Archive of Our Own ^beta

my mind is restless when I think of you

we’re so alike and so different

not only friends so promise me

please don’t be sad

although it’s time to leave

if this is true love

please save a place in your heart for me

“I would think of us more as siblings. An equal and pure relationship, unaffected by academic considerations.”

Cyno’s words echoed in Tighnari’s wandering mind as he laid in his comfortable hut after the eventful trip to Mondtstadt. Were they like siblings, truly? He could definitely make an argument for found family, but siblings? He thought back to his interactions with both Collei and Cyno; while he felt an overwhelming fondness for the two, he wouldn’t be able to deny that it manifested in different ways for each one. When he thought of Collei, images of him teaching her how to look out for the forest and care for plants emerged in his mind along with a warm sense of pride for how much she’d overcome and learnt over the years. She was adorable, brave and watching her growing into herself  filled Tighnari with joy. With Collei, it always felt like a peaceful, blossoming garden of flowers. In contrast, when he thought of Cyno — which happened more often than Tighari was willing to admit — it felt like the calm before a slowly coming but inevitable storm. Strikes of their first unconventional meeting at the Akademiya, shared smiles and snarky jokes that held perhaps a little too much tension over the dinner table, eye contacts and embraces that seemed to last a moment longer than they’d supposed to popped up one after another in his mind, crowding it with just Cyno, Cyno, Cyno. Each day alongside him evoked new and deeper feelings within Tighnari, sending sparks to his poor heart in a way that Collei didn’t quite. 

That night, he dreamt of Cyno. Of playing TCG for hours with him, of his stupid jokes and even stupider puppy eyes awaiting for some laughter afterwards, of stolen glances and forbidden touches. Of “anonymous” messages and gifts from the desert left in candy boxes, of opening the door to his cabin in the dead of the night to a wounded silhouette and their wordless but careful treatment that followed shortly after. Of course, he dreamt of Cyno; weren’t dreams manifestations of one’s most profound, hidden thoughts? 

In the following days, Tighnari reflected on the small sample of couples (or what he took as couples, at least) he personally knew. Alhaitham and Kaveh were… a strange case: he never knew if they were within 5 seconds of having a brawl or passionately making out on the spot. It was bizarre, really, how “hate” and “love” were interchangeable for them. When Tighnari first became aware that they were in fact a pair of lovers and not sworn enemies, he joked with Cyno (ah, there he was again)  how they were like Schrödinger’s couple: one can be 100% sure they are kissing and cursing each other out at the same time when not looking at them. What kind of progression must have taken place with those two, he wasn’t sure – enemies-to-roommates-to-rivaling lovers? Or perhaps all of those at the same time? One thing he was certain about, though: the way they looked and treated each other was far from whatever “brotherly” relationship that Cyno and Tighnari had. Still, he supposed they were happy with their strange arrangement? 

On the complete opposite side of the spectrum, there was the softest and most angelic pair of Sumeru: Dehya and Dunyazard. Oh, to be looked at the way those two do at each other. The effect of merely mentioning one’s name in front of the other provoked an immediate reaction of either profusely blushing or softly smiling with sparkling eyes. Hadn’t it been for Tighnari’s affection for the two, he’d honestly feel almost grossed out by their almost excessive lovey-dovey-ness. Even the Grand Bazaar vendors loved them.

With no tangible conclusions acquired, he pondered straight-up asking Collei for her opinion on the matter. After all, she also knew a handful of couples across Teyvat, and was the one who’d spent the most time observing Cyno’s and Tighnari’s interactions. Still, just imagining coming up to her and asking, “hey Collei, not that this means anything or is the reason why I’ve been so restless recently, but do you think Cyno and I are more like brothers or lovers? Haha, thanks for your input!” felt way too embarrassing and made him fearful that it would make their interactions somewhat awkward. Then, it hit him: Albedo – hadn’t he mentioned that he was going on a date with someone during Windblume? Also, with him having a little sister, and living the entire land of Liyue away from Gandharva made him the perfect candidate for speaking up about this; or rather, writing to about this. Plus, being an artist and a great observer and all, Albedo probably had an insight or two about human relationships. Probably. Hopefully.

With problems regarding adventurers eating suspicious mushrooms for the nth time taken care of and his mind made-up, Tighnari set his quill to paper.

March 21st, Gandharva Village

Dear Albedo,

I trust this letter finds you well? Myself, Cyno and Collei very much enjoyed our stay in Mondstadt, and it’s all thanks to you and Sucrose. Cyno is still entranced by your gorgeous cardback artwork. We really appreciate your kindness and hospitality. 

With that said, though, I would be disingenuous if I said that I am doing completely fine at the moment, and that things have settled into normalcy again here. See, as embarrassing as it may sound, some of Cyno’s… statements, I should say? have left me faced with a certain conundrum ever since we came back. I’m sure you remember them — the ones from our small debate about the social relationships in Sumeru and their connection (or lack thereof) to the Akademiya. 

I now get to the crux of the matter, one that is still quite awkward to admit even to myself and yet has taken my mind over for the last few days: honestly, what do you think of Cyno and I? As in, the state/level of our relationship? Would you say that we are more like “siblings”, as he put it, or something else?

I am painfully aware how strange that question is, and I apologize for taking your time over something so dumb, but please trust me when I say that this is something I can only really discuss with you since 1. You mentioned you have a little sister and 2. You also have a significant other. If you’re comfortable answering, could you please tell me how you came to the realization that you, well, liked your partner as “more than a friend”, if you will? How was that different from your little sister? Sorry if these are intrusive, or if I am being rude. I’ve never had this sort of conversation with anyone, nor have I been so distracted with something of this nature before. 

Thank you once again for your generosity and any sort of insight would be greatly appreciated. Oh, and do tell Sucrose that Collei won’t stop talking about her, will you? It’s been a while since she’s been this enthusiastic about someone. Take care, and I wish you the best of luck with your alchemical and artistic endeavours. 

Sincerely, your “technological consultant to the Treasure Hoarders”, Tighnari.

He hurriedly went to the post office to turn the letter in. While half of him prayed to Lord Kusanali that Albedo still hadn’t gone back to Dragonspine, the other half secretly wished that he had, so he could forget the matter altogether. 

In the meantime, Tighnari tried his best to stay busy. It helped that there were still a lot of leftover Forest Ranger duties after his return, and that Cyno was away at work. The latter, unfortunately, did not last for long.  

A few days after the letter had been posted, the subject of Tighnari’s pining unexpectedly showed up at his doorstep just before dusk, all sweaty and tired. However, much to his dismay, before Tighnari even got to greet him, Cyno just slumped over him, letting out a long sigh and lightly cradling his arms around the other’s waist. “I missed you”, he tenderly said as he nuzzled into Tighnari’s warming neck. Tighnari felt his brain short-circuit for a solid second. Archons, what am I supposed to do with this man? His hands then slowly reached out to Cyno’s back, pulling him ever so slightly closer. The two stood there, basked in the dimming sunlight, emerging stars, and each other’s presence. The twilight between day and night; the zone between friends and something more.

Finally, when the night breeze got a little too cold for comfort, Tighnari sighed and pulled Cyno – whose feet were still stranded out the doorway – inside his cabin. “Tired, are we?”, he passingly said as Cyno yawned and sat down at the table, and as Tighnari tried to calm down. Cyno merely huffed in response, half-falling asleep. The rest of the night was rather quiet, consisting mostly of the two going through their typical routine while pretending that nothing had happened. Except, even by the time he had put Cyno to sleep on his couch, Tighnari’s heartbeat was very much erratic. The sight of the  usually alert General Mahamatra comfortably tucked in, with his dumb shiny hair and glowing skin under the moonlight made Tighnari feel things he was too afraid to even name. Afraid to creep Cyno out, he forced himself to look away and slip to his own bedroom. Albedo, ye great alchemist, bless me with your knowledge, he wished as he helplessly tried to fall asleep that night. 

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

It seemed Celestia was on his side, because following his slumber, Tighnari woke up to an excited Collei handing him a letter from none other than Mondstadt’s prodigy himself. 

“Master Tighnari, look what I found in the mail!”, she said, with her eyes practically shining despite the early morning.

The letter with the City of Freedom’s stamp was neatly written, and smelled of wine and crystal cores. Tighnari quickly made his way through it.

March 24th, The Knights of Favonius Headquarters

Dear Tighnari,

Thank you for the kind letter. Sucrose and I are doing well! Please extend our greetings to Cyno and Collei too – we miss you all dearly.

I really appreciate the trust you have placed in me by sending this. I have been in a similar position before and I know how suffocating these… feelings can be. I hope I can be of some help to you now that I have gone through that. 

I’m not entirely sure if my opinion on you two is going to reassure you – as I will soon explain why – but since you asked, well. I honestly thought the bickering and arguing was quite endearing, haha. You first struck me as long time lovers since both of you were so comfortable with each other. Klee (my sister) and I share a large age gap so I don’t think comparing us to you two would be most helpful. Although, having observed interactions between my partner (his name is Kaeya, to make things easier to reference in the future) and his brother who are much closer in age, I did not sense anything similar between you and Cyno. They have quite the history and aren’t necessarily on the best of terms, but they definitely care and worry for one another (though, they will never admit it). I actually think that this dynamic is the most common among brothers and sisters I have encountered across Teyvat – which admittedly aren’t a lot, but I suppose they serve as a larger sample size to draw conclusions from. Bickering appears to be very common between them, but they are most surely not the kind they mull over for long (as you are right now). I have also found that it is rare for them to outright state care for each other, or always want to spend more time than needed with the other.

I apologize for going on a tangent. Social relationships are very interesting, aren’t they? 

As for myself… It was quite the journey. I’m not sure if I will be able to fit it all in this one letter, so I may have to continue the story another time. But, shortly put, Kaeya and I were mere acquaintances despite working at the same place; Klee was the one who brought us closer. We started seeing each other more often outside of work hours to the point where Kaeya became subject to my painting practices, and I, to his fencing matches. We’d dine together, talk about our pasts, and take care of Klee. I must admit that sometimes I even made excuses just to see him, though I was probably unaware of that at the time. And well, we both sort of realized that we’d long since crossed the line between platonic and romantic. I knew that Kaeya had a reputation for being flirtatious with anyone and everyone, but his gaze and words towards me just became too much to ignore. I doubt I was discreet with my reactions to them, either. The rest is history, I suppose? To be fair, he was the one who made advances first so I simply had to follow them, but that did not make the pining and heart ache any easier, haha. I love Klee; however, she seldom had me wondering if I was saying the right things, or making me want to run away from a conversation with her, or keeping me awake at night. Brotherly love and romantic love are not “superior” to one another, but are simply… different. If you think you are in love with Cyno, then I bear the great news that you probably are. Accepting it is the first step. 

However, I must warn you as a fellow researcher: human relationships cannot really be studied, I dare say, at all. Trust me, I’ve indulged in it for an embarrassing amount of time and it has gotten me nowhere. I suppose I should thank Kaeya for making me realize that. The only conclusion that I’ve gotten, and will ever get, is that romantic experiences and relationships cannot fit into a standard. They are each unique, valid, and only ever understood between those taking part in it. No outsider can completely validate, or “get” it, per se. So you and Cyno, too, are the only ones who will grasp what you two share to its full extent. I would therefore advise you to do what feels right for you.

Should you want more advice in that direction, though, I doubt I can offer you more than my own experience, since Kaeya was the one who did most of the work towards our becoming a couple. If you don’t mind, I can speak to him and perhaps he can share some of his insights on navigating that. I’m sure he’ll gladly help, as nosy and romantic as he is. 

This has turned out to be much longer than intended. I wasn’t sure what would be useful for you, so I decided to include it all, in true academic fashion.

I wish you the best of luck, both with your Sumerian work and the General Mahamatra – or should I say, the skilled desert explorer. I’m open to having more discussions with you, so please do not hesitate to contact me!

Sincerely, 

Albedo

P.S.: Sucrose says hi to Collei! She’s been drowning herself in research as usual, so I told her that perhaps writing to Collei would take some of the stress off her shoulders. Now, she is more stressed about what to write than her Cecilia antidotes. Await more letters in your mailbox, I guess?

Tighnari read and reread the long paragraphs and the combination of his morning brain and Albedo’s insightful remarks made him stare at the letter for probably a much longer time than normal. Collei, as sharp as she was, noticed that something was off.

“Master Tighnari, are you okay? What did mr. Albedo write to you about? Your face is as red as a Henna Berry!”

“Ah, Collei. I’m fine, yes, just a bit tired from yesterday.”  A pause to recompose his thoughts and divert her attention elsewhere. “Sucrose said hi to you. Albedo told me she would write to you soon. I hope you are practicing your letters, hm?”

The effect was immediate.

“Really? That makes me so happy! I miss her so much.”

Before Tighnari could respond to her, she remarked,

“Oh, and Cyno made us both Mushroom Hodgepodge for breakfast! I’ve already eaten my portion because I’m on early patrol, and it was really good! I’ve left yours on the table. See you soon, Master!”

Right. Cyno was still here. 

“Thank you, Collei. Stay safe!”

The girl smiled for one last time before leaving the cabin. As Tighnari started getting  ready for the day, he picked up on the sound of the door quietly opening and closing, as if the culprit did not want to get caught – but, Tighnari’s ears could not be fooled so easily. Then, he quickly remembered to shove Albedo’s letter under the desktop lamp. He would need to thoroughly digest it before answering whatever that was. 

“Good morning, Cyno. Did you rest well? 

“Ah, did I wake you? Sorry. And yes, I rested quite well. I always do, here. I think I sleep better in your house than I do in mine.” he answered, while walking towards Tighnari’s room. His forehead shined a little with sweat, evidence of his habitual morning stroll (and in that day’s case, his mushroom collecting), and the sunlight hit him in just the right angles, resulting in the image of something akin to that of a God’s portrait. Tighnari stopped himself before letting his eyes wander every corner of Cyno’s physique. A blush came over his face, making the next words stumble out of his mouth as a reflex.

“Don’t worry, I’ve been awake for a while now. Thank you for making breakfast, but you needn't do it. You’re a guest.” Tighnari said, stepping into the living room before Cyno could enter his bedroom and see the letter. The two sat at the table. 

“I told you to stop with the whole ‘you’re a guest’ thing, Nari. You literally put me to sleep, for Archons’ sake. Let me make you breakfast every once in a while. Plus, I have been practicing that dish and the mushrooms looked good, so.” Tighnari made a noise of acknowledgement as the fact that Cyno had made his favorite dish sunk in.

She seldom had me wondering if I was saying the right things, or making me want to run away from a conversation with her, or keeping me awake at night. 

“Hm, this is good! The seasoning is on point. I’m impressed you got the mushrooms right. Just how much did you practice?” He asked, concealing his nervousness.

“Do you think I'm that bad of a cook? See, I should make food more often for you to witness my mastery over gastronomy.” Cyno replied with a pout in his usually stoic face. Cute, Tighnari’s brain immediately thought. 

If you think you are in love with Cyno, then I bear the great news that you probably are. 

“Using me as a taste test subject so you can perfect the dishes for Collei, hm? I’m already the practice partner for your TCG decks, and now a food tester too? What if you pick the wrong ingredients and I get sick?”

“Hey, don’t say that. Speaking of TCG, I haven’t played with my cards with the new cardback art from Albedo yet. What do you say?” His mouth formed a slight smile at the invitation. Despite knowing Cyno for years, seeing this side of the General Mahamatra – considerate, nerdy and goofy – still made Tighnari’s chest twist every time.  

Accepting it is the first step. 

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

March 27th, Gandharva Village

Dear Albedo,

Even as an Akademiya alumnus, I can count on my fingers the amount of scholars and alike with the same wisdom you carry. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and attending to such a silly request from me.

Indeed, I suppose I have been repressing my feelings for Cyno. Accepting that has been nothing short of terrifying, I’m afraid. I am an only child and have spent so long away from my family that my only parameters for social relationships are my friends (who all behave differently as Cyno and I, as you have pointed out). Thus, I couldn’t really compare what we have to anything else I’ve ever experienced. Yet, I keep finding it harder and harder to ignore my romantic affections for him. 

He actually came over to my cabin the night before your letter got delivered here and I think that was sort of the catalyst for me. I opened the door, and he was there. I’m not particularly superstitious, but it’s strange, isn’t it? How some things fall into place right when we need it. 

However, I am at a complete loss of what to do now. So what if I am in love with him, but he isn’t in love with me?  Should I just proceed to interact with him normally? He is my best friend after all — the last thing I wish to do is to make him uncomfortable. Collei adores him as well and would be saddened if he suddenly stopped visiting. Cyno should stay here for at least 3 more days until he gets back to work, so for now I shall do my best to keep running things smoothly. Ignorance is bliss, indeed.

The night he came over he hugged me, Albedo. It felt like an eternity. Physical touch is not exactly a common practice here (especially in the Akademiya), so despite being friends for years, we have seldom engaged in it. My species isn’t the best at handling heat, so I thought I’d get a heat stroke right there and then at 6 in the evening. I don’t know what to do. If you deem that mr. Kaeya’s help is available, I do absolutely welcome it. 

Thank you so much for your help. I think you give yourself a lot less credit on this than you deserve, you know. If I can ever be of assistance to you, please do let me know. 

Sincerely,

Tighnari.

As soon as he was done writing the letter, Tighnari turned it in at the post office so that Cyno’s keen eyes wouldn’t be able to catch its recipient, nor its embarrassing length.

Things remained seemingly normal at Gandharva Ville. Tighnari and Collei attended to their Forest Ranger patrols and tasks; Cyno went on his usual strolls, showed off his cooking skills to the two, and thought of new TCG decks and strategies (he had been banned by Tighnari to partake in Ranger work because “you’re supposed to rest, Cyno” so he spent most of the time alone in the cabin). Jokes were exchanged over meals, and whenever Collei was free either Tighnari or Cyno looked over her writing. 

That was until 2 days later, during the dead of the night, Tighnari – yet again restless in his bed – heard Cyno slowly leaving the couch and moving towards the cabin’s front door. Curious, he too arose to see what the other was up to. Cyno’s steps halted right before they reached the exit as he noticed Tighnari coming up behind him. 

“Cyno? Is everything okay? What are you doing at this hour?”

“Hm, it seems I’m still far from deceiving your audition. Sorry if I woke you up. I actually got an emergency notice from Alhaitham this evening. Something about a hivemind human experiment. It shouldn’t take more than 3 days; though I did write you a memo, I was wishing I could properly thank and say goodbye to you and Collei. Heh, at least I get to see you before I leave, Nari.”

Tighnari closed the distance between them to see that indeed, there was a note on the table that read, 

Emergency job came up, had to leave during the night. Thank you for your hospitality and for taking care of me as always. I should be back in 3 days or so.  - Cyno

As he lifted his face to say “Don’t apologize, I was barely asleep, good luck with Alhaitham and his crazy hivemind, I’ll miss you”, his eyes were met with a strange, intimate gaze. Before he got to open his mouth, he felt the ghost of a hand cupping his left cheek and lips pressing against his right. Cyno’s hand and lips. On Tighnari’s face. Then,

“I’ll be back as soon as I can. I will miss you so much. Already am.”

Tighnari’s hands closed around Cyno’s waist. Their foreheads touched. Outside, Teyvat’s stars flickered in the cloudless sky, yet the world seemed enclosed in their embrace.

“I will, too. Stay safe.” 

Even after Cyno left, Tighnari felt his pulse quicken by each second as he scrutinized himself. Shit, I almost let it out. “I love you”. 

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

And thus, three days went by. Not the easiest, nor fastest, three days, but three days nonetheless. 

At this point, Tighnari was a complete goner. Cyno’s actions that day had left him in an utterly, helplessly dazed state. The way his eyes softened from a fervent red to a honey-like orange, with his deep and reassuring voice. The warmth his lips emitted on Tighnari’s right cheek, contrasted with the soothing and firm hand on the left. The 5 centimeters of breath between their faces. To imagine that one day he would be in this position, body and mind wholly reduced to this with a quick kiss, was both fascinating and unnerving to him, who considered himself a pretty reasonable and level-headed person.

In any case, Tighnari had set a goal: tell Cyno – his best friend, Akademiya senior, TCG rival, deepest love and possibly greatest heartbreak – his true feelings. As any rational, mature and intelligent person would. Realistically, this would reach one of two outcomes: Cyno reciprocated such feelings, and the two would live happily ever after, or he did not and Tighnari would  inevitably have to move on, still remaining friends because Cyno was not the type of person to trample on one’s vulnerability like that. Still, the thought of rejection haunted Tighnari, but that of never getting to the bottom of this agonized him even more. “Human relationships cannot really be studied, I dare say, at all”, Albedo had written. Cyno wasn’t some natural phenomenon or new living species; Tighnari could get a confirmation or denial to his proposition at any time without conducting any thorough study. All he had to do was ask.

The problem laid in the how. Tighnari had maybe been on two dates at most during his lifetime, and while he had read his fair share of cringey romance novels in his teenage years, he was fairly certain that real life romance didn’t quite work like what was described in those books – Alhaitham and Kaveh were living examples of that. Despite Albedo’s advice of “do what feels right for you”, he really had no clue on what felt remotely right or appropriate for a love confession to one’s best friend.

Thankfully, though, it seemed as if Albedo had precisely read his mind at that moment, because right before the Sun set on the promised day – April 2nd – a letter signed by Sucrose destined to Collei and a package to him signed by her, the alchemist and Kaeya were found inside Tighnari’s mailbox. He quickly called his apprentice to read the letter; he trusted she’d be able to do it alone, and fondly watched her eyes glide from word to word in the potion-scented piece of paper. A couple of minutes later, Collei raised her head and announced,

“Aw, Sucrose is so kind and smart! I hope we can meet again soon. She seems to be overworking herself. Oh, and she said that mr. Albedo and mr. Kaeya have sent you some gifts, Master!”

Tighnari smiled; he, too, was glad Collei had opened up to and made such an amazing friend on her own. “That’s great to hear, Collei. Sucrose really is a nice girl. If you want to invite her over sometime, you have my permission. And I think she has sent you some things as well, judging by the signatures on this package.”

“Yes, she said she’d included some stuff from her research! Let’s open it!”

What greeted them as they opened said package was an assortment of things: Sucrose’s sample antidotes extracted from Calla Lilies, a handful of Wolfhooks, Windwheel Asters, Philanemo Mushrooms and other extensively labeled materials (with a memo that read “these are some of Mondstadt’s natural flora! I hope they adapt well to Sumeru’s rainforest weather…. Also, the mushrooms have kind of a bland flavor by themselves, but taste great in hash browns.” in a rather cute and messy handwriting), and finally, another note – this one, written specifically for Tighnari – that was tied to a small bag full of seeds and a bottle. Those were it, weren't they? The gifts from Albedo and Kaeya. He hesitantly reached for and untied the note, which surprisingly featured a beautiful penmanship in the first few lines before the usual neat and small one from Albedo.

Dear Tighnari,

Nice to finally be able to talk to you. I’m Kaeya – I think the little alchemist has told you a bit about me, hehe. Well, I guess that’s only fair since I’ve heard a lot about you from my dearest Albedo. Looks like you’re facing some love problems, hm? Fret not, since we have come up with just the right ingredients to your recipe for romantic success! Good luck on seduci charming your prince ✧

Tighnari glanced over the bag and mysterious bottle once more before redirecting his attention to the note again.

Hello, Tighnari! Albedo here.  If my calculations are correct, this package should be set to arrive after Cyno’s projected departure, but if not, please just read this whenever you are by yourself. 

Your last letter was what inspired us to do this. If I’m being completely honest, you could probably do virtually anything to get Cyno to date you, and I suspect this should encourage you at least a bit. Assuming things have arrived intact, you should see a bottle and bag of seeds. The bottle is the famed Dandelion Wine for you and Cyno to enjoy whenever he comes back (this was Kaeya’s idea, who believes that “alcohol solves most problems and gives you the bravery to loosen up your tongue”). The seeds – also from Dandelion – are from myself, as a little good fortune charm; here in Mondstadt, they represent love and freedom, and are said to carry hope from the winds they traverse. We wish you the best of luck, and all the blessings. 

Ah, and since you offered your help (thank you!), could you perhaps send us some of Sumeru’s specialties as well once everything is settled? Sucrose and I would love to study and try them out in a couple of experiments. Of course, if that isn’t possible, I completely understand. 

Do let us know how things sail for you two. You got this!

Sincerely,

Albedo & Kaeya.

Tighnari fumbled with the contents and the letter a bit, embarrassment creeping up to him. Collei gave him a flat stare, as if she knew what was up (he suspected that Sucrose’s letter wasn’t entirely Sucrose’s). To cut the awkward silence, Tighnari blurted,

“Wow, we’ve got so many things, haven’t we? Next time, we should send them some Sumeru specialties as well. What do you think, Collei?”

“Uh, sounds great, master! May I ask what that bottle in your hands is?” she asked with an innocent tone, but eyes that said otherwise.

“Oh, this is Dandelion Wine, the iconic Mondstadt beverage. I’m sure you’ve heard of it while you were there. Albedo and his partner, Kaeya, kindly gifted it to me. Once you’re old enough you can try it too, if you’d like.” he answered, conveniently omitting the intent behind said gift. 

“Cavalry Captain Kaeya often told me about it! He used to say that he drank it whenever he needed to ‘heal his heart’, or something like that. Apparently it worked, because he finally started dating mr. Albedo!” she exclaimed. 

Tighnari blushed at the further insinuation behind the drink. “That’s… good to hear. Alright, I’ll go organize these and start figuring out what we can send them back. I think Cyno is set to arrive tonight, so could you please get the table ready? I’m planning to cook some rice with meat and dried nuts for dinner, so it shouldn’t take long. If you need anything, just let me know.”

“You got it, master! I’m sure Cyno will enjoy the dinner. And the wine.” she snarkily remarked, before leaving Tighnari and the mail. 

Tighnari gathered his thoughts whilst placing the various items and gifts in their respective places. Dandelion Wine, huh? Neither him nor Cyno were particularly interested in alcohol – the few times they’d gone out to drink were whenever Kaveh invited them to the Puspa Café, or during finals week in the Akademiya when the stress got too much to handle. Still, he had to agree with Kaeya that it did help loosen one’s tongue – something that he desperately needed for what he was about to do to Cyno that night. 

After everything had been organized and stored, Tighnari began to write his response. Two paragraphs later, though, he realized that it was already close to dusk – he needed to make dinner. He placed the incomplete letter inside one of the drawers, and set foot to the kitchen. He started making Tahchin – Cyno’s favorite – with a twist, adding some cooked petals of the fresh Calla Lilies with the usual Padisarah in the end to add some sweetness. As soon as the dish had been plated, a faint but distinct  aroma could be smelled all over the cabin. Satisfied with the result, Tighnari placed the meal on top of the table Collei had set. Then, he heard the door open.

“Welcome back, Cyno! Master just finished cooking dinner for us all.” Collei’s happy voice informed him.

“Good to see you, Collei! Hm, is that Tahchin I smell?” said Cyno, walking alongside Collei towards the dining table. He sat down, eyes sparkling at the colorful dish after greeting Tighnari with a quick hug.

The damned domesticity of it all.

Settled in, Cyno announced as he held two bags: “I bought some gifts for you two at the Grand Bazaar since work finished sooner than I expected. I hope you enjoy them.”

The lingering warmth in Tighnari’s chest expanded; a smile formed in his face before he was made aware of it. 

“... Thank you.” his voice came out almost as a whisper, a prayer to some wandering cupid.

“You’re most welcome. Go ahead, open it if you want.” Cyno replied, resting his head on top of his left hand and carefully watching for Tighnari’s reaction.

Collei broke some of the tension as she opened her gift. “Woah, is this a writing set? Thank you so much, Cyno! I actually just got a letter from Sucrose today, and still haven’t started the reply. This paper is super cute and the quill looks awesome! Thank you, really.”

“I’m glad you liked it. You’ve been practicing your writing hard these past few days, so it seemed appropriate.”

The set in question consisted of a pack of lined beige paper with different light floral backgrounds, a couple of cream-coloured envelopes with a Padisarah pattern on the inside, a few stickers, some green wax to seal with various Sumerian flora-shaped stamps, and a single rose-coloured quill. It was gorgeous.

Tighnari then opened his, and was surprised to see a single box. He slowly untied the sage ribbon laced around it, and took out two small, colorful pieces of jewelry that he soon understood were earrings. They had a diamond shaped gold piece attached to a ring, and three shiny metal mushrooms inside the diamond; a blue one to match his sleeves, a yellow one to match the flower pin on his right, and a green one to match his Vision and hair. The gold was rather subdued, much to Tighnari’s taste, while the mushrooms sparkled when they moved. He took off the piece he was currently wearing on his right ear, and tried to put the newly acquired jewelry in its stead. 

After struggling for a while, Cyno offered, “Do you want, ah, some help with that?” with a bit of a shaky voice; an unsure tone.

“Please. I appreciate it.” Tighnari answered, lowering his head to Cyno’s eye level.

He continued. “Thanks. These look lovely. I like them. A lot. Thank you.” The words just mumbled out of his mouth. A pause. “The General Mahamatra going shopping at the Grand Bazaar… I’m sure the merchants were terrified.” He chuckled, staring at the table with the untouched Tahchin. 

Tighnari felt Cyno’s movements halt for a moment. “Why would they be? They are law-abiding citizens. And you don’t need to thank me so profusely. I bought you these for always taking care of me. And because I thought they’d look pretty on you. Just that.”

Cyno’s attentive hands slowly came into contact with Tighnari’s ears, one at a time, closing the earrings around them. The hot air in the kitchen suddenly caught up to him, heightening his every sense. Cyno’s breath was so, so close. He felt the focused gaze on him; he felt blood rush to his ears, reddening them ever so slightly; he felt calloused, gentle fingers caressing their tips, attaching the jewelry to them; he felt. He could swear that the clink produced by the light clash of the mushroom ornaments was the only sound that traveled through the air during the entire ordeal. 

After they were done, Tighnari raised his head to see an open mouthed Cyno admiring the new accessories. 

“They look better than I imagined.” he stated, matter of factly.

Just them?

Cyno’s eyes widened. “You, too, I mean. You look cute.”

Ah, I said that out loud, didn’t I?

Their gazes met. Tighnari’s throat went dry.

A hasty “Thanks.” was all he could muster.

Fortunately, Collei cut in.

“We should eat! Dinner will get cold.”

And eat they did, trying to ignore the tension in the room.

“Did you modify the recipe? I don’t recall Padisarahs having sweet orange petals.” Cyno remarked at one point.

“I did, actually. Sucrose sent us some Mondstadt specialties earlier today, and I thought I’d incorporate one of them in a Sumeru dish. The petals are from Calla Lilies – those flowers that grow around lakes, like Nilotpala Lotuses here.” Tighnari explained.

“I see.”

Silence reigned. A promise held.

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

After sending Collei home, Tighnari crept up on Cyno.

“Hey. Would you mind sharing a drink or two? I have a bottle of Dandelion Wine, and I wanted to try it out with you. Like the old times.” His voice came out as a quiet plea.

“The old times, huh? Finals weeks were hell, but you and alcohol made them just above tolerable for me. Sure, let me get the wine glasses.” 

The two decided to sit and drink atop the cliff above Tighnari’s house for some fresh air. 

The night had comfortably settled in. The forest lent its ears to the soft laughter, jokes and the clash of glasses over the dark hours. A gentle breeze from somewhere astray made its way to the village, permeating the sweet scent from a half-empty bottle laid on the shimmering grass. Two silhouettes could be seen sitting on a cliff’s edge from afar, outlined by the peeking light from behind the Chasm’s valleys. 

Their conversation thus far had mostly been non-linear, shifting from one topic to the other with no forcefulness. Banters, discussions, contemplations and puns, all exchanged simultaneously in a pace that could only be picked up and danced by them. 

Just before the lights from the hanging cabins started lighting up, Cyno glanced over his shoulder to look at Tighnari.

“I take it back.” he said, out of the blue. 

“What?” Tighnari asked, clearly sensing a shift in tone.

“The sibling analogy. I said it as a half joke then, but I’ve been thinking about it a lot, you know. Ever since we returned. And I take it back now. I don’t want it to come between us. Between this.” Cyno’s gaze was unfaltering. His voice communicated the message as if it were some life-changing judgement (it was).

“Oh.” Tighnari felt his breath hitch in his throat. He wasn’t sure if he was sober enough to be hearing Cyno’s words correctly.

They faced each other, shifting their weights closer. The bottle stayed securely closed behind them. The sun was barely above the horizon, yet Tighnari felt an indescribable warmth encompassing his entire body. 

Cyno reached his right hand towards Tighnari’s face, brushing green strands of hair with such tenderness that made him want to cry. Unconsciously leaning on the touch, he felt the moving reflections of his gold earrings on his hands. Their faces inched closer, to the point where he could see his reflection on a single red and orange iris, the other covered by smooth silver strands.

“While it’s true that I consider our relationship equal,” Cyno continued, caressing Tighnari’s cheeks,

“I don’t think I can keep it pure from my romantic considerations for you, Tighnari.” he finished, voice low but firm. The final decision, delivered.

What the hell. 

“Cyno. Please tell me this is real. This isn’t another joke of yours, is it?” Tighnari felt one way too many things all at once, panic and anticipation making his heart hammer inside his chest. This cannot be happening.

Then, with no hesitation, Cyno asked,

“‘Nari. Can I kiss you?”

Two silhouettes became one, the gap between them closed with the brush of two lips. 

Kissing Cyno felt like coming home to see a mushroom sprouting from a strong soil, as obvious as the turning of days, yet new and full of wonder as it breathed new life and hope to the earth. Their lips moved hesitantly against each other at first, but somehow soon found their rhythm; it was so easy to kiss Cyno. They inhaled and exhaled into each other’s lungs, as if there was no sweeter air than the one they shared. 

Tighnari eventually brought his hands to Cyno’s waist and neck, pulling him closer and closer. His lips were wet with wine and the morning dew – bittersweet and intoxicating. Rosy cheeks, bumpy noses, the shuffle of clothes, coy smiles between pecks; an overflow of emotions and desire.

The morning arrived. Golden sun rays illuminated the two.

They finally broke apart, intertwining their hands together.

“You beat me to it. I had this whole plan and speech in my head, you know that?” Tighnari confessed after a while, a pout forming on his lips. 

Cyno leaned in and pressed another chaste kiss to them, before adding, “Is that so? Well, it’s okay, Nari, things happlan. … Get it? Want me to explan the jo-?” with a playful smile.

“My plan is still not completely ruined, though. Actually, it all led to this.” Tighnari cut in. This time, he was the one whose gaze looked straight ahead, quickly replacing Cyno’s snobbish expression with a rather flustered one.

“I love you. I love you so much it hurts. No matter how much I tried to avoid or deny my feelings, all it took was one look at your godforsaken handsome face and pretty smile and stupid jokes and. Cyno, I love you. That is all I had to say tonight.” 

Tighnari sincerely believed that Cyno had broken after that. His mouth agape, eyes completely in shock, breathing interrupted; it was like watching a Ruin machine buffering in real time. 

Some many moments later, he uttered,

“What did I ever do to deserve you?”

This time, Tighnari was the one to listen. 

“I love you too, Tighnari. Have loved you. For a long time. And will love you, for even longer. Forever, most likely. Sorry for complicating things. I love you.”

As the words sunk in, tears welled up in Tighnari’s eyes before he realized it. Repressed emotions in his chest had erupted all at once, overwhelmingly so. This is really happening. 

“Nari? Did I say something wrong? Are you okay?” Cyno asked, cupping Tighnari’s face as if it was the most fragile, precious thing in the world.

Tighnari was full-on sobbing.

“No, it’s okay, just.” A deep breath. “Can I hug you?”

The Sun that day in Gandharva Ville rose up to an embrace between two people in love that said what words could not; it haloed kisses that tasted of salty tears and sweet wine between hushed love confessions.

The day had officially begun.

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

A rusty quill glided over a piece of paper with two-day old words on it.

(...) Surprisingly, Cyno was the one to confess first. That big lummox. 

“Who are you calling a big lummox, now?” 

“... Cyno?”

“My theory was correct. Your ears’ superpower is reduced by at least twenty percent when you’ve just woken up and are focused on something else. Probably an additional five after pulling an all-nighter two days ago.” Cyno said, with a grin on his now awake face.

It was way too early for Tighnari to process what was going on. He had been finishing his response to Albedo and Kaeya’s letter at his desk at a time he thought Cyno would still be asleep, quietly leaving the bed as soon as the sunlight hit their room. It seemed, however, that the General Mahamatra had to be credited for his stealth, after all. 

“How much did you read.” Tighnari asked in an embarrassed tone.

“Just the last line. I didn’t mean to sneak up on you. I thought you’d catch me anyways. Sorry.” Cyno replied, genuinely sorry. His hair was still running wild, and his eyes were soft and facing down. Tighnari fought the urge to hold him.

“... It’s okay. I was, uh. Writing to Albedo, actually. About us. It’s a long story.” He finally admitted, looking up to Cyno from his desk. 

“Hm, so the mysterious correspondent was indeed Albedo. Was he the one to give you the Dandelion Wine, too?” Cyno asked, nonchalantly. 

“Wait, what?” Tighnari asked, a furious blush taking over his face.

Cyno burst out of laughter. A real, long one. Tighnari stared at him, dumbfounded and entranced by the sweet sounds filling up the room.

“I was going to ask you what all those letters and things from Mondstadt were, anyways. I could sense you were hiding something, so I wasn’t sure if I could conduct these investigations on my own, but you were way too adorable. So, the big lummox is me, huh?” He said, fondly looking at Tighnari.

“Oh my god. How did you. I made sure no one was following me.” Tighnari felt the gears turning inside his head. Was he that open to Cyno? 

“You underestimate not only my cooking, but also my Mahamatra skills. I’m starting to think that I’m just some TCG nerd and a joke factory to you. Are you sure you like me?” A playful smile sat on his lips. Tighnari got up to plant a quick kiss on them before replying,

“I love you.”

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

April 2nd, Gandharva Ville

Dear Albedo and Kaeya,

Thank you for the lovely gifts and encouragement! I will try incorporating some of the Calla Lilies in tonight’s dinner, and will look into Hashbrowns sometime.

A lot has been running through my mind. I suppose setting to paper that I am indeed in love with Cyno has helped me realize that this will go nowhere if I do not tell him that. Tonight, if everything goes according to plan (I’m counting on the wine, Kaeya). You two’s confidence in success is a bit reassuring, to be honest. I shall come back with updates.

≁

Apologies for the break. I noticed I was running late while I was finishing the last paragraph.

It is now April 4th, and I can happily announce that it all went well.

We ended up drinking half the bottle of wine and talking for the entire night after dinner and sending Collei home. Surprisingly, Cyno was the one to confess first. That big lummox. I can recount the events in further detail some other time, if you wish. The truth is that I, myself, have yet a lot to process. 

On another note, Collei, Cyno, and I shall gladly send you some of our flowers and materials; I hope they can be of use to your research. They will probably arrive a little after this letter, though, since the Komaniya Express is yet to expand its services to the Avidya Forest. Apologies in advance for that.

Thank you so much for your help. Truly. I am glad I could talk to you about this. True love is perhaps the greatest mystery to mankind, is it not? 

Sincerely,

Tighnari & Cyno.

P.S.:  The Dandelion Wine was in a glass of its own, by the way. Also, what do you say to a double date the next time we meet up? We personally don’t see wine not. And of course, thank you for taking care of Tighnari. I love him dearly. 

The final letter for now had been posted.

Linked hands left the post office early in the morning, birds singing in the swaying trees. Comfortable silence settled in as the two walked back to their home.

In the small cabin, Tighnari soundly went back to sleep with Cyno in his arms.

Somewhere in the forest, a new plant sprouted from the soil, greeting the world.