A Gangster's Gospel

Chapter 13: A Sinner with Limitations

The two sat in silence at the dinner table.

"You broke your rules." Jeremiah responded quietly, "For me?"

Thaddaeus hummed in agreement, "You don't sound particularly excited." The gangster said standing up and taking Jeremiah by the hand, pulling him up so they were standing inches apart.

"It's just," Jeremiah thought for a moment, "I'm not a particularly exciting person."

"Oh, I beg to differ, you're very exciting to me." Thaddaeus said, snaking his hand under Jeremiah's shirt and pulling him close, the smaller man's frizzy afro tickling his nose.

Jeremiah was exciting to Thaddaeus, he was special to the gangster in ways he didn't know.

Jeremiah was the first person Thaddaeus had been honest with from the very beginning. The first person who had somehow found a way into the Reaper of Enigma's heart with just his voice. The first person to hear about the horrible things Thaddaeus had done and still look forward to meeting him, hoping to meet him again.

The first person to make Thaddaeus want to pull a childish prank like the stunt he pulled at the library. The first person Thaddaeus liked enough to give his personal number to. The first person outside of those involved to know his history. The first person outside of Enigma to know his full name.

Jeremiah was the first person to look at Thaddaeus with no judgment and accept him as he was. Even if what the gangster did scared him, the feelings Jeremiah had for him were greater than that fear.

Jeremiah gave Thaddaeus hope and peace. Hope that he could escape this wretched life he'd been leading and peace with his unfortunate bloodstained past. He made Thaddaeus do things the gangster would never do under any circumstances. He made Thaddaeus feel feelings he never thought he could feel.

Jeremiah made Thaddaeus want to be a good man, a decent man, an honest man. A man worthy of someone like Jeremiah.

But no matter how much Thaddaeus liked Jeremiah the facts were the facts. As long as Thaddaeus remained in Enigma, Jeremiah and those around him would be in a constant state of potential danger. Even if his face and name were relatively unknown to other gangs and organized crime organizations his persona "The Reaper of Enigma" was infamous and that alone meant he had a target on his back.

Thaddaeus broke from his train of thoughts when he felt a warm hand touch his chest over his heart. He glanced down to see Jeremiah still pressed up against him, worry and concern clouding his pretty brown eyes.

"Is everything alright?" Jeremiah asked, "You've been staring off into space with an intense look on your face."

"Everything's fine, just thinking about work." Thaddaeus replied.

Jeremiah didn't press the issue further nor did Thaddaeus plan to elaborate.

Instead Thaddaeus leaned down, gently pressing his lips to Jeremiah's who immediately melted against the taller man. A soft moan escaped Jeremiah's lips as he boldly wrapped his arms around Thaddaeus's neck pressing upward as he got on his tiptoes to deepen the kiss.

Thaddaeus squeezed the smaller man but not too tight as he was still recovering from last night's events. The gangster pulled back, Jeremiah's eyes were still closed for a moment before he slowly opened them.

"I should take you home," Thaddaeus said, not really wanting to, "It would be very inconvenient if you're reported missing."

A surprised look crossed Jeremiah's face as he realized he never once checked his phone or called anyone to let them know he wouldn't be going home last night and he was safe. On top of that he didn't properly close St. Clementia when Thaddaeus all but dragged him out of the chapel.