Chapter Text
Alhaitham’s life in the corporate world is as mundane as it gets. He spends his days running around the office; filing documents, writing meeting notes, and making coffee for a boss who is both a micromanager and a narcissist. The kind of boss who demands perfection while never lifting a finger to help. But the real kicker? Alhaitham doesn’t mind it that much. After all, it’s the perfect cover for his real job— by night, he’s a vigilante, fighting demons and criminals in the shadows of the city’s underground.
On the other hand, Kaveh’s life is a whirlwind of thrills and chaos. A stark contrast to Alhaitham’s justice-driven vigilante lifestyle— Kaveh is a pickpocket. He steals from whoever, whenever, with no sense of right or wrong, just the thrill of the game. No Robin Hood complex here. He’s a crook and a con. And he’s damn good at it. His knack for getting out of sticky situations and his ability to charm people with a devil-may-care smile have kept him out of trouble more times than he can count.
They are polar opposites, like two sides of the same coin—one driven by order and justice, the other by chaos and desire. They exist in completely different worlds.. literally.
The multiverse divides their universes. The two individuals exist in two parallel realms so alike that, at first glance, they would seem almost identical. Both worlds pulse with the same eerie energy, where ghosts linger in the shadows of dimly lit alleys and demons skulk in hidden corners of the city, their eyes glinting with mischief. Every street is crowded with people, each one unaware of the supernatural forces weaving through the fabric of their everyday lives.
The veil is what keeps their fates separated. It is a thin, magical boundary older than time itself. This boundary separates not just their worlds, but all the countless universes that swirl within the multiverse. It hums with ancient power, an invisible thread that binds and divides, ensuring that each realm stays in its own space, untouched by the others. To those within the realms, it is an unseen force, imperceptible to all but the most attuned.
This is how their worlds have stayed for billions of years. No holes or cracks. No secret portals or any other ways of breaching the divide. But the veil is no longer a perfect barrier; it is ancient, fragile, and unbeknownst to them, starting to fray. For now, their worlds remain distinct, yet the threads of destiny are slowly beginning to unravel.
—
To the present... Kaveh is broke. It’s the classic cycle: he’s spent the last of his earnings on a string of impulsive purchases, having sold off every gadget and trinket he swiped in his most recent pickpocketing venture. A fine selection of rare books, some enchanted trinkets, and a few untraceable objects of power—all gone. And as always, Kaveh’s first thought after making a decent haul was treat yourself. A night of overpriced drinks, new clothes that he didn’t need, and a feast that was more indulgence than nourishment. And now, here he is: penniless, hungry, and wondering how he let his own greed get the best of him. Again.
Kaveh decided to scour the streets of the Grand Bazaar, a chaotic, ever-shifting marketplace that existed across multiple dimensions. It was a labyrinth of wonders, where priceless treasures from countless cities were peddled alongside mundane trinkets. And today, Kaveh had his sights set on a particularly dazzling prize—a ruby necklace that caught the light just right, its jewels gleaming like drops of blood on a golden chain. He’d noticed the glimmer of it from a distance, even before stepping foot into the store.
Once inside, he realized the place was eerily vacant, its silence pressing in on him. Normally, an empty shop would make it harder to pull off a clean theft, but that wasn’t the oddest thing about the store. No, it was the shopkeeper. An old woman, sitting cross-legged at a small table, a rich purple cloth draped over her eyes. Kaveh couldn’t decide if she was blind or just plain foolish. ‘Why would someone cover their eyes with a cloth when there are priceless jewels on display, left entirely unguarded’, he thought.
It was an opportunity too perfect to pass up. With the stealth of a practiced thief, he slipped the ruby necklace from its display and tucked it into his pocket. There wasn’t a sound, not a single shift in the air to indicate that she’d noticed anything. He couldn’t help the mischievous grin that spread across his face.
Kaveh, emboldened by his success, leaned forward, raising his hand and waving it in front of her face, taunting her silently. Still, she didn’t react. She sat there, as unmoving and unflinching as before. Feeling his chest puff with pride, he turned to leave the store, his fingers grazing the doorframe.
Just as his hand touched the door, her voice finally broke the silence.
"Leaving so soon?”.
The words were quiet, eerie and cold.
Kaveh froze, his hand still resting on the doorframe. His heart skipped a beat, though he quickly masked it with a casual smirk. He turned slowly, eyeing the shopkeeper.
"Did you miss something, old woman?" he teased, stepping back into the shop with a light chuckle. "I was just admiring your... taste in jewellery."
The woman remained motionless, her cloth still draped over her eyes. Kaveh couldn’t tell if she was actually blind or simply playing some game. Either way, it didn’t matter. He knew she’d have a hard time chasing him if he chose to run away. He wasn’t afraid.
"Sit down," she said calmly, her voice soft but commanding.
Kaveh raised an eyebrow, still amused. "Oh? And what makes you think I’ll do that?"
She didn’t respond immediately. Her fingers lingered near the centre of the table. Suddenly she tapped her fingers down against the wooden surface. Tap, tap.
One moment the air was empty, and the next, a smooth glass sphere appeared hovering above her palm. It was shimmering with an eerie light as if it had been plucked from the very fabric of the universe.
Kaveh raised an eyebrow, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "Neat trick," he said, his tone equal parts impressed and wary.
"You can take the necklace," she said, her voice still unhurried, "if you want. My price is this”. She gestured to the orb, its light dancing beneath her fingers.
Kaveh glanced at the orb, skeptical. It looked simple enough, but the glow that radiated from it felt unnatural, as though it wasn’t quite of this world. His gaze flickered back to the old woman, her hand now setting the orb gently on the table between them, as though it were something precious—or dangerous.
"Why?" he asked, his tone playful but guarded. "What’s the catch, old woman?"
The woman’s lips curled into a faint, knowing smile, her fingers still caressing the orb. "No catch. Now sit down, Kaveh."
The sound of his name, spoken so casually by a stranger he’d never met, sent a chill down his spine. He hadn’t told her who he was. No one should know his name here. His heart skipped a beat. His instincts screamed to bolt, but something about the situation held him in place—something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.
Kaveh’s playful demeanor began to slip, replaced by an uneasy curiosity. He couldn’t explain why, but something was making him want to listen to her. With a slow exhale, Kaveh dropped into the chair across from her, the cool wood creaking beneath him.
“Alright, I’m sitting”, he spoke harshly.
“You need not be so guarded with me, child. I only wish to show you what is yours to see”. Every word she spoke sounded like a riddle.
“All I wish to see is how much this necklace is worth. I want nothing more from you”, Kaveh was growing impatient. He began thinking, what if the old woman had somehow triggered an alarm and was simply trying to waste his time whilst waiting for the authorities to show up. What if guards were walking down the street this very minute ready to take him away. His eyes cautiously looked to the door.
The woman smiled and she leaned back in her chair, her voice lowering as though she were speaking an ancient secret. "Don’t you want to know about your fate? Your destiny is closer than you think, you just need the power to see it”. As she spoke, she reached out and touched the orb again, and it flared to life, a wave of energy shooting through the room like a low hum.
Kaveh scoffed. "Fate?" He asked, trying to push down the unsettling feeling rising in his chest. "I don’t need a fortune. I’m just here for the necklace."
The woman didn’t flinch, her fingers still hovering just above the glowing orb. "Ah, but fate is not a choice, my dear. It’s already chosen you. The question is whether you will walk willingly through it." She paused, her voice dropping to a whisper, filled with unspoken promise.
"Touch it, and you’ll see. You’ll know."
Kaveh’s brow furrowed. The orb, now glowing brightly, seemed to beckon him closer, an irresistible force. He could feel it, a strange pull—like something inside him stirring in response. It was as if the orb were calling to him, tempting him with the unknown.
“I touch this and I can leave? That’s all you want?”, he asked. She nodded slowly.
With a huff of disbelief, Kaveh finally gave in, "Alright, fine. But this better not be some scam."
"It’s no scam, Kaveh. This is just the beginning."
He hesitated only a moment before he reached for the orb. The moment his fingers brushed against the smooth surface, a sharp pulse of energy shot through his body. The air thickened, the room around him flickering as though the very fabric of reality was beginning to bend. His eyes blurred and his view turned distorted. As if he was looking through someone else’s eyes. The orb was still in front of him. The room was still the same. And yet it all felt entirely different.
His breath caught in his chest. His hand burned as if he was holding the sun in his palms. He wanted to let go but something was pulling him closer.
The woman leaned forward slightly, her voice calm, but her words cutting through the tension. "Now, you’ve opened the door. You will feel it soon enough—the thread that connects you to someone far across the veil. A bond you cannot escape. Someone whose fate is as tied to yours as your own shadow."
Kaveh finally blinked and yanked his hand back, his pulse racing. He clutched his hand to his chest. “What the hell was that?"
"Your future," the woman answered softly, almost cryptically. "And the one who shares it with you."
Kaveh stood, heart hammering, and for a moment, he was struck with a dizzying feeling—like his very soul had shifted just a fraction. The necklace in his pocket felt heavier now, as though its connection to him had deepened somehow.
The old woman’s smile remained, serene and knowing. "Remember, Kaveh. Fate doesn’t wait. It’s already chosen you. The question now is: are you ready for it?"
With a final lingering gaze, Kaveh tore himself away from her eyes, he felt an overwhelming urge to flee. He turned sharply and walked out of the shop, the door shutting closed behind him with a sound that seemed to echo in his chest.
The bustling marketplace outside greeted him, but something was different. He felt... watched. Almost as if there was another presence beside him. Or within.
For a moment, Kaveh stood still, wondering if he’d made a mistake.
But the answer came quickly enough. The flicker of the necklace in his pocket reminded him that his future was just fine. He would pawn off the necklace, easily make a few grand and be living the dream in no time. He needn’t worry over some old lady’s eerie prophecy and a magic glowing orb.
—
At the same time, in another universe far across the veil… Alhaitham was just getting off work. He’d had the worst headache for the past few hours and now to make it worse, he saw a malicious ghost heading towards a busy marketplace. Just great, he knew he wouldn’t be able to rest until he exorcised it so he followed with an exhausted huff.
Alhaitham rubbed at his temples as he stalked through the crowded street, eyes narrowed against the neon lights of the marketplace. The ghost shimmered ahead of him like a smear on glass—half-visible, its form flickering in and out, feeding off the dense cluster of negative energy that pooled near the old district’s town centre.
He should’ve gone home.
But of course, the thing had to make a beeline for the Grand Bazaar.
He sighed, the weight of the day pressing heavy on his shoulders: reports piled on his desk, meetings that spiraled into ego-driven lectures from his boss, and now this spectral parasite that had latched onto some poor soul’s lingering grief. All he wanted was peace. Silence. Solitude.
Instead, he pushed through the noise, the hum of overlapping realities tickling at the edge of his senses. The Grand Bazaar existed on the cusp of realms, which meant the air always buzzed with strange energy. Alhaitham had learned to filter it out—most of it was harmless. But today, there was something different. Something… sharper.
He paused in front of a narrow alley nestled between two stalls that hadn't existed yesterday. There was no sign, no customers. Just a small shop with a wooden door that pulsed with an energy older than any demon he’d ever faced.
His gaze flicked toward the ghost—it hovered hesitantly near the door, but not crossing the threshold. Interesting.
Alhaitham tilted his head, tracking its movement. If even a ghost didn’t want to enter, that meant it was something either sacred... or dangerous.
Suddenly the ghost vanished.
Without a word, Alhaitham opened the door and stepped forward. He was immediately met with a beaded curtain that he ducked past and entered into what looked like a fortune-teller’s stall.
Inside, the air shifted. He immediately felt the difference—dense magic, like gravity folding in on itself. The room was dim, lit only by a few flickering candles. And at the center sat an old woman draped in purple, her eyes obscured by a cloth.
She didn’t look up, but her mouth opened to speak, “You’re late,” she said simply.
Alhaitham frowned. “I wasn’t planning on being here at all.” He didn’t even know this woman and yet she was criticising his punctuality.
“Yet here you are,” she replied, gently placing a small glass orb onto the table in front of her.
Alhaitham’s gaze narrowed. The orb gleamed softly, a quiet pulse of energy emanating from its core. He could feel it—like a beacon reaching out, tugging at something buried deep in his chest.
“What is that?” he asked, though he already knew it wasn’t just a trinket.
“The beginning,” the woman said, as though it were the most obvious answer in the world. “Or the end. That’s up to you.”
He should’ve turned around. This mad woman was speaking utter nonsense. He should’ve walked out and found the ghost, done his job, and gone home. But something—something that felt entirely unlike him—kept his feet rooted to the spot.
"Place your hand upon it," she said softly.
Alhaitham frowned, “I don’t make deals with people I don’t trust.”
She smiled. “This isn’t a deal. It’s a connection. He’s already touched it.”
Alhaitham blinked. He?
But before he could ask, a pulse from the orb surged outward like a breath being drawn. His hand moved of its own accord—logical hesitation overridden by something ancient, something instinctual.
His fingers met the orb.
Suddenly sparks flew in his eyes. The world felt fuzzy yet clear all at once. His heart raced.
At the exact same moment, across the veil…
Kaveh stumbled forward, leaning against an old stone wall. His heart had been racing ever since he left the old woman’s shop, and it hadn’t stopped. In fact, it suddenly felt faster. The air felt weird, like it had grown thicker somehow.
And then—pain.
Not his own.
A piercing migraine, so sudden and sharp that he nearly collapsed. Kaveh never got headaches, not even after the worst hangovers.
"What the—" he gasped, clutching his forehead. "What the hell is—?"
But before he could even question it, it shifted.
A wave of exhaustion pressed in, heavy and disciplined, as if someone else’s rhythm had overlaid his own heartbeat.
It wasn’t his feeling.
It wasn’t his.
He wasn’t alone in his own body anymore.
Back in the other realm, Alhaitham staggered backward from the orb, breath caught in his throat. A flash of sensation—confusion, sharp and dizzying, tangled with a restless energy that didn’t belong to him. Hunger gnawed at his stomach though he’d eaten only an hour ago.
But it wasn’t his.
It was someone else.
Someone volatile. Emotional. So alive it burned.
They both gasped at the same time, two worlds, two bodies, now tethered by a thin, glowing thread invisible to anyone else.
At that exact moment, a sudden pressure cinched around their wrists. Both instinctively glanced down, expecting to see rope, shackles—something. But there was nothing there. Just bare skin.
And yet it lingered. A phantom weight, as if an invisible string had been tied snug around them, pulling taut between their worlds.
Alhaitham slammed a hand down on the table, grounding himself. “What—what did you do?”
The old woman smiled. “I didn’t do anything. You both did. The moment you touched the orb, your threads were tied. Your worlds have always circled each other, just waiting for a crack.”
Kaveh, across the veil, dropped to his knees in the middle of the crowded street, clutching at his chest as waves of alien thought surged through him. Stoic. Structured. Tired. Burdened.
Emotions that didn’t belong to him.
Who are you?
He didn’t speak the words aloud—but somehow, he knew they were heard.
Alhaitham stood stiffly, eyes unfocused. He could feel the other's heartbeat. Could taste the lingering adrenaline. Somewhere, on the other side of this tether, someone was anxious. Angry. Afraid.
But also... intrigued.
“Who is he?” Alhaitham asked, voice low, measured.
“Your opposite,” the old woman whispered. “The one who runs where you walk. Fire to your logic. Chaos to your control. And now... your mirror.”
Alhaitham’s eyes narrowed. “I didn’t agree to this.”
“Neither did he. But the veil doesn’t care about consent,” she murmured. “It only answers fate.”
Alhaitham’s jaw clenched and his face turned dark, “what kind of fucked up reasoning is that?!”, he growled.
“Fate doesn’t need a reason. It simply exists to be followed. Now you two are connected in fate and your worlds will slowly begin to bleed into each other. All I ask is that you embrace it”, she said softly.
Alhaitham let out a cold laugh. “You think I care what you want? Not a chance. I will never do what you ask.”
Meanwhile, in Kaveh’s world...
Kaveh was pacing now, trying to shake the static crawling beneath his skin. Every time he tried to distract himself, it was there—that other. Logical thoughts seeping into his mind. A voice that wasn’t his, calculating and cold. And worse?
He could feel how much the other person disliked feeling this connection.
“Oh, don’t get all pissy,” Kaveh muttered aloud. “You think I wanted this? I didn’t ask to be soul-tied to some emotionally constipated control freak who probably irons his socks and sets calendar reminders to blink!!”.
A voice echoed back—not a voice, exactly, but a thought.
“You talk too much.”
Kaveh nearly jumped out of his skin. “What the hell?! Was that—? Are you—?!”
Silence. But it wasn’t quiet. There was breathing. Heartbeats. The feeling of someone else listening.
Watching.
Connected.
Back at the stall, Alhaitham spoke quietly. “How long does this last?”
The old woman shrugged. “That depends on how tightly the thread is woven. Some connections last moments. However, I can tell yours is.. potent.. so it could last lifetimes.”
Alhaitham sighed. Lifetimes? Plural?! He was already feeling fed-up with the cohabitation happening in his brain and body. “How do I fix it?”
She thought carefully before answering. “You can choose to ignore it..”
Alhaitham frowned.
“And if I don’t want to ignore it?”
She smiled. “Then you find him.”
To be continued…