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The tip of his nose felt unbearably itchy while scratching against the shadow of a two-day aftershave, but he had no time or reason to care. His mind was overwhelmed, the taste and sounds exhilarating. His tongue kept diving in, every inch deeper and tasting sweeter every second. He only wanted to hear Cyno, only Cyno. The ever so cautious, silent Cyno. Never-to-be-his Cyno.
His mind shoved the image of pale, silver eyes deep, deep down. His lust and- And love replacing his shame. For this was Cyno, his mouth filled with him. The strong legs around his head were only doing him a favor. Yes, he devoted every second to him, Cyno, to pleasure him. Tighnari felt selfish feeling the heat pooling between his own legs. The blame is for him and only him to carry… There is so much pleasure he could take. Just hearing Cyno’s gasps and raggedy breath was enough for him.
This is me. This mess… The amber on my tongue, the fire between his legs. Mine. At least for this moment… And this moment only…
“Tighnari”... his voice said, breathlessly. Every sound out of his mouth was heavenly, like an angel about to punish him for his sins. Said man began sucking harder, faster, and Cyno caught his breath, whatever he meant to say stuck in his throat now.
He hummed against him, enjoying every vibration.
Regardless, both men were persistent, and so Cyno tried voicing his concerns again. His deep voice made Tighnari’s lust twitch painfully “Tighnari…”
“Hm?” the sound vibrated inside his lover, and Cyno’s hand grabbed Tighnari’s hair in a particularly rough movement against his core.
“We have to- We are-” Cyno bit his hand and no, that wasn’t supposed to happen. He wanted to hear him. His tongue dug deeper in retaliation and Cyno closed his eyes finding his voice, albeit slurred, at last “We are drunk, Tighnari. This is not- This is not right”
What is not right is the lingering taste of wine and rum mixed with Cyno’s. Tighnari could still note which was Cyno’s elixir and which taste was poison.
But he was right… His voice, seeping with lust and pleasure, the voice of reason always.
He unwillingly put distance between them, the legs still hugging tightly and crossed around his neck “Cyno, I…” and a million thoughts and excuses ran through his head, he never wanted to stop. No, it didn’t matter that both were inebriated. Tighnari knew this was what we truly wanted to do, and so he said “I need you”
There was a short pause. A distant sound in the background didn’t matter to either of them.
Cyno sighed and uncrossed his legs. Tighnari felt instant regret and loss.
The tanned man began fetching his clothes, his balance still staggering and fighting the poison in his body.
Then he left…
Tighnari was left alone. He would have to deal with the consequences. But the dread in his lungs wasn’t about betrayal and confronting his real partner. No… The dread was… Because he missed Cyno already. He wanted to be his… He wanted him.
After a few seconds of solitude and silence, Tighnari passed out.
~
Tighnari woke up with sandpaper down his throat and a splitting headache. With a stuffed nose as the cherry on top, he reluctantly searched for his phone and noted the hour.
It was close to midday and Tighnari should have felt the weight of due papers and essays but instead, he felt something akin to dread while staring at his screen.
3 missed calls from Albedo.
Fuck. Does he know? Maybe he figured it out? Albedo was smart and quick on his thoughts. One missed call from him was bad enough, let alone three. Something was up, he knew.
The burn in his throat would have managed a sob from him if it wasn’t from how dry and useless his mouth felt. He should call Albedo ASAP but first, he needed water to regain some sense of himself back. Even if his bones ached, or the cold from lack of clothes, or the guilt hammering inside his chest, Tighnari had to face the day.
And so it meant facing his boyfriend.
But why, why was the only clear thought in his brain to call Cyno. How is he? Does he hate him? Will they ever be okay again? Even if they go back to normal, which is likely impossible, will it be enough to Tighnari? His ears flopped and not even trying to brush his tail calmed him down.
Flashes of last night, Cyno’s lips, his taste and smell, his skin…
Tighnari was doomed. There is no way he could look Albedo in the eye. He was a liar, a traitor.
The fennec decided a bath was in order, and he tried to scrub, brush and wipe away every unfit thought. He wanted to know if Cyno was okay, “Will we be okay?” He asked outloud. Liar, that was not the answer he looked forward to.
He felt scared, alone under his shower head. He had to pull something together, there has to be a way to fix all this.
Tighnari dressed in fresh new clothes and called the first person he thought of (that wasnt Cyno). A couple of beats and then a loud voice came from the speaker, “Tighnari? Weird from you to call, something up?”
“Kaveh, I fucked up”
“So you are telling me it finally happened and you realized Cyno is madly in love with you” he sounded exasperated, eyebrows nearly disappearing in his hairline. The fennec’s tail betrayed his owner once the word love was brought out.
Tighnari frowned, his coffee left cold before him “Not the point Kaveh, have you forgotten I’m dating Albedo?!”
His hand twirls between them annoying the fennec somehow, “And? Weren’t you going to break up with him?”
“I have never, ever said that”
“Something about him not sparking joy-“
He sighed, “Wrong picture, Kaveh” his hand grabbed the mug missing its warmth “I do love Albedo”
The blonde man looked at him and Tighnari would hate to describe his stare as pity, “That so, more than Cyno?”
“…”
Kaveh watched his friend’s tail falling down, and he groaned in defeat “Tighnari…”
“I know my relationship with Albedo has been… Rocky this past few months but, nobody deserves to be betrayed” even though he was saying what felt right rationally, his heart stung “Even less Albedo, he has done nothing but nurture our relationship. I have even thought about a future with him…”
Kaveh did not look convinced in the slightest, but he said what Tighnari needed to hear “Sure, so apologize to both and let Cyno know it was a terrible mistake and you were drunk, easy!” putting emphasis on terrible , he waited for Tighnari’s reaction. As expected, the fennec flinched, feeling a stab to the heart.
The illusory dagger dug even deeper through his chest, but Tighnari wasn’t about to disagree out loud “Y-Yeah”
His conversation with Kaveh came to an end shortly after that. The blonde man sat up clearly upset and bid farewell to him, a bitter aftertaste that did not come from the coffee.
Tighnari just wanted to make things right.
~
With thorns around his heart, he called Albedo and told him he needed to see him. The man agreed without any question and Tighnari felt grateful for a second, his guilt eating him alive. He couldn’t stop thinking of red burning his skin and honey on his tongue. Dear lord, how was he supposed to face Albedo?
A couple of hours went by until it was time for their meeting. Tighnari racked his brain trying for different speeches and how to better explain the situation. He felt hopeless rehearsing the conversation in his head and he even thought of downright saying it and dealing with the consequences later.
He had yet to decide how to lay his words out when it was already time and Albedo was staring at him, expectantly.
The fennec sighed, looked at him, and felt bile rising through his throat. Although it was Albedo before him, the picture’s edges were fading and he saw-
“I slept with someone” his voice was heard before he could even register, outright spit of the tongue. His eyes opened like saucers and he choked on nothing.
He waited for Albedo’s anger, sadness, anything. Seconds went by and only the sound of cars passing by and other voices around them fading in the background.
His brain recalled what was said and he tried to amend the situation at least a little, “I mean, I wouldn’t say the entirety of the ordeal happened but I guess I was-”
“I see” he said.
Nothing more.
There was no anger, no tears, no explanation demanded. “Thank you for being honest” being the only thing said on the matter was muttered against the menu and so, the conversation drowned.
The server came to them and took their order like nothing happened. Tighnari waited a minute before giving in, “Won’t you be mad? Angry? Disappointed? Hell, even amused?”
Albedo’s eyes stared at his soul and there was a low humming before saying, “Do you want me to?” he sipped from his drink and looked elsewhere “I trust if something else went on, or you planned to end our relationship you would have already done so. I assumed the reason you are confessing is to be forgiven, isn’t that so?”
There has to be more to it… “I- Yes”
“Then I forgive you” he smiled, and it only filled Tighnari with dread.
And so the rest of the evening went on.
The fennec couldn’t even eat his fill, then asking for a box to go. This whole “date” felt heavy, it felt wrong. Has Albedo really forgiven him so easily? Was he… expecting this to happen?
In the middle of Albedo explaining his reasoning throughout and ongoing investigation and how he should keep scalpels away from his assistant Sucrose, Tighnari snapped “Won’t you even ask me who it was?”
Albedo was left with his words hanging open, he grinned slightly before asking “Alright Tighnari, who was it?”
“Don’t ask like you are trying to amuse me…” he sighed.
“That is not my intention. I just wish to leave this past us, there is no reason in arguing. I understand you expected me to be angry but I will only waste energy over this if there was something else. So, the real question is, should I worry? Is there something else, Tighnari?”
“I supposed there isn’t”
“Then, let's suppose we can speak of something else. Please?” Albedo’s hand grabbed Tighnari’s and gave it a short squeeze.
He only nodded and smiled at his partner. There was no mirth behind it, though. Of course, he wanted to reassure him that this was it. But was it really? He was even afraid of seeing Cyno again. Maybe… Maybe it was a fleeting moment, weakness and drunken haste. Probably. Most likely.
“By the way, have you been readying yourself for next month’s trip? All of our friends are coming, for much that it pains me” he grimaced before turning around and asking for their check.
~
Of course, of all things, of everyone…
Gods above them were laughing and writing poetry out of his face. He watched the text open in his phone. It was from Albedo saying he was about to be late, that he should leave without him. And yet, said boyfriend has forgotten that he was supposed to be Tighnari’s ride.
He remembered Kaveh and Alhaitham offering him a ride and him denying it for the fourth time (what can he say, Kaveh was stubborn). He was close to letting his friend know he was right and if he could turn around and save him.
But of course, it was also Kaveh’s idea to meet up somewhere so they could leave altogether and it was also his fault for being a princess passenger with no patience and then leaving him behind. So fuck you Kaveh, there is no way Tighnari was about to tell him he was right.
The fennec stayed behind with Collei, who was supposed to wait for Lumine and her friend Amber. He could always leave with them, but there was no way he would leave… him alone.
Collei’s inquisitive eyes looked between them and she seemed about to burst into a ramble but decided wisely not to. There was an obvious tension easily cut with a knife, but neither dared to say a word.
For a second too long his gaze fell at the same moment he was watching him and the fennec’s heart skipped a beat. There was a slight smile on his part, and none from…
“Cyno! It’s been a while!” Amber’s voice was loud in her greeting, she waved at everyone before running to hug Collei. It was that easy, and both girls began their endless chat ignoring everyone around.
Tighnari saw the blush on Collei’s face and he laughed shortly. He then faced Lumine, whose face is still swollen with sleep “Hello, traveler” he said.
Lumine acknowledge everyone with a hum and threw the keys at Amber. It took her a second to get back in her car, this time deciding on the backseats. Plural, since she lied down to catch some sleep.
Amber caught the keys and yelled at her, something about safety hazard but shook her head in defeat, “Fine, I will drive then… Let’s go Collei, you will be my co-pilot!” she pulled the green-haired girl towards the car.
“W-Wait! Do you both need a ride?” she stopped in her tracks, suddenly remembering their company and nearly dragging Amber down. The loud girl only laughed and Collei began apologizing profusely.
There was a shuffling of keys behind him and Cyno’s voice shook his to the core “I brought my car. You go with them, Tighnari,” his name was said without any weight to it and for some reason, it hurt more. The fennec was terrified to look at his eyes “If you want” his voice whispered as an afterthought.
Both Collei, and he supposed, Cyno behind him as well were staring at him. There was obvious unrest in the whole situation, and Amber cluelessly looked between all of them.
He found the courage to turn around and look at Cyno’s red gaze. The fennec barely found the strength to stop any movement from his tail, even less to say what he said “No need to be lonely Cyno, we can go together” And Lumine would probably kill me if I disturb her sleep, most likely… “Just like old times, it’s been a while
Please say no. Say it. Cyno is lonely by nature, he probably would hate the noise and fight with Tighnari’s taste in music on who will have the aux cord…
Cyno snorted, “Sure” and Tighnari hated how his heart felt with just a single word.
He looked around the place, then at his phone. No Albedo in sight.
~
Its been ten minutes into this lonely ride. Tighnari stared out of the window to the mellow sound of Keane’s Somewhere only we know for some reason. He fought Cyno for the aux cord for the first 5 minutes and gave up, for now. There was more fight in him and he was ready to blast any other music but sappy, love songs. His heartstrings were struggling as it were.
He tried to focus on the view, the countryside extending abroad. But it was a lie because all he was seeing was Cyno’s reflection. Through the glass he saw him eyeing the fennec a couple of times but he was too smart, he knew Tighnari was able to see him. He hasn’t done it again. That also meant Cyno knew Tighnari was watching him and only him.
“Any word from Albedo?” he suddenly said, and even though Tighnari saw his mouth move through the glass, his voice still startled him. Cyno lowered the volume of the music, like there was any to begin with.
About what, exactly? “Only him apologizing. He was stuck at his lab, and went back home to shower and what else…” Cyno only hummed in acknowledgment “He won’t arrive until late night I suppose.
“I see”
“Yeah”
There was a long pause, and suddenly a strike of lighting ran through the fennec’s vein as Cyno’s hand barely touched him. He look down and saw that he was surrendering the aux cord.
Tighnari smiled and got to work.
Playlist ready, music began blasting from the speakers. Against anyone’s initial judgment, Tighnari loved his music loud. Yes, his ears were sensitive, but that doesn’t mean you would find him hours in his lab listening to classical music on loop… Instead he based his playlist on different kinds of music that had a fast rhythm. He was grateful for his father’s taste in hispanic reggaeton which now helped fill in the awkward tension between him and Cyno.
He only watched his friend roll his eyes once but with a hint of a smile on his lips- No, you shouldn’t be looking at his lips. Meanwhile, Tighnari let his tail loose with the music.
It was a pleasant ride. With his best friend. Nothing more.
~
Once arrived, Cyno groaned in agonizing pain while rubbing his ears from the loud music throughout an hour and a half of the ride, they were met with Dehya and Candace at the front door.
The “friendly pat” from Dehya nearly rearranged all of Tighnari’s internal organs and he winced while Candance laughed in compliance. She gave him a short kiss on the cheek before greeting Cyno with the same effusiveness. He looked bashful at the attention and he granted Candace a smile of his own. It made Tighnari feel all kinds of warm inside. Homey, of course.
They followed Dehya and Candace along the small tour of their home. Tighnari could already feel sweat gathering under his fringe and he tried to wipe it out to no avail, hair all sticky. He felt a cool bottle against his arm and he looked at Cyno with a grateful smile.
“And so, this room to the right will be Cyno’s and across the hall” Candace stopped and pointed towards said door “will be Tighnari and Albedo’s”
“Ah, is the lad coming?” said Dehya while carrying their bags, which neither Cyno or Tighnari noticed were brought from the car. She carried them over her shoulders, smirking and obviously teasing Cyno’s height. There was no way around it, and not like she needed the help.
The white-haired man huffed in annoyance but let her be while Candace snorted, Tighnari looked at his phone “He said he should be here tonight before dinner”
“Well then, you guys feel free to fix the bedrooms and refreshen yourselves” Dehya abruptly dropped the bags in the middle of the halfway and Tighnari silently mourned any fragile items within their bags. Thankfully, he left his laptop behind… “See ya’ in like, an hour”
Candace nodded and walked away with the lioness “Be sure to make yourselves comfortable, today the dinner is on us”
“Thank you” they both said and waved goodbye. It was a short second before Tighnari and Cyno faced each other. Even though great of hearing, Tighnari felt the world going silent.
Said silence was broken by Cyno’s soft voice “Do you need any help?”
The tanned man pointed at the bags, while Tighnari was lost in thoughts. If we are found alone in the room… I might jump to kiss you… “I appreciate the help, but you also need to get ready yourself”
There was a shrug of the shoulders, “I will be unpacking as I’ll be needing things, won’t be needing much time”
Please say no, please “You are insufferable if you do that, but sure” Tighnari grabbed one of his bags and left the other on the floor on purpose “If you find yourself that bored you can help me with that”
He entered the bedroom and left the door open for Cyno to follow him with the second bag.
The fennec heard his friend behind him while the took his surroundings. The place wasn’t too big, but just enough space for the king-size bed, two nightstands and a wardrobe. To the very end, the wall parallel to the door there was a long window that faced the pool. He dropped the bag at the foot of the bed and looked through the curtains finding Collei and friends currently laughing around said pool.
Well, Lumine was busy napping under the sun while Amber and Collei talked the time away. The green-haired girl noticed Tighnari and they waved at each other before focusing on the chat again. That bought Kaveh’s attention who was also by the pool, except tanning and trying to seduce an unamused Alhaitham, and said blond arched an eyebrow. He wondered for a second what was that about until he saw Cyno’s piercing eyes briefly reflected by the window.
His hair stood on every edge, but he composed himself soon enough. He ignored Kaveh’s judging stare and tried to brush away the incident. Quickly closing the curtains (and probably giving the blond more to pester him about) his smile wavered as he faced his friend.
“You can drop it right there, I will fix it later. I think everyone is waiting for us” he fought hard not to look away. But it was enticing, how the sunlight filtered from the curtains and brought something heavenly to Cyno’s face. He was already beautiful, always been. But under this light… Something was pulling at Tighnari and… He took one step, just one step and why are you looking at me like that? Just fucking k-
“Agree” Cyno sighed and closed his eyes, walking away. The moment gone. And it should have never been here in the first place…
~
As it was due, the dinner was indeed on Candace and Dehya tonight. Specifically Dehya.
Tighnari stared at the new message from Albedo saying that he was sorry but couldn’t make it tonight. Instead, he will arrive the next morning with Sucrose and Kaeya. The fennec grabbed his phone with a strong grip. Of course, he agreed. It's better they arrive safely in the morning instead of driving at night, and the trip was still young, they will have plenty of time. But feelings stirred inside Tighnari.
Against his better judgment, he looked at Cyno from across the room. The albino was currently with Alhaitham and bad influence-Kaveh playing beer pong. They were definitely getting drunk. Dehya was making sure of that.
On the other side, on the sane side (Tighnari thought) there was Lumine, Amber, Collei and Candace playing a board game. He doubted the cups on the table, but none showed any state of inebriation yet.
As for Dehya…
“C’mon Cyno, today we will find out how much tolerance a general has!”
Kaveh’s cacophonous laughter was heard all across the room “Chug! Chug! Chug!” he said while mixing drinks and drinking himself. Alhaitham seemed unbothered, which meant he has his headphones on. He was also drinking from one of the red cups, but far from loose.
Cyno’s state was… Questionable. He was drowning one of the red cups provided very forecuflly by Dehya and his face looked very red, eyebrows knit together and hair disheveled. Both him and Dehya were a beer away from taking out the karaoke.
Tighnari watched while sipping from his own and sighed heavily.
~
Instead of doing so, the karaoke was forgotten and the night went towards a different turn.
The fennec was far from drunk, actually being the only sober person in the room. He meant it when he looked for Collei and Amber but they weren’t in sight. The very responsible adults gathered around in a circle on the floor and Tighnari was expecting them to bring out an ouija board when Dehya let down a bottle in the middle of the circle “Alright, Alright, I will need everyone’s attention here!”
Candace laughed lightly and grabbed the bottle out of Dehya’s drunk hands. Tighnari felt immense relief, the only sane person in the room making sense. That was until all the blue-haired woman did was accommodate the bottle exactly in the middle, then Tighnari felt dread again.
“I don’t think I’m drunk enough for this…” he muttered to no one in particular, and yet everyone heard. Kaveh was snickering beside him, long gone and drunk. The fennec rolled his eyes and looked across the room. Red, staring at him.
He heard some struggle and a groan, “Alhaitham you dumb idiot, sit down” slurred Dehya with a deathly grip on said man’s shirt. He sat down, sighed in defeat and grabbed a new beer.
Lumine, who to this very minute has stayed silent, grabbed the bottle “Alright, first spin”
~
It went like this: first Lumine gave Dehya a peck on the lips, then it was Candace and Alhaitham’s turn, Kaveh and Dehya, and so the bottle went indiscriminatoraly picking victims and there was so harm done.
Tighnari was on his… Nevermind the number. The thing is he has started seeing everything slightly blurred and Dehya kept making sure everyone had a refill. It was honest, harmless fun.
The bottle did a wobbly spin and this time Cyno and Candace gave each other a kiss on the cheek. Expected of them, who were like brother and sister. Nobody really cared, until it finally pointed at Kaveh and Alhaitham. The blond at first began arguing about how this was unfair and someone something somehow cheated, to which Alhaitham just shrugged and was okay with no kissing, which made Kaveh even more angry and they ended up disappearing from the party.
Nobody was surprised.
Lumine this time had to kiss Tighnari, and it was a quick one that was more laughter than actually kissing. And so, and so, there weren’t really a lot of people even after Kaveh and Alhaitham returned with matching lipsticks stains, and that’s how it came to this.
The bottle spun a couple of times and Tighnari watched intently, until it stopped. He followed the direction of the bottle and saw Cyno already looking at him. To be expected. It took too long, actually.
“Alright” said Tighnari already standing. He felt Kaveh’s drunk stare and heard his and Dehya’s laughter. Actually, scratch that. Everyone was staring at their every move.
For Tighnari, there was only Cyno before him. He had even forgotten to notice Collei and Amber back in the room. Or the missed call from Albedo, or the three unread messages as well.
He fell down, legs giving up under him, right in front of Cyno whose eyes weren’t as lost as his, but just as glazed. He seemed amused, but restrained “Do I have your consent?” Tighnari heard his own voice and yet barely recognized it.
There were laughs and giggles all around them, and even Cyno snorted. He spoke softly, just enough for Tighnari’s perceptive ears to pick “You have my consent”
If Tighnari’s tail was wagging, nobody remembered.
~
They were drunk. Again.
Somehow they have managed to crash into Cyno’s bedroom, or so they hoped it was. Their kiss was more teeth that anything, they were desperate and stumbling backwards towards the bed.
Tighnari felt overwhelmed, overjoyed. This is what he wanted, this taste. Cyno’s. He whimpered, unafraid to show his weakness and lust. Cyno. Cyno. Cyno. His hand was deep within his hair, soft and tangled strands that he held into for dear life.
Cyno’s hands were everywhere and nowhere all at once. He was doubting every second, he was trying to grab the fennec waist, or behind his neck, the small of his back, Tighnari was growing desperate. He grabbed his current lover’s hands and helped them on his ass.
The albino was shaking, and it only fueled Tighnari’s infatuation “Cyno, please, please touch me…”
“Tighnari” he choked on air.
Not again. Stop this. He kissed Cyno’s neck and dared to leave a bruise. The fennec’s hands started to undress him. There was so much heat between his legs, but he wanted more to taste Cyno’s dripping core. He expected to have a feast and memorize Cyno. He wanted Cyno. Cyno. Cyno. Cyno.
Cyno grabbed him forcefully and turned him around, the fennec’s face crashing against the bedsheet. His mouth felt hot against the skin on his back and with every second, the kisses were getting lower and lower, and then a hand was carefully pulling on his tail.
“Aah…” Tighnari moaned loudly, feeling the pressure on his back and he was tightly gripping the sheets, his knuckles white. Every wave of pleasure traveled to his member and he wanted to cry. He couldn’t exactly touch Cyno like this, couldn’t feel the heat of his skin. Everything felt right and so wrong at the same time. Cyno bit him on a specific spot and he felt electricity coursing his veins. Fuck, he didn’t even know that spot existed “Cyno…” he moaned his name like a plea.
But then.
Tighnari suddenly felt cold.
He stopped feeling Cyno, he shivered and moved freely. No longer strong, tanned arms restraining him.
He felt desperate and stood up looking around. But Cyno left.
He scanned the room and sighed, different emotions twirling inside him “Ah, it was my room all along…”
Wait.
“No you fucking won’t” he groaned, fixing his clothes enough to be decent “Not this time, Cyno” he staggered towards the door and took a deep breath. Sobriety was back to him, at least enough to be fucking pissed.
He didn’t even care enough to knock on the door, he flung it open and charged at the shadow inside. Of course, it was no one but Cyno.
Said man turned around and caught him before any harm was done. Not like Tighnari was able to hurt Cyno “You are not leaving me Cyno, not this time” he growled, ears and tail standing upright “If anything, I will leave if I want to. Don’t you fucking dare-”
“Tighnari-”
“Look at me!” he barked his words between his teeth, “Look at me, look at my eyes and tell me you hate me. Tell me this is all a farce, tell me, was this a mistake? Have you really felt nothing?” he flung his arms around, but Cyno was strong enough to keep him steady. Not even his swears made him waver.
Red eyes suddenly boiled with emotion, and stared him down. Tighnari bent the knee to him, failing to startle him.
“State exactly want you mean, Tighnari”
The fennec laughed, insides firing up “Answer the fucking question, Cyno”
“You are the one that should be questioning all this, Tighnari” his voice was bitter poison, unmasked frustration and anger “What does it mean to you? Is it just a game?”
The kneeling man swung his arms, freeing his wrists and dropping them. He felt tired, defeated. There were a couple too many ounces of liquor still in his system, but they only served to rise up his bile “How dare you to say that? Is that really what you think?” he snorted, but there was no humor in his voice “A game, really?”
Cyno let out a frustrated groan, “Can we please stop speaking in riddles?”
“Fine! Answer me this, what do I mean to you?” he held his face high, waiting for Cyno to look at him.
The albino bit his lip before answering in a whisper, “Tighnari, even though my feelings are obvious enough, they… Don’t really matter. You have Albedo now-”
“It’s not my fucking fault, Cyno” he yelled, desperate. Tears stung at his eyes “I wanted a life with you, I wanted everything with you. And you left”
“You know I had to-”
“For work? Ha! Of course, always. I will never be above your job” he sobbed while his heart broke down, tiny pieces of broken glass digging inside him “I love you, I have always loved you. But I know my worth and I needed to move on, to keep going without you”
Something twisted in Cyno’s eyes, this wasn’t the declaration of love neither of them wanted. He stood there, silent.
“You broke my heart” the fennec took a breath and laughed bitterly, “Actually, I suppose I broke my own heart… Since, for once I wanted to be selfish. Yes, I wanted to be selfish and have you choose me above all else” his eyes focused on him. Cyno avoided his face.
“Tighnari, I…”
“I’m leaving” Please follow me.
Cyno frowned, but had yet to look at his eyes. Look at me. “I understand”
No, no. No. I want you to look at me. Stay, I want you to stay. “Is that really all? What do you want?!”
For once in that night, red eyes stared to his own. They were full of grief and regret, and he answered with a heavy weight in his chest “I don’t want to hurt you”
Tighnari turned around and left.
This time, he left. Follow me, please, follow after me…
He found himself alone in his room.
The next morning when Albedo arrived, everyone was wasted enough to not remember a thing. Or at least, now they were sober enough to deem what was shareable, and what was not.
Cyno and Tighnari avoided each other for the rest of the trip.
~
“Tighnari” his voice said with finality, “You do realize I’m not blind, right?”
The fennec tried to vocalize his thoughts, but there was nothing much he could say.
“I see” he turned off the stove and finished setting the plates for them, “I suppose we can finish having breakfast together. Then, we’ll bid farewell”
Albedo sat down and watched Tighnari. His face looked torn, seemingly choosing a struggle. Anger, sadness, heartbreak, shame.
The alchemist sighed and said before he began eating his share, “I can’t say it will happen immediately, but we can still be friends. I very much enjoyed our research practices”
There was a pause, not shorter than it took Albedo to finish his first bite. “...I’m sorry”
“I understand”
~
Collei watched his teacher pour the tea. It was obvious that something troubled her and sure enough a pin drop would be enough to get her talking. Except Tighnari didn’t want her to, because he knew the reason. It was obvious enough.
Tighnari hasn’t left his home if it isn’t for work for the two weeks that have passed after (the trip) breaking up with Albedo, or well… Albedo breaking up with him. And no Cyno in sight.
The only person brave (stupid) enough to pressure the fennec into talking was Kaveh, and have only received the cold shoulder. The only real answer was that he was… getting over his breakup, but that wasn’t the entire truth.
Of course, he was dealing with breaking Albedo’s heart. Nobody, even less him deserved this. Even Kaeya’s threats were justified. Tighnari hurt him and lied, several times.
He loved Cyno… Oh, for fuck’s sake. He caught Collei’s eyes and bit the reel “Say it”
She was startled, jumping on the spot “Huh?! What?”
“Collei…”
“W-Well…” she swallowed and hers fingers began playing with the rim of her dress “I was- We were wondering about… How have you been, Master?”
“I have been doing better” short and conclusive, he sipped on his tea.
Tighnari was as smart as he was proud, which made Collei’s time miserable with each second. “That’s good to hear…” she sounded defeated.
There was a long pause in which the only sound was them drinking their tea, contemplating. The fennec felt slightly amused seeing his student’s inner turmoil. In his head, he began a countdown, and soon enough when it hit zero…
“Ugh, fine!” she stood up and flailed around “I can’t handle you two sulking anymore. When are you and Cyno speaking again?!”
Tighnari snorted, although the name stung his heart. He recovered soon enough though “Be careful, I don’t want you breaking my favorite tea set”
“Ah! I’m so sorry, Master Tighnari” she sat down again and for a second she have forgotten her outburst, then she went red on the head “I didn’t mean to yell, I’m so sorry! I know it’s not my business-”
“It’s okay Collei, breathe”
“O-Okay” she nearly choked on the remaining tea but thought it was better to shut up then.
The fennec laid down his cup and sighed, “Do you know… How is he? I haven’t…”
“I haven’t seen him much, only for short times at the akademiya these past days but he seems… Okay…” like Cyno always does, which means not an ounce of emotion in sight.
“...”
The girl seemed bashful out of the sudden, “Master…” he hummed in acknowledgement “Will you be going to Kaveh’s meeting?”
“Meeting?” he laughed. Kaveh, you dumbass…
~
“This is your worst attempt ever” Tighnari said the moment he met Kaveh. Alhaithaim behind him rolled his eyes and left.
“Greetings Tighnari, it’s so good to see you too. I missed you so much, you have no idea” the blond grumbled but there was no bite, he walked the fennec inside the house and put the first glass of liquor in his hand.
Tighnari glared at the offending red cup before leaving it somewhere. “I don’t think I’ll be staying for long, gotta head back before midnight”
“Whatever, whatever. Don’t be an ass, go out there and mingle” he shoved his friend further inside. Tighnari nearly tripped against a stranger, the latter paying him no mind.
There were more people than he originally expected, which meant the party was thrice as numerous. He could already feel sweat gathering under his bangs. His ears flopped trying to filter out some of the noise. The music was too loud, the people were stuck together, everyone was at equal levels of drunk and high. This was no place for him and his sensitive hearing.
He tried to search for any familiar face, walked to the other side of the room, and only managed to embarrass himself in front of his ex and co falling down, flat on his face. This was ridiculous…
He could hear Kaeya’s badly hid laughter and he wanted to die right then and there. For a second he refused to stand up but a hand grabbed at his arm and helped him back to his feet. The fennec stared back to cold, silver-blue eyes and an honest smile “Are you alright?”
Tighnari chuckled, dusting off his tail and clothes “Not so much, but I will manage… I think”
“I never expected to find you here, loud music, loud people and all…” he sounded amused, most likely a couple of shots already in his system.
His ears flopped, “Is it alright that I’m here?”
Albedo returned his troubled stare, then he relaxed and gave Tighnari’s shoulder a slight squeeze “I appreciate the thought, but it’s fine. Although we will get there… Eventually. We are still friends”
“You are too kind, Albedo…”
Not too far from them, Kaeya began calling Albedo’s name “I suppose that’s my cue to leave. I wish you well, Tighnari”
There was a slight nod before Tighnari decided to walk away. He couldn’t get rid of the discomfort, both physically and mentally. While stumbling through the crowd, he couldn’t find any of his friends and he suspected Kaveh and Alhaitham’s whereabouts. He did see Nilou further inside but as expected, she was too lost dancing and hell would freeze over before Tighnari made it there.
The final straw that made him snap was someone stepping on his tail. He screamed in fair agony and stumbled out of it “Alright, that’s it. I’m leaving”
Tighnari ran for the door leading to the backyard where he couldn’t spot a single soul. He groaned and sat down on one of the few chairs without cans and waste on them. He carefully threaded his fingers through his tail and cursed Kaveh’s name to heaven and back.
He had even forgotten the blond’s unmistakable goal behind all of this until said purpose spoke above the sound of the cicadas.
“I knew you would be here”
Tighnari laughed bitterly, didn’t even dare look at him even when his heart began hammering inside his chest “So you were actively trying to find me?”
There was no answer.
Stupid heart, stupid Kaveh. “I’m tired, I think I will go home” he stood up.
“Do you need a ride?”
“I would rather walk home…”
Silence.
The fennec found the strength to look up and of course Cyno wasn’t even meeting his eyes. All kinds of havoc went through his head and heart. He couldn’t take it anymore, only one push… Just one… “Cyno, what do you want to do?”
It took a second too long, Tighnari admitted he was alone. He began walking away when he heard steps behind him and a quiet voice followed after “I will walk you home”
His heart did the hundredth summersault of the night, and he surprised himself by how stable his voice sounded “Be my guest”
~
There was no invitation, no ‘Come in’ or ‘Welcome’. Cyno knew he was supposed to walk inside, and even closed the door after himself.
The fennec shuffled around leaving his shoes here, socks there, keys somewhere. He felt like screaming, punching something, even pulling at his ears while Cyno just stood there.
“Move!” that caught the albino off guard, he did broaden his stance but wasn’t sure exactly what he was expected to do “Do something, just don’t stare at me!”
“Tighnari?”
“Your eyes are haunting me, stop that”
Cyno seemed irritated “Stop what?”
“For fuck’s sake, Cyno. Stop looking at me and just-” he groaned, “Touch me, alright? Do it now, touch me Cyno”
That definitely stunned the white-haired man. Not like he had a lot to say, but he was at a loss for words. Meanwhile, Tighnari was losing it by the minute. He jumped through the furniture and grabbed at Cyno’s forearms, dragging him to the coach.
Not letting him regain his breath, Tighnari straddled Cyno and crushed their lips together. This time, there was no poison between them… It somehow felt- no, not right. It felt better.
The albino wasn’t sure where to put his hands while Tighnari was having a feast of his own grabbing, touching, and even scratching Cyno’s arms and chest. Even above the fabric he was doing his best to feel his body.
Once Cyno had no more air in his lungs, he breathed in and now Tighnari’s mouth was free to kiss, suck and bite as he pleased on his lover’s neck and shoulders. Once the first bruise was done, Cyno’s hands found a place on the other’s ass.
The moment felt exhilarating, even more so when both parties were sober. The act itself was intoxicating.
Tighnari got rid of Cyno’s crop top and began sucking on his chest. The heat between his legs grew more while he noticed how sensible his lover’s nipples were. With every bite he whimpered softly, and with every lick and suck he trembled.
“Tighnari…” he moaned his name sending a current through the fennec. Said current traveled all the way to his dick, and he couldn’t handle it anymore.
“I want you, Cyno” he began rubbing against him, lost in pleasure. He barely had it in him to talk, “Please, tell me this is okay… Please, Cyno, what do you want?”
The albino’s hands traveled up back and nails dug between his shoulder blades and began moving on his own. Tighnari whimpered once he felt the other’s knee between his legs.
“Cyno, please…” he needed to hear him, needed this to be real for both. His hand left Cyno’s biceps and instead grabbed his chin to lock their eyes together. They both looked drunk and high on lust. The albino’s mouth hung open gasping but no word fell from it yet “Say it”
Red eyes were closed and his hands carefully grabbed the base of Tighnari’s tail. The latter moaned loudly and lost his balance. He made sure his face landed between the other’s breasts and bit hard on one “My padisarah… I want you”
The nickname made his skin lit on fire and he groaned in both pleasure and pain, “Fuck you”
Cyno snorted but not for long, he bit his lip tightly when Tighnari finally put one of his hands through his shorts and found exhilarating pleasure in finding out how wet he was, his underwear dripping sweet, sweet nectar. He couldn’t focus too much on it since Cyno’s hand went back to thread his fingers through the overwhelmed tail. The other hand added pleasure to its base and the fennec began moaning his name.
He felt his own erection grinding on the other’s leg but fought against it and went to forcefully grab Cyno’s hands out of his tail and pinned his wrists together above his head. With a swift movement, he got rid of the offending clothes covering Cyno’s sun-kissed legs. It was only a second before his lover’s arms were free to grab at his hair and scratch his ears carefully. There was no way Tighnari had more strength than Cyno, even if the latter cried in pain once the other’s canines dug into the flesh, it was all because the albino let it happen.
His tongue licked the iron and sucked on it for dear life. His hand spread the tanned legs, enough to make place for his head. The thought of how easily he could crush his skill went through his mind and traveled to his twitching member.
“Cyno…” he moaned his name lust-ridden against said man’s pelvis. The vibration brought divine shivers to his body and that was all the invitation Tighnari needed to begin feasting on Cyno’s honey.
The general was a silent lover, nothing but huffs and puffs of air drawn out of his hanging jaw. However, the strong grab and pull on the raven’s hair was unmistakable. It drove Tighnari inside, digging deeper and deeper. Feeling that bundle of nerves at the tip of his tongue and circling, sucking and licking at it.
He felt Cyno tensing, the heat around his tongue clenching. That’s when he decided to stop.
Tighnari kissed the inner side of his leg and muttered an apology, saying he will be back in a second.
Cyno nodded slightly and tried to recover some of his breath back. His red eyes never left his back as he went to the bedroom looking for something. It only took a minute, but it felt like forever. The whole trip looking for a condom was cold and unforgiving. But it will be worth it.
He went back to the living room nearly tripping against every other piece of furniture and stopped for a second to stare at Cyno’s naked beauty. Every sight of every bruise and bite on his skin traveled straight to his dick.
After a second too long, Cyno groaned and sat properly. His hands were dextrious enough, quickly pulling down the other’s pants and underwear with it. Tighnar stumbled while stepping out of his clothes and that brought Cyno enough momentum to send him down the couch and straddle him, his legs around his waist and warm hands lifting the rest of his robes. The fennec’s tail hugged one of those legs and he took a deep breath trying to recover.
They locked eyes for a while when Tighnari remembered the condom. While Cyno stared him down, and said image turned him on more than anything, he struggled to open the package and slide it down his dick. Every small friction made him shiver, and Cyno helping him put the condom on just made him more eager. This was above any of his wildest fantasies…
“T-This is about to happen” Tighnari cursed his voice and cleared his throat, hands now firm on Cyno’s back. His red, mesmerazing eyes were half-lidded and cloudy, but they were just as intimidating as ever.
Cyno chuckled, “A lot has happened in the last hour, I believe”
Blood rushed to his face and groin “I suppose”
The albino had the nerve to ask him a stupid question, “Do you really want this?”
“I nearly have my dick inside you, what do you think, general?” he groaned but there was not an ounce of heat in his voice.
“I love you, Tighnari” an imaginative screeching sound rattled inside the fennec’s skull.
“Cyno” he bit his tongue trying not to scream, then tried to recover his train of thought “You are about to give me a heart attack”
Cyno dared to look serious while his cunt hovered right above him, like they had room for chatting right now.
“Fine,” he grabbed his waist with trembling fingers “I really want this, Cyno. I want you, now please sit on my dick, I’m begging you”
While his hands carefully scratched at his scalp and suspiciously close to his twitching ears, Cyno did as told. And god damn it, if Tighnari didn’t feel like coming right then and there… But he had some pride left. Instead, he moaned the albino’s name like a prayer and nearly chocked with his own tongue.
He bit Cyno’s shoulder as he felt his walls around him. The albino himself stuttered the moment Tighnari bottomed up inside him. In this position, him sitting on his lap, he felt entirely sheathed “Cyno…” every inch filled in. The man gasped and shook, the slight movement sending new waves of pleasure.
Tighnari bit harder, marking Cyno for at least the next month. This one bruise in particular will take some time to heal, and the victim whimpered. He shuffled in pain trying to stifle tears pricking at his eyes but that only made Tighnari frustrated. So he began thrusting upwards and moans were released from Cyno’s mouth.
It was overwhelming in a sense. Tighnari was stuck between making love, slow and steady, or simply fucking both of their brains out. But then… This wasn’t a one-time thing, no. Heh… They will have plenty of times to make love to each other.
Now, he just wanted to hear Cyno say his name like he has never heard him before.
So he gave in, and Cyno’s own resolve was no small challenge. With tears of pleasure, he began sliding in and out of him with no rhythm of harmony, desperate and lost without balance. Forcefully collecting was was due, Tighnari felt Cyno’s walls clenching around him, driving him insane as he pulled on his tail and scratched his ears.
He licked on his lover’s neck and grabbed his ass, moved to scratch his legs and have them impossibly wider for him, to fill every last bit of Cyno. His Cyno.
There was the noise of wet, the noise of their gasps and moans, the bouncing of the offended couch that won't be used in a while as its wood creaks and fights for dear life to stay put together. The heat and pleasure as those fingers combed through his hair with so much love, and yet the owner’s hips moved precisely how he wanted, precisely how it felt the most right. Between there, and here and how they sang each other’s names.
And it was the moment, both reached for their lips. It was messy and could barely be called a kiss. There was too much teeth, too much breath and saliva. But it was perfect.
Tighnari slid one last time inside Cyno and he heard him come. He heard his name being whispered like a forbidden word, and so the fennec came inside his lover. He thrust further in to not lose momentum and once again bit, albeit this time tenderly, on the abused skin of his Cyno’s shoulder.
They were both left gasping for breath for a couple of minutes and it wasn’t until the discomfort of their tired limbs that Tighnari slid out of Cyno with a whimper.
The albino collapsed on top of him and the fennec kissed his temple and combed his hair out of his sticky forehead “I love you Cyno”
There was a long sigh while every muscle loosened up until the point where he let his entire weight fall between Tighnari’s arms. They stayed like this for half an hour, until their bodies began complaining.
“Let's move to the bed”
Cyno snorted, “Already?”
“You big lummox” he pushed him aside without care and stood up. His legs wobbled for a second and blood rushed to his face “No way in hell I can carry your weight, c’mon” he stared at Cyno from head to toe feeling pride in his work.
He offered his hand to him, which he took at once. Cyno flipped his hand and kissed his knuckles “Lead the way, my padisarah”
How fuckin’ dare he, how in hell does he come up with- Tighnari groaned and flicked his nose, making the white-haired man wince. He turned around unaware of his wagging tail and decided to wait for him inside.
He could hear uneven footsteps coming to the bedroom and met Cyno with a smirk. This was my doing, huh… The great general unable to keep his pace steady.
The fennec cupped his face and kissed the swollen lips tenderly. He felt arms around his waist and his heart… Surprisingly at ease.
So this was home.