The Known/Unknown Quantity

Chapter 184: Children Not of Men

Chapter 184: Children Not of Men

A few weeks past and May brought wind and rain, and temperatures all over the dial.

                Aziraphale wondered if the universe was already targeting them in small ways. His coat refused to stay put in the blustering gale, his awumbrella blew away, thrice, and every time he entered or exited the bookshop today the door swung wide open to cyclone his things about the room.

                Upon nearing said bookshop, he jogged the rest of the way, his arms laden with more texts that Crowley had requested. And upon seeing him by way of the rattling window pane, said demon flung the door open and ushered him in.

                "Terrible weather!" the angel exclaimed, setting the books down and wiping off the bag they were in. "I hope they weren't ruined."

                "A little dampness won't hurt them," Crowley muttered vaguely, still peering out the window.

                "I firmly disagree! Oh, oh, would you look at that! This one is wrinkled already! Paperbacks are so fragile!"

                "That one only comes in paperback." The demon drifted away from the window and examined the texts. "They'll do."

                "They'll—they'll do!" Aziraphale pointed to the door. "You don't deserve these books if that's your attitude. I nearly fell into a puddle out there! What then?"

                Crowley shrugged. "There's a hair dryer."

                The angel grabbed his vest in horror.

                "Kidding. They'll be fine."

                "Dare I say it, had I'd known I'd be in a deluge, I'd risk the Bentley."

                "Where's your umbrella?"

                "Gone south with the geese!"

                "The geese have returned."

                "Whatever!" Aziraphale gave one last appraising look at the books, then wiped his hands together. "Well, I suppose they'll keep." A trickle down his wrist reminded him of his soggy coat, and immediately he went to the rack and began shaking the jacket before he hung it up. "What are you going to do with them, anyway? I've never seen you read so voraciously."

                Crowley picked up the paperback and started to thumb through it. "Thought you'd be happy about that."

                "I am. I just wonder why?"

                Crowley put his chin in his palm and smiled at him. "All movie adaptations."

                "So?"

                "So," he drawled, putting the book down," I read the book, you go see the movie with me, we compare notes, and now we have something else to do together."

                Aziraphale stilled. He leaned against one of the tables, mouth hanging open.

                And then, he hurried over to Crowley and kissed him rather roughly. When he finished, he lifted the demon's chin with his closed palm and just studied him. "You are not so cavalier as you let on," the angel whispered tenderly. "You never cease to amaze."

                Crowley blushed and pulled him away. "No telling when we'll have time for it."

                "Soon enough," Aziraphale assured, pulling the demon to the back of the shop.