Crawling back to you (Hozier's version)

12: Imagine Being Loved By Me

title is of course from the arguably most erotic hozier song, 'talk'. 'imagine being loved by me / i won't deny i've got in my mind now / all the things we could do / so i try to talk refined for fear that you find out / how i'm imagining you'
- - -

In 2013, Crowley had first met a man with the name of Andrew John Hozier-Byrne.

It was a pleasant encounter for both sides, although not too rememberable on Crowley's side. And very much memorable on Hozier's side.

He was in Dublin, in a pub after he finished his duties. The demon hadn't had many jobs in Ireland this far, so he enjoyed the time he'd been giving. By being forced to be there.

Crowley had been drinking for a while, about half a dozen bottles of wine in already. He'd been starting to wonder why he'd even been served this much.

Hozier sat beside him, curious about what the man beside him had been rambling on about all night. It seemed that was getting pretty talkative when he had a few glasses. He'd lost track of the exact amount.

And, as usual, the Irishman had his notebook with him.

The red-haired man was certainly inspirational.

The man was hard to understand at first, but after listening and interpreting for a while, it was clear to Hozier that the man beside him was nothing short of lovesick.

At first, he thought the guy was close to passing out anyway, because he just couldn't stop talking about an angel. An actual angel.

But after listening for a while, hearing the man referred to himself as a demon, he decided his rambling was song-worthy. It wasn't a new metaphor, referring to oneself as a wretched creature in love with the incarnation of love and beauty itself.

Andrew filled page after page and after a while and some more drinks, he had filled entire notebook.

The morning after the encounter, he began writing a song.

He called the song 'Take Me To Church', published it and it was an absolute hit after a short while.

Crowley took an elaborate interest in the song, but he couldn't help but feel called out as well as familiar with the singer's voice.

He eventually went to his concert, and he then remembered the pub encounter.

The two of them talked again while he was sober, and Crowley enjoyed album after album he released.

And he was obviously told that he was the inspiration for one, two or a dozen songs.

A theme that continued to appear throughout all these songs, was how bad Crowley wanted to kiss.

And although he had quite some time for his dreams and hopes and fantasies, neither this nor the last one was how he imagined it would happen.

When they pulled apart, neither of them spoke. They just looked at each other for a moment before Aziraphale cupped Crowley's cheeks and pulled him in again.

And they continued to share a few soft kisses, neither of them knowing if or what to say.

'I really do like your eyes, my dear.', Aziraphale whispered up to him, cupping Crowley's cheeks.

He smiled, amused. 'Why did you say that?' Crowley proceeded to wrap his arms around the angel's waist, pulling him even closer.

'I thought you deserved to know. You look far prettier without your glasses, my dear.', he caressed his cheeks with his thumbs.