Disclaimer: Hellsing and all character herein are copyrighted by Kouta Hirano.
Summary: Anderson pays a visit to young Enrico Maxwell with an offer he won't refuse.
Catalyst
by Raid & Ruins
"I don't need something like friends. Same with brothers or companions."
Anderson drew his hand from the door. He stared fixedly at the wood grain, wondering if what he was going to do was the right course of action. It was true that the young Enrico had grown interested in the Church. The boy had once told him – offhandedly, of course – that he was considering the priest's vocation as an option. Enrico only had a few more years left of the orphanage before he had to move out; why not embrace a spiritual path and become a member of the clergy?
But Enrico was not one to be satisfied with a priest's way of life.
At least, not a normal one's.
Anderson again raised his fist to knock on Enrico's dormitory door. The dorm mother had pointed the priest in this direction even though it was unnecessary. The boy was always in his room, his nose buried in a book. He read history books, mostly. Enrico entertained himself with stories about the Roman Empire, the Inquisition, and the World Wars. He greatly admired victory of iron and steel.
"I want to become a great person."
Knock, knock, knock. Anderson's knuckles rapped the wood, and from within floated a distracted voice: "Come in."
Seizing the brass knob, the priest pushed against the door and let himself in, stepping over a discarded atlas page. He returned the door to its frame with little more than a click. Enrico sat on his bed by his window, his eyes shifting back and forth as he read the book in his hands. He glanced briefly at Anderson as the man passed him to grab a chair.
"Hello, Father," he greeted with little enthusiasm.
"Enjoying yourself?" the scarred priest queried.
"Always." With a twitch of his finger, Enrico snapped the book shut and lightly tossed it aside. Monastic Reform, Catharism, and the Crusades, the title said. "What can I do for you?"
His visitor took a deep breath before replying, "Are you still interested in becoming a priest?"
—fin—