"You look very handsome." Alois said as he looked his husband up and down, admiring one of the more expensive suits that he wears while not on a mission. "Makes me kind of want to go with you. Hang on your arm and all that."
"When you're better, you may. Unless you're fine going out in matching eyepatches. We could scare a good deal of people. Could be fun." Ciel replied, admiring how warm and cozy his own spouse looked in his pyjamas while wrapped in a blanket. "You do look quite cute like this, though. Joining you instead seems like another good idea."
"My depth perception is so bad, though. I'd probably have to cling to you just to get around! I hope I can get back to our room without bumping any more tables. I'm afraid you'll just have to go to church without me."
"How cruel. Using me as your flunkie while you get to lay around the house… It's not fair, Jim. Truly, I am saddened."
"I love you, dear." the blonde grinned. Taking a few steps forward, he kissed the Watchdog on the lips. "Thanks for doing this for me."
"It's nothing. You don't know how to drive with an eyepatch on and I promised that I would take care of you."
For a moment, Alois opened his mouth to reply, but stopped himself before he could. Instead, he chose to think about his words more carefully, kissing his spouse once more to buy himself some more time. "Take care, Ciel."
Raising his brows, the other demon blushed. "I'll try my best..." he replied somewhat unsurely despite the fact that he was telling the truth. "I'll be back soon."
"Love you~!" waved the menace while Ciel reached for the doorknob. He was the sort of person who would tell his spouse this multiple times in a short span of time, but he always meant it. It was simply the natural order of things- something that shouldn't be fought against.
"I love you, too." his spouse instinctively answered. "Do you need anything else while I'm out?"
"Not that I can think of."
"Alright. Bye, then. Love you."
"Lov-"
"Jesus fucking Christ, will you just go already?!" barked Revy while digging his fingernails into the cover of a magazine in an irritated fashion before mumbling. "God damn… Can't go five fucking seconds without getting all gross…"
"God hates drags, Revy, and you're being one." quipped the menace before turning back to his husband. Before he could say anything, Ciel had already pecked him on the lips.
"Bye, then." the Watchdog stated with a somewhat apologetic smile. With a light wave from the blonde, Ciel left and shut the door behind him.
"Finally..." huffed the revenant, prompting his older brother's attention. "Can't chill the fuck out for five minutes… I'm never getting old."
Without a word, Alois walked over to the couch he was sitting on and stood behind it. Bending at the waist, the menace let go of his blanket for a moment in order to grab Revy's shoulders, holding him still so that he could place a long, perhaps overdone kiss on the top of the teen's head with a loud hum.
"Oh, fuck off!" Revy roared while trying to wiggle his way out of the blonde's grasp.
"I don't just love Ciel. I also love my cute widdle baby brother, too~!" Alois laughed.
"I WANNA MOVE OUT."
While Alois was taking delight in his brother's screaming, his husband was out on his errand. It really was Alois' obligation to fulfill, but only one of them could drive a motor vehicle with an eyepatch on, and it was Ciel. All he had to do was go to Gehenna and drop off a donation to the church and come back. Simple as that. In truth, it wasn't entirely for the church itself, as Alois was not known at all for his faith. In fact, he doubted the very existence of God for the longest time and although he has met demons and angels alike, he still wasn't entirely convinced. Rather, the funds were to upkeep the various other services that the church provided, such as the school that his youngest sibling went to and other more charitable ventures that make the lives of others just a tad bit easier.
Yes, it was possible for a demon to not believe in God despite seeing angels, for where was God to grant him mercy from this fate? Where was God to save him from the suffering he endured or to at least ease his pain? Where was God to intervene when it appeared that he was on a certain, unavoidable path to ruin due to forces that may not be within the realm of control to a young boy? Nowhere. God wasn't there. So why should he pray? The only other alternative was that God is a cruel and malicious force that created humanity so that it may watch them writhe and suffer. God watched and did nothing. That is not something that Alois nor Ciel wanted to believe in.
Yet, they could appreciate that the idea of God may prove comforting to others. Some people find solace in the thought that there was someone who would look after them as they depart from the moral realm and deal justice where justice is due when it cannot be obtained by humantiy's own hands. A benevolent, guardian spirit was a much more comforting image of God than the one that the Phantomhives knew. While they could obtain no such luxury through this channel, they were not going to spoil it for those who needed it. Furthermore, the church was a useful pillar to the community. It had merits in that regard, if nothing else.
Having passed through the gates to Gehenna, the Watchdog parked along the sidewalk in front of the church. He felt comfortable leaving his helmet on top of the bike's seat, here. No one had any use for it here, and if they did try to steal it, that would be ill advised. One does not steal from the Watchdog and get away with it. The church doors were open, so he wandered inside, hoping to find some semblance of the nun he was looking for. Eventually, he was spotted from behind by a woman in some kind of religious garb of christian origin. In a friendly manner, she greeted him.
"Good morning." She said with a smile on her face. "Are you here for anything in particular?"
Turning around, Ciel watched as the friendliness drained from her face and she looked down. It was then that he remembered just where he was. Immediately, the Phantomhive tried to compensate by smiling and trying to put on a personable demeanor.
"Uhm, yes. I'm looking for Sister Dorothy?" he answered, keeping his tone light. "My husband sent me to give her some funds."
"I'll go get her." the woman said before walking away briskly, leaving the man dumbfounded.
No, "dumbfounded" was not the right word. He knew the exact reason for her behaviour. He was simply going to do what he usually did and try not to let it get to him. After all, he was somewhat used to it after a hundred or so years.
While he waited, he sat down in one of the pews and looked around. This was the church he got married in. To Ciel, it was never quite as beautiful as on that day. It wasn't before and it hasn't been ever since. Like many churches, artwork decorated the walls and woodwork. The artisans of Gehenna really went all out in their work, yet somehow, it didn't come across as gaudy. There were admittedly a strangely high amount of portraits of Saint Christopher, but given that he was a favourite saint of Gehenna, it wasn't that surprising. He was loved for his somewhat obscure depiction as a cynocephalus in some works and has thus been claimed as a supernatural.
Ciel waited for a long time before the sister finally arrived. She looked tired and smelled of shade gel. No wonder it she was slow- not that it was her fault. Still, she smiled at the Phantomhive as he stood up to greet her.
"Good morning, Sister." he said while reaching in his jacket. "Jim sent me to give this to you..."
"Thank you very much." the woman replied, understanding immediately. "How is he fairing?"
"He's getting better, although he keeps bumping into tables." Ciel paused to think about that for a moment and thought it sounded strange. "He's too stubborn to stay in bed all day, but his depth-perception is not kind to his little toes or to furniture."
"Quite the trooper, isn't he?" Dorothy chuckled.
"He is. Part of me suspects that he might have sent me so that I would stop hovering for a few minutes." Ciel attempted as a joke.
"Well, we musn't disappoint him. Do sit down."
"Are you sure?"
"If I am destined to wake up this early in the day, then I might as well have something to do." replied the vampire, prompting Ciel to do as he was told. "Besides, I haven't seen you in a long while. Since you were married, perhaps? How is that faring you?"
"I quite enjoy it." The bluenette tried his best not to appear awkward, but small-talk was not one of his strong suits. "I'm actually quite surprised you allowed a pair of demons to marry in your church."
"Oh, it isn't my church. It's a church of God for all of her children." Sister Dorothy stated, urging the bluenette to scoot down so that she could sit next to him. "Besides, after all of you have done for both the town and the people who reside in it, how on earth could I say 'no'?"
"I still find it somewhat hard to believe." Ciel confessed with an arched brow and a slight smile. "Shouldn't I be bursting into flames or something?"
"Heavens, no. You are far from a malicious entity. Demons and angels are kin, so surely even demons have the capacity to do good. You yourself have proven that on your own without being asked."
"I am far from a 'good' person. Don't forget, I'm still the dreaded 'Watchdog,' you know. Aren't I still frightening?"
To that, Sister Dorothy's face grew somewhat serious. "Do you intend to steal me away?" she questioned, catching the bluenette completely off-guard. With eyebrows raised, he made his reply.
"No." he said. "There's no reason at all to do that?"
"Was there a reason why those you took away were spirited away?"
"Yes?" the Watchdog said, somewhat unsurely. "They were violent offenders in one way or another. Some would venture out at night and kill people in London, so HELLSING instructed me to stop them."
"Then that is settled." stated the vampire in a matter-of-fact tone, allowing a small smile to grace her face. "You are no threat to me, good sir. I do my best every day to avoid doing such a thing, but then again, it really isn't that difficult to just not kill someone in one's everyday life."
"I'm an assassin, so I'm afraid I find it somewhat difficult to relate to that statement."
"Ah, so you willfully overlook your good nature." the nun sighed. "While it is definitely certain that I cannot condone or appreciate the violence that you are accustomed to, I recognise what you are and that you cannot escape fate."
That certainly stung. Although Ciel had his suspicions, to hear it so directly from someone that it was in his nature to do harm was a blow to his ego. It confirmed to him the worst.
"I cannot change the circumstances that I have been given, nor the way I have handled them in the past. I have always been wretched, so wretched is the way I will stay. There is no fighting it."
"What in blazes are you on about?" gawked the woman. "Who said anything about that?"
"Well… You did, I assume." Ciel answered with confusion all over his face.
"Child, your demonic self has nothing to do with the person you are or wish to be. As I said, demons and angels are kin. They come from the same cloth. Lucifer himself was the most beautiful and highly regarded of all angels himself, once, and he too has a place in this world. No, I believe that some demons, although they may be misguided or imperfect, are inciters of change. They can leave a positive impact on the world if they wish to."
"Even Lucifer?"
"Had it not been for him, humanity as we know it would not exist, if one takes the stories literally." chuckled Sister Dorothy, looking over at the man with kind eyes. "Eve would have never gained knowledge and humanity would never flourish. Human will would be non-existent, as humanity would be incapable of choice. The ability to return God's love and the ability to reject it is part of what makes humans what they are. It is what separates people from beasts- from monsters. Yet, even the option of becoming a monster is open, should one make that decision. Ultimately, however, people rule themselves."
"You talk as if humans are the center of the universe." scoffed the Watchdog, trying to keep up his haughty demeanor. "You aren't human, so what does it matter?"
"True, but I was once a daughter of Eve, myself, once upon a time." Staring straight ahead, the nun folded her hands and watched the podium as an almost nostalgic look washed over her. "I even questioned my faith, believe it or not."
"It's perfectly believable. If you were in any other church, the things you're saying would be blasphemous."
"That is because humans are ignorant to our existence. God created us too, therefore God loves us as well."
"Even if he sits by and does nothing as we suffer?"
After a moment of silence, the woman turned to the demon, her smile now gone. "Sir Phantomhive, what ails you, truly?" she asked. "Do you truly believe that you are irredeemable?"
"That has nothing to do with the question I asked." scowled the bluenette, folding his arms. In her haste to get to the root of things, the nun accidentally caused the man to close himself off further. Having realised her mistake, she let out a sigh.
"No, I suppose it doesn't. I sympathise with you, however. I too, questioned the legitimacy of the God that I prayed to when I was attacked by and transformed into a most unholy creature." Looking down at her hands, she could see the shade gel on her skin reflecting the light of the sun slipping through the churches windows. "Angry, I cursed God. I wanted to know why. 'Why did you let this happen to me, who has followed you and worshiped you most diligently all this time? What for am I being punished?' I hated this curse and I hated the God that I once loved for allowing it to be placed upon me."
Cautiously, Ciel thought to allow himself to indulge in his curiosity for a brief moment. "Then why are you still a nun? Why continue doing this?"
"Because I found a new place for myself in this world. I found it in others around me." Finally, a smile returned to the sister's face. "So many supernaturals felt lost or needed assistance. I couldn't sit by and allow them to suffer. There were many religious folk just like me as well, who had been cursed, as well as supernaturals who suffered at the hands of those who used God's name in vain. I saw myself in them, yet I couldn't allow them to go on in that way. I had to do something, so I found a place here. That, I believe, is the reason I was given this curse. No- this blessing. As long as I am needed, I will continue my work as my God intended me to."
To this, the demon was flabberghasted. He honestly and truly hadn't the slightest idea as to what to say to this woman. "Oh..." he began. "Is that right?"
"I hardly expect you to become a Christian or anything, Sir Phantomhive," Dorothy said, "but I do hope that you can find peace in your own way. That's the only way you've got. That's just the kind of man you are."
Dropping his shoulders, the demon leaned back in his seat and thought about that for a moment. "And just what kind of man is that, I wonder..."
"What kind of man do you think you are, Sir?"
"A tired one." the man confessed. "I'm just… tired."
"Allow yourself time away from conflict and rest." the other said, standing up with a grunt. "Live your life the way you want to, not the way you believe that you deserve to. Go and do things that make you happy."
Immediately, the image of his husband flashed into his mind. Truly, the Watchdog was happiest when with him and loved being able to connect with him the way that spouses do, unifying their odd sort of makeshift family. He really needed to be getting back to them, so he stood up as well and straightened his clothes.
"Well, on that note, I'm afraid I'll have to start heading back now." he replied before holding out his hand to shake. "Pleasure doing business with you, Sister."
"Likewise, Sir Phantomhive. It's always pleasant to see you. You're welcome back any time. Perhaps I'll even see you in church some Sunday?"
"Unlikely, but I appreciate the offer." Ciel smiled all the same.
"I thought as much." chuckled Dorothy. "Take care of yourself, Sir."
"God bless you." The phrase felt foreign on the man's lips. He was trying to be polite, and thought that the other might appreciate the sentiment, even if it did hold a certain degree of irony to it, having come from a demon, perhaps.
There was nothing more that Ciel was willing to say, so with that, he left with weight still on his shoulders. He had much that he wished to discuss with his husband, but that would have to wait. The bluenette, considerate as he was, wished to at least wait until Alois' wounds were healed before he unloaded that sort of baggage onto him. Furthermore, he simply didn't wish to think about it for the time being. Instead, he wanted to focus on the present and his spouse's needs. That's all there was to it.
Pulling into the driveway, he saw a van already parked there. Parking his motorcycle and removing his helmet, he greeted the man that stepped out of the vehicle, as he knew who he was and why he was there. Once again, while trying to adopt the friendliest demeanor possible, he spoke.
"Hello." he greeted, walking up to the deliveryman. "Looks like I caught you on your way in."
"Oh, yes! Are you Jim or are you Ciel?" the deliveryman questioned, arching a brow.
"Ciel. The one who ordered the flowers." informed the bluenette. "Actually… If you don't mind, I'd quite like to take them inside, myself."
"Alright. No problem. Just let me grab my clipboard for you to sign and you'll be ready to go."
In a rather polite exchange, Ciel signed his name and the deliveryman went on his merry way. Before Ciel had left, he had arranged for flowers to be sent to his spouse while he was out as a surprise, but now he felt as though he wanted to see Alois receiving them, personally. Walking inside, he was met with a groan and an eyeroll from Revy, which went blatantly ignored. From there, Ciel made his way to the master bedroom. Upon seeing his spouse, a warm smile washed over his visage instantaneously.
"I'm home."
A/N: I have no clue what this chapter was about. Basically, I just wanted to talk about supernaturals and Jesus. Also kind of experimenting with ideas? I'm doing it because I can.
Glory, glory, hallelujah, where the fuck is the Krisgan, Hate?
I'm getting on that next. Hold your horses, you sillies.
It is an important day in Kristopherson's life. An incredibly important day where he makes an important realisation.
He's getting old.
Sorry for the spoilers, you guys. I totally just ruined it.
Until the next chapter, my duckies~!
