NILOU

@abzendegi 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝: ❛ come back to bed. ❜ / prompt , accepting.

𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐒 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍.  with higher temperatures often came an increase in humidity,  & with both environmental factors present it hardly made for a pleasant day-to-day experience. that was to say  —  sumeru city has become entirely too hot. it's precisely this predicament that has led him outside, perched upon the front steps of his home, chin resting upon hand.

at night, sumeru city is finally quiet. there's the regular hum of noise, of course, but the ridiculous din of merchants & students has finally drawn to a close for the day. it's manageable. nilou's voice cuts through his relative silence  —  he hadn't noticed that she'd woken, engrossed in his own thoughts.  head tilts towards her,  though he doesn't move,  merely leans back against the steps.

sleep is a good friend, one nilou has never compromised against. not even in the depths of sumerian summer, where her preference for warm weather can grow tired at oppressive heat. when she wakes, soft sheets against silk ( alhaitham's shirt, loose and pleasant ), she only relaxes, comforted by slumber's gentle hand.

she notices his absence, her hands seeking a scholar who isn't there. it doesn't take an akademic to guess where he's gone, though. alhaitham often complains about the heat, the thin feeling of mist and water abundant in their city. nilou doesn't mind as much, hydro vision accustomed to such. so she wanders to the door, where he inevitably lays on the steps, a one - person protest.

❝     ━━━━━    𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝐓𝐎 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓, 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍.  how fortunate.  ❞  the faint scribbling sound of ink upon paper;  alhaitham doesn't so much as glance up at nilou,  merely pushes her notes back across the desk. there were many in the akademiya who were apt candidates to fall for nilou's charm,  &  many more who would no doubt have folded under her gaze.  alhaitham considers himself lucky not to have been one of them.  ❝     my opinion is not the deciding factor as to the value of your academic research, or the innovation behind your paper.  however—  ❞

" founded in assumptions? " lacking evidence? it was one thing to call her incompetent. it was a very different thing to call her wrong. " do you even process anything that you read? " she would concede on matters of structure, on a paper she'd rushed through ( but still tried very hard on, as was her way ). what she wouldn't back down on was her ideas ⸻ which were very well researched, by the way!

she takes a deep breath. recollects herself. she's never one to lose her cool, but something about him is so unfairly annoying, in a way nobody else is. gods, his sharp green eyes, and grey hair that just looks so soft ⸻ absolutely infuriating.

𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 -

01. avoids eye contact or looking at the floor. 02. wringing hands together in silence. 03. fidgeting with the hem of their shirt, unable to stay still. 04. looking at receiver in long silence before looking away. 05. silently leaves a folded note on the table in front of the other. 06. touches the others arm but pulls back out of guilt.

𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 -

01. slams fist onto a table without saying a word. 02. exhaling sharply through their nose and clenching their jaw. 03. throws an object across the room. 04. crossing their arms tightly, digging fingers into their own skin. 05. pacing the room with heavy steps. 06. glares at the other with a clenched fist.

𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 -

01. gently pushing stray hair behind the others ear. 02. resting their forehead against the others. 03. cups the others face with both hands. 04. pressing a kiss to the others forehead in silence. 05. lingering touches against the others face. 06. wraps their arms around the other from behind and rests their head on the others shoulder.

𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 -

01. wiping their eyes before someone can notice. 02. pressing their face into a pillow to muffle sobs. 03. pulls the other into a desperate hug and wont let go. 04. silently reaching for the others hand, needing comfort. 05. walks into the room with red-rimmed eyes and no words.

𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 -

01. spins the other around without warning in a hug. 02. links arms with the other and tugs them along happily. 03. provides the other with a handmade gift. 04. tackles the other in a sudden and joyful hug. 05. kisses the others cheek unexpectedly and grins.

𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫 -

01. backing away slowly and looking for exits. 02. hiding behind the other and peeking around. 03. flinches at sudden movement from the other. 04. presses their back against the wall with eyes darting around the room. 05. jumps at a noise and instinctively grabs the others hand.

𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠

01. tucks a blanket gently around the other person's shoulders. 02. applies a bandage with slow and deliberate care. 03. brings them food and water and watches to ensure they eat. 04. runs fingers through their hair in efforts to soothe. 05. rubs soothing circles on the others back while they cry. 06. stays silently by the others side in support without saying a word.

𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠

for muses that need a little love. 

❝  i’m here for you.  ❞

❝  let me help with that.  ❞

❝  i’m here.  ❞

❝  nothing’s gonna hurt you.  ❞

❝  if they do it again, you tell me.  ❞

❝  i’ll protect you. ❞

❝  i’ll make sure nothing bad happens to you.  ❞

❝  let me take a look…  ❞

❝  i’m a phone call away.  ❞

❝  you should have called me.  ❞

❝  here, sleep.  ❞

❝  if you wanna talk, i’m here.  ❞

❝  hey, shh, it’s okay.  ❞

❝  i’ll never let you go.  ❞

❝  you’re with me now.  ❞

❝  nothing’s gonna take you from my side.  ❞

❝  i’ll do what i have to.  ❞

❝  i need you to stay here, okay? i got this.  ❞

❝  it’s safe here.  ❞

❝  i’m fine, let me see your face.  ❞