YOI Magazine Issue #2 - March 2017

08 | One-Shot: God Alone Suffices

Hey, guys. DisposableVillain here, but you can call me Elliot. This story is based off the myth of St. Patrick going into a pagan household and debating religion until he converted some people. I didn't include the conversion, but I like the idea. It's slightly Viktuuri but priests are celibate so yeah. Enjoy!

Content Warning: Character death, religious debates, Catholicism.

                                                              XxX

Katsuki Yuuri stood in the doorway, hesitant. He didn't usually make hospital visits, but the priest that usually did them was out sick.

Ironically.

The altar boy had mumbled something about the priest just wanting the morning off to watch the baseball game.

Yuuri had hushed the boy, and then slipped him some money when no one was looking.

Slowly, Yuuri took a breath and knocked.

"Come in."

English.

He was used to hearing it at the church, so it wasn't a problem. But this was the first patient all morning he had heard speak any language other than Japanese.

He pushed open the door and walked inside.

The man lying in the bed had grey hair, despite his youth, and the priest could see it thinning. His face was pale and his eyes dull as he looked at Yuuri.

Yuuri cleared his throat. "Good morning. I'm Father Katsuki Yuuri from the-"

"I already told the hospital I don't want to see anyone from any religious order," the man sighed.

Yuuri checked the door, just in case he had missed the notice. No, it was blank. Blank aside from the name hung on laminated paper.

Viktor Nikiforov.

"I'm very sorry, Nikiforov-san," Yuuri blurted out. "They never put up a notice to tell us that."

"Of course they didn't." Viktor looked up at the ceiling again. "They used to do that in Russia too."

Recognition clicked. "You're the Russian skater that collapsed during practice."

"Yes, I am." A polite smile graced his face as he looked back at Yuuri. "And you're the Japanese skater who crashed at the GPF last year and became a priest."

Yuuri's shoulders squared. "Yes. I did." He raised an eyebrow. "Do you have a problem with that?"

Viktor's smile grew. "Not at all. I have no problem with people talking to their imaginary friends."

Yuuri shook his head. "I don't have an imaginary friend."

"Well I believe that there's no such thing as a god, so according to my beliefs, all you're doing is asking a figment of your imagination for help." Viktor looked up at the ceiling again. "Which is pointless."

Yuuri shrugged. "I prayed before every competition. Every short and free skate."

"And look where that got you. Last place. I never pray, and I haven't been beaten in a major competition in six years."

"And yet here you are." Yuuri covered his mouth. "Sorry."

"No, you're right." Viktor looked at him. "You pray, and yet your career went to shit. I didn't pray, and yet I got cancer. So in the end of the day, it doesn't matter whether or not you pray. It all ends badly."

Yuuri walked over to his bed. "Can I sit?" Viktor waved a hand, and Yuuri pulled the chair closer to the bed before sitting. "Why are you so against religion?"

"Because, it just seems pointless to me." Viktor looked over at him. "What religion do you belong to?"

"Catholicism." A snort escaped Viktor's mouth. "What's so funny?"

"Christianity alone is one of the most corrupt main five religions. Let alone Catholicism. Why should I even stay talking to you?"

"Well you don't have to," he mumbled.

Viktor sat up a little. "Let's say you're right and a god does exist. I'm going to hell by Catholicism's standards anyway, so why should I pray?"

Yuuri's eyebrows arched. "Why would you be going to hell?"

"I'm gay."

Yuuri smiled. "Well so am I."

Viktor's eyes widened. "What?"

"Well, I'm pansexual," Yuuri clarified.

"How are you okay with being a priest then?"

Yuuri chuckled. "Was the bible written by God, Viktor?"

"You're asking the wrong person. I don't believe there is a god."

"The answer is no," Yuuri continued. "Humans wrote it. And no matter what they're doing, humans are biased. So who's to say that either of us will go to hell for liking who we like?"

Viktor huffed. "I thought you guys had to take an oath of celibacy?"

"We do." Yuuri nodded. "That doesn't mean that we can't acknowledge our sexualities."

"I guess." Viktor sighed.

"Plus the bible mentioned hatred of shrimp a lot more than anything to do with being gay." Yuuri smiled.

Viktor watched him for a moment. "You're an odd priest."

"And you're an odd person." Yuuri's smile grew. "I don't suppose there's any chance I've converted you?"

Viktor scoffed. "Hell no. Why would you even think that?"

Yuuri shook his head. "I don't. I just need to get rid of some prayer cards." He took one out of his pocket and passed it to Viktor to see.

Let nothing disturb you;
nothing frighten you.
All things are passing.
God never changes.

Patience
obtains all things.
Nothing
is wanting to him
who possesses God.

God alone suffices.

Viktor passed it back to him. "I don't want it. Wouldn't use it. There's a religious woman next door who'd like it more."

Yuuri nodded and pocketed the card again. "Thanks. I'll give it to her." He stood up. "I should go and finish my rounds. I hope you have a good..." How long would he be staying? "-stay."

Viktor hummed. "How long are you going to be doing this?"

Yuuri shook his head. "I don't know," he admitted. "I don't generally do hospital visits."

Viktor nodded. "If you're not coming back, tell the nurses I don't want anymore visits. If you are, feel free to come inside."

Yuuri blinked a few times. "I thought you didn't believe in God."

"I don't. But this is the most interesting conversation I've had since I was admitted." Viktor looked away. "And I'm not going to be leaving anytime soon."

After a moment, Yuuri nodded. "Okay. I'll see what happens."

Yuuri did end up coming back the next week. And the week after that. Eventually, the church changed his schedule so he always did hospital visits.

Funnily enough, the priest that used to do them didn't complain, and he didn't seemed to call in sick as often anymore.

Yuuri visited Viktor every Sunday, every week, every month. Until the hospital told him he couldn't anymore.

The next time he visited the room, Viktor's name had been replaced and there was no longer any evidence that the Russian skater had even stepped foot into the hospital.

                                                                      XxX

Hope you guys enjoyed and I'm sorry for the character death. Have a great St. Patrick's Day!