Chapter Text
They had the same birthday and had just turned twelve. That seemed to be the extent of the things they had in common. The new kid had gold, curly fur on his ears and a tail he kept out most of the day. He was an alpha and he was really good at making friends. He seemed to have a ton by the end of the school day where Warlock kinda sorta had two people who said hi to him every day and invited him to have lunch with them. He was starting to think that was enough to call them friends.
They did not wait with him after school, though, more likely to walk straight home when the dismissal bell rang.
The new kid smiled at him and stood right next to him at Warlock's preferred waiting spot, not seeming to understand what headphones being on meant. Or maybe he just didn't care. He definitely didn't seem to care that Warlock didn't have many responses to his rambling wonderings and explanations into supernatural things. Maybe he thought Warlock was into that sort of thing because of his name or his dark hair or his dark clothes. He'd been called a goth before, though he wouldn't say that was exactly his style.
The fact that he was interested in and intrigued by the new kid's thoughts on aliens and witchcraft wasn't dependent on his clothes or his name anyway. It mattered more that the new kid was so animated about it, so bright and shiny and- and cool. Effortlessly so, which reminded Warlock more of Aziraphale. Maybe it was an alpha thing. A good alpha thing.
He handed him a lemon sherbert as the Bentley pulled up to the curb and Warlock was almost embarrassed to have to say, “My, uh, my dads are here.” Especially when Aziraphale climbed out of the passenger seat, looking like someone out of one of his Victorian novels. Warlock had read more of them than he wanted to admit to anyone, especially him, but they totally suited.
“That's alright. My parents should be 'round soon. Dad's new job doesn't start til tomorrow, so all they're doing is unpacking. My sister got to stay home from school, but I wanted to come.”
That was so weird. Warlock instead said, “I've got a sister too. She's just a puppy, though.”
“That's cool. Mine’s older, so I’ve never been 'round one o' those.”
“Me either, but she's okay,” he quickly added. No one was ever going to be able to complain about the howly, slobbery mess of a sister he'd ended up with. She'd come into the world a wolf, fur as ginger as Crowley’s and as curly as Aziraphale’s, and she hadn't yet tried out two legs. She'd get there, though.
He glanced towards the car again, cheeks colouring at the bright smile on Aziraphale’s face. And the one he could see on Crowley’s. They were so embarrassing. “Um. Bye. I guess.”
“Yeah. See you tomorrow, Warlock.”
He nodded quickly, scurrying to the car. “Shut up, shut up,” he demanded as he climbed into the back. The little carseat he settled beside was specifically designed for pups who were still as new as his sister, and he tried not to be obvious in the way he checked to make sure she was tucked into it right.
Aziraphale laughed as he reset the front seat and settled back into it. “That's a terrible way to greet someone, duck.”
Crowley glanced in the rearview mirror as he pulled away from the kerb and at the young boy who was waving at the retreating Bentley. “New friend of yours, pup?”
“I don't know. No. Maybe.” He crinkled the wrapper of the sweet he'd been given before popping it into his mouth. “His name's Adam. He just moved from some dumb sounding town. He thinks my name is cool. I mean- I mean, that's what he said or whatever.”
They exchanged looks like he couldn't see them, Aziraphale’s eyes crinkling with his smile and Crowley’s smirk saying plenty. “Don't be weird.”
“We haven't done a single weird thing.” But the slight colour on Warlock's cheeks said more than enough. “He in your class?”
“Yeah.”
“He certainly looked nice,” Aziraphale mused.
“I guess. Can we stop talking about him now?”
Aziraphale chuckled. “Do you have homework?”
He groaned, but didn't tense when Crowley pulled into traffic. He didn't even remember to check. “Like barely any. I should get to play with Lily before I do it.”
“Is your room picked up?”
“It's always picked up,” he huffed. “It's not like I let her go in there anyway.” Even though he had. He was pretty sure his dads, as he'd been thinking of them more and more, knew. But he'd carried her into it by the scruff one day and settled her down on a little blanket so he could get her scent in his nest. He may or may not have curled around her and fallen asleep, but he was still pretty sure he hadn't been caught.
They did know and Crowley still smiled every time he saw the picture of black, shaggy Warlock curled around his much smaller sister that was still in his camera roll. “You know the rules, hellspawn. No play until all your chores and homework are done.”
“But she goes to bed so early,” he complained.
“Because she's growing and that takes a lot of energy to do.”
“Then I should get to play with her before homework.”
Aziraphale chuckled. “Now, pet, he does have something of a point. Besides, he's obviously had a very busy day with his first crush-”
“Oh my god.”
“-so some time to decompress with his sister wouldn't be remiss.”
Crowley sighed and rolled his eyes. “Supposed to be on my side, angel. There'll be other crushes.”
“I don't have a crush on Adam!” Warlock protested.
“Okay, okay. Keep your trousers on.”
Aziraphale smiled, squeezing Crowley’s thigh as they made their way to the mansion they'd bought when Lily had still been giving Crowley cravings and, by turn, morning sickness. Before the ink had finished drying on the adoption papers, the two of them had brought Warlock to their new home.
It had been a huge surprise and he still wasn't used to it, but he actually smiled when they pulled into their usual spot right across the street. He unbuckled Lily, still smiling when she whined at the move, and let her nestle into the crook of his neck as he wiggled out of the backseat. Puppies, he'd read, mimicked people and he didn't really want her to be… sad and stuff. He wanted her to be happy.
“Do I really have to do homework first?” he whispered and Aziraphale took his bag with a smile.
“We'll see. She's been sleeping the afternoon away, so she may be ready to play very soon. After a meal.”
A meal that was already prepared in a bottle in the fridge. Crowley took Lily from Warlock's shoulder as they came inside, she was on a strict feeding schedule and he wasn't about to change it. “Bring your homework down and we can get started on it while Lily eats.”
“Okay.” He took his bag back from Aziraphale and rushed ahead. It was different from how things had been a year before. Different than it had been two and three years before, even. His life from nine to twelve was almost incomparable, and he knew that.
Sometimes he still woke up and thought he was in that apartment in New York, but it was never a sad thing to rub the sleep out of his eyes and remember that, no, he wasn't. He'd probably never be there again unless he moved as an adult. And that was okay.
He could still visit his mom and father when he wanted to, Aziraphale or Crowley or both (it was usually both) never saying no when he asked to be taken. He had more of his father's attention now that he was dead and that was… It wasn't okay, but it was something he knew how to deal with. He knew how to see them and not be mad anymore.
He had new dads, even though Crowley was his cousin by blood, and that was okay. It was weird, maybe, and not something he wanted to explain every day, but he was glad. Crowley had adopted him and, when they eventually got married, Aziraphale had promised to adopt him too. If he wanted, he'd said, and Warlock wanted.
He wanted to have him as his dad as much as he wanted Lily to be his sister and, since he was adopted by one of her parents, she was.
He watched Crowley roll her onto her back, cradling her in the crook of his arm as he fed her. They let him do it sometimes, though he'd been terrified the first time. He'd thought she'd break in his arms, but he'd sat on the floor and leaned back against a strong white wolf who smelled of safety and reassurances with Crowley crouched down in front of him. He'd shown him how to angle the bottle, how to keep her sharp tiny teeth from nicking his skin, and she hadn't broken.
She didn't break when Crowley finally relented and passed her over, her little tail wagging as Warlock pet her back. He set her on the floor for only a moment before he was transforming too. His “Thanks, dad!” had both adults staring after him as he disappeared with her, scruff firm in his teeth.
“Don't cry, pet.”
“'M not,” Crowley sniffed, entirely ignoring the way he had to blink rapidly to keep the wetness where it was. “Just somethin' in my eye.”
“Yes, they're called tears.”
“Shut up.”
“And now you sound just like him.” Aziraphale smiled as he crossed over to him, arms winding around his waist. “My sweet omega. Have I told you how proud I am of you today?”
He hadn't, but it was an almost daily occurrence. “Not yet.” Crowley rubbed at his eyes and leaned against Aziraphale's chest. “Bit overdue today, I think.”
“Clearly.” Aziraphale kissed his temple, purrs soft but strong and steady. “I love you, and I'm very proud of you.”
“I love you too.” Love, affection, safety; it was commonplace now. It filled their home that was still new enough to be novel. “How much you wanna bet he tries to skeeve off doing the rest of his homework?”
“Without any doubt, but we'll get him back at it soon.” Aziraphale smiled, nuzzling him gently before stepping back. “And enjoy some playtime with our little ones beforehand,” he decided, wolf-shaped within seconds. He rubbed against Crowley’s side, more catlike that canine, and let his curly tail wag.
Crowley had the distinct impression he was fighting a losing battle but wasn't as put out about giving in and becoming wolf right with him as he could have been. Wolf time, after all, was very important to have. Especially with one's family. He let out a bark and it didn't take long to hear a much smaller answering one from deeper in their home. They had time and he'd just have to make sure Warlock did his homework after dinner.
