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“You’re ridiculous!“ Crowley snapped - almost shouted. He stood up from the old fashioned couch in Azirapahle’s Bookshop, furiously regarding down at the angel who was still sitting on his - just as old fashioned - armchair.
They’d met in the Bookshop for a simple drink, to chat, to talk about exiting things, or their day. But at some point, they had turned away from their usual (drunk) topics, to the times before Armageddon. Pleasant conversation at first. But soon, they started to fight.
“I never, not ONCE, rejected you!” Crowley growled. “I was always the one who wanted to improve our relationship. It meant something to me, to be with you. And you didn’t give a fuck!” the demon’s voice raised again.
Azirapahle gasped. The angel put his drink to the side and was now also standing upright, facing Crowley. “That’s not true! You know it’s not true! Being with you always meant so much to me! And I always appreciated the way you care for me!”
The demon huffed a humorless laugh. “Oh yeah?” he provoked. “Then why did you keep saying we weren’t friends? Why did you keep rejecting my love?” the serpent didn’t notice that he was now shouting even louder, making the angel jump.
Azirapahle tried to keep his voice steady. “I never rejected your love.” he mumbled.
An unamused ‘Pff’ came from Crowley’s mouth. “Oh no, of course not!” Crowley growled sarcastically and threw his hands angrily in Azirapahle’s direction. “You constantly keep reminding me of me being a demon. Is that your way to make clear, how miserable and unholy I look next to you?” He took a dangerous step forward. “What about the globe theatre? You shamelessly claimed that we weren’t friends!” the demon was yelling again. “And what about ‘You go to fast for me, Crowley.’?” he mimicked Azirapahle’s voice. “That had been a clear rejection. You never cared a thing about me.”
“How can you say this?!” Azirapahle was now yelling, too. “Did you even listen to what I said afterwards? I told you that hell will destroy you when they find out about The Arrangement. About us.” the principality was obviously fighting with the tears welling up in his pale blue eyes. “And the reason why I gave you the holy water was, that I care about you! I didn’t want you to risk your life in a useless church-robbery! I never ever wanted you to get hurt, let alone let yourself be destroyed by holy water! How can you say things like this? Why did you only remember the bad bluffs I had to come up with? Do you think it was easy for me?!”
Crowley stared at the angel. He had never heard Azirapahle shouting like this.
The angel took a deep, shaky breath. “Hell and Heaven would’ve killed both of us if I’d let it happen.” the shorter man-shaped being was talking quieter now. “You were so stubborn. A simple ‘It’s too dangerous’ wouldn’t have stopped you. I didn’t want you to get hurt. I was protecting you, in case you didn’t notice.” Azirapahle looked away from the demon. “Obviously you didn’t.” the angel added, barely audible.
The demon kept staring wide-eyed at the angel, who was now regarding the floor. They were both silent for a while, and Crowley could feel the guilt filling him. How could he be so ignorant? He had hurt the angel.
“C’mere.” Crowley whispered, and pulled Azirapahle into a tight embrace. The angel was hugging him back, to Crowley’s relief.
Azirapahle held back for a while, but then wept in Crowley’s shoulder. Nothing but quiet sobs, and the muffled evening-traffic from the street, could be heard. They stayed like this for a few minutes. The guilt welling up inside of Crowley grew in intensity, as he realized that it was him upsetting his partner and making him cry.
“Angel, you’re right. I’m so sorry. You did the right thing. I’m sorry.” Crowley admitted, whispering in Azirapahle’s pale, fluffy locks.
“I’m sorry too.” said angel answered, still hiding his face in the juncture between Crowley’s neck and shoulder. The demon caressed his boyfriends back, and kissed his hair.
“I love you, Crowley. More than I love humanity, or anything else. I really do, please believe me.” Azirapahle sobbed, almost desperate.
“Of course I believe you, angel. I never doubted it, I was just too drunk to think about what I was saying. You’re so good and smart. I love you.” Crowley answered, softly and carefully not to say something stupid again. He smiled softly as he felt Azirapahle hugging him closer.
After one more while of silence, the demon spoke up: “Hey, angel. How about when we change the topic and get ourselves some nice dinner somewhere? Hm?” he suggested, slowly breaking the embrace, to look into the angel’s beautiful, still slightly wet eyes. “Sounds good to me.” Azirapahle answered, smiling, and hugged his demon once again, tight, promising. Loving.