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Crowley slouched on a bench in Book-girl's garden and watched Aziraphale get increasingly animated as he discussed research methods with Book-girl and Tech-boy. If his gaze was tender, and a little haunted by recent events, well, that was hidden by his sunglasses.
Won't you walk in the garden, come and see how it's grown
Some parts need tending, others just grow on their own
He glanced over only briefly as Angel's-ride sat down beside him, then returned to watching his angel as if he might lose him again at any moment.
"He thinks a lot of you," she commented, "even if he doesn't discuss it out loud."
"Ngk?"
"Mr Crowley, we were literally sharing a head for a while there, I had an extremely good view." Angel's-ride leaned over and patted Crowley on the arm. "I should also thank you for the bonus payment you sent me for it."
He did turn then. "S'just Crowley. And don't thank me."
"Oh, you should call me Tracy then." She smiled at him. Not a wide, professional, smile, but a small, honest one. "I could tell you a few things, if you wanted."
Won't you walk in the garden, what luck that we were given this land
Some seeds just arrived, others we planted by hand
Crowley gave a her a sharp look, and got an equally sharp one back.
"Mr C, I have been earning my way in the oldest profession in the world for quite some time. I have seen more of people than most ever do, and I am extremely familiar with, if you'll pardon the expression, being demonised for it. I don't indulge in that attitude myself."
"Point," he begrudged her. "Talk then."
Never quite Eden, but not quite yet wild
Won't you walk with me for a while?
She hummed a moment under her breath. "There's a certain kind of person who acknowledges that my profession is valid, but cannot comprehend that I might want to be what and who I am. They think if they can just give me another option, they can 'rescue' me. Sound familiar?"
It did. Crowley slouched lower. The concept that someone (Crowley) might not want to be on heaven's side if he had that option was alien to Aziraphale. Not that his angel didn't try, but when he was pushed or stressed - well.
Tracy patted his arm again. "You should talk to him about it. Otherwise it's just going to cause you two trouble in future."
"I'll cross that bridge when I come to it," Crowley mumbled, gaze back on Aziraphale's beaming face. "And take what I can get."
Tracy hummed again, understanding without pushing, and left him to his watching.
Never quite Eden, but not quite yet wild
We take what we're given and we hold it awhile
But I don't think this garden would bloom half as sweet on its own
And I don't want to walk it alone