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“Well, Cyno,” Kaveh hummed, fanning the cards between his fingers artfully. Between his deft hands and a card deck designed by himself, his flourishes were certainly something. His playstyle, however, could not be said to match. He usually chased the satisfaction of quick damage over careful consideration, and it riddled his play with minuscule mistakes adding up in his opponent’s favour. His grin right now, though, was confident and smug. “Looks like this one goes to me.”
It was true that Cyno’s situation was dire - he had two characters left, both of which had taken considerable damage. Still, the last die had yet to roll. The beauty of this game was its unpredictability - strategy could be undone by luck, luck could be outplayed with wit. "You're too cocky," Cyno warned.
Kaveh hummed. “We’ll see about that.”
Tighnari leaned closer, cup cradled loosely in one hand. “You have to hand it to Kaveh, he played a mean game so far. I'm interested to see how this will shake out." He had begun the evening with a quill in hand, scratching away at notes. The fact that this duel had his full attention now set warmer in Cyno’s stomach than any wine ever could, sweet without being intoxicating.
Kaveh gave Tighnari a toothy grin. “Treat me to a drink when I win, yes?”
Cocky. It would be his downfall.
As Tighnari and Kaveh negotiated their bet, Cyno glimpsed at Alhaitham. The man had begun the evening with his head buried in his book, and had moved only to idly flip its pages, and occasionally lift his cup and take a sip. It was nothing new, of course - Cyno just didn't understand how anyone could be unfazed by the cards laid out before them.
Curiously, Alhaitham chose that moment to raise his voice, though. “The longer you keep bragging, the more embarrassing your inevitable loss, you know.”
Kaveh bristled. "You haven’t looked at these cards even once! Who are you to talk?!"
Alhaitham still did not bother looking up. "You're going to lose," he stated like fact. “I was just offering some advice to stay humble.”
“Ignore him,” Cyno cut in, sending Alhaitham a sour look the man, of course, did not even notice. The last die was yet to fall indeed, but this did not feel like a comment made in good faith of Cyno’s ability to turn things around, but purely to spite Kaveh. It just didn’t sit right with Cyno. “People who don't pay attention have no place to talk.”
Alhaitham's lip quirked. Cyno’s eyes darted to the small movement, a flash of adrenaline going through him like lightning. In battle, this second of a smile meant Alhaitham was about to triumph, and was well aware of the fact.
Sitting up straighter, Alhaitham put a finger between the pages of his book and gently tapped its spine against the table. “Kaveh, why do you think his line-up is at low health in the first place? Cyno favors offense, but he is no fool, he brings enough healing to make sure he can bring his best forward momentum. In this particular deck, he has a copy of Wangshu Inn and Favonius Cathedral each, which have made no appearance as of yet. Neither has any food with a healing effect, for that matter, while you have merrily used the entirety of your own recovery cards.”
Kaveh opened his mouth and seemed to lack the words to refute Alhaitham. Cyno only watched, transfixed.
“Furthermore, Cyno usually adds When The Crane Returned to his decks, a wildcard to provide additional manoeuvring. The statistical likelihood of the card being on his hand this very moment is irrefutably high. Think, Kaveh. Cyno’s Kaeya is equipped both with his talent card and Lucky Dog’s Clover. There are three cryo die on his side right now waiting to be used. With a single application of the character’s skill, he will be healed from 1HP to 5HP, and immediately moved out of range from your further attacks. Cyno’s own card has his burst at the ready, and he has enough HP for you to be unable to take him out in one go. This means not only will your active character be lost to you no matter who you throw to the metaphorical wolves, but the Superconduct reaction will weaken the rest of your team.”
Cyno wanted to put his fingers to Alhaitham’s throat and feel the words reverberate beneath his skin. When had the man picked up enough knowledge to know Cyno’s decks and strategies so intimately?
“If it is Wangshu Inn on his hand,” Alhaitham continued, heedless of Cyno’s thoughts. “Then next round, Kaeya will be back to nearly full health with equipment ensuring his continued recovery, and his own burst at the ready to whittle you down. If it is Favonius Cathedral, then Cyno will recover enough to further devastate you. After all, the card modelled after the General Mahamatra is as fearful as his own reputation. Whether Cyno will chip away at you with Kaeya and superconduct reactions, or make swift work of you with his own likeness does not matter in the end. Your ability to recover is depleted, while he has every piece in place to triumph. Only human failure could save you now, and sadly, Cyno is not known for it, be it in his professional life or in private. Thus, my advice to be more humble. It could have saved you money.”
Alhaitham lifted his book back up, but instead of flipping it open, his gaze met Cyno's at last. A quiet challenge. “Did I pay attention, Cyno?”
Cyno heard Kaveh’s colourful commentary aimed at Alhaitham, but retained none of its meaning. He only held Alhaitham’s gaze, heart beating in his throat, blood rushing in his ears. His free hand curled to keep from reaching. When The Crane Returns and Wangshu Inn seemed to burn where he held them, exactly where Alhaitham had predicted them to be.
That little quirk of his lip again, but this time, his cheek briefly dimpled with it. The satisfaction of success. Alhaitham folded his book back open, leaned back in his chair, and flipped the noise-cancelling switch on his headphones.
Kaveh's curses grew slightly more blasphemous as he, too, noticed.
Cyno took a deep breath in and held it until his heart quieted. He would not be distracted from his mission - indeed he was not prone to distraction, no matter how tempting.
“Let us resume our duel," he said, with great restraint, and carefully did not meet Tighnari’s gaze. His friend was resting his cheek on his hand, smirking and giving him eyes. Cyno would not suffer having eyes made at him because he had been affected by Alhaitham. If anything, Kaveh was much more affected, and a much better target for eyes.
Kaveh huffed, sending one last glare Alhaitham’s way before he straightened. “Yeah, I’ll make him eat his words. Get ready to go down, Cyno!”
—
"You were right," Cyno told Alhaitham as they exited the tavern. The night air was cool on his skin, heated from good company and a thrilling duel as it was. Tighnari and Kaveh had gone ahead, which suited Cyno's purposes perfectly.
Alhaitham had nothing to offer to that but a simple: “Naturally.”
Could it be called arrogance when Alhaitham had the skills to back his words up? Cyno only hummed in agreement. It had been … uniquely exhilarating, to follow the flow of the game and find it matched the exact path Alhaitham had mapped.
Alhaitham put away his book, readying himself to return home, where he would go through the same routine as every night and continue reading that exact book until sleep. Cyno’s hands uncurled.
“Haitham. Bend over a little.”
Alhaitham quirked a brow. “And why would I do such a thing?”
“Don't be contrary.”
“Perhaps I enjoy -” Alhaitham cut off when Cyno took matters into his own hands, quite literally. He buried his fists in Haithams collar and yanked him down, kissing him hard and a little askew. After a heartbeat, Cyno managed to soothe the kiss into something gentler, with better aim. The initial struggle was Alhaitham's own fault for being uncooperative.
When Cyno pulled back, he did feel rather satisfied with the dazed expression on Alhaitham’s face, though.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Alhaitham murmured, pupils blown. He gave the impression of a man both sated and awoken to a new hunger.
“You paid attention,” Cyno said, because it was as simple as that.
Alhaitham touched his fingers to his lips and nodded, slowly. There was no smile, but his eyes were a little brighter. It suited him. “An unexpected, but appreciated consequence.”
“Accommodate me next time. My aim will be better.” Cyno let go of Alhaitham's collar. “Good night, Alhaitham.”
The other man hummed. “We will see about that,” he said, seeming rather satisfied with himself. Times like these made Cyno understand Kaveh a little better. Still, Alhaitham added with an impressive amount of fondness: “Good night, Cyno.”
They went their opposite ways.
The moon was bright, the night air pleasantly cool, and Cyno took the long way home to reminisce about the duel itself. He had made a mistake that had almost cost him the win, after all, and only a fool would not learn from mistakes. A hole in one’s armour ought to be fixed.
He reminisced about the consequences of the duel as well, and future possibilities thereof.
A very good night indeed.