Work Text:
It was a cold but beautiful winter's night.
Aziraphale and Crowley walked to the bookshop. It was the first time the angel had taken him there.
He pointed at the building and smiled to Crowley.
“There it is!”
Crowley looked up and nodded.
“Nice...”
They reached the entrance, and the angel opened the door, smiling.
He walked in and took off his coat, then looked back at Crowley and stopped, frowning a little.
The demon was still standing outside the open door, motionless.
“What’s wrong, my dear?” Asked the angel.
Crowley hesitated for a moment, then swallowed hard and lowered his gaze a little.
“I... I can’t, uhm... I...” He trailed off.
It took Aziraphale a few seconds to understand what the problem was, and when he did, he felt a little embarrassed.
Of course he couldn’t come in... he had not been invited to do so.
“Oh, I’m so sorry my dear. Please, come in!” The angel said, with a sweet smile.
However, Crowley didn’t move. He seemed very tense and kept looking at the threshold with a nervous expression on his face.
Aziraphale felt his heart tighten in his chest. He walked back to the open door and smiled softly.
“It’s all right...”
He held out his hand. Crowley looked at it but didn’t take it, swallowing again.
“It’s all right...” Repeated Aziraphale, in the gentlest voice possible. “You are welcome here. You can enter this bookshop whenever you want, and nothing bad will ever happen to you, I promise...”
He took another step towards Crowley and kept his hand out to him, right across the threshold.
“Trust me...”
Crowley stiffened a little at that, then he hesitantly raised his own hand and took Aziraphale’s.
The angel smiled more and tightened lightly his grip around his hand, pulling him gently inside, slowly.
When Crowley finally crossed the threshold, he tensed up and stopped breathing for a moment.
It took him a few seconds to realise that he had not been discorporated.
He let out a shaky breath and looked up at Aziraphale.
“You see?” Said the angel. “All good...”
Crowley nodded slightly.
“Yes, well... you said trust me...”
Aziraphale’s smile softened, if possible, even more.
“And you did...”
For a moment, Crowley seemed to blush. If Aziraphale noticed, he didn’t show it.
He let go of his hand.
“Would you like a cup of tea, my dear?”
Crowley nodded again.
“Yes, uhm... sure... thank you.”
“My pleasure.” Smiled the angel. “Make yourself comfortable.”
And Crowley did.