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There was nothing like dinner at the Ritz. Somewhere down the road, it had become such an important part of Crowley and Aziraphale’s routine. It was fancy, cozy, intimate. The warm light that the crystal chandeliers cast upon them enveloped them in a glow that felt safe. It was their haven.
The food was great, which was important for Aziraphale, and anything important for Aziraphale was important for Crowley. They also had really good wine, and that was important for both of them.
Aziraphale was enjoying a cake. It was some french pastry called an ‘éclair au chocolat’ and from the angel’s facial expressions, it was good.
Crowley was never big on desserts (or food, at all), but he did enjoy the sweet taste that lingered on Aziraphale’s lips every time he ate some.
The tip of his tongue flicked out to wipe some chocolate cream from his bottom lip. Crowley swallowed through a tight throat.
“You’re staring,” Aziraphale noted without even sparing Crowley a glance.
The demon blinked and looked away. “Am not.”
“You always stare when I’m eating.”
“I’m waiting for you to finish,” Crowley groaned.
Aziraphale chuckled. He tapped his napkin on the corners of his mouth before looking at the Demon sitting next to him. “You don’t have to feel embarrassed,” he said softly. “I find it quite charming.”
The glow in his eyes was infinitely gentle. It made Crowley’s insides churn. It made him want to bite Aziraphale which seemed weird to him, but he had read that it was a response some people had when faced with something or someone so cute that they didn’t know how to cope.
Seemed fitting enough.
“Whatever…”
Aziraphale smiled as a light blush crept across Crowley’s cheeks. Crowley was equal to himself– always the same old sweet demon stubbornly refusing to embrace his soft side. But oh, did he have a soft side. It was something Aziraphale adored so deeply about him— that his heart and soul were so gentle.
“So who’s staring now?”
Aziraphale’s focus returned to the present moment and he noticed that Crowley was grinning. “Well, I do enjoy looking at you, dear. Unlike you, I am not adamant to try and deny it.”
Did the blush on Crowley’s face just darken?
He slouched down further on his seat as if he was trying to disappear. Aziraphale’s heart fluttered at the fetching sight. Crowley must have felt it, because he sighed and reached for the bottle of wine to pour himself another glass.
“Are you trying to get drunk?” Aziraphale asked playfully. It was their third bottle of wine since they arrived.
“Makes you more bearable.” Crowley chugged down his glass in one big gulp and poured himself another.
Aziraphale rolled his eyes. “You are not fooling anyone.”
Crowley groaned, more out of shame for embarrassing himself than because the angel was actually annoying him. He liked Aziraphale’s playful, teasing side a lot. He knew he had a tendency to stare when Aziraphale was enjoying his food, but who could blame him? The way the angel’s face lit up every time was too enticing.
There was something so genuinely pure about the way his eyes filled with stars and how the corners of his mouth curved upward in excitement whenever he tasted something he liked. Crowley was definite that he would never grow tired of it.
“Should we start heading back?”
Crowley looked down and found Aziraphale’s plate was empty. The angel was smiling at him, hands properly folded on his lap. His blond hair seemed to be shimmering under the chandeliers light. He looked ethereal and something stirred deep in Crowley’s guts.
“Sure, let’s go.” Crowley discreetly waved toward the waiter to pay their bill and made sure to miracle an extra fifty pounds tip.
When they walked outside, the air was fresh and crisp, and as they crossed the road, Aziraphale’s shoulder brushed against Crowley’s.
The walk back to the bookshop wasn’t a long one. They cut through a park to gain two minutes and because the scenery was nicer. Aziraphale always went on about how lovely the greenery looked at dusk and Crowley was too mesmerized to think about interrupting him. Sometimes, he even caught himself wishing the walk back would be longer.
Aziraphale was the one who looked lovely in the dim light. Absolutely stunning would be more fitting. His delicate lashes cast soft shadows just below his eyes, and how could he forget to mention those eyes . Always gentle. Sometimes fierce. Never not full of love and wonder.
Aziraphale was the definition of beautiful. Inside and out.
“Crowley?” The angel called when he realized the demon wasn’t listening. “You’re awfully distracted tonight, dear. Did you drink too much wine? You know I have far better bottles in my shop.”
“I still have room for them.” Crowley grinned and met Aziraphale’s eyes over the rim of his sunglasses. A shiver crawled up his spine. “Who do you take me for, my angel ?”
Aziraphale stopped dead in his tracks– so abruptly that it took Crowley a second to realize. The demon looked back with a deep frown scrunching his forehead. Before he could say anything, Aziraphale spoke. “What did you just say?”
“Well, y’know, I’m not such a lightweight unlike someone here,” Crowley teased. He thought it would get him an eyeroll or at least a smirk, but Aziraphale was still staring at him like he just saw a ghost.
“No–” He said slowly. “The other thing.”
“What?”
“The other thing you said.”
It was Crowley’s turn to stare. He didn’t understand what caused this reaction in what he said. He motioned his hands in an attempt to urge Aziraphale to explain.
“You called me ‘my angel’ .”
“I call you that all the time,” Crowley pointed out. He was really struggling to understand what the angel was trying to tell him.
Aziraphale shook his head. “no, you always call me ‘angel’ . it’s the first time you’ve ever called me ‘my angel’ .”
Crowley blinked. It took a long second for the information to register in his mind and when it finally did, his eyes opened wide. “oh… oh .”
Crowley was certain he never ever wanted to disappear as much as this very moment as he could feel his face rapidly heating up.
Oh no , he did not just do that.
The earth could open below his feet right this instant– with Hell swallowing him, and he would say thank you.
Aziraphale’s eyes were scrutinizing him too intensely. They stayed like this, silently staring at each other for what felt like eternity, until the angel looked away first– with a blush on his round cheeks and the tip of his nose.
“I don’t mind you calling me that, you know…” he admitted.
Crowley’s chest squeezed to the point that it got hard to breathe.
“I find it rather sweet, actually.” Aziraphale’s gaze met his own again. Oh he was most definitely blushing and Crowley’s heart was threatening to jump out of his ribcage.
Crowley heard himself speak quietly. “You do?” He would have slapped himself in the face if it wouldn’t have made him look even more stupid.
Still, Aziraphale nodded. “I may enjoy the prospect of being… your angel.”
He took a step forward. Crowley froze.
When Aziraphale stopped right in front of him and flashed him this beautiful, beautiful smile of his, Crowley melted . Their hands found each other. Crowley’s fingers were always cold. Aziraphale’s soft skin warmed them up.
“Would you call me that more often, my darling?”
Love overflowed from Crowley’s heart. His body wasn’t big enough to contain his love for Aziraphale. Hell, even the Universe wasn’t big enough for that.
He nodded his head and squeezed his angel’s hand. “ My angel ,” he said. The words rolled on his tongue and made him shiver. His angel. His .
Feeling bold, he curled a hand against Aziraphale’s waist and pulled him closer. It was just them in the park. Only them and the moon above their heads, and the halo of adoration radiating from both their bodies.
“I’m in love with you,” Crowley blurted out. It seemed fitting to say it now. Crowley was certain he would explode if he didn’t allow his feelings to slip out. He leaned closer and their foreheads touched. Aziraphale gasped. Crowley’s heart leaped. “ I'm stupidly, ridiculously in love with you . Sometimes it suffocates me how much I love you…”
Aziraphale’s smile was far too gentle when his fingers brushed along the demon’s cheekbone. “I love you too, my darling.”
But Crowley didn’t think he understood. How could he when even Crowley himself was unable to grasp the depths his love reached. It was deeper and stronger than the Universe— a love so overwhelming it crushed his chest. Loving Aziraphale had sent all his beliefs crumbling. He had changed his life to an extent he could never even begin to comprehend.
Aziraphale reached for Crowley’s hand and brought it close to his lips. He kissed the back of it, and then each knuckle as well. “Let’s go home,” he said. His voice was barely more than a whisper.
Home.
The Universe was so vaste, and yet Crowley had found his home here— in the arms of an angel.
It was everywhere— etched in the gentleness of Aziraphale’s eyes. It was in the smell of old books and in their bickering about trivial things.
And he knew that Aziraphale’s home was him. Being each other’s home was what they were best at. What they loved most.
“Yes.” Crowley pressed a kiss to Aziraphale’s lips. “Let’s go, my angel .”
Aziraphale smiled.