Characters are not mine- A story request from my Tumblr-

Anon: I just finished reading your newest chapter of flux and it was really sweet. I especially love how you portray crowley even if it is separate from the supernatural universe. For a crobby story, could you just write one where crowley is extremely exhausted and in pain but he wants to be with bobby. Bobby takes care of him and they have sweet moments like in the other story but within the supernatural universe?

Fair Warning: Fluff, angst.

Time felt like an eternity wasted away on anything and everything at once. Hell was hell, to put it simply, and demons were like children on a rampage and he was just too tired to have to deal with any of it anymore.

Home, he just wanted to go home.

Demons didn't have a home, at least that was the beaten stereotype and as hell's misfit, it was often one that was abided by. Having material objects that you cared for was dangerous all on its own, but a place? Once found it would be burned to the ground, so demons often didn't allow themselves the luxury of a home. Crowley had proven time and time again that he's not like the rest of the demons, not playing the same game or running on the same court, so it didn't really come as a surprise that home was a word he kept safe in his rather broad vocabulary.

It was a sanctuary, but not a set place, but rather a person.

Another thing that was frowned upon.

Most would say that he was setting himself up for failure. A demon had a home, a person he cared for and cherished and it was all sweet and dandy until the wrong set of ears find out of his little tryst- but that was just the thing about Crowley, he was careful when it came to things he cared about, people he cared about. He treaded the edges with care and stepped as silently as he could when it came to his little piece of heaven he saved up by the surface. And on days like this, he valued the fact that nobody could stop him from heading up there, and wallowed in the safety of knowing no one could find him.

They wouldn't dare.

He was exhausted, weary and a bit worn for wear and all he wanted to do was to curl up stupidly next to that surly hunter that has his vessels cardiac muscle all tied up and twisted inside; it makes him squirm the more he thinks about it and does all he can not to.

He wished he could say that it was easy to avoid showing up as late as he did, wished he could admit that it was a last minute thought rather than staying the rest of the night in the pits working his afterlife away as he thought about it. To be completely and utterly honest, he couldn't stop thinking about it all day. The moment he had left a few weeks previous, it was all he could think about- waking up with that burly hunter by his side and smelling of stale ink and old books, like oil and his filthy rotgut, and like every little thing that the demon absolutely adored about him. He missed it, but he had work to be done and meetings to attend.

It was all rather cliche, but Hell came first and foremost, his role as King had to be set first or else those bottom feeders may question his authority. A few rouges here and there he could handle, but a whole goddamn bloody uprising? Crowley was a lot of things, but he certainly wasn't suicidal. He kept this facade up as long as he could until his hands ached from the constant writing, and his neck screamed for rest. He could sit there for centuries just writing the time away, but sitting in his own silence, and listening to the screams of hell could get to anyone, and there wasn't anyplace else he'd much rather avoid than hell at present.

It was opportune that he left. Heats and tensions were low, and so far he did what he could and he just simply wanted to leave.

Needless to say, without much thought, that's exactly what he did. He'd been postponing his visit for too long.

When he arrived, however, Bobby wasn't where he usually was. His desk was empty, and his house was still and silent. Books were sprawled out in every which way, and the lights were all but on. Crowley blinked, confusion washing over him as he turned to scan the house over, but it was as empty as it seemed. Cursing under his breath, his shoulders slumped in disappointment. Bobby was most likely working on a hunt somewhere and Crowley had no real way to track him down. Sighing sadly, he pressed his lips together in a thin line.

If Bobby was at a hunt, there was no need for him to show up and potentially blow their cover, or get him killed.

So, although he was reluctant, he left.

Figured he'd try again tomorrow.

The next night when he showed back up, he was worse for wear, but holding together. However, again, Bobby wasn't at his desk. Crowley made a disgruntled sound in the back of his throat, but did a quick scan, and the house hadn't moved since he was there the day before. It made sense, he supposed, hunts can take a few days, but he'd be back eventually. Bobby always came back.

So, again, he left.

He felt like a utter fool that he continued to find that the other was never around and always at some odd ends of the earth and Crowley always just misses his opportunity. After the first two times, it kept happening, after the sixth time, Crowley was going absolutely nuts and the fact that he had no idea where that lunatic was, was driving him absolutely up the wall. After the first week and he still wasn't back, Crowley was furious, angry- he was so tired and he missed him, but he swallowed it all down and just delved back into the pit.

After the second week, Crowley began to grow worried, brushing a bit of the dust buildup on the hunters books laying on his desk away.

After the third week, Crowley was damn near certain that something had happened.

Nearing onto the forth week and still no word, the King was damn near ready to send out some search party because being gone from his home for nearly a month wasn't like the hunter. It wasn't like the wards were down, or that his house was being watched- everything checked out, and the demon knew that the old hunter hated being away for more than a few days from his rickety home. It didn't feel right without him here, like something in the air had been slanted or pushed off balance.

Crowley had originally believed that it was a hunt that Bobby had gone on, but the longer the hunter was away, the more the idea that someone had found out about their little bond, seemed to grow more and more relevant with each passing day. That the hunter might be in a great deal more danger than he had been originally led to believe.

Crowley was an absolute goddamn nervous wreck, but he continued to show up at the house, having sent out a few of his more reliable demons to scout the old hunter out just in case. However, nothing came up, and as the days were nearing the end of the month, with hell beginning to pile back up to him and having heard no hide nor tale of the hunter, Crowley was led to assume the worse and just bury himself back into doing what he has to as king- paperwork, deals, rouges and a million other renovations and hell induced issues that he had to deal with. He tried to forget about his worries, telling himself that whatever was going on up on the surface was nothing- reprimanding himself about getting attachments.

He was a demon, and demons couldn't have attachments.

It never worked out.

After that first month, he stopped heading up to the surface for weeks on end. With the war going on in heaven, he was needed in the pits, no matter how much he didn't want to waste another second in this godforsaken eternity. Feeling a weary and shattered sigh escape his lips when he felt the nearing of a summoning. The room around him vibrated and shook when the beginning of the spell began to take place, dropping his pen onto his desk and pushing to stand. Stretching his legs for the first time in what felt like centuries, when the room began to fade in and out until it turned to black altogether.

It took a few moments longer than usual for him to appear, mostly due to what he believed a heavy load of wardings doing everything they can to keep him out- however, a summoning is a summoning, and even wards can't do much to keep him out at that point.

The room he ended up in was dark, the lighting was terrible and tacky and misplaced in his opinion. However, he's seen worse so he keeps his comments to himself. The first thing he see's is the stone face of the one and only Dean Winchester, and beside him is his moose of a brother Sam, and they didn't hesitate to start hammering him with questions he's too frustrated and tired to answer, and it certainly doesn't take long for them to notice they weren't getting anywhere.

Crowley imagined things would have gone downhill rather fast, and his not-so-kind and intolerable attitude certainly didn't help his cause much, if a certain voice from behind didn't calm the waters.

Crowley heard him rather than saw him, and the flinch in his frame wasn't exactly unnoticeable, although nobody commented if they had seen it. Crowley see's the elder hunters shadow before the man steps into view, but Crowley's too furious to look at him, keeping his eyes glued to the devils trap at his feet.

Dean tries to threaten him, to get him to talk about what he's "planning" in hell, because apparently the fact that they haven't been seeing any demons on the surface for the past month or so seemed fairly suspicious, and they were demanding answers that Crowley couldn't give.

"Hell has more important things than to plan your demise," he'd snap, "But I'd be more than willing to give you lot a tour if you don't believe me."

Dean merely became more frustrated and eventually left after Sam told him to calm down- The moose was a lot smarter than he looked; it didn't take much to realize that Dean wasn't going to listen to reason, and Sam knew when someone was telling the truth. All of it was rather touching, really, but Crowley couldn't find it in himself to comment, keeping his eyes on his feet to avoid the older hunter who was the last standing in the room at this point.

The demon just wanted to leave, more than anything, he just wanted to leave.

The room was deathly silent, besides the others soft breathing and Crowley had no intention of staying any longer than he had to.

"Mind telling me what that was all 'bout?" And there it was. Crowley's breath caught in his throat when the other spoke, like a milk and honey and gruff in a way that reminded him of broken glass that had been shattered more times than he can count. He missed that sound, but it'd be a cold day in hell before he'd ever admit it.

"Mind letting me out of this trap." It wasn't a question.

Bobby was quiet a long moment, and Crowley can only imagine the split second of hurt that must have crossed his face before throwing on that hardened and stoic expression he's mastered after years of hunting.

"What's got your panties in a bunch?"

"Let me out of the trap." Crowley figured it'll be an easier transition if they don't talk. Maybe if he can keep repeating the one demand, then maybe Bobby will either give in, or leave, and at this point, the demon didn't give a damn as to which one he chose. He didn't want to look at him.

"Crowley-"

"Undo the trap, Robert." the demon cut back in. Bobby flinched, opening his mouth to make some sort of retort but Crowley cut him off once again, "Please, just let me go."

"What the hell's gotten into you?" the hunter demanded. He took a step forward but Crowley flinched back, seeing the hunters shadow physically pause at the action. The hunter seemed to be at an utter loss for words, his hands twitching at his sides before trying to approach again. "Why won't you look at me?" His voice was softer now, more testing the waters than anything else, like he was trying to get an idea of what the demon's damage was.

Crowley wanted nothing more than to just fall into this little trick, because he knew that maybe Bobby just genuinely didn't understand, but he was just too upset to cave, too stubborn; but the thing about Bobby was that he was too.

Bobby was growing frustrated with the demons lack of response, and eventually stepped inside the trap himself, hand reaching forward but the demon violently jerked away the limb as far away as he could, his gaze to the floor turned into a glare at his feet and he knew he was acting childish, but he couldn't help it. He was so angry, so tired- Bobby wasn't to be deterred however, and tried to grab him again, this time more slowly, more carefully, and Crowley wanted to scream at him for his audacity, but he didn't fight it as the hunter set a careful hand upon his shoulder.

"What happened?" his voice was slow, controlled.

"Where the hell were you?" the demon growled back, his eyes shifting up before forcing them back down to his feet.

"I was right here." Bobby answered simply, but that wasn't good enough.

"I don't exactly know where here is, you moron!" Crowley finally lifted his glare but could reach his eyes. "You were gone for months and you weren't at home, I just figured you were- were on a hunt or something, but you never came back and I couldn't find you anywhere and I thought that you-" Crowley knew instantly that he was talking too much, and the look on the hunters face made him feel much more pathetic than he did when he had thought he'd hit six feet under.

"You were looking for me?" Bobby sounded a lot more surprised about that little bit than anything else.

"Of course I did you idiot," the demon muttered bitterly, dropping his eyes again, "You're the only person who's willing to tolerate me."

Bobby didn't believe that for a second but he let it slide, "Well, why didn't you call if you were so worried?"

"I figured you were hunting," the demon sighed, "You don't pick up when you're hunting, and if you're gone as long as you were, a dead man can't answer the phone." the demon paused, as if an afterthought, "and I wasn't worried- just uh, annoyed that you were where you're usually at. Very inconvenient I might add, I rather dislike change."

The hunter snorted, rolling his eyes. "Well, you found me. What was it you needed?"

Crowley felt the word 'You' at the tip of his tongue, but prevented himself from saying it. "I-" he pressed his lips together, "I don't even remember anymore."

Bobby smiled faintly, almost sadly as he reached forward and pressed his hand against the back of the demons neck, pressing forward to press a chaste kiss against the side of the demons mouth. Crowley's eyes fluttered close at the contact, pressing into the fleeting feeling before Bobby moved away again.

Crowley made a soft disgruntled sound and moved forward again, hands locking behind the hunters neck and pressing a full kiss to the others lips, holding him there until he felt the others arms slide around his middle and press against the small of his back. Crowley melted into the others touch like honey against fire.

Once they finally parted, cheeks flushed and lips kiss swollen, Bobby gave the demon a lopsided smile. "Better?"

"Oh, not nearly," he smiled, "but it's certainly a good start."

The hunter hummed, pressing another kiss against the demons hair. "However, me bein' MIA the past month or so isn't the only thing that been gettin' under your skin, now has it?"

Crowley was quiet a long moment before shaking his head.

Bobby nodded slowly, "Alright, well, what is it?"

"Well, I've been waiting for so long to complain, it all just seems so redundant now." he sighed, "It's nothing, really."

"It's not nothing if it's botherin' you, so spill."

Crowley made a soft sound when he felt another peppered kiss against his cheek, leaning into it. Eyes fluttering as he's been craving his touch for a long time. "Hell."

Bobby hummed, "and?"

Crowley rubbed his hand over the others clothed chest, dragging it down until the palm was resting on the hunters hip. He pressed his lips together before shrugging, "With the war in heaven, and the leviathans on earth- Hell has been suffering quite a bit in the process of it all. All this nonsense of self-preservation is meaningless if not a single one of my demons know how to enact it." Dropping his forehead against the mans collarbone, tucking himself under his chin. He felt ridiculous, but he frankly didn't give a damn.

He assumed the worse had happened for the past two months, he figures being a little clingy wasn't the worst of the hunters issues at present.

Bobby still hadn't said a word, so he knew there was more and it took a moment for the demon to continue. "I try to keep everything in line, try to keep hell in order, but they keep fighting me on it."

"What do you mean? Who?"

"The demons! All they do is fight me tooth and nail until I lose a bit of my temper and half of my army is in ashes," he growled, "I'm trying to save those moron's lives, and they just keep putting themselves out on a limb, explicitly against my orders."

"Tell me about it."

"I haven't been able to leave my desk in weeks because things have gotten so chaotic and I'm the one whose had to put the pieces back together." Crowley buried his face, "And then you weren't there when I needed to-" he stopped, didn't see a point in continuing because Bobby already knew where he was going.

"Sorry," he muttered against the demons hair.

"Don't be," he sighed, pushing a little bit away from the hunter, "we both have priorities, and I don't expect you to drop everything just because I want you to. It's irrational and ridiculous, and we both know it'll never happen."

"Doesn't matter," Bobby grumbled, "you needing to talk isn't irrational, and I don't have to 'drop everything' for you to do it. You're patient enough to wait and give me time, but I told you- if you need me, just let me know."

"I try not to."

"I know that, you stubborn bastard." the hunter chuckled, "it ain't healthy."

"I'm a demon, you honestly believe I'm worried about my health of all things?"

"I don't see why not," Bobby said offhandedly, brushing his hands downward to rest on the demon's hips. "it may not be life 'er death. But it's just as important."

"Oh, darling, you flatter me." Crowley brushed, "worrying about the little details."

"Well, somebody ought to." he responded, "can't see why I'd leave all the fussin' to you."

"Because I'm good at it," the demon chuckled, "professional fusser, I even have a business card."

Bobby smirked slightly at him, stepping back a bit to undo the devil trap. He heard the sharp intake of breath that Crowley took in before a soft sigh escaped his lips. Bobby gave him a decent once over- the poor bastard looked like hell, and not the usual kind. There were dark circles under his eyes, and the worry lines between his brows were far more prominent than Bobby remembers them ever being. He sighed softly, brushing his fingers through the bottoms of the demon's hair, before allowing his hand to fall onto his shoulder.

"This weekend," he began, watching as the demons eyes shifted up to meet his own. "The hunt'll be over and I'll be heading home, we can spend time catchin' up then. How's that sound?"

Crowley hummed appreciatively, "I'll clear out my schedule this weekend then, but only-" he lifted and hand pointedly, "if you unplug those blasted phones."

Bobby narrowed his eyes but Crowley wasn't having any of it. "I don't care! If they ring one more bloody time when we're trying to watch a movie, or god-forbid, when I've finally got you all-"

"Crowley!" the hunter hissed, glancing behind them and towards the door, "keep your voice down, the boys are right upstairs."

"So? Don't be so daft, darling, I think your little lost puppies deserve to know."

"You're hilarious," Bobby frowned, "and stupid, and suicidal."

Crowley rolled his eyes, "whatever happened to you wanting to make it up to me?"

"Yeah, well it ain't worth it if you're gonna get us killed before I can."

"I never said we had to tell them now, per say." Crowley shrugged hotly, smirking up at the hunter who only pressed his lips in a tight line as response. "Besides, I'd rather we tell them than they finding out the rather obscene way, with your head between my-"

"Jesus, would you not talk so loud?"

"Oh! Are you getting embarrassed?" Crowley chuckled, his hands gripping the lapels of the hunters jacket, thumbs brushing over the zipper. Bobby's hand moved to rest on his wrists, never gripping or pulling, but resting. "Do me a favour, love. Relax, would you?"

Bobby sighed softly, a bit annoyed but nodding faintly anyhow.

"Good," the demon hummed, "I'll even make dinner, as long as you pick out a movie."

"No, I'll make dinner," Bobby cut in, "C'mon I'm trying to make this up to you, not the other way around." he pressed a gentle kiss against the demon's cheek, just missing the side of his mouth. Their noses brushed briefly before he pulled away once again. "What do you want to eat?"

"Funny you should ask."

Wow, this is not at all what I meant to write. I was thinking something more along the lines of Bobby being on the phone and Crowley upstairs taking a shower because he's had a rough day and then having Bobby just make sure he's comfortable- it was all cuddles and nice things, but Crowley was really out of character, and it lasted about 1,000 or so words (super short) and I didn't like it. Re-wrote the thing, and it ended up like this. I'm sure you were aiming for more of my first draft, but it wasn't any good, trust me. My terrible writer instincts forbade it. I hope you enjoyed anyhow, and thank you for the compliment! I'm glad you enjoyed State of Flux thus far. ^^