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9:20 PM. Door opened, shoes slipped off and keys dropped in a bowl. Them being thrown rather than being gently placed like all the other times was enough to know he was exhausted.
After chasing around Lawrence for God knows how long, and looking into inquiries that shouldn't have been any of his business… that didn't stop piquing his curiosity, however, he needed a break. He daydreamed of sketching earlier, while he was getting chewed out by the Archbishop of Berlin for failing to get the Secretary of State to meet him privately.
Ray went on to his nighttime routine. Showering, brushing his teeth and placing his glasses on his nightstand. A sketchbook laid by the end of the bed, just to remind him to doodle and relieve some of the stress piling on his shoulders.
Just as he was undoing the buttons around his pajama shirt however, there was a knock on his door. Sighing irritatingly, thinking it was probably one of the other Monsignors wanting a word, he opened it to find the exact opposite. And yet, the person he was expecting most of all.
“Giulio?” He stood to the side, allowing the Franciscan in. His voice shifted to one of amusement. “Needed company tonight?”
Sabbadin gave a sly smile, entering the room with his hands behind his back as Ray closed the door behind him. “Maybe. I just saw the good Monsignor retire to his room and couldn't miss a chance.”
Ray sighed, finishing off the buttons to his blouse. “Well, I'm afraid I don't have much energy.” He closed his eyes as he sat back on the cot. “I think I exceeded all I had for today, and my brain melted out of my ears after getting berated by Archbishop Bauer.”
“Oh, him.” Sabbadin's tone was laced with disdain as he sat down by him. Giulio once told him he felt sorry for all the work he did, and Ray just shrugged, saying God needed to balance his budget. A bit blasphemous, but it made Sabbadin grin in amusement.
He leaned close, and for a split second, Ray thought he was going in for a kiss. “… You want to know what I've heard about him?”
Usually Ray saved this session for when they were in bed, washed up and cuddling beneath a thin sheet. And after making sure the door was locked, twice. “What? Is he…”
“No, no, not that.” He shook his head. Those types of rumors were saved for a more serious conversation, one where O'Malley wasn't dozing off the edge from exhaustion. “I heard… he stuck his hand in the tithe pool once in a while at the parish he was assigned to, in Frankfurt.”
Ray's eyebrows raised. “Didn't leave empty-handed.”
“No, he didn't.” Sabbadin lifted the sheets, a small gesture for O'Malley to get in bed. “Why wouldn't he? His parish was making enough, he probably thought nobody would notice.”
“And nobody did… Word would’ve died if it wasn’t for you.” He smiled, sitting up on his headboard to face Giulio. The other man matched his smile, scooting over to place a kiss on his lips.
He pulled away sooner than Ray wanted. The Franciscan traced an indiscriminate pattern on his chest.
“Well, it's just rumors. I don't know if it's actually true.” But it's Sabbadin, and most of the Chinese whispers he heard amongst the clergy were true. “Regardless, that's something you can think about if he gives you a hard time again.”
“Oh, I'm sure he will.” He huffed, placing a hand on the one by his sheets. Ray desperately wanted the man to get up and shower already so they'd sleep.
And, as if reading his mind, Sabbadin stood up to wander over to his clothes' drawer. He was thinner than O'Malley, so he just wore his clothes whenever he snuck off to his room, and changed back to his previous robes when he left. Better than showing back up with a whole new garb and spreading rumors that they were involved. Which he'd know beforehand.
“Where did you get this?” He dug through his bottom drawer, taking out a pair of pants and shirt that had a purple Sanrio design that O'Malley forgot was in there. His niece gave it to him for Christmas, and he stashed it away in his things for ages. The face Giulio had on made Ray flush.
“I haven't worn that in– I-I think years,” He swallowed, shrinking more into the sheets as the other snickered. His lover was always relentless when it came to his stylistic choices when he wasn't wearing his day-to-day garments. “Love, put that back…”
“No, I think I'll wear it to bed tonight. I think it'll look good on me.” He beamed, making the other ten times more embarrassed. Giulio did it just to force Ray to see and feel it as they held each other. He was a tease, but deep down that's what he loved about him.
“Just. Hurry up, please.” He laid back, sighing as he watched him put his zucchetto on Ray's desk and strip. He had to look away.
Sabbadin sighed nonchalantly, repeating the same ritual again and again as he laid his garbs over O'Malley's chair. He stripped here instead of the bathroom just to get a rise out of Ray, just like with everything he did. It's a miracle Bellini held out for so long. Though, he would admit he had to reward Aldo for his patience. He was more involved concerning duties with the Holy See after Innocent was elected, and stuck around even with Tedesco lingering.
“I forgot I wore my undergarments backwards.” Sabbadin wondered aloud, making Ray turn his head to him. They weren't. And started to take them off just as he looked.
Ray tore his eyes away quickly, suddenly getting embarrassed, even though they've seen each other naked more times than he can count with his dizzy head. “Why do you always do this to me, Giulio…”
“What?” He asked with faux innocence. It would've driven O'Malley mad, but his nerves were too frazzled to entertain sex tonight. And, as if sensing that was the case, Sabbadin finally stalked to the shower.
“I saw Papa Innocentius with Cardinal Lawrence earlier.” Sabbadin laid his hand flat on O'Malley's chest, feeling the hairs under his palm. “They seem rather close, do they?”
“Yes.” He breathed through his nose, bringing the other man closer with his arm. “A little too close… but that isn't any of my business.” He lied through his teeth. Both of them knew that.
Giulio hummed, vaguely coming out as a purr as Ray sought his warmth. They couldn't do this every night, just once a week. Though, the Franciscan started to rebel by sleeping in twice a week. It was a risk to any sisters, or any of their brothers that might've caught something amiss. But it seemed like Giulio just loved flying too close to the sun. It will be his downfall, Raymond thought, and mine too.
Their relationship started during the conclave, while Bellini was scrambling around for votes. They knew each other before then, had coffee once or twice, but exchanged coy looks and brushed hands as they walked past. Bellini gave him a look once, after one drunken night where Giulio ‘fell’ on Raymond’s lap. He’ll never forget that mortifying look when he realized. If Sabbadin's attraction to him wasn't so blatantly obvious, Ray must've been an absolute moron for not noticing before.
It really started to pick up after Aldo dropped out of the race. Maybe they were looking to relieve some tension, or maybe get their lust out of the way, but Giulio brushed their palms against him on the way to the lunchroom. O'Malley shoved him in one of the closets the sisters used for cleaning late at night and had his way with him, using a spare rag to gag him so he wouldn't make any noise. It was the best moments they've ever felt in their lives.
Of course, they cleaned up. And prayed for forgiveness. They should be more horrified they broke their vows, that this is going on longer than it should. But they went back to having sex. Raymond muttered once about marrying him in another life, if they hadn’t committed their lives to the church, and the other coyly reminded him they wouldn’t have met.
Now, Sabbadin laid by O'Malley's side, curled up and pressing kisses to his collarbone. “I think you need a break.”
“Oh, do I?” Ray's hand went over Sabbadin's back, going over the Sanrio designs.
“Yeah.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “I'm sure Cardinal Lawrence can find someone for a week.”
“I can't do that to him.” He shook his head. “What about you? Can you leave Cardinal Bellini's side for a week?”
“He can do just fine.” He chuckled. “My point is, amore , you need to sit back and breathe while somebody massages your back and pours you a Sauvignon Blanc.”
Ray hummed in thought. “Would you be that someone?”
He couldn't see it, but he could feel Giulio's smirk on his chest. “If it's anybody else, we're having a long conversation.”
They both laughed, Ray more tiredly than Sabbadin. He was about to pass out, he could tell.
“Go to sleep, tesoro . I'll be here when you wake up.” It was just a simple reassurance, but it meant a lot to Ray. He wasn't going to wake up in a cold, empty bed in the morning. He pressed his lips to Sabbadin’s forehead, where the mole was. It was his favorite place to kiss.
“I love you.” He whispered against his skin. Giulio stole his lips for one last kiss.
“Anch'io.” He mumbled, resting his head on his chest, on his heart. “Ti amo.”