The Rise of a King - Copia x Reader

XII

Another week of stress and work passed and tonight was the night you finally got to help at your first service! With excitement you sat at the breakfast table and told everyone how thrilled you were. Of course the Ghouls had attended many services before so they didn't think of it as that special but they enjoyed the positive vibes your happiness you radiated.
An hour later you were instructed to gather in the great hall with the other sisters of sin and Sister Imperator. She explained tonight's agenda and especially to you what your role would be.
"As the newest member of our clergy, you are to walk with the Cardinal and distribute the incense as he speaks our unholy prayers. He will show you exactly how it it done", she spoke in her usual voice of few excitement but surprisingly let out a deep sigh at the end of her speech. Besides, she seemed slightly exhausted, though it was hard to read on her emotionless face. 'Should I ask her whether she's alright?' You decided not to, after all she'd probably not answer you anyways but simply tell you to mind your own business and not ask such personal questions. Plus, she's a grown woman and a tough one as well, she can handle whatever challenge she may be facing in her life at the moment. So, you left the hall after the gathering to meet Copia, officially for him to show you how to handle the censer, unofficially to fool around with him and pay the rats a visits, you rarely got to see them the past days due to work.

You happily climbed the stairs to the fourth floor, carefully making sure you remained unseen as you entered the room with the "empty" sign. You couldn't have caught a better moment for this, as you faced the interior of the room, you found Copia kneeling on the ground with his rats running and climbing all over him. He giggled and watched them with lit up eyes, this was too wholesome to watch and you felt a little upset to interrupt this peaceful moment as you closed the door which caught his attention.

Yet, you felt no regrets as he raised his head and jumped up with big eyes when he saw you standing by the door.
"Y/n!"
He ran over to you and wrapped his arms tight around you which made it nearly impossible for you to raise your arms and hug him back. You let out a small laugh and patted his back gently before he eventually loosened his grip and stepped back.
"It's so good to see you! What brings you here, is everything okie-dokie?"
You nodded at him.
"Everything's fine, I just haven't seen you in a while so I decided to pay you and the cuties here a visit!"
He gave you a warm smile before it turned into a smirk and he glanced at you.
"Missed me, hm?", he asked in a deeper voice that sent shivers down your spine but you did your best not to show it. Instead you just patted his shoulder.
"Yeah you wish, rat man", you laughed ironically and watched his face turn back to the amused smile of earlier.
You now picked up Belial from the ground and moved him closer to your face.
"Hey, little one", you greet him with a smile and watched as he gently stretched his tiny paws and laid down onto your palm.
"This is too adorable", you whispered to Copia who gave you an agreeing nod.
As you had let him down a moment later, you turned to face Copia who now gently caressed Lucille.
"Hey, there's something else I came here for, I had totally forgotten as I saw you and the rats play so cutely".
He blushed a little at that last part but looked at you interested.
"What is it?", he then asked and gently let Lucille back onto the little tower she had played on before.
"Well, since tonight is going to be my first service, I am to walk with you and handle the censer", you paused, a little embarrassed to admit it as he nodded at you, indicating for you to proceed.
"The problem is, I have no idea how to actually do that.. and I was hoping you could show me"
He blinked a few times confused but eventually, a warm smile would grace his lips.
"Oh cara mia, you had me worried for a second. But of course I will show you, it is actually way easier than you might fear at the moment. Come, follow me", he waved his hand in his direction, indicating for you to follow him.

He lead you down the stairs but not to the first floor as expected. You looked around confused as you suddenly found yourself and the Cardinal walking the Papal corridors with no sign of an idea what you two were doing here.
"Hey, what are we doing here? Don't tell me we need to change Nihil's diapers before we can go for the censer", you chuckled as you walked besides him but suddenly watched his face fall and with it, a part of your heart dropped in your chest. 'Oh, that was stupid'
"Hey, I'm sorry if I-", you began but paused as he stopped walking. He looked like his blood had frozen, his stare was pinned straight ahead and as you followed it, you knew why he acted the way he did. By the end of the corridor stood Nihil and Sister Imperator, gesturing wildly as if they were arguing. Sister looked terribly furious while Nihil looked rather untouched, he tried reaching his hand out to grab her hand but she brushed it off and walked away from him. With quick steps, she suddenly came towards the both of you but Copia didn't move his eyes, he only glared at Nihil emotionless. 
A moment later, if in opposite directions, both Sister and Nihil had disappeared and Copia let out a deep sigh, yet you weren't less concerned.
"Are you alright?", you carefully asked in a lower voice and gently laid your hand on his back. He slowly turned his head to look at you and gave you a hesitant nod, though he still seemed a little stiff.
"I'm sorry if I worried you, I'm just.. not on good terms with Nihil at the moment"
"There's no need to apologise, you know I'm here if you wanna talk about it"
He gave you a thankful smile before he made a few steps over to a door by your side, he unlocked it and slipped through before he returned back on the hallway barely three seconds later.
"Here, I just needed to grab these from Terzo's room", he held up a pair of golden keys which jingled as he shook them and threw them over to you with a still saddened wink.
"Wait, that was Terzo's room?", you asked with big eyes, a little bit regretful that you had not thrown a glimpse in.
Copia cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyebrows.
"Haven't you been in there yet?"
You shook your head, a little confused about why you'd ever be spending time in Terzo's private chambers, after all the two of you weren't even half as close as you and Copia were. As the Cardinal suddenly let out a deep, relieved sigh, you were even more perplexed but decided not to give it any further attention since he now began to explain his quarrel with Nihil to you.
You listened carefully to every word he spoke and gave him your opinion whenever he needed you to.
"And I just.. I feel like no matter what I do, I will never gain his respect, let alone any sort of recognition.. but maybe he's right, maybe I'm just not working hard enough on myself-"
"No C, stop that nonsense right now!", you interrupted him with a stern look on your face.
"You know exactly how hard you've worked and I am more than devastated that you dare doubt yourself like that donkey of a man does!"
He looked at your with big eyes but you weren't done yet, you lifted your index finger and poked it into his chest.
"You are a remarkable man, Cardinal Copia and don't you ever forget that again!"
Now you were done, with heavy breaths you stood on the hallway, you eyes still pinned to his overwhelmed look but you could see your words had moved something inside him. He slowly nodded and lowered his head a little to look at your finger still poking into him.
"Thank you, cara. As always, you are completely right, I really do well here but tend to forget sometimes.. so it is very fortunate that I have my favourite sister of sin around to remind me when I can't remember by myself. And of course I am very thankful for that sister", he gave you a big smile and gently took your hand away from his chest to pull you into a warm hug. You felt your heart jump in joy at both his warmth and affection, such as his appreciation. To be honest you weren't completely sure you hadn't overdone it with your speech and were a little worried at first that he may get mad at you. But gladly, it all worked out in the end!

After a moment of hugging and a little bit of sobbing from both sides, the two of you continued your walk to the chapel's storage room where the equipment for all rituals and services were kept. As you reached the huge, dark wooden door, he secretively laid a finger on his smirking lips and unlocked the gate to the unholy haven. He carefully swung it open to reveal to you the clergy's great chapel, a huge hall of gothic architecture with ornate marble pillars, impressive paintings and statues and magnificent tapestry.
"Welcome to the very heart of our unholy clergy, Sister Y/n", he spoke proudly as he swirled around in the middle of the hall.
"How do you like it?"
"It is beautiful, more impressive than I could have ever imagined it. Oh C, how come I never got to be here before?"
You carefully walked around and did all you can to breathe in the place's smell, it was a wonderful scent of incense and wax.
"Well actually me and Papa are the ones to spend the most time here while we prepare ourselves for the great ceremonies and all. But it is one of my favourite places within the ministry, that is for sure"
"Well you'd be an idiot if it weren't", you laughed and admired the statue of a goat holding a censer.
"Well I guess if he can do it, you can too", Copia chuckled as he suddenly stood next to you, studying the masterpiece in front of him.
"Should we get to it then?", you suggested and with a nod he gestured to a cabinet by the entrance door. He opened the iron door with a shrill squeak that made your ears ring seconds later before he reached inside and grabbed all supplies needed for your first practice.

A few moments later, the two of you found yourselves by the end of a long, black carpet leading up to the dark wooden altar covered in white cloth and a mixture of golden, such as dark red candles on top of it. While he mimicked the movement you were to make, swinging the censer while holding it in a way the incense could perfectly stream outside, you walked down the path to your feet and did as he showed. Yet, it barely could've gone worse and you felt truly embarrassed that it was him in front of whom you'd make a fool of yourself. The censer always twisted around itself, the chain cut into your fingers and the strong smell of incense made you dizzy as if it was all just steaming up to your face instead of between the rows. At some point, your vision suddenly got blurry and you felt yourself stumbling forward until you eventually lost balance and tripped over your feet. Luckily, Copia noticed soon enough and held you before your feet your even leave the ground.
"Careful", he chuckled a little worried.
"Seems like me having to safe you from falling developed into a daily matter"
As your eyes met his mischievous smirk, you gently hit his arm but couldn't hold back a little laugh.
"You dork! I wouldn't have fallen if all the incense hadn't gotten me dizzy"
"Well then let's make sure this doesn't happen again, sì?", he said remaining that smirk of his.
You couldn't even fully comprehend what was going on as you suddenly felt his strong hands gently being laid on yours. Even though he knew what he was doing, both of your faces were now covered in a deep red blush.
He then carefully lifted your hands and slowly moved you guys forwards while swinging the censer as it was supposed to.
"Look, you have to do it like this, here.. and there.. easy, right?"
You couldn't but smile as you felt his warm gaze on you, thank Satan it was him and not Sister Imperator who was chosen to help you out.
"Thank you so much", you told him after you had manages one round by yourself without his guidance.
"Not for that, cara mia! And don't forget, if you ever feel nervous tonight, I'll be right by your side"