Chapter Text
The evening breeze drifted through the open window of our shared home. The desk in the study was cluttered with parchments and tomes. A lamp cast its light onto foreign runes scattered about, despite the visible chaos, it was an organised mess.
The scratching of a quill filled the silence.
“Seems like you‘re still at it,” came a calm, impassive voice from behind me. I snapped out of my focus on the script I had been researching for the Akademiya and turned toward the doorway of the study.
General Mahamatra stood there, arms crossed over his chest, crumpling his loose grey shirt. Despite the slightly annoyed tone, his dawn colored eyes seemed relaxed. With a soft huff, he walked across the room toward me. Cyno’s white locks were still damp from his recent shower. Oh, I had meant to wrap things up by now.
“Ahh, I’m sorry. I couldn’t crack this part, and time just seemed to fly by,” I sighed tiredly, rubbing my forehead and looking down at the script filled with runes.
Cyno stopped behind my chair, and instead of turning, I tilted my head back to rest it against his chest. He placed a comforting hand on my shoulder and gently squeezed it. Then, he picked up one of the notes from the messy desk and studied it silently.
“Despite the obvious time commitment, it’s rather fun. And I did steal it from under Alhaitham’s nose,” I softly chuckled, and Cyno smiled. “It seems to be yet another desert dialect, possibly from King Deshret’s era. We’re currently unsure about the exact period, but it’s old and strangely well-preserved, though there are no traces of elemental powers. Truly intricate work,” I mused.
“Your notes are easy to read,” he remarked. I closed my tired eyes, enjoying his closeness and the praise. “It’s clear why the Akademiya chose you over Alhaitham, he doesn’t bother simplifying things. One might say that if they want to learn about the topic, your study is perfect… or they’d need a ladder.”
There was a pause. I glanced up at Cyno, who was waiting expectantly. “Why would they need a ladder?” I asked.
Crimson hues blended into orange as his eyes twinkled. The white strands framed his face from that angle, and his thin lips curled into a boyish smile. “To elevate their knowledge to new heights, of course,” he whispered as if the joke was meant just for us.
Perhaps it was the tiredness nipping at my consciousness or the softness of the moment, but I couldn’t contain my grin. “That’s a good one,” I breathed out, amused.
Cyno’s hand moved from my shoulder to nuzzle my neck and jaw. I leaned into the caress. “You seem extremely tired. Maybe you should skip today’s gathering.” He placed the scribbled paper on the desk and carefully observed my features as I frowned. “We can always play together some other time.”
I shook my head, causing my hair to become messy from the friction. “No, we see everyone only once a month. Besides, you made me a new deck,” I smiled at the formidable General Mahamatra, who enjoyed one particular card game a bit too much. “Mind you, it still doesn’t mean I’ll be able to win.”
“…Mhm.” Despite his overall gentleness, his sunrise irises were slightly narrowed, and his lips formed a thin line. “If you’re certain about your decision, alright.” Cyno bent down and kissed my forehead, giving my shoulder one last squeeze. “Go take a shower. We can eat out, I’m not cooking this late,” he called back as he left the room.
Swiftly tidying the desk, I stood up and stretched lightly. My muscles were tense from a whole day of research.
“You know, Cyno, your cooking isn’t as bad as you make it sound,” I said gently as I joined him in the bedroom. The man in question grunted in reply, searching for his usual evening attire while I made similar preparations. “Tighnari lets you prepare dinner from time to time, which speaks for itself. Besides, ‘Nari and I both agreed that your Hashweh is quite tasty.”
“Since when did we start measuring my success by what Tighnari says? That would mean my jokes are dreadful,” he grumbled as he dressed in his shorts, tossing the grey shirt aside.
The sight of his shirtless torso wasn’t anything new, but it was always welcome, Cyno was a handsome man. Stealing glances at his tanned body, I took my chosen clothes for tonight’s gathering and headed to the bathroom.
“But since you mentioned it, maybe we can order Hashweh tonight,” Cyno mused, then suddenly his head snapped up. “Wait.” I glanced back from the door, feeling a bit distracted.
Cyno crossed the room and pulled me into his chest. “Hmph?” The clothes I had prepared were squashed between us as he embraced me. It took me by surprise at first, but then I happily cuddled into him, and my free hand brought him closer. “Mhm, we didn’t hug in greeting, that’s true,” I chuckled. “How was work?”
The general had come home late that day, muttering something under his breath as he informed me he was home. I hadn’t paid much attention to his tone, but his intense stare had pulled me from my work. When I had turned around, he had been ominously standing in the doorway of the study. I had asked if everything was alright, but he had brushed me off despite his intense gaze. Cyno had reminded me of the evening’s plans and, without so much as a glance back, had gone to shower.
I had noticed familiar dark splotches on his matra’s clothes, so I hadn’t questioned him further at the time. But then…
“…Hmm.” Cyno tensed in the embrace, so I started to rub soothing circles into his back. The general sighed tiredly. “Not much to talk about.” He leaned closer, burying his nose into my shoulder like I had. “I’ve wrapped up an investigation, judgment has been served.” I kissed his neck. The tension from his memories was slowly lessening. “But I thought of a joke on my way home, or rather, remembered it.”
“Do tell,” I mused.
“Do you know the difference between ignorance and apathy?” he asked and stepped out of the embrace, his dawn colored eyes carefully observing my reaction.
My smile widened at seeing the eagerness in his features. “No, what is it?”
“I don’t know… and I don’t care.” I sniggered, and Cyno almost pouted at my immediate reaction. “Today, it’s rather easy to please you,” the general said, crossing his arms over his toned chest.
I patted his arm in comfort. “I’m sorry, I’ll make sure to wait for the explanation next time.” I pecked his cheek. “But I bet that Kaveh will need it,” I smirked, “and Tighnari might smile at this one too.” That seemed to placate Cyno, so I left for the bathroom. “Be right back.”
But before I finally entered the destined room, I called to the general across the hallway. White locks poked out from the bedroom, and one of his brows raised in a silent question. Seeing my barely contained amused expression, Cyno tilted his head further. “What is it?”
“I am indeed a bit easy to please today,” my grin was hard to control. “I was feeling a little off recently, but you’ve turned me on alright.” I huffed a laugh seeing his eyes widen as his brows furrowed.
“…Come again?” Cyno almost stuttered.
“I’m not explaining that!” I shouted back, entering the bathroom but leaving the door open. The rushed footsteps in the hallway made me smirk.
Cyno was quickly at the doorway, subtly grinning. “Please, entertain me some more?”
✧
The air was stuffy and smoky, the tavern filled to the brim and loud. Patrons laughed and chattered, drunken jokes were exchanged, and alcohol was spilt.
We managed to secure a circular table. Alhaitham was reading a book with disinterest, Tighnari and Cyno were engrossed in a discussion, and Kaveh was scrunching his nose in displeasure. “Your turn, I’m ending my round,” the blond man placed his cards on the table with an annoyed huff.
My eyes widened as I looked at my hand and then at the cards placed on his side of the table. Kaveh had three characters alive, but they couldn’t withstand two attacks, not with the cards I had ready. Biting my lips, I glanced at Cyno on my left, he was in a vivid conversation with Tighnari.
“Hey, no cheating!” protested Kaveh.
“There’s no need,” I breathed out quietly.
The blond narrowed his eyes, raising one of his brows quizzically. I played my first card; Paimon happily changed my elemental dices, and Kaveh seemed to realize the problem. I had a Wind and Freedom card active that round, which meant, “I’m choosing Sucrose’s elemental skill,” one of his cards was down, and the Hydro element spread. “Fischl’s elemental skill,” I muttered, hardly believing the outcome. Cyno had truly outdone himself this time, the deck was beginner friendly.
“Y-You won?!” Kaveh was exasperated. “How’s that possible—”
“Hmm, Cyno’s lessons seem to be paying off,” sniggered Tighnari. “Maybe Alhaitham can share some of his insights with you as well.”
“Oh my god, not like this!” complained Kaveh, his ruby eyes widening in disbelief, his cheeks further coloured by wine and embarrassment.
Alhaitham sceptically raised a brow, glancing from his book to join the conversation.
“Go back to reading, for Archon’s sake! And you,” Kaveh pointed his finger accusingly, “must have cheated somehow.” He pouted sinking into the sofa, his words starting to slur.
“Technically,” I mused, grinning at his childish behaviour as I collected my cards from the table, “I did.” Kaveh gasped. “Cyno made the deck for me, it’s a brilliant deck, that’s for sure.”
This clarification earned another round of complaints from the intoxicated blond, who threw his arms up. Thankfully, Alhaitham was there to listen to his never ending grievances.
“Mhm, want to try your skills against me next?” mused Cyno, reaching for his deck of cards. I chuckled and stopped him by placing a hand on his thigh. He looked back, his dawn colored irises twinkling, already excited at the prospect of playing the card game.
Feeling frisky after my share of wine, I pecked his cheek and whispered, “I’ve already been pleased tonight, you should entertain the boys.”
Poor Tighnari subtly choked on his fruity drink, and I glanced at him with an awkward smile.
“Sorry, ‘Nari,” I grimaced, forgetting about his sensitive hearing.
“I-It’s fine,” Tighnari sighed, his ears twitching but quickly composing himself again. “Nothing I haven’t heard before.”
“I can always entertain you some more,” Cyno didn’t even whisper, causing my cheeks to turn cerise at his proclamation. Tighnari heaved a heavy sigh. “But you were quite exhausted–”
“A-Alright!” I squeaked aloud, looking at the bickering duo ahead.
Alhaitham and Kaveh glanced over, but thankfully neither seemed privy to the previous conversation. Tighnari sighed in exasperation as a rather oblivious Cyno started to question him about my strange reaction.
“Who will play next? Maybe you, Alhaitham?” I grinned at the duo.
The man with silver grey locks raised an unimpressed brow and then closed his book with a thud placing it aside. “You’re quite red, maybe you should stop with the wine. The same goes for you, Kaveh. You’re walking home this time around,” Alhaitham shot a subtle glare at his roommate.
“Hey-!” Kaveh’s eyes widened impossibly as a new blush blossomed on his cheeks.
“Will do!” I laughed aloud.