Reuben looked at Fabian with some surprise as his first name was used, not normally hearing it from anyone but the priest of the parish and those he saw in the evenings... and then the two thoughts seemed to cross paths, and for a second he saw himself, in the evening, with Fabian, the boy laid back on soft sheets, groaning the deacon's name...
He brought his hands to his face, rubbing hard at his eyes and forcing the picture out and slightly cursing himself. How could he think like that, with the young man right in front of him now, with the church and all his parishioners less than a few meters away? His demons were growing bolder and bolder.
"I'm sure a novel won't be more than you can handle." He said, once he'd recovered himself. "Forgive me, a passing headache. Caused by the incense."