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The setting sun paints leaf-shaped collages across Cyno’s face like nature’s softest artist. His hands, calloused and bandaged still from the day’s training session, are a palm-width away from Tighnari’s own. Their ankles are touching. Cyno’s dark skin is a stark contrast to his, even though Tighnari’s no longer as pale as he was in his earlier years.
They’ve been here for a few hours already. Talking at first, then sitting in companionable silence for the last two. Cyno keeps sneaking glances, not nearly as stealthy as he thinks he is. Every other minute, his fingers creep ever closer. The first time it happened, Tighnari tensed in anticipation. Wrong move; Cyno shifted back immediately.
If it goes on any longer, Tighnari will seriously lose his mind.
Unfortunately for him, Cyno keeps at the cat-and-mouse play until the sun is barely visible behind the distant horizon and the bark underneath them lost its warmth. Tighnari tries to look encouraging, even nudges closer himself a few times. His tail has been firmly pressed against Cyno’s back since they sat down.
Eventually, he can’t take it anymore. The sigh that leaves him makes Cyno jump in place.
“Are you going to kiss me or what?” he says. He’s never felt more done in his life—and he’s the main recipient of Cyno’s puns.
A blink. “…what?”
Tighnari sighs again, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. He can’t blame Cyno for how bad he is with people—not with the way he grew up, and not when Tighnari knows he’s genuinely trying. But still. He looks off to the side, where their ‘secret branch’ sprouts from the Divine Tree. Scrapes his claws—trimmed until they resemble a human’s, as per Akademiya’s standards—down his thumb. Hm. He’s not against taking the initiative, but Cyno deserves something more romantic than Tighnari’s blunt self.
…oh, well, if Cyno wanted romantic, he’d had the time to arrange it.
“I like you, Cyno,” Tighnari admits, matter-of-fact. “But you’re about to miss your shot.”
Looking back at Cyno, he’s met with wide eyes and slackened jaw.
“I thought it was quite obvious,” Tighnari adds, bumping their shoulders together. He, at least, figured this was a date as soon as Cyno asked. His intentions were clear from the start. They’ve been friends for a long time now, and only gotten closer. They spend nearly every day together, and neither of them makes plans without consulting the other. Kaveh delights in calling them an 'old married couple’. Getting together seemed like a sure development. That impression was only strengthened by the way Cyno has been acting these past few days. Today especially.
The glances, the secret plans—Cyno can be inconspicuous, but pretty much only during work, hidden between the sands and the dunes.
“So?” he prompts.
A second passes. Cyno blinks; Tighnari’s ear twitches towards some distant ruckus. Then Cyno snorts, a loud, ridiculous sound like a hyena. He tips forward, resting his forehead against Tighnari’s shoulder. His whole body shakes with—now—silent laughter. Tighnari’s sigh is more fond than he’d like to admit, and he pats Cyno’s head in feigned compassion.
“Nothing gets past you,” Cyno says, halfway like a question, half like a complaint. He cranes his neck like he’s trying to peer up at Tighnari. Doesn’t succeed much.
“Oh, were you trying to be discreet?” he sasses, rolling his eyes freely now that Cyno can’t see his face.
With an amused huff, Cyno pokes him in the ribs, soothing the sting with a warm palm right after. The touch drifts down over his back and hips, gentle, barely-there phantom until it curls over his tail. Cyno strokes the fur with just the tips of his fingers, looking down on it with face so smitten Tighnari’s chest constricts. It’s not that he can’t believe this is happening—just that it’s happening like this. He certainly didn’t expect Cyno to be suave, but something about the situation makes it more ridiculous than his puns.
And Tighnari knows all about his puns.
“Kaveh said I should feel you out,” Cyno shrugs, straightening with a sour-sweet smile. “Al-Haitham called him an idiot. Said you’re a direct person—he’s right, but I figured Kaveh would have more relationship experience.”
Tighnari hums. He can see where this is going. “Let me guess; Al-Haitham called you an idiot too?”
The smile grows. Cyno’s free hand intertwines with his own. No more hesitation, teasing, feeling out. Tighnari sighs contently, tail swaying lazily behind him. Finally.
“He said he wasn’t aware Kaveh dated you and went back to his book.”
“Mm, what did we learn?”
Cyno grins, pulling Tighnari closer by their joined hands. He goes easily, curling into Cyno’s chest and wrapping his tail around his hips. “Don’t ask either of them for anything ever again?”
“Close enough.”
“I’ll ask you,” Cyno promises, and then his lips are on his.
Tighnari hasn’t been kissed a lot in his life, but this one’s easily his favorite. Long, slow and gentle, lingering like Cyno doesn’t want to part from him. No tongue, no teeth, no rush. Just that all-encompassing warmth, like Deshret himself, waking up every single of Tighnari’s cells. He doesn’t know how long it lasts; he doesn’t care. All that matters is Cyno’s lips—a little dry, but still so soft—and the arm he wraps around Tighnari’s waist. Radiating heat. From the second they part, he only brings Tighnari closer, closer, until he snorts and climbs fully into Cyno’s lap himself. He wraps his arms around Cyno’s neck, nuzzling into his hairline. They sit a moment in silence, only the wind and occasional bird squawk around them. The warm caress of the sun is nothing to Cyno’s touch.
Then Cyno buries his hand in Tighnari’s hair, tilting his head back. “So, can I kiss you now?” he says, as if Tighnari could ever say no. As if they haven’t just done that, as if he needs permission.
“I thought you’d never ask,” Tighnari smiles, tipping forward. If they spend a few more hours out there, well. The night is warm and there’s nowhere to be in the morning. Besides, Tighnari’s waited so long for this. He needs to compensate.