cashewlater | for @suffusion

for @suffusion

[ the forest is quiet.

cyno knows these woods like the back of his hand. he knows all of sumeru, has trekked nearly every inch of it - nearly - for he fears no beast, nor the darkness of the unknown. his work takes him all over the land, through the deserts and forests alike, and though he works for no one, he does not hurt for mora, for cyno is the most gifted hunter and tracker in sumeru. no quarry has ever escaped him, and he has never failed to deliver on any job. this job will be no different.

it isn't an easy hunt. not only is this area of the forest unfamiliar to him, but his prey is sharp and smart, with an incredible sense of hearing. cyno's footsteps are all but silent, but the sensitive ears of the witch can detect him even at his most stealthy. it's fine. he's brought in difficult prey before. if stealth could only get him so far, he has other methods, though he must take care - should the rumors prove true, this witch is powerful, tricky, wise, and cyno could easily find himself on the wrong end of his quarry's wrath. but he was ready for a fight, if it came to it, and it would.

for five days he simply watches. listens. the witch hears him, he knows, but cyno is well hidden, and cannot be found. he scales the trees and watches from the branches, stock still, his clothing camouflaged, his pale white hair tied up and rubbed with charcoal to keep it from standing out. for hours he sits, vigilant, watchful, learning the witch's patterns and strengths, behaviors, taking their measure, and even that is not easy, but cyno learns over time that his adversary favors the bow and dendro magicks, that they know the forest well, and make use of all of its parts. in the end, cyno can only hope to overpower them by force and speed alone, striking fast, getting in close before the bow can be drawn on him. it'll have to be enough, with the element of surprise unavailable to him. but he'll use the tools he has.

his eyesight, for example, sharp in the night. his keen sense of smell. his own good hearing, and his powers of observation. his patience.

cyno strikes in the night, when the witch is far from their hut, gathering samples of bioluminescent moss. he's fast as a bolt of lightning, moving comfortably in darkness, taking them from behind and knocking them to the loamy earth, with his spearhead at their throat. ]

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[ ah, his heart leaps at the feel of that mouth against his own, more than content to take the series of those warm kisses. chasing after lips any moment they part away, smoothing fingers through white strands and tickling the curving edge of those soft white ears. a thumb massages an inner shell, cupping the area until he's struggling for his breath. which shows in the breathless chuckle that leaves him. ]

Are you sure your plan wasn't to steal a witch's heart all along?

[ with how sweetly those words are murmured against his lips, his tail coils around cyno's leg more securely, knowing they should probably get cleaned up and remove themselves from this deep intertwine but. he wants to stay here a moment longer, almost afraid it'll slip from his grasp the moment he lets go.

just like that small growing fear that one day he would lose collei and consequently cyno. how close they've come together, how much tighnari appreciates collei's daily presence, like a small sunny flower that blooms stronger every passing day. he knows if they were ever to leave his life completely - he would not be able to fill that hole, and it's a terrifying thought. it spurs on a moment of weakness, bumping to press their foreheads together as his gaze blinks up at the other man. ]

...Don't go anywhere that I can't go.

[ please. ]

[ tighnari's words.. they wrap around his heart like a warm hand, squeezing. ]

I won't.

[ he hardly needs to hesitate to think about that answer. cyno can hardly stand that look on tighnari's face, the gentle vulnerability in his eyes - it makes his chest ache and tighten with fondness and protectiveness both. he doesn't want to give tighnari any reason to think that he would be left alone.

no, they are family, now. he, tighnari, and collei - they're bonded in a way that cyno never thought he would know, never thought he would experience. he had been happy when it was just he and collei, of course, but he'd hardly realized how much more happy he could be, now that the three of them had become this little unit. like broken pieces forming a healthy whole again; that's what it feels like.

dipping his head, cyno kisses tighnari's warm, welcoming mouth, slow and soft, savoring the feeling now that the lusty tension has passed. ]

I'm not going anywhere, Tighnari. [ he whispers, soft and reassuring. ] You two are my entire heart, and I can't live without my heart.

[ for a moment, he closes his eyes, taking in that quick reassurance. perhaps it's the aftermath of everything that ended up with making him feel so vulnerable - surely if not for that, he would be capable of taking whatever decision cyno comes down to in the end. but he can't help being soothed over by what sounds like a promise.

his gaze flutters open again, half-lidded as cyno leans in and feels the languid taste of those lips against his own again. it's sweet, gentle, a slow drag that has him pressing back. he looks up at him when they pull enough back, the whisper of those words reassuring him further. ]

...Okay. [ It's a soft whisper back, until he nods, nudging their noses together as he tries to chase away that vulnerability. not wanting to ruin this moment any more than he may have. ] You'll always have a place here, both of you. No matter what.

[ no matter what happens or may come to happen. he will always welcome them here. ]

[ of course, tighnari hasn't ruined anything at all, he's only voiced what cyno himself is also feeling. the idea of losing tighnari.. no, he won't allow it, no more than he would allow himself to lose collei. cyno does not do things by halves - if he says that they are his heart, he means it, well and fully. tighnari is family, now. cyno can never pay him back for everything he's done for them.

at last he shifts, turning onto his side so as not to crush tighnari too much with his weight. ]

I know.

[ he says, with a smile, and brushes the hair back from tighnari's eyes, looking into his beautiful face. ]

To be honest.. this place feels more like a home to me than anywhere ever has.

[ when given something you've never had before, it's quite hard to let go. for once, he's faced with an opportunity that he wants to be selfish with, wanting to hold close and never let go. though, it could very much still be wishful thinking in the end. after all, tighnari is still anchored in one place at the end of it all.

but he tries not to think about it. allows himself to be comforted by the sweep of that hand, leaning into it as he turns with cyno.. to stay close, to not be separated by him. even if they're both a bit sticky and should clean up - he nuzzles into him, a purr-like sound emitting. ]

The forest is quite fond of you both. [ so that feeling of being welcomed is genuine. a strong contrast to the day they met. he grows quiet after, wanting to say that cyno could stay here with them. but even now he keeps cyno's work in mind, doesn't want to pressure him to say yes. ]

[ there will be time for cleanup later, for now, cyno wants to bask in their afterglow for as long as he can, and sink into the moment, fully and completely. he keeps close to tighnari, pressed as near as he can manage, and when that soft purr begins to roll in his partner's chest he smiles, warm and soft. he loves that sound. it soothes him.

a soft hum, and cyno closes his eyes, nuzzling tighnari in return, pressing a soft line of kisses along his jaw. ]

Mm, well I'd say I'm quite fond of the forest as well.

[ it's connected to tighnari, after all, and through its efforts, his dearest daughter is being given her life back. how could he not want to do everything in his power to protect it? to protect them all? cyno's free hand smooths down tighnari's back, his thumb rubbing slow, gentle circles into the base of his tail. ]

It makes me never want to leave.

[ that soft purring grows a bit louder when he catches sound of the other's hum, feeling the return of that nuzzling and trail of kisses. it provides a kind of comfort and safety that he's never felt from another person before. slipping his arms around to keep himself comfortably settled here. ]

..You should come meet it sometime. At its "heart." It would be happy to hear that.

[ it's a place he has only ever brought collei to, needed to when they were beginning her healing process. after all, the heart is where it feels the strongest, and being able to directly intervene with collei's sickness required of it. but he has yet to show cyno - he knows the forest wouldn't turn him away, and given the importance of it... it would be good for cyno to be introduced to it properly.

his body shudders at the feel of that hand, squirming against the slow circles to the base of his tail. it's a very sensitive spot... and an area that does have an effect on him, seen in the way that he groans a little against skin. his tail flicks a bit wildly for a moment until he tries to recompose himself. ]

Haah... it - it wouldn't mind your staying here, to be honest. But I know how important your work is to you.

[ it's nice, discovering new things about tighnari, like where he's sensitive, what makes him squirm. he wants to learn every inch of the fox's body, to kiss every patch of skin, to find every little ticklish and pleasurable spot on his body. that little groan excites him a little, and cyno pulls him even nearer, their bodies flush. ]

I'd like that.

[ he'd like the opportunity to beg forgiveness for his transgressions, for daring to tread under these boughs without being welcomed, for daring to harm the forest's guardian. cyno still has not forgotten how they met, has not forgotten how he nearly killed tighnari - gods, what a terrible, horrible mistake that would have been.

dipping his head, he drags his mouth along tighnari's shoulder, before he's pulling back to look into his eyes. ]

The forest wouldn't mind.. or you wouldn't mind?

[ tighnari's own hands roam along cyno's back, mapping out the feel of those back muscles as they flex a little under the motion of pulling him nearer. his own body becoming quite lax, pliable for cyno to maneuver around as he pleases.

his eyes flutter to a close, breathing out softly as tighnari's head tilts at the attention that cyno showers him in. he knows very well that the forest has long since forgiven him, but the jackal would surely appreciate the opportunity anyway. to see and hear for himself. knowing the nature would accept his sincerity and words happily. after all, it is never one to hold grudges. ]

Both of us. [ he meets that gaze, expression fond and full of affection for his partner that shows in the smile he gives him. ] But I especially would not mind.

[ ah, that's what he thought. cyno smiles warmly. ]

Well.. there's nothing more important to me than my family.

[ he says softly, looking into tighnari's eyes with all the fondness he can muster, all the warmth and love that rises in his chest and fills every chamber of his heart. his voice is soft, gentle, and incredibly warm. ]

Being with Collei, and with you - it's what I want most.

[ and besides, he worries. he worries that other hunters will come for tighnari, that they'll be hurt while he's busy with other jobs. hurt, or worse. being here with them means he'll be able to protect them, to keep them, and this forest, as safe as he can, safer than tighnari could all alone. ]

[ family... it's has such a nice, warm ring to it. of course tighnari technically has family, far abroad, but it's been so long since he's seen them... it's almost easy to forget what it feels like to have a family, the forest was the closest to it that he can remember. but with collei, with cyno -

a family sounds perfect. it sparks a warmth in his chest, a more suble feeling churning in his stomach, something he can closely describe as excitement. anticipation. ]

Then... stay here. With us.

[ he presses closer, words whispering so softly against the jackal's lips. lashes flutter low, his half-lidded gaze drinking in sight of cyno here who looks as if he was always meant to be here. gods, how quickly tighnari's become such a love-stricken mess already. ]

It won't be long until Collei can step out of the forest again, and it would be good for you to be there when she can. You can take her to neighboring towns and cities to see new things.

[ tighnari is not the only one. cyno, too, is a mess of a man at the hands of this fox, wrapped around his little padded pinky finger, ready to dance to whatever tune tighnari sets. he's hopelessly, completely, desperately in love, but it is not a new feeling, either, it's one that has been nurtured slowly over their time together. he has tighnari in his arms now, yes, but this is not the first time he's felt this fondness.

those sweet words whisper in a breath against his lips, and cyno sighs softly, closing his eyes. ]

I'll stay.

[ he whispers back, pressing kisses to tighnari's mouth. collei, he knows, will be over the moon to know that he's going to stay here with them. she had been so hesitant to live without him, so afraid of losing her papa, but now.. now they could live like a family. ]

She'd like that, I know. But.. what about you? Are you unable to leave even for short periods of time?

[ the fox can't help but be a bit surprised at the return of those words. not necessarily about the fact that he agrees to it, but that cyno says it so easily. his tail starts to wag as it settles in. to think that cyno will be staying here... rather than waiting until his next visit, something he knows collei will be ecstatic to know of later. it brings a wash of relief, joy.

those thoughts fizzle out at the kisses pressing to his lips, nerves dancing excitedly as he happily returns each one. one hand sweeps up into white hair, cupping a white curved ear to gingerly scratch fingers at the base of one. though he rests their foreheads together at the words that whisper afterward. ]

I'm.. not too sure. I've never tried before. [ he's never considered leaving if only for a short while, but even if he did... he sighs a little. ] I shouldn't try. I couldn't possibly leave the forest alone without its guardian, even if it would only be a short while.

[ cyno is nothing if not a decisive man - he doesn't do things by halves, and once he has made a choice he tends to stand by it. he knows what he wants, and he grabs for it. saying those words was very easy, and the expression on tighnari's face tells him that he's made the right choice. ]

Mm.. I understand your dedication.

[ a soft rumble moves in his chest when tighnari rubs his ear, and he closes his eyes for a moment, exhaling softly. ]

But it seems so unfair. There's so much to see beyond this forest.

[ and while this forest is indeed beautiful and wondrous, there's an entire world beyond it, there are things tighnari deserves to see, and experience. ]

[ fingers continue to rub at that ear, tilting cyno's head after to press a kiss to the shell of it. encouraged by the sound of that soft rumble to give him more and more small touches of affection. ]

Mm, I know but... I enjoy the stories you bring back from your travels outside here. Especially when you write about them in your letters to me. It almost feels like I'm experiencing them for myself.

[ maybe it seems unfair but tighnari doesn't feel too much at a loss. yes he may not be seeing it for himself but.. he likes to hear of it in cyno's words. even though he knows he would like it more to be able to experience and witness it with cyno's company. ]

..Maybe someday I'll be able to witness the world outside these woods.

[ cyno is a dedicated person, he completely and fully understands tighnari's position, and his sense of responsibility. cyno, too, operates by his own code of ethics, and he would stop at nothing to protect the things that are important to him, so of course he could never fault tighnari for doing the same, even if he would love nothing more than to introduce him to the outside world.

but that maybe is good enough. cyno nods. ]

Maybe. I hope you can.

[ but he's patient, he can wait. settling an arm around tighnari's waist, he hums softly. ]

Until then, I'll continue sending letters, and bringing you things. Though you can't blame me if I don't want to leave nearly as often, now.

[ gently, he buries his face against cyno's shoulder, tail sweeping under the sheets as that arm settles around him. ]

Mmm.. no, I wouldn't blame you.

[ after all, tighnari has certainly had moments where he'd wish cyno would stay longer. so how could he possibly blame him for not wanting to leave? gently he presses a kiss to that shoulder, nuzzling the area afterward.

he still feels as if he's in a dreamlike state. constantly reminding himself that what he has right here... is real. his world truly has changed for the better. ears fold back as he sinks into this feeling of love, the warmth that embraces him so closely. ]

[ they hold to one another so closely, in a way that somehow feels even more intimate than their pleasure had, for just how clear their devotion is. tighnari buries against him, and cyno closes his eyes, his hands unable to stop moving over tighnari's warm, soft skin.

he traces the line of his spine with his thumb, following the dip of it, mapping every knob, while the opposite hand settles at tighnari's hip, smoothing over his thigh, down to his knee and back up again. he just can't keep his hands to himself, doesn't want to. turning his head, he drags his mouth along tighnari's jaw. ]

You should get some rest. We both should.

[ it was late before they fell in bed together, after all, and as much as cyno would love for this night to stretch on forever.. they have their future ahead of them to fill with more moments, just like this one. ]

[ tighnari has to wonder if it's the aftermath that still has him so overly sensitive, his body reacting strongly to the touch of cyno's hands that roam over him. that thumb enticing a shudder and a cut-off breath that has his own arms around his partner squeezing lightly. but it's the hand at that hip that smooths over a thigh that has him pressing closer, his leg lifting over one of cyno's own to tangle their legs together. ]

We should.

[ that he agrees on. however, here he is slowly getting excited again just by cyno's roaming touch alone. the jackal really doesn't need to do much to tempt this fox and tighnari is only just now realizing this. his tail thumps quietly, head tilting to expose more of his skin to the drag of that mouth with another purr.

however, like cyno, he also thinks they have plenty of time now - even more than before. and it isn't as if this would be the last time. yet... he's more than aware of that stickiness between them and he knows he won't be able to sleep soundly with it. ]

Hmm. Before that, we both need to clean up.

[ it would hardly take much to get cyno excited again too, all things considered - he's waited a long time to be able to touch tighnari, after all, and now that he can he doesn't want to stop. he could spend the entire night awake with him without complaint, kissing and touching, bringing tighnari every bit of pleasure that he deserves..

.. but collei being here complicates things, a little bit, and the last thing he wants is to traumatize his poor daughter. no one likes to think about their parents having sex!! so he'll be patient - another time will come soon enough. for now they need rest.

and.. to clean up, right. ]

Mm. Right.

[ a low chuckle, and cyno nudges his nose to the corner of tighnari's jaw, smiling, before he's carefully pulling back. they're definitely both a mess of spend and sweat and oil, which is fine for the moment, but would be uncomfortable to wake up to. so he tugs their blankets back, swings his legs over the side of the bed to get to his feet. ]

[ the nudge of his nose bubbles a small chuckle out of him, tilting his head to gingerly bump their heads together affectionately. he's a bit eager to clean up even if he's in a moment of pure contentment and satisfaction. for a moment he just rests there, drinking in sight of the man's back when he swings over to the side of the bed.

the sight of lingering red scratches along that toned back has tail thumping a bit more loudly, a pleased feeling churning in the depths of his stomach. though, a hand gingerly reaches to trace skin until cyno gets to his feet, humming a little. ]

Ah, sorry if I was... a bit much.

[ with the scratching, and well, consequently the biting - thinking of the more than obvious bite mark he left behind in the crook of cyno's neck and shoulder. admittedly, he's a bit embarrassed by it, he had never expected his instincts to flare out enough that he would feel so stimulated to just.. bite like that.

he tries to move onto the side of the bed himself after, though his body definitely feels sore and aches in areas he isn't used to before. his ears fold back, rubbing a little at his lower back. ]

Hmm?

[ a bit much? oh - the scratches. and the biting. cyno tosses a smile over his shoulder as he stretches out his back; clearly he is entirely unbothered by tighnari's roughness, and given the look in his eye, he just may have enjoyed it. ]

You weren't too much at all. I liked it.

[ and he'll have those stinging scratches and bites to remind him of tighnari in the coming days while he's gone, back to town to gather up his and collei's things there. as for tighnari, though - cyno's soon moving around the bed toward him, smoothing one hand over a long, dark-furred ear. ]

Need me to carry you?

[ he's not teasing, he's entirely earnest, and in fact, he's already leaning in to try to scoop tighnari up into his arms - ]

[ ah, tighnari sees that look and his own two-toned eyes gleam a little at that. it helps ease some of that embarrassment and he hums thoughtfully in reply. that's a relief. after all, they're both still learning things about one another so, if it's something he enjoys... ]

Is that so? I'll have to keep that in mind then.

[ because it's quite easy for tighnari to admit that he enjoys seeing those marks. if it isn't obvious by the sway of his tail. he blinks a bit when cyno comes towards him again, gaze growing half-lidded as he leans into that hand running over one of his ears. he purrs contently, reaching to cup that hand to tilt his head and press a kiss to that palm. ]

Mmm, just this once.

[ because cyno isn't entirely teasing him here, and quite frankly he feels as if he'll lose his balance if he even attempts it. arms come up to curl around cyno's neck, making it quite easy to scoop him right on up. ]

[ that tighnari is allowing it feels like a privilege, really, one that cyno will gratefully enjoy. he chuckles softly, and scoops tighnari up into his arms with ease. despite their similarity in height, cyno is quite strong, and lifting tighnari is incredibly easy for him. once he has the fox hefted comfortably in his arms, he leans his head in to nuzzle and kiss at his throat, before he's carrying tighnari off toward the adjacent washroom.

once there, he sets tighnari down at the lip of the tub, though he hesitates a moment to do so, instead holding to tighnari for a few seconds more than he needs to, just to enjoy the weight of him in his arms. ]

You want a bath, or just a towel?

[ he's already snagging a small hand towel, and dampening it with water. ]

[ ah, the lean into his throat pulls a stronger purr out of the fox. his tail sweeping in wide wags in the air as he's carried, eyes closing while he warms under the attention. he is hardly surprised by cyno's strength - as a huntsman, he's sure the jackal's strength is not to be taken lightly.

when he's set, he moves his arms to support himself but doesn't mind one bit that cyno lingers close. he nudges his nose a little against cyno's jaw until the man moves to gather a hand towel. tighnari hums, looking to the tub though as enticing as it is... ]

Just a towel, though a bath sounds incredibly nice... it'll take more time to dry up our fur. We can save a bath for the morning.

[ that way they can return to bed faster and ultimately sleep sooner rather than any later. ]

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