Neither One Of Them Is Very Priestly

"Why not?" he asked brightly, beaming. "I like you, and I've been looking for an apprentice for some time--I'd love the company, really. I'm a social person."

Mars was exceedingly happy he was buckled down and holding a burger, otherwise he would've done something really embarrassing, like leap across the car and pull Priestly into a passionate liplock. Okay, so, maybe not quite, but it would've been awkward.

"I-I...I...really?" He asked, still skeptical. "I-I mean...I'm ready to leave, whenever, I don't have any belongings, but I don't know what sort of hunting equipment you have, but I know where my parents stash was!"

"I have plenty of equipment, but you should probably bring along some of their things," he said thoughtfully. "That way we'll definitely have enough for two hunters, right?"

"S-sure...it's...buried, though. In an abandoned graveyard. Their extra equipment, I mean. The rest is gone, now." He looked away. "So...after we eat, I'll go dig it up, okay? I know where it is."

"Okay," he said, smiling. "I'll help you--then we can get on the open road and find a nice hotel to crash in for the night, eh?"

"You don't sleep in your car?" He asked. "That seems like it'd make a lot more sense."

He laughed loudly.

"Cars aren't comfortable at all--have you ever slept in one? No, I much prefer hotels. Cheap ones, but hotels."

"As long as it has two beds." He replied, shrugging. "Then it's fine with me. If you can't afford it, I can sleep in the car."

He shook his head.

"Don't be silly. You'll sleep inside whether we can afford two beds or not--it's the polite thing to do."

"Well...alright." He replied. "So..."

-x-

Mars stepped into the room, covered from head to toe in dirt. Digging up a grave had been not so fun. At least he had recovered the stash his parents had kept, and it was worth it. He tossed the dirty bag onto one of the hotel chairs, stripping off his tank top.

"Do you mind if I shower first?" He asked Priestly, trying to wipe the mud off of his chest; somehow it had managed to get beneath his shirt, even.

He chuckled, stripping off his now completely soiled wife beater. Only a cruel bastard would make a child dig up a grave alone.

"Yes, of course--a shower sounds like a great idea. Let's you and me get cleaned up, before we make a worse mess of the room." He patted Mars on the butt in a friendly manner, smiling. "Then we can have a nice talk. Since you're my apprentice, now. Goodness, I am excited."

"Did you just...?" He almost asked, before shaking his head. "Of course not."

He walked into the bathroom, stripping out of his pants and boxers before he turned on the water for the shower. He couldn't believe he had managed to get dirt in his underwear, too; like, how did that even happen? He was just happy he was getting a shower to wash it away, so he tried not to think about that too much.

Priestly followed him into the bathroom and stepped into the shower, already fully naked.

"Get in, Marsy," he said with a smile. "There's plenty of hotel soap--just be sure not to drop it." He laughed uproariously.

"Wh-what what what what what are you doing?!" He screamed, backing up against the sink counter. He grabbed for his clothes, grasping for his clothes to cover himself with. "Get out!! You said I could shower first, wh-what are you doing in here?!"

He realized, far too late, that he was staring at Priestly, at which point he attempted to cover his eyes and his crotch.

"I thought we could shower together--easier to get the dirt off our backs that way." He held out a hand invitingly. "Come on, I was joking about the soap thing--I've never sodomized a man against his will in a shower, I promise you. I may have willingly groped a woman, though." He giggled immaturely again.

"Aha, sorry, joking. Anyway, let me scrub your back, I'm sure you feel as filthy as I do." Upon hearing his own words, he had to stifle another outburst of laughter.

"Wh..." He was speechless. This man was no priest. Not that he didn't realize that before. "No! Y...you're a filthy heathen! I can't...I thought you were a man of God..."

He frowned even deeper. "Why would I shower with another man, anyway?! I'm not a faggot!!"

Priestly looked at him, confused.

"...Mars, have you ever showered in a locker room before?"

"No! No one does, because that's for faggots!" He snapped angrily. "I-I'll just wait until your done, okay?!"

"No, it's for men who happen to perform sports with other men," he said, frowning. "Jesus and the disciples bathed together as well. There's no shame in it--it's efficient to have someone else wash your back." He smiled slyly. "Besides--would you prefer to shower with me if I were a woman?"

"O-of course not!!" He shouted, and he was actually being honest. Unfortunately. "Even if you were a woman, we aren't married, and we barely know each other!! Like right now! I-I, I'm going to go into the other room."

He blindly felt for the door, but because this would be no fun if Mars got his way, he ended up walking into the shower. Defeated, he threw his now wet, muddy clothes onto the ground outside the shower. He squeezed into the very corner of the shower, trying not to look at Priestly.

"There, are you happy now?!"

Priestly began to lather soap onto Mars's back; his hands were gentle and experienced, quickly finding the most sensitive parts of Mars's back.

"Yes, yes I am. So tell me a little bit about yourself, Mars; what are your hopes and dreams?"

Relaxing a little, he his head to glance at Priestly. This wasn't nearly as horrifying as he thought it would be. It was actually kind of nice.

"Uhm...I don't know. I dropped out of high school a few days ago...I just want to kill the demon, remove the curse mark and then settle down with a nice woman and have children and become a priest."

He laughed.

"So, Eastern Orthodox? Or perhaps some other branch? I'm Catholic, myself, but some would call my practices a little...alternative. I believe the Lord loves me, though, and I help people, so all is well."

He frowned slightly, making a small "hmm" noise.

"You sure have a tense back for a kid...do you want a massage, while I'm at it? I've had lessons from the best, don't worry."

"Ah, well...I'm technically Catholic." He replied, touching his rosary. "But my church is different. It's very strict, and I thank it for that. I'm very disciplined."

He glanced at Priestly again, frowning. "I'm not tense. I don't need a massage."

"So your church allows marriage?" he asked. "Interesting. Unless they don't and you're just planning to leave." He laughed.