Chapter Text
Silence. That was all Cyno could hear within the Matra's headquarters. He dragged his battered body through the empty hallways, ignoring the stacks of papers strewn across the numerous desks, and stopped until he reached his office door. With a renewed heaviness to his muscles, he swung it open.
Moonlight illuminated the room, reflecting off of the many miniature shards scattered across the wooden boards, casting it in an almost enchanting glow, as if his office was a crime scene in and of itself. Which might not be too far from the truth , he thought absently as he eyed the offending opening now decorating the window, clearly broken with brute force.
His body shuddered as it remembered the numerous wounds it had obtained from that reckless act, which its owner had treated on his own, unwilling to accept help or answer any questions regarding the situation. Thank archons for Tighnari's medicine. He thought bitterly, still hating himself for causing such a scene and harming himself in cowardice.
With a sigh, he takes a nearby broom into his hold and gets to work, sweeping the wayward shards as meticulously as he could, careful not to let his healing feet step on the glass. After all, no one else should be responsible for his own mistakes. Especially one that could've been avoided had his mind been clearer.
Once he'd gathered all the hazardous objects into one corner, he puts aside his broom and walks over to the window. His footsteps thudded quietly against the floor; the only sound he could hear in this stilted silence was his own. Ruby eyes swam in the starry night sky, meeting the moon's gaze as it shone upon him.
".. I'm going to need Kaveh." He mumbles, lips pursed as he takes in the absolutely unfixable window. Kaveh would know what to do. He's an architect after all. His jaw tensed as he balled his hands into fists by his side. Useless. Absolutely useless. He couldn't even fix the window on his own. What the hell was he good for?
"Maybe.. I can just board it up." He speaks just as silently, and a passing breeze blows silver hair away from golden skin, as if trying to console his troubled thoughts. Stray leaves wandered into the room, dancing around his feet as the wind continued to blow. No one would dare to ask him, should he decide to board it, and he wouldn't need to ask for anyone's help either. It was the perfect plan, he thinks as he heads outside to gather some wood. Questions would rise no matter what he does anyways. Whether he asks Kaveh for help, or fixes it himself, words would never stop traveling through the air, whispers unseizing. It happens too often. He must admit that one grows numb after a while.
When the moon began to sink, and the sun rose to take its place, the final board had finally been put into place, and Cyno heaved a sigh as he dusted off his palms. The wood sticks out like a sore thumb amongst the coloured glass, but at least he wouldn't have to worry about anyone suddenly getting in when it was barely being guarded, although the matra's office was never ever left quite so vulnerable, for there were always a few guards on patrol at every moment.
Amber red orbs glanced back at the glass hazards piled up on the corner, but decided to leave it for now. After all, no one but him ever goes to his office; the probability of someone other than him getting hurt by his own blunders was incredibly low. Suddenly, he paused. Low does not equate to zero.
Heaving yet another sigh, he turns around and carefully gathers the shards into a wooden box to be thrown away later. As he gingerly swept the glass into the box, one of the shards accidentally pierced his finger, yet he couldn't feel it. He simply stared at the red liquid before tucking his finger between his lips, sucking on the wound and feeling the slightest bit of sting resonate against his nerves. He shouldn't have bitten his tongue yesterday morning. It was proving to be quite an inconvenience.
When noises began to filter through the building, he blinked slowly - lethargically - and rose to his feet, box safely closed and kept next to the broom, before walking out. Clearly, his matras didn't expect to see him here, much less clad in so many tiny bandages, for they instantly seized up from their originally lighthearted conversation and stuttered, "G-general Mahamatra! G-g-good morning!"
Cyno nodded to their greetings, "Good morning," and continued to walk as they gave him a bow. He was tired. Exhausted, really, but he couldn't afford a day off when there are so many things he needed to do-
All of a sudden, he stopped in his tracks, having just taken a few steps outside of the headquarters, and blinked slowly. Slower than slow, for there was a familiar figure not far away. Small and cute and smiling so brightly. He could've sworn his heart stopped beating. "..Haitham?" He was definitely hallucinating. Roughly, he rubbed his eyes and when he blinked them open again, the blurry image had changed to a larger man. Muscular and tall, and incredibly handsome. Was he still hallucinating? Why would Haitham be here at the crack of dawn? Even yesterday, the man had arrived at his office at 7 a.m., and not 5. Maybe he should really consider taking that day off.
Then that figure walked forwards, and no matter how much Cyno blinked, he did not disappear. Instead, the man was only coming closer and closer and - Oh shoot, it's not a hallucination. He realized, far too late for his own liking. Panic instantly settled in, and he turned around so fast, blackspots briefly covered his vision, making him hiss as he squeezed his eyes shut and held a hand to his head. This was stupid. He couldn't believe he was hindering his own quick escape.
"Cyno," that deep, soothing voice suddenly whispered, right by his ear. His shoulders tensed as he forcibly pushed his discomfort down and made to leave. All of a sudden, a hand shot out to wrap around the general's wrist, stopping him from doing so. His hand was big enough to engulf him completely, he noted absently.
Cyno couldn't do this. He tugged his hand away, but the other's hold did not relent. "Let go." He orders coldly, voice two octaves lower than usual.
To any other person, it would cause them to cower in fear, but alas, Al-Haitham was not ordinary. "Cyno," he tries once more, not afraid of his threatening aura, "to be with you for all eternity is all I can wish for." For an instant, Cyno's agitated mind did not register his words, but when it did, he faltered in his escape and blinked. Huh? His choice of words were poetic enough, it completely stopped him in his tracks. Did he hear him wrong? Slowly, he turns and frowns at the other. "You are my sun. Without you, my heart is a frozen palace-"
Nope, he didn't hear him wrong. What the hell. "Why are you speaking like that?" He demands, cutting him off before he could finish. He doesn't feel his face burning even if the poetry was genuine enough to touch his heart. After all, Al-Haitham might be smart — a genius even — but he was no poet. This was too uncharacteristic even for him.
The man's lips pursed as he averted his gaze. A rare show of hesitance. Under Cyno's sharp scrutiny, anyone would falter. It seems that on this part, Haitham was no different, for he heaves a heavy sigh. "..I asked Kaveh how to fix things, and he directed me to his romance novels." He admitted. There was a hint of red dusting his cheeks. "I know it was illogical of me," he explains, "but I was rather desperate."
Cyno should still be mad, after all, he made him suffer for a long time, and yet — and yet he still finds himself struggling to hold his smile. This ridiculous guy.. "So, you remember." He stated. There was no other reason as to why Haitham would suddenly confess and be this desperate to make things right. Cyno felt his heart sink into his stomach as his smile faded, expression closing off. That means that he only feels guilty-
"No." Haitham suddenly spoke up. Cyno jolted in shock and stared at him wide-eyed. "I don't remember."
What? "Then how-"
"Your Forest Watcher friend had the insight to store my 'de-aged' memories into a Knowledge Capsule. When I asked about last week, he was reluctant to show me, but once I gave him my word - that I would try and fix things - he let me see. Everything." Haitham confessed.
Oh, so that was what Tighnari was doing back at Haitham's office, and what he meant that day by 'bringing his memories back'. Still.. "If that's right, then there's no way you want me." Cyno whispered, hand going lax as a shadow fell across his face. This Haitham wouldn't want him. Much less feel anything for him.
"Cyno, you have had my heart for a long time. Me turning into a Child simply embodies that." Silence. "..You don't believe me." Haitham stated, and Cyno simply scoffed.
Yeah right. As if he'd believe a single word that came out of his mouth. "What's there to believe?"
Al-Haitham hummed, looking thoughtful as he glanced towards their hands. Cyno couldn't see his eyes from beneath those bangs, but it seems he didn't have to, for they looked up to meet his own in the very next instance. "Then won't you at least let me keep the promises I made for you?"
Cyno peered deeply into those earnest orbs. There were only three promises child Haitham made to him. Two of which he knows he won't keep, but there was one.. All of a sudden, a flush spread against his face as he doubled on his effort to escape. " No," he considered using his electro vision to escape, "No, Al-Haitham. You are not carrying me-"
"Please," Haitham said, both his face and tone completely apathetic, it was infuriating. "At least let me do this for you. The rest of the promises may be broken, but this one can still be kept. Won't you do this for 'Haitham'?" He asked, tone still unbearably flat.
"...This is ultimately guilt-tripping," he tried, to which Haitham's eyes suddenly widened, and turned glossy and a surge of panic and disbelief erupted within him, causing him to splutter. "W-what; are you seriously-" the shameless man simply doubled in on his effort to look pitiful, and - archon's forbid - pouted. He pouted. This was not Kaveh damn it. Was his sleep deprivation causing this? Oh dear lord Kusanali. Now he was making an act of sniffling and tears were actually forming on the corners of his eyes - "Fine!" Before Cyno could even think, the word escaped his lips and well, he couldn't take it back now. Damn him and his stupidly handsome face. "..Fine, I'll do it."
"Good." The man suddenly reverted back to his usual apathetic self, not a single trace of the previous blatant show of emotion present within that robotic-like face. Cyno had to applaud him for his acting. He completely fell for it.
Before Cyno could lament his stupidity, he found gravity completely failing him, and his eyes turned as wide as saucers as his vision tilted sideways. There was a hand on his back and one looping themselves under his knees, securing him to its owner's ridiculously built chest. "Wait, Wait, Wait!! Now?!" He exclaimed, the panic from earlier rushing in stronger than before.
"Of course, when else?" Asked the still flat-faced scri - acting grand sage. Then he began to walk. Oh dear archons, Cyno couldn't believe he was actually being carried like this in broad daylight. He could feel his face burning, and reached out a hand to tug his headpiece down - only to remember that he'd forgotten it. Archons of all the times he could forget it - "Fret not, my dear general," that infuriatingly smooth voice began, its owner not once looking down at him - well, it wouldn't matter if he did, he supposed, with the way Cyno was shyly covering his red face with both his hands. "At this time of day, there is barely anyone awake."
"That doesn't reassure me in the least." He hissed, glaring red orb peeling through the gaps of his fingers as the man finally looked down to meet his eye for but a split second, before continuing on his leisurely paced walk. "Can't you at least walk faster!?"
"Why should I?" The most annoying man in all of Teyvat asks monotonously, clearly not caring about his answer, for he soon continued, "Since I'm not certain as to when I'll get another chance to do this, I'd rather take my time and fully enjoy the moment."
All manners of speech completely escaped him as he released a frustrated groan that sounds more like a whine, though he'd never admit it. This was absolutely mortifying. Unable to refute, for he himself agreed to this, he buries himself deeper into the other's hold, and turns his downright feverish face towards the other's torso, trying his best to remain as discreet and as hidden as possible.
If he had looked up at that very moment, he would've found a smug smirk on the other's face, which would probably make him throw an even bigger fit. Thankfully for Al-Haitham, his embarassment drowned everything else. Instead, all he found himself thinking was: Please let this day end already.
When a door creaked open, he found Haitham suddenly walking faster, and jolted in the other's hold, disoriented and confused. They were entering a familiar apartment, and Haitham was walking very quickly. "Haitham- why are we-"
All of a sudden, a sharp whistle echoed against the walls and Cyno whipped his head towards it and met sparkly red eyes, clearly satisfied for some reason. "Yeah! Go get him tiger!" Kaveh exclaimed, before barking a laugh at Cyno's wide eyes. The panic that lay dormant was back at full force for the third time that day and he found himself snapping his gaze towards the seemingly unfazed man, heading towards a second door.
"Haitham, what did he mean by that?" He demanded, mind racing a mile a second as the door was swung open, revealing a dark, empty room, which, with a flick of a switch, turns out to be an incredibly tidy and minimalistic bedroom - wait.. "Wait - why are we heading to your bedroom?!" The man did not answer and simply walked inside, shutting the door behind him to block out Kaveh's loud cat-calls. "Al-Haitham, I swear, if you don't answer me right now-" all of a sudden, he was gently and slowly deposited on the bed, carefully positioned so he was sitting at the edge of it. The electro vision that was threatening to crackle just a few moments ago now lie dormant as Cyno blinked incomprehensively, watching wide-eyed as the man heaved a sigh, depositing his jacket on the back of a nearby chair before rolling his shoulders. "That's your own fault," He commented, and those pretty, captivating eyes turned to him for just a moment, before it's owner sighed once more, this time much heavier than before, and headed over to yet another door - the bathroom, most probably - only to exit with a metal box in his hold.
Cyno found himself tensing up as he kneeled before him to unlatch the box, revealing it to be some sort of a first aid kit. There were bandages, sterile needles, strings, medication, alcohol.. practically everything you'd need for an emergency. The dendro user placed a cotton pad on his palm and poured alcohol onto its surface, before reaching for his leg with his other hand. Instantly, Cyno kicked it away, causing the other to stare at him blankly. "Cyno, let me treat your wounds."
"They're already treated." He stubbornly argued - almost petulantly he supposed. He was just really tired, and he didn't need anyone taking care of him. "Plus, I've got a really good constitution. I'll be fine." If he only brought him here for this purpose, then he's up for some disappointment.
With yet another sigh, Al Haitham waved his wrist, and vines curled around his limbs, tying him to the bed in a his sitting position. Once he was finally deemed immobile despite the looseness of the vines, Al-Haitham gently takes a leg into his hold and began to roll down the protective cloth covering it.
".. I'll break out of this." He states. It was simply a fact. Vines won't be able to hold him in place anyways.
"Then please, be my guest." Al-Haitham, now carefully putting aside the clothing, replies. He wasn't even looking at him. Was he underestimating him?
Cyno should be offended, yet all he could feel was curiosity. He had a feeling that underestimating him was the least the acting grand sage wanted to do. Said man unrolled the old bandages around his feet almost reverently, before lathering it with a soothing, cool gel, and bandaging it up with fresh bandages. Then he proceeded to his other feet, treating it just as kindly, before focusing on the fresh cuts he'd just obtained. Each and every wound of his was treated so meticulously, so vehemently, it was as if he wanted to show him how much he meant to him. Even if he still couldn't quite believe him.
Once the other was finally done, he trailed a hand to his knee and stopped at the back of it, staring at it as if he was deep in thought. "..Did you know how many promises I made to myself when I was under the influence of the runes?" He asked, raising that gorgeous, inhuman eyes towards his own as he broke the almost sacred silence that'd fallen upon them.
"Three," he answered, unable to look away despite the pounding within his chest. "There were three."
The man hummed, playing with his skin absent-mindedly, although his words were anything but. "You're right. There were three spoken out loud, but how many did I not say? Can you guess?" He looked up through his thick, curled lashes, causing Cyno to gulp in an attempt to get rid of the sudden dryness of his throat. His silence was answer enough, and the other's lips curled upwards as his hand slid down his knee and to the pads of his feet. Then, he leaned forwards, and raised his foot, placing a kiss against his toe. Cyno's breath hitched as his lungs began to fail him. His heart was pounding uncontrollably. He didn't know what was happening. "I promised to myself that I would protect you," he raised his lips to his knee, and Cyno's lungs were starting to constrict on himself, "and hold you," this time, he took his now unbound hands in his own, as if displaying his previous words, and plants a kiss against each one of his knuckles, "and love you." He whispered. When those eyes glanced up at him again, all he could see was affection and adoration. "Do you understand now, Cyno? I love you."
Cyno's heart stopped, the other's final sentence playing on repeat as a numbing sensation washed over him. Then, it raged like a wildfire and an all-encompasing warmth burst within his chest, threatening to burn him. It was so, so unusual; so new, he felt breathless. Especially when the other released one of his hands to reveal a beautiful, velvet box.
"I might not remember what happened during those two days," he began, flipping open the top of the box to reveal a small, yet beautiful, emerald gemstone resting on a golden band. The gorgeous ring gleamed so beautifully within that velvet box, he couldn't look away. He was absolutely transfixed, "but with this ring, I shall make an oath. Starting from now, the memories we make will always be treasured in my heart; never to be forgotten even when time wears me down." Gingerly, he took the ring out of its dwelling and held it between his thumb and forefinger, looking at him with the barest hint of anxiety. "So, mein mahamatra, will you marry me?"
"Yes!" A sudden voice piped in, making the both of them jump as they turned towards the noise, originating from the window.
"Shut up, you idiot!" A familiar voice hissed, and Cyno pursed his lips to hide his smile upon seeing his best friend's ear twitching on the other side of the glass. It seems they had an audience. His face heated up at that thought, and he considered just heading out as more familiar voices filtered in, but when Haitham sighed, Cyno found his gaze naturally shifting back to the other.
"Well? Will you accept me as your husband?" He asked, now fully expectant.
A smile, slow and tentative, stretched Cyno's lips, and he watched Haitham's eyes light up like when he was turned into a child, which only served to further melt his admittedly frozen heart. "Well," he began silently, completely registering the sudden hush that'd fallen upon the apartment. "You kept your promises, so.." with a huff of laughter, he grins so widely, his cheeks were starting to hurt, and turns his palm around so he could hold the other's hand in his. "I found no reason to refuse."
All of a sudden, cheers erupted, then flowers grew in the apartment and gorgeous water illuminations danced as leaves and petals alike rained upon them. Kaveh, Tighnari, Collei, and Nilou, if he has to guess. The whole party is here, he thinks warmly, watching as the other slips the ring onto his finger before planting a kiss upon its gem. He parted his lips to speak-
"Uh-oh, watch out!" Collei's voice shrieked as a sudden, loud crash along with some people's panicked cries were heard.
"Haha!" Dehya's voice boomed, "this is why I told you that making a human tower to spy on them was a bad idea!"
..Well, there goes their moment. Still, Cyno couldn't help the smile on his face as he turns to look at Haitham, who has a similarly soft look as Cyno cupped his cheek. "..I love you too, Haitham... Now let's go check up on those friends of ours, shall we?" The two of them shared a private chuckle as they left the bedroom, hands intertwined with contrasting rings on their fingers.
Emerald and gold - rubies and silver. The jackal and the hawk. Forever different, yet forever united. That was who they were, and together they shall stay.