Work Text:
1
When Collie received a letter along with one for her master, she quickly made her way to his hut. Her letter was decorated with a red bow tied around it neatly, dandelions still faint on the letter.
The other one smelled of the desert. Though it was in a plain vanilla envelope, it still reminded her of someone. She made it to his hut in no time, she softly knocked on the wood with great patience.
Her Master appeared with a smile on his face, letting her in with ease. She took in a large inhale of an aroma that was new to her. It reminded her of Liyue, warm and bright.
“Bamboo shoot soup from Liyue.” Tighnari said with a smile. He stirred the liquid while he too, took a smell of the bamboo and ham. Collie smiled, Amber had sent her that recipe not too long ago.
“Amber sent me another letter, can you help me read it?” She asked with a smile once Tighnari sat back at his desk. He nodded, Collie sat next to him as she held the letter lightly.
She opened it with great care, careful not to rip the delicate paper too much. She slipped out the page with nice writing on it, reading it outloud with confidence. Though a few words tricked her, she had made out most of the words.
Tighnari helped her with those, a smile on his face, obviously not bothered by her needed help. Once she could read the letter with a mistake in words, he sent her off, telling her that dinner would be ready soon.
She stood by the soup that was on the stovetop, looking at the contents and ingredients on the page. She heard Tighnari open his letter, she then looked over to see his face pink.
“Master! Are you ok?!” She asked, checking his temperature with the back of her hand, her mind thinking of the worst. Tighnari coughed into his hand, not a congested one, more of a clearing of a throat to say he is ok.
“I am ok Collie, I just– got quite hot from the soup on the stove.” He said, his eyes wandering the room to look at small artefacts on the wall. Collie sighed into her hand, her panic gone.
She took a peak at the letter after they finished eating. It was from Mr.Cyno. She took a deep breath as she read the rest of the note, the last words, “I love you, stay safe.”
She bit her cheek, what was the definition of love, and why did Cyno say it to Tighnri?
2
Cyno had come to visit, he was happy to see her and Tighnari. He smelt like the sun and the burnt grains of sand.
She smiled when she saw him, she even gave him a small hug, even though it was a small one. Cyno smiled back at her, his hands hesitant against her skin.
That day, patrol was short, or at least felt so. Once she returned to her masters hut, she was met by a great smell in the air again. Cyno had his hands around Tighnari’s waist, whispering in his ear.
“Good afternoon, Master Tighnari, Mr.Cyno.” She whispered once she walked in, Cyno’s hands flying to his side. He chuckled as he messed with his white hair, his usual Jackal hood sitting by Tighnari’s coat.
They ate “Yearning” as Collei calls it. She dismissed herself from his hut, returning to her own with a smile on her face. After a good meal and favourite food with her favourite people it really puts a smile on her face.
3
Cyno was still visiting, he was sitting on Tighnari’s bed with a smile, Tighnari was in the kitchen making them a breakfast, warm air and voices were heard from outside.
Collie invited herself in, smiling at Tighanri who was making simple eggs. Cyno was barely awake in his bed, his arm propped up his head. He smiled even though his eyelids were heavy.
She smiled, ignoring how he had no shirt on. Collie sat herself on the large wooden table that sat in what she called the dining room. Tighnari brought her an egg while he gave Cyno his as he still sat in bed. Tighnari joined her at the table.
He winched when he sat, Collie opened her mouth, then closed it. She had just remembered that she didn’t swallow her food yet. “Say, Master?” She asked once she swallowed.
Tighnari looked up from where he sat, humming to know that she had his attention. “Are you ok? I noticed it was hard for you to sit down. Do you maybe have an irritation on your tail?” She asked, not noticing the way Cyno chuckled.
“You could say that.” Cyno whispered after he took a bite of his own egg. Tighnari blushed, Collie stared in confusion.
4
All three of them walked through the forest. Cyno was right next to Tighnari, walking the same speed, but with lighter steps. Collie looked at the local fungi that littered the area, Tighnari whispering what it is and what it does to Cyno.
She walked in front of them, noticing lost adventures, clearing camps with treasure hoarders. They never made it too far apart– except when they were in battle.
She sighed once they made it to the end of their patrol route, it was quite easy yet time consuming. They skimmed through the forest one last time before they made it back to Tighnari’s hut. Cyno collapsed on the bed as soon as they entered the door.
He sighed into the pillow but turned his head to look at Tighnari, “How do you do this each day?” He asked, “The tree’s even cry once they see you.” He sighed. Tighnari groaned.
“Ah you don’t get it…” Cyno sighed, “Well you see, it always rains–”
Tighnari interrupted him with a smack to the side of the head, lightly but still got the point across. Cyno pouted, tugging on Tighnari’s shirt to reveal small dark purple circles.
He yipped and pulled his shirt back up, “Quit that!” He shouted quietly, hitting Cyno once more, Collie stared, her mind thinking of what that possibly was.
“Are the mosquitoes getting to you?” She asked with a frown, her hand pointing to her own neck even though it was blank. Tighnari stuttered, his hand travelling around his body, no words getting out of his mouth.
After a quick dinner, Collie left, she smiled at them even though she was still very confused on how her master had gotten so many mosquito bites from that day's patrol.
5
It was coming close to Cyno's time in the forest to be up. He used his vacation days every year for a week to come and see them (not counting the days he sees them for only one day).
The days were short for her too, even though she knew Tighnari cared more about Cyno then Collei cared for him. Not that she didn’t like him, it was that TIghnari had a really close bond to Cyno (that special word, ‘love’ was it?)
She would catch them sleeping in the same bed, hugging each other like their life depended on it. She didn’t say a word, instead, she left them alone in the bed, spending time with each other. She really needed to ask what that word ment.
She walked into his hut with a smile, seeing Tighnari cooking breakfast one last time for the three of them. Cyno watched, his eyes glued on his back. She decided to ask them then.
“Master Tighnari, what does the word love mean?” Collie asked, her eyes looking at his moving arms. Tighnari smiled, his hands stopped moving to look her in the eyes.
“Love can mean many different things,” he started, “for example, I love you, but as a father.” Tighnari said lightly. “And I love Cyno.” He said, collie opened her mouth.
“What do you mean you love Cyno, that is what I don’t understand.” She asked, her lips folding into a small frown.
“I love Cyno like I love you, but it is more…” Tighnari sighed, how was he going to explain this? “It’s more, sappy?” He said, unsure with what words he chose.
Cyno sighed as he stood up from the bed, he walked over to where Tighnari stood, taking his face softly in his hands, connecting their lips. They stood there for a second until Tighnari broke away with a deep breath.
+1
Collie understood, her love toward Cyno and Tighnari was still love, just not love as lovers. They were her family. She smiled, they hugged. They were at the border of the desert seeing Cyno off. Today, Tighnari had an odd limp, including a few more purple bites that were higher on his neck.
As Cyno took a step towards the sand, Tighnari followed, taking him into a hug. She followed and held them tight. She smiled, her cheeks hurting from the happy feeling.
Cyno took Tighnari’s face again and kissed him with a smile. They stood there, basking in each other's presents. Cyno dropped his hands down to his hips and rested his forehead on the other male’s.
“I love you” Cyno said softly as he kissed his nose.
“I love you more.” Tighnari whispered back, taking his lips on his and kissing him once more, this time more roughly.
Collie smiled before she too said something. “I love both of you more.”