Gotham Imagines and One Shots

Lost angel - Part 2 - Sal Maroni x Reader

"Here again, huh...............?" A voice came from behind Sal, as he took a seat in one of the pews.

"Can't keep you away............" It continued with a soft chuckle, the crime boss smiling as he turned to see (Y/n) come to stand next to him.

"I am here six months, and never see you once; but now, I see you every other day. I swear that you spend more time here than Father Bianci............Next thing I know, you'll have taken holy orders........." (Y/n) added, bending her knee towards the alter, before taking a seat next to the big man.

Sal had to admit that she was right. He hadn't spent a moment in a church for so long, and now he had become the most regular of visitors to the cathedral. But how could he not? From the moment that he had introduced himself to (Y/n), he had found himself thinking about her.........all the time. The beautiful woman.......his lost angel, like an itch that he constantly had to scratch. His visits to see her, the highlight of his days.

It had been two months now since that first meeting. To begin with, she had been so unsure, so quiet, as Sal did all he could to try and get to know her. Yet as the days had passed, as the weeks had gone by, she had slowly begun to open up. She had told him about what had brought her to the church, why the Sister had come to find her sleeping in one of the aisles. She had told him about the gang, about what they had done to her parents before they had burned the old couple's life's work to the ground. About how she had been able to escape before she too was killed; and how she had found some solace with the Sisters, and by helping out in the cathedral. But it wasn't just that sad part of her life that he had come to learn more about; she had started to reveal her true self too, during their interactions. Sal coming to see that she was quite the firecracker, with a quick wit and infectious charm.

"That, or you have an addiction to either the communion wine or the wafers........" (Y/n) chuckled again. A hint of mischief dancing in her eyes as she looked at him.

"Well.......one of those things is never enough..........." The big man admitted. His own smile grown wider, as the woman next to him did her best to not laugh out loud.

"That is true.......Father Bianci is really stingy with those things.........." She agreed. The pair looking over to where the priest was speaking quietly to an elderly woman.

"So, apart from your addiction to wafers, why are you really here? I know Sister Augustine is one hot seventy-year-old momma; but I wouldn't have thought it was that. And one person can't have that much to confess, can he...............?"

"I came to see you.............."

"Me.........?" (Y/n) queried. Her brows furrowed, as she looked at Sal.

"Why would you want to do that.............?"

"I want you to come to dinner with me. I own a restaurant called Bamonte's; it has the most traditional Italian food in the city. We have the best arancini, ossobuco that just melts in your mouth, and tiramisu to die for; all that has to be better than what you have with the Sisters............." Sal explained, as he reached over and took her hand, before giving it a gentle squeeze.

(Y/n) had to admit that it sounded tempting, the food that the Sisters served was good enough to sustain you; but would never, as her mother would say, put meat on your bones. Yet was the offer of good food, enough to get her over the fear that she had of going back into the city? A city that she had tried her best not to think about since she had stepped foot inside the cathedral.

"Sal........I would love to, but I................."

"Hey, you'll be with me. I won't let anything happen to you." The big man quickly told her, doing his best to reassure his beautiful lost angel. Sal well aware of the feelings that (Y/n) had for the city.

"But.........I have nothing to wear. I don't want to make your place look bad......"

"You, bell'angelo, could never make anything look bad." Sal countered, before slowly placing his other hand on her cheek. His thumb brushing gently across her skin and down to her lips.

He wanted to kiss her. God, he wanted to kiss her. It wasn't just for the fact that she was beautiful. It wasn't just because every time the light was just right, it appeared that her head was surrounded by a glowing halo; it was because despite what she had been through, what she had seen happen to her parents, she had shown him that she was still one tough cookie. That she was doing her best to try and make a new life for herself, and Sal couldn't help but appreciate that; he couldn't help but admire her for that. And he knew that all she needed was a little push from the nest, and she would find that she could still fly. The big man more than happy to be there for that. More than happy to give her all the encouragement that he could. That, and his restaurant seemed like a more fitting place to hope for a kiss, than in the middle of a church. Sal sure that God wouldn't mind; but still..................

"Ok, I'll come. just as long as you have puttanesca on the menu..........."

"What kind of place would it be, if we didn't have puttanesca. We have the greatest puttanesca you will find anywhere. Made to my own grandmother's recipe." Sal assured, as he got to his feet, pulling (Y/n) with him. The crime boss taking off his large overcoat so that he could wrap it around her.

"You'll need this. Its cold outside." Sal explained, before offering the younger woman, his arm and leading her out of the church.