Work Text:
Everything had begun with a little old secret.
One of many that Crowley and Aziraphale had been discovering after the Armageddon't, since they were spending more time together.
And, like other times, it had been an "accidental" discovery. That time it had happened due to the angel's ancient Gramophone.
Crowley was looking for the most modern vinyl through the angelic collection when he found a funny one: it was a piano version of "I am a courtier grave and serious" of the Savoy Opera "the Gondoliers". The demon had joked it was a rather subversive Opera for an angel.
With a little blush, Aziraphale had recounted fondly when he had learnt the Gavotte on that tune in a certain discreet gentleman's club.
The demon had asked him if he had ever danced again on that tune and the angel had confided to him he couldn't do that: he needed a partner for the Gavotte.
But the angelic melancholic sigh was Crowley's "downfall".
He had to do something.
Or better, he wanted to do something.
Crowley went back to his flat and through sixty-six fake profiles on YouTube, some temptations and a little bribe (which was a generous tip on a Patron) he was able to find someone who could make a video on "How to learn the Gavotte - step by step" (it was almost called "Gavotte for dummies" but the creator felt something like a glareful glare on the back of his head and decided for a better title). He had even downloaded on his smartphone the music so he could exercise everywhere (obviously where there was no living -or dead- soul around to witness that).
At first, it wasn't easy: more often than not the demon stumbled on his feet or he crossed his legs or was deceived by his hips.
It was exhausting but, exercising day by day (and even on some nights), Crowley became better and better at dancing: he considered it a success when he just fell only once an hour.
He felt almost ready but he wanted to test his skill in the bookshop with all those shelves and random piles of books around before asking his angel for a dance.
Taking advantage of one of Aziraphale's hunt for a rare manuscript from the thirteenth century, the demon sneaked inside the empty shop. Every curtain lowered itself to not let any prying eye look inside.
Crowley scanned the whole shop until he found the perfect place he could perform (even with his angel later); then, he set the phone on the closest surface without any important book and, with a snap, he miraculously made the music start.
His feet almost miraculously never stumbled upon themself or any stray book (or any furniture) and kept dancing the best he could until the last note, when he stopped with an enthusiastic grin on his face.
But his enthusiasm paled compared with the merry applause the demon heard behind his back.
When Crowley turned around he was welcomed by Aziraphale's beaming smile.
"You… have learnt the Gavotte, my dear?"
If the demon's brain cells weren't freaking out at the sudden angelic appearance they could have thought something like "Well, the snake is out of the back". The poor demon could just produce a sort of strangled noise made up with just a string of consonants.
The angel observed him closely: "You… have learnt the Gavotte… just for me?"
The demon, with his knotted tongue, answered with a nod.
"Because I mentioned I missed dancing the Gavotte with someone?"
There was another nod.
Suddenly Crowley was engulfed by the warmest hug he could receive.
"You're so amazing, my dearest!"
"You should wait to say that until we have danced together. I'm still not so sure I won't let you fall: I never danced this thing with someone so…"
"You shouldn't have learned it alone: you could fall and get some nasty injuries if you have no partner."
Crowley chuckled: "Nothing broken: I promise. Just a brushed ego that a good partner's smile had healed immediately".
The demon held his hand towards his blushing angel and said softly: "Would you allow me this dance?"
Aziraphale just took his hand and with a little snap he let the music start.
They merrily danced for a couple of hours until they were too tired and dizzy (from some spinning) to continue.
They enjoyed the rest of the day together, drinking some wine and eating some snacks the angel had taken in a nearby bakery (that he had almost forgotten on a shelf smitten by his demon's performance).
Neither of them complained about that.
And they decided to do the same another day, especially the dancing.