the garden (papa emeritus i x reader) sfw

the garden

it was no secret that secondo and terzo emeritus were both lusted over by almost every single person in the church who encountered them. secondo wooed with his domineering, almost demanding attitude. terzo charmed with his flirtatious demeanor and exuberant romanticism.

secondo had tried more than once to proposition you into joining his harem, each proposition met with a gentle "no thank you", to his surprise. terzo was even more persistent, flirting often with you during meals, work, leisure time, and occasionally (and most embarrassingly) during chapel. he'd stare at you while he preached. terzo was not known as a man of timidity. if he wanted you, he would have you. and everybody knew. but it's not like every other sister of sin or ghoul or clergy member didn't, of course, want him back. most sisters would kill to have his attention set on them. however, you sat there, face flushed from humiliation.

eventually both secondo and terzo gave up trying to seduce you, realizing it was in vain.

as you sat on a bench out in the ministry's courtyard, the sun danced upon your black-clad form. you admired the flowers that were  arranged in the soil in front of you. it was clear that each selection was deliberate and meticulous.

"saluti, sorella."

you turned to see papa emeritus i smiling softly.

"saluti, primo," you responded respectfully. suddenly, a feeling of relief washed over you. primo's soft demeanor always made you feel some type of way. he was so different than the other papas. he kept to himself.

"do you like my garden?" primo asked.

"you did all of this? on your own?" you said in shock, "it's beautiful."

primo smiled. "grazie, sorella. since retiring, tending to this garden has been my passion."

"well, it certainly shows. i've never seen such a perfect arrangement before," you complimented.

"are you fond of gardening too, mio caro?" primo asked as he sat next to you on the bench.

"before i joined the ministry, i used to have a garden. but it was more of a vegetable garden," you said shyly.

primo sighed softly. "you know, the only people who know about this are my brothers and papa nihil. but... i'd like to show you the ministry's vegetable garden."

your eyes lit up. "you want to show... me?"

the eldest emeritus smiled. he held out his hand. as you two walked off to a secluded part of the courtyard, you approached a greenhouse.

"how long has this been here?!" you exclaimed, "i've walked through this courtyard countless times, and i've never seen it before."

"it's always been here, since i was a boy. it's hard to find if you aren't looking for it," primo explained.

as you enter, you realize it looks much bigger on the inside than you initially imagined. there is vegetation from all different seasons: pumpkins, corn, tomatoes, carrots, yams, green beans, broccoli, celery, beets, and countless varieties of other fruits and vegetables. it's like a farmer's paradise.

primo beamed proudly as he looked on at them. you turned to him, your jaw dropped.

"this is incredible!! did you do this all yourself too??"

primo grins, "not all of it, papa nihil helped out some."

you smile back. "i love you!"

primo's face drops, a look of confusion over his face. your eyes widen as your face fills with embarrassment.

"i... i mean... i love it!" you try to recover, your cheeks starting to get hot.

primo chuckles lightly, a gentle smile on his face. he then holds out his hand to lead you through the greenhouse.

"you know, sorella... papa nihil isn't getting any younger. would you like to help tend to the greenhouse with me?" primo asks.

"you want me to?" you respond, excitedly.

"of course. i could use another helping hand, especially one who already has such expertise in gardening," primo answers.

your face is full of joy. "papa, that would be wonderful."

...

you receive a knock on your chamber door one evening. as you open it, you notice it's a ghoul. they hand you a letter. it's sealed with black ink and wrapped neatly. it almost looks like an ancient scroll.

"this is from primo," you say to yourself, as you take the letter. "thank you, ghoul."

you enter your chamber door again, and excitedly (yet carefully) open the scroll. it's a letter.

"i would like for you to accompany me for dinner tonight at six o'clock in the courtyard. i have planned something to eat to honor your gracious help in the garden these past few months.

faithfully,
papa emeritus i"

your face goes red. he wants to have dinner with you? you can't hold back your excitement as you get ready for your dinner with primo.

as you enter the courtyard's flower garden, there is a table set up. fairy lights are strung across the various bushes and trees. you feel your heart skip a beat when you see primo sitting there waiting.

"hello dear. it's wonderful to see your face," primo says softly. you take your seat.

"primo, you didn't have to do all of this for me," you say, blushing at this saccharinely sweet gesture.

primo waves his hand, "nonsense! you have been such lovely help and company these past couple of months. you deserve this."

as the ghouls begin to bring out the multiple dishes that were prepared for tonight, you realize they were all made with vegetables from the garden.

"wow... this... this is wonderful," you say, gushing.

as you two eat your dinner, primo's eyes never leave your face. you can feel him analyzing each and every part of you.

"what's on your mind?" you ask, breaking him out of his trance.

"i will be honest with you, mio caro... i have become incredibly fond of you," primo says, averting his gaze for the first time in minutes.

your heart starts to pound, but you attempt to play it off. "thank you, papa. i'm very fond of you too."

"mio tesoro, i think you know what i truly mean when i say that," primo says, looking you deep in the eyes again. you stare back at him silently, in shock. "i am not one to overthink, but when you accidentally said you loved me a couple of months ago, i haven't been able to get it out of my mind. combined with the time i've spent gardening with you and getting to know you, my feelings for you have grown to a grander scale."

"primo..." you say, your face full of affection.

"you are something i have longed for, but never thought i could have. you are everything a man like i could desire. if you love me, i will cherish you for eternity. i will adore you for the rest of my days, and even beyond. you are the first person to make me feel young again in a very long time," primo offers.

and for the first time, you actually... feel something in return.

"i love you, primo. and i would be honored to be yours for as long as the universe will allow."

an electric charge seems to fill the air. primo's eyes sparkle with emotion, and he reaches over to let his fingers gently intertwine with yours.

"you've made me the happiest man alive, mio amore," he confessed, his voice brimming with sincerity.

the evening continues, illuminated by the soft glow of fairy lights and the aroma of the vegetable dinner you had grown together. with each passing moment, it felt as if the stars themselves had aligned to bring you together. finally, you had found someone you truly loved, and in the garden you two grew together, your love began to grow as well.