Chapter Text
Crowley couldn't handle it
He stood up and rushes out the door ignoring the stares he knew he got from the angels and the other shop patrons
He made his way into the bookshop, his only safe space, the only place where he still feels somewhat tethered to Aziraphale.
Crowley bolted the door and slumped his way to the liquor cabinet which he was surprised hadn't run out yet. He blindly reaches for the back of the cabinet and picks up some whisky from the ‘60s and starts drinking straight from the bottle while replaying memories of him and Aziraphales shenanigans from that point in time.
—————————————
The quick moment when Aziraphales eyes met Crowley's, he felt a slurry of emotions from guilt to sadness.
He saw Crowley's disheveled appearance. His hair reaching his shoulders, he looked like he hadn't changed his clothes since the kiss
Oh the kiss
Aziraphale put a finger to his lips almost instinctively trying to remember the feeling. The pressure, the warmth, Crowleys body pulling him closer. He closes his eyes for a moment but then is interrupted by the sound of Crowley leaving the establishment. Aziraphale quietly observes as the demon rushes to the bookshop, his bookshop.
He places his hand back on Raphaels thigh “dear I think we should go” he whispers as he looks at the uneaten cakes on the table. None of the angels knew how to or wanted to ingest the food
“Az, is it because of *him*?” Raphael said noticing his partners visible change in expression.
“maybe telling him to not interfere wasn't enough, he shouldn't be anywhere near you..I could go back and tell him to leave us alone”
Aziraphale let out a sigh
“It's alright, I'll take care of it next time we come back”
Before Raphael could respond, he stood up and picked up the plate of cakes “alright everyone we should return now unless we want the Metatron stop letting us tour here” Aziraphale said bringing back his dignified and stern demeanor.
He led his group out the door making sure to offer the cakes to the other customers before he left. Right before they enter the elevator, Aziraphale looks back on the bookshop catching a glimpse of Crowley stumbling to his chair, visibly drunk.
He silently reminisces about the last time he was standing in that spot. The last time, he was still processing in shock after Crowley and him..parted ways, and the Metatron ushered him in.
Aziraphale can't help but feel pain knowing that he made the wrong decision. The guilt of seeing the being whom he had loved so dearly so obviously hurt, made him ill.
He felt a tug on his hand and looked up to see Raphael softly smiling with a genuine concern. “Az? Let's go, today must have been tiring for you”
Aziraphale stared into Raphaels violet eyes
His auburn hair far too similar to the demon he loved before
Aziraphale was told to move on, was told that he made the better decision, now looking into the eyes of his new lover he can't help but let his worries fade away.
Raphael reminds him of the future he wanted the *better* future, the future for him and Crowley that could have been.
He brushes his lover's hair and gives him a quick kiss on the forehead “yes darling, let's go”
—————————————
Crowley bitterly observes everything from inside the comfort of the bookshop. He sees how casually Raphael held Aziraphales hand and how easy it was for him to get a kiss on the forehead from his angel. A painful jealousy takes over Crowley knowing hard it was and how desperate he had to be to kiss Aziraphale, and this angel manages to get forehead kisses without doing anything??
He emptied the bottle in his hand knowing that he'd been replaced by a better version of himself
Crowley stares at the numerous empty alcohol bottles littered on the floor
He sighed
He was a mess, of course aziraphale wouldn't want him.