Work Text:
“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.”
Pucci spoke, his voice reverberating around the empty church. He was kneeling down before the altar, hands clasped in prayer, as one thumb idly stroked a rosary bead. There was a slight chill in the air, but the lit candles around the altar gave warmth to his bent over frame as he began his recitation.
The heat enveloped him, giving to mind the all reaching warmth found in God's love. He closed his eyes, but after images of the flames still danced in his vision.
It was the late twilight hours of the night, and often, after he completed his cleaning duties, he would come before the altar. He enjoyed the solitude of it, that alone and in the stillness of the night, the church felt like the whole world to him, with only himself and God.
A bead of nervous sweat started to drip along his face, and he gripped his rosary tighter.
“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.”
But lately, he has felt himself become more and more hesitant to come before the Lord. What had once felt like a private conversation was now a silent condemnation. Morning, afternoon, evening, he had come before the Lord to pray, always leaving with a sense of solace and peace. But now the ever watchful eyes of God were more apparent to him, staring into his soul, being displeased.
But he believed in Dio, believed in his plan to reach heaven. Dio, with his alabaster skin and golden hair, was like an angel sent from heaven itself. Here to blow the trumpet and lead them down the holy path. Dio must surely be in God's will.
‘Then why do I feel so naked, so bare before the eyes of the Lord’ he thought to himself.
Absentmindedly, he started stroking more of the prime numbered beads in the rosary, a routine that usually calmed his nerves. He tugged at his collar and cleared his throat, which had gone dry. He felt like heat was radiating inside the church, growing ever hotter, though through his eyelids he still only saw the rosy glow emanating from the candles.
“Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
These...acts that Dio has carried out, that Dio has ordered others to do...they may technically go against God's word…
’But it’s all part of a greater plan’ he argued to himself.
God is in control of everything, and there surely must be a reason, a greater purpose, for why Dio and himself had been drawn together.
Though he had done his routine several times, he still felt anxious, and his palms had started to sweat. Gingerly, and in an effort to focus himself, he brought his clasped hands to his face, rested his lips on the rosary, and let out a deep breath.
”And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
”Amen.”
Pucci heard a voice and felt a presence suddenly appear. He opened his eyes and saw only darkness, the candles having been blown out, leaving only the lingering smell of smoke. Before he could turn around they had already knelt down and embraced him from behind.
Pucci inhaled sharply in surprise, and felt strong arms wrapped around him. They were massive, coursing with muscles that easily dwarfed his frame.
”Dio?” he asked.
He felt the arms tighten around him in response. Near his neck he could feel a cold breath, breathing in and out.
”You’ve kept me waiting, Enrico.”
Pucci cleared his throat, answering, “My apologies Dio, my evening prayer ran a little longer than usual.”
Dio just gave a huff in response, before trailing his hands up from Pucci’s body and resting them on his own, still clasped in prayer.
He seemed to just now take notice of the rosary entwined in Pucci’s fingers, and started to rub a few beads between his thumb and forefinger.
”I remember these,” Dio mused aloud.
”Myself and the other children would be given a rosary when it was time for prayer.”
”Oh? You were raised Catholic?” Pucci asked.
It was rare for Dio to talk about his past.
“Yes I was, though I can’t say I was as dutiful a member as you are. I would kick the seats, spill the holy water, and on at least one encounter, force another child to eat rosary beads.”
”You’re kidding.”
He could feel the smirk coming from Dio.
”The church was such a drab, sombre place. I couldn't help but raise a little hell. I finally stopped going after my mother…”
Dio suddenly broke off mid-sentence, leaving the two in silence. Pucci didn't press him to go on further, letting the silence and stillness waft between them. Pucci breathed in and out, as Dio did behind him, taking in his presence. The coolness of Dio’s body against him, the texture of his fingers clasped around his own, in that lingering moment.
Dio suddenly grasped his hands in a tight grip, before saying in a whisper, ”One day...one day I will reach heaven. To be on an equal playing field with the likes of saints and Jesus’ disciples, to have nothing brought against me that can't already be foreseen, that is my goal. Even after knowing that, you still choose to follow me?”
Pucci felt his face grow warm but said without hesitation, “Of course. I would follow you to the ends of the earth, and even beyond that. I want to see the great things to come from the one chosen by God.”
So engrossed was he in making this truth known to Dio that he didn't notice until after a second or two. That the body that was once so tightly pressed onto him, the strong grip on his hands had completely disappeared.
“Di-”
He was stopped by a hand that gently held his face.
”I am pleased to hear that, Enrico.”
Pucci could feel a cold breath on his face, and even though the room was filled with a pitch darkness, he could sense that Dio was in front of him, leaning until only a few mere inches separated them, staring straight into his eyes.
Even in the darkness his gaze was piercing, but Pucci returned his gaze.
After a few moments, before Pucci could feel that he had been completely swallowed up by those eyes, Dio asked him “There’s another disc that I need to obtain. Do you feel up to it?”
It was then that Pucci truly looked at Dio and swore that he could see him, in all of his magnificence. In this absence of light he saw the one that had transcended humanity, the one who now had put his trust in him.
In answering, he spoke from the heart, replying, “I do, Dio.”
Dio gave a satisfied smile.
”Good. I’ll fill you in on the details after you've finished."
Dio’s hand left his face as he stood up to leave. Pucci heard his footsteps trail behind him, before suddenly stopping.
”Oh, that's right. I wanted to ask if you would lend me your rosary. It has been so long since I've last used one. Don't worry, I'll promise to take good care of it.”
Pucci silently unraveled the rosary from his hands, fumbling with it a little before offering it out with his outstretched arm.
Not a second later Dio’s hand was clasped in his, his fingers trailing across his skin as he took it.
”Thank you” was his breathy response before sauntering away.
”See you later, Enrico.”
And with that, his footsteps trailed off, until his presence disappeared altogether.
After adjusting his kneeling position and taking a few moments to gather himself, Pucci closed his eyes and resumed his prayers.
”Dear God, please reveal to us your sublime beauty that is everywhere.”
From the pit of his stomach, a warmth started to grow. His cheeks grew hot, his palms sweaty, and his breaths started to come fast and beleaguered.
”Everywhere.”
There was now a white hot intensity to the heat that enveloped him. Beads of sweat rolled down his face as he furrowed his brow to help narrow his concentration. He was starting to find it difficult to breathe, and his hands started to shake. He reached for his rosary to help calm himself, but then remembered it's absence.
”Everywhere.”
The heat had risen to become unbearable. His once clasped hands were now on the floor, his body bent over as the fire raged inside him. An electric spark was going off across his nerves, from his hands down to the tips of his toes, his body shaking with each surge.
’There must be a reason for this’ he thought desperately.
The candles! Somehow...somehow the candles must have been relit!
Pucci opened his eyes, but all that he saw was darkness.