Chapter Text
"Hi Katheryn!" Paimon chirped, waving excitedly as the two approached the maiden at her Sumeru stand. "Hello Traveler, Paimon." Katheryn smiled, waving faintly. "You two always have such perfect timing." She commented. "I have an urgent commission specifically requested just for you." Katheryn said, pulling out a letter. "Oh? Do we have to fight some big monster?!" Paimon exclaimed. "Who's we? I'll always be left doing all the work, Paimon." Aether said, putting his hands on his hips as he cracked a slight grin.
"Actually it comes from the former General Mahamantra, and he needs your help in Gandharva ville." Katheryn frowned a bit. "Wait? Cyno? And did you say Gandharva Ville?"
"Mhm!" Kathryn hummed. "I'm afraid I'm quite as conflicted as you are. All the more reason to go check it out, I suppose!" She said. "Right! Okay, Aether, let's getting going. I have a suspicion that something reeaaally strange is going on here." Paimon said with a sigh.
And so, Aether and Paimon made their way to Gandharva ville. Aether could faintly head some commotion coming from Tighnari's home.
"It's nothing but a slight fever." Tighnari said. Aether peeked inside, seeing Tighnari, Cyno and Collei. "Ah, Traveler! Thank goodness you've arrived." Collei said, rushing over and joining hands with Aether. "We came as soon as we got the commission!" Paimon said. "Commission?" Tighnari asked, standing up from his bed, Aether could see that Tighnari clearly wasn't feeling the best - as told by his tired eyes, reddened face and wobbly posture.
"You put out a commission over this nonsense?" Tighnari yelled, looking to Cyno as he crossed his arms. "I did what I could to contact the Traveler." Cyno said with a slight grunt. "I'm telling you, there was no reason to bring a whole parade of people, into my home!" Tighnari said.
"So....what's the issue?" Aether whispered to Collei. "Master Tighnari's been doing work much farther from the station as of recently, which has been exposing him to this rather unusual illness..." Collei explained. "Ohhh! So you want us to help him get better?" Paimon asked. "Sure! We can do that." Aether shrugged. "Here's a list of things that could potentially subside this ailment - I found it while going through his notes." Cyno said, handing off a piece of paper.
"Uhm...could you tell me some of his symptoms..?" Aether asked, scratching his head, he was no doctor but knocking down a few illness possibilities might save him quite a bit of time. "From what Paimon can see, his face is pretty red. And he looks warm..." Paimon said. "I suspect he has a high fever. He also has no sense of appetite, Collei and I recorded his last meal being approximately two days ago." Cyno said. "Two days ago?! Paimon could never go that long without eating..." Paimon whined. "Sit." Cyno commanded, grabbing Tighnari by his shoulders and sitting him down on the bed behind him.
"When's the last time he slept..?" Aether asked. "Now that, I haven't the answer to." Cyno said. "I, myself have been awake since I've arrived and Collei says she doesn't have the faintest clue when he slept since his last trip outside the ville." Cyno explained. "And it doesn't help that he refuses to tell me." He sighed. "Oh boy....this sounds bad! Cyno you should get some rest as well!" Paimon looked to Aether. "Here's a plan! How about Paimon stays and looks after Tighnari and let Cyno rest. And you go with Collei to find a cure?" Paimon asked.
"No!" Tighnari yelled. Cyno flinched a bit at his abruptness. "The floating monster does NOT stay." Tighnari said. "H-Hey! Paimon's not a....ugh...forget it." Paimon waved her hand dismissively. "I do not mind being awake a little longer. Surely it won't take you too long to get the things..?" Cyno asked. Paimon sighed, "Alright. Let's go, Aether." She said, floating out of the home. Aether followed after her, along with Collei.
"So where should we go first?" Collei asked. "Looking at some of these plants....the closest one should be right down the river's trail." Aether said. "Okay! Then Operation 'Make Tighnari Better' is a go!" Paimon cheered.
-
"Hm," Cyno chuckled. "You hear that? This thing is a whole operation.." he said to Tighnari. "Yes, a ridiculous one." Tighnari grumbled. Cyno sighed, walking over to Tighnari's work desk and scanning the notes he'd taken. "It's time to check your temperature again." He said, turning back to Tighnari. "You know, if this is a contagious disease, you're an idiot." Tighnari said as Cyno leaned in, pressing his hand against Tighnari's head, brushing aside his bangs. "You exposed Collei, Traveler and their little fairy, and who knows how many people they'll touch along the way to their 'operation'." Tighnari lectured, giving air quotations. "And not to mention, you'll get sick as well!" He said. Cyno smiled faintly, "You're being hysterical, this is nothing contagious. I'm sure." He said. "hmph," Tighnari scoffed. "Are you going to add hysteria to my list of symptoms then?" He asked.
"Perhaps." Cyno said, pulling away. "Your fever still hasn't gone down." He grumbled. "And I can barely read your notes...." He said. Just then, Cyno flinched once again at the sound of mechanic whirling and buzzing as Karkata entered the home. "What is that?!" Cyno yelled, pulling out his polearm defensively. "Relax." Tighnari said. "It's my new assistant, Karkata." Tighnari introduced. "welcome back, Karkata. Did you gather those samples I asked for?" He asked, getting up and greeting the machine. Karkata chirped happily, it's body opened up a discreet storage space that contained two samples of soil. "Here you go," Tighnari said, taking the samples and handing them to Cyno. "I left Karkata in the area I was in during my trip. If you need any clues for this...illness, analyze these." Tighnari said with a smug expression.
Cyno took the two samples, setting aside his polearm. "That thing...did it come from the Akademiya?" He asked. "No," Tighnari said, sitting back down, crossing his legs. "Are you going to tell on me for simply having a new friend?" Tighnari asked. "No," Cyno said, looking away, placing the samples on the table behind him. Tighnari stared at Cyno, looking him up and down as curiosity ensued. "Why are you so adamant on trying to cure me anyways?" He asked, his tail swayed a bit. "Because the Forest Rangers need you." Cyno said. "Collei needs you." He said a bit lower. "Mm." Tighnari hummed, he supposed this was the correct answer but...not the answer he sought. "No....I mean why you specifically?" Tighnari said, beginning to pry. "It's unusual for a desert-dweller like yourself to be here. Before you seemed not to care for me so much, after all we only ever communicated upon work related topics or Collei." He said.
"Is that what it looked like..?" Cyno asked, slowly turning to Tighnari. "Like I...don't care?" He asked. Tighnari's ears perked, "Whoa, hey. No need to get all emotional." He waved his hands. Cyno's sudden change of attitude brought a soft flutter to Tighnari's heart, "Hhhng..." Tighnari groaned, pressing a hand to his chest as his cheeks grew red. "Is there something wrong?" Cyno quickly put the samples down, going to examine Tighnari. "Are you in pain?" He asked, cupping Tighnari's face. "Ah! Jeez! Would you knock it off already?! I'm not in any pain!" Tighnari stammered, slapping Cyno's hand aside. "I'm just...." Tighnari looked away, Cyno studied his expression but couldn't place where his mood was. Was he...upset? "I'm...a little flattered you came all this way..." Tighnari confessed. "And...caused so much of a fuss...just for me." He said. Cyno's eyes widened a bit, he was surprised at Tighnari's gentle tone. "I'm going to try to lay down..." Tighnari said, falling back onto his bed, his head met with his pillow.
Karkata whirled, as if giving a soft sigh of relief. "Heh," Cyno chuckled. "Don't worry, he'll be back to his normal self once he gets over this sickness." Cyno assured the robot. Cyno turned back to the two samples, laying on the table. His hand on his chin as he hummed. Admittedly, it was difficult for him to focus with Tighnari's words echoing in his mind. "...flattered...?" Cyno looked back at Tighnari, who'd finally fallen asleep. "Are you really surprised that I...care for you...?"