Chapter Text
As long as he could remember, there was something about Tighnari that Cyno just couldn’t get out of his head. Maybe it was his intelligence, and dedication to his work and passions. Cyno had always admired that about him, especially since he carried both without any semblance of ego. Or maybe it was the way he spoke, directly to the point, but not in a harsh way like Alhaitham. Tighnari was much gentler with his bluntness- well, when it applied to anything other than Cyno’s jokes. It was grounding, in a way. Or maybe, Cyno thought, looking at the young man across from him at the table, maybe it was his ears.
Tighnari’s ears had always intrigued him, as had his fluffy tail, since they had always gave him more insight into his friend than Tighnari would likely ever admit. Cyno thought it was cute, the way his ears flicked when he was confused, slouched when he was tired but would perk straight back up if someone approached him, or flattened back against his head when he was embarrassed or shy.
Perhaps it was a mix of all of them, really, that made Tighnari so interesting to Cyno. Interesting enough to spend far too much of his time thinking about their last interactions and what might happen during their next. In reality, Cyno admired all of Tighnari, his thoughts simply converged on his ears as he watched and listened to him talk about his day and how the last week or two had hardly given him any time to rest. His exhaustion was most evident, not in his posture or voice, but rather his ears, which were drooped slightly even as he talked.
“Cyno? Are you listening to me?”
A hand waved rapidly in front of Cyno’s face, snapping him out of his thoughts.
“Huh? Sorry, I must’ve spaced out for a moment. What was it?”
Tighnari sighed, his ears lowering for a moment as he did before he stood and began cleaning up the table.
“I asked if you were wanting to stay over tonight, since it’s already late and Collei isn’t here. Plus neither of us have work tomorrow, so it’s a good opportunity to hang out, isn’t it?” Cyno watched Tighnari’s back intently, noting every small twitch in his ears, and memorizing, for the hundredth time, how they flicked up slightly whenever he posed a question.
“Ah- sure, I suppose. That does sound nice, especially since it’s been a while since we’ve had a sleepover.” Cyno said, pushing some uncooperative white strands out of his face. He watched as Tighnari turned back to face him, an unimpressed look on his face even as his ears and tail betrayed him with happy flicks and swishes.
”I’m not sure that a sleepover is exactly the right term, but since you’re staying…” he pointed over to the washroom, a faint smirk playing at the edges of his eyes and mouth. “Go shower. I don’t need you getting sand all over the furniture more than you already have. Plus you smell.”
Cyno sighed as he stood and stretched. “Fineee. I suppose I probably should do that.”
Tighnari smiled fully before crossing the room and opening the door to his. “Good. I’ll see you when you’re done.”
It didn’t take Cyno very long to get himself cleaned up and redressed, ironically in more clothing than he typically wore during the day. It would’ve taken even less time if his mind hadn’t been completely overtaken by the thought of Tighnari’s ears. He wondered briefly what it would feel like to touch them. Why had he never asked before? He decided, as he left the washroom and made his way to Tighnari’s room, that he now had a goal to achieve during this sleepover.
Tighnari smiled at Cyno as he entered, looking up from his book as his ears twitched happily, even if they were still a bit sluggish from Tighnari’s evident exhaustion. Cyno gave him a smile in return, a playfully mischievous glint making its way into his eyes. Tighnari raised an eyebrow in suspicion.
“What are you planning, Cyno?” He asked, ears flicking up slightly. Cyno didn’t respond, simply taking a few more steps forward, a grin working it’s way steadily onto his face. Then, as soon as he got near the edge of Tighnari’s bed, he pounced.
Tighnari let out a small squeal of surprise as Cyno landed of top of him, the two wrestling playfully for a moment until laughter overtook Tighnari to the point that Cyno was able to easily trap his arms and legs in place, wrapping around them with his own. He waited for Tighnari’s laughter to subside, watching as his ears made large sweeps through the air with each deep breath he took to calm himself down. His face was adorably flushed, and Cyno could feel his own neck and cheeks begin to warm at the sight.
“You- you should really warn me next time before doing that.” Tighnari finally spit out, struggling slightly against Cyno’s grasp on him before simply going limp. His ears fell slightly, and Cyno was overcome with the urge to just- touch one. He restrained himself though- he knew he should get permission first.
“Tighnari?”
”Hm?” The fox hybrid looked up at him curiously, even as his face fought the effects of his tiredness. Cyno took a deep breath as he felt his temperature rise, suddenly rather nervous.
“I’ve kinda been wanting to try something for a while- if it’s alright with you of course, if not that’s fine, but- can I, uhm,” he took another deep breath as the curious look on Tighnari’s face only grew more so, “Can I, uh, touch your ears?”
Tighnari’s eyes widened, and his ears lowered as a red glow overtook his face. He leaned forward and rested his forehead against Cyno’s chest, currently covered by a thin white t-shirt, and gave a minuscule nod. Cyno felt like a weight had been lifted from his chest as he released one of Tighnari’s arms, raising his hand tentatively before settling it on the top of Tighnari’s head, right between his ears. A slight shiver made its way through the fox’s body, but he nuzzled against Cyno’s hand, encouraging him to continue.
Cyno didn’t need any further instruction, and started gently scratching at the bases of Tighnari’s ears, taking great amusement in the way they flicked happily against his hand. The fur on them was even softer that Cyno had imagined, which was impressive given that his reference was Tighnari’s already impossibly soft tail. Tighnari hummed in contentment, his breathing beginning to slow as Cyno continued to pet and scratch his head. Cyno felt his breath hitch slightly as Tighnari leaned back ever so slightly, looking fondly at him with eyes half-lidded with both comfort and drowsiness, the red overtaking his cheeks still very present.
“‘M surprised you haven’t started making any puns yet.” He murmured, a sleepy but still mischievous smile gracing his features. Cyno sighed, scratching at a particular spot that Tighnari seemed to like, since his ears both flattened and his expression relaxed even further.
“You mentioned how exhausted you were from the last week or so earlier, and I doubt you have much energy left to laugh at my amazing jokes with. Especially if you had to listen to Kaveh prattle on about Alhaitham again today.” He muttered. Kaveh was a great friend and fun to talk to- but his endless words about the roommate he supposedly disliked so much got a bit much at times.
Tighnari nodded slightly. “So considerate.” He sighed, then buried his face back into Cyno’s chest, his now freed arms coming to wrap around Cyno’s torso. He yawned, and Cyno, as always, squealed internally at the adorable face he knew Tighnari was making. Though, nothing could have prepared him for the next words that left Tighnari’s mouth, apart from his ears suddenly flattening down in that very way they did when he was embarrassed or highly flustered.
“Maybe that’s why I fell for you.”
Cyno felt his heart stutter violently, but when he regained feeling in the rest of his body, he could feel that Tighnari’s breathing and pulse had slowed dramatically. He was asleep. Cyno breathed shakily, more out of joy and relief than anything. He curled further around Tighnari, rubbing his ears a few more times before getting the courage to press a gentle kiss to the top of Tighnari’s head. Sleep was quickly beckoning him as well, so he used his remaining energy to cover the two of them in the soft blankets and to pull Tighnari even closer to him.
“I love you too, Nari.” He whispered softly, before letting himself also succumb to sleep, warmed by both his heart and Tighnari in his arms.