Chapter Text
Miguel had seen many people come and go during his time working for Saint Mary’s cathedral. Women who couldn’t get pregnant no matter what they tried, men who needed more help that Miguel knew how to give, and saddest of all the children who were so sick with no hope of survival. It wasn’t an easy job and it wasn’t one he’d wish on anybody who didn’t have the will of God behind them.
He’d been lucky enough he be born with that will though, always hearing whispers of Gods plan in his dreams at night, the scriptures filled him with ease and tranquility that he always sought to give to his congregation. In turn his congregations loved him, at the last church he’d been at in a smaller town they had praised him for his ability to ease the elderly and ignite the younger kids to do better in the community. He had smiled and accepted the grace with the humility of a pope, but it was that high praise that landed him at Saint Mary’s in the first place.
The cathedral was in between two larger towns and was usually frequented by travelers looking to restock on their journeys, donating various amounts for prayers of glory and justice. Miguel always obliged the travelers praying for peace in their souls along with their requested prayers.
He’d always turn around and use the large sums of money to further help the community, finding a large sum of wealth to be a target for the church. He would give to the local teacher to help get new books for kids, or to the farmers to pay for more seeds for a better harvest. It all really depended on what the head nun thought was best for the money.
Rosa was her name and he’d taken to her like a grandma finding her sharp wit and wise anecdotes to be helpful in situations he couldn’t fathom with. She had practically run the church from behind the scenes for years before Miguel was even born. Occasionally she’s tell Miguel stories about the old priests who would end up in the town and how she fought them tooth and nail to keep the church a float, so he always trusted her opinions over anyone else's.
He’d been specially requested by the church after they had entered and unluckily stent of priests who would be drawn to temptation by some of the passing ladies and yet they never drew Miguel’s eye, always finding himself draw to their stories rather than their looks. He’d found all people like that, never interested in having a relationship rather desiring to understand their souls. He’d always assumed this was Gods purpose and it was in his will that Miguel’s eyes would never stray from the goal of seeking his glory in all things.
That was until the day they came into town.
It shouldn’t have been a new problem for the small town. They’d gotten particularly eccentric rich people over the years. The girls would dress in their finest and the mothers would undoubtedly use their meger earning to get the girls fine accessories to adorn them. Miguel had seen it all before and simple rolled his eyes at the prospects. They might stop but usually never stepped foot near the cathedral finding it to be for the poor. Miguel took a deep breath as he heard the clicking of hooves on the packed dirt outside. He peeks at the nuns in the pews in front of him to see only one, Rosa, was distracted from their praying. He almost cracked a smile at the bitter old woman’s face turning sour at the distraction.
That’s when the doors were thrown open. Miguel opened his eyes fully and stood, brushing his knees just in case they had any dirt on them. The nuns all now alerted to the visitor.
“ Hello, I’m sorry but this is a- ” Miguel started but the man scoffed and cut him off.
“ I don’t care what it is, I need directions and you’re going to give them to me. ” The man snapped, catching Miguel off guard. Miguel felt flabbergasted, this man was clearly not from around here, his accent and pronunciation clearly showed that he was from Spain. Miguel straightened his back as he let his face fall to a less friendly demeanor.
“ I’m sorry sir, but you’re interrupting a closed prayer session, if you come back later I might be able to help you .” Miguel asserted, his book clenched tightly to his chest. If the man had been nice he might’ve excused himself and asked Rosa to take over but instead the rude man had offended Miguel cathedral and Miguel simply wouldn’t stand for it.
At this time Miguel took a moment to size him up, he was dressed oddly, unlike anyone Miguel had ever seen, his poofy paints that Miguel could imagine flapping in the wind almost made him crack, but as he looked him over it was clear the man was from a different part of the world. His jacket was clean and his layers pressed, he had shiny buttons and his boots had been freshly polished. Their wasn’t a hole or patch in sight, and his clothes were definitely specifically for him. Even his top hat looked expensive with its slight detains showing that it was of extremely high quality. The image of a wealthy man and the women of the town fawned over.
But then Miguel observed hos facial features, the big eyes narrowed in frustration, his eyebrows perfectly groomed without an extra hair in sight. He was far too pale to have been from a country side like this, which should’ve been the first tip off, and when he finally removed his hat a mop of sticky dirty blonde hair was revealed. His lips curled in slightly but still looked plump and smooth and soft all at once. He was complaining well groomed on his face as well staying clean shaven to a point he didn’t even have a shadow of a beard. His pointed jaw and striking cheek bones framed his face making him look young yet so mature. He looked wise beyond his years yet like a wonderfilled child.
He was beautiful and Miguel felt his heart stop. The money he met those eyes and could see the magnificent greens unlike and forest or grassy hill it was almost as if the heavens opened up with songs of love. He could hear the symphony as he watched the cathedral’s numerous stain glass windows shine upon this magnificent human being.
Miguel was speechless as the man turned to walk away and he felt desperation rise in him. He didn’t understand these feelings that had risen inside him, calling deep within at a level beyond his control. He felt fear rise as the man started to approach him his eyes sharp and his determination evident.
“ Listen here father, I don’t have time for this. I’m late as is because everything in this hell hole of a country looks the same. ” The man continued as he marched right up to Miguel. Miguel felt his heart pound as he got closer, backing up as the fear the man might hear it dawned on him. “ So just tell me where Todos Santos is before I burn every last one of your cities to the ground! ”
Before Miguel could react the nuns had circled the strange man pulling him back. Miguel felt his face sour at the words he’d said.
“ Listen sir, I’m don’t know who you are but I will have you know that threatening to burn out town down is an offense punishable by a 30 sentence in the town jail so I would watch it with the threats. As for Todos Santos, I’m not sure where that is, I’ve certainly never heard of that city so you must be on the wrong path. ” Miguel’s words came out assertive as he shooed the nuns off the man all of them dismissing themselves to other chores as the prayer time had been thoroughly disrupted. The man’s nostrils flared as he let a long breath out of his nose. He gripped his hat tight as he started to get riled up again. Through gritted teeth he responded to Miguel.
“ Then what the hell am I supposed to do, father? ” He was fuming but behind it all was a scared desperation that Miguel could tell was the root of it all. So he softened slightly.
“ If I were you my son, I’d go to the inn and get a room and then go from there. ” The man sighed and then turned around and walked out the door. Miguel watched him curiously. It wasn’t everyday the people he advised actually followed his advice, and yet this total stranger would. He smiled softly at the thought of the blonde a strange feeling buzzing in his stomach.