Imagines/Prompts/One-Shots [Discontinued]

Reverend Fogarty: Part 2 (TDATT)

The reverend turns around, deep ocean eyes meeting Arvin's chocolate ones. "Of course I have time. But I will remind you that I can't guarantee protection." Arvin stops her there. "I know. I trust your judgment."

Reverend Fogarty looks at him curiously, then goes to sit next to him. She tries searching his eyes for clues. It seems she found her answer, nodding. "Tell me what happened."

The young man takes a deep breath. "I... I've been an angry person since my daddy killed my dog. Since he decided to take Jack away, and then himself. He taught me to get back at 'no good sons of bitches' at the right time. So that's what I've always done..." He looks over to find the reverend listening intently. "I ended up growing up in my grandma's house, with a girl named Lenora. She became my sister. I made sure to protect her, because I knew her god wasn't going to. I helped her with homework, bad days, bullies... But I slipped up..."

His breath was becoming a bit ragged now. "I left her at her momma's grave alone, so that I could teach those no good high school boys what happens when they try to hurt my sister... But by doing that, I wasn't there to protect her from a man that swore to protect the town. Our so called 'preacher' tricked her into thinking God wanted her to lay with him." Hot tears streamed down his face, and through them he could see the woman next to him tense. Her jaw tightened, and her spoke of fire. 

"I should've known, but I was too stupid to pay attention... She got pregnant. Went to him, and he told her to get rid of it. She decided the best way to do that was to take her life as well..." The thick feeling of grief and rage was building in the room. 

"Did you kill him?"

The answer shocked Arvin a bit, but he guesses he should've seen it coming. "Yes. I followed him, found out he was messing with another high school girl. Confronted him about it and Lenora, then shot him. But my sins don't end there." He continued on, hoping his reasons were the right ones. "I ran, and ended up hitchhiking. This couple picked me up on a corner. Everything felt... off. When they pulled off into a hidden clearing I knew they wanted to kill me. I shot the guy as soon as he pulled his gun out, then shot his wife when she tried to shoot me. Found a picture of her hugging on some dead guy. I wasn't their first, and I probably wouldn't have been their last." 

"I ended up back where I was born, and the sheriff confronted me. The woman had been his sister. We talked, and I ended up shooting him before he shot me. Ran off again, and ended up here. Now the only sinner I have to confront is me..." He looks up as a gentle hand is placed on his shoulder. "Reverend...?"

"Call me Sophia." Why did that make his insides warm?

"Call me Arvin."

Kind yet vengeful eyes meet his. "Arvin... You did what was right. You will have to repent for the blood you spilled, but that preacher's and couple's blood will be easier to wash off. Repent as you see fit, and hope that God is as forgiving as this mortal woman." 

"Can I start my repenting by helping around here...? I understand if you're uncomfortable with that." He gets a small smile in return, and it makes that warmth come back. "I'd be happy to have some company. And no, I don't feel uncomfortable. I've been around enough bad men to know you aren't one. At least not in the sense we're talking about. I feel... safe around you in that regard. Which is odd, considering most men I've met don't feel safe." 

Arvin couldn't help the next words out of his mouth. "I promise to help keep those men away. You deserve to feel safe." It was unexpected, but true. He wanted to make Sophia, and the other women and girls in town, to finally feel safe. 

And Sophia wondered why this particular man felt like the bridge between Heaven and this hell.