luck, they would have this floor ready for plumbing and electrical by next week.
One thing he’d learned fast in maintenance was that he had to know at least a little bit about everything. He had spent most of his life on Union Station, maintaining a large factory that employed most of the folks in his neighborhood. Working on Charybdis Station was a whole new experience. The place was a work of art, and Val loved being a part of keeping it running.
A little while later, his arms were stiff and tired, but they had finished the room. He turned his torch off and set it on the floor before pushing his goggles to the top of his head.
Poppy stretched her arms over her head. “Damn, this is tedious. I’d rather be playing in the sewage mains.”
Clyde pushed his own goggles up and arched a brow. “Really?”
Poppy grinned. “Okay, not really. Still, I miss our normal work.”
Val thought of the tired mother and little girl on the tram. “Think about what it’s for. The refugees lost everything. We can give them a little something back, right?”
Poppy patted his cheek. “You’re such a sweetheart, big guy.”
Clyde yawned. “Where did you go for lunch anyway?”
“A friend needed a bulb changed.”
Poppy snorted. “Is that what afternoon quickies are called nowadays?”
Val flushed. “It really was a bulb.” He tilted his head in thought, then grinned. “Not that I wouldn’t have been happy to travel across the station for an afternoon quickie.”
Clyde laughed along politely but gave Val a nervous look.
Val shook his head. “Spit it out, old man. What’s worrying you?”
“Everyone knows you’re mated to that scientist,” Clyde said finally. “The one with the freaky eyes that can take your soul.”
Poppy tapped her chin. “Are you saying his eyes can take your soul or that he can take your soul? What would a pair of eyes even do with a bunch of souls?”
Clyde gave her an irritated look. “You heard what they said too.”
Poppy winced and smacked Val’s arm. “Okay. All joking aside, people really do talk a lot about him. I was there when he did that thing to the fleet attacking the station. I had to help clean up the bodies. He’s a dangerous creature, Val. Are you sure you need to be spending so much time with him?”
Val shook his head, irritated. “Everyone sure loves Verion when they need something from him. When he killed those attackers, he saved the lives of thousands of Charybdis Station soldiers. He even went to that stupid planet, Dramacus, and helped their king, even though the man’s an asshole. I don’t understand why everyone’s all upset about Veri now. He’s just a person. A wonderous, sexy as hell, intelligent person.” Val picked up his torch. “Let’s get back to work.”
Poppy gave him a sympathetic look and went to the next room on the schedule.
Clyde shuffled his feet. “It’s not just that he’s dangerous, Val. He’s a fancy scientist that advises the Lord Admiral and the whole damn council. You’re…” Clyde winced. “You’re a maintenance man. Fated or not, do you really think you two can last?”
Val put his goggles back in place and turned his back on his friend. He went to the new room and started in his own corner. He focused on the twisting metal in front of him for a long while.
He was well aware that Verion and he came from different backgrounds. Veri’s family was moderately wealthy and well-educated. His mate was a damn genius with several degrees and accomplishments to his name even though he was only in his mid-forties. He had traveled all over the galaxy and had helped save the world.
Val, on the other hand, had never traveled away from Union Station until he’d come here with his son. He’d lived in the same neighborhood for most of his life and hadn’t even minded. He was a homebody. All he needed was his family and his friends.
Then there was Death. Verion had untold memories and powers from the Crellic Element that had melded with him. Clyde and Poppy had asked him all kinds of questions about Death and Verion, as if they were two people. They didn’t get that there wasn’t Death and Verion. They weren’t two fucking people floating around in one body. There was just Veri.
Val loved his mate and would be damned if he ever gave him up.
By the end of the day, they were all tired. Val packed up his tools and helped clean up