asoncalledgabriel: (0)
Gabriel Harkin ([personal profile] asoncalledgabriel) wrote 2018-12-22 11:52 pm (UTC)

"No, I just have a habit of arriving unreasonably early to any mass," he admits. "On Sundays or saint's days it lets me sit alone for a while."

Gabriel finds himself resisting the urge to reach for Anthony's hand when he's close enough. He likes to think he might be brave enough to walk into a church holding a man's hand, but he isn't entirely sure Anthony would see it as anything but silly. So instead he gives him a smile.

"I hope I'm not breaking a terribly long resistance streak," he says as he heads down the little sidewalk toward the open door. The church itself, though on the outside rather nondescript, has a lovely, warm interior. For midnight mass, all the interior lights have been turned off and candles light the narthex and nave.

As people gather and find seats, a cello and a piano near the front of the nave play O Come, O Come Emmanuel. The entire setting sends a little shiver down Gabriel's back as he slides out of his coat.

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