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“So.” Crowley took a few steps into the dusty bookshop, the scent of mildew that usually assaulted potential customers' noses currently absent and replaced by the smell of old books.
Aziraphale closed the door behind him, drawing the blinds, his back turned to Crowley. His hands shook slightly as his plump fingers held the cord, pulling it down.
“World saved again. Everything having miraculously reappeared again. Jesus found and sent out into the world to…do whatever he wants, really”, Crowley watched Aziraphale fumble with the second blind, longer than really necessary. “Heaven and Hell dismantled and turned into one, pretty badly named afterlife.”
Naming it the ‘Everafter’ had been Muriel's idea, and since she now held the highest position in its administration, it felt right to let her name it.
“Did I miss anything?” Crowley bared his teeth slightly, pushing his lower jaw forward, his eyes following Aziraphale, who went from window to window, not turning towards the other. Crowley took a breath and let it out between clenched teeth.
They had put their differences aside, to save the world. But now what? Aziraphale had done the right thing, Crowley had to admit. They couldn't have been happy if the world had been destroyed. They couldn't have hidden from the war between Heaven and Hell.
But it had still hurt to be asked to be an angel again. To be something he barely remembered and didn't want to be.
Sure, being a demon had its disadvantages, but that was who he was. Angels and demons were of the same stock, both sides the same under a different name.
But it wasn't about changing his being, it was about the implications. Was he really not good enough the way he was?
They had both hurt the other, so who would apologise first? How? They…didn't really do proper apologies, so what were they to do here?
Crowley opened his mouth, let out a string of noises that wouldn't pass for a sentence in any language, and closed it again, his eyes still trained on Aziraphale.
Who now stood in front of the last window he had covered, the bookshop only lit by lamps and a string of fairy lights that Crowley eyed with multiple emotions, all ranging somewhere between confusion and annoyance.
“Should we move the whole ‘drinking ourselves to unconsciousness’ on a different day”, Crowley wasn't sure what was expected of him. Aziraphale wouldn't look at him, wouldn't answer. He just stood there, facing away, turning the ring on his pinky around and around.
“Guess you'd like some time to reacquaint yourself with your book collection…I can just come by in a week or so and we’ll get some drinks”, Crowley could feel his nerves begin to wind around his throat like a rope. Had he really ruined everything with that damn kiss? He had always held back so well, just to fuck it all up with one single action.
Aziraphale stopped turning his ring. Stopped moving. Stopped breathing.
Breathing wasn't something they had to do, but it was familiar and enjoyable, Crowley ground his teeth at the sudden lack of soft breaths coming from Aziraphale’s direction.
“Alright I'll just…uhngh..let myself out.”
Crowley slunk slowly towards the door, his chest constricting. Better give Aziraphale some space, maybe come back in a week or two, hope for the best. Crowley was at heart an optimist, but hoping for the best currently seemed like a rather weak option.
Crowley looked up at a drawn in breath and a rustle of fabric. Aziraphale finally moved, turning around, eyes wide, lips forming a tight line.
Crowley stopped. Stopped moving. Stopped breathing.
Aziraphale moved swiftly, long, fast strides bringing him right in front of Crowley. He looked up, bright blue eyes shifting to green, piercing through the cover of Crowley's sunglasses.
Aziraphale slowly lifted his hands.
“May I?”
Crowley gulped, nodding without thinking. Soft hands softly brushed against his hair, his temples, as Aziraphale lifted Crowley’s sunglasses from his face. Aziraphale smiled.
“I have missed many things up in Heaven”, his voice was a whisper. “My books. Food. Drinks. Fresh air and the sounds of a busy street.”
Crowley felt naked, exposed. But he couldn't look away from Aziraphale's face.
“But what I missed most, was seeing your eyes, even hidden behind dark lenses.” Aziraphale carefully placed the sunglasses on a small table next to them. “I've missed…you, my dear.”
Crowley felt his eyes well up, and let it happen. His lips wobbled, but he couldn't help smiling. Aziraphale smiled back.
“I've missed you too angel.”
And suddenly, 6000 years of waiting simply came to an end, as both wrapped their arms around the other, their heads slotting perfectly next to the other's neck.
And as they stood there, knowing they finally had eternity together, a nightingale sang it's song for the first time in years.