Work Text:
If he was ever asked about it, he'd say it was an executive decision. Nothing else. Which was true enough. The two newly crowned kings happened to be the only ones not in prison, and both incredibly inexperienced.
Truly, forming an unofficial alliance with the king of the In-between was the best decision Gira could have come up with. Of course, it all depended on Jeramie accepting the offer, which he quickly did.
Falling in love with each other wasn't in the initial agreement, but Gira accepted that with open arms, too.
Peak performance on their part, Gira believed. And at their peak they were, working day and night. Gira was bored out of his mind at most things involving finances, but Jeramie didn't seem to mind much, often taking over where Gira slacked off.
He soon found Jeramie to be significantly more tactical than himself, and Gira couldn't help but feel a little hopeless. Like he was coming too short, and his abilities weren't enough. How could he lead his people if he couldn't decide on how the kingdom's money should be spent? But alas, he kept working.
Jeramie -ever observing- spoke to him about it once, on a quiet afternoon, taking his hands away from parchment and quill, holding them in both his own.
"Something's troubling you," he stated, like nothing at all. And like that, Gira realised he would do anything for him.
"I love you." Gira said, and was suddenly reminded of the time Jeramie told all the kings these same words. No one said it back, then.
Jeramie smiled, but did not waiver. "You seem far away today. May I ask where you've gone?"
"I'm here. I just... Don't know what I'm doing, I guess."
Freeing a hand, Gira ran it over his face and hair, resting it on his lap.
"About manufacturing new armor for Shugoddam's soldiers?" Jeramie asked with batting eyes, glancing over at the desk.
Now, Gira knew it was a trap for him to talk. The problem was how to get his feelings into words. How does one tell his lover that he doesn't really feel like all he pretends to be, that he probably doesn't even know who hides behind that mask anymore, now that so much time has passed.
That deep down he feels wrong, like he's fake. Like he shouldn't exist at all. That acting tough and crazy is the way he can get people to listen and take him seriously.
"Gira?" Jeramie whispered, breaking his sorry thoughts.
"I don't know if I know how to be king."
Sighing, Jeramie slowly turned to fully face him in his seat, and spoke with the cadence of a true storyteller, words flowing through the room.
"I spent a long time in the deepest depths of hell, hiding my body, dreaming of seeing the stars and sun as a proper member of society." He raised his head, content visible in the crinkle in his eyes. "Now I get to feel the wind on my face, shorten my sleeves and be who I am. That's thanks to all of you."
Something heavy was suddenly in Gira's throat as he struggled to find words to respond. Instead, he crept up closer until their lips touched in a feather like kiss.
"Well now, that's no proper kiss." And so Gira reached forward again, wishing he could taste Jeramie's smile.
Jeramie pulled away first, smiling beautifully as always as they simply looked at each other for a moment.
"It is only natural for a character to have a few doubts," Jeramie said, then set his shoulders a little. "Gira. You are a noble king, and I am honoured to be ruling by your side."
"But I'm just so stupid-" Gira started, but Jeramie seemed to disagree, suddenly taking the other's face in his hold. Jeramie's eyes were sharp, and Gira couldn't help but stare right back.
"No."
"I just mean that you guys-"
"No!" Jeramie held him impossibly closer, eyes daring to cross. "Don't ever say such a thing about yourself."
The way Jeramie looked at him made Gira think he said something bad. It wasn't like that, the king knew he wasn't good for nothing, he always tried his best to do right by his people. To protect them, protect the kids. And he fought, he always would. But he still wasn't good at sharing feelings.
So,
"Jeramie," he pleaded, "it doesn't matter. Okay? We have to finish these papers by tomorrow, let's just do it."
That made things worse. The frown on Jeramie's face deepened, and he looked a bit lost. Gira could relate. In the few months they've been dating, a few things made themselves clear.
Jeramie is a romantic person, staying ever true to his storytelling. He would take Gira to see sights he never imagined before, and construct entire worlds in his words just for the two of them.
Gira took him to the orphanage constantly, introduced him to every kid and told Jeramie about the ones who have left, or are no longer around. Told him about his own life before becoming king.
They would take walks around the neighbourhoods, seeing houses and shops and people. Gira always said hi.
In the first times, Jeramie seemed apprehensive, behind that charming smile. Gira could see why, there wasn't a Bugnarok in sight. Though, never once did Jeramie wear his glove, and Gira was so proud. When he told him, Jeramie's response was a fierce kiss, and for once it was clear what he meant.
A thing they shared, to Gira's relief, was inexperience. None of them were kings before, but none of them had dated before either. Gira spent his life taking care of the kids, he never really had time to romance. He couldn't even remember the first person he kissed anymore.
Jeramie spent two thousand years hiding himself, and told Gira he never thought he could have something like that. Many other things came first too, like peace between humans and Bugnarok.
Gira likes to think they were too into each other to ignore it, because no confessions were properly made when they got together. In the end it seemed both of them had some trouble speaking from the heart. Gira could maybe do something about that, then.
Ever straightforward, he shook his head, took a breath, and said:
"I'm sorry. I'm just worried that I'm in way over my head here. Being king is what I wanted all this time, to defeat my brother and protect my people. I didn't really think about what being king meant literally until I became one."
It took a moment for Jeramie to say something, but Gira was confident he'd understand.
"I like you like this, you know." Jeramie said, eyes soft.
"Huh?"
Jeramie chuckled. "When you're not playing pretend, and it's just you."
Gira felt his face heat up. "I thought you liked dramatic characters in your stories."
"I like you better." And he kissed him. "I believe you're doing wonderfully. Being king is a lot of work. But what we're doing here is good, I know it is. It's worth it."
It had been two long years. The work just never seemed to slow, and Gira wondered just when he was going to get used to it all. Specially without the other kings.
"I know it is. I'm happy with everything we've achieved, and I'll make sure to see a peaceful world in my lifetime. I'll make you happy, Jeramie."
"Oh my." Jeramie's eyes widened just for a moment before going incredibly fond. His earring tinkled a little as he shook his head.
Then, he moved his arms around Gira's shoulders, bringing him into an embrace. Jeramie's right hand came to gently hold his head, guiding Gira until he rested on the crook of his neck.
For some reason, Gira's mind went looking for the last person who held him like this, and came up blank. Nobody, not a mother he didn't know or a father who didn't cast him away. A brother who loved him.
Kogane might have been the first person who worried about him like family would. Probably because she is, all the kids are. They're the reason why he does what he does, his mission started with them.
And... The kings. He missed them everyday, in every meeting they couldn't go to. Gira found somewhat ironic that the four of them were arrested -he still didn't quite understand Rita's situation- and Gira wasn't. In all the times he visited, something in the back of his head told him his freedom wasn't right. But he shook it off.
Suddenly his throat felt tight as tears threatened to fall. The last thing he wanted was to make Jeramie more worried over nothing. He felt embarrassed over nothing.
He should be good at this. He spent his life with children, being their rock. He held them as they cried, listened as they spoke.
This is fine. He can talk to his boyfriend, his dear friend. He's just... So confused. There were too many thoughts in his head and other physical sensations happening at the same time.
Gira wanted to think nothing, then. He squeezed his eyes shut and wrapped his arms around Jeramie's body. It would be nice if he could live like that forever. Maybe if he asks really nicely they can work something out.
Yes, that was a good idea. A good thought, even. They were supposed to be working that day (and night), but this was so much better. No bad thoughts, just Jeramie.
"I love you." Gira said into Jeramie's neck, just because he could. Maybe because it was all he could.
He felt his boyfriend's laugh rather than hear it, but it landed all the same. It was warm and beautiful. Gira really wanted it to never end.
"And I love you." He slowly extracted himself from their embrace, and Gira felt the cold immediately. "I believe it is best to rest for now. We've been working for too long."
"But! There's so much to do and-"
"It can wait. The best results will come if you're rested."
Jeramie had a point. Of course he did. As bad as Gira felt about leaving work unfinished, he was in no condition to keep at it. So he let himself abandon all papers and be taken to his sleeping quarters.
As soon as he saw his bed, Gira felt exhaustion wash over him. Barely registering, he undid all the layers of his clothes, wanting nothing more than to throw himself under the covers.
But a glance aside showed that Jeramie hadn't moved at all. Gira was too tired to read the look on his face, but he seemed... Bothered.
"Jeramie?"
"Something is still troubling you, and I wish for us to speak more on the matter later."
"I... Okay. Later."
Jeramie nodded, and started moving towards the bed as he undressed.
This had not been how Gira imagined that day would go, but it could've been worse. Someone could've died, a new major attack could've happened after so long without.
But nothing had come to pass. Work, some silly thoughts and a good hug is all there was to it. He knew when he woke up he would have to put feelings to words, but that could be resolved when the time came.
Right then, laying side by side with one Bugnarok king, was all he needed to quell his mind. Something was bothering him still, but he put it away when Jeramie's right hand came to rest over Gira's heart.
Loving Jeramie was one of the best decisions of his heart.
Which is why Gira felt empty not so long after, when his love took blame for something he didn't do, so the others wouldn't have to. And when Hilbil was finally defeated, Gira breathed a little easier.
He was scared when Jeramie's mother came back, what if he wouldn't help them fight her? Gira would never blame him if he had stepped down.
He was relieved when Jeramie lost his eternal life. By then he knew there would never be someone else he would rather spend his life with. When everything was over and won, he planned on marrying him.
Then, for a moment he thought it was over, when the world -and himself- learned who Gira was. What he was. When the galactinsect king controled his body and he couldn't do anything about it. But, no harsh words came from the kings. They'd never judge him like that, not after everything.
And again when he thought evacuation plan Zero had failed, when he saw the unconscious bodies of his friends -Jeramie's body. Why wasn't he getting up? He didn't move.
But all had not been lost.
They survived, and thrived. Alliances were made, they even helped other teams. Nobody else was arrested - thankfully, and everything ran as smoothly as possible.
Gira was still bored endlessly at all the paperwork he did. He still slacked off. But he'd forget all about that the moment the kings came for their meetings. They sure did make life easier, and more fun.
They had definitely made things fun on his and Jeramie's wedding day. Himeno insisted on planning the whole thing, and neither Gira nor Jeramie could convince her otherwise. She was great, of course, but not everything had to be detailed in yellow.
Rita officiated the two, and though they insisted in remaining neutral, Gira suspected they were happy for them, if the way their only visible eye twinkled was anything to go by.
Kaguragi brought a feast, and it was glorious. The wedding cake had a stag beetle and a spider on the top, and it was perfect. Kaguragi congratulated them greatly, never failing to deliver meaningful words that definitely didn't make Gira tear up.
He couldn't hide his tears, however, when Yanma decided to make a speech. For all his coolness -and awkwardness, it was surprisingly heartfelt. Gira wondered if the others had put him up to it.
Later that night, he and Jeramie went out to look at the stars. A few layers missing, the wind was cold on Gira's skin, but he couldn't bring himself to mind one bit.
Cliché as it was, a supernova couldn't take Gira's eyes away from Jeramie, from his husband. He didn't know how he got so lucky. Or maybe, luck had nothing to do with it.
After all this time. All those fights, all the hurt. They stood strong.
And through it all, he loved Jeramie. Easier than breathing. Like nothing at all.