“Shut up and use that mouth for a better purpose,” Tighnari groans, “Push me against the wall and kiss me."
I. FIRST
The first time it happens is about 6 months after Tighnari’s investigation. Cyno knocks on the door of his dorm, holding a heavy textbook borrowed from the House of Daena. And contrary to his usual composure, he almost looks hesitant, shy, like he shouldn’t really be here.
“What are you doing here?” Tighnari blurts out before he can stop himself, immediately feeling his lungs go all taut and uncomfortable. He really needs to keep a better check on his tongue.
“Uh… you ordered this from the House of Daena,” Cyno points towards the book in his hand, “I was passing by, and decided to bring it to you.”
“Oh, um, thanks,” Tighnari says, embarrassed.
Cyno nods, staring up at the ceiling, ears pink, “I will leave now….take care.”
There is sunlight on Cyno’s cheeks, and Tighnari’s lips are cold. Cyno looks at him, golden skin, hibiscus eyes, and all Tighnari can think about is the way the sun rays fall on him, warming his body. Tighnari, who is so terribly cold, lips freezing. He needs to fall, trip, dip himself in globs of liquid sunlight.
The moment Cyno turns to leave, Tighnari is leaning, and it all happens faster than any of them can process anything, but Tighnari is leaning, face closing in, lips pecking Cyno’s cheek, lips kissing sunlight.
And just as fast, he is pulling back, slamming the door shut in Cyno’s face, terrified of what he just did.
2. SECOND
The next time it’s Cyno who steps closer, leaning down to take Tighnari’s hand, bringing it up to his lips, softly pressing his open mouth against pale skin.
It happens in front of Tighnari’s father. Because Cyno believes he must make a good impression. Like a true gentleman, as he believes himself to be.
He presses his lips against the front of Tighnari’s hand in a gentle kiss. And if that’s not already enough, he turns it around, facing the palm, and placing another kiss right in the middle, sending a wave of shivers throughout Tighnari’s body.
Tighnari’s father raises an eyebrow, amused, while his son desperately tries to hide his bright red face, ears pressed flat against his head. Cyno remains blissfully ignorant, proud of himself.
Later, when Tighnari is alone with his father, he is nudged, a teasing smile thrown towards his direction.
“The General Mahamatra himself, huh? Going after the big shots, I see.”
Tighnari groans, hiding his face in his hands for the umpteenth time that day.
3. THIRD
“Tighnari, I came here to talk. Can you stop pushing me on your bed?”
There is an abrupt stop to Tighnari’s attempts at trying to push Cyno into a sleeping position in his bed, and he gapes, horrified, “Can you please not phrase it like that? That sounds very wrong.”
“Wrong? Why does it sound wrong?”
Tighnari almost splutters on his words, biting his tongue on accident, “Because…because it sounds like I am inviting you to copulate!”
Cyno’s eyes widen at realization, and he half chokes on a cough, averting his eyes, “Tighnari, are these the type of things you think about? As the General Mahamatra, it’s my duty to remind you to pay attention to your studies instea—”
“Oh, I pay attention to my studies alright!” Tighnari snaps, pulling over a blanket to cover Cyno, “And stop changing the topic. You look like you haven’t slept for days. I am forcing you to rest.”
Cyno gives in with an exasperated sigh, “As you wish.”
Tighnari waits for a moment before speaking again, “Well? Close your eyes then?”
“I apologize but that may not be possible. It’s important for me, with all the enemies I have, to sleep with one eye open.”
Tighnari’s jaw drops, in disbelief, incredulous. With an annoyed click of his tongue, he pushes back the hair covering Cyno’s other eye. Then, with his fingers, he gently pushes them both shut.
“Shut up and sleep,” he says, and leans down to kiss each eyelid, slowly, taking his time, lips against sensitive skin, touch featherlight.
“Not one more excuse from you, am I clear?”
4. FOURTH
It’s not often the General Mahamatra indulges in public display of affections.
So, it’s normal to expect the entire Akademiya go up in flames, an outburst of hushed whispers and gossip, students staring wide eyed when the General leaves an important meeting to seek out the ethereal, tall-eared scholar from the Amurta Darshan.
To pull him out of the crowd, bodies pressing close in a proximity not appropriate for friends. To slide one hand into his hair, stroking slightly. And finally, to lean down, pressing lips against his forehead.
There is an important exam right after. The General Mahamatra came all the way to wish him best of luck.
5. FIFTH
Their first proper kiss isn’t really a kiss. Not in the way lips usually press against each other, aggressively , parting, melting in warmth. It’s only a gesture, an accident, of yearning bottled up, overwhelming, until it almost overflows, a mere two or three droplets tickling down.
The General Mahamatra is allowed in the Student dormitories for a variety of reasons focused around the nature of his work. What he is not allowed in for is to lean towards an Amurta graduate, mingling their breaths, bodies pressed close against the floor pantry.
But his heart is only a crowbar, lifting the weight of his feelings that burst out like hot bubbles on top of a boiling supper.
It’s Tighnari who moves first, and their first kiss isn’t really lips clashing with no restraints. Their lips brush. Again and again . And a couple more times. Until both of them have lost the count.
Warmth breath fanning across their mouths, and their lips only brush like a pair of ruffling feathers, and yet Cyno exhales, tired and falling in love, and Tighnari’s lips tremble at how intense the feel of Cyno’s breath against his mouth feels like, and that’s a kiss alright.
6. SIXTH
“About last night—” Cyno begins the next day.
“No,” Tighnari interrupts, “Don’t talk about it, about the kiss, I—”
Cyno furrows his eyebrows, “That wasn’t a kiss. Not a proper one I mean.”
Tighnari cannot breathe, “You want to… do a proper one?”
Cyno is nervous, and red all over, breath shaky, when he answers, “May I kiss you…properly, I mean? May we kiss?”
It’s humiliating how loud Tighnari’s heart beats in his own ears, and at the very moment, he curses his heightened hearing. There is absolutely no need for him to be shoved face first into his own pathetic, sappy feelings, to see just how down bad he is for Cyno.
And it’s even more embarrassing for him to stammer on his next words, “Y-yes. But ! Not on my lips. You have the permission to kiss me anywhere else.”
Cyno blinks. Not on the lips? Oh.
And Tighnari notices his expression, rushing in to explain, “It’s nothing deep! I just cannot be distracted from my studies right now. I have finals starting next week. If you kiss me on the lips, it might genuinely affect my concentrat—”
“It’s okay,” Cyno pipes in, “I get it. Anywhere but the lips.”
Then, he steps closer. Taking Tighnari’s face in his hands, cradling his cheeks. One caress later, he is moving his nails through his hairline, softly ruffling his hair, only stopping when the back of his fingers graze the edge of Tighnari’s ear.
Before Tighnari can gasp in realization of what exactly is happening, Cyno’s lips are already taking in the tip of Tighnari’s ear, biting slightly, leaving a soft peck right after. All of that while his other hand fondles the lower length of his ear.
Cyno pulls back, surprised to see Tighnari holding his head, expression pained, ears a bright pink, drooping shyly.
“I am going to fail,” Tighnari whines, biting into his palm, “I am going to fail and it’s all your fault.”
Cyno smiles, eyes shining, chest swelling with pride, because deep in his heart, he knows that no matter what, Tighnari is still going to ace all of his papers.
7. SEVENTH
The first time they kiss properly, with lips clashing, wet mouths mingling is the day Tighnari leaves the Akademiya.
“I respect your decision, Tighnari. Please don’t take me in the wrong way. It’s just that….”
Cyno’s eyes soften, “It’s comforting… keeping you near me.”
Tighnari’s heart clenches, wrapped between a coil of endless wires, magnetic, longing , “… I am not moving nations, Cyno. I am still going to be here.”
“Right,” Cyno nods, “Take care, Nari.”
Tighnari smiles, “Would you not like to kiss me? Before I leave?”
Cyno crosses his arms, mirth sprinkling into his eyes, “So, you finally want the kiss?” he teases, “No more exams you can fail, am I right?”
“Shut up and use that mouth for a better purpose,” Tighnari groans, “Push me against the wall and kiss me.”
“Look at you, not even a day since you graduated and you are already getting all bold and kinky.”
“No, you are not,” Cyno declares, reaching out for his arm, and pulling him flush against his chest, “Not until I get the kiss.”
He says, and pushes him against the wall, fingers circling the back of his neck, lips hovering over the corner of his mouth.
“Kiss me Cyno,” Tighnari whispers hoarsely, then he proceeds to lick his bottom lip, “ Please.”
That one singular action sends Cyno’s heart in overdrive, and his fingers dig in, tightening his hold. He touches Tighnari hot, parting his mouth with his own teeth, gently, careful not to hurt him. He touches him like he is a bunch of tangled, gorgeous gold fabric, unraveling each string, picking them apart.
At first, his movements are calculated, with every poke of his tongue, he explores Tighnari’s mouth further and further, tasting the inside of pink, wet walls. But Tighnari is one impatient man, and he bites. Bites his tongue, his lips, his mouth, until they are kissed raw, bruised and plump.
With every sip, salacious and tantalizing, Cyno finds his mind a deserted landscape clouded in mist, completely intoxicated. Inebriated , head ducked in a tub of cold alcohol, filling his eyes, his lungs, his mouth.
If this is how Tighnari tastes like, he wouldn’t mind being a drunkard.
8. EIGHTH
Cyno kisses with half of his heart dangling out. He kisses intensely, lips pressing with such emotion you would think his tear bags are stored inside them. Almost like his lips weep, sobbing out elegies of his love, of all that he feels for Tighnari. It’s overwhelming — the way he tastes Tighnari’s mouth, trailing behind all his endearment like souvenirs tossing out of a bag.
Cyno kisses like a man with too much to give, he snaps his heart into two pieces, makes a point to choose the bigger piece, and places it between Tighnari’s lips, before helping push it deeper towards his throat, helping him swallow it whole.
This is how Cyno kisses.
9. NINTH
Tighnari kisses with laughter in his mouth. There’s nothing better than someone else’s laughter in your mouth . He kisses ferociously, teasing , all biting and bruises. His lips are sneaky, playful, reaching places in Cyno’s mouth, spoiling them with experimental licks until Cyno growls in his mouth, tongue attacking for a battle of dominance. Tighnari’s lips tingle with adrenalin. He loves the chase .
Tighnari kisses like a madman. Like Cyno’s kisses are a bottle of ink, toppling over itself, staining Tighnari’s mouth with an ocean incoming, an ocean of blues, reds and pinks; everytime he kisses him blue (softly) everytime he kisses him red (roughly) everytime he kisses him pink (tenderly). Like a thirsty man, Tighnari drowns down in whatever Cyno holds in himself when their mouths meet.
This is how Tighnari kisses.
10. TENTH
The first time they sleep together in one bed is long after Tighnari has graduated. He stays at Gandharva Ville, in his hut, and Cyno pays him a visit. A dinner too long, a couple extra hours spent laughing, and suddenly Tighnari has convinced him to stay the night over.
This is also how Cyno finds out that Tighnari talks in his sleep.
It begins with a string of muffled gibberish, words put together that make no sense, and he grumbles it all against Cyno’s chest. Slowly, intelligible phrases recognizable to Cyno come next.
It starts with ‘Put down that mushroom this instant’ and Cyno is suddenly fully awake. Looking around for one of those idiotic adventurers Tighnari complains about. He almost reaches for his staff, ready to defend against any uninvited visitor, before realizing that everything is fine. It’s just Tighnari mumbling in his sleep, ‘Sag. Stop messing with my tail. Can you not be a good boy for once?’
Cyno smiles. The sight is adorable. And he would have liked to keep smiling if the next thing that doesn’t come out of Tighnari’s mouth is, ‘Not another joke, Cyno. You are going to ruin Sumeru’s reputation,’ and at that, he immediately lies down on his back.
He brings Tighnari’s body closer, smoothing back his long, droopy ears, patting his head, “Right, right, you can talk about your mushrooms in the morning.”
Tighnari’s head settles in the crook of Cyno’s neck, nuzzling, ‘Come back home, Cyno…’
Cyno’s breath hitches at that. He exhales, a melancholic sound. His recent missions have kept him away for the past 4 months. It has been difficult for both of them.
He places a series of soft kisses, starting from the top of Tighnari’s head, to over his eyebrows, his nose, over the pulse point on his neck, against the soft hollow area.
“I am home, Tighnari.”
11. ELEVENTH
“Tighnari.”
The two of them walk along a narrow, secluded path situated on the outskirts of Gandharva Ville. Relaxed, moonlit shadows craft webs behind them, lining their steps. They are on a routine late-night patrol that Tighnari had on his agenda — an outing that Cyno spontaneously decided to join.
“Our love story is the ultimate 'his and his'tory."
“Your tone was so serious. I thought this was going to be something important.”
“Cyno.” Tighnari warns slowly.
“Because you've roasted your way into my heart. Will you be my marshmallow mate for life?"
Tighnari was completely ready to groan away another one of Cyno's jokes, but at that , he stops, heart trembling, at the hidden implications of the joke. His usually confident stride falters, and he looks back, startled, wide eyed.
“Are you—? Are you proposing to me with puns?! ” He asks in a tone that’s both ridden with disbelief and a concealed touch of adoration, quivering.
“Yes?” Tighnari repeats, incredulous.
“Thank you for saying yes. I love you very much too. We are now husbands.”
“Hey! That wasn’t what I was saying yes to—Ugh, leave. A-And what do you mean we are husbands now?”
“We are husbands,” Cyno simply states.
“And what if I divorce you for tormenting me with bad jokes?”
“No, no, Tighnari. The policies of this marriage doesn’t allow for that.”
“What? What policies are you talking about? Show me.”
“They are listed down in the marriage certificate. Alhaitham is drafting it as we speak.”
“There is no way Alhaitham would do something like that.”
“But he is. Lesser Lord Kusanali asked him to.”
“Lesser Lord Kusanali knows?” Tighnari exclaims.
Cyno nods, “Everyone knows, Tighnari. The reception is tomorrow. Kaveh is in charge of the decoration. Candace helped me choose the dining caterers. Faruzan and Dehya are sending out invitations.”
“Why does everyone know except me?!”
“Because it’s supposed to be a surprise. I am only telling you in advance so you can be prepared for the kiss we will have to put up tomorrow as a show for everyone.”
"Kiss? Hold on a second, Cyno. What are you—”
Cyno mimics the tone of who you would call a priest, “It’s the ‘You may kiss the groom now’ part that I am referring to, Nari.”
“Cyno! Have some shame. This is Sumeru. We don’t do that here.”
“Who said we don’t? Tell me Tighnari, may I kiss the groom?”
Tighnari doesn’t have the heart to reject him, especially with how bright Cyno’s eyes look under the moonlight, sparkling with genuine joy.
He dramatically sighs, giving in, smiling tiredly, “Sure, whatever. You may kiss the groom.”
And so he says. Then in a moment of sudden courage, he pounces on Cyno, his weight knocking back both of them down, sending the pair rolling down a vast bed of flowers and grass, tangled bodies, mouths pressed in a heated, passionate lock. In love. In love. In love.
12. TWELFTH
you are pressing against me
like i press flowers
against the pages in my book.
you are kissing my neck
and it feels like the start of forever.
i want to touch you
until my palms burn.
(X)
(I have loved before, but it didn’t feel like this)
(I have kissed before, but it didn’t burn me alive)
— END —
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