Work Text:
It was such a beautiful day to waste studying, alas you were quietly reading a boring, big and dusty manual for an exam, sat in a plush sofa in a beautiful book shop in Soho.
The kind owner was very jealous of his books though, so he offered you to stay and study 'till the shop closed.
He was such a gentle soul, going to the extent of bringing you tea and biscuits!
As days went by you started to converse and know each other a bit. He was very knowledgeable and, how could you put it? Nearly otherworldly!
You felt silly for a minute there, what were you thinking? But, no matter what he was doing, he was glowing, literally! Like he had an halo all around him and not to talk about the terms he used sometimes, so soo outdated ! And what a peculiar choice of dressing!
Anyway, it was the fourth day in a row and, as we were saying, you were once again sat reading, the sun bright, the atmosphere cosy and Mr Fell sat on the opposite chair with a book of his own when, suddenly, you tensed up.
It was a weird sensation, the 'someone's watching me' kind of sensation that sent chills down your spine.
Something was approaching, you could feel it, something very very big.
It was slithering, crawling... What the bloody Hell!
It was slowly making its way on the back of the sofa, right behind you, nearly touching your shoulders.
You froze, breath stuttering.
You slowly closed the tome on your legs and turned your head with all the panic-filled calm you could muster; the dark figure you could see out of the corner of your eyes revealed itself to be none other then "A snake!"
You didn't shout, you didn't screech...but whispered, too stunned to do anything else.
It wasn't that you weren't scared, no, quite the opposite in fact , it was just, as you had learned with time, your natural reaction to shock. Not normal, right? But what could you do?
Now, the snake was very big and you very still, his black and red scales shiny in the sun. You were sure the snake could taste the fear emanating from your body, his forked tongue slipping past his mouth to taste the air as you tried to reign it in and calm down.
"Wha- Oh! Oh, my goodness! Silly me!" Fretted Mr Fell, closing his book with a deaf thud "I totally forgot! Fear not my dear, he's innocuous, really, but if you feel uneasy-"
"No..." Your voice a little more clear after you gulped "if you say he's innocuous....I- I didn't know you had a snake this big in your shop, Mr Fell. I quite like snakes though"
"Oh" Mr Fell smiled a sweet smile your way "you do?"
Reassured by Mr Fell' words, you were about to ask if you could pet it, when the snake slid his big head in your lap. His golden eyes piercing. You were transfixed.
"My, looks like he likes you, how... Peculiar"
You blinked up at him, averting your gaze from the golden one "He's not friendly?"
Mr Fell shook his head "Not with strangers, no" a small pout on his mouth.
"He's a beauty" you breathed turning your head to see how big the snake was and not catching sight of his tail, the beast was stretched on the entirety of the sofa's back and more it seemed.
Mr Fell smiled, regarding the snake with affection "He is indeed"
The snake coiled a bit more in your lap, his head seeking out warmth, you could feel it rub on your stomach.
Smiling you asked "Does he have a name?"
"Oh yes!" the blond man laughed "Crowley!"
You softly ran your fingers on the snake head, cooing at him "Such a pretty name for such a pretty creature"
"So" Mr Fell started as the snake seemed to purr "You're not...scared?"
"Oh I was, I mean, I would be stupid not be but I trust you, if you say the snake is okay even if it's big enough to eat me whole then sure, why not believe you?"
And Mr Fell looked... Pleased at your words.
Two days later you were running through the streets of London, you were late for class and the bus didn't stop, lucky you! When, suddenly, you bumped into someone.
You expected to fall hard on your bum but instead, two strong hands landed on your shoulders, keeping you upright.
You could only see black as the person kept you close to their chest.
"Oh my! Y/n! Are you alright my dear?"
When the hands pushed you at arms length you could see Mr Fell and the stranger you bumped into, his hands still on your shoulders.
You were mortified!
"Mr Fell! I'm sorry!" And turning your gaze to the dark, round glasses of the stranger before you "Did I hurt you? Mr...?"
"Crowley"
Crowley? You blinked then you couldn't help but blurt out "Like the snake!?" Sending an inquisitive gaze towards the blond man beside him.
A series of "Oh golly!" and "mmnngk" followed your question before Mr Fell bypassed it with his own enquiry.
"Where are you going in such a hurry, my dear?"
"I'm late for class! The bus didn't stop!"
"I'll give you a lift" Mr Crowley -and wasn't it the most distinguished coincidence? Was the snake called after him or...no! The other way around would be silly- mumbled tugging at his ear nervously as Mr Fell expression brightened.
"But of course! What a splendid idea! We're not in a hurry like her and your Bentley is just parked there, my dear!"
"Oh, but I don't want to bother you! Plus I'm really sorry I-"
"You" the red haired man gulped "did not hurt me, don't worry"
"Plus" Mr Fell added "we were just going for pastries, we can postpone 'till after we leave you at the academy" and he put his arm around your shoulders to guide you to the Bentley.
A sleek, shiny, black car just like its owner, the moment Mr Crowley opened the door for you, the radio started playing.
"Mr Crowley!" You smiled up at him at the familiar music, he looked utterly shocked and confused "I didn't know you listened to HIM!"
"I-" and he looked very puzzled.
"Him?" Mr Fell asked.
"I don't!"
Strange, maybe it was just passing at the radio...
And you, entering the backseat, chuckled out "His Infernal Majesty!"
"Gracious!" Mr Fell smiled towards Crowley "How apt!"
"Are you telling me I'm mad!? That I got hallucinations?" You nearly shouted at Mr Fell as he was trying to calm you down.
"Of course not, my dear! It's just- oh, look, your tea is going cold!"
You crossed your arms Infront of you, tapping your feet impatiently and Mr Fell began to squirm.
Crowley, for his part, didn't speak, he didn't even move, he was still like a statue behind him.
You huffed "You can't tell me a second ago the fucking snake -named Crowley!- didn't turn into Crowley!"
"We can just make her forget, angel" the red haired man whispered without moving his mouth.
"Do we really want to waste a miracle that way?" Mr Fell whispered back, both of them not taking their eyes away from you, still impatiently tapping your feet.
"But, angel-"
"Just be done with it and tell me the truth"
"Seems reasonable, my dear" smiled the blond man "I- well I don't really know how to say that"
"Aziraphale's an angel" supplied Crowley pointing first at him then "I'm a demon" at himself.
"Crowley!"
"What kind?"
"Wait" said Mr Fell "What?" followed Crowley.
"What kind of angel?"
"Just...like that?"
"Mr Fell " you said looking nearly annoyed,.rolling your eyes "I was just waiting for one of you two to make a noticeable misstep. Did you really think I didn't notice something was 'weirdly wrong' with al the little..."
"Miracles" Mr Crowley supplied once again.
"Miracles!" You finished your sentence mouthing a 'Thank you' to the ma -no, demon!-, wich he returned with a mouthed 'You're welcome', before turning once again to Mr Fe- Aziraphale "You performed?"
"Oh my, well, if you put it like that..."
"I just knew something must have been amiss with you two and I cannot even say I'm hurt you didn't tell me, 'cause, actually, why would have you?"
"Good point!" Interjected Crowley.
"So?"
"So what?" Asked Aziraphale.
"Wich kind of angels?"
"I'm a Principality" "I'm a demon!"
"Principality, third celestial sphere" and Aziraphale lit up at your knowledge "and yup, a demon but, first: do you have a title? Second: what kind of angel were you?"
"Mmnngk well I'm the Serpent of Eden"
You were open mouthed at that revelation "Nooo waaay!"
"And eer- right nngk... As an angel I- I used to make stars"
"So you were of the first sphere!" A nod "Guardian of stars...a throne? No! A cherub!?" Another shy nod "Sooo cooool"
Crowley started to nervously scratch his neck, averting his eyes, eyes that now, without glasses, you coul clearly see were snake golden eyes, as Aziraphale smiled tenderly his way.
"Well, now what?"
You smirked mischievously at Crowley "Now you tell me everything! You must be ancient!"
And that's basically how you passed your free evening of the week and not regretting it one bit!