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“Hello love.”
Temperance breath hitched, he knew that gruff voice. The Virtue looked up to see a big man, standing in the doorway of his laboratory and dropped his tools.
Ken, the Butcher.
A dangerous Rotling, the lead man of the crime family ‘The Smiling Dead’ and his ex.
“You’re not supposed to be here.” He said backing away from the big Rotling.
“But I am.”
Ken ducked his head down as he squeezed his lumbering figure through the narrow doorway. The Butcher pursuing Temperance.
“Leave!” The Virtue said retreating faster.
“Oh c’mon Temperance don’t be that way, I came here to see you.” Ken said his normally harsh and angry face turning vulnerable and insecure. This making guilt stab in The Virtue’s chest.
“I said go…” Temperance’s voice quivering. The Virtues back then hit a wall and he wheezed.
Oh no.
Ken closed the remaining the gap between them. The Butcher trapping Temperance against that wall, his hands on either side not giving him room to escape.
“Didn’t you miss me?”
The Butcher moved his hand up to cup Temperances cheek. “Not even a little?”
And there he was, the Rotling Temperance had fallen in love with. Blunt, vulnerable and sweet. All of which was Temperances weakness.
“Please don’t do this.” He whispered.
“Do what?” Ken asked, his hand stroking the side of Temperances face.
“I can’t afford to feel this way, to mi..” The Virtue clamped his mouth shut, but it was too late.
“So you do miss me.” Ken said.
That was all it took for Temperance to break.
“Yes.” The Virtue said trembling.
“It’s okay baby.”
“I missed you too.” Ken said.
The Butcher then hugged Temperance tightly. Not giving The Virtue time to reject it. The kiss Ken placed on his lips was so needy and full of yearning that it shook Temperance down to his circuit boards and wiring.
Knowing that Ken desired him this much, crushed whatever was left of The Virtue's resistance.
He circled his arms around the big man, giving in.
Time and logic disappearing as he accepted Ken's kiss.
It tasting of sweetness and comfort.
Temperance eventually pulled away first.
He felt composed and unstable. Hot and cold. Sated and confused.
The Virtue knew that Ken would probably kiss him forever if Temperance let him. His hands resting on the large mans shoulders as he tried to pull himself together.
“You really need to go…” Temperance said and when Ken looked like he was going to protest. He explained why. “Not because I don’t want you here. But because It’s unsafe."
The Butcher slumped, accepting his plea.
“Ok, but when you’re done working with these assholes for the day. Come by the Whale Belly.”
Ken running his thumb over Temperance’s cheek.
“I’ll wait for you all night, if that’s what it takes.”
The Butcher then retreated.
“Mel talks about you all the time. Thought you should know." Ken said as he left the laboratory.
Temperance knew as a Virtue he shouldn’t go to the Whale Belly even if Ken had personally invited him. Rotlings like The Butcher were natural enemies to Virtue’s like Temperance.
Nevertheless he was going to go, because Ken had promised to wait for him.
And deep down Temperance knew that he’d already chosen who his loyalties lay with a long time ago.
When he’d handed Mel the human over to Ken.