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Aziraphale went to the amphitheatre park whenever there was a free concert or play. It was always a great way to spend his evening. That night’s show was hard rock, not Aziraphale’s favourite. It was rather loud too, so Aziraphale was sitting off to the sidelines.
“Saving a space for anyone?” A man walked over, and Aziraphale looked up from the seat he’d brought.
The individual was a tall, lanky figure, dressed appropriately to match the rock music playing. The man had long red hair and dark sunglasses covering his eyes, despite the late hour.
“Oh, no. Go right ahead.” Aziraphale nodded encouragingly to the empty space of lawn beside him.
The man nodded and plopped down on the grass. Aziraphale almost wished he had another stool to offer the man.
“Crowley.” The man shifted to offer his hand.
“Oh, Aziraphale.”
“Quite the name.” The man flashed a smile.
Aziraphale chuckled nervously in reply. He hated how flustered he got under the littlest bit of attention.
“So, you into this stuff?” Crowley gestured to the stage.
“Music?” Aziraphale posited, cocking his head.
“Yeah. Rock music.” Crowley was rummaging around in his pocket for something.
“Well, I don’t mind some rock music. But this stuff’s a bit loud.”
Crowley hummed in reply and pulled out a cigarette pack. “Smoke?” He offered Aziraphale.
“Oh, no… I don’t…” Aziraphale waved his hand to Crowley, shaking his head slightly.
Crowley nodded in reply, pulling a cigarette out of the packet. He shoved the pack back into his leather jacket and got to lighting the cigarette.
“Wait,” Crowley turned to Aziraphale. “Would you rather me not smoke around you?”
“Well, I think there’d be no point. Everyone else is. So I’m bound to breathe in smoke no matter what.” Aziraphale replied.
Crowley chuckled at that, and with his cigarette lit he shoved the lighter in his pocket. “I think most of it’s weed, by the smell.”
“Oh. Right.” Aziraphale replied awkwardly.
“You need to loosen up, Mr. Fancy suit.”
Aziraphale grumbled in reply to that, fixing his coat jacket over him.
Crowley relaxed, leaning back, propped up by an arm, enjoying his cigarette and the music. Aziraphale felt uncomfortable about the silence between them. Thankfully, the music filled in any awkwardness, and Aziraphale eased slightly. He started to enjoy the music too, almost.
After some time, Crowley began moving about, seeming to get up. Aziraphale followed Crowley with his eyes as Crowley crushed his cigarette under his foot to the ground.
Crowley then turned to Aziraphale, “I’m going to take a piss.”
“Oh.” Aziraphale felt taken aback by Crowley’s bluntness.
“Don’t feel like you have to save my spot. I’m going to get a beer after.” Crowley told Aziraphale.
Aziraphale shuffled awkwardly in his seat as Crowley left. In Crowley’s wake, Aziraphale realized he had to use the facilities as well and got up to leave, folding his stool up to take with him. When Aziraphale left the restroom, he shifted his gaze around, wondering where his seat companion might have gone. Aziraphale then noticed Crowley being handed a beer can at the drink stand. Aziraphale decided to come over.
Crowley noticed Aziraphale as he approached. “Oh, hey. Fancy seeing you here. Want a drink?”
Aziraphale eyed the sign of the drink stand. “Hmmm, maybe a wine spritzer.”
Crowley nodded and suddenly was ordering and paying for the drink. The next thing Aziraphale knew, he was being handed the drink.
“Oh, you really shouldn’t have paid for me.” Aziraphale tried to protest.
“Relax, angel. I wanted to. It’s to help you loosen up.”
“Right.” Aziraphale stared down at his drink can.
“You want to sit somewhere quieter?” Crowley asked.
Aziraphale’s eyes raised to the other man, his heart picking up. “Oh, that sounds… that’d be nice.” He nodded with a small smile.
They moved to sit further from the amphitheatre on a flower bed wall. They sipped their drink slowly as they talked lightly about themselves. Aziraphale felt himself become quite drawn and intrigued by Crowley. They finished their drinks and walked to a bin to dispose of them. The pair of them were left standing rather awkwardly after.
Aziraphale noted Crowley pulling his arms tightly around himself, giving off a shiver. “You’re freezing, you poor boy.” Aziraphale reached out to rub warmth along Crowley’s arm.
“Yeah, it got pretty cold.” Crowley shuttered.
Crowley’s head turned to Aziraphale, who felt uncomftable. Aziraphale quickly drew his hand away. “Sorry. I…” He stuttered.
Over the park, the music ended. “Oh, I guess the concert’s over.” Aziraphale looked briefly over to the amphitheatre. “It is pretty late.” He chuckled under his breath awkwardly, turning back to Crowley. “I suppose we should call it a night. I don’t want you to catch a cold now, do I?” Aziraphale gave Crowley a small smile.
“Wait.” Crowley almost urged, and Aziraphale looked up to Crowley with concern.
“The thing is… I have this thing, see.” Crowley started. “Every concert I go to, I try to make a point of at least kissing one guy.”
Aziraphale’s breath hitched at that.
“And well… I really enjoyed your company tonight.” Crowley said. “And…I’d really like it if I could kiss you.”
Aziraphale felt as shocked as anything at the statement and offer. His eyes darted to Crowley’s lips. “I… ahh…”
“It’s okay if you say no. I won’t take it personally.” Crowley assured.
“No… I mean… I’d like that, yes.” Aziraphale nodded, and Crowley smiled happily in reply.
Crowley leaned in then, his hand coming to Aziraphale’s head, and suddenly he was kissing Aziraphale. Aziraphale’s eyes closed instinctively, and his heart fluttered as he melted into it. It seemed to go on for hours before they pulled away. Aziraphale found himself meeting Crowley’s eyes, wondering when Crowley had taken off his sunglasses. Aziraphale found Crowley had the most beautiful amber eyes. Crowley was smiling, stroking the side of Aziraphale’s face as Aziraphale’s breath left him light and quickened.
“So… I live not far from here.” Crowley offered.
-
Aziraphale felt rather in a daze, his stomach fluttering when he woke. Crowley was passed out in the bed on his stomach, snoring, making Aziraphale smile. Aziraphale carefully fixed the blankets over Crowley, feeling rather awkward about it all and figured he should probably go.
However, Aziraphale didn’t want to go without leaving a letter of thanks. He found a bit of paper and scribed a quick note to Crowley in his fanciest cursive. Aziraphale folded the paper in half and placed it by Crowley’s bedside table before leaving.
After leaving, Aziraphale hoped Crowley could read cursive. It had seemed quaint in the moment, but Aziraphale thought that perhaps he should have written it in print instead so Crowley could read it. It was too late now, however. Aziraphale was too scared to walk back. He felt awfully strange indeed about the whole ordeal. He’d never had a one-night stand before. He’d never done a walk of shame. Though Aziraphale wasn’t sure he would classify his walk back home as shameful, for he didn’t feel ashamed. No, he’d never felt such happiness in his life. But Aziraphale also felt saddened. He figured Crowley surely was the type of person who only did one-night flings. A night like the one they just had was surely just a one-time thing for a person like Crowley.
When Aziraphale reached his home, he hurriedly made to call his best friend. “So, I just had a one-night stand.”
“Oh my god! Aziraphale! Are you serious!”
-
It was a week later, and Aziraphale assumed he’d look upon that night as something amazing he’d done once and that would never happen again. The memories still warmed him, and he didn’t look upon that night with any regret.
Aziraphale was in his bookshop, arranging things. The bell rang from the shop’s door, signalling a customer. Aziraphale fixed his reading glasses and headed to the front desk to see if the customer needed help. He gasped to find Crowley, long hair down and sunglasses on, standing in his shop.
“You left.” Crowley took his sunglasses off. “You know how hard it was to find you.” He sounded upset.
“And what’s this…” Crowley waved the note Aziraphale had written in his hand in the air. Crowley turned his head, squinting to read the note. “I will forever be indebted to you.” Crowley read a small bit of Aziraphale’s note.
Crowley then turned back to face Aziraphale “What the fuck is that supposed to mean? How’s a man supposed to react to that!” Crowley’s hands waved in the air as he spoke as if exasperated.
“Oh! So you could read my cursive then.” Aziraphale was rather taken aback in shock. “I’m sorry. I thought you expected me to leave.”
“Well… you could have stayed. I wanted you to stay.” Crowley spoke rather softly as if disappointed. “I was going to make you breakfast and shit.” Crowley’s voice raised, his arms waving about again.
“You were going to make me…” Aziraphale’s breath felt light in shock. “Breakfast.”
“Well, I was going to take you to a café. But still.” Crowley let his hands fall to his sides.
“Oh.” Aziraphale blushed, his heart fluttering. “I would have loved that.”
“Yeah, but I never got to. Because you left.” Crowley snapped almost angrily.
“I thought that’s what people did after a one-night stand. Leave.”
“A one night…” Crowley sighed, rubbing his face in almost annoyance. “Fuck, we were so on two different wavelengths.”
Crowley drew his hand away, looking back to Aziraphale. “Aziraphale, I lied, okay? I lied about the kissing thing because I wanted to seem cool. Because I didn’t know how to ask to kiss you, okay? Fuck.”
Aziraphale jolted again. “You… lied?”
“Yeah, fuck, sorry. I didn’t mean to give you the wrong impression. I kind of…” Crowley grumbled, seeming to collect words. “I guess I fell harder for you than expected, startling fast.”
“Oh, I… me too. I’m sorry I left. Um…” Aziraphale looked around, wondering how to proceed with the situation. “You said you liked Shakespeare, right?” He turned back to Crowley.
Crowley nodded, looking slightly confused.
“There’s a showing of Macbeth this Sunday at the amphitheatre park. Perhaps you’d like to join me?”
Crowley was smiling then. “I’d like that. But you see…” He sucked in a breath, tipping on his feet. “I really wanted to take you out for breakfast. It was kind of this big thing I planned.”
Aziraphale chuckled. “Well…I do love a good crape. Perhaps tomorrow morning, if that works for you.”
“When do you get off? We can try the whole night over.” Crowley offered, smiling wide.
Delight and excitement brewed in Aziraphale. His cheeks felt warm, beaming. “Oh, I’d like that very much indeed.”
“Promise not to run off in the morning?” Crowley glared. “I’d hate to have to track you down again.”
“Yes, how did you manage that?” Aziraphale questioned.
“I have my people.” Crowley put his sunglasses back on as if to be mysterious.
Aziraphale chuckled lightly in response. “Yes, I promise not to run off. Spending a morning together sounds…” Butterflies stirred within Aziraphale at the thought. “I close up at six. Shall I see you then?”
“I’ll be back right on the dot. Till then, angel.”