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Knocks amplified through the vast, stark rooms of Crowley’s apartment. He sauntered on to water the next plant, ignoring it blatantly.
“Hell’s sake, Hastur…” Crowley mumbled, having very good reason to suspect him after he turned up at his apartment at 2 in the morning last time.
The knocking repeated, this time more desperate and rapid.
“Leave me alone for once, Hastur, please,” He said as he sulked to the front door, wrapping the black, silky dressing gown around his waist tightly.
“What do you-“ He froze mid-sentence as he jolted the door open.
Before him, shivering and wet from head to toe was Aziraphale, raking his fingers hastily through his raffish hair.
“I’m so sorry- I really am- it’s not exactly in The Arrangement- but the rain-“ Aziraphale gasped for breath as he shuddered. “No- actually, never mind,” He averted Crowley’s gaze, which was unusually attentive.
“Angel. Come here,” Crowley said softly, extending a hand towards him.
“It’s fine. Really, it is,”
“Just- come in here and have some tea. Warm yourself up.”
“I really shouldn’t be talking to you,” Aziraphale laughed anxiously, backing up. “It was silly of me to come here…”
Aziraphale tensed up as Crowley clutched his arm, his grip tightening slightly as he tried to escape.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” Crowley’s irises expanded, amber flecks vulnerably refracting the faint light of the apartment. “Angel. You know I won’t…”
He felt Aziraphale relax, the damp fabric of his coat loosening from his hand, allowing him to lead him gently through the apartment into the bedroom.
“Here- sit down,” He said, gesturing to the velvet armchair next to the bed. Tentatively, Aziraphale perched on the edge, wrapping his arms around his shivering body. “Let’s get you a change of clothes, angel. You must be cold in that. Wait here.”
“You really don’t have to-“ Aziraphale insisted weakly, too exhausted to properly argue as he eventually settled into the warm armchair.
When Crowley returned to the bedroom, with dry clothes slung over his arm, he stared in surprise at the angel who was already drifting off to sleep, his head dipping drowsily. Approaching him quietly, he knelt down beside him to shake his shoulder.
“Angel- angel…” Crowley murmured, as Aziraphale hazily opened his eyes. “You can go to sleep after you’ve changed.”
“M-mngh…” The angel replied, slowly looking at the clothes Crowley gave him suspiciously- a grey t-shirt and some loose trousers. “It’s not- not exactly what I would wear…” He mumbled fussily.
“It’s better than your soaked clothes- if you change, they will be dry by morning,” Crowley replied softly, heading towards the door. “I’ll wait outside.”
Crowley shut the door, sharply inhaling. His hands tore at his hair, as racing thoughts spread through his mind. Why did you give in, why- you’re too soft to be a demon, Christ’s sake! And what was that feeling- it felt like his heart was caught in his throat as he gripped Aziraphale’s arm- no- he was imagining it- Aziraphale would never, ever love him back…
He jerked towards the door as it slid open, Aziraphale almost unrecognisable in the shadowy hues of charcoal and grey.
“I- I’ve left my clothes on the armchair-“ Aziraphale said, gesturing to the neat pile of folded, wet garments.
“Don’t worry about it,” He replied, approaching the angel. “You can have my bed for tonight- go on… you need to sleep.”
“Where will you sleep?”
“Ngk. It’s fine.”
“I feel bad for taking your-“ Aziraphale sighed, anxiously avoiding Crowley’s gaze.
Crowley stepped towards him carefully, feeling him flinch as he took his hands in his.
“Angel, it’s fine. Take the bed- I insist,” He asserted again.
“Alright. I will. I uh- thank you.”
Aziraphale crawled onto the bed, slipping under the covers, the comforting and musky whiff of Crowley’s cologne that he was accustomed to, cocooning him. He looked at Crowley, his back turned away from him as he fiddled with the light, dimming it before heading to the door.
“Crowley,” Aziraphale whispered.
Crowley turned to him, awkwardly teasing a lock of hair behind his ear as they locked eyes.
“This bed is big enough for the two of us… if- if you wanted to… stay,” Aziraphale mumbled. “I mean- if you don’t- of course, that’s fine-“
“Don’t tease me, angel.” Crowley growled, suddenly defensive, his pupils dilating to fiery orange. “Don’t taunt me with something you’ll never give me,” He swallowed uncomfortably, feeling tears clot up his vision, his hand shaking as it gestured.
“I’m not- I-I’m not- Crowley- I’m sorry-“ Aziraphale blubbered.
“You come here reluctantly, obviously not trusting me,” Crowley spat, pretending to rub his cheek as he wiped away the tears in his eyes. “And now you taunt me with your love- how am I supposed to know what to-“ He broke down, tears running down his face as he crumbled to the ground. He looked up as he felt a hand on his face gently caressing him, suppressing the desire to jerk it away.
“Is that how I made you feel?” Aziraphale said painfully. He paused, lost for words.
“I didn’t mean to- I didn’t know I was hurting you- my dear,” He pressed Crowley to his chest, gently rocking him as he choked on his tears, gasping for air. “I’m so sorry… I’m so sorry…”
“It’s just- I don’t know what to feel anymore, Crowley…” Aziraphale said, anxiously. “I really don’t- I- I-“
“I love you…” He finally stuttered, feeling the weight in his chest ebb and subside. “That is the truth- but so is me being on heaven’s side. They say that I cannot love… a- a-“ He shifted uncomfortably away from the word.
“If I had to choose, I choose love. Loving you.” He gazed longingly at Crowley, who froze in disbelief.
“I’ve waited 6000 years, Crowley, I can’t wait any longer. I can’t. I-I’ve had enough of sides.”
A gasp slipped from Crowley’s lips as Aziraphale kissed him tenderly. Ecstatic pleasure shivered through him, as his hands found their way around Aziraphale, tightly embracing him.
Aziraphale wiped the tears from Crowley’s face as they pulled away from each other. He trembled as Crowley’s hand met his, pulling it away from his face.
“Do it again, Angel. Please,” Crowley begged, feeling the angel’s hand squeeze his softly. He tentatively leaned closer to Aziraphale, who wholeheartedly kissed him again, pressing their clasped hands against his beating heart.
Crowley felt a warmth spread through him as he leant into Azirphale, sighing comfortably. He slipped into the bed next to him, who pulled the duvet over them, tucking it in gently. They snuggled into each other, softly murmuring, as both of them drifted off to sleep.