Chapter Text
"Oiii", the fox tilted his head back from the couch, he whined toward his roommate, who was from the kitchen. "Cynooo…!!" He whines louder to catch the man's attention. Cyno hummed in response; he was cooking his famous tanchin for the both of them. "I'm hungry, is the food ready?" The fox pouted. Cyno sighed, looking deadpanned at the impatient fox. "I'm trying to make good servings," "Eh? Don't play with our food!" He got out of the couch and ran straight toward the counter. Thankfully, Cyno finished setting up. However, the hybrid drops his head, making his earring dingle, and sighs loudly, "You should stop making a pyramid out of our food, You are lucky that I'm hungry, or else I would have you clean your mess and the whole room."
They both had dinner on the couch with laptops set up to watch a movie together. Cyno munched quietly, glancing at his roommate "You weren't kiddin' when you said you were hungry. Was it a tough day, Tighnari?"
Tighnari nodded but still ate his food happily while his tail was wagging the whole time. "So many people have been asking me a lot of questions regarding my ears and tail. It was irritating at first, but our professor berated them. Serves them right, acting like kids!" He mumbled to himself. "Well… you did manage to get them off your back?" The fox nodded, smiling to himself.
They sat in silence for the rest of the movie. As the end credits rolled, they stretched in sync, looking at each other and laughing. Tighnari tilts his head, giving the warmest smile toward him. "Thank you for the food, Cy." He felt his throat dry for a moment, but he nodded, glancing toward his laptop. "Do you want to watch another movie?" Cyno asked, but inside he felt strangely anxious. As expected, Tighnari shook his head "You have classes early morning, you should get some sleep." He leaned down on the couch and added, "But we can hang out on the weekend."
"That would be okay," Cyno replied, and Tighnari's smile only became brighter.
Cyno felt something strange inside him again. They both moved into the dorms two months ago. From Tighnari's kind nature, they got along well. Cyno doesn't approach anyone, but Tighnari is different.
He is sweet and good-hearted. That's what he loves about him.
Love? That's odd…
Tighnari has always been nice, even when he is sassy and can't handle Cyno's awful jokes and childish games. He plays TCG with him and even tries to get better to be at Cyno— or should he say "Lord Jackal" level.
They spent the weekend together in the park, having a picnic together. Cyno and Tighnari worked together to make the food and preparation. They both make a great team together. It feels like Tighnari fits the pieces of every puzzle that Cyno has set.
Tighnari is a good friend.
They are best friends….
But why isn't Cyno happy about that…?
No— he wants Tighnari more than a friend, but he cowers from these unknown feelings.
***
"Hey, Cycy! Teyvat to Cyno!" Heizou poked at his dazed friend numerous time
"Mhmm…" the only response Cyno gave before he dropped his head back to his crossed arm on the table. "Cyno, did you stay up all night again? Or… is it him…?" Heizou tapped his chin, thinking hard about it.
"Him." He responded with a rough tone, like he just woke up.
"Ah, I am not good at the lover factory." Heizou sighed, but Cyno side-eyed him, furrowing his brow. He sticks out his tongue, rubbing the back of his head. "Hey, Shinobu and I have been working together in the law courses, so we ended up having mutual feelings together. Your case is different, You and Tigh have been roommates for a year or so. Alas, you flew too close to the sun and fell, the sun is in love with a star." Heizou dramatically shrugged, he could hear Cyno growling from his throat.
"Hey, don't bully him like that" The pink-haired girl suddenly appeared and smacked Heizou's head with the thick book. She approached him, lying next to him. "Ignore Heizou's poetry. I'm sure you might get a chance if you confess to him."
"Yanfei, it's far too late for him. You know Tighnari is already seeing someone."
"He is right. I never stood a chance with… her," Cyno spoke before Yanfei could protest.
The girl who is now Tighnari's lover is the pretty Sumerian girl, Nilou. A girl was sweet as nectar, she was very cheerful and would do anything to make the room relaxed and happy. He had never seen Tighnari smile so much toward her than him. Nilou is a good person, Cyno knows that. Tighnari introduced her to him, and he knew he could never win Tighnari's heart with a person as kind as him. Tighnari was far happier than he was with Cyno.
Cyno fell into a heartbreak. He was such a coward.
If only he was more confident, he would confess his love toward Tighnari, but Nilou did first. He doesn't hate Tighnari for getting together with her, nor does he hate Nilou for having feelings for him.
Anyone would have loved Tighnari for his gentle features and personality.
But it wasn't fair it wasn't him. He wants Tighnari for himself. It's just not fair.
Cyno groaned from his scattered thoughts and buried himself in his arm. He can feel a hand stroke his head, an attempt to comfort him. It must be Yanfei. He tried to sleep from these feelings. He just wanted to bury them away. He can hear an audible sigh.
His dreams are just taunting him for a lifetime.
***
Cyno returned to the dorms late from hearing Heizou's anecdotes and then Itto's.
Pointy ears poked out till he could see the fox's pretty face. "Welcome back, Cyno. You almost missed dinner. Almost." His tail wagged, and he had a slight smug on his face.
Cyno took note that he was smelling mushrooms. "Someone is in a good mood, did something happen?" He trailed while taking off his shoes and walked in without bothering to put slippers on.
"Yes. Collei got discharged today from the hospital, so I am preparing her first actual meal. I know I shouldn't start with mushrooms, but she insisted, and I made her favourite pudding." He explained with a lot of enthusiasm.
"How thoughtful of you, is it okay if I have some of your delicious cooking?"
"Of course, I made a lot!" He handed him a plate of rice with mushrooms and cat-shaped breaded chicken. "I'll leave the pudding in the fridge."
Before Cyno could leave for his room, Tighnari had already finished and prepared his laptop, setting it up on the table.
"What film do you want to watch?" Cyno already knows what Tighnari wants but curiously asks before taking a spoonful of rice. "The Aeons." He answered, which took Cyno by surprise. "Isn't that a horror movie? I thought you didn't like them."
"I don't… but my friend Kazuha said it has a really good story. He watched it with Ayaka and said she was so scared but got emotional about the story!" He admitted and nudged his shoulder "Besides, I got Mr. Not-so-afraid of horror movies with me," he teased, nudging his shoulder more. Cyno didn't take offence, it's true, but he is glad to spend a movie night with his roommate. "They say it's a thriller, but they only make the watcher build up the expectation to a jumpscare or a frightening scene presented cueing the music. It doesn't scare me at all." He crossed his arms, just hearing his opinion made Tighnari laugh, which he didn't expect. "If it doesn't scare you, maybe it will make you cry", he teased once again, and Cyno scoffed. "I don't cry."
When watching the film together, as Cyno predicted, the "frightening" scenes didn't make him jump once. Tighnari, on the other hand, clinging to Cyno's arm for dear life, scared pale. The scene played eerie music as the girl tried to figure out where the noise was coming from. Cyno wanted to yawn, but he noticed how the fox's tail stiffened and twitched while his ears flopped. "Please don't… don't check there. Don't…" a low whisper coming from the frightened Tighnari. A loud sound and a jump scare happened and got him screaming and hiding his face in Cyno's arms. That made Cyno stiffen from how close he is now.
At this moment, he wants to be a bit selfish.
He wrapped his arm around him, rubbing to comfort him, to reassure him. "It's okay, the boogeyman is gone, it's only the old man and his kid now."
"It's an Aeon, Cy. It's terrifying!" He whimpered, but Cyno interjected. "If an Aeon was real, I think I would tell a joke or two." Tighnari looked up at him and deadpanned, "They would not laugh at your jokes"
"But they won't scare you, see?" He smiled, and Tighnari stared at him for a while, and it hit him, he giggled and sat up straight, holding Cyno's hand that was around his shoulder. "You're right."
They continued watching the movie, a few squeaks came out from Tighnari, but Cyno continuously comforted him.
"That was good! I don't think I will be able to sleep though…'' The fox admits and pulls out another film that they have already watched, Cyno guessing he is trying to ease himself.
"Besides the expected terrors, it was good."
"It's a good thing that I have you by my side." That made Cyno smile, watching movies, walking side by side. Practically, they are more than roommates. They are inseparable.
Tighnari let out a giggle that made Cyno's heart flutter, but then it stung him from Tighnari's comment.
"I doubt Nilou can watch this. It will scare the poor girl."
Oh.
How could Cyno forget? Tighnari has a lover, and it's not him. So they can be separated.
"Mm." He would rather not say anything than let his voice say something that might end up broken.
Cyno feels numb. An endless heartbreak, but what for? It hurts because they are living together and cooking together, and if they need a second opinion, they both will give it to each other. So why? Why does it hurt so much, why can't Cyno appreciate what he has right now?
He is selfish. He wants these moments for him and him only.