Invicta Inferno

“You don’t have to stay here all night... one of us will stay here with him so you can go get some rest.”

“It’s alright. Knowing Galo if somebody isn’t here when he wakes up he’ll jump up and tear the IVs out. I’m just making sure he doesn’t get more hurt.”

The hand of a comforting friend removed itself from Lio’s shoulder as they agreed to leave him be.

Once the two were alone again, Lio looked at Galo and his relaxed, conversational expression was replaced with a concerned frown. “He’s always getting himself into something, huh?”

——

People came and went as the day ebbed away, leaving Lio alone with medical apparatuses, the sickening sterile smell of the room, and an unconscious Galo.

Lio folded his body so that his elbows leaned up against Galo’s bedside and his arms crossed each other. He slowly lowered his head onto them, a yawn betraying his vow to watch over Galo until he woke. Lio’s eyes were drawn to the IV sticking into Galo’s arm like a beacon. Heavy-lidded and blurry eyed, he traced the path from the needle to the drip, watching as each consecutive drop collected and entered the sleeping man’s body. Eventually, the steady rhythm encouraged Lio to close his eyes. He reached out tentatively and curled his fingers gently around Galo’s limp digits, seeking a bit of comfort for himself as much as he tried to create something to anchor Galo to the waking world. After finding his comfort, it wasn’t long until the tired visitor succumbed to sleep.

Much to Lio’s chagrin Galo liked to waltz across the trapeze separating bravery and recklessness. Unfortunately for Galo the net below only existed on the side of courage, so when he made a misstep in his gallant attempts at rescue, there was no guarantee that anybody would be there to save him. Despite Lio’s teasing and the general conclusion that Galo was an irredeemable airhead, to see him in his element proved that he was so much more than that. His instincts guided him to the right path before his thoughts could even catch up; he had memorized the layout of the building from his entrance for sure and had been planning a route of escape for him and the victim trapped inside; he knew the proper procedures and the first aid he’d have to administer as soon as the two were free. He knew it all and yet he still failed. Not by any fault of his own, but because fate had decided that even the great Galo Thymos was susceptible to injury.

There was smoke. So much smoke and heat. He wasn’t that worried about it though, he had his trusty matoi tech armor at his disposal to absolutely rock this emergency to its core! He knows what he needs to do and where he needs to go. He’s on his toes, fueled by the thrill of danger, ready for absolutely everything. 

Except, this time he wasn’t. He hadn’t anticipated the ceiling structure giving in so soon. He remembers shouting through his communication only for it to go dead after a loud cracking and groaning. The armor was the only thing that kept him from being absolutely crushed. There was fire and then nothing. 

He dreams, but he doesn’t remember anything. He has to get out of here!

Sucking in a breath, he sits up with a fast, jerking motion. His breath is taken just as quickly as it came with a grunt of pain.

He slumps back against the bed, clutching his chest. Gritting his teeth, Galo squints up at the ceiling. 

Oh. Wait a minute. There’s no smoke and that’s definitely a white ceiling. His nose tingles with the scent of bleach and sanitizer. Ah, a hospital. He’s alive and in a hospital attached to equipment and bandaged up. 

Fuck. This is going to put him out of commission for a while. 

His attention is immediately drawn to Lio at his bedside as he lays there trying to catch his breath again, now knowing he shouldn’t push it. At least not right now. He may push it later if he can get away with it. 

“Hey there, firebug.” His voice cracks, but he attempts a small smile. How long was he out for? Lio looks tired. 

Lio raised his head groggily when he felt the sheets rustling beneath him. Interrupted from his slumber, he was momentarily disoriented. He rubbed at his eyes with the backs of his hands, trying to focus on the situation. “Galo...? ... Galo!”

Lio came to his taps and quickly realized that he shouldn’t be causing such a commotion in a hospital. He knew this wasn’t the place to be raising his voice but the frustration failed to leave his body in any other form than tears forming in the corners of his eyes.

“Don’t you ‘Hey there, firebug’ me.” His fists took hold of the disheveled sheets, trembling in his clutches. If he hadn’t been so injured, Lio would have hit him for scaring him so badly and then wearing that stupid smile of his after nearly getting killed.

“Do you have any idea what happened?! What were you thinking?!”

Lio didn’t have to ask that. He knew the answer. Galo hadn’t been thinking about anything besides helping others. That gallant idiot only knew how to think of others, even when he was so desperately in need of saving. 

Lio sat in his concern fueled rage until the flames died down, leaving him to simmer in relief. 

|Long shifts are rough on the body. Even more so when the shift goes on longer than anticipated due to an untimely fire. He's glad he was there to help extinguish the flames, but he's even happier that it's over. 

Slipping into his apartment and trudging across the carpet to his small room took the last bit of energy he had. He knows he's gross and probably has to eat, but right now, he just doesn't care. Galo plops face-first onto an unmade bed, ceasing to exist upon contact. 

He doesn't know how long he's been asleep, but he knows something is different. Literally, his shoes are off. When did he take his shoes off?? He's not quite awake enough to figure much out, but there's a body attached to his. Oh, it's Lio. But isn't he gross? He totally had to smell like sweat and smoke. Whatever. 

He's pretty sure Lio wasn't home when he got here, but Galo is glad he's back. He cracks open one eye to spy a familiar blonde, a sleepy smile pulling at his lips. He shifts his head to bury his face in Lio's hair. He smells nice.

|Fleeing in fear of Lio’s wrath, Galo wasted no time locking himself into the bathroom with a small hoot of victory. He’s sure Lio will get him back with something later on, but he’s just gonna have to be ready for it!

With his shirt already gone, everything else gets dumped on the bathroom floor for Galo to begin his morning ritual. These steps include a shower accompanied by a lovely number of whatever song he’d heard on the radio a day or two ago. Sometimes, if he’s feeling saucy, he will sing that one song about the moon and pizza pies, especially if he knows Lio might be listening.

He’s holed up in the bathroom for a good half hour, coming out with a large, fluffed up mass of hair on his head thanks to a date with a blow dryer and smelling like he just rolled in whatever body wash they share. He struts out of the bedroom in a fresh pair of lounge pants to seek out Lio in the kitchen.

“What’s cookin’, good lookin’?” He sniffs at the air, weaseling right up into Lio’s space. He’s not likely to go away until he’s fed or given a task to do. You now have an attention leech by the name of Galo, Lio.

It hits Lio all too quickly that he is surrounded by domesticity. 

From his position, he could hear Galo through the bathroom door, into the hallway, and to the kitchen. Though the song was indistinguishable between the interfering sounds and Galo’s successful attempt to make as much noise as possible, Lio found himself grinning at the image of the man in the shower giving a one-man performance and how he’d eagerly give an encore if it meant making Lio smile.

For all the time he spent reminding himself that this was not his home, he failed to realize how intrinsic his being had become to its design. What had once been a one-man bachelor pad was no more impressive, but it certainly showed signs of a couple living there, rather than a single occupant. As much as Lio claimed that he was adamantly against moving in and he wasn’t about to intrude on Galo’s home, now that he had settled in he was embarrassed to admit just how long it took his mind to catch up with his body. From leaving his few earthly possessions wherever he laid them down, to claiming a spot (a specific spot no less) in Galo’s bed, he had made himself at home quite some time before he called it that.

As per usual, he heard Galo before he saw him. Bare feet still slick with moisture crossed the threshold of the kitchen, looking noticeably more rejuvenated than the hulk of a man who flopped into their bed last night. Lio’s nose twitched as Galo pressed up against him, smelling his body wash before he even made it to him and he felt himself hard pressed to keep stirring rather than reaching out and ruffling the unruly mass of blue hair that stared back at him.

“Paws off, Thymos.” He warns, threateningly pointing a whisk in Galo’s direction. He flicks his wrist gently, tapping the batter covered utensil off of Galo’s nose before directing it back to the bowl. 

“Whoops,” Lio chirps, smirking at himself as he tilts his head back into Galo’s chest and looks up at him. “Didn’t realize you were that close.”

❝ when you’re right, you’re right. and you’re right. ❞

❝ i know you don’t like visitors, but this is an emergency. ❞

❝ follow me – but don’t touch anything. understand? ❞

❝ i’ve learned this much: take what you can, when you can. ❞

❝ that was no accident! ❞

❝ i’m tired of bed. i want to get up. ❞

❝ don’t you sweet-talk me! ❞

❝ come inside or go away. ❞

❝ what you see in here, you must swear absolute secrecy. ❞

❝ i lost my family, too. ❞

❝ hey, come on! who are you gonna believe. me, or your own eyes? ❞

❝ we’ll be alright. as long as we’re together, we’ll be alright. ❞

❝ for the hundredth time, we’re playing poker. ❞

❝ i want to get out of here. ❞

❝ some things you see with your eyes, some things you see with your heart. ❞

❝ please get up. yes you can, get up! ❞

❝ how do i know if you are going to be with me? ❞

❝ i’ll be with you. even if you can’t see me. ❞

❝ you might always miss her. but she’ll always be with you. ❞

❝ i can take care of myself. ❞

❝ my stomach is talking. ❞

❝ don’t ever wish to be anything but what you are. ❞

❝ don’t worry, you’ll get over me. ❞

Hi everyone. Long time no see! I hope you’re all doing well. I’m sorry again for my extended absence, but I wanted to drop by and give an explanation now that I’m in a better state of mind.

TW for death under the read more

|Long shifts are rough on the body. Even more so when the shift goes on longer than anticipated due to an untimely fire. He's glad he was there to help extinguish the flames, but he's even happier that it's over. 

Slipping into his apartment and trudging across the carpet to his small room took the last bit of energy he had. He knows he's gross and probably has to eat, but right now, he just doesn't care. Galo plops face-first onto an unmade bed, ceasing to exist upon contact. 

He doesn't know how long he's been asleep, but he knows something is different. Literally, his shoes are off. When did he take his shoes off?? He's not quite awake enough to figure much out, but there's a body attached to his. Oh, it's Lio. But isn't he gross? He totally had to smell like sweat and smoke. Whatever. 

He's pretty sure Lio wasn't home when he got here, but Galo is glad he's back. He cracks open one eye to spy a familiar blonde, a sleepy smile pulling at his lips. He shifts his head to bury his face in Lio's hair. He smells nice.

His limbs scream freedom as soon as Lio is up off the bed. He can still feel the ghost of Lio’s fingers along his arm. He’s happy and warm and most of all he feels loved. He can’t help but peer up at Lio, taking a moment to appreciate the view, a soft smile on his face. 

Galo sits up, stretching out his arms towards the sky as far as they will possibly go, exhaling as he comes down from the stretch. “Don’t catch anything on fire while I’m in the shower.” He doesn’t even want to fathom such a situation, but he can’t help but poke fun at Lio. 

As soon as his feet hit the floor, he’s already yanking his shirt off, tossing it directly at Lio’s head. He makes a break for the bathroom with a laugh. “Thanks, babe!” He knows better than to stick around long enough for Lio to invoke his wrath.

Lio’s protest at Galo’s comment on his cooking ability was smothered by the impact of Galo’s shirt, stale and less than pleasantly smelling after a day’s work and a good night’s sleep. Had he still possessed his control of flames, he would have been able to remove an item from their laundry total. After a moment’s disgruntled hesitation, he removed the item, crumbling it into a ball and forcing it down onto the bed as he picked himself off of it.

Galo’s warning rolled over in his head. Perhaps picking up arson as a hobby wouldn’t be so bad.

Dismissing the dangerous thought with the shake of his head, Lio finally headed out to the kitchen, leaving their sheets unmade for the second day in a row. 

Later, Lio told himself to rid himself of guilt. Laundry could be done when there was no threat of having it thrown at him.

“Love you too,” he grumbled.

----

Leaving Galo to his devices, Lio now stood in the kitchen, hands folded into fists on his hips, with an alarmingly serious look of confliction. Their cupboards had become bare in the last few days and the series of “we’ll do it laters” in response to when they would restock were running low. He rose onto his toes like a bird about to take flight and snatched a box of pancake mix from the cupboard over the fridge.

Lifting his free hand to cover his mask of a dumbfounded expression, Lio began to speak. “Oh? You didn’t know? What a shame... I’m sure you’d like him.” Lio reached out and rubbed Galo’s arm in consolation. He glanced past Galo’s delightfully disappointed face to see the girls hanging onto the counter and cheering him on. When he looked back, he tagged on, “He’s wonderful, really.”

The first truth of the night slipped past Lio’s lips; he was wonderful. Whether it was the way he treated Lio or the way he put the entire world first. His boundless empathy or his powerful physique. His dedication to his job or his dedication to Lio. Whatever quality one chose to highlight, Lio was enamoured by it all. Even on the days when he wanted to make Galo sleep on the couch. They were opposite in nearly every way, but instead of clashing the two fit together, filling the spaces where the other drew the lines. Where one struggled, the other lessened the burden. He wanted Galo to know that – whether he’d remember it in the morning or not.

|Galo can practically feel the soul leaving his body as he tries not to outwardly panic with Lio touching him. He doesn’t do a very good job though, eyeing Lio’s hands on his arm. His eyes are practically bugging out of his skull. Why is Lio sitting here telling him about this person? Is he rubbing it in Galo’s face? Is this pity comfort?

“Do I know him?” He’s nosey as hell, wanting to know just who had the attention and affection of his crush. It’s important information he needs to file away for later. He’s totally not going to hunt them down. 

As if drawn to him by magnetism, Lio leaned forward.

“To answer your questions...” Lio could barely contain his laughter, but he managed to keep up his facade without letting any more than a chuckle escape. “I’m definitely ‘sold’. He’s an idiot sometimes, but he’s reliable, and he’s managed to save the day more than once.”

This time a laugh slipped. He really was an idiot, wasn’t he? But the latter half of the statement still stood. Lio doubted Galo would be able to offer much in terms of intelligence with his current level of intoxication, but even now Lio was convinced that if somebody needed help he’d sober up and jump right to it. Hell, he’d do it drunk.

He paused, raising a finger to his lip and pulling on the bottom slightly. He feigned an introspective thought when really, he was just giving himself time to enjoy Galo’s overreaction.

After a few moments of struggling, he manages to tie the bandage in a knot. Galo steps back to admire his handiwork for a moment with a giant cheesy grin, but it falls with the sound of crying. Is somebody crying? He can’t let someone be upset if he’s going to be a knight one day! 

Galo swipes up his prized toy from the ground, following the sobbing along the tall, concrete wall that seemed to go on forever in either direction. He spies a crack in the wall where the noise seems to be the loudest. With a deep breath, he cups his hands around his mouth and shouts. 

“Hey! Is someone there? Are you okay?" 

–

He remembers that day with unwavering clarity. He never expected to gain a lifelong penpal, yet here he was adding the finishing touches to a letter that had to be a good seven pages long. He’s got so much to share with his friend of many years, especially since he hasn’t been able to have time to send mail recently. He’s been utterly exhausted with the last-minute preparations for his knighting that he’s just been too busy to properly communicate.

He hadn’t noticed the crack or the noise from the other side of the wall until a startling loud voice forcefully removed Lio from his distress.

“Hey! Is someone there? Are you okay?”

Embarrassed by his overheard tantrum, he let out a last indignant sniff and wiped his arm across his face. He desperately tried to contain his sobs and he cleared his throat and straightened his shirt before answering, as if this disembodied voice belonged to a watchman at the top of the wall, rather than another child talking through the crack.

“I’m fine...” He replied cautiously, feeling his voice still thick from crying. Surely he hadn’t convinced the stranger. If he hadn’t been so open about his fears, he wouldn’t have had to run from his retainer... and he certainly wouldn’t have had to explain himself to a stranger. Nevertheless, there was something comforting about the sound of the voice. It hadn’t sounded like the people Lio had grown used to, patronizing and cold. Instead, it sounded soft and concerned. It was a welcome change, even if Lio’s walls had been raised as high as the one separating them.

—

Never would he have thought that an unfortunate passerby would become a lifelong friend, but even on the days leading up to Lio’s coronation as king, he found himself travelling to the wall to send and retrieve letters. As days turned to decades and Lio grew into his role as sovereign, the content of his letters became sparse, often asking more of his nameless friend than revealing to him. Though Lio assumed his position was obvious from the location of their conversations, he tried to keep his status private from their sacred transgressions. Perhaps his friend thought he was a servant of some sort or perhaps he had seen through Lio’s thinly veiled disguise.

“Your Highness,” a voice called to him from the garden. “There you are!” 

|It’s the weekend. They don’t party much at all unless it’s a super special occasion like someone’s birthday or a holiday. This particular party was a celebration for Varis’ birthday. The station was decorated with various colored balloons and ribbons. Pizza boxes were stacked high in the kitchen and the fridge was stocked with beer. The girls were mixing various cocktails for everyone and shots lined the table. 

They’re well into the party and Galo has been talked into taste-testing everything that leaves the kitchen. He’s no lightweight due to previous drinking competitions, but he’s been in there for some time now so he’s got a really good buzz going on. There’s one particular blonde he’s been eyeing up, and with the encouragement of the girls, he marches right over to Lio, leaning against the wall in what he imagines is extremely smooth. 

“Don’t look now, but loverboy’s on his way over with his thinking face on,” Remi warned Lio, nudging the smaller man to get him to look in Galo’s direction. Lio heard a chuckle as his company stepped past him, choosing to observe from a safe distance rather than up close. “Good luck.”

Lio’s gloved hand raised to pinch the bridge of his nose, preparing for whatever tomfoolery was about to begin.

Galo marched over to him clumsily, egged on by the cheering of Burning Rescue’s female members. Once he was within a comfortable distance of Lio, he leaned against the wall heavily, supporting his weight with one arm and eyeing Lio with a confident gaze.

“Hey, feel these gloves. Know what it’s made of?”

He was not about to say what Lio thought he was going to say. Lio watched in horrified silence as Galo extended his hand.

“Boyfriend material.”

Was that... a pickup line? Was Galo using (questionably) flirty icebreakers on... his boyfriend?

Lio really should have monitored his alchohol consumption.

Nevertheless, Lio felt a warm feeling in the pit of his stomach that he struggled to diagnose as the result of the alcohol or his infuriating fondness for that disaster of a man.

Lio laid his drink down on a nearby table and stepped forward, gently taking Galo’s hand in his own. He raised it to his lips and placed a chaste kiss to his knuckles. “I’m flattered,” he began, putting on his silkiest tones. He tucked part of his bangs behind his ear before continuing. “I’m sure my boyfriend would agree.”

Lio looked up at him with a smile that could, perhaps, be perceived as fond, but it was obvious how amused he was as well. Galo was awfully red for somebody who came over and decided to hit on him.

It was delightful.