I wrote this for a prompt on tumblr to use the line "I wish I could hate you."

Set a little over a year after the war

"When I'm Co-Emperor of the Commonwealth, I'm going to make a proclamation that all bars must have food!" Thorne said loudly to his friends, having just discovered that their own bar lacked snacks.

Kai groaned, "Carswell, love, you're drunk."

It was Kai's own fault, he thought, for suggesting they meet up with friends to celebrate their engagement. Still it wasn't often that he could get so many of them together in New Beijing. He'd managed to convince Cress, Cinder, Scarlet, and Wolf to come for a visit timed with his proposal.

"I'm pretty sure he will be trying to make laws when he's sober." Scarlet said smiling, her arm entwined in Wolf's. "Have you considered that you are giving a dangerous amount of power to a con-man?"

"Please, you sound like Torin." Kai replied.

"When did he find out? We've been together all day." Thorne said waggling his eyebrows even though they were mostly hidden by the bandana over his eyes.

Kai blushed. "Well, I've been talking with him about it for a while now."

Thorne humphed and said. "I don't see why that was necessary."

"Really?" Cinder asked leaning in on her elbows. "You don't see how Kai marrying an ex-convict, an American, not to mention a man might need some political finesse?"

Thorne waved her off. "No one cares about whether you marry a man or a woman anymore."

Scarlet shrugged. "Maybe not for us common folk or elected positions, but dynasties-"

"It was really more about personal advice." Kai lied to cut her off. He had asked Torin for personal advice about Thorne –Torin had a loving husband and two kids after all –but most of their discussions had been about the politics behind the match. Now wasn't the time to talk to Thorne about that though.

"He's the closest thing I have left to family." Kai continued.

Thorne grinned, "I'm not actually mad." He said and kissed Kai's cheek.

"I'm sure it will be fine!" Cress said.

Kai smiled at her. It had taken some time for her to get over Thorne, but in the past year she had seemed to be genuinely happy for them when they saw each other. Kai was also suspicious that her and Cinder travelling Earth together was not entirely platonic…

"And if it's not fine I will simply make a proclamation that they have to accept it or they walk the plank!" Said Thorne raising his glass.

Wolf laughed and Cinder buried her face in her hands.

"I'm having second thoughts here," Kai joked, "sometimes I wish I could hate you and save the Commonwealth from your tyranny."

"No you don't." Thorne grinned at him.

"No, I don't," Kai agreed, "but no more proclamations tonight, ok?"

Thorne put on a look of deep consideration. "Just one more: I hereby proclaim that I do love you with all my heart." He said, quiet but intense.

Their friends laughed and whooped as Kai blushed even redder than before and pulled Thorne in for a kiss.