It ties us together, but I've never been more afraid

Chapter 13: A Flat in Mayfair

It was only 40 years after their meeting in the park that Crowley ran into Aziraphale. They hadn't planned to meet up, Crowley had just been enjoying a few drinks in a pub down the street from his flat. Aziraphale had walked in and spotted him there, and asked to join him at the table.

Crowley had agreed of course, and he moved his leg off the other chair where he had propped it up (mostly to try and rest his knee.) He watched as Aziraphale sat down, ordered a drink and shifted uncomfortably in the chair.

Crowley could feel the distant pain enough to know Aziraphale's shoulder and back issues were flaring up again.

After a few drinks more on both their ends the pub was beginning to close.

"Do you want to come back with me to my flat?" Crowley asked and Aziraphale made a face and blushed.

"Uh Crowley while I-" Aziraphale started but Crowley just cut him off.

"Not like that, calm down. I'm asking if you want to continue drinking at my flat since we're being kicked out of here." Crowley explained, but he still looked apprehensive.

"Heaven wouldn't like that if they found out." Aziraphale mumbled.

"Well when was the last time they checked in hm? What are the odds of them checking in tonight?" Crowley asked and Aziraphale thought about it for a minute.

Maybe it was the alcohol talking but he didn't want to say goodnight to Aziraphale just yet.

"Alright." Aziraphale agreed and Crowley gave a small smile. He grabbed his cane and they set off towards his flat.

Aziraphale hadn't been to Crowley's flat before, and for some reason that made Crowley a bit nervous. When they walked in Aziraphale looked around a bit as Crowley hobbled to the kitchen to pour them both some wine. Aziraphale took a seat on the couch in the living room and Crowley walked over, both wine glasses in one hand with his cane in the other.

"So still got knee issues?" Aziraphale asked as Crowley handed him one of the glasses. Crowley walked over to the other couch but instead of sitting down at first he put his wine glass down on the side table, grabbed a pillow off the couch and turned back around. He walked over to Aziraphale, motioned for him to lean forward a bit and put the pillow behind his back.

"What makes you say that?" Crowley asked as Aziraphale leaned back on the pillow, Crowley saw his face relax a bit as he did so. Crowley sat down on the couch and propped his leg up on the coffee table in front of him and picked up his wine glass again.

"Oh this is very strong. But your cane, if it was for style you would have left it by the door with your coat. Instead you're still using it to get around." Aziraphale pointed out. Crowley glanced down at the cane next to him.

"You're right." Crowley sighed as he took a sip of his wine.

"Does anything help with the pain?" Aziraphale asked and Crowley just shrugged.

"Sometimes under it helps, warm things too but it's too much effort to constantly warm things up by the fire." Crowley said. Aziraphale put his wine glass down, miracled up another pillow in his hands and stood up off the couch.

Aziraphale walked over to where Crowley was sitting and gently lifted up Crowley's leg from where he had it propped. Before Crowley could object Aziraphale slid the pillow under his knee and returned to where he was sitting on the other couch.

Crowley could feel that Aziraphale had miracled the pillow warm, and he had a suspicion that it would stay warm for as long as he wanted it to.

"Thanks." Crowley muttered.