Chapter Text
Aziraphale settled into his favourite chair, lifted the mug of freshly made tea to his lips… and tsked in annoyance as the bell above the door rang signalling that a customer had just entered the shop.
"Hello?" A deep male voice called through to the back where Aziraphale kept tucked out of sight.
He'd probably go away again in a minute.
"Hello? Anyone there?"
Probably.
"Umm, you really shouldn't leave your till unattended you know. Not round here."
Aziraphale put his cup down with a sigh. A helpful comment like that indicated a basic level of decency he shouldn't be rude to on such a nice day - if it was genuine. A quick look at the human should determine the worth of getting up against staying put. Fortunately he had ways of looking that didn't require line of sight.
He closed his eyes.
And reached out… Ah!
The human was brighter than most - in every sense. He had the warm glow of a fundamentally good soul but also an aura of intelligence and shrewdness - which revealed he was no naive optimist, rather someone who knew the world well but still actively chose to try to be good. Worthy indeed of a little of his time.
Aziraphale reluctantly opened his eyes again, levered himself up out of his chair and moved through to the main shop.
"I'm so sorry, I was in the middle of something else," he apologised. "Thank you for your concern, though I've never had any problems."
A slightly dishevelled man in a cheap suit stood by the counter. In deference to the heat, he'd taken his jacket off, slung it over one arm and rolled up the sleeves of his equally inexpensive shirt. He was in his fifties and had a rugged handsomeness that reminded Aziraphale fleetingly of a certain archangel, though with none of the sternness or rigidity that came with Gabriel's unbending authority. The human had a much kinder aspect to his demeanour and his salt-and pepper hair was sticking up in casual disarray, reminding Aziraphale of another ethereal being entirely.
"Sorry, perils of the job," the human replied, sheepishly. "I'm a policeman - always makes you think the worst of people."
But you don't, do you? Quite the opposite. How refreshing.
Aziraphale held out his hand. "Mr Fell. Pleasure to meet you. What can I do for you, Mr...?"
The human swapped his jacket off onto his other arm and took Azirpahle's hand in a broad firm grip. "Lestrade. Thanks."
And there it was - a beautiful undercurrent of love. Love for his city, for his fellow man, for the law and the institution he worked for… Aziraphale basked in it for a moment before letting his hand drop.
"I'm… well…" Lestrade hesitated, searching for words.
As close as they were now standing, Azirpahale felt the sudden upsurge even without physical contact. Oh!
"I'm looking for a birthday present for a friend of mine," Lestrade explained. "Well, I say friend, he's more an acquaintance really. Brother of a friend."
Beloved. He's your beloved. You love him. And you haven't told him.
"And I was just passing and saw your shop and I thought…"
"He might like a book?"
"I think so? He has a big library at his house. I mean, he might just have inherited that but he knows loads about everything so I'm assuming he reads lots. Maybe not books though… Sorry, I'm rambling a bit. It's just… I want to get him something he'll really like, you know?"
"Surely it's not that important if he's only an acquaintance?"
"Yeah.. the thing is… The thing is I'd quite like him to be more than that." Lestrade smiled bashfully at the floor. "Don't know why I'm telling you this. Sorry."
"Please, don't apologise. I would be delighted to help. Honestly. Does he have any specific interests you're aware of? Hobbies?"
"Ummm, he likes old films?"
"Perfect. I have a collection here in which I'm sure I can find something for your friend."
And you shall take it away at far less than its actual cost and with the most enormous blessing I can bestow on it for your future happiness…
"That's great! Thank you!" Lestrade smiled with enormous relief and Aziraphale was hit with another surge.
If you smile like that at him perhaps the blessing will be surplus to requirements!
"Come through here…"