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Tighnari was avoiding him.
Cyno couldn’t figure out why. The Balladeer had been defeated, and the Akademiya’s plans foiled. Everyone was celebrating. Friends, families, and couples were all embracing each other, and though he was normally unmoved by such gestures, Cyno wanted to celebrate Sumeru’s newfound peace with his beloved.
But every time he tried to approach Tighnari, the Forest Watcher would disappear into the crowd—and he hated crowds. They were hell on his ears.
After the fifth disappearance, Cyno decided to approach the Traveler about it. They seemed to be wise in the struggles of their friends, and both Cyno and Tighnari fit that description to a T.
“Traveler…” Cyno began upon finding them, but his voice caught in his throat. Had he done something wrong? What if the Traveler knew what was bothering Tighnari and was biased against him?
“Cyno?” The Traveler frowned. “You seem worried. What’s the matter?”
“Tighnari is avoiding me.” Cyno managed to force out the words. “I don’t know why…”
“Oh, I see what’s happening,” the Traveler said after a few seconds of silence. “It’s not you. It’s your Vision.”
“My… Vision?” Cyno was confused. What did his Vision have to do with this?
“It’s Electro,” was all the Traveler said. Cyno was silent. He didn’t understand.
“He never told you,” the Traveler realized. “No one ever told you… Archons, Cyno, it’s not your fault. Let me explain.”
***
The Balladeer was lucky he was in a coma and no one knew where he was. Cyno would have enacted judgement himself if he were walking amongst the crowds—witnesses and laws be damned.
For now, though, Cyno left his Vision in the Traveler’s capable hands. He trusted them not to lose or misuse it. He pushed through groups of people, eyes trained on the tips of Tighnari’s ears that he could see across the Grand Bazaar.
Cyno was stealthy when he wanted to be. As he neared Tighnari, he stopped being so aggressive in his pursuit.
“Tighnari,” he said as he finally caught up to his boyfriend. The Forest Watcher’s left ear flicked as he turned towards Cyno.
Tighnari looked so tired. Like he hadn’t slept in days. He was hunched over in the way someone who was on the cusp of a full recovery could be, though his eyes told a different story.
“Hello, Cyno,” Tighnari said softly, and Cyno almost fell to his knees in relief. Finally, Tighnari wasn’t going to run from him again…
“Are you alright?” That was all Cyno could think about as he rushed towards Tighnari, careful not to jostle him in a way that might aggravate his wounds.
“I’m fine,” Tighnari said, hands on Cyno’s wrists, lifting them away. “Why are you asking? What’s got you so stressed? This is a time to celebrate.”
You’re not celebrating, either, Cyno wanted to say, but instead he replied, “The Traveler told me about the lightning.”
Tighnari’s shoulders slumped a bit. “Ah,” he replied softly. “I never told you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Cyno asked, his facade breaking slightly and allowing a pleading tone to shine through his words.
“There was no time,” Tighnari replied. “And now we’re at a celebration… why would I spoil the atmosphere?”
“ Tighnari .” Cynos voice cracked. “Talk to me.”
Tighnari was silent for a few moments. Then he grabbed Cyno’s wrist and began pulling him away. “Let’s go somewhere quiet. This isn’t the place for this conversation.”
***
“I watched that lightning tear people to shreds,” Tighnari said once they were alone. “I thought I was next. I wasn’t fast enough.”
“You’re alive,” was all Cyno could think to say in response.
“I very nearly wasn’t.” Tighnari took a deep breath. “Your Vision… I can hear the elemental energy within it. It hums the same way the lightning did.”
“The Traveler mentioned that it was born of a Gnosis,” Cyno said. “Maybe that explains it.”
“It doesn’t matter. Not to me.” Tighnari’s tail flicked back and forth in what Cyno had come to identify as anxiety. “They sound the same. I didn’t want to hear it again.”
“I’ll throw my Vision away,” Cyno said. “I don’t need it.”
“There’s no need to go that far—“ Tighnari tried to protest, but Cyno spoke over him.
“If my Vision brings you stress, then I will rid myself of it,” Cyno swore. Tighnari was silent again, and Cyno had a feeling he had said the wrong thing.
“My fear of Electro is something that can be overcome with time, Cyno,” Tighnari said quietly. “There is no need to trouble yourself like that.”
Cyno only nodded, cheeks heating in embarrassment. Maybe he had gone a little far, there.
“But I appreciate your dedication to my happiness,” Tighnari added. Cyno took one of his hands in his own, gently squeezing it.
“If throwing my Vision away won’t help you, then what can I do to ease your pain?”
Tighnari thought about it for a moment, finally saying, “Accompany me back to Gandharva Ville. I hate the noise here.”
“For you? Anything,” Cyno said, rising to his feet. He never let go of Tighnari’s hand, not on the entire walk back nor afterwards.
He’d get his Vision back at a later date.