Work Text:
Cyno was by no means the best at expressing his emotions and feelings, especially if it involved other people. He was used to simply relying on himself since there was no one to really care for him in the first place. Recently though, it seems his lifestyle has somewhat shifted.
You see, he wasn't really planning on becoming close with Tighnari much less falling for said Forest Watcher but alas. There was just something about every smile, every laugh, every wink that drew Cyno in more and more. He was not a good listener for he wasn't patient nor the best at staying quiet, but he would gladly spend his days listening to Tighnari go on and on about the new flower he just discovered or this new creature he encountered while he was on a walk in the forest.
Cyno also didn't know when or how it happened, but somewhere along the way he found himself opening up more to him and telling Tighnari things he usually wouldn't tell anyone at all. He was used to keeping to himself, but he broke down all his walls and Cyno is fucking terrified .
People know him as the greatly feared General Mahamatra, "Strike's fear into the heart of researchers," right? So he's supposed to be all mean and fearless, right? Wrong.
Cyno slowly learns that when he is with Tighnari, his entire General facade is blown to ashes. With him, he's simply the idiot who makes the corniest jokes known to all of Sumeru and Cyno loves it.
He loves how he doesn't need to keep his 'scary dictator' face with Tighnari and just be as carefree as he wants to. Whenever he's with him, time seems to go by so quickly because of how much he's enjoying himself. He loves how he can say corny jokes and watch Tighnari look at him in annoyance, he loves how he can let down his guard and not have to stay alert for enemies, and most of all he loves that he could tell Tighnari anything without the fear of being judged.
He loves Tighnari.
Fuck.
Tighnari is going to kill him.
Actually no scratch that, the man already has .
"What do you do if you're addicted to seaweed?"
"Cyno."
"You sea-kelp."
"..."
"Do you get it? Becaus—"
" Oh my archons." Tighnari groaned out loud. Hopefully cutting off whatever explanation Cyno had prepared. "Yes Cyno, sadly I get it."
Cyno was grinning from ear to ear and he was about to open his mouth, ready to fire another joke at Tighnari when he suddenly heard his companion gasp.
"What is it? Is there something wrong?" Cyno was immediately on high-alert, electricity already flowing through his body, ready to protect Tighnari if needed.
They were in Avidya Forest, walking back towards the house Collei and Tighnari shared. Surely no one would attack them in a middle of a fucking forest, right?
He was about to repeat his question in case he wasn't heard but before he got the chance, Tighnari grabbed his arm and started pulling him towards… what?
Cyno, who was half distracted by the fact that Tighnari was holding him, didn't comprehend his surroundings at first, the environment around him passing by like a blur, until he was suddenly stopped.
"'Nari?" tried Cyno. The Forest Watcher was standing still looking at… huh?
They were standing in front of a small pond which was surrounded by tall thick trees on all sides, even from the top. It made it look like a sort of secret garden only few knew about. Lily pads with little yellow orbs filled the water, illuminating the entire area and giving it a somewhat peaceful look. There were also a lot of different colored orbs floating in the sky, giving the illusion of a night sky.
Cyno was about to ask what they were doing here, until he saw Tighnari take a step towards the pond and slowly bend down.
"I never knew a place like this existed…" mumbled Tighnari, he reached out to one of the yellow orbs. "These are Lux Bulbus plants, they're really rare because they appear in specific areas only."
Cyno walked towards his companion and bent down as well. He was about to reach out to touch one, curious to see it, until a hand stopped him. "Wha…"
Tighnari cradled one of the yellow orbs to his chest and slowly righted himself. Cyno too stood up, and now they were facing each other and oh shit Tighnari looks so pretty wa —
"Can you carry this for me? I want to take it home and study more about it." said Tighnari, who looked at Cyno, his face being lit up by the orb and he somehow looked even prettier and softer and Cyno wanted to—
"Cyno?"
Okay, Cyno may have faced numerous life or death situations due to his line of work. He's faced deadly creatures and fought enemies who cause trouble in the desert. Most people take one look at him and cower in fear because he was General Mahamatra for fuck's sake.
But right now, in this hidden away area of the forest, with a pond full of floating Lux-whatever-it-was, and with Tighnari in front of him holding said floating-thing, he was absolutely downright terrified.
He was terrified because looking at Tighnari right now just confirmed that yes, he's in love with the man and he's absolutely fucked . Tighnari looked so soft and so pretty and—
Oh fuck, he was being asked a question.
"Cyno? Are you alright?" Tighnari worriedly looked at him, stepping a little too close for comfort , and this snapped Cyno out of his daze.
"Wha-?" croaked out Cyno. He cleared his throat, "I, I mean yes. Yes, I'm alright, sorry about that."
Don't say it. Don't say it. Don't say it.
Tighnari, who hasn't stepped back and is still too close for comfort, asked, "You sure?"
Cyno was so whipped for this man. He was so utterly whipped. Which is exactly why he cannot be blamed for whatever impulsive decisions he chose to make right at that very moment.
"I really like you." Cyno blurted out, staring at the prettiest fucking eyes he's ever seen holy —
Everything seemed to pass in slow motion the moment those words came out from his mouth. Tighnari's expression changed from worried to closed-off in a second and Cyno was about to open his mouth, ready to take back the stupid phrase that he wasn't even planning on saying this early on but Tighnari beat him to it.
Tighnari pursed his lips and finally stepped away from Cyno and said, "Is that another joke? Now that's funny."
Silence.
Cyno stared at Tighnari in shock, mouth slightly agape, but he wasn't even looking at Cyno and was already starting to walk away.
"What?"
Tighnari, who didn't stop walking, replied, "Come on, Collei is waiting for us at home. We shouldn't keep her waiting." Carrying the orb himself instead of handing it over to Cyno.
Cyno was still frozen in place. He was confused. Why did Tighnari think it was a joke? Tighnari of all people would know that he wouldn't joke about things like that.
"Cyno? Are you going to move or what?" Tighnari said, who stopped walking and was already a good distance away from Cyno.
"Why?" Cyno said quietly, if Tighnari wasn't overly sensitive to everything he probably wouldn't have heard it.
"What do you mean, why?" Tighnari replied.
Cyno slowly approached Tighnari and he stopped at least a foot away from him.
"Why would you think I would joke about something like that, 'Nari?" repeated Cyno. He needed to know why Tighnari thought it was a joke. Surely it's not because he's against the idea of same-sex couples? He's been nothing but accepting when Kaveh revealed his relationship with Al Haitham, so why ?
Cyno was looking at Tighnari and saw his ears twitching ever so slightly, one of Tighnari's signs of nervousness .
"Well, to be fair all you ever do is tell jokes." Tighnari said jokingly trying to lighten the mood, but Cyno knew better.
"You of all people know that I wouldn't make jokes about that." murmured Cyno, taking a couple steps closer to Tighnari. His eyes caught on movement behind him, and Cyno saw his tail starting to wag side-to-side quickly, another sign of Tighnari's nervousness
Tighnari didn't reply, just staring at Cyno while he was getting closer.
"Why, Tighnari?"
Cyno watched him clutch the orb, as if it was a lifeline. Tighnari closed his eyes and mumbled out quietly, "Because you would never say that to me."
Disbelief. Absolute disbelief is what Cyno was feeling right now.
"What?" Cyno replied, feeling ridiculously confused for the second time that day.
Tighnari, who still had his eyes closed, was still clutching onto the orb tightly. His tail wagged back and forth even quicker than before.
"Hey, 'Nari?" said Cyno, noticing how nervous Tighnari was getting. "What do you call an idiot with two 'i's?"
Tighnari's eyes snapped open in disbelief. "Is now really the time to be telling your jokes ?"
"Tighnari."
Tighnari's eyebrows rose up in confusion, his tail finally slowing down in its wagging. "Me?"
"You're the idiot with two 'i's. Get it? 'Cause 'Tighnari' has two letter i's?" smiled Cyno.
Tighnari groaned out loud, but Cyno saw a hint of smile creeping up on the other's face.
Cyno reached out to pry Tighnari's fingers away from the orb, for he was still clutching the poor thing. They were standing face to face, hands on top of each other, holding on to the orb.
"You're an idiot for thinking I wouldn't say that to you." Cyno mumbled quietly, like he was telling a secret only they knew.
And then, he kissed him.
Tighnari was frozen for a second, lips unmoving until he felt Cyno starting to pull away.
Then, he kissed Cyno back.
When they had to pull away for air, Cyno rested his forehead against Tighnari's and murmured, "I really like you."
Tighnari kissed him.