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Crowley had never woken up for more than a day since he'd taken his rest. His body was still bound to some of the basic principles of being human. Which meant the occasional trip to the toilet and glass of water (his body long since given up eating more than once a decade). So once every 3 months he'd do a small stretch, drink a few glasses of water and partially be awake for a day. Crowley would maintain his plants and his own mess of red hair that never stopped growing with his slumber. Of course he'd seen them. Every time he woke up temporarily there was a new array of decorations for the holiday he missed. Each colored streamer, or newfound dessert treat, was placed with care from the angel. Things may have been different between them but Aziraphale had lived through one of his long winded naps before and would surely survive again. Crowley never contacted Aziraphale when he woke up, he felt it was better to keep him in the dark.
When he woke up this time, Crowley went about his normal routine. He silenced his alarm and pulled back the covers, welcoming the cool flat to chill his silk pajamas. The master bathroom was adjacent to his bedroom. He had no need to turn on the light to the vanity in order to trim his hair down to a nice shoulder length look. Crowley had found that he liked cutting his own hair, he liked the difference that came with each style and no longer trusted humans with it after quite a few bad haircuts. He left the master bathroom after he miracled the rest of the needed hygiene that he didn't care enough about to do manually.
The demon heard a loud crash from somewhere in his flat. He had a long going protection on the flat since the day he moved in, so odds were that one of his plants fell over in fear ( which wouldn't be the first time and not the last). Even so he lived on the 13th floor, and the button for which was something humans easily brushed off, a common practice for angels and demons alike. Crowley fixed his patented scowl to scorn the guilty foliage, but was stopped in the hallway by a familiar scent. It was a mix of old books and vanilla and the familiar scent of his angel. He grew more nervous with every step, sure he wanted to see Aziraphale but after all the unsureness with their last conversation many things were left in the air. The thought of mending caused the welt to spiral further but continuously the thought of seeing him in the flesh pushed him further.
Aziraphale was humming a symphony that had long since been forgotten by humans as he placed something into the oven. All the previous cakes had already been tossed into the bin and replaced with a rainbow assortment of colorful macaroons, sugar cookies adorned with various pride flags (blues pinks and everything in between) and approximately 3/4s a rainbow themed cake that was only missing decorations and the purple layer. His coat hung neatly on a coat hanger that Crowley never recalled owning (but had seen it at Aziraphale's shop. The angel himself replaced the century's old coat with a light blue apron that had his tartan trim. His sleeves were rolled up past his elbows revealing his pale white hair. The angel seemed focused on his craft and paid no attention to the demon in the doorway.
Crowley had to choose his next few words wisely. So, as any demon wouldn't, he joked " I see I woke up in June after all. "
Aziraphale spun around to face him, "Crowley! You're awake. I hope all is well. "
In all honesty, he had yet to check his phone for any news and merely hoped all was well (or at least in some way better).
He strode up along the side of the kitchen island next to an array of gender fluid cookies. He grabbed one, "That time of the year again?"
Aziraphale grabbed a nearby dish rag and cleaned off the flour from his hands, "Oh right of course. Well you didn't miss much last year I assure you. But this year all the big name brands began to show good spirits with many rain-bows and various others among them. Madam Tracy helped with the supplies." He nodded his head towards a large pile of shopping bags that seemed nearly overfilled with merchandise for pride events. "Some of them Ms. Device had to help with because, well you know my relationship with the 'Internet'. " he walked over towards the pile of bags as Crowley watched him with some amusement.
Aziraphale reached for one of the reusable bags and brought it back to the island. "There are so many wonderful trinkets out in the world nowadays." He grabbed a handful of buttons with different sets of pronouns on each one. "Whilst I agree with your debate on gender being more a human social standard, they still don't wish to refer to each other incorrectly. So in light of the fact your own gender presentations change so frequently, I bought the full set. " Crowley looked up at the angel and quirked his eyebrow up. "Dear boy, look at what's in your own hand. "
He looked down at the gender fluid pride flag cookie in his hand, shrugged, and took another bite. "What else is in your handy bag of rainbows? "
Aziraphale moved the desserts aside and fetched the other four bags and set them on the chair that Crowley was certain hadn't been large enough to hold them moments before. The angel started to unpack the contents into two distinct piles. The first had a white purple yellow and black bowtie, rainbow suspenders, rainbow striped shorts, and white socks with black grey white and purple stripes. The second had a black shirt with the phrase 'Plant Daddy' in rainbow lettering, a skirt that stretched below the knee with a similar rainbow fabric, a pair of sunglasses that had a similar color pattern to the socks, and numerous other jewelry accents.
Crowley looked at the two piles then back to Aziraphale, "Wow seems you helped with rainbow capitalism this year. "
The angel fiddled with his hands, "Well it is nice to be represented, the community had been neglected for centuries until the movements made by those folks in the 1960s and 1970s. I think Oscar would be proud of it all, same as Mr. Mercury. "
Crowley smiled fondly at the thought of Freddy being able to witness all the growth with the community. Aziraphale continued, "and with all that happened last year we weren't able to celebrate as much. "
For a moment Crowley forgot about how dreadful 2020 had been. He tensed up, "How are things now? "
Aziraphale sighed, "Well after you slept there were more lockdowns, protests, riots, Prince Phillip's passing, -" he was cut off by a low beeping coming from the oven "Oh my cake! " he rushed towards the oven and grabbed the pair of mitts that were nearby in order to handle the purple cake. Aziraphale placed it in a nearby cooling rack and snapped his fingers followed by the heat from the pan to start cooling down. After a short 30 seconds the cake was cool enough to be taken out of the pan and set alongside the other cakes. Crowley watched, content, as Aziraphale worked on the layers. There were no miracles as the angel took gentle time with each section of the rainbow. Crowley's smile grew as Aziraphale hummed a light hearted tune. The angel, of course, knew he was staring and smirked, snapping Crowley out of his trance. He knocked over a few desserts by accident when he jerked his arm.
He cursed under his breath, "shit. Sorry angel. " he got off his chair and began picking up the fallen cookies.
"Oh it's no issue dear boy. I have no idea what other use they could have, as much as I love a treat there's only so many one can have. "
Crowley rose from the ground and tossed the fallen goods into the garbage. "We could always hand them out at the bookstore, or an event of sorts. " The angel perked his head up and stopped what he was doing. Nervously Crowley back tracked, "Unless that still isn't allowed with the rules. "
Aziraphale placed down the frosting and stuttered, "Well, there is a vaccine now, multiple in fact, and we are both celestial beings who have proper facial protection. "
"Are you suggesting that we break protocol, Angel?" He leaned forward suggestively.
"It's just, well I have a whole new section of LGBTQ+ to sell, and there's plenty more desserts to be eaten or sold. "
"Or given away to local thieves. "
"Or given away to those who need it, perhaps at the upcoming pride event. "
"When is that? "
"End of the month I believe. "
"Guess I'll have to stay awake until then, to help out of course. "
"Suppose you will. " Aziraphale tried to avoid jumping for joy and settled on wiggling in his own spot.
~~~ 21 days later~~~
Aziraphale walked into the back room of the bookshop and scoffed at the sight. Crowley was sprawled out on the couch fast asleep wrapped in a blue blanket seemingly asleep. "Crowley dear, was this last year not enough napping for you?"
Crowley opened one of his eyes, "m'not asleep angel jus resting my eyes. " he wrapped the blanket along his shoulders and sat up. He rubbed his eyes and reached for his glasses on the table. Aziraphale came up to him and took the glasses from him. He pressed his palm to the demon's cheek, rubbing his thumb gently. Aziraphale placed a kiss on his forehead and handed back the sunglasses. Crowley pulled him into a hug, he squeezed tight around his torso and felt the thick suspenders.
"Is it the 22nd already?" Crowley asked into Aziraphales stomach.
"Yes, your clothes are upstairs. I'll close the shop when you're done, there's still some kids having a look around. "
Crowley scoffed and looked up at him, "Still amazes me how you're actually willing to sell these books. "
"Only the select few. I read them all at least twice last year and they deserve to be shared, so I purchased a few extra copies. Don't worry nothing else has changed in your absence. " Aziraphale said warmly.
Crowley stood up, put on his glasses, and looked at his socked feet.
"Sorry about that, again. "
Aziraphale stroked up his arm, "I'll have none of that darling, remember it takes two." He lowered his hand into Crowley's, "Best you head upstairs and change, we won't want to miss it. " The demon nodded and kissed Aziraphale's hand before leaving the room.
Ever since he officially woken up, Crowley often resided at the bookshop. The time there had mostly consisted of Aziraphale making more baked goods and him watching or, more recently, helping. Once every few days Aziraphale would go to the local market and buy the goods needed to make more treats. Crowley, of course, accompanied him every time. The second time the duo left the bookshop for one of these trips, Crowley offered a slightly shaking arm to Aziraphale, who humbly accepted. Everyone who sold to the angel noticed a newfound glow with the addition of his companion.
They eventually did open the case of wine Crowley offered last year. And not more than a glass in did the pent of feelings of 6000+ years become spoken. After that night they no longer walked arm in arm, but hand in hand. Crowley stopped napping on walls, but in Aziraphale's bed (often with Aziraphale in it reading a book by lamplight).
Aziraphale left the back room to urge the teens in the back to make their way out the store. The group frequented the establishment, somehow keeping track of Mr. Fell's odd hours. They all resided on a few chairs in the corner and would chat with each other or one of the supposed owners. Aziraphale would talk about his books and offer treats, Crowley would tell outlandish stories about people he's met or him and the angel. The angel addressed them all kindly and wished them well with their travels home as they walked out. After Crowley walked down the staircase in the skirt, shirt, glasses and accessories Aziraphale had shown him.
"You look lovely dear. " Aziraphale said when Crowley finished his descent
"Ready to go Angel? " he asked trying to avoid his usual freak out after a complement, (he would never get used to it but he could still remain composed). Aziraphale nodded and the two of them walked out in unison to the Bentley. The car sped through the streets of London, the Angel was still nervous for the lives of everyone is a 20 miles radius and the demon still adored it all.