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indigovigilance · 7 months

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When They Became Their Own Side

Can I just say that gif-clipping the scenes to make this meta broke my heart all over again so good job JF, NG, MS & DT.

Anyways.

I'm going to discuss the major contenders for "the scene in which Aziraphale and Crowley became their own side," and then tell you when I think it happened, below the cut:

Identifying the Third Side

By the time you clicked "Keep reading" you probably had a scene in mind. I'm going to predict it was this:

Which is an extremely strong contender, though frankly this entire scene is filled with character-trajectory changing lines (Satan bless you JF), so I'll take it as within-error-limits if you picked anything immediately adjacent to this.

The reasoning behind it is solid: Aziraphale knows, on a spiritual level, that he is not on Heaven's team anymore. He fully expects to go to Hell. He's ready.

But he finds out that he's not going to Hell. Despite Crawley's statement that nothing has to change, we know that everything has changed for Aziraphale. Neither truly a part of Heaven nor or Hell, he now knows that he occupies the liminal third space, a realm that has been home to Crawley for quite some time. Yes, it is lonely, but maybe a little less lonely than it was before, or would have been; where once there was only one, now there are two. By the end of this scene, they both know that they are on the same side, a third side, and the pain of separation that entails. But being and knowing are different things, and I would argue that Aziraphale was on Crowley's side before he realized it, which means we have to go further back.

The Revelation of Confluence

Maybe you thought of this:

...and this scene is a great choice, because as of this moment Aziraphale knows (and Crowley knows he knows) that they have a confluence of goals and morals. Every action in the rest of Book of Job is based on the common understanding and trust relationship they establish in this scene. But again, did they need to know that they were on the same side to be on the same side? Their moral compasses would still have aligned and they would still be working for common purpose even if Aziraphale had not uncovered the ruse. I would still say we could go further back.

Establishing Loyalty

Perhaps, trying to beat me to the punch, you went back so far that you went off the page, so to speak, to Before the Beginning:

A rare but solid choice, and entirely defensible. Aziraphale has just met Crowley and rather than ratting him out or letting him face the very just and deserved consequences that the Almighty would exact upon such a divergent, free-thinking celestial, Aziraphale gives him advice to keep him safe. He is protecting the Starmaker from Heaven, which seems to put him on the Starmaker's side in opposition to Heaven. Aziraphale's first loyalty is to his principles, stretching his proverbial wing over the Starmaker to shield him from the reign of the Almighty, and no, that wasn't a spelling mistake. We see as well that the Starmaker, quite explicitly, puts his principles first. In this way the two are similarly defective (in the sense that they are defectors), but their principles don't strictly overlap here. Neither of them are fully on Heaven's side, but it would be a stretch to say that they are on the same side.

More importantly, the Starmaker isn't really on anyone's side; the Starmaker doesn't even seem to be aware that there are sides! Just a project that would benefit from some suggestions, a fresh point of view. So they certainly aren't on Aziraphale's side. But the fact that Aziraphale has tried to protect them is important, and I will reference it later, so hang onto that thought.

Forming Trust

Maybe you're a real dreamer, and your beautiful brain lighted upon this scene:

Absolutely brilliant, tumblrite, because Aziraphale isn't even going to tell God that he gave away the flaming sword to a pregnant girl, in fact he'll lie about it to every angel he encounters until the end of days.

But he told Crawley.

Aziraphale puts his fate in this demon's hands when he shares this; after all, what's to stop the serpent of Eden from ratting him out and getting him into Big Trouble? But the thought that Crawley might betray him never seems to occur to Aziraphale, and it seems that his trust is well-placed, because as we know, Crawley will never betray this confidence.

Taken in combination with Before the Beginning, Aziraphale has both kept secrets for the Starmaker and entrusted Crawley with his own secret. This bilateral trust bond is the foundation that "our side" will be built upon.

Nonetheless, up on that wall, Aziraphale still wonders if he's done the right thing, and takes reassurance that yes, being an angel and doing the right thing go hand in hand. After this, Aziraphale will continue to make choices that betray his principles, opting to instead follow the Will of God (see: the Flood). He is on Heaven's side, and whatever Crawley may be, it isn't that.

I think we can safely say that as of this moment, Crawley (besides being head over heels in love), who is already on his own side, is ready to welcome Aziraphale into that space with him, but that Aziraphale isn't taking him up on the invitation yet.

So while it's true that they have a unique bond as of this scene, it still isn't a side.

When Aziraphale accepts the invitation to the Third Side

Sure, Crowley has been on Aziraphale's side since the moment he invented heart eyes in the Garden of Eden, but Aziraphale didn't join Crowley's side until this exact moment:

We were all a little too busy being pissed at Gabriel for this line to realize that he single-handedly brought together the greatest power couple above or below the Earth.

We are simply not stopping Hell.

What they do is up to them.

Aziraphale has exhausted all his options appealing to Heaven to save Job's children, and in this moment, he realizes (because Gabriel tells him directly) that if he wants to save them, he's going to have to go behind Heaven's back to do it.

Crawley and Aziraphale aren't even in the same room. But Aziraphale, at this moment, has turned his back on Heaven and joined Crawley's team.

Crawley just doesn't know it yet.

But Aziraphale is about to go down there and tell him:

A few other meta-analysts have written on the topic of equivocation: communicating in deliberately ambiguous ways so that the person across from you understands your meaning and any unseen spectators do not. (I personally learned this term from @cobragardens, in this meta, and @ao3cassandraic's discussion of kayfabe is a closely related topic)

We should interpret the ensuing scene (which deserves a meta all its own, like this one by @majortomyourcurcuitsdead) through that lens. "You don't have to" and "I know you" are all, on their face, harmless statements, but are all equivocation for:

We are on the same side.

Crowley is understandably wary, and isn't about to let Aziraphale know that he's been clocked. But whatever pretense that he was maintaining dissolves right about here:

Circling back to the top, yes, this is the moment that they each know they know. But knowing that they were on the same side was not a necessary condition of being on the same side. Aziraphale, when he made the decision that any further appeal to Heaven was futile, and that he must appeal instead to Crawley for mercy, had already jumped into the liminal with both feet.

Crawley will try to deny it, but they both know what's up:

In Summary

This distinction may not be important, but the theme of sides is so strong that this felt like a topic worth exploring.

The argument that Aziraphale enters and exits the third team is also a very defensible one; he will denounce and then rejoin Crowley across the millennia to come. But the first time he makes the decision that he will work with Crawley to collude against Heaven and Hell occurs at the very moment when Gabriel tells him that that is the only remaining option if he wants to do the right thing.

Which raises the question: was offering Satan a contract to terrorize Job, assigning a morally ambiguous demon to execute it, and sending in a renegade angel to thwart it all part of the Ineffable Plan?

I'll let you decide.

#good omens #good omens 2 #good omens meta #aziraphale #crowley #ineffable husbands

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avocado-writing · 7 months

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Kinktober 24

24. Bratty Sub, Anal/Oral Training, Caging

You’re going away, and Crowley is whining.

“But Aziraphale’s gone too. I’m going to be so bored,” he pouts. You pat him on the cheek a little condescendingly.

“Aww, well I’m sure you’ll be able to look after yourself, kitten. Besides, our angel will be back in a couple of days so it’s not like it’s for long.”

To be honest, you can’t think of the last long time the three of you were apart, at least all at once. But unfortunately busy schedules collided. Aziraphale has headed off to Spain in order to practise some heavenly deliverance - or something else from head office, you’re not entirely sure - and you’re flying over stateside in order to try and make a deal about an exhibition. Aziraphale can’t really be seen with your demon lover and the last time you let Crowley tag along on one of your business trips he kept you in bed for so long you almost missed the entire meeting altogether. You can’t risk it again, so this time you had to put your foot down.

“Eurrrrgghhhhh,” Crowley groans, sliding down onto the sofa in a most uncomfortable shape. You make a show of sighing.

“Well, I suppose if you’re like that, you won’t want to see the parting gift I got you.”

His head pops up over the top of the couch.

“Gift?”

You lead him to the bedroom and he follows like an eager spaniel.

“Strip.”

As he does you rummage around in your bedside drawer. When you turn he’s naked and ready, so it’s a wonderful reaction when you hold up the cage.

His mouth drops open.

“I…”

“Aww, are you not pleased?”

“What is that?” he asks lowly. You hold it up, hooked on one finger.

“It’s a cock cage, silly. Do you not like it? Aziraphale liked his.”

That’s true. He was moaning when you put it on him, leaking pre out through the bars and covering your hand, making it rather difficult to lock the damn thing around him. Needy little angel.

But he wore it because he’s a good boy.

Crowley swallows. Despite how humiliating it is - or perhaps because of how humiliating it is - you can see he’s interested.

“Come here.”

He does, obediently. His voice hitches in the back of his throat as you lock him into it, head falling forward onto your shoulder for support. He twists uncomfortably against you.

“You alright, darling?”

“Yes,” he hisses. You can see him strain painfully against the restraint. His poor cock is practically throbbing.

But he needs to wait.

“Alright my love,” you tell him at the end of a long and languid kiss, holding his narrow hips flush against your own, “I’ll be back in a week. I know you can be good for me.”

The way he whimpers makes it seem like he can’t.

Aziraphale comes back two days later and Crowley thinks he’ll finally have some relief — but it’s only as they melt into each other’s arms that they realise you still have the keys.

@bootlmoth @elleofdragons @angelic-anarchy27 @yeethaw13 @candlewitch-cryptic @kwyn-q @rat-that-writes @buryustogether @letthenightingalessingagain @ltlthetrifecta @angiestopit @purplefrog1sblog @wereallbrokenangels @angelspathway @clarina04 @belilwen @chaospossum @eightsdoctor @oo-delallymrcrow @silcosmoke @climbingivy97 @live-logs-and-proper @project-sad @just-a-beatlemaniac69 @imagination-phantom @anonymously35 @corgis04 @peytonpenguin37 @catlynharper @unabashedgentlemenpirate @wolfe-houler

@darktealrat @mxxny-lupin @willbedecided @detectiveapparatiagreen @shadowluna25 @kaylinelizabeth4004 @xquinn-bartonx @blue-bell22 @foolishprincipalitee @fandomawesomeness @eweweweewewe @latersgaters-steven @llamaproblem @night-affiliate @randompost18 @hunterispunk @jessica-laufeysdottir @uxcaran @bunnymallowo @jae-michael @jelly-terror @larkiesparkie

#aziraphale x reader x crowley #crowley x reader x aziraphale #Fic: the light the dark and the spaces inbetween #avo’s kt 23

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void-of-existence · 1 day

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this isn’t specifically based off of the prompt, but I felt it fit good enough, and wanted to have an excuse to post this on tumblr too

___

Day six: Apology

Today marked seven years since Aziraphale and Crowley parted ways. It was funny, really, because that day would also be the day they see each other once again. God seemed to like her sevens that way.

"We're closed!" Crowley called across the old bookshop at the knock on the door, pulling his reddish-black curls into a messy bun. He threw himself down onto his cushiony black leather recliner with a sigh, and picked up the book he was currently reading off of the the side table. Just as he opened the book, though, another three knocks sounded from the front of the shop. Crowley groaned loudly as he pushed himself up and stormed to the front of the shop, not bothering to put his sunglasses on. Before he even thought to check who was there, he flung open the door, only to be met with a very familiar face.

"...Ang- 'Ziraphale?" The demon forced down his old habit.

"Hello, Crowley." The way the angel said his name stung, like being gently spritzed with holy water. Crowley looked him up and down, noticing he was now dressed in all white, and possessed purple eyes. "Why are 𝘺𝘰𝘶 here, 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦 𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭 𝘈𝘻𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘦?" Aziraphale cringed, quietly hoping he wouldn't do that. "Crowley look, I'm sorry I made you think I chose Heaven over you. But I-"

"Stop. Don't want to hear it." He cut him off, clearly mad that it took him this long to apologize for something Crowley thought he himself would have gotten over by now.

Aziraphale flinched at the harshness on his tongue, but tried again nonetheless. "Crowley," He stepped forward, "I am truly 𝘴𝘰 very sorry." Crowley, who had put on his glasses to hide his own over-expressive eyes, raised a brow. The angel sighed hopefully at the first sign that he might not just be talking to a brick wall. "In Heaven, time doesn't really pass, so I only realized how long it had been when I came down to visit you. Really, it hasn't been that long, I mean-" He laughed awkwardly, "There have been times when we'd go 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 without seeing or talking to each other. But, this time... It's just- We had never been that 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 before. You spent so much time in the bookshop that you practically lived there, and you even moved some of your plants in." An angelic smile spread across Aziraphale's face, which would usually make Crowley blush, but today was different. He didn't even let his blank unemotional stare falter in the slightest.

The angel's smile fell. "Crowley?"

The demon never broke eye contact from underneath his glasses, even though he knew Aziraphale couldn't see his eyes. "What? 'Ya want a kiss on the cheek?" He leaned against the doorframe, one eyebrow raised in annoyance.

The blonde's pale face grew pink. "I- Well not- ..I wouldn't mind." The last bit of his stuttering mess of a sentence was spoken quieter, but still caught the attention of the demon. Crowley's face and ears became redder than his own dark hair, before he remembered he was supposed to be mad at the angel. He pinched the bridge of his nose.

"The point is" He began, sighing angrily, "Good for you. You said sorry. Now what? You 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘦 me after I had- had kissed you, and you LEFT." Just then, Crowley was glad he had put on his sunglasses earlier, because in that moment, tears pooled in his eyes and threatened to fall. "Then, 𝘚𝘌𝘝𝘌𝘕 𝘠𝘌𝘈𝘙𝘚 𝘓𝘈𝘛𝘌𝘙, all of a sudden you're comin' back to Earth to try 'n apologize? For both of our 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 existences, ever since I fell, you've been tryin' to convince me that I'm 'good'." He hissed, now looking down at the ground. "But you called me the bay guy. You grouped me with all the rest of those fuckers in hell." The demon's voice cracked, a detail that didn't go unnoticed by his angel.

"Oh, Crowley dear," The angel cooed, taking another step closer. "I thought I could fix them, stop the second coming, but they-" Crowley's pupils shrunk into thin slits, he lifted his head to make eye contact with Aziraphale. "The 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵?" They both went silent.

"I thought you-" He was cut off by a loud groan, followed by the slam of the bookshop door. He pushed it back open and shut it gently behind him, speed-walking to catch up with his fast pace.

"I'm not with them anymore, I'm on my own side- You know that! You've known that for several 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘢, Aziraphale!" He miracled the door shut behind the angel as he walked in, "They don't inform me on this shit! Not since Shax became 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘶𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘭, she couldn't give less of a shit about 𝘮𝘦 anymore." Crowley plopped down onto the recliner he had been sitting in earlier, which is when Aziraphale noticed the book sitting on the side table.

"You read the book I suggested you!" He beamed, picking up the book with the navy blue cover.

"Huh?" Crowley looked up at the angel from his spot on the chair. He turned the book to face him, smiling enthusiastically.

"You've recommended about half the shop to me at this point, it's hard to read something you 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯'𝘵 suggested to me."

The angel still smiled sweetly, despite the harsh tone the demon continued to carry. He blushed slightly, knowing Crowley had always been a liar when it came to feelings.

Aziraphale knew he was reading the book because it reminded him of the blonde, and couldn't help but compliment him. "You really are quite sweet, Dear." He cooed, earning a quiet serpentine hiss from Crowley, who seemed deep in thought.

"Crowley?" Yellow eyes turned to make eye contact from under dark glasses.

"I love you."

And even though no one saw it, the demon's expressive eyes blinked a few times in shock, pupils shrinking once again to thin slivers.

"I tried to tell you that seven years ago. That would have been a great time to reciprocate." He looked down at his lap and fidgeted with his chipped black nail polish.

Aziraphale sighed loudly. "Please, don't be dramatic Crowley."

"Me? 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤?" The demon scoffed, "M'kay, I forgive you."

#ineffable may 2024 #ineffable may #ineffable husbands #ineffable divorce #good omens #gomens #good omens season 2 #good omens 2 #go2 #good omens 3 #aziraphale #crowley #aziracrow #angst lol

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scribblerinthestars · 3 months

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And They Bring Good News of a World So Newly Born

By: CaelumCalamitas (me)

Summary: In the elevator on his way up to Heaven, Aziraphale changes his mind. He flees the Metatron and back down to Earth as Crowley is about to drive away.

The plan was to run off to Alpha Centauri to hide.

They wound up on the USS Enterprise... (Rated T for now)

••••••••

A flash of searing white-yellow light flashed against the blackness of an expansive nothingness. Two silhouettes caught in profile before they winked into darkness once again. Almost immediately, from somewhere up above, a sort of mechanism whirred to life at its sensing of movement below. Overhead lighting snapped on, washing the now-seen room in a fluorescent white and giving depth to its vastness.

Crowley and Aziraphale, face-to-face, hand-in-hand, blinked at the brightness of the room. It had been an ordinarily plain sunny day where they’d been just moments before. Both were disoriented, confused, fuzzy, unsteady on their feet. Crowley, the slightly less tipsy of the pair, shook his head in an attempt to free his mind from the fog clouding it over. He was only minimally successful.

Bleary-eyed, partially from the suddenness of the illumination, partially from the tears that he’d refused to shed, Crowley turned to gaze at the large object to the right of him.

It looked to be some sort of vehicle, although for what purpose he hadn’t the faintest idea. It was about the size of a small box truck, and similarly shaped, except with no wheels, or cab, or any real resemblance to a box truck besides its general shape; he estimated it to be about 8 meters in length and 3 in height, with capped-off cylindrical tubes at the bottom on both sides and a set of wide windows spread across its blunt-wedged nose. It was grey -- one of those blasted shades of light grey that Aziraphale favored -- with the numbers 1707/7 painted along the side in bold, black block letters and the name Galileo in red script further up towards its front end.

Swaying, the vertigo catching up with them, still holding tight onto Aziraphale’s hands, Crowley tilted his head toward the craft. “Wouldjyuu look at that, angel,” he slurred. “’Elluva bloody thing, innit?” His knees buckled and he collapsed to the deck, unconscious.

“Indeed,” was all Aziraphale was able to reply before he, too, succumbed to the swirling and swimming blackness that pulled him back under.

#good omens #aziracrow #good omens fanfiction #crowley #aziraphale #crowley loves aziraphale #aziraphale loves crowley #ineffable husbands #star trek #star trek fanfiction

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the-apology-dance · 7 months

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No Nightingales: Chapter One

(This was a little fic I wrote, and I figured I would post it on here as well for anybody who felt like reading it, so ✨Enjoy✨ If enough people like this, I may post the other chapters. Let me know if that is something you’d want✨)

Aziraphale had been making excuses to come down to Earth, each time longer than the last. He felt like he couldn't escape the demon. Everywhere he looked, he seemed to be there. It was odd. His memories projected onto his surroundings, not only of Crowley, but of himself as well. He had made a life down here and to simply be torn away from it all? Book Of Life be damned.

Aziraphale walked about in his bookshop, letting his finger draw a line in the dust on one of the many shelves of books he had acquired over the years. No matter how many times he dusted these shelves, the layer of dust always did seem to regenerate. He was the owner of this bookshop, a word which he used very loosely, but despite that, it was more a place to store his book collection than anything, really.

Much to the confusion of Maggie, Nina, Muriel, and even Crowley in the beginning as he never seemed to sell a single copy of a book, unless he was faced with no other choice. He was truly the definition of a bookworm. Seeming to have first editions of almost every book that he adored. He looked after the bookshop like one would look after their only child.

It was rare Aziraphale found himself in a problem that he wasn’t able to talk himself out of. Well, at least Aziraphale found that to be true, until as of late. The whole cosmic misunderstanding with Crowley seemed to rattle the duo. A massive understatement, and practically one of the biggest lies that Aziraphale had ever said to the demon in the time that they knew each other.

Which was indeed a LONG TIME. More than 6000 years to be precise.

Muriel wore a frown as they saw Aziraphale closely examining the dust, like he would find an answer hidden somewhere in it. He turned in confusion as he heard Muriel chirping in a slightly flustered manner, rocking back and forth on their black buckled flats. The lower-ranking angel had started to profusely apologize to the now Archangel for the state of things.

“That is all my fault, Mr. Fell! I should be taking better care of your bookshop! Especially since I was given specific rules on how to take care of it!” It was now Aziraphale’s turn to be flustered as he turned to Muriel, with an expression not of anger or disdain, but simply hesitation.

‘What did heaven do to this poor angel?’

“No, no! Muriel, excuse me if I misheard, but would you show me these rules?” Muriel gave a quick nod before running off to fetch the “rules” they spoke of. In the meantime, Aziraphale let himself steal a quick glance over at the couch in the back of the bookshop, half-heartedly hoping Crowley would be there, draped over the couch or the armchair in an odd position that would be uncomfortable for anyone but him. There had been a mutual agreement that the armchair was Crowley's. He normally sat there while Aziraphale was working, either in his snake form or his human form, gangly limbs sprawled out on the chair.

He wasn’t surprised when Crowley was nowhere to be seen, yet he couldn’t help the feeling of his heart dropping at the sight. He promised himself that he wouldn’t go chasing after Crowley when he came down from Heaven, yet as time passed the more his mind started to like the idea of breaking that promise. Just a little. On his end, he could feel the love radiating not only radiating from his chest, but his entire being towards the demon.

Muriel appeared once again holding a piece of paper out to him, which he eagerly took. His eyes scanned the page and his shoulders dropped. He would know that scrawly handwriting anywhere. It belonged to Crowley.

HOW TO RUN THE BOOKSHOP 101

-DO NOT SELL THE BOOKS TO ANYONE. (you can tell anyone who comes in looking for one to sod off as quickly and politely as possible)

-Close the shop at 6 PM. Open it whenever you feel like, he never really had an issue with that.

-Nothing FLAMMABLE should be INSIDE the bookshop. (If candles ARE NEEDED, use the electric ones in the drawer with his fountain pens)

-The further back the books are in the shop, the older they are. (Do not touch the ones near the staircase in the back of the shop, they will fall apart)

-This bookshop was created sometime in the 1700s, so everything is pretty old and also very delicate (he never told me exactly when it opened, it was somewhere around there)

-Please dust the bookshelves off at least once every day (or as many times as you’d like)

-Don’t bother moving the books around he has his own odd system that he uses to sort them

Not even at gunpoint. Did he really watch him that intently? Apparently, he was right that you never could tell exactly what he was looking at with his sunglasses on. Aziraphale moved to the back of his couch, sitting down gently on the cushions. He felt his eyes well up with tears, his vision blurring as Crowley’s smell was also embedded in the fabric of the couch.

Just as Crowley seemingly knew what Aziraphale smelt like, he knew what Crowley smelt like. It was unmistakable. Red patchouli, lilac, mahogany, lemon rind, oakmoss, leather, and vanilla husk. The leather could possibly be because of The Bentley he drove most of the time. The sheer scent alone was enough to make Aziraphale feel a tightness in his chest that convinced him that he was going mad. It was like when his wings had been cramped in the ethereal plane for too long.

Speaking of discomfort, his wings sprung free from their confinement from the sheer emotion that was washing over the angel. White feathers fluttered through the air, gently landing on the carpet below him as he sobbed, body trembling. He didn’t know what the demon would truly have turned into within the time they had separated from each other. He didn’t know where he stood anymore. He wouldn’t blame Crowley if he hated him. He probably already never wanted to see him again. This fight was their biggest one of all, and it was the only one that mattered. They had their disagreements before, of course, but this one really took the cake.

Even worse? Crowley didn’t know half of it. Metatron meant to separate them and they weren’t the only ones who could cast a miracle. While sipping his coffee, Aziraphale choked on the liquid when Metatron placed a vial of hellfire on the table across from him. He had simply given himself up, if it spared Crowley. Without question. Not only that, he had decided to press a blade against his throat, which he had cast a vanishing spell on so that Crowley wouldn’t see it, and to ask if his point was perfectly clear.

With a gulp, he nodded and made the wager with Metatron. He’d go to Heaven, but if they touched one hair on Crowley’s head? The deal was off. Not only that. If Crowley got any sense that he was being forced? He would be killed on the spot. The thought of it alone was enough to send a shiver down his spine.

And then it all went to, well, he guessed Hell. Ironic.

“It’s him, isn’t it?” Muriel questioned. Aziraphale gave a humorless laugh, nodding slowly. He wasn’t going to let himself be in denial anymore. He knew what he felt. In fact, he knew for quite a long time. He was quite stupid for denying its existence.

It simply seemed it was easier to simply live out their existence and know what they had instead of actually putting a label on it. However, when did Crowley that day? It was terrifying. He wanted to say “I love you.” Instead, that seemed to get caught in his throat and what slipped out instead was “I forgive you.”

It seemed a lot of three-word sentences were giving him trouble as of late. Though they weren’t normally strenuous, they definitely seemed to be posing a challenge for Aziraphale.

He even had the audacity to guiltily raise his fingers to his lips where Crowley’s own ones were. Even to this day, when his mind wandered, he swore he could still feel his lips against his. A feeling which he didn’t let himself cherish as he felt he didn’t deserve it. He had rejected Crowley. More than 6000 years of friendship and comradery down the drain.

Composing himself, he sat up straight once again, and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. Muriel gave a sympathetic smile as they pointed outside the bookshop’s window. Aziraphale shifted his gaze but didn’t turn his head.

“I have also been making sure to take good care of Mr.Crowley’s car ! He left the Bentley parked outside. Not sure why though.” Aziraphale almost gave himself whiplash from how quickly he turned his head towards them.

“You have The Bentley?!”

#good omens #good omens 2 #crowley #aziraphale #ineffable husbands #good omens spoilers #david tennant #neil gaiman #micheal sheen #good omens fanfiction #i wrote a fic #this was fun to write #enjoy my brainrot #i wrote this instead of sleeping #hope you enjoy #🫶🏼

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aristocratic-otter · 8 months

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Hello all! I've been tagged on so many lovely things the last couple of weeks and, while I've been writing, it's just been one step to far to post with everything else I've got to do. But I've got time today, hooray! So first to thank all the lovely folk who keep tagging me even when I disappear:

@ivelovedhimthroughworse, @katmiscellanious, @prettygoododds, @messofthejess, @j-nipper-95, @rimeswithpurple, @aroace-genderfluid-sheep, @you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @wellbelesbian, @alleycat0306, @hushed-chorus, @ionlydrinkhotwater, @whatevertheweather, @ileadacharmedlife, @confused-bi-queer, @cutestkilla, @nightimedreamersghost, and @shrekgogurt.

On to the sentences!

From Westward Son:

“Mistress Penny!” he shouts. “My little brother is coming, and my mother wants your help!”

We all straighten. We’d thought Chapa was heavily pregnant months ago, but she’s only gotten more immense since. She’s had to ride in the wagon for the last two months, once her bulk meant she couldn’t keep up with the slow pace of the wagon train. Penny is certain that she’s carrying twins, given the size of her.

From my Age of Sail AU:

When I emerge onto the beach, blinking rapidly against the sunlight, the tide has gone out, and the rock spur our ship is hung up on is surrounded by prolly only a foot or so of water.

“Ah, there you are, Simon lad,” Davy appears at my elbow, and I turn obediently to listen. “The tide’s low enough,” he tells me. “We’ll take the raft out an’ you and the Pitch boy can climb around the ship like the monkeys you are and retrieve anythin’ that’s of use.”

“Aye, sir,” I tell him. I’m bone tired, but we’ll need those barrels and boxes of goods on the ship if we’re to survive here.

From this year's COTTA: Snow Fox

Penny’s horse was done in from her wild ride to Snow Island, so she’s mounted up behind me, clinging to my waist, and Shepard is riding behind my second in command. Which would be fine were she not using her position to hiss angry rebukes in my ear.

Finally, I’ve had enough. “Fine, I get it, Pen. I’m an arsehole! What can I do about it now?”

“Now?” she shouts back. “Now you can save my brother. Later? You’re going to train me, and Shepard, so that we can defend our family and make sure this never happens again!”

From To Heal A Broken Mind (final chapter!):

His head is tilted down, his hair loose and falling into his face. He tends to do that when he feels vulnerable, I’ve noticed. Like his hair is a mask that will protect him from a harsh world. It’s odd..I never used to think of Baz as someone who’d ever need or want protection. But I know better now, and I’m glad for it. Glad that he lets me see this side of himself.

And From Saving Simon Snow

“Now grab Baz’s hand, Simon, and think about what I told you to,” she directs. Simon does. I do my best to clear my mind, though when Simon closes his eyes and concentrates, I can’t help but think about how erotic he looks, with his closed eyes turned towards the roof of the car, his lower lip sucked into his mouth, his forehead tense with concentration. Crowley, he looks like he’s in the midst of an orgasm!

And that’s when I feel a surge of excitement, mixed with joy and incredulity. The feelings aren’t completely at odds with my own, but I still report them dutifully to Bunce.

Yes, only five WIPs! Except actually there's a secret project going on that I can't share yet...and CORB choosing starts soon...so, yeah.

Tag Backsies to everyone above for Wednesday, along with these folks:

@artsyunderstudy, @angelsfalling16, @bazzybelle, @bookish-bogwitch, @carryonsimoncarryonbaz, @dragoneggos, @erzbethluna, @fatalfangirl, @facewithoutheart, @ic3-que3n, @krisrix, @larkral, @letraspal, @moodandmist, @frjsti, @raenestee, @thehoneyedhufflepuff, @theearlgreymage, @tea-brigade, @upuntil6am, @yellobb-old.

#co/ws/awtwb #six sentence sunday #snowbaz #carry on through the ages #cotta 2021 #cotta 2023 #House AU #Blue Lagoon AU #Canon Divergence #forced marriage

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eisforeidolon · 9 months

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So I came across a meta post based on screenshots [X][X] of the list of book titles shown in 4x18 that Chuck published. There's a discrepancy where only 24 titles are given when there are 60 tv episodes across that span. Now not only did the meta author skip right past the possibility that since novels are generally longer than a tv show episode, books might generally cover multiple episodes? As well as the even more likely possibility that whoever was typing up the list for the props department got lazy?

The post directly jumped right into full on stan conspiracy-think of how this must be why all the fans in the SPNverse are Sam girls because Chuck purposefully omitted all of Dean's best episodes! Naturally this gets built on in the replies & comments, with even more conspiratorial leaps about how the writers were trying to make fans in-universe love Sam and think he was a hero because nobody does in the real world (snort) yadda yadda Chuck won theory is true yadda yadda D/C was silenced *sob* yadda yadda the story was writing itself without the permission of the writers writing it [crazy eyes].

My other glaring issue - aside from the obvious of what an absurdly biased load of batshit all of that is? I just do not understand why someone trying to suggest a genuinely legitimate theory about a show spanning fifteen years and many different writers? Wouldn't consider for a hot minute before running full tilt with an idea: Hey, this is one random-ass prop screen from one episode that Sam scrolls by fairly quick, does this actually line up with how much of the story we're shown the in-universe fans getting elsewhere? Spoiler: No.

Let's ignore that Chuck specifically mentions the ghost ship from Red Sky at Morning, which isn't on the list, in that very same episode. He could be getting visions of stories and not writing them - unlikely but possible. No, lets jump to Crowley using the books in Clip Show to track down and kill "everyone [Sam & Dean have] ever saved". He says he's able to do it because he has "his sources and a crack research team" as he's shown with a pile of Chuck's books as he's saying it [X]. It's unlikely he would have found Sarah from Provenance through another source besides the books, but theoretically possible.

What you can't use handwaves to set aside, though? Is that as the scene continues, he holds up a copy of what is clearly A Very Supernatural Christmas [X], which is not on the list. It's shown again as part of Metatron's library in Meta Fiction, along with Tall Tales [X], also not on the list. These are direct in-universe physical books shown onscreen. While we're at it, there are a couple of times fan characters make it clear in dialogue other episodes/books exist. In The Real Ghostbusters, Demian and Barnes walk by Sam and Dean playacting a scene directly from Hunted about John's last order regarding Sam. Same episode, Becky tells them about Crowley getting the Colt from Bela, specifically citing the title of Time is On My Side. Last one, in Fan Fiction, Marie immediately jumps to knowing what a tulpa is and says, "Well, in Hell House, Sam & Dean-". None of those three books are on that list. So that list is NOT a comprehensive one for all the published books in-universe.

Part of me really wants to go on an even more extended rant here about fixating on one blink-and-you'll-miss-it detail and imbuing it with six metric tons of meaning without even once seeming to consider if it's actually remotely significant or, y'know, put in with legitimate intention. Even if the meaning being projected isn't completely bonkers. Seeing this done over and over again by people latching myopically onto whatever random tidbit will let them jump to the conclusions they already want ... sigh. Like, this is not how you come up with a good theory, starting from an utterly rotten base!

#spn discussion #pedantic #bad meta #long post

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outofgreysmind · 5 days

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Muriel appreciation post! No part of me could have predicted how much I would end up loving them. I went into season 2 very wary of them; I was convinced they would be one of those characters that feel shoehorned in for a sequel/second season without really feeling like they belong in the narrative. I kind of expected them to be a flimsy replacement for season 1 Aziraphale's optimism toward heaven. You know how the plot of "The Force Awakens" is basically the same as "A New Hope" but they had to bring in new characters because you can't just throw the old characters into the same plot again? Kind of like that. But I love this optimistic, naive little disaster child with all my heart and I love how Aziraphale and Crowley both pretty much instantly clocked them as someone with no ill intentions and kind of took them under their wing, so to speak.

I see people draw Muriel in whites and beiges for their earth wardrobe quite often, but I don't think that fits them at all. All of the clothes we see them in in season 2 are heaven-influenced, but their utter excitement at all things human in their short time on earth makes me think they'll be the type to get super excited about colors and start taking every opportunity they get to wear every color possible, all at once. I see them as favoring comfy, colorful clothes with no concern for whether or not their outfits are "fashionable," and yeah, maybe I'm projecting a bit of my own tastes onto them and designing outfits I would wear if I was a little less socially anxious, but I digress. The sketch with the outfit ideas was just me kind of playing around with some ideas for them.

The semi-realistic painting is a paintover of a screenshot; as you can most likely tell, my typical art style is not particularly realistic, but I do like to practice that kind of thing from time to time. This one was meant largely as a color study; I was color picking from the original screenshot for my colors, and any time I do that, it blows my mind how far the colors I end up picking are from what I perceived them as/would have selected without the eyedropper. This painting in particular was redder than I would have anticipated.

#good omens #gomens #muriel #angel muriel #muriel good omens #artists on tumblr #greys draws

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just-1other-nerd · 9 months

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Good Omens live blog ep. 8

Love how they include Bible stories like the one about Job

Aziraphale has also got a soft spot for children, just like his husband. And ge takes into consideration what Sitis wants, this just once again shows how disconnected the archangels are

The song!

Wait, so Gabriel performed the giant miracle?

It actually works! Nobody seems to recognise him

Aziraphale is so bad at lying, but now we know why Crowley and him try to matchmake Nina and Maggie

Crowley just being supportive is so great. They must have looked like they're dating

"They look into each others eyes and realise they were mad for each other" bro, I think you're no longer talking about Nina and Maggie, you also shouldn't project onto others. He's insisting so hard when Aziraphale doubts it, like he has to assure himself that it's mutual

Jane Austen just became even cooler

Oooooh ancient drama, let's go

Crowley actually didn't kill shit and Aziraphale is so proud and at the same time radiating "I told you so" energy

The two older ones are such entitled brats

I bet Crowley got them into the basement early just to spend more time with Aziraphale

Oh Lord, Crowley was the one who tempted Aziraphale to drink and eat some of his favourite things in the world

Crowley being on his side all along just fits, you know?

Have you heard how he said God's side and not Heaven?

Crowley wanting to ask the questions so badly, he wants to know the ineffable plan

The ineffable husbands just bullshitting their way through one crisis at a time and the angel lied

Aziraphale insisting on the Bentley being their shared property gives me life! And he's one of those people who insist on tests, hilarious

The angel is having an existencial crisis, and the demon just going "Don't worry" and then continues to assure Aziraphale but simultaniously showing him that they're not so different. Now they're lonely together

#good omens #crowley #anthony j crowley #aziraphale #ineffable husbands #nina #maggie #archangel gabriel #GOS2Spoilers #good omens live blog

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here-comes-the-moose · 11 months

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Aziraphale and Crowley: *walking through the park, chatting*

Family with a baby and small child: * walk by, are adorable*

Aziraphale: Aww Crowley look how cu-

Crowley, pulling up the BabiesRUs website on his phone: We should have ten kids.

#Aziraphale: TEN KIDS! In this economy?#Crowley: Angel we’re supernatural beings we could make it work!#crowley would absolutely be the person in a relationship who upon seeing babies or kids is like omg I’ll take ten #not me projecting onto Crowley once again #like I only want one child if I have kids #but when I was with my bf and saw a baby I was out here ready to have at least eight babies #Crowley #aziraphale #ineffable husbands #Crowley loves kids #good omens #incorrect ineffable husbands

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tutuntuntuinen · 6 months

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Close eyes, breathe in, breathe out

I wrote this today and I'll just leave it here. It's Good Omens fan fiction. It takes place 6 months after S2.

Aziraphale longs for Earth and fears seeing Crowley. Most of the time, he deals with it by closing his eyes and breathing in and out. If you're looking for good dialogue between these two idiots, you're in the wrong place. However, here is a chance for a better future.

I think I'm projecting my own anxiety into this too much. Sorry about that. Also, Englis is not my native language.

Aziraphale had returned to Heaven and was now diligently working as the supreme archangel to make Heaven a better place, all while keeping an eye on Metatron's plans regarding the Second Coming. The beginning had been tough. Aziraphale missed Earth and everything it had offered him for the past 6000 years. Books, pastries, music... and, of course, a certain demon.

During the first week, Aziraphale struggled every second not to rush into the elevator and return to Earth. Soon, avoiding thoughts of returning to Earth became easier as he focused on the tasks assigned to him. None of these tasks concerned the Second Coming; they were mundane, dull, and insignificant. It suited Aziraphale at that moment more than anything. He immersed himself so deeply in them that there was simply no time for thoughts. If Aziraphale lifted his gaze from his papers and looked into the bright emptiness of Heaven, his thoughts immediately returned to Earth, causing him physical pain in his chest and tears welling up in his eyes. So, he immersed himself in his tasks, and when they finished, he begged for more. Anything to avoid thinking. And so, six months passed.

More challenging were the situations where he was asked about Earthly matters. Angels were indeed ignorant of all things related to humans. Once, an angel asked him about the Queen. They wanted to know why her death was such a big deal and how it related to music. The question caused a biological short circuit in Aziraphale's brain. The walls he had built in his mind collapsed one by one like dominoes. He had strongly identified as English, and the death of the queen was, of course, a shocking piece of news. What completed Aziraphale's short circuit and made him rush towards the elevators was the mention of music.

Britain, Queen, Bentley, Crowley... "You are my best friend," "Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy," "Don’t Stop Me Now"... Inside the elevator, Aziraphale's mind played snippets of Queen's songs he had heard over the years from Bentley's radio. Midway through the elevator ride, he almost pressed the stop button, realizing he was actually in the elevator and not just imagining it. But it was as if Earth was pulling him, and he kept his hand away. Right then, Heaven didn't matter. When the elevator doors opened, his eyes were so full of tears that he could hardly see ahead. The elevator had manifested itself onto a corner in Soho, and he took the necessary steps to step out. It was his first time on Earth in half a year. The smells of the city, the noise of traffic, and the crowds pushed against him strongly, and the angel stood still. He squeezed his eyes shut and wiped the tears from his cheeks with the back of his hand. When he opened his eyes again, he saw his bookstore, Nina's café, and Maggie's record store in the distance. The pain in the angel's chest grew so intense that he almost turned back to the elevator. However, he clenched his fists, closed his eyes, and breathed deeply of London's air. He breathed out and then in again. He repeated it until his hands relaxed, and he could open his eyes once more.

Aziraphale was now breathing calmly and watching the familiar street's bustle relatively calmly. A part of him hoped to see familiar faces on the street, while another part doubted whether his mind could handle another surge of emotions. His stomach churned at the thought that Crowley might turn the corner at any moment. As if fearing this, the angel closed his eyes again and focused on regulating his intensified breathing. He was afraid to open his eyes. He felt around with his hand, found the wall, and leaned against it. What if he opened his eyes and Crowley was right there? What if he wasn’t? Crowley could be anywhere between London and Alpha Centauri. Aziraphale had last seen Crowley standing next to Bentley, watching as he entered the elevator with Metatron. Crowley hadn’t moved, and Aziraphale didn’t know what the demon had done after the elevator doors closed. It had been six months now.

Reality felt much stronger on Earth than in Heaven, and Aziraphale hadn’t been prepared for that. Memories that Aziraphale had actively tried to suppress started leaking through the protective walls built over months. The encounter with Crowley in the bookstore was one of these memories. He wasn’t ready then, and he wasn’t ready now. When would he be ready? Would he ever be? If he could have the conversation again, would he still know what to say? Aziraphale felt his knees giving way, and he sank down against the wall, knees bent.

Was there a version where he could both save the world and be with Crowley?

If Crowley were standing in front of him now, what would he say?

Aziraphale sighed heavily, opened his eyes, and looked up. Crowley wasn’t standing before him, leaning on his car, or walking down the street. Aziraphale wasn’t sure if he was relieved or disappointed, but at least he was calmer. He pushed himself off the wall, stood up. He looked around once more and then stepped back into the elevator and returned to Heaven.

***

The espresso served in a small cup should be enjoyed right away because cooling significantly affects its taste. A small cup of espresso cools down to ice-cold within a minute. The cooling of a mug containing six servings of espresso takes approximately the duration of one angel's mental breakdown.

***

Aziraphale felt better after his visit to Earth, sensing improved self-control. He was relieved that the visit hadn’t caused any repercussions. Apparently, the movements of the supreme archangel weren't closely monitored, and even Gabriel had occasionally visited Earth. Aziraphale sought out the angel who had inquired about the Queen and made it clear to them the distinction between Queen Elizabeth II and the band named Queen. Talking about the subject still stirred a burning sensation in the angel's chest, but it didn't feel as severe as before the visit to Earth. He noticed himself smiling and felt an excited flutter in his stomach as the curious angel posed further questions about music. Aziraphale decided that Heaven needed a record player. And perhaps books as well... he knew where he would retrieve those from.

To keep himself in check, Aziraphale decided to limit his visits to Earth to twice a month. It would be enough to have something to look forward to all the time, yet little enough for him to continue his work and focus on why he had come to Heaven in the first place. Before his next visit to Earth, Aziraphale had made a list of things he intended to acquire. He documented the music and book lists in Heaven's official records as educational material. This time, as Aziraphale stepped into the elevator, he was much calmer than before. He straightened his bowtie and adjusted his waistcoat as the elevator descended, but as Earth approached, the tension became almost unbearable. What if Crowley were waiting behind the elevator doors? Aziraphale shook his head, feeling paranoid. The demon had no reason to wait in front of Heaven and Hell's elevator doors on an ordinary Wednesday morning. Still, the angel held his breath as the doors opened and sighed when they revealed the typical morning rush and crowd of people in Soho.

Aziraphale headed straight for Maggie's record store. He had a list of records he wanted Maggie to procure for him. The angel had spent much time compiling a list of the top hundred records that would serve as the foundation for Heaven's record collection. He had a similar list for books. As Aziraphale reached the entrance of the record store, he took a deep breath, straightened his posture, and stepped inside. He had anticipated Maggie's reaction, but the screaming, almost leaping woman over the counter surprised him nonetheless. Maggie hurried over to Aziraphale, opening and closing her mouth but unable to produce a single word. Eventually, she hugged Aziraphale tightly, wiping tears from her eyes after breaking away.

"You..." Maggie began. "...you've come back?" she continued, her voice uncertain.

"I came to pick up some records," Aziraphale replied, managing to keep his tone steady and business-like. He retrieved a white paper from his pocket. He noticed it was trembling slightly in his hands and focused on breathing in and out again. Emotions were rising again, but he wanted to keep them in check. If he let them take over, he would lose his ability to function and would have to return to Heaven before sorting out all his affairs.

"When... how long... have you...?" Maggie continued to stumble over her words, unable to form a complete sentence. Aziraphale smiled at the woman who hadn't changed much during his absence. The angel's throat burned as he considered asking about Crowley, but he decided it wasn't the right time. Not yet. He looked into Maggie's eyes and shook his head. Maggie gazed back at the angel and understood that it wasn't the time for questions.

"If it's possible for you to gather the records listed here, I'll come to collect them in two weeks," the angel said calmly. "Do you think that's achievable?"

Maggie looked at Aziraphale, visibly calmer now, and then took the paper, examining it. She quickly read through it and then looked back at the angel. "Don't you already have most of these?" she asked, confused.

"They're not precisely for me, they're educational materials," the angel responded. Maggie furrowed her brows but decided not to inquire further. Aziraphale had been away for a long time, and Maggie didn't know what had happened during that time. She only knew what the locals talked about. She also knew that her and Nina's intervention regarding Aziraphale and Crowley's relationship hadn’t resulted in the desired outcome; something unpleasant had happened. Maggie looked into Aziraphale's eyes, took his hand, and squeezed it reassuringly. The angel startled but looked at Maggie, and she noticed sorrow in his gaze. However, Aziraphale smiled, squeezed Maggie's hand, and nodded.

"I'll come to pick up the records in two weeks," he said and left the record store. Maggie watched him go but then began going through the list, searching for the records.

***

Aziraphale was mentally breathless after stepping out of the record shop. He had been preoccupied with the possibility of Crowley suddenly appearing from around the corner, and hadn't considered what he would say to other people he knew. Just before leaving, he had contemplated stopping by Nina's café, but now the thought seemed impossible. Maggie had understood from Aziraphale's expression alone that he wasn't up for answering questions, but Nina surely wouldn't give up until she had received a detailed account of the events of the past six months. The angel briskly walked past the café towards the bookstore, grasped the door handle, and slipped inside. The bookstore felt familiar and quiet. Aziraphale stood in the entrance for a moment, looking around. He had expected the place to stir painful memories and quickly had to shut his eyes to protect himself from them. Leaning against the wall, he focused on breathing again. Soon, however, he heard footsteps coming from the direction of the counter and opened his eyes. Muriel had paused in the middle of the room, staring at the other angel with their mouth agape and eyes wide.

"Are you alright?" the angel asked, concerned, taking a few steps closer. Aziraphale straightened up and smiled. He focused on Muriel and only Muriel, avoiding looking at all those places where he had spent time with Crowley. Or that corner where Crowley had stood when Aziraphale had told him about his departure to Heaven and Crowley's place by his side. He also absolutely did not look at the spot in the middle of the room where Muriel was standing right now... where... Aziraphale felt his bowtie tightening around his neck, and he coughed, trying to loosen it. He took a deep breath.

"Everything's fine," he said. "I came to place an order for books."

"Unfortunately, all the books are currently out of stock," Muriel replied, their face serious. Aziraphale stared at the other angel for a moment and then glanced around. The shelves were filled with books, as if nothing had been touched in half a year.

"Ah, I see... I understand," Aziraphale replied, and he felt a small smile creeping onto his lips. He suddenly felt like hugging the angel but settled for warmly smiling instead. "Good job!"

"Thank you," Muriel replied, smiling, pride in their voice. They rocked back and forth on their heels with their hands behind their back.

"I won't be taking books from this shop; I want to place an order with a certain collaborator. The contact details are in the desk drawer," Aziraphale explained and walked towards the writing desk. Muriel watched him go and made no move to stop him. Apparently, Aziraphale still held the proprietor's rights in this store. He fetched his address book from the drawer and then sat down, writing the address on an envelope. He took out a list of the chosen books from his pocket, put the list into the envelope, and wrote an accompanying letter explaining the details of the order. Throughout the entire writing process, Muriel stood in the middle of the room, observing Aziraphale's activities. When the letter was finished, Aziraphale walked over to Muriel.

"Thank you for taking good care of the shop," he said to Muriel, smiling, and patted them on the shoulder.

"I couldn't do this alone," to Aziraphale's surprise, Muriel replied. Muriel no longer looked towards Aziraphale but out of the window. Aziraphale turned to look, but he didn't see anyone there.

"Who..." Aziraphale started but then shook his head. "No, don't..." he stepped back. "Good job, see you later," he muttered and continued stepping back out of the bookstore. He opened the door, stepped onto the bookstore steps, and saw in front of him the black Bentley. Leaning on the black car was Crowley, who was looking straight at Aziraphale, arms crossed. Sunglasses covered the demon's eyes, and his expression was serious. Aziraphale was close to losing consciousness. His legs felt like they were giving way, and he leaned against the bookstore door. His heart was pounding harder than ever, and the burning sensation in his chest was almost unbearable. It felt like his brain was shutting down block by block, and his only escape was to shut his eyes again.

"Are you secretly visiting Earth again?" Crowley asked in a low voice devoid of any emotion. Again? Aziraphale swallowed, feeling exposed in front of Crowley. He dared not open his eyes, not to face Crowley's condemning gaze. The angel focused on breathing again. If he kept his eyes closed and focused only on breathing, would the outside world cease to exist?

"Come on, let's go inside," Crowley's voice suddenly sounded right next to Aziraphale, and he felt the demon grip his elbow. Aziraphale flinched, straightened up, and opened his eyes. Crowley didn't look towards him but leaned to open the door next to the angel and pushed him inside the bookstore. Muriel made a small startled sound upon noticing the duo at the door.

"Muriel," Crowley said in a tense tone, and before he could continue further, Muriel nodded and hurried out of the bookstore. Every limb of Aziraphale felt like it was made of wood. He couldn't imagine moving, and his head was buzzing. The demon still held onto the angel's elbow, guiding him deeper into the bookstore and onto a sofa. Crowley himself sat in an armchair, crossed his arms, and casually rested one leg over the other. Aziraphale glanced at him; sunglasses covered his eyes, and his expression remained serious. Aziraphale quickly averted his gaze and shut his eyes again. It was silent for a long time. Aziraphale felt himself calming down again. He opened his eyes and looked towards the demon. Crowley stared back at him through his glasses. The sun shone through the bookstore window at an angle that allowed Aziraphale to see the demon's yellow eyes. It was impossible to say how much time passed. They just silently stared at each other. Aziraphale wished more than anything that Crowley would say something, but he knew it wouldn't happen. This time, Aziraphale had to make the first move. The staring continued for a while longer. Then Aziraphale opened his mouth. However, he couldn't say anything. Crowley's expression flickered, and he raised his eyebrows slightly. Aziraphale swallowed, looked deep into the demon's eyes, and asked softly and uncertainly:

"Is there a version where we could be together and still save the world?"

Crowley blinked and looked past Aziraphale out of the window for a moment. The demon sighed, and with the exhalation, all stiffness and tension disappeared as he sank into the soft armchair.

"Perhaps..." he replied, his voice not louder than a whisper.

***

And yes, "Is there a version..." is shamelessly stolen from Staged and I regret nothing.

#good omens #fanfiction #aziraphale is anxious

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vampiremarz · 9 months

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Split The Heavens

"We're closed" The Demon said flatly, pushing his glasses up so they would stay propped up on his forehead(that corner of the bookshop was way too dark to wear sunglasses, And read something) "I thought Muriel was running the Bookshop?" the customer said, their oh so familiar voice rang in Crowley's ears. His skin crawled, as he looked over his shoulder. "Aziraphale." he monotoned. "

Something wet and warm ran down the demon's cheek, it burned like holy water, but worse. it didn't kill him, but the burn wouldn't go away. He didn't know demon's could cry.

cross posted on ao3

The Demon had watched The Angel step into the elevator with a smile on his face. It broke his heart. He felt it slowly crack and shatter into a million pieces. his dark glasses covered his eyes welling up with tears. As music began to play on the radio as he turned the key in the Bentley, instantly he turned it off, not wanting to wallow in his emotions. He slammed his foot down onto the gas pedal, going as fast as the Bentley would let him. oddly slow compared to their usual 90 in Central London. "oh for fucks sake" He groaned. His glasses had slipped down his nose so he pushed them up with his middle finger.

His plants seemed to wilt behind him like he could hear them crying for help. "stop your whining, I watered you last night" He said through his teeth. He shuffled through the stack of CDs and tapes stashed in the glove compartment, frustrated he slammed it shut, turning the radio on and switching a few channels.

His original plan was to go back to his flat, but now that Shax had returned to hell his "home" was his once again, instead of slowing down and parking the Bentley in his parking spot, the brakes seemed to falter, the steering wheel turned on its own and Crowley was on the road once again. "FOR FUCKS SAKE" He slams his fist down on the dashboard, and the radio sputters.

"Love of my life, can't you see?

(Please bring it back)

Bring it back, bring it back, don't

take it away from me

Because you don't know what it

means to me (means to me)"

Love of my life by Queen had started playing on the radio, or the Bentley's mind of its own had decided to force Crowley to face his own emotions, the emotions he had felt for the first time ever

"You will remember when this is blown over

And everything's all by the way

(ooh, yeah)"

The radio continues. Crowley took his hands off of the steering wheel, looking ahead of him at the road as the Bentley seemed to drive itself.

"When I grow older, I will be there at your side" He sang along to the song. "To remind you how I still love you- Dammit Angel" He cursed under his breath before removing his glasses. In 1974 they had seen Queen play that song live, together. Aziraphale had apparently traded one of his books to get them "VIP" tickets, whatever that meant. ( And coincidentally, Crowley got to meet the band) He saw them 8 more times before Queen's last album was released.

He vividly remembered how during the bridge of the song Aziraphale's hand had brushed up against his, of course, they were sitting next to each other, they had gone together. Not like it was a date or anything(it was)

Lost in his thoughts the next thing he knew he was back in front of the bookshop. A.Z. Fell and Co. the oh so familiar sign read.

the bells above the door rang as he stepped inside "Welcome!" Muriel shouted from behind a pile of books almost twice their size, poor thing had just discovered what books were and now they were practically swimming in the mess the demons had made the night before. "oh! it's you, the demon" They said, straightening their posture "The Metatron put you in charge of the shop?" He said through his teeth again, straightening his glasses. "yes! I'm very excited" They replied "If Aziraphale finds out you're actually selling them or you damaged them in any way, the new Supreme Archangel will have you punished I'm sure" His fingers brushed against the dust of a book, despite Aziraphale only leaving about a half an hour ago it seemed to take a toll on the bookshop. "oh… are you just trying to scare me? it won't work on me Mr. Crowley, I'm an angel and you're a demon"

"blah blah blah doesn't matter, I know the bookshop better than you"

Muriel sighed "I suppose you're right"

Crowley sighed. The bookshop felt so empty now. "I'll help you get situated, He liked things a certain way" He stepped towards the angel, and Muriel stepped back. "Relax, I'm not gonna hurt you or anything, despite demonic appearances"

Muriel picked up one of the books from the large stack, an older and relatively smaller one. One Aziraphale had carried around with him when he had first gotten his hands on it, back in 1957. "Now, are you gonna read that or put it back?"

"put it back"

"Angel always organized them by author first name and genre, I have no idea how he didn't blow a fuse when Gabriel-" he corrects himself "Jim started organizing them by the first letter of the first sentence" He scoffed "Are all of these "authors" humans?" Muriel asked, using air quotes. "uh, I suppose so? never really thought about that" Crowley shrugged his shoulders, picking up a book and reading the author's name to reshelve it "Mr. Crowley?" They asked again. "hu?" he looked up from the book. "Once you're done teaching me about books, can you teach me about humans?"

He raised an eyebrow "You what now?"

"teach me about humans!" They said with a smile "You and Mr. Aziraphale had been here for 6,000 years, right? surely you know more than I could learn from observing"

"well… you're right I do know more. I'll consider it. You start organizing the best you can. I'm gonna go get a pick me up, hopefully, something alcoholic and a chat with someone" he pushed his hair back and walked out of the bookshop. The truth was he didn't mind Muriel, they were too clueless for their own good but also curious. The questions they asked reminded him of himself before the fall. He wanted to be nice to them, but they reminded him too much of himself, and too much of Aziraphale at the same time. Halfway to Nina's he realized he didn't really want to talk about what happened, just needed to get away from the bookshop, it was an instinct to meet Aziraphale there. Crowley groaned. His next option was to go back to his flat, pick up the mail shax had left at his door. He sauntered over to the Bentley and turned the car on, of course a sappy love song that reminded him of Aziraphale was playing, he decided to drive in silence instead.

splash! suddenly the demon was soaked, He shot up, his head throbbing and the room spinning "Crowley, where's Aziraphale?" Maggie said, her hands on her hips. Nina was next to her, holding an empty coffee cup, she must've been the one to wake him up "It's been weeks since we've seen either of you, very very unusual "

"fuck both of you" The demon groaned, rolling to the other side of the couch he was comfortably lounged on "I assume it didn't go well?" Nina asked, picking up a few empty wine bottles "Jesus Crowley how much can you drink? Are you planning on drinking your life away?"

"I'm not drinking my life away, just drinking the next decade away, till Aziraphale comes back or , till it doesn't hurt anymore" he muttered, reaching for the half-drunk bottle of wine next to him. Nina quickly grabbed it before he could, causing Crowley to fall off of the comfortable couch. "I'll go find the other one" Maggie said, giving Nina a kind pat on the shoulder. Nina gave her a nod as she headed up the spiral staircase. "What happened?" Nina sat on the couch, the demon still on the floor. "He left," Crowley said, his face squished into the floor. "oh! I wasn't expecting that, you two were absolutely made for eachother"

"I doubt that" He rolled over onto his back, staring at the ceiling. "He went back to heaven, wanted me to join him again, but we went through this ages ago, we're not on heaven or hell's side. we're on our own, but he picked heaven over me" His voice faltered slightly. "Oh Crowley, that's horrible" He simply just shrugged in response.

"I'm glad you came back. Aziraphale wasn't just the bookshop owner he was the landlord too, someone has to run it who knows the ropes already" Crowley sighed, looked like he couldn't abandon the bookshop even if he wanted to.

Crowley sat up. He blindly fumbled for some sort of drink, and begrudgingly, Nina handed him the bottle of wine she had snatched up. "the Metatron, that old fuckin idiot placed Muriel in charge, I have nothing against them but they don't have a clue what's going on at all" Crowley talked with his hands, almost knocking the bottle against the coffee table and breaking it.

"the Metatron? what type of a stupid name is that?"

"He's an old guy, balding, and smells like moldy cheese, but I'm probably exaggerating. He was in here earlier and gave Angel a coffee. I think it was a latte thing with almond syrup"

"I remember him! he was the first customer in that morning and asked a weird question, he asked if anyone ever asked for death"

"do they?"

"no," She said plainly, almost side-eyeing him.

"Muriel said they saw you drunkenly praying last night. You're a demon, who were you praying to? Satan?" Maggie said, heading down the stairs.

"I was asking God to take care of Aziraphale" he muttered under his breath, Looking down and away so he could remove his glasses and wipe off the lenses, covered in lukewarm tea. Maggie sighed "Crowley…"

"Yes, stupid human I know. I know"

The empty coffee cup is tossed at his head "You've been camping out here for weeks, you gave your flat to Beelzebub and Jim and haven't even unpacked the boxes of your shit!" Maggie pointed towards the stack of boxes by the door labeled "Krowly" the handwriting absolute chicken scratch, obviously written by Beelzebub. "You got all this from Muriel?" Crowley raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, and your plants died," Maggie added. With a wave of his hands, the plants were luscious and green again "No they're not"

"you can't miracle everything to be better" Nina pulls over a chair and one for Maggie, sitting down in front of Crowley. "Muriel wants me to teach them about humans. Guess I'll be staying around longer than I wanted to, I'll run the bookshop I guess"

“Don't be a horrible influence on that poor kid”

“I won't, Aziraphale will probably come back in the next few days, he’ll realize how boring it is in heaven”

“What are you going to tell people if they ask where he is?”

“Probably in America or somewhere stupid” Crowley shrugged. "He'll come back"

"you're very nice for a demon, I know I don't have much of a reference to base it on but you're a really nice guy" Maggie said. "Look uh, I told Miss sandwich already, I'm not either. I'm not nice" he said through his teeth. "Have fun lying to yourself then" Nina said before Maggie could, like she could read her mind. "we should go, we have to open our shops, we'll be back after closing to make sure you're not drunk again"

The demon was nice, As much as he hated to admit it he wasn't evil, he was far from it. The last mean thing he ment and actually remembered saying was telling Jim- Gabriel to step out of the window and face plant onto the sidewalk of Soho London. As much as he hated Gabriel, he still regretted it.

The demon who lived in his car after he lost his flat, never thought to ask his angel for a place to stay, he thought it would make Aziraphale uncomfortable. The same demon who felt comfortable enough with said angel to show his eyes around him, the eyes he could have miracled into normal human eyes at any moment. The demon who would do anything to kiss Aziraphale again, despite how horrible the situation was or how painful of a memory it was, how much it hurt seeing the look on Aziraphale's face. He would still do it all over again.

His Bentley turned a familiar shade of yellow, shortly before malfunctioning and becoming undriveable. Crowley could've easily miracled it, fixed. After everything the car had been through with him, after 90 years of Aziraphale sitting in the passenger seat. He couldn't dare look at it again, his most prized possession was left in an empty lot, yellow instead of black. The Demon knew the Bentley reflected his own emotions.

Life without Aziraphale moved ever so slowly. Crowley was used to life moving slowly, he had been on slow-moving earth with slow-moving humans for six thousand years, but this was painfully slow. Time should've been flying by, but it wasn't. But from Inspector Constable turned bookseller's perspective, he seemed to be doing better than he was the day Aziraphale left.

Crowley sat lounged over the fancy chair pushed up against Aziraphale's old desk, shuffling through a box of records, the cardboard around the packaging edges fraying slightly "Muriel? What should we listen to together? Queen or?...." He held up an autographed version of A Day At The Races and started shuffling through the box again, looking for a second option. "the queen of what? Why are we listening to a queen?"

"What did you just say?" He gritted his teeth, spinning around in the chair and dropping the box onto the floor "I don't understand who's the queen?" They asked. Crowley simply strutted towards the record player "Muriel Muriel Muriel you are about to have your mind blown- sorry human expression" He corrected himself, avoiding a question. The record slid out of its sleeve and into his hand, very very cautiously placing the pristine record (despite being 47 years old and still in mint condition) onto the turntable.

As the first song started playing and he slumped back into his chair "Take a seat and enjoy the music little angel" He said, lifting the to-go coffee cup to his lips, "was six shots right? Nina knows your usual but I wanted to try and remember it"

He nodded, closing his eyes to enjoy the music "Do you-" They continued, being interrupted by Crowley's finger behind, held up to shush them "Listen to the music" Crowley said, side-eyeing them. "this one's called Tie Your Mother Down" Muriel sat down in their chair, a simple blue metal chair opposite next to Crowey's fancy deep red and gold throne-like chair. Crowley couldn't bring himself to sit in the chair that had been next to the desk before. It was Aziraphale's chair, not Crowley's. He had brought his chair from his flat, and stolen Muriel's from Nina's. Aziraphale's worn-down chair sat nicely in the corner as if he was sitting there with them. His gaze shifted towards the record player, then towards the chair as the songs switched. "I can dim the li-" the record sings, quickly Crowley jumps to his feet, the needle quickly skipping "Why'd you do that?" They tilt their head to the side "I uh…. I just don't like the song" He responded. His demeanor had changed drastically. "Mr. Crowley, are you ok?" They asked. "I'm fine! just that's enough of this album for today, pick one from the box. I'm gonna organize the books' ' He stormed off to the other side of the bookshop. a nice old lady had come by to sell a box full of her husband's old books, he had to inventory them and shelve them, a boring task he had no idea how Aziraphale dealt with it. "I think I'll get a new one!" They stood up. Crowley shuffled through his pockets, he sauntered back over to them and placed about 15 pounds into their hand "Maggie will probably let you just take a record because she doesn't have to pay us- Aziraphale, rent anymore but pay her anyway"

"That's very nice of you for a demon" They respond, putting the pounds in their pocket. "Eh, not really, I just don't hate Humans. Gray zone, remember?"

"Mr. Crowley?" Muriel asked, standing by the door. "Yeah little angel?" he responded

"I'm going to miss you when you go back to hell"

"You've got a day, just gotta tie up some more loose ends" Crowley shrugged his shoulders "you'll be fine without me, I've waited for Aziraphale long enough" Crowley fixed his glasses as a customer came through the door. "I'm still going to miss you" Muriel said with a smile "be careful, saying stuff like that is gonna get you pushed outta heaven" He whispered to them, patting them on the shoulder. "Go pick out a record kid," he sauntered back over to the books that needed to be shelved.

Muriel skipped their way over towards Maggie's record shop, the bells above the door rang and she turned her attention towards the door "Muriel! It's nice to see you" she smiled. "Mr. Crowley said I could get a new record" They smiled, walking over towards one of the shelves, sorting through the newer records, still in the plastic. Then towards the older ones till they found a pretty blue one. "Can you play this one for me? I wanna know what it sounds like" They handed her the record "Ohhhhh this is a nice one" Maggie smiled "Voulez - Vous by Abba, Aziraphale used to like this one he would always listen to it here while looking for other records but never bought it" She slipped the record onto the turntable and let it run. The first few songs grew a smile on Muriel's face. "I'll take it!" They said, taking the record from Maggie the second it was back in the casing. They drop the money given to them on the counter and skip back to the bookshop "Wait! Muriel the record was only 3£ not 15!" She shouted but they were already too far gone to hear her, she simply sighed and placed it in the cash register.

Crowley, now swimming in books, refused to turn around and greet the customer as the doors opened "We're closed" He said flatly, pushing his glasses up so they would stay propped up on his forehead(that corner of the bookshop was way too dark to wear sunglasses, And read something) "I thought Muriel was running the Bookshop?" the customer said, their oh so familiar voice rang in Crowley's ears. His skin crawled, as he looked over his shoulder. "Aziraphale." he monotoned. "I came to check on Muriel but I guess you ended up taking over"

" teachin' them, I'll be out of here soon enough" He stood up, dusting his clothes off. "Crowley… I-" He took a step towards him, his attention being stolen from Crowley to the wilting plants under the window. "Don't. you told me how you felt and made your priorities clear"

"Oh Crowley, don't be like that. I brought you coffee?" His brows furrowed, but he held the coffee cup full of espresso in front of him. "Muriel brought me one already, and of fucking course in going to be that way you chose your side" He put his glasses back on. "You look good, Are those new glasses?" Aziraphale asked, most likely trying to make conversation "No" Crowley responded, Flatley. "same old glasses, same old me, different you" He picks up the box of books once more and moves to a different section of the bookshop. Aziraphale cautiously stepped towards his old desk, placing the cup of coffee next to the other cup Muriel had brought Crowley earlier.

Aziraphale wished the world would just stop, he could stop it but he doubted that it would get Crowley to talk to him. He wanted those damn glasses off and Crowley, he wanted Crowley.

"Crowley." Aziraphale reached forward to grab his wrist, but Crowley pulled away quickly.

too distracted to pay attention to the door Crowley missed Muriel coming back in, attempting to sneak past the two. He caught them in the corner of his eye, and despite being blocked by the edge of his glasses, he'd gotten used to it obviously. "what record did you get?" He turned his attention towards them "I'll show you after" they said, heading up the staircase.

"You seem to like them now" The angel fidgeted with his hands. "Well, it's been a year, Aziraphale. I know the time in heaven works differently but I hope you're doing well"

"I missed the bookshop" the Angel stepped towards the desk, eyeing the new chairs and his that had been moved "I missed the books, my records, I missed the weather. Heaven is awfully boring compared to Earth"

"take your records with you then" The demon muttered.

"you seem closer with them than you were with me" Aziraphale looked down "For Satan's fucking sake they're like my kid now it gets annoying sometimes. you- you were. Oh fuck off"

"Please, I want to apologize"

"Are you gonna do the dance again?" He laughed slightly, humoring himself. "Do you want me to?" he responded, tilting his head to the side. Crowley dropped the box, his hands were shoved in his front pockets and he turned to face his old friend "listen. I understand you coming to check on Muriel, you're both angels. But I'm a demon. I'm the enemy now" He pulled his glasses off, like an instinct to do in front of Aziraphale. realizing what he had done he quickly puts his hand over his eyes. "Crowley look at me…" He asked, so gently. Slowly Crowley moved his hand, revealing his eyes. The angel's face sank, instead of his favorite shade of yellow staring back at him, Crowley's eyes were a normal shade of brown, with normal human irises. "Crowley what? you?"

"don't like my eyes anymore" He put his glasses back on, sniffling he continued speaking "and I know I fucked up by kissing you-"

"Oh, Heaven Crowley I thought you were trying to tempt me!" Aziraphale interrupted. Crowey's posture stiffened "You think I would tempt you? I never have!? don't be an idiot Ang- Aziraphale '' He corrected himself "I would've never done anything to hurt you. and you assumed?"

"you're a demon! And I'm an angel, an Archangel! you could've been trying to tempt me into staying"

"I USED TO BE A FUCKING ARCHANGEL!" The demon snapped, practically shaking.

Aziraphale stepped back, not expecting Crowley to raise his voice at him, it had never happened before. "what?" he questioned. "Archangel Raphael, He asked too many questions and hung around the wrong crowd. then God punished him"

Aziraphale put his hand up to his mouth, his eyes widening "I asked too many questions" Crowley said, trying to compose himself "Crowley I'm so sorry I never knew-"

"I never wanted you to know"

Aziraphale stayed silent, the look of pity on his face made Crowley want to burst into flames.

"They wiped my memory, Everyone in heaven forgot Raphael eventually, of their own doing or I was wiped from their memory too. I only remember a handful of things. I know exactly how Gabriel was feeling. I can't have that same thing happening to you"

"It won't, I can change heaven. you can-"

"I should've been enough for you to want to stay, what happened to us? shades of gray remember? they tried to burn you alive Aziraphale!" He knocked a few books off the shelf, causing Aziraphale to back up. Quickly he bent back down to put them back on the shelf. "Crowley, I'm so so sorry. I really am" he reached down to place his hand on his shoulder "Did you really want me to be an angel with you?" Crowley had moved before Aziraphale could've touched him.

"Yes of course I did! I know you must've been happier as an angel, and we can be together in heaven. The last thing I want is to be away from you. You can still take my offer"

" You weren't there when we switched. You didn't see how your stupid angels treated you"

"I'm in charge now Crowley. they won't-"

Crowley interrupted him "They wiped Gabriel's mind because he didn't want another Armageddon. Threatened to wipe him from the Book of Life because he fell in love with Beelzebub. You- mmmhhh" he stopped himself "Do you understand what they'll do to you?"

"They won't do anything to me, because I'm in charge" the archangel stated. "Join me, please. Nina told me you accepted hell's offer, take mine instead."

"Fuck Heaven, fuck Michael, fuck Uriel, and all the other angels. fuck god and fuck you. As you said, Like it's always been Aziraphale, I'm a demon, nothing ever gonna change that."

"It wasn't always that way, you were Raphael, you can be him again. It can change! Let me help you"

"YOU STUPID FUCKING ANGEL!" Despite it being almost a perfect day a strike of lightning came crashing down just outside the bookshop, singeing the concrete ground. "You can't help me! I am a demon. I enjoy being a demon." He said through gritted teeth, a deep growl coming from his throat. "I'm like a walking bomb of death and destruction. Just leave, please. I could kill anyone with a snap of my fingers, I could kill you"

Aziraphale stood back, those last words stung "Anthony J Crowley! I'm not leaving you, not again"

"For Satan's sake! why won't you understand?! I don't want to be a damn angel! I wasn't happy as one, all I did was get in trouble for asking honest questions! I- All I wanted was you. I was happy with you" He said, furrowing his brows "Angel I loved you" he wanted to kick himself for letting the term of endearment slip. Aziraphale's eyes softened "You what?"

"Forget it, I'm going upstairs. If you want to you can take some of your shit back to heaven" Crowley fixed his glasses, turning around to head upstairs the spiral staircase. Aziraphale quickly responded. "Loved?"

"Love doesn't matter, you chose to be enemies again" He looked down at Aziraphale's hands, dangerously close to his own "Do you still love me?"

Crowley sighed "It doesn't matter" he rolled his eyes, "humor me" Aziraphale sighed "Oh you think this is funny?"

"It's a human expression, you know this!" His voice got all high-pitched and whining, one of the mannerisms Crowley had thought was cute. Crowley's gaze traveled back toward Aziraphale's eyes.

Something wet and warm ran down the demon's cheek, it burned like holy water, but worse. it didn't kill him, but the burn wouldn't go away. He didn't know demon's could cry.

"Crowley-'' Aziraphale reached forward to wipe the tear off his cheek. "No. I don't love you anymore" his voice shook.

The angel’s hand drifted down to grab his wrist. The demon watched as his fingers trail down further, intertwining their fingers. He realized Aziraphale was also looking down at their hands, his fingers tightly gripping Crowley's limp hand.

The Demon exhaled, his breath faltering "Aziraphale…" The Angel looked back up at him, and suddenly his eyes widened. Crowley had been using a miracle this whole time to make him seem… alright. His comment about Crowley "looking good" now felt out of place and almost like an insult had spilled from his lips. His hair was longer and messy, he could smell the alcohol on his breath, and could practically sense the tired eyes behind his glasses. stubble shaped his face, making him look more disheveled. A single freckle sat above his lips, an angel kiss as some would call them.

Tired eyes was an understatement, Crowley couldn't sleep anymore. Some night were by choice, he didn't want to relive the horrors that were the nightmares that followed the day Aziraphale left, some nights he would lay awake contemplating different ways that morning could've gone.

Aziraphale understood why his plants were wilted now. "Crowley… you look…" he brushed his hand up his arm, against the soft fabric of his sweater. "yeah I know. Maggie and Nina tried to get me to put myself together again. Too hard when I feel so damn empty. so I miracled myself" The angel's hands came up to gently take the glasses off of the demon's face, and quickly Crowley squeezed his eyes shut, deep eye bags under his eyes confirmed the tired gaze Aziraphale suspected. "Don't do that again" He quickly grabbed his glasses back from the angel.

"But Crowley, I… we… Oh" He struggled to find the words "Was this why I couldn't find you? I checked on you through heaven but you had gone missing. You miracled yourself to seem human. Crowley, I'm so sorry."

"you can take your apology and shove it up your feathered ass"

"Crowley, my dear…"

"don't" He turned away from Aziraphale. "Fuck you, Angel, if you wanna talk to Muriel I'll tell them to come back down but I don't want to see you again. and don't look up my file, leave me alone" He pulled his hand from his grasp and continued up the spiral staircase. Aziraphale could hear the heartbreak in his voice.

Crowley stormed past the open door to Muriel's room, the record spinning on their turntable

"Look into his angel eyes, One look and You're hypnotized" the new record they had just bought sang. With a wave of his hand the record started spinning backwards "Listen to another one Muriel, I can't stand this song anymore" He said with a deep growl in his voice. "Mr. Crowley, are you okay? I wasn't expecting to see Aziraphale- Or the traitor" Muriel stood up, following him to his room. "it's fine, he's just coming to get some of his books to take back to heaven" He responded, opening the door to his bedroom, the room across the hall from the dusty and locked door that was Aziraphale's room. "Mr. Crowley" Muriel stood up straight, speaking louder than usual "I have a confession to make"

The demon raised an eyebrow before uncorking a bottle of wine in his room and leaning against the doorway. "As you probably know angels can sense Love" they stated "and last year before Mr. Aziraphale left, I might have sensed it between you two, very heavily. and I also might've accidentally been watching through the window when I felt that love was the strongest" They watched as an almost disappointed look grew on Crowley's face "I saw you kiss him and I could sense the heartbreak"

"Muriel…" Crowley sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"And I still sense that love and heartbreak in you, but it's even stronger in him I think he meant the apology"

"Even if he meant it… Aziraphale is too holier than thou to leave heaven again. And I'm going back to hell, there isn't time for an us anymore"

"You two were happy when you were still with heaven and hell before you left, right?"

"This is different now, he's an Archangel, and I'm going to be the new prince of hell, just like Gabriel and Beelzebub. We cant- shit" He looked down at the ground, adjusting his footing and bringing the bottle of wine up to his lips "fuck… I'm gonna regret this again" He shuffled past them, and back down the staircase. He was met with an empty bookshop, not an angel in sight. "FUCK!" He shouted, tossing the bottle to the ground, the glass shattering. Quickly he threw the doors open and scanned his surroundings, searching for that familiar face he longed for. "Aziraphale!?" He shouted, hoping it would get his attention if he hadn't already returned to heaven.

"Aziraphale! Where are you!" He stepped out from the awning over the doorway, the cold rain drenching him instantly. He turned left, towards Maggie's shop and raced through the sidewalk. "FOR SATAN'S SAKE WHERE ARE YOU!?" He sputtered, his voice being overpowered by the loud rain hitting the concrete sidewalk and the cars zooming by. Suddenly his attention was grasped by a man in a tan trench coat with a pristine white umbrella, across the street by Nina's. Dodging cars he sprinted over "Aziraphale!" He shouted, finally getting the Angel's attention. He turned around to face the demon "Crowley?" Very out of breath, he came to a screeching halt in front of him "Aziraphale…" He swallowed harshly "Oh you're soaked" He responded with a slight laugh "I love you" Crowley responded, his voice filled with emotion, not his typical rage, almost filled with urgency and affection. "I know I said I didn't, I'm a demon we lie"

"for a demon" Aziraphale breathed out "You've always been a terrible liar"

"I never wanted to lie to you, angel"

"I know, my dear I know"

"Don't go back to heaven, they can appoint Michael as supreme Archangel or some other idiot with a stick up their ass. please. I'm choosing you over hell. choose me over heaven this time"

A slight smile formed on his face. "I told you I wouldn't leave again" he hesitated when stepping towards him "I don't know why I told you I forgave you, I- I guess it's because I was scared and I thought you were tempting me, I knew you would never, Crowley you're the kindest demon ever. I wanted, I wanted to tell you I love you" He said quickly, all in one breath. Crowley let him catch his breath before he placed his hands on his cheeks, so gently, like he could make a mistake at any moment. Aziraphale reached forward, pinching the earpieces of his glasses and pulling them off his face "There you are, so pretty. I thought you had changed them for good" he said with a smile, placing Crowley's glasses in the pocket of his waistcoat. "Angel I-" The umbrella clattered to the ground as the angel leaned forward and his hand swept through the demon's hair. Crowley backed up, his hands on Aziraphale's shoulders, pulling him along with him under the awning. They looked into each other's eyes, longing for each other. slowly they pulled closer till their lips brushed against each other. A wave of relief washed over Crowley. His hands-on Aziraphale's shoulders glided down to his waist to pull him closer.

their lips parted slightly, just enough for Crowley to tell Aziraphale was smiling, probably the largest he had ever seen him smile. "This kiss was better than the last one," the Angel said, backing up more, reaching to grab the umbrella, now upside down and filled with water. "This kiss was reciprocated," Crowley muttered, his arms still around the angel's waist. "Oh don't be like that, dear" Aziraphale playfully punched his shoulder "We're both soaked now, back to your bookshop to dry off then dinner at the Ritz, Angel? it can be our first official date" Crowley asked. "our bookshop you mean? They can kick me out of heaven a second time. I'm staying" He leaned forward once again, their foreheads touching. Crowley placed a soft kiss onto his lips before stepping back and holding out his hand for his angel to take, and gladly he did. "I'm sorry, I really am," The angel said once more "I know angel, I'm expecting the dance sooner than later" The demon responded "Once I'm in dry clothes, my dear. you're growing out your hair again, I love it" with his free hand he brushes a strand of hair soaked and stuck to his face behind his ear. "ah oh I almost forgot" he took Crowley's glasses out of his pocket and placed them back onto his demon's face "thank you, Angel" He responded, absolutely smitten.

"Did I ever tell you who this song was based on?" Crowley said, swirling the wine left in his glass around, the two comfortably lounged on the floor in front of the fireplace, the record player going.

"Dining at the Ritz, we'll meet at nine

(One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine o'clock)

precisely. I will pay the bill, you taste the wine

Driving back in style, in my saloon,

will do quite nicely

Just take me back to yours, that will be fine"

Aziraphale shook his head, Busy sitting behind Crowley, braiding his longer hair.

"Come on and get it

Ooh, love (there he goes again)

Ooh, lover boy (he's my good

old-fashioned lover boy, ooh)"

"It's about you, Good- Old fashioned Lover Boy," Crowley said with a wink. Aziraphale leaned forward, his face pink with blushing "I'm trying to focus my dear I'm a bit out of practice" The elastic tying the braid together snapped as Aziraphale let go of Crowley's hair and smiled at his work, "done!" He smiled, leaning forward to set his head on Crowley's shoulder. "Angel I don't mean to kill the mood, but I need to know, why did you come back now? why not sooner?" Crowley turned around to face his angel.

Aziraphale was at a loss for words, not really, just didn't know how to explain "It's a long story, it can wait for another day"

"Angel, I'm not going to be mad at you I just need to know"

the angel sighed "They… the other angels, they weren't you. I couldn't see you from heaven and it honestly scared me, I was worried about you. I felt so alone there, a week in heaven and I was already ready to come back to the bookshop- to you, I came down to earth once, I saw you here, with Muriel, and Maggie and Nina"

"And you didn't say anything?"

"You looked happy. I didn't want to ruin anything for you"

"you know I used a miracle to disguise myself, angel"

"I know I know my dear but I didn't know that then. but, I returned to heaven and was sternly reprimanded for coming to earth, the other Archangels noticed I was acting differently, so when I returned to my office you were there"

"what? I've been here this entire time" Crowley questioned "I know I know, but I was- and you were an angel! you seemed just as happy as you were before the fall. You said that Metatron offered you the same position, but you wouldn't show me what it was it was very out of character of you "

"Angel, I love you but I'm not following anymore"

"They made a deal with hell and made a puppet of you!" Aziraphale whined, his voice all pitched. He covered his face with his hands, almost like he was embarrassed "I was so happy to see you- or the puppet that I kissed you. Heaven wasn't expecting that, they weren't expecting me to have feelings for a demon, because angels don't express emotions that way usually, and-and affection is a human thing. You looked like you, but I should've known something was off. You didn't call me angel anymore, your eyes weren't that beautiful, beautiful yellow anymore" The angel's thumb brushes against the demon's cheek. His eyes seemed to glow in the darkness of the bookshop.

Crowley rubbed his hand up and down Aziraphale's back, reassuringly "I didn't figure out it wasn't you till it was too late. I should've known"

"Too late for what?"

"We were in my office, I was doing paperwork, I was practically swimming in paperwork up there. I don't know how Gabriel dealt with it. I leaned in to kiss you and the puppet stopped me, and-" Aziraphale leaned forward, hiding his face from Crowley. "I can't even repeat what it said to me! it was horrible Crowley I ran away from heaven and came right back to the bookshop, when I saw you here I knew the you in heaven was just the other angels tormenting me"

"That's why you were so adamant about asking if I wanted to be an angel"

"I thought you were! but I don't even know if, if-"

"Angel, Angel calm down, it's ok. I'm me, I'm me" Crowley pushed Aziraphale's hands off his own face, replacing them with his own "Are you sure?" he responded, finding comfort in Crowley's touch "Yes angel, I'm sure, I've always known I'm me," he said with a chuckle "you wanna hear something that only I would know or something?"

"yes please"

Crowley sat up straight "The only thing I remember from before the fall, when I was still Raphael. God appointed me to design a section of the stars and set up the whole damn universe. I was almost done. All I had to do was crank up the engine and you showed up. You held the scroll for me while I turned the thingy. You introduced yourself, and I was too focused on my creation to tell you mine"

"oh my dear that was you?"

"didn't expect something that highly of me hu angel?" he said, almost teasingly "Believe me now? I'm me"

"Yes my dear, you're you" Aziraphale leaned forward to plant a kiss on his lips. Crowley brushed his hand up Aziraphale's back, leaning closer towards him. "Crowley?" Aziraphale said with a hum, leaning away from his demon. "mhh?" he responded, leaning in once more, craving more of Aziraphale. "Let's watch the stars together?"

Crowley's gaze softened, he smiled as the mention of stars left Aziraphale's lips "we'd have to miracle away the London smog?"

"Easy task, to the roof?" Aziraphale stood, holding his hand out for Crowley. "Angel, I'd like an apology first" he said with a mischievous smile.

Aziraphale took a breath and held up his right hand and swayed his right hip forward and in a sing-song voice said, “You were right.” A hop in place. “You were right.” A slow twirl followed. “I was wrong.” then a gracious bow. “You were right.”

"I was right about what" Crowley grinned, pulling his angel close by his hips "mhhh not sure " Aziraphale teasingly looked away "Angel" The demon said through gritted teeth "you were right about being us, I love you Crowley"

"to the roof, I want to see how my work has aged. I never had the heart to look on my own" Crowley planted a soft kiss on Aziraphale's cheek before taking his hand and guiding him up the stairs towards the roof.

#good omens #azicrow #good morning im sad #not a fix it #buttttttttttt #azi's gotta do the apology dance again #crowley accidently adopted muriel #crowley #aziraphale #crowley and aziraphale #crowley used to be raphael #Spotify

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