Aziraphale nervously paced inside the bookstore, head filled with dozens of thoughts about the past millennia. Gabriel had come by again, checking in, and again, calling the angel pudgy. He let out a defeated noise and slumped into his chair. Crowley was taking him to dinner...but his appetite was completely gone at this point. He moved to ring the demon to cancel, frowning as he touched his middle.
The demon had offered this time, insisting that he didn't have any sort of ulterior motive.
"Crowley..." Aziraphale started as Crowley's voicemail picked up, glancing down at his stomach. "I'm afraid I have to cancel dinner tonight. Something's come up and I won't be free."
Crowley looked over towards the phone as it rang from where he was watering his plants. He walked over and picked it up. "Tomorrow then?"
"Oh. Uh...yes. Perhaps tomorrow..."
"Alright," Crowley said. "I'll be there at the same time we planned tonight."
"Right," Aziraphale smiled and hung up, sighing.
Crowley sighed as well, going back to his plants but his heart wasn't in it.
Aziraphale tried his best to get dressed for a run, jogging around St. James's Park.
"Did the pavement threaten you?" Crowley's voice asked after a short while.
Aziraphale jumped, covering himself. "Crowley! What...are you doing?"
"I was going for a walk," Crowley said leisurely. "This is a new look for you."
"I'm um...working out."
"Is this what came up?"
"What are you talking about?" Aziraphale asked.
"You said something came up instead of going to dinner. Is this it?"
"Oh...well...I may have...stretched certain truths..." Aziraphale admitted, wringing his hands.
"You could have just told me."
"Well...if you must know, Gabriel visited me...and made some comments about my...softness. So I'm trying to train my vessel and so I can't go on frivolous dinners with you."
"I thought angels couldn't lie."
"I didn't exactly lie...I just omitted certain truths."
"I wasn't talking about you."
"Dear...no one else has lied..."
"Gabriel clearly," Crowley replied.
"Oh, no. He's not wrong..."
"He is. You look fine, angel."
"No, I don't." Aziraphale smiled sadly. "I really must go, Crowley."
"Now you're the one lying. Because you do."
"Crowley, enough!" Aziraphale said curtly, raising his voice a bit as hurt was made clear on his face. "I need to go now...enjoy your walk..."
The demon was stunned into silence. Aziraphale had never snapped at him like that before.
Aziraphale rushed off, continuing his jog.
Golden eyes watched him go.
Aziraphale was grunting and out of breath by the time he reached his home.
There was a cup on the front step, a note tucked beneath it.
Aziraphale nervously grabbed it, glancing at the note.
