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"Aziraphale, where shall I put this book? Oh, but... that's odd."
Aziraphale turned and saw the book Muriel was holding and exclaimed, "Oh no, not that one!"
But the angel had been quicker; they had already opened the book and pulled out a gun.
Crowley, who was watering one of his plants nearby, froze when he saw what Muriel was holding.
“I keep a Derringer in the bookshop, inside a hollowed out book.”
He rushed to snatch the gun from their hands, but as soon as it was in his, he found himself in another time and place.
Finger trembling on the trigger.
Aziraphale in his line of fire.
No.
He couldn't go through that again.
Crowley dropped the gun to the floor and shook his head under Aziraphale and Muriel's puzzled stares before striding out of the shop.
"Crowley?"
Aziraphale was about to leave to follow the demon when Muriel murmured, "It's my fault. I must have done something wrong."
Aziraphale turned and took their hand, saying softly, "I don't understand everything, but I'm sure of one thing: It's not your fault. I'll put this away. You go have a nice hot chocolate at Nina's, and I'll try to find out where Crowley went."
Muriel nodded, and with a worried look on their face, they left the store and walked over to Nina's coffee shop.
Aziraphale picked up the gun, replaced it in the book, and put the book back where it belonged.
What could have happened to Crowley?
What had made him react like that?
Did he need to find him or give him time?
But he really didn't look well.
The angel made his way to the exit of the shop and once through the door, a little indecisive, wondering where to go, he spotted Muriel coming towards him with a quick step.
"Aziraphale, Nina said she saw Crowley walk this way and she saw him talking to Maggie before he left, looking almost desperate, that's what she said."
Aziraphale waited no longer and made his way to the record store. As soon as he entered, Maggie rushed up to him.
"Oh Aziraphale, I think I said something to Crowley I shouldn't have."
Aziraphale said to her in an urgent tone, "Maggie, please tell me as much as you can about your conversation."
Maggie wrung her hands as she recounted her conversation with the demon, "Well, I saw that he was talking to himself as he walked, looking strange, and when I approached him, he didn't hear me. He kept repeating, 'Why does he have to put himself in danger all the time?' So I put my hand on his arm and asked him if he was talking about you. He just nodded and then, to cheer him up, I told him what you'd said to me and Nina when the bookshop was attacked. That he was happy he had to save you. Then Crolwley... he froze and said, 'I hate this!' and went to his car, which then drove away."
She took the angel's hand and said in a pleading tone, "I'm sorry, Aziraphale, I shouldn't have said that."
Aziraphale shook his head, "No Maggie, I'm the one who shouldn't have said that, and most of all I think he and I need to talk. There's so much that...but first I have to find him."
He came out of the record store and immediately gasped because the Bentley had just pulled up next to him. But he was soon sobered by the fact that it was empty.
The driver's door opened.
Taking it as a sign, Aziraphale sat down in the car and put his hands on the steering wheel when the radio suddenly started.
He needs you anyway, anyway
Not often easy to say
Anyway, anyway
Ooh-ooh ya
Who knows what it leads to
Just know that he needs you
Anyway
Aziraphale said quietly, "I assume this song is about Crowley and me. That he needs me. Then take me to him."
The Bentley started and drove at a moderate speed, adjusting to both Aziraphale and the fact that Crowley needed help, and parked in front of Saint James Park a few minutes later.
"Of course it's here. I'm such an idiot. Thank you. Stay here."
Aziraphale knew exactly where to go.
Their bench.
He walked the path he had walked so many times in Crowley's company until he came to the bench.
The demon sat there, alone.
Aziraphale joined him, sat silently beside him, and waited a few moments before speaking.
Then he asked him softly, "Do you want to talk about it?"
Crowley shook his head, "Not really, but..."
Aziraphale placed his hand on Crowley's clenched fist and continued, "...but we should talk about it."
Crowley nodded slowly.
Aziraphale continued, "Whenever you want. Take your time."
A few more seconds passed before Crowley asked, "How could you be sure that day that I wouldn't hit you with the bullet?"
It was then that Aziraphale understood, and for the first time realized the effect their magic had had on the demon.
He squeezed the demon's hand and replied in a clear voice, "Because I have absolute faith in you, Crowley."
Crowley's hand relaxed beneath his as the angel slid his fingers between the demon's.
Crowley said softly, "Earlier, when I had the gun in my hands, I relived that moment when my finger trembled on the trigger, when I saw you in the line of fire, and Aziraphale, I beg you, don't make me relive that. Contrary to what you seem to think, saving you doesn't make me happy. Because if I have to do it, it's because you're in danger and-"
Aziraphale turned to the demon and interrupted, "Crowley, I'm so sorry, that's not what I meant that day, I..."
Crowley shook his head, "Let me continue, Angel, let me go through with it.At the theater, I could have missed my target. I might not have made it to the church in time. I might not have made it to the base at Tadfield. And I know what it's like to be late, I was late at the bookshop. I thought you were dead. Literally. So even if you trust me so much that you put your life in my hands, please don't risk it unnecessarily. I don't want to be late again."
Aziraphale nodded and brought Crowley's hand to his lips, kissing it gently before replying, "I promise. I never realized how much of a weight I was putting on you. But I want you to know that the moment I decided not to follow Metatron, everything changed. Because we became us. That means no more reckless lonely decisions and no more keeping secrets because we think we're protecting each other."
Crowley replied softly, "Yes. A group of two. Us. So the next time you want to play magician, we pick the trick together."
Aziraphale raised an eyebrow, "I thought I wasn't supposed to do the magician anymore?"
Crowley replied, "And since when do you do what you're told? So, just in case, let's do it this way. And if possible, a trick that doesn't involve weapons, in fact, no weapons at all. No knives. No swords. No..."
As the demon continued to ramble, Aziraphale leaned over and silenced him with a light kiss before saying, "You're being silly, and that's why I love you."
"Angel!"
The angel chuckled at the demon's stunned expression before standing and saying as he extended his hand, "Come on, let's go home."
Crowley took the outstretched hand, stood up, and they began to walk hand in hand as he asked after a while, "By the way, how did you know where I was?"
"You can thank this one," Aziraphale replied, pointing to the Bentley they had arrived near.
Crowley proudly patted the car as Aziraphale got in.
Once they were seated, the radio started.
You are the love of my life
I knew it right from the start
The moment I looked at you
You found a place in my heart
Aziraphale and Crowley looked at each other and laughed out loud.
You are the love of my life
You give me reason to live
You taught me how to be strong
With you is where I belong
"Stop!" the demon said to the car, then turning to the angel, he said, "But it is right, you know?"
Aziraphale, stunned, asked, "About what?"
Crowley replied softly, "You are the love of my life," then he leaned over the angel and kissed him gently before straightening up and saying to the car, "Come on. Take us home."
As the Bentley pulled away, Crowley glanced sideways at the angel and saw with satisfaction that this time it was he who had brought a stunned expression to Aziraphale's face.