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This whole day had gone to shit. Like, really, gone to shit.
This mission was only among the first handful that Cyno had been assigned as General Mahamatra. The other missions hadn’t been noteworthy. They weren’t quick and easy, but they were simple. This mission was nothing but simple, even though he thought it would be. It struck too close to home; he wanted to get it over with as soon as possible
A researcher had been found conducting illegal experiments. The subjects were unclear, but reports claimed that the subjects were hybrids, and were alive and unwilling when the experiments were conducted. There were few things that Cyno hated more.
He found the lab underground. Three hallways down, he already knew that something was incredibly wrong. This was less of a lab and more of a bunker -- a labyrinth, even. Cyno knew in his gut that there was a monster in here. He could tell by the blood on the floor, on the walls, the broken tools and equipment that littered the pathways. Reports said that once a subject had undergone an experiment, they were either dead or killed. The evidence Cyno was seeing supported that.
Finally, he reached a metal door with an array of locks on the outside. Dried blood coated the floor. If the blood was dry, Cyno reasoned, than maybe if there was a captive on the other side of the door, they would be alive. He slashed through the locks and kicked his way through the door. It only took his eyes a moment to adjust to the dim lighting.
He’d deduced correctly. The next test subject was still alive.
It was Tighnari. The subject of the next experiments was going to be Tighnari.
Tighnari’s wrists were tied behind a pipe. He was gagged with a scrap of fabric and had tape over his eyes.
A voice growled from the shadows. “Don’t take another step.”
Cyno watched Tighnari flinch, his ears shot towards the voice, but Cyno noticed one ear slowly rotated back to where he was standing. Tighnari knew someone was there, but he didn’t know who.
“It’s me.” Cyno whispered. “I’m gonna get you out.”
Tighnari’s ears perked up. Cyno heard him try to say something through the gag as he pulled against the pipe.
“Stop moving!!”
Tighnari’s ears flew down, pressed against his head -- as a knife flew from the shadows and embedded itself in the wall only milimeters from Tighnari’s ear. Another muffle shout came from Tighnari.
Cyno turned around so he was between Tighnari and the now-unseen threat. The scientist -- he assumed -- stepped out of the shadows and slammed the door to the lab shut with a bang. He twirled knives between his fingers.
“It was only a matter of time until someone decided to stop me. It turns out that fool is you.”
Tighnari screamed something behind Cyno. Cyno wished he could turn around and comfort him, get him out of here before doing anything else, but he had to keep him safe. He had to keep Tighnari alive if he was going to save him. That meant not taking his eyes off the demented scientist.
Another knife flew past Cyno. He dodged.
Tighnari screamed. Cyno instinctively turned -- the knife had caught Tighnari’s earring and was pinning his ear to the wall. Tighnari was now even more immobile than before -- helpless. He had to get him out.
Rage always did something specific to Cyno. It was like every part of him was suddenly on even higher alert than he could consciously conjure. And whatever this was, the reflexive fight instinct that led him to become General Mahamatra, was always, always stronger when it came to protecting Tighnari. It was the only explanation for what happened next.
As if he was an automaton, Cyno particularly swung his polearm and heard the distinct CLINK of the spearhead hitting its mark. Then a knife clattered to the ground.
“I am General Mahamatra. Your knives are nothing to me.”
“But my subject behind you is so much more.”
“I don’t care what you think he is!” Cyno yelled. At this point, he didn’t care if his rage got the better of him.
“But I’m right, aren’t I?” The Scientist purred. “He’s sooo much more to you.”
“Throw another knife.”
A muffled yell echoed out behind Cyno, but he couldn’t spare the attention to turn his head. He only had one shot. This Scientist may be academically smart, but he was too narcissistic to see if he was being played.
Cyno triggered his vision the moment he saw the twisted psychopath tense his muscles for another throw. Electricity jumped from his hands to the blade of the Scientist’s knife, into his enemy’s arms and body. It wasn’t enough to kill, just to stun for a few seconds. It was all the time Cyno needed. A claw of electro slammed into the Scientist and his body smashed into the door, denting the metal and breaking the hinges so the door hung crooked. He wouldn’t be getting up.
When the din ended, he could hear Tighnari trying to yell through the gag. Cyno finally turned to free him and saw him desperately pulling his wrists against the pipe. He was terrified.
“It’s me! Tighnari, I’m okay!! You’re okay!”
Upon hearing his voice, Tighnari noticeably relaxed. Cyno gently pulled the tape off his eyes are saw pools of tears sitting on his eyelashes. He pulled the fabric out of Tighnari’s mouth and let it hang around Tighnari’s neck as he untied his wrists.
“I- I was terrified it was you.” Tighnari hiccuped. As soon as his arms were free, he threw them around Cyno, who simultaneously also pulled him as close as he could.
As Tighnari and Cyno’s breathing evened out, they both calmed down. After a moment, Cyno pulled away. He put his hands on Tighnari’s cheeks and leaned in and kissed him. Tighnari leaned into the kiss, and Cyno took equal comfort from having him close. His heart pulled as he leaned away.
“I’m going to get you somewhere safe.”
Tighnari nodded. He leaned his forehead on Cyno’s shoulder. He sighed.
“You’re good at that.”