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They were so in your face. How could anyone NOT see them. The ears. The tail. They were practically taunting anyone who looked at them. Screaming at them 'hay I'm here! Come pet me!!' but unfortunately even pointing them out seemed to be an unspoken taboo in the village. Collei understood better then anyone what it was like to be touched when you didnt want to but still it screamed at her. She couldnt help but stare and then have to avert her glance when she was caught. She swore she heard her master laugh to himself having seen her do it atleast a hundred times now. Was it funny to him? Funny to see her struggle? Regardless shed never ask. She didn't want to get in trouble.
Or atleast that was her mindset until she saw it. Cyno, the General Mahamatra in all his glory was visiting. The most feared man in all of Sumaru was here visiting her master like always. She had come to slowly warm up to him and now she felt backstabbed and taunted as she saw the general himself running his hands through her masters tail. He didn't even ask. He just sat besides him and ran his fingers through it like it was normal while her master didnt even bat an eye and read a book besides him.
"... Collei?" She was snapped from her shock by the generals voice. He was hard to read but she could tell he was concerned. Concerned cuz Collei just staired at him, mouth a gaped, in pure awe.
"Ah, er... sorry. I think im just tierd!" She dismissed before he could even ask if she was alright and quickly went to her room. The embaressment was creeping its ugly head into her heart and she couldnt dare to face them right now. Collei simply flopped onto her bed and tried to hide her shameful blush at the fact she just embaressed herself by staring so dumbfounded at her master and his boyfriend. She knew they were a couple. They didnt hide it very well and when she had asked her master he was open and honest telling her 'we have been together for quite some time. Longer then we knew you, but if it bothers you we can show it less around you.' He was always the kind and careing. Always thinking of her comfort and she was more then happy to accept their love around her. She just wanted to not assume and make things awkward.
Collei didn't hear the knock at her door or the door open and shut as someone had entered. She didnt hear the soft, almost completly silent steps of the general as he walked over. She only jumped when she felt the bed dip down besides her. She looked over spooked by the movment and flinched away. Cyno sat besides her, his hands raised in surrender to show he ment no harm.
"I just wanted to check on you. You were acting odd." He spoke with a softer tone then usual. It was gentle amongst the intimidating aura that was the General Mahamatra. Collei liked when he spoke to her like this. It felt safer. He used this voice for her master too as his ears were sensitive and he didn't wish to hurt them.
"I-I'm fine General Cyno...Just tierd." It was really no use trying to lie to a man who could tell when you're lieing but she gave it her best try. Cyno's crimson eyes hardened ever so slightly, a sign she had noticed that ment she was caught in her lie. Collei tried to sink down in her bed more and be small in hopes he would let it be.
"Just Cyno..." he spoke and she nodded feeling bad. He always insisted she didnt have to be so formal but it didnt feel right for such a powerful man to be 'just Cyno'. He earned his title and she felt like he deserved it to be used, even if it did intimidate her slightly at the thought. Cyno looked away and gazed at a random wall in the room to try and ease her fear from his intense gaze. They were working on getting closer but she still felt fear every now and then. This did help her relax some. "... if my relationship wi-"
"NO!" Collei flinched not expecting to yell that loud and cut him off like that. Even Cyno seemed to be caught off-guard by it as he looked over with wide eyes, the only sign you would ever get of his shock, and studied her for a moment. "I-I mean no, your relationship doesn't bother me. I told Master that i was ok with it and i think its really sweet you two are together." She covered her face with her pillow in shame as she tried to hide from his analytical gaze. Cyno was clearly not going to budge on the subject though as now he felt more confused then ever.
"Then... what bothered you?" He questioned, brows furrowed as he seemed to be confused by her reactions. Pink eyes slowly peaked out from behind the pillow to see his questioning gaze. Now she felt guilty for making him worry and making him think their relationship was a problem. Collei tried to focus, looking at anything byt Cyno in hopes it would make this conversation easier.
"... It's just... you were touching his tail..." she mumbled her words slightly. All of a sudden the pieces seemed to click in Cyno's mind. He completely forgot that everyone has seemed to take these things as a taboo in the village that he didnt think about how someone like Collei, who was tought the taboo by the villagers, would react. Cyno nodded at that moment completly understanding the young girls shock as he had done something seen as forbidden in her eyes. Now he had to think of how to explain such actions to her. Silence filled the air as they sat awkwardly for a moment. Neither seemed like they wanted to break the akward tension, or maybe Collei was simply waiting for an explanation she knew Cyno was preparing to give her.
"Collei... have you ever asked Tighnari to touch his tail?" Her immediate thought was 'no, are you crazy? I dont want to end up lectured for asking such a forbidden question.' Unfortunately she couldnt muster the voice to speak and simply shook her head no as a responce. Cyno nodded, taking that as a sign to continue. "He wasn't the one to make that rule. Tighnari is much more open about his fox fetures then you think. He just pre-FURS you ask." He grinned smuggly as he waited for the laugh to arrive. Collei just glared that dry glare that she learned from her master. The moment was ruined. "No, not funny? I can explain it for you. See i said pre-FURS because it sounds like prefers and Tighnari has fu-"
"I get it..." Collei sighed and rolled her eyes wanting to be done with this conversation now. She knew he was trying to lighten the tension but somehow the awkward tension seemed to get worse from that. Cyno seemed to get the hint though as he sighed and stood up.
"You should talk to him. When your ready of course..." he stated and turned leaving Collei to her awkward silence and embaressing feelings. She knew that Cyno would talk to Tighnari about the situation. Her master would be worried and she wasn't sure she could face them just yet. The possible lecture from her master about not discussing things properly with him looked in the back of her mind.
It was atleast an hour, maybe two, later before Collei finally emerged from her room. She was cautious about it as she peaked out. The first thing she noticed was her master leaning against Cyno. He was running his hand through Tighnari's hair and whispering softly about the book Tighnari was reading. The two looked really sweet spending a soft moment together. It warmed her heart to see them relaxing and enjoying their small breaks together. She knew they didnt get alot of time to see eachother after all, even less so with her lessons that Tighnari had to teach.
Collei flinched slightly as she saw Tighnari's long fennic fox ear twitch and flick in her direction. She half contimplated going back in her room but it was too late as he turned to look to her. A slight smile graced his face as he saw her. Cyno looked over, removing his hand from Tighnaris head as his eyes caught Collei's watching his hand. She was certainly more nervous now with both sets of eyes on her. Tighnari motioned the girl over, patting the seat besides him for her to sit. Mustering up her courage Collei prepared herself for whatever lecture she was going to get and walked over, sitting besides Tighnari. The three sat in silence for a bit before Tighnari finally broke the silence.
"I understand your apprehension." He spoke as if trying to be gentle and careful with what words he said. Like he was working with a scared animal who would bolt at any instance of agression.
"I'm sorry for worrying you and Ge-...er... Cyno... it just shocked me. He didnt even ask." Collei locked her eyes on her shaking hands as if that would help her relax. Thats when she heard the soft chuckle. The amused voice of her master as he tried to stop and stifle it with his hand.
"Ehem... eheh... sorry... I can see where the confusion stemmed from now." Another soft chuckle escaped him. Collei wanted to hide now as she felt the embaressment returning. Tighnari noticed this and calmed himself, clearing his throat. "Collei." He waited and she got the hint. Pink eyes looked up at his beautiful duel colored hazel eyes. "Cyno didnt ask because he has permission. He has for wuite some time. He doesn't ask because he knows it's ok. I gave him permission a long time ago to do such. It is simply an unspoken part of our relationship now."
Collei nodded silently and looked away. She should have known. It was so obvious. They were in a relationship so why wouldn't he allow such? What she wasn't expecting was for her master to bow his head to her, fox ears slightly twitching as he patiently seemed to be waiting for something. Unspoken permission. A silent way of Tighnari showing her he trusted her. Nervously Collei looked from the soft ears infront of her to Cyno who sat on the other side of Tighnari. He gave a soft smile and nodded to her.
Collei nodded, shakey hand raising slowly. She was certainly nervous. Everything in her screaming she shouldnt be doing this that she was told this wasnt ok, yet here he was giving her permission. Allowing her to touch his ears. Those ears that taunted her and looked so soft to touch. As her hand moved closer his left ear twitched, sensing her nearing hand. Nervously she retracted it back slightly. With a roll of his eyes and a slight sigh Tighnari did one of the most anamalistic things she had ever seen. She had seen dogs in the village do this when people would pet them. He moved his head closer pushing his ear into her hand and slightly rubbed his head in her hand.
At first she was too shocked to move but as she registered what was happening her body relaxed. Collei focused on the soft fur in her hand and slowly began to smile. Her hand moved curiously up and down as she pet his ear slowly. It was like she was studying it. Learning what it feels like and how it seemed to twitch slightly in her hands. She studied her masters reaction and how he relaxed and closed his eyes, smileing softly. He was content. He seemed to enjoy being pet like a cat or dog would.
Suddenly Collei flinched feeling soft vibrations in his ears. Then she heard it. He was purring. She looked on in awe, her hand stopping for a moment. She had no idea he could purr. His tail was softly wagging in Cynos lap and he was content. He was happy and purring. Collei's smile grew understanding this and she looked up to Cyno who was smileing softly to her. He raised his hand and moved it near Tighnari's head and pointed to a spot at the base of his ear. Carefully he mouthed 'try here' to her. She took a moment but nodded.
Collei moved her hand down his ear to the base and lightly scratched it with her finger like she would the village dogs. The purring got louder as well as his tail wagged faster. Collei was ecstatic. She couldnt express how happy she was to go this. So long had she wanted to see what they felt like. Wondering if they were soft or smooth. Wondering if he felt them like animals did. She had so many questions and he was happy to let her explore and study to her hearts content. That was till a soft chirp mixed with a wine seemed to leave him. Instantly Collei retracted her hand back in fear that she had hurt him.
"Sorry!!" She panicked throwing her hands up in the air. Her panic only worsening as Cyno seemed to be fighting a laugh and her master sat up and glared at him, a blush apparent on his face. He gave Cyno a playful shove knowing he was the cause of this and took a deep breath trying to calm himself before looking to Collei.
"I'm alright, Collei, you didn't hurt me." He explained knowing immediately why she panicked.
"I-I didn't?" She stuttered out nervously eyeing him as if trying to see if he was lying to make her feel better. He shook his head, ears swishing with his head movment and glanced away, blushing more.
"No, I am fine... The sound you heard wasnt a sound of pain. You... uh" he paused and recomposed himself again. How he was focused on teaching and guiding his curious student. He cleared his throat looking to Collei again with a more composed look. One she was use to seeing when he was explaining a plant or animal that he was studying when she would ask him a question. His teaching face. It was calm and welcoming of questions. It helped her to relax some and she lowered her hands seeing she would get a proper lesson and education. "You had the same reaction Cyno did when he first pet my ears." He started.
"Really?" Tighnari nodded. Collei glanced back to Cyno who also nodded as if to back up the statment.
"It's scary at first but when you realize what it is you dont get so shocked by it." Cyno explained having a very sympathetic stance to the reaction. "Nari likes to hide alot about himself but when he realized i was ok with his animal side he relaxed more around me and i learned alot more about him from that."
"So..." Collei's eyes returned to her masters questioningly. He understood and nodded.
"Right, Collei you remember that my ancestors are Valuka Shuna, correct?" She nodded and waited for him to continue. "That being said. Many fox traits pass on from those ancestors... some I am not always so open about sharing. Along with the purring my people can make many vocalizations. All these are sounds that you would recognize from the desert foxes if you were to visit Sumaru's desert. The sound you heard was not pain but a... happy sound." He looked a bit more embaressed saying that but recomposed himself again. "Its a form of chattering. When foxes get happy they get vocal. It can be for other reasons too, such as scarekng preditors by marking your territory. The loud sounds make preditors fearful and they tend to avoid the area. But chattering can be used for things such as play, or comunicating feelings. Often it is a mix of giggling sounds, chirps and whines. They arent bad sounds they are just happy ones... ones I can't hide under certain conditions." He glanced away embaressed once more. "I am not very open about my chattering but Cyno really enjoys hearing it."
"I think it's adorable. Its just another part of who you are." Said man reassured as he pat Tighnari's back. He got a loveing gaze back in return with a soft smile.
"So... it's normal?" Collei questioned curiously. Tighnari returned her gaze nodding. "So... you like being pet?" He sighed and nodded a bit defeated, yet ammused by this question.
"I'm not opposed to it if it's people I know. I certainly wouldn't be so open to random strangers comeing up and youching my ears but I trust you and Cyno. You are both very important to me and I am comfortable with you both." He explained leaning back slightly as Cyno wrapped his arms around him and rested his head on his shoulder. Collei smiled at this. She was happy that her master trusted her and felt safe enough to open up to her about things he wasnt as open with. Her eyes moved to the fluffy tail that lightly pat against the couch and Cyno's leg. She looked up to her master who smiled and nodded.
Collei was a bit more bold about his tail then his eats. She reached out with alot less hesitation and slowly ran her fingers through the thick fur. That wonderful smile she had returned.
"It's... so soft." She half whispered almost like she didnt realize she was talking outloud. She was focused on the feeling. It was soft and comforting. It felt safe. Like all her worried and nightmares could melt away from just petting this soft tail.
"Well he uses alot of products in it to maintain it. I would hope its soft. I swear he cares for it better then he does anything else" Cyno teased playfully and kissed his loves cheek. Tighnari rolled his eyes and held his tounge. He didn't need to comment on that. He'll let it slide. Especially with how Collei giggled at the comment. She had seen how he maintains his fur and knew he took extra special care of his tail. Tighnari closed his eyes accepting the soft moment and light pampering of his fox features as he relaxed. After some time he softly hummed in thought, breaking the silence.
"Do you have any other questions?" He asked not bothering to open his eyes. He was enjoying Cyno's embrace too much and the gentle petting of his tail Collei gave him.
"Um... no." She spoke softly and backed off now. She was content now.
"If it makes you happy, I'm happy." He opened his eyes, looking to her fondly and smiled. A warm loving smile. One Collei has come to love and feel safe with. "If you ever need or wish to I am not opposed to you doing so." Collei asssumed this was the same permission that Cyno had but she would likely still ask to do so. She wondered if maybe it would help her on nights when Tighnari had to help her through a nightmare or days she had a panic attack. She had heard animals are good for that and it seemed to help her to pet one of the village dogs after an episode. She almost wondered if he had noticed and was offering this to her for that exact reason.
It made her smile thinking about how much he and Cyno really cared about her. Her family and safty right here in this moment. They would always be there for her. It made her feel as if for a moment nothing bad had ever happened to her and this was always her life. Always her little moment of happiness right here. Her family that loved her and would protect her.
"... Nari." Cyno had this mischevious grin on his face. The same one he had when he was about to make a joke. Her master seemed to notice as his ears flattened annoyed, braking himself for the joke that was comeing. "I'm PAW-sitive she would love to learn about these." He teased and took Tighnari's hand in his. Collei wanted to be annoyed by the bad pun but was now just curious to what he implied. "Get it? Because you-"
"I get it, Cyno." He glared at the man who was grinning that stupid grin.
"Really. Because I can explain it." An exasperated sigh left Tighnari. He was about to protest when his ears twitched in atention hearing Collei's voice.
"... could... could you? I don't get it." She wasnt asking for the joke understanding but the genuine curiosity she had behind the explenation. What did Cyno mean by this exactly? Tighnari couldn't be mad at this. He sighed defeated and shifted in Cyno's arms slightly. She watched as her master took off his gloves. The same gloves he always wore. The ones with little pawpads that she assumed were for extra grip in the forest and protection from sharp plants. What she did not expect was thoes pads to actually be extra protection.
Collei's eyes widdened in shock as the first time ever she saw his hands without gloves. He held out his hands to her to examine. He had actual pawpads where those pads were on the gloves. They had a purpose and weren't for looks. She never imagined him to actually have what some would call 'little toe beans' but here they were. Cyno seemed satisfied with this reaction as his grin stayed planted on his face.
"Go on, touch them. They feel pretty cool. I was just as shocked when I learned." Cyno insisted. Trying to fuel Collei's curiosity. "He has them on his feet too but I dont think hed be as open to show you that."
"Cyno, I'm right here." Tighnari shook his head but accepted his fate nonetheless. "Just be gentle... they are sensitive."
Collei nodded and reached out, carefully cupping her masters hands in her own. Slowly she traced her thumbs over the soft pads n his palm. They were black and clearly stood out on his skin but smooth and soft. 'he must do some form of skincare to keep them this soft' she thought as she felt them. The were squidshy too. 'Just like a cat's' she thought smileing softly.
Another secret animal aspect that her master shared with her. Another show of his trust. It was only when his hand twitched slightly that she paused and looked up, but this time didnt retreat. Unlike the ears she was not as jumpy now. She had relaxed and wanted to see if she did hurt him or if there was another reason for his reaction like before. She frowned when she didn't get a responce right away.
"He's ticklish." Cyno spoke up with the explenation this time. He moved his hand back down to Tighnari's and deminstraited by lightly running his finger over the pads. Just enough to get another july from the fox who almost closed his hands in responce. He was clearly holding back his laugher and was struggling. That was why he didn't respond when she origonally stopped. "It's partly why he wears the gloves. They are really sensitive to touch and they can get damaged easily... that and hes ashamed of them." Cyno explained clearly habing had this conversation and explenation before. "I think they are adorable but he's a bit more sensitive about the topic... another reason are these." Cyno bent Tighnari's fingers so that he could pount out the sharp looking nails.
"... Claws?" Collei whispered. Cyno nodded.
"He doesn't want to hurt the people hes helping. I'm suprised you never asked why he puts his rubber gloves over his forest ones."
"I... always just assumed he was in a rush." She mumbled, blushing slightly at the fact that that was probably a silly thought. He was so meticulous and careful that she should have realized he wore them for a reason. He wouldn't be so careless after all. If he did something he had a reason. He didnt rush. He always took great care in his work.
Collei was dragged from her thoughts by a soft chirping sound. It had a mixed tone to it. A whine, a slight giggleing undertone. She looked to Tighnari who was leaning into Cyno's hand as he scratched the base of his ear. He looked so content and happy. 'those are happy sounds' she thought as she smiled. Cyno was right about them, they were shocking at first but really cute when you understood them. It was clear he has learned how to draw those sounds out of Tighnari and help him feel more confident about his body. It was strange to learn that her master, in a sence, had similar body positivity issues as her. To see him actually show embaressment or uncertainty was rare but she got to experience it.
Collei watched Cyno pamper Tighnari with soft compliment that he whispered into his ears and loving scratches. She smiled and gently pet the very exited tail that wagged in joy at the affection and traced her free hand over her own arm subconsiously. It was an area she had a scar from her Eleazar before it was cured. Cyno never seemed to feel shame about his own scares but they were battle wounds he gained in fights. Fights he won. He was proud of them. She could relate to that. She won her battle with Eleazar and now beared scars of her battle. She could also relate to her master. Tighnari who hid parts of himself from the outside world. Parts he wasnt confident about and felt shy even. She too often would do the same. She had come to realize she took after both of them more then she realized. She smiled. Maybe they each had their secrets but if they could share them with eachother and boost eachother up then maybe all three of them could feel more confident someday.
So now the three sat smileing and happy on the couch as the day ended. They chat and enjoyed eachothers company in a very welcoming environment. This was their saftey. The saftey these three could retreat to when the days were too much. They would protect that saftey and comfort together. Build it even. Make it a saftey they could always enjoy no matter what.