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There were Siblings of Sin crowded around Terzo.
There were always Siblings of Sin crowded around Terzo. A majority of which were determined to earn an invite to his bed. Not caring that he was in a relationship, or that he had clearly not taken anyone else to bed since the two of them had started dating. No. Her fellow Siblings always seemed to believe that they deserved his attention. His love.
Papa Emeritus the Third humored them. To a point.
Teasing flirtations, blown kisses, winks, and his characteristic charm. But he never touched, or went beyond empty honeyed words that had been said millions of times before in media.
So she tried to be patient.
He was tending to his flock. Being Papa, as he was expected to be. Any moment now he would make his excuses and leave. Weave through the crowds to her side so that they could go back to his rooms for date night.
Minutes passed. Slowly. Watching everyone get a moment with Terzo. Everyone but her. Was he even trying to leave anymore? Or had she managed to be forgotten while standing only twenty feet away from him.
After about half an hour of checking her the time, she sighed again. Deciding that she had had enough. If he wanted to be fawned over by everyone other than his lover then she would leave him to it.
Leaving the chapel without a glance back was a struggle. The desire to sneak a peak at Terzo to see if he even noticed her departure more tempting than the forbidden fruit of Eden. Unlike Eve she would not give in. Even as a Satanist there was some knowledge that was best left unknown. It would break her to know with certainty that he did not notice her leaving.
The hallway was dark, stained glass no longer illuminated by the sunlight that had finished setting ages ago. Ineffective candles lighting up the path. All the better to hide the tears that were starting.
How could he abandon their plans in favor of empty words?
If it had been a Ritual, or higher clergy member stealing his time away she would understand. Those were part of the trappings of being Papa that could not be avoided. But the sycophants that wanted into his pants? Those he could afford to brush off after a handful of minutes indulging their delusions!
Well he could have his pick of them! Refusing to wait up for him any longer. She was not a dutiful Christian wife- she was a Sibling of Sin, a being of free will and self respect- waiting for a man to notice her was beneath her…
She was going to take back her time, her night! She could have a self care night, indulge in herself all alone. Pah, who needed date nights anyway.
Lying to herself didn't stop the tears.
Who was she kidding, self-care. More like crying the whole night while feeling sorry for herself was in order. She would feel better once she was all cried out.
Sniffling in the middle of the hallway down from the Chapel. Grateful that no one else was traversing the halls at this hour. All too busy with other commitments. Or flirting with Terzo… Going back to her bed to mope was sounding better by the moment. Freezing when she remembered that her keys were in Terzo's suite. She would have to go back to his room to retrieve them. Crossing back towards the Chapel from there to make it to her own room. It was undeniable that the trip would have her intercepted by Terzo.
Seeing him was not an option.
Of course as soon as she thought this, the Chapel doors opened behind her. Slowly turning to see Terzo walking out, somehow unaccompanied by any of those who had been surrounding him. Soft smile and joy radiating off of him the moment he saw her.
Unable to stand it she rapidly turned on her feet. Almost toppling over with the speed at which she rushed away. Turning the corner and ducking into the first storage room with a cracked open door she reached. Before the door could be slammed closed Terzo was following after her with a call of her name. Slipping into the room behind her and allowing the door to click closed. Single overhead light buzzing when he turned it on.
"I'm all for us having privacy but wouldn't our room be more comfortable?"
His teasing pissed her off. How dare he act as if nothing was wrong! Everything was wrong.
"Shut up and leave me alone, Papa," voice dripping with scorn.
His shocked expression reminding her of that one meme. Disarming her somewhat. Against her will she had to resist the urge to let herself laugh and feel better.
"You were running away from me," he slowly realized. "Why were you running away from me? Upset as well for that matter!"
"Look I just want to go back my room and sleep, Terzo. I don't want to talk about it."
Deflating Terzo accepted her desire for isolation without further protest. Knowing that it was best to respect her wishes for now. Twisting the door knob to free them from the room. Stalling before opening the door. Shoulders drooping down.
"Uh, I think maybe we should talk after all."
"Terzo, no. Just open the door," frustration that she had been trying to avoid letting out seeping into her words.
Why was he being so stubborn!
"We aren't getting out of here-"
"Oh, really." Letting her voice raise as she almost began to yell at him, raining it in at the last moment. "You're not going to let us out until we have a fight that we could avoid if you just let me cool off on my own!"
"The door's lock," he dryly replied.
Thrown off by the admission she instantly grumbled to herself. It couldn't be actually locked. He was just making up an excuse. Twisting the knob harshly. It didn't budge.
"I'm not joking. It's locked!"
Slamming herself against the wood in an attempt to force it open. Some doors just liked to stick. There was no way they were locked in here. Just no.
"Please don't hurt yourself trying to get out of here," Terzo gently held her hand to stop her from trying the door knob again. "I can text someone. It may take a while for them to read it on a Friday night, but someone will let us out eventually."
Forcing herself to relax at the solution he offered, "okay."
Terzo took to texting as she looked at the room she had stumbled her way into trapping them in. The sparsely stocked room seemed to be furniture storage so at least she picked a comfortable room to be trapped in. Wandering over to the most comfortable looking loveseat she could find not covered in a light dusting of- well, dust.
As she settled, legs pulled up to her chest, on the sofa Terzo reached out to her, "Whatever I have done, I am sorry."
Terzo sat next to her, pressed up against her as close as he could get. Scooting over to try and create space between them failed with nowhere else for her to go. Unless she mustered the effort to stand. Exhausted by her own emotions she didn't bother.
Not speaking until the silence grew too uncomfortable. No one had come to free them yet, meaning it would likely be hours before someone let them out.
Forcing herself to confess in order to make the wait less painfully awkward.
"You let the congregation walk all over us. Our plans seem to mean nothing to you compared to flirting with anyone who expresses interest."
"I-" swallowing Terzo paused to think over his words. "I never mean to do such a thing. Being raised to become Papa since I was small means that I am so accustomed to thinking of letting people use me to indulge in the fantasy of the sin of lust."
"It hurts Terzo-" her tears starting silently. Clearing her throat forcibly. "I get jealous of how they all get your attention and I go unnoticed. Especially when we have plans that get delayed by it."
"I do not mean for you to feel abandoned or neglected-" he started.
"I know," she whispered. "It's why I wanted to be alone. You don't deserve to be yelled at by me for something stupid like this."
"No, no, no, it is not stupid if it is bothering you!"
Laughing lightly at his rush to consol her.
"It's a little stupid to be jealous of you reciting unholy scripture about lust to other people. You are, you know, basically the Pope."
"Well when you put it that way maybe just a little," playfully teasing her. "But I am proud of you for telling me what was wrong. Instead of bottling it up inside until it drove us apart."
Gripping her hands close to his heart. Voice starting to break slightly as he held back his own emotions.
"There is nobody like you. To me you are everything, even if I am a little bit shit at showing it some days. Telling me when things like this bother you is good for us. Feel free to interrupt me when I am acting like a stupid pushover with the masses, it will be good for me."
Beginning to beg by the end. Any remnants of anger breaking away at his earnestness.
"I forgive you for being an idiot," she playfully offered. Clear in her tone that there was truly nothing to forgive.
Pressing a short kiss to his lips before cuddling into his open arms. Terzo soothingly rubbing her back as he shifted them into a more comfortable position. Clumsily pulling out his phone as it buzzed.
"Apparently Omega is going to take pity on us and let us out. As soon as he can find tools to take apart the door with…"