Without meaning to, it becomes a habit; Claire visits St. Peter's after work a few times a week and usually runs into Father Matthew. She tells him how she feels like her job's getting harder, like the city's getting harsher, like everyone around her is losing hope. He seems to know the days when she just wants to talk herself out, when she wants him to say something - anything - to reassure her, and when she just wants to sit in silence.
Other times, they just... talk. Not always about God or faith, but whatever comes to mind.
Matthew tells her how he lost his sight. "I have a form of, um," he says, gesturing vaguely to his head, "sensory processing disorder, I think it's called? That's the best diagnosis they've come up with, at least, since my case is unique. It's because of the chemicals that caused my blindness, but emotional state can trigger episodes. It was especially bad after my dad died..."
She learns that Jack Murdock worked at a deli during the day and as a boxer at night to make ends meet until he got shot. Matthew tells her he wound up in the orphanage after that. "There was this blind old Piarist - that's one of the Catholic religious orders, same way I'm a Jesuit - who taught me how to manage my sensory issues. So, you know, I owe the Church a lot. That's why I signed on; plus, I wanted to devote my life to making people's lives better."
"How's that working out for you?" she asks, leaning forward in the pew, her hands laced together between her knees.
Matthew chuckles ruefully. "Like any other calling, I suppose - good days and bad days."
"I save lives, you save souls," she comments, and he nods agreement.
"Kind of. The Lord does the saving, I just... nudge people in His direction."
Claire drops her head, looking at her hands as she asks, quietly, "...ever find someone you don't think can be saved?"
She expects him to say that no soul's past saving, no one is beyond the reach of God's infinite love and forgiveness, but instead, he's silent for a long, long time. "Honestly? I'm still working on that one," he says at last.
FILL [2/6]: "Revelations," (5x+1, as discussed above) Matt/Claire, Priest!Matt, Priest Kink
Without meaning to, it becomes a habit; Claire visits St. Peter's after work a few times a week and usually runs into Father Matthew. She tells him how she feels like her job's getting harder, like the city's getting harsher, like everyone around her is losing hope. He seems to know the days when she just wants to talk herself out, when she wants him to say something - anything - to reassure her, and when she just wants to sit in silence.
Other times, they just... talk. Not always about God or faith, but whatever comes to mind.
Matthew tells her how he lost his sight. "I have a form of, um," he says, gesturing vaguely to his head, "sensory processing disorder, I think it's called? That's the best diagnosis they've come up with, at least, since my case is unique. It's because of the chemicals that caused my blindness, but emotional state can trigger episodes. It was especially bad after my dad died..."
She learns that Jack Murdock worked at a deli during the day and as a boxer at night to make ends meet until he got shot. Matthew tells her he wound up in the orphanage after that. "There was this blind old Piarist - that's one of the Catholic religious orders, same way I'm a Jesuit - who taught me how to manage my sensory issues. So, you know, I owe the Church a lot. That's why I signed on; plus, I wanted to devote my life to making people's lives better."
"How's that working out for you?" she asks, leaning forward in the pew, her hands laced together between her knees.
Matthew chuckles ruefully. "Like any other calling, I suppose - good days and bad days."
"I save lives, you save souls," she comments, and he nods agreement.
"Kind of. The Lord does the saving, I just... nudge people in His direction."
Claire drops her head, looking at her hands as she asks, quietly, "...ever find someone you don't think can be saved?"
She expects him to say that no soul's past saving, no one is beyond the reach of God's infinite love and forgiveness, but instead, he's silent for a long, long time. "Honestly? I'm still working on that one," he says at last.
Claire's not sure how to respond to that.
- tbc -