He is the way // fanfic about chip

1

"Are you okay, man?", Gillion asked as Chip stirred in his coffee with a million yard stare.
He couldn't stop thinking about his encounter in the church, couldn't stop remembering the deeply rooted comfort running through his entire being as he had sat on his knees in front of the altar for what felt like hours before he could even get himself to stand up and return to the ship.

"I'm good", he was more then just good, he was burning inside with a warmth he hadn't felt in forever. Only a faint memory in the back of his head making him doubt it was the first time he had felt this warmth.
"You sure? You seem spacey", Gill said and placed a hand on Chips shoulder, who smiled and looked up at him. "I feel good, Gill", he said so sincerely, Gill was sure he had never seen Chip like this before.

He felt a smile tugging on his lips too, patting on his shoulder before he walked off. "Alright", he said as he left and Chip turned back to his coffee. The scent of caramel syrup mingled with milk and coffee as he lifted the mug to his lips and took a sip.
When he had finished it, he cleaned the mug, put it on a rack to dry and left the kitchen, walking past Queen and Gryffon chatting, before getting off the ship.

He had to go back.
The way to the abandoned port was hard to find without the adrenaline chasing him down the tight alleyways, but after a while he found it. The church, tugged away in this old marketplace that had to have been bustling with life all these years ago.

He walked towards the church, steps getting quicker until he almost stormed inside.
The rows were empty and the sun fell onto the seats and the altar through the tinted windows, reflecting a story Chip was waiting to understand. He felt his chest getting lighter, as he walked further inside and once more he felt tears of relief pricking in his eyes.

He took a deep inhale, sighing it out as he took the steps up to the altar. On it still the book with the leather cover, when a voice brushed past like a breeze. "Take it", said the whisper and Chip took it, pressed it against his chest as he sat on the ground in front of the altar. Gingerly he opened the book, brushed his fingers over the first page as he started reading. Genesis 1.
"The Creation", Chip whispered, hearing it echo softly through the room, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

He sank into the pool of perfectly picked words, falling in love with the story of Creation and Mankind.
After the first chapter he looked up and closed his eyes. "So I am to call you God", he said and the mere words coming from his mouth made him glad. Like he had been incredibly and undeniably correct, "You're pretty good at making me emotional, God"
He chuckled and smiled, opening the second chapter of Genesis.

He spent the entire day in the church, reading and talking out loud to the one he was sure was listening; He was talking to God. Until eventually the door creaked open.
Chip closed the book, pressing it to his chest, when he saw an elderly woman walking inside. She looked at him with a smile. "Oh dear, He really does lead his children home, doesn't He?", she said and walked down the rows of seats, sitting down close to the altar, "I'm Marie, I've been coming to this church for years, it's been so awfully quiet since they banned Christianity"
She shook her head sorrowfully. "But you know what, dearie? No one will keep me from my faith in him", she pointed up at the cross with the man on it.

"Who is he?", Chip blurted out and she patted onto the seat next to her. "That is Jesus our Lord and Saviour. He is the son of the living God", she said, "And at the same time he is God" "I don't understand, how is that possible?" "Well, once upon a time, God created the heavens and the earth. Humans being one of his creations, yet also the one he regretted making, because we aren't the best at being fully good", she smiled at him, "But yet he loved us so deeply and dearly, he gave us part of himself in form of Jesus, his son. He send him down onto earth and Jesus preached and taught and healed during his time here. Until he was betrayed by one of his disciples, which he knew would happen. He was nailed to the cross and his death, his blood paid for our sins. He loved us so much he was ready to die for us, so we may one day join him and God in heaven. After three days he came back from the dead, before his spirit went to heaven, to sit beside his father, our God."

Chip sat there with wide eyes, feeling the truth of her words in his heart. "Really?", was all he could get out and she nodded.
"I see you found the Bible I left here", she said and as he quickly held it out to her, she pushed it back towards him, "It is yours now. This is God's word. Read it. Understand it. Treasure it like God treasures you." "He does?" "Dear, God loved you deeply before you were on this earth. He knows all the hairs on your head and loved you so much that he send his only son to pay for your sin, just so he could meet you in heaven", she said and Chip teared up, "God loves you and right now he is calling your name so you return home to him"

Chip pressed his lips together and felt her hugging him. "I recommend reading the Gospel first. Start with Matthew. Most say to start with John, but trust me, Matthew is a good starting point", she said and he nodded.

She wiped his tears. "I don't see many people finding God this day and age. Meeting you here, so curious and quite obviously so moved by him, it means so much. Cause I remember how broken I was as a young girl, when I met him and how he picked me up and dusted me off, guiding me onto the path of abundant blessings I'm so happy to call my life", she said, "And I know he will do the same for you. It only takes your faith" "What if I don't have enough of that left in me?", he asked, feeling how the question came from the deep wounds of his broken soul. She held him by the shoulders and whispered: "It only takes faith the size of a mustard seed to move mountains. You will be fine. He will make it so."

She smiled and added: "He showed me all these years ago and now he will show you his goodness. Go to him in prayer always and he will be waiting with open arms. With him by your side no one will hurt you"
"Are you sure I'm not too broken?", he asked and she placed a hand on his cheek, smiling. "We're in a church, dear. You will find broken people in here", she replied, "He'll help you put the pieces back together" "It feels like he's here, is that a weird way to feel?", Chip asked and she shook her head.
"I feel his presence too", she replied and wiped more of his tears, "Something someone told me, when I came to church all broken and lost and crying every time I spent time with God, was not to be ashamed of the tears. Because once those tears filled the cracks between the broken pieces and now they're free to leave you, because it is now God holding the pieces together and mending them to be one once more"
"That's beautiful", Chip said and chuckled as he looked down, "Thank you, really, I- I found this place yesterday and it felt so familiar and so- I don't know. Like I was allowed or meant to be here" "You are meant to be here and who knows maybe you were in a church before they were banned in Mana. Maybe someone took you to Mass before and that's why this felt familiar" "I- I wouldn't know, I- I'm an orphan. I don't remember much of my past", he mumbled.

She took him hands into hers and squeezed them. "May God bless you, dear. May he give you the brightest future and the kindest people in your life.", she said and he felt his heart being joyful at the blessing, squeezing her hands back and smiling with the tears running down his cheeks.