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🌲🌲🌲
“I want to try this as well.” Aziraphale said, pointing at the board that had been laid against the wall in their rented cottage.
They have just been getting ready for another day on the slope on the Winter Break Trip™, which was their yearly tradition - Crowley all dressed up, wearing black snowboard pants and long DOPE jacket-hoodie in the same color, trying to tighten his boots, when the request reeled in.
The younger man was suddenly caught off guard. Not knowing if he should take the demand seriously, he half asked, half laughed. “Wha- What? Snowboarding?”
“Yes, well-” Aziraphale was serious. “- You’ve been snowboarding for a quite long time now, and I’ve only tried skiing so far.”
Crowley’s eyes widened up; a little glimpse of amusement flicked on the gold irises but was quickly replaced by a shadow of concern.
“Are you sure, Angel? ‘Cuz-” The man cut himself. His eyes were searching the other ones, only to find them in a state of a look of a kid who wants a new toy and won’t leave the shop unless the toy is given to them. Crowley loved those eyes, loved them so much that he couldn’t say ‘no’ to his Angel; he hated not giving his Love (with the capital „L”, mind you) what he wanted, even when the said Love’s asks were the most odd ones. But there was one thing Crowley hated more than that - - and that was his husband getting hurt.
“Listen, Aziraphale- - It’s just… It’s a dangerous sport, ‘aight? And I don’t want you to break any bones here.” It’s not like Crowley didn’t believe in his angel’s capability for learning new things. Aziraphale has learned many new things since they got married and even before. He was a good skier, Crowley had no doubt, but the thing that made the ginger man concerned was other riders. Not everyone was careful enough, some of them rode really fast, not watching out on people on the slope. And the drunk ones!? Don’t even get him started on the drunk ones- Also, while skis were quite easy to maneuver, the board might’ve been more tricky. The statistics of injuries noted on the snowboard were much higher ones as well.
„Nonsense, dear. I’m sure I’ll be perfectly fine, especially when I’ll be under a professionalist’s eye, such as yourself, my darling.”
The way he said it, the enthusiasm in his words, only made Crowley’s heart melt even more. Although…
„Oh no! No, no, no- No. If you want to take snowboard lessons, you are going to need a proper teacher.”
Crowley has been snowboarding for quite a long time and not to brag or anything, he considered himself a good rider - but he didn’t think he’s got the capacity to teach others. Especially not his Angel.
„But I thought you were one..?” Aziraphale questioned.
„Ngk- Yeah but you need someone more responsible and whatsit-”
The Angel’s eyes went wide. „My dear, you are a responsible person.” Aziraphale looked nearly hurt by his husband being so harsh on himself; for selling himself so cheaply.
The ginger man groaned, trying again. „My point is… My point is- ” Crowley didn't know how to verbalise it. He always found it hard to talk about his feelings and emotions. The only option which came to his mind and was reasonable, was to tell his husband the truth. „Look, I'm just- I'm afraid that I'll do something wrong and if I do- If something bad happens to you, I'd never forgive myself.” There. He said it.
Aziraphale’s expression softened. “Oh, Crowley…” He was quick to stand next to the taller man, kissing him softly. Crowley melted to the touch, almost losing his sturdiness; damn, the effect the Angel had on him… “I know you might be… Concerned but I can assure you, my darling Crowley, that everything will be alright.”
“But you don’t know that, Angel! What if someone crashes into you?”
“Someone could crush into me while I’m skiing just the same and you know that very well.” The blond responded.
Well… Aziraphale got the point, Crowley thought. Nevertheless it didn’t change the fact that the board-demon was concerned (“concerned” being understatement here).
🌲🌲🌲
When they finally made it, after renting all the needed gear, Crowley's nerves started acting up again and if that wasn’t enough, the instructor, whom Crowley had booked a session with, was late. Un-fucking-beliveable.
“I swear, if she isn’t going to show herself here in the next two minutes, I’ll call the bloody resort’s director and I will have a word with them,” he warned.
“My dear, I'm sure there is no need for any of those nerves,” Aziraphale tried to call him down. Unsuccessfully.
“Yeah? Tell this to that Amanta or whatsit her name!”
“Anathema…” The Angel rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, whatever,” Crowley grunted.
Anathema arrived exactly five minutes later, apologising for not being on time. She was a young woman with a nice face. Wore glasses and her hair was long and dark. Crowley, however, didn't care about any of those things. What mattered was that she was, according to the resort's website, a very skilled snowboarder and was said to be a good teacher. Crowley decided to give her a try.
“Alright, now you lift that one stripe and place it behind your ankle.” He heard her instructing his Angel.
When they were all set, having taught all of the basic theoretical stuff, Anathema took Aziraphale to the first slope. And while Crowley really wanted to trust her, he just couldn't help but follow.
Watching his husband standing in the queue for the Magic Carpet to the bunny hill was nerve-wracking. And he didn’t even have the board on yet- ! Crowley thought, as he followed them onto ski tow with his own stick already pinned to one foot.
The queue was big, the wait long and Crowley - anxious. He knew that he should chill out but he just couldn’t—
The constant thought that something bad will happen to his Angel haunted him. He observed Aziraphale as the man was standing on the belt lift, a few meters ahead of him, being still only on foot and with his snowboard held in hands.
Reaching the top, Crowley slid off of the hoist, following Anathema and his husband. The two of them settled on a flat surface and lowered to the ground in order to pin Aziraphale in. Crowley clapped onto snow behind them, keeping his distance.
It took some time for Aziraphale to clip in but the instructor was very patient, even when he struggled to stand up for the first time.
When the Angel was finally up, Crowley quickly pinned himself, holding his balance upright, still in his place behind them.
And- it begun.
Anathema turned back to face her ward, stretching her arms for Aziraphale to grab onto something. Crowley felt a pang of jealousy at that gesture. He knew that it was only for his Angel’s safety but that was it. He should be the one to keep his husband safe. That was unfair and he tried to be above it, saying nothing, keeping quiet, but the feeling remained.
The woman started to move slowly backwards. Aziraphale followed her unsteadily, keeping his eyes on the ground as he had been taught. He seemed to be doing quite good for the first few meters and Crowley relaxed a bit.
This state didn’t last long though. First fall happened and the board-demon was first to assist his Angel.
„Are you alright?” He asked, giving Aziraphale his hand to help him stand up.
„Yes, I’m fine, dear,” the Angel responded, giving him a soft smile.
Anathema, though, shot him a disapproving glance.
„Wot?” He sneered at her.
„If Aziraphale wants to learn something, he needs to do it on his own,” Anathema reminded Crowley.
He wanted to tell her something very rude but Aziraphale was quicker to speak.
„She is quite right, my darling.”
And how Crowley could disagree with his Angel?
„Ngh yes, right. Sorry, Angel-”
„Now, will you let us…?”
„Yep. Yes. Alright.” The man stammered.
And with that, Crowley was left on his own, letting his husband have some freedom during the lesson.
🌲🌲🌲
The first two hours were extremely tiring, Aziraphale must have admitted. He couldn’t remember how many times he’s been lying flat on the cold snow, either on his back or kissing the surface.
He couldn’t say though that he didn’t enjoy the whole encounter, oh no. Better than that, he was having the time of his life, especially when they made it to the bigger slope and the routes got longer.
He could see Crowley following him on each of them, which, honestly, made his heart flutter.
After two hours of his lesson, Aziraphale was perfectly capable of riding on his own. Sure, he was still falling sometimes but that was normal.
„So, our time is over,” Anathema said after one particularly successful ride down, marching into the direction of the resort's office after they’d unpinned themselves. Crowley was already waiting for them there.
„Yes, thank you very much, my dear. It was a pleasure to snowboard with you,” Aziraphale responded politely.
The instructor smiled at him.
„Well, I guess I’ll have to give you back into your friend’s hands.”
Aziraphale returned the smile. „Oh, Crowley is actually my husband,” he corrected her.
„Ah! That’d make sense.” She smirked under her nose.
„What sense?” Crowley asked, finally approaching them.
„Hello, dear,” Aziraphale said as Anathema, at the same time, answered, „ah, nothing,” still wearing that knowing smile on her face. Crowley only shrugged.
„Hi, Angel,” the board-demon greeted his partner, stealing a quick kiss.
The warm feeling on Aziraphale’s lips left him giddy with joy.
„How much do I owe you, dear girl,” the blond asked as he and Crowley parted the kiss.
„That’d be €170, as agreed.”
Aziraphale started rummaging in his pockets in search of the money but Crowley was faster. „By card, please,” he said as he extended a hand with his phone, already with his debate card displayed on the screen.
„Oh! Darling, you don’t have to-”
But Crowley wasn’t listening at all. The phone pinged, alerting them both that the transaction was successful. With a nod, the board-demon thanked the lady while showing his mobile into the jacket’s front pocket.
„Hungry, Angel?” Crowley asked as they parted their ways with Anathema, already leading them into the direction of one of the restaurants.
„Yes, I’m quite peckish, actually,” the blond answered.
Crowley smiled at that, putting his free hand around Aziraphale’s waist.
„Gosh I’m glad those boots are way more comfortable than the skiing ones,” Aziraphale admitted when they reached the stairs leading to the bar.
“Yep,” Crowley answered, popping the ‘p’; he also enjoyed the freedom of walking in that gear, rather than stomping uncomfortably in the skiing shoes.
They entered the restaurant, taking their respective seats, removing, beforehand, their helmets, baklavas and gloves. Crowley pulled off his DOPE Jacket™ over his head and tossed in uncaringly on the chair’s back. Aziraphale, having unzipped his own garment, hung it as well over the furniture, although with a lot more care than his partner.
When the pair was finally seated, a waiter approached their table, bringing the menu cards for both of them. Despite being one of the best restaurant of the whole resort, it wasn’t a very exclusive place but the options seemed more decent that one might’ve expected for an establishment like that.
As the waiter showed again, the men ordered their meals and thanked her. Or, to be specific, Aziraphale ordered his meal while Crowley only asked for a glass of wine for himself. He didn’t miss his husband’s raised eyebrow at his order and when the woman left them be, he very eloquently asked, “Wot?”
Aziraphale only shook his head in a gesture of disbelief. “Darling, if we are going to spend here the next few hours, you simply must eat something.”
Crowley grimaced at the remark. “Nahh, I’ll be fine.” He retorted dismissively.
To his surprise, Aziraphale dropped the subject, starting a conversation about a new book he’d recently read.
It’s not like Crowley was bored by his Angel’s yapp about the literature. It’s just… he couldn’t focus on a single word. Not when Aziraphale looked like that.
His Angel was beautiful, Crowley thought. With his white curls almost glowing in the light of the room, ruffled after time of wearing the helmet. His round cheeks having picked up a rosy color from the cold temperature outside; he really looked like an angel.
“…ley?” Crowley!?”
Aziraphale’s voice brought the man back from his dreamy observations. Right. Aziraphale was saying something to him and Crowley wasn’t listening.
He offered his husband a soft “Yeah?” hoping the Angel would repeat himself.
“My dear, you haven’t heard a word I just said, have you?” The other man prompted with a soft smile on his face.
“Nghhh,” was Crowley’s only response because he still wasn’t able to form a coherent sentence.
Aziraphale chuckled at him and the redhead’s heart filled with a warm feeling.
“I was saying that Jane Aust-“
The Angel tried again but was suddenly interrupted by the waiter who came back with their orders.
“Oh, thank you, dear,” the blond said to the woman as she placed his plate and Crowley’s wine on the table.
When they were left alone once again, Aziraphale didn’t bring up the subject he was forced to abandon, apparently considering the topic as not important anymore. Instead, the man picked up his cutlery and started consuming the ordered meal. Respectively, Crowley picked up his wine glass to taste the alcohol but when the Angel swallowed his first bite, the redhead nearly choked at the sip, hearing his husband’s moan over the food.
Crowley should’ve been used to those sounds at this point; Aziraphale made them almost every time when he was enjoying his meals. Sometimes on purpose, sometimes truly unconsciously. Either way, they always had an impressive impact on Crowley. The board-demon was only glad he'd been wearing the snowboard trousers, which were way looser than his usual jeans or leather pants. Otherwise he’d be much more uncomfortable for the entire dining time.
“So, Angel,” he started in order to distract himself from certain thoughts, “how was your lesson?”
Aziraphale beamed at him.
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After the dinner, both again in their sportswear, the pair went back to the slope. Crowley, still a bit anxious about his Angel’s safety but a tad calmer than he had had been, led them to the lift chair for the blue line that was of those longer kinds. They took their seats and, after a while, the board-demon placed his head on Aziraphale’s shoulder. It was nice. It was grounding.
The ride took a while because the slope was quite big and the lift itself slow. And Crowley was thankful for that; he could snuggle into his Angel a little longer.
When they made it up to the peak, the couple slid to the flattened part of the ground, both with only one of their feet pinned to the boards. The pair was just about to clap on the ground in order to pin in but that was the moment Aziraphale looked around; the view was breathtaking. The sun was already setting, despite the early hour - the beauty of the winter. The sky turned to a range of bright, warm colors, varying from orange to pink.
“Darling, why don’t we take a photo,” the blond said, wanting to keep this picture in other, more permanent place than his mind only.
“Here?” Crowley asked.
“Maybe we should move a bit,” he responded, pointing to the edge of the slope, from where the view would be even clearer.
“Yeah, sure, Angel,” the redhead smiled at his husband, already unpinning from the board.
Aziraphale followed suit and moments later they were standing near safety bars behind which there was a steep drop and the horizon showed far mountains and snow-covered trees.
Crowley took out his phone, placing one hand on Aziraphale’s middle, hugging the man with one arm from behind. He stretched his other one, holding the mobile with the front camera set to take the selfie. This time it was Aziraphale, who put his head on the other man’s shoulder.
“Smile, Angel,” Crowley prompted and hit the button.
They repeated the action again and again in various poses, until they were both satisfied with the results.
After the session was over, Crowley busied himself with putting his phone to one of the many pockets in his trousers. When he looked up, Aziraphale was staring at him, a smile spreading on his face.
The redhead opened his mouth, wanting to say something, although his try was interrupted by his Angel leaning towards him, and before Crowley knew it, he was being kissed.
Aziraphale’s soft lips were on him, warm and with a slight taste of the dessert they shared back at the restaurant still on them. Crowley returned the kiss immediately after his brain went back online. He melted into it, enjoying the sweet moment.
It wasn’t any urgent action. There wasn't even any tongue involved. Just a simple, soft kiss and yet, it felt so good.
When they parted, Crowley looked at his husband with disbelief.
“A- Angel?”
“Oh, forgive me, my dear. But you looked so gorgeous just now.”
