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Today has been a fucking day.
Cyno was assigned to a drug task force a couple months ago, and things are really starting to ramp up. The mayor is real serious about finding the main suppliers, and Cyno's been clocking a hell of a lot of overtime. At least he's getting time and a half. He'd rather just get paid his normal rate and actually have a life, but then, this is kind of what he signed up for.
It took a lot of hard work to make detective, and he started his career as a police officer later than most. The deal he had with his dad was that he'd help pay for Cyno to go to college for music, but if he couldn't break into the industry, he'd enroll in the academy. And, well. Making it big is harder than it looks.
Technically there was nothing forcing Cyno to keep his part of that agreement after graduation, but he's always been a man of his word. He wasn't exactly thrilled by the profession at first, but the more he was on the job, the more Cyno realized he was good at this. And so he made it his mission to be a police chief someday.
Cyno will achieve that mission. He's just got to keep working hard and keep his eye on the prize.
Candace catches him in the hallway on his way back from lunch and says, "There you are. Don't panic."
Cyno halts mid-stride. "Okay, the way you said that kind of makes me think I should panic."
"There's a guy at your desk," she explains. "Chief put him there. He's been giving the beat cops grief about his friend that was arrested at a protest."
"Why don't they just send him packing?"
Candace throws up a hand. "He's apparently caused some problems before. Not legal problems, so we can't hold him, but he's got connections. He's some kind of environmentalist guy, I don't know." She hands him a folder. "This is the file. Chief wants you to get him to leave, but do it delicately."
"Why me?" Cyno asks. He takes the folder, flipping through it. He actually knows this asshole they canned. Repeat offender. No way the Chief's turning him loose.
He looks up to see Candace pursing her lips.
"What is it?" he demands.
"He kind of seems like he might be queer."
Cyno narrows his eyes. "Are you fucking kidding me?"
She holds up her hands and says, "Don't shoot the messenger! It wasn't my idea."
"So what, he wants me to flirt with the guy?"
"He said just tell him whatever he wants to hear as long as it gets him to leave."
Cyno lets out a deep sigh. "This is fucking homophobic."
"He's actually pretty cute, if it matters." She gestures Cyno over and points him out. "Look, see?"
The man in question is dressed in pair of dark-wash skinny jeans and a shirt that's too wide at the neck, revealing his pale collarbones. His dark hair is cropped to his chin, and there's a streak of green in his bangs. Perhaps the most noticeable thing is the cute pair of fluffy ears on his head, and is that a tail as well? He lifts his head to glance at something, and Cyno's breath catches in his throat. He has the prettiest pair of eyes Cyno's ever seen, brown on top and green on bottom, accented with a touch of eyeliner on his top lid.
"Fuck," Cyno mutters. He smooths his hair back. He looks over at Candace, who waggles her eyebrows at him. "Shut up," he says before making his way over.
Cyno stops in front of the man at his desk, and he looks up. With those gorgeous eyes locked on his, the only thing he can think to say is, Hi, I'm Cyno, do you mind if I stare? The man smiles at him, and Cyno returns the expression. God, he really hopes that was a normal, socially acceptable smile.
"So you're the one causing all the fuss?" he manages to get out.
The man reaches his hand forward and says, "Tighnari."
"Cyno." They shake briefly. He pulls out his office chair and sits. "My boss told me I was authorized to say just about anything if it gets you to leave," Cyno informs him. "So tell me what you want to hear, Tighnari."
Fuck, he thinks. That came out all wrong. Get a grip, Cyno.
Tighnari reacts, either to his tone or the words themselves. Cyno has to stop himself from biting his lower lip. What is he doing? It's been five years since he dated anyone. He's okay with it most days, though he does get a little lonely sometimes. Tighnari is just pretty, okay? Cyno's allowed to be a little stupid around a pretty guy, isn't he?
"I want you to release my friend," says Tighnari.
"Your friend, huh?" Cyno flips through the file. "You friend who was arrested for public indecency?"
Tighnari rolls his eyes. "It's not like he flashed anyone."
"Hmm."
He may not have, but he's done worse than that. Cyno remembers the time he pepper-sprayed one of their officers because they didn't come in riot gear. If they had realized Nadir was there, they would have. He glances down at the file, reading off the latest report.
"It says here that he, quote, 'Grabbed his genitals and told the officer to suck on them.'" He looks back up with an eyebrow raised. "Sounds pretty indecent."
"They were using unnecessary force at a peaceful protest," Tighnari insists, and Cyno almost snorts.
'Peaceful' is not a word he'd used to describe this guy. Maybe Nadir does just really, really want to save the planet, but the way he goes about it causes a lot of problems for the precinct. Cyno always hated protest calls when he was on the beat. He gets why people protest, and it's their right, but crowds always get out of hand. It makes him feel like he has to be the bad guy.
Cyno doesn't like playing bad cop. He's good at it, but he doesn't like it.
"That's an interesting definition of 'peaceful' you have there, Tighnari," he teases. Did that sound… flirty? Ah, well. Chief wants him to flirt with this guy, apparently. As if Cyno could make him leave just by fluttering his eyelashes.
Cyno kind of doesn't want him to leave, honestly. It's a stupid thought, but there it is. The way his eyes shine with passion… it reminds Cyno of a younger version of himself.
"The only thing you have them for is trespassing. There was no vandalism and no rioting."
"I see. So did they or did they not construct a large tree out of firewood and dead hydrangeas in a corporate parking lot and light it on fire?"
Tighnari sighs. "Look. Cyno. They're environmentalists, okay? They get passionate about saving the planet that we all share. Is that a crime?"
"Arson is a crime," Cyno points out.
"They didn't burn down the building! They were burning wood and plant material in the middle of a sea of asphalt. There was no chance of it spreading."
"There was a nonzero chance."
Tighnari crosses his arms over his chest. Ah, looks like Cyno's got him. Cyno wonders why he's here when he knows this guy deserves lockup. Maybe Nadir is his boyfriend or something. Cyno feels almost hurt when he has that thought, even though it's ridiculous to feel that way. He just met this guy. Still, it's like an opportunity is being dangled in front of him just out of reach.
Cyno gives him a small smile. Tighnari's cute when he's mad. He shuts the file and says,"If your friend can post bail, he can go."
"Ten thousand dollars is an exorbitant amount of bail for a public indecency charge," Tighnari argues heatedly.
So passionate. This guy's definitely his boyfriend, huh? Cyno never had a chance. Not that he would've taken it!
…But should he? If it was there? It really doesn't matter, but the question makes Cyno's heartbeat quicken.
"He has six prior convictions," says Cyno. He knows Nadir's arrest record forwards and backwards. The judge should've set bail for twice that amount, honestly.
"All misdemeanors!" says Tighnari.
"Six," Cyno repeats. "Convictions. Not arrests."
A terse little sigh slips from between Tighnari's lips. Cyno is momentarily fixated on them. You have no chance, Cyno reminds himself. Still, though. He's allowed to look, right? He's allowed to imagine it? Kissing those pretty lips, slipping his tongue between them and licking into Tighnari's mouth, grabbing onto him and holding tight-
"You play TCG?"
Cyno starts. He is wearing his TCG shirt today. He tilts his head and says, "Yes."
"If I can beat you in a game, you have to let him go."
Cyno can't help smiling. What a ridiculous idea. He laughs in disbelief, not sure if Tighnari is actually serious. "That's not how the law works, Tighnari," he says with a teasing lilt to his tone.
"Sounds like you're scared you'll lose."
"I wouldn't lose," says Cyno. He's 100% sure of that.
Cyno destroys in this game. He's been playing and collecting cards for years. It's a strategy game, and Cyno likes strategy. It makes him think, keeps him sharp. The only trouble with being so good at the game is that he never really gets to play anyone on his level anymore. Nobody is as obsessed with this game as Cyno. He goes hard, and he shows no mercy.
"They play me," says Tighnari in a challenging tone.
Cyno has to look away. God, he likes a challenge. The stupid grin on his face just won't quit, and if he looks at Tighnari any longer, he's going to say something he shouldn't. "What do I get if I win?" he asks Tighnari.
"Dinner," Tighnari replies.
Cyno's amber eyes flick to his. He almost holds his breath as he asks, "So this Nadir is not your boyfriend?"
Tighnari shakes his head softly. Fuck. He's going to make Cyno do something stupid, isn't he? This is such a bad idea. Cyno will fuck it up for sure. But well… maybe it'll be worth it. Even if it doesn't last, even if Tighnari fucking ruins him, maybe it'll be alright as long as Cyno gets to hold him for a little while.
It's just been so long. He doesn't do this romantic-type shit anymore. It's just too much work, and honestly, it kind of fucking hurts. Cyno wonders sometimes if he's always going to be more invested than the other guy, if that's just how it works. Because Cyno does get invested. It happens so easily. And if Tighnari just wants to fuck him and move on, it's going to be painful.
Cyno can handle the pain. He can handle it as long as he gets to have him once.
"Hmm." He leans forward with his elbows on his knees, clasping his hands. "I can't let him go, you know. I don't have the authority to do that."
"Shame. Guess I'll have to ask for something else when I win."
Cyno's lips part. His heart's pounding in his chest. "What do you want?" he asks lowly.
"A kiss," Tighnari replies.
"I see." Cyno smirks, acting more confident than he feels. "So if I win I get to go on a date with you, and if I lose I get to kiss you?" Tighnari nods. "Are those two mutually exclusive?"
"No," Tighnari whispers.
"Then let's skip the card game. When are you free?"
"Tonight."
"Perfect." Cyno pulls out his phone and hands it over.
He watches Tighnari input his number. He's already thinking about what Tighnari will taste like under his tongue. Sweet, he thinks. Warm. Soft.
Tighnari hands his phone back, and Cyno pockets it. He can't help teasing him a little. "You gonna leave the station now, Tighnari?" he asks.
"Yep. Mhmm." He absently brushes one of his ears and gets to his feet. "Text me when you're off?"
"I will."
"Okay."
Tighnari gives him a little wave and hurries off. Cyno just sits there for a moment staring at the empty chair.
Eventually Candace comes by his desk. "How'd it go?" she asks, her tone suspicious. "It seemed like it went well."
"We're going on a date tonight," Cyno replies, still not quite believing it. When he looks over at Candace, she's giving him a smug little smile. "You shut the fuck up," he tells her.
"I didn't say anything," says Candace.
"You better not tell anyone," he warns her.
She shrugs a single shoulder and walks away.
"Candace!" he calls after her. She doesn't even turn around.
Cyno pulls out his phone, staring at the contact card. Tighnari put a heart next to his name. He starts typing out a message, but he stops himself. He can't text him now. He'll wait a couple of hours. He's got to play this cool.
He knows exactly where he's taking Tighnari tonight. He is going to wow this guy.
A small smile works its way onto his lips.