Chapter Text
It had been only a few months since Heaven and Hell agreed to leave them alone. It was nice. No more memos, no more strongly written notes or grimy visits downstairs. Just peace and quiet in his car. Though, the Bentley was starting to get annoyed with the long drives to nowhere and the plants stuffed in the back seat that dripped water onto the leather.
Aziraphale called less and less in those months. Crowley knew he would probably take the split hard, but the annoying phone calls about the good deed he had done had dropped off significantly and it was worrying him.
He had to have a reason for going to the bookshop. Aziraphale would never let him hear the end of it if he showed up because he was concerned . No, he had to come up with something.
Crowley had a pretty good excuse too. The words ran on and on in his head as he held the neck of a rather expensive bottle of wine, waiting to the burgundy red door to swing open even though the sign was turned to closed. The words failed him when an angel dressed in blue striped pajamas and a sunken face greeted him.
“Crowley?” he said, confusion filling his face. “What are you doing here?”
“I, er…” What was the reason again? “I hadn’t heard from you in a while and I wanted to make sure you were okay.” Shit. “Also, I brought us a vintage wine. Bought it, the way humans do. Since we’re… sort of like them now.”
Aziraphale’s face hallowed even more but he smiled politely as he said, “Yes, I suppose we are.”
“So… can I come in? I’ll pour us a glass?”
The angel stepped to the side. Crowley knew exactly where the cups were, they had shared bottles of wine many times before.
Once they were seated, a blanket wrapped around Aziraphale’s shoulders and at least two glasses deep, the angel looked up to Crowley. His usual shining blue eyes were dull.
“Do you regret it?” he said softly. “Defying Heaven and Hell?”
Crowley finished his cup and leaned back. “No. They were a pain, both of them were. Less paperwork, no responsibilities, just living now. Do you regret it, angel?”
“I suppose…” he trailed off with a sigh. “I suppose not. I do miss having a… purpose. Something to fall back on. Good deeds don’t feel the same anymore.”
“I don’t mind when you tell me, you know.”
Aziraphale blinked and tilted his head slightly. “You don’t? I assumed you found it irritating, me telling you the good things I do. What with you being a.. demon, after all.”
Crowley shook his head and stood to fill his glass with the remaining contents in the dark bottle. “It is irritating. But I’m always here to listen. No one else understands our situation the way we do.”
Silence filled the air around them. Crowley knew what he was thinking. A series of four letter words that he absolutely was not, even though the words he spoke and the actions he performed would say otherwise. But Aziraphale didn’t dare use any number of those four letter words. Not when things were so… good.
“You don’t have to ask, dear,” he said instead.
Crowley raised an eyebrow at the angel.
“To come in. You’re always welcome here.”