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✧
Alhaitham wasn’t expecting it to rain today. It wasn’t pouring per se, but it was raining hard enough that the concrete in front of her complex was wet and shiny. She had checked the forecast sometime last week to confirm Cyno’s move-in date with Dehya, and the forecast then had been a clear sky.
One look out of the window earlier had proved it to be wrong. By then, Alhaitham had already set out a couple towels on the kitchen counter, anticipating that Dehya and her new housemate would need it due to the weather outside.
Alhaitham looked wistfully at the rest of her apartment, a little displeased with the thought that her solitary lifestyle would soon be disturbed once again.
Her last housemate, Kaveh, had moved out months ago on account of finally finding a place of her own. Since then, Alhaitham had been enjoying the peace and quiet and the not being kept awake by constant banging at four in the morning.
Maybe sometimes the apartment felt too quiet, especially with Alhaitham having gotten used to the white noise of another person living with her. But that was what music was for.
She sent Dehya a text, It’s raining.
A reply came in instantly, yes, mother hen, i know. eta is 10mins
Alhaitham huffed, thinking back to how she’d befriended such a person.
Years ago, Dehya had saved Alhaitham from losing her dissertation, all of her research, and all of the blood, sweat, and tears that had gone into it. Dehya had prevented the subsequent crash and burn that would have happened had she actually lost it.
In short, Alhaitham owed Dehya a favour.
A favour that she decided to use two weeks ago when she mentioned to Alhaitham that a friend of hers needed a place to stay due to a last minute work transfer. Cyno would be new to the city, and apparently no one else in their friend group had space for another roommate like Alhaitham did. It would be for a month or two at most, is what Dehya had said, and Alhaitham knew she couldn’t refuse.
Besides, according to Dehya, Cyno was a stellar housemate. They’d lived together in a dorm during their undergrad years, and Dehya had said to Alhaitham, verbatim, she’s the only reason I made it out of there alive.
Her other testimonials included, Cyno’s a good girl, and she’s neat and she’s quiet, and you won’t have any trouble with her.
The cherry on top was Dehya saying, if anything, I think you would be the worst roomie out of the two of you.
Which is to say, Alhaitham isn’t all too worried about Cyno.
The sound of someone knocking on the door breaks her train of thought, and she moves to open the door, towels in hand.
She nearly drops it at the sight of the woman in front of her, dripping wet and smouldering and currently holding a box of what Alhaitham assumes contains her belongings. She’s devastatingly beautiful.
“Um.” Alhaitham says eloquently. “Hi.”
She makes a mental note to ask Dehya why she didn’t bother to mention that Cyno was just her type.
“Hey,” Cyno says, looking up at Alhaitham with scarlet eyes. “You must be Alhaitham. Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.” She almost holds out her hand for a shake before she remembers that Cyno’s hands are full. She settles for smiling awkwardly instead.
“Alhaitham!” Thankfully, Dehya calls out to her as she rounds the hallway corner, saving her from making more of a fool out of herself. She looks soaked too, her hair and shoulders just as wet as Cyno’s. Alhaitham rolls her eyes at her, but all Dehya does is grin back.
She comes to stand behind Cyno, motioning to the boxes in their arms, “Where should we put these?”
“You can set them down here for now,” Alhaitham says, pointing to a spot she’d cleared out in the living room area. “The two of you should dry off first, before you catch a cold. I’ll grab some spare clothes in the meantime.”
They both give their thanks and set off for the living room, chatting happily all the while Alhaitham tries her hardest not to stare at Cyno’s retreating figure.
She sighed internally. It was going to be a long two months.
✧
Dehya left shortly after her and Cyno had brought up all her boxes from the moving truck, giving Alhaitham her customary goodbye of a clap on the back and a see ya, with a wink thrown in.
Alhaitham was going to make her buy so many bottles of wine to make up for this experience.
(Earlier, Alhaitham had walked in on Dehya and Cyno drying themselves off in the living room. Alhaitham had almost walked into a wall when Cyno’s bare arms came into view; tanned, lean, and muscular. It was a definite moment of weakness.)
Alhaitham knocked on the door of Cyno’s room, pushing it open after hearing a faint come in.
She sees it then, when Cyno reaches above her to put what looks like a small statue of a jackal on its haunches onto the highest bookshelf. It’s a soulmark most likely, the design of it shaped and styled like one—purple and in the shape of what she thinks is a scarab beetle.
For some reason, Alhaitham’s heart sinks. Then she rebukes herself for even considering such a thing. It would be unreasonable of her to do so, not to mention the fact that she and Cyno had just met.
It had just been so long since Alhaitham felt anything for anyone, attraction most notably.
Eventually, Cyno turns to face her, evidently pleased with the way that she’s set her bookshelf up. With the quick glance that Alhaitham gives over it—most of the books are related to criminal law, with the others seeming to be guide books for something called Genius Invocation TCG. The rest of her room is mostly set up too, tidy but not clinically so.
“Did you need me for something?” Cyno asks politely, catching her attention. She moves to sit on the bed, never taking her eyes off of Alhaitham.
Alhaitham clears her throat. “Not at all. I wanted to see if you needed anything from me, actually.”
Cyno shakes her head, eyes kind. “No, everything’s perfect.” She stands up, moving towards Alhaitham.
“On another note, thank you again for letting me stay with you. I’m sure Dehya’s given you some sort of thanks too but, I just wanted to give my own.” Cyno gives her a small smile. “I’ll be out of your hair soon enough, I promise.”
“Take your time. I don’t mind.” Alhaitham doesn’t know what possesses her to say that, especially when she would normally be over-the-moon at the thought of having her all of her space to herself again.
She suspects some part of her knows, probably. A part deep inside that knows that she wouldn’t mind having Cyno around for a while.
✧
Although Alhaitham expected it to be so—Cyno is an impeccable housemate. If not the best one she’s ever had. Dehya had been correct about Cyno’s behaviour and habits, among other things.
She still doesn’t know much about Cyno’s job, only that it called for long hours and shifts during unconventional times of the day. Even despite that, Cyno still manages to juggle housework and her career effortlessly.
Cyno was fully moved-in by her second day, which Alhaitham supposes speaks to her efficiency and systematic thinking. It’s clear that Cyno is observant and meticulous, perceptive to a degree that even Alhaitham wouldn’t be able to rival.
She deeply respects people like her. Anyone that also understood the importance of a proper routine and a well-kept personal abode was someone after her own heart, truly.
Alhaitham had made sure to make space for Cyno’s things in the common areas before her arrival which could logically add to the reason why it seemed like her belongings perfectly slotted in with Alhaitham’s own. It’s probable.
Though that wouldn’t explain the way that sometimes Alhaitham’s things will have been tidied up for her, in the exact way she likes them, no less.
Once, she had forgotten to buy the kind of coffee she preferred for her morning brew. The bag of beans she had stored in her kitchen was nearly empty. She had made a note for herself that day, to buy a new bag on the errand run that she planned to go on the day after.
Yet the next morning when she had opened the cabinet out of sheer muscle memory, she found a full bag of coffee, the exact same brand.
It was baffling, but of course Alhaitham had an idea of just who was responsible.
She spent the rest of the morning reading and savouring her freshly brewed mug of coffee, thinking to herself that it tasted much better than usual.
✧
When Cyno brought up the prospect of a Dungeons and Dragons night Alhaitham was fully prepared to hide away in her room, headphones on and her current read in hand, but somehow here she was, decidedly not in her room doing any of those things.
Cyno invited people over for the occasion—Dehya being one of them, but also three others that Alhatham has never met before.
She meets Tighnari for the first time—who Dehya had once mentioned was Cyno’s best friend. She has a dry humour, blunt but also as sharp as a tack, and Alhaitham understands quite quickly why she and Cyno are close.
Candace is kind, having brought a bottle of wine to give to Alhaitham as a thank you for hosting. Her keen eye becomes more obvious as the night goes on, as well as her ability to speak her mind and stand her own ground. She can see the ways in which she and Dehya would balance each other out and the thought entertains her, knowing that Dehya has met her match.
Collei is sweet, aside from being a little shy. She appears to be the youngest out of all of them, evident in the way that both Cyno and Tighnari dote on her, encouraging her when she seems unsure of herself. Above all, her enthusiasm is endearing, her earnest efforts made obvious to Alhaitham.
It’s loud and definitely the most people Alhaitham has ever had in her place, but it’s lively. It might be the most fun that Alhaitham has had in a long time.
At the end of the night, when Cyno invites her to come along to the next night—at Dehya and Candace’s place this time—she finds herself saying yes.
✧
Cyno had asked about Alhaitham’s vinyl record collection sometime within the first week of her moving in. Alhaitham had explained that she was free to play anything she liked, whenever she liked, as long as it wasn’t too loud since the neighbours were a little bit sensitive.
She asked how to use it properly then, listening carefully to Alhaitham’s instructions and clarifying when she wasn’t sure about something. She was cautious around it at first, but since then Cyno has put on her fair share of albums, listening to anything from soft rock to the bossa nova records that Alhaitham has in her collection.
Today though, Cyno has ventured deeper into the drawer, finding an old box tucked into the very back.
“What are these?” Cyno questions, holding the lid to the box in both hands.
Alhaitham stood from her spot on the couch, joining Cyno on the floor. “These are some of the records from my Grandma’s collection. She left them for me, when she passed.”
“Oh.” Cyno looks up at her, solemn. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Alhaitham looks back. “She would’ve loved that you asked.”
“Here.” Alhaitham reaches for the box, rifling through the sleeves to find a certain record, the feeling of the covers beneath her fingertips ingrained in her entire being, her soul.
She gently pulls out the vinyl she was looking for from the rest of the pile, the faded colours and worn text on the sleeve making her feel warm and melancholy at the same time. “This one was my grandmother’s favourite.”
“She would play it for me anytime she had the chance.” Alhaitham lets out a puff of air, laughing a little at the memories. “It turned into my favourite too. It still is. I don’t know how I didn’t get sick of it back then.”
She chanced a look at Cyno from the corner of her eye, catching her in the middle of a slight smile. Her hands were tucked behind her knees and she was giving Alhaitham her utmost attention and Alhaitham couldn’t breathe. She wanted to kiss her, terribly so.
Alhaitham pursed her lips, making a quick decision.
She stood again, favourite record in hand, and made her way towards the player. She took the vinyl from the frayed sleeve, setting it onto the turntable. It crackled to life after a moment, a crooning voice filling the air around them.
She sat down next to Cyno again, pretending to occupy herself with the other records in the box. She didn’t know what she would do if Cyno didn’t like something so precious to her, but Cyno was lovely and appreciative as always, swaying in time with the melody.
“I only play these ones maybe once or twice a year,” Alhaitham says, unprompted. “They’re old enough that I feel the need to preserve them. Perhaps to have them as keepsakes as opposed to functional records. There aren’t very many of them left on the resale market, and some of the prices for these particular records can be quite steep.”
Cyno looks at her then, mouth open. “But then…” She points to the turntable, still playing, plainly at a loss for words.
“It’s alright.” Alhaitham smiles at her, hoping that she doesn’t look as infatuated as she feels. “This can be my ‘one time’ of the year.”
Cyno’s face softens then, looking away after. “Okay.” She nods, to Alhaitham or herself, it’s not clear, but she looks as if she’s just come to a conclusion.
They stay like that for some time, the both of them sitting on the floor, together but apart, listening to bygone love songs.
✧
Two weeks later, Cyno comes home with a familiar looking vinyl record sleeve in hand. Somehow, Cyno had found another press of her favourite record, in mint condition, made in the same year as the one her grandma had left her.
“Cyno, how did you—I can’t accept this. It must have cost a fortune.” Alhaitham looks at her, her face hot and heart in mid flight.
“If you’re so sure that it cost a fortune, wouldn’t it be rude to not accept it?” Cyno crosses her arms in front of her from where she’s sat on the couch next to her, half-teasing and half-serious.
Alhaitham doesn’t know how to respond to that, settling for sitting on the couch instead, the shock making her legs weak. She lightly runs a finger over the edge of the cover in her lap, in awe.
“Seriously, how did you find this? The condition it’s in…” Alhaitham can’t stop looking at the way the colours look alive on this cover, vibrant in a way that she can only recreate in her dreams. She looks at Cyno again, waiting for an answer.
Cyno merely shrugs at her, “I have my ways. An old partner from work owed me a favour, that's all.”
She calmly takes the record from where it sits on Alhaitham’s lap and stands to put it on the turntable. The player crackles to life, and then, a beloved melody comes on.
“Maybe with this copy you can listen to it more than once a year.” Cyno says, sounding satisfied.
Alhaitham was sure that she looked stupid, rendered speechless and her mouth agape. But she couldn’t help it, she was touched. This was the sweetest gesture anyone had ever done for her.
“I—maybe so. Thank you, Cyno. I really appreciate this.” She replies, as sincere as possible.
Cyno looked away from her then, but the flush high on her cheeks was obvious even from this angle.
“It was no trouble.” She said bashfully.
They spend that afternoon listening to records too, but this time, only one vinyl touches the turntable.
✧
Over the last week or so, Cyno had gotten into the habit of inviting Alhaitham to take night walks with her. Thankfully, Alhaitham’s apartment was in a decent part of town, meaning that it was relatively safe for them to do so.
Most of the time they would simply walk, enjoying the cool evening air and the sounds of the world quieting down. Other times they would race each other in the park next to her complex, acting and feeling like teenagers again.
They were both quite competitive, Alhaitham had learned.
Everyday, she was uncovering more and more about who Cyno was and well, she was always a more inquisitive person than most.
It was almost exhilarating, she could admit. Every new thing she learned, she stored away, like a dragon possessive of its hoard.
Some things she’d tucked closer than most. Like the way Cyno would leave for work in the mornings, dressed in suit and tie. Or the way that Cyno would sometimes call her late at night from her workplace, knowing that Alhaitham was also still awake. Even the way Cyno’s face lit up when Alhaitham cooked tahchin for the first time.
Since Alhaitham worked at home, she tended to be the one to cook most of the time. Though they’d never explicitly come to the agreement to always cook for two when either of them cooked, somehow they’d both begun doing so.
When Cyno worked late she would leave Cyno’s portion on the counter with a note attached, usually along the lines of what it was and a for you.
In the mornings, the plate and note would be gone, the kitchen as spotless as ever.
On the days where Cyno would come home early, Alhaitham would be sitting out on the balcony, looking at the sunset with a book in hand. Cyno would silently join her, shucking her suit and her tie and falling into the other chair.
They would sit there, soaking in the last of the evening sun and each other’s presence.
Out of all the things that Alhaitham had learned about Cyno, there were things tucked even closer. A memory of Cyno’s dimple, small but pronounced only when a laugh took complete hold of her. The nape of Cyno’s neck when her hair was pushed out of the way, draped over her shoulder instead. Her smell, crisp and especially strong after taking a shower.
There were still so many things that Alhaitham had yet to learn about Cyno, and she wanted to know it all. Every last thing.
✧
Even as a child, Alhaitham was never one to pay any mind to soulmarks. Her parents weren’t soulmates and from what she could remember of her childhood, they loved each other very dearly.
In a world full of seven billion people, it was common knowledge that a soulmark pairing was rare. Thus, it was unlikely that Alhaitham would ever meet her soulmate, she’d accepted that a long time ago. She wouldn’t waste time dwelling on something so arbitrary.
But now?
With Cyno in her life, Alhaitham found herself thinking more and more about that “soulmate” of hers. The faceless, nebulous, supposed “love of her life” that she was intended to love until the end of time.
It was senseless, but when she thought about a forever love, all she could see was Cyno. The face she made when she lost at Genius Invocation, the way her fringe would always fall into her eyes, the scrunch of her nose when she laughed, the way she looked on the balcony, watching the sunset with Alhaitham. All she could see was Cyno. It was always Cyno.
She hadn’t yet breached the topic of soulmates to Cyno, not even the morbid curiosity she’d felt since that very first day propelling her to ask. For the first time, the thought of hearing the truth is a terrifying thought.
At night, she would look down at the soulmark on her sternum and wonder what it would be like if Cyno had the same one.
✧
“Alhaitham, you can’t seriously be this dense.” Dehya looked at her, unamused.
Alhaitham leaned forward on the table, resting her chin on her propped arms. “Hm, you can call me whatever you like, as long as you’re still paying.”
Dehya let out a frustrated groan. She flipped her hair out of her face. “You’re insufferable. Do you think our resident work-a-holic would leave halfway through her workday for just anyone?”
“She was merely being a good roommate. It’s basic common courtesy for a friend. I would check on your personal well-being too, if I heard that you were sick.” Alhaitham sat back in her chair.
Dehya reached over the table and lay a hand on her shoulder. “Alhaitham, you’re one of my closest friends, so I mean this in the kindest way possible—you’re delusional. You would send a ‘Get well soon.’ text and soup through a delivery service, at best.”
Alhaitham can’t even find it within herself to deny that, recalling the time that Dehya had broken a leg due to a stunt double job gone wrong.
Alhaitham texted her, ‘Have a speedy recovery.’ and then mailed her a box of her favourite chocolates. They hadn’t gotten together to meet in person for months. She cringes inwardly.
“Regardless, that’s just the way that Cyno is. She’s.. caring like that.” Alhaitham insisted.
Dehya sighed, shaking her head. “Whatever, I’ll still be here when you two stop circling each other like idiots. You guys are cute together, I can’t be the only person that sees that.” Dehya smirked at her. “You better make me your maid of honour for the wedding.”
At that, Alhaitham threw a balled-up napkin at her face, then made it a point to order the most expensive bottle of wine on the menu.
✧
Alhaitham woke up to the sound of glass shattering. She bolted out of her room, heart hammering in her chest. She found Cyno looking regretfully at the floor, shards of what used to be a drinking glass scattered by her feet.
“Cyno, are you okay?”
Cyno looked up at the sound of her voice and oh, she looked miserable. Even from this distance Alhaitham could tell that she had caught the bug that Alhaitham had just gotten over—with her help, too.
Alhaitham cursed at herself, lamenting the fact that the thought Cyno could catch it from her never crossed her mind.
Cyno was still looking at her, forehead sweaty and hair a mess. Gods, she was beautiful, even like this. “I’m sorry about your cup.” She said quietly, sounding a bit sad.
Alhaitham shook her head, already reaching for the broom she kept in the corner. “It’s just a cup. You, on the other hand, should be in bed. You’re sick. I’ll call your office for you.”
She cleared up just enough glass to pass through it safely, then reached for Cyno’s hand.
Cyno protested the entire time Alhaitham led her back to her room. I never get sick, she’d said, probably delirious, I’m as healthy as a horse. Alhaitham would laugh if not for the way that Cyno’s skin felt molten hot under her hands.
She tucked Cyno into her bed, bringing the covers up to her chin. Then, thinking better of it, she brought it down to her waist instead. She hadn’t even finished doing that before she started to hear Cyno’s soft breathing, having already fallen asleep.
Alhaitham goes back to the kitchen, cleaning up what’s left of the glass. She grabs medicine and a glass of water for Cyno too, assuming that that was what she wanted in the first place. Then she calls Cyno’s office, reading the number off of the fridge where Cyno had posted it that first week.
Back in Cyno’s room, she carefully sets down the medicine and water next to what she thinks is a stack of the notes that Alhaitham usually leaves with the dinners that she leaves for her. She makes a mental note to tease Cyno for that later.
Cyno had kicked off the covers in her sleep, and Alhaitham pressed her lips together to hide a smile, amused with the way she starfished on the bed. Her clothes had shifted too, her shirt riding up and her sweatpants falling to expose a band of brown skin just above her hip.
Alhaitham reached over to tug her shirt down, but a flash of cyan caught her attention.
Alhaitham rubbed her eyes at first, disbelieving. There, on Cyno’s hip, was what she couldn’t deny was a soulmark.
An eye, in the same shape of the soulmark that she had, but cyan instead of ruby red. It was almost exactly the same. Mindlessly, she ran a curious thumb over it, Cyno’s skin warm and soft underneath her finger.
Suddenly, the mark glowed bright white. Alhaitham felt her own sternum start to feel warm too. She couldn’t help the gasp she let out, falling to the floor and pressing a hand over her chest, the spot where her soulmark would be.
When the heat left and she could finally breathe, she looked back at Cyno’s mark, the colour of it having morphed to be half-cyan and half-scarlet. She predicted that her mark would look the same if she were to look at it.
Belatedly, Alhaitham peeked at Cyno to see if she had woken up from the commotion, only to find her already sitting up, looking at her with wide eyes.
“You… We’re soulmates?” Cyno blinked at her, looking at the soulmark on her hip and then Alhaitham, then her hip again. She was trembling a little. “Am I dreaming right now?”
“No, I don’t think so.” Alhaitham hoped that Cyno wasn’t dreaming, because then that would mean that she was probably dreaming too. She so deeply wanted this to be real; she needed it to be.
“Show me yours.” Cyno demanded, her eyes resolute.
Alhaitham could feel herself blush, thinking about taking her shirt off in front of Cyno. The thought was almost too much, a little too close to a desire she kept locked away at night, but there was no way she was going to deny Cyno anything now.
She stood and clumsily took her shirt off, the strap of her bra falling down her shoulder in her efforts. She looked down at her chest.
She was right, her own mark had changed colours too, mirroring the way that Cyno’s had transformed just a minute ago.
For a moment, she and Cyno simply stared at the soulmark on her sternum, the only sound in the room their shaky breathing.
Cyno broke their stunned silence first. “Come here.” She patted the space on the bed next to her, moving the covers away at the same time.
Alhaitham put her shirt on again, then crossed to the other side of the room, tentatively getting into the bed and wrapping herself in Cyno’s blanket. She just barely resisted the urge to cover herself with it entirely.
Cyno lay down to face her, hands tucked under her chin. She still looked a little sickly, but certainly less miserable than she did earlier. Alhaitham loves her so much.
“So,” Cyno started, “We’ve been soulmates this whole time, huh?”
“I guess so.” Alhaitham felt a smile spread across her face, her heart clenching and unclenching in her chest. She couldn’t believe it.
Cyno’s nose scrunched, and she poked Alhaitham in the cheek. “You look so ridiculous right now. Were you always this obvious with your affections for me?”
Alhaitham looked away slightly, Dehya’s words coming to mind, You guys are cute together, I can’t be the only one that sees that. She hums.
“Perhaps we’ve both been blind. Let’s call it a draw.” Alhaitham deduces.
Cyno moved closer, a competitive look on her face. “Hang on, I didn’t realise that we were competing for the title of ‘Most Oblivious, Love-sick Fool’. In which case, I think you should definitely win.”
Alhaitham took the chance to pull Cyno in by the small of her waist, revelling in the way she lets it happen. “In my defence, the first day I met you I thought I saw your soulmark. Whatever I saw definitely wasn't what I thought it was.”
“What do you mean?” Cyno’s brows furrow, confusion obvious on her face.
Alhaitham raised her own arm to tap at the space between the inside of her elbow and her armpit, “You have a mark here, a purple scarab beetle of some sort. I thought that was your soulmark.”
“Oh!” Cyno’s confusion cleared, her brows rising in understanding. “That’s just a tattoo. My foster siblings and I got matching ones when we all moved away from each other.”
“Ah, I see.” Alhaitham said, admiring the sentiment. She felt silly suddenly, for jumping to conclusions. In truth, it was unlike her to skirt around such manners, taboo or not. She supposes that this whole situation could have been avoided if she had just asked Cyno.
Cyno tugged on her ear, catching her attention. “You know, for someone that relies so heavily on words for a living, you sure don’t know how to use them sometimes.” She grinned, teasing.
Alhaitham huffed, taking Cyno’s hand and weaving their fingers together. “You’re lucky you’re sick. It would be wrong of me to take advantage of someone so weak and ill.”
Quick as a flash, Cyno rolled her over, straddling her hips and holding Alhaitham’s hands above her head with her own. “Who’re you calling ‘weak’? I can take you anytime, sick or not.”
Alhaitham cocked her head at Cyno, raising her eyebrow in a challenge. Cyno’s hold on her was unbreakable. “You can take me anytime, you say?”
Cyno leaned down, brushing their noses together. “Anytime.”
She surged up to kiss Cyno, the temptation of it winning over the part of her that knew Cyno should be resting.
Alhaitham doesn’t know how long they spend just kissing each other, but when they break away they’re both breathing heavily.
“I need to—” Cyno said, before she cut herself off, dropping her whole body weight on Alhaitham, making her let out a small oof. She let go of Alhaitham’s hands a while ago in favour of holding her neck while they kissed.
It’s clear that she gave up on holding herself up any longer, instead shifting her body so that she lay next to Alhaitham instead, one warm hand resting on her soulmark.
She shivered when Alhaitham wrapped an arm around her hip, kissing the top of her head.
They fall asleep like that, with one of Alhaitham’s hands on Cyno’s soulmark and Cyno with a hand resting on hers, their bodies intertwined.
✧