Cheater? (Terzo x Reader)
Angst with a happy ending :)
Summary: due to Terzo’s recent change in behavior, you assume the worst, but your assumption couldn’t be further from the truth
The past few weeks you have been noticing things being off. More specifically, things have been seeming off about your partner Terzo.
It all began when one night Terzo was 2 hours late arriving back to your shared quarters after his daily duties as Papa. He apologized, and you didn't think much of it, but it started to happen more and more frequently that he would be late.
You first brushed it off as Sister Imperator keeping him busy with extra work, as you knew that woman was a bit of a hardass when it came to Clergy business. However, this pattern continued for several weeks.
As the days passed, you grew more and more suspicious of what was actually going on.
You would question "Terzo, you keep coming home late. What is keeping you late almost daily??"
And he would respond "Mi dispiace amore, Imperator has been preparing me for the upcoming tour"
you nodded, and hoped he was telling the truth. After all, he was right. Him and the ghouls were going to be heading off on tour in a few months which did require extensive preparations.
It would be one thing if this was the only thing that was different with him, but this was not the case.
He started becoming more secretive. When you suddenly would enter into rooms he was in alone, you would notice him scramble a bit to hide whatever he was doing on his phone. Now this was incredibly suspicious.
You would shoot him a puzzled look and he would just shrug as if he had no idea what you were on about. It was driving you almost insane that he was acting like there was nothing different, even though there clearly was.
Things got to such an extent that the two of you stopped spending as much time together as usual. Terzo always seemed a little anxious around you, and that paired with the fact he was always "working" late didn't help.
After the second week passed with these things going on, you noticed fellow Siblings of Sin acting a bit weird around you too.
Whenever you would walk past a group of them, or into a room, it seemed that all eyes were on you. They would smirk and whisper to each other. You couldn't hear anything that they were saying, but your brain always assumed the worst.
How could you not assume the worst? How could stares, smirks, and whispers ever mean something good??
It seemed like almost the entire congregation knew something you didn't, and it drove you insane.
Was it something to do with Terzo? You prayed to Satan that it had nothing to do with him.
You and Terzo had been together for quite some time, over two years to be exact.
He had taken a liking to you ever since you had set foot into the Ministry. He had been there on your initiation day, he was there for your first black mass, and he had made efforts to take any chance he could to speak with you at various Clergy events.
His feelings all became clear the day he pulled you aside, took your hands in his, and asked you out on a date. That was two months after you joined the Ministry.
You were like two peas in a pod, completing each other. His extrovertedness balanced out your introvertedness, and the other way around.
The two of you could make hours of conversation, you both had so many things in common. You were both musical, both singers, and he taught you what he knew on guitar and piano.
He would place his hands over yours and teach you simple but beautiful songs on the piano. He would even pitch to you his song lyrics for Ghost, and ask for your opinions and criticisms.
You were with him throughout the recording and release of the "Popestar" EP, and you even had a part in writing the lyrics for their hit song, "Square Hammer".
You loved him dearly, and he loved you even more. He would tell you this multiple times each day. He would wake you up every morning with a kiss and asking you how you slept.
Before he left every day he would say "ti amo" and kiss you as deeply as he could before having to leave you each day. His kisses showed the desperation and sadness that he felt having to leave you every day, it was obvious he cherished you deeply.
Terzo was also amazing at planning dates. He would surprise you with your favorite bouquet of flowers, and take you to do various fun activities of all categories.
Some dates would be more casual and playful, such as the amusement park or bowling alley. Or they would be more formal such as a fine dining restaurant or wine tasting event. Both of these types you loved equally.
Your relationship was perfect, no fighting, and whenever the two of you had disagreements they would always be resolved peacefully. There was no lying nor yelling. You respected and loved each other.
All of this is why Terzo's current antics made you incredibly anxious and also upset. You feared the absolute worst, you feared he was losing interest in you, or even worse, cheating on you.
Before the two of you had become an item, you knew he had a promiscuous reputation. He was constantly sleeping around with Siblings of Sin. You were told the love he had for you was incredibly rare, and he hardly ever saw anything special in the people he took to bed.
It made you incredibly elated when you realized that you were the exception, that he saw something special in you. You had crushed on him ever since you arrived, but had absolutely zero hope he felt the same. He did however feel the same, but now you were wondering if that was ever true at all.
You would have consistent nervous breakdowns. Crying in the bed you shared while he was out "working" became a common occurance. It drove you insane with the thought he could be being unfaithful. You would sob and sob and hope that his change in behavior was all just some weird dream. You hoped you would wake up and everything would be back to normal.
You were confused on what to do. You didn't know if you should talk with him about it or not. You were worried that if you did, he would leave you.
You know you shouldn't be with a cheater, but you couldn't bare to lose him either. You'd rather stay with him being unfaithful than completely be without him.
After all, it would still hurt to walk the Ministry halls and probably see him with whatever new Sibling of Sin he chose to be his partner. It would crush your soul to a billion pieces.
After another week of consistent meltdowns, and contemplating, you decided to make the hard decision and just ask him about it. Maybe it could all be a misunderstanding? But you knew that was the best case scenario. What other explanation could there be for all of this weird behavior from both Terzo and your mutual friends?
You were sitting in the big bed in your shared quarters, awaiting his arrival at the end of the day. Your eyes were red from crying, but this time you made no effort to hide your tears. You wanted him to ask you what was wrong. You wanted him to see the pain he had caused you.
At 9:00 pm, two hours after he was scheduled to be finished with his Papal duties, you heard the key turn in the door.
Terzo opened the door with a smile on his face "Amore! I am back!!"
You said nothing, and just looked up at him with tears streaming down your face. His face fell when he saw your facial expression, and he immediately rushed over to the bed where you were sitting.
"Amorina... what is the matter? Is everything okay??"
"Okay... do you want to talk about it?"
Your lips started to tremble and more tears streamed down your face.
Terzo took your hands in his "It's okay, I am here now. I can do my best to help you cara mia..."
You took a deep breath before speaking "T-Terzo... what is up with you lately??"
He looked at you panicked but confused "What do you mean?"
"What do I mean?? Do you not notice how weird you have been acting??"
"No... can you go into more detail?"
It angered you how he was essentially playing dumb. "Oh you know, how you have been late almost every day for the past three weeks"
Terzo opened his mouth to speak but you cut him off. "Or how you hide your phone from me constantly, or how Siblings of Sin smirk at me and whisper whenever I'm around them" you spat out.
"What is the meaning of all of this?? What could this possibly mean??" You yelled while tears streamed down your face
"Am I not enough for you? I love you so much Terzo... what is happening??"
"Cara just listen please..."
You took a deep breath trying to calm yourself before you got too angry. "Okay.."
"There is a good reason for all of this.. you will find out soon but I cannot tell you right now"
You shot him a perplexed look "what do you mean you can't tell me right now??"
"I'm sorry amore but I just can't, you need to trust me on this"
More tears began to prick at your eyes "what possible explaination could there be?? Why can't you just tell me now??" You shout at him while standing up
He follows your actions and also stands "Cara mia.. it's nothing bad please.."
"How the fuck should I believe that Terzo?" You shouted at him while turning to look at him
Your face was emotionless and cold, with a mix of exhaustion. You had been dealing this for too long, and you still couldn't get an explanation.
"I cry in here almost every day about this and you still won't tell me??"
Terzo's heart broke hearing those words. "Cara.. you cry every day? Why didn't you say anything until now??”
"Because I don't want you to leave me!!"
"Amorina... now why would I do that?"
"There is someone else isn't there??"
Terzo stared at your with total confusion and heartbreak. "What do you mean?"
"What do I mean?? Terzo, you have been acting incredibly suspicious. All the signs point to you being unfaithful..."
"But I would never! I promise you, that is so far from the truth"
You sigh angrily "okay so, if that is not the truth, then what is?? What is the possible explanation??"
Terzo sighs and tries to take your hands in his again, but you pull away from him. "Cara mia wh-"
"Tell me right now Terzo. What the fuck have you been up to?" You say coldly
Terzo realizes he can't hide it from you anymore, he has to tell you. No matter how much he wants to keep it secret, you need to know. It was clearly killing you to not know the truth.
He sighs deeply before speaking "Amorina... the reason I have been acting like this is because I have been planning to propose to you.."
Your face changes from anger to shock in a split second "W-What?"
"Yes, that is the reason."
"B-but, how does it make sense?"
Terzo chuckles "Well.. I have been so late because I have been spending my time after work planning the proposal"
"And the reason I have been secretive with my phone is because I have been searching for engagement rings"
"But what about the Siblings? Why are they whispering?"
"It is because most of them already know my plans, they all figured it out by now"
Now you can't help but feel extremely guilty. He had been planning a proposal, but your immediate assumption was that he was cheating.
Tears prick at your eyes once again, and you start sobbing heavily.
"Amore, are you okay? What is the matter now??" He says as he rushes to hug you
"I'm sorry Terzo, I'm so so sorry" you choke out through sobs
"No no amore, it is me who should be sorry, I am horrible at hiding these things"
"I can't believe I just assumed that, but you were planning to propose this whole time..."
"It's okay, it's okay. I was acting quite suspicious" he says with a light chuckle "I'm quite bad at hiding things"
You sniffle and look up at him "I love you Terzo"
He smiles warmly and looks into your eyes "I love you too amore, so so much"
He kisses you deeply and you melt into his touch. Your heart slowly starts to return to a normal beat as the relief washes over your body. He isn't cheating on you, he just wanted to propose. Wait... he wants to propose??
The realization hits you and you immediately pull back from him. "W-wait, you want to... propose?"
Terzo smiles warmly "Yes, that is what I am planning"
"Oh my gosh Terzo... you want me to marry you??"
"Why yes of course, who else would I marry?"
A huge smile crosses your face and you squeal in excitement while embracing him in a big hug. You squeeze him tightly and he laughs at your sudden burst of excitement.
"Of course I would marry you Terzo!! Oh my gosh!!"
"Well I'm glad you say yes, I guess the surprise proposal won't be super necessary now huh?"
You kiss him lightly and chuckle "you can still do it, I'm a sucker for a fancy proposal"
He sighs with some relief "good, good. I'm a sucker for those too"
To say the least, you are incredibly relieved and also elated at the thought of marrying Terzo. Your suspicions were the absolute opposite from the truth, and it made so much more sense.