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The Church Wants You (All of you) - Part 8
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Thank you!
---
Rick draped the cape around the customer's shoulders and adjusted the chair.
The young man sitting in front of him looked barely twenty-two. Clean-cut already, but trying very hard to look even more respectable.
"So what are we doing today?" Rick asked.
"Just tidy it up."
Rick picked up the comb.
The customer glanced around the shop.
"One guy from our congregation said you're good barber, and that you are part of the community."
Rick almost laughed.
The young man grinned.
A few minutes passed.
Then the customer lowered his voice.
"You know, I'm not really convinced by all the church stuff."
Rick paused for a second.
"No?"
The young man shook his head.
"I mean... maybe. Maybe not."
Rick continued cutting.
"But?"
"But they helped me find work."
He shrugged.
"People trust you more when you look the part."
Rick looked at him through the mirror.
The customer continued.
"I got offered an apprenticeship."
"Nice."
"Yeah."
The young man smiled.
"My parents are happy."
"And church?"
The customer rolled his eyes.
"I go."
Rick laughed.
"You sound excited."
"I'm not."
The young man lowered his voice further.
"Honestly? I'm just trying to get my life together."
Rick stopped for a second.
That sounded painfully familiar.
The customer continued.
"I don't need to believe every story."
"Then why go?"
The young man shrugged.
"Maybe it helps."
Rick thought about that.
Maybe it helps.
He remembered the council.
The housing program.
The customers standing outside this morning.
The fact that the shop suddenly wasn't empty.
Maybe it wasn't forever.
Maybe it was just one year.
One stupid year.
One year of playing along.
Then life could go back to normal.
At least that's what he kept telling himself.
---
Meanwhile Peter sat alone at the apartment.
The white short-sleeved shirt felt stiff.
The tie hung loose.
His collar was open.
The apartment was quiet except for the turning of pages.
One of the books Daniel had given him lay open in front of him.
Peter had expected nonsense.
Instead he found himself actually reading.
And worse—
paying attention.
One passage caught his eye.
He read it again.
> "Men are, that they might have joy."
He stared at the sentence.
Simple.
Short.
Strangely comforting.
Another passage a few pages later talked about people carrying burdens and finding strength through faith and patience.
Peter leaned back.
The words weren't exactly revolutionary.
But they weren't what he expected either. No burning bush or angles on the clouds.
He rubbed his forehead.
"What the hell."
He closed the book.
Then opened it again.
Then closed it.
Then opened it again.
"Seriously, what the hell."
The doorbell rang.
Peter nearly jumped.
When he opened the door Daniel stood there.
Dark navy suit.
White shirt.
Tie perfectly centered.
Collar completely closed.
Every button exactly where it belonged.
The same neat appearance Peter had seen all day.
Daniel smiled.
"Good afternoon."
Peter stepped aside.
"Come in."
---
A few minutes later they sat at the table.
The book remained open between them.
Daniel noticed it immediately.
"You were reading."
Peter looked away.
"Maybe."
Daniel smiled.
"How was it?"
Peter hesitated.
"I expected worse."
Daniel laughed.
"I'll take that as progress."
Peter rolled his eyes.
"Don't get excited."
For a while they talked about the passages.
Then Daniel became quieter.
More serious.
"You know," he said, "I feel better than I ever did before."
Peter looked at him.
Daniel continued.
"I spent years chasing things that made me happy for a few hours."
His hands rested on the table.
"But peace is different."
Peter remained silent.
Daniel stared out the window.
"I never thought I'd have peace."
"What changed?"
Daniel smiled faintly.
"Lots of things. This town needed the change. Even more after the country collapsed."
Then he looked directly at Peter.
"You should pray."
Peter groaned immediately.
"Daniel."
"I'm serious."
"You always are."
"Ask God for a sign."
Peter shook his head, scratching his neck.
Daniel's eyes drifted toward Peter's collar.
The tie.
Loose.
Top button undone.
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
Peter immediately noticed.
"What?"
Daniel pointed.
"Is that appropriate? Is that the best one can do to please God?"
Peter froze.
For several seconds he honestly didn't know what to say.
Finally he answered.
"...No?"
Daniel smiled.
"Then fix it."
Peter sighed dramatically.
"You sound like a school principal."
Daniel laughed.
"I used to do the exact same thing."
Peter looked surprised.
Daniel nodded.
"Whenever Emily wasn't around."
Peter stared.
"What?"
"I'd loosen the tie."
Daniel mimicked the motion.
"Open the collar. Oh how I missed my tank tops."
Peter couldn't help smiling.
Daniel continued.
"Then she'd tell me to fix it."
"And?"
"And eventually I realized it was less exhausting to leave it alone than constantly argue with myself. And Emily."
Peter stared at the tie.
Strangely enough...
that actually made sense. If he's gonna be around those guys, he will never win.
He slowly buttoned the collar.
Then tightened the tie.
The familiar pressure returned.
He hated it.
Yet something unexpected occurred.
A strange relief.
Not comfort.
Not enjoyment.
Just relief.
The decision was gone.
No more constant debate.
No more "should I loosen it?"
No more "what if somebody says something?"
His mind suddenly jumped somewhere unexpected.
The hoodies he loved so much.
The endless shopping.
Matching shoes.
Matching colors.
Trying to look right.
Trying to hide things.
He touched his neck.
Then froze.
"Oh."
Daniel looked at him.
"What?"
Peter blinked.
"I think I know why I liked hoodies."
Daniel waited.
Peter laughed awkwardly.
"This is stupid."
"What?"
"They covered my neck."
Daniel remained silent.
Peter touched his collar again.
"I always thought my neck looked thin. Kids in high school used to make fun of me..."
The realization felt embarrassingly obvious.
"I hated it."
Daniel nodded.
"White shirt is the sign of purity. And the tie can easily work with your self consciousness. Give it a try. I can definitely tell your neck doesn't look that thin anymore!"
Peter laughed again.
"So apparently half my wardrobe decisions were insecurity."
Daniel smiled gently.
"Most people have something. But this sound to me like you found the solution."
---
A little later Daniel folded his hands.
"Let's pray."
Peter sighed.
Again.
But this time he didn't refuse.
They bowed their heads.
Silence filled the room.
Peter closed his eyes.
At first nothing happened.
Just awkwardness.
Then he began thinking.
Dear God...
The words felt strange.
Unnatural.
I don't even know if I'm talking to anyone.
He almost laughed.
I've never really prayed.
Another pause.
Never felt the need.
His breathing slowed.
But why do I feel calmer afterward?
That question lingered.
He remembered one of the passages he had read.
The one about joy.
The one about burdens.
Not proof.
Not certainty.
Just ideas.
Ideas about hope.
About patience.
About enduring difficult things.
Peter suddenly realized something.
Maybe the calm feeling wasn't magic.
Maybe it was simply the first time in years he had sat quietly with his own thoughts.
No phone.
No distractions.
No noise.
Just stillness.
When the prayer ended he opened his eyes.
His shoulders felt lighter.
Not transformed.
Not converted.
Just...
lighter.
Daniel noticed.
"You okay?"
Peter nodded slowly.
"I think so."
---
For a while neither spoke.
Then Peter asked something unexpected.
"Do you miss him?"
Daniel frowned.
"Him?"
"Your old boyfriend."
Daniel immediately corrected him.
"I never had a boyfriend."
Peter raised an eyebrow.
Daniel continued calmly.
"I had attractions."
Peter looked unconvinced.
Daniel continued.
"I had relationships I shouldn't have had."
Silence.
Then Daniel smiled sadly.
"The attractions didn't disappear overnight."
Peter listened.
"But I've found other things that matter more to me."
"The possibility of building a family."
"The peace I feel."
"My faith."
Peter studied him.
Daniel wasn't speaking like someone pretending.
Whether Peter agreed or not—
Daniel genuinely believed it.
Daniel leaned forward.
"Let me ask you something."
Peter groaned.
"That's always dangerous."
Daniel smiled.
"Do you want Rick to be happy?"
Peter answered instantly.
"Of course."
"More than you want to be right?"
Peter stopped.
That question landed harder than expected.
Daniel continued.
"I'm not telling you what your future should look like."
Peter looked skeptical.
Daniel laughed.
"Fine. Maybe I am a little."
That earned another eye roll.
But Daniel's voice remained gentle.
"What I'm saying is that people change. I can see you changing."
Peter stared at the table.
Daniel stood.
The lesson was over.
As he reached the door he looked back.
"Just keep reading."
Peter sighed.
"You're impossible."
Daniel smiled.
"So I've been told."
Daniel suddenly stood up.
"Come here."
He led Peter to the wardrobe, reached inside, and pulled out one of the hoodies.
Holding it up, he asked quietly,
"Is this cheap piece of fabric really more important than you and Rick having a home and moving forward with your lives?"
Peter opened his mouth but couldn't answer immediately.
Daniel handed the hoodie back.
"I'm not asking if you like it. I'm asking if it's worth everything you'd lose for it."
Then he simply walked back toward the living room, leaving Peter staring at the hoodie in his hands.
The door closed behind him.
The apartment became quiet again.
Peter looked at the book.
Then at his tie.
Then back at the book.
He went into bathroom and looked at himself.
For a moment he considered taking the tie off.
Instead he left it where it was. And made it even tighter.
Not because Daniel said so.
Not because he suddenly agreed with everything.
But because for the first time all day...
he wasn't thinking about it anymore.
Prepare for trouble
AND MAKE IT DOUBLE
Inspired by @yummycrummy 's malfunction au
Okay, but like...what would Ragatha and Caine do if they're BOTH under stupid sauce?
Giggle and stumble around, throw patties at Jax, talk about random stuff no one else around them understands and then fall asleep in the back snuggled up
Still learning to control himself
Link is in the pinned post ♡
