#no ofc i’m not projecting onto cyno… ahaha

[caspersickfanfics]

Day 2 of thinking about Tighnari’s lightening injury.

Cyno is unable to come see him immediately after it happens due to work stuff and saving Sumeru and whatnot, but by the time he does, he’s no less worried. While Tighnari has made good progress on healing by then, it’s clear that it’s going to scar. Some days are better than others, the pain is sporadic and unpredictable.

The day Cyno shows up is a good one. He’s tense and frantic, needing the sound of his partner’s heartbeat with every fiber of his being. He finds Tighnari in the kitchen, smiling while making dinner, and clearly expecting him.

Cyno is widely known to be inexpressive. He is sure that this is the case because his peers at the Akademiya had often complained to each other that he was “weird and unreadable” when he was within hearing distance. Many of his current colleagues have repeated this sentiment, albeit with more positive framing, often in the context of inquiring his advice on how to be more intimidating. Cyno hadn’t been much help in either situation; he’s simply always been inexpressive, whether it serves him or not.

Tighnari must be the only person who disagrees. Upon seeing Cyno, his brows furrow together, relaxed manner disappearing at once. He turns off the burner and trots up to his partner, taking hold of his hands and staring intently at his face.

“What’s wrong?” He asks. Cyno is voiceless, trembling. He squeezes Tighnari’s hands and then gently turns him around. He hesitates while lifting the corner of his partner’s shirt, but Tighnari gives him an encouraging nod. Cyno removes the loose-fitting, soft textured shirt and the expertly wrapped bandages beneath it, and then he is looking at a raw mess of burnt skin. A choked noise escapes him. Tighnari turns and cups his cheek.

“I’m okay,” he says gently. Because he can somehow read Cyno’s mind like a book, when no one else can even see him. “It looks worse than it is,” he continues. “It hardly hurts, today. I’ve been taking good care of it.”

Cyno applies a new coat of healing salve to the wound. Tighnari lightly complains that he’s being overly cautious - “It will take ages at this pace. Dinner will go cold.” - but Cyno stubbornly proceeds even more slowly, taking pride in being The Most Gentle with his partner. Tighnari deserves nothing but the best. By the time he’s wrapping him back up, Tighnari’s eyelids are drooping, and Cyno feels the twisted knot in his stomach begin to unravel at the sight.

They have dinner. Cyno convinces Tighnari to sit and relax while he heats up the food that did, indeed, cool off. Tighnari had simply rolled his eyes fondly. They eat and then spend the rest of the evening in a drowsy, comforting haze. Cyno helps Tighnari bathe around the wound, then grooms his tail and massages his ears. Tighnari feels spoiled, and says as much, but Cyno brushes him off with the first joke of the night: “You’re too sweet to be spoiled.”

After that, Tighnari realizes this is the best way for Cyno to heal and process and feel useful, so he stops protesting. He allows himself to let go of his reservations and be taken care of, for once.

They get in bed and start to drift off, clinging to one another. Once Tighnari falls asleep, Cyno’s ear finds his chest and stays there. These actions become something of a routine, as Cyno stays in Gandarva Ville for far longer than he would normally allow himself. He never lets Tighnari far from his sight. Although he has to go back to the city eventually, Cyno quickly becomes more adept at making excuses to take detours during work trips so that he can visit and check in on Tighnari.