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[lordjackal]

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[veardant]

[ it's been awhile, and cyno is still acting.. strange.

tighnari can't pinpoint the cause of it. at first he simply thought that cyno was in a strange Mood, sometimes that happened, tighnari could certainly be moody himself, he knew, but it continued on for longer than a fleeting mood might last. did he miss home, perhaps? he certainly lacked direction here in this place, tighnari was sure that he must've missed home, missed his job, he knows how important cyno's work is to him.

it's after dinner one night that tighnari settles onto the sofa with some tea. he sighs. ]

Cyno.. let's talk.

[lordjackal]

[ Cyno raises a brow when Tighnari calls to him that way, hearing the sigh. He comes with his own tea and settles near Tighnari on the sofa. He knows he's been acting strange, withdrawn. That night he had brought Tighnari home, there'd been so many conflicting feelings and ones that he didn't want to acknowledge. That weren't fair or were silly but still they had taken root in spite of him knowing better.

Still, he isn't expecting that's what Tighnari wants to talk about and so he asks... ]

Is something on your mind, Nari?

[veardant]

Yes.

[ there's no reason to act as if he isn't, but his voice is gentle, and his expression is smooth; it's clear he isn't angry. he pats the sofa cushion, inviting cyno to come and sit as well. ]

Come and have some tea.

[lordjackal]

[ Cyno can’t really deny Tighnari anything and he doesn’t want to anyway even if things have been a little strained. It’s all his own fault, not Tighnari’s.

He sits down on the sofa and studies the other carefully. ]

what is it?

[veardant]

[ as cyno sits, tighnari leans forward to pour him a cup of tea, which he soon offers forward to cyno. ]

Well, I'll get right to the point. Is something bothering you, Cyno? Things have felt.. strange, between us, and I don't like it. I'd much rather talk things through if there's something upsetting you.

[lordjackal]

[ Cyno is quiet, furrowing his brow at the question. He silently accepts the tea and exhales. His shoulders are tense and he does know that tighnari is right and he doesn’t like this either… ]

It’s nothing.

[veardant]

[ tighnari deflates visibly, his ears drooping. he had hoped that they were close enough that he wouldn't need to pry information out of cyno - that isn't what he wants - but something has to give. ]

Cyno.. [ he says, softly, and sighs. ] Please don't lie to me. Don't you trust me?

[lordjackal]

[ The way Tighnari’s ears go down makes his stomach twist. He exhales and sets down the tea. He knows he can’t joke his way out of saying something. ]

I’m not lying and you know I trust you. It’s nothing because it’s foolish of me.

[ He frowns, looking at his hands and he doesn’t really understand it all himself. ]

That night you were drunk…. You kept flirting with people.

[veardant]

You're not foolish, Cyno.

[ if he's feeling upset about something, tighnari would rather know it, especially if it's something that would affect their friendship. he can't bear the idea of anything coming between them. when cyno continues, however, tighnari tilts his head. ]

Was I? I honestly don't remember that night very well. I'm sorry if I embarrassed you.

[lordjackal]

You didn’t embarrass me.

[ Cyno sighs. ]

I didn’t like that you were flirting with other people.

[veardant]

You.. didn't like it?

[ a hundred different thoughts spring to tighnari's mind, a hundred different ideas, and his cheeks flush warm at them, but.. he cannot jump to conclusions. he won't. so instead he looks down at his hands for a few moments, before glancing back toward cyno. ]

Why didn't you like it?

[lordjackal]

Why do you think, Tighnari?

[ Cyno crosses his arms as he leans back. It’s hard to be vulnerable even with someone that he trusts with his entire life. ]

[veardant]

I.. can't entirely say. There could be many reasons.

[ and he doesn't want to misspeak and ruin something between them. but.. tighnari reaches to rest his free hand over cyno's, squeezing gently. ]

You don't have to keep deflecting, Cyno. You can talk to me.

[lordjackal]

[ Cyno takes a deep breath. He's worried of ruining things between them too. Cyno doesn't have many true friends and Tighnari is the truest. He glances down at the other's hand on his own.

Avoiding the subject hasn't been working for either of them either... Maybe if he just puts it out there they can both put it behind them and move on as if nothing had happened. ]

I didn't want you to flirt with anyone but me.

[veardant]

[ tighnari's chest tightens up, warmth spreading through his limbs. he and cyno have always been close, there's no mistaking that, and that closeness has, at times, overlapped with other feelings, been a little less than platonic, despite how neither of them had crossed that line. they had work to see to, after all, and cyno.. he was dedicated to his job, and tighnari had never wanted to burden him with his own feelings, when what they had was perfectly good.

but now that they're here.. should that change?

he's quiet for a few moments, his brows drawn together in thought, before tighnari finally summons his courage to lean in, and press a soft kiss to cyno's cheek. ]

[lordjackal]

[ Cyno is ready to be chided or gently rejected. He doesn't know what to really expect and so he steels himself for the possible negatives.

He'd never anticipated the gentle press of Tighnari's lips to his cheek and his face warms quickly. He turns to look at Tighnari. ]

Nari... Don't tease me about this.

[ Hedging, just in case. ]

[veardant]

[ oh, tighnari would never tease him about this. matters of the heart, things so delicate and sensitive as this.. they're important to take seriously, and tighnari knows cyno. he knows how gentle this man's heart really is. he would never do anything to hurt him. ]

I wouldn't.

[ setting his tea aside, tighnari lifts his hands to cup cyno's face within them, smoothing his padded thumbs over cyno's cheeks, holding his face so he can't look away again. ]

Tell me how you feel, then kiss me.

[lordjackal]

[ Cyno's heart picks up as Tighnari takes his face like that. His eyes steady on his best friend's face and there's something terrifying about saying even more that will change their relationship forever.

What if something goes wrong...

The thought is pushed aside. He's already here and Tighnari is waiting. ]

I love you.

[ Cyno says simply, leaning in then and pressing his lips to Tighnari. In matters of emotions, it's easier sometimes to let Tighnari be his guide. ]

[veardant]

[ he's partially expecting those words, and yet tighnari still feels his entire body tighten up at the speaking of them. heat washes over his body, and his face flushes, but he has no more time to react, for cyno is leaning in, and tighnari is reciprocating, tilting his head the moment their lips meet. ]

Mm..

[ he hums softly, closing his eyes, his fingers slipping into cyno's hair. cyno's lips feel rough, like the desert sands, but warm as the sun, and he smells so good, so familiar, like spice and sunlight, like all the things that make tighnari feel fond and good. ]

I love you, too.

[ he whispers against cyno's lips, and kisses him again. ]

[lordjackal]

[ Kissing Tighnari like this for the first time is something beyond his wildest imagination and dreams. He had tried for so long to deny his feelings for Tighnari, their friendship more important to him than anything else could have ever been and he'd never wanted to risk it.

So that it's happening, that everything isn't falling apart is overwhelming. Everything he'd been afraid of is nothing and now he wonders how he could have wasted so much time. ]

Nari...

[ Cyno murmurs, letting their lips meet for yet another kiss and he never wants to stop. ]

[veardant]

[ it feels the same, to tighnari. they've danced around this thing for so long, always flirted with the line between platonic and romantic, but never crossed it. they had too much respect for one another, and for their friendship, to ever risk it for their own gains.

but they're falling into it at last, and it feels as natural as breathing. tighnari's arms lift, coiling around cyno's shoulders as he hums softly, his tail curling, then thumping softly against the sofa cushions. ]

[lordjackal]

[ Cyno hears Tighnari's tail as his arms wrap around the fox, tilting his head to the side as he parts his lips and the kiss deepens slowly. It lingers but Cyno pulls back, resting his forehead against Tighnari's. ]

All this time?

[veardant]

[ oh, it's a good kiss.. it deepens in a way that makes tighnari shiver lightly, and he soon hums, a little chuckle bubbling up between their mouths. ]

All this time. [ one hand sifts through cyno's hair, cups one warm cheek. ] I've had feelings for you for years. Did you really not see it?

[lordjackal]

I...

[ Cyno contemplates that question, nuzzling at Tighnari and reaching to tug him closer. ]

I thought it was all my wishful thinking.

[veardant]

[ pulled in so close, tighnari can't help but smile, a soft laugh on his lips. ]

No, it wasn't. I thought I was being quite obvious..

[lordjackal]

[ Cyno’s hand rubs a small circle on the other’s lower back as he works to sort all his thoughts and emotions. He’s tempted to make a joke here but he’d like Tighnari to not decide to stop kissing him. ]

I was worried about losing what we already have.

[ Cyno doesn’t have many friends and he doesn’t relax around many fully but Tighnari and Collei the center of his trust and comfort, they were home in a sense. ]

[veardant]

So was I.

[ which was one of the reasons he'd hesitated, but mostly.. ]

I didn't want to get in the way of your work.

[lordjackal]

How could you ever get in the way of my work?

[ Cyno asks and it's almost a comical idea. They're both very dedicated to their work, neither of them would be apt to pull the other away from their duties. ]