Work Text:
Whistling to himself, Terzo wandered down the hallway towards his favorite Sibling of Sin's room. The assuredly picturesque surroundings being ignored for the musings of his own mind. Slowly transitioning from continuing thoughts of work to the book he wanted to finish sometime this week to his beloved lover.
He hadn't seen them all day. Which on its own was not too concerning. They often were too busy to stop by to stop by to see him. Even being a lover to Papa was a busy role. Not quiet as busy as being Papa, but it still added on extra duties. Mainly dealing with the constant questions about him. Something they had admitted they used to make up silly rumors that everyone knew were false but liked to spread anyway. A few Novitiates would fall for them every once in a while to the collective joy of the congregation. Of course they were always let in on the joke shortly after. A fun past time for everyone.
However today there had been no new rumors spread around. In fact many of the collective whisperings had said that they retired to their room early, seeming upset about something. So Terzo had just a light concern. Maybe they were having a bad day, or not feeling well. Either way, they were always happy to see him so the visit would be a welcome surprise.
Well, perhaps not a surprise since Terzo tended to stop in every evening for at least a quick visit. If not to spend the whole night together. Which is why he didn't bother to wait for a response after knocking on their door. Letting himself in with the open invitation they always shared with each other.
Calling out a warm, "good evening," as he crossed the threshold.
Slipping off his shoes without bothering to untie them. Leaving them lazily near the door, but making sure to push them out of the way with his feet. This time he wouldn't trip over them. He swore he wouldn't this time! Frowning when after he was done with his shoes that there was no greeting in response. A quick scan of the room found them hunched over their desk. Hands ink stained as they furiously wrote.
"Writing a manifesto," he teased as he slowly closed the door behind him.
Worry blossoming into concern when even that garnered no response. Definitely still suffering from the rumored bad day then.
Stepping closer to peer over their shoulder to see what they were working so single mindedly on. Internally flinching when he noticed that they was no ink left in the pen. Gouging the paper roughly to leave a carving imprint of the words they seemed compelled to get out.
Ink not dry. Streaks smudging half the words to be illegible.A steady hand laid overtop of theirs did nothing to halt their mutilation of the paper. Not until Terzo forcibly lifted and stilled their hands. Even then they fought back, trying to continue writing even with hands held in the air.
Ignoring their attempts, Terzo took his time looking them over. Tears streaming silently down their face, eyes bloodshot and hair frazzled. They looked a miserable mess. Even as much as he loved them he had to admit they did not look good right now. Tangled up in some form of despair so deep that it hurt to look at them.
Plucking the pen out of their hands and carelessly tossing it into the trash can. The loud bang it made startling them out of whatever trance they were trapped in.
"I wasn't done," the words echoed as empty as their being seemed to be.
"You are done."
Terzo was firm. Guiding them up from the chair and forcing them into the adjoining bathroom with him. Sitting them down on the toilet while he opened the numerous cabinets in search of makeup remover. Failing to find what he wanted, he eventually gave up. Grabbing a washcloth and lathering it with soap. Taking their limp hand into his own grip. Trying to gently wash the ink off. Forced to scrub to get any of the ink to budge.
Wanting to tear up himself as he rubbed their skin raw to try and clean away the evidence of their struggle. Accepting that the ink stains would remain far longer than either of them would like.
Mindlessly they followed as Terzo once again lead them back into their room. Drifting back towards the desk every few steps. Terzo's steady hand on their back constantly adjusting their path away. Bundling them into bed with helplessness growing inside of himself. He didn't know how to help them.
When they seemed to settle enough in bed to be certain they would not try to get back out immediately, Terzo returned to the desk. Looking over the words to try and see if he could make out any of the ruined words. Garner any hint as to what was happening. A small folded paper caught his eye instead. Marked with the signature little rip in the corner that they always left in their clumsy attempts to open up envelopes.
Slowly reaching for it without disturbing the clutter of papers strewn across the desk. It seemed so unassuming. A different stationary than was typically used in the Ministry. A sort of pure, bleached white that spoke of cheep, flimsy printer paper. Opening it up, it began normally. Taking it's time to devolve into something corrosive.
"-your actions have been deplorable. Residing in unrepentant debauchery, corruption, and sickening actions. Your family prays for you, for the return of the daughter you fail to be with each of your actions. Until you properly repent and leave that mockery of a "ministry" you will condemn your family to hell. Your blessed Mother cursed with illness at the thought that you will burn for all of eternity. If you do not write down your sins and properly repent you will be the cause of-"
Scoffing in disgust Terzo crumpled the letter into a ball. Angerly slamming it into the bin with the used up pen with such force that the flimsy thing tipped over. Heavily breathing as his anger was unsatisfied by the act. They had told him before that the religious group they had been raised in had been- traumatic. Terzo had believed them, of course he had! He just, had not realized how deep the extent of the lingering damage such upbringing had brought.
They had been doing as they were told, as they had likely been trained to do. Write down every sin or sin adjacent action they had taken and then repent. Terzo feared what such repenting would have looked like had he arrived after they had finished writing out a year's worth of "sins
Standing in the center of the room silently Terzo allowed himself a few minutes for helplessness to overtake him. How could he help them?
Refusing to do nothing he stalked over to the bed. Climbing in beside them. Tightly clinging to them. For now he would just hold them. Tomorrow he would try to figure out what they needed to be reassured that they mattered, that they were not the horrible person that those who had hurt them believed them to be.
For tonight being there with them would have to be enough.