His Kingdom, His Power, My Glory
Gary thinks it'll be a good idea to infiltrate the church. A tired priest, with an adorable face, reminds him why that's a bad idea.
Gary smirked as he pulled the hood of his jacket tighter. This plan was genius. Why keep sending cultists to sneak into the church in the dead of night to make a mess of things when he could just spark turmoil in the middle of the day. The best part, they wouldn't kick him out, and they wouldn't know he was doing it. Perfect.
"Morning Father," he nodded, walking right past the priest standing at the door, greeting church-goers.
"Good morning! I- oh hold on!" The priest grabbed Gary by the sleeve, pulling him back slightly, "You're new here aren't you?"
"Ah, was it that obvious?" Gary smiled, fearing that his genius may have betrayed him already.
"Just a bit," The priest chuckled. Gary got a good look at him, he had dark brown hair, and royal blue eyes that seemed to glow. Gary could have gotten lost in that expression for hours, but he had a mission to attend to, he had far more important manners than pretty boys to worry about, "We actually have a rule, no hats or hoods in the congregation."
"Oh? My apologies," Gary said, pulling his hood down, "My old church was a bit less strict."
"No sunglasses either unfortunately," the priest smiled, but his grip on Gary's sleeve tightened.
"Afraid I can't do that," Gary said, "Got a bad eye disease. Don't wanna scare the kids away."
"Hmm," the priest's look was brimming with disappointment, but he resigned, "Alright then, we will keep you in our prayers, but please consider how you're affecting other members of the church."
"Yes, sorry Father," Gary chuckled, wanting to sigh in relief. He would not have been able to explain the peculiar case of his eyes to the priest.
Once he took a seat, he grinned ear to ear. What a fool the priest must have been to believe such a stupid lie. Regardless, the sermon was starting soon. From here Gary would be able to learn just what happens at a church service, and just how he can tear it apart.
As it turns out, there was too much sitting and standing. Too much listening and not nearly enough talking. Too much and not enough of everything, it was mind numbingly dull. Not even the Order would stoop so low as to make it's devoted followers sit for an hour doing nothing with no freedom to move.
But Gary-begrudgingly-endured it. He was certain that eventually something would happen that would be worth it. Then again, if he had to endure one more of those godforsaken psalms! They weren't quite songs, because a song required being good.
Eventually he found something, a payoff. The priest who had greeted him at the door had finished reading the gospel, and he spoke directly to the audience.
"God loves us all," he began, speaking slowly. You could hear the sound of his careful thought between each word he spoke, "The other day a woman had come to me asking how I knew."
This was perfect! If he wasn't reading off of the text then that only meant one thing, an open discussion. And when people spoke without reading off of their source, they were prone to making mistakes. And one slip up would be enough to pick him apart piece by piece.
"So I was open with her," he said, "I have suffered loss, divorce, and failures over and over again."
"Sounds like God hates you!" Gary shouted. As soon as he spoke everyone turned to him. A smirk was plastered on his face. He'd win over the crowd in twelve seconds flat.
The priest just gave him a tired glare before he continued speaking, "Despite my grievances, I still have the privilege of waking up every day. I have a new chance to prove myself every day. And the Lord tells me that I am his child and he will continue walking with me."
"I thought Jesus was the only son of God!" Gary yelled. He did his homework. Well, he read just enough to know where the hypocrisies stood out.
"We are all children of God under Abraham," the priest spoke through grit teeth, "We will be going over that next week."
"Sounds like God needs to close his legs!" Gary's smirk was growing into a grin.
"Alright," the priest took a deep breath, "Let's start over, since you clearly seem confused. I was trying to explain to a woman that God loves her and is with her through her every struggle. And to do so, I used my own life as an example."
"How did you manage to prove it?" Gary said, "Hey! Father! How do you know it's actually God talking!? Are you-"
"Some of us clearly need to start working on our relationship with the Lord!" The priest said, his chest rising and falling quickly as he tried to calm himself, "Some far, far more than others, but regardless. God is patient and will wait for us until the end of time."
"If God's so patient why are you getting so upset?" Gary argued.
"God is a patient man, I am not," John said calmly, "And that's okay! Because God gives us strength. Strength to overcome any challenge like frustration, or an inability to respect your church leaders."
"I fail to see how-"
"God gives us strength!" The priest spoke over him, "I believe we all have it in us to become better people through the Lord. Amen!"
Gary wanted to speak up, but the congregation seems to have accepted it was time to shut up. Unbelievable. How does a man who looks so pathetic manage to control the situation so well? Oh well, at least he can still figure out the weak points in the sermon simply by listening.
Meanwhile, said priest was glaring at him. A far older priest had taken over, but he still was looking straight through Gary with furrowed brows. Gary stared back, not that the priest could see past his sunglasses.
When the sermon was over, Gary was about ready to collapse. How does an hour of doing absolutely nothing become so exhausting? He would never blame his acolytes for their boredom during a meeting ever again.
He stood, prepared to leave, only to be stopped.
"Excuse me sir," it was the priest. He had gripped Gary by the sleeve, a soft smile on his face, "May I speak with you for a minute?"
Gary tried not to let his confident smirk falter, "Of course! What can I do for you?"
The priest chuckled slightly, "Oh no, I meant at the front. I have a couple things I'd like to discuss with you."
"Ah," Gary said. Had he been anywhere else, there was no doubt in his mind he'd be able to strike down the priest with a single glance, but this was a church. He was already weakened here, but this is where the priest would thrive. And yet, he was cocky, "Well, I don't see why not."
"Good," the priest said, "Follow me."
The priest waited for the entire congregation to leave. He stared up at the stained glass window as he waited to be alone with Gary. Gary kept a hand in his pocket, rubbing over his claw-like nails.
"I can explain," Gary said, "It's actually my first time in a catholic church, I didn't know the proper proceedings for the gospel."
"No no, I have to thank you," John said, "When one questions the bible, it means they simply wish to apply it to their life. I'm glad you gave me the opportunity to expand on what I had to say."
"Wait, really?" Gary said.
"Of course," the priest said, his nails digging into his palms, "Although, I would like to make a request." He turned towards Gary.
"Oh?" Gary raised an eyebrow, "What can I do for you?"
"Take off your sunglasses," John said, "I'd like to look you in the eyes when we speak."
"But my eyes-"
"I am not a child," the priest said calmly, "I will not panic at the sight."
"But-"
"Is that a no?" The priest asked. Gary felt that he didn't have a choice.
"Yes, of course," Gary said, reaching for his glasses, slowly taking them off. He and the priest's eyes never stopped looking on to each other.
"Mmm," the priest looked at his eyes, black with glowing red irises, "You're a demon."
"Nonsense!" I'm a normal human being just like you!" Gary argued.
"I'm no fool," the priest said, "I knew you were a demon from the moment I saw your face. Your eyes are a simple confirmation."
"I apologize," Gary said, "I simply needed information about the church."
"I'm afraid that this isn't your territory," the priest said, "Now I have to request you leave before I exorcise you."
Gary chuckled, despite the priest's clear advantage, "I'm afraid I won't be doing that." He used a clawed finger to tuck a piece of the priest's hair behind his ear, "For you see, I have a new interest to pursue, and I have no reason to leave just yet."
"Then allow me to give you one," the priest said. Before Gary could even process what was being said to him, the priest gripped him by the wrists and pushed him backwards, slamming his back against the altar, "Leave this church. If you come back I will give you a fate far worse than an exorcism."
"Heh, I suppose you reciprocate my interests," Gary smirked, only for the priest to increase the pressure he was using to hold him down.
The priest glared at him before speaking again, "You will not come back, but I will keep my eye on you. When I find your lair then we can...discuss things as adults. But for now, I expect you out of my sight, understood?"
Gary's breath hitched slightly. It's been so long since someone's given him a command without solicitation, "Yes sir~"
"Ah-ah," the priest said, "Use my proper title."
Gary rolled his eyes before smirking, aiming to piss the priest off, "Sure thing, daddy."
The priest's eyes remained unamused. He slid his right hand away from Gary's wrist and down to his throat, "I said..." his grip tightened. Not enough to constrict, but enough to cause pressure, "My proper title."
Gary did not want to admit out loud the things that those words did to him, "Of course...Father."
"Good," The priest's voice was quiet, mumbled only so he could hear. God he'd kill to have that done to him with a mattress beneath them, "Now go on, get out and don't show your face. I expect to be meeting with you very shortly."
"Of course Father," Gary said, turning to leave before the priest could get any ideas about exorcising him.
After all this, perhaps information wasn't the only thing he could get out of the church. This would be far less boring as well.
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