Actions

Work Header

Supernatural Omens

Summary:

Castiel plans to meet an old friend in SoHo for information; curious a semi-retired Dean Winchester decides to tag along. What he doesn't expect when he gets there is an angel and a demon named Aziraphale and Crowley who seem to mirror his own complicated relationship with Cas.
Along the way, he just might learn something about himself, and a penchant he seems to have for attracting angels.

Notes:

I had the thought what if Dean and Cas met Crowley and Aziraphale and this is what ensued...

Work Text:

“SoHo, what the hell is SoHo, Cas?” Dean asked, hotly. They had been driving for what felt like forever when the angel had announced out of the blue that he needed to make a trip.

“An old colleague,” Castiel answered simply.

“We’re not far from New York I suppose I can take you up there,” Dean replied, though it was clear by the tightness in his voice that he wasn’t really looking forward to the idea.

“Not that one,” Castiel replied. “England.”

“England?” Dean repeated, looking over at the raven-haired angel. “You’re kidding," he paused. Castiel didn't joke. Ever. "Can't say I've ever been to England." 

Castiel paused, and turned towards Dean then, “You’re welcome to join me if you like.” Dean moved tensely in his seat.

“How long’s the plane ride?”

“From here? Six and a half... give or take.”

Dean tensed again, gripping the steering wheel tightly. "I think I can handle that." 

“Are you sure?” Castiel asked.

“Positive Cas,” he said with a smile. “Who is this colleague anyway?”

“Just a demon I know.”

“A demon?” Dean repeated, fury rising. “Cas what the fuck?”

“Crowley isn’t… like that. He’s not  like the sort of demon you’re used to.”

Dean raised an eyebrow, not sure he was buying it, but shrugged. “Crowley?"

Castiel shrugged, "Common demon name." 

"And you trust him?”

Castiel merely offered a rare smile. “I do.”

“Well, off to merry old London then,” Dean said in a mock British accent as the two drove off in the direction of the airport.

True to the angel’s words, the plane ride from Boston to London was only a matter of hours, though it still made Dean’s skin itch. Especially knowing that they were currently several thousand feet in the air above an ocean. He had dealt with enough crap in his time that had scared him far worse and yet something about planes put him on edge. That and the fact that they were going to meet a demon. Dean may have been semi-retired from hunting demons with his brother, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to take precautions to ensure that Cas was kept safe from harm. He may have been willing to trust a demon, but Dean sure as fuck wouldn't. He knew better than to voice this opinion, however, and wisely kept his mouth shut. Only if the demon tried anything would Dean be ready. 

 

— —-

In a little bookshop in SoHo, an Angel, and a demon were sitting down for their usual evening of drinks, as had become the custom for them after the end of the world that wasn't. Wine mostly, a bit of scotch whenever they were feeling it, and a mug of cocoa that Aziraphale liked. Crowley had on more than one occasion attempted to tempt the angel to let him 'Irish up his cocoa', but Aziraphale had made it clear that he didn’t think alcohol and cocoa had any business being mixed together like that.

“I don’t know, it’s rather like us, isn’t it? Two things that shouldn’t work together and yet somehow do?” Crowley said with a smirk. That got a look from the angel, an inscrutable look but one that amused Crowley to no end all the same.

“I might be willing to give it consideration at a later date, as it is I’m not sure I should be mixing alcohol. You know what they say.”

“You can always miracle yourself sober if it gets to be too much,” Crowley said.

“Fiend.”

“You love it,” Crowley said with a smirk.

“Certainly not,” Aziraphale teased.

“You sting me, angel,” he said, clutching at his chest. “Truly I’m wounded.”

“Poor thing,” Aziraphale smiled. “Would a kiss help?”

“It might do,” Crowley said.

Aziraphale crossed the space between them wrapping his arms around Crowley’s shoulders and leaned in.

Their relationship had crossed into a weird tenuous place as of late. They were practically roommates at this point, Crowley barely spent time at his flat these days, and occasionally they would indulge in certain escapades of a sexual nature, but there had never been any clearly defined boundaries between them. The full nature of their relationship had been nebulous at best for years but since the end of the world that wasn't, it had only gotten more nebulous. Crowley had told himself that this suited him fine when what he really wanted was to tell the angel that he loved him. That he wanted to move in properly, and for them to be a proper couple. They lived on Earth, ate Earth food, and did all the things humans tended to do, why couldn't they settle down, get a place together that was just theirs, date or he supposed knowing Aziraphale court, and then get married one day? 

But Crowley couldn't say any of that. He had never been great with his feelings, and Aziraphale had given him no indication that he thought they ought to make their relationship any more official than it was, so he had simply kept the feelings to himself. Aziraphale smiled at him, that smile that never failed to make the demon's knees weak or his heart skip a beat whenever it was directed at him. He would have done anything for that smile. He swallowed hard, and leaned in, ready to kiss his angel when a knock sounded at the door. 

“Oh for fuck sake... who the bloody hell could that be?” Crowley demanded.

Aziraphale sighed. “Language darling... I better go wave them off.”

“Allow me,” Crowley grinned. “I’ll make sure they never come back. Hold my place." 

“Be nice,” Aziraphale said, smirking as he pressed a kiss to his cheek.

Crowley smiled. “Back in a jiff,” he said and with that, Crowley turned on his heels and walked towards the front door. He froze, shocked for a moment as he saw the dark-haired angel standing outside Aziraphale’s door. “Cas?” He asked, opening the door fast, and pulling him in for a hug. “How the heaven have you been?”

Cas looked for all the world stunned at the interaction, “Fine, Crowley,” he replied in his usual brusque manner. Crowley laughed.

“And who is this?” He asked eyeing Dean who was currently looking at him like he had three heads.

“Dean Winchester,” Castiel replied.

Crowley raised an eyebrow at the blond who was looking rather suspiciously at his surroundings, barely sparing Crowley a glance. “Charmed,” Crowley replied. “Well do come in, any friend of Cas is a friend of ours.”

“Darling are you… oh hello,” Aziraphale said pausing as he looked at the two men, then over at Crowley.

“Ah, there you are angel,” Crowley said with a beaming smile.

“Angel?” Dean repeated.

“You got a problem with that Mr. Winchester?” Crowley asked, teeth bared. He didn't like this bloke already.

“Just a hell of a pet name,” Dean replied.

Aziraphale looked nervously between the two men who looked like they were about to war. “Would anyone like some hot cocoa? Or wine perhaps?” Crowley continued glaring at Dean. 

“I’ll take a scotch,” Dean replied.

“Ooh fresh out mate,” Crowley said, offering a mock apology. 

“No I believe we still have another bottle,” Aziraphale replied. Crowley glared over at the angel. 

“Perhaps we’ve come at a bad time,” Castiel said.

“Never a bad time for you Cas,” Crowley smiled tightly. “Your hellhound here on the other hand…”

“Hellhound?” Dean ground out.

“Please, gentleman!” Aziraphale cried, looking rather distraught.

“Dean,” Castiel said. “You promised you’d behave.”

“And you said this demon wasn’t like the others.”

Crowley smirked, “Oh I’m very much not. But I am protective of my friends and angel here, and you have pissed me off on both counts.”

Dean grit his teeth but kept his mouth shut. Due in no small part, Crowley suspected, to a miracle from either Castiel or Aziraphale. Either way. 

“Shall we then?” Crowley asked, ushering them towards the back where two more chairs miraculously appeared. One for Castiel which would be considerably more comfortable and the one for Dean well, Crowley was already pretty sure he had a stick up his arse so he could just go right ahead and take another one. He rather wish he’d kept his Judas cradle. Hellish invention those. Hell wasn’t personally responsible, it was yet another thing that humans had invented that Crowley had simply taken credit for because no one was going to check. The fact that Crowley had spent as much time sleeping through the 14th century as demonically possible was also not something anyone else needed to know. Humans clearly had it all covered as far as Crowley was concerned. His services weren’t needed. 

Dean took a seat on the chair presented and adjusted somewhat uncomfortably as Crowley took the seat across from him with Aziraphale close at his side.

“So, how do you know each other?” Azriaphale asked.

“Cas raised me up from hell,” Dean said by way of reply, as though that were the sort of thing he always answered that particular question with. Aziraphale merely let out an 'oh ' at that. 

“A demon too? Funny I don’t remember you from the pit,” Crowley said.

“I’m not a demon,” Dean growled.

“Ah yes, I might have known. You're not nearly ugly enough to be the usual sort." 

“Actually I meant you two,” Aziraphale said pointing to Crowley and Castiel, hoping to change the subject and calm some of the tension between Crowley and Dean which seemed like it was already at the boiling point mere seconds into their interaction. 

“Where did we meet?” Crowley replied trying to think, as he poured a glass of scotch for himself, Cas, and Dean. He grabbed a bottle of wine for Aziraphale and poured it for him. Aziraphale smiled up at him, and Crowely returned to his seat. 

“Coliseum wasn’t it?” Castiel laughed. “You were one of Caligula’s favorites.”

“He was one of mine,” Crowley replied with a laugh. “Ah, the Bad old days.”

“The worst,” Castiel replied.

Dean stared as if he was seeing him for the first time, looking over at Aziraphale who looked almost disturbed by all of this.

“You’re a… demon then?” Aziraphale asked. “Only the name sounds familiar.”

“Not at all, angel,” Crowley replied. “Cas here is one of yours.”

“Is he indeed?” There were plenty of angels Aziraphale didn’t know, or otherwise didn’t remember. He supposed it was possible the two might have crossed paths at some point. Aziraphale had, after all, spent more time on Earth than he had in Heaven, so he supposed there were whole swaths of angels that he simply would never have had the opportunity to meet. Which was just as well. Castiel seemed kind enough, but he couldn't say he was sorry he'd missed him.

“I was created a bit after you were on Earth,” Castiel said. “But I had heard of you.”

“Had you?” Aziraphale asked. He could only imagine the stories heaven would have told new angels about him.

“More… warnings about the dangers of being on Earth too long,” he replied. Aziraphale huffed at that.

Crowley laughed. “Can’t say I’m surprised by that one, angel,” he said, but Aziraphale had his arms folded and Crowley could sense he was in a strop. Bugger. “So what brings you ‘round these parts?”

“Top secret mission but I needed a demon I could trust," Castiel said somewhat cryptically. 

“I’m your demon then,” Crowley replied with a grin. “What’s on your mind Cas?”

Dean huffed. “I’ll take that drink now,” he said to Aziraphale once it was clear that Cas and Crowley were going to be deep in their own world.

“I rather think I’ll join you,” Aziraphale said as he got to his feet and grabbed a bottle, and made his way away from Crowley and Castiel. Castiel… He rolled his eyes and miracled them in two glasses before walking Dean towards the desk towards the front of the store and pouring them both a considerably heavy pour of alcohol.

“I take it you’re as caught off by all this as I am,” Dean said taking the proffered glass.

“Quite,” Aziraphale said his lips pursed. He knocked back the entire glass of whiskey in one shot. Dean looked impressed at that and drank his considerably slower. “Well I suppose it seems Crowley has a type,” he huffed and poured himself another glass.

“Bossy, angelic bottoms?” Dean asked with a laugh.

Aziraphale huffed at that. “ What makes you assume I am any of those things?”

Dean gave him a look then, “Call it a hunch, angel,” he said almost mocking Crowley. Aziraphale squinted at him and knocked back another glass. “So, what’s the deal with you and Crowley anyway?”

Aziraphale laughed. “How much time do you have?”

Dean looked over his shoulder at Cas and Crowley laughing and felt an odd pang of jealousy surge through him. “The way they’re going… I suspect we’ve got a while.”

Aziraphale huffed. “I suppose I shouldn’t be… it’s not as if we’d ever said prior to the last few years that we were exclusive or anything.”

“You don’t think they…” Dean wrinkled his nose.

“It’s a distinct possibility,” Aziraphale huffed, pouring himself another.

“Easy there angel, wouldn’t want you to puke all over your suit there.”

Aziraphale huffed. “I’m fine,” he slurred.

“What is it with angels and suits?”

“It’s called fashion,” Aziraphale sniffed, taking another swig of his drink and nearly missing.

“Maybe you better slow down,” Dean said removing the glass from Aziraphale’s hand and placing it on the desk behind him.

Aziraphale huffed. “So what are you supposed to be?” He blinked at Dean.

“All human,” Dean replied with a chuckle.

Aziraphale smiled despite himself. “Is that so?” Dean nodded and gave him a wink that made Aziraphale blush. “So, how long have you and Ca… Ca… the angel, been together?”

“Oh no, we’re not…” Dean shook his head.

“Oh dear, I am sorry for assuming dear boy. You’re just… rather protective over him like Crowley is with me I just assumed.”

Dean blushed at that. “Just good friends.”

“Ah yes. I know that well,” he laughed.

“What about you?”

Aziraphale sighed. “Crowley and I are… complicated. I’m not sure really what we are. Friends with benefits I suppose,” he chuckled.

Dean smirked. “Lucky him.” Aziraphale blushed again at that compliment. He wasn’t used to being complimented by men, not these days, and it made him feel--he wasn’t sure exactly. Nice. Perhaps, it would get Crowley’s attention back on him where it belonged if he were to indulge in a little casual flirtation.

“Aren’t you ever so charming,” Aziraphale teased, placing a hand on Dean’s arm.

“Well, my mama raised me right," for Dean, this was more of a saying than an actual reality, but Aziraphale wouldn't know that.

“So it would seem,” Aziraphale smirked. He could feel Crowley’s eyes on him, and it felt, more delicious than it had any business doing. He smirked, placing a gentle hand on Dean’s chest. “Would you like to see my book collection?”

“Isn’t this all of it?” Dean asked.

“My private book collection?” Aziraphale asked, offering Dean a wink that he hoped was suggestive.

“Won’t your demon get jealous?”

Aziraphale scoffed. “Don’t be silly, he wouldn’t even notice we were gone.” Aziraphale turned and nearly jumped as Crowley appeared behind him with a look in his eye that Aziraphale knew to be jealousy.

“Going somewhere, angel?” He asked.

“I was just going to show Dean my private collection.”

“I’ll bet you were,” Crowley replied lips pursed, he leaned down low to whisper so only Aziraphale could hear him. “You’re soused, angel.”

“I may have had a few drinks.”

“What are you playing at?”

“I assure you I am not playing at anything,” Aziraphale said. “You can have your, friends, and I can have mine.”

At this Crowley smirked. “You’re jealous.”

“'M not,” Aziraphale replied with a huff.

“You so are. Frankly, it’s adorable, angel. But for the record, Cas and I were never an item. I only have, and have only ever had eyes for you. A fact he has known since we met.”

Aziraphale looked at Crowley then, eyes wide. “Really?” He asked.

Crowley smiled, wrapping his arms around Aziraphale’s waist. “Oh angel, how could you even ask?”

Aziraphale blushed. “I’m sorry,” he said, his face tinged with pink.

“Go lay down love, I’ll go up and take care of you in a bit.” Aziraphale nodded and made his way towards the back stairs shooting an apologetic look to Dean before he vanished.

Crowley turned towards Dean then, arms folded across his chest. “You really love him don’t you?” Dean asked.

“With every last fiber of my demonic being,” Crowley replied.

Dean smiled despite himself. “You might wanna make sure he knows that.”

“Rich coming from you,” Crowley spat. “Have you ever told your angel how you feel?”

“How I feel?” Dean repeated.

Crowley smirked, grabbing the glass of whiskey out of his hand, and drank it down in one go. “You got a lot of feelings mate, and I think you should sort them out with your angel, not mine.”

Dean swallowed. “Cas! Let’s go!” He growled. Cas appeared next to him almost immediately.

“Good to see you again Crowley,” he said before he turned and left with Dean in tow. Crowley huffed out a breath and made his way up the stairs before locking the bookshop up with a snap.

Aziraphale was curled up on the bed, a pillow clutched against his chest as Crowley entered.

“I’m s-so sorry,” Aziraphale slurred, as Crowley sat on the edge of the bed. “Can you forgive me for the complete fool that I’ve been tonight?”

Crowley merely smiled, petting the angel’s soft hair. “No need to apologize angel. I suppose we never really have defined what we are to each other.”

Aziraphale looked up at him. “I suppose not.”

Crowley leaned down and pressed his lips against Aziraphale’s softly. “I love you, angel,” he said. “I would very much like for us to spend the rest of our lives together. Just the two of us.”

Aziraphale blushed. “Oh really?” Crowley nodded. “I’d like that too,” he said.

 

——

In a hotel room not far from the bookshop an angel and a human were having a talk of their own.

“Have a nice chat with your old pal?” Dean asked, he was still warm from the half a scotch he’d drank but not nearly drunk enough to be attempting to have a heart-to-heart, as it were with… his angel, the demon’s words had been rattling around in his head since they had left the bookshop. Dean really didn't know what to make of it all. None of this quite made sense. 

“It was enlightening,” Castiel said simply.

Dean eyed him. The angel’s face was unreadable as always and yet, it felt as though there was something he wasn’t saying. “That’s cryptic, Cas.”

“I got the information I came for.”

“Why are we here, really Cas?” Dean asked. He had been so caught up in his curiosity about visiting another country that he simply hadn’t bothered to really get down to the bottom of it. Goin’ soft in my old age, he thought.

“Crowley and I have been friends for many years. I needed his advice.”

"Haven't you heard of a telephone?" Dean asked somewhat sarcastically. 

"I'm familiar with the device yes," Castiel said a little too literally. Dean sighed. 

"Figure of speech Cas." 

"Oh, yes, right. It wasn't the sort of thing that... I needed to talk to him in person." 

“Did you two have a relationship?” Dean asked though he didn’t know why.

Castiel smirked but shook his head. “No. Crowley’s always had eyes for Aziraphale only. Which is precisely why I wanted to speak to him.” Dean raised an eyebrow at that but wisely didn’t speak, lest he scare Cas off from whatever it was he clearly needed to say. “I wanted to know… how he…” he swallowed, and Dean could see that the angel was nervous. His hand itched to reach out and touch the other man, to comfort him, but he stayed glued to the spot. “How he knew he loved, Aziraphale.”

Dean swallowed. “And?”

 

— — Half an Hour Earlier — —

 

“What’s all this about anyway?” Crowley asked. Castiel swallowed hard, as he watched Dean’s retreating back as he and Aziraphale disappeared out of earshot. Crowley’s eyes followed Aziraphale and he swallowed.

“Can’t an old friend pop in to say hey?”

Crowley turned back to the angel in front of him. “I haven’t seen you in three hundred years and you just wanted to say ‘hey’?”

Castiel frowned. “No.”

“You in some sort of trouble?”

Castiel sighed, burying his face in his hands. “What sort of trouble could an angel get into?" Crowley considered this, he knew very well quite a bit in his experience but didn't say as much. "I…” he exhaled a breath. “How did you know that you were in love with Aziraphale?”

Crowley raised an eyebrow at that. “What?” Whatever he'd been expecting, that had not been it. 

“Don’t play with me, Crowley.”

“I’m not… I just want to know where that came from. Since when do you…” Crowley followed Castiel’s eyes over to where Dean and Aziraphale were standing. Dean was giving Aziraphale a look that could only be described as lascivious. Aziraphale poured himself another glass. Right well that’s a thing, Crowley thought, turning back to Castiel. “I see. Well… angel and I have known each other for… six thousand years?”

“And you’ve loved him for 5,999 of those,” Castiel said.

“Well… give or take, yeah,” Crowley replied with a laugh. “How long have you known… Dean,” he said the name with a bit of disdain that made Castiel chuckle.

“A decade? Decade and a half. Time's fuzzy these days." 

“Drop in the bucket,” Crowley said.

“Not for him,” Castiel said quietly.

“No, not for him,” Crowley repeated taking a sip of wine.

“I’ve saved him a lot.”

“We have that in common,” Crowley said with a laugh.

“I seem to recall an incident during the French Revolution where Aziraphale went out and got himself thrown in the Bastille for crepes?”

At this, Crowley laughed at the memory. “That’s my angel.”

Castiel sighed. “You’ve always made it look so easy.”

“Love is never easy, certainly not for Aziraphale and I. Not by a long shot.”

“But you stayed together all these years.”

“We had many a fight too.”

“You always came back to each other, in the end.”

“That we did. That’s what happens when you thwart the end of the world together. You start to realize what your real priorities are. What really matters,” he looked over at Aziraphale fondly. Aziraphale’s hand was on Dean’s chest. Crowley squinted, if he felt a twinge of jealousy at the sight well… that was only natural, wasn’t it? He was a demon after all. Surely he was allowed jealousy.

“I don’t think Dean sees me that way. He was married once. Tried to have a normal life,” he sighed. “I’ve tried to have a life too. I don’t suppose anything can be normal for us.”

“Certainly trying,” Crowley replied, taking another sip of wine. “Look, you know me. I’m not really the feelings type. I have them and I don’t care for them, but I will say this. Talk to him. I know it sounds simple, but I hear it's the best way." 

"Is that how you and Aziraphale realized?" 

"We're complicated. I wouldn't say we're quite there yet." 

"Never would have guessed," Castiel said. 

Crowley chuckled at that. "Are you sure though, you want to... I mean you're gonna live a hell of a lot longer than he will." 

"I know. At this rate, I've nearly witnessed him die about a thousand times over." 

"And?" 

"And it breaks my heart every time," he admitted. 

"I'll drink to that," Crowley said polishing off his wine. "Look, mate. Far be it for me to tell you who to fall in love with. I know better than anyone there's no helping that otherwise, I wouldn't have fallen in love at all, much less with an angel. But here we are." 

"Here we are indeed." 

"Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go collect a drunken angel before he does something he’ll regret.”

 

— —

Castiel swallowed as he looked at Dean, “He said I needed to talk to you.”

“We talk,” Dean replied.

“That’s not what he meant.”

Dean could tell this was going to be awkward and desperately wished he had a drink. It was clear by the look on Cas’ face that this was important to him, and Dean owed him his attention if nothing else.

“Alright then. Let’s talk.” Dean said.

Castiel took a seat on the edge of the bed, as Dean stood a few feet from him. It might as well have been a million miles between them at that moment. A whole ocean, or all of Heaven and Hell. Castiel had pulled Dean up from perdition itself once upon a time, one could argue this in itself was an ultimate act of love. Just as Crowley had saved Aziraphale from hellfire and Aziraphale had saved Crowley from holy water. They were rather similar in that way, the difference was, Castiel was exceedingly worried that his story would not have the happy ending that it seemed Crowley’s and Aziraphale’s would.

Castiel opened his mouth a few times, trying to find the words, when at last Dean spoke first.

“Cas now you know I’m not great with words. I’m certainly not great with feelings and that shit, frankly I’d rather be back in hell than admitting to feelings but… Crowley seemed to be of the mind that I wasn’t being totally honest with myself.”

“About?” Castiel asked, almost breathless.

“You… me… us…” Dean said.

“Us?” Castiel repeated.

“Cas… don’t make me say it.” Dean was closer now, Castiel got to his feet and looked deep into Dean’s eyes. He had always felt as though he could read the man, but now… he wasn't so sure.

“Dean,” he said barely above a whisper.

Dean swallowed, and before he could stop himself, he grabbed the angel by his trench coat and pulled him in for a kiss. It was hard and rough, with a bit too much teeth but it was them. Castiel sighed happily into the kiss, and for the first time in a long time, Dean felt as though he was doing the right thing. He couldn't explain it, but this felt right in a way that almost nothing else had.

 

— —

“You did a very kind thing back there,” Aziraphale said quietly, laying his head in Crowley’s lap as the demon played with his hair. He was still drunk, or at least that was the excuse he would use later if Crowley tried to pester him about referring to him as kind.

“Yes yes angel,” he said reading a copy of the Infernal Times. He may not have lived in Hell but he liked to keep abreast of the goings on as much as he could. “Kind… nice… all of those despicable little four-letter words you insist on throwing at me.”

Aziraphale grinned despite himself. “Well, I could come up with longer words to describe you,” he said sitting up. Crowley put down his paper to give Aziraphale his undivided attention.

“Such as?”

“Handsome. Devilishly charming. Considerate. Clever. Dashing.”

“You forgot wily and fiendish.”

“Hardly,” Aziraphale said with a smile, as he pressed a soft kiss to Crowley’s lips. “I’ve never met a wile of yours I couldn’t thwart.”

“Is that so?” Crowley grinned, pulling the angel up so he was sitting fully in Crowley’s lap. “Care to bet on that?” He asked.

Aziraphale blushed. “Crowley,” he panted.

“You sobered up quick didn’t you angel?” Crowley purred in his ear.

“Well, wouldn’t be much fun otherwise.”

Crowley laughed, “Don’t think I’m gonna forgive you for calling me kind while being sober," he growled against his skin.

Aziraphale gave him a pout, wiggling his bum in Crowley’s lap in a way that made the demon moan. “I’m sure I can think of something that would earn your forgiveness,” he purred.

Crowley grinned. “Now who’s wily?” He leaned down pressing his lips to Aziraphale’s, dragging his tongue down the angel's jaw towards his throat in the way he knew could always drive him wild. 

"Crowley," he said almost breathless. 

Crowley grinned, sucking a lovebite onto his throat, then paused, admiring his handiwork. "For the record, angel, I would like us to become more formal." 

Aziraphale eyed him, "Formal?" 

"Our relationship. Look I know it's silly and maybe it's even meaningless. But I would love for us to get our own place and settle down and maybe even... get married." 

"You would?" Aziraphale asked, blinking. 

"I know, it's silly." 

"It's not silly at all," Aziraphale assured him. "I'm just, surprised I supposed. It's so very, human." 

"We eat, we sleep, we snog, we do a million and one human things every day that we as celestial and occult beings have no need to do. What's another one?" 

"I'm not opposed to the idea," Aziraphale replied. "Though I believe traditionally, we are meant to date and there is meant to be a proposal of some sort." 

Crowley grinned. "I can do that. Although I would argue we've been dating for the last six thousand years." 

"If you think for a second you're getting out of taking me on a proper actual real date in which we have decided this is a date, Anthony J. Crowley, think again," Aziraphale huffed. 

Crowley couldn't help but smile at that. "I wouldn't dream of denying you anything, angel. We can do this however you like." 

"Good," Aziraphale replied. "Now then, as far as the ring I have no specific request, I'm not showy." Crowley eyed him then, barely biting back a laugh. "But I do think it would be rather... cute if I had something with little horns and you had something with a halo." 

Crowley grinned. "I think that's absolutely brilliant my love," he said giving Aziraphale a soft kiss. It was tender and sweet, and everything they deserved after the last six thousand years. And for the first time, it felt as though Crowley was going at just the right speed for Aziraphale. Or perhaps, Aziraphale had merely learned to move faster for the demon. 

Series this work belongs to: