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You absent mindedly stir your tea while pouring over the notes you wanted to discuss with Primo. While he wasn't Papa anymore, he still did things round about the Ministry from time to time. Although he preferred to spend most of his time in the gardens now a days. It was your job to try and rope him into meetings he was needed for, and rearrange most of his calls to when he felt like answering. Which would be so much easier if he was actually on time for afternoon tea! Sometimes during which you discussed Ministry bsuiness and other times you read in companionable silence. It didn't matter what you had planned for today, Primo was never late and it made you a little on edge.
After a few more minutes of annoyed shuffling of your papers you stood up to go find him yourself only for the ex-papa to finally arrive.
"Perdonami sorella!" Primo holds your hands for a brief second, giving them a tender squeeze before settling in his chair behind his large dark wood desk and begins pouring himself some of the tea.
"I was beginning to think you'd passed on", you tease. He barks out a quiet laugh, waving off your comment with a dismissive hand and sips the freshly brewed tea out of a delicate china cup decorated with pentagrams. Before you can even say anything he waves someone else inside that must have been waiting in the doorway.
"Sorella, you remember I mentioned a new Cardinal?"
The evidently new Cardinal was now standing next to Primo, black gloved hands fidgeting nervously with his long black cane.
"Hello". He says quietly, eyes never quite meeting yours. You noted he had the same Italian accent as the other upper clergy men at the Ministry.
"Pleased to meet you Cardinal". You begin, bowing your head low in reverence as you speak. "I am Papa Primo's assistant. However I hope he doesn't mind if I offer my services if you need any help settling in". You glance up to catch his reaction, the breath almost leaving your body as his mismatched eyes lock with yours for a brief second.
"Grazie sorella, I don't need you. Wait! No! I uh...merda...t-that's not what I meant. That is to say, Sister Imperator has already shown me around. I uh...I-I'll be okiedokie".
You bite the inside of your cheek to stop yourself from laughing at how strangely adorable you found this newcomer, even if he was technically your superior.
"It's quite alright Cardinal, I understand. Still, if you think of anything you know where to find me. Or if not, then one of the ghouls probably will". You smile warmly with another bow of your head.
"Si sorella, si. I...apprezzare the offer".
"Yes yes yes, all very piacevole. Now Cardinal, we have much to discuss. You may leave, mio caro. I'll send a ghoul if I need you further".
"Very well Papa". You bow deeper this time. "Till later perhaps". Your eyes linger on the handsome Cardinal for a little longer than was necessary before you close the door. He'd been looking in any direction again except yours, cheeks glowing red to match his cassock and biretta.
You already knew you were in trouble...
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You didn't see the Cardinal again for the next few weeks, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach that he was purposefully avoiding you. It was easier and very much more likely that he had been very busy with his own duties as you had been with yours. It wasn't till you physically bumped into him did you see him again.
The Cardinal was attempting to exit the kitchen as you had tried to enter it, causing a rather surprising bump and the shattered remenants of your favorite tea cup to now be scattered on the floor along side the splattered wet remains of the liquid.
"S-sorella! I didn't want uh, I didn't expect you to be here! I...I tried to surprise you and now your cup is all rotta." He sighs, looking down at the broken pieces with genuine remorce etched on his face. "Perdonami, per favore", he adds in a quiet small voice.
You crouch down to try and pick up all the pieces before someone got hurt on the sharp edges. "It's quite aright Cardinal, these things happen".
"Ah! No no no...allow me, please!" He crouches down next to you, quickly picking up the pieces and holding them carefully with the edge of his cassock. (It was a black one today). You glance up to see his cheeks have flushed red again, teeth biting nervously at his bottom lip. It was hard to believe that sometimes he was a member of the clergy with how anxious he was. (Even if you did find it rather endearing).
"I noticed you didn't have tea with Papa Primo today. I um, well, I-I thought I might bring it to you instead...but then this", he gestures with the broken cup. "This happens".
It was time for your cheeks to flush a little, flattered and a little surprised he even noticed such a thing. Words fail you as you give him a bashful smile, unable to express the million different thoughts and feelings that now rushed through you.
The Cardinal takes the other broken pieces off of you carefully once you're both standing again, you were pretty sure you heard his knees creak with the action.
"Come on, follow me and I can show you where to dispose of the pieces. And if you can keep a secret I'll show you where I hide my stash of those cups". With surprising bravery you loop your arm around his without waiting for permission and begin leading him down the corridor towards the store rooms. He's tense next to you, face somehow flushed and pale at the same time. You walk in silence, trying to ignore the way his body heat was radiating through you in waves causing your cheeks to flush a little more as the heady smell of incense also coming from the Cardinal made you want to press yourself much closer to him. The silence should have been awkward but it wasnt, it was comforting and somehow familair to you.
There's an odd pause as you finally reach the store room door before you reluctantly let go of his arm and retrieve the key from your pocket, swiftly unlocking it and gesturing for the Cardinal to enter first. (You were thankful entry to the room was limited, rumours spread far too easily as it was.) He looks about rather unsure of where to go as you shut the door behind you with a quiet snap. Once the china was safely thrown away in a black plastic bin with a few other broken plates from meal times you lead him silently through rows of wooden shelves until you reach the back corner where a small ish grey safe perched on a set of metal shelves. The Cardinal watches with amusement in his eyes as you pull out a small silver key to match the safe on a fine chain you wore round your neck. The lock turns effortlessly, swinging open to reveal several cup and saucer sets, one with bats and one with pentagrams.
"Huh, you really do have a secret stash sorella. I-I don't know what I expected but...not this".
You smile sheepishly as you lock the safe back up and place the key back in the hiding place of your habit.
"Now you know my deep dark secret", you joke. "Maybe one day I'll tell you the story of how the safe came to be but I feel I've taken up enough of your time". You look down at the floor as your fingers fidget nervously with the ends of your sleeves.
"Mio caro..." His words are so soft you're almost sure you imagined them. "I don't...I don't think any time with you could ever feel wasted". He reaches out with a shakey gloved hand to squeeze your shoulder gently.
"Thank you Car-"
"-Copia!" He quickly interupts. You look up at him from under your lashes with a shy smile.
"Copia". You repeat, correcting yourself while enjoying how the sound and feel of his name felt on your lips. "Thank you for being so thoughtful and sweet. I....perhaps next time you could join Papa Primo and myself, save anymore accidents". You couldn't help but tease him a little at the end. Copia's lip twitchs up into a small smile, making you realise just how handsome he is all over again.
A bell rings somewhere in the distance before he could even answer you, signalling it was time for you to get back to work. You sigh, rolling your eyes playfully as he huffs out a quiet laugh.
"Back to the grind I guess".
He blesses you with another smile and a nod, almost taking your breath away.
"That would be for the best cara sorella, least Sister Imperator yells at us both". He places the back of his hand to his forehead with playful dramaticism. Your chest warms with the thought that he was starting to feel comfortable enough to joke with you a little.
"That would never do my dear Cardinal!" you laugh.
There's an awkward pause again as you both don't quite know how to finish this interaction, your fingers back to fidgeting with your sleeves again. You decide, however, that it was now or never. Quickly leaning up to kiss his cheek briefly.
"Please do consider joining us for tea!" You swiftly turn around and head for the door before he could even respond, hoping you hadn't scared him away for good.