#Thenamesh President AU

[softquietsteadylove]

Would you please do one more chapter for the president AU? Like Thena is holding a speech and Gil protects her from a sniper, getting shot on scene but she learns later about his status cause she is being Transported to safety?? Some intense stuff? Thank you so much love your stories never stop please!! ❤️❤️❤️

Thena looked up as Sersi approached her with gentle steps. Sersi always walked lightly but she truly was walking like a deer on a frozen lake. She had been chosen to face the slaughter. "How is he?"

She seated herself quietly. Sersi was also shaken by the events of that morning's press conference. A shooting was always enough to have anyone on edge. And for a bullet to have actually landed--wounded one of their own; everyone was anxious. "He's still in surgery."

Thena nearly curled over her knees completely in her seat. It wasn't the presidential thing to do. But she couldn't breathe. "Sersi-"

"Thena, I'm sorry," her friend whispered, leaning across the seat to rub her back.

Sersi had witnessed first hand the way Thena had cried and screamed Gil's name as she was dragged away from him for her own safety.

There was always a risk for her safety. It came with the job. But the shot was planned, came from above. Only the wind and Gil's sharp instincts had saved them all. And while he had gotten her down in time, he was less fortunate.

His name had ripped out of her throat at the sight of his blood. She couldn't control it, couldn't conceal what seeing him hurt did to her. The rest of her SS guard pulled her away and under the cover of their protection. She could remember her hands clawing to get back to him. In the end, they had picked her up in order to evacuate without her struggling against them.

Gil's body was just...lying there.

"Sersi, I can't do this," Thena repeated, nearly gasping for air. Air Force One was far, far from crowded, but she felt as if she were being tossed around in a glass jar.

"Yes, you can, just breathe," Sersi encouraged, kneeling in front of her. "He's alive, Thena, that's all you need to worry about for now."

He was alive for now. But the thought of the man she loved lying on a steel table being operated on--possibly never hearing her last words to him; it was unbearable. It was unthinkable that their last kiss had been in the office between meetings, or that the last they'd held hands was when he was helping her in and out of the beast.

How could the last time she told him she loved him be 17 hours ago?

Thena attempted to pick her head up. She blinked, but the tears were far from controllable at this point. Not that Sersi minded. She shook her head, "if he dies-"

"You can't think of that right now," Sersi tried to urge her to calm herself again. She stood, using the natural movement to ease her back into her chair properly again. "He's getting the best care he can right now. I promise as soon as we get word we'll turn right around."

They couldn't. And even if redirecting the Eagle were that easy, they were only so capable of speed. Sheer distance still separated him from her. And if things took a turn for the worse and she didn't make it in time-

"Thena," Sersi followed as she stood, unable to sit any longer. The sound of their heels was muffled on the aircraft carpet. "You have to-"

"I don't have to do anything!" It was true, that was her position as designated by their godforsaken country. And with anyone else, she might not have felt quite as bad for it. But Sersi's face betrayed immediately what her outburst felt like to receive. Thena sighed, lowering her shoulders. "I'm sorry, I just...you don't--I can't lose him."

If Sersi had wondered at all what their relationship was before - which was honestly doubtful - she certainly had her evidence now. But she came over to her again, wrapped her arms around her and hugged her as a friend, not an advisor or cabinet member. "You won't."

Thena shook her head again. She wasn't so confident, and in a rare moment like this when she could afford to be unsure, she was rampant with doubt. She hugged her friend back. "This can't be how it happens--it can't."

Sersi gave up on the empty platitudes, rubbing her back as she listened to her weepy breaths.

"I can't do this without him," Thena pulled her head up again, attempting to resolve herself. "I mean it. I can't do this - any of this! - without him. I'll go insane."

Sersi had no argument for that. Gil was her personal aide, as well as defacto security for her, and that said nothing of the fact that Gil was just the best at generally handling her. "Things will work out."

The words barely sounded like words by this point. Thena looked out the window, starting to pick at her nails. Gil would usually pick up on her nervous ticks and stop them. He could say it was unsightly for Madam President to bite her nails, and then he would have an excuse to hold onto her hand for three whole seconds.

What good was having an aircraft with the highest level of clearance in the world if it still travelled at this kind of speed?

"So," Sersi started along a different path. She lightened her tone, seating herself and looking up at her, "how long?"

Thena remained staring out the window, tearing at her finely cared for nails layer by layer. "You want the exact date?"

It was sharp and sardonic, but Sersi smiled. "I suppose not. Obviously it's long enough, though. And I'm guessing it was since before Ikaris."

That did pull Thena's attention away from the clouds below them and back to her friend. She didn't bother hiding her surprise; Sersi never talked about Ikaris in any way.

But she continued, breezing over the mention of their past with treachery. "It was easy to tell that you were close, and not just as handler and VP."

She didn't think they had been so obvious. But then again, Sersi actually had an oddly sharp sense for the dynamics people could have with each other. It was part of what made her such an asset.

Thena finally sat down again, wrapping her arms around herself, only to start biting her thumb. "It was just going to be nothing--in the beginning. It happened once, let's move on."

Sersi waited patiently for the rest of the story.

Thena sighed, "but then it happened again, and then a third time. But we always said it couldn't be more than that. We had jobs to do. And we both understood that."

"Until," Sresi prompted her, and even smiled impishly when she was glared at for it.

Thena closed her eyes, and imagining Gil's smiling face was almost enough for her to smile in real time. "He was escorting me, as always. We ended up talking and, in essence, we both determined that we were not achieving the casual intentions we had claimed."

"So, you were already in love, is what you're saying," Sersi clarified. Thena glared at her again for her impertinence, but it did nothing to make the quiet woman back down. "I could have told you that."

Thena rolled her eyes, but it did bring somewhat of a smile to her face. "We agreed to explore the potential for more--quietly."

"How did you keep it a secret?" Sersi asked and leaned forward, her curiosity pulling her in. "I mean we had our suspicions but the biggest doubt was simply 'how would you even get away with it?'."

"With practice," Thena conceded, even letting her head tilt back to the head rest. "We got good at sneaking him in and out under different covers. And it worked--for well on a year."

"A yea-?!" Sersi nearly burst out loudly, even for being within the sound cover of a jet. But she managed to rein herself in. She cleared her throat more quietly, "a year?"

Thena nodded. The best years of her life. She gnawed at her cuticle. "Then everything happened. The transition of my position was so fast and so imperative, we didn't really have time to talk about what this meant for us. But Gil...Gil said he wasn't going anywhere."

Tears sprung to her eyes again.

Sersi put the pieces together. "You did fight awfully hard to keep him as your personal detail when you took office."

Thena scoffed, "and let some stranger guard me?"

"They wouldn't be a stranger," Sersi scolded her for denouncing the entirety of the rest of the secret service. But she sighed, "but I suppose you wouldn't have been a good protectee for any of them anyhow."

Especially not if she knew she could have Gil instead.

"It had to be him," Thena resolved, going back to fidgeting with her hands on her lap. "We kept saying we just had to make it through the rest of the term."

Sersi made a face. It wasn't nearly so simple to just exit the office. But this wasn't the time, and she knew that very well. "Thena-"

"He made it!" Kingo ran out, holding up the satellite phone in his hand as if he were a horseman riding at dawn. "They got him stabilized, at least."

"He's alive?" Thena asked, although she immediately discovered she had no air in her lungs. She stood and walked towards Kingo but her knees weren't strong enough anymore.

Both Sersi and Kingo lunged for her as she fell in the middle of the aisle.

"Whoa, hey," Kingo whispered as he caught her, lowering her into a seat properly. "Gil's alive, we're already cleared to return to land and we'll put a bypass on the hospital so you can see him, okay?"

Thena gasped. She couldn't breathe, but for an entirely different reason. She accepted Sersi's shoulder as she cried, hyperventilating into her soft green cashmere dress.

"He's fine, Thena, just breathe," her gentler friend soothed her, running her hand over her hair. "Not much longer. I promise we won't pull you away until you've spoken with him."

"Uh, we really can't-" Thena could hear Kingo begin, and then cut himself off, presumably being glared at by Sersi. He cleared his throat and stepped back, "you got it, Boss. I'll tell Phastos the news."

"He's alive, he's alive," Sersi repeated to her, whispering in her soft accent like a lullaby. "You'll be with him soon."

"I love him," Thena choked out desperately. It ripped out of her just as desperately as she had cried out his name after seeing him get shot. She had to say she loved him, just in case something tried to take him from her again.

"I know," Sersi soothed. "You can be with him soon."

[softquietsteadylove]

They couldn’t interact with each other for 3 days. And finally president Thena is able to face time her secret boyfriend. Some sweet and soft moment between them!

"Goodnight, ma'am."

Thena waited until her temporary security exited the room. It was completely secured, no risk of a security breach. She had a whole team of secret service outside, since her usual security wasn't by her side.

Gil was, unfortunately, required to act as her second amidst all the business they were conducting on this particular political trip. He was already back at the office, as of right now. She would be home tomorrow, but her flights required a whole other league of security clearance to take off, let alone land.

She slid into bed, hoping the trip tomorrow would go ahead as planned. She couldn't wait to be home. Her phone lit up in the completely dark room provided for her. She accepted the call with a smile, "hey, you."

"Hey," Gil's smiling face greeted her. He was at home, in the apartment of his that she missed (which she wasn't allowed to visit anymore).

Just seeing him relaxed her. She moved somewhat to her side, using the many, many pillows on the bed to support her comfortably. "How was your day there?"

"Everything is all wrapped up, you should be able to come home without issue," he promised, also reclining on the bed of his she also remembered. "What about you?"

She sighed through her nose. There was no need for any facades with Gil. "Exhausted--I can't wait until this trip is over. I don't want to travel for at least another month."

"I'll see what I can do about that, sweetheart," he chuckled, sounding more like himself and less like the presidential aide. He reclined, stretching his arm back to rest behind his head. "They set you up nice there, at least?"

Thena glanced around the darkened room. "It's perfectly acceptable for my position. I told them I didn't care the state of the room so long as it was secure."

"And the wifi is safe?"

"Yes," she rolled her eyes, although her smile was affectionate. "The team did a full sweep and told me it was completely safe for 'classified' calls."

"Ooh, classified," he grinned at her, "warn me if you wanna talk dirty, hon."

Thena laughed as well. She loved Gil's sense of humour. And she had no idea how it had remained in tact through the past year of their lives. But she valued it even more so, given everything that had happened. "You are highly, highly classified."

He tilted his head at her, and she could almost imagine him doing that in person, tilting his head while she was resting on his shoulder with his heavy arm draped around her waist. "Hey."

"I know," she cut off his admonishment before it could even happen. She rested her chin on her hand, tilting the phone, "I just miss you."

"I miss you too, Thena," he sighed heavily, and she could hear the tiredness there where it was missing in his face. "But tomorrow you'll be back in my arms, safe and sound."

If only she could be. If only she were allowed to run off the blasted Eagle and collapse right into his embrace. She couldn't be certain, but surely having him truly by her side could help her endure the next three years.

"Soon," he promised her. He shifted on the bed again, "hey, y'know, I drove by your old place?"

"Oh?" Thena smiled to herself as she gripped the pillow a little tighter (a poor substitute for Gil in bed with her).

"You remember?"

Thena bit back another laugh but didn't interrupt as he began narrating the beginnings of this affair-turned-serious-relationship they had. "So sentimental."

"I'll take that as a 'go on, honey', so I will," he chuckled, also switching positions so they could feel more like they were lying facing each other. "I drove you home after a pretty stressful day."

"You told me I didn't have to accompany you inside, to which I replied that was literally my job, ma'am. I had never been in your apartment before, and it smelled really nice. Of course, I didn't realise at the time that you were also battling your attraction to me, fighting your every instinct to remain professional instead of giving into the tension between-"

"Gil," she prompted, knowing that if she didn't interrupt him at this point he would start concocting a story that would put serial novelists to shame.

"Anyway, I took your coat off, I asked if you were okay," he continued, sighing as he reached his favourite part of the story. "You told me to stop asking you that, but when you turned around--god!"

Thena shook her head as he exclaimed unnecessarily loudly.

"You were so beautiful," he finished, looking at her so earnestly that if he weren't doing so through a screen she might blush. "You were way too beautiful, and I did the unthinkable, and I leaned in and kissed you."

How could she forget? How could she ever forget the night that had changed her life so completely? All this time reminding herself to never think of her very attractive secret service handler in such a way, and then he leaned in and kissed her.

Gil always said that they ended up doing what they did that night because he had made that first move, but Thena knew that it was she who had looped her hands behind his neck and slid her tongue between his lips.

It was she who had pulled him to the direction of her bedroom.

"You ever think about that?"

"On occasion," she fibbed with a smile, earning a smile from him in return as well. He knew very well that was her way of saying that she thought of it just as often as he did, and that she loved him too.

"Well, I think about it whenever I want a little pick me up," he concluded, finally laying his head on the pillow she also remembered.

"Hm," she mused, and she could tease him about how of course he would think of the lascivious tryst they had that first night. But she was just as guilty of thinking about it regularly. "I suppose I think more often of the night at the plaza."

The night when they went from handler and protectee crossing a professional line to a couple firmly in a secret relationship. They were staying at the plaza while on business. There was a suspected breach, so Gil went to Thena's room to make sure she was safe.

And once again, she had taken that one step further and asked if he was going to stay. He had declined, stating he was there on business--to protect her. And she had felt so put out by that rejection that it had amounted to her making some offhanded comment about having both a part time guard and a part time boyfriend.

It had mortified her in the moment, but it was Gil who had stated very clearly that he was full time in both of those positions.

"Ah, the second best night of my life," Gil sighed dramatically, really having fun with it now."

"Are you still continuing down memory lane?" she asked, reclining completely.

"Sure," he obliged, knowing what she was asking. "What next?"

"Hm," she sighed, her eyes sliding closed slowly as she stared at the substitute for the man she loved onscreen. "How about...the diplomatic dinner in Switzerland?"

"Oh, that was a great night," Gil began, watching as she let herself be lulled to sleep by his voice recounting the most romantic milestones of their relationship. "I remember being on the way, snow falling, landing in your hair-"

Thena dozed off slowly, listening to the lullaby of Gil's voice.

[softquietsteadylove]

Would you continue something for the president one? Maybe Gil protecting her against someone who is very angry during a meeting and is about to attack her but he intervenes very fast and powerful?

"I believe the treaty is fine as it stands."

"I believe it requires amendments."

They hadn't made all that much progress since those two mission statements, unfortunately. They had been in this meeting upwards of an hour and everything, but with no real progress to speak of. Thena maintained that they needed a new agreement according to her new term and policies.

Kro was of the mind that the treaty - already tenuous and reluctant - was fine as it was.

"Perhaps we should reconvene," Gil suggested from the side, keeping Thena's schedule in his hand. He had a few notes he'd taken, but more than that, he had his eyes on Thena.

She was tired, the stress of their meeting weighing on her, the worry of what to report to the press, even just the fact that Kro gave her the creeps on a personal level. She was obviously on edge.

"What amendments would be made?" Kro asked, all but ignoring Gil and his attempt at intervention.

"Amendments which would prevent the repetition of my, " she blinked, "predecessor. Amendments which I believe would better protect both our peoples."

Kro was unmoved by her attempt at convincing him to amend. "Madame President, I do not know if this is the kind of agreement into which you would like to enter."

Thena glanced at Gil. They knew that Kro and Ikaris had made some sort of arrangement. That was most likely the real reason behind his reluctance to make changes. It would seal any cracks he was currently using to his advantage.

"My assistant is correct, we should reconvene," Thena declared. They would have to look at things from an investigative standpoint before continuing. She stood.

"Oh, we're done, are we?"

Gil bristled, uncomfortable with the tone that was being used with Thena, but stood his ground. He held out his hand for her to join him, "our meeting time has already gone over, sir. The President has other obligations."

Thena's hand drifted to Gil's subconsciously. Kro rose from his chair in the same second, extending a hand from an arm that looked longer than anticipated. She barely blinked.

"I don't believe I dismissed you."

Gil moved between them, his security training kicking in. He grasped Kro's wrist, twisting it and forcing it back to the table. He used his other hand to grab the elbow, pressing it in the wrong direction. "Don't!"

Kro snarled at him, and his own security reacted from the back of the room as well. "Let go of me!"

"Do not attempt to touch the president," Gil repeated, although it was equal instinct for him to tell the bastard not to touch his girlfriend.

"Stand down!" Kro's security ordered, their weapons already held and pointed.

Gil didn't look up from holding Kro down. He wasn't wearing a vest - because this was a diplomatic meeting - but he was at least in front of Thena. He looked at Kro, growling up at him like a caged animal. "Call them off."

"Gil," Thena whispered behind him. She snuck her hand up the back of his suit jacket to tug at his shirt from behind.

Kro held up his other hand to signal his security to stand down. "Excuse me--a reflex from my days in service."

Gil released the diplomatic leader, stepping back and straightening his suit. "Excuse me--my reflexes are the same."

The two men looked at one another, fully understanding that both statements were at least partial lies. But Kro sank back to the far wall of the room, his security slipping their weapons away. "We will have to revisit the treaty at a later date, ma'am."

"Indeed," Thena answered evenly, although she hadn't moved, even amidst all the commotion. She kept herself poised properly as Kro was led from the room.

Gil looked back at her as the door closed. Thena was tough, even for being the president. But he saw the extra pallor in her cheeks. "You okay?"

Thena looked around the room. It was just her and Gil. She moved forward, pressing her face in his chest, "never a dull moment."

Gil chuckled, rubbing her back as she let herself relax against him. "I guess you could say that."

Thena sighed, intaking his scent, "I knew you had it under control."

"Can't let the foreign bodies get handsy with you, sweetheart," he smiled, enjoying Thena's brief moment of being touchy-feely. "You sure you're okay?"

"I never liked him," she sighed, wilting against him even more. "I should have known he and Ikaris had some kind of underhanded deal laid out between them."

It was suspected that Ikaris had made his escape through Kro's protected territory.

"No use worrying about it now," Gil attempted to reason, still rubbing her back. "We'll have Druig look into some stuff, then we can come back and negotiate better."

"That does make sense," she conceded, turning her cheek against his shirt. "And I'm exhausted after all his blathering."

"Sorry love," he kissed the top of her head, "you have two more meetings today."

Thena pressed her face into his chest again just to let out a pained groan.

"I know," he kissed her hair again, "but I managed to squeeze in some lunch for you."

Thena tilted her head up at him, leaning up on the toes of her sensible heels, "what would I do without you?"

Gil sighed into the brief but luxurious kiss. "That's my line, hon. Now, let's get outta here, hm?

"Let's," she agreed, slipping her hand into his more properly. It was a courteous hold, perfectly appropriate for helping the president about her daily duties. And it was one of the few small luxuries they could afford as a couple. "What's on the menu?"

"There are a couple options, but how would you feel about a sandwich from that place you like?" Gil helped her into her coat, catching the way her eyes sparkled at the notion. "And a cup of soup?"

She sighed anew at the promise of a cup of tomato basil and a hot grilled cheese. He liked to tease her for being the president and also having very basic tastebuds.

But every night they had in the house together, he would make her fresh tomato soup and a sourdough grilled cheese if she asked.

[softquietsteadylove]

Would you continue the president au one? Something sweet maybe?

"The President's day is bifurcated between the office and time for herself in privacy," Gilgamesh told the reporters eagerly trying to worm their way inside. "There is no security surveillance, no wire tapping. The home of Madam President must remain unpolitical so as to separate the person from the job and her obligation to the people. This is all public record."

"But sir, the people have questions!" the reporter wailed at him as security started pushing the crowd back. "The last president had an unprecedented amount of 'private time' and it turned out he was-"

"A mistake," Gil cut in harshly, effectively stopping that train of thought. "And one we won't make again. Now, I am going to briefing, Chief of Communications Sersi is going to be here to address the day's business shortly--excuse me."

Gil pressed his back to the doors as soon as he was inside. They always 'tipped off' the press when he was going to be entering the household, so no one could become too suspicious of it. It was true that the actual residence in the house and office was completely off limits to foreign clearance, press, they didn't have security cameras in it, nothing.

But damn, he was just trying to see his own girlfriend.

Gil unbuttoned his coat and walked into the home part of the house. He was well familiar with it, even with how careful they were not to betray the nature of their relationship. "Thena?"

She was in the kitchen.

"Hey," she greeted him with a smile, putting together a sandwich for herself. She was rid of her pantsuit and even had her hair down.

"Hey," he whispered, kissing her with a hand in her silken blonde hair. He pressed his nose to her cheek, "gonna cut that in half for me, or what?"

"I could say no, but you cooked everything else in that fridge," she snorted. There was another fridge for the food prepared for her by the house chef, of course, but this one was her personal one, for her personal use, in her personal kitchen.

Effectively Gil's kitchen, since she couldn't be trusted to make a grilled cheese without security thinking there was a threat in the residence.

"How was it out there?" she asked as she held up half the sandwich for him, trading kisses between bites.

"Media's a little worked up because of your week off, which we knew they would be," he shrugged, undoing his tie as well. Thena took the liberty of undoing his first few shirt buttons. "Sersi and Kingo will handle it."

"Okay," Thena murmured, unable to do much else in the moment. She leaned against him.

"Hey," he chuckled, rubbing her back while she was wearing his Secret Service hoodie from his time in security. "You have a week off. It's for your mental health--to not be worried, okay?"

"Do I seem capable of relaxing?"

Gil kissed her forehead, then her cheek, then tilted her chin so he could get her lips, "I think I know how to relax you."

"Oh you do, do you?" she smiled into the kiss, happily letting him lead her into the small frenzy of affection. She sighed, "I miss you."

"I'm right here," he whispered.

"You know what I mean."

"I do," he nodded before taking another bite of sandwich, "and I'm still here anyway."

Thena accepted another bite too.

"We're here, we're okay," he assured her as best he could while they stole their time together.

It was only recently they were able to start bringing him into the residence without suspicion from the inside forces, let alone the media and public. Even as her assistant, there was only so much time he could spend in her home before it became questionable.

"Some anniversary," she whispered, tucking her head under his chin. "I'm sorry, Gil."

"None of that," he rubbed her arm, resting his cheek against her hair, "You know I'm happy so long as I'm with you. And we knew this would come--that it wouldn't be easy."

"Still," she sighed a little more impatiently. "I'm supposedly the most powerful person in the country and I can't even get you a damn present without half the world knowing?"

"What would you get me?" he raised an eyebrow, finishing off the last tiny bite of the sandwich and licking his fingers. "I have everything I need right here."

Thena rolled her eyes as he kissed her cheek, "I'm serious, Gil."

"So am I."

She patted his chest, "well, it seems negligent to not get you anything at all."

"Well," he shrugged, "what if I didn't get you anything either?"

Thena shook her head though, giving his side a pinch before seating herself at the table. "I know for a fact that you did. And even if you hadn't, you got me this week off. That's...more than I can fathom."

Gil smiled at her though, also sitting at the table across from her, like they could be a normal couple in a normal house. "Sweetheart, I don't need anything from you because the fact that I can still be with you even after everything that happened last year?--that's my gift. And I don't want to take that for granted."

She gave him that soft, glassy eyed look that meant that she was wallowing in her guilt.

He reached over for her hands, "do you remember what we were doing this time last year?"

She rolled her eyes ever so fondly at him as she let him give each and every one of her fingers an affectionate little squeeze. "I was still vice at the time, you were my dedicated SS. I could still go home at the end of the day and you could sneak in dressed as a delivery guy."

He grinned at her, "and I did deliver every time, didn't I?"

She rolled her eyes at him for real this time, "Gilgamesh."

"And?" he prompted her.

She sighed, looking down at their hands, "and you told me that the dates in my living room with pizza and wings and cheap wine were dates--real dates."

"Because?"

She pursed her lips at him, not thrilled at being led like a fawn. She huffed, "because it was a date and it was with me and that was all you wanted."

Gil beamed at her with a laugh. "God, I'm such a good boyfriend."

"Stop it," she groaned, trying to lean away and pull her hands back to her.

He held on though, determined to keep her with him in the moment. He tilted his head to look at her, "that's still true, Thena. I don't care if I'm sneaking a burger and fries into your room between press briefings or we're at a diplomatic dinner. I wanna be with you. That's all."

Thena sighed, blinking in such a way that he knew she was trying not to cry. She shook her head, "you are a good boyfriend, much to my dismay."

He grinned; that was her way of saying that she loved him. He chuckled, "I love you, too, sweetie."

She let him stand and kiss her hair on the way to the fridge.

"So," he said more loudly and upbeat, "what to have for a real anniversary meal?"

Thena turned in her seat to look at him. On the one hand, he wanted to make their meals for the two of them. And on the other hand, she also couldn't ask the resident chef to make two servings of a gorgeous meal for her alone.

Well, she could, and no official questions would be asked. Risky, though.

"What do you feel like?" he asked as he rolled up his sleeves. He could change into something more comfortable after he was done with their dinner.

Thena smiled at him, hair over her shoulder, curled up in her chair in a ball. She looked sweet. "Pasta?"

He had onions, carrots, celery, herbs, leeks, tomatoes... "I think I can pull that off."

She stood from the chair and came over to him, sliding her lithe little arms around him from behind and pressing her face to his shoulder, "thank you, Gil."

He looked down and craned his neck to try and kiss her hands on his chest.

She laughed into his shirt before rising on her toes to kiss the back of his neck. "I'll pour some wine, you focus on the food."

Gil let her slide away from him, although the ache that could resonate in his chest when they were at work didn't follow. In here, they could be themselves, and he could be as perfect a boyfriend as he wanted.

[softquietsteadylove]

We definitely need more Thenamesh presidency AU!

Would you write more? Maybe Thena has to do an interview and the interviewer is a bit too friendly and asks her some subtile weird questions and basically undresses her with his eyes? Let Gil step in and protect his girlfriend in the most professional way? 😄

Thank you! Keep up your amazing work! ❤️

"Thank you for joining me, Madam President."

Thena smiled, nodding courteously but quiet thus far. Not only did she have to be careful of every single word she said these days, but she couldn't afford to get tired and run low on energy part way through the possibly lengthy interview.

"The rumours are true," her interviewer smiled, and that was always a dangerous start to a sentence. He tilted his head at her, "you are as beautiful as you are intimidating."

Gil looked up from Thena's schedule in his hand.

Thena tilted her head, though, "is that part of the question."

Eros laughed, "no, you're right it's off the record. Call it an attempt to get to know you?"

"I believe that is what the interview will be for."

Again, Eros took no offense to what would be a dry response to some and a defensive remark to most. He laughed, letting it roll off of him. He was renowned for his good nature, as well as being so young for the field of very serious televised journalism. He was popular with younger viewers for his looks.

They needed this interview to secure the young vote--the key to real, effective positive change.

"Yes ma'am, I am very honoured to have the opportunity, let it be said," Eros sat up a little straighter, almost like a professional interviewing the president. He had a dry kind of tone, his words somewhat running together.

"Your show is quite popular," Thena began her part of the battle (Sersi had advised her not to call it that). She had to meet him toe to toe so he didn't twist anything out of her, nor get the chance to misrepresent anything. "My people were happy to arrange the interview."

Kingo had told her that they had to do well with Eros if they wanted any relevance with young people beyond being known as the era of betrayal.

"Careful not to flatter me, ma'am," Eros continued to schmooze as if they were having drinks at a work conference as opposed to meeting in a secure location for journalistic purposes. He ran a hand through his hair. "I am prone to ego."

"A privilege few can afford."

"I believe you could be afforded anything," he tilted his head, his eyes drifting over her for just a second.

Thena shifted in her chair. Her hands were clasped together, because it was safer than having them loose enough to fidget and betray micro-expressions for her.

Gil cleared his throat off to the side, motioning for things to keep moving for the sake of time. He was frowning.

"So, Madam President," Eros began a proper question as if he hadn't been blatantly flirting with her - the most powerful woman in the country - seconds ago. "You have arrived to a rather precarious position."

Finally the interview began in earnest. Gil drifted around the edges of it, of course asked to keep his presence to a minimum, but permitted to stay in Thena's proximity, as was her security.

A few things were off limits--the direct mention of Ikaris' vacated position, the status of the staff investigations after his betrayal, suspects, that kind of thing. Although the ramifications of such things were technically fair game.

There were two cameras set up strategically on tripods. Eros' show would use edited footage of the interview, which would be subject to their review for security reasons. Gil mostly stayed behind Thena's shoulder, out of the frame, keeping his eyes on the popular show host.

"Now, I would like to ask," Eros looked up from his dossier of questions and points to bring up. He had done so a few times already and every time he did, the tone of the interview would...shift. "And this can be off the record, if you like."

Gil rolled his eyes.

"But it must be said that this is the first time an unmarried woman has come to power as you have." There it was. Gil shook his head faintly, although it seemed Eros was done taking his silent direction. "Does this affect the office you keep, in any way?"

"Why would it?" Thena asked flatly, not only not dignifying his question but also answering the real point of it. "No one in the cabinet minds if I am married or not, only if I can do the job of serving our country."

"So would you say you're on the market?"

Gil snapped Thena's schedule closed, as loudly as he could but not nearly as loudly as he would like. Eros looked up at him; he swiped his hand across his throat, telling him to cut it.

Eros barely acknowledged being told to back off but leaned back in his chair again. Of course doing so gave him another opportunity to run his eyes over Thena.

She was wearing a light grey pantsuit, but the way he was looking at her certainly seemed as if she were half dressed.

"Perhaps we should take five," Eros suggested in a much more - and perhaps falsely - amiable tone. He uncrossed his legs and stood with his dossier in hand. "I am happy to fetch you some water, ma'am."

Gil held out his hand for Thena to hold as she stood. "No outside food or drink--thank you."

The 'thank you' really was an afterthought.

"Of course," Eros nodded, giving his most charming smile. "I shall return in a moment, then."

Security both let him out and followed him as an escort. Such was the requirement of being alone in a room with Madam President herself.

Thena sighed, accepting the water bottle Gil himself was holding, "how long is this?"

"Probably another hour," he chuckled, speaking quietly as they hovered together. "You're doing great so far. You haven't even told him to go fuck himself."

Thena let out a quiet laugh against her hand, but it was certainly real. A few of the security team laughed too (those close enough to them to hear it).

Gil angled his shoulder for her, getting as close as they could afford when not totally alone. Although it didn't stop his eyes from being a little too soft when he looked at her. "Just a little more. I'm right here if you need me."

Thena's eyes weren't much better at keeping their monumental secret. "Thank you, as always."

Gil chuckled, taking the water bottle from her, "you know there's no need."

Her hand brushed against his on the way, "still."

A knock on the door signalled that their guest was back.

Thena sighed but let Gil hold her hand as she sat down again. He leaned down to her ear, "I'm gonna kill him if he asks you about being single again."

Thena laughed, although she couldn't reply. She gave his hand one more little squeeze, prepared to delve back into their work.

"Come in," Gil announced, although he stayed at the edge of Thena's chair. Eros nodded to him as he walked back into the room and to his own seat. Gil kept his eye on him, "limit personal questions going forward."

It was a very straightforward statement, and one that could be expected from her personal attache. No one would necessarily suspect it was her boyfriend telling this clown to stop hitting on her in front of him.

[softquietsteadylove]

The president au was so cut :), could you do a part 2 pretty please 🩷

"Next we have to focus on the approaching summit."

"No, we should be focusing on public appearances before the turnover of awards season."

"I'm pretty sure we should be focusing on her relationship with the senate."

Thena rubbed her temples, the entirety of her personal cabinet squawking at each other over her upcoming schedule. She knew how much she had to do--she knew better than anyone.

Well, almost better than anyone.

She looked over to Gil; at least the dust cover of everyone arguing was good for something. Gil met her eyes, instinctively sensing her look. He smiled at her in sympathy, patting the schedule of hers in his hand. He was doing what he could to assure her that he had it in hand.

No one would prioritise her well being amidst all the chaos like Gil would.

"Enough!"

Sersi, Kingo and Phastos all startled as Thena spoke up from behind the desk. Sersi cleared her throat, folding in on herself already, "Th-Thena?"

"I can't do this right now," Thena sighed, looking down at the paperwork on her desk. Every letter was starting to meld together in her vision. She pressed her palms to the desk. "I need at least fifteen minutes with no one speaking to me."

Sersi pinched her lips closed, looking at her colleagues. Kingo zipped his lips closed. Phastos sighed, adjusting his glasses, "I'm sorry T, but today is packed."

"Phastos," she glared.

"You can have ten."

"I'll take it," she snapped it up eagerly, already pointing to the door. "Everyone, all of you, security."

The guards within the office traded looks, "ma'am."

"Ten minutes," she repeated with a certain bite to her tone. Secret service nodded, obeying their order no matter how reluctantly.

"We'll be right outside the door, ma'am."

"Right," she sighed, dropping her head as soon as the door was closed.

No one even noticed that Gil hadn't fallen into the crowd and followed them. "Even me?"

"Not a chance," Thena lifted her head as he snuck over to her. She looked up at him, making him make sure the blinds were closed. "Clear?"

"Clear," he smiled before leaning over, pulling her chin up to kiss her. He touched his forehead to hers, "you doin' okay?"

"This week has been," she paused, letting her sigh suffice. He nodded, kissing her again.

"It's a heavy week," he agreed quietly, mindful that they were only ever so alone, even when they were. "You're doing great."

Thena laughed faintly as he gently pushed her down into her chair again, massaging her shoulders. "You're always coaching me these days."

He kissed the back of her head. "I think I coached you a little before, anyway."

True, even when he was her personal security detail as the Vice President, he still was encouraging her between endless press appearances and meetings with Ikaris and any other requirement of the job.

"At least you could be within five feet of me," she lamented, sighing as he worked her knotted shoulders.

"I could always say my training kicked in," he suggested with a grin, leaning down over her shoulder. "It was instinctive that I dove to cover Madam President with my body."

"Gil," Thena laughed again, which was of course his goal. She turned her head to kiss him again, savouring this little window of bliss when she could just be a woman with her boyfriend instead of the pillar of the country.

"We'll get through this, Thena," he promised, tucking a stray hair or two out of her eyes.

"Hm," she neither argued nor agreed readily. It was as close to pouting as she could get these days.

"Hey," he whispered, nudging the side of her head. "Tonight? You call it a night early and call me on the secure line? I can bring a late night snack to your room."

Thena closed her eyes, already able to imagine the bliss that would be eating leftovers on the floor with her partner. "That sounds perfect."

Gil kissed the shell of her ear, "it's a date, then."

This was what qualified as a date for them, but they were lucky to have even these, they knew.

Thena sighed, looking down at her watch, "time's almost up."

"I know," Gil commiserated, resting his chin on the top of her head. "Don't worry, I'll schedule everything. You'll have time to breathe, if nothing else."

She looked up at him, winding their fingers together, "you're all the air I need."

Gil kissed her forehead, "I love you too, Thena."

She gave up his hand reluctantly.

He gave her a grin, "very poetic, ma'am. Are you sure you need someone to write your speeches for you?"

"Shush," she rolled her eyes, but at least smiled again before he pulled away from her. "Fine, let them in."

He gave her a look from the door. "Twelve more hours."

Twelve more hours until she could actually be with the man she loved.