Chapter Text
The ghoul, or as he's commonly known around the abbey; Aether, opens the door for you with a click of his heels and steps aside to let you into Papa’s office. The most powerful man of the church is behind his large desk where he frets over papers. The wood in the fireplace snaps and the grandfather clock near the corner loudly ticks away. You wonder if he heard the door because he hardly notices you as you enter. But he does and looks up with a warm and welcoming smile.
“Ah good, just who I wanted to see.” Copia has gone from an awkward Cardinal to a strong Papa quite flawlessly. Yes, he could be quite firm and take his duties quite seriously when he needed to but deep down he was still a warm and goofy man who always had an awkward smile for those who needed it. You had joined the faith just a few months before he was made Papa and working in archives you got to interact with him often before his ascension. You hit it off pretty fast having a few things in common, you were new to the abbey, you were awkward with people and you both had a love for books.
It had been a while since you had seen him, longer since you had talked to him, and It quickly puts your nerves at ease to see him and his warm smile. When Aether had suddenly appeared and told you to follow him to Copia’s office, you had thought you had done something wrong. Though it was no surprise when Aether appeared. He, and a lot of his ghoul brethren had been doing that a lot. You catch them out of the corner of your eye most days. You asked the other sisters if they normally stalk the new blood and they had all just giggled like they knew some big secret. It frustrated you to no end. But the ghouls were never aggressive, just plain creepy, you had gotten good at ignoring them.
“That will be all.” Copia dismissed your chauffeur and stood from his desk to walk around and gesture to the chair opposite of him.
You try to walk towards him but your wrist is quickly snatched up by Aether and you hear a gurgle from his chest. It sounded like the rumbling of a cat ready to throw a fit. Your eyes widen in surprise at the sound. He seemed ready to hiss and his body was tensing up as though to spring.
Papa’s voice goes hard and firm. He makes direct eye contact with Aether and glares. The confidence that the man had quickly grown into coming to full display.
“I said, that will be all.” He ordered.
The room echoes with the snap of the fireplace. The ticking of the clock, and now you hear the soft pitter patter of rain hitting the window. Aether's low rumbling is loud compared to all of this and tension rises in the room for reasons you don't understand.
You tease your fingers underneath Aether’s own to try and get him to release you, wincing when his grip get’s hard enough for his knuckles to turn white. You whimper and pull your arm away.
“Please let go.” The tension snaps and the ghoul breaks eye contact with Copia to quickly lock towards you. You stare back with growing fear as Aether’s eyes glow behind the lenses of his mask and his tail lashes once before he looks down at his own hand as though he had been betrayed and lightens his grip. He soothes his thumb over your wrist as though in apology before letting you go completely.
Copia quickly draws you away with a gentle hand on your shoulder and squares his own. While he is far from being tall enough to tower over Aether, right now he seems to be the biggest thing in the room, glaring down the ghoul. It’s a stalemate that lasts a few seconds before Aether’s shoulders slouch and his head bows. His tail lashes once again before he leaves the room, closing the door behind him, casting you a single forlorn glance as he does.
“What was that about?” You ask because the ghouls have never once laid hands on you like that before. Sure, they follow you around a lot but they’ve never made any sort of move like that. He seemed threatened or was he worried? But why would he feel either one about leaving you alone with Papa?
The man breaks with a sigh and leads you to the chair, gesturing once more for you to sit. As you do, he pushes a hand through his hair, soothing it back and then pinches his brows.
“I was worried about this. They are getting to be very territorial.”
“Do you know why?” He nods his head to the side and gives you another warm smile, trying to smooth over the event that had just transpired.
“That has something to do with why I asked you here. But first, how have you been? We do not get much of a chance to talk like we used to.” You smile at his attempt at making you feel less threatened by what just happened and shake your head.
“I’m fine. It's good to see you again. But I have to ask, did I do something wrong?" Your anxiety mounting and Aether's little display of aggression not helping. Copia's expression turned shocked and he quickly shook his head.
“Oh no, sorealla mia, you didn’t do anything wrong.” His expression then goes pinched and he opens his mouth before closing it again and quickly shaking his head again. “No, you did nothing wrong. It’s just a little…well…controversial, for the ghouls at least.”
“So, I did do something wrong.”
“I wouldn’t see it as wrong. I don’t see it as wrong." He then clears his throat. “But, I would like to be clear with the facts, otherwise I may accidentally dig myself a hole.”
You nod your head, expecting a question.
But he bites his lip and sheepishly looks away from you, clasping his hands together in a fist.
"I..uh…do not know how to go about asking this without making you feel uncomfortable."
“Papa, we’re well past that. It can’t make this any worse.” Copia gives you a warm smile,trying to lighten your uneasiness.
“Cara mia, I was your Cardinal before I became your Papa. What happened to just calling me Copia?” You shuffle a little in your seat and flush. It was a little awkward, you barely had time to talk anymore between his work, rehearsals, and tours. And he was a very powerful man now, you were terrified of messing something up.
“Copia.” You say his name, it tasted warm and familiar on your tongue. You find yourself smiling again and he smiles with you. He then takes a deep breath and stands a little straighter.
"It is a very personal question and I mean no offense whatsoever. I mean, it's nothing to be embarrassed about and truly none of my business. In fact if I do offend you, you have my full permission to slap me.” He clears his throat and takes a breath before giving you a serious stare.
“But I need to know, so as to know how to best prepare from here.” You nod your head, anxiety rising again.
"Are you- again there's nothing wrong with it if you are but ah-" He takes another breath and then leans back against his desk.
“Like a bandaid.” He mutters to himself. He crosses his arms awkwardly and tips his head to the side and finally comes out with it.
"Are you a virgin?”
And your stomach drops, your hands come to rest at your knees and grips as you cast your eyes down at the floor, ashamed. You feel your cheeks flush and start to panic.
“If I said yes, would you kick me out of the Sisterhood?” Copia’s face grows alarmed and he quickly puts a hand over one of your own.
“Lord Lucifer, no!” You let out a relieved and very shaky sigh.
“There are many different ways to sin, si? Some do certain ones more than others and some don't do others at all. We all worship in different ways." He explains and waves a hand in the air.
“But how did-?” He gives you a sheepish smile and gestures his head towards the door.
“The ghouls gave it away.” You then shudder because now it made sense why they had been popping up so often around you. Seemed every time you turned your back there was one there waiting for you.
“Is that why they've been following me?” You ask. Following you like you’re a dog heat, like at any moment you were going to pull down your panties for them. Copia strokes his thumb across your hand gently and you make a daring move to link your fingers with his. He gives your hand a firm squeeze.
“Yes, they have a,..taste for this sorta thing. Even In a den of sinners, I'm told the smell of an innocent is very…pungent.”
“I smell?”
“Not in a bad way. Like freshly baked tiramisu for ghouls who have gone so long on an all you can eat buffet of granola bars." You chuckle in disbelief and shake your head in amusement, toying with his words.
“So I'm a treat?” He chuckles at your wit, happy that you're keeping light of heart in this.
“Yes, exactly. Una dolce sorpresa." He nods and clears his throat. “And now we need to figure out how to work from here.”
“Would they stop if I just…you know?” You flush again now because what are you a teenager? You can’t even say the word? Your face goes red again and you let go of Copia’s hand to pinch frustratingly at one of your flushed cheeks.
“Would you be able to?” He asked. “If you're not comfortable with that, we have another option. We have a few others with circumstance and have long since found another solution for those who don't not find the act very…appealing."
“It’s not that I’m uncomfortable with it. I mean...” You don’t want to go off on him, he's trying to help you but you feel like there needs to be context. He gives you a knowing smile.
“Whatever it is, I promise you’ll have no judgments from me as either your Papa or your friend.”
You take a deep breath and shrug.
“I told you before that my parents were very catholic.” Understanding dawns on his face and he gives a steady nod.
“Ah, good ol’ catholic guilt.”
“The whole reason I joined the Sisterhood was to break out of that mold. To be free of it, stop living by my parents' standards and start finding and living by my own.” You nervously chuckle and lean back in your chair. “But yeah, like you said.”
“So, you’re nervous?” He asked and you shook your head.
“No. It’s not like that. I'm embarrassed. Because how do I go about asking about that? Who do you ask? I get it’s fun. I want it to be fun.. I want that but if I’m gonna do it…I want my first time to be…memorable, ya know? Go out with a bang, kinda thing.” You awkwardly explain. “I wanna do so much, I don’t even know where to start.”
“But I would like it to be someone I know and get along with. But ya know…I’m not really good at talking to people.” You had almost asked him to be your first before he was made Papa, now it just felt too awkward to ask and really, why would he pick you anyways? You pull at your stocking nervously and bow your head.
“I know it’s kinda ridiculous wanting that fairy tail ‘special night with that special someone.’”
“Oh cara…” You hunch your shoulders and bite your lip as you feel your face heat. You open your mouth but your words get caught in your throat and now’s your chance, just do it. It’s relevant to the conversation, just ask him.
You feel his hand link with yours, distracting you from pulling at your fabric and swallowing your nerves.
“I wanted to ask…you.”
“Of course, mia tesoro.” You give a shaky sigh in relief, now that the hard part is over and you haven’t been instantly kicked out of his office. You look up to see him giving you a wide and warm smile.
“I would be honored to be your first.” And then a mischievous gleam settles in his eyes. “But since we have the chance I was wondering something else.”
“Oh?”
“If not, it’s fine. But if you’re interested, why not make the night especially memorable? One you’ll never forget.”