p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Claw was running late. He'd been sidetracked talking to Manette. He found himself regretting letting her have a decent dinner, as she seemed far less intimidated by him now./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Ater tying up some loose ends he finally headed into town for the coffee shop. As he'd hoped, his date was still there, waiting for him, with two drinks before him. Gadget smiled and waved in a way that tempted Claw to turn around and speed walk away. But he found himself grinning as well, and besides he had plans enough for Gadget that couldn't wait./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;""You remembered how I like it," he mumbled over his coffee./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Gadget made a sound and shrugged. He sipped his own. "How's your nephew?" he asked conversationally./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Claw glared at him over his coffee, his lips still in a more or less friendly smile. "Must we talk about that?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Gadget made a face. "No, I suppose not…"/p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Claw made him chuckle by taking his hand and leading him and their drinks to the outside seating area, where not a single other soul occupied the charming, hand painted seats among the flowers. Finding a beat up but comfortable couch, they sat close together, facing each other with one of Gadget's legs in Claw's lap. "I'm sorry," Claw said, taking Gadget's hands in his. "I'd simply rather save conversation for something really worth speaking about." He kissed the backs of Gadget's hands. "I must warn you now, if you try any more small talk, I'll have to kill you."/p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Gadget laughed and went red. He pulled one hand away to cover his mouth as he recovered. "You certainly have a way with words, Damien," he said. "But, I understand. I just…" he sighed./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;""You want to get to know me, you want to find out all about me?" Claw asked teasingly. He snaked an arm between the other's side and his arm and pulled him closer, face against Claw's throat. Gadget hugged him./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;""I wouldn't mind."/p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;""You'll learn everything you want to in time, my dear," he crooned, rubbing Gadget's shoulder gently. "But for the meantime, I suggest we just enjoy each other. Because this still all feels like a dream to me."/p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Gadget made a sound that suggested vehement agreement. Then he kissed him, and Claw allowed for his face to be guided closer and for his eyes to droop shut in excessive feeling./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"He felt Gadget wiping something off his face, just below his eye, and he flinched severely. Gadget held his shoulders gently and showed him the tear with a soft look. Gently drying his finger with his thumb, Gadget leaned in again to kiss Claw on the mouth, but in the tenderest way, slow and lingering./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Claw was holding Gadget close against him with an arm around his lower back, his other hand digging into his hair. He was careful of his hat, until Gadget removed it himself, without bothering to unlock lips. Claw got a muffled groan in answer to his driving fingers./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"For a little while longer they sat in cozy silence, kissing and holding each other for the aimless sake of it. Only the buzz of his mobile interrupted it. He pulled away with reluctance and a quiet moan, and answered it sharply, "What is it?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Claw's aggressive posture softened as he listened, and he took a long glance at Gadget, who just smiled dreamily back. Claw sighed and hung up. He stroked Gadget's hair and kissed him. "There's a situation at home; I must go, I'm sorry."/p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;""Let me go with you," Gadget said, even he looking surprised he'd said that. He looked at him more surely. "Even if I'm just there to support you, I want to help. And...I don't think I could stand going back to my place right now." He laughed a bit more than he might have otherwise./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Claw smiled as he considered this and decided it could work. "Let's go."/p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"********************************/p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;" /p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"When Claw passed through the giant doors, hand in hand with his mortal enemy, Talon stared from his brooding spot at one of the many computers. He didn't attempt any discretion in what was more anger than confusion. At Claw's warning look, he made an attempt to look less hostile. Gadget wasn't paying attention to Talon anyway./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;""This way," Claw said to Gadget, leading him down a hallway and into a lushly, archaically decorated parlor. He hastily snapped a tiny camera off when Gadget's back was turned, mainly just to shut off the bright little red light. "I'll just be a moment." He sped out of the there, immediately back into execution mode./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"As explained to him over the phone-as interpreted by Talon-the doctor had finally synthesized the poison as Claw wanted. It caused plenty of suffering but no more than a strict limit he'd set himself. If he were thrilled for this breakthrough, he showed little emotion to his captive researcher. This victory only led to the command to create a great quantity of it./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"While she worked, he returned to the parlor and took Gadget on a little tour of similar rooms. His manor contained rooms and wings he himself had yet to explore, and many more he simply didn't use and never changed. He'd inherited the style of the place as surely as the ancient portraits. He said next to nothing about each room or spot in the castle he felt comfortable showing him. That entire side of the house was fairly safe anyway. Gadget was content to see such strangely beautiful, but cold places while in his date's loving grip./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Already late when they'd arrived, both were becoming exhausted before too much of this. Gadget was half falling asleep against Claw, who could have slept as well. He eventually led him into a room that required entering through another chamber to reach it./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"He shut the door behind them and all but carried Gadget to the divan. They removed some of their clothing before crawling under the single, but cozy blanket, Gadget unable to resist a grin in amusement through his exhaustion./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"They sought each other out beneath the cover and their bodies seemed to know their ideal configuration before their minds did. Cuddled close together but with room to breathe, Gadget fell asleep before too long before Claw ceased his watch./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"He had to kill him. That was never in question, but now there was a time limit. All parts of the scheme taken into account, he had to get it done in two days maximum; that's how long his dear Gadget had left to live./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Ater tying up some loose ends he finally headed into town for the coffee shop. As he'd hoped, his date was still there, waiting for him, with two drinks before him. Gadget smiled and waved in a way that tempted Claw to turn around and speed walk away. But he found himself grinning as well, and besides he had plans enough for Gadget that couldn't wait./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;""You remembered how I like it," he mumbled over his coffee./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Gadget made a sound and shrugged. He sipped his own. "How's your nephew?" he asked conversationally./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Claw glared at him over his coffee, his lips still in a more or less friendly smile. "Must we talk about that?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Gadget made a face. "No, I suppose not…"/p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Claw made him chuckle by taking his hand and leading him and their drinks to the outside seating area, where not a single other soul occupied the charming, hand painted seats among the flowers. Finding a beat up but comfortable couch, they sat close together, facing each other with one of Gadget's legs in Claw's lap. "I'm sorry," Claw said, taking Gadget's hands in his. "I'd simply rather save conversation for something really worth speaking about." He kissed the backs of Gadget's hands. "I must warn you now, if you try any more small talk, I'll have to kill you."/p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Gadget laughed and went red. He pulled one hand away to cover his mouth as he recovered. "You certainly have a way with words, Damien," he said. "But, I understand. I just…" he sighed./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;""You want to get to know me, you want to find out all about me?" Claw asked teasingly. He snaked an arm between the other's side and his arm and pulled him closer, face against Claw's throat. Gadget hugged him./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;""I wouldn't mind."/p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;""You'll learn everything you want to in time, my dear," he crooned, rubbing Gadget's shoulder gently. "But for the meantime, I suggest we just enjoy each other. Because this still all feels like a dream to me."/p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Gadget made a sound that suggested vehement agreement. Then he kissed him, and Claw allowed for his face to be guided closer and for his eyes to droop shut in excessive feeling./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"He felt Gadget wiping something off his face, just below his eye, and he flinched severely. Gadget held his shoulders gently and showed him the tear with a soft look. Gently drying his finger with his thumb, Gadget leaned in again to kiss Claw on the mouth, but in the tenderest way, slow and lingering./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Claw was holding Gadget close against him with an arm around his lower back, his other hand digging into his hair. He was careful of his hat, until Gadget removed it himself, without bothering to unlock lips. Claw got a muffled groan in answer to his driving fingers./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"For a little while longer they sat in cozy silence, kissing and holding each other for the aimless sake of it. Only the buzz of his mobile interrupted it. He pulled away with reluctance and a quiet moan, and answered it sharply, "What is it?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Claw's aggressive posture softened as he listened, and he took a long glance at Gadget, who just smiled dreamily back. Claw sighed and hung up. He stroked Gadget's hair and kissed him. "There's a situation at home; I must go, I'm sorry."/p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;""Let me go with you," Gadget said, even he looking surprised he'd said that. He looked at him more surely. "Even if I'm just there to support you, I want to help. And...I don't think I could stand going back to my place right now." He laughed a bit more than he might have otherwise./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Claw smiled as he considered this and decided it could work. "Let's go."/p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"********************************/p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;" /p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"When Claw passed through the giant doors, hand in hand with his mortal enemy, Talon stared from his brooding spot at one of the many computers. He didn't attempt any discretion in what was more anger than confusion. At Claw's warning look, he made an attempt to look less hostile. Gadget wasn't paying attention to Talon anyway./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;""This way," Claw said to Gadget, leading him down a hallway and into a lushly, archaically decorated parlor. He hastily snapped a tiny camera off when Gadget's back was turned, mainly just to shut off the bright little red light. "I'll just be a moment." He sped out of the there, immediately back into execution mode./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"As explained to him over the phone-as interpreted by Talon-the doctor had finally synthesized the poison as Claw wanted. It caused plenty of suffering but no more than a strict limit he'd set himself. If he were thrilled for this breakthrough, he showed little emotion to his captive researcher. This victory only led to the command to create a great quantity of it./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"While she worked, he returned to the parlor and took Gadget on a little tour of similar rooms. His manor contained rooms and wings he himself had yet to explore, and many more he simply didn't use and never changed. He'd inherited the style of the place as surely as the ancient portraits. He said next to nothing about each room or spot in the castle he felt comfortable showing him. That entire side of the house was fairly safe anyway. Gadget was content to see such strangely beautiful, but cold places while in his date's loving grip./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"Already late when they'd arrived, both were becoming exhausted before too much of this. Gadget was half falling asleep against Claw, who could have slept as well. He eventually led him into a room that required entering through another chamber to reach it./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"He shut the door behind them and all but carried Gadget to the divan. They removed some of their clothing before crawling under the single, but cozy blanket, Gadget unable to resist a grin in amusement through his exhaustion./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"They sought each other out beneath the cover and their bodies seemed to know their ideal configuration before their minds did. Cuddled close together but with room to breathe, Gadget fell asleep before too long before Claw ceased his watch./p
p style="font-family: 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"He had to kill him. That was never in question, but now there was a time limit. All parts of the scheme taken into account, he had to get it done in two days maximum; that's how long his dear Gadget had left to live./p