An Ineffable Love Story

Devils Roll The Dice, Angels Roll Their Eyes 🩷

Crowley paced the floor nervously, unable to keep his hands still, so they twitched restlessly at his sides. He wasn't usually anxious about anything, but then again, he didn't usually care about anything.

That wasn't true anymore.

He hated his flat, which Hell had returned to him following all the Gabriel-Jim madness. It was just so empty, completely soulless and devoid of emotion. Before, that would have been exactly what Crowley wanted, but he had changed now. Aziraphale had changed him.

Crowley missed the angel whenever they were apart. After pining for him for six thousand years, he never wanted to be separated from Aziraphale again. He didn't care if he was busy reading or tidying books or listening to his records, it was enough to just watch the angel, occasionally twirling a strand of his hair around his finger or leaning his head on his chest.

All of this had led Crowley to the decision to propose to Aziraphale that he move into the bookshop. He knew the angel couldn't be without his little paradise, and Crowley loved the place too, because it reminded him of Aziraphale. But he was taking a massive gamble. What if the angel thought things were moving too quickly, and this would destroy their fledging relationship?

A painful memory sidled into Crowley's head. It had been the 1940s, after he had saved Aziraphale (and his books) from a group of Nazis. He'd offered him a ride, he didn't mind where, he just wanted to spend some time with the angel, but Aziraphale had refused. You go too fast for me, Crowley, he had told the demon. What if he saw things the same way now?

Unable to put it off any longer, Crowley snapped his fingers and miracled himself to the bookshop's entrance, pushing the door open and edging uncertainly inside. Upon hearing the tinkling of the shop's bell, Aziraphale poked his head out from behind a shelf, prepared to defend his beloved book collection from customers. When he saw that it was Crowley, the angel beamed and hurried over.

"Crowley!" Aziraphale always said his name like that on greeting the demon, with a joyful lilt, somehow intoning his smile into his voice.

"Hi." Crowley was behaving oddly, Aziraphale thought, a flicker of anxiety in his stomach. Usually he was greeted with a kiss, but the demon seemed shy, withdrawn.

"Is something wrong?" the angel inquired, concerned. Crowley wasn't planning on leaving him, was he? Aziraphale tried to hide his twisting hands and sweaty palms, tried to suppress the feeling of dread inside him.

"N-no," Crowley stuttered. "It's just— there's something I wanted to talk to you about."

"Of course." Aziraphale sat down on the sofa, gesturing for the demon to join him. Crowley gingerly complied, perching uncomfortably. This was definitely abnormal, as he normally sprawled, cuddled up to the angel.

Crowley cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to find the right words. "I... I was just wondering," he began, attempting to sound casual. "I mean, please don't feel pressured in any way, and if this is too much..." His voice trailed off.

The angel placed a hand on Crowley's thigh. Far from calming him down, it made the demon let out an involuntary sigh of longing. It reminded him of everything he had to lose, what a risk he was taking.

"I spend so much of my time here, anyway," Crowley continued. "So, I guess what I'm trying to say is... should I just move in?" He mumbled the last words under his breath, averting his eyes in embarrassment and fear.

Aziraphale was silent for a few moments. That's it, snarled the demon's internal monologue. You've lost him. You go too fast for him.

"Oh," the angel gasped. "Oh, Crowley."

"Don't worry, it's ok," Crowley backtracked. "It's totally fine, I get it. I'll just go—"

Aziraphale cut him off. "Yes," he whispered. "You should move in. Right now."

In an uncharacteristically dominant motion, the angel leapt to his feet and firmly seized Crowley's hand. The demon was a little unsure about where this was going, but he liked this side of Aziraphale. He led Crowley up a creaky, wooden staircase and opened a dust-covered door. With a flourish, he opened it and pulled Crowley inside.

The demon stared, confused. It was a bedroom, with a four-poster bed covered in fluffy black blankets. Plants of all shapes and sizes with gleaming emerald leaves stood proudly in their pots. Piles of books littered the floor (as they did every surface in Aziraphale's shop — he did have a bit of a hoarding problem), and a fire crackled in the grate, emitting a welcoming glow which warmed Crowley's cold blood.

"But you never sleep." What was this place?

Aziraphale looked sheepish. "I know. I've kept it like this for years."

"Why?"

"For you," the angel admitted.

Crowley was stunned. Aziraphale had done this, cared for this perfect haven, all for him. Before there had been even a whisper of romance between them. "Angel," he started, but he was silenced by a kiss.

The demon returned the kiss eagerly, then paused, not sure how far the angel wanted to go. But Aziraphale made it clear by unbuttoning Crowley's shirt, then guiding him onto the bed, all the while kissing him furiously. Taking the hint, he began to undress the angel, breathing him in, feeling his smooth skin with his hands. Crowley snaked his fingers through Aziraphale's hair, then sank back, pulling the angel down with him, wonderstruck that this was really happening.

•••

Later, much later, Aziraphale lay in the bed next to Crowley. The demon had fallen asleep quite quickly once the action was over, snuggled in his arms. The angel couldn't believe what they had done — he had distanced himself from Heaven, defying their plans and refusing their offers, but now he had dealt the final blow. He half expected to Fall at any minute, but he didn't care any more. Aziraphale watched his demon sleeping, then leaned over and wound a tendril of Crowley's deep red hair around his finger. The demon let out a little sigh of contentment and rolled over.

This was what both of them had always dreamed of, unaware of the other's feelings, over the millennia, and it was every bit as perfect as they had imagined.

🖤🤍

~1058 words~
This one is definitely a happy one — sorry for the delay in posting. I will post another chapter in the next couple of days. Thank you so much for your reads, I'm so grateful and glad you like my writing! Also thank you so much to my first follower P1NKS0UL_ . They are a really good writer so check their stories out! xx