Work Text:
Alhaitham felt a tap on his shoulder.
Muscle memory kicked in.
He summoned his sword and slashed at the intruder before his brain could fully process who it was. His sword met resistance with a strength behind the weapon that could only belong to one person.
“Hey, it’s me,” a familiar voice said.
Alhaitham blinked blearily, seeing the shadow of a jackal headdress morph into something more recognizable: Cyno. He dispersed his sword with a muttered apology and rubbed his eyes. A tension headache started forming after the initial adrenaline wore off.
“What time is it?” Alhaitham asked. He sat back, massaging the crick in his neck and rolling his shoulders with an audible pop. The entire floor of the Grand Sage’s office was bathed in moonlight - the candle on his desk had long since burned out. Various papers were scattered in front of him and more piles covered the huge desk. Empty inkwells littered the area too. A blotch of ink covered the document he was working on before he accidentally fell asleep.
“2 AM,” Cyno said. “You didn’t come home at the usual time again, and it’s been happening more often recently, according to Kaveh. I got worried.” He stood in front of Alhaitham, leaning back on the desk with his arms crossed.
“Sorry, there’s been a lot of paperwork,” Alhaitham frowned and stretched his writing hand. “Many closed cases of fraudulent research, thanks to a certain someone. Not to mention drafting ordinances, reviewing and approving them in addition to research project proposals…” The list went on.
“Go home and rest Haitham. As you always say, anything can wait until you’re on the clock.” Cyno leaned in, planting a soft kiss on Alhaitham’s lips. When he pulled back, he rubbed circles into that crick on the Acting Grand Sage’s neck. Alhaitham closed his eyes and sighed in relief, leaning his head against Cyno’s shoulder and hugged his waist, bringing him closer and breathing in his scent, the smell of Sumeru Roses.
“Maybe I could convince Lesser Lord Kusanali to take it easy for a little while too. There is much to be done, but they can’t be accomplished if you both burn yourselves out,” Cyno said thoughtfully.
“Since when did you become the one to remind us about taking breaks?” Alhaitham scoffed playfully. He couldn’t help but want to fall asleep as they were. Cyno was too good at giving massages. Alhaitham didn’t even realize how tense his neck and shoulders were, as Cyno started to work on those knots too.
“Maybe you have some sound advice that isn’t so farfetched sometimes,” Cyno quipped. Alhaitham grumbled, not feeling up to a debate at this time of night on how he has plenty of good life advice.
“If you come and rest at my place tonight, it’s probably more peaceful than all that hammering I heard on my way here.” Alhaitham looked up to see a rare smirk plastered on Cyno’s face.
“Sounds like a plan,” Alhaitham chuckled and took Cyno’s outstretched hand.