Chapter Text
Aziraphale was having a marvelous day. The (first) lockdown had just ended, there was a gentle snow falling, and he’d decided to treat himself to a chilly walk. He ran hot, so his usual coat was doing the trick just fine.
He chuckled as he recited a Robert Frost poem in his head, taking a turn down a road less-traveled. The snow was just starting to stick here, the cars parked along the lane looking like a Christmas card with their light dusting.
He recognized one of the cars. He approached the Bentley, intending to give it a fond little pat. He loved that car.
As he uttered a bright, “Hello, old girl!” And gave the car a tap, horrible crashing came from within.
He leaned down and saw his favorite demon laid across the front bench, wrapped in a blanket and shivering.
“Crowley, what the devil are you doing out in this kind of weather? Aren’t you cold-blooded?”
The Bentley obligingly unlocked for the angel and he opened the door carefully. Crowley’s shivers redoubled. He quickly moved the demon’s legs and sat in the car so he could close the door.
“Ann-g-g-g-g-el?” Crowley’s shivers affected his speech dreadfully.
Crowley looked up with clouded yellow eyes. Aziraphale felt cold fear travel down his spine.
“Come here, dear,” He opened up his arms.
Crowley tried to sit up, but fell back down. Aziraphale leaned down and scooped the demon up, holding him close to his core. The angel jumped as he felt Crowley’s ice-cold face nuzzle against his neck. Despite his companion’s frigid nature, he felt somehow even warmer.
“Why are you out here in the cold?” He asked gently as he rearranged the blanket around the two of them.
“Ggggot kicked out,” Crowley muttered against his neck. The angel shivered from the feeling, but it had nothing to do with the cold.
“Oh, dear! That just won’t do! Let’s get you warmed up at the shop,” Azriaphale cooed at the demon.
He’d never seen Crowley this vulnerable before. He considered driving the Bentley home for a second, but he didn’t want to expose the demon to the elements for even a moment longer. He miracled them to his bedroom without a second thought.
A huge fire was roaring in the fireplace while he tucked Crowley into his bed. Despite the warm temperature in the room, the demon was still shivering violently.
“Ddddid you always have a fireplace in huh-huh-here?”
“Hush, I’ll make you some tea.”
The kettle was already whistling happily when Aziraphale made his way to the little kitchen in his flat above the shop. He poured two cups of tea, sweetening one fiercely, then bustled back to his room.
Crowley had managed to burrito himself in the copious blankets, threadbare from centuries of light use. He was still shivering.
“Here, my dear. This should warm you right up!”
Crowley didn’t move, other than to shiver. Looking at his shaking hands, Aziraphale wondered if the demon could even safely hold a cup right now.
Aziraphale put the two steaming cups of tea down on the bedside table, and then kneeled next to his friend to examine his face. The demon’s nose was nearly blue. He reached out a hand to feel his forehead. It was icy.
Crowley leaned into his hand. His eyes popped open. “You’re so wa-wa-warm, Angel. Can I–?”
“Can you what?” Aziraphale asked, his voice full of concern.
Crowley’s eyes fell as he lost his nerve. “N-n-never mind-d.”
Aziraphale stroked his hand down Crowley’s cheek and gently laid his forehead against the demon’s. “What is it? I want to help!”
Crowley’s eyes slowly moved back up. They paused at the angel’s lips, then moved back up to connect with his eyes. The demon’s golden eyes seemed to shyly ask for permission. Aziraphale nodded confidently.
Crowley started shrinking, black and red scales replacing his skin, as he crawled up Aziraphale’s sleeve. The angel giggled at the feeling as his friend slowly snaked up and around his arm and then torso. The snake was frigid, but he could already feel him warming up.
Crowley bumped his cute little snake head against Azriaphale’s tight bowtie. Azirphale obligingly untied it and opened up a few buttons of his shirt.
Crowley’s head emerged from his collar, nuzzling up against his neck. The angel reached up and gave his friend a fond little pat.
“I could get usssssed to thissss,” the small snake hissed out contentedly.
Aziraphale had been feeling a little hot in the flame-warmed room, and sighed happily at the feeling of the cool snake against his skin. “I quite agree. Now, would you like to accompany me for a few of my chores?”
Crowley was silent. Aziraphale craned his neck down to give the little snake a look, and saw that he’d fallen fast asleep. A small un-snake-like smile graced his mouth. Aziraphale cooed at how cute he was. He gave the snake a fond little kiss on the head, and then decided to read a book for the rest of the day.
Crowley didn’t wake up until June.