kaveh has a side job on top of being an architect because of debt (of course), and he is there to check on this old lady's shower/bath unit because there was a request to get her bathroom remodeled due to her difficulty bathing herself. so he goes to check the layout, make notes and plans, and ask the old woman's caretaker what are her exact needs.

when he arrives to do the work, he only finds the old lady and no caretaker. the old woman explained that her grandson had an issue at the last minute at work, so he wanted to reschedule the appointment. she is just so kind and sweet. kaveh sticks to the appointment and ends up helping her get around her home, and he does his job, patiently answering all her questions. it's a labor kaveh is more than willing to help her with. he enjoys talking with her and is determined to improve her living situation in any way he can. even plans to expedite the work because bathing is a basic human right, and this sweet woman deserves only the best.

grandma realizes how late it's gotten since most of the time was spent chatting amicably and swapping stories; just as kaveh concludes the work, she insists she serves him dinner since she took up most of his time. kaveh is put on the spot and tells the sweet old lady she doesn't have to.

suddenly, the room is silent when his stomach betrays him, making the loudest obnoxious grumble. granny chuckles. "oh my!"

kaveh puts his head in his hands and curses his luck for inconveniencing this sweet old lady.

she pats him, directs him to sit down, and she'll heat some seasoned flatbread.

kaveh sits awkwardly stiff at the dinner table, cursing himself to oblivion. he feels so shameless being in this situation. it isn't until he's hit with the aromas of the heating food from the kitchen that he's slowly reconsidering the shame he feels. kaveh, can't remember when he last had a proper meal that wasn't stale bread and mayonnaise. no, no, this isn't right. he shouldn't be taking advantage of an old woman's hospitality and kindness. he's a complete stranger in a sweet old lady's home, and to top it off, she's a client! utterly shameless kaveh!

just as kaveh resolves to speak up and escape, the old lady emerges from the kitchen carrying a heavy tray of plates and pottery, moving unsteadily and slowly towards the table. kaveh lurches out of the chair and swiftly moves over to help her and ensure she doesn't hurt herself. But that was a mistake because now his nose is directly over the wafting mouthwatering food, and kaveh's previous resolve crumbles.

the old lady thanks him and says his noble actions reward him with dessert.

alhaitham walks in just as kaveh is making a perfect imitation of a squirrel having his mouth stuffed with baklava (granny makes it especially for alhaitham because it's his favorite)

THAT’S MY DESSERT YOU’RE EATING (alhaitham, childish, probably)

OH HUSH I MADE MORE (granny, pulling her grandchild’s ear, most likely)

alhaitham is wary and insists kaveh finishes his meal and LEAVES.

ALHAITHAM IS NOT HAPPY THAT THIS STRANGER IS HERE SITTING BESIDE HIS GRANNY, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HER (he's very protective and possessive of his frail grandmother and seeing a stranger in the apartment with her would set off several alarms in his head) NO MATTER HOW ATTRACTIVE HE IS!

No granny loves kaveh. she wants him to stay longer [friggin granny, we all know what you're up to]. now that alhaitham is here, they eventually sit and chat, with tea in hand, about the project and lay out the details.

kaveh bids granny farewell. she gives him a big, long hug (kaveh tries very hard not to cry because he really needs a loving parental figure in his life), and she smooches several kisses on his cheeks, calls him a delight, and she's more than happy to work with him.

alhaitham walks kaveh out. ahh, kaveh sighs contently with a full belly and an even fuller heart until alhaitham unloads the biggest of all threats “i don't know what you're planning but don't try anything with my grandma”

kaveh is stunned in fear and shock. if he thought this gorgeous man was intimidating, alhaitham turned it up to 1,000 and showed the poor architect a very lethal side of him.

how the fuck are they related? sweet old lady vs scary intimidating, gorgeous man dressed in black and leather. oh and alhaitham rides a motorcycle. its an advantage to getting to his grandma quicker especially commuting in a big city.

kaveh tells him too bad, i got assigned this project and you'll be seeing this pretty face often! mweh 🤪

alhaitham smirks, taking those words as a challenge. kaveh DOES NOT swoon!

they do see each other more frequently but alhaitham is now a present hovering specter that won't let kaveh be alone with his granny in any room.

even though the plans are finished, kaveh often visits and checks the progress throughout the months. alhaitham reminds him he doesn't have to be here but granny insists. (kaveh: “you don't want to break your grandmother's heart do you? she loves me! admit it! im her favorite!” nearly incoherent with his mouth stuffed with more baklava)

construction workers come one day to do the work and alhaitham isn't there at the time. granny trips and falls on one of the tools. workers call their company in a panic and kaveh happens to overhear. he drops everything and rushes through traffic to reach her at the hospital. he’s made sure alhaitham was already informed but he curses himself for not getting that gorgeous man’s cell number. when kaveh arrives, he’s relieved to see that she sustained minor injuries: a bloody nose and bruised shoulder. no head wounds or broken anything.

alhaitham arrives later, out of breath and so very frightened. kaveh sees a very gentle side of him as he checks on his grandmother and clings to her bedside. he cups her sweet face checking on her bruised eyes and bandaged nose. alhaitham is acting like a child that wants to keep his most precious treasure in his hands like a secret only meant for him to keep. with a sting to his heart kaveh realizes he’s intruding and no longer needed. silently he slips out of her hospital room.

alhaitham follows him out and humbly thanks kaveh. for all the time kaveh has been in alhaitham’s frustrating presence, he's still so terribly petrified and shaken up that kaveh is compelled to do the one thing he recently got addicted to: big hugs from granny.

so he provides that for alhaitham and he completely melts into kaveh's secure embrace. they eventually break off when kaveh has to leave. alhaitham returns to his granny's side who was watching them the whole time.

AND THEN THERE WAS WORLD-BUILDING:

alhaitham has massive trust issues. the system has tried to screw them over many times and history of society being heartless and taking advantage of his grandmother’s kindness.

kaveh says “hello, that's my life in a nutshell too! but i have morals!”

alhaitham: yeah, i can see why you're so often swindled

kaveh: offended noises

alhaitham works as a government employee despite his hate for politics and lives a few blocks away from his grandmother. he can barely afford his apartment, so he rooms with cyno (an ex-turned-friend).

grandma has a spare room that alhaitham sometimes uses. still, because of their strict senior housing contract with her apartment building, he tries to avoid staying overnight too often despite how much he would love to live with his grandmother. so he makes sure not to leave any of his personal belongings or clothing there for the occasional surprise visitation from government agents to find when they check in on her.

granny doesn't live in senior housing with all the amenities and 24-hour service and care that alhaitham would love for her to have. he makes too much for this program but very little to provide for both of them, and she doesn't get much either from gov aid.

so everyone is financially struggling.

when the work is complete, alhaitham and his grandmother show their gratitude and appreciation with a big feast of homemade delicacies that remind kaveh of his country and youth. his stomach and heart haven’t stopped feeling full to bursting. grandma still maintains communication with kaveh even after his contract ends with her. alhaitham continues to walk into his grandmother’s home to find kaveh and granny gossiping over tea and candied nuts. wait, are those alhaitham’s baby pictures?

kaveh and alhaitham start seeing each other more, inviting each other out to eat on lazy sundays. they share a few passionate kisses when they’re both breathless, from a scenic motorcycle ride into the mountains to star gaze. they eventually start dating after granny tells alhaitham that messaging each other every day is technically dating.

kaveh one time tried to make out with alhaitham in granny's home until alhaitham threatened to cut off kaveh's balls if he dared to touch him there. kaveh gets cockblocked in grandma's home when he just wants a peek and a squeeze and one little smooch. c'mon, haichan, don't be a prude. granny has a stash of little sweaters and wants great-grandkids [self-insert as granny].

cyno, who works full time as head of security at the history museum, has been romancing tighnari, an exhausted single father working in the city’s arboretum next door. cyno and kaveh have bonded as they lament their severe insomnia together. both night owls stay up at ungodly hours due to work and pass the time playing tcg or have discussed at length how they’ve both made alhaitham scream and cream. cyno enjoys and approves of kaveh for alhaitham, mainly because he can earn a quick buck with kaveh losing so often at tcg and demanding rematches.

cyno eventually moves out to live with tighnari and his daughter. alhaitham doesn’t have to worry about finding a roommate because now he has kaveh and, more importantly, he has more space. alhaitham makes kaveh construct built-in bookshelves lining the walls for him, kaveh needs room for his drafting table, and granny wants a crib.

kaveh can't say no to his cute, sweet old granny who already shows him the chest of little hand-knit sweaters and onesies.