cashewlater | (no subject)

[ cyno doesn't know why he's so nervous.

maybe because he's never done this before. maybe because he's never had feelings for anyone before, not even a single stirring. he doesn't know what he's doing. plenty of people dated in high school, and people certainly showed interest in him, but cyno wanted nothing to do with it, too focused on his work. college has come, and it had been all the same - sex and dating seem to go hand in hand with college students, but once again, cyno has shown no interest.

not until tighnari.

they've been roommates for three years now, almost four. they had been paired randomly during their freshman year, but their friendship blossomed so quickly and so easily that they decided to continue on as roommates in the coming years, and now at the precipice of their senior year, they've moved to a small condo on campus, far more comfortable than the single room they had shared before, with space enough for them both to have their own rooms, a sprawling common area, and a small kitchen. it's cozy. they work together well, their personalities complement one another, and they're both respectful of one another's space.

if only cyno weren't wrestling with feelings that threaten to tear it all down. he's loved tighnari for years now, since somewhere near the end of their freshman year into sophomore; cyno had realized it just as they were saying goodbye for the summer. they hugged, and tighnari had felt so good in his arms, smelled sweet, and cyno had realized, in an instant, that he did not want to let him go, that he didn't want to go months without seeing him again. he'd thought the summer break might kill those feelings, but when autumn came and tighnari greeted him again with his warm smile, cyno had felt his heart tighten up all over again. he's tried to tamp it back, to allow their relationship to be whatever it wanted to be, but as the years passed his longing only grew. they're close enough friends now that.. that it's all right to ask, isn't it? it won't ruin everything, will it? tighnari will let him down easily, and life will go on. right. he has to believe that.

cyno is sprawled comfortably on the sofa in his jackal-eared hoodie when the door clicks open, and his heart leaps into his throat. swallowing thickly, cyno glances over his shoulder to find tighnari strolling in, still wrapped in his scarf, carrying his books and laptop, his face flushed from the brisk early-winter weather. the book cyno had been reading slips out of his lap. clearing his throat, he snatches it up again. ]

Welcome home.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ The warmth and closeness of Cyno's body is missed as soon as it's gone, and Tighnari already aches to step closer to him again, but fortunately Cyno takes his hand, and that will have to do for now. Once they get back home, they can touch and kiss and snuggle all they want. Which given how long they've been teasing at this thing...will likely be quite a lot.

His cheeks and ears feel warm. Gods, when did he last feel so...young? So sweet and full?

With a soft chuckle, Tighnari tosses Cyno a look that can only be described as "bruh", but squeezes his fingers in his own for good measure. ]

Are you kidding? I think every time you come to visit my mom hopes you'll stay forever.

[ Who cares if he isn't Valuka Shuna? And even if his parents did worry about that kind of thing, Tighnari wouldn't. He's hardly one to stand on foolish tradition when his heart leads him a different direction.

And it has led him straight to Cyno, time and time again, in so many ways now. ]

Be prepared for an abundance of hugging when we travel home for the holiday.

[ He can't help a warmed smile when he says that. ]

[ tighnari isn't the only one missing that closeness and heat - now that cyno's tasted it, he wants nothing more than to pull tighnari back into his arms again, but.. he's patient. he's waited this long, after all, he can wait the twenty or so minutes it takes them to return to their dorm. and then.. then, they can kiss all they want, and cyno can feel the shape of him in his arms again. his heart flutters, joyous and light.

tighnari's answer releases some of the tension in his chest, however, and cyno exhales in a puff. ]

I'm glad she likes me. Most people don't.

[ he says it matter-of-factly, because, well, it's true. people are intimidated by cyno, by his stoic disposition and his deep intensity - it's simple fact. he's strange, and people fear strangeness. he's strong, and people fear strength. it's natural. it doesn't bother him. when he was younger, it had been a bit lonely, but now.. well, he has tighnari, and that's all he needs. he's happy. cyno squeezes tighnari's hand; even through their gloves, it feels warm and perfect in his own. ]

Though I suppose.. I'll need to go gift shopping for your parents, before we leave.

[ he hadn't known he'd need to, before this point.. oops. but it's fine. he knows tighnari's parents well enough to figure something out quickly enough.

just the idea fills him with sweet, nervous energy. going home for the holidays with tighnari sounds like a dream. being welcomed by his family.. as his partner? there's no gift he could want more. ]