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Cyno quickly made his way up the stairs to the second level of the train. He held the railing in one hand and Tighnari’s hand with the other, their fingers lovingly interlaced. He peered through the glass door to the first class compartment and spotted two free seats going forwards. He preferred going forward on a train and Tighnari didn’t mind going either way, so those would be perfect. He pushed the door open with his shoulder and nodded towards the seats, letting his boyfriend and a few people behind them go first.
Nowadays they always traveled first class. Sure, it was a little bit more expensive, but worth it considering Tighnari’s sensitive ears. The first time they traveled by train, it was so busy Tighnari got overwhelmed by all the noise. Since the rule in first class, aptly named the silent compartment, was to be quiet, Cyno always went out of his way to spend the extra money for his boyfriend’s comfort.
There was of course the occasional rule breaker who found it necessary to take a call or listen to music on speaker in the one train car where it wasn’t allowed. Cyno would give them his signature judgmental stare, which would usually intimidate them into moving. Luckily he’s never had to get the conductor involved, but he would if he deemed it necessary.
Tighnari let out a sigh of relief and followed his partner up. They made it in time. The first time they took the train, they missed the quieter one and had to get on the next one in the rush hour. The noise had been quite overwhelming, but luckily Cyno was there with him. He nodded back at his partner and walked ahead of him. Since Cyno’s favorite pastime on public transport was listening to music and staring out the window, Tighnari took the isle seat. He was just going to read a book after all. He plopped down his backpack on the floor and zipped it open, taking out a beat-up library book about the history of herbal medicine. He pulled back his legs to allow Cyno to get through and drop himself in the window seat before folding one leg over the other to perch his book on his knee.
Cyno popped his wireless earbuds into his ears and took out his phone, hovering his finger over the playlists before picking one he was in the mood for. He placed his elbow in the windowsill and supported his head with his hand, watching the landscape outside they were quickly leaving behind.
A few pages and songs later, Cyno gently nudged Tighnari’s elbow, showing him his phone screen. It showed the current song playing: Winding through Avidya, Tighnari’s favorite song. Cyno took out one of his earbuds, gave it to the other and rewinded the song so they could listen together. He loved how his boyfriend always moved his head along to the flow of the music whenever he listened to this song. He took a break from window-staring to have a look at a much more beautiful sight next to him.
A few minutes later, a familiar drumbeat indicated the next song: Collei’s favorite. Tighnari smiled. It was a short song, but a cute and upbeat one. When it was over though, Tighnari winced at a sudden loud, high-pitched noise: a song called Thanks for your patronage. Tighnari took out the earbud and rubbed the base of his ear.
Cyno immediately noticed, unlocked his phone and selected a different playlist with calmer music. He gave his partner an apologetic look, at which Tighnari smiled as if he was saying it was alright.
Cyno stretched his arms out in front of him and yawned. He hadn’t had a very good night’s sleep and had to get up early this morning. He slouched back into the backrest of his chair, glancing at Tighnari.
Tighnari flicked his eyes back and forth between his shoulder, as if he was offering it as a pillow. The white haired man smiled warmly and took him up on that offer, placing his head on the other’s shoulder in a way that was comfortable for both of that. He sighed and closed his eyes, completely relaxed in his loved one’s presence.
Tighnari gently kissed Cyno’s head and let him sleep. Looking around the compartment, he watched the other people who chose to travel in silence today. A blonde man with a red scarf and a grey-haired man wearing headphones sat side by side at a table seat, sketching a blueprint and reading respectively. Across from them sat a girl with blue, curly pigtails, making homework on her laptop covered with sparkling star-shaped stickers. Everyone had their own reasons for being here, but nothing was said. Nothing needed to be said.
On they traveled to their respective destinations along the endless track in endless, comfortable silence.