Work Text:
"Hey Cyno"
"Hhmm?"
"Do you remember the time when we... Confessed to each other?"
The man "Cyno" hums, pondering at the question given to him as fire sizzles and patter with a hiss before it slowly falters once the pot above it was shaken and a dash of salt was poured over what seemed to be cooked and perfectly sliced meat, boiling up the watery soup, filling the room with it's aroma as Cyno opened his mouth and says
"Oh... Do you mean the time you've lost with that Scribe, Al-Haitham?"
A "Tch" and chuckle then a giggle came after the person in front of him, as the fire slowly but surely desipated as the pot was placed to the side before it was replaced with a pan and the fire goes up in flames slowly once more, heating the pan from right under before the person hummed out an answer
"Well... Yes... But..." He paused, facing over to Cyno, green and brown gradient eyes looks back at the sunsety ruby eyes of Cyno's with utmost tenderness as he spoke
"Didn't you also lost a bet with Kaveh too?"
Cyno let out a sigh mixed with a jist of laughter layered to it
"I guess you're meaning about that time huh?" He asked, humming with a smile plastered on his face
"Mmhhmm, don't you remember it?"
Cyno chuckled "How can I not? Remember such unusual but fondful memory?"
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
"You're honestly insane..."
"No, I'm a genius"
A groan followed by a sigh, as red sunset-like eyes pierced their way through the Blondie's red velvet eyes and toothy grin
"You really think I'll say yes to this nonesensical bet of yours?"
"Well if it involves Tighnari, I'm sure you'll comply right?"
A sigh escaped his lips "You are really insane, Kaveh"
"Hhmmm, not really but... Come on, just for old time sake, please Cyno?"
I'd wish I bump into Al-Haitham than his roommate instead now ... As Cyno was just starting at the person in front of him with a blank stare, another person came by and greets them with a smile
"General Mahamatra, Senior Kaveh it's a surprise to see you both in the Grand Bazaar!"
The person who greets them has a bright and welcoming smile on their face, whilst her read hair was tied down to a big braid with flowers covering it from top to bottom as her tealish blue eyes sparkled when she greets the two figure at the area
"Nilou hey! Didn't know I'll bump into you today!" Says the blonde man to the red-haired girl
"Nilou" giggled and waved at him as the other man speaks up
"It's nice to see you again, Nilou" Greeted the other man
"It's nice to see you too again, General Mahamatra" she greets back with a smile "Mind I ask why you both are here?" She then asked, voice filled with curiousity in her tone
"Well I'm here because Mr. Kaveh wouldn't stop bothering me on my way back to the Akademiya" Cyno says plainly
"Hey, I wasn't really bothering you. I just saw you and thought you had some free time after work and I want to play a little bet with you" Kaveh reasoned, nodding at himself with a big smug-like smile
"A ridiculous bet, that'll just waste my time" Cyno says, starring at Kaveh with the most unamused blank stare he can expresses
"Aawww come on, did you really think the bet would be that ridiculous?"
"Yes."
"What bet?" Nilou suddenly asked, as her curiousity peeked her interest to know what bet did these two boys make
"Nilou don't--" Cyno was cuts off when Kaveh began explaining to her the best he proposed to Cyno before she bumped into them with a big bright grin on his face
Cyno internally sighs and prays to the Dendro archon herself that please anyone get him out of this place before these two friends of him dragged him into a hole that he can't escaped from.
Once Nilou heard the full explanation from Kaveh, she giggled and looked at Cyno as she speaks
"I can agree it does sounds ridiculous..." Thank Kusanali-- "But it sounds like the bet is just a harmless one, Cyno. Maybe you should give it a try, hhmm?" She says, smiling brightly and has no idea what or why she agrees on the bet being quiet harmless "
See, Cyno? Even NILOU of all people agrees that the bet was harmless. So why are you afraid to do a little harmless bet with me, huh? Don't tell that... You're afraid to do the bet because it involves your cru--"
"Senior Kaveh, what you are accusing is false and unless you've had any legitimate proof. Then I should remind you that I am still in the middle of my work as the General Mahamatra, so do watch your tongue" Cyno warned, cutting off Kaveh as he knows what Kaveh about to say
"Cyno.." Cyno blinks as his head turned towards Nilou
"You can always forfeit the bet right? Isn't that how bets works? You can always forfeit them if you don't feel comfortable on doing such bet?"
Cyno sighs, Nilou's right he could forfeit this stupid bet that Kaveh proposes to him, but somehow deep inside he kind of don't want to, he kind of want to try the bet and sees how it goes
Cyno's eyes stare to the ground, contemplating on what to do next before he let out a begrudgingly sigh
"Fine... I'll do it"
"Huh?" Both Nilou and Kaveh stared at him confused
"I'll do your bet, Kaveh. But only on one condition"
Kaveh grins and Cyno mentally regrets onto agreeing to do this bet now.
Meanwhile somewhere around Pardis Dhyai, Tighnari just finished noting down the notes he'll need for his next seminar with his students whilst a robotic crab followed him idly as he double checked his notes to see that all had been written properly and easily to understand for his next seminar
Tighnari's ear twitched as a heavy but steady footsteps coming over his direction as his eyes stayed still on the papers at hand, letting whoever comes to him gets closer before he perked his head up to greet the person
"Al-Haitham?"
The person blinks as he waved once to him
"This is a surprise to see you here. Do you in a need of something or are you here to sight seeing?" Tighnari, sounding a bit curious on why Al-Haitham, The Grand Scribe of the Akademiya is here in Pardis Dhyai for
Al-Haitham blinked as he looked over to the robot crab right beside Tighnari. He really did let him kept that? Before looking back at Tighnari
"I'm here to sight seeing, is there anything wrong with it?"
"Oh no, there aren't. I'm just surprised to see you here of all people, that's all" Tighnari says calmly before his eyes goes straight back to his notes, humming to himself while rereading his notes silently
Al-Haitham blinks as he noticed something perticulary new on Tighnari; a gold earring dangling on the fox's left, as it jiggles whenever Tighnari's ears twitched at every bit of sound he can picked up surrounding him, whilst being calm and soo focused on his notes
That Tighnari blinked in a full surprise when Al-Haitham asked him a question
"Where did you get that? I never seen you with any accessories on before. I'm guessing it's a present from someone?"
As Al-Haitham asked that, Tighnari looks back at him and his eyes looked over where Al-Haitham was looking at, and a small blush filled his cheeks with a small shy smile creeping up to his face
"Yes, it was a birthday present from a close friend actually"
"Oh? And would I be apposed to guess, that the one's that give you that gift was someone in the higher ranks of the Akademiya, by the title of General Mahamatra, no?"
Tighnari could feel his face goes red all suddenly and he has no idea why, or well he does but he doesn't want to say it, especially in front of his old colleague, Al-Haitham.
"I..." Tighnari feels like he can't speak out a proper sentence without stuttering as his tail bashed around left and right, while the robotic crab behind him tilts it's head in confusion
"Well?" "I... Why are you asking this soo suddenly, Al-Haitham?" Tighnari blurted out as right now his mind seems to stopped working for a second just because of the question Al-Haitham asked him
"I'm just merely curious. Is that wrong for an old friend to be curious? Or was it something too personal to asks of you, Tighnari?"
Tighnari open his mouth but nothing comes out but only for him to pout slightly
"W-Well then yes... The General Mahamatra did indeed give this to me as a gift, as a birthday gift before my birthday to be exact!" Tighnari said ever soo boldly as Al-Haitham only hummed with a nod at his answer
"I see... And he hasn't even told you his feelings?"
"H-Huh?!" Bewildered and confused, Tighnari stare at Al-Haitham with full confusion written all over his face
"So he hasn't told you?" Al-Haitham says casually
"W-What do you mean by that, Al-Haitham?"
By the look of Al-Haitham's face, Tighnari could only feel that he'll be more confused on what comes from the Scribe's mouth
"I suppose I could tell you what I meant. But I feel if I do, it'll ruin any kind of surprise of your friend might planned on your next meeting?"
Yup, Tighnari is more confused than ever now.
"But... How about you go and asked him yourself on what I meant. Maybe it'll clear something in your mind" Al-Haitham advices as his arms crossed over his chest, head tilted to the side as Tighnari finally blinked and looked at Al-Haitham, glaring a bit
"Hhmm... Suppose I could... But I still have a couple papers to finished and seems like now I can't quiet focused because of this ridiculous question you've asked me with" Tighnari says, shaking his head with a huff
"True... But aren't you a little bit curious on what the meaning of my question to you?"
Tighnari grunts mentally as Al-Haitham is right on that. Tighnari IS curious to know what he means by that, by that Cyno perhaps has feelings for him? No way right? Surely they've been friends right after the investigation and has been hanging once or twice when time let's them. Surely this just a prank to pull his tail... Right?
Seeing Tighnari being quiet, Al-Haitham decided to pose another question or further more a favor for him
"How about this, I challenge on a bet, that Cyno does have extent feelings for you more than a friend would, as to my and my roommate's perspectives, that we both noticed you both seems to be enjoying each other's company quiet a lot lately. And you're both still what? Friends? Most would think you both are lovers by that point"
"That's ridiculous... He surely not..." Tighnari grunts at his mumbles as Al-Haitham only blinked at him
"Well?"
Tighnari sighs
"What's your answer then, Forest Watch Tighnari?"
Tighnari takes a deep breath in, then out as he speaks
"Kaveh's actions really rubs you a lot huh, Haitam?"
Al-Haitham only blinks and shrugged, waiting for Tighnari's answer before the fox nods to him
"Alright... I'll... I'll do your stupid bet..."
As the day slowly turns to noon, and people of Sumeru slowly packing their stuffs up to close their sales for the day and go home to rest
Tighnari received a word from Nilou or well a letter from her that Cyno's wanting to meet up with him at 7 pm sharp, in the gates of the Akademiya. She told him on the letter that Cyno has something to tell him and Tighnari could feel like he knows what he was about to be told but a small pride in him wishes to not lose on that stupid bet Al-Haitham put him on.
Cyno bit his lip, take deep breaths in then out from time to time as he watch as the sky turn to orange and purple from the bright blue filled with clouds forming each kinds of shapes around it
"This is honestly stupid... Why did I agree to this even?"
"You tell me"
Cyno jumped and points his spear right at where the voice comes from only for his eyes widened to see who's voice was it
"Nari?"
Tighnari who jumped back when Cyno points his spear in shock waves at him with a small smile, a nervous small smile to be exact.
"Hey, did I really spook you that bad?"
Cyno let's out a sigh of relief and shakes his head
"No. I'm just surprised to see you here this late. Shouldn't you be back at Gandharva Ville by now?"
"About that... Nilou sent me a letter that says you wanted to talk to me on something, is that correct?"
Cyno felt his soul just dropped as the moment they met, he was posed this question which was surely based on the bet he'd made with Kaveh earlier
Cyno let's out a sigh and nods
"Yes... And it is important for you to know about.." He started, nerves of nervousness starting to crawl up his skin
"I see... Well.. then what is it then, Cyno? What's important information that you wished to tell me?" Tighnari asked, sounding a bit nervous, mirroring Cyno's nervous posture ever soo slightly.
"Well uumm... I... I... Hhnngg... Tighnari I..."
"Yes...?"
"I really... I really really like.... I... IreallyreallylikeyouNarilikealot" Cyno blurts out as he felt the breath he was holding down was now poured out like a jar of jam, pouring their weights down to a piece of bread by accident.
Tighnari who's been standing there, a few steps away from Cyno blinks as his ears twitched, and a small blush appears on his cheeks
"I... Could you repeat that once more?" Tighnari asked, biting his lip slightly
"I really... I really really like you... Tighnari. Like... Like you more than.. a friend.." Cyno finally says, as he avoids eye contact from Tighnari and stares at the floor, feeling like the time around them has stopped in a point that it'll break sooner nor later.
Tighnari's cheeks continues to redeened at what he just heard. So that's... That's what Al-Haitham means...
Tighnari then took a few steps forward, face inches close to Cyno as he bring his hand over to Cyno, making the man looked right back at him, his earthy green and brown gradient eyes met with sunset filled orange red eyes, starring right back at him.
"Really?" Was all Tighnari can muster to say
Cyno nods "And I've been feeling like this ever since we got to know each other more closer and uumm... I... I've been crushing on you for soo long right after that even..."
Tighnari couldn't helped but smiled at what he just heard
"B-But if you don't feel the same, then I do deeply apologize if this conversation makes you uncomfo--?!"
Cyno didn't even finished his sentence only for his lips to be met by Tighnari's, his lips tasted sweet like a sweet honeyed dates; light but sweet to the tongue.
Cyno didn't try to pull away but leaned close, hands wrapped around Tighnari's waist as he wanted to prolonged the kiss but only for Tighnari to pull away after a bit with a light chuckle
"You really just asked Nilou to send me a letter for you to tell me you love me, huh?" Tighnari asked, smiling even more
"Yes..."
Tighnari could only giggle at the face Cyno's making right now
"Well... I feel the same"
"Huh?"
"I..." This time Tighnari is the one that feels nervous cursing through his throat
"I felt that same way you do, Cyno... Especially after this gift you gave me on my birthday..." Tighnari finishes, while rubbing his fingers on the gold earring that Cyno gifted him on his birthday, or well 2 days before his birthday that is.
Cyno could feel his cheeks heating up, almost matching how red Tighnari's cheeks were right now
To which he pull Tighnari close for another kiss, in which Tighnari giggle under the kiss and wrapped his arms around Cyno's neck, letting the day around them continues
As at that point of the day, both Cyno and Tighnari felt relief that they accepted the bet on that day...
"I was soo nervous back then" Cyno finally says after reminiscing on that memory as a bowl now was placed right in front of him
Tighnari chuckled "Well not as nervous as I am"
"Oh really? You? Nervous? Now that's a dumb lie if I heard any"
Tighnari rolled his eyes before setting down a few of the plates down to the table, before making his way to sit right next to Cyno and punched his shoulder playfully
"Heyy what?" "A dumb lie? Really Cyno?"
Cyno can't help but laughed at how Tighnari was pouting slightly at him, only for him to get another punch on the shoulder
"Ow, hey! I'm just joking, Nari ha hah" he says as he pull Tighnari close to his lap and placed his head over Tighnari's shoulder with a hum
"Uh huh..... Pull that joke again and the couch with you" Tighnari threatened playfully as he let his head leaned over to Cyno's back, letting his tail sprail aside as his hand placed above Cyno's, intertwining their fingers together, hearing Cyno's laughter on the chest he's resting on, as a hand brushed their ways to his ears, rubbing them ever soo gently, as Tighnari let out a almost cat-like purr and his tail wags happily at it.
Moments passed before Tighnari spoke up again
"We should tell Collei and Nahida that dinner's ready" "Yeah..."
Cyno then put Tighnari off from his lap, before helping the Fox-like Forest Watcher up to his feet with a soft smile on his face as Tighnari shot him a bright smile in return as they both left the small hut in search for the other two kids are
"You know Cyno..."
"Hhmm?"
"Did we ever actually tell Kaveh & Al-Haitham that we lost the bet?"
"I don't think we have... Should we..."
"Hhmmm... Nahhh. It's better to let them eventually finds out anyways!"
"Finds out about what?"
"Oh? It's nothing important, Nahida"
"....Okay!"