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Galo may be an idiot, but that doesn’t mean he’s emotionally an idiot. He doesn’t know his multiplications up to 9, but he knows how to help someone after a fire emergency. He doesn’t know the chemical signatures of the metal in his matoi, but he knows how to be a shoulder to cry on for Aina, someone to wrestle with for Varys, someone to brainstorm with for Lucia and other important stuff. He doesn’t know how the fuck gravity works, but he knows he loves his friends at Burning Rescue, he loves pizza and he loves everyone in Prompolis.
But he knows that love is different. He doesn’t wanna eat his friends and he doesn’t wanna share secrets with everyone in Prompolis and he doesn’t wanna go drinking with a pizza.
He doesn’t know the specific words to describe the different kinds of love, but he knows that they’re different.
Lately though…
Galo watches Lio gazing out the window, content for the first time in a while.
Lately though Galo’s pretty sure he’s learning about a few new kinds of love.
Galo loves the people of Promepolis the same way he loved his neighbourhood as a kid. He wants to protect these people and see them smile. He wants their dreams to come true and for them to be happy to see him. But he doesn’t try to be close with everyone ‘cause that’s too many people to love at once.
Lio loves the Burnish in a different way though. He loves each individual Burnish (with Kray being the obvious exception) like family. He treats their struggles as his own struggles. He treats their joys as his own joys. Every Burnish he meets is someone he wants to learn from and someone he teaches something to. Lio loves the Burnish in a way that’s soul and bone deep, as if there would never be a world where Lio Fotia didn’t love the Burnish.
It’s one of the things that Galo admires about Lio. Though he’s kinda terrified of Lio burning out trying to care for his people (he hasn’t forgotten Lio turning to ash in his hands, desperate to bring that spark back to him), he knows the Burnish won’t let that happen.
“I never thought I’d say this…” Lio says softly, looking out at the city. “But Promepolis is actually quite beautiful.”
Galo blinks in surprise, stepping closer. “You really think so?”
Lio nods, starting to smile. “It’s becoming a home for my people. A home where we can prepare food and sleep safely and have running water. Where we can complain about the electricity failing or the snow blocking the roads. Where we can think about setting up schools for everyone.” He looks down at his mug of hot chocolate, then back out at the city. “How can it not be beautiful when it houses all of the things I’d only dared to dream about?”
Galo thinks about how those are all things he’d taken for granted. Stuff he always had. His parents taught him from a young age how to prepare his own food and he’s never worried about where he’d be sleeping or where the water would come from. He’s had electricity almost his entire life and never seen snow until this year.
Galo wonders how many other things he’s taken for granted that Lio has never had.
Galo looks out at the city. He was so stoked when he got his apartment, because it was only a few blocks away from Burning Rescue. But he also got one pretty high, which let him look out at the city, like Lio is now.
The skyscrapers still fly high, but now the Parnassus cuts across them. Some people would call it an insult to the skyline, but Galo sees it as a positive.
It means they’re building a city that accepts the Burnish.
“Yeah, it is pretty.” Galo smiles.
He looks at Lio.
The light gently shines on Lio, his hair in soft green flames.
Galo’s heart thumps hard and he thinks he knows what kinda love causes that.
“You’re pretty too.” Galo adds.
Lio turns to him, his cheeks pink. “Excuse me?”
“You’re pretty!” Galo turns to him. “You’re pretty smart and pretty brave and pretty strong and, and you’re pretty beautiful too!”
Lio’s ears are turning pink, which is adorable. “What brought this on?”
“Nothing! I just wanted to say it!” Galo turns back around to watch the city.
There’s quiet for a moment.
Then Lio leans against his side. “You’re pretty great too, Galo Thymos.”
Galo blinks, turning to him. “You think so?”
Galo knows he’s great, but it’s not often Lio agrees with him. Lio usually teases him or calls him an idiot.
“I do.” Lio nods, looking at the city. “You’re an idiot, but you’re kind. You’re loyal once someone’s earned that honour. You went into a job where you would be risking your life to save strangers. You stand up for what’s right, even if you’re alone. There’s a lot to admire about you, Galo Thymos.”
Galo feels his face turning red and he laughs. “Damn, thanks Lio.”
It’s nice to hear that stuff. Not just ‘Galo you’re an idiot’ or ‘Galo were you listening’ or
“Galo Thymos, I’m glad I met you.”
Galo turns to Lio.
Lio is looking up at him, determined. “You’ve changed my life for the better and you’ve changed the lives of my people for the better as well. I know I don’t say it a lot, but I’m grateful. Thank you.”
Galo stares at Lio, jaw open, dumbfounded, heart beating so loud he hears it in his ears.
Lio continues to stare at him, probably waiting for a response. Probably something chill like ‘I’m glad I met you too’. Not what tumbles out of his mouth when he isn’t paying attention.
“I think I’m in love with you, Lio.” Galo says instead.
Lio’s eyes widen, the only bit of surprise. Then he smiles. “I hoped you were.”
Galo blinks.
Blinks again.
Blinks a third time.
“Wait, then, does that mean you love me too?!” Galo asks, turning to Lio fully, just to be sure.
Lio looks down for a moment. “I’m not sure yet.” Then he lifts his head. “But I know I want to maintain what we have. I want to live with you, eat with you and sleep with you. I want to make Promepolis better for everyone, Burnish and non-Burnish. I want to kiss you and do other things, but only if you want that too.”
That…
Galo smiles and leans down. “That all sounds pretty good to me, partner.”
Lio smiles and leans up. “Then it’s settled, partner.”
The two of them kiss and it feels like fireworks.