Work Text:
Crowley was slumped on one of the couches at the back of the bookshop, withdrawn into himself, not wanting to talk to anyone. He had been like this for several weeks. Muriel was his only distraction, she kept him from sinking completely into the nothingness of his mind but today she was gone with Maggie who had offered to show her around the city.
That's why he got angry when he heard someone enter the shop, he knew it wasn't Muriel or Nina who was working. Obviously the " Very Closed " sign was too hard to understand. He growled, threw the empty bottle he had been holding for several hours to the ground, and headed for the door.
" We’re fucking closed !! " he shouted.
He stopped abruptly when he saw Aziraphale in the entrance to the bookshop, seemed uncomfortable.
" Well well. Look what we have here, " said the demon in a dry voice.
The atmosphere suddenly became extremely heavy.
" SuPrEmE ArChAnGeL, " he added sarcastically, bowing in an exaggerated manner like he had done to Beelzebub at the airbase.
" Crowley... "
" No, " he cut him off sharply. " We’re closed for you too. "
" But... "
" Go. Out. "
" Please..., if we could just talk… "
Crowley scoffed.
" Talk ? Talk ?? I tried to talk to you, did you see the result ? "
Aziraphale took a step forward but seemed to struggle with words. Crowley, however, cut him off first.
" You abandoned me for coffee and a fucking promotion ! What makes you think I want to talk to you ? or even see you ? "
" I'm sorry, I- I'm so sorry... " Aziraphale replied on the verge of tears. " I was wrong... You were right... you're always right... I'm sorry... " now his tears were flowing.
" Don't... "
" Crowley... please... "
The demon closed his eyes, he wanted to scream, to cry, to shake him and to kiss him at the same time. He was so angry and yet still full of hope.
" I just wanted to do the good thing...," added the angel.
Crowley knew he couldn't do anything about the angel's sad puppy look, he knew he was going to give in, but he would at least try to hold on for a few minutes. Aziraphale was his weak point and he knew it. He growled in exasperation and ran his hands through his hair.
" I... I know Aziraphale, you always do. But, fuck, I told you we could leave, I told you several years ago, " said Crowley. " I told you we were on our side, I told you you were better than that, " he tapping the table with his finger to support each point. " Why don’t you ever listen ? I told you they were toxic. "
" ...I love you, " whispered Aziraphale, looking at the ground.
" You probably needed to see it yourself... you’re too good for them and it's… what ? "
" What ? " repeated Aziraphale.
" What did you say ? " asked the demon.
Aziraphale took a deep breath and gathered his courage to look Crowley in the eyes.
" I said... I said I love you. "
Come on, how is he supposed to stay mad at him with that ?
" Are you sure about that ? " asked the demon.
" Yes, absolutely sure, " replied Aziraphale.
" What tells me you won’t leave again ? "
" I... I don't know. I swear, to god, to whatever you want. "
" Hmm, " Crowley looked at him, looking unconvinced, narrowing his eyes even though it couldn't be seen behind his glasses. " You are... "
" An idiot, yes I know, " huffed the angel. " I realized it too late and then... "
" Hmm, say it again, " said Crowley, crossed his arms.
" I swear- "
" Not that. "
" I love you ? "
" Again. "
" I love you. "
" Again ! "
" I love you ! "
Crowley ran a hand through his hair again, this time more relaxed.
" You’re going to be my death, angel, " he huffed.
Aziraphale's smile widened further upon hearing his nickname.
" And your position as Supreme Archangel ? "
" It's Michael now. I don't know why I feel like she's trying to hold me back for a while. "
" What about the Metatron ? And Heaven ? "
" I don't care and I don't care. I'm done with this. I want to stay here, I love being here... I should never have accepted I don't know what came over me..., " he said, seemed embarrassed. " And... I really, really want to kiss you again. "
Crowley raised an eyebrow.
" You think you deserve it ? "
"... no ? "
These fucking puppy eyes.
" Argh, come here stupid angel, " said Crowley.
He pulled him closer, capturing his lips and pressing their bodies together. Aziraphale held on to his jacket as if his life depended on it and didn't let go, he had thought about this for weeks but it was nothing like it.
" love you too, " Crowley said against his lips, realizing he hadn't answered before kissing him again.
Their tongues met for the first time, surprising the angel who still drowned in this new sensation. It was good, it was even very good.
Crowley leaned back again. " You know you're going to be dancing for hours ? Don't you ? "
" Yes, for days if necessary, " said Aziraphale, raising his head. " Can I see your eyes now ? "
" Hmm, yeah, " replied Crowley.
Aziraphale quickly took off the glasses, exposing those yellow eyes that he loved so much and that he had missed. They were wet and the angel saw a lot of emotions there, from sadness to fatigue but also a lot of relief, gratitude and love.
" So beautiful..., "said the angel, caressing his cheek.
Crowley didn't last long, he leaned down again, taking his angel in his arms and burying his face in his neck. He never wanted to let go. He swore he could kill anyone who tried to take his angel away again. Aziraphale also wrapped him in his arms, gently caressing his back.
(Bonus)
They had stayed like that for several hours, in each other's arms while they calmed down, regained their senses and simply enjoyed their reunion. Aziraphale suddenly felt something brush against his shin. He moved away from the demon and saw a small creature slaloming between their legs. Since when was there a cat in the bookshop ?
" What is... "
He looked like a white stuffed animal with big blue eyes. In his mouth he held a small fabric toy in the shape of a fish.
" You have a cat ? " asked Aziraphale.
" No... "
" Crowley... "
" Yeah, I got a cat, so what? I don't want to hear anything about that," he said, crossing his arms.
" How long have you had it ? " Aziraphale asked, leaning down to take the little ball of fur in his arms.
He was incredibly soft and instantly began to purr, dropping his toy to gently nibble on his fingers.
" Three weeks, " replied the redhead. " I found her curled up in front of the bookshop door, I couldn’t leave her and no one asked for her. "
" She’s adorable, " said the angel. " What's her name ? "
" ... Eden, " replied the demon. " She actually reminded me of a little angel so..."
" I'm sorry, " the angel repeated with a tight smile, putting the cat down.
" ... "
" ... "
" ... "
" ... "
Crowley suddenly smirked.
" I fOrGiVe yOu. "
" Seriously ? " huffed Aziraphale.
" I nEeD yOu. "
" Stop that ! " said Aziraphale, throwing of the cat's toy at him.
Crowley easily avoided it and ran, laughing, to the back of the shop.
" Neveer ! " he shouted back from afar.
" Come here you bloody snake ! "