Veneration

1. World in My Eyes

"And that's another damn thing!" Crowley growled loudly. He stalked to the sideboard, poured a fresh glass, drank half, refilled it, and returned to his chair.

Aziraphale waited while Crowley glared at the glass in his hands as if it had offered him a grave insult. The seconds ticked by.

"What is?"

"What is what?"

Aziraphale sighed. Crowley was in a disagreeable state, even for him. "What is another damn thing, Crowley?"

"Mmphm!" Crowley grumbled, clearly done with that line of thought and racing on to his next grievance.

It had been a lovely evening. Since averting Armageddon they'd been able to have quite a few of them. An afternoon stroll through the park, supper at a quaint Indonesian place, dessert at a cafe, and drinks at Aziraphale's bookshop. All the parts were there to make for a pleasant time. Except for Crowley. He had seemed fine when they met. But as the evening progressed, Aziraphale noticed he become broody, then agitated. He moved constantly, unable to get comfortable.

"Crowley, now really! What is the matter? You're....surly!" The demon was usually far more laid back, especially when they drank together like this.

Crowley took another large gulp for an answer. His dark glasses were somehow back on, shutting Aziraphale out.

"Come now. Something is bothering you."

"Everything is fine, alright?"

"Is it Hell?"

Crowley placed his glass on the table and sighed dramatically. He hunched froward, knees on elbows, hands hanging down. His dark glasses were gone and he stared forward, to a space in front of Aziraphale.

"No, Hell's been steering clear of me.  Look, angel. S'nothing really. Just...I haven't been Tempting humans lately, not in a...a meaningful way. Not in the way I used to." He began staring at his hands. "It's part of my nature, and I haven't done it.   Making me agitated."

"Well how do you tempt them?"

"You don't want to know."

"I do. Maybe I can help you out with it? Part of our Arrangement.

Crowley snorted derisively and looked at him directly.

"We've helped each other out with lots of things in the past."

"Not like this."

"Really, now.  Tell me, I insist!"

"I fuck, alright?" The demon responded testily.

"Y...you"

"I fuck." he repeated.  "Or I get fucked." He took a drink and faced away again. "I've never been particular."

Aziraphale turned bright red.

Crowley turned back to him. "Well, you don't think I've been handing out shiny, red apples this whole time, do you?"

No, he didn't think that. "I..I see." Aziraphale fidgeted with the stem of his glass.

"You asked. I told you that you wouldn't want to know about it. Not your thing."

"No, no. We can talk about this." He responded, putting on his best good listener demeanor. "Hell doesn't have a monopoly on sex.  Angels deal with such matters all the time."

The demon laughed bitterly, "Not like this! It's not love and fulfillment and commitment and pair-bonding. That's your side of things." Crowley snorted. "Train-station kisses in the rain, whispered endearments, romance." He pulled a face. "I'm talking about Temptation! Enticement! Luring them into something they secretly want, but act as if they don't."