Slowly, he continued, “Actually, I can't say that’s entirely true. I thought I was gay because I was only into men, but I was really only ever into Kaveh. I don’t think I would mind dating Yoimiya?” He glanced from his cup up to Kaveh, who was trying and failing to fight a pout. Huffing a slight laugh, he continued, “Probably shouldn't have said that.”

     “Mm, no… but I like that you’re honest about it. I trust that you wouldn't try anything,” Kaveh quietly responded, trying to believe the words he spoke. He placed the cup back down for it to cool and picked up his bagel, biting into it. “It’s a bit funny,” he continued. “There’s one mystery I never got out of him. Never found out why some bagel he burned once reminded me of him. After his death, I would have burned dozens if Furina hadn't stepped in. Maybe he had future vision.”

     Time passed and silence laid over the pair like a soft blanket. Bit by bit, the chai was finished, the bagels were eaten, and the pair looked at each other every now and again. Neither dared to break the still silence, afraid of going too far and shattering the delicate balance they created.

     “Any plans for the day?” Alhaitham finally asked, very quietly, before biting into the last of his bagel.

     “Nothing uncouth, nefarious, or extravagant,” he lied, swirling his cup of remaining chai to mix the flavours up again, a habit he’d gained from Furina. “Et tu, brute?”

     “First of all, never bastardise the saying like that again. Second of all, I am not a brute. Finally, I’ll likely be spending the day reading over this paper Yoimiya wrote for me and telling her my thoughts later.”

     “I see.” Kaveh finished off the rest of his chai in one sip and placed the cup in the sink, on top of his bagel plate. He then turned back to Alhaitham, smiling, and bid, “I wish you the best, then. I’ll see you soon.”

     “Be safe, Kaveh. Whatever you do.”

     He tried to ignore the twist of his guts looking into Alhaitham’s beautiful eyes, seeing a bit too much love in them. Love for him. Pure, genuine, unabashed love sparkling in the light of that kitchen. He nodded in response and barely choked out, “I will be. I…”

     Unspoken words and unasked questions lingered in the air, cracking and breaking between them. A face too similar to the one in front of him now flashed through him mind, killing the words caught in his throat. Everything dissipated into nothing with each passing second, until one day they would be gone. Just as everything else was.

     “…I’ll be going now.”

     Kaveh forced himself away from the scene, guts burning. He hurried back to the bedroom and slipped on his transporter, his web shooters, his ring necklace, and his earrings. He also didn't forget to slip his phone and earbuds into his pocket. Then, without leaving the room to see Alhaitham again, he opened a portal to his friend’s dimension and jumped through. It felt as though his anxieties had been left behind as the sounds of the city filled his ears.

     It was at that moment that, in his haste, he forgot to think of a destination and had ended up in the park he went to with Alhaitham. And he had no idea where to find his other mom. And he’d forgotten any sort of disguise. Dammit. Putting the hood of his hoodie up would have to do to hide his face from-

     “Kaveh?”

     Fuuuuuuuuuuuuu- Kaveh turned around slowly, eventually coming eye-to-eye with… what was her name? Nila? The Nile? Nilou! ...Nilou. She smiled a bit at him, rifled in the bag she was carrying, and pulled out a paper mask.

     “You should do a better job of hiding yourself, you know,” she chided, handing him the mask. “You’re lucky I was sick last week. It’s unused, don’t worry.”

     He cautiously took the mask and covered his face with it. After taking a hesitant step back, he greeted, “Hi.”

     She seemed confused at his wariness and took a step back of her own, though he was still glaring at her. She parted her lips slowly, the question about to fall out cut off by her sudden realisation. “You’re still upset about what happened the last time we met, aren't you? Oh, shit, I’m so sorry I forgot… how’s your shoulder?”

     “…’S fine,” he mumbled, raising a hand to brush his fingers over the long-since-healed wound. “Thanks.”

     “Ah, don’t mention it. What, ah… what are you doing here? Alhaitham mentioned you were… from another dimension? He also mentioned you may not like me much, considering everything that happened. We’re good now, though! We talked recently, and we got things sorted out.”

     “I’m looking for someone,” he answered honestly. “Your Kaveh and I are very different, and I’d like to figure out why. Know anything?”

     She hummed quietly, then nodded. “Anything you wanna know in particular? I think I was one of his closest friends, but he never talked about his old school or his past at all.”

     “Wait, old school?”

     “Yes. I suppose that’s one of the differences, then,” she surmised, pushing her bright red hair away from her ocean blue eyes. Her nails were healthy and painted a sparkly silver colour, which contrasted nicely with her tanned skin. “He moved to our school in… when he was ten. Fifth grade, then. He said his mom and dad had moved overseas, so he started living with his aunt. He was a bit odd- got these really shaky hands whenever he was holding something sharp, and that became cameras as well sometime after he became seventeen- but he was sweet. He and Alhaitham became friends in our senior year. He started having his alcohol problem after... something happened... and he was a year sober by the time he died. Does that answer any of your questions?”

     “Answers a lot, but it also raises a lot. Definitely explains why Alhaitham gets cagey around alcohol.” Kaveh took a moment to think over her explanation, then continued, “You said he moved to your school when he was ten, but Haitham mentioned you two had been friends for fifteen years. The math doesn't add up. Secondly, he said specifically his dad?”

     Nilou blinked at him before pursing her lips and looking away. “That’s such an odd thing to lie about… and yes, he definitely said his dad, but I met his mom’s spouse at his funeral. And that wasn’t his dad. They’re allowed to separate, of course, but I didn’t see him anywhere at the funeral.”

     “He passed when I... when we were young.” Kaveh tapped the tip of his shoe on the ground thoughtfully. Why would that boy lie about something so small? It seemed like everything branched after he moved in with Rosalyne, but why did he move in with Rosalyne? None of this made any sense… with a huff, he turned back to Nilou and asked, “Where does Faranak live? His mom.”

     “Oh, pass me your phone. She lives on the fifth floor of this fancy apartment building; you’ll know which apartment when you see it. I can punch the address in, but she may not answer. Let’s just say she gets a lot of visitors.”

     After unlocking it, he passed it to her, and she passed it back with the directions pulled up on Google Maps. He nodded a curt goodbye, pulled his hood up, and began to walk away when she suddenly called after him.

     “Hey, wait, I just remembered something! Has Alhaitham told you what he and Cyno talked about the other day?"

     He turned around again and called back, “No, he hadn't even told me they talked. What happened?”

     She shifted uncomfortably, then replied, “If he hasn’t said anything, I don't think I can either. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

     “Thanks. I hope you get better friends.” Before she could stop him again, he flicked on his invisibility and swung away, getting out of the park and swinging over the oblivious idiots of this other city. They looked so small from above, about as feeble as their minds were. These people believed someone so good was a murderer. If his other mom believed that too, he wouldn't be surprised, but his heart would ache for Haitham.

     When he was a comfortable distance away, Kaveh switched off the invisibility on top of a roof and pulled out his phone to check the directions. It seemed like it’d be an hour to walk, but he had a faster way. He pulled out his earbud case, put them in, put the case back in his pocket, started his music, and took a running jump off the roof.

     As the cool air bit at his clothes, he slipped back into invisibility and shot a web-line to a building down the road he’d been overlooking. He zipped over cars and people alike, moving over them like the world’s oddest duckling. Music crescendoed in his ears and his blood rushed as he moved, finding the strength in him to push further and further than he knew was possible when swinging. Taking a risk, he got one foot on the ground carefully and used it to push off into his next swing, making him reach a speed he would have previously thought impossible. It didn't come without its drawback, though, as the movement took a lot of his energy. He caught up to a bus and landed on it carefully, locked his fingers to the roof, and laid down for a moment.

     Holy shit. He actually just did that.

     ...Could he go even faster?

     He pulled out his phone again to check, and he’d gotten a good forty minutes closer to his destination. Perfect; he could walk from there. The next time the bus stopped, he jumped off and mixed into the crowd, then slowly faded back into existence. Nobody was paying attention, all too glued to themselves and their own problems. A lovely violin song had started playing in his ears, easing his heart rate. He became another mindless zombie absorbed in his own world, only pulling his phone out occasionally to make sure he was still headed the right way.

     Once Kaveh got to the building listed, he slipped past the doorman and quickly found the stairwell, making his way up to the floor Nilou had told him. He took a moment to breathe once he reached it and made sure to flick off his invisibility before the confrontation. He had to say, though, the building was nice. Way out of his mom’s pay range, though. Maybe he was glad she was doing better for herself here, but he couldn't really muster enough emotion to feel happy for her. He just needed to get in, ask his questions, and get out before his stepmother got home.

     He stood up and pushed open the door exiting the stairwell, suddenly met with the sight of dozens of flower bouquets and papers around one particular door. Well, Nilou did say he’d know it when he saw it. He wondered how she felt about all the clutter. He shook himself out of his thoughts and hurried down the hall, finally finding himself in front of his destination.

     Oh god, he did not think this through. How was he going to explain this? Whatever, he couldn’t possibly go back now. Against his better judgement, he stepped forward and knocked on the door. Fuck. Fuckity fuck fuck fucking- why did he do this?! Maybe it still wasn't too late to run, he could still-

     The door creaked open, and an unfamiliar face met him. She had beautiful, tanned skin and short, wavy, dark brunette hair. Her face was wrinkled with years of smiling and age, but she didn't greet Kaveh with such a smile. Instead, she frowned and said, “If you’re here for an interview, you’re out of luck. Aye, we told the doorman to stop taking bribes, but somehow you pests keep getting in. We don’t want-”

     “Who the fuck are you?” Kaveh blurted. He was certain he’d never heard her voice, either. She seemed perplexed by this reaction and tilted her head at him.

     “You can address me as Dr. Moreau-Lopez. Quite the foul mouth you have there, kid.”

     Moreau-Lopez? Moreau was his mom’s maiden name, but it was common enough that it could be a coincidence. This seemed like the right place, so was this woman a friend of Faranak’s? Whatever, he could worry about it later. Instead of addressing her comment, he stated, “I need to speak with Faranak Amaru. Is she home?”

     She looked at him quizzically, then skeptically, then asked, “On what business?”

     “It’s about her son-”

     “Nope. Better luck next time,” she interrupted, starting to close the door. Kaveh was quicker, though, and wedged himself between the small gap that remained.

     “Please, it’s urgent, I just need a few minutes-”

     “Eshgham? What’s going on?” A woman’s painfully familiar voice gently called to the woman behind the door. She entered the room through the only doorway Kaveh could see, and she was… it was really her. Skin only slightly darker than his own, a round face, and her signature blonde hair falling around her. A loose headscarf wrapped over and around her, something she wouldn't be caught dead wearing in his own world. Her eyes darted over to his disguised face, squinted in an attempt to recognise him, then turned back to her friend. “Who is this?”

     “It’s just another kid here to write propaganda using Kaveh’s name. I’m trying to push him out, but he is tough.”

     “Please,” Kaveh breathlessly begged, holding his ground. “Miss Amaru, I really need to speak with you, please.” Tears began to sting his eyes. Why was this so much harder than he was expecting?

     Faranak suddenly held up a hand to her friend, gesturing for the fight to stop. Kaveh stumbled at the sudden loss of pushback but quickly righted himself. He slowly regained control of his respiration as his other mom approached tenderly. “Young man, you must understand that nobody has referred to me by that name in a long time. The man who gave it to me passed away over a decade ago. Why are you here?”

     No.

     …What?

     “Are you... okay?”

     The words rushed past his ears, her earlier words too busy throwing themselves against his skull. He was… his stepfather was dead. Shit, he was going to be sick. The ground rushed up at him as he fell to his knees, ignoring the stinging pain of the impact. He barely registered one of the women crouching down to check on him, telling the other to grab something, the hurried patter of footsteps retreating. Soft hands brushed his forehead, gently wrenched his hands away from their clawing at his sides, and his throat was so tight he couldn't tell them not to touch him.

     “Honey, hey, what’s going on? Did you know that man? Here, can I take this mask off? It may help you breathe, okay?”

     No, he wanted to scream. No, no, no-!

     Faranak let out a soft gasp as the mask was lowered, revealing his face to her. He had to admit, though, it was easier to breathe. Steps rushed back and stopped. Distantly, he heard the sound of shattering glass, followed by rapid cursing. The shock and nausea slowly died down as the minutes passed, and he eventually found the courage to raise his gaze to look Faranak in the eye. She looked… sad.

     “Can you stand?” she whispered, extending a hand to him.

     “I think so,” he mumbled, taking her hand and allowing her help to stand. The other woman stood deeper in the room, sweeping up broken glass and muttering something in what sounded like Spanish.

     “Let’s sit you down, get you a new glass of water, and then you can tell us what’s going on. Okay?” She closed the door behind them and gently led him into the apartment, stopping at a small couch. She let him sit, then hurried off to somewhere else. That was fine. While she was gone, he focused on the little things in the room to ground himself. There were photos of his father, of him, and of that woman cleaning up the glass. Odd. He could hear the faint ticking of a clock, though he couldn't identify where it originated. There were two small tables in the corner. One had a picture of that other him and a vase of yellow flowers. A lit candle sat as well, flickering and glowing with all the passion that other Kaveh must have had. The other had a baby blanket and a teddy bear, but no picture. He could hear hushed whispers in the kitchen, both voices occasionally slipping into other languages.

     Soon enough, the Spanish woman re-entered the room, muttering something and hurrying over to Kaveh. Without asking, she poked his cheek, cocking her head. She then asked, “You a ghost?”

     “Katalina, stop,” Faranak chided upon entering the room herself. She passed a new cup of water to Kaveh, then sat down in an armchair perpendicular to the couch.

     “Well, he isn't a ghost. There goes your theory. So, if he isn't a ghost, he isn't from this world at all.”

     Before speaking, Kaveh took a generous sip of his water, then looked up at the doctor lady. “You’re Katalina?”

     “In the flesh.”

     “You’re... Kaveh's stepmother?”

     “Weird description, kid, but sí.”

     Kaveh let out a long sigh, looking down at his water sheepishly. “I thought she was still with… the other guy. I am so sorry. I’m sure you’re wonderful.”

     She audibly bit back a laugh, then stepped back to stand beside her wife. “No te achaques. Don't worry about it. Now, who exactly are you?”

“Oh, right, um- I'm Kav. I sort of invented multiversal tech... I’m also the reason no one else has been able to access it. Alhaitham mentioned you were his boss; is that how you know about it?”

     “It is, indeed.” She huffed, then turned her head away, clearly upset. “I can't believe we may have wasted thousands of budget dollars trying to breach something unbreachable.”

     “Well… you did breach it once,” Kaveh offered, shrugging. “That’s how we found Haitham.”

     “You know Hayi?” Faranak asked, stepping in with her sweet voice. She was looking at him with that sort of grieving mother look that made him feel awful for showing up, but he steeled his nerves with a breath and nodded. She sighed and gave a slight smile, but contributed nothing more until after Kaveh had finished off his water. “May I assume that my… ex-husband is still alive in your world?”

     “He is,” Kaveh whispered, his answer spilling out almost breathlessly. He gripped the glass tightly, careful to hold back some of his strength as to not break it. “And you're... still with him.”

     “Well, that is… quite the shame. To know it would be this way or the other… I suppose I still would have chosen this way,” she mused, finally gathering the strength to look back at him. “You’ve grown out your hair. It suits you.”

     “Thank you, I appreciate it.” He needed to steer the conversation back to the past, but based on her face, that’d be difficult to do gently. Instead, he commented, “You have a lot of photos. None of Esmé, though.”

     “Who?”

     “Ah, my apologies. I have a little sister in my universe, though I forgot Alhaitham mentioned he didn't talk about her.”

     Whatever he said was entirely the wrong thing to say. Katalina was waving her hands in a reserved “no” motion, as well as shaking her head and mouthing the word. Faranak, however, was staring blankly at him, her hand brushing over her stomach.

     “I was going to have a daughter,” she murmured.

     No turning back now- why was that the sentiment of the day? Hesitantly, Kaveh asked, “What do you mean..?”

     She shook her head softly, turning her gaze away. She raised a hand to lock her fingers between Katalina’s, then continued, “I could have prevented it. I should have... I was reading in bed, and then something felt wrong. I got up quickly and hurried to your room. You had your stepfather’s knife in your hand, and you were covered in… that wretched man was laying on your bed. I… I didn't know what to do. You saw me, and you were terrified, and I tried to get the knife away from you, but you lunged… I don't know if I lost her from the wound or the stress, but when I woke up in the hospital, my family was gone.”

     Oh. Well, shit. Because how else do you respond to finding out your alternative self actually managed to follow through with his plan instead of deciding that it wouldn’t work and giving up? Shit, this explained way too much, but nothing that answered his questions. He didn't want to fucking do this anymore- “I don't think Alhaitham knows anything… would you ever plan on telling him?”

     “No,” Faranak confessed. “A bit before he died, my son finally reached out and asked to meet with me. He told me about his boyfriend over a cup of coffee. He’d known he was going to die, and he used that final meeting to beg me to never tell him about his past. So, I didn't. I only comforted this boy that my son loved dearly, all the while knowing he was grieving so very much. I could tell he loved him, but everyone had the gall to say he was this cruel murderer. Up until now, we’ve hidden those two secrets from everyone.”

     “You know Alhaitham is Spider-Man?” Kaveh blurted, leaning forward. His surprise seemed to cheer Faranak up a bit, as she laughed softly and finally looked back at him.

     “I understand that it’s a rather… basic name as well, but I mustn't be too cruel to my son’s best friend. She was young, and maybe not the most creative, but she's always been bright. She took care of him when he was with Rosalyne. When I couldn't. Regardless, I’ve known. It’s why we refuse to allow reporters and the like to turn my son into a martyr against his own lover.”

     “I’ve watched what little footage there is of him fighting,” Katalina cut in. “He’s amazing, speaking from a physics standpoint. I’ve been hoping to weasel my way into his trust enough for him to tell me his secrets, though I suppose it's hard to trust people not to readily attack a wanted criminal.”

     “He thinks very highly of you, don't worry,” Kaveh reassured, smiling. His heart hurt a bit, though. Why couldn't he have gotten these moms? They seemed amazing. They genuinely cared about that other him. Everyone did. Everyone in this world gave a shit about his life, but in his own world? There were people who resented both of his identities for not doing more, for not saving their loved ones, for keeping them away from mourning their police captain. On the flip side of that, though, everyone hated Haitham here but revered him in Kaveh’s universe. Had they truly both been so unlucky? It seemed cruel.

     At least they had each other.

     As a token of appreciation, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and scrolled through his photos, finally finding pictures of Faruzan's birthday that year. He quickly found his target, opened it, and passed the phone to Faranak. She watched as Furina recorded the birthday song and Faruzan cut into Furina's homemade cake, then passed out slices. When a slice finally got to Kaveh to pass to Esmé, he encouraged her to smell how good it was. She fell for it and ended up with a face full of cake. Esmé quickly grabbed the slice meant for Kaveh and shoved it into his face, laughing like a madman. The recording stopped midway through Faruzan scolding them, since Furina had decided to join the fun by also hitting the birthday girl in the face with a slice of cake.

     Though smiling, Faranak passed back his phone and said, “You shouldn't tease your sister like that. I’m sure she looks up to you.”

     “Not as much as I’d like her to,” he quietly confessed, slipping his phone back into his pocket. “We only got back in touch recently.”

     “Even so, you two have a bond. Don't take that for granted.”

     “Alright, mom,” he teased, then winced at his own words. “Sorry.”

     “Don’t be. It’s been years since I’ve been called that,” she quipped with a short laugh. “The last words I ever heard him say were ‘Bye, mom’… and before that, he'd scolded me, accusing me that if he hadn't done what he did, I wouldn't have realised the pain of my ignorance. Your existence only proves that fact.”

     “If it’s any comfort, I’m sure he appreciates the fact you listened... eventually. The circumstances aren't the best, but you didn't villainise him.”

     She smiled at him with nothing but pure sass. Definitely his mom. “I’m sure you dealt with it a lot longer, though, and that’s the only reason you believe that. There’s a certain level of complacency that comes with an excessive amount of trauma. A dear friend of mine is a therapist; she’s the one who introduced me to Katalina and helped her get her surgery recommendations.”

     “I see.” Kaveh gave them a tight smile and moved a hand to grasp his pant leg, then relaxed himself with a breath. It didn't go without notice, though, as Katalina tilted her head towards him again.

     “What's the real reason you came here, kid?”

     “Why do you keep calling me that?” Kaveh deflected, softening his tone as much as possible.

     “Because you're a kid half my age. Now, answer the question. Why did you come here just to learn about another version of yourself?”

     “…It was for Haitham’s sake,” he quietly admitted. The floor suddenly became very interesting, so he stared intensely at each grainy line. Real wood. Not linoleum. Fascinating.

     “Oh, darling. If you think you're going to get closer to him by acting more like my son, you're making a terrible mistake,” Faranak advised. “Hayi loves people the most when they're being their most authentic self. If he likes you, he likes you. While I’ve been instructed not to tell him anything, you haven't. Be honest with him. It’ll be good for you both.”

     Kaveh gave a slight hum, nodding only to show he understood. Silence wormed its way into the room, prompting Faranak to stand and take the cup he’d been holding for far too long at that point. He listened quietly as the glass clinked, finding purchase in the sink, then heard the leisurely pace of Faranak’s footsteps back into the room. She stopped in front of him, then extended a hand to help him up. He took it graciously, admiring how similar it was to his own. On his feet, it felt like he towered over her despite only being a few inches taller. She looked at him with kind eyes that were not his to accept, but he let them gaze at him just a bit longer. It was okay for him to be just a bit selfish. Right?

     ...No, this was someone else’s mom. Not his. He reluctantly pulled away, then nodded to her respectfully.

     “I should be going. Things to do, places to be...”

     “I understand. Be safe. That’s all I ask of you.”

     She allowed him to step over to the door, only taking in a short breath when his hand fell on the door handle. The quiet noise forced him to turn back, the one thing he was trying not to do at risk of never leaving. Faranak and Katalina were holding hands, the latter’s thumb sweeping over her wife’s skin in a comforting motion. Both looked as though they were holding back tears, and he hoped he wasn’t as obvious.

     Oh, fuck it. Life’s short.

     He moved away from the door in an instant, capturing the women in a hug the next. Tears finally made themselves known, and arms cradled him in a solemn response to his outburst. Apologies overlapped words of comfort like a swirling tornado of emotion, raw and honest and real. It wasn’t fair. This love wasn’t his to accept.

     It’s okay.

     He shuddered, swearing he felt a cold, comforting touch brush his back. He slowly pulled away from the teary-eyed women, finally realising how damp his own face was. Kaveh let out a huffed laugh and wiped his face with his sleeve quickly.

     “Sorry about that,” he muttered.

     “It’s alright. How about I walk you to the stairs?” Faranak suggested, raising an arm to push his hair out of his face.

     “I think I’d like that,” he quietly confessed, smiling. He waved to Katalina and allowed Faranak to show him the way out, passing the memorials of the other him.

     “I know they mean well,” Faranak whispered, “but I believe it’s long been time to move on. It’s what he would have wanted. He’d always been terrified of being trapped or tethered to something, so much so he refused to be buried.”

     “His grave is empty?”

     “It is, and I believe you should visit it, if you can find it. It’s in Canarsie. I’m sure he’d be fascinated by your company,” she encouraged, stopping just before they reached the stairs. “Remember: he likes yellow tulips more than anything else. And keep that mask on, alright?”

     “Yes, ma’am,” he responded, pulling the mask Nilou gave him back up, as well as his hood. “Take care of yourself.”

     Shortly after climbing the stairs to leave, Kaveh had jumped off yet another roof and was sailing back through the air, admiring its chilly bite. He’d have to ask Alhaitham to give him a proper tour another time, but he was content exploring his partner’s city on his own for the time being. No matter how similar the universes were, each New York had its beautiful quirks. Different shops, different people, different weather. It was a fundamental rule that no two universes could even possibly be identical, what with every little choice so many people make in a day. Genes won't replicate the same way every time, and even the difference between having cereal or yogurt for breakfast could be the marking difference between two universes.

     And he loved it. Even just his being in this other universe at this specific time was altering it, making it completely different from any other universe that could have previously been considered similar.

     He’d been in Canarsie a few times before, since it wasn’t far from where he went to college. At the very least, he knew the way there, and it was much closer than the park was to Faranak’s apartment. On his way, he experimented with going just a bit faster every now and then, putting a bit more power behind each swing. He had to wonder why it was developing now of all times; he’d have to ask Furina if she or Mehrak noticed anything different. When he was close, he slowed himself down and landed near a flower shop. As he pushed the door open, letting the floral smell waft out, he let his invisibility slip away like a cloak.

     “Welcome to Nabu Malikata Flowers, I’ll be with you in a minute,” someone called from a room behind the counter. Kaveh waited patiently for them to approach the register whilst looking around at the different flowers for sale. Each was incredibly well cared for, displaying vivid colours and soft petals for the world to see. Their stems shot upright in a friendly and attentive manner, almost giving the illusion that the plants were happy to have company. Smiling at the thought, he took a step to face some of the other flowers when he froze.

     “Kaveh? What are you doing here?”

     There, in the centre of one of the displays, was a small bouquet of green carnations, forget-me-nots filling the gaps. All other thoughts dissipated as he stared at the bouquet, an odd sense of longing filling his chest. He didn’t even notice when the shop owner approached him, nor that he’d even called his name.

     “Uh... can I help you?” the shop owner tried again, startling Kaveh. Turning to face the speaker, he immediately recognised it as Tighnari, wearing a dirt-covered apron and cocking his head at him. His little visit to Haitham’s dimension was chock-full of cameos, wasn’t it?

     “Yellow hyacinths,” Kaveh blurted, desperate for something to say. “Do you have any?”

     “What’s the occasion?” Tighnari asked, gesturing for Kaveh to follow him.

     “Visiting someone.”

     “So, do you want a bouquet then?”

     “No, just one flower,” Kaveh confirmed, counting his blessings that there were a few crumbled bills in the pockets of his sweatshirt.

     “Who could you possibly be visiting that you want a singular flower? I swear...” Tighnari muttered, shaking his head.

     “A grave.”

     “...Oh.” He looked down for a moment, and when he looked back up, he asked, “May I ask whose?”

     “Kaveh’s,” Kaveh responded, his own name feeling odd against his lips. Tighnari sighed again at his response, then ducked into the room behind the register again. When he returned, he was holding a small bouquet of assorted flowers: green carnations, yellow tulips, white lilies, some Kaveh couldn’t identify, and a singular yellow hyacinth directly in the heart of the bouquet. Before he could explain he only had a few dollars, the bouquet was pressed into his hands, and Tighnari cut him off.

     “It’s on me. I’ve been wanting to visit, but I’ve been busy. I trust you to respect him more than any other person in this world.”

     “Uh... why? I’m a stranger to you,” he asked, gently brushing one of the petals with his index finger.

     “I need you to look closely, really closely, at your sweatshirt cuffs,” was the only response Tighnari gave before turning to the side and writing something down.

     Kaveh did as he suggested and looked at his cuffs simultaneously, taking a closer look at the right side when he saw a bit of different coloured thread. Turning it, he noticed eleven yellow tulips embroidered together, a small letter K starting the chain.

     “Ah... I should probably be more selective of which sweatshirts I take.”

     “If it makes you feel better, it’s the only gift Alhaitham's ever hated. Something about the threads touching his wrists.”

     “Finally, a point we agree on. I thought it was bad manufacturing,” Kaveh mused, clutching the flowers tighter, releasing the chokehold moments later. “...Thank you.”

     As he was about to leave the small shop with the bouquet, Tighnari called, “I could never bring myself to hate him, even without knowing his identity. I just knew something was wrong. You know?”

     “On that front, you’re talking to the wrong Kaveh.” With that, he left promptly, a singular yellow flower petal falling behind him.

     It was surprisingly easy to carry the bouquet whilst swinging, even if he had to go slower to protect the plants. He was fortunate enough that the graveyard was nearby, and he stayed in the air long enough to memorise the location of the most likely headstone: small, but well-visited. Upon reaching it, he placed the flowers as close to the grave as he could, then knelt in front of it. Another woman was present with him, though she was visiting the grave adjacent.

     …Okay, so, what do people do when visiting graves? Talk to the stone?

     “In the military, we leave coins on the graves of our fallen comrades,” the woman spoke from her position. “Each one means something different.”

     “What’s the coin for total strangers, then?” Kaveh asked, turning his gaze to her. She was oddly familiar, like someone he would easily recognise were she not missing something.

     “A penny,” she answered, returning his gaze. "Based on whose grave you're at, I’d assume that's what you’d leave if he served.”

     “You’d be right. And what about you?”

     “I’ve been leaving a quarter here once a month for almost a decade. We served together, and he died right in front of me.”

     “I’m sorry for your loss, then,” he muttered, turning his gaze to the name on the other stone and blanching when he read the name.

     William A. Mahan. Beloved husband and father.

     His eyes turned back to the woman staring at the grave, finally recognising the hollowed shell of his aunt. She seemed cold and distant, almost extraterrestrial.

     “He was a good man. A lot of lives could have been saved if he'd lived,” she murmured. “Especially that child of his. I wonder what he’d think of him now, after everything he’s done.”

     “Wait- isn’t this his child? What do you mean, everything he’s done?”

     The woman permitted herself a short, sharp laugh that cut like a knife before giving a solemn nod. “I mustn’t air out our family’s dirty laundry, so I’ll only say I took custody of him some years after his father’s passing. He ended up doing some things that were unforgivable, taking things dear to my heart. I said I forgave him, but I never let him escape his past. Who would’ve known it’d end like this? I hate to disappoint his father, but...”

     “Maybe...” Kaveh started, unsure of what exactly he wanted to say to this woman. Finally, he settled on, “Maybe, if the two of you were very different people, you could have been closer.”

     “You think so?”

     “I’m sure of it.”

     “Well then,” she started, smiling, “thank you, little bear. Truly, I’d have liked to have a nephew like you.”

     “Don’t mention it! You’ve helped me out with one of my own problems, so I should really be thanking you,” he retorted, jumping to his feet defensively. The woman only laughed and shook her head, rising to her feet and walking away silently. A comfortable daze of exhaustion suddenly wrapped itself around Kaveh, lulling him to take a nap. Making sure the woman would be unable to see him, he opened a portal back to Nowhere, no location in mind. He crashed down, and darkness swallowed his consciousness.

     Within his dream, it was warm. Some old, terrible Christmas movie played while a younger Kaveh played in the living room. The last Christmas before his father passed. Neither of his parents were particularly religious, a trait that had passed to him, but they chose to celebrate to seem more “American.” His mother had fallen asleep on the couch, her head resting on his father’s lap while he hummed a lullaby in Farsi.

     “Maman’s mad at you again,” Kaveh said placidly, pushing a toy truck on the carpet.

     “Oh? And why’s that?”

     “She doesn’t want you to go back to work. She thinks you shouldn’t be a hero.”

     “What do you think?”

     “Grown-ups gotta work or whatever, so you gotta go. But you’re not a hero,” he replied petulantly, pouting up at his father.

     “I can’t disagree with you. If you and your mother didn’t need the money, I wouldn’t be doing it. But it’ll be over soon, okay?”

     “And then you’ll take me to the art museum?”

     “You’re still eager to see that place, aren’t you?” His father let out a warm laugh. Had his wife not been on his lap, he likely would have leaned down to ruffle his son’s hair. “It’s a guarantee.”

     “What if you die?”

     “Jeez, kid... that won’t happen, but if it does, Miss Rosalyne and your mom can take you. Okay?”

     “Take him where?” Faranak mumbled, sitting up from her original spot. Yawning, she asked, “How long was I out?"

     “Too long,” the young boy huffed. Where laughter was expected from his father, the man had suddenly disappeared. The warmth of the dream was replaced with a sudden chill and emptiness. Quietly, Kaveh called, “Dad?”

     His father’s lullaby picked up again, returning some of his warmth. Even so, he knew the dream had ended, for the voice behind the lullaby had changed. Someone had covered him with a blanket and was gently running their fingers through his hair, humming the lullaby.

     “I’d ask where you heard that, but we both know the answer,” he muttered, leaning into the touch.

     “Did I wake you?” Alhaitham asked gently, tucking some of Kaveh’s hair behind his ear.

     “Mm, no... would’ve woken up anyways. Had a nightmare.”

     “I figured. Tao brought up the idea of a sleepover to the others, and they started arguing about where to have it. I passed by, and they made me go get you.”

     “Hm. I should go diffuse them, then,” he muttered, sitting up. Alhaitham had been kind enough to take off his earrings and his necklace, but that meant having to put them back on.

     “You don’t have to,” he murmured, casting a sidelong gaze towards him with eyes that were almost pitiful.

     “If you’re worried about me being stressed out, I’m fine. Sorting out their arguments is actually sort of relieving. Makes me feel like I’m actually doing something as the leader of this place, you know?” Kaveh sighed through his nose, sliding the back of his earring onto the hook.

     “That reminds me; do you even like being the leader of Nowhere?” Alhaitham asked, tone as blunt as ever.

     “How do you mean that, hm?” he teased in response. “Think I’m not cut out for it?”

     “I fully believe you can do it. I’m asking if you want to.”

     “Well, yes, but I also have to. I founded this place and made all the rules for it, for starters. Secondly, there's too much going on with the Venom situation to switch power now. Finally, everyone else has other responsibilities.” Upon seeing Alhaitham’s questioning gaze, he clarified, “I have friends to keep relationships with, sure, but running Nowhere is built into my workday. I have a light workload, and I even had a day off today. My Nari called to remind me and said I had to stop in, but whatever he needs, I can deal with Monday.”

     Alhaitham hummed, pulling out his phone. “It’s Friday the 13th, but that hardly qualifies as a holiday. It is October, though. Halloween party?”

     “Shit, you’re right. The folks at the lab have been mentioning a party all week.” Kaveh shrugged before standing, helping Alhaitham to his feet afterward. “They’ll be fine without me. Where’s the fight happening?”

     “First floor of the apartments, last I checked. Ready to go?”

     “What do you think?” He grabbed Alhaitham by the wrist gently, dragging him through the door. “Come on.”

     “Yes, senior,” the man teased, eyes shining with mischief.

     “Ugh, don’t call me that,” Kaveh shuddered. “It makes me feel old.”

     “You are old.”

     “No I’m not!”

     Kaveh pouted, listening to Alhaitham’s soft laughs behind him and feeling his heart squeeze. Fuck, he missed this idiot. Getting to be so close and spend so much time with him just wasn’t enough. He needed to be linked to this man, mind and soul.

     He loved him.

     With his entire being, in this universe and every other, Kaveh was desperately in love with Alhaitham.

     “Hey, Kav?” he suddenly asked, free hand on the other’s shoulder. “Why’d we stop? Are you okay?”

     “You don’t have to call me that anymore, you know,” Kaveh muttered, slipping his hand down into Alhaitham’s. He turned back and gave him a kind smile, probably one of the few genuine gestures he’d ever shown him. “Kaveh’s fine.”

     For once, it seemed as though he’d actually stunned the younger man into silence. His lips were parted slightly, eyes caught flickering between making eye contact or taking in his smile. Kaveh took the struggle of both choices by turning away, continuing to lead Alhaitham to the apartments’ entrance.

     “-been going in circles for hours!” was the first part Kaveh heard, complained by Yanfei.

     “Then just let us host in your apartment!” Hu Tao whined in response, following up with a small hmph.

     “No, we always do stuff in my apartment. You and Tighnari have perfectly good spaces to sleep, so pick between those.”

     “What’s the problem now?” Kaveh asked, making his presence known as his hand slipped out of Alhaitham’s. All eyes were suddenly on him, elated by his presence.

     Cyno especially seemed excited by his arrival as he announced, “We could just stay at K’s apartment!”

     “Unfortunately, you could not,” Kaveh corrected. He then shrugged, continuing, “I don't have a place of my own here.”

     “How can you not have an apartment here?” Tighnari countered, crossing his arms and swishing his tail behind him. “That’s like a governor who doesn't live in the state they govern.”

     “I’ve never needed one. Now, each of you, tell me why your apartment isn't a viable candidate.”

     “Sand,” Cyno answered first.

     “He likes to sleep bundled up in mounds of sand,” Tighnari clarified. “We already decided we'd rather not deal with that. As for me, my apartment is like one huge nest. I don't want unfamiliar scents mucking it up.”

     As for Yanfei and Hu Tao, both flatly responded, “Principle of the thing.”

     “Elaborate,” Kaveh demanded, crossing his arms.

     “I just want to go to Fei’s apartment,” Hu Tao pouted.

     “It’s unfair that every time we do something in one of the apartments, it’s always mine. Wouldn’t you rather explore someplace new?” Yanfei persuaded, taking up a cheeky air like an up-charging salesman.

     “Can’t argue with that logic,” Kaveh responded, giving a half-assed shrug. “Tao, lead the way to your apartment.”

     “Damn iiiit,” they playfully whined, still gesturing for the group to follow them. Kaveh and Alhaitham stayed near the back, altogether silent. Though conversation ahead would muffle any hushed whispers, Kaveh was content to intertwine their pinkies, knuckles brushing together now and again.

     The group piled into the elevator, and Hu Tao hit the button for the fifth floor. Corny elevator music played as they were carried up, prompting Cyno to grin in preparation for a joke. Tighnari slammed his hand over the man’s mouth, only to be disgusted when Cyno licked it. A small argument broke out again that Kaveh had to diffuse, and the group was soon out of the elevator before anything more could be done. Hu Tao led them to the right, where a scarlet door adorned with flowers awaited them.

     “Come one, come all!” they beckoned, opening their door to reveal a lake in the middle of a forest clearing. A small stream of sunlight managed to pass through the leaves and illuminate the lush clearing. Surprisingly, it seemed that Tao’s apartment was just this small area. Even so, they proudly marched forward.

     “Maybe we should've gone to my apartment,” Tighnari muttered, flicking an ear as a leaf brushed it. As his spores landed on the soft grass, they took root and immediately bloomed into a small patch of indiscernible fungi.

     “That doesn't usually happen, does it? Kaveh asked, stepping around their white caps.

     “No, it doesn't.”

     “Don't be so quick to blow off one of my proudest achievements,” Tao scolded playfully. They grabbed a thick vine hanging from one of the trees near the lake and gave it a sharp tug. Then, they smiled and said, “After all, this is only my entryway.”

     “You’ve got to be joking,” Yanfei accused. “Tao, this entire room's the size of an apartment.”

     “On the contrary, my beloved. Seeing is believing.”

     With that, Hu Tao turned and sprinted towards the lake, using the vine as a swing to make a large splash directly in the middle. Instead of resurfacing, however, she disappeared.

     “...Tao?” Yanfei asked, trying to look into the water for any sign of her partner. Kaveh approached the water’s edge and squinted, seeing an opening at the bottom of the lake that led into something much bigger.

     He had to give them props, a secret hidden entrance was ungodly cool. He stepped back from the water as the group muttered about what to do, grabbed the vine Hu Tao had used, and stepped back for a running start.

     “What are you doing?” Alhaitham asked, concern creeping into his tone.

     “Hanging myself,” Kaveh replied. “If at first you don’t succeed, you know?” With that, he rushed forward and used the vine to splash into the centre of the lake. He sunk into the opening he saw, only to feel the gravity on his body suddenly reverse. He resurfaced in another, much bigger forest. Actually, a jungle was a better word for it.

     Kaveh trudged out of the lake, his clothes surprisingly dry. Colourful flowers of all types surrounded him, growing wherever they could find space and sunlight. Mushrooms clustered by tree roots, and bird nests dotted the branches. Suddenly, a white beam cast itself into the sky nearly a mile from where he was standing. Without much other choice, he started forward, doing his best to avoid damaging the plants.

     The more he walked, the more small details he noticed, and the more impressed he became with his friend. Though the apartments couldn’t create life, they’d managed to make their space feel alive. A small burrow there, animal tracks leading around corners, the occasional rustling of synthetic leaves. Then, a darker thought crossed his mind.

     How lonely were they to have created all this?

     After roughly half an hour of walking, the sun had begun to set, and he finally stumbled across where the beam was coming from. It was a connected, branching network of treehouses, each with some apparent purpose. A ladder swayed from each of the three biggest structures. Kaveh decided to take the one hanging from the leftmost structure, where Yanfei and Hu Tao were talking.

     “...completely honest, there’s one thing I’d change.”

     Kaveh stilled on the ladder when he heard Hu Tao’s quiet voice. It wasn’t a tone he often heard, only in hushed conversations with Yanfei.

     “And what’s that?”

     He heard them sigh, then respond, “There was a girl. We were in art and chemistry together. I never spoke to her, but apparently, she made firecrackers for other students. One day, she just... disappeared. No one knew what happened to her, but rumour said she had hanahaki. I’d go back and be her friend, even just for a little while.”

     Kaveh climbed high enough to where he could see the pair just as Hu Tao turned and coughed into their hand violently. Yanfei frowned and stepped forward, placing a hand on their arm.

     “Tao, I’m worried about you. You really should go get that cough checked out.”

     “I did, and I’m fine! It’s just a little bug that’s been showing up in a couple of the Spiders. The scientists have it handled.”

     “Didn’t anyone ever tell you spiders aren’t bugs?” Kaveh asked, raising himself onto the platform. The two startled, then settled themselves.

     “How long were you there?” Yanfei asked. “I didn’t hear you come up.”

     “Long enough to hear something about bugs and spiders, nothing much. Why? Are you planning to throw me a surprise party?” he teased, stepping closer.

     “You wish!” Hu Tao scoffed, nudging him as she walked past. Yanfei shook her head, smiling, and sighed.

     “Surprisingly, you’re not the last one back. Cyno went out to look for Tighnari, but we have the sneaking suspicion our little fox doesn’t want to be found. He’s in his element,” she explained, shifting her weight to her right and crossing her arms. “Alhaitham’s on the top level. Just head left and climb up the ladder until you reach the top.”

     “Thanks, Fei.”

     “Don’t mention it.”

     Kaveh followed the path Yanfei instructed, waving goodbye to her before starting his ascent on yet another ladder. This one didn’t reach the ground; instead, it covered three levels of the structure, each of which seemed like a different bedroom. It was a shorter climb than the previous ladder, and he soon reached the top. Alhaitham stood at the edge of the platform, hands on the railing in front of him, staring out into nothing.

     “Heya, stranger,” Kaveh called, stepping onto the platform. “Miss me?”

     “You scared me,” he confessed, partially turning his head to the side. “I was worried when I entered the lake and you weren’t on the other side, but I trusted you.”

     “Aw, what a bad idea.”

     Kaveh stepped forward to the railing, letting his left arm press against Alhaitham’s right. After everything that had happened that day, the slow moment was entirely welcome. It was time. If he didn’t tell him the truth now, he never would. He took a deep breath, then looked over at his friend.

     “How much did he say about his childhood?”

     “Absolutely nothing. He would go quiet when anyone mentioned being younger, and he never seemed to have any stories to share,” Alhaitham answered, brushing the railing with a finger. “Why?”

     “I want to tell you something,” Kaveh started, “but you can’t say anything until I’m done. When I finish, I don’t want any pity. I just want you to have the full truth.”

     He was silent for a moment- just a small, solitary moment- before nodding and murmuring, “Okay.”

     No going back now.

     “My mom and dad were together in high school. After they graduated, he decided to join the military. He couldn’t hold down any other jobs, and... well, you know how great our country is. Mom’s parents disowned her after she refused to leave him, and Dad's parents were still overseas, so it was just them. A month after he left, my mom discovered she was pregnant with me. He came home whenever he could, but... he died when I was nine. Mom was really broken up over it, and the husband of my dad’s subordinate- my uncle, Rostam- temporarily moved in with us and made sure we were okay. He was the only reason I ate some nights.”

     Kaveh sighed and tucked some hair behind his right ear, hardening his gaze on one of the nests in a nearby tree. There were two eggs in it, one cracked open to pretend that a bird had emerged from it. Despite that, there was no real life in the tree.

     “The following year, Mom met this new guy. I was happy for her, since she slowly started taking more and more care of me the more time they spent together. Eventually, he moved in.” He paused for a moment, throat closing as he tried to recall his childhood. “It started small, y’know? Hiding my favourite clothes and toys, pushing me around, scolding me for little things. He tried to drive a wedge between Mom and I, and when that didn't work, he’d vent his frustrations on me. Again, that started small. Soon, though, Mom took me to the doctor because she was concerned that I kept ‘falling’.”

     His knuckles turned white as he gripped the railing, voice beginning to waver. His skin was starting to crawl. Catching movement out of the corner of his eye and feeling the brush of skin against his arm, he glanced to where Alhaitham was standing. His friend had his hand partially raised, caught between comforting Kaveh and letting him continue. Kaveh pried his hand away from the railing and took Alhaitham's, laying both back down on the railing.

     “I’m okay. Promise.” He took a breath to collect himself, then continued, “On the way home, she got me ice cream and sat me down. She asked if I was being bullied, and I nodded. She asked if it was someone from school… and then if it was him. I think I started panicking when she brought him up, so she dropped it and took me home. They got in a really big fight that night, and he was sleeping on the couch that night and the night after. The night after the second, however, he came into my room and told me to tell my mom I had lied, or he’d take it out on me.”

     Tears finally slipped from his eyes, burning his face like acid. He bit his lip sharply, nearly drawing blood from the attempt to ground himself. Alhaitham’s thumb brushed against his finger, and he slowly found the strength to continue.

     “That was the first night of many that he raped me. The next day, after dinner, I immediately told Mom I lied. It completely shattered our relationship, and I felt just as alone as when Dad died. But it didn't stop there. Once he realised that he could get away with it, he did it more and more. I started cutting my sides because it was the only way I could get rid of his touch. When Esmé was born, I couldn't stand to look at her. I felt like a disgusting monster, and she’d be tainted if she stayed near me.”

     The hand under Kaveh’s tensed, prompting a soft laugh from him. He gently squeezed Alhaitham's hand and muttered, “I was a dumb kid, give me a break. Anyways, he had a major surgery when I was seventeen. At the same time, we kept having talks about the dangers of drug use at school. They gave him some heavy shit for the pain, and… well, I had an idea. Faruzan was over, since I wanted her to be the last person I saw when I died. That night was the only time I read Esmé a bedtime story and got her some water before bed. After I said my goodbyes, I locked myself in the bathroom and took every damn pill in the bottle. I wanted that bastard to suffer like I had for the past years, and it just happened to be two birds with one stone. I don't know what the hell made Faruzan come check on me, but she did, and I woke up in the hospital. Mom sent me to the mental hospital after I was out, and once I got out of there, I moved in with Rosalyne and Rostam. They paid for my college, and that's where I met Alhaitham.”

     A heavy silence of unspoken words blanketed over them, nearly suffocating Kaveh. He understood that it was a shitty backstory, but did it have to be so awkward afterward? Just to fill the silence for a moment, he mused, “I think I only fell for him because I was already so devoid of love. I could ignore the issues if it meant someone still cared about me. If it meant I wasn't lonely. Hell, that was why I wouldn’t let anyone but him call me by my full name. It was the only way I could feel like I was special to him. But then, I started talking to Rosalyne again. I met my coworkers, Furina, the other Spiders…”

     He looked over into Alhaitham’s eyes. They were the most stunning shade of hazel, and they were staring at him with rapt attention and pure understanding. No pity. No disgust. Of course, he didn't expect anything less from Alhaitham at this point.

     “…and I met you. All of you showed me real love, and for that, I’m eternally grateful. Now that I know what I’ve been missing, I’m holding onto it and I’m not letting go. Not ever.”

     At that moment, the two pulled each other into a tight embrace, circling their arms around each other. Kaveh was pressed so tightly against the other he swore he could hear his heartbeat, but the soft breaths against his neck weren't his imagination.

     After nearly a minute of their being pressed together, Alhaitham finally whispered, “You’ve come so far. I’m proud of you.”

     “You can't just say things like that, you fucking dork,” Kaveh scolded, biting back a stupid grin so that this stupid man wouldn't get the satisfaction. “You make me want to do the stupidest shit, you know.”

     “I don’t know, actually,” the stupid dork responded. “Care to elaborate?”

     With a small bit of force, Kaveh pushed him away, keeping him within reach by holding onto his shoulders.

     “Is that a no, then?” Alhaitham pushed, tilting his head to the side.

     “Patience, you. My English teachers always taught us show, don't tell.”

     Kaveh rushed forward and kissed him, giving him as much of an out as he could by releasing his shoulders after a moment. Unexpectedly, Alhaitham pulled him closer, rendering the exit he created completely moot as his- friend? Lover? Partner? Situationship? No, definitely not a situationship- deepened the kiss.

     When at last they parted, he laughed softly, burying himself in the other’s shoulder. Never in his life had he been more grateful that Alhaitham used scentless soap as he breathed in the smell of his skin, rich and comforting.

     “I have something I should tell you as well,” Alhaitham eventually confessed, slowly and quietly, prying himself away from Kaveh’s embrace.

Chapter Text

     They say that when you die, your life flashes before your eyes. They never specify what parts, though, which feels like a total scam. Who the hell wants to relive that time they stabbed their stepfather? 

     The first thing Kaveh- the real Kaveh, not Kaveh the Cowardly Knockoff- saw at the end of his life was that gruesome scene, feeling warm, sticky blood spilling onto him from above. But it was over. 

     Then, as he was getting up, his mother walked in. 

     The next scene was him sitting on his aunt’s couch, a blanket wrapped loosely around his shoulders. An untouched, cooling cup of cocoa sat on the coffee table in front of him, and his ears rang. His aunt and uncle were talking in the other room, keeping their voices somewhat hushed. Kaveh wondered if they knew he still had his stepfather’s pocketknife, tucked away in his pyjama pants pocket. After his plan to steal one of the kitchen knives had failed, he’d taken it from that monster's bedside drawer. Maybe it was some kind of heirloom. How ironic, then, that it was his family that killed him. 

     He got up when he felt something was off, the blanket slipping off him. He crept to where the adults were talking, having raised their voices just enough for him to overhear. 

     “We absolutely need to send him away, what if he hurts you?” Rostam hissed, gently touching Rosalyne’s arm. Hearing this, Kaveh slipped his hand into his pocket, loosely holding the knife. Still, he remained in his position, wanting to see if his suspicions were wrong. 

     “He won’t hurt me, he only did it out of self-defence. I told you this. Besides, I can handle myself. I didn’t join the military for the veteran discounts, you know.” 

     “I know. I also know you refuse to tell me how stabbing his own mother was also self-defence.” 

     “He was scared, Rostam!” she finally snapped, pulling her arm away. “He’s staying with us, and that’s final. Under no circumstances are you to tell anyone about this.” 

     Kaveh’s uncle scoffed and turned, only then noticing Kaveh’s lurking. He narrowed his eyes and moved forward to grab Kaveh, only for the young boy to slice through the air and sink the knife near the middle of his torso. Both collapsed to the ground, and Rosalyne rushed to their side soon after. She did her best to comfort Kaveh whilst also stopping her husband’s bleeding, but it was no use. 

     “I don’t wanna go anywhere,” Kaveh murmured, clinging onto his aunt.  

     “...You don’t have to. We can get this cleaned up, alright? I’m not gonna lose you again, Mahan,” she responded, voice soft and cracking slightly. 

     The scene changed to the first day of sophomore year. Rosalyne had gotten him tutors to finish out the fourth grade via homeschool, but he transferred to the local middle school for fifth grade and stayed in the district for high school. That was how he ended up saving some kid’s life, inadvertently changing his own in the process. 

     In the eighth grade, Kaveh sat in his usual spot near the back of the class, slowly gathering his things to leave for the day. The two obnoxious boys who sat in front of him were a pair who’d be seniors by now if it weren't for their lacklustre academics, and they were not-so-subtly talking about their plans to gather new bullying targets from the incoming freshmen. 

     “I heard a brown kid just transferred,” the one offered. 

     “You’re joking. Dude, I just found this spot the druggies use to dump their needles,” the other added, getting a disgusting glint in his eyes. “This is too good. We’ve gotta do it.” 

     “It's too bad you won’t,” Kaveh coldly piped up, startling the two. While he had his mother’s more delicate features, he just about matched their height, and Rosalyne had put him in self-defence classes. He’d overheard classmates whisper that he was off-putting, and he hoped it’d work to fend these two off. Training his eyes onto them, he continued, “You're not going to hurt that kid.” 

     “Who are you supposed to be?” one of the boys asked, putting on a cocky smile. Kaveh only gave a smile of his own in response, eyes twinkling. 

     “Weren't there three of you?” 

     The boys stiffened at that and looked between each other. The truth was that Kaveh knew one thing these two didn't: that member of their group had moved to a cheaper place without getting the chance to say goodbye. The kid’s family owed a lot of debts to Rosalyne, and they couldn't even afford him a burner phone to contact his friends. 

     “What do you know about him?” 

     “I know that you’ll be seeing a whole lot of him if you don't leave that kid alone.” 

     The pair looked at Kaveh narrowly, trying to gauge if he was telling the truth. Finally, one of the boys muttered, “Let’s go,” and pulled the other out of the classroom. Kaveh sighed, knowing he’d done everything he could, and he could only wait and see for now. 

     The next morning, Kaveh visited his old homeroom teacher and asked if he had seen any new Arab students. There was only one: Alhaitham.  

     “His name means eagle, you know,” the teacher said. “He’s sharp like one, too. He's got this look about him that has kids on edge... a bit like you, no offence. Hey, do me a favour and keep an eye on him, okay?” 

     “Alright,” Kaveh agreed. After waving goodbye, he turned and left to get to his next class when suddenly he collided with another student. Books scattered, and Kaveh knelt to help the kid pick them up. 

     “You're doing it wrong,” the kid said flatly. Kaveh continued to gather the things, but after handing them over, the kid reshuffled them around. “Journals on the bottom. History goes on top of math. Then add the paper folders, since they always break. Then, the plastic folders.” 

     “You’ve really got a system there, huh?” Kaveh looked up to smirk at the boy when chills ran down his spine. Sharp, hazel eyes gunned him down, standing out against his earthy skin. If this wasn't Alhaitham, who the hell else had the honour of being called an eagle?  

     Pathetically, for the first time in years, he felt his heart beating in his chest again. 

     “See ya.” Alhaitham scooped up his things and entered the room Kaveh had just exited as the bell rang. Meanwhile, the older boy ended up skipping pre-algebra, hoping to calm his emotions. 

     Later, at lunch, Nilou sat with him, picking at her food. She was the popular kid in their grade: warm, kind, and absolutely gorgeous. When she realised Kaveh was new at their school, she took every opportunity to talk to him and make sure he knew about important events. In exchange, he tried not to be prickly around her. Her priority of the day was whining about their snooty English teacher and her excitement to pick her own classes for the following year. Kaveh tried his best to pay attention and nod along, as always, when a certain someone caught his eye. Unfortunately for him, his stare wasn’t lost on Nilou. 

     “Who are you looking at?” she asked, turning to follow his gaze. 

     “No one,” he muttered, stealing a scoop of her mashed potatoes while she was distracted. 

     “I think you’re lying,” she retorted, leaning her head to the side to get a better angle. “Is it that short boy with the takeaway tray?” 

     “I only met him today, don’t be weird about it.” Kaveh’s eyes bored holes into his tray as Nilou turned back, noticed the missing spoonful, and quietly passed over the rest of her food. 

     “You’ve always been such a heart-on-your-cheek kind of person,” she mourned as he dug into soggy broccoli, greasy noodles, and oddly crispy mashed potatoes. The food of champions. “It’s fine if you like him, y’know.” 

     “He’s a boy,” Kaveh emphasised. “Boys can't like boys.” 

     “Says who?” Nilou retorted, pouting and crossing her arms. 

     “Says me! Says everyone! It’s weird, and it’s probably for gross reasons. You never know what a man wants from you,” Kaveh huffed, impaling his fork into a pile of noodles. “They’re all pigs, y’know. That’s why I don't like you. You trust everyone way too easily.” 

     “Ugh, emo. You realise you’re gonna be a man eventually, right? By that logic, I shouldn't trust you.” 

     Kaveh stared down at his food, eyes softening slightly. “You shouldn't.” 

     “In any news,” she continued, crossing her arms, “who made you grow up too quick? Boy, girl, whatever. We’re in middle school, we should be finding partners by now. We’ll all die alone if we don't. I think you should at least try with him.” 

     “You are such a hypocrite, Louie.” 

     “I told you not to call me that! Ugh, that’s such a dumb nickname.” 

     “I know. That’s why I call you that.” Kaveh smirked slightly, scraping the last bits of potatoes off his tray. Finally, he huffed and asked, “What do you suggest, then? People don't like me, and I don't like people. They’re all exhausting.” 

     She shook her head stubbornly. “Not all of them. You just have to find kids like you. The Yearbook Committee needs more photographers and one more person to design the pages with my group and me. Just tell your family to pick you up a bit later.” 

     “…Fine.” 

     Content, Nilou smiled and stood to handle her tray, and Kaveh followed. He hated the idea, but maybe this was what he needed. He just wanted to be normal, even if he was only pretending for a while. Secretly, that was why he never tried too hard to scare away his only friend. Maybe she knew that, and that’s why she stuck around. 

     Luckily for him, he’d gotten along well with Nilou’s other friends. He returned to Rosalyne’s house later and later from school, and she never asked. The debit card she gave him just stayed full, his clothes stayed washed, and food that was too good for him stayed in the fridge for him to pick and choose from. Nothing changed on that front. As for his school life, he found himself getting along with others and participating in activities. By the time ninth grade came around, he’d managed to learn decent study habits and improve his GPA. Most importantly, he kept an eye on Alhaitham whenever and wherever he could. Of course, that all changed when Rosalyne called upon him one day in his senior year with a job for him. 

     “If you want to put your past behind you… if you’d like to go to college,” she said, barely loud enough for Kaveh to hear, “I’ll pay for whatever you choose, as always. There’s just one little debt you need to clear if you don't want your life going down in flames.” 

     She paused as one of her men handed Kaveh a manilla folder filled with papers and pictures. It seemed the subject was a man with long, brown hair and glasses. He seemed friendly enough, and there were even some photos here of him and his husband. They looked happy together. A terrible knot started forming in his stomach. He really hoped she didn't want him to break them up. 

     “Kill the brunette.” 

     He looked up, fighting a look of horror. She'd asked him to do things for her before, but nothing as bad as this. Regrettably, he felt tears pricking at his eyes. 

     “As you know,” she continued, either not noticing or not caring about his expression, “I’m part of an organisation: the Fatui. Those two men in the photos have been trying to leave, break themselves off from us. Like you, I suppose. Unfortunately for them, that other one’s in a much higher position than your target and holds too many secrets. We're ruining his credibility piece by piece, just in case he decides to squeal, and this is the next step.” 

     Of course. This was his aunt, after all. He shouldn't have expected anything less. Tightening his grip on the papers, Kaveh felt himself quiver. Then, very quietly, he muttered, “No.” 

     “I beg your pardon?” 

     “I. Said. No.” he snapped, flipping his gaze up to glare at the calm woman in front of him. “Maybe I’d have done this for you in the past, but now? I’m not sure if you've noticed, but I’m trying to be better. I’m trying to be someone I can actually be proud of instead of a coward. So just fuck off. I-” 

     “You can decline,” Rosalyne interrupted, holding up a hand, “but you’ll regret it. You’ll be arrested, for one. It’s the middle of your senior year, too, so you won't graduate. If you manage to get out, I’ll make sure no one will hire you. No colleges will accept you, either. If you move on and find a partner, they’ll receive information of what you did. If they stay with you, I’ll have them killed. If you reject me now, Kaveh, that perfect mask you’ve created for everyone will shatter.” 

     “…Why are you making me do this?” 

     “I thought you'd be used to killing people's husbands by now,” she calmly retorted, raising an eyebrow. 

     “…Fine,” he muttered, glaring at the ground. 

     “Good. You’ll do it next week, and I’ll get you the information tomorrow. Send a picture of the body and bring his engagement ring to me when it’s done. You’re dismissed.” 

     One of her bodyguards led him to the door as he quietly fumed, but instead of exiting through the door, his mind walked him back into the alley where he killed the man. He was standing over him, gun in hand, aimed directly at the heart as Rosalyne had instructed. The target didn't seem to fear him, instead holding his hands up in mock surrender. 

     “You don't want to do this, do you?” 

     At the question, Kaveh’s hand started to shake, forcing him to switch hands. He had to get this over with. That was all he could do. 

     “Ah… I recognise you now,” the man said, smiling knowingly. “You're Rosalyne’s kid. You're… what, sixteen? Seventeen? You have her eyes, you know; you look just like her.” 

     “Don't compare us,” Kaveh hissed, tightening his finger on the trigger. 

     “You know what? Pull the trigger, then. Let her turn you into the monster you-`” 

     Looking back, Kaveh wished the firing of the bullet had made an earth-shattering bang as it ended the life of the man in front of him, but the silencer only allowed a small pew. Then, he removed his phone from his jacket pocket, fighting trembling hands to take a steady photo- one he didn’t realise would be his last. Kaveh wanted to say something to the man. Instead, he took the ring, then walked away, deeper into the alley. As he went, he examined the silver band, tears welling up in his eyes. 

     Nilou opened her front door to find her best friend fighting tears at her doorstep, blood splattered across his face and shirt. Wordlessly, she let him in, locked the door behind him, and led him to her upstairs bathroom. He sat on the edge of the tub while she grabbed him new clothes and threw the dirty ones into the wash, then grabbed a wet rag and began wiping at his face. 

     “Mom’s at work, and Dad’s out of town for business,” she muttered. “Do you want my leftovers? I made chicken parmigiana.” 

     “Why are you telling me this?” Kaveh whispered back, wincing as she scrubbed a particularly stubborn area. 

     “Nobody's coming here for a while. Nobody. That’s all there is to it.” 

     He looked over at her, studying her crystalline eyes. After a moment, he started, “It was-” 

     “Don’t tell me anything,” Nilou ordered, placing her hand over his mouth. “The less I know, the less I have to lie about if anyone asks.” 

     Once she stepped away to rinse out the cloth, Kaveh muttered, “One more thing.” 

     “Yeah?” 

     He looked up at her, eyes dead serious. “You have hair cutting scissors to cut your bangs, right?” 

     “I don't like where this is going,” she said, despite the fact she plopped the damp cloth into the sink and reached into the bathroom cabinet to retrieve the scissors. “Some people would kill to have our hair length, you know.” 

     “I know,” was all he said in response. She said behind him, measuring his hair with her fingers, while he glanced in the mirror. His aunt stared back. The weight on his head and his back lightened with each piece she cut away until he was left with a cute, medium-length style that he could still pin back the way he liked. As he ran his fingers up the back of his head, he mumbled, “Thanks. For letting me come here. I… I didn't know where else to go.” 

     “Yeah, I get you there. Adults care for us, but they don't care about us. If you need, you can stay-” 

     “I can’t. If anything happened to you or...” he quietly interrupted, shaking his head. “Nilou, promise me you’ll keep Alhaitham safe if anything happens to me.” 

     “...Okay,” she muttered, staring anywhere but towards him. Silence settled over them like a stuffy comforter in summer, suffocating them both. Words that should have been spoken remained unheard, only until Nilou pulled herself away from the sink and said, “Mom and Dad don’t lock up the booze. You’re free to join me, or you can go home.” 

     The more time that passed, the shorter the memories became as his life slowly faded away. He kept drinking to forget, even when Nilou begged him to stop. He eventually made the plan to run into Alhaitham, and the memories of each other’s graduation passed in a blur. He caught snippets of getting sober, of picking out promise rings with Nilou, of every last cherished memory with Alhaitham, each glimpse of his life slipping away like sand until he was ripped into the present. His boyfriend cradled his corpse, and that asshole scientist had managed to break free of Alhaitham’s webs and was making his way down to taunt the hero. Kaveh crouched near his own body, looking at it from the unnatural angle of his own broken neck. The whole situation would have been nauseating, if he still had a stomach. 

     “Hey, pretty boy.” 

     Kaveh glanced over at someone who crouched beside him, only to find the ghost of the exact same guy that just killed him. He looked up; nope, definitely still alive. 

     “I know it’s weird,” he said, “but I’m technically not dead. Think of it like a coma patient.” 

     “Your mind’s dead, but the body isn’t?” 

     “Right.” 

     Kaveh’s face slackened, and he lolled his head back and to the side, using the new angle to glare at him arrogantly. “That’s from the chip you and Haitham developed, isn’t it? That neither of you tested before applying it?” 

     “I’m not sure where you’re going with this, but-” 

     “You don’t know where I’m going with this?!” he finally screamed, standing and turning to fully face the other man. He used his hand to hold his neck up, then continued, “I finally managed to become someone I’m actually proud of, and now I’m dead because you couldn’t be bothered to run tests on your crummy equipment!” 

     Just as he finished yelling, both men heard a sparking sound, followed by the notice that Alhaitham wasn’t where they left him. Both quietly understand what had happened. 

     “Do you honestly think I wanted to hurt him?” Alhaitham’s former boss softly asked after a sigh. “I was desperate. Doctors diagnosed me with a neurodegenerative disease that would leave me quadriplegic by April. This was my last chance to...” 

     Too many big words... linguistics were always Alhaitham’s thing rather than Kaveh’s. All he could ask was, “What now? We can’t stay here, right?” 

     “You certainly can, if you’d like. You just have to tether yourself to a place or an object. I’m moving on, though. There’s nothing left for me here.” 

     “What about...” Kaveh started, looking a short distance away at Alhaitham. “What about a person?” 

     “Don’t do it,” the older man warned. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that tethering yourself to a person will cause them to resent you. Better to latch onto his rings or that necklace he wears.” 

     A quiet oh slipped from Kaveh lips before he went completely silent. Not even the sound of his breathing could comfort him now. And then, it hit him. He was gone. Really gone. He could never kiss Alhaitham again, never be held by him, never eat a bagel he made. In time, everyone would forget him, and then he’d be alone. The realisation hit him hard, and his body wanted to force up tears it couldn’t produce anymore. 

     “I know,” Zandik said, rubbing Kaveh’s back gently. “You’re feeling grief. Alhaitham’s feeling the same way, and I felt the same when I lost my husband.” 

     As if that was meant to make him feel better. Kaveh closed up into himself more and whispered, “I’m sorry.” 

     “Don’t be. It’s okay to feel-” 

     “No,” he snapped, interrupting the other. “I mean I’m sorry. Rosalyne, she- ...I killed him.” 

     The hand on his back froze, then slowly lifted. Kaveh risked a glance over, and that stony, unreadable face that Alhaitham sometimes got was plastered on his boss’s face. 

     “She made you, didn’t she? Blackmailed you.” 

     He risked a slow, small nod. The older man sighed, and the hand was back soon after on his shoulder.  

     “You’re just a kid.” 

     Kaveh huffed, an ingenuine smile crossing over his face. “I don’t feel much like one.” 

     The pair kept an eye on Alhaitham as his friends came to collect him, one of them hesitantly calling the police as they took him to safety. The other bodies remained where they were, stiffening and decomposing with each passing second. 

     “You don't have to,” Zandik started, “but it’s time for me to go. Keep me company while I move to the afterlife, make the trek yourself if you decide to leave this place.” 

     He contemplated it for a moment. Alhaitham would be okay, wouldn't he? After all, he wouldn't be able to see Kaveh anyway. He’d just be a lingering ghost, a barrier to Alhaitham's healing. He gave only a subtle nod as confirmation, but it was enough. Zandik moved his hand from his shoulder and held it out for Kaveh to take. When he did, the world shifted around them to a dark tunnel. Very faintly, a light shone at the end. 

     “Oh,” Kaveh murmured. “That’s what they mean by that phrase.” 

     Without acknowledging the statement, the other man continued ahead, walking steadily away from him. Fine, then. Valid. Kaveh followed after, trying to keep his steps silent, a feat easier than it had been in life. 

     After a while, he noticed one major issue: time didn't have any relevance here. That light never seemed to get any bigger, and his legs never got any more tired. Here, in this limbo, he had no idea what was happening outside. Did his friends know yet? What about his mom- oh god, she was going to be at the funeral with Alhaitham. What would she say to him? Would they even speak? Maybe she could find it in her heart to lie that they were closer than they were, to keep up the web of lies he’d built to catch Alhaitham from falling into the pit of despair that seemed to be his life. All the holidays he’d spent reading every book in every library, hiding where he wouldn't be seen, all for his partner to snap from the breakneck velocity of everything slamming to an end. 

     His own voice rang clear in his mind: five things you can see. Well… himself, the man ahead, the light… three was okay. Taste and smell were right out, and touch barely qualified, so he resorted to closing his eyes and finally listening. Each set of footsteps was unique. Ahead was a pair of feet that never had to fear being heard. Each step was steady, measured, and balanced from years of carrying delicate equipment and precise calculations. They were sure of themselves, never wavering in where they fell. Beneath him were his own footsteps. Each one was barely audible in the perfect way he’d practiced for most of his life. But now, he noticed how different his own steps were. He subconsciously checked the way ahead before proceeding. Despite being about the same height, he took more steps, allowing himself more certainty without seeming paranoid to any other normal person. Then, behind him- wait, behind him? 

     Just as Kaveh noticed their stalker, they took a slight breath in; it was shallow enough that Zandik likely hadn't heard it, but Kaveh definitely had. And that dumb idiosyncrasy belonged to only one other person. It was the same damned breath he heard when something in the fridge had gone mouldy, or when his pencil broke, or when Kaveh showed him the god forsaken spider that started this entire saga. And with the dumbest smile on his face that he could never force down- never when it came to Alhaitham- he turned his head around. 

     “Shh… you might let him know you're here,” Kaveh suggested, tears pricking his eyes as he was right. 

     Wait a fucking second- this was purgatory, what was Alhaitham doing here?! 

     …And what was that other light behind him..? 

     “Too late,” Zandik’s voice, now behind Kaveh, called, breaking him out of his stun long enough to recover his expression. “Look who decided to join us; it’s the pretty boy’s boyfriend.” 

     “I have a name, you know,” he shot back, feeling some of his personality flicking to the surface once again. “It’s Kaveh. Quit calling me pretty boy.” 

     “Hmm, let me think about that… no.” 

     Kaveh groaned, rolling his eyes. He refused to believe Alhaitham was here. So, if he really was dead, he’d have to fucking wait until Kaveh was long gone to make sure the afterlife was good enough for his partner. His eyes flicked to match Alhaitham's gaze, and he took a step back toward life. “Regardless, Haitham, you aren't supposed to be here yet. So, buh-bye.” 

     With that, he reached up and flicked the other’s forehead. To his shock (and slight horror), Alhaitham actually disappeared, leaving Kaveh staring into the shining nothing behind them. 

     “Don't look back for too long,” Zandik warned behind him.

     “What is it?” 

     After a quiet hum, Kaveh heard a refrained response: “If the way ahead if moving on, if it’s forgiveness for what you've done, then the way back must be hell.” 

     “Hm.” After turning back toward that white, welcoming light, he realised Zandik was staring at him, almost challenging him. And who was Kaveh to turn down a challenge? Stepping forward, he asked, “What the hell was that? Why was he here, and how did I… you know..?” 

     “I was going to ask you. I’ve never seen anything like that before.” 

     “You've been here before?” 

     He nodded solemnly. “Made it all the way to the end, but it wouldn't accept me. Not while my heart was still beating, my body still alive, even if it wasn't living. If you have any ideas, I’d love to hear them.” 

     “It's because I’m not meant to be here,” Kaveh suggested instantly, the idea ripped out by something greater than him. Realising the words that had just passed his lips, though, he chuckled and ran a hand through his hair. “I mean, it’s a bizarre situation, you know? Maybe we messed up the timeline or something.” 

     “Still in denial,” the Doctor tutted, turning and walking away again. “Don’t linger. It’s not good for anyone.” 

     Kaveh narrowed his eyes and debated cursing the fucker out, only to realise the fucker was unfortunately right. He resumed his following pace quietly, still attempting to piece together Afterlife Logic. 

     What if... what if he really wasn’t supposed to be here? 

     If he hadn’t gotten help from Kazuha, Alhaitham still would have found him... just later. Late enough for Dottore to have gone too far. Late enough for Kaveh to lose too much blood, keeping Alhaitham’s focus on him instead of the fight. What if Alhaitham would have saved him then, and gotten injured in the process? What if Alhaitham needed to give Kaveh blood? He was type O, after all. What if Alhaitham died instead, transferring his powers to Kaveh? What if... 

     What if Kaveh was actually fucking insane? No, seriously, denial is a hell of a drug, but why on Earth was he wishing death on his partner- well, ex-partner now, but still. He died. Time to get over it. 

     Despite his best efforts to push his runaway brain into place, there was still something wrong about the whole situation. 

     ...Maybe it was just his stupid ideals telling himself that he shouldn’t have died so soon. 

     “You’re awfully quiet,” Zandik finally jutted in. Kaveh flinched, eyes refocusing back onto his surroundings, and paused in his steps. 

     “I wasn’t sure if you...” he started, the rest of the words evaporating from his mind. Honestly, he didn’t know what he was thinking anymore. Everything felt too real in a world where nothing made sense anymore. The small control he had on reality vanished in an instant, a mere remnant of his old life. 

     “If I what? If I was mad at you? If I hoped you’d stay quiet?” The older man paused and turned, gesturing for Kaveh to keep up. 

     “Something along those lines,” Kaveh muttered, half-jogging ahead to keep in step with the other. 

     “If I wanted that, why would I have invited you?” 

     “You... wanted me to learn some kind of lesson?”  

     “Lessons like that don’t work unless the teacher speaks at some point. The only thing you learn that way is how not to ask for help.” Zandik sighed, following a brief pause. He looked at Kaveh through the corners of his eyes, his face almost emulating Alhaitham’s for just a moment. “Why don’t you tell me about yourself? Treat it like a thesis. Defend what defines you.” 

     “Right, um... right. Okay. I'm Kaveh, but you knew that already. My dad died in the military when I was a kid, and after that, Rosalyne started taking care of me. Mom wasn’t in the best shape, and she was friends with Dad, so... regardless, you already know how that went. I met Alhaitham in school, but I only got the courage to start talking to him after I got away from her. I cut my hair- y'know, to look a bit less like her- before we became friends, so he’s only ever known me with short hair.” He laughed softly to himself, already swept back up into his memories. Back when things weren’t as difficult. Back when they were just two humans trying to fumble into a relationship. “I told myself that if I made it past today, I’d grow it out again. They say hair holds memories, and... I don’t ever want to forget my time with him.” 

     “Did you have any other friends? Hobbies?” The Doctor looked away to adjust one of his gloves, then continued staring with that sharp gaze. “That’s the point of this. I already know who you were with Alhaitham. Who are you without him?” 

     “I’m-” Kaveh started, words escaping his mind. He’d never realised how deeply intertwined his life was with Alhaitham’s. Again, though, doesn’t that happen when you know someone for so many years? Everything that hadn’t been stained with his influence was at least touched by Nilou’s. Was he anyone on his own? 

     Noticing his hesitation, Zandik shrugged slightly. “If you knew no one was watching... if you knew you could do anything, free of judgement, free of anyone knowing that you’d done it, what’s the first thing you’d do?” 

     “Smile,” he responded immediately, almost cutting the other off. “I’d smile. I’d step outside, look up at the stars, begin sketching something from my memory, and just smile.” 

     “Why’s that?” 

     “It’s the last thing that’s still mine,” Kaveh confessed, voice hollow. “It’s the one thing I’ve got full control over. It doesn’t matter when or where, what time or place, or even what universe. That’d be my answer every. Single. Time.” 

     “There it is. You’re quick to catch on. No wonder he likes you.” 

     “Hey, um- do you know if he’s coming back? I don’t really want to get caught off guard again.” 

     “He might,” his companion suggested, shrugging. “Time works weirdly here, though. He could be back in a second, or he could be back in an hour. That is, if he can get back here. He might even be behind us now.” 

     “He’s not,” Kaveh corrected. “I’d hear him. Here’s some personality for you: I knew just about every rumour at my high school between eavesdropping and what my best friend, Nilou, told me.” 

     “Oh, I’ve heard that name before. Alhaitham was endlessly jealous of her, you know. Dumbest reasons, too, mostly just hopeless pining. I once listened to him mutter to himself for a full hour about her being able to touch your hair whenever she wanted.” 

     “She’s the one who got me into the arts. I knew he was weird about her, but I don’t think I ever realised he was that weird,” he mused, raising a hand to touch at his hair, pulling it slightly. “Hopefully they’re getting along fine now that... I guess I mean that I hope she’s there for him, even if no one else will be. She’s like that. Maybe he’ll finally figure out that she’s completely aromantic.” 

     “Oh, that dense child,” Zandik chuckled softly. “Now, onto the important things: do you happen to remember any of those rumours? Old people drama doesn’t compare to whatever the fuck is happening with your generation. Seriously, what was up with that rat thing? You know that’s going to go extinct in two years, right?” 

     “Honestly, I hope it does. Anyways, it all starts with these two kids who shared this duplex-” 

     They continued walking, sharing stories and the occasional bite of wisdom with each other. They gossiped about people the other had never even heard of, people they hadn’t seen in years, and people they’d never see again. It was nice pretending they weren’t dead as they continued down their path, allowing that small bit of life and peace spread through this ethereal place. 

     “...then, even after we got a toaster, I still preferred using the oven broiler. Yeah, I know that’s why they always burned, but that was part of the experience. They just taste better.” 

     “He always said you were more stubborn than he is, but I never realised he wasn’t exaggerating,” Zandik muttered, his tone all too similar to when Kaveh’s mom would scold him and his dad for their mischief. 

     “He is exaggerating. Haitham was quicker to give in than soft butter, even if he made it annoying to win the argument." 

     “Are you kidding? There was always something wrong with my method, at least according to him. Maybe you just didn't know him as well as you thought.” 

     “Oh, come on, Mister Doctor Professor,” Kaveh teased. “It’s so obvious that I knew him better, you know why?” 

     "Indulge me. Why do you think you knew him better?" 

     "Because I'm pretty sure you haven't slept with him, so I know him better. Simple." 

     "That's your argument? You've slept with him, so you know him better than I do? Pretty boy, you had no idea he was even in love with you until he kissed you." 

     "For the last time, I have a name, and it isn't pretty boy! It's-" 

     "Kaveh?" 

     Feeling as though his heart had just stopped (again), he was ripped out of the conversation they’d gotten absorbed in. The light was so much closer than he’d noticed, and he hadn’t even heard Alhaitham return. He and Zandik turned at the same time, shared a warning look with each other, then pasted a kind smile on their faces. 

     "Hey, kid. How've you been?" 

     Kaveh looked over Alhaitham for the first time in who knows how long. His hair still seemed recently brushed, and he was dressed in black. Seemed like he missed the opportunity to attend his own funeral. Bummer. His face was a mess, eyes underlined with dark circles and puffy from crying. Kaveh noticed the muscles ripple in his throat and the slight quiver in his lip. He’d already begun moving forward to hug him before his brain even registered that Alhaitham was about to cry. 

     "I got you. I'm here," he muttered, wrapping his arms under Alhaitham’s, allowing him to breathe into his neck. He was almost uncomfortably warm compared to the chill Kaveh had gotten accustomed to, but it was welcome. Alhaitham was always welcome, no matter what. 

     "Alright, alright. I concede. You know him better." Zandik stepped over to the pair and placed a reassuring hand on Alhaitham's back. Eventually, he'd calmed down enough to speak up. 

     "Why am I here? Again, I mean,” Alhaitham asked, finally lessening the near-chokehold of his arms around Kaveh’s neck. In response, he chuckled softly and wriggled fully out of the hug. They locked eyes for a moment, and he felt himself fall a bit more in love with the other.  

     "The first time, I’m not exactly sure why. But now, it’s to say goodbye. Right, Doctor?" 

     "Right," he agreed, removing his hand from Alhaitham's back. "I want to apologise sincerely to the both of you. It was foolish of me to not run more tests on my machinery, and it cost you both. For the work of the great and wonderful Il…" He trailed off, suddenly looking a bit sad. “...actually, I don't think I should use that name anymore. The point stands, I truly am sorry to you both.” 

     Zandik was suddenly pulled into a hug by Alhaitham, a look of shock crossing over the scientist’s face. Kaveh gave him a smug grin in response, scrunching his nose slightly. The hug was shorter than the previous one, but it was still impressive considering who was giving it. Alhaitham pulled away from the both of them with a small, sad smile on his face. 

     "Thank you, both of you. I appreciate everything the two of you have done for me." 

     Zandik reached out and ruffled his hair, then began walking towards the light again, this time without Kaveh. In the blink of an eye, he was gone. 

     "He was a wonderful conversation partner, and probably an even better person. You're lucky to have met him," Kaveh offered, smiling gently at him. 

     Alhaitham sighed, returning the smile and staring back at him before turned and walking away, his only words being, "Goodbye, Kaveh." 

     "The fuck does that mean?!" He suddenly darted forward and threw his arms around him, slightly digging his fingers into Alhaitham’s chest. Was he seriously planning on just walking away? One hug, no kisses, no final words, and no gut-wrenching monologues that would mentally destroy a hypothetical fanfiction reader’s psyche at three in the blasted morning?! Not happening, Kaveh decided. Even if Alhaitham never figured it out, he was sticking around, and he said as such: "Fuck's sake, Haitham, I told you I never break my promises! I'm haunting you until you die, whether you like it or not. And that's final.” 

     Alhaitham stilled, reached a hand up to brush over Kaveh’s, then asked ever so quietly, "Why?" 

     "Why? Isn't it obvious?" Dumbass. Kaveh leaned in close to his ear and whispered, “Because I love you. If you need to talk, come to my grave on the full moon. I’ll figure out a way to be there.” His words seemed to soothe Alhaitham, and in the next instant, they were back in the real world. His lover was asleep at his desk, his laptop open and the flash drive Kaveh had left still plugged in. He reached forward slowly, touching the promise ring around Alhaitham’s finger and allowing himself to connect with it. 

     The first few months were the hardest as Alhaitham adjusted to being alone. He always had too much food, whether he cooked it or ordered takeout. He’d wake up in the middle of the night with nightmares and reach over for comfort, only to find none except a rattling chill. Alhaitham visited his grave, sure, but only ever during the day. He hardly spoke, too, unless it was some kind of important day. To be honest, it hurt a bit that he didn’t seem to care more. 

     Slowly, things started to change. He picked up an internship at Kaveh’s stepfather’s company, which became a post-grad job with his stepmother. Alhaitham started leaving small, yellow, paper flowers around in their apartment, which turned into leaving Kaveh’s Rubik’s cube unsolved in the same spot on his desk when he realised something had been moving the flowers. Messages written on the foggy bathroom mirror- “Don’t forget to buy bagels,” for example- started being noticed and subsequently followed. The paranormal became normal for them. Grave visits began to uptick- not an unhealthy amount, just enough to check in. 

     And then, there was something new. Another spider-themed hero, dressed in red. They took Alhaitham through some kind of portal, and Kaveh was naturally forced to follow wherever their promise took them.  

     The other side was utterly boring, frankly. It was all just... white. It looked like somebody had made a marble replica of a building but forgot to add any colour. It’s not like the building was an ancient Roman statue either, this had to be new! Whoever made the place obviously had the choice to make useless crosswalks and platforms that went nowhere, but they only had enough colour for some fake plants and a few signs? 

     Distracted by his raging thoughts, he almost missed when Alhaitham stopped dead in his tracks, looking at something in front of them. What he didn’t miss was the almost unnoticeable way his back shifted, the muscles tensing as he bit down his real emotions. He peeked around his ex-boyfriend's gorgeous shoulder to see… oh dear fucking god, no. 

     Dead ahead, there was another version of him. One with long hair, earrings, makeup, the works. And he was fucking beautiful, and Kaveh was fucking jealous, but that didn't distract him from the translucent Alhaitham clone standing near the Kaveh clone. He seemed just as dumbfounded as… huh. Was he the original? Whatever. That clone could be Kav, and that other Alhaitham could just stay Alhaitham, but his Alhaitham would be Haitham. Of course, he remained Kaveh. Alhaitham seemed just as shocked as Kaveh felt, but his face was a lot stonier than Haitham’s, making it almost unreadable. The black goop dribbling down his chin did not help. Oh, and neither did Kaveh’s reaction. 

     “WHAT THE FUCK?!” 

     “Why do you look like Kav?” Alhaitham asked, looking over to the duplicate. 

     “Better question: why does he look like me? And why do you… oh, no. That’s not right, is it?” Kaveh drifted over to the other ghost, circling him cautiously. “No… you're not Haitham, that’s certain. I feel stupid for not realising it sooner, but you're from another universe, aren't you?” 

     “I am.” 

     “And you're quiet. Haitham used to be like that too, y'know.”  

     Alhaitham looked over at Haitham, who had just removed his mask and was having quite the stare-down with Kav. After a moment, the ghost muttered, “He seems kind.” 

     “What, were you abusive or something?” Kaveh teased, a goofy grin spreading across his lips, faltering only when Alhaitham stayed quiet. “You didn't hit him or anything, right?” 

     “No, no, just… I could've been better.” 

     “Oh? How so?” 

     “I’d rather not talk about it,” Alhaitham muttered, watching the two Spiders tentatively interact with each other. There was something… distant about him. Off.  

     “I mean…” Kaveh started, trying to redirect the conversation in a way that didn't seem too harsh. He laughed and tussled the ghost’s hair, trying to cheer him up. “You don't have to tell me now. We have forever to get to know each other, y’know?” 

     “…Yeah.” 

     …Well okay then. If that was how he was going to be, Kaveh had no choice but to break this guy’s shell and find what made him tick. Plastering a smirk back onto his face, he nudged Alhaitham and asked, “So, tell me about this other me. How’d you two meet?” 

     Despite his earlier reservations, Alhaitham seemed to genuinely open up when the focus was on Kav. As he explained his partner’s quirks and intricacies, his own slowly crept to the surface. Maybe he didn't smile as often as Haitham did or massage his wrists when he was thinking, but he had his own habits of drumming his fingers behind his ear and somehow conveying his message through short sentences and phrases. Honestly, most of their conversation was fuelled by Kaveh’s insistent questioning, only ever pausing to watch and listen to what their living counterparts were doing.  

     The most interesting part lay within the way they watched the short fight: While Kaveh hardly showed any emotion after Haitham had been hit, the entirety of Alhaitham's body tensed when that monster thing so much as moved in his direction. Maybe it was a time thing? Alhaitham hadn't been watching nearly as long as Kaveh had, after all… but that explanation didn't feel right to him. 

     Whatever. He had forever to wonder. They parted ways, neither expecting to see the other again as they stayed with their former partner. Kaveh watched as the portal closed, turning away only as he heard the sound of something heavy dropping to the ground. He glanced down, eyes suddenly widening as he saw Haitham begin heaving. 

     “Oh my god, are you okay?” Kaveh asked, diving into a kneel in front of the hero. Muscle memory pulled his arms forward in an attempt to comfort him, but the second they made contact, shocking red flashed across Kaveh’s vision and forced him back. He tried again, but the result stayed the same. For whatever reason, Alhaitham had become... untouchable. He could only watch as the man he loved slowly regained control of himself, the shaking finally coming to a close as Kaveh lowered his head in relief. 

     Only, when he raised his head again, it wasn’t quite Alhaitham. 

     Sure, he had the same hair, the same shoulders, the same creases near his eyes, the same breathing patterns, the same heartbeat- almost everything was still perfectly the same. But when Kaveh looked up into his eyes, the colour he found in those usually hazel irises was a bloody, marred, ugly shade of red. 

     And then, it spoke, almost breathless, its eyes trained directly on Kaveh: “You’re alive?” 

     “Get out of him,” Kaveh warned, his voice low and dangerous. If this... thing could see him, it was unlikely it was anything good. 

     “I can’t go back,” it suddenly pleaded, looking almost helpless. “It’s so dark... it’s cold... and I don’t know where anyone is. I don’t know where you are. Come back.” 

     Alhaitham’s hand moved forward as if being piloted by an alien, and, for the only time in his life, he slapped it away as harshly as he could. 

     “Do not make me repeat myself.” 

     Guilt tinged his gut as the intruder looked at him, wounded, before allowing Alhaitham’s body to go slack. Seconds later, red eyes opened again, but it was definitely Alhaitham. He looked around the hallway, confused, then shrugged. After fiddling with his new wristwatch for a minute or so, a new portal opened, and the duo entered with no further troubles. 

     The imposter hadn't made its presence known after that point, likely too afraid of Kaveh’s watchful eye. However, when Alhaitham began coughing up bits of red- not quite blood and definitely not anything that seemed natural- he knew he had to find answers. 

     So, as the other version of Hu Tao showed Haitham around, Kaveh trailed after, peeking around for their duplicates with no luck. It was only when they dropped down to the cafeteria that he spotted them with a few other Spiders at a lunch table, Alhaitham perched on the back of Kav’s booth chair. Seeing his new friend, Kaveh cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, “Heeeey!! Alhaitham!” 

     Alhaitham raised his head slightly, settling his gaze from Kav to Kaveh and nodding slightly at him. Kaveh took this as his sign to scamper over, taking perch beside him. 

     “Hey,” Kaveh chuckled, his signature grin crossing his face. “Been looking for you. I got a question.” 

     “Ask away.” 

     “So, I’m going to assume the way you died has something to do with that black goop dribbling down your chin- which, by the way, is really gross. Clean that up, no one wants to see that.” 

     “I can’t get rid of it if it’s how I died- which it is,” Alhaitham argued dismissively. “You know that, right?” 

     In response, Kaveh rolled his eyes and raised his hands to his neck. The second he let go, his neck reverted into its natural, broken state, nose already beginning to bleed again. The look on Alhaitham’s face turned to something of concern, and he slowly reached up to push Kaveh’s head back into place gingerly. 

     “It’s disturbing, you know,” he concluded, raising his own hands to fix his neck. “Maybe not broken neck uncanny valley disturbing, but y’know. Plus, you got a nice, comfortable, illness-based death surrounded by friends and family... I assume. Not everyone gets that.” 

     “Case in point,” Alhaitham muttered, doing a once-over of him. Finally, he reached up to his chin and effectively wiped the goop away. At Kaveh’s thumbs-up, he asked, “How’d you learn that?” 

     “Being dead for four years, getting left flowers and stuff, that all adds up. You’ll come to see everything I can do eventually, don’t worry.” With that, Kaveh popped up, climbing down from the unoccupied side of the seat, and moved to examine Kav. Hu Tao had just started speaking, so he was watching them intently, unaware that he himself was being watched by a ghost. 

     “If you’re trying to read his mind, feel free to fill me in,” Alhaitham called. 

     “Don’t be silly, I can’t enter anyone’s mind or body… for now,” he retorted. “Just thinking about how weird this guy is. He looks so angry. Where’d you even find him?” 

     “New Years’ party.” 

     “Ew, whose was it? The parties in high school were awful, disrespectfully.” 

     “College, actually.” 

     Kaveh whipped his head up to look at Alhaitham, frowning. “Didn’t you two go to the same private high school? That’s why Haitham and I decided to go to the same college, same as Nilou.” 

     “No, Kav went to a public school. We didn’t even go to the same college, either, since I was trying to join the police. And who’s Nilou?” 

     “Ew, pause, back up- you wanted to join the police? ACAB, dude, c’mon. And what in the name of Fuck do you mean ‘Who’s Nilou?’ She’s my best friend.” 

     “It’s Faruzan, actually, and I was the police captain until I died.” 

     “You’re joking,” Kaveh urged, moving away from the table. “You have got to be fucking joking- the fucking rat terrier from the Daily Bugle? That Faruzan? Son of a bitch- what drugs is this faker on?!” 

     Alhaitham stared at him for a moment, then laughed softly. He looked away as Kaveh stared at him, stunned that the other ghost was hiding a small smile behind his hand. 

     “Aha! My loveable charm has caught up to you, too, I see,” Kaveh teased. “Honestly, though, I really do need answers. We got off-topic, and that’s my bad. Haitham’s been sick, and after we parted ways last time, it was like something took over his body. It’s been hiding since, but...” 

     “...I see. When we came here, Kav accidentally brought a sickness here. That’s what created the monster we saw the other day. It sounds like it’s starting to get your Alhaitham sick, now. You don’t have anything to worry about, though; it’s not going to kill him.” 

     “You’re certain?” 

     “Yeah. For one thing, they got rid of the actually dangerous bit of the virus. The mutations don’t hurt the host, apparently, it’s just like taking a nap while you’re sick. For another, I was already sick with an immune disease, and that’s what ended up killing me.” 

     “Got it,” Kaveh responded, sagging his shoulders in relief. He perked up again when he saw Kav stand, about to fetch the group’s drink orders. The pair watched the short interaction between their partners silently, and Alhaitham waved as Kav left, dragging the ghost along. Haitham began telling his story, but, having lived it, Kaveh decided to follow his frumpy little twin. The weirdo. 

     As he strolled over, his mind began racing again with dozens of unanswered questions. Why was Kav so angry at Haitham? Why did it seem like there were no other ghosts still lingering around their Spiders? How come Alhaitham was being so cagey? What caused so many differences between their universes? And, most importantly... why didn’t it seem like the thing taking over Haitham was actually a monster? It seemed more like... another ghost, if anything. 

     “Hey, pookie,” Kaveh whispered against the back of Alhaitham’s neck, causing the other ghost to jump. 

     “Do you mind?” he chided, rubbing his neck as he turned around. A sullen pout crossed his face for a moment before being replaced with the usual stoniness. “What do you want? How are you even over here?” 

     “Don’t ask questions you already know the answer to. I figured I could tell you about your partner’s new partner, y’know? Since you didn’t get to hear it straight from the source.” 

     Alhaitham rolled his eyes, but gestured for Kaveh to continue, nonetheless. 

     “So, we met in high school, which you already knew. We grew apart during the time he was still there and I was in college, but then we moved in together. He got an internship for some big-shot scientist, and he ended up being the one to make his own origin spider. He became Spider-Man, the scientist went insane after their tech went haywire, Haitham got shot, I got kidnapped, and then I died. Fast forward a few years, and we’re here. Okay, your turn.” 

     “You’ll hear about it in a bit,” Alhaitham replied, tilting his head toward Kav collecting the drinks. 

     “Wait, I don’t see Haitham’s chai.” 

     “He didn’t order it.” 

     Kaveh frowned, glanced at Alhaitham, then sighed. Whatever. What-the-fuck-ever. Instead of following them back the normal route, he took a few steps away from Alhaitham to leave his range, instantly transporting right back to the crux of his existence. Kav and Alhaitham arrived soon after, and he watched intently as Kav lied about Haitham’s drink. 

     “Why doesn’t he drink, by the way?” Alhaitham asked, returning to his perch on top of the booth. 

     “Because I was a raging alcoholic who drank himself to sleep at night, so I forced him to make better choices,” Kaveh grumbled, folding his arms. 

     “...It’s a better vice than some others.” 

     “Such as?” 

     “He cut himself,” Alhaitham quietly confessed. Between the way his eyes shifted and his muscles tensed, it was almost as if... 

     “Why do you seem guilty about that?” 

     Eye contact was sudden then, wary eyes almost shooting daggers at Kaveh as if he’d prosecute him for something. After a moment, he let his guard down and admitted, “He was weird about people touching him sometimes. It was almost like he forced himself to tolerate it. One night, I... I accidentally walked in on him. I didn’t know what to say or what to do, so I just... patched him up. I moved on. We never talked about it.” 

     “What did you talk about?” Kaveh urged, trying to look him in the eye. “Do you know anything about his family?” 

     “He always wanted me to meet his aunt and uncle, but he didn’t talk about his parents much. All I know is that he really, really doesn’t like talking to his mom. Something about how he used to fight with his stepdad. He’s on good terms with his half-sister, though.” 

     “...No kidding.” 

     This time, it was Alhaitham’s turn to look at Kaveh, who was pensively touching the back of his hair, running his hands through the short length. At that moment, Haitham stood to leave, and Kaveh allowed himself to get dragged along behind him. When they finally landed in front of the lab, he forced himself to take some calming breaths, even though he felt like screaming at the world. And the worst part was that he didn’t even know why. Did he think it was unfair? Who had gotten the worse deal, though? 

     ...He would have had a younger sister, he realised a bit too late. 

     Haitham entered the lab before Kaveh could dwell on the idea any longer. Admittedly, he got a bit too excited when he learned the scientist he was speaking to could use sign. Haitham had nobody to practice with since his death, and they seemed to get along naturally. That was, at least, until Kav and Alhaitham entered the lab. 

     “Hey. You okay?” 

     Petulantly, Kaveh instead turned to watch as Haitham told Kav about meeting a new partner. Upon seeing Kav’s outburst, however, his brows furrowed. Something about the phrase of abandonment specifically... his previous conversation with Alhaitham snuck chills into his spine as he remembered accusing the other of having people around for his death. Woops. Not to mention, he recalled hearing Kav say something about an asshole boyfriend in his story, but that could have been regarding someone else. Joke’s on him for skipping the lore cutscene. Double woops. As Haitham opened the portal to leave, Kaveh gave a two-finger salute to Alhaitham, then slipped through. 

     On the other end, night had crept over their home, stars invisibly twinkling far beyond what they could see. Blasted light pollution. With a sigh, Kaveh let go of his pressure to perform, his face dropping like a weight. Looking around, they’d arrived in the graveyard where he theoretically should have been laid to rest, and he realised Haitham wanted to talk. Good. Someone to decompress with that he didn’t have to mask around. 

     “Kaveh, are you there?” Haitham called just as Kaveh found purchase on top of his gravestone. 

     “What a shit-show,” he complained in response, allowing himself to become visible. In truth, it was a trick of the light, almost like seeing dust particles when the sun is shining through a window or from a streetlamp. Something something refracted light. Between the two of them, one had taken all the science braincells, and it definitely wasn’t Kaveh. He had all the emotional braincells, and right now, he could tell both Alhaithams needed some of those. Gingerly, he got off his grave and cupped Haitham’s face in his hands, then asked, "You okay?"  

     "...No. It's just- I'll be honest, I was finally able to stop thinking about you every day. But now that he's around, I'm missing you all over again. I don't know what to do with myself. And he's... god, Kaveh, how is he an alternate version of you?"  

     Great fucking question, honestly. Though, considering everything he’d learned that day... 

     "He's been through a lot," Kaveh explained, subconsciously stretching his fingers to play with Haitham’s hair. "The biggest difference is that I forged a darker path. It's no wonder I'm not the hero, not the protagonist. Unlike him, I actually... nevermind. I think I'll tell you another day. There is another thing, though. You know how, even when we're not talking like this, I'm still at your side?"  

     As he nodded, the slightest feeling of guilt hit Kaveh’s stomach. Did he even have the right to talk about this yet? There was still too much he didn’t know, things about them he still didn’t understand... even so, he had to tell someone. It’d eat him alive to keep this bottled for much longer.  

     "You're also still at his side. Well, his you. And the difference between you two... I'm sure you already know, but I can just tell that other version of you hurt him badly. And that's not your fault, okay? Please understand that. In their universe, bad things happened to you, too. Give him some time. Either he'll drop you and you'll never see each other again, or he'll warm up to you and we can put the animosity to rest,” Kaveh offered, being more forward than he’d initially planned. Trying to redirect, he added, “I will say, though, he was being a total douche today. To my Haitham! Can you believe that?! I'd say you should try going out with Yoimiya. She seems sweet."  

     The distraction worked, and he laughed, causing those all-too-familiar butterflies to flutter in Kaveh’s chest, the closest thing he still had to a heartbeat. Kaveh felt him lay a hand over his as he replied, "She's all yours. You know that men are the bread to my butter."  

     "If anything, I'd say I'm the butter to your bread," Kaveh retorted, scrunching his nose. 

     "Why?"  

     "Because we're both yellow! And we both taste good,” Kaveh reasoned, trying to sound as convincing as possible... and if he was trying to cheer Haitham up and distract him from the present, well, that was their secret. “Bread is so serious and straight-faced, that's why you're bread."  

     "But the butter's supposed to go on top of the bread." 

     Oh, that fucker- how dare he?! Kaveh was busting his ass to be the mature one here, and the one who was now technically older was making fucking sex jokes in a graveyard. He swatted at him, not particularly caring that he couldn’t actually cause any damage. But they were both laughing under the stars, even if they were somewhere they couldn’t see.  

     Kaveh laid his cold forehead to rest against Haitham's and closed his eyes, at least for a moment. When he opened them again, he saw one of those portals out of the corner of his eye, and he allowed the trick of light to become nothing more than a figment of his old friend‘s memory. Very quietly, he admitted, "I wish we had more of this. I wish we hadn't been cut short so soon. But most of all, I wish you happiness, even if it's not with me. Okay?"  

     "Okay. I love you so much." 

     “I love you too,” Kaveh whispered, stepping back as Kav stepped forward. It wasn’t his time anymore. It was their story now. His story had passed, and now he was... history. 

     ...Not funny. 

     “Are you going to going to tell me how you pulled that trick off, or no?” 

     “Are we going to talk about how when I joked if you were abusive, you hesitated? Maybe you tell me why it seems like your boyfriend hates someone who looks exactly like you? We have a lot of conversation topics for eternity, it seems,” Kaveh challenged. The mask was already off, and he didn’t feel like putting it back on. He glared into Alhaitham’s eyes, each word calculated with a cold precision he’d learned over the years. “I’m getting answers to all of this, Alhaitham. To the truth behind this sickness, to your past, to everything we’ve unfairly accepted as facts when we still have so much to learn. You’re going to help me, whether it’s telling me what I want to know or staying the hell out of my way.” 

     “...Got it.” 

     “Good. Now, to answer your question: light manipulation. You’ll figure it out.” 

     “I’d figure it out quicker with a teacher,” Alhaitham countered, crossing his arms. 

     “You think I had one? I had an old, dead, former coma patient yap to me about robotics for a week, and that’s all the instruction on being dead I’ve had since, you know, dying. Use that big brain of yours and- hang on, did your boyfriend just go invisible?” 

     Without waiting for an answer, Kaveh scrambled over to where Kav had most recently been. If he looked closely, he could still see a wavering silhouette of where his double was, the slight curves in his face interrupted by his bangs. Oh, gods, that was way too interesting. Was it like the reverse of his own visibility trick? How did he activate it? Was it a muscular thing like Haitham’s webs? Was that a mutation? Where’d he get it? Were powers more common in their universe? Was it from the spider? Better yet, was it from whatever alien had infected Haitham? That’d be awesome. Did it depend on spider type? Haitham could jump really well, and he was bitten by a jumping spider. Was Kav’s some kind of camouflaging spider? Did they have animal hybrids? Chameleon spiders? What if- 

     Kaveh’s scatterbrained train of thought was interrupted by the sound of a firing gun and the feeling of being half-dropped, half-pulled down through a portal made in the ground. Woopsies. 

     “Are you done treating him like a lab specimen?” 

     “Yeah, yeah, calm down. I was never smart enough to pursue something in math or science, but I like figuring out things work. It’s like disassembling and reassembling a pen.” 

     He stood and brushed off phantom dust off his clothes, then made eye contact with Alhaitham, who was still staring him down. 

     “...I think you’re smart enough,” Alhaitham admitted, tossing him something small. Kaveh caught it with one hand and lifted the still-warm object. 

     The bullet that had fired. 

     He tossed it back, a smile flashing across his face like lightning, quick and bright. 

     “Kudos. I don’t think I could manage to catch something that quick. Now, all you have to do is find the dust.” 

     “What does that even mean?” 

     “It’s a hint, genius. If you want to be seen, start reading between the lines. I’ll see you around.” 

     As Haitham left Nowhere to go back to his universe, so too did Kaveh disappear, his uncanny grin never leaving his face. Over the next few times their living counterparts met up for menial tasks, Kaveh would ask if Alhaitham was ready to confess to his sins. When the answer was an inevitable no, the rest of the meeting would be completely silent, with Kaveh ignoring every attempt at communication that followed, fully absorbed in his research. 

     The good news was that his birthday had come quickly this year, and, as always, Alhaitham visited his grave! Hooray! And he even brought a third of the New Arataki Gang. Kaveh always liked those kids. 

     The bad news was that the damn duplicate and his stalker came to celebrate as well. Boo. 

     “Hey,” Alhaitham greeted. “Happy birthday.” 

     “Kill yourself.” 

     “We’re starting strong today,” he replied, extending a hand to help him up. Kaveh took it and pulled himself, staggering to his feet. 

     “I thought I could have a peaceful birthday, but then you and all your mysterious ways came along to ruin it.  You gonna tell me what I want to know?” 

     “Yes, actually.” 

     “Great, then we- wait, what?” 

     “It’s your birthday,” he responded, shrugging. “I’ll tell you later.” 

     “Aw, Haitham, you’re too kind. Oh, looks like we’re moving. Let’s go.” 

     “Who were those kids, by the way?” Alhaitham asked once they’d entered Nowhere. 

     “Just some high schoolers who’ve been a major asset to Haitham, myself, and especially Spider-Man,” Kaveh replied, watching as Kav opened a sad beige door for them. When they re-emerged in a fucking high school of all places, Kaveh groaned. Graduating was supposed to be freedom from all the toxicity- seriously, he swore they dosed the kids with something that made them the absolute worst.  

     “Mm. For someone who’s supposedly still mad at me, you’re still acting awfully sweet.” 

     Seeing as being back in his own personal hell had drained him of all his energy (read: he didn’t feel like talking unless it finally led to some answers), Kaveh covered his ears and walked backward, following Haitham and sticking his tongue out between his teeth. His ugliest face, Nilou had once called it, and he couldn't blame her. 

     “Y’know, the worst part of me hopes he finds it before I do,” Haitham muttered after they’d rounded the corner. 

     “Oh, really?” Kaveh responded, knowing full well Haitham wouldn’t hear him. He just... talked aloud, sometimes. And that was okay, because as we all know, Haitham can do no wrong, ever, not even when possessed. “I don’t blame you. Knock him down a peg, peg him down- wait, no, that one doesn’t work.” 

     Haitham sighed and shook his head, fighting the slightest of smiles. That was creepy. The duo rounded the next corner and noticed Kav heading into the stairwell, making his way... down? Kaveh could’ve sworn Haitham said he’d be going down. Guess we doin’ circles now. 

     “Guess we’re going up,” Haitham quipped, and jeez. No wonder they’d gotten together- they were too synchronous, even if this may have been unintentionally ignored by Kaveh prior. Regardless, the pair moved up the stairs, Haitham white-knuckling the railing after that incident before Kaveh died where he’d put a bit too much force into liftoff, sending him rocketing up the stairs and into the wall. Even remembering the incident sent Kaveh into far too many giggles than should be healthy, but he was dead, so nobody cared- unless you counted Haitham’s grumpy face as caring. 

     The worst part of him wondered if he’d ever tell Kav about it. Ruin one more piece of what they still had together. 

     He wanted Haitham to be happy, he really did, and he wanted him to move on with someone new- someone who could appreciate all his quirks and edges and habits, just as he had. He just didn’t want it to be with himself, for fuck’s sake! 

     “Kaveh, you’ve gotta calm down, I can see the transporter fritzing out again,” Haitham chided, ducking his head into a new room. Frankly, Kaveh was offended. He was calm. Totally. Completely. He wasn’t- 

     A shudder ran down his spine at the exact moment Haitham whipped his head around with the same focus he had when his spider sense went off- oh fuck. Kav. 

     Despite despising the feeling of stuff moving through his guts, Kaveh let himself slip through the two layers of floor, landing at the bottom and rushing to find where the battle was. And no, he was not concerned about that stupid blond who actually bothered to touch up his roots, who could grow his hair out, who had a younger sister, who had friends, had his aunt and uncle, had Haitham- okay, fine, so what? He liked the douchebag. That didn’t make him not a douchebag- 

     Kaveh barely dodged as Kav was hurled past his head, and- oh, god, he was going to be sick, what the hell happened to his leg?! Oh, okay, now Kav was screaming, though he probably would be too if his bones were gravel in his leg. 

     “Please tell me the other one’s on his way,” Alhaitham begged, looking positively worried as Kaveh rushed to his side. The monster was lumbering toward the hero, taunting him. Kaveh’d kick its ass himself if he could- you don’t taunt someone when it comes to death, you just don’t. 

     “He- he is, he’s making his way down the stairs as we speak, but one of his powers won’t let him go as fast as he’d like,” Kaveh muttered, watching helplessly as Kav tried to call for help, only to be lifted up by the neck, the monster’s hand dangerously tight, close to shattering the bones in his neck just as it had his leg. In tandem, his own neck started to ache, and his chest felt weird, and the only thing he could think was that Haitham didn’t deserve this, not twice, and he couldn't stop watching- 

     With a singular (surprisingly strong, what the fuck?) arm, Alhaitham pulled Kaveh into himself, forcing him to look away. Shit, man. The whole being dead thing hadn’t messed him up before, but now? Double shit, did he have fucking trauma? 

     He felt it before he really knew what was going on- red burned at the edges of his vision, giving him the heebie-jeebies that overrode the pain in his neck. Then, just as Kav muttered the word they all thought would be his last, red. Red flashing across his vision, red burning him from the inside out, red pushing him away from Alhaitham, red forcing his head to look at where Haitham, his gentle, passive Haitham was beating the bloody shit out of the monster. 

     “He’s going to kill the person in there,” Kaveh muttered before shooting a look at Alhaitham, then ordering, “Use your hand to cool his throat down. I’ve gotta handle a pest.” 

     Offering no further explanation- no time for that shit- Kaveh booked it forward, grabbing a good portion of the red goop on Haitham’s arms and yanking backwards. Sure enough, the damn ghost possessing Haitham was the cause, and he seemed pissed at not being allowed to kill an innocent person for getting sick. 

     “Let me go!” the damn parasite screeched, his form nothing but that red ink. “I need to protect him!” 

     “Buddy, friend, buckaroo, we’ve been over this,” Kaveh chided, not bothering to hide the patronising edge to his voice. “You aren’t meant to be here anymore. You died. You’re dead.” 

     “I know that, you’ve said it enough, okay?!” 

     “Then stop??? Haitham’s got a life, he’s got friends, and he can protect those friends himself. You’re making afterlife so much harder for me.” 

     “Then I’ll just have to take over that life, so quit protecting him, and quit stopping me!” 

     “Okay,” Kaveh replied, shrugging and letting go of it. Turning back to Alhaitham to check on Kav, he was met with a dumb stare. To be fair, that was pretty common with him. 

     “What did you just do? And why did you let it back in him?” 

     “Oh, goody, burger metaphor,” Kaveh replied. “So, basically, imagine a cheeseburger. Parasite is the cheese, and Haitham’s the patty. You can have a burger with no cheese, that’s a hamburger, but you can’t have a burger without the patty. So, cheese needs patty. The question is about the layers. Imagine, even though it’s wrong, the cheese is usually on the bottom. Cheese is gonna stay there, so it’s not an issue. You see the patty, the cheese is hidden, life is good. However, let’s say something flips the burger- in this case, Kav being in danger. Suddenly, cheese is on top, you see the cheese, it’s bad. All I did was just... flip the burger back over. Let the patty get back on top by moving the cheese. Ideally, you just remove the cheese, but that only works when the cheese or the patty is cold, and I’d prefer the patty not to be cold. If you remove melted cheese, you might accidentally take part of the patty with it. Got it?” 

     “Sure...” Alhaitham muttered, looking skeptical. 

     “It works,” Kaveh insisted, flopping on the ground. “Kav’s safe, Haitham’s safe, and that’s the only damn thing I can do about this fucked-up situation until... whatever. I’m not smart enough for this.” 

     “Why do you keep saying that? You’re smarter than most of my coworkers- you managed to figure out that solution by yourself.” 

     “Your coworkers are cops.” 

     Alhaitham sighed, taking a seat a polite distance away from Kaveh. “True, maybe, but you’re dodging the question.” 

     “Like you don’t. Fine, dickhead, maybe it’s because Haitham was always the smart one. Hell, he knew I had a mole behind my left ear before I did! He didn’t get drunk before major tests, he didn’t knowingly walk straight into his own death, and he certainly didn’t have any issues finding work at college or after. The bastard was paying more rent than me. Hell, he can afford the full place’s rent on his own.” 

     “Oh, you just have issues,” Alhaitham muttered. “If it makes you feel any better, I never noticed any moles behind either of Kav’s ears, though I also didn’t know he preferred being called Kav.” 

     “Goody, another discrepancy- you sly bastard, you promised to tell me about your story with Kav today! Finally, I’ve been needing a win to crack this case wide open. Don’t leave anything out, got it?” 

     “Are you sure? Seriously, Kaveh, you might hate me when I’m done, I- I start to hate myself sometimes.” 

     “Okay, drama king, the great and mighty Alhaitham-” 

     “Can you take something seriously for once in your life?” Alhaitham snapped, pointing a harsh glare in Kaveh’s direction before seeming guilty about doing so. “Shit, I’m sorry, I-” 

     “No, you don’t have to apologise. I was being a dick,” Kaveh admitted, rubbing his wrist where it met his palm. “I really do want to hear this. Please?” 

     He sighed, pursed his lips, then gave a curt nod. “I guess I should start with the main thing. When I was a kid, some morons dumped a bunch of used needles on me, and I contracted HIV. Never told Kav about it, just told him I was ace and moved on. It was this major lie, and I just kept lying about it until I died. Neither of us talked about our childhood or our lives before we were eighteen, and neither of us asked about the other’s. I wish we had, though. Maybe I could’ve- whatever. I didn’t. And now I’m dead, so it doesn’t matter.” 

     “Clearly it does. You’re stiff as a board,” Kaveh muttered. “You’re allowed to have regrets, y’know. That’s why most ghosts in media even exist.” 

     “No, I’m not- well, I do have regrets, but they’re not mine, really- just- stop interrupting. This is hard enough and weird enough as it is.” 

     “Why’s it weird? We’re friends. I think. Talk about your issues, man.” 

     “I’m trying to. It’s just weird, accepting that I was a bad boyfriend. I cared about him, I worried about him, I had feelings for him, I just don’t know if I... you know. I couldn’t say it. Any time I tried, it felt bitter, like I was lying to him. I think he thought I was ashamed of him, too. I didn’t bring him to dinners with my coworkers and their partners, mainly because I knew he hated people watching him. He’d probably get swarmed daily if anyone ever realised we were dating, and that fear only got worse when I wanted to propose. I got scared, and Kaveh, I don’t get scared. I just don’t. The only time I’ve felt anything close to fear since becoming an adult was when it had to do with Kav. And when I scared, I do the dumbest shit, like pointing out his scars in front of everyone and-” 

     “What do you mean,” he interrupted, voice eerily quiet. It wasn’t a question, not in the slightest, and they both knew that. 

     “He- we got into a fight because I was sick, and he was worried about me. We started yelling at each other, I stopped thinking, and it just slipped out. The fear that I bottled up from that night I saw him leaked out, and- I've never seen him as hurt as he was in that moment.” 

     “Well I can fucking imagine,” Kaveh snapped, his fist clenching part of his cardigan. “Hell, I wouldn’t have talked about my childhood to you, either. Do you have no tact? He trusted you.” 

     “Kaveh, can you please-” 

     “No, I don’t think I will, Alhaitham. You shattered his trust. You hurt him- you hurt me. And for what? The thought should have never come across your mind, regardless of anything else. I don’t care that you were scared- you know what I do when I’m scared? I talk to my partner. Privately.” 

     “You don’t-” 

     “Stand up,” he ordered, rising to his feet. 

     “Kaveh, I-” 

     “God dammit, Alhaitham, I told you to stand up. Right now.” Kaveh’s eyes, burning red like Hell, never left Alhaitham as he stood, facing the other ghost. The bastard parted his lips to speak, as if he had the fucking right, but Kaveh stepped forward first, backhanding Alhaitham with every muscle in his arm. 

     In the next instant, he was gone, back in that damn tunnel like he was on every rare occasion he fought with another ghost. Thanks, god. Thankfully, it usually only lasted a day or so, just until they were no longer near each other. Exhausted, Kaveh slumped against the wall, ignoring both the way forward and the way back. He wasn’t going anywhere. Not without Haitham, and not without making sure Kav would be okay. 

     Something about that thought just... rubbed him the wrong way. It was painfully obvious that Kav hadn’t... he was too good for that. He was still a damn kid underneath it all, a hurt kid at that. Kaveh hated how familiar that felt. 

     He hated how fucking jealous he was of Kav. 

     With nothing better to do, he laid his head on his knees, and he sobbed. He screamed at how unfair their life was. He hated that there was no good route for them. And for what? What had they done to deserve this? 

     It felt like too much time had passed since he’d been there. Usually, the timeouts were just a few minutes long on his end, but this felt like almost an hour. Time was weird in the tunnel, though. The time flow and distortion was far from linear no matter how he tried to measure it. Honestly, he felt himself going a bit mad without anyone to talk to, and both ends seemed to be creeping ever closer. 

     Suddenly, the tunnel shook, and damn violently at that. Kaveh rose to his feet, only to stumble when it shook again, this time feeling like it had cracked the walls. Finally, the tunnel shattered, and he was sent rolling into the nearest wall with a force that felt like it’d break his ribs. 

     Looking up, he immediately noticed three major things: 

1. Shadows. Shadow people everywhere. What the fuck. 

1. He was in Nowhere, based on the sad porcelain everything was. 

1. Alhaitham and Kav were watching some girl doubled over in pain, with even more shadow people surrounding her- back up, why the fuck were there shadow people? What the hell were they?? What the hell was going on??? 

     He scrambled to Alhaitham, who seemed oddly shocked to see him. Like, calm down, dude, it had been a few days at the max. He could explain later. Being alone had helped him push his loathing back upon himself. 

     “What’s going on here?” 

     “I’m really not sure,” Alhaitham replied. Great. “This just... started. Usually they’re only voices, but now...” 

     “Cool, so this chick being a shadow mage isn’t natural.” Kaveh watched as Haitham rounded the corner and spoke with Kav. Steadying himself, he took another look at the girl and noticed the small mole just behind her left ear. He reached forward to touch her, only to be shocked back by the same red that had forced him away from Haitham before. Sweet. Great. Lovely. Awesome. All he could do was watch as the girl looked up, called Haitham disgusting (what the fuck?????), and left. Whatever. “Alright, you, what day is it?” 

     “August 12. Welcome back, by the way.” 

     “It’s August?” 

     “Were you planning on avoiding me until September?” 

     “No, I wasn’t-” Kaveh groaned, cutting himself off. “God or whoever the fuck doesn’t like it when I break the mystery rules with ghosts, so I get sent to the moving-on place. I didn’t mean to just disappear like I did, so, um, sorry about slapping- no, actually, I’m not. Fuck you still.” 

     “Fair enough,” Alhaitham muttered as Kaveh huffed off, jogging up behind Hu Tao and Yanfei to check behind their ears, just to be sure- aha! Mole! Both heroes had moles behind their left ear, just like he and Furina did. But why? What was the point? Alhaitham, the bastard, crept up behind him, trying to see what Kaveh was checking. 

     “I’ve got a theory, bestie,” Kaveh muttered, pointing to the moles. “It’s a connection. It means something. I don’t know what. But it’s a weird fucking coincidence that four different people from four different universes have that mole behind that specific ear. Also, who even was that girl?” 

     “She’s Kav’s sidekick, Furina. I think she handles Spider stuff when he’s busy.” 

     “Wait, two people in your universe have the powers? Is that allowed?” 

     Alhaitham shrugged. The bastard. “What about Tighnari?” 

     “I don’t even know, man. I’ll check Cyno instead- oh, hey, looks like we’re leaving.” The group stepped through the portal, meaning the ghosts were dragged through, which got Kaveh’s mind racing all over again. “So, like, you’ve seen the portals. They’re all really similar to the heroes behind them, right? Cyno’s got the purple one, and Yanfei’s was that melon colour, but Kav’s and Haitham’s are weird. Blue and red. That’s, like, their opposite.” 

     “Not sure what you’re thinking, Kaveh, but I can tell you’re definitely overthinking it,” he said, tone casual. The pair phased through the wall while the Spiders had their fun climbing, and at the other end, Alhaitham nodded up at the sky. “Look, stars.” 

     “I’m not overthinking anything- oh, shit, you’re right. I didn’t know those existed.” 

     “You didn’t know stars existed?” Alhaitham asked, looking over to Kaveh and nudging him slightly. 

     “No shit stars exist, eagle boy,” Kaveh retorted, shoving Alhaitham back and watching Haitham land back on the ground out of the corner of his eye. “The Sun’s a star. Jupiter’s a star, and, like, so are those other planets.” 

     “Kaveh, Jupiter isn’t a star.” 

     “It’s made of gas, isn't it?” 

     The only response he got was a ghostly hand ruffling his hair, its keeper looking away with a slight smile. They walked through the sands with the rest of the group, and he broke away for just a moment to confirm that, yes, Cyno also had a mole behind his left ear. He fell back to Alhaitham with a sigh, crossing his arms. It had to mean something. It fucking had to, right? 

     “Have you considered the universe codes?” Alhaitham finally suggested. “Hard to believe there’s tens of thousands of Spider-Men, right?” 

     “No, actually, I hadn’t. Did you happen to see the code for this one?” 

     “32514.” 

     “Hm.” Kaveh stayed quiet after that, letting his mind go back into overdrive. Certainly it all meant something. But what? Maybe a number cipher? Okay, so 3 was C, 2 was B, 5 would be E- yeah no definitely not. There’s 26 letters, right? Unless you’re speaking Greek, but Kaveh can’t even read Greek, so that’s right out. Maybe, then, C, Y- oh dear god no. Turning back to Alhaitham, he asked, “What about your own universe code?” 

     “62118. Are you onto something, or are you on something?” 

     “Oh, ha ha, very funny,” he replied flatly, secretly hoping it was the latter, but no. F-U-R. Finally, there was the ever-memorable code for his own home: 11122. Definitely AAABB. Or AKBB. Or AALB. Anything... anything but KAV. Anything but Kaveh. Anyone but Kaveh. 

     It was just... designating whoever had the mole. They were important for some other reason. It didn’t matter that the portals matched them. It didn’t matter that everyone else with the mole had the powers. Everyone except him. It definitely didn’t matter that it hadn’t felt like something wasn’t right this entire time, that he felt like he wasn’t supposed to be dead, that- it wasn’t right. Because if Kaveh wasn’t supposed to die, who was? That was the real question he didn’t want to answer. And now they were stopping at a cliff, so Kav and Haitham were going to sit down, which meant he was stuck with Alhaitham who was going to notice and ask questions any second now- 

     A pair of arms wrapped around him, hugging him tightly, and he just... froze. After a bit, he leaned into it, sighing. 

     “You were shaking,” Alhaitham muttered. 

     “I’m not surprised,” he responded, twisting out of the other’s grasp to plop down on the ground. 

     “You wanna talk-” 

     “Absolutely not.” 

     Alhaitham sat down beside him tentatively, watching him draw patterns in the sand. For once, neither of them cared to watch their counterpart. Both were too focused on Kaveh’s sand sketches of houses, of stick figures with hearts, of superheroes with capes and adoring fans, of smiley faces. Anywhere he had space was taken up by finger drawings in the sand. He was completely focused on his next big thing until one of the other Spiders- Yanfei- placed a cookie carefully in the blank space between where he and Alhaitham were sitting. 

     “I like the drawings,” she stage-whispered, using her hand to cover her mouth from view of the others. She gave a small smile in their general direction, then went back to sitting with Hu Tao. 

     “Can she see us?” Alhaitham asked, looking at the cookie. 

     “No, she probably just noticed mysterious stuff being drawn by no one. Something about being a lawyer. You wanna split it?” 

     “We’re ghosts. It’d just go through us, wouldn't it?” 

     “Not quite,” Kaveh muttered, hovering his hand over the cookie. “One of the long-time graveyard ghosts showed me how to do this. Offerings and stuff have energy, so even if we can’t exactly eat it, we can take the energy of the offering. That’s how I have a bigger range than you and why I get to do some cool stuff. There’s a lot of factors to it, too, mainly thoughtfulness of the gift. It seems like these are homemade, and that doesn’t have a massive impact, since even store bakers care a fair bit about their work. Between you and me, homemade just means it’ll taste better.” Kaveh finally finished taking out the energy, the final form resulting in a swirling orange gas in the shape of the original cookie, and broke it directly down the middle, offering the bigger half to Alhaitham. “Cheers.” 

     They both bit into the energy, and Alhaitham’s eyebrows raised in surprise. It actually tasted like a cookie- Kav's aunt’s cookies, at that. She once made a sugar-free batch for his birthday, and he’d respected her ever since. 

     “So, um... flowers?” Alhaitham asked, taking another bite of the cookie. 

     “You don’t eat flowers, dude. Nobody does. You smell them, like a candle. Have you ever smelled a candle, or do you eat those too?” Kaveh replied, grinning to himself. “Mm, by the way, you may want to follow the boyf up to the top of the tower. It’s just far enough that you’ll probably be out of energy in an hour or two.” 

     Alhaitham looked at him quizzically, then looked back to where Haitham and Kav should have been sitting. Instead, it was only Haitham, who was touching his cheek and furrowing his eyebrows. After looking back at Kaveh for only a moment, Alhaitham followed Kav, giving Kaveh the perfect opportunity to approach Yanfei again. Crouching beside her, he wrote: Thanks for the cookie. Sensing movement, she glanced at the message, then smiled. 

     “Don’t mention it,” she said, keeping her voice as quiet as she could. “Can I ask you something, though? I don’t really have anyone else to ask, and you can’t exactly squeal to someone else.” 

     After hesitating for a moment, Kaveh wrote: Yea. 

     “Something’s been weird in Nowhere since Alhaitham’s first mission. People have been acting off, including him and Tao, and I’m not sure what’s going on and what I can do about it. Got any advice?” 

     Trust your gut. 

     “Fei? Aw, are you drawing in the sand?” Hu Tao asked, leaning on Yanfei and trying to peek at the words.  

     “Oh, it’s just-” Yanfei attempted, turning to erase the words, only to see they were already gone. “Just something to do idly. Nothing important. Hey, see if Cyno can play Wonderwall.” 

     After erasing his other drawings and burying the cookie for the bugs, Kaveh allowed himself to head up to where Kav and Haitham were perched, Alhaitham watching them from nearby. 

     “So, what’d I miss?” Kaveh asked, relaxing just to Alhaitham’s left. “Any relationship developments?” 

     “Well, Kav still hates himself, but your hero’s apparently good enough with words that it stunned him into silence.” 

     “Sounds about right,” Kaveh muttered, secretly very smug that Alhaitham seemed jealous. He watched Kav examine the rings, stiffening when he caught a glimpse of that damn wedding band. 

     “You okay?” 

     “Yeah, just recalling fond memories of throwing the matching half- the wedding band, not the promise ring- into the ocean.” 

     “...Why?” 

     “The owner wasn’t appreciating it, and how was I meant to know the matching one would show up years later on my boyfriend’s finger- pause, speaking of owners not appreciating their rings, the fuck are they doing?” 

     Kaveh was forced to watch as their promise, the one thing keeping him tethered specifically to Haitham, was passed off to that god damned faker, and he felt even Alhaitham tense when whatever ring Kav was wearing was passed off to Haitham. 

     “That was the engagement ring I left him,” Alhaitham muttered, voice unusually unsteady. 

     “...Sorry, I need to go.” Offering no explanation, Kaveh returned to the tunnel, relieved that it seemed to be back to normal. Hopefully it stayed that way forever. With a sigh far too heavy for himself, he slumped against the wall, stewing in his emotions. 

     “Can’t run forever,” Alhaitham said, leaning on the wall opposite him. “Especially when I figure out how to follow you.” 

     “Dammit.” 

     “Just tell me what you figured out. I may not understand, but you look like you need to scream.” 

     “How did you-” 

     “Yanfei may be a really good lawyer, but I’m a really good police captain,” Alhaitham said, offering a hand to help him up. 

     ...Fine. Kaveh took his hand, pulled himself up, and took a deep breath. 

     “I’m... I’m mad, okay? I can’t sort out my exact feelings, but I’m mad, and I know exactly why I’m mad. It’s because he gets to be with Haitham. I fought so hard, I worked harder than anyone should ever have to, and I fucking died for it. And I’m mad that he gets my life, and the happiness that one of us did well despite it all is crushed by the fact he got the powers, he got to live and have the opportunity to change, that he gets Haitham. I feel robbed, Alhaitham. And it’s like Haitham doesn’t even care, which is stupid, because I know he does, and he’s allowed to move on, that’s good, but I feel replaced. My existence is being overwritten by the god damn universe.” 

     “You’re definitely not alone there,” Alhaitham muttered. “Just curious why you think you should’ve gotten to be Spider-Man.” 

     “I’m getting there, asshole, just let me- sorry, that was uncalled for. That’s what I figured out in the desert,” he confessed, crossing his arms. “The numbers- they're fucking ciphers. A1Z26, to be specific, so A is 1, B is 2, all the way until Y, 25, and Z, 26. The universe’s hero is designated by the first three or four letters of their name, and you know where I’m from? The universe designated Kav. Kav’s universe was only supposed to have Furina as their hero. And I don’t want to admit it, I don’t want to have to admit that the mole means something, that everything that should have meant nothing means something- Alhaitham, I don’t want to admit that I wasn’t supposed to die. Haitham was. But he didn’t, I did, because I’m not good enough to be a hero. I defended myself, I became a murderer, and I fucked everything up in the process. I- I'm the worst-” 

     “No, you’re not-” 

     “YES, I AM!” Kaveh snapped, whirling on him angrily before the fire disappeared from his eyes, sending him crashing to the ground in sobs. Tearless fucking sobs, because he wasn’t even human anymore. Couldn’t even fucking cry. 

     “...Might not be what you want to hear right now,” Alhaitham muttered, kneeling down in front of him, “but it doesn’t matter if you’re supposed to be dead or not. You are dead. That’s the inevitable truth.” 

     “You’re the fucking worst, Alhaitham,” Kaveh muttered, breath shaking. 

     “...Do you want to hit me again?” 

     “What?!” Kaveh whipped his head up, completely forgetting about his fucking neck and accidentally resetting it to its natural state. Whilst fixing it, he rambled, “No, Alhaitham, I don’t want to hit you- I don’t want to hit you- I don’t want to hit you- I don’t- god dammit, Alhaitham, why would you even suggest that?” 

     “Not much else to hit here.” 

     “No, I mean- it wouldn’t do anything. I’d hit you once, and what would that do? It’d just prove you right,” he argued grumpily. 

     “I meant like a match. I know some basic hand-to-hand combat, so as long as I’m expecting it, I can block. Besides, we’re both going to be tethered to Kav, so you can definitely get more than one hit in.” 

     “What do you mean you’re tethered to Kav? God dammit Alhaitham, did you tether yourself to his body?” 

     “I think so. Is there a problem with that?” 

     “Now I really do want to hit you,” Kaveh confessed, rising back to his feet. “At least he can’t hate you any more than he already does.” 

     “You actually want to fight?” Alhaitham asked, matching Kaveh on his feet. 

     “You seem to think it’ll help, so why not? I had some fighting lessons as a kid and some self-defence classes as an adult, so don’t hold back.” 

     Both got into their stances, only for Alhaitham to hold up his hand for them to stop and look at Kaveh oddly. After a moment, he asked, “Why are you standing like a girl?” 

     “Fucking excuse me?” 

     “Not like that- hang on, I’ll show you what I mean. You first. No face shots.” 

     “Alright.” Kaveh reset his footing and placed his arms in their proper spots, then sent his left arm forward toward Alhaitham’s chest. The bastard quickly pulled his fist forward whilst sidestepping him, then placed a hand on his back, pushing him to the ground. Yeowch. 

     “You okay?” Alhaitham asked, offering him a hand. 

     “I’m dead, what do you think?” he retorted, accepting the hand. “Fix me, then.” 

     “You’re not working with your centre of gravity, that’s all. Get back in your stance, I’ll help you adjust.” As Kaveh got back in position, Alhaitham carefully adjusted his hips and back, never touching the other for longer than he had to. “Guys have a different centre of gravity than girls do. For us, it’s more in the stomach, and for them, it’s closer to the hips. Adjust for that, and you’ll be unshakable. The only thing is you have to follow your skeletal structure, even if it differs for any reason from what you are. Okay, try now.” 

     “This actually does feel more stable,” Kaveh grumbled, waiting for Alhaitham to get in position. Once he got the okay, his left arm shot forward. Alhaitham grabbed his wrist again, but with the proper stance, he was able to grab the other with his free hand, twisting with the force and driving his knee into Alhaitham’s stomach. The pair grappled with each other, each responding to the other’s attack with precision and care. And, as much as Kaveh hated to admit it, it was helping him cope. Stupid Alhaitham. 

     Kaveh dodged yet another hit by jumping back, only to notice panic flash on Alhaitham’s face. He moved back toward his opponent before turning around, gasping slightly when he noticed both ends had gotten way too close to where they were fighting. Kaveh had almost moved on without Alhaitham. 

     “Time to go.” 

     The pair exited the tunnel, reappearing in what Kaveh knew to be Haitham’s Nowhere apartment bedroom. Kav was putting all his accessories on, including the promise ring, which almost pissed Kaveh off all over again. What day was it? Better yet, what month was it? These questions didn’t seem to bother Kav, the little fucker, and- wait a fucking second, was that the hoodie he gave Haitham?! He definitely embroidered those tulips, that asshole. 

     “Calm down, you look like you’re going to kill him,” Alhaitham chided, swatting the back of his head. “Looks like we’ve got a mission today.” 

     Kav and the ghosts travelled through the portal, and Kaveh responded, “Yeah, in my universe. Welcome back, bitch.” 

     “I’ve been here before,” he corrected, looking around. “Actually, I think this is the park where Kav got- actually, nevermind.” 

     “Sus- oh my god, Nilou!” Kaveh cheered, beaming, his smile faltering when she struck up a conversation with Kav. “Oh my god, Nilou.” 

     “She’s pretty,” Alhaitham noted. He seemed to notice Kaveh stiffen and clarified, “Is she not pretty? She looks like an actress. I thought you were friends.” 

     “God, you’re hopeless. Yes, she’s my drop-dead gorgeous best friend, the problem is she doesn’t seem to have an issue with a second Kaveh- oh, and she’s given him a mask to hide his identity. And now they’re discussing my past- I need to change the topic,” he ambled, forcing himself to make eye contact with Alhaitham. “What about me, hm?” 

     “Yeah, you’re not ugly,” Alhaitham replied, shrugging. “You’re a good sparring partner. I think the other officers would have liked you. Her hair matches your eyes.” 

     “...Thank you???” 

     “You’re welcome.” 

     They kept speaking, Nilou forever in that easy, kind, understanding tone. Perfectly measured, perfectly calculated, only moving at specific intervals, and Kaveh softened as he realised she didn’t actually trust Kav. Hell, if that slight scrunch of her eyes was anything to go by, she didn’t even like him. It was the exact act she used with their creepy principal. Only do what was asked to get out safely. And if that wasn’t comforting, to know just one person didn’t want to replace him, then nothing could comfort him. 

     “I never got to say goodbye to her,” Kaveh softly muttered. “I don’t know how she took my death. I don’t know what she said at my funeral. All I know is that she was the exact person I needed growing up. She and Haitham both, they were my lifelines.” 

     “Try saying goodbye to her now, then. It looks like Kav’s about to leave, so you may want to hurry.” 

     After Nilou passed Kav’s phone back to him, Kaveh approached her and gently touched her shoulder. Then, keeping his voice to only a murmur, he said, “Thanks for everything, Louie.” 

     She froze, almost as if hearing him, then called, “Hey, wait, I just remembered something!” 

     Bullshit, Kaveh thought. Nilou doesn’t forget things, meaning she just didn’t want to tell him until- oh. Oh, shit, she most definitely heard him. Unfortunately, he didn’t really have time to process that fact before Kav was swinging, dragging Kaveh along with him. Genuinely, it was the worst part of hanging around a superhero. 

     Kav soon landed on a roof for just long enough that Kaveh could catch up, though catching his bearings was another matter entirely. At least Kav was looking at his phone. 

     “Welcome back to the real world,” Alhaitham teased, ruffling his hair again- and seriously, what was up with that? Not that he hated it, but- whatever. 

     “That’s my least favourite part of this whole operation.” 

     “You just need to get used to it.” 

     “It’s been four years, I doubt I’ll ever get used to it.” 

     “Come on, Spidey, what happened to you having been supposed to be the hero?” 

     “Shut up, prick!” Kaveh laughed, shoving Alhaitham lightly. “I still hate you, I’m still mad at you, you’re still a terrible person, and how dare you infer that I’d let myself be called Spider-Man? Hell off with that nonsense.” 

     “What would you have yourself called, then?” 

     Kaveh frowned in concentration, interrupted only by Alhaitham wrapping his arm around his stomach and grabbing Kav’s hood. 

     “What are you- you dick!”

     The end result was Kav swinging over New York, Alhaitham hanging from his hood, and Kaveh being dangled like a sack of potatoes near Alhaitham’s hip. 

     “You look like a wet cat,” Alhaitham teased. 

     “Trust me, I feel like a wet cat,” he grumbled, crossing his arms. “Tell your boy- your fiancé, I guess, to slow down. I feel like I’m on a jet.” 

     “Not sure how you expect me to do that, but you may want to hold on. It looks like he’s going to get a speed boost-” 

     Just as Alhaitham had warned him, Kav had touched the ground only to rocket off at breakneck- oh fuck off- speed, leaving Kaveh feeling almost queasy until they landed on the bus. 

     “That sucked,” he groaned, splooting on the bus roof. “I didn’t even get to tell you the hero name I picked before we went Mach 10-gazillion. I’d have everyone call me Hourglass.” 

     “Why’s that?” 

     “’Cause when you see me, you know your time is up,” Kaveh replied, looking as cocky as ever. Something about it made Alhaitham smile in that weird, not-quite-Haitham-but-scarily-similar way before giving a gentle laugh, clearly fighting off something heartier. Kaveh sat up and rolled his eyes, pouting. “I’m never forgiving you. Ever. Not for nothin’. You’re the worst man I’ve ever met, and I can’t wait until we’re done watching this side quest so I can move on without you.” 

     “You don’t mean that.” 

     “...Hmph.” 

     The trio hopped off the bus. While Kav led the way, Kaveh was too busy intentionally ignoring Alhaitham, crossing his arms and looking away. 

     “You have a lot of resentment to catch up on, you’re a year behind.” 

     “I can’t hear you!” Kaveh called, covering his ears. He watched the shops pass as Alhaitham kept trying to convince him to do whatever it was he was, Kaveh stopped listening ten billion years ago. Convenience store, records store, dress shop, thrift store... 

     Where did he know that combination from..? 

     His hands inadvertently lowered from his ears as the buildings kept passing, and he felt his heart plummet into his stomach as he realised exactly where they were going. Sure enough, Kav went invisible, and they were dragged into his mother’s apartment building. 

     “Why’s he going to talk to her? That’s not... he shouldn’t be talking to her, she doesn’t know anything, so why..?” 

     “...Woah, hey, Kaveh? Are you okay? Heard you mumbling about something,” Alhaitham said, placing a hand between his shoulder blades. 

     “I- I can’t,” Kaveh choked out, stopping in his tracks, but Kav just kept walking, dragging him along. His shoulders tensed, his right hand hovered at the base of his throat while the left clutched at his chest, and even though he didn’t need to, he felt like he couldn’t breathe- 

     “Kaveh, what’s going on? Do you know where we’re going?” 

     “I don’t want to see her, it’s bad, I fucked up-” 

     “Kaveh!” Alhaitham urged, stepping in front of him. “Talk to me. How can I help you?” 

     “I can’t breathe-” he wheezed. 

     “Okay, just... breathe with me, then. Yeah? Follow my lead.” 

     Alhaitham took a deep breath in, and Kaveh followed a moment after. They breathed out together, and that already felt better. They took another breath in, held it, and let go. Composing himself, he looked beyond Alhaitham’s shoulder just as the door to his mom’s apartment opened, spirits raising as he noticed it wasn’t his mom. Kaveh eagerly took Alhaitham’s wrist and led him to the door, an infectious smile plastered on his face to rival the frown on Katalina’s face. 

     “I doubt you’ll ever meet someone as awesome as her,” Kaveh introduced, gesturing to his stepmother. “Alhaitham, meet Katalina, my mom’s kick-ass wife. She’s basically Haitham’s mom at this point- she always invites him for the holidays, she recommended him for the job he’s got now, she’s insanely smart, and she’s- she’s just the best. And now, it looks like she’s preventing us from seeing my mom. Stunning work. I hope she goes to whatever good place she believes in.” 

     In response, Alhaitham lifted his hand and placed it on Kaveh’s head yet again. When the latter looked at him, he looked away, a soft grin on his face, before finally asking, “So, you’re okay now?” 

     “Yeah, I’m fine. How’d you even know what to do? And why do you keep putting your hand on my head?” 

     Alhaitham shrugged and ruffled his hair before Kaveh could successfully swat him away. “You remind me of our new recruits, so I just handle you like I’d handle them. You may be a year older than me, but you still look like you’re twenty-one.” 

     “Well, at least I...” Kaveh started, trailing off when someone else came to the door. Mom. He watched as Kav fell to his knees, and his mom knelt to comfort him. Of course she did. That was... that was the exact sort of person she was. It was weird seeing her now, her hair still grown out, wearing the heirloom scarf his dad had given her. He’d always tried to avoid seeing her by hiding in the tunnel, but now... 

     “I didn’t think she’d look so much like you,” Alhaitham muttered. They followed Kav into the apartment, Kaveh staying quiet as he examined the walls. His mom moved in with Katalina some years after he moved in with his aunt, but that didn’t stop her from hanging his photos of him and his dad all over her wife’s apartment. There were photos from his kindergarten graduation, photos of him playing with action figures, photos from his parents’ wedding, photos from his mom’s third wedding that she sent him an invitation to, which he declined it like an idiot. She even had a table for him and his sister, and the pure energy radiating from the flowers and the candle almost made him dizzy. For once, his mind was calm, even as Alhaitham moved to Katalina’s dusty piano. 

     “It’s the kind you can plug headphones and earbuds into,” Kaveh muttered absently. “I don’t know how long it’s been since anyone’s played it, though.” 

     “I might as well, then,” Alhaitham replied, sitting on the bench. He gestured for Kaveh to sit near him, passing him one of the earbuds from the pair that had been plugged in since its last use. “I might not be good, but there’s one song I can play solidly.” 

     Kaveh tucked the earbud into his ear, staying as close to the piano as he could as to not be noticed. Alhaitham switched the piano on and ran an Eb major scale, two octaves, somehow making it sound breathtaking despite the restrictive style of the scale. 

     “That was nice,” Kaveh said, turning his head to watch Katalina and his mom re-enter the room, the latter sitting in her favourite chair and the former standing beside her. The whole situation was... awkward, to say the least. And weird. And his mom was looking at Kav in that sad, pitiful way she looked at him when they last met. And he wanted to be mad, but... 

     “That was the warm-up,” Alhaitham corrected, adjusting his hands. Without any further warning, a new melody began, piercing his heart. The piano became the background music for their conversation, slowly crumbling his walls until a tear slid down his face. Finally. 

     Once he’d started crying, he couldn’t stop. He was reduced to a shaking, sniffling, sobbing mess of tears he’d been unintentionally holding back, only able to watch his mom find semblance of closure in someone who wasn’t him. Just as Alhaitham’s song ended, so too did their conversation, and Kav approached the door, feelings still lingering in the air. 

     “Hug them,” Kaveh found himself quietly urging, despite himself. “God dammit, Kav, don’t fuck this one up too. Hug them. Please.” 

     As if hearing him, Kav turned around, dashing into the arms of his- of their family. All of them- his family, Kav’s family, Haitham’s family, the family he’d never gotten to fully appreciate- they were family now. Undoubtedly. 

     “Go,” Alhaitham whispered, pushing him forward. Kaveh didn’t need to be told twice. 

     As tightly as he could, he embraced them from the outside, sobbing just as hard as they were. Almost as if he were human. And dammit, he could feel how tense Kav was being and whispered, “It’s okay.” Because it was okay. They were okay, and they were always going to be okay. No matter where they ended up. No matter what would happen. No matter what uncertainties came. 

     For once, everything was really alright. 

     The hug dispersed soon- too soon, if you asked Kaveh- and they exited the apartment, leaving his mom behind for good. 

     “Are you okay?” Alhaitham asked, rubbing his back. Kaveh nodded, stumbling slightly, his heart aching too much to speak. “How about I carry you for the rest of the day, and you can rest? You seem like you need it.” 

     Kaveh nodded again, climbing onto Alhaitham’s back and wrapping his arms around his neck before Kav could scurry off again. They were just two ghosts against the multiverse, and Kaveh couldn’t see himself hating it... not as much as he definitely hated Alhaitham, though. Regardless of if he was about to take a nap on his back, the wind rushing past already lulling him to sleep, the sound of a slightly out-of-tune piano still echoing in his ears. 

     When at last he opened his eyes again, the sun was setting, the leaves rustling on the trees- oh fuck, we’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto. 

     Kaveh’s head bolted upright, and somehow, they were in another universe entirely- some kind of rainforest? How the hell did he sleep through that? 

     “Welcome back to the land of the living,” Alhaitham greeted, helping Kaveh down. “I’m glad you’re up, I’m not sure if you would have fit through the ladder hole.” 

     “Mmf...” Kaveh groaned, rubbing at his eyes. “You’re not funny. Did I miss anything?” 

     “...Nothing major,” Alhaitham responded, an odd edge to his voice. 

     “That’s good, I suppose. Let’s go, then.” 

     The pair climbed the ladder carefully, Kaveh trying not to freak out over the height. Haitham wasn’t the only one with falling-based trauma, after all. Now, though, it was... fine? The situation didn’t bother him as much; it was almost as if... as if he was finally okay with dying. Huh. 

     They finally reached the top, where Haitham was thinking something over. Kaveh sat on one of the railings perpendicular to the one Haitham was leaning on, and Alhaitham sat to his right, both staying quiet while the other two caught up. 

     “How much did he say about his childhood?” Kav asked, and Kaveh’s back stiffened. He wasn’t actually going to tell him everything, right? It was technically his choice, but... Kaveh looked over to where Alhaitham was sitting and gave him an uneasy look. 

     “What’s up?” he asked, tilting his head slightly. 

     “...Nothing- well, something major, actually. I think Kav’s about to talk to Haitham about his backstory, so... you may want to listen in.” 

     Alhaitham nodded and turned his attention back to the couple. Kaveh squeezed his hands in his lap, trying to force the bad memories back whilst listening in. This guy... this kid... was truly his parallel. It wasn’t fair that neither of them got the easy route. In their own ways, they were both utterly fucked over. Nobody deserves that. 

     “...Did that happen to you, too?” Alhaitham asked as Kav hugged Haitham. 

     “...Something along those lines.” Kaveh turned his head away, staring directly into the setting sun, fingers digging into his legs now. 

     “It isn’t your fault. You know that, right?” 

     “That was his story, not mine. You know that, right?” Kaveh snapped, flinching away from Alhaitham’s touch. 

     “I have something I should tell you,” he heard Haitham confess behind him. Good. They could finally talk about Haitham's sickness, and- “My universe’s Cyno dug up some files on Kaveh, and... I think you helped me figure out a lot of the case.” 

     ...Shit. Did he actually find the evidence? How the hell did he even- whatever, that was something to worry about for later. He whirled around, grabbing Alhaitham’s wrist in mid-air, and ordered, “We need to leave. Now. You can’t hear this.” 

     Alhaitham’s eyes narrowed, and he gently pulled his wrist out of Kaveh’s grip. “What did you do?” 

     “Nothing, I just don’t want you listening to this, okay?!”

     “Kaveh, I want to hear this, and I can make that choice for myself.” 

     “It’s my past, and I should at least have some control over it, shouldn’t I? Seriously, Alhaitham, please trust me on this.” 

     “Why won’t you just tell me? Seriously, Kaveh, after everything we’ve been through together-” 

     “Because I killed them, okay?!” Kaveh snapped, quickly covering his mouth in horror when he realised what he'd confessed. He was definitely shaking now, biting the side of his tongue in anger until he could remove his hands. “I killed them. My stepfather, my uncle, Alhaitham’s boss’s stupid husband... that’s why I wasn’t chosen in the end, as much as I hate to admit it. As much as I hate admitting that I never wanted to tell you this, because I know I’m worse than you. We’re both the absolute worst.” 

     Alhaitham stared at him quietly, the only noise between them being the conversation Haitham was clinically having with Kav, all facts and logic, over the exact same topic. The sky darkened with the coming of night, the moon rising in the sky between their living counterparts, and Alhaitham finally sighed, reaching out to push Kaveh’s hair out of his face. 

     “We fucked up,” Alhaitham admitted softly. “We’re not alive, not anymore. We can’t make amends to the people who need them most. But that doesn’t mean we can’t forgive ourselves. The world will forget about our actions, forget about us, and who are we to linger with our faults? We’re just people. It’s human. The only difference between you and I is that what you did was good... part of it, at least. You defended yourself because you had to, but that wasn’t your job, and you went too far. The people who should have protected us didn’t, and now...” 

     “I should have been better, though,” Kaveh urged. “There was another way, I just had to find it, I-” 

     “You deserve to move on,” he corrected, taking his hand. “We both do.” 

     “...Okay.” Kaveh stood with Alhaitham, taking a second to look once again at the happy couple. They’d laid down on the wooden ground, leaning against each other, eyes closed in contentment. “I think there’s something I should do first, though,” he muttered, releasing Alhaitham’s hand to crouch by Kav. He looked so... peaceful. Guilt swarmed his heart, but it needed to be done. Carefully, he placed his hand over Kav’s and said, “You were never supposed to have your powers. You’re being lied to.” 

     Kav’s eyes snapped open, and he looked around warily, eyes finally settling directly on Kaveh. Well, shit. With a slight smile, he pressed his index finger to his lips, then slipped away, rejoining Alhaitham. 

     “Ready?” 

     “Yeah,” Kaveh said. In the next instant, they were back in the tunnel. The ends hadn’t had time to fully go back to normal, thankfully, so they wouldn’t have to walk too far. Nudging Alhaitham, he said, “Thanks. Y’know, for having my back at the end. It was nice to have a friend like you.” 

     Alhaitham smiled in acknowledgement, slight and genuine. With that, they closed their chapter, smiling and stepping into the light for whatever may come next. 

Chapter Text

     “Alhaitham? KK? Guys, you need to wake up. It’s an emergency.” 

     Alhaitham slowly blinked his eyes open. Stars twinkled above, interrupted by the silhouette of Yanfei standing by their feet. Her hair was down for once, cascading down her back and shoulders in soft waves, but her teal-green eyes were full of concern. He gently nudged Kaveh, who was clinging onto his arm, and asked, “What’s going on?” 

     “It’s... it’s a lot,” she confessed. “I don’t know how to process everything, I don’t even know what’s going on... and you know I always know what’s going on, so I’m scared-” 

     “Deep breaths,” Alhaitham instructed, sitting up and allowing Kaveh’s hands to slip from around his bicep. “Start there. Focus on what you do know, and we can work it out through from there. Is someone hurt?” 

     “Wh's happenin?” Kaveh grumbled, sitting up beside Alhaitham. Yanfei sighed, and with his eyes having adjusted to the darkness, he could see she was biting her lip. 

     “I’ll do the best I can to explain,” she said. “When Tao and I went to sleep last night, Cyno and Tighnari still hadn’t returned, so we kept the beacon on for them. I woke up about half an hour ago, Tao was gone, and the beacon has been destroyed. The reason I woke up was because someone was screaming a while off, so I ran to go help them out, and... it was Cyno. Tighnari arrived there first- apparently, he was sleeping somewhere nearby- but Cyno wouldn’t even let him come close. He had these nasty gashes everywhere, bleeding profusely, but he was acting like Nari was the one who’d done it. I tried calming him down so he could tell us what happened, but I guess he passed out without the adrenaline. I told Tighnari to take him to the lab for medical assistance, gave him the directions Tao gave me to leave, and now we’re here. I still haven’t seen Tao around, and I wanted to make sure you guys were okay. Thank goodness you are, I just... it was so bad, it was like some kind of animal had attacked him, and...” 

     By this point, both Kaveh and Alhaitham had risen to their feet, and the former was gently rubbing Yanfei’s back. “We’ve got this,” he muttered, bringing her in for a side hug. As she leaned into him, her hand found purchase on his waist. He stiffened for a moment, then relaxed, tightening his arm around her shoulders. “Cyno was probably just caught off-guard. We’ll find whatever did this, we’ll kick its ass, and we’ll save your princess. Easiest thing ever.” 

     “...Right,” Yanfei affirmed, letting out a breath. “Right. You’re right, KK. I just... I keep thinking about Cyno was so convinced that Tighnari did it. Didn’t even look at me, he just kept glaring at him with this... look. The whole situation is off.” 

     “Maybe the apartment is on the fritz? I’ve never seen one this big, so I really don’t know what the side effects are.” Kaveh stepped away, painting a confident look on his face. “How about we come up with codewords? Yours can be scissors, because you’re gay and stuff.” 

     “You’re gay too, Kav,” she accused, fighting off a smile. “Yours should be paper, then, because you’re tear-able.” 

     “Someone’s been spending too much time around Tao and Cyno,” Alhaitham noted, smiling slightly when Yanfei stiffened at the realisation of what she'd said. “Guess I’ll take rock, then. Fei, if you count the area you were just in as a quadrant, I say we should split up and search the other three areas. Nobody should try to get in a solo fight, though, run and find help if you're in trouble.” He then moved to the railing, attached a webline, and hopped off, ignoring Kaveh's confused scoff and moving steadily toward the ground. The less traffic on the ladder, the better. It was logical. His feet touched the ground gently, the grass flattening under him. 

     “Go South!” Yanfei called from the top, and, after checking where the moon was beginning to set, he nodded and hurried off. The forest that had once felt so charming when he first arrived now felt like the setting of a horror movie, the trees confining him within their secrets instead of giving him hope of learning more about them. He dreaded finding signs of life regardless of how lonely the area felt, but Tao needed their help. He pushed away the nagging thought they were already hurt- maybe even worse- and tried to focus on what he knew. 

     Currently, Hu Tao was missing and had been since Yanfei woke up. Something destroyed the beacon, and it was likely that same something was what attacked Cyno. Gashes imply it had something sharp, like claws, rather than using bludgeoning. Yanfei would have woken up to their screaming if Hu Tao had been attacked, especially since they should have been close, so Hu Tao had likely willingly left... hopefully. Given that this was Hu Tao’s apartment, whatever had injured Cyno was probably under their control. Maybe there was a problem back in their universe, so they had to leave? In that case, Kaveh’s assumption about the apartment “glitching” wouldn’t be far off. No harm in looking for clues, then. How big could a pocket dimension be? 

     Really fucking big, Alhaitham realised. Unlike Kaveh, the pool he’d emerged from had been the second closest to the treehouse, and he’d been told some of the further trees were just part of the boundary’s dome. The worst part was knowing he was likely missing major clues. He could’ve easily missed scratch marks, footprints, destroyed foliage, or even the enemy itself. Not to mention the fact the other two were uncomfortably far away, and he was starting to regret telling them to split up. 

     Mind swimming in his thoughts, he almost completely missed the tracks in the mud. Almost. They were bigger than his own, though, and just past some kind of nut tree. Definitely human, though. Maybe they were Tighnari’s? He was the only person other than Kaveh who was about his height. Alhaitham followed the tracks through the forest, still keeping an eye out for other clues along the way, until they finally just... stopped. No deep impression to indicate jumping. It was as if they’d been walking, only to- 

     “Did you find something?” Yanfei asked, standing just behind him. "What are these- are they footprints?” 

     “Yeah, but they stop here. Guess I encroached on your area,” he said, rising to his feet. He turned to face her, then cocked his head to the side slightly. “Did you tie your hair back?” 

     “Had KK head North, I went East, and yeah, I...” she started, voice trailing off. She started rubbing her neck and biting her lip, the same way his Yanfei did when she was focused. “Do you mind if I tell you something? It's been on my mind lately, but there hasn't been a good time to talk recently.” 

     “Let’s walk and talk,” Alhaitham offered, gesturing for to come with. 

     “Right, yeah,” she said, almost jogging to keep up with him. “I wanted to talk to you about it because I think you’ll understand the best. The others... I love them, I do, but I feel like an extra sometimes. They’ve all got these amazing powers that they can control, but you and I? That night at the desert, I noticed you struggle to land properly. Meanwhile, I’m not exactly as vanilla as the others think. More of a curse than a power, though, in my case.” 

     “...How so?” Alhaitham prompted, helping her over a log in their path. 

     “KK mentioned you have autism, right? It’s kind of like that. Sensory issues, I mean. After I was bitten, I got all the usual powers, and I got used to them. What I didn't realise, though, was that if a Spider's senses are double what a human has, mine were about triple a Spider's. When I met the others, I thought it was just as bad for everyone. I thought fluorescent lights gave everyone migraines, I thought everyone had to wear specific fabrics to avoid losing it, I thought everyone had to wear earplugs to avoid overhearing conversations. Apparently, my hearing’s better than Tighnari’s, and I hate it.” 

     “You sound like me going to the doctor as a kid,” he muttered. “Why exactly are you telling me this? I don't mind, just curious.” 

     “Honestly, you’re the practice test before I tell Tao. I figured you’d get it better than any of the others, and I needed the confidence- wait, I hear KK up ahead! I think he found them, let’s go!” 

     She dashed foward, escaping into the trees with Alhaitham following soon after. Once he caught up, he looked ahead, making eye contact with Kaveh and... another Yanfei. One whose hair was still down. 

     “That’s not me...” the Yanfei by Kaveh muttered, eyes widening. “Alhaitham, who the fuck is that?” 

     “Rock,” he said in response. 

     “Paper,” Kaveh jumped in, looking between the two Yanfeis. 

     “Scissors,” the hair-down Yanfei responded a moment later- too late for Alhaitham's comfort- and narrowed her eyes. 

     Ponytail Yanfei stayed quiet, brows furrowed. Her hand was raised, touching her cheek in contemplation. “...Shit,” she murmured, eyes trained on the other. 

     “Alhaitham, get away from her,” the hair-down Yanfei ordered, raising her fists. “She’s the one who hurt Cyno. We can’t trust-” 

     He raised his arms, shooting a web ball to each of the hair-down Yanfei’s wrists, pinning her to the nearby tree. Kaveh looked at him as if he’d gone mad, then asked, “Dude, what the fuck? She knew the code, yours is the enemy.” 

     “That Yanfei recognised a pattern in a series. That's on us for picking something everyone knows. This Yanfei’s slowly processing the horrors of having her face stolen. C’mon, we have a doppelgänger to investigate.” 

     “...Right,” she murmured, following him to Kaveh’s side. “That’s... that’s not a variant of me, that’s me. Guys, what the hell?” 

     “You’re making a mistake!” Not-Yanfei urged, still trying to break free. “She’s going to turn on you, you need to let me go!”

     “You seem awfully sure of yourself, Haitham,” Kaveh muttered. “Honestly, though, I’m starting to see it. It's unsettling to see Yanfei's face actually mad.” 

     “How does this even happen?” Yanfei asked, stepping closer, only to jump back when Not-Yanfei tried to lunge at her. “What is this?” 

     “I have a feeling I know,” Alhaitham said, stepping forward. He raised his transporter arm, and Not-Yanfei froze before beginning to struggle harder than before. 

     “I’m not one of them!” she screamed as his finger neared the button. “I’m human, I swear I’m human! I live, I breathe, I have a fucking family!” Seeing that none of them were flinching at her words, Not-Yanfei pulled on her arm again, breaking the bark off the tree and grabbing his wrist, pulling it away from his other hand. She shifted, then, a currant-red ink covering her body, a few shades darker than his own Venom. Its form changed to be taller, never letting go of him despite Kaveh and Yanfei’s attempts to pull him away. The ink finally settled, revealing the face of the Kaveh from his universe, neck twisted at an unusual angle. Finally, in a voice that was all too familiar, he said, “I’m human, right, Haitham?” 

     “Oh, that’s fucked,” Yanfei said, finally pulling him out of the creature’s grasp as the real Kaveh surged forward, decking the shapeshifter in the face. He managed to knock it out and activated the button on his transporter. As always, the creature screamed, then wavered, then sloughed off its host, leaving an unconscious Hu Tao on the ground in its wake. As Yanfei let go of Alhaitham to check on them, her eyebrows furrowed, Kaveh turned back to check on his own partner. 

     “Hey,” he started, his voice soft and gentle. “That was... I’m so sorry. How did it even know what he looked like?” 

     He shook his head slightly, allowing Kaveh’s hand to slip into his own. He pulled Kaveh into a hug, staring down at where Yanfei was trying to shake Hu Tao awake, tears in her eyes. That marked the second Spider to be taken over by the Venom, and he had no idea who was next. His arms tightened subconsciously around Kaveh to stop himself from shaking, and Kaveh squeezed him back, resting his head against Alhaitham’s jaw. 

     If he knew he was going to transform one last time, what would be the last thing he’d say to Kaveh? 

     “We should get them to the lab,” Alhaitham suggested, pulling out of the hug. “Do you need help?” 

     “No, I’ve got it,” Yanfei murmured, lifting Hu Tao into a fireman’s carry. “We just need to find the nearest pool and hop back through.” 

     “I found one not too long ago,” Kaveh offered, already leading the way. Silence hung heavily over them as they walked, the sun staining the sky an oversaturated pink as it rose. The water of the pond sparkled, and Yanfei silently waded in first, followed soon after by Kaveh and Alhaitham. 

     “The only thing I don’t understand,” she muttered, “is why they didn’t tell me. I knew they were sick, we'd been talking about it last night, but this is...” 

     “...I guess it’s like what you told me earlier,” Alhaitham replied, moving forward to hold the door open for them. When Kaveh looked at him curiously, he shook his head slightly. That was her secret, not his. 

     “...Maybe.” 

     Kaveh went first for the elevator doors, holding it until they piled in, then pressed the button for the first floor. The music was far too cheery for the circumstances, almost mocking their situation. Kaveh cursed under his breath- something in Farsi, Alhaitham could tell- and murmured something about needing to add a button to mute it. The elevator shook as it reached its destination, and they stepped out. 

     For once, Nowhere was oddly... noisy. The trio looked at each other, then hurried forward, wanting to see what was going on. Being the tallest, Alhaitham got there first, freezing at the edge as he saw the scene unfolding. 

     Venom mutations had appeared everywhere- on the crosswalks, on the ground, even in the cafeteria. Dozens of other Spiders were trying to fight them off, but it seemed that far more of them had been infected than anyone cared to let on. Kaveh was the next to reach the edge, collapsing to his knees when he realised the situation. 

     "What's going on?!" Yanfei called, finally approaching for herself, gasping when she caught on. "What... shit, what is this?"

     “...It’s the final battle.”