ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠.

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

ᅟᅟᅟ
Detective 𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐕𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐄 "𝐒𝐀𝐋" 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐈𝐃𝐀.
Full of Catholic 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭. Rough & 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆
                  due to 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 of prejudice about his origin
                & upbringing.

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

and sad.

"But you also are. . . A man of God. A priest. It's wrong. "

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

Too ashamed of his own confession, Sal looked at his own feet. His heart beat faster than ever - he could hear it on his eardrums, as if it was anxious to leave his body.

"You are the nicest man I have ever met."

He murmured, his voice tired

+

[ᅠ 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐫𝐧𝐬𝐭 . @ofstaywithme]

Ernst waited patiently, sitting by his side, offering the comfort of a quiet and patient presence.

When he finally spoke, the priest frowned in confusion.

"Me ?"

He asked quietly, surprised even.

"Well, I'm flattered." +

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

After a while, he took his hands off his face and sighed once more, feeling how his cheeks were damp from the tears.

"I have sinned, Father. . . With you. I feel things for you."

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

But Sal still cried and cried for what seemed like hours to him; in fact, only five or so minutes passed, but the pain on his heart was too heavy.

He thought many times about what and how he'd tell Father Toller. His lips opened and closed, but no sound came from it.

+

[ᅠ 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐫𝐧𝐬𝐭 . @ofstaywithme]

Upon noticing his distress, Ernst smiled softly at him, lowering his hands to join them again over his own lap.

“But . . . That's not what's troubling your heart so much, is it ?”

The man asked softly, watching for the other's response. —

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

the detective covered his face, trying to not cry.

"Father. . . I. . . "

He muttered, unable to finish his sentence.

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

His smiles and the touch on his shoulder didn't help at all; in fact, it just made his heart beat faster, his whole body like burning - specially where his hand touched.

Sal opened his mouth to speak once, twice - but his voice failed. Feeling his eyes fill with water,

+

[ᅠ 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐫𝐧𝐬𝐭 . @ofstaywithme]

It would be confusing at first, but . . . The truth was always for the best, as the priest believed.

Ernst smiled softly at him, gently touching his shoulder in a reassuring manner.

“Well . . . I would probably be excommunicated for saying something like that, but . . . —

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

Everyday, everywhere."

His voice seemed to crack, and Sal took a while to recompose himself, falling silent.

"I'm attracted to men, Father."

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

If only they knew about each other minds. . . But it would be better? Or they would live in more and more pain, knowing they couldn't have each other?

Swallowing dry, Sal put his hands together over his legs, feeling them sweaty and a bit cold.

"No. It's. . .

+

[ᅠ 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐫𝐧𝐬𝐭 . @ofstaywithme]

The priest slowly tilted his head, blinking softly as he watched the man's struggle.

He too felt things, but buried deep inside himself, embracing his loneliness like a kind of penance.

Wouldn't be right to say or do anything towards Sal and if he ever felt like that, —

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

his attraction to men.

"I'm sinning in thoughts, Father. And. . . I can't stop."

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

A pained, deep sigh escaped his lips. He felt his heart jumping when the priest sat by his side; Toller was the reason he felt like that.

He didn't even knew. . . But he was tempting him so much. He was waking up again that very thing Sal promised himself to hide;

+

[ᅠ 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐫𝐧𝐬𝐭 . @ofstaywithme]

“Mhm . . . Okay.”

Ernst spoke softly, moving to slowly sit by his side. Resting his hands on his own thighs, the priest tilted his head as he watched the others expressions.

“What happened, mhm ?”

He asked gently, giving the other time to answer.

[hunter @3gpmh]

not really good at flirting but i’ll stare at you like i’m starving

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

At his response, Sal just nodded slightly and looked down at his own feet, trying to keep his serious expression.

But. . . Being inside the church always made the man feel more fragile. He took a deep breath, looking for words.

"Not really. . . "

[ᅠ 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐫𝐧𝐬𝐭 . @ofstaywithme]

"Yes, Salvatore. I'm so sorry I couldn't take your call earlier, Mrs. Anderson came here asking me to bless her cats. I couldn't say no."

He chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"Is everything okay with you ? You seemed distressed on the voicemail."

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

"Because it's mine. I inherited it from my father. . . And I reported it was stolen four days ago, detective."

Sal replied, hands together over the table.

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

The detective followed Goren's voice with his eyes, silent. He was himself on that position many times; the nature of their jobs.

Because of that, qhen the other detective showed him the picture of the gun, Sal kept his expression. He recognized the object.

+

[ᅠᴰᴱᵀ 𝐆𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐍 .ᅠ @ofscarletdoor]

"Of course."

Goren smiled, keeping hie head tilted as he watched the man's posture.

"And you're-- Detective Procida. Now that we're properly acquainted . . . Why did we found your fingerprints on a murder weapon ?"

He pushed the picture of the gun towards the man.

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

Father. . . Father Toller?

How are you?

[ᅠ 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐫𝐧𝐬𝐭 . @ofstaywithme]

@DETPROClDA

[ᅠ 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐫𝐧𝐬𝐭 . @ofstaywithme]

ㅤ ㅤ
𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐑 was born & raised in a catholic orphanage. son of the 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥, he is 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕. something that was always hidden from him. always felt out of place. has 𝒑𝒔𝒚𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒄 abilities.
ㅤ ㅤ

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

"Not really shame, pal. It's more of a. . . Nickname."

Sal chuckled, his voice full of sarcasm as he rested his back on the chair, crossing his arms on front of his body.

"You must be Detective Robert Goren."

[ᅠᴰᴱᵀ 𝐆𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐍 .ᅠ @ofscarletdoor]

@DETPROClDA Sal . . . vatore. Right ? No shame in your roots, half of New York is partially italian.

[ᅠᴰᴱᵀ 𝐆𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐍 .ᅠ @ofscarletdoor]

ᅠ
Robert "Bobby" Goren. Major Case Squad in the New York City Police Department ( NYPD ).
Highly intelligent, emotionally intuitive, with a talent for forming complex psychological profiles & understanding the "why" of even the most unusual crimes.
ᅠ

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

"Man. . . You are looking sharp!"

Opening a wide smile, Sal approached, admiring his old friend.

"Sorry for interrupting."

[ᅠJames Sandin ¸ @blackphonisms]

As he heard the man's voice, Paolo turned from the conversation to smile at Sal.

"Salvatore !"

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

everything for Travis.

"Voilà"

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

"Noted."

As the water boiled, Sal made toast and a few scrambled eggs for them ro share - he'd make bacon if he had it.

After ten or fifteen minutes, the detective came back with a tray with the food and a cup of black coffee,

+

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐑𝐀𝐃 .ᅠ @ofthecreature]

Travis raised his hands in surrender as he gave the man a playful smirk in response and let out a throaty chuckle.

"As long as there's coffee, black as a moonless night, I'm happy."