Chapter Text
“They murdered a catholic priest!” Cardinal Tedesco exclaimed, waving the papers in the face of the pope, outraged. “And not just a pope, a monsignor!”
Vincent pushed the papers away, frowning deeply. “Goffredo Tedesco, please take a seat” He ordered, not caring particularly that he knew the cardinal would find it insufferable to be addressed by his god-given name and not his title. Still ,that was the point - to attract his attention so the outraged man would finally listen to him.
“Why should I have to sit down? Someone needs to do something!” Tedesco kept arguing, screaming at the pope some more only to reluctantly take a seat when he realized it got him nowhere. He was stubborn, but not an idiot, and he wouldn’t get in his own way.
Vincent took a deep breath, looking at the papers he had been handed before speaking again. The man's uncontrollable anger bothered him at times, but he recognized it was not something that could be fixed. “Now please enlighten me…was this not investigated by the police in New York? Did they not capture the killer who committed the deed?”
The caridnal had stormed into his office about thirty minutes ago, and so far all he’d gotten out of him was that a man, a monsignor of the catholic church, had been murdered in New York and depsite there being a well putt together report on the matter, Cardinal Tedesco had somehow been convinced i was all cover-up and that the church needed t o investigate it immidiatly.
Tedesco frowned at the perfectly calm statement, shaking his head. "It's a set-up! A monsignor is assigned by the church, and their murder should be investigated by the church.” He insiste, outraged that the pope didn’t seem to care in the slightest about the murder of one of their own. “I don't simply believe some small-town police officers that are under pressure to get things done. They make mistakes.” He applies logic, when he can see his usual anger is failing him.
Pope Innocentus rubbed his forehead, finding the whole case a growing nightmare unless he dealt with it soon enough. Tedesco wasn’t a man to simply give up, and hedid not want ot encourage any more offensive tactics. “Fine, fine. I will take the report you have given me and have someone look into it. Is that satisfactory?”
Tedesco leaned back, exhaling. calmed himself down, finally broken down by the popes refusal to be agitated. “Yes. Thank you.” The anger faded, leaving behind a constricting feeling of hurt. For what, he was not sure, but it hurt. “Your holiness" He adds the title, swallowing hard as he realized he shouldn't have forgotten his manners. He was an irate man, not a sacreligious one.
“Good. That will be all” The pope dismissed him, waving his hand towards the door to have him leave. he has a lot to do, and Tedesco has already interrupted him long enough.
Tedesco rise, hurrying towards the door in order to escape - both the pope and that strange feeling of hurt that was growing inside his chest. He’s not an emotional man, save for anger, and so this new feeling was both strange and frightening. He’s almost there, amost having made his escap, when there is a call form behind to stop him.
“Wait”
When he turns around, the pope is looking at him sadly, perhaps even sympathetically. it is an unfamiliar expression for him ot see, and he doesn’t know what to make of it as he starts to speak. “Goffredo…tell me. Did you know this, this Monsignor…” He glances at the papers Tedesco left for him, double checking the name before he speaks. “Wicks?”
Tedesco swallows hard, considering his answer carefully before saying it. “Yes your holiness. I did.”
He doesn’t wait for dismissal, this time, but leaves on his own accord once he has revealed his true intentions to the pope. The man now knew this was not simply a matter of principle, but a personal grievance that he found hard to let go of. And while he knew the pope better than to think he would judge, it still came with an unfamiliar sensation of guilt and humiliation to lay oneself bare before their superior. The pope shouldn’t cconside rhis feelings - it wasn’t what this was about.
Yet, somewhere deep down, they all knew that it was. It was not something Tedesco did lightly or often, but he had now been forced to by necessity.
“Your holiness…” Monsignor O'Mally steps out of the shadows, quietly observing Vincent Benitez as he studies the documents the offended Cardinal had left behind. It had been an unusual exchange, but not one that required his opinion. “How do you wish to proceed?"
Vincent sighed, thumbing through the papers. “Get me Dean Lawrence.” He ordered.