Chapter Text
“I am going to the desert” Cyno would say one day, his typical cloak and suitcase on as he was just one turn and step away from exiting through the front door of their (Alhaitham’s) house, but that wasn’t the only explanation his partners were to receive, “and I am breaking up with you.”
Kaveh’s pencil dropped from the place on the couch he had been lazily sketching at, his nose scrunched and eyes blinking rapidly just the way they did when he ate something too spicy.
Alhaitham didn't look too shocked, but his big frame visibly betrayed his expression, as his shoulders went stiff.
Tighnari opened his mouth as if to say something against such a bold and unpredictable statement but ultimately turned his head away from the door after a second, like the words had just reached him in the shape of an illusionary punch.
Cyno nodded against their silence, his expression as unfazed as one could find it.
“Be well” he’d say before turning around.
Kaveh, despite being the last to join the pack and the one who less contact was allowed to have with his packmates due to his incessant search of jobs to affront his debts, usually was the first one to notice when something was off; in general and, most importantly, when the issue had anything to do with their omega.
He took upon himself the task of protecting Cyno, not physically (that was Tighnari) or mentally (for some odd reason, Alhaitham was good enough at this), but emotionally. Kaveh was attached to the omega even before Alhaitham got involved and invited him to join. The architect swore to lend his own heart over if necessary, so it came to be obvious he would watch over their omega’s feelings.
Kaveh does not remember the first time he met Cyno, but everyone else in the pack (Collei included) seem to recall the meeting with joy. It results that a young man-to-be-General-Mahamatra was the one to find him drunk to the point of unconsciousness in the forest and bring him over to Tighnari’s hut the night he became acquaintances with the rangers, and was saved the shame (or fear) of being carried under the rain by a man (matra) that was a third of his size by hiding this fact from him until Kaveh already accepted to join their family. It seems even Alhaitham knew, or had figured it out already.
Not that Kaveh was ashamed about that, in fact, he only loved Cyno more after finding out. He never censored himself before when it came down to complimenting the omega, for Cyno was amazing as a man, as a friend and as the head of the most feared legal organization in Sumeru.
And Kaveh hadn’t thought, outside of hopeful delusions, anyone would be willing to welcome a mess of an alpha like himself into their pack; already into his mid-thirties, choking on debts and daily drowning sorrows in alcohol, unable to build or even rent a studio of his own, not even mention a house to his name; so, he admits to having cried a little (a lot) when he was left alone with the omega after accepting.
Maybe their family wasn’t irreproachable, but it worked.
Cyno was the pack leader and nobody questioned this. Alhaitham and Tighnari were apt for leading too, but one was too busy with his rangers and the other was too lazy to become the head of a family; Kaveh was sure nobody asked him to take over for he was not only the newbie but also because, with his relationship records, they would be doomed to fall apart.
All this, regardless, meant the omega was put under the extra pressure of managing three very proud and fussy alphas. So they divided chores to try and make the task easier for Cyno or, at least, to compensate for trying to tear each other’s throat open every once in a while. Kaveh and Alhaitham’s relationship improved greatly with this subtle change from 'housemates' to 'packmates', but they discovered together just how frantic and obsessive the hybrid alpha could be regarding stuff that would seem nimial even to them.
One of the first things Kaveh did after joining, was to take Cyno out of his so-called house and bring him to live with Alhaitham and himself; even Tighnari was grateful, for his own place at Gandharva Ville was not apt as a permanent residence for the General Mahamatra. The architect would not allow his omega to keep ‘living’ in a place so small that he could only use it to shut down during heats; for Cyno admitted to not eating, resting or even sleeping there on a regular basis. The omega agreed to move out of his hovel only once Kaveh showed the room he furnished for him, clean of any prior living presence, and Cyno adopted it as a new nest.
Kaveh felt so proud that night he couldn’t sleep.
So he kept involving himself in the pack and making up some rules that the others agreed to. One was a list of antics he investigated from their omega leader, verified with his very own eyes or from hearing their other packmates' testimonies. The list included points like ‘If he’s intent to sleep on the couch no matter what, Collie or Kaveh are to be called to bribe any ill feelings out of him’ for which Collei insists she merely rests with him for a while and keeps one hand at his nape or wrist, unlike the never-ending nagging against the cosmos Kaveh dwells into until his partner joins in the rant; or ‘When he crunches his toes constantly and is more quiet than usual, then a concerning case presented at work. We leave him be, but also leave some of our belongings close for grounding measure’ as, apparently, it was fine for them to engage with chasing or investigating but judging was exclusively a matra affair the man would not speak with them about, and this was found out by Kaveh as he once left his house keys by Cyno’s reach just for a moment and consequently had to get out through a window not to arrive late to an appointment.
So life had become a lot more bearable and positively entertaining as their pack established. Debts didn’t seem so heavy and time at home was met with less discussions or lingering tensions.
But it certainly had begun to shift after a certain heat Cyno suffered.
After a year of Kaveh’s addition, came the first time the omega requested his three alphas to aid him through a heat and, even if it might just have been his body speaking, they gladly complied. And if truth is to be told, Kaveh does not remember most of it, he’s conscious of what he did and is ultimately aware none of them hurt the omega; but the more he recalls the event, the more it resembles a foggy lewd dream.
The blond alpha was the first to notice the odd behaviors, such as increasing hunger that broke Cyno’s diet in the shape of stolen snacks, because his cream-filled buns were the most affected victims; the way the older omega would ask (or wonder out loud) wistfully about Collei, even when the girl was just in the next room; and how he would still accept the alphas’ caresses and touches but rarely return them.
For Kaveh, who knew the omega’s heart like the palm of his hand, the longing which surrounded him only pointed to one answer; the omega was probably hoping to expand their family. But, after presenting his discoveries to their other two mates, it came to be clear none of them shared the same wishful expectations he held.
Tighnari, for starters, ignored most symptoms and labeled the behavior as some spring flu’s consequences.
Alhaitham plainly said the omega would get over it eventually.
Kaveh accepted a commission from Liyue to avoid starting a war.
After years of endless tribulations whilst faking a ‘perfect alpha’ image, the Light of Kashrewhar finally managed to build a safe place around himself, one where he felt not only useful but also wanted, one that didn’t bring him shame; a palace of absolute happiness.
But, just as he comes back home after a two weeks leave, Cyno is prepared to leave the house and break up with them…
“What did the both of you do?!”
Tighnari had loved the matra omega since the day they met, back in their student days.
His parents had warned him time and time again that once he met ‘the right one’ he should not let them go, for his kin truly loved once in their entire life.
But the forest hybrid held back the idea of starting anything with the desert man until the day Cyno visited his house with an ill child trailing behind, requesting the recently graduated botanist to take care of her. He wholeheartedly would have refused anyone else who dared ask such a favor, but the omega was the most desperate he’d ever seen him, so he agreed to take the girl in only if Cyno was willing to start a pack with them, for Tighnari had no plans of becoming a single parent so young; this was partially a joke, if not entirely, but the crimson eyed man accepted the terms regardless.
Tighnari had always been aware of Cyno’s troubles when it came down to social interactions, so he purposefully pushed Collei to exchange messages with this Mondstadt gal she found so fascinating and tried to keep her away from the older omega’s sense of humor. This doesn’t mean he didn’t allow them to bond over Genius Invokation matches or the very useful self-defense training the desert man had to share; but one of those ‘bonding sessions’ led them to find out Collei, with her short record, was more conscious and apt than the General Mahamatra himself when it came down to heats.
It would’ve been fun, if the two omegas hadn't seen themselves in the situation of fighting down an illegal hunting party of Fatui when it happened. The Fatui were already defeated when Tighnari found them, but Collei was vividly furious and didn’t want anyone approaching them, less of all, an alpha.
A comprehensible reaction for, on Tighnari’s nose, Cyno smelled divine.
It was obvious Cyno lacked some sense of self preservation when he later admitted to believing he’d be able to ‘hold back the issue’ for a couple of days until he returned to the city, with sheer willpower. After a lot of discussion, what finally seemed to bring some conscience to the man was the ‘It is a bad, no, terrible, example for the child’ card.
It was odd to think their first heat spent together was a test to prove the omega that the pain could be handled without absolute restraint or the intake of potions or pills. But at least he agreed to the premise. Cyno didn’t suffer any less, for his lack of clear judgment during the process pained him more than the physical stress did, although he felt content enough with the results to accept leaving the ‘medicines’ (a great number of medics even refused considering them as healthy interventions) as a last minute resort from then on.
The thing is, Tighnari was not as available as he would have wanted to be. So when Alhaitham, the infamous subject to Kaveh’s most colorful rants, appeared in flesh and bone and his interest in Cyno was more than evident, the hybrid was the first to suggest he could join them. It worked perfectly for everyone, or so Tighnari thought.
Then Kaveh was welcomed into their pack formally and immediately misinterpreted that meant Cyno asked for a partnership instead of the simple filial bond Collie was attached to. And three sounded like a tad too much, but Cyno just went along and the hybrid couldn’t find valid reasons for his insecurities.
It also meant Tighnari had less occasions to worry about the omega’s health, for the other alphas would help tend to his incessant battle wounds at their house; the thought made him a little jealous, but Tighnari was aware of Cyno’s happiness and safety, thus let it pass. After all, seeing his partner hurt always made his own skin itch with unreal pain.
But, then again, maybe three were actually too much for an omega who better resembled an alpha born in the wrong body.
Maybe Cyno had expected more lucidness from them at the time and hoped they would gently disagree to his pleas, but Tighnari had kept in check all of their cycles and later calculated that, as a cruel prank from fate, they aligned during his last heat. Although Cyno then admitted he had taken notice of this at the moment and said he didn’t mind, even joked that he had handled much worse, so it was fine; if Cyno joked about it, then he was fine.
So, if everything is fine…
“Why?”
Alhaitham was the alpha of the pack.
It was not something they had agreed upon, not something he agreed to even, but it worked just fine. He, regardless, was not the leader.
So Alhaitham, as the pack’s alpha, sometimes had to guide his packmates into the right paths, towards the right decisions.
The young alpha found himself infatuated with General Mahamatra since their weapons first clashed and made his most to lure Cyno’s packmates to accept him as an equal, regardless of Kaveh’s unfavorable descriptions of his person; gentle words, subtle aids and letting his attentions for the desert omega slide on capitalized display did the trick.
Cyno never held an ounce of doubt about his ulterior intentions, being able to discern his lies from a nation away, but would completely misunderstand the motivations behind such acts. The omega thought him to be lonely and sad, seeing that the only person one would acquaintance Alhaitham with, thus his only apparent chance of having a friend, seemed to fiercely despise him. Empathy or sympathy, Alhaitham found it amusing and let him believe so by denying it with an insecure tone dressing his voice.
There was another detail; Alhaitham’s ‘command voice’ came up even when he didn’t want it to, ever since his alpha status decided to show up. So he would rather keep quiet and evade conversations, even if that meant he should avoid hearing others too (not that he missed much from this). But his entire pack seemed to be tone-deaf in the strangest of ways, as they never reprimanded him for doing it, but also rarely complied with his orders.
Just like Kaveh.
Alhaitham could love having his life sorted out, from his weekly schedule to the minimal accessory on his outfit, but this never implied he couldn’t ache for expectation; after all, the typical romance novel, no matter how interesting the plot or the characters, was bound to end like typical romance novels do, predictable and boring. People would have trouble speaking with him because they would either agree or shut up and accept his words sooner or later; but Kaveh was the first to keep on arguing with him, as if his life depended on it.
Alhaitham had desired to mate the other alpha for a while but this wanton feeling was never acknowledged nor returned. Still, Kaveh stuck around. And as entertaining their dynamic had become, it also grew old and repetitive after some time.
As the alpha of a pack it felt odd to have his mates living away from his supervision and, even if there was nothing he could do about Tighnari or Collei, Cyno downright refused his offer to live with him. So Alhaitham suggested they should include Kaveh and the omega didn’t catch it at first but, after a full month of subtle motivation to both parties, the blond alpha had lowered his head to General Mahamatra in loyal submission.
Kaveh then was more resolute about bringing Cyno home and for some reason (he obviously noticed how fast Kaveh attached to him) the omega agreed this time. Alhaitham did not need to interfere further.
The young alpha’s pack was perfect, for it worked right under his lead; all disagreements included.
He brought to Kaveh the idea of making a list on Cyno’s behavior for the blond alpha was the one who could spend more time with him at home and it would be useful to have them studied. He asked Tighnari for guidance on first aid methods so he could assist the omega himself if the need ever presented during a combined case. He skipped a scheduled heat with Cyno under the pretense of reception of an Inazuman diplomatic group just after Tighnari had been absent the prior time and insinuated that they could all share the next one (which was initially under Kaveh’s duties).
Tighnari had left their ruts and heats yearly routes on plain sight as he explained to Alhaitham what were the pros and cons of forcing an unconscious person to wake up.
The experience was memorable.
Alhaitham made sure everyone enjoyed it to the fullest.
There was no mistake with his predictions and the first results proved this to be right. But it seems his pack leader chose to play by unpredictability’s side…
“With who?”
Cyno turned around once again, his gaze stern as he studied the alphas one by one. Then he raised a hand with three fingers up.
“This is my decision only” the ring finger went down. “I am breaking the relationship I share with the three of you, although, this does not mean I desire to ungroup our pack, but that is a conversation we must save until my return” the middle finger followed. “And, I do this because it is what will hurt us less” he lowered his fist.
His authoritarian voice made clear that there was no misunderstanding, the decision was thoroughly thought over even if one-sidedly. But it also was true that Cyno made the strangest of predictions sometimes, as he would always bet for the worst of outcomes; said it was better to be safe than sorry.
Tighnari huffed a laugh.
“You truly are a fool if you think there’s one sole thing you can do which will hurt me more than this act of idiocy, Cyno” his words didn’t seem to reach the omega with their original intent.
“Hopefully, there isn’t.”
Tighnari would admit to not being the most attentive partner, but never would've thought the day would come when his best friend would turn his back on him, nor that it would make the air run out of his lungs. He loved Cyno and the omega, who wasn't known to be a liar, swore to love him back. There was a bond meant to tie them for life.
Alhaitham decided he should say something, anything, seeing that the omega was being responsive. There was no plan on his schedule to see Cyno depart, but neither to watch him and his rightful alpha argue over… A mistake, it had to be. Some kind of misunderstanding.
“What did I do wrong?” the young alpha could take a hundred guesses by himself but, without verification, they would be worth nothing. Cyno frowned.
“Nothing at all. Nobody did one wrong thing, that much I can assure.”
“Then why?” Tighnari repeated, his voice growing unkempt and rowdy.
At this point Kaveh, who had been oddly quiet since he was able to face the omega, stood from his seat and took just one step forward, a quiet and small step forward.
“It… It’s a baby, right?” the blond alpha’s voice trembled as his hands attempted to reach the omega, his amber eyes studying the smaller frame for confirmation despite the dark cloak barrier.
Alhaitham breathed in deep, for that was not a factor he’d take into consideration, after all… Tighnari’s fur stirred up.
“You can’t” the hybrid said after a stretched period of silence, his voice more pained than before. “Cyno, Kaveh is just being delusional, you can tell him-”
“I won’t lie about this” the omega was severe as he would offer the oldest alpha a curt nod, provoking a delighted exclamation from Kaveh. This reaction made the omega smile slightly. “I made sure just a few days ago, but I cannot tell who the other progenitor is.”
“Who cares?!” Kaveh ran up to Cyno and knelt beside him. “By the Seven, Cyno, you’re carrying a life.”
“No” Tighnari intervened and Alhaitham finally exhaled. “No, you’re not, Cyno. You’re not doing this.”
Alhaitham didn’t like how the hybrid’s voice turned, so he got up from his chair.
“Tighnari what-?” Kaveh tried to remain composed but he finally showed his teeth in a scowl as he noticed something unpleasant about the hybrid. Hostility. Alhaitham walked closer to the shorter alpha.
“I am aware of the risks, Tighnari” Cyno calmly stated, “and resolved I won’t put my life ahead of theirs” this affirmation made all alphas frown.
Regardless, the resolve their leader spoke with made Alhaitham accept he wouldn’t be able to modify the decision, so he lunged to catch and retain the growling hybrid as he started to sprint towards the door. The taller men shared a look.
“Take him away!” Alhaitham commanded. In response, Kaveh extended a hand to grab Mehrak on reflex and then rushed to get Cyno out of the house.
The bigger alpha felt the skin of his forearm rip from where Tighnari was biting him, but kept him locked and endured the pain, resolved to not let go until the scents of the other two had completely vanished or the hybrid came back to his full senses. Alhaitham should also keep himself from chasing after the others and the pain kept him grounded.
At least it was a given fact Kaveh would do his best and more to keep their omega and their child safe.
Kaveh was out of breath as they reached the southern riverside but did not let go of Cyno’s hand as he crunched to take a pause. Luckily, nobody made a motion to stop their race or inquired about their destiny, as it was remotely common to see General Mahamatra hurry from one place to another, albeit less frantically. Mehrak beeped anxiously.
“Kaveh-”
“Moment please” the blond alpha inhaled and exhaled three more times before straightening up. “Huh, that was… I didn’t know he could get like that… Ha, ha” looking at Cyno's unharmed being, he felt some tension get off his shoulders, even if just a little. “Are you alright?”
“It was not pleasant but neither unexpected” the omega offered, “you can let go of me now” he looked to his still encaptured hand.
“I… Don’t think so” Kaveh couldn’t let go, probably, even if he wanted to. His heart was still racing wildly. “I will go to the desert with you, if that is what you want to do” Cyno raised an eyebrow to this proclamation, just barely.
“You have deadlines to meet, three this month” under different circumstances, the reminder of work would have made Kave either grimace or beam, but this time it only made him sigh.
“I’ll somehow let the clients know I’m taking a year, they must understand” he knew they wouldn’t as well as Cyno did, but his reply was gently taken into consideration.
“I still broke up with you and left the pack, there are no responsibilities left tying us.”
“I think there is one very important tie between us still, but, alright, sure, we’re a divorced couple. I can survive with that.”
“We never married.”
“We are a non-divorced-non-married-non-together-but-neither-divided pair of grown up men, happy?” Kaveh almost rolled his eyes until he took notice of the tiny stretch from his partner’s lips and the trembling suppression of a smile.
“I’m not too good a traveling companion.”
“You’re joking right now?” Kaveh huffs. “Your matra fellas would be the first to heartily disagree and I dare bet Collei will get mad if she ever finds out you said that!” Cyno nodded to this.
“Don't you have any questions?”
Kaveh had them, lots of them, but he denied them.
“I trust your guidance and if there is anything you want to share with me, then I’m all ears. But as your non-related traveling companion, I won’t ask a single question that might make you feel uneasy” Mehrak made two happy beeps to his reply, supportive as ever.
“Very well, then” Cyno used his free hand to point down the river. “We must first go to Port Ormos and get more supplies for you. The desert is no place for unsandspecting people after all.”
Kaveh then laughed, to erase more tension and to amuse the omega, but made a mental note to buy one or two bottles of wine for the road. He loved Cyno but if he desired to survive the next months along with him, both alone in the desert, he would need a way of drowning any useless complaints that could start a real discussion.
Tighnari calmed down already deep into the night.
“Sorry” he slowly repeated every few minutes, as he tended to Alhaitham’s wounds.
The younger alpha let him do, and only dared to speak once the hybrid couldn't find any other scratch around his body.
“Cyno will come back. Kaveh will protect him” Alhaitham saw the way his words made Tighnari still his movements, even his breathing, for a moment.
“I know" his voice was calm, but one who knew him well could easily discern the guilt on the tip of his tongue.
“Where do you want him to return?” he pressed regardless. “To you? Or to us?”
Tighnari's lips drew to a discontent line.
“I don’t want to break what we’ve built together. But dare tell, Alhaitham, didn’t I just do it this morning?” he was mumbling, as if arguing with himself as he spoke to the other man.
“Tighnari.”
“I don’t think I even want him to forgive me for this, I don’t know how I should feel if he does. And he will, won’t he? But you too, don’t play dumb, you didn’t land a single hit on me during these past hours.”
“...” carefully, the taller man allowed the hybrid to lay against his right side in a half embrace.
“And if he comes back with the children, even if they're mine, what right would I have to approach them now?" Tighnari's ears twitched down. "Alhaitham.”
“Yes?”
“Thank you” Tighnari looked up to him. “I've never thanked the Seven for your inclusion to our family, quite the opposite, actually. For me you are a need, not a desire. I am a jealous and egoistic bastard, what point is there in hiding this right now. But in this moment I can’t feel more grateful that you chose us, Cyno, Collie, myself… Please, don’t you leave us.”
Alhaitham rubbed Tighnari’s right ear tenderly as the next words took shape in his mind.
“I’ll lead us during his absence” he resolved. Alhaitham, after all, was the pack’s alpha, it was only natural he became the acting leader if the circumstances presented.
Alhaitham was used to thinking things thoroughly, although in this case, he chose to consider only the current situation and not ponder into future possibilities; the chances of Cyno, Kaveh or the still unborn children not coming back for different reasons were awfully real. The omega would often joke about no alpha in the pack being able to lead as well as he did, for Tighnari's nature would have them secluded, Kaveh's decisions would make them too attached and Alhaitham's apathy would murder them; Cyno was protective but not possessive, he was a man of basis rather than morals, and he cared about his acquaintances' opinions enough to allow debates when necessary.
Alhaitham wasn't expecting to fill on Cyno's role, but rather to hold their family together until the task was taken back from him. He wouldn’t run after the omega begging his return. He would prove himself to be useful and protect Cyno’s loved ones.
Tighnari, after hearing his promise, pushed himself upwards and kissed the taller man with gratitude. That roughly counted as their fourth kiss during the years they’d been together, but it didn’t feel unknown nor undeserved, no matter how much it should have.
Alhaitham guessed he could save his own apologies for later.