Thread by @berrybloo_

To wish a very happy, joyous, and fulfilling birthday to my dear friend @daeneryssed, I present a #haino #cytham fic:

5 times Cyno told a joke and the 1 (one) time Alhaitham laughed
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1} He arrives at his office at exactly 8:00 AM, not one second earlier or later.

There are no precise hours that the Acting Grand Sage of the Sumeru Akademiya is required to work, so Alhaitham set them himself.

8-5, with a one-hour lunch break at noon. A reasonable schedule with plenty of time to get his duties done. The second the clock strikes 5 PM,

he will be out the door, office locked until the next morning. Alhaitham brings no bookbag or briefcase with him because all his required materials are precisely where they need to be: in his office.

He's barely sat at his desk when there's a knock on his door.

"Come in," he says without looking up. Very few people are brave enough to approach the interim Grand Sage directly, choosing instead to pester him through missives and documents.

Regardless, he is keenly aware of the presence that steps up to his desk.

"Acting Grand Sage."

"General Mahamatra."

A thick file is placed onto his desk without preamble. "Another researcher caught plagiarizing their work."

"Hm." He picks up the file and flips it open, eyes quickly scanning over the report written in neat handwriting. "Spantamad again.

Apparently they're running out of topics in that Darshan. That must be upsetting for you."

"It's well known in the Spantamad Darshan to not trust an atom," Cyno replies smoothly. Alhaitham glances up, eyebrow raised. "They make up everything."

There's a pause that lasts a beat too long where neither man speaks.

Then Cyno says, "Did you not get the joke?"

"I understood it."

"You didn't laugh. Perhaps you don't understand the humor."

"General Mahamatra, if that will be all, I have work to attend to."

"Right."

Cyno lingers for a second, then takes his leave without another word.
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2} Alhaitham normally takes his lunch in the most secluded place of the Akademiya he can find, but with the day's weather cold and blustery, he is forced to stay indoors, where most of the student body

is also seeking refuge. He discovers that the House of Daena is still relatively quiet and sparsely populated despite this, and sits at a table in the back, open book in hand.

It doesn't take long for the peace to be disturbed.

"Acting Grand Sage."

"General Mahamatra."

"You're taking lunch in today," remarks Cyno.

"Indeed. The weather demands it." From his peripheral, he notices him nod in what could be eagerness, and Alhaitham wonders what he just walked into.

"It's a pity. To have the ability to fly would be so uplifting."

Alhaitham turns a page of his book. "You can. With a Windglider. I've seen you use it."

Apparently, Cyno was not expecting this response. He makes a noise in consideration. Alhaitham continues reading.

3} "I made a pun about the wind, but it blows."

Ah, he's not done yet.

Alhaitham rewards him by meeting Cyno's gaze. He's seen him angry, determined, accusing, and even proud. In the time since the previous sages' fall, he's seen Cyno more relaxed and happy.

This may be the first time he's seen him... expectant.

"You made another joke."

"You still haven't laughed. Are they not funny?"

"Humor is a subjective measure of wit."

Cyno nods, taking this all very serious. "Of course. The art lies in crafting one for each individual." He nods to Alhaitham again, this time in parting. "Thank you."

"Until next time."
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4} There's a ruckus in one of the lecture halls, shouts echoing down the marble halls. A crowd of students clogs the hallway, but they part swiftly for the calm, steady gait of the Acting Grand Sage.

By the time Alhaitham has eyes on the scene, Cyno already has a student restrained to the side and is in the middle of a discussion with a professor.

"Acting Grand Sage."

"General Mahamatra. What seems to be the issue?"

In front of the students and professor, Cyno turns to

Alhaitham, face stern, and answers in a composed tone, "A cross-eyed teacher couldn't control her pupils."

The delivery was so perfect that even Alhaitham took half a second to compute that Cyno had, in fact, made a pun in the middle of an altercation.

Very carefully, Alhaitham responds, "Is that all. Well then, General Mahamatra, I trust that you can see to this being corrected. May I suggest glasses?"

Neither Cyno nor the very confused professor have time to respond. Alhaitham continues down the hall past them,

the image of Cyno's eyes widening in shock bringing the hint of a smile to his lips.
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5} It's 4:55 PM. In five minutes, Alhaitham will stand from his desk, taking with him only his book as he steps out the door, then leave the Akademiya at exactly 5:00.

There's another knock at his door. He already knows who it is.

"Come in."

"Acting Grand Sage."

"General Mahamatra."

"I've thought of a joke that should be to your liking."

"Usually you don't announce jokes before saying them."

"I wanted to have your full attention."

Alhaitham obliges him by closing his book and placing it on his desk. Lacing his fingers together and resting his chin upon them, he regards Cyno. "Go on."

Despite the humor that is surely to come, Cyno's expression is one of grave seriousness. "Do you like raisins?"

Alhaitham gives this due consideration. "On occasion."

Cyno nods, and he notes with interest, swallows before delivering what he assumes will be the punchline.

"Then how about a date?"

Alhaitham doesn't respond. Cyno shuffles his feet.

"You see, that was both a pun and an invitation to go out on a date. With me. I thought you would appreciate the use of both definitions of the word."

Alhaitham laughs. It is an unexpected sound; Cyno then realizes it's the first time he's heard it.

"You found it funny."

The smile is clear in Cyno's voice.

"Was this your way of courting me?"

Cyno's brows crease. "No. I was telling you jokes in hopes that you would laugh. The courting would begin on our date."

Alhaitham laughs again, this time with all of his belly

In his laughter, he misses how Cyno's cheeks darken with a pleased blush.

"I see. Then you're just in time," Alhaitham says, standing up from his desk. He meets Cyno at the door, reaching around him to twist the doorknob open.

As he does so, Alhaitham leans down to whisper in Cyno's ear, "I'm now off the clock."
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