Cy-- [Huff! He's not going to be stopped, so Tighnari can at least help him. He slides off the bed and gets to his feet, tail waving idly behind him, and offers the other man his hand.]
Lean on me, all right? I think I've caused enough damage, I'd like to get you to the bathroom in one piece.
[ - need to lean on you, he wants to say, but he bites back the rest of his sentence. it's better, he supposes, to give this to tighnari, to allow him to help, even if cyno doesn't feel he needs it. he can walk just fine!!
.. though he does wince when he hauls himself to his feet. gods, he's sore. he regrets nothing, but it sure stings. as requested, he leans his weight into tighnari's, as they make their way to the washroom. ]
Yes, yes. Allow me to fuss, it makes me feel less guilty for putting all of this on you.
[He might as well be blunt about it - he feels bad about this, even if it's something he can't help and something Cyno agreed to deal with, even if it won't last long...
Despite it being natural, he doesn't like the way it can control him so completely.]
[ he gently interjects, just so tighnari is quite sure. it's only a few more steps to the bathroom, where cyno can lean to start the bath. ]
It's just what?
[ however difficult this all might be for tighnari, cyno just.. wants to help. sure, he's definitely, uh, into all of this for sure, but making tighnari feel as comfortable and happy as possible is what's forefront in his mind. ]
[He shakes his head while they keep moving. Even for him, it's hard to put it into words. It's even harder to put it into words that Cyno will not dismiss in a well-meaning way.
Tighnari mulls it over while they walk to the bathroom. His head is clearer now and he's more than relieved about that even if it will only be a matter of time before that hazy fog rolls back in over his thoughts. When they reach the bathroom door, he lets out a soft hum.]
I suppose... I never gave too much thought to ever having someone to share this with. At least, not for a while.
[ the bath runs hot, filling the room with puffs of steam that already help cyno to feel a little more relaxed. ]
Right.. I suppose not.
[ tighnari, like cyno, hadn't really been considering the future through the lens of domestic bliss. they had their jobs to see to, jobs they both loved dearly and were very committed to, and truth be told, cyno was happy. he was content with what they had, their close friendship, their shared affection for collei - it was good.
but this is better. ]
Well, I'm glad I got to you before someone else did.
Hah-- do you suppose I would have done that with anyone else?
[Granted, if the wrong kind of person had found him... there's a good chance that Tighnari could have been in for a very difficult time. As it is, he's glad that Cyno was the one who found him too and his initial startled dismissal of the assertion softens as he presses his lips together and shakes his head.]
... So am I.
[He sighs, leaning down to test the temperature of the water with one hand.]
I should have told you about it sooner, I just... can't always predict when it's coming.
[ once tighnari seems satisfied with the water, cyno steps carefully into the tub, schooling his expression into one of stoic calm. no, he will not wince because his ass hurts. he's the general mahamatra. ]
Well, it would've been better to know in advance, but I suppose it's never been.. relevant, before.
[ when they were just friends, cyno didn't really have any business knowing about tighnari's heats. but now.. well, he's in for a bumpy few days, if the beginning of this was anything at all to go by. carefully, cyno sinks down into the water with a soft hum, tugging gently at tighnari's wrist. ]
I can predict your coming quite a lot in the near future.
[He doesn't need to wince - Tighnari knows he'll be hurting even without the visible tell. The younger man smiles in sympathy and then shifts to join Cyno when the other takes hold of his wrist, only to pause and stare at him as his expression pinches into a grimace.]
... You might have bought yourself another few hours with that.
[Nothing kills a boner like one of Cyno's terrible jokes.
Tighnari shakes his head as he gets into the bath, sinking into the hot water with a quiet hiss.]
I'll keep a closer eye on it next time. You can decide if you want to be here for it or not.
[ noooo not the boner killing 8( refusing sex might just be one of the ideal ways that tighnari could get cyno to keep his humor to himself, to be honest.. ]
Why wouldn't I want to be?
[ cyno looks genuinely puzzled, watching as tighnari settles into the bath. his arms slip around his lover almost immediately, tugging him in close against his body, cyno's chin hooking over his shoulder. ]
If you thought it was too intense for me, you're wrong.
[His tail tries to bob to the surface of the bath water as he sits down, the moisture-repellant oils he uses to make sure it dries quickly when it rains still trying to do their job, and he forces it under. He's pushing his hands along it to make sure it actually gets wet when Cyno pulls him back. A soft squeak of surprise rises up in his throat.]
I didn't think that. You would have told me.
[Maybe not during, but after..? He would hope Cyno would tell him, at least. He turns his head to kiss the other man's cheek.]
[ the hot water feels good, the heat sinks through his skin and deep into his bones, alleviating the tension lingering there, and with tighnari in his arms.. ah, sometimes it still feels like a dream. so many long years spent pining, longing, wanting, have finally culminated in this, in this wonderful, satisfying union of two souls. it feels so right. like a natural extension of everything they had before. nothing has changed between them, they've simply added another facet to the gem of their relationship. a new leaf on the tree.
cyno chuckles, pressing a kiss to the slope of tighnari's shoulder. ]
You're absolutely worrying too much.
[ not uncommon, for tighnari, but cyno's smile against his skin is, hopefully, reassurance enough. ]
Besides, I'd be a pretty awful mate if I didn't want to be with you during this time, hmm?
[Hearing that word does make him feel nice. Cyno calling himself his mate is different to the word 'partner', particularly in his current state of mind, and Tighnari hums out a pleased sound as he settles himself against the other man's chest and leans his head back against Cyno's shoulder.
He might have been the aggressive party in all of that, but now he's stopped moving and the exertion is beginning to set in, he is starting to ache a bit.
His eyelids dip half-closed and he lets out a slow sigh.]
You really do seem to know just the right things to say sometimes. Have I mentioned that?
[ tighnari seems to all but melt against him, his body soft and yielding, a far cry from how he'd been some ten minutes ago, wild and feral with need. cyno finds that he enjoys both very much. ]
No, you haven't.
[ chuckling low in his throat, cyno slips his arms around tighnari's middle with a low sigh, pressing kisses to the side of his head, inhaling the scent of his hair and fur. the water feels good on his aching muscles, the heat sinking deep. ]
[It's a counterpoint that his body sorely needs in order to recouperate. He can't keep that feral wildness up for too long before he starts to tire - he does have his limits, even now.
And as much as the instincts driving him to mate had pushed him to behave so violently, the part of him that wants the emotional connection alongside it benefits from this.]
You always do.
[Something that he has always liked about the man. If nothing else, he can be relied on to tell the truth.]
[ cyno is certainly an honest man by nature, rarely telling even harmless white lies, keeping his counsel only in matters related to work. though of course, he'd needed to be honest, growing up the way he did, distrusted by most of the people around him; attempting to fit in would have been even more difficult, had he not made the attempt to be trustworthy and truthful.
call yourself my mate again.
a surge of fondness fills cyno's breast, and his arms around tighnari gather him closer, his chin dropping to rest against his lover's shoulder. cyno's hands smooth over tighnari's, weaving their fingers together beneath the warm water, and he hums softly, whispering against his jaw. ]
I'm yours. Your partner, your friend, your mate. I love you, always.
[It takes a moment for the words to sink in; for him to realise just what Cyno said. The fact of it has never been in question. He knows that Cyno loves him just as much as the other man knows that love is wholeheartedly returned, but outside of those four little words at the time of their initial confession to one another it is something that has remained unspoken between them.
Hearing it here, now, makes the small hairs on the back of his neck stand on end in the best kind of way.]
I love you too. [He tips his head back, smiles, kisses at the corner of Cyno's mouth.] I love you so much.
of course cyno knows full well that tighnari loves him, knows full well that tighnari knows that cyno loves him in return, but that does not mean that it isn't worthwhile to hear it said aloud, to profess it in measurable words. he'd been waiting for a good moment, and this is it. this must be it.
tighnari's head leans back, lips brushing, warm, and cyno turns his head to kiss him without hesitation, locking their mouths together in something deep and pulling, feeling that sweet tug of talons on his insides. he hums against tighnari's mouth, both arms around him tightening, pulling his body against his own. ]
Mmn-- Cy, you're going to get me worked up again...
[It doesn't take much right now, after all.
He would like to have an hour or so to regain some of his energy before he starts having to battle against his instincts and urges again, so he gently scolds his lover and lightly thwaps one hand against his shoulder.]
I thought I was the one who was supposed to be having trouble controlling myself right now.
I always have trouble controlling myself around you.
[ he admits, but he relents, sitting back again, his head resting against the wall behind the tub. his arms, however, remain tightly bound around his lover's middle, keeping him close, thumbs brushing soft skin in gentle circles. ]
[That's... fine, he can deal with that. He sighs and settles back again, half closing his eyes and resting one of his hands against Cyno's forearm. This is nice... and with his mind not racing like it was he can just enjoy it for the time being.]
Do you think you'd want to do that again?
[A few minutes of silence pass before he asks this, turning his head slightly to look over at the other man.]
[ tighnari rests back against him again, and cyno revels in the warm weight of his body, the scent of his hair so near. it never gets old, being close with tighnari, holding him - it feels like the easiest, most natural thing in the world, an extension of their solid, deep friendship that feels so comfortable and right. ]
Mm?
[ cyno tilts his head to better catch tighnari's eyes. ]
Yes. Absolutely. Forceful or not, that was.. good. Very good.
Good. He's glad that all of... this didn't do any damage to what was growing between them. Not that - if he was being rational about it - he would have really thought he had anything to worry about on that count.
Tighnari shifts and closes his eyes, one of his long ears flicking slightly against Cyno's temple.]
I should probably tell you... my people mate for life.
[ tighnari relaxes against him again, and cyno hums softly, gathering his arms around him again, until they're in a loose loop around him. his head turns to nuzzle at that invading ear. ]
I know.
[ he doesn't sound at all surprised. cyno has done his research. ]
I've known that for a long time. It doesn't frighten me away.
[Of course Cyno has done his research. Tighnari's people are few and reclusive and information about them in any form is limited, but he has no doubt that the other man has found every single scrap of information he can and has committed all of it to memory. His eyes dip half closed as he finds himself warmed by the thought.]
I'm lucky to have someone like you. [Another sigh as he relaxes completely, the toes of one foot poking up over the water. He wiggles them slightly.]
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Lean on me, all right? I think I've caused enough damage, I'd like to get you to the bathroom in one piece.
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[ - need to lean on you, he wants to say, but he bites back the rest of his sentence. it's better, he supposes, to give this to tighnari, to allow him to help, even if cyno doesn't feel he needs it. he can walk just fine!!
.. though he does wince when he hauls himself to his feet. gods, he's sore. he regrets nothing, but it sure stings. as requested, he leans his weight into tighnari's, as they make their way to the washroom. ]
You're so fussy.
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[He might as well be blunt about it - he feels bad about this, even if it's something he can't help and something Cyno agreed to deal with, even if it won't last long...
Despite it being natural, he doesn't like the way it can control him so completely.]
I know you said you don't mind, it's just...
[Sigh.]
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[ he gently interjects, just so tighnari is quite sure. it's only a few more steps to the bathroom, where cyno can lean to start the bath. ]
It's just what?
[ however difficult this all might be for tighnari, cyno just.. wants to help. sure, he's definitely, uh, into all of this for sure, but making tighnari feel as comfortable and happy as possible is what's forefront in his mind. ]
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Tighnari mulls it over while they walk to the bathroom. His head is clearer now and he's more than relieved about that even if it will only be a matter of time before that hazy fog rolls back in over his thoughts. When they reach the bathroom door, he lets out a soft hum.]
I suppose... I never gave too much thought to ever having someone to share this with. At least, not for a while.
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Right.. I suppose not.
[ tighnari, like cyno, hadn't really been considering the future through the lens of domestic bliss. they had their jobs to see to, jobs they both loved dearly and were very committed to, and truth be told, cyno was happy. he was content with what they had, their close friendship, their shared affection for collei - it was good.
but this is better. ]
Well, I'm glad I got to you before someone else did.
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[Granted, if the wrong kind of person had found him... there's a good chance that Tighnari could have been in for a very difficult time. As it is, he's glad that Cyno was the one who found him too and his initial startled dismissal of the assertion softens as he presses his lips together and shakes his head.]
... So am I.
[He sighs, leaning down to test the temperature of the water with one hand.]
I should have told you about it sooner, I just... can't always predict when it's coming.
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Well, it would've been better to know in advance, but I suppose it's never been.. relevant, before.
[ when they were just friends, cyno didn't really have any business knowing about tighnari's heats. but now.. well, he's in for a bumpy few days, if the beginning of this was anything at all to go by. carefully, cyno sinks down into the water with a soft hum, tugging gently at tighnari's wrist. ]
I can predict your coming quite a lot in the near future.
[ don't kill him please ]
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... You might have bought yourself another few hours with that.
[Nothing kills a boner like one of Cyno's terrible jokes.
Tighnari shakes his head as he gets into the bath, sinking into the hot water with a quiet hiss.]
I'll keep a closer eye on it next time. You can decide if you want to be here for it or not.
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Why wouldn't I want to be?
[ cyno looks genuinely puzzled, watching as tighnari settles into the bath. his arms slip around his lover almost immediately, tugging him in close against his body, cyno's chin hooking over his shoulder. ]
If you thought it was too intense for me, you're wrong.
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I didn't think that. You would have told me.
[Maybe not during, but after..? He would hope Cyno would tell him, at least. He turns his head to kiss the other man's cheek.]
I suppose I'm worrying too much, aren't I?
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cyno chuckles, pressing a kiss to the slope of tighnari's shoulder. ]
You're absolutely worrying too much.
[ not uncommon, for tighnari, but cyno's smile against his skin is, hopefully, reassurance enough. ]
Besides, I'd be a pretty awful mate if I didn't want to be with you during this time, hmm?
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[Hearing that word does make him feel nice. Cyno calling himself his mate is different to the word 'partner', particularly in his current state of mind, and Tighnari hums out a pleased sound as he settles himself against the other man's chest and leans his head back against Cyno's shoulder.
He might have been the aggressive party in all of that, but now he's stopped moving and the exertion is beginning to set in, he is starting to ache a bit.
His eyelids dip half-closed and he lets out a slow sigh.]
You really do seem to know just the right things to say sometimes. Have I mentioned that?
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No, you haven't.
[ chuckling low in his throat, cyno slips his arms around tighnari's middle with a low sigh, pressing kisses to the side of his head, inhaling the scent of his hair and fur. the water feels good on his aching muscles, the heat sinking deep. ]
I'm only telling the truth.
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And as much as the instincts driving him to mate had pushed him to behave so violently, the part of him that wants the emotional connection alongside it benefits from this.]
You always do.
[Something that he has always liked about the man. If nothing else, he can be relied on to tell the truth.]
Call yourself my mate again.
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call yourself my mate again.
a surge of fondness fills cyno's breast, and his arms around tighnari gather him closer, his chin dropping to rest against his lover's shoulder. cyno's hands smooth over tighnari's, weaving their fingers together beneath the warm water, and he hums softly, whispering against his jaw. ]
I'm yours. Your partner, your friend, your mate. I love you, always.
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Hearing it here, now, makes the small hairs on the back of his neck stand on end in the best kind of way.]
I love you too. [He tips his head back, smiles, kisses at the corner of Cyno's mouth.] I love you so much.
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of course cyno knows full well that tighnari loves him, knows full well that tighnari knows that cyno loves him in return, but that does not mean that it isn't worthwhile to hear it said aloud, to profess it in measurable words. he'd been waiting for a good moment, and this is it. this must be it.
tighnari's head leans back, lips brushing, warm, and cyno turns his head to kiss him without hesitation, locking their mouths together in something deep and pulling, feeling that sweet tug of talons on his insides. he hums against tighnari's mouth, both arms around him tightening, pulling his body against his own. ]
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[It doesn't take much right now, after all.
He would like to have an hour or so to regain some of his energy before he starts having to battle against his instincts and urges again, so he gently scolds his lover and lightly thwaps one hand against his shoulder.]
I thought I was the one who was supposed to be having trouble controlling myself right now.
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I always have trouble controlling myself around you.
[ he admits, but he relents, sitting back again, his head resting against the wall behind the tub. his arms, however, remain tightly bound around his lover's middle, keeping him close, thumbs brushing soft skin in gentle circles. ]
It's a real wonder I managed all those years.
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Do you think you'd want to do that again?
[A few minutes of silence pass before he asks this, turning his head slightly to look over at the other man.]
In a few days, when I'm not quite so... forceful.
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Mm?
[ cyno tilts his head to better catch tighnari's eyes. ]
Yes. Absolutely. Forceful or not, that was.. good. Very good.
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[Sigh.
Good. He's glad that all of... this didn't do any damage to what was growing between them. Not that - if he was being rational about it - he would have really thought he had anything to worry about on that count.
Tighnari shifts and closes his eyes, one of his long ears flicking slightly against Cyno's temple.]
I should probably tell you... my people mate for life.
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I know.
[ he doesn't sound at all surprised. cyno has done his research. ]
I've known that for a long time. It doesn't frighten me away.
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[Of course Cyno has done his research. Tighnari's people are few and reclusive and information about them in any form is limited, but he has no doubt that the other man has found every single scrap of information he can and has committed all of it to memory. His eyes dip half closed as he finds himself warmed by the thought.]
I'm lucky to have someone like you. [Another sigh as he relaxes completely, the toes of one foot poking up over the water. He wiggles them slightly.]
This can be very lonely to deal with by myself.
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