Chapter Text
He thought the date went well, but if that was the case then why isn't he replying? He wanted to pretend this didn't sting, but that wasn't the case. Anthony had finally gathered enough coarage to ask the cute barista at his local coffee shop out. He wasn't trying to seem desperate, so he had only texted the barista twice, one night after the date and a second time when he realized the barista had left his name tag in his car.
Desperate, he hated the way it sounded. The last thing Anthony wanted to be was desperate, hence why he had made sure he that his disappearing date wasn't working before he headed inside to get his tea and crepe.
“Anthony, the usual?”
“Oh uh yea” Anthony didn't care for the manager of the coffee shop, Gabe seemed uptight and had a holier than thou attitude. And to be honest he didn't care for their tea either. He mostly just came for the b- Gabe interrupted Anthony's train of thought
“Did something happen at your date?”
Anthony felt his face slightly redden at the fact that his dating life was public, but more importantly could Anthony even answer that question? He’d been asking himself the same question for the past three days. Instead of trying to answer the question he instead asked a question back. He knew that Gabe loved talking so he wouldn't think to much with the flip of questions.
“W-what why?” he sounded more frightened than he meant to.
“Hasn't show up to work, didn't even call in sick” Gabe shrugged and then handed Anthony his tea, Anthony had skipped the crepe. He paid and then went to sit outside, the coffee shop had a little overhang and a couple of small table and chairs. Anthony sat down and started drinking his tea, he went to pull his phone out to swipe endlessly.
“Dammit” Anthony groaned, he had left his phone at home. He started looking around to see if anything was happening. Nope nothing, the only thing he could see was tiny handbag. After picking up his drink he went to investigate, maybe he could do good or at least have his pocket grow by a couple of pence.
Upon further inspection, Anthony realized the “handbag” was actually a cowering dove, the poor thing look hurt or at least lost. He picked up a stick and tapped the bird. The dove moved and made eye contact. Now Anthony had never been an animal person, he liked snakes but that was about it. But he didn't want to let the poor thing die. He had some experience of taking care of things, granted birds and plants are very different. But hey helping this bird get better would be a good distraction.
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It wasn't much, but Anthony managed to set up a bird cage in his tiny flat. The bird seemed to be doing slightly better, warmer at least. He thought of the name Az for the bird, it was absolutely a random name, zero meaning behind it. Although anthony would admit that the bird a slight resemblance to the cute barista Aziraphale. Although he never called him that, no he called him “angel”, reason being the name of the coffee shop, “coffee heaven”.
While the resemblance in the physical and name department were strong, there was an even stronger one. And it was a bit more than a resemblance, more than just a coincidence. No.
The bird was in fact Aziraphale aka angel aka the cute barista aka Anthony's disappearing date.