They met at the worst possible time and at the same time at the best possible time. Out of all people they had the most reasons to distrust each other, yet the qualities that made them suspicious are the qualities they most respect in the other. Cyno is an independent force, which Alhaitham appreciates in people who don’t let themselves be influenced or peer pressured; Alhaitham prioritizes order, which Cyno feels reassured by as a guardian of rules. The tension born of distrust in the aq was so tasty because of this, the fact Alhaitham kept insisting they were in the same position (as targets of the Akademiya) when he didn’t really care about working with others? Tasty. The way Alhaitham makes Cyno confront his own faults? Delicious. The way Cyno talks about Tighnari in his voiceline is exactly the same he talks about Haitham, just with a layer of reluctance. Cyno claims he admires Tighnari for refusing a job in the Akademiya, so now imagine how he feels about Alhaitham rejecting the whole Grand Sage position. Alhaitham might operate without much regard for following conventions and laws himself, but he does depend on the order upheld by the rules Cyno enforces to lead his quiet calm life.

Despite it all, they like each other, beyond their titles and their lifestyles, they just genuinely fuck with each other’s principles and motivations. It’s thanks to that that they saved their archon and their nation. How do u walk away from ur imperfect match afterwards? Also sex with them claws in grand sage office on the clock.