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Aziraphale was enjoying a cup of cocoa and a good book on his sofa. The flames in his fireplace were warming the cottage from the blizzard roaring outside. The temperature was expected to get colder during the night, and the snowstorm would keep going far into tomorrow. Aziraphale had prepared for everything, and he expected to be quite comfortable at home for several days.
A faint sound interrupted his thoughts, but it was probably just the wood in the walls cracking because of the freezing temperatures. Nothing to be concerned about.
Until the sound repeated, this time louder, and Aziraphale realised someone was knocking on his door. Aziraphale lived alone, so he was always cautious of strangers, but he was also an alpha and was ready to protect himself and his home from intruders. There was no way he was going to let anyone freeze to death in this weather though, so he headed to the door.
Outside was a man in very inappropriate clothes for snow and cold. Another alpha, it seemed. A black, classic car was parked next to Aziraphale’s cottage and was quickly being covered in snow. Aziraphale took a whiff of the stranger’s scent and didn’t notice any traces of malice or deception.
“Good Heavens. Come in from the cold,” Aziraphale said and led the man into his living room before going back to lock his door. He took a thick blanket and wrapped it around the man.
“Thanks,” he said, voice trembling. “Got lost in the snow. Must’ve taken the wrong turn. Sorry for interrupting your night.”
“Nothing to worry about,” Aziraphale assured him. “Would you like a hot shower? Change of clothes? Something hot to drink?”
“I’m fine. I could take something hot to drink though.”
“Tea? Coffee? Cocoa?”
“Coffee would be great.”
Aziraphale went to prepare a drink for his guest and when he came back, the stranger was warming his hands and feet in front of the fire.
“Ah, thanks,” he said. “I’m Crowley, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Aziraphale,” Aziraphale said, admiring how the fire made Crowley’s red hair glow. He was incredibly attractive now that he wasn’t pale and shivering from the cold.
“Is that an angel name? It suits you,” Crowley asked.
“Yes. My parents were, ahem, quite religious.”
“Mine too,” Crowley said, sipping on his drink. “Didn’t appreciate me walking out from it as soon as I turned 18.”
“I didn’t completely abandon religion, but I haven’t spoken to my parents for several years,” Aziraphale said, taking his cooling cocoa from the table. “They didn’t think I was a proper alpha.”
“Huh. Why is that? Protective to people in need, strong as far as I can tell, and at least you smell like an alpha,” Crowley said.
“I think their problem was that I’m not aggressive enough, and I prefer other alphas as potential mates,” Aziraphale said, fully expecting Crowley to stop talking to him. Relationships between two alphas were still frowned upon by most people, although the attitudes have turned more positive during the last years.
“Interesting,” Crowley said, now staring at Aziraphale intensely. “I don’t have much of a preference. I’m attracted to the person, not their gender.”
Aziraphale felt a flush rise on his cheeks. So, he had at least one thing in common with Crowley.
“Do you think I could stay for the night here?” Crowley asked. “I don’t think the snowstorm will let me continue today.”
“Of course you can. Did you think I’d throw you out into that awful weather?” Aziraphale responded. “I have enough food for a couple of days, and even if I lose electricity, we should be fine.”
“Will the blasted blizzard last for days?”
“I don’t think so. It’s supposed to end tomorrow. Although it might take them longer to get the snow removed from the roads over here,” Aziraphale said.
“Fuck,” Crowley said. “I hope my work understands. I was driving home from a work trip.”
“The reception should be okay, at least for now, so you should let them know,” Aziraphale said. “And if you have someone waiting for you at home, you should tell them too.”
Crowley looked up from his phone and gazed at Aziraphale for a long moment.
“I don’t have anyone waiting for me at home,” he said. “Single as can be.”
“Another thing we have in common, it seems,” Aziraphale said and smiled at Crowley. “I was about to start cooking dinner. Is there anything you can’t eat?”