AN: Just to preface, I know the cross is not technically a queer symbol, and there are more religions out there with a relationship to the queer community (whether good or bad), but this is the one I have the most experience with. And where I live, it's hard not to see queer and religious stuff (whether good or bad). You really can't deny that there's a strong connection when, at every Pride I've ever been to, there's always at least one or two people claiming that Pride is against the Bible.

"Ava!" Beatrice sighed and shook her head.

"Whaaaat?" Ava smiled innocently at her, like she wasn't in the middle of trying to sneak out of Mass (again). "Listen," she pleaded.

"Listening." Beatrice crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, just barely holding back a smirk.

"This isn't even one of those important Masses that's going to end in a mission! It's just a regular Sunday service!"

"Well, yeah, that's kind of the point," Beatrice scoffed. They were nuns, of course at least a few Masses were going to be devoted purely to religion and God rather than anything big like infiltrating the Vatican.

If anyone had asked Ava, however, that was all she really cared about. Oh, her concern for her fellow Sisters was genuine, but only when it came to the really big stuff, the important and life-saving missions that she and the others sometimes went out on. But when it came to the daily humdrum of Catholic life, Ava's passion flickered out.

I spent so much of my time barely even able to move! She thought. I can't waste my second chance cooped up in some church service!

Oh, the sermons could be moving, and the music could truly touch the soul, but in Ava's mind, going to one service was going to all of them. The Catholic church was highly ritualistic and routine, after all. What Ava thirsted for was adventure, newness! Things that a quiet Sunday morning in would never afford her.

"After all we've done for the Order so far, surely a little bit of early vacation time isn't amiss?" Ava smiled sweetly at Beatrice who again shook her head and scoffed in quiet disbelief.

"Oh, Ava," she sighed, but this time, she couldn't fully keep the smile off her face. It is my duty to protect and prepare the Warrior Nun, and yet… Ava wasn't just the Warrior Nun. She was Ava! And it was Ava whom Beatrice loved. I really shouldn't be enabling her like this… "Where were you planning on going anyway?" she asked.

"Why?" Ava was a sweet, open, trusting spirit, but she wasn't so oblivious that she didn't realize that Beatrice could easily use such information against her. The two of them may have been in a romantic relationship, but that didn't mean Beatrice would do everything Ava asked.

"Because if you really insist upon putting yourself in such danger," Beatrice paused to smirk, "I at least wish to accompany you and watch over you." She was hamming it up a little, offering her services of protection to the naiver woman.

Ava's face split into a wide, crooked grin. Guess I was wrong about her not being willing to play chaperone. "But Beatrice, is it not a sin to neglect the Lord on his Holy Day?" she teased.

"Oh, don't worry, we're both going to confession and I'm getting you to repent as soon as this is over," Beatrice teased right back. "Cross my heart!" The two of them shared a laugh, Ava gliding past Beatrice and towards the door.

In the end, Ava didn't have any grand plans or ideas either. If anything, her idea of an extraordinary outing was fairly tame.

But, that's exactly what makes her so beautiful. Beatrice smiled when Ava wasn't looking, Ava already several feet ahead, excitedly gawking at everything their city had to offer. Even though Ava had been around for a bit of time now, the magic she felt at being able to experience the world with all of her physical capabilities intact could still flicker up from time to time.

Ahh, to be able to run and jump and dance so freely! It's wonderful! The town was not new to her anymore, nor were any of the shops and stores that lined either side of the main roads, but sometimes the change of scenery was needed. At least it was a little newer to her than the monastery! And even if the monastery remodeled itself, it still had a lot of the same things Ava had already seen so many times before. Pictures of Jesus. Pictures of Mary. Pictures of the Saints and Disciples. And crosses. Lots and lots of crosses.

Gold ones, wood ones, big ones, small ones, plain ones, fancy ones with ornate carvings (and sometimes even gems embedded in them). Really, it felt like Ava couldn't look or go anywhere within the monastery without seeing at least four or five crosses. Of course, it made sense, not just because of their Catholic lifestyle, but the nature of their Holy work against demons, but it could get boring after a while.

Just like I said with sermons, you've seen one cross, you've seen them all. Of course, just like with sermons, Ava understood the importance and symbolism of the cross, but it was nice to be able to walk somewhere that didn't have a cross on every single wall.

For just a moment, Ava slowed down and a troubled look clouded her face. It was funny, she was the Warrior Nun (or at least training to be) and yet she was still undecided about her spirituality. I know I want to help people, and being the Warrior Nun can do that, but…

She was stuck halfway between religion and atheism, at a crossroads of her own. Worst of all, though, it wasn't something she could really share with anybody else. Most of the nuns surely would've been horrified to hear that one of their strongest members had little interest in God.

Except Beatrice… A smile returned to Ava's face when Beatrice finally caught up with her.

"Gee, Ava, thanks for waiting on me," she deadpanned, smirking. Ava laughed, and a wave of sincere affection suddenly washed over her.

"Thank you for coming along," she said, meeting Beatrice's eyes gratefully. For a moment, Beatrice was taken aback by how soft and serious Ava's eyes were. "Really, I know I shouldn't be doing this, but it's so much fun! And it's much more fun knowing that you're here to share the experience with me!" She wasn't just referring to their little outings, their little dates, though.

No, really, Beatrice. Thank you so much, for everything. From the very first time we ate together, to the time you comforted me after Mother Superion. We've been on so many missions together and we've saved each other more times than I can count. And not even just in battle either.

The first time Ava ever whispered to anyone that she might've been… different, it was Beatrice. The first person Ava ever trusted enough, or felt comfortable enough, to talk to about it. And I thank my heart every single day for leading me to you, because I couldn't have found a better partner, inside or out of the monastery!

Beatrice bantered and bickered with her, often the voice of reason to Ava's zest and zeal, but deep down, Ava knew that Beatrice was going to stand by her side through anything. She accepted every part of Ava, from being queer to being the Warrior Nun to being a bit of a Doubting Thomas at times to being the wild youngster that she was. Maybe other areas of her life left her stuck at a crossroad, but her path forward with Beatrice was all too clear. Smiling, she held out her hand and Beatrice was quick to take it. Somehow, Ava's smile became even wider, and they spent the rest of that Sunday morning in their own little version of paradise, monastery quickly left behind and forgotten.

AN: For Luntian, I hope it was fluffy enough!