Completely unrelated but I need to scream into the void somewhere that I'm apparently back to winning 50/50's so rip my tighnari pity
Levels. If Tighnari had to describe Sumeru in one word, it would be levels.
Broken up into layers nestled in a tree, the sages made sure you knew who mattered most. With the actual city nestled on the bottom, the tree wrapped the Akademiya securely in its middle, rendering the top nearly inaccessible.
The heat was barely chilled by a breeze as Tighnari walked through the lower level, eyes searching for a familiar face.
On Cyno's last visit, he asked Tighnari to come to Sumeru City for a meal, and Tighnari accepted despite being hesitant to leave the forest.
Tighnari yawned, trying to ignore the empty bench next to him. He'd known about this day for a while, but the situation with the Withering has been getting worse recently, and Archons forbid he sit idly by and do nothing.
He started as a hand settled on his shoulder, whipping around to face the intruder. Cyno raised an eyebrow at the overreaction, hands held in a placating gesture.
"I missed you too, Tighnari."
Tighnsri sighed, shoulders slumping. "Hi Cyno. Sorry, I didn't notice your approach."
Something flashed in Cyno's scarlet eyes like a solar flare, but before Tighnari could place it, Cyno covered it with a smirk.
"Shall we get going? I don't know about you, but I'm starving."
Tighnari's trips to Sumeru City were few and far between since graduating from the Akademiya. On the few occasions where he needed to visit, he never stayed longer than necessary. As such, he hasn't had much leisure time in a place he used to consider home.
He missed this. He missed eating meals at the Cafe with fellow students and friends. He missed Cyno's jokes—though he'd never admit it. He missed not having the weight of the rainforest on his shoulders, at least for this one hour, being able to talk and laugh without a care in the world.
He missed having the energy to act exasperated at Cyno's antics. He missed seeing the rainforest full of life. He missed his bed.
Still, dinner was a mostly pleasant affair. Cyno asked about Collei's studies and the rainforest, and Tighnari gladly answered his questions under Cyno's watchful eye. Cyno, in return, regaled him with tales of the desert.
Still, throughout the whole meal, Tighnari couldn't seem to place the emotion simmering in Cyno's sunset gaze.
The two sat in silence on a set of stairs. The sound of rushing water flooded Tighnari's ears, making him drowsier than before.
The stars' beauty amazed him when he first joined the rangers. There was no light pollution, meaning he could bask in all their glory. Still, seeing the constellations in the sky from the city brought back a nostalgic feeling.
"So, Tighnari," Cyno started, eyes still trained on the stars. "Between mentoring Collei, doing your usual patrols, and investigating the Withering, I wonder, when do you eat? When do you sleep?"
The emotion was back in Cyno's stare. Tighnari turned back to the stars, avoiding the intense gaze boring holes into the side of his head.
He could lie, but sometimes the deadpan glare was worse than a mistimed corny joke. So he sighed, shoulders slumping.
"I forage while on patrol, and sleep whenever I manage to catch a break."
"Which is?"
"… not as often as I'd like."
Tighnari waited for a glare and a scolding. What he got was a chuckle, some cross between amused and fond, though Tighnari doubted his assessment was accurate.
"Well, for the next few days, you'll have plenty of time off."
"But what about my—"
"The forest will be fine if Collei takes over your patrols for a few days. It won't be fine if its number one guardian passes out due to exhaustion."
Cyno's eyes glinted under the moonlight, and Tighnari knew there was no getting out of this.
"Fine," he mumbled. He didn't have to be happy about it.
Cyno nodded, a pleased smile settling on his features. "Good. We'll return to your hut soon, but let's enjoy the few for a bit longer."
Cyno wrapped an arm around Tighnari's shoulders, gently tucking him against his side. The tension bleeded from his shoulders as he melted into the embrace, feeling lighter at the prospect of not having to work tomorrow.
If he'd been well-rested, Tighnari might have commented on Cyno's use of 'we', but for now, he was content to just rest against his side.
Also upset at myself for describing sumeru as beige in my last fic