Ineffable Husbands One Shots

But never doubt I love

The play ended dramatically, with Horartio still grieving over the loss of his intimate while having to explain everything to the new king of Denmark, Fortinbras. It was no wonder this play was considered a tragedy, Aziraphale had certainly shed a few tears while Hamlet was succumbing to his fate. But now he was cheering excitedly for the performers, in a way that might make a demon roll his eyes because the angel was the only one who seemed to notice the play had ended at all.

Aside from the Bard, that is.

He was beaming at Aziraphale's enthusiasm and bowing along with the performers. Eventually, when they had enough of Aziraphale's applause, they retired backstage, and the angel headed over to the rather puffed-up playwright.

"That was just marvelous, Mr. Shakespeare. Quite enthralling," Aziraphale praised while nodding vigorously with his hands clasped about his middle.

"Thank you, thank you," he responded, bowing a few more times for good measure.

"Oh, yes, of course. I really loved the part with his mother, when she-"

"Did your friend leave?" Shakespeare interrupted Aziraphale's compliment.

"Er... sorry?" the angel asked.

"Your friend? The man you were watching the play with before - has he left?" he asked, looking around the theater as if the black-clad man might be hiding in the shadows, just waiting to pop out and shower him with compliments as Aziraphale had.

"Oh! Er... yes, I believe he had some business to attend to," Aziraphale said.

"Mmmmm. Well, that's too bad," Shakespeare said, still not looking at him and instead searching the theater for any trace of Crowley.

"Rather," the angel said coolly. "But, as I was saying, I very much liked the part-"

"Did he like the play?" the Bard interrupted again.

"My-my friend?" Aziraphale tried to clarify, feeling very caught off guard.

"Yes, yes him. Did he like it? Or, well, at least the parts that he saw?" the man asked, now giving the angel his full attention.

"Ah... I believe he said he... isn't partial to the - ah, to put it in his words - the 'gloomy ones,'" Aziraphale said, feeling slight remorse at how truthful he was when he saw the Bard's face fall.

"I see," he said, sounding aggrieved.

"But, from what I understand, he does enjoy the funny ones!" Aziraphale tried to soothe.

"Hah!" the playwright's face lightened. "Well, who could blame him," he said, standing straighter now.

"Certainly," the angel said, smiling once more. "However, I quite liked some of the more heartbreaking scenes in this-"

"Heartbreaker indeed. He was quite handsome, wasn't he?" Shakespeare asked, apparently still thinking about Crowley.

"I beg your pardon?" Aziraphale asked, now feeling rather scandalized for some reason.

"Your friend, my good man! Was he not handsome? And intelligent - I heard him say something just delightful-"

"He has a wife," Aziraphale interrupted this time, with a lie. He didn't know why he was doing this, but the way the Bard was speaking of Crowley just made him feel... prickly.

"Oh?" Shakespeare asked, seemingly interested in any and all information about Crowley that Aziraphale was willing to divulge.

"Yes. Lady... Azalea Fell. Crowley! Azalea Fell-Crowley," he attempted to sound convincing. Why he had based it on his own name he couldn't say... probably because that was the name he was most familiar with. Yes, that must be it.