moar originals
Another Sean-and-David!verse. In this one, Sean's an ex-priest. Yes, I'll save seats on the bus to hell. Or maybe it's a handbasket? Whatever.
Synopsis and (PG-rated) snippet behind the cut:
Sean moves to North Carolina on 'sabbatical' after discovering that exposing and testifying against another priest as a child-molester has merely caused the man to be reassigned, not prosecuted or taken out of public contact. That experience and the realities of the politics of the Catholic church shake his faith in the church itself, and he's already reached a decision that he cannot continue as a priest when he meets (and falls hard for) David.
He doesn't tell David much of his background initially, only letting him know that his experience in romance is pretty non-existent, at least until things progress pretty rapidly between them. David comes to Sean's small apartment one day to find Sean sitting on the couch, turning his priest's collar over and over in his hands as he tries to find the words to tell David about his past.
Despite that rocky beginning, they are still drawn to each other, and David finds an attraction in Sean's innocence that allows him to slow his pace to glacial in pursuit of Sean. Not without bumps of their own, nevertheless (because it's me and I usually demand happy endings), they manage to make it work between them.
This is set at some point after they've worked beyond a fairly serious point in their relationship.
* * * * * * *
Sean & David, Priest!Verse
Sean shifts in the crowded row, earning a glance from David beside him, who, as a non-Catholic, has far more reason to feel uncomfortable than he does.
Well, maybe. Or at least as much of a reason as Sean does.
He hadn't known Father Donovan before coming here on 'sabbatical'; part of the appeal of moving here had been not knowing a single person. No one to know about battles fought and lost; no one to probe at soul-deep wounds, as dramatic as that sounded.
He'd stayed away from church at first, reluctant to stir memories not yet distant enough to lose their sting. Eventually he'd lost that battle, too.
Father Donovan made it easier, never pushing. He almost reminds Sean of someone attempting to tame a feral cat, only without the frequent offerings of food. No sudden moves, no pushing, just always there, ready to listen when Sean's ready to talk. Father Donovan, Sean's discovered, is exactly the type of priest Sean himself had always tried to be.
The kind of priest that might've kept him in his calling, if there'd been more like him and less like Father Donahue. A priest like Father Donovan, Sean knows, would have fought the same fight Sean did.
He hasn't pushed Sean, nor offered a judgment about his decision to leave the priesthood, his spotty attendance...or about his relationship with David. Sean glances David's way, content beyond the telling of it that David had simply and readily agreed to come with him to Christmas Eve mass, always one of Sean's favorites.
David's got a soft, fond grin and his eyes are on Sean, not up front, and only then does Sean realize he's been mouthing the words along with Father Donovan. He reaches out, clearing the short space between them and catches David's hand in his, giving and getting a squeeze. He feels the same peace and sense of partnership that he used to feel, standing in church and doing God's work, before all his illusions and naivete had been stripped away.
And for that, ironically enough, he offers his thanks.
"The peace of the Lord be with you always," Father Donovan intones.
"And also with you," Sean choruses, along with most of the congregation.
"Let us offer each other a sign of peace."
Sean turns to his neighbor, an elderly man who frowns at him as he shakes his hand. "That's not appropriate in the house of the Lord," he tells Sean, voice pitched low.
Sean glances back at David, who's finished shaking the hand of the person in the pew in front of him and turns back to him. "Love is always appropriate in God's house," he replies, and reaching up, he tugs David to him for a closed-mouthed but tender kiss.
David's smiling when they part. "Merry Christmas," he says, and touching his cheek, Sean echoes him.
~fin~
Synopsis and (PG-rated) snippet behind the cut:
Sean moves to North Carolina on 'sabbatical' after discovering that exposing and testifying against another priest as a child-molester has merely caused the man to be reassigned, not prosecuted or taken out of public contact. That experience and the realities of the politics of the Catholic church shake his faith in the church itself, and he's already reached a decision that he cannot continue as a priest when he meets (and falls hard for) David.
He doesn't tell David much of his background initially, only letting him know that his experience in romance is pretty non-existent, at least until things progress pretty rapidly between them. David comes to Sean's small apartment one day to find Sean sitting on the couch, turning his priest's collar over and over in his hands as he tries to find the words to tell David about his past.
Despite that rocky beginning, they are still drawn to each other, and David finds an attraction in Sean's innocence that allows him to slow his pace to glacial in pursuit of Sean. Not without bumps of their own, nevertheless (because it's me and I usually demand happy endings), they manage to make it work between them.
This is set at some point after they've worked beyond a fairly serious point in their relationship.
* * * * * * *
Sean & David, Priest!Verse
Sean shifts in the crowded row, earning a glance from David beside him, who, as a non-Catholic, has far more reason to feel uncomfortable than he does.
Well, maybe. Or at least as much of a reason as Sean does.
He hadn't known Father Donovan before coming here on 'sabbatical'; part of the appeal of moving here had been not knowing a single person. No one to know about battles fought and lost; no one to probe at soul-deep wounds, as dramatic as that sounded.
He'd stayed away from church at first, reluctant to stir memories not yet distant enough to lose their sting. Eventually he'd lost that battle, too.
Father Donovan made it easier, never pushing. He almost reminds Sean of someone attempting to tame a feral cat, only without the frequent offerings of food. No sudden moves, no pushing, just always there, ready to listen when Sean's ready to talk. Father Donovan, Sean's discovered, is exactly the type of priest Sean himself had always tried to be.
The kind of priest that might've kept him in his calling, if there'd been more like him and less like Father Donahue. A priest like Father Donovan, Sean knows, would have fought the same fight Sean did.
He hasn't pushed Sean, nor offered a judgment about his decision to leave the priesthood, his spotty attendance...or about his relationship with David. Sean glances David's way, content beyond the telling of it that David had simply and readily agreed to come with him to Christmas Eve mass, always one of Sean's favorites.
David's got a soft, fond grin and his eyes are on Sean, not up front, and only then does Sean realize he's been mouthing the words along with Father Donovan. He reaches out, clearing the short space between them and catches David's hand in his, giving and getting a squeeze. He feels the same peace and sense of partnership that he used to feel, standing in church and doing God's work, before all his illusions and naivete had been stripped away.
And for that, ironically enough, he offers his thanks.
"The peace of the Lord be with you always," Father Donovan intones.
"And also with you," Sean choruses, along with most of the congregation.
"Let us offer each other a sign of peace."
Sean turns to his neighbor, an elderly man who frowns at him as he shakes his hand. "That's not appropriate in the house of the Lord," he tells Sean, voice pitched low.
Sean glances back at David, who's finished shaking the hand of the person in the pew in front of him and turns back to him. "Love is always appropriate in God's house," he replies, and reaching up, he tugs David to him for a closed-mouthed but tender kiss.
David's smiling when they part. "Merry Christmas," he says, and touching his cheek, Sean echoes him.
~fin~