Archive of Our Own ^beta

Cyno was never late.

Usually, he was right on time. If Tighnari said noon, Cyno was there exactly at noon. If he said to visit him and Collei at dinnertime, Cyno would arrive as soon as the dishes were served. Never early nor late, always on the dot. It was quite an impressive feat he and Collei would joke about.

The first time Cyno was late to lunch, Tighnari figured he was busy with work. He was the General Mahamatra - a busy man with lots of things to do. Besides, he showed up only ten minutes later. He was wearing a large, black cape that covered his entire body, with his hood up. Tighnari would’ve mistaken him for a seedy pickpocketer if it weren’t for the jackal ears poking straight up from the hoodie.

“What’s with that look?” Tighnari asked, “You look like a stalker.”

He didn’t expect Cyno to take his tease so seriously. He expected Cyno to bounce back and insult him, but the exact opposite happened. Instead of returning the quip and making fun of him, Tighnari watched crimson eyes widen as he looked down at himself.

“Do I?” He sounded concerned. Maybe even a little bit worried.

“Just a bit,” Tighnari said in some attempt to soften the blow, “Besides, no stalker would wear a hood with huge ears like that. It’s too obvious that it’s you.”

“You can tell it’s me?” Cyno said, alarmed.

“Cyno,” Tighnari said seriously, gesturing at the jackal ears, “Who else would wear that?”

He no longer looked surprised by Tighnari’s observation. His cheeks went slightly redder and he couldn’t meet Tighnari’s gaze. Cyno opted to stare down into his lap, begging one question in his mind.

Was Cyno flustered?

He swallowed a laugh. Was the General Mahamatra, respected and equally feared by most, actually blushing right now? Tighnari should take a picture. He could only imagine the people who have seen Cyno like this were very few and far between. He felt a small surge of pride at the fact that he was one of them.

“Cheer up, Cyno,” Tighnari could hear the grin in his voice, and there was no doubt that Cyno did too, “Besides, what are you sneaking around like that for? If you’re tailing some criminals, it definitely won’t work dressed like that.”

“I’m not on the job,” Cyno said as he began looking through the menu. An unnecessary action, considering it was a page long and they’d been there so many times before Tighnari was sure they were recognised on the spot and their usuals were already being cooked in the kitchen. But Tighnari digressed, he would let Cyno in all his embarrassment over such a simple question and pretend like he would order something that wasn’t the tahchin.

“Then what are you doing?”

It took a moment for Cyno to respond to that. He must be so intrigued by this menu that hadn’t changed since they first came to the restaurant all those years ago.

“... I’ve been going to the Zubayr Theatre in my spare time.”

“Zubayr Theatre?” Tighnari repeated, “I didn’t know you were a fan of the arts.”

“It’s… nice,” his words were hesitant and methodical - Cyno was being strangely careful with what he revealed to him. It was weird. No offence to him, but since when did he think so much? Especially in such casual conversation.

Tighnari should question him. Cyno was his dearest friend and his behaviour and demeanour confused him. He was always a bit mysterious about his work (unless they got him drunk enough, but Cyno was good with his liquor), but he said himself that this wasn’t General Mahamatra stuff. This was Cyno stuff. And Cyno stuff consisted of bad jokes that made Tighnari want to die and Genius Invokation TCG, which was very far from the creative liberties of the Zubayr Theatre.

Unless Cyno suddenly took up an interest in acting. He wouldn’t do that… right? Archons, Tighnari couldn’t think of anyone else more terribly fitted to be an actor. He would kill the audience out of boredom.

“You weren’t waiting for me that long, were you?” Cyno asked. Perceptive as always - he must have noticed Tighnari’s perplexion and changed the subject. Perhaps for the better of both of them, as Cyno finally put the menu down and Tighnari didn’t have to stress about Cyno trying to become an actor.

“No, not at all.” He would let Cyno have this. He wasn’t sure what was going on at Zubayr Theatre, but chances were Cyno wasn’t trying to become an actor, and instead was simply undercover and couldn’t tell Tighnari anything. It made the most sense, anyway.

So every time after that when Cyno was late and cited Zubayr Theatre as his reason, Tighnari accepted it. Even if he was a bit salty that their time together was being cut shorter and shorter, he let it go. It was clear Cyno refused to give any more explanation past the fact that he was at Zubayr Theatre, so Tighnari never pushed it. At least Cyno still came around now and then and spent afternoons and evenings with him. He’d never admit it to Cyno’s face, lest Cyno not feel the same way, but he always anticipated and treasured their time alone together quite a bit. Even if Cyno filled up the air with the worst jokes he’d ever heard, he could always relax and smile (but never laugh, he couldn’t let Cyno know he found any pun funny) with him.

❋❋❋

Cyno was late. Again.

It was a terrible lunch to be late for, too. Collei just returned from Mondstadt, and she was super excited to make them pita pockets with a barbecue sauce Amber and Eula helped her make. She was humming a Mondstadt song he didn’t recognise as she chopped the tomatoes, smiling and pushing him away any time he offered help, and gossiping about what was going on in Mondstadt as she put everything she prepared in the pita.

The clock struck noon just as Collei set a plate in front of Tighnari.

“Should we wait for Cyno?” She asked as she sat down.

“He’s been late more and more often these days,” Tighnari muttered bitterly.

“He’s been late to see you, too?” Collei asked, surprised, “I thought it was just me!”

“Nope, you’re not alone. Just a few weeks ago, Kaveh invited us all to dinner at his and Alhaitham’s and Cyno turned up an hour late.” The food was good, their house was nice, and Tighnari enjoyed Kaveh and Alhaitham’s company, but sometimes he needed Cyno to cope with the two.

All Tighnari did was point at one item (some decor that was too irrelevant for him to remember) and say it looked a bit funny and Kaveh was at it. He went on and on and on to Alhaitham about how it was so ugly and ruined the design of the house and then Alhaitham pointed out that Kaveh was actually the one who drunkenly bought it and Alhaitham just thought it was a waste to store away so he put it on the shelf but then Kaveh said something else and that argument lasted until Cyno arrived a full hour later.

“A full hour?” Collei exclaimed. She took a bite from her pita pocket (so much for waiting for Cyno). “And I thought him being twenty minutes late to play TCG with me was weird.”

“He was late to a TCG match?” He knew Cyno was preoccupied with something but what could be making him late for a TCG match? He’d seen that nerd spend a million mora on a limited edition card. When he heard about that purchase he began scratching his head - Tighnari had never even seen Cyno use the damn card. It stayed in a plastic pocket on display in his house. What on Earth was barring him from his favourite hobby?

“Maybe he’s in a secret relationship,” Collei mused, a smile slowly spreading across her cheeks, “Can you imagine that? Cyno being all romantic?”

He couldn’t. Well, he could, it just didn’t feel right. A mystery person, receiving flowers and chocolates and jewellery from Cyno was feasible, he supposed. If he ignored the bitter taste in his mouth from the thought of it and the dread in his stomach, he guessed that maybe there could be a romantic bone in Cyno’s body.

Yet the idea of Cyno walking around Sumeru City at night, holding someone else’s hand, just felt strange. The simple imagery of it, of what should be an exciting scene for his friend, made Tighnari’s own hands sweaty. Something about that made his heart freeze and his head hurt. He should be happy, or at least, interested in that idea, right? If he were Kaveh, he’d laugh and poke fun at Cyno, before inevitably wishing him the best in any romantic endeavours (despite Cyno not even being present). Alhaitham would lift his eyebrows in interest but might remain uninterested. Right now, he could see the gears in Collei’s brain moving as she thought about what a disaster Cyno would be. Weird feelings like the one he was having must be unfounded.

Maybe not completely. Surely Tighnari, as his friend, had a right to be a little upset if Cyno stopped joining him and Collei for dinner as often. Thinking about future evenings without his presence, knowing he was accompanying someone else, sparked a dull ache in his chest.

A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts.

“Cyno!” Collei exclaimed as she opened the door.

The man of the hour was finally there. Only fifteen minutes late, Tighnari noted as he glanced at the clock. That was pretty impressive given his newfound fondness for tardiness.

“Only fifteen minutes late,” he commented, turning around to see Cyno. Ever since Tighnari first pointed out how Cyno’s cape made him look stalkerish and also made it obvious who he was, he hadn’t seen him wear it. Instead, Cyno wore his usual clothing, just without the jackal headdress. He looked less intimidating without it. “Collei made pita pockets for us.”

“You’re usually right on time, Cyno,” that mischievous grin was pulling Collei’s lips up, and she was desperately trying to hide it as she continued, “What kept you?”

“I was at the market,” Cyno explained simply, taking a seat next to Tighnari.

“You’re empty-handed,” Tighnari pointed out.

“I wasn’t very successful.”

Collei sat back down, excitedly telling him about her stay in Mondstadt. Initially, Tighnari thought the reason why she begged him to invite Cyno was so he could taste-test her new and improved Forest Ranger barbecue sauce. As she ranted about her adventures, her second pita pocket untouched, it was clear that her true motive was to be able to repeat all the things she told Tighnari. Cyno was a captive audience, and Tighnari would usually fish him out of these situations. However, Cyno left him for a full hour with Kaveh and Alhaitham (to reiterate, Tighnari liked them but they could get snappy with each other), and he was late today, so he ought to sit there and listen. Maybe Tighnari would quiz him when Collei finished.

“It’s a pita me and Tighnari weren’t able to join you.”

“How long were you holding that in for?” Tighnari mumbled. He thought the afternoon was too early for wine, but he forgot how fond Cyno was of puns at the table.

“I think you mean ‘how long did I have that one in my pocket?’”

Tighnari stared at him.

“Because Collei made us pita pockets for lunch,” when neither Tighnari or Collei responded, he continued, “You can use the phrase ‘in my pocket’ to refer to-”

“We know, Cyno,” Collei said as politely as possible. Which was not very polite at all - her voice was flat and Tighnari could hear a hint of exasperation behind it.

Tighnari let Cyno and Collei continue talking as he grabbed their plates and put them in the sink. Turning on the tap, he let the cool water wash over his hands, and the desire to strangle Cyno floating away with it.

“Hey.”

Tighnari jumped, dropping the plate he was rinsing. Turning around, Cyno stood there, crimson eyes boring into his.

“I came late, so allow me to do that,” allow was the wrong word, considering Cyno gently pushed him aside and began doing the dishes for him.

“It’s alright, you’re the guest-”

“No, I was late. I’m doing the dishes,” Cyno demanded. Tighnari wasn’t sure if Cyno noticed it, but he had two distinct voices for everyday matters and General Mahamatra matters. The latter of which commanded respect from anyone within earshot - the sharpness and seriousness was hard to rebel against. He must feel really bad about being late if he was using his General Mahamatra tone for something as simple as dirty dishes. Or maybe Cyno really enjoyed washing plates. Whatever it was, Tighnari suppressed a shiver and went to sit back down where Collei loudly sipped on an imported juice from Mondstadt.

“Wait,” Cyno said. Archons, did he really need to use that voice in casual situations? Tighnari almost flinched just from hearing it.

“Regretting washing the dishes already?” Tighnari teased.

Cyno chuckled a bit, looking down at the sink as he scrubbed an already quite clean plate even cleaner.

“If I wanted to buy flowers, what flowers should I get?”

Tighnari didn’t know what he expected Cyno to say, but it certainly wasn’t that. He stared at him, trying to gauge whether or not Cyno was real and if Cyno truly asked that question. It looked like Cyno. Despite Cyno’s refusal to meet his eyes (he was very invested in wiping down a fork), it looked like him. Same hair, same eyes, same everything. It sounded like Cyno, too - though, there was an uncharacteristic shyness in his voice. Tighari heard the smallest, almost undetectable waver when he asked that question.

“You want… flowers?” Tighnari had to ask.

“To liven up my house.”

“You’ve killed a cactus.”

“Well, I’ve turned over a new leaf.”

“You’ve even killed a succulent. You have a terrible resume for keeping plants alive.”

“Tighnari, just answer the question,” with tense shoulders, Cyno put aside the last plate and finally looked at Tighnari. It wasn’t desperation he could sense in those blood-red eyes, though the crossed arms made it seem so. No, it was pleading. Cyno wanted advice, and he wanted it from him.

Distantly, he remembered the secret romance Collei suggested. He hated the fact she brought that idea up - that possibility coming to fruition made him wildly uncomfortable. And with the way Cyno was acting currently, his initial judgement of brushing her idea off was looking ill-founded. This entire situation felt so deeply wrong, that ache in his chest was back again, but at the same time, Cyno was looking at him with such big eyes that -

“What kind of flowers do you want?” Tighnari relented. He’d deal with whatever sickness was plaguing him after he got this matter sorted.

“Um,” Cyno thought for a second, “Pretty ones.”

“Cyno, you realise how little that narrows the scope, right?”

“I’m asking you for a reason!”

“Fine, fine,” pretty ones? Tighnari could walk outside and make a bouquet for him that second. “Padisarahs are quite pretty. Hard to keep alive though. You’ll kill them within a day.”

“Padisarah,” Cyno mumbled under his breath.

“Sumeru roses are nice, but everyone has them in their house. Or you could be super fancy and get something from Mondstadt or something. Collei brought a few winderwheel aster seeds, so if you feel like becoming a gardener you could grow those, but you’ll have to ask Collei first-”

“Padisarah’s are in tahchin, right?”

“Yeah, are you planning on eating the flowers? Because you can just, y’know, grow your own vegetables if you’re that hungry.”

“... They’re pretty.”

Where is he in this conversation? Tighnari wondered. Cyno was looking in his direction, but his gaze was fixed on something far away. He was completely in his own world, thinking about flowers.

“Padisarah, right?” Cyno snapped back to reality, finally meeting his eye.

“Yep, that’s the name.”

“Noted.”

He should ask, shouldn’t he? Tighnari was sure Cyno was fully aware that Tighnari knew he wasn’t going to buy flowers to make his house look pretty. Though he knew Kaveh once gave him a long talk about how he could improve his interior decor, Kaveh was also very aware that Cyno was a mass plant killer and wouldn’t go so far as to prescribe him plants to brighten up his living space. With Collei’s suggestion in the forefront of his brain, he couldn’t help but wonder if this really was some secret romance. Was Cyno courting someone?

The proposal alone had Tighnari’s chest compressing, squeezing around his heart. Those late nights they spent studying at the Akademiya, the meals they ate together, the evenings with Kaveh and Alhaitham, meeting up to talk about Collei - that satisfied him. He was happy with Cyno’s company.

He hated the idea of those moments being ripped away from him. Tighnari was content with life how it was. Perhaps Cyno wasn’t.

Maybe Cyno wanted something else. Someone else.

Tighnari didn’t even notice when Cyno walked out the door, still mumbling ‘padisarah’ over and over again.

❋❋❋

Tighnari wasn’t meant to be out this late, but in his defence, he didn’t know Collei wanted to buy something too.

All he needed was a few groceries, but Collei begged him to pass by a couple more stores. He didn’t mind - she had been working hard, after all. She was looking for a specific book by someone named Zhenyu. It was popular in Inazuma, but less known in Sumeru, so they had a bit of trouble finding it. If he’d known it would take that long, he would’ve left earlier. It took them exhausting every book vendor in the city and a chance meeting with Alhaitham, who happened to be buying wine nearby, for Collei to get her book.

“A Legend of Swords?” Alhaitham asked.

“Mhm. We’ve been looking for it for ages now,” Tighnari confirmed.

“I’ve got it at home,” Alhaitham said, turning to face Collei, “I could lend it to you if you want?”

Collei nodded quickly.

“Alright, let me buy a crate first. Help me bring it back and I’ll give the book to you. Kaveh will want to say hi, anyway.”

Though he was tired, he and Collei did not search ten different stalls for this book to deny that opportunity. With Alhaitham carrying one side and Tighnari holding the other, they walked up to Alhaitham and Kaveh’s house. At one point, a tired Collei sat on the wine box as they carried it. One second of Tighnari pretending to let go of his end and Collei was suddenly back on her feet.

He was relieved when they made it to the doorstep and Kaveh opened the door, a surprised look quickly replaced by a grin as he saw Tighnari and Collei.

“What are you two doing here?” He asked as he ushered them in, leaving Alhaitham to bring the box of wine in by himself. Tighnari wondered if Kaveh purposely closed the door in his roommate's face or if he just didn’t notice it slowly closing.

“Alhaitham offered to lend Collei a book,” Tighnari explained, rubbing his hand, “A Legend of Swords.”

“Mm,” Kaveh began busying himself at a bookshelf, skimming through the spines until he pulled one out, “By Zhenyu?”

“Yes! That’s the one!”

As Kaveh passed Collei the book, Alhaitham pushed past him with the wine.

“Alhaitham!” Kaveh barked, “You’re meant to tell me if you’re bringing back guests! I would’ve made dinner for more than two!”

“Oh, it’s okay, we’re just leaving-” Collei began.

“I can’t see into the future, Kaveh. But if I did, I wouldn’t tell you anyway.”

“Why not?”

“Because they’re already gone,” Alhaitham pointed at the empty hallway.

“... Oh.”

“To be fair, it’s already dark outside,” Alhaitham walked over to the stove, “What’d you make for dinner?”

“Don’t change the subject. You’re still meant to tell me when you’re bringing someone over,” and after a moment, under his breath, he answered, “I made us fatteh.”

Tighnari didn’t want to leave Alhaitham and Kaveh without a goodbye, but if Kaveh even got so far as to let them sit down, there was no telling how long they would’ve stayed. He adored his friend’s hospitality, but Tighnari had a bed he wanted to be asleep in already. He’d apologise with a drink on him the next time he saw Kaveh.

Collei read the blurb of the book under the moonlight as they walked through the city. No matter how many times Tighnari told her that trying to read a book using the stars as a light source was bad for her eyes, she was too excited to listen to him.

“Just hold on a sec,” Collei said, pausing under a streetlamp so she could read a page.

He sighed to make his enervation clear, but he still waited next to her. He let his eyes roam. Sumeru City was beautiful at night. The warm yellow of the streetlight gently illuminated the stone pathways, the cold moonlight reflecting off the man-made buildings surrounding them. Only a few others were walking by - it was a weekday, so most people were at home resting. A man was trying to barter with a vendor, as a small family passed them, laughing loudly as they ate street food. A couple was sitting on a bench, arms around each other, giggling at nothing, while a white-haired man slipped by them and snuck into the theatre.

Tighnari did a double take. He was gone now, but he was so certain that it was him.

“... Cyno?”

“Isn’t he in the desert?”

“He should be,” Tighnari muttered. Cyno mentioned something was going on in Aaru Village and he would likely be there for a few days. But at the same time, Tighnari swore that was Cyno. They’d been friends for years, surely he could recognise him at the smallest glance.

“Wait here,” Tighnari said, “I’ll be back really quick.”

“Got it.”

Zubayr Theatre was dark and lonely at this time of night. Usually, it was packed from midday to midnight, but it seemed they closed early today. Tighnari didn’t mind - he wasn’t a theatre person and these circumstances made it easy for him to slink in undetected.

“You made it! I thought you weren’t coming.”

The voice belonged to a girl. Her voice was soft and kind, reminiscent of a lullaby. He recognised her on instinct - they didn’t talk often but he knew it was Nilou. With a voice as sweet as sugar, how could he forget it?

“Candace and Dehya are taking care of it. I trust that they’ll fix the issue.”

Tighnari’s breath hitched. Cyno.

Quietly, he approached forward, not letting a single inch of him be touched by the dim stage lights leaking through the entryway. Crouching down, Tighnari peaked from behind the wall.

Nilou was crouched down on the stage, the veiled headdress she was known for abandoned somewhere he couldn’t see. Instead, a padisarah was tucked behind her ear. The twin tails she usually sported were gone, allowing her long hair to flow like waterfalls onto her back.

“You’re lucky I convinced them to close early today,” Nilou said. Her voice, though always saccharine, was filled with such affection that Tighnari felt endeared to her.

“You’re lucky I got off work,” Cyno replied. Had he ever sounded so soft? When he spoke, he always carried a tone of seriousness with him. At this moment, it had completely disappeared, leaving behind a vulnerability he’d never heard from him before. Cyno stared up at her like she was an angel, the hard crimson eyes Tighnari was familiar with seeming more akin to a dusky red to her ocean blue.

It made something burn inside of him.

Nilou stood up and stretched, a big smile on her cheeks already. It was a dire contrast to Cyno’s near stoic expression, though Tighnari couldn’t ignore the way his body relaxed as Cyno put down his spear and sat down at a seat.

“What are you doing? Get up, get up! I’m not dancing alone tonight.”

Cyno looked around, confusion marring his features.

“I’m the only one here…?”

Nilou laughed. It was like a burst of sunlight on a cloudy day, a rainbow in a rainstorm. (To his annoyance) Tighnari understood why Cyno was completely captivated by her laughter, to the point it took him a few seconds too much to understand what she was saying.

“You want me to dance with you?”

Nilou nodded, “Bingo!”

“I’m not a dancer-”

“Well, you’re a fighter, aren’t you?” Nilou asked, tilting her head to the side, “I’ve heard about the General Mahamatra’s agility in battle. This won’t be too different.”

“I beg to differ-”

“Don’t beg to anything unless you’ve tried it,” she put both hands on her hips and pouted, “Please?”

Cyno hesitated. His eyes flickered to every corner of the theatre (Tighnari had to hide in the shadows again to make sure he wasn’t seen) before he sighed. Nilou offered her hand to help him onto the stage, and Tighnari swore he saw Cyno’s cheeks go a little red as he accepted her hand.

“Okay!” Nilou led him by the hand to the centre of the stage, beaming with excitement. As soon as she got him into position, she made a pose and he mimicked it. She said something Tighnari couldn’t hear and slipped into a matching pose. She stood in front of him, arms up in the air, while Cyno’s hand hovered right above her waist. He couldn’t hear them anymore, but he could sense Nilou’s delight at Cyno’s obedience.

Tighnari wondered if she could tell how embarrassed he was. He was uncharacteristically rigid with all his movements, panicking every time she touched him to show him how to move next, and couldn’t even meet her eyes. Yet he still danced. Perhaps Nilou’s electric energy spurred him on to listen to her, despite how bad he was at it. Or maybe it was because every time red met blue, Nilou gave him a comforting smile. Maybe he didn’t mind being pushed out of his comfort zone if she was there to (literally, in this case) hold his hand.

Cyno must really like her.

It was obvious from watching them. The way Cyno perked up every time she directed him with her hands, the way he so keenly listened to her every word, the way he softened over time, the agility from his fighting finally showing through his movements.

After a successful twirl, Nilou plucked the padisarah from her hair and tucked it into Cyno’s.

Until then, Tighnari felt trapped - he couldn’t escape the scene unfolding in front of him, he could only watch in awe as Cyno slowly unfurled in her grasp. But something about that particular moment snapped him out of it. With drooping shoulders and a crushing sensation in his chest, Tighnari’s gaze locked onto a rock. He could throw it and ruin their lovey-dovey scene. Or he could walk in unannounced, surprised at their close embrace.

Or, he could go home with Collei who was waiting outside.

Tighnari almost picked up the rock. Sorrow had him staring at it, resentment had him planning it. All he needed to do was make a sound or scare the two.

But what would that achieve in the long run? Nothing. Besides, if Cyno discovered he was here and watching - well, Tighnari didn’t know what would happen. But he couldn’t stomach the idea of the last lunch they had together being their last.

Tighnari left as quietly as he entered, letting the two lovers dance in the pale moonlight.

❋❋❋

The feared General Mahamatra and the red-haired beauty of Zubayr Theatre getting together was big news in Sumeru. With wildly different reputations and appearances, how could they not get attention for dating each other? Though, Tighnari would admit, it felt like celebrity gossip.

“Do you think he’s a romantic at heart?”

“Opposites really do attract!”

“What did that girl do to win him over?”

“I saw them in the market yesterday! They were so cute!”

Cyno wasn’t even the one to break the news to him. Though Tighnari already knew, he was hoping his friend would at least do the honours of telling him. Instead, it was Collei who burst into his study to tell him about it.

“Collei, I’m working-”

“Cyno and Nilou are together!”

Tighnari turned his chair around for that.

“Did Cyno tell you that?” He crossed his fingers behind his back. Perhaps the two were just seen in a restaurant together and everyone jumped the gun.

“Well, not exactly,” Collei admitted, “but I heard it from Kaveh! And Kaveh heard it from Alhaitham who I think heard it from Dehya.”

“Interesting,” so not only was Cyno dating Nilou, but that news had to come to him through a pipeline of four other people.

He checked the date. A week ago, Kaveh invited them to have dinner at a tavern tonight. He promised to pay, but Tighnari and Cyno made a bet. Cyno bet 100 mora that the full bill would be paid by Alhaitham, whereas Tighnari bet that Kaveh finally scrounged up enough money to treat his friends, and would pay half of the bill (the other half, of course, being paid by Alhaitham). Cyno had to turn up, and he was going to pay him 100 mora by the end of the night.

Usually, Tighnari was excited for nights with the other three. He had fun with them. But part of him also dreaded knowing that Cyno and Nilou’s relationship was certainly going to be the main topic of conversation.

A bottle of wine made a thunk noise as the waiter put it on their table, but that noise was drowned out by the chatter of the surrounding people. It was a full house - every single chair was occupied by another group of friends, and it filled the tavern with high spirits. With the joyful ruckus and the amount of wine Tighnari had seen being distributed to the tables, it seemed everybody was celebrating something.

Kaveh wasted no time pouring everyone a cup of wine.

“So, how have you guys been?” Kaveh asked, taking a sip.

“I’ve been well, but some of the villagers have fallen ill,” Tighnari mentioned, sipping his wine. Kaveh must have ordered it. It was a velvet red, and a bit cherry-like, “So none of you are allowed to take my food, or else you might get sick too.”

That last part was aimed mostly at Kaveh, the main perpetrator of stealing bites from other people’s dishes. Kaveh smiled in embarrassment, leaning back in his chair as he mumbled something along the lines of promising not to this time.

“That applies to you two, too,” Tighnari threw both Cyno and Alhaitham a glare.

While they didn’t take bites as often as Kaveh did, they still did it as well. Their methods were different, though. Tighnari didn’t understand why they didn’t ask him directly like Kaveh - he would’ve given it to them if they asked. Instead, Alhaitham opted to wait for Kaveh to take Tighnari’s food and eat it right off his spoon, earning him a scolding right then and there. Cyno thought the best course of action was to point behind Tighnari, say “Collei, what are you doing here?” and then steal from him. He wasn’t sure if Cyno had caught on yet that he knew Collei was never actually there, and was just turning around to allow him to take what he wanted from his plate.

“And you, Cyno?” There was a hint of interest in Kaveh’s voice as he leaned forward and rested his cheek on his fist. He smiled innocently, as if that would disguise the very clear motive of wanting to know more about his friend’s relationship.

“No sick people in Aaru Village, so I’ve been doing better than Tighnari.”

“Well, what about your life here? How’s that going?”

“I went to the market yesterday.”

“With anyone special?”

Cyno stared at him, eyes hardened with suspicion, before he sighed, fingers flexing around his glass of wine. “... You want to ask about Nilou.”

Tighnari gulped his wine as Kaveh threw his hands up, declaring, “Of course I want to talk about Nilou! Everyone was talking about it today and it was driving me mad,” he waved his fork around to emphasise this point, almost hitting Alhaitham in the cheek. “I had to hear it from him! Him!” He pointed at Alhaitham, this time just missing his eye.

Alhaitham gently pried the fork from Kaveh’s hand, “I’m also curious about it. You and Nilou seem like a random pairing.” He thought for a moment, “No offence.”

“None taken,” Cyno said, bringing the glass to his lips, “Sorry if you wanted to hear it from me, Kaveh. We didn’t mean for it to get out like that.”

We? Tighnari rolled his eyes, opting to look at the tavern door. What a nice, wooden door. He wanted to slam his head into it.

“Well, how did you two get together?” Kaveh’s eyes were twinkling as he asked.

“I asked her out after her last dance of the day,” Cyno spoke nonchalantly, but he refused to make eye contact with anyone on the table, looking down at his drink while he swirled it, “I got her flowers.”

“What kind?”

“Padisarahs,” Cyno finally raised his gaze, looking over to Tighnari, “Tighnari helped me.”

“Tighnari,” Kaveh said, “You’re meant to tell me if Cyno is courting someone! Especially if it’s someone as nice as Nilou!”

“I didn’t know!” If he did know, he wondered, would he have stopped it? If he knew Cyno’s lateness was because he was busy wooing some girl, or that those flowers were for a confession, would Tighnari stop him?

He thought back to that night when Nilou and Cyno danced together, and he did nothing. Tighnari was confronted with their relationship right then and there, and he walked away. So really, it was him to blame for the twisted feeling in his chest and the remorse that ate at his heart. If he stopped him just once, maybe this anguish would be something he only read about and never experienced.

For once, it was Tighnari who was the first to refill his glass at the table. It was usually Kaveh, but he was intrigued by the stories Cyno was spinning. He saw her at the oasis and couldn’t help but watch. After that, he became a frequent audience member at her shows. Nilou noticed him and asked him if he was smiling more often and then one thing led to another and soon he was handing her flowers and now Tighnari was drunk.

It was a bit cute. If he covered his ears and just watched Cyno, he could be having a good time. The stoic man was sheepish, choosing to hide his face with his cup or tilt his headdress down a little more with every new question Kaveh asked. He didn’t ignore the questions though - there was a softness in his voice as he answered that contrasted the sharpness Tighnari was used to. Embarrassed, but happy to talk about her.

Tighnari took another sip. With the amount of wine he drank, he should chip in with the bill.

“Cyno?”

He didn’t miss the way Cyno instantly livened up. Any hint of nonplus dissipated when he turned around and found her standing there, shyly waving. She wore her headdress, and her twin tails, and to Tighnari, she looked standard as usual. She was normally seen in this getup, it was nothing special. But when he turned to see Cyno’s face he had to wonder if there was something he wasn’t seeing. He looked at her with such love, such endearment, that Tighnari felt like he violated their privacy. In one moment, the two had managed to make the loud tavern seem quiet and forge a space for them, where only they mattered. To Kaveh, who cooed as Cyno got out of his seat to greet her, it was very cute. To Tighnari, who felt like he just watched them have sex with eye contact alone, it was very uncomfortable.

Tighnari never thought Cyno as a very physical person before. He’d known him for years, but this felt like the first time he eased into someone else’s touch. The moment Cyno was in Nilou’s reach, she held both of his hands, completely unaware to the fleeting moment of shock on Cyno’s face. She blabbered on about something for only a minute before she let go. She waved at everyone on the table, earning herself a big wave from Kaveh, a nod from Alhaitham, and a forced smile from himself.

“What was that about?” Alhaitham asked.

“She was asking if I wanted to meet up with her after this,” Cyno said. The effect she had on him hadn’t worn off yet. He wasn’t sure if Kaveh or Alhaitham noticed, but the most subtle of blushes darkened his cheeks.

“Did you say yes?” Tighnari questioned.

“Of course.”

Of course, he mocked in his head. “I didn’t know you could be so lovey-dovey,” Tighnari teased.

“... I didn’t know either.”

Tighnari won the bet. Kaveh ended up splitting the bill with Alhaitham. Tighnari and Cyno both offered to dip in, with Cyno going as far as trying to sneakily pay the bill at the counter without anyone else noticing. It didn’t work, as Alhaitham spotted him and dragged him back to the table, chastising him for even trying to do that with him around. Alhaitham basically threw him back into his chair before grabbing Kaveh by the wrist and dragging him to the counter.

While the two roommates paid for their meal, Cyno slipped 100 mora into Tighnari’s hand.

“Can’t believe you were right,” Cyno whispered. Despite the fact Kaveh and Alhaitham were at the counter and couldn’t hear them, let alone see them, Tighnari chose to humour Cyno and whispered back, “Of course I’m right. When have I ever been wrong about this?”

“You must be cheating somehow.”

“My gut is simply superior.”

“You’re just gut-ting lucky,” Cyno quipped.

Tighnari laughed, and Cyno’s eyebrows raised as he looked at him up and down, “You really are drunk. You never laugh at my jokes.”

“The wine was good tonight.”

“Well,” Cyno drank the last few drops of wine in his glass, “We’re partners in wine now.”

Tighnari rolled his eyes. “I’m drunk, but not that drunk yet. That was terrible.”

Alhaitham came back to their table. “We’ve paid. Let’s go.”

It was colder than Tighnari anticipated outside. Alhaitham, however, must have anticipated the drop in temperature, as he brought out a jacket for him and Kaveh. He put his on before draping the other jacket over Kaveh’s shoulders.

“We’ll go now. I’ll see you two another time,” Alhaitham said, leading a drunk Kaveh back to their home. He was stumbling and giggling, so Alhaitham ended up holding his hand to guide him back.

“I’ll never understand what’s going on between those two,” Cyno said.

“I don’t think they do, either.”

Cyno hummed in agreement, gaze fixed on the moon. It was a full moon that night, and it lit up the city with dim white light, just enough for Tighnari to take in the sight before him. Cyno stood there, unknowingly doused in moonlight in such a way that the most beautiful of muses could not compare. It outlined the perfect curves of his body, highlighting the lushness of his hair, bringing out those carmine eyes Tighnari was so used to.

The world stopped just for a second, giving Tighnari the time he needed to be enthralled, to be captivated, to want more.

Cyno turned to look at him. “Nilou’s waiting for me at the theatre.”

Ah. Nilou.

Was that moment, where he drank in Cyno’s entire being, what he felt those few hours ago? When Nilou walked into the tavern just for him, did Cyno feel completely enchanted at her hands? With the warm golden light making her headdress shimmer, her ocean blue eyes a stark contrast to the busy environment around them, did she make him feel this way?

“You love her a lot, don’t you?”

Cyno did not hesitate. “Yes, I do.”

It was Tighnari’s turn to look up at the moon. “She’s beautiful.”

“That’s an understatement,” Cyno said, “She’s everything.”

Everything? How was he ever going to compete with that? He looked back at Cyno, who was smiling. He never did that. Here and there Tighnari would catch a small glimpse of it, but now? He was beaming. Unapologetically happy just because he got to talk a bit about her.

Cyno had to go. He had to leave and see her, before Tighnari did something stupid.

“Tighnari? Are you alright?”

He was not. The man he was in love with was completely smitten with somebody else. Could he live his life knowing Cyno was with somebody else?

“Do you need to crash at Alhaitham and Kaveh’s?”

Tighnari was sure he could make it home. That just wasn’t on his mind. He watched Cyno slip out of his grasp for far too long.

“... Tighnari?”

Tighnari’s hands moved before his brain thought. They drifted into Cyno’s, locking fingers without much trouble. His hands fit nicely into his.

“Tighnari, seriously, what are you-”

“Don’t go.”

Cyno stared at him. Whatever sweet and sentimental side was present a few minutes ago was completely gone, replaced by a cold look.

“Tighnari, what are you saying?”

His tongue was so heavy, but he worked through the words. In some deep, dark corner of his brain, where alcohol had yet to invade, he was screaming at himself. This was the stupidest thing he could do. Cyno was happy with Nilou, and he was putting himself in between that.

The rest of his alcohol-ridden mind was scared to let go of him.

“Don’t go to her,” he sounded pathetic, “Stay with me.”

He felt Cyno recoil. “Stop. Whatever you’re doing, stop,” Cyno pulled away from him, hands drawn into himself to prevent Tighnari from trying to reach out, “You’re drunk. Go home.”

“Cyno-”

“Seriously, it’s too late for this. Go home,” he flinched at hearing the General Mahamatra voice. It pierced through him like a sword in all the worst ways possible.

“Please listen-”

“Nilou is waiting for me,” Cyno said with a note of finality, “When I see you again, you have to sharpen yourself up. You can’t be doing things like this.” He paused for a moment, a bit of sympathy in his eyes for just a second, “It’s too late to do this. I have Nilou.”

Tighnari was left at the entrance of the tavern alone, reaching out for a man who was leaving him in the dust.