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It was a sunny day in London.
The days have been sunny for about a month, and there was a possibility it will remain sunny.
Crowley parked the bently just infront of the bookshop. Gripping the wheel as he stared at the passenger seat with flowers, sushi, and sake that he picked up wanting to change up their routine. Would he even like this? Was all he thought and the answer made him gripped the wheel even tighter.
They’ve been taking it slow ever since they finally made up, and now would be their ‘1 month-after-officially-saying-their-feelings’. Not together, but maybe it could be called as courting.
Finally getting some courage, he grabbed the gifts and sauntered over the bookshop entrance. When he was about to open the doors, he felt nothing. Crowley didn’t feel Aziraphale’s presence, so he waited a little longer, checking if it was just faint? His mind was imagining so many worse case scenarios, the only time he cursed his gift of imagination.
When he finally wanted to stop his racing mind by opening the doors, he felt his angel by his right. Turning to finally look at him, he was positively glowing. “Crowley” His soft tone made his mind feel at ease. He’s safe. “Angel” Crowley smiled as Aziraphale let his focus go to what he was holding.
“Sushi?” He asked as Crowley lifts it up and smiled. “Happy Anniversary” He says, causing both of them to widen their eyes in shock. Happy Anniversary?!!??!??! Why would he even think of saying that.
“I suppose it has been a month” Aziraphale smiles, as he opens the door letting Crowley in. He didn’t need any invitation to be let in, especially now but Aziraphale being the angel thought maybe Crowley’s hand were to tied up to open the door.
“After you, love”
“Why were you outside?” Crowley asks as he took a sip of his sake. Tastes good, would need to take it slow or he’ll get drunk too quickly. Aziraphale pats the sides of his mouth as he excitedly answered Crowley. “Do you remember the new store?” He asks as he looked at Crowley’s eyes, he was so glad that he could see it again.
“Mmm yeah, what about it? Was it a plant shop?” He asked, trying to sound nonchalant, he was not in fact nonchalant. Crowley has seen the shop a lot, and its owners, glaring at how the plant’s quality almost rivals with his own—almost.
“It is! It also is an art studio, one of the owner is an animator! Such a charming mix” Aziraphale sighs as he sips his cup. His brows furrowed as he says “Ooh, that is strong” Mumbling as he take in the flavor. Strong like gin, but it still feels oriental with a hint of a flower—lavender?
“What about the plant shop/art studio, angel?” Crowley asks again, pulling Aziraphale away from his own thoughts. “Ah, well. I popped over to meet the owners and I saw them dancing!” He giddily says, almost buzzing out of his seat.
He still remembered the way the two owners smiled at each other, hand holding one another as they dance with such grace and ease. Like puzzle pieces fitting each other perfectly. “They were dancing a Filipino courtship dance, Cariñosa is what its called” Crowley knew that, he saw Filipinoes dancing it when he went to the Philippines just for a quick temptation. (He didn’t actually do anything with the government, but he did take credit for the corruption. When he was still a demon for downstairs, he always get a monthly ‘good job, from them)
Crowley could only raise his eyebrows, and Aziraphle could feel what he was telling him. “Oh they were so lovely! I asked them if they would be alright teaching us to dance. They said yes!”
“What?” Crowley gaped at him like a fish, them dancing a courtship dance? “Are you sure?” He asks, for him it might just be another dance to learn under his belt but with Aziraphale he takes those ‘courtship dances’ seriously.
“Well of course! I would love to dance with you” Aziraphale smiles, his eyes twinkling, mouth and cheek crinkling up as he sparkled. “Again” He sheepishly said, almost a whisper but Crowley heard it, and that made him smile.
“Well, I asked them when they were available and they said whenever, just pop in the shop and ask for them” He says as he eats one maki roll, the rice was so soft and the way it mixed with the soy sauce. Heaveanly. He groaned a little as he enjoyed the umami of the food. Crowley sure knows what he likes.
After 6000 years of getting to know one another with small visits and secret conversations, Crowley ever the observant type has picked up on what Aziraphale likes.
“The owners, what’re they like?” Crowley asks softly, Aziraphale smiling again and re-telling what he saw with the owners in vivid detail.
The shop bell rang as the woman tending to the plants and flowers peek up and smile brightly. “Mr. Fell!” She smiles as he surveys both of them. Absolute polar opposites. “Hello dear,” Aziraphle smiles politely as they exchanged pleasantries. Crowley was surveying the plants, it differed so much from his. It was so full of love, care, and affection it rivaled with Aziraphale. He took a good look of the woman, dyed brown layered hair, brown cardigan that has some geometric design and long dark brown skirt on which an apron was haphazardly tied on.
“This is Crowley, my—“ Aziraphale stopped, not knowing what to call him. Friend? Oh that doesn’t seem appropriate. Lover? No they were taking it slow, it would take away the long talk they had but what else where they? She grinned, “I’m Olivia” She says as she extends a hand over to the tall man. He shakes it quickly and asked “Do you take care of these plants?” Her eyes widened at the sudden question then giggled in amusement. “Yes and no? I only talk to them, check for spots and the like. I don’t do the hard bit of gardening” As she answers, a guy taller than her suddenly appeared.
“Olivia? Natapos ko na ayusin yung sala. Sa tingin mo kelan sila dadating??” He asked as he stops in his tracks and seeing the two men. “Andito na sila, ‘Sam” Olivia says brightly.
“Cariñosa is an easy dance, it is danced by a couple and the steps usually mirror one another” Olivia says as she grabs a handkerchief and fan. “They also use these props to emulate the subtle flirting and courting of each other” Aziraphale nodded as she gave the props to him.
“Now, would you like to see us dance first to grasp it? Or should we just start the practice?” She asks as she wisks the tall guy to stand. “If it’s alright, we would like to see a demonstration” She nodded.
“ ‘kay, Sam, relax ka lang at sasayaw lang tayo tulad kahapon” She smiled. Aziraphale and Crowley could understand it, Aziraphale could barely since his proficiency was with written words but he could still understand the tenderness and affection displayed by them.
The music started and they bowed to each other. Aziraphale watched as the both of them looked like they were in their own world, eye contact not even wavering and smiles filled with love. He was also smiling brightly, the love was so intense and it felt different from him and Crowley.
As they danced, Crowley’s slitted pupils could be replaced with hearts by the way he was looking at Aziraphale. Crowley knew that Aziraphale could feel their love oozing out as they danced, he didn’t need to peak at them to see it, why would he when beside him was the most beautiful angel.
Aziraphale was focused on the steps, memorizing the soft and demure way Olivia was dancing while Crowley was focused on him.
“Raise your hand slowly and then twist it. Slow—slowly and then twist. Then do it again” Olivia instructed then both of them as the guy, Sam was upfront seeing to customers. “Turn—when you turn you should feel and look like your gliding on the floor. Softly—“ To say she was a stern teacher was an understatement, the both of them felt like they were under scrutiny and any mistake would prove fatal.
They literally was just dancing. They have been in fatal situations but this was more nervewracking.
“That’s good” She smiled and went on to teach the next step. “Olivia?” Sam’s voice was heard as she looks around to find him. Humming and saying her excuse, “May nageenglish, ‘di ko maintindihan. Ang kapal accent niya” He says as he rubs his neck in defeat. Olivia pats his arm and dealt with the customer. Aziraphale and Crowley sighed, “I didn’t expect for her to be that strict” Crowley agreed.
Though Crowley was looking at the guy, Sam, who was standing awkwardly waiting for Olivia to come back. “Hey” Crowley said while walking up to him, “Crowley—“ He shushed the angel with one motion and looked at Sam. The taller man gulped, his adam’s apple bobbing. “Kayo ba ni Olivia?” Sam’s eyes widened in shocked and embarassment. He stuttered out a yes.
Crowley hummed. “Ikaw ba yung may ari nung plant shop?” A nod of yes. “Ano ginagamit mo na fertilizer?” Sam smiled as he relaxes, telling Crowley what he does to the plants. “Pero kapag si Olivia yung kumakausap, mas gumaganda sila. Kaya sabi ko na kapag napagod siya, kausapin niya lang yung mga halaman” He smiled and Aziraphale smiled at the two of them.
“Sam isn’t used to English like I am” Olivia’s voice startled Aziraphale, causing him to flinch back to see her behind him. “Where’d you come from?” He asked looking up and down at her, “I have silent feet” Olivia winked and laughed, gazing at her boyfriend.
“He never even thought of leaving the Philippines, but when I was about to leave, he followed. He followed me and pursued a new life here” She smiled fondly but her eyes was expressing some sadness. “He was supposed to be an engineer, but when I veered off the path chosen by my family he also did the same. Turns out he loves gardening as much as I love drawing” She fidgets with the hem of her cardigan and chews the inside of her lip.
“Sorry for dumping this on you, Just wanted to explain why he doesn’t speak english” Olivia dropped her hands and cracked her knuckles, fidgeting with them. “I teach him, he understands but can’t speak well. There are times when someone comes in with a thick accent and I have to handle it for him. Being here really made that case more frequent” She laughed slightly and sighed.
“Olivia?” Aziraphale says, “If I may advise you, you shouldn’t feel like it is your fault for letting him follow you” Her eyes widened and she gulped, turning away from Aziraphale. “I know Mr. Fell. I think seeing the two of you kind of just, made me remember our past. But thank you for reminding me” She smiled and walked up to the two chatting up a storm about plants, to resume the dance.
“Well! You’ve perfected it” Olivia smiled as she handed the two cups of some juice she’d made. “This taste great! What did you use?” Aziraphale asked as he followed her to the kitchenette and she taught exactly what she did. Sam sitting down and also drinking some with them. The shop was on break and Olivia was in the middle of reheating some food for lunch.
“What is that you are heating?” Aziraphle asked, “It’s giniling, my favorite filipino dish. I also reheated some sinigang for soup” She said pointing at the pot with some pork, some green vegetables and a nice amount of soup.
“Did you cook it?” Aziraphale asked as he felt himSamf get hungry just by looking at the dishes, the ‘giniling’ looked positively vibrant, the vegetables complimenting the orange tint of the sauce and the ‘sinigang’ looking so absolutely delicious with the way the pork sits atop and the green veggetables complimenting the soup tinted with a little orange.
“Yes, I love cooking but I always overcook, I’ve already given our neighbors some leftovers but I still have this much” She sighed as she stirred the pot slowly and closed it. Then gathering plates, spoon, and fork. Olivia called Sam to set the table as Aziraphale realized what it was for.
There were four sets of plates and he only just realized that Olivia was letting Aziraphale and Crowley join the two of them for lunch. “I’m just letting the rice rest, then we can finally start eating” She smiled as she closed the stovetops and carefully transferred the dishes to serve.
“I didn’t know you were letting us join you for lunch!” Aziraphale said excitedly, he was content on just imagining how the food would taste, but he didn’t expect that he could actually eat some.
“Ah, well. You thought I would let you leave without feeding you two?” Olivia laughed fondly as she set down the rice. “Let’s eat” She smiled proudly as all of them took a seat; Sam beside Olivia near the rice so that Sam would be the one serving her and Crowley beside Aziraphale near the juice she had made (that actually wasn’t just juice, but actually an alcoholic cocktail, it wasn’t enough to get wasted but she still warned them to not drink too much)
As Sam served all of them some rice, the two occult and ethereal being watched them as they studied how they ate. Aziraphale was watching how to eat to have the best experience while Crowley was watching Aziraphale watching them.
He’d have to keep his staring to a minimum.
As the four ate, laughed together, and finished up. Aziraphale was positively stuffed, saying ‘it was scrumptious’ while patting his mouth with tissue (Olivia realized Aziraphale had a knack for the formal way of eating even in the confines of a friendly lunch, so she had offered him kitchen tissues) “I’m glad you two liked my cooking!” She beamed as she cleaned up the table only for Sam to stop her and make her sit.
“You cook good, Olivia” Crowley says. Olivia flushed at the compliment and smiled sweetly. “Oh! I also made some dessert” She stood up and handed them some oval tins with something inside.
“It’s called Leche Flan! I made it just for you two” She smiled as she took a bite of hers, and Aziraphale was beaming. His favorite part of dining, dessert!, and when he took a bite, it was like heaven again.
The softness of the flan, the overwhelming sweetness of it, the way it felt on his tounge. It was cold but when it hit his mouth, it melted right away. Aziraphale groaned and Olivia smiled. “I take it that its good?”
“Better than!”
“This has been the most, Thank you so much Olivia, Sam” Aziraphale says as the two of them start to leave, only to be stopped by Olivia handing them a bag. “It has some giniling in there, be careful with the sinigang it might spill even if I packed it tightly—Oh and there are more leche flans there for the two of you” Olivia handed them to Crowley as he peers inside the bag, it was a lot of food.
“That is so nice of you” Aziraphale says as they both thank them and bid goodbye.
The two went inside and Crowley set down the bag full of food. Hearing the music of the dance play ever so softly as Aziraphale sweeps him of his feet and starts to dance. “Wh—Angel?!” Crowley stammered out as they dance.
“Oh—The way their love was overflowing! Did you feel it? It was so—so” Aziraphale couldn’t find the words for the first time. He had been feeling loved this whole day, aside from Crowley’s, the two was so deeply in love with each other that he couldn’t just shake it off and had to feel it with someone else.
Aziraphale knew that Crowley wasn’t paying that much attention to them earlier, just paying attention to him. He bastardly grinned at Crowley and that made his occult lover’s stomach buzz with excitement. Aziraphale kissed him deeply, as the music swells, Crowley was shocked at the sudden closeness but let it happen.
Aziraphale let his hand roam Crowley’s body and its last destination on his hair, gripping it, deepening the kiss. Only stopping when Crowley pulled away. “Ngk—Angel, what was that for?” Crowley teased as he looked at his angel, brows furrowed, flushed and plumped lips.
“It was so intoxicating. Their passion, their love and it was so sincere” Aziraphale said, breathily and desperate. Crowley and him was still dancing to cariñosa but they were adding their own steps, the love and passion oozing out of their auras just like the pair earlier.
“I love you” Aziraphale says staring directly at him. Crowley felt his pupils blow out and just feel the adoration from his angel. “I love you too, angel” Crowley says as he nuzzles his head on Aziraphale’s neck. “Crowley, I love you so so much. I love you” Aziraphale says those three words like a chant, a prayer, a worship to Crowley as he melts onto Aziraphale from the love and worship.
“Angel…” Crowley sighs as Aziraphale keeps on saying ‘I love you’ hugging him close and never letting go. Crowley could feel himSamf overheat when Aziraphale stopped praying his love and moved on to saying his praise to everything he has done.
Praising his ability to change with the times, his way of walking, his way of speaking, his way of expressing his love for Aziraphale, the way he always knew how to save him at the right time, his body, his snake eyes, his snake tounge. Everything he loved about Crowley.
“I love your red hair, I love your painted nails, love the way you watch me eat” Aziraphale kept going and Crowley was now a solid piece of heat.
Moving from cariñosa to slowdancing with Crowley while saying his praise. “What has gotten into you?” Crowley muses as he tries to move away the topic. He was trying his best to not implode, Aziraphale smiles softly. “Like I said, their love was so much. It felt so genuine, true, and so pure. I had to feel it with you” Aziraphale says while Crowley sets his forehead on his. “It was so real, and as a being of love it rivaled me” His angel laughs.
“I guess, I felt their plants also filled with love” Crowley suggests, intertwining their hands together as they softly swayed with no definite direction. “She also talks to them, but maybe she talks to them nicely. Unlike you” Aziraphale teased and planted a chaste kiss on Crowley’s cheek.
He playfully rolled his eyes and grinned. “Mine’s still better” Crowley grumbled. “It is”