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"Morpheus! Help me!"
It was a weekend when I was spending time with Morpheus at the New Inn. Just after the coffee I ordered was delivered, a red-haired man came rushing in. No, he had a human form, but like Morpheus, he wasn't human. He was a demon living on the earth. I think his name is...
"Crowley. It's been a while since we last saw each other in the waking world."
Before I could speak, Morpheus answered. He acted like he was used to being spoken to suddenly.
Crowley's face was red and his hair was messy, as if he had come running. Crowley looked behind him several times to make sure no one was pursuing him.
"No need to say hello. I'm running. Help me, Morpheus."
"Understood. "
Morpheus stood up from his chair and unbuttoned all the buttons on his coat. But he didn't take it off. He spread his arms and spread his coat open, reminiscent of a crow taking a bath. Meanwhile, Crowley walked around to the front of Morpheus and approached him. Crowley didn't stop walking even when their bodies almost bumped into each other.
" Send me to that library, King "
Crowley didn't hesitate to slip inside the coat. Morpheus spread his coat even wider. It was more like a hug than a hug. Wait, have they gotten that close without me knowing?
"Huh?? Hey!"
Before I knew it, I was about to stand up, but the two of them didn't look at me. Morpheus spread out his coat and completely covered Crowley... and in an instant, Crowley's silhouette disappeared, and only Morpheus was standing there. There was no sign of Crowley, who should have just arrived.
"Huh?"
Morpheus slowly closed the front of his coat and sat down. No matter how you look at it, it was a normal coat. It didn't look like Crowley was hiding.
Morpheus picked up his mug and took a sip of coffee.
"It's bitter. Is this what coffee is supposed to taste like, Hob?"
"It tastes better now than it did before. You'll get used to it soon...but where's Crowley?"
"He traveled to the Dreaming. Via my coat."
"Huh??"
When I asked him more about it, it turned out like this. The coat is Morpheus himself, and the Dreaming is Morpheus himself. So if you enter the coat, you can teleport to the Dreaming.
Normal living beings cannot travel to the Dreaming in their natural form. This is because they need to sleep to travel to the Dreaming.
However, supernatural beings (apparently this is what demons and angels are called) who are not bound by earthly constraints can travel directly from Morpheus' coat to the Dreaming.
"Crowley is a... well, a 'regular' in the Dreaming. He can sleep longer than humans, so he comes to the Dreaming a lot."
"Oh, so that's why you said earlier that it's been a while since we last saw each other in the waking world."
"He's probably walking around the Dreaming right now. I hope he's not bothering Lucien in the library again..."
So, are there any footprints from Crowley on the lining of Morpheus' coat? I was tempted to crouch under the desk and look at the hem of the coat, but I resisted the urge. No matter how curious I am, I'm afraid of being sucked into the coat.
As if reading my thoughts, Morpheus added with a slight smile.
"Don't worry. As long as I don't consciously try to connect to the Dreaming, this coat is just an ordinary coat. It doesn't absorb objects or people from the waking world."
"Is that so..."
I'm not sure if I understood, but I nodded anyway. That's good. So it won't harm me. Come to think of it, I'd seen Crowley sucked into the coat before. Not that I'd seen a similar coat. I had a sense of deja-vu at the situation, where something seemingly ordinary was a portal to another world, leading to a vast place once inside. Crowley also reminded me of someone. Where had I seen it before...?
"I don't think I'll ever get used to coffee. It's bitter."
Morpheus's comment after taking the second sip brought me back to reality. Morpheus put his mug down and his face was distorted.
"Do you want some sugar?"
I took out a sugar cube from the sugar jar.
"Excuse me both of you, but didn't Crowley come here earlier?"
As soon as I handed the sugar cube to Morpheus, I heard a voice. I looked up and saw a calm man standing beside us. I recognized this man... I'm sure.
"Aziraphale, it's been a while. Ah, I'll go return the book next time. It was useful in class."
This time I replied before Morpheus. Yes, this man is not human either. Just as Crowley is a demon, Aziraphale is an angel living on earth.
"Thank you very much, Professor Gadling. So, have you seen Crowley? I followed his scent and arrived here. Didn't he come?"
I looked at Morpheus. What should I do? Should I tell Aziraphale about what happened earlier?
Crowley said, "I’m running away." What if Aziraphale was the one pursuing him? That would mean ignoring Crowley's wish. Should I be honest?
I intended to ask with my eyes, but Morpheus was engrossed in the package of sugar cubes he had been given. He brought the sugar cube in front of him and turned it over several times, checking its size.
Are you serious? I cursed in my mind. Are those kinds of sugar cubes rare?
I guess I'll have to tell him for him. I don't want to lie, though, so I'll dodge the question with a question.
"Did something happen between you and Crowley? Did you fight?"
"No, it's not exactly a fight..."
The angel hesitated several times, and looked around. Thank goodness. He didn't seem to realize that he'd been dodged.
"It seems that I suddenly kissed him, and that made him mad."
"What?"
Just like with Morpheus' coat case, I have been making a lot of crazy noises today. Still, I think I can understand this better than the coat that connects to another dimension. I'm more used to consulting about love and romance than the principles of the Dreaming.
Aziraphale's eyes wandered further. I could see that his ears were red.
"I was happy that Crowley had come to my bookshop, so I hugged him and kissed him. Then Crowley ran off, his face red. He left the Bentley there, so I don't think he got that far."
The angel sighed, bowing his head and clasping his fingers together. "I'm not good at expressing my love, and I didn't mean to make him angry this time either. I was so happy... well, I couldn't contain myself. But the fact that he ran away means I must have made him angry after all."
"... No, isn't Crowley just embarrassed?"
"Pardon?"
I thought Crowley's face was red because he'd been running. But what if he was embarrassed and his face was red?
I wanted to say that, but if I did, it would give away that I had just met Crowley.
"You two haven't been able to express your feelings to each other for long, have you? Anyone would be surprised if you were suddenly kissed. Besides, Crowley didn't say that he was "angry" or "unwilling", did he? I think it's too early for you to assume that he's angry."
I looked at Morpheus for his agreement. Morpheus nodded. I'm glad. For some reason, he was touching the buttons on his coat, but he might be a little worried about letting Crowley escape.
"Why don't you two just talk it over properly? We'll let him know if we see him."
"...I see. I'll wait for him to say something first. Thank you."
The angel left the cafe. Watching his back as he left, I took a sip of my coffee. Maybe it was because I was strangely tired, but the taste of the coffee permeated my body.
"...You seem a bit rushed today. By the way, Morpheus, why have you been touching buttons this whole time?"
"Hob, wait a moment."
Morpheus stopped me from asking and stood up again. He unbuttoned all the buttons in front of me and swiftly took off his coat. Under the coat he was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, which was black as expected.
Even through his clothes, I could tell that both his arms and torso were slender and toned. I was about to stare at him, but I stopped myself with reason and looked away.
Suddenly taking off his clothes was unusually rushed and not like Morpheus. He acted like he'd been burned or was hot.
Before I could ask, "What's wrong?" Morpheus crouched down on the floor and turned his fallen coat inside out.
Suddenly, Crowley was standing there. He looked exactly the same as when he ran into the cafe. He was standing on Morpheus' coat and staring in the direction Aziraphale had left.
"You were listening to Aziraphale's story, weren't you? I think you can catch up with him now."
"I will. Thank you for your help."
Crowley then ran off in a flash. He was obviously heading to Aziraphale's place.
"I thought Crowley had gone to the Dreaming?"
"That's what I thought, but it seems he noticed Aziraphale's presence and turned back. He seemed worried about Aziraphale. He was watching over Aziraphale from inside the coat while the angel was talking. As a result, the coat was quite cramped."
Morpheus sighed as he picked up his coat, put it on, and sat down again. He then picked up a packet of sugar cubes.
"So, Hob, how do you open this sugar cube packet? Should I just put it in my coffee like this?"
"Oh, just tear that slit."
I see, if it's your first time drinking coffee, it must also be your first time putting sugar in it, I thought. That's why he was looking at the sugar cube packet so closely earlier. I also taught him how to stir it.
Morpheus drank the slightly cooled coffee with sugar and grimaced just like he did the first sip.
"It's bitter after all. I guess it's not for me."
"Really? Shall I have a cafe au lait next time? The coffee here is delicious."
Then I had an idea. That's right. It's no wonder Morpheus can't drink coffee.
"Maybe... caffeine has the effect of waking people up, so it might not go well with you. I'm sorry for ordering without thinking carefully."
"I see."
Morpheus looked a little disappointed as he said that. I could understand. This is Morpheus when he's feeling a little down.
"I was really looking forward to trying the menu you recommended. Too bad."
My heart started beating faster. Morpheus rarely speaks his true feelings. I didn't expect to hear them here, in this way, and in a way that he normally wouldn't say them.
I was glad he didn't say it while I was drinking my coffee. If I had, I would have spilled my coffee in surprise.
I somehow managed to clear my throat and finally managed to get the words out.
"I'm glad, but, well, you don't have to force yourself to drink it. It's okay if it doesn't suit your constitution. Just because you didn't drink the coffee doesn't mean, well... I won't hate you."
"That's good."
Morpheus laughed a little and put the mug down.
I wasn't worried about my coffee anymore. I was trying desperately to hold back the tears from my cheeks. Anyway, I decided to change the topic and avoid the conversation.
"Um, well, what should we do now? Shall we go and watch a movie at my place?...Ah!"
I felt like the dots were connecting in my head. I see. I remembered the deja vu from earlier.
"What's the matter, Hob?"
Morpheus tilted his head and looked at me. He seemed suspicious of my sudden pause.
"Oh come to think of it, it's the TARDIS from Doctor Who! I thought your coat looked similar to something. Crowley is a Doctor too! He has the same voice as the Tenth Doctor. I thought he sounded like someone. Now I finally get it!"
"What are you talking about? Are you talking about a doctor?"
Morpheus' brow deepened. He looked like he didn't understand what I was saying. Of course. There was something Morpheus didn't know.
"In the TV show Doctor Who, there's a police box that's bigger on the inside than the outside. Your coat is connected to the Dreaming. I thought it reminded me of something that a normal coat can connect to another dimension, but it looks like the TARDIS. And Crowley looks just like the actor who plays the Doctor."
"You know a lot, Hob."
Morpheus muttered to me, who had started talking quickly without realizing it.
"It's a national drama, and my students are fans of it too. It's a science fiction drama, so there are stories about going to the future, but there are also stories about going to the past. Well, for me, who remembers back then, there are some nostalgic and slightly different parts. I'm sure you'll enjoy it too. Okay, let's watch Doctor Who today."
"I agree."
Morpheus and I stood up and left the New Inn. Crowley and Aziraphale had been chasing each other earlier, but now Morpheus and I can walk side by side.
I savored the happiness of that and made a joke.
"Today was a busy day. I had to join in on a game of tag between an angel and a demon."
"Hob, to me it was a game of hide-and-seek."
Morpheus answered, touching the buttons on his coat. I could only laugh.