Seeing In Black and White -Ineffable Husbands-

Perfect

The memory hurt Aziraphale so much. It was one of the worst times he had ever experienced. He was wrapped up in a pile of angels for days. They'd all sing sad harmonies for hours. That was until they all disappeared. Even Raphael disappeared one day.

Aziraphale feared he'd fall, just like the rest, but he didn't. He just stayed in Heaven until he was assigned to Earth. By the time Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden, the angel's feathers had grown back. That was where he had met Crowley. That was a nice day.

Since then Gabriel had plucked Aziraphale's feathers eight times. Each time was bloody and painful. Sometimes Aziraphale would get sick from infections. He'd suffer all alone until Crowley would find him.

He loved how Crowley insisted on taking care of him.

It was a nice afternoon when Crowley had returned to the flat with a collection of soaps. Aziraphale couldn't help but smile. He felt some spark of excitement when Crowley explained that his feathers had grown back enough to be cleaned.

The demon worked for hours on the angel's wings. He was quite cautious when using water, since Aziraphale could accidentally turn it holy at any moment. There was always a slight burn on Crowley's hands when he touched Aziraphale's wings. It was like touching a warm rock. Something about it shocked Crowley, probably the fact that he enjoyed the warmth.

Aziraphale also spent hours working to a perfect manicure. His hands always looked ineffably nice, enough to consider perfect, but there was always room for improvement.

Everything about Aziraphale seemed perfect by the time his makeover was finished. For the first time in a very long time Aziraphale felt perfect. His halo showed for the first time in centuries.

Crowley loved seeing the angel so happy. He didn't expect for Aziraphale to slid up beside him and say, "Now I'll do yours. Sit down dear."

It wasn't hard for Crowley to relax as Aziraphale began to pick through his wings. It was refreshing to let them spread out. The demon couldn't help but sigh, "Why can't you enjoy things for yourself angel?"

Aziraphale responded, "It's in my blood. I also would hate to have to enjoy more without you."

"Aziraphale, you know-"

"Shut your pie hole, Anthony."

Crowley practically choked on spit. He stared Aziraphale right in the eye and asked, "Anthony?"

Aziraphale directed his attention back to Crowley's wings. The demon was still quite confused over the fact that he just got called by his first name. Aziraphale occasionally put him into fifteen minute gazes like this.

"Earth to Crowley, come in Crowley."

The demon looked at Aziraphale who was carefully running water through the demon's feathers.

"Yes, Aziraphale?"

Aziraphale leaned his head against Crowley's shoulder.

"Crowley can you please explain why there's a nail through your wing, dear?" Aziraphale asked. Crowley shrugged and said, "Well perhaps I had a little torture incident in Hell a long time ago. You know instead of taking away our ability to miracle things, we just get nailed to walls for a while. Just you know, ease it out."

Aziraphale's eyes shot open wide. "Ease it out? Seriously!"

Aziraphale bit his lip and gently eased the nail out. The hole immediately started to ooze. Crowley winched at the pain. He sighed, "See, it's fine. I'm okay angel."

Aziraphale asked, "Do you have anymore?"

Crowley nodded shyly. He said, "But they don't hurt though. It's alright."

Aziraphale asked, "Are you sure? Because some part of me believes you're lying. Crowley, tell me you're not lying."

Crowley said, "Fine, I give in. You've figured me out. Yes they hurt all the time. Get them out please."

Aziraphale started poking through Crowley's wings. He found plenty of nails lodged into the tissue.

Aziraphale couldn't help but sigh, "I never told you about what Heaven did to me."

Crowley asked, "Well what did they do to you?"

Aziraphale yanked another nail out of Crowley's wing. He stated, "Gabriel ripped out all my feathers right before The Great Fall. He's ripped out my feathers eight times since then. Absolutely horrendous."

Crowley's eyes shot open wide. He said, "You should have told me. I could have protected you from him. You can't let them do things like that to you up there. I'll get him someday, let him know how it feels."

"Dear, there was nothing you could have done to stop him from doing anything before the fall. Remember, we just have to assume we didn't know each other well before the fall," Aziraphale sighed.

Crowley crossed his arms and said, "Well I remember you. I remember your eyes, your hair, your soft skin, and I remember doing something to you. Can't figure out what though. The other might I had this dream about it though. You were singing and you smiled at me every time I'd touch your arm."

Aziraphale shook his head and said, "Don't remember anything like that. It doesn't really matter though. You're a demon, and I'm an angel who made it past falling."

Crowley sighed, "You never sing anymore. I'd love to hear you sing something again. Just once."

Aziraphale stopped searching for nails. He said, "I don't sing anymore, not in front of anyone at least. I don't have a choir, and I don't know any bebop."

Aziraphale resumed looking for nails, pulling out a fifth one. Crowley closed his eyes and said, "Doesn't have to be up to date to be beautiful, Aziraphale. I guess I can just have fun with my faded memories."

Aziraphale moved to picking through Crowley's other wing. Crowley was giving him that puppy eyes look. Aziraphale couldn't help but open his mouth and sing. Something about it almost put Crowley to sleep. It was such a sweet, relaxing song. He didn't even notice how Aziraphale took out more nails.

"That was nice. I think I like that one very much," Crowley yawned.

Aziraphale squinched his nose and said, "Oh perhaps I should say thank you."

Crowley sighed, "You might as well."

Aziraphale considered kissing Crowley, but he decided it was better not to. He whispered, "Thank you, dear."

The angel soon finished up his work on the demon. After he did, he cuddled up with Crowley. They held each other close.

Crowley smiled and said, "You know I'll always have a place for you, right here."

Aziraphale nodded and leaned to be a bit closer against Crowley. The demon whispered, "I love you, Aziraphale."