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"Archangel Aziraphale."
No matter how many times he heard he still wasn't used to the new title.
Getting used to the new office was easier than he thought, analyzing the Lord Almighty's plans, approving or rejecting the proposal.
Fast and practice. But boring for sure.
"What's the matter, Hazel?" He said as he looked at the paperwork, ready to receive more reports or something like that. "Something exploded? Or Michael has new plans for the Apocalypse...again."
"Some demonic activities have been detected near Toledo in Spain."
"Nothing to be concerned about, we're at peace at the moment."
"But…"
"But."
"It's about your old company, the demon Crowley."
He stopped writing for a moment, processing the information.
"Sir?"
“Why do you think it was him?"
"I'm sorry?"
"I asked, why do you think he's the culprit?"
"He's still a demon."
Classic answer.
"Let the others know that I will personally check."
"You need-"
"I don't need anyone to help me, he's not a problem."
Apparently, it was time for them to talk.
"Querido Dios, cada año que pasa esta ciudad se vuelve más y más calurosa.." One woman commented, fiddling with her cell phone in a cafe. "Y la internet cada vez es más lenta."
If it's up to me, it's going to get worse.
No, he hadn't caused the heat wave, but slow internet was another story.
The demon thought drinking his wine, if there was one thing he liked in Spain it was the wines, especially after... you know what.
And in case he was drinking his ass off, as long as he's been abandoned.
"Waiter, could you bring me another glass of wine?" He said raising his glass but no response. "Waiter?"
Why was the environment now silent?
He looked around and nobody was around.
Ah! Shit! What does Shax want now?
"Infinitus Cabernet Sauvignon Tempranillo 2018." A voice so familiar it made him fall out of the chair he was sitting in. "Nice design."
"ANGEL?"
Oh, great! More problems! Someone please call the new archduke from hell, I'd rather deal with her than him! Why the bloody hell does the mess always find me? It wasn't me who threw a stone at the cross! I was there, but I didn't do shit like that!!
"Hello, Crowley."
"What on damn Earth are you doing here? Didn't you have more important matters to attend to? Like a meeting with the Lord Almighty."
"I’m here due to an investigation about the heatwave in Spain."
"Since when does the highest ranking Archangel investigate a heat wave? It wasn't me just to make it clear"
"I do whatever I want, and a new status doesn't mean nothing." The angel said, filling a cup that mysteriously appeared on the table. "This one is good."
Yep, more salt in the wound. Here we go again.
"You're still mad at me."
"Oh, really?" He said taking a sip from his glass, only to find it was now grape juice, that bastard. Not even to handle this drunken conversation he could. "Why did you come looking for me now?"
"I had to wait for you to cool off."
"Should have waited longer."
Aziraphale sighed, sitting down in the chair, taking off his coat.
He looked a little different than Crowley remembered the last time they met, same style of clothes but now his eyes had the same ethereal blue glow as Gabriel.
The demon looked at him, remembering his last encounter with him.
Now? Talk, when it was too late to fix.
“Fine, you won.” Crowley sobered up, "What the hell do you want with me?"
"There were two reasons I took the promotion."
"Make me an angel again?"
"Three reasons."
Another awkward silence followed by a sip of the drink
"When was the last time you were tormented by your lower floor?"
"Excuse me?"
"Just tell me."
"Months?"
"Five months, two days, 1 hour, 20 minutes and 30 seconds to be more precise."
It didn't take a genius to connect the dots, well that explained the peace he'd had in the previous months.
"What did you do?"
"A miracle there and here. In addition, no demon would be crazy to get in trouble with the First Archangel's friend."
"I DON'T NEED PROTECTION! ESPECIALLY COMING FROM YOU!"
That was all it took for him to start screaming.
The angel just looked at him, it didn't surprise him, in fact, if there was one thing he was surprised about, it was that it lasted longer than he imagined.
Without thinking twice a bucket of cold water fell out of nowhere on his head, the archangel didn't like to do that but it was a hot day and he didn't want to hear the screaming of his favorite drama queen (although he knew he deserved to hear all that)
“May you please listen to what I’ve to say?”
Taking a deep breath, the demon stunned by the shower he had taken, just sat back in the chair completely dry now
“Okay, talk about your reason!”
"You were a high level angel when you fell, that didn't change when you became a demon."
“This meant nothing. I just had a little booster than you.”
The bullying of the angelic hierarchy of always being the best and the status always speak louder, no matter how many millennia passed, that didn't change.
But on the other hand, it had left a permanent mark on the angel.
"Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominations, Powers, Virtues, that bullshit never mattered to me, you know that."
"That's not what I mean."
"What does that mean then?"
"I could never protect you the same way."
"I've always been a principality angel. No influence and without resources, just a random official appointed to care for the garden of Eden."
"I would die for you without a second thought."
“And I would regret it eternally if something happened to you and I wasn't there to prevent it.” Aziraphale said, taking his hand and squeezing it. "At least that way I can protect you."
Crowley opened his mouth but closed it immediately, he had never thought about it that way. That Aziraphale wanted to protect him, I mean... he knew the angel cared about him, I mean worrying about each other was what friends did, right?
How could they have lived together for 6000 years without talking about these things?
"What was the other reason?" The demon said looking away, returning to the main topic of conversation. "Just to know."
"Your smile."
What?
"My smile? What are you talking about?"
"Just an old selfish wish of mine, I really wanted to see the same smile I saw on you when we met, I thought if you became an angel once more-" “I could see you smiling like that again.”
"Aziraphale."
"I really wanted us to have a peaceful life, but no matter what we do, up and down, they will always gonna interrupt us. That was the only way I found to get stronger and do what you always did for me."
"There's another way! Let's run away like the other sweet dove love couple, another-"
This stupid idea again.
"Crowley…"
"If they could have a fresh start so we can do the same! Us!" The serpent of Eden said, getting up from the chair. “Us and a brand new home!”
"Anthony! Stop!"
The demon stopped talking, the words now startled him
"Angel, you never called by this name."
"It's the name you choose to live here. On Earth."
“Yeah? But you never called me that.”
“That’s not the point! Let me finish, okay?”
“Fine!”
"We both love Earth, my dear. If it weren't for that we wouldn't have stopped the Apocalypse."
Again, the words made him shut up and reflect.
It was hard to deny that statement when it was true, the two really became attached to the place.
The restaurants, the bookstore, the parks.
If it was just the two of them, it would be just the two of them, and none of those places.
Those special places.
"I like it here because of you, you've always made this place livable."
"I feel the same." The archangel said, getting up and taking his hand once more. "My home is you on Earth, not another place."
Aziraphale was right, as always.
Both would like to preserve that. Preserve the place they considered home.
The two stared at the landscape in front of them, neither wanted to let go of their hands.
They might have had it years ago, but now, it all seemed so late.
“When did you notice?"
"What?"
"Don't make me ask again.” Aziraphale asked. “You know what I’m talking about."
The demon looked at him, even despite everything, the two were still friends. Friends who never liked to talk about each other felt about each other
"I don't know, honestly. It was always there but ignoring it always felt like the right thing to do. "
"I see."
“I have been thinking for a while.”
“About?”
Before the demon could say anything else, this time the angel surprised him with a kiss.
Despite the sweetness of the kiss, the bitter taste was still there.
"That's exactly how I felt when you kissed me." Aziraphale said as they parted and saw Crowley, who was pretty sure his brain had been fried trying to process what his best friend had just done. "There's something else I'd like to tell you.”
“What would it be?"
“And what does that mean?”
"Do you want to come with me?"
Again, this stupid question.
"You know what, my answer is no."
"Can I go back until my answer is yes?"
"Who's doing the temptations now?"
No response, and suddenly everything looked the same as the way he had arrived at the restaurant.
The people, the heat, all there.
With the exception of the angel. Just a single white feather over the table indicated he was there.
Crowley took it as if it were the most precious jewel in the world, and kissed it.
"You can, I'll be happy every time I see you again."