Archive of Our Own ^beta

Aina has always considered herself to be a fairly smart person.

Sure, she’s no Heris, but then again, who is? She’s long since abandoned any complex she once had about her brilliant sister; there’s just no point in comparing herself to a revered scientist.

Besides, Aina’s no slouch.  Her work is just as important as Heris’s.  She saves lives, after all!

Joining Burning Rescue has been the highlight of Aina’s entire life, and her squad has become a second family to her.

She prides herself on being great with people, especially those in Burning Rescue.  She knows what Remi eats for breakfast every morning (one egg yolk, two glasses of milk, and a bowl of rice), how many times Varys has broken the elliptical at the gym (forty two), and even what food Lucia likes to bring on missions for Vinny (popcorn).

Which is why it’s all the more upsetting when Aina can’t figure Galo out.

He’s been an enigma since he joined the squad, especially because he’d originally seemed so easy to understand.

As soon as he fell through the ceiling after trying and failing to slide down the fire pole on his first day, Aina had already categorized him in her head.

Galo Thymos is, to put it simply, an idiot.

But then she saw him on calls.  Saw his burning drive to help people, his willingness to sacrifice everything just to save a life.

Okay, she thought, So he’s stupid, but he’s a good guy.  

Which puts him squarely in the Himbo category.  

She’s learned more about him as the months have gone on.  She knows that he has grand dreams of being a hero, that he’s willing to try everything at least once, and that he’s a great friend.

It’s not her fault she has a crush on him.  She’s always had a thing for the dumb guys.

So when she chases him after the incident at the pizza shop, her stomach is a bundle of nerves.  She’s been dropping hints to Galo for a month now, hoping he’ll catch on, but catching on clearly is not Galo’s strong suit.  

It’s time for her to be more direct.

When she finally catches up to him, she’s greeted by the sight of a gorgeous frozen lake.  

The sun is getting lower in the sky.  They’re alone.

It’s the perfect setting for a romantic confession.

She’s a little nervous that he doesn’t feel the same way, but she’s seen the way he looks at her.  She knows there’s something there.

So she’s fairly confident as she approaches Galo and says “I never knew this place existed.  What is it?”

He turns to look at her, and her breath catches in her throat.  Even when he’s wearing a shirt (which is rare, not that she’s complaining), it’s tight, and it doesn’t usually leave much to the imagination.  

“I dunno,” he says, and she rolls her eyes fondly.  

“How did you even know about it?”

He tells her he found the lake by accident.  That this is where he comes when he needs to cool down.  

Then he asks her what she’s doing here, and she has to make an active effort to not stumble over her words. “I’m here because when you left before, you seemed like you were about to go raid Freeze Force HQ.”

Also, I wanted to be alone with you.

She doesn’t say that part out loud, but god, is she thinking it. 

She doesn’t have time to dwell on that though, because before she even knows it, he’s standing on the ice.  “Hey, be careful!” She says in a panic, “That ice could break!”

“Don’t worry, I dug five meters deep once, and it was ice all the way down.”

He dug through five meters of ice?

“You dug through five meters of ice?” she says out loud, because that’s actually fucking ridiculous.

He’s stupid, but it’s endearing, and so when he invites her to skate with him she eagerly takes her chance.

A love confession on a frozen lake? It’s just so romantic.

She finds her footing pretty quickly, and they skate together, chatting about Kray, and her sister, and the entire time all Aina is thinking about is trying to find the perfect segue into the conversation she really wants to have.

As it turns out, she doesn’t even have to, because the universe is on her side.

She slips.

And he catches her.

He’s holding her now, and his arms are so strong, and he’s staring down at her with an intensity she’s never seen on his face.

This is the moment.  She knows it.

And so, when he leans in, she closes her eyes, preparing for her first kiss with Galo Thymos.

She wonders if his lips will be cold, or if they’ll warm her to her core.  Suddenly, she sees an entire future with this man.  Holding hands in grocery stores.  Saving lives together.  She’s already naming their third child before his lips touch hers, and she’s wondering what’s taking him so long.

And then he drops her unceremoniously onto the lake.

She lands hard on her ass, lips still pursed.  “Ouch! Hey!” she says, because what the fuck???

“Burnish flame,” is all he has to say in response.

Excuse me?

She’s still sitting on the frozen lake, wondering what the fuck is going on, when he hops on his bike and drives away, telling her to call in the Burnish sighting.

What the hell just happened?
~
“It was so fucking weird, Lucia,” Aina says a couple days later when they’re alone in the fire house, “Like, he was literally about to kiss me, and then he ran away.  Do you think he was scared or something? Do you think-” Aina trails off when she sees the look of incredulity on Lucia’s face.

“...What?” She asks.  Did she do something wrong?

Lucia shakes her head.  “Let me see if I’m hearing this right,” she says, “You have a crush on Galo, which I knew about already by the way-”

“How did you-”

“Shhh! So you followed him to the lake, intending to act on your feelings, and then he leaned in and you thought he was about to kiss you?  Is that what happened in your messed up little head?”

“Messed up? Lucia, why is it so crazy to think Galo might like me back? Do you think he’s out of my league or something, because I don’t think-”

“Bestie, I don’t know how to tell you this, but his league and your league aren’t even in the same building.”

“Okay, ouch,” Aina says, “You didn’t have to say it that way.  I get he’s hot, but I like to think I’m pretty, too.”

“Oh my god, Aina, shut up! How are you not getting this? I’m trying to tell you Galo plays for the other team.”

Aina doesn’t understand.  “The…other team?”

Lucia blinks at her, and it’s the same “ are you fucking stupid” look she frequently gives to Galo.  “Aina,” she says slowly, “Galo is, like, super gay.”

Oh.  She’s joking.  Okay.

“That’s funny, Lucia.  But I’m trying to tell you something serious right now, okay?”

“Girl, did you seriously not know this?”

Lucia doesn’t sound like she’s kidding.  Oh god.  Oh fuck.  Could she be right?

Aina’s heart sinks into her stomach and shame burns her entire body.  “How do you know?” Aina whispers, and Lucia laughs loudly.

“How do you not know? I’ve never met a man so obviously queer in my life.  Like, have you seen how he walks? How he sits? Fuck dude, he painted his locker in rainbow colors the other day!”

“I…I just thought he was an ally!”

Lucia isn’t even listening anymore.  “Listen, don’t tell Ignis, but I’m pretty sure Galo and that Burnish twink from the other day want each other real bad.”

Aina is horrified.  Her entire world has just been turned upside down.  “The leader of Mad Burnish?????”

“Yeah, that guy.  The sexual tension between them on the roof was nuts.  I’d honestly be surprised if they haven’t fucked yet, because-”  Lucia appears to realize that this is maybe not the kindest thing to say to someone who just got her heart broken, and she instantly changes tacks.  “I mean, uh, look, I’m sure if he was into girls he’d be all over you, Aina!”

Aina tries one more time.  

“But…but he’s not?”

Lucia sighs and pats Aina on her shoulder.  “No babe, he’s not.  I’m so sorry.”

“Oh.”

“Hey look, don’t be sad! You deserve so much better anyway, okay? How about after work we get piss drunk and find you someone hotter? And also smarter.  But that part won’t be difficult.”

“Yeah.  Yeah, sure.  Thanks, Lucia,” Aina says distractedly. 

“No prob.”

Aina wanders away, unsure what to do now.  The guy she was super into is apparently gay? And she’s the only one who didn’t know? 

She pulls her phone out of her pocket.  Maybe if she messages Galo and hears it from him it’ll actually sink in.

But then she opens his Instagram, and she finally knows.  She’s cooked.

His latest photo is a blurry selfie, clearly taken in the dark with the flash on.  Not super incriminating.

But then.  Then there’s the caption.

Burnings0ul: tied up in a cave in the dark by a cute guy, but he left : (  otherwise it’s been a p good date!

Yeah, okay.

That’ll do it.