Chapter Text
One late night in June, Aziraphale found himself sitting in bed reading a book.
“How was it?” Crowley asked blearily, as he heard Aziraphale snap the book shut. “Did it end differently on this thousandth reread?”
“Oh it wouldn’t dare,” Aziraphale said, softly. He kissed Crowley on the forehead. “I’m going to go put this back.”
Crowley groaned and put his arms around Aziraphale’s waist. “All the way in the living room? You’ll catch cold.”
“I’m an angel,” Aziraphale replied, fondly. “Of a sort, anyway. I can’t catch cold .”
“Just put it on the bedside, Angel,” Crowley groaned. “Just stay in bed.”
Aziraphale resisted the urge to chuckle. “I’ll only be a moment.”
Crowley groaned again. “Well hurry back then or I’ll catch cold.”
Aziraphale got out of bed. “You’re cold blooded, my dear boy. I’m sure you’ll be just fine.”
...
Aziraphale entered the living room with the express purpose of putting the book back on the shelf, but when he entered the room, Ruby scrambled to sit upright on the sofa and hastily closed the book she was reading.
“Sorry,” she said. “I thought you’d gone to bed already. I...shouldn’t’ve taken this without asking, I’m really sorry.” She made to put it back where she’d found it.
“Wait, wait, hold on , my dear,” Aziraphale said, perplexed by this reaction. “What are you reading?”
She hesitated. “I only just barely started it. I haven’t had the time to get to know it yet. I’m really sorry. I should’ve asked first.”
“Ruby,” he said, softly. “What are you reading? I’m not going to be upset with you. I’m only curious.”
She hesitated again. “Oscar Wilde.”
“Oh,” he said, rather surprised but pleased nonetheless. “And how do you find him?”
“I’m sorry?”
“Do you enjoy his work?”
She bit her lip, clearly a bit embarrassed. “I’ve never read him before.”
He smiled reassuringly. “That’s no fault of yours. You had a, shall we say, rather conservative upbringing.” He sat down next to her.
She looked at him nervously. “I really am sorry. I know I should’ve asked-”
“You keep apologizing,” he pointed out. “You haven’t done anything wrong.”
“They don’t belong to me,” she said, as if he was the one who was being a bit daft. “I shouldn’t touch things that don’t belong to me. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t’ve even been in here-”
“Why not?” he asked, genuinely confused.
“Because,” she replied. “You said it was getting late, and maybe I should get some sleep. But instead I snuck out of my room to come back out here and read without permission.”
“You know you don’t have to go to sleep when we do,” he pointed out. “And do you do this often? Sneak out, as you put it?”
She appeared like a deer caught in the headlights before finally nodding. “Yeah, sometimes. Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, my dear,” he said, gently. “I’m sorry I made you feel as though you had to sneak around in your own home.”
“You didn’t.”
He nodded. “Then it’s a holdover from your past. I’m sorry I wasn’t clearer with you, then. You don’t need permission to be anywhere, Ruby. If you want to read, you can. Just be very careful with my first editions, please.” He could see that she was still confused. “You’re welcome anywhere in our home, Ruby, I want you to understand that. Well, with the exception of our bedroom, of course. You’ll need permission for that for the same reason we’d need permission to go in your room. Boundaries, respect, personal space, etcetera.”
She looked skeptical. “What, like you don’t search my room regularly to make sure I’m not doing anything shifty?”
He blinked. “No we don’t. Did we give you the impression that we were?”
She looked at him as if he was insane. “No, but that’s...that’s what parents do .”
“No, that’s what prison guards do,” Aziraphale replied. “And we’d never treat you like a prisoner. Do you understand?”
She thought about this, then nodded. “I do.” She leaned her head against his shoulder. “Thanks, Dad.”
He was very touched by the way that she’d said that so casually, but knew he had to change the subject. “So...why Oscar Wilde?”
“Isn’t it obvious, Zira? She was trying to get closer to you.” Crowley entered the room, wearing a very satisfied smirk. “I came to see if you got lost on the way back to bed.” He turned to Ruby. “He does that, you know. Comes to put up a book, finds himself lost in a new one.”
“Oh hush, you,” Aziraphale said, his voice soft but heavy with the weight of his fondness for his family. “Ruby’s just out here reading a book. ‘S got nothing to do with me.”
“Actually,” Ruby said, somewhat embarrassed. “He’s... sort of right. I mean, I get Crowley because we have a lot of the same musical tastes. And I’ve really appreciated how much you’ve tried to get to know me through Harry Potter, but I don’t...know as much about you. I’d like to have some way to understand you.”
Aziraphale was touched. “This is a good way to go about it.” He suddenly became a bit overwhelmed with his emotions and decided to shove them aside. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, Ruby. We’re going to bed. You’re welcome to stay up and read if you like?”
“No it’s alright,” she smiled. “I’ll go to bed too. For real, this time. But first thing tomorrow, I’m starting the book properly.”