Gadget wasn't sure he was doing the right thing as he followed the other man out of the isolated area and back into the city. He'd told the Chief he'd found nothing at the warehouse of note and was heading home. Probably the first genuine lie he'd ever told that man he admired/adored so much, and it gave a heavy feeling. It just felt premature mention Damie.
The other issue was that no one would know where he was all night. Well, except for Damien, he reminded himself with some comfort, and then smiled dreamily. He lightly touched his face where the older man's heavy hand had been.
They passed the heart of the city and headed into some of the wilder areas. Gadget didn't mind; he adored every inch of his city. Danger didn't detract from beauty, he thought as he got out. Claw's car was parked just up ahead, but he didn't get out yet. Standing by his own car, Gadget hesitated, very close to deciding to drive back home for a moment. He wasn't sure where that sudden panic came from, and as if challenging himself, he chose to shake off whatever doubts he may have sheltered, and walked up to Claw's car. Just as he reached the door, Claw got out with a flourish and a grin. Without warning he took the inspector into his arms and kissed him quickly, savagely. Gadget hung off him, partly in a daze, as they went into the apartment complex.
The apartment he took him to was somehow dingier than the outside. It was fairly barren as far as furniture and decor, and the lights were harsh, naked. "I apologize for the state of the place," Claw said as he lead Gadget inside with a hand at his back. He engaged the deadbolt and tossed his keys on the counter, over which a cockroach skittered. "It's just a temporary place."
Gadget gravitated into his arms and gazed into his eyes. "It's just fine," he said softly.
Claw was trembling ever so slightly, his lips parted in wonder as he stroked through Gadget's hair-beneath the hat he was still wearing- so softly he barely touched it. Gadget's eyes drooped shut and he sighed, and he rested his hands on Claw's hips.
His eyes opened rather hastily when he felt one of those hard, unyielding fingers stroke along the hat line, reaching by millimeters beneath it. "May I?" Claw asked.
Gadget pulled away a little bit, casting a downward, troubled gaze, holding his hat brim firmly.
Claw relaxed him with a soft pet of his cheek. "It's alright, Gus. You don't have to."
He looked up at him. "No...I want to. I trust you." He gave him a smile that seemed to beg for confirmation of this trust. With care he pulled off the hat and set it on the counter beside him. He closed his eyes tightly as "Damien" gently touched the thin but obvious line that circled the upper part of his head, passing through hair that was just the slightest shade off.
Claw made no comments and asked no questions as his fingers gently moved from Gadget's forehead to his hair. With his sensors he could feel, in a way, the soft locks, and how it felt different around the top of his scalp than anywhere else. The petting made Gadget woozy for a moment, with the luxurious sensation combined with lingering fear of judgement or rejection. He just nodded in answer.
Claw kissed his brow along the scar line, eventually evoking a laugh from Gadget, who had by now calmed considerably. However, when Claw took his wrist and began to remove one of the gloves, Gadget pulled his hand back with a nervous sound halfway between a chuckle and a yelp. He pushed away from Claw, turning his back to him. It was a while before he spoke, back still turned to him, "I'm sorry, Damien…"
"No," Claw replied, a hand going up towards Gadget's turned shoulder, but let it fall back to his side. "You have nothing to be sorry for. I know we are practically strangers to each other. I...I shouldn't have pushed it."
Gadget wiped a tear off his face furiously but his attention was peaked. The devastating truth was, he felt as lonely as the other sounded. Yes, he had a rich family life and considered pretty much anyone he was on good terms with to be part of his family. Especially considering how very small his biological family was these days. Still, there was such a lack. An absence that he knew he felt, however he hid. Even as he searched for evidence against MAD agents he was constantly on the search for something to fill this void.
Gadget started to speak just to stop so many times. Not even knowing if he should argue what Claw said or thank him for the apology. So instead of speaking he chose to turn and fall into the other man's arms instead, holding him so closely it hurt them both until he relaxed. Claw rested his face against the top of Gadget's head, and now he was able to feel more accurately the texture of the hair at the top. He rubbed his face against it softly.
"I don't need that much time to tell that I care about you," Gadget said at last. "It's just...how will it work?" He gently moved his head back so their gazes could meet. At the sight of the older man's deeply penetrating eyes, Gadget felt a weakness pass through him, to where he had to lean against him again just to keep his knees from buckling. Claw gripped him by the hips.
Claw ran his fingers through the inspector's hair and kissed the top of his head. "I don't know," he answered. "I'm getting the feeling we've had similar experiences with love in the past." He cupped Gadget's face, turned it upwards. "But the fact that we're talking about it right now must mean something good, mustn't it? We could just be answering our more primal urges right now-" Gadget gave a tension-relieving laugh at this, "-but we're here, talking about what's real, what we're both really after. That means everything to me right now."
Gadget broke into a loving smile and gently stroked Claw's face. "And to me," he whispered as their faces neared, Gadget's eyes fixed on Claw's lips. Their kiss was slow, reverential. Their arms enveloped each other, their bodies giving and receiving blasts of warmth from each other. Gadget's breath went from sighs to pants as Claw's mouth left his to seek his neck. Gadget hung off Claw's shoulders, his legs barely supporting him as Claw kissed his throat with aching softness, almost too subtle to be felt, but for the breath washing over his skin. He put his hand on Claw's as it wrapped around his neck, but only to encourage more of these touches, especially when that sensation was combined with a passionate kiss.
He could feel the other man's erection through his pants with his hip, and he pressed into it, hard, eliciting a stifled groan from Claw. In response Claw squeezed Gadget even closer and playfully, lightly, bit the inspector's lip. His hand lowered on Gadget's neck, fingers grazing just beneath his shirt collar, so Gadget fumbled with his tie and flung it off. With a shy smile, he guided his hand to the base of his neck, halfway beneath the fabric. He shuddered at the sensation on his bare skin.
They kissed like this for a while, then just held each other, as if lingering desperately in the place they created just for themselves.
Gadget resisted at first when Claw tried to separate them, but eventually slid his arms back to their original length. He looked at him expectantly, with some worry. "I don't want to break this spell," Claw told him as he gently pushed himself away and walked around the counter to get two glasses. He poured them both water from a bottle in the fridge. "And normally I wouldn't. But what's happening between us isn't normal, is it?" Gadget could only keep looking at him in response, hanging off his words. His hands were on the counter, so Claw touched one of them. Gadget did not pull away. "I think it's best if we retire for the night, don't you?"
Now he did pull his hands back, and he looked down. He mumbled an answer.
Claw came back around the counter and took Gadget by the shoulders. "Gus, my dear," he said in such an earnest tone of voice Gadget couldn't help but melt. "I want to savor what we have. I want more, so much more it would frankly scare you if I told you now. But I'm loathe to rush this, that's all."
Gadget patted Claw's hand and a tender smile spread on his face. "Just promise to always be this honest with me," he said, and Claw nodded.
Pulling away, Claw headed for the single bedroom and turned on the light. He beckoned Gadget inside. "This will be yours for tonight. And any night you choose to come here."
"Don't tell me you're taking the couch…" Gadget began to protest.
"Please, don't worry about me. I'll probably be up all night reading anyway." At Gadget's concerned look, he added, "It's my way. And if you like I can wake you up early tomorrow."
"Fine," Gadget relented softly. Claw allowed another consuming hug and a forehead kiss before wishing him a pleasant night. The moment the door closed his face set into a grim scowl, and he stalked into the living room. While the inspector slept, he monitored the progress of Dr. Martenne, threatened Talon, schmoozed up to some of his contacts, and berated some of his agents.
Not for one moment could he forget the feel of Gadget's hair against his cheek, his pulse beneath his lips, the look in his eyes when Gadget said he trusted him.