young!Face/Hannibal story "True love" part 1

[delorita]

Title: True Love
Pairing: young!Face Hannibal (movie)
Rating: PG13 (so far)
A/N: I love young Face so I needed to fill this very special, wonderful prompt over at ateam_prompts: “I realize this is completely fucked up, but I still want to see it! Hannibal adopts one teenage Templeton Peck, for some reason anon can decide. There's some friction at first, some unexpected things (like Temp having constant nightmares and sleeping in Hannibal's bed all the time), but they work through it and they both fall into their new father-son roles. It's all great, really. Even the stuff about Temp sleeping in his bed. Except that, as he gets older, Hannibal realizes that he loves the kid as something more than just a son. And when something finally happens, Hannibal finds out that's what the kid's wanted all along! (Anon would prefer Face not significantly younger than 16 if something happens. Hannibal's not a pedophile or anything like that...)”
http://ateam-prompts.livejournal.com/11355.html?thread=9397339#t9397339


Thanks as always, to my dear and patient beta karenjd You are the best!

++

Major John Smith signed the papers with his precise, accurate signature.

He was a father now.

A young fourteen year old Templeton Peck grinned widely at him, blue eyes sparkling with a joy such that John had never seen on anyone’s face before.

There lay months between this moment and the first time the major had seen the kid.

Hurt, bruised, dirty, unconscious.

A gang of older boys had just proved their own strength to each other, picking on the much smaller kid, smashing his head to the street before leaving, laughing and joking. Hannibal was too late to catch any of them when he jumped out of his car, seeing the kid lying on the sidewalk, not moving.

He’d called an ambulance and gave him first aid as best as he could. Templeton was still breathing but bleeding very badly from the head wound. Even though the soldier didn’t know the boy, he felt the need to sit with him in the ambulance on the drive to the hospital since they couldn’t find any personal documents with the teenager.

What was a kid his age doing on the streets at that hour anyway?

As Hannibal had a few days leave after his last successful mission, he’d decided to stay with the kid in the hospital, feeling strangely alone at home.

“Who are you?” That had been Templeton’s very first question when he came to the next day and saw Hannibal sitting at his bed side.

“That’s the man who saved your life,” had been the answer from the doctor who was with them at that moment.

Templeton’s eyes grew wide in shock and a very low, “What happened?” was next.

“I’m not really sure, but I found you lying on the sidewalk, a gang just leaving. I had to decide to either go after them or look after you, and since you lay unconscious on the ground…”

“Without Major Smith you would be dead, young man.”

“Major?” Templeton tried to sit up a little more straight in his bed but winced and sank back into the pillows.

“Major John Smith, Airborn Ranger. Nice to meet you, Mr...?” Hannibal extended his hand to the boy, smiling genuinely.

Templeton tried to grin, which wasn’t easy with a black eye and a swollen lip, but he took the proffered hand with his left, since his right arm was apparently broken and encased in plaster, and replied, “Templeton Peck.”

“Now young man, as you are finally awake,” the doctor interrupted their playful introduction, “Will you please tell us how we can contact your parents?”

“You can’t,” Templeton murmured under his breath.

“Come again?” The doctor inquired, trying to hide his growing impatience, and looking at his schedule.

“You... can... not,” Templeton repeated somewhat louder, stubbornly enunciating each word.

“Please, I don’t have the time to play games with you.”

“You can’t because I am an orphan,” Templeton said angrily, looking away, closing his eyes firmly.

“Oh,” the doctor said a little shocked, and Hannibal felt his heart go out to the poor kid at the same time. So that was the reason why he had been on the streets that late.

“Are you… Have you…?”

“No, I haven’t. I live on the street,” Templeton said with a firm, determined expression.

“But you must…”

“No I must not. I ran away.”

“How old are you? Thirteen?” The doctor was getting really agitated and impatient now.

“I dunno. Maybe.”

Hannibal cringed at the conversation. Despite his injuries Templeton was a very stubborn kid. And he didn’t show it at all if he was in pain.

“Okay young man. I’ll leave you for the moment. The nurse will be back in an hour to look after you. Mr. Smith, can I have a word please?”

Hannibal was confused himself and nodded absent minded, joining the doctor outside the room.

“Please, Mr. Smith, be honest with me. You really don’t know this boy?”

“No. I saw him for the first time lying there in the street. I know nothing about him, just that he was badly injured and helpless.” Hannibal combed his hand nervously through his hair, “He did tell us his name, though.”

“I’m not sure if it was his real name. He doesn’t sound very honest to me.”

“Well, just look him up. And if you are worried about the costs, I’ll pay for the moment.”

The doctor’s expression clearly lit up with relief when he mentioned the money issue, and Hannibal was suddenly tired of it all. He wanted to go home. He definitely needed sleep himself.

“Thank you, and I’ll see what I can find out,” the doctor nodded, and then suddenly excused himself and hurried away when his name was called over the speakers.

Hannibal opened the door of the patient’s room again, trying to make no sound in case the boy was sleeping. Templeton’s head was turned away from the door.

“Why did you come back?” a half unfriendly, half surprised, barely audible voice asked from the bed. He still refused to look at Hannibal.

“I wanted to tell you good night and that I’ll be back tomorrow,” Hannibal said somewhat awkwardly. He didn’t actually know why he wanted that. He was probably still shocked by the violence he’d seen inflicted on the boy at the hands of those youths, and felt the desperate urge to help.

“Why?” The boy’s head very slowly turned towards Hannibal.

“To make sure you’re okay?” Hannibal tried to smile. “Plus I am bored at home. You may be bored here. So I thought we could be bored together,” he winked. The boy had to laugh at that but it clearly hurt.

“You don…You don’t have a kid at home?”

“No,” Hannibal said, shaking his head, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “No wife, no kids. Bored.”

“Well,” Templeton considered the possibility. That guy actually seemed to be fun, so he answered, “no siblings, no parents. Bored.” He tried to grin again. “Can you bring cards or a chess game, Major?”

Hannibal looked surprised at the latter but nodded.

“I did not lie to the doctor about my name, and yes I do play chess,” the kid said somewhat proudly, which made Hannibal laugh.

“How did you know he thought you were lying?” Hannibal asked curiously.

“His face. He frowned. His eyes. He just didn’t believe me, but you did,” Templeton said thoughtfully but then held his head with both hands.

Hannibal was stunned at how good the kid was able to read people already at his young age. But he needed rest. They could talk more tomorrow. “I think you need some sleep, young man. And I do too. Good night.” He grabbed the door handle, paused and turned, “Oh, and to you it’s John, not ‘major’, okay?”

“Okay, Ma…John,” Templeton corrected himself, “Good night and…thank you.”

“You are welcome.”

+++

Templeton actually won the chess game.

Hannibal shook his head and chuckled in disbelief.

The boy just grinned and asked, “Again?”

“Don’t you have a headache or something?” Hannibal truly felt uncomfortable losing against a thirteen year old.

“I do, but challenging you makes me forget about it.” The teenager sat up straighter against his pillows.

Hannibal sighed and smiled at the boy, wondering what it was that compelled him to sit here and entertain a total stranger. Well, the boy wasn’t really a stranger anymore since they’d spent almost three days constantly together. But still, he couldn’t help but wonder...

“Okay, one more time then I gotta go.”

“Oh fuck.”

“Templeton, language!”

“Oopsie, I forgot Major Smith has some manners,” the boy mocked him playfully and they both laughed. “You…have a mission or something? Can you tell me about it?” The boy was all eager and curious, sparkling blue eyes.

“Yeah, a mission. And no, I am not allowed to talk about it, sorry.” Hannibal put the figures onto the board again. “Don’t you have some friends that could come visit you?”

Templeton sighed, looked down and miserably shook his head.

A big knot formed inside Hannibal’s chest. How could a smart, nice boy like this one not have any friends?

“You…” Templeton swallowed. “You leaving for good?” he asked with such an odd, vulnerable voice that Hannibal’s heart cramped. “I have never… I mean… I always… Shit.” The boy slumped onto his side, facing away from Hannibal, the board and the figures scattered all over the floor.

Hannibal scratched his head clueless.

What made him stay with the boy anyway?

His leave was almost over, and all he had done was entertain an injured thirteen year old in a hospital sick bed. But the wonderful thing of that was, he had found it entertaining himself on a whole different level than sitting around with his buddies and watching football on TV. The boy was witty and had that kind of humour Hannibal liked himself, and the major had a feeling that he’d made someone’s life a little happier, and that was a totally new emotion for him.

“Listen, Templeton...” He hesitantly laid his hand on the slim shoulder. “I have no idea how long the mission will take.” And if I come back at all, he added to himself. “And I know you won’t like what I’m gonna say now.” There was no response, no movement, no sound, so Hannibal continued. “They’ll put you into another orphanage.” That earned him an angry huff, but he finished, “I’ll make sure they give me the address and I’ll come visit you as soon as I‘m back. But you MUST stay there, not run away again. Understand?”

“I don’t believe you,” Templeton spat angrily, not turning around.

“Why would I have spent the last few days with you, my only days off, and then lie to you about this?” Hannibal said somewhat angrily himself.

“Yeah, why?” Templeton turned slowly, his moist gaze meeting the major’s, “Why did you stay? You didn’t know me.”

“Because I rescued you?” Hannibal scratched the back of his neck, “Because I like to be beaten at chess by a teenager?”

Templeton suddenly boxed him in the arm and laughed a little hesitantly. “Well…”

“See?” Hannibal boxed him back. “So you promise?”

Templeton eyed him curiously for several seconds, Hannibal’s gaze not wavering, showing the boy that he meant it. “Okay, sir. Yes, sir!” Templeton suddenly saluted him and they both laughed again.

“It may take a while, you know,” Hannibal said more seriously after a few seconds.

“I know. I’ll practice my chess skills,” Templeton grinned, challenging the older man.

“You go to school, young man,” the major almost ordered. “I want to ask you some history questions and math stuff when I come back.”

Templeton groaned at that, but hesitantly nodded anyway.

“And you won’t get into more trouble, you hear me?”

“Um…”

“No trouble. I may not be there to pick you up from the sidewalk again in time…” Hannibal’s gaze was almost hypnotising and after a while Templeton nodded again.

++

Two years later

Templeton sneaked into Hannibal’s bedroom again for the third night in a row, watching the soldier sleep, hoping he wouldn’t wake and see him sitting on the carpet in front of his bed, praying his combat skills wouldn’t catch up with him at home.

This was the night before his invented birthday... the day Hannibal had decided was to be stated as his official birthday - the day of his adoption a year ago, and Templeton had been truly touched at that. After going through home-study, Templeton having a lawyer appointed by the judge to report, after an independent investigation, on what was in the best interest of the child. Hannibal having his records checked, his fingerprints recorded, his home investigated, his parents and sister checked, they’d finally become a family.

After their initial meeting in the hospital, and later Hannibal visiting the boy in the orphanage, they’d found it harder and harder to be apart, and so the older man had come up with the plan of adoption. He knew he was gay and would never have kids of his own, and this lonely boy, who so desperately needed a home, had somehow wormed his way into his heart, and Hannibal had grown to love him like a son, even though Templeton was a teenager already.

Templeton didn’t run away again from the state run group home, but had concentrated on his homework instead, had even learned to play an instrument. The piano. He loved challenges, and this was the perfect one to keep his fingers and mind occupied while he tried to work out whether Hannibal would return or not.

He didn’t make any friends but chose to study something else at the new school he was attending. French and German.

And that day, when Hannibal was suddenly there in the doorway of his little room, watching him read for several minutes until the boy finally felt eyes on him, the joy was beyond anything the major had ever seen. The kid actually jumped him like a five year old, hugged him very tightly, repeating, “You came, you came!”

After Templeton remembered that he actually had been told that he was fourteen now, he blushed and stepped away, feeling awkward. But Hannibal ruffled his hair and grinned, holding something out to him. “I promised. And I usually keep my promises, kid, provided I’m not dead or close to it.”

Templeton looked up suspiciously, but no, there wasn’t any injury visible. He also looked suspiciously at the gift bag. Hannibal chuckled, “Take it, it doesn’t bite.”

“Whoa, a football! I never had one of my own!” The boy’s eyes lit up even more. “Thank you,” he whispered.

“You wanna try it?”

“What, now?”

“Of course now,” Hannibal grinned, attempting to take it from the boy already.

“But, but have you got time?”

“Sure. I came to visit you. That usually involves having some time on my hands,” he winked.

“That’s awesome.” Templeton searched for his trainers beneath his small bed and pulled them on.

“You want ice cream first or rather a burger?”

“Oh um…”

“Or both?” Hannibal laughed and closed the door behind them. A growl of Templeton’s stomach was the answer to that.

They raced down the stairs and got to Hannibal’s car totally out of breath, almost simultaneously. The kid was fast.

“I like your nickname,” Hannibal said when they were driving through the afternoon traffic towards McDonalds.

“My nickname?” Blue eyes looked at him curiously.

“Yeah, when I asked for you, they said ‘Face is upstairs’.”

“Oh, oh that…” The kid blushed again. “A nice girl gave it to me.”

“Your…” mother must have been beautiful. Hannibal wanted to say but stopped mid sentence then said, looking at the teenager sideways, “It’s good to see you not looking bruised anymore. The last time I saw you, you had a black eye, swollen lips and cuts on your cheeks. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Templeton smiled to himself at all those happy memories, and sighed. The last two years had been the happiest time in his young life and he looked at the sleeping man in front of him very fondly. Hannibal’s parents and sister were also really nice. It squicked Temp at first that he would have to stay with them when Hannibal was on longer missions, but the time they had together when he was back made it all worth it. It really felt as though he’d finally found a family.

But the boy was growing into a young man, and he was starting to look at his father figure with other feelings. He didn’t want to. He loved what they had together, didn’t want to change it, but he was afraid sooner or later his body would play tricks on him, tricks he wouldn’t be able to hide.

Temp stared at Hannibal, wanted to reach out, wanted to touch. He hesitantly stroked his index finger through the older man’s brown hair, loving the little huff that escaped Hannibal.

Please don’t be mad at me, John, Templeton was thinking when he ever so slowly bent forward and attempted to touch his lips against John’s. Please, please be okay with it…

“DON’T!”

Hannibal sat up straight, wide awake, switching on the light all in one go.

Templeton fell on his ass, eyes wide, shocked to the bone.

They stared at each other for several moments.

Templeton started to shake, feeling moisture building up in his eyes, a sob escaped his lips. Then he was up and out of the room, running down the stairs.

“Shit!” John was out of the bed just as fast. He couldn’t let the boy escape. He’d never ever find him again.

“Templeton!” he yelled. “Temp, wait!”

He took two stairs at a time, heard the door slam, but he was out in the yard just seconds after Temp, who was already running down the street. John didn’t yell again as to not disturb the neighbours, but he ran as though an enemy soldier was behind him, and luckily he caught the boy, grabbing his arm.

Templeton wanted to wrestle himself free. Neither of them could speak because they were out of breath.

“I…I’m sorry.” Hannibal loosened his grip, not letting go, hoping no one would see them. “Please come back inside and I’ll try and explain. I really didn’t mean to upset you.”

Templeton said nothing but pressed his lips together, feeling so cold inside. He shook his head stubbornly.

“Temp, please. I…please?”

The kid looked up at the unusual tone of the normally so steady and soothing voice. Was there moisture in John’s eyes as well?

“Please come back inside, I’m begging you, Temp. Don’t…” Hannibal swallowed. “Don’t leave me,” he said barely audible.

Templeton turned and walked silently back to the house, puzzlement, sadness and a little fear making his head spin and his heart pound heavily in his chest.

When the major closed the door behind them, he took the boy’s hand and led him into the living room, turning on the reading lamp. Temp curled onto the sofa, while John knelt on the floor in front of him – positions reversed from earlier, taking a deep breath. “You wanted to kiss me, didn’t you?”

Temp hesitantly nodded, silent tears running down his cheeks.

“My dear boy,” John took Temp’s hand and pressed it firmly between his own. “I am sorry I put this conversation off for too long. We should have talked about this.” The older man suddenly stood and started to pace. Then sat down in front of the kid again, sighing. “I know growing up is hard, you’re puzzled and see things you don’t quite understand, and your body starts to grow as well. And then there are those films and the others talking and…” Hannibal stopped. This felt so awkward. Especially since Temp’s huge blue eyes were penetrating him to his very core.

“You once told me you’re gay,” Temp said somewhat accusingly.

“Yeah, well, but that has nothing to do with you. You are…you became…my…my kid, Temp.”

“I’m no kid anymore,” Temp whispered.

“I can see that. But you should look for girls. I’m your father.”

“I did look for girls,” Templeton sat up. “And you aren’t my father.”

“Temp, you know what we’ve been through to become a family.”

“I know but that was another time. I…John…” The boy suddenly took the older man’s hand into his and started to explain with a very firm voice. “I did look for girls.” Hannibal nodded, not pulling his hand away. “But my…my body doesn’t react to them. I looked at those magazines everybody has in school, nothing.” Templeton swallowed. “I, I wondered if I was ill, that something isn’t growing inside of me or something. But…but then you came back from your latest mission and I…my d…Oh fuck, John.” Templeton suddenly lost all his courage and fell against the major’s shoulder and sobbed totally helplessly.

“Shhh, Temp. It’s okay, I understand.” He hugged the trembling figure close to him, holding him, stroking his wild hair, rocking him like a little child.

After a few moments, Templeton tried to look Hannibal in the eye, tried to focus, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t want this to happen, it’s all my fault…”

“No, ba…” Hannibal caught himself. “It’s not your fault, Temp.” He put his index finger beneath the boy’s chin, taking a deep breath. “You know…” Oh god damn this was hard. “You know, baby, I…I feel the same way.”

Templeton’s eyes grew huge and full of hope, but he didn’t know if he should be happy about that softly spoken confession or not because Hannibal didn’t move at all.

“But, we cannot act on this, my sweet Templeton. Do you hear me?” the older man’s voice insisted, his hands holding the boy’s shoulders firmly.

“You…?” The kid couldn’t find the words. A sad smile appeared on his handsome face. He clutched the nearest pillow against his stomach.

“Yeah,” Hannibal nodded, mirroring the smile, attempting to stroke a curl out of the boy’s forehead but letting his hand fall down again.

“But you never… But, why not? No one would know!” Temp sounded hurt. He wanted to reach out for the older man, but clearly got the message the major’s body was sending, so he kept his trembling fingers tangled in the fuzzy pillow.

“Oh but they would know,” Hannibal sighed and moved away, sitting in the armchair, Temp way too close for his comfort. “If we acted on this now, we wouldn’t be able to act innocently outside of our home. We won’t be able to hide our secret…” John covered his face with his hands, shaking his head, cursing silently.

“But... John…” Templeton reached forward, but stopped mid move, standing up.

“I….” Hannibal tried again, his voice unsteady and low. “Two years, honey, two more years and no one can judge us then…” He looked up as the boy walked by. “You…you’re not going to leave?”

“Of course not,” the teenager said much more strongly than Hannibal felt right now. “But I gotta think for a bit. Good night, John.”

Hannibal felt chilled to the bone.

+++

“DAD?! Do you want another steak?” Templeton asked from the other side of the table.

Hannibal cringed at the wording. Temp had never called him dad before. And, he admitted to himself, it felt utterly wrong. He’d always seen himself as a friend to Templeton rather than a father, despite the adoption. He wanted to help the kid, give him a home, make him feel cared for. He wanted…

“Templeton really looks grown up today, honey,” Hannibal’s mother whispered into his ear. His parents and sister had shown up mid afternoon with a huge birthday cake. Temp had hugged them and his eyes had lit up with so much joy and gratefulness. The only thing he kept repeating was, “WOW! That’s awesome.”

Later Hannibal had dangled car keys in front of his boy’s nose, and the happy grin got even broader. John could sense how much the kid wanted to hug him as well but he only snatched the keys from his hand, grinned, said, “Thank you so much, J…dad!” and called for Hannibal’s sister. “Janet! I’ve got the car keys!”

“Oh cool honey, ready for your first lesson as I promised?”

“Of course.” Temp waved to everyone in the room and was out with his aunt within seconds.

Hannibal wanted to cry.

+++

When the little party was over, Templeton asleep in his room, Hannibal sat in the dark of the kitchen for what felt like hours. Cigar smoke curled around him, thoughts in his head whirling too. Nothing was the same anymore after the previous night.

When he’d wished Templeton a happy birthday that morning, the boy had been polite and tried to show joy, but it felt fake. All the warmth towards John he’d shown in the past was gone. It felt like an act.

Over breakfast they’d made small talk, tried to get a conversation going, but it felt awkward and false. Templeton left for school way too early.

Hannibal sighed, rubbing his tired eyes. That was when he heard a loud wail from upstairs.

He sprinted towards Templeton’s room and saw the kid toss and turn on the bed, his legs kicking out and he was repeating, “Nononononono...” in one breathless sob. He wasn’t awake.

Hannibal had seen enough nightmares with his team mates to recognise a bad one, even had a few of his own too, so he gently sat on the edge of the bed and said softly, “Temp, you’re dreaming, wake up.” But the boy kept on thrashing about and yelled, “Leave me alone!” at one point and then sat up straight, eyes open, gaze wild, gasping.

“It’s okay, Temp, you’re at home,” Hannibal soothed.

Unfocused eyes looked at him confused, “John?”

“Yeah. It’s all right.” He handed the boy a glass of water.

Templeton gulped it down way too fast and started coughing, then he fell back on the bed, groaning, “Fuck.”

Hannibal’s fingers itched to stroke the sweaty hair out of the kid’s forehead, but he busied himself with putting the empty glass away.

“You never had a nightmare before.” He sat down at the edge of the bed again. One part of him knowing it was wrong but the other part desperately wanting to comfort Temp.

“Oh believe me I have,” Temp said in a bitter tone of voice. “Just not since…since…” He looked away and shut his mouth.

Hannibal understood the accusation in the words that weren’t even said. He was completely at a loss of what to do.

They sat in silence for several moments.

“You know,” Temp then started shakily, “I did some reading since I thought something was wrong with me.” He wiped his nose on the back of his hand. “I… I want to apologize for today. I think this whole mess is completely my fault.”

“I already told you it’s not…”

“No, please hear me out.” Templeton stared at Hannibal. “I think, I think I tricked you into adopting me. I…I’ve had a crush on you since I first saw you.” The boy hung his head sadly, pulling the covers up to his chin.

“I don’t think so. You never had a father…”

“No, John, that was not it. You were tall, tanned, a soldier. You were the first person that ever took me seriously. I felt…I felt safe when I was near you.”

Hannibal sighed very deeply and asked lowly, “You don’t feel safe anymore?”

Templeton exhaled, “I do. I do but I can’t trust my stupid body anymore. I want to stay here. I want us to be a family. And I do know what’s at risk for you. I don’t want to endanger you! But I also want…” He swallowed, gathered all his courage and said, “I want to kiss you, want to be kissed by you, want to…John, can’t I just show you?” He moved further towards the older man. John’s body was tight as though he was about to go into battle. Every vein pounding, every muscle hurting.

“Temp, I don’t think…” Hannibal’s attempted refusal sounded very weak, and when Templeton looked at him and warm hands closed over his, Hannibal had to close his eyes to stop himself from leaning forward. He had to be in control all the time, but that control was slowly slipping now, since Templeton showed his true feelings the night before.

Then he felt those lips on his mouth. Moist, hot, soft. He didn’t give in to the temptation, but he didn’t pull back either. He just sighed from the depths of his soul and opened his eyes again and took the boy’s hands, not able to speak.

“I love you, John.”

Hannibal blinked, once, twice, not able to keep the running tears at bay. He finally took the kid’s handsome face in his hands and whispered, “I’m in love with you too, kid.” He touched his lips to Temp’s as softly as the young man just had done. Then he pulled back again, “There can only be this for now, baby, only…just…” But Templeton didn’t let him finish the sentence.

He leaned in and started to kiss the other man more deeply. His tongue slid between Hannibal’s lips. Slowly exploring until the older man’s already weakened defences started to crumble, and he wrapped his strong arms around the smaller body and started to kiss him back properly. Tongue curling gently around the young man’s tongue, sliding into the wide open, willing mouth. He felt Temp’s hands in his hair and on his shoulder blades, sliding and circling, pressing him close, chest to chest.

They kissed for several moments... deeply and lovingly, until they had to break for air. Templeton’s agile fingers stroked John’s stubbly jaw. “Best birthday gift, John.”

Hannibal grinned, wanting to say something but Templeton was faster, “I know what you’re going to say.” He looked down between them, both their pants tenting oddly. “What do we do about those?” Temp asked, sounding very wicked.

Hannibal shrugged, rubbing both hands up and down Temp’s arms, not daring to touch anything else.

“Just this once, John?” Temp whispered and very hesitantly laid his hand on top of John’s covered erection. A groan escaped the older man immediately before he could stop it. “Please, John?” Temp’s eyes were dark and pleading, droplets of sweat gathering on his forehead. He started to rub slowly without any permission.

TBC (sorry for the bad cliffhanger lol)