demonicmiracle | (longest night) ic inbox

[ An absolute hypocrite. Aziraphale allows it because a) he already got his apology out so he wins, and b) he doesn't feel like picking a silly argument about something right now.

Certainly not when he's gotten free affection on top of everything. (Like all the shared affection to date has not also been entirely free.)

There's no hiding the slight drain of tension that comes with Crowley's offer, the touch of relief. Aziraphale should be getting back to it, sorting things out, trying to forget this happened at all, but, well. Gift horses. Crowley makes it sound easy to do. Maybe it is easy for him to offer, comparatively speaking. If it's an option, Aziraphale is very much in favor of taking it. ]

If you wouldn't mind. [ Things said purely for the sake of good manners. He would like to just sit here for a bit, very badly, please. If it gets revoked he may never recover. ] Nicer in here.

[ Safer. Quieter. Easier. Who has not yearned to become an anthropomorphic little mouse that lives in their partner's pocket.

Consequences don't get into the bubble until they get invited into the bubble, is what he hears, and that feels slightly more like being in control of something. ]

[Something tells him that Aziraphale might not have fully internalized the don't apologize part of this, but there wasn't an argument, so Crowley will accept it for now. It's going to take more than one or two reassurances, he suspects.

But at least Aziraphale accepts the offer to remain where they are, instead of trying to pull himself immediately back together.]

'Course I don't mind.

[It gives Crowley the opportunity to start stroking his fingers through Aziraphale's hair, lazily playing with his curls in what he hopes is soothing and distracting; something to focus on.]

I'll not ask you to talk about it, but I'll listen if you want to.

[ Aziraphale stays silent for a stretch.

There's not a dignified way to say "I broke my mug and suddenly everything that was ever too much for me rushed the door." There's not a dignified way to say a lot of things right now.

Do you suppose we have much of a point anymore once we get home? he wants to ask. Do you suppose I ever had one, or did they just like me better out of the way? Well. For all that, he may as well ask if Crowley supposes the grass is green. It's no secret.

(He liked himself better out of the way, too. Likes Earth better. He always has.

Why create him as an angel at all? Why make Heavenly love such a dreadful thing at all? Aziraphale doesn't expect he'll ever ask Her, but he can hardly get into trouble for wondering, here.) ]

Got a bit overwhelmed. I suppose. Couldn't seem to-- to make it stop.

[ The thinking. The feelings he could normally bottle up one-handed and blindfolded. Oh, he was right. This is absolutely undignified. Couldn't seem to make myself stop throwing a fit and committing Thought Crimes, darling, hope that helps.

If he fidgets with Crowley's lapels to cope, that's between him and the lapels. ]

Nothing quite worth the dramatics, I'm sure.

[The answer isn't entirely a surprise, though it isn't properly an answer and it isn't really much of a relief, either, even if it does save him from worrying that something terrible happened. It just means that there's been an underlying stress and he can't stop himself from wondering if he's to blame. If he's been — too much, or not enough. If Aziraphale has realized that being together this way isn't what he truly wants and he's been worried about admitting the truth.

Would Aziraphale have let him in, though, if that were the case?]

Mm, we've all been there. [It's a reassurance that he isn't judging Aziraphale for the minor breakdown, and it's a reassurance that this sort of thing does happen, sometimes, to humans and demons and angels, including him. Sometimes he has to trick Aziraphale into being gentle with himself by drawing comparisons between themselves, because he knows Aziraphale wouldn't think unkindly about Crowley the way he does about himself.] Least you didn't cut off all your hair.

[Not as much to cut off as Crowley had, back in the day, but the point is to drive home the fact he understands.]

And sometimes the dramatics are necessary, I think.

[Whatever inspired this, he doesn't think it was the actual issue, just the straw that broke the camel's back.]

[ Every day Crowley proves why he's the only one who gets any level of vulnerability privileges. Frankly, no one else is worth that level of trust.

It's a relief. Not the idea of Crowley experiencing anything like this, this incident, all alone with none of the comfort that he's here offering-- god, no. Just. A relief to hear the understanding. Not needing to stumble over wording anything better, or over how to backpedal. ]

Oh. No. Changing my hair wouldn't go over right now. [ Aziraphale's had enough of this madcap whiplash lifestyle the past couple of weeks. Well. Technically probably the last couple of years, but in a picky and choosy way as to what tipped the scales. If his hair felt different right now, he'd kill everyone in this hemisphere. ] Yours suits you whatever you do with it, of course.

[ Not that he's a simp or anything.

He prefers personally deciding when and where he has a necessary moment™️, of course, but he expects that goes without saying. Crowley probably prefers that himself. Maybe that hasn't got very much to do with it. ]

Does it happen often? To you?

[ Not changing the subject or staying on the subject but a secret third thing: paralleling the subject like a dog that needs its pill to be wrapped in cheese. Maybe also worrying about it. A tad. ]

[The fact that Aziraphale has his breathing and emotions under control enough to have a conversation is a good thing, probably, since it hopefully means he's gotten through the worst of it.]

You haven't got much to cut off, anyway. A buzz cut wouldn't suit you at all.

[In another situation, he might be playfully smug about the compliment, but right now it doesn't feel right, so he just gives Aziraphale another kiss on the head to show his appreciation for the kind words.

He's less appreciative for the question, but he can't really blame Aziraphale for asking, not when he's the one who brought it up in the first place. It would only be fair, really, now that he's seen Aziraphale be awfully vulnerable.

It won't kill him to share a little vulnerability in turn.]

Not all that often. S'just — [His teeth click softly as he closes his mouth, taking a second to work out how much he can make himself share.

It's easier like this, at least. With his wings over both of them, softening the outside world.] — All gets a bit much, sometimes.

[The hurt, the anger, the love.]

[ Aziraphale hums, as a general agreement with the sentiment and an enjoyment of receiving more free affection. He'd look ghastly with a buzz cut, he thinks. Not entirely certain his hair wouldn't immediately revert in protest.

He lets go of Crowley's jacket so that he can wrap his arms around him properly instead. Which is much better, in his opinion. Should have done it sooner. ]

It does at that. [ He thinks back to when the daemons first split off. A slightly different kind of too much. But. ] If you'd ever... like company, when that happens. I would. It's helped.

[ He absolutely wouldn't have expected it to, because he usually likes licking his wounds hidden in a metaphorical cabinet, if he gets the chance. But it has helped. Just having Crowley here, being familiar and steady. ]

I'm very grateful.

[Crowley re-positions just slightly when Aziraphale does, to make sure they're both comfortable, though he's not going to stop playing with his hair.]

Hopefully it won't be necessary.

[Which isn't a no to the offer of company, but it isn't really a yes either. It's something he's vaguely considered before, wanting Aziraphale around when he's having a rough time of things, but there's always that fear, still. It would be both surprising and incredibly hypocritical for Aziraphale to decide he didn't want to deal with Crowley's emotions after all this. Logic doesn't always help, though.]

M'glad to know it helped. That's sort of— hm— [Words are hard. Emotions are hard. Vulnerability is hard. It's a little easier when they're close like this and his view is of white curls and beige clad shoulders.] That's sort of the point of this. Us. Not having to do this alone.

[They can rely on each other, they should rely on each other, now that they know they're both stupidly in love.]

[ It's as good of a groundwork as one can hope to lay out in advance, for them. Not a yes, not a no, to be determined if or when it gets tested.

Reading between the lines a language they learned before languages existed. ]

Is it? [ The point of this, us, etc. ] I'll admit I hadn't... given much thought to it. Past, um.

[ ???? He needs a 3 week nap. Ugh. ]

Getting to love you.

[ What more point could there be to anything? ]

[For someone who likely reads a lot of romance novels, Aziraphale can be a bit dense sometimes.

But Crowley adores him anyway, as evidence by the kiss planted on his temple.]

Right. [Sort of gentle, sort of fond.] And this is — [The soft tone is slightly ruined by the realization that he has to continue talking about emotions.

Ugh.] — Getting to love you. Taking care of you. So you're not alone.

I-- well, I mean yes. I'm very grateful. So long as we understand it's mutual.

[ He hopes Crowley knows it's mutual. Even if Aziraphale has mixed feelings about needing to be taken care of at all, conceptually. Even if Crowley thinks on things and doesn't ever take him up on it. As long as he knows. ]

Love is a large metaphorical umbrella, is all. Everything fit beneath it already.

[ Making the point of them together very broadly "anything that they do." The love is present, ergo literally everything stems from it.

Can't believe Aziraphale has been so caught up in the euphoria of getting out of the situationship that he hasn't started subcategorizing relationship qualities. He's going to get a bad grade in romance, this can't be happening to him. ]

Be a bit odd if it wasn't mutual.

[Dealing with the actual reality of that is something he's going to have to figure out eventually, but he can agree with it on principal, no matter how complicated it is. He's already expressed that to Aziraphale, that the care is difficult, so he's hoping they don't have to get into it again.]

It is, but it's different, isn't it? We couldn't exactly do this sort of thing before.

[The love was always there, but now they're allowed to show it, and actually be there for each other openly.]

[ See, Crowley gets it. He's smart and beautiful like that. That would be odd. ]

I suppose you're right. [ AKA he Definitely Knows it's true. ] Maybe we can hammer that out on another day.

[ He's hit his limit on humiliating ordeals and then some for this one. Done enough circling on all the couldn'ts and too dangerous things floating in their history, to very poor ends. Lord knows Crowley probably doesn't need any extra short-notice stress, either.

Well. Aziraphale knows. Who could speak for what the Almighty is bothered with these days? ]

Doesn't necessarily need to be hammered out.

[Mostly, he was just trying to make sure that Aziraphale understood that this whole thing, being here for him, wasn't anything too much. To reassure him that Crowley wants to do this, when it's necessary.]

You want to hop up off the floor? Bed might be more comfortable.

[He doesn't want to pressure Aziraphale into re-joining the world too soon. They can do it in baby steps.]

[ No it definitely needs to be hammered out. And he will definitely remember anything he said about hammering it out by this time next week. Honest.

World: cold and hard. Crowley: soft and warm (in a way very specific to gangly skinny demons). There's much to consider. Aziraphale supposes that ultimately, he really doesn't like sitting on the floor. He never has. It's unbecoming. Can't stay like this forever, physically speaking. Mentally part of him will always be cherishing being here. ]

Yes. I think I'd prefer that, yes. Thank you.

[ He begrudgingly un-vices his hold on Crowley. It's all in service of a greater good: a more comfortable cuddle and a very thick blanket. Sacrifices must be made at times. ]

[Crowley gives him the time to make the decision, not wanting to pressure him either way. The floor is a little uncomfortable, but he's not a fifty year old human, he's a demon, and he can handle some discomfort for Aziraphale's sake.

Still, bed sounds better, so there's another kiss to Aziraphale's temple with his decision, before Crowley loosens his old as well.]

Nothing a cup of tea in bed can't fix. Or would your rather a glass of wine? Hot chocolate?

[If they're going to have a cuddle, they ought to have a cozy drink to enjoy as well.]

[ Crowley is always so ridiculously good to him.

This swell of emotion in Aziraphale's chest, for the first time today, is a comforting kind, and that's no small relief in itself. A little balm over what's been scraped raw and left empty.

He lets out a breath. He makes himself not think about the tendril of anxiety already trying to creep back in-- don't look at me differently after this, don't think of me differently after this. ]

I can do tea. [ It's fine. He knows how to live in a body. He knows how to do behaviors. ] Lots of options if you'd like something, too. Of course.

[ Aziraphale doesn't even need to worry about how Crowley looks at him, because he can't bring himself to look Crowley in the face as he pulls away. He focuses on smoothing out the wrinkles he put into Crowley's jacket instead. The trick to life is that an angel can avoid almost anything if he really, really wants to. ]

[There's no missing the fact that Aziraphale is avoiding eye contact, but Crowley decides not to press that particular issue at the moment. He gets it, after all.]

Tea sounds perfect.

[First they have to make the daunting journey from the floor to the bed. Crowley leans in for a quick peck on the cheek, then pushes himself up to standing, so he can offer his hands out to help Aziraphale to his feet.

There's a tingle of a miracle, which is both the kettle starting to boil, and a set of very cozy, very soft tartan pajamas appearing on the bed, folded neatly.

Crowley won't actively point them out, but they're there for Aziraphale if he wants to get properly comfortable.]

Why don't you get yourself tucked into bed while I do the tea?

[ Was there ever so daunting a journey as this? Probably. Definitely. But at least knowing that makes it objectively seem less difficult to manage.

Aziraphale takes the help up without making a fuss, and he keeps Crowley's hands for a few moments after. They're a very good set of hands to squeeze, carefully as he can, and an even better set of hands to kiss-- hardly more than a press of lips, but a sincere one. ]

I'm meant to be the one who fusses, my dear.

[ Of all the times for Crowley to come after his crown...

He suspects he might get in trouble if he says I really am sorry about all this or I don't deserve you right now, so he'll have to settle for simply thinking them instead. ]

[The initial plan had been to step back once Aziraphale was up, to busy himself with getting the tea sorted so that there was a moment of privacy, a moment to decompress without being observed. But Aziraphale holds onto his hands, and kisses them, and Crowley has no thoughts about moving away.]

Which one of us was the nanny?

[He can fuss with the best of them, even if it's historically been directed towards children. The same principles apply, he's sure.]

I don't need to be nannied. [ ... well. No, any thoughts he may have historically had about certain Crowley personas aren't relevant in the slightest.

There's an air of obligation attached to the term, the clear association with looking after a child. Not what Crowley means, he thinks. Obviously. Even if he did mean it like that, it can't turn into an obligation anyway. Aziraphale is never letting this happen ever again for the rest of eternity. So that's fine. Just having a bit of a back and forth. ]

But I'm sure I see your point.

[ Only one of them has, in fact, literally been a nanny.

He presses one more kiss to Crowley's hands before letting go, falling back on the hand-wringing habit that has never once failed him. He'll be using Crowley as a fidget toy again in no time. It's a necessary step in the process. Etc. ]

[The look that Crowley gives him is one of very, very fond exasperation; it's a look that says they both know that isn't what he meant and that they both know Aziraphale is being contrary for the sake of being contrary and that Crowley loves him because of and in spite of that.]

The point is that I've gotten quite good at fussing, thank you.

[The previous look softens with the kiss, before he draws back so he can go fix them tea. Despite his instinct to keep an eye on Aziraphale, he purposefully focuses his attention on the process of making tea, to give him a moment or two of privacy.]

I'm sure. [ It's nice to be contrary for literally no reason sometimes. Familiar old patter. Aziraphale likes the comfort of familiar things and settled-in things.

So he leaves Crowley to the tea, because as humiliating as this has been, a solid cup of tea can do wonders and he knows precisely the way that Crowley makes tea. A little fixed point at the center of the universe. If he weren't sick of crying, he'd consider crying again.

He settles for making his way to the bed instead. Takes his moment. Makes certain that his face is clean, if nothing else. The tartan pajamas pass muster after a quick inspection, so he goes about methodically getting changed. Another little ritual. Something to focus on. ]

Barely had time to get out of practice.

[ What's a handful of linear years but the blink of an eye? ]

[If he's pleased that the pajamas are accepted, that's his business, because Aziraphale already knows exactly how stupid and in love he is and doesn't need further proof.

He can just focus on the tea, doing everything the proper way, both to give them time and due to the fact that he knows Aziraphale prefers his tea to be made without miracles. The least Crowley can do is indulge his tea preferences.]

Would've been awful if I were out of practice. Who knows what I'd do.

[Commit some awful social faux-pas while attempting to be comforting.

Which, to be fair, he was worried about doing anyway.]

[ Aziraphale looks over at him now, couched in the familiar cover of Crowley being occupied. The sharp angles of him, his preferred shades of black and grey, the deliberate styling of his hair. The way he intermingles tension and boneless slouching, care and nonchalance. More familiar than ever here. Now that they're-- a them.

He would recognize that profile before his own reflection.

It hasn't made Aziraphale any less covetous. If he's entirely honest. He could carve a little nook into himself on every plane and tuck Crowley away into it. Keep him safe, keep him for himself. (Crowley might like having it to hide in. Sometimes.) ]

I imagine you would love me while you did it. [ In the good way. The warm, romantic, careful sort of way that shapes itself around something instead of trying to force it to fit the other way around. ] No need to sell yourself short in that case.

[ Top marks. Glowing reviews. Would recommend even just for existing and being willing to stay in the Incident Sphere with him. ]

(longest night) ic inbox

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