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[ Cyno understands and he doesn't press about the other's sleep. After all, Tighnari had given him the same breadth of space about his own. He's already moving to bring things to the table. It's easy to fall into the same wavelength as Tighnari.

No matter if they are often busy anymore they have known each other for a very long time. Setting it down on the table he looks back at Tighnari. ]

I meant it.

[ it's true, they work well together, reading one another's body language easily and effortlessly. together they carry everything to the little kitchen table, and tighnari is about to sit, when cyno speaks.

he purses his lips. ]

I know you did. You don't say things you don't mean.

[ Cyno is quiet, taking in the other's expression for a moment and waits for him to finish sitting before he does as well. He leans back in the chair, his eyes never wavering from watching Tighnari, waiting on him to make the next move, honestly. ]

[ tighnari sighs. ]

I'd hoped to speak after breakfast, but I should have known you'd want to get straight to the point. [ a beat, and tighnari folds his hands. ] You must know that I have feelings for you, yes? That I have for a long time.

[ Cyno could have surmised that but there is no reason he sees that they can’t talk as they eat. ]

I know you care for me as a friend, as someone who also cares for Collei.

[ Perhaps he has been too obtuse to see more than that. ]

[ another, heavier sigh. ]

Cyno. Are you being purposefully obtuse? I thought that what we felt was mutual. That we both understood.

[ Cyno exhales and finally averts his gaze. Truly, only Tighnari could really throw him off center. He reaches for the coffee but only rubs his fingers on the cup. ]

I have never been certain of your feelings.

[ Perhaps it had been easier. ]

You have been the only one for years.

[ cyno looks away, and tighnari's brow knits. he reaches forward, toward cyno's hand around his coffee mug, smoothing his fingertips along cyno's knuckles. ]

I had thought my feelings were quite obvious. Not obvious enough, I suppose.

[ tighnari smiles, warm and easy and reassuring. ]

You have no idea how much I've missed you. How much I needed you.

I might have been refusing to see in case I was wrong.

[ Cyno meets him halfway on that. He relaxes a little as the other's fingertips move along his knuckles, settling a bit more and meeting the other's eyes again. His smile... it's good to see. ]

I can only imagine. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you.

[ he's quick to shake his head. ]

It's all right, I didn't say that to try and make you feel guilty, only to let you know how important you are to me. It was difficult, being without you.

[ he thought of cyno often, on lonely nights and hard days, but he would not have wanted him there. reverie was a terrible place, better that cyno was safely away from there. ]

.. nevertheless, you weren't wrong. You were refusing to see it. I've had strong feelings for you for some time now. I would have acted on them, but our jobs kept us apart so much..

I know that you didn't.

[ Cyno assures but he still wishes that he could have been there all the same. That Tighnari had to face all that without him by his side angers him more than it makes him feel anything like guilt. ]

And you didn't think it could work?

[ at that, tighnari's expression tenses a little, and he withdraws his hand, glancing down at his plate. he has a feeling that they are not going to be eating while talking after all, but he does at least take a sip of his coffee. ]

I don't know. I didn't want you to have to choose between time with me, and time with work. I also didn't want to potentially put your job at risk, if a relationship with me could have been seen as a conflict of interest.

[ Honestly, Cyno hadn't expected it to get tense like this when he had begun the conversation. He instantly misses Tighnari's touch but he leans back and takes a drink himself.

Cyno frowns. He doesn't like that Tighnari was making those decisions for him instead of with him. ]

You don't need to make decisions like that alone. We always work well together, we could have...

[ He sighs, crossing his arms as he studies Tighnari. He supposes for the time being it's a moot point. ]

That's not entirely fair, you know.

[ tighnari crosses his arms as well, his brow furrowing. ]

Why didn't you come forward about it, then, in that case? It's a two-way road. I won't apologize for thinking of your needs.

[ Cyno glances away because... touche. ]

In the future, let us figure it out together. Like... now.

[ the set of tighnari's shoulders eases, and he takes another drink of coffee. ]

I can agree to that. I'd like that.

Good.

[ Cyno uncrosses one of his arms and reaches for his cup, thinking of taking another drink before reaching for some food instead. ]

There are no excuses here.

[ the atmosphere still feels a little tense, tighnari thinks, but at least cyno is seeing to his food, so tighnari supposes he ought to, as well. ]

No excuses?

There's no reason to not... be honest with each other here or to hold back. Unless... you aren't...

[ He very pointedly takes a bite of food instead of finishing his thought. ]

Unless I'm not.. being honest with you? Of course I'm being honest with you.

[ tighnari, however, still hasn't taken a bite. eventually he sighs, and stands, scooping up his plate and carrying it to the counter to wrap it for later. ]

That's not what I was thinking. Tighnari... you need to eat.

[ Cyno exhales a little and watches him, forgetting food and coffee. ]

I was thinking... unless you don't want to here.

I'll eat in an hour or so. It's all right.

[ but he can't eat right now, not while his stomach feels so tight. his ears are laid back, his tail slightly bristled. ]

As for whether or not I want to be here.. well, of course I'd like to be home. I miss my family. I don't like to think that I'll never see them again. Until recently, I missed you, too.

[ Cyno sighs quietly, watching the other's body language and it kills his own appetite. He gives up eating himself but doesn't bother with his food as he gets up and moves to stand in front of Tighnari. There's a long moment of quiet, Cyno deciding what he wants to do, or say. ]

Of course, I know that. I more... I meant... do you want to try with me here? After all, as you said there are many attractive people.

Cyno..

[ tighnari had just placed the food in the refrigerator, and he's turning back when cyno confronts him, standing stock still in front of him. he's so intense, even now, but tighnari is more than used to that. ]

There were plenty of attractive people in Sumeru, as well, you know. But it's you that I wanted. You're cute when you're jealous.

[ Cyno crosses his arms at the accusation of being jealous, letting out a breath that sound suspiciously like a huff. ]

I'm not jealous. I'm just pointing out a fact.

[ But a moment later... ]

You want me still?

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