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He wasn’t sick.
He wasn’t. No possible way he could be sick. Tighnari was healthy, he had been drinking water. The cough was just…him having a reaction to that new species of mushroom! Yeah, it was just that. An allergy he hadn’t known about. Guess he needed to watch out for mushrooms from Snezhnaya from now on! Oh, no, how terrible.
(It wasn’t mushrooms, but he wasn’t ready to admit that. He wasn’t. He couldn’t admit that he was sick. If he did, then he would have to take time off, and he couldn’t do that. So, he wasn’t sick.)
Sitting against his wall, Tighnari tipped his head back. He closed his eyes, let out a long groan. His throat was scratchy, he could feel something in his chest that shouldn’t have been there. It was like when he had wrapped his ribs and got a chest infection because the bindings were too tight. Even before he was really sick, he could feel it sitting, settling deep in his lungs. Except he wasn’t sick. He wasn’t!
And even if he was (which he was not, Cyno), he couldn’t afford to just lie around and do nothing. He and Cyno needed to go out and check on a canyon where a Consecrated Beast might have been seen. It had been a request from Lumine. They couldn’t let her down. Tighnari couldn’t let her down, especially after what she had done for Sumeru.
So, he dragged himself out of bed, got dressed, and went to go find Cyno.
His left arm was hurting. His chest was hurting. For a brief moment, he was alone, so he coughed into his elbow as he walked. His joints hurt.
Clearly, those mushrooms were having a horrible effect on him! Because it was the mushrooms. It was only the mushrooms. There was no possible way for it to be anything else. Nope. Not at all. He was fine, he would be fine, he could do this. He could…what was he meant to do again?
No. Wait. He remembered. He needed to find Cyno. If there was anything he missed, then Cyno would let him know, and Tighnari could just excuse it as staying up too late. Pulling a Kaveh, or something like that. It would be fine. He could figure something out.
Touching his own cheek, fingers icy cold against his skin, Tighnari closed his eyes for a moment.
Sighing, he kept on walking. On the bright side, he knew he and Cyno weren’t going to end up in the desert. At the very least, he didn’t need to worry about why his own fingers felt so cool against his face. Cyno’s touch, sure. Cyno could feel colder. That would make sense, Tighnari ran warmer than Cyno did. He ran warmer than all his partners did.
But on a normal day?
It was weird. He kept walking, sipping from his water canteen. Just ignore it, Tighnari. Get this over with, it’ll only take about ten minutes. Probably. Then you can go and find a tree to sleep in and hide away from everyone, he decided.
He found Cyno right outside of Avidya, on the path to—the canyon. Right. They were going to find the canyon, to check out whether or not a Consecrated Beast was there. How did he manage to forget that? When Cyno turned to him, though, he looked a bit—
“Are you okay, Nari?” Cyno asked.
Shaking him off, Tighnari smiled at him. “Just tired. Stayed up a little too late last night, I suppose.” He took a slow breath. Bracing himself, he straightened up and said, “Let’s go check out that canyon. If you’re still worried about me by the end of it, then you can find a tree and take a nap with me.”
“No, we’re going home after this and curling up together. And then when Alhaitham and Kaveh find us, they can join.” Cyno replied, waving a hand. “I’ll send a dusk bird once we’re finished.”
Sighing, because there was nothing Tighnari could do to stop Cyno once he’d made his decision, he followed along as the General Mahamatra walked off.
The canyon wasn’t too far from Gandharva. Cyno took a longer, slower route to the place. He was doing it on purpose, trying to give Tighnari the chance to recover a little bit. At that, Tighnari’s heart swelled a little bit, smiling as he turned back ahead. Just…wow, he had to be sick. He never got this flustered over something as simple as a longer walking trail.
Whatever. He could take a nap after this. He could survive this. Just a simple little mission in the canyon...
He would be fine.
+
He was not fine.
The canyon was fine, there was no Consecrated Beast. Unfortunately, though, Cyno and Tighnari had to go directly into the potential Beast den, which placed them in the worst spot they possibly could have when the canyon decided to flood.
Which, it wasn’t meant to be flooding. He didn’t even know why it was flooding. It wasn’t meant to be rainy that day, there was no reason for the weather to have changed, and yet Cyno and Tighnari were getting caught up in it. The only warning they got was a distant rumble, like a sort of stampede. Then, he heard rushing water.
It took too long for him to realize what was happening with the water.
Heart falling, he turned to Cyno. “We need to go. Now.” Unlike those stupid adventurers who thought Rishboland Tigers would make good pets, Cyno didn’t question his words. Nodding, he let Tighnari swing his head around, listen for the rushing water, and then lead the way out of the flood’s path.
Of course it was flooding. He should have realized—the sky wasn’t completely overcast, but there were probably dark clouds that had formed while they were in the canyon. They didn’t see them because their heads were down, focusing on the caves. They weren’t looking for storm clouds. Plus, it was Sumeru’s monsoon season. Behind them, the water continued to approach. “Tighnari—” Cyno warned.
He glanced back. The water was rushing for them. Grimacing, he turned back to where they were running. Just ahead, he could see a small path. “I know! There’s a spot where we can get some shelter and the water should—”
His lungs seized.
Choking, he stumbled. Cyno grabbed his arm. It was too much time, a small stumble. He should have shoved Cyno forwards, made him keep running.
The water hit them like—well, like a strike of lightning. Pain shot through Tighnari’s head as it slammed down on them full-force. At the last second, Cyno grabbed him. He turned to shout something, a warning, to the Matra.
He didn’t have the chance. Dark water rushed around them. His head smacked against canyon stone, knocking the air from his lungs and sending black spots spiraling across his vision.
The next thing he knew, he was hoisted out of the water onto a piece of driftwood. Cyno was clambering up next to him. The water roared in his ears, lashing at his back like a whip. Throwing an arm across his back, Cyno pinned him to the driftwood.
A wave slapped them both in the face. Clinging to him, Cyno turned. “Are you okay?” He shouted right in Tighnari’s ear. It hurt, but it was the only way to talk over the waves. Slashing at them, the water slammed down on their backs.
Shaking off water, Tighnari managed a nod.
Their little makeshift raft pitched under him. Cyno let out a yell. A rock column they normally would have to walk around hit the side of the driftwood. Fingers scrabbling in the rotted wood, Tighnari kicked desperately in the water. They had to get higher on the driftwood. They had to get secure.
They were about to reach where the canyon was littered with small buttes and mesas. If they smashed into one…at best, the driftwood would break. At worst—well, Tighnari really didn’t want to think about that.
At his side, Cyno reached back, grabbed Tighnari by the back of the hoodie, and hauled him up a little higher. He replaced his hand on his back. He was murmuring something, mouthing words. What it was, he didn’t know. He couldn’t hear. Under them, their raft dropped again. A wave rushed up beneath it, throwing it into his jaw. The world went white. Pain blossoming along his jaw, he coughed. Copper and dirty water flooded his mouth. More pieces of flotsam, rotted logs and branches, leaves and what might have been some crates jettisoned by poachers’ boats, washed around them. Something—an old, rusted sword—scraped along Tighnari’s left arm. Crying out, he grabbed for the wound. Blood spilled from his upper arm. Gritting his teeth, he dropped his head forward. Cyno’s hand stayed on his back. Soothingly, Cyno brushed a thumb along the back of his neck. His grip didn’t leave.
Again, the driftwood slammed against his cheekbone. More black spots swarmed his vision. White-hot pain lashed across his back as he took another hit. Beside him, Cyno jerked. He swung his head around.
The next time that the driftwood pitched, they smashed down on top of a rock.
Pain shot through his fingers, his hands—gasping, he scrambled for a grip again. His heart stuttered in his chest. No. He might have screamed for Cyno. He didn’t remember.
The driftwood slipped from beneath him.
Plunging into the water was—strange. The rapids cut out, everything cut out. He barely got a glimpse of Cyno turning to look at him, eyes wide. Then, Tighnari had been thrown under the water.
Bubbles rushed around him. Something smashed into his back—a stone column. Gasping, he choked on water. It flooded his mouth, his lungs. Pain cracked his spine, his ribs. He could feel the wet thud-snaps and crack-crack-cracks coming from a few of his ribs fracturing. The water rushed around him like a hurricane.
He couldn’t breathe.
He was going to drown.
A hand brushed his bleeding arm. The burn stung. Cyno. Cracking open his eyes, Tighnari turned to look for him. An arm locked around his middle. Kicking off of something, Cyno dragged them towards the surface.
They broke through just as Tighnari’s vision was going out.
“Come on, Nari.” Cyno growled out. Head falling back, Tighnari coughed, spluttering. Water ran from his mouth, his nose. His lungs felt heavy. Deep in his chest, something was starting to form. The sickness was getting worse. “You with me?”
“Mmph.” Tighnari managed. Kicking, Cyno cradled him closer. A wave crashed over them.
The next thing he knew, Tighnari was on Cyno’s back, there was a hand holding his wrists so that he couldn’t fall off, and he was halfway to blacking out. Groaning, he tightened his fingers on Cyno’s. “Hey, there, honey. It’s okay, we’re okay.” Cyno called to him. Water splashed up against them both. “Just hold on…onna be fine…”
The world was cutting out. Eyes fluttering, Tighnari coughed. There was too much water around them. He was going to drown. Worse, Cyno was going to drown unless he let Tighnari go.
Head dropping forward, sending a prayer to any Archon—to anyone—who was listening that Cyno would be okay, Tighnari dropped into the dark.
+
When Tighnari woke, his head was in Cyno’s lap, he was lying on fabric, and the air was cold and damp.
Shivering, he cracked open his eyes. Wherever they were, it was dark. Light came from two places—a decent-sized, open hole above their heads, and some sort of tunnel beneath a nearby pool of water. The water’s reflections swirled around them. With a groan, he squeezed his eyes shut and buried his face in his arm for a second. Cyno stayed quiet, fingers brushing through his hair.
Okay, Tighnari. Think. Where are you, what’s going on? He was wrapped in Cyno’s cloak. The air wasn’t too different from Sumeru's typical climate, so they must have been washed up somewhere in the canyon. Maybe in a tunnel? Had they come through the hole in the ceiling, or had they both almost drowned and Cyno happened to find the pool tunnel? Was wherever they were easy to get out of?
Also, where were his clothes?
And why did his head hurt so much?
“Hey, Nari.” Moaning, Tighnari pulled his arms close to his chest, clutching at Cyno’s cloak to pull it as close as possible. A cough overtook him. Water flooded his mouth, as did some other…not so fun things. A whole lot of phlegm. He didn’t want to think about the rest. “It’s okay, it’s alright. You’re going to be just fine, I promise.”
“How…did we get here?” He asked. When he tilted his head to the side, to look up at Cyno, the world spun. Blinking hard, he squeezed his eyes shut. Cyno cupped his cheek, holding his head.
“The floodwater washed us into here. We got lucky. Or maybe someone was watching over us.” Cyno hummed. Brushing his fingers through Tighnari’s hair again, he gave another thoughtful hum. “You’ve got some pretty bad bruising.”
“Where are…my clothes?”
“Trying to dry them out. It’s not as easy as it should be, we don’t have any dry wood and neither of us are Pyro users, so…” Shrugging, Cyno shook his head.
“Does…” Talking was hard. Breathing was hard. There was a crackling feeling in his lungs, a wheeze on every exhale. Not good. Closing his eyes, he groaned again. “Does anyone know…where we are?”
“They’ll come looking for us soon. I’m sure of it.” Cyno’s fingers brushed gently through his hair, smoothing it back and out of his eyes. Sucking in a breath, Tighnari grasped at Cyno’s cloak where it was wrapped around him. The fabric was soft. He almost wanted to go to sleep. “Don’t fall asleep,” Cyno warned.
“Did I say…that out loud?” Tighnari asked. Fingers carding through his hair again, Cyno hummed softly. “What’s—” He cut off with a cough. Curling in on himself, he grabbed at his chest. Cyno’s hand steadied his shoulder. A thumb rubbed across his arm.
The coughing got worse.
His ribs burned, pain shooting across his chest. It was like when he’d been struck with lightning. This time, though, he couldn’t suffer at Haypasia's side in silence. He couldn’t shrug off his injuries until he could go back to his home in the Ville and lick his wounds in private. This time, he was stuck right beside Cyno. He couldn’t send him away. He couldn’t do anything.
By the time his coughing fit finished, there were black spots dancing in his vision. The wheeze was echoing through the cave around them. I need to stop. I don’t know how much air there is— “Hey, it’s okay. You’re okay.” Cyno’s voice cut through the panic, the black spots, the weakness. Blinking languidly, Tighnari tilted his head to the side. He stared across the pool of water not too far away. His eyes closed without him wanting them to. “Nari? You still with me?”
“I…I think so.” The world shuddered. Maybe that was only him, though. Maybe he was just—about to pass out. Or he needed to—to—
The world dropped away again.
+
Tighnari wasn’t breathing right.
He’d passed out about an hour ago. Even though Cyno hated the idea, he’d eventually resorted to lightly slapping his cheek, trying to wake him. Still, nothing. Tighnari’s skin had only started to grow hotter, a fever catching him.
Archons, they shouldn’t even have gone on this mission. They should have stayed home. Cyno should have made Tighnari stay home. He knew he was sick, he knew he was feeling off, and instead he had let Tighnari go on the trip—well, the past was the past. He couldn’t change that.
Hopefully, the others would be able to find them.
On the downside, it was date night. On the bright side, it was date night. The second they didn’t show back up after the trip, Kaveh and Alhaitham would be looking for them. Probably Collei and a few of the Forest Rangers or Matra who were on break. As long as they managed to stay put and stay alive, they could make it.
In his lap, Tighnari coughed in his sleep. It sounded wet, weak. Cyno didn’t have to be a medic to know when someone was in a bad way. Whatever Tighnari had been sick with beforehand, it had gotten worse. It would probably continue to get worse until they had Tighnari in bed, on medicine, and eating soup. He can make it until then.
Hopefully he’s too sick to fight back when we get home.
It was a horrible thing to think about. Wanting Tighnari to be sick enough to stay in bed was awful. Still, Tighnari was a horrible patient, and this didn’t seem like something he could try to walk off. He would need to lay down and take a break. Preferably at least a week long. Maybe two. It depended on how long Kaveh could convince Tighnari to lay down and do nothing. Sure, he could get Alhaitham to do that, but Tighnari was a lot more stubborn than—
Tighnari choked. Jolting, Cyno cupped his face, tilted his head to the side to get a better look at him. “Nari. Nari, hey,” face pale, Tighnari let out a weak noise. He wasn’t choking, but he still wasn’t breathing well. The wheezing was worse. “Nari, come on. You need to wake up. You need to open your eyes. Please?”
Panting, Tighnari let out a quiet moan. He is in pain. Hermanubis said.
“No kidding.” Cyno growled out. Brushing Tighnari’s hair back, he felt his eyes burning. His face was beginning to grow hot. “Can you tell what’s wrong?”
One moment. Even now, Cyno still didn’t know the extent of the spirit’s power. Sometimes, it seemed like it kept things from him on purpose. At other times, it was more like Hermanubis could only access certain powers at certain times. It was as if there was a limit on its powers. His lungs carry an infection. Some of his ribs are broken. I believe that when he smashed into the rock in the flood, he was wounded more than was originally apparent.
"Can you do anything for him?”
Unfortunately not. I am not meant to heal. My powers are meant to destroy. The closest I can get to healing is preventing the injury from happening in the first place. There was an apologetic tone.
“You have done enough. Thank you,” Cyno brushed Tighnari’s hair away from his eyes. There was a small flutter to his eyelids. Unfortunately, he didn’t react more than that. He was still wheezing, still struggling. His skin had gone paler. “Hold on, Tighnari. Just hold on a little longer. I promise, it’s going to be okay. We just…you need to hold on for us.”
He needs more warmth. He is not meant for heat, but chill will do him no better here. Hermanubis murmured. With a sigh, Cyno settled Tighnari back against the stone floor. Rearranging his cloak around them both wasn’t quite easy, especially since he didn’t want Tighnari to rest on the cold ground. Still, he managed to do it.
Pulling Tighnari to his chest, burying his boyfriend’s face in his chest, Cyno pressed a kiss to the top of his head and then settled down.
They could last.
They had to.
+
Someone’s hand curled around the back of his neck.
Ice settled in his chest, his lungs. He couldn’t feel his fingers, his legs. Nothing moved, nothing responded to him. Everything more than a few feet from him was pitch black, faded into nothingness despite his open eyes. With every breath, he could feel his blood freezing. Snow swirled in his vision, blocking out everything else. Squinting against the storm, he glanced around.
“Cyno? Kaveh? Alhaitham?” His voice died out inches from his lips. It was little more than a whisper against the storm. Shuddering, he pulled his tail closer to himself, buried his frozen fingers in his fur. It didn’t quite work.
Cryo and Dendro did not mix. He wasn’t a snow fox, he wouldn’t last in this. If he was there too long…
A cough rattled in his chest. When he looked down at his hand, blood and ice sat in his palm. His heart plummeted to the icy earth below.
The cold worsened.
+
“Come on, Nari. Stay with me.”
Tighnari was shaking, still. Face twisted, he panted into Cyno’s chest. Tilting his head to the side with gentle hands, Cyno looked at him. Under his fingers, Tighnari’s skin was so hot. The fever had gotten worse. He didn’t even know if he needed to let Tighnari cool off or if staying with him would be better.
Night had fallen, though, so it was likely best for them both to stay under the cloak. Above their heads, the cave ceiling glittered with pale blue glowworms. If Tighnari had the ability to open his eyes, he would have loved it. It was almost cruel that he wasn’t awake. But if he was, then he would probably be delirious, and Cyno wasn’t about to wake him when he should really be resting.
When he checked the scratch on Tighnari’s upper arm, Cyno found that the bleeding had stopped. He wasn’t sure if that was a good sign that he wasn’t bleeding, if it meant the scratch hadn’t been as bad as Cyno thought, or if it meant the internal bleeding that Hermanubis had mentioned was worse than it looked. Let’s just hope that we can get some medical attention for him. He needs someone to treat him. Maybe more than one person. The Bimarstan staff, maybe? I don’t think that the Forest Rangers have the ability to treat wounds like this. He needs surgery, or—
Shaking his head, Cyno used his arm to pillow Tighnari’s head just a little bit more. Against his neck, Tighnari’s breaths were coming in short, fevered bursts. He was so pale. “Can you help, Hermanubis?” He asked, turning to the spirit in his mind. “Please?”
There is nothing I can do that I have not already done. I am sorry, Cyno. But he is not long for this world if he does not receive medical attention soon.
Gritting his teeth, Cyno turned to look up through the skylight. His heart dropped. Then, taking a breath, he paused and turned back to Tighnari. Outside, the desert would only get colder. He didn’t even know how cold the cavern they were in would get, especially not with the water so close and the open portion of the ceiling.
All he could do was stay with him and hope they were found soon.
+
“Tighnari! Cyno!”
Stumbling down another set of debris, Kaveh glanced around the canyon floor. Alhaitham was right behind him, scanning the canyon as best as he could. The moon wasn’t out, so it was dark. Really, really dark. Looking back at him, Kaveh caught the worried tone tilting the lines of Alhaitham’s mouth and the corners of his eyes. Their boyfriends were missing. They were probably wounded. They might have even been—
No. No, they can’t be dead. It’s Tighnari and Cyno. They can’t possibly be dead. Looking back ahead, grabbing the necklace with his boyfriends’ rings on them, Kaveh hurried on ahead. “Tighnari! Cyno!”
“Kaveh.” Whipping around, he turned to see Alhaitham leaning over some sort of hole. It was pitch black. Heart speeding up, he hurried to his side. Alhaitham was looking down into the darkness. Crouching down, he called out, "Cyno?”
“Alhaitham?” It was quiet. Fumbling, Kaveh turned to grab Mehrak. She flew to him, opening up to allow him to find his light. When he shone it down, he could see Cyno and Tighnari below him.
Tighnari wasn’t moving.
“No.” Turning to Mehrak again, Kaveh searched through for ropes, for—something, anything he could use to help get Tighnari and Cyno out of the hole they were in. When he turned back around, Alhaitham had stretched out a few mirrors already, and was looking at him. “Alhaitham—”
“I won’t ask you to go back. Use Mehrak or something else to send someone a message. Candace, Collei, the Forest Rangers. Someone.” Nodding, Kaveh turned back to Mehrak and took what he needed—blankets and a foldable board. He set them to the sides. Then, he gave her orders to go and find someone else. Anyone else. Just—someone who could help.
Then, he turned and hurriedly set up the rope. By the time his feet landed on the cavern floor, he was already letting go to hurry to Tighnari and Cyno’s side.
Alhaitham had stripped off his cloak to wrap it around Tighnari, who was pale and small and hurt. However, Cyno had Tighnari cradled in his arm. Shoulders tense, Alhaitham was fiddling with what medical supplies he kept on him. He pressed something to a slice on Tighnari’s upper arm.
Fingers shaking, Kaveh reached for Tighnari. Before he could touch him, though, he hesitated and pulled away. “Wh—what happened? Is he—"
“He’s breathing.” Cyno murmured, shifting his grip. As he did, Tighnari’s head fell into the crook of his neck. Even from a foot or so away, Kaveh could hear the weak, wheezing puff of Tighnari’s breathing. One of his ears was squished down against the side of his head. It was like when he pulled it down during a particularly difficult game of TCG.
Hand shaking, Kaveh reached to try and smooth it out, to brush Tighnari’s hair from where it had fallen into his eyes. Cyno’s expression meant he wanted to do the same. “He needs help.” Alhaitham murmured. “We need to get him out of here first. I’m going to go try and figure out the ropes. Kaveh, stay with them.”
Nodding, Kaveh reached out and brushed Tighnari’s hair back. Then, he dipped his fingers down to his neck. He pressed his fingers to Tighnari’s pulse point. Under his touch, there was a groan. Tighnari shifted. Again, he sucked in a wheezy breath.
“Sounds like a pneumothorax. Or…pneumonia, maybe?” Kaveh glanced up at Cyno.
Face twisting, Cyno tore his gaze from Kaveh’s face. “He’s…he’s been sick.” Cyno explained. Orange flicked up to meet red for a second. Frowning, Kaveh watched him. “He broke a few ribs when we got caught by the flood. He slammed into one of the—the rock columns. We both almost drowned.”
“Then you both need to get to the closest medical—”
“No, he—” Cutting off, Cyno sucked in a breath and swallowed. He looked…guilty. “He has internal bleeding. I never should have let him come on this mission.”
“It’s not your fault. Do you want me to take him—”
“No.” Cyno cradled Tighnari closer. “I—please.”
Kaveh nodded. Behind him, Alhaitham returned, hurrying back over. “Do you think the ropes will hold?”
“They’ll do well enough. Kaveh, I want you to go first—I’ll stay down here with my mirrors in case I’m needed. Cyno, if you’re struggling, let one of us know.” Alhaitham held his gaze. Kaveh glanced at him.
Swallowing again, Cyno nodded once.
+
Alhaitham ended up having to carry Cyno in the end.
The stress of nearly drowning, washing up in the cave, and then having to remain by a very sick Tighnari must have gotten to him. When they were halfway to Aaru, Cyno had let out a groan and staggered. Kaveh had had enough time to take Tighnari, and Alhaitham had managed to catch Cyno. Then, the General Mahamatra was out like a light, and Alhaitham and Kaveh were left carrying him back.
They were met by some of Candace’s men five minutes later. By dawn, they were at the Bimarstan, courtesy of a lot of panic and a whirl of motion that Alhaitham didn’t remember. Now, though, he was lying on one of the spare beds in the same room as Cyno and Tighnari. Kaveh had been dragged into bed by Cyno.
Cyno wasn’t in bad shape. He had come in a little bit hypothermic, a little bit bruised, and a little bit, well, drowned. After a thorough check of his lungs, the Bimarstan staff had strapped an anemo mask to his face like it didn’t cost the Bimarstan so much to get those things (they were from Fontaine, and Alhaitham had signed off on the costs himself. Because he was still the Acting Grand Sage. Ugh). They had been more concerned with Tighnari.
Which, fair.
Tighnari was also stuck with an anemo mask, and they had put some extra padding beneath him due to the spinal bruising. His injured arm had been treated, and his hands were splinted and bandaged. At some point in the river, Tighnari had managed to break four of his right fingers and three of his left fingers. Four of his ribs were broken. As if things couldn’t have been any worse, one of his ribs had pierced his lung.
On his bed, Tighnari sucked in a slow breath. Alhaitham raised his head, pushing himself up to look at him. Shaking, Tighnari pulled his broken hands to his chest, cracking his eyes open and tilting his head to the side. By the time he had, Alhaitham was at his side, touching his arm.
Turning his head, Tighnari spotted Cyno and Kaveh. Then, and only then, he relaxed. Then, he looked at Alhaitham and reached out, then winced. The message was clear enough.
Carefully, Alhaitham crawled into bed with him, leaning down to kiss his forehead. Tighnari’s fingers landed on his arm. The exposed sections of his broken fingers, just the pads of them, were cold. Taking his hands, Alhaitham tucked them close to his own chest, settled an arm over Tighnari, and pulled him closer.
As he drifted off, Tighnari began purring.
Alhaitham held him closer.