Fic: Anniversary (Dogma, Bartleby/Loki)

[wildmachinery.livejournal.com]

Title: Anniversary
Author: zen_of_punk
Fandom: Dogma
Pairing: Bartleby/Loki. Sort of.
Rating: PG
Warnings: Language and vague theological bitching.
Disclaimer: They belong to Kevin Smith, who is a good deal both smarter and funnier than me. No infringement or offense intended.


"Angels, then," the priest explained earnestly, "are merely extensions of the will of God. Their purpose is no more than that of a hand, or a foot, or a voice."

"Is that so, Father?" Loki's expression held nothing more than ardent interest; after centuries, Bartleby could read beneath that the honest love of taunting a man of God. It was fucking interminable. He sighed, irritated, and thought Child very hard at him. Loki didn't appear to notice.

The priest puffed up with pride at his admiration. "It is, indeed, my son. And," he said, beaming, "did not blessed St. Augustine say, 'Angel is the name of their office, not of their nature'? It is their sole purpose, to act only as a manifestation of the divine will."

"'If you seek the name of their nature, it is spirit; if you seek the name of their office, it is angel'," Bartleby murmured. "'From what they are, spirit, from what they do, angel.' But no longer."

The priest turned to him, puzzled. "What was that, my son?"

"What of those who were cast aside, Father? What has become of them? Not spirit, not angel, trapped here in these prisons, these perfect, incorruptible bodies." The priest's eyes widened, and he began to edge away. Bartleby's eyes felt hot with gathering tears. "Abandoned, bereft of the presence of the Divine, and for what? For refusing to kill in His name. Tell me, Father, is that just? Is it fair? Or am I just," and his wings burst out behind him in his rage, "fucking missing something?!" The priest moaned in terror and fainted dead away.

"Sorry," Loki muttered at the supine figure. "This is always a bad day for him." He nudged the unmoving priest with his foot, chuckled, then turned back to Bartleby, who sniffed and swiped angrily at his eyes with his sleeve. "How long's it been now?"

Bartleby folded back his wings and shrugged into his jacket. "Three thousand, two hundred, and sixty-eight years to the day."

"Jesus." Loki appeared suitably impressed. "Doesn't feel like it's been that long, does it?"

Bartleby stared at him. Loki sobered, and looked away. "Yeah." He sighed, and poked at the priest again. "I had a whole spiel ready for this one, you know."

"Not that Alice in Wonderland bullshit again?" They turned to go.

"It's Through the Looking Glass, you illiterate fuck. You should try picking up a book sometime."

"This from the guy that bitches interminably if I interrupt his fucking Saturday morning cartoons."

"So I like Spiderman. Big fucking deal." They left the church walking side by side, shoulders brushing with every other step. "You don't like my conversation, you can find some other celestial being to chat with." There was a bar across the street.

"Fuck that," said Bartleby, yanking the door open. "There's only ever been you."

Later, after many rounds, he mumbled into his glass, "They're so fucking lucky."

"Oh, shut up," said Loki, and bought him another.

-end-

Comments

[surexit.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous. have recced at ceanshinythings.

[wildmachinery.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

[nigeltde]

Very nice! There's not enough Dogma stuff out there and this is one of the best I've read. The dislogue is excellent, I can really hear/see them say it. Thank you!

[insptr-penguin.livejournal.com]

Wonderful characterization and idea. Reads like a scene from the movie.