Chapter Text
Kaveh shifted restlessly, only half asleep despite the way the moon’s rays shone through the window. There were hours still until sunrise; but something about sleeping in a different bed always made it impossible for him to settle like he should. He sighed, eyelids growing heavy at last, and tried to deepen his own breathing to match Tighnari’s. He was only here because his friend had asked, and he would hate for his sleeplessness to wake him when he’d only fallen asleep an hour or two before.
Tighnari wasn’t ill, as far as Kaveh could tell, but something was absolutely wrong. He’d been anxious and jumpy for days, eating half what he should and looking so forlorn when Kaveh went to leave after visiting that Kaveh had finally invited himself to sleep over to keep a closer eye on him. Kaveh understood anxiety, and the havoc it could wreak on a body; what he didn’t understand was why this was happening.
At first he’d thought perhaps it was about Cyno, but their friend had only been gone on a mission to the desert for a day when Tighnari began to get restless and edgy - nowhere near long enough for the usually even-tempered man to become agitated, regardless of any unaddressed feelings between them. The weather was perfectly lovely, as well, and no strange news had been reported from any part of Teyvat lately. Kaveh had given up trying to understand and simply decided to be there, letting Tighnari curl up against his side as he sat reading on his couch and crawling into bed next to him that night, stroking his ears until he fell into a fitful sleep.
Kaveh must have fallen asleep at last, because he woke to the feeling of Tighnari’s warmth against his back, the smaller man’s body curled around his own, one arm wrapped around his waist. Kaveh smiled sleepily, shifting slightly so he fit more closely into the curve of Tighnari’s body.
Tighnari whined softly in his sleep. The sound tugged at Kaveh’s heart, fondness washing over him. But then Tighnari moved, hips shifting forward; Kaveh swallowed hard when he felt the shape of something hard pressing against him. He held his breath, listening, but Tighnari’s breathing never wavered - he was fast asleep, his body acting on some instinctive need without his awareness. A few heartbeats passed and Kaveh was about to fall asleep when Tighnari moved again, pressing into him a little harder. They were as close as they could be; Kaveh could feel Tighnari’s heartbeat against his back as he began to rock gently against him.
Kaveh wondered if Tighnari could hear his heartbeat with those sensitive ears, the way it skipped with every rock of his friend’s hips against him. He bit his lip, breathing deeply and ignoring the flood of warmth he felt between his legs. His hips twitched backward, meeting Tighnari’s. Tighnari made another soft sound and Kaveh bit his lip, pressing back subtly again and feeling a pulse deep inside him as Tighnari pressed against him harder. It felt so good, his half-sleeping brain desperately wanted to let it happen; clearly Tighnari was enjoying it, even in his sleep. But no. He should move away. He should…he should move away. He scooted forward, instantly missing the warmth of Tighnari’s body against his as he put a few inches between them and rolled over to watch Tighnari’s face.
The fox’s brow was furrowed slightly. He huffed, soft lips parting as he breathed. Kaveh’s eyes widened when his eyes fluttered and he reached out, chasing Kaveh’s warmth and pulling him closer by the waist.
“Tighnari?” Kaveh whispered. “Tighnari? Are you awake?”
Tighnari made a sleepy sound, frown deepening before his eyes opened enough for him to look at Kaveh.
“Kaveh? What’re you…”
“I slept over, remember? Are you alright?”
“No, it’s…I think it’s my rut. I feel so…but I thought…oh Archons, I didn’t - ”
“Hey, slow down,” Kaveh said, reaching out and brushing his sweat-damp hair from his face as Tighnari’s eyes flew open and he raised himself up unsteadily on his elbows. “It’s alright. What’s happening?” He had an idea, but the implications made him blush hard enough that he was grateful for the darkness obscuring his features.
“It’s…” Tighnari seemed similarly mortified, his voice shaking as he tried to take a deep breath. “It’s early. The… mating season …doesn’t start for at least two weeks, it didn’t even cross my mind that that’s what this could be…I’m so sorry, Kaveh, I would never have let you come over if I realized, I’m so stupid…”
Tighnari pressed his hand between his legs, willing the hardness there to go away; but he knew from experience that there would be no relief now.
“Shhh,” Kaveh said soothingly, running his fingers through Tighnari’s hair the way he liked. The tension in his own body relaxed a bit when Tighnari pressed into his hand, letting the touch calm him. “What do you need?”
“I don’t…I don’t know. Kaveh, I didn’t…I was dreaming about, I mean…I didn’t…do anything, did I? Before I woke up?”
Even in the darkness, Kaveh’s face must have betrayed the answer before he could say something vague enough to assuage the guilt in Tighnari’s voice.
“ Archons, are you - ”
“It’s alright, love, we were both asleep. It was an accident, it happens. I’m just worried about you right now.” Kaveh didn’t stop petting Tighnari, hoping that the steady touch might keep him grounded enough to listen. “How does this work? Is there…medicine? Herbs? What can I do?”
“There’s nothing,” Tighnari said, voice small and hopeless. “You just…ride it out. I hate it so much, I’m so sorry you have to see me like this. That you had to…”
“Don’t apologize,” Kaveh said firmly. “If you have to ride it out, does that mean you need to…” he trailed off, the feeling of Tighnari rocking against him echoing in his skin, making his thighs press together inadvertently. “Do you need a…release? To get through it?”
Tighnari hesitated before nodding, the movement so small that Kaveh almost missed it.
“I can wait til you go home, though, or…or I could sleep on the couch?” His ears were flat against his head, eyes avoiding Kaveh’s steady carmine gaze.
“You don’t have to do that,” Kaveh said gently, the hand in Tighnari’s hair stilling. “You can keep going, if you need to. The way that you were. If that would…help?” His friend’s face was so dejected that he thought his heart might break. He pushed down the voice in his head that said that there was more to his offer than a selfless need to relieve his friend’s suffering; this was what Tighnari needed, something he could do to help. And if Tighnari refused he wouldn’t push him, no matter how the feeling of him wrapped around Kaveh had stirred something in him, as well.
Tighnari hesitated. This was Kaveh; he would give you the only food he had if you said you were a little hungry. It would be taking advantage; there was no way he wanted this. But…but this was Kaveh, Tighnari’s closest friend, and his voice was soft and his hand was so gentle, never wavering as he stroked Tighnari’s ears, and Tighnari ached so badly, and he knew it would only get worse.
“Are you sure?”
Tighnari’s soft voice pulled Kaveh back to the present, his heart skipping a beat when he realized what he’d asked.
“Of course, love. Does it feel good like that? If I just…”
He rolled back onto his side, shifting until they were back how they started, Tighnari’s body fitted closely against his. Tighnari wrapped his arm around Kaveh’s waist hesitantly; Kaveh slid his hand from his elbow to his wrist, pressing his arm snug against him. Tighnari got the message, holding Kaveh tightly as he pressed his cheek to Kaveh’s shoulder and took a deep breath.
“It’s alright,” Kaveh murmured.
It was exactly what Tighnari was waiting to hear. At the sound of his voice Tighnari moved, pressing closer. For a few more long seconds he tried to hold back, unsure if he would be able to take what Kaveh was offering. But then Kaveh nestled closer, and any remaining self control slipped through his fingers. Soon he was rocking against Kaveh again, breath shallow and quick. Even through the layers of clothing between them, the pressure alone was divine, relief flooding through his veins as he let himself grind against Kaveh.
Kaveh bit back a moan at the stimulation. It shouldn’t be enough to affect him this much, but the press of Tighnari’s hardening cock against him was enough to make him hard as well, his underwear growing damp. On the next gentle thrust against him he allowed himself to move, pressing back to meet Tighnari.
The soft, low growl Tighnari let out made Kaveh gasp, grinding back harder without thinking.
It was too much. The angle of Kaveh’s hips as they pushed back against him hit just right, the friction going from just enough to overwhelming. Tighnari’s arm tightened around his waist, pulling him back even closer - if that was possible - as his hips lost their rhythm and he thrust forward one last time. His body shook, every muscle tensed as he fought his way over the peak and felt that blissful release at last. He stayed like that for a breathless moment before releasing Kaveh, rolling onto his back but not moving away entirely.
Kaveh let out a soft, wounded breath. Even without direct stimulation, he’d been so close, the rhythm of Tighnari’s movements making his thighs clench and rub against each other exactly how they needed to to get him to the edge. He shuddered, attempting to release the horrible tension from his muscles. Tighnari sat up, concern etched on his features.
“Are you alright? I’m sorry, I wasn’t…it wasn’t too much, was it?”
Kaveh let out a little laugh of disbelief. “No! No, not at all, I promise.” He had to keep himself from saying more, from adding how he’d wanted just another minute, just a little more to let him fall over the edge along with Tighnari. It was a line he was afraid to cross, silly though it may seem. He was helping his friend; he wasn’t meant to enjoy it. It was clinical, medical, not intimate in the way that Tighnari’s arm around him and breath on his skin had made it seem. “Should we…I mean, do you think you can sleep now?”
“Yes. Thank you, Kaveh.” Tighnari smiled, exhaustion making the light in his eyes a little duller than usual.
He curled up on his side again - an invitation, which Kaveh took gratefully, slotting himself into the space he’d left. Kaveh’s hand slid down between his own thighs, but he couldn’t bring himself to do anything more with his friend so close; so he simply let it rest there, attempting once again to find sleep in the oppressively hot night.