Ineffable Omens (Crowley x Aziraphale)

A Higher Power

 "Would you take a look at that glum mug," a stranger said, sitting down on the park bench next to Aziraphale. He had been sitting there, staring out at the water for quite some time. "You look like a troubled soul, my friend."

"Crowley?" Aziraphale asked hopefully, wishing more than anything that it was his friend in another body.

"Alas my name is nothing of the sort," the elderly man said. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"My friend left ... six years ago. Haven't heard from him since. I keep looking for him, but it seems he doesn't want to be found."

"I'm sorry about that, mate. I say forgive and forget. Move on. Live life. It's been six years—a rather long time, y'know—and he's not worth your pain. We'll have so many friends over the course of our lives, I'm approaching 75 and I've had more friendships come and go than I can count. Don't find yourself hung up on this fella."

"The slight problem is he's been my friend forever—more literally than you might guess—and, well, I rather think I fancied him at one point." Aziraphale shook his head. "It doesn't matter, does it? Being honest I think I love him. I think I always have, and it seems like I always will, no matter how insufferable that bastard can be."

"Is it possible this mate of yours might fancy you, too?" the man asked.

Aziraphale scoffed. "Not a chance! I'm really not his type."

"Does that matter? Y'know, sometimes we find ourselves pushing away the ones we love the most to protect them. And sometimes—I had this mate once, forget his name, Phil or summin' like that, we were young fellers and Phil quite fancied this girl here Penelope. Now, she was a plum, but the poor bloke found himself stuck right smack dab in the middle of the friendzone. Poor bugger, he stayed there for years until finally he decided he couldn't be friends with Penelope anymore because it hurt too damn much."

"So he just disappeared?"

"Well, he was thinking about it, but he ended up asking her out. Turned out, she quite fancied him too and the too got married. Beautiful ceremony. My point is, you never know. You've got to give your mate here a shot or you've got to move on. Only way through it, pal."

"That's some ... solid advice," Aziraphale said, pondering it. "Thank you."

"Anytime, Aziraphale," the man said with a hearty laugh.

"What?" the angel said, shocked at the mention of his name.

"What the hell?" the old man said, suddenly standing up. "What the bloody fuck am I doing here? Damn memory always failing me. Am I still married? Goddamn these old bones ..." The man hobbled away, and Aziraphale was left to wonder if maybe the advice hadn't come from him at all, but someone else entirely ... a higher power, perhaps. 

A/n: I figure this is way too much angst already and we need to get these boys back together, so I'm bringing them back! We have almost reached the cute fluffy chapters!