Chapter Text
The morning sun shines through the window in Jimmy's prisma palace bedroom. It's way too bright so he buries his bare face deeper under the blanket. Tango finds this endearing. He has watched his boyfriend for a while now. Boyfriend. That's what they are after Lizzie approved of him yesterday, a couple. Tango can't contain his smile.
The ocean queen left it in Jimmy's hands to educate his boyfriend on their traditions. Though he just wanted to let yesterday's events sink in first. So he only told Tango, that he had to make a public announcement to his people before other's could know about them.
It's fine, really. The nether hybrid has all the time in the world. His arm snakes around the codfather and pulls him closer. The emperor humms and stirrs, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. "Tan-", a yawn cuts him off. "Gods, you're adorable. Sorry to wake you up.", Tango squeezes the other in his arms. Jimmy grows red, a marvelous sight. Silence fills the room until a knock on the door demands attention. "Your highness. Are you up?", someone calls from the other side of the door. "Yes.", he replies in a sleepy voice. "Your sister and her husband expect to meet you at the breakfast table in a hour.", they say. Jimmy groans quietly. "Yes, I will be there." he says. The emperor presses himself closer to Tango and humms. The nether hybrid chuckles at that. "Good morning.", he says, combing through the blonde hair. "It is. I still can't believe it.", Jimmy states. "Can't believe what?", Tango asks. The emperor let's silence fill the air dramaticaly. "You.", he finaly breathes and squeezes the nether hybrid. "Hey, you need to get ready. Your sister expects you.", said man laughs. "We need to get ready. She expects us. She will introduce you properly to Joel, talk about her expectations of you, ask about yesterday and hopefully still decide against testing you. Cods, are you sure you want to stay with me?", Jimmy's voice becomes more desperate, the longer he talks.
Tango is a little annoyed at that. Where is his trust? The ocean queen approved of Tango after all. No one was deemed good enough for Jimmy, except him. Maybe it boosts the ego a bit but there is no harm done in that, right? Besides, how many traditions or customs for courting can one folk have? Tango could handle that. He did not lie after all. He truly believes, that Jimmy is worth the effort.
Tango places a hand on Jimmy's jaw, bringing it up so their eyes could meet. "Didn't you hear me yesterday? You are worth a hundred tests.", he says and presses a kiss on the other's lips. Jimmy holds his eyes closed just a little longer after they part. "So, what about those customs?", Tango asks with a smile. First the emperor's eyes grow wide, then something dark shimmers behind them. And then he sighs and let's his head fall on the blaze hybrid's shoulder. Confusion grows in Tango's head until his partner gives him a question to focus on. "We won't have time to discuss that before breakfast. Are there some nether customs I should make myself familiar with?", his voice sounds exhausted, despite the fact he literaly just woke up. "Nah, I already told you once, I was exiled for explosivicating a whole fortress, ultimately making everyone homeless, when I was young. I never cared for something like that anyway. From the very start, redstone and it's possibilities were all I cared about. So I learned all I could, traveling through the overworld. Good for me. Had I stayed, you would be in bed with someone else.", he grins down at his boyfriend. "Oh you!", Jimmy chuckles. Then the way he holds himself shifts. "You might not be so far off.", his tone is a weird mixture, sadness coated with happyness, relief. Suddenly his face falls into something anxious. "Is there really nothing? I would like to...you know, court you too...", his voice is a whisper, barely there. Although he is a nether hybrid, and therefore naturaly warmer than normal for the overworld, Tango's chest feels even hotter. Like lava swirls between his ribs. "Well..", he begins, making Jimmy lean up and look down on him in excitement. "I really can't point out anything traditional. But if it has to do with gold, it should be on point." Jimmy raises a eyebrow. "Gold? Isn't that a Piglin thing?" Tango nods in agreement. "Yeah, they are known for that. But Blazes and even other nether creature's consider it important, too. Adventurer's from the overworld will raid fortress' for our chests with gold, gold items and other valuables." Jimmy humms, deep in thoughts. Then a knock on the door startles them. "Your highness, breakfast is ready.", a voice from the other side of the door announces. The emperor jumps up quickly. "Oh! I- Yeah. Just a second!", he responds. Then both hastely freshen up and get dressed in clothes that are way too fancy for breakfast. Jimmy quickly pulls his mask on before opening the door.
The servant is clearly surprised to see someone else leave the room with the emperor. "Ah- uh.. Your highness...", they say behind their hand in a failed atempt to hide their unprofessional expression. Jimmy throws a glare. "No more rumors!", he hisses in their face. Then he grabs Tango by the hand and leads him away. "Jimmy. Hey, Is it really okay for me to wear these things?", the blaze hybrid asks anxiously. Green isn't exactly his color. And these clothes are way to fancy for him. Although the gold decor is just to his liking. The emperor doesn't look back as he answers. "Absolutely. At least for now, I need you to wear something from my empire. It's some kind of statement. Lizzie had Joel wear something from her empire for our first breakfast with him and said the suitor shows solidarity doing so. She will be satisfied with you when you show up like this.", his voice doesn't give away anything but his red neck betrays him. Jimmy clearly enjoys this. "Well if this brings me on your sister's good side, so she won't revoke her approval, then I think I just might survive.", Tango says.
In front of a massive double door, they stop. Jimmy quickly looks around, then he pushes his mask up slightly and presses a short kiss on Tango's lips. "Don't worry. She can't revoke her approval of you. You are perfect.", he says and pulls his mask back down. Then he gives the nether hybrid no time to reply and pushes the door open. Tango quickly stands straight, dead set to impress. The ocean queen sits at a table that is not too big, obviously intended to be for a cozy family meal rather than a grand party. Her husband sits next to her, wearing his own empire's clothes. The table is set with all kinds of typical breakfast options. "Jimmy! You finaly decide to grace us with your presence. Must have been a hell of a night, huh?", Joel teases. It ticks Lizzie off. Her glare drills holes in Tango's body. "It was pleasant, thank you.", Jimmy states, blissfully unaware that his sister is slowly murdering the blaze hybrid with her eyes. He swallows thickly. The blonde emperor grabs Tango's hand again and leads him to the table, gently squeezing. "G-good morning, your highness'.", the nether hybrid says with a bow. That seems to somewhat please the ocean queen. She relaxes slightly, still wary of Tango. "You are allowed to be more casual with me and Joel, now. Though I expect of you to remain respectful. That involves respecting our customs which you are familiar with by now, right?", She questions. Tango starts sweating as he takes a seat next to his boyfriend. Then there is Jimmy's hand on his knee, providing comfort and confidence. "Not yet in the way you want me to. Yesterday's events were quite a lot, so Jimmy asked for some time to let things sink in first. Naturaly, his wish is my command." Joel whistles impressed and even Lizzie seems pleasantly surprised. But she eyes her brother suspiciously. "So you haven't brought shame to our traditions last night?", she inquires, leaning forward. Is she actualy asking her brother something this private? Jimmy gains a brilliant red under the mask. It spreads down his neck quickly. Tango places his hand on his boyfriend's, that still resides on the knee. "N-no! We just slept.", he looks like he wants to throw himself out of the window. Tango would follow him. Lizzie leans back and smiles sweetly. "Good, let's eat then.", she says. "Don't give yourself too much time with educating Tango. And remember to make a public announcement. And the other emperor need to know seperately. Oh and really important is-" Her overbearing rant was thankfully cut short. "I know! I know." The ocean queen squints at her brother but decides to drop it. "So what exactly happened yesterday? And what about those rumor with you and Scott?", Joel chimes in. Jimmy flinches, nearly dropping the orange juice. "Oh. Well, Scott and I never had this kind of relationship. Though he did say...", he pause, then sighs deeply before he continues. "I made him upset. I don't know if I will loose our friendship.", Jimmy's voice breakes a little, his eyes shimmer with unshed tears. Something inside Tango curls in pain. Then the emperor snaps out of whatever thoughts cought him. "Eh yesterday. I.. had to save a tourist from drowning. And then there was this shit shown your wife instigated. It was exhausting, frankly." Tango is glad Jimmy isn't spilling the beans about his inability to stay afloat. Suddenly Joel laughs. It's rich and deep, right from the pit of his belly. And with that, the awkwardness was broken. They enjoy the rest of the meal with nice conversation. And the pair shares their side of the story each, that lead them to the embarassing scene the day before. Here and there, details are kept out. There is a silent understanding between Jimmy and Tango, that a couple doesn't have to share everything.