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Aziraphale takes the coffee from Metatron and has a sip. Metatron walks to the door and gestures back at Aziraphale to follow him. They walk out of the bookshop and head to a table outside nearby.
—
“We think you would be the perfect angel for this position,” Metatron summarizes “given you know earth better then anyone else”
Aziraphale thinks about the proposal for a moment. On one hand, he would like to have a chance to make a difference in the way things are run. But more than anything else, he doesn’t want to leave Crowley.
“Would it be alright if I had some time to mull it over?”
Metatron thinks for a moment, “You can have five minutes.”
Aziraphale nods before turning away to walk back to the shop. When he gets in Crowley sees him and breaks away from his stress-cleaning to collect himself and work up the confidence he needs to talk to Aziraphale about how he feels.
“Angel, I have something I want to talk to you about-“ Crowley says, before getting interrupted by Aziraphale.
“First, can I say what Metatron was talking to me about” Crowley is a bit anxious about his plan being thrown off, but is making an effort to stay cool and gives a kind of nod as to say go on.
“Well,” Aziraphale says “he proposed that I could be appointed as the supreme archangel. And I could give you your angelic status back if you would like.”
Crowley’s heart sinks. Of course Aziraphale wants to go back to heaven more then he wants to be with him. Crowley feels like he can see all hope he has for the future shattering. But trying to stay casual he just asks, “Well what did you say?”
“I asked him for some time to think before saying anything.”
“Ah, ok” Crowley says, his shoulders visibly relaxing. But still he’s quite on edge since Aziraphale could still—and probably will—end up choosing heaven over him, over them.
Well, theres always hope. He might as well go along with the confession anyways. Whats the worst that can happen. “Well, angel, I was going to say-
—
“Oh, you.. really?” Aziraphale says
“I don’t know. Might be a nicer life then going off with the people who tried to end humanity” Crowley remarks, trying to throw in any comment that may sway him that bit more.
One of the main reasons Aziraphale wanted to go back to heaven was because he had just about given up on anything between him and Crowley. But, due to recent events, he is gaining back quite a bit of hope that he has a shot at being happy here.
“Hm, yeah, it just might” Aziraphale says with a bit of a smile. Just as he says that Metatron knocks on the door before opening it and walking in.
“So, Aziraphale. I see you’ve had time to think it over. What have you decided on” Metatron says. Crowley glances from Aziraphale to Metatron and back to Aziraphale. He’s quite grateful at the moment for his glasses hiding the slight nervousness he feels.
Aziraphale briefly glances back at Crowley before saying to Metatron, “I actually quite like staying here in my bookshop. So I’ve chosen to stay here and keep my life as is. Thank you very much”
Metatron looks a bit caught off guard. Clearly not expecting that to be what Aziraphale went with. How could someone not want all that power. But regardless, he wished them good day and left the store. Off to talk to the runner-up candidate.
Crowley wait a few seconds after Metatron had left before sitting down in an armchair next to him in a huff.
“Well that was certainly an eventful day, wasn’t it angel.”
“Well I’ll say” Aziraphale says, sitting down in a chair near him. They both just sit in silence for a minute. Processing what had happened that day and things that had been said. Thinking about what it meant going into the future for them.
“Would you like to go out tonight to the Ritz, my treat” Crowley offers, breaking the silence.
“I would quite like that,” Aziraphale says, looking at Crowley with a smile. “But for now, I’ll put on some tea.”