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When Tighnari and Cyno first met it was during their first elemental class at the age of 14. Tighnari was in the middle of writing down the effects dendro had when in combination with hydro particles when a little electric bird fluttered across his paper. He blinked twice, surprised and a little alarmed as he looked around at what could’ve brought such a thing.
His green eyes met with the sparkling and mischievous orange ones, the only unique pair in the room. The only pair trained on Tighnari. They quickly turned away, back to the teacher at the front of the room. But Tighnari had already seen the look. He’d seen those eyes and that they belonged to light brown skin and a strangely cute face.
His gray hair was a mess.
The very opposite of Tighnari’s perfectly cut dark green locks. Even their uniforms displayed two distinctly different students. Tighnari waited until he glanced at him again to raise an eyebrow. Questioning the bird being manifested by the flick of this stranger's hand. The young man said nothing however. He didn’t drop his hand from under the desk or smile or anything. He stared for five seconds then looked away.
Leaving Tighnari in shambles for the next forty minutes.
Once class had ended and their break had begun the students stood, walking at a similar calm pace out the door. The bird had finally gone.
Tighnari felt a warmth against his back halfway out, that warmth spreading to his ear as he heard the words, “I just had to cawl for your attention.” He froze immediately, watching the man slip past him out the door.
Those words haunted him for the entire break. He couldn’t escape them no matter what food he ate or book he tried to read. Hell, even his classmates refused to give his mind a break.
“That Cyno is kind of intimidating…” A girl sighed. Tighnari’s ears twitched and he followed their gaze out the glass doors toward the boy lying in the garden. “I bet he’s a great fighter.”
“He seems…really serious.” Another girl breathed out. “Do you think he’ll be kind if we approach him?”
Tighnari squeezed his sandwich so hard it exploded jam all across the table. He stood up suddenly, leaving all his books and things aside. Cyno didn’t even open his eyes once Tighnari had successfully pulled the door open and stood above him. He still refused to speak. The only movement acknowledging the new presence was his hand covering his mouth as he yawned.
“…What did you mean earlier?” Cyno peeked one eye at the sound of Tighnari’s voice.
“It was a joke.” He sat up. A playful smile slowly etched its way across his face. “You know how birds caw?” Of course Tighnari knew. But he just stood there, the same pinched expression he had all morning still present. Cyno awkwardly patted at his clothes as the wind gently tugged at them. When he looked back at Tighnari something new seemed to have bloomed in his expression. He suddenly seemed shy and quiet as he spoke again to the standing student. “I like your ears.”
Tighnari’s large ears pressed flat against his head as his face grew hot. Out of everything- the one thing Tighnari struggled with was the tall, fluffy dark green ears sprouting out of his head. They forced him to sit at the back of the room so he wouldn’t disturb his peers. Forced him to slouch when he was in front of others. He wasn’t an idiot. He heard what they said about him.
“He looks scary.”
“He’s not normal…”
“I bet he studies so hard so he can make up for his appearance.”
Hearing that this guy…this weird, awkward, confusing man liked the part of Tighnari that he felt most burdened by- well, it pushed him to plop his own butt into the grass. “I’m Tighnari.”
“Cyno.” He took his hand, his gaze finally shifting down to the book in Tighnari’s other hand. One he’d forgotten to leave in the heat of the moment. “I’ve never read this one…” He pointed.
“You…can borrow it.” Tighnari replied. He wasn’t sure why his face felt so hot. But seeing Cyno smile seemed to hit all the right places in Tighnari’s heart.
He was smitten before the day had even ended.
_____________________________________
Aggressively waking up five years later to the sound of Cyno screaming his name from the kitchen almost made Tighnari wish to find a way to go back in time and stop himself from befriending the weird man who had only gotten weirder with every passing day.
They rarely saw each other. Just routine monthly visits from Cyno to check up on Collei and thank Tighnari in “special” ways. This week Collei was visiting a friend, leaving this visit to just the two of them.
Wonderful.
Except, Cyno was late.
He didn’t arrive last night as promised. Tighnari had stayed up well past his bedtime, pretending to read to disguise his frequent long gazes out the window. How Cyno got inside his home left him bamboozled, but he had no time to linger. Instead he just stood up, exchanging his white robe with a green sweater and black jeans before sprinting down the steps. He wasn’t sure what he expected but it certainly wasn’t his table decked out in all the sweet breakfast foods in Teyvat.
There were pancakes, fresh berries, red and black jam for thick buttered bread and some coffee still steaming in the white cup. Cyno kept his black jackal eared hood on, creating quite a sight for a man currently sweetening the cups of brew. “Hey! I made it just how you like it!”
Tighnari gaped at him from his place in the doorway.
“You’re going to give me a heart attack one day.”
“That’s the plan.” Just another Cyno joke. Right?
Tighnari sat down, looking around at the surplus of food. “How long have you been cooking?”
“Since 3 am.” Cyno laughed. “My apology to you for my late arrival.”
“Why were you so late? Was there trouble?” Cyno slid the cup to Tighnari, his teeth clamped on his bottom lip.
“Did you miss me that much?”
“I’m just asking because I was worried-”
“I’m fine.” Cyno smiled. “Try the coffee.”
“You always make it perfectly.” Tighnari lifted the cup to his lips regardless.
“It’s a new brand of grounds. Some birds gave it to me.” The ends of his lips twitched. “They got it from their… nest cafe. Tighnari paused. He refused to continue drinking the well blended cup of coffee. Instead, he put all his energy into narrowing his eyes.
“Don’t start.”
“Oh come on, it was just one joke.” Cyno waved him off. “I promise. It was the only one. Here.” He joined his friend at the table, pulling a little of everything on one plate for Tighnari.
“You don’t have to do that-” He reached for the plate only for the gray haired man to pull it back.
“I want you to try everything.”
“I can feed myself.”
“I know, I know, but I’m already here. So I might as well.” Tighnari hid his pleased smile by stuffing the freshly jammed toast into his mouth.
Cyno watched with a bated breath. “Ah, careful, careful! Too much in your mouth at once can create a…traffic…jam.” His nostrils let out a sharp gust of air. “Or should I say- toasted…jam!”
“...” Tighnari dropped the food.
“Try some pancakes.” Tighnari did as Cyno commanded. Although his hands seemed less gentle than before as he stuck the fork in. “So aggressive.” Cyno commented. “Why not compliment the pancakes to apologize?”
“I’m not apologizing to pancakes-”
“Tighnari, when did you get so rude?” Tighnari rolled his eyes.
“You look…delicious.” He muttered.
Light brown fingers grasped the edge of the plate, lifting the hotcakes in the air and jiggling them. His voice became high pitched as he spoke his next words. “I’m flattered !” Tighnari stood up abruptly.
“Did you cook all this food just to tell jokes about them?”
“What- of course not- why are you looking at me like that.... Ok yes I did.” Tighnari’s nostrils flared. But he said nothing more. Instead he just walked away. “Tighnari- come back! I can’t eat all this!”
Cyno hoped logic alone would be enough to win Tighnari’s affection back. But it seemed that would not be the case.
All day, no matter what antics he was up to, the fox-like man refused to utter a single word.
Cyno lying on Tighnari’s bed, sighing loudly while he read? Nothing.
Cyno re-telling a story of a battle he’d recently won? Tighnari continued writing in his journal.
Cyno taking his shirt off to clean a dish? Tighnari just turned back around and exited the home entirely.
Okay- maybe Cyno could understand that.
Finally it all grew to be too much. Cyno followed the young man outside, finding him leaning against a tree. He had his arms crossed and refused to pay him any mind even when Cyno was starting to sniffle. How much had changed in just five years, yet still remained the same. “I’m sorry. I know how much my jokes annoy you. I didn’t mean to take it so far.”
His green eyes widened slightly before taking on the muted orange ones of the man above him. “They…do not.”
Cyno collapsed to his knees at the sound of his voice. He didn’t realize how badly he missed the sound. “Then, why are you so mad?”
“I’m not mad.” Tighnari huffed. “I just- I thought you had genuine intentions-”
“But they were!”
“-you did it for a joke.”
“To make you laugh!” Cyno replied. “Don’t you know how much I like hearing you laugh?” He leaned in slightly, his nose caressing Tighnari’s pale cheek. He took a deep breath, back straightening. “I really longed to hear you laugh in our time apart…”
“You should’ve just told me.” Tighnari said back. Although he sounded less angry and more needy. His gaze seemed to have shifted to a specific part of Cyno’s face.
“You know I’m not so good with words.” Cyno pressed a hand to his cheek. “It seems I’m only good at one thing.”
Tighnari pushed Cyno back against the grass. The tree’s long leaves cast a shade over them, protecting them from the heat of the sun and hiding their bodies from any possible onlookers. If not for this tree anyone could’ve seen Tighnari sit on Cyno’s waist, his head tilted as he pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. It was slow, full of sweetness despite the fight that had taken place all day. But that was how it was between them.
There was always a sweet kiss at the end of every fight.
Always a fulfilled promise even when he was running late.
Always Cyno and Tighnari- together for five years.
Tighnari stroked the ears of the cloak on Cyno’s head, smiling into the kiss. “I like your ears.” He muttered as he pulled away.
Cyno touched Tighnari’s waist. His cheeks freshly dusted a deep red. “You used to be a lot more eager in school…I missed your random kisses.”
“In school I had more competition.” Tighnari smirked. “You can be a real piece of work but I’m happy I’m with such a talented cook. You really know how to… butter me up.”
Cyno gasped. “Tighnari!” They started to laugh. “I should tell Collei about this…”
“Don’t you dare.”
“But she’s right there!” Tighari spun around, eyes wide. He cursed under his breath, pushing himself off Cyno once he realized the teasing had started again. “Oh come on!” Cyno called as Tighnari walked back toward the house. “You started it this time!”
He waited just .9 seconds, before he followed after his Tighnari.