Chapter 4: Dream A Little Dream
Summary:
It's been six months, Horns n Halos is having their first-ever open mic night. Tracey is bringing, or more so having Aziraphale bring her there. Two ineffable idiots discover something about each other that they had no idea about. Tracey and Anathema are up to their schemes again, will this one work?
Notes:
No Tags Needed, except maybe super fluff and feels?
Huh, maybe?
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The last update for a few days, while I organize the many words, I dropped in a day.Chapter Text
Music - It goes with each song listed. 🎶
playlist?list=PL-B2IVpkcxi6UA9nDAvvr-D6enNhNi1xy
Six months had passed since their first actual conversation, granted it was a warning, but still a conversation none the less. Every day since then, Aziraphale could be found at Horns n Halos writing on his laptop at lunchtime, what he was writing no one knew but him. Crowley had asked on quite a few occasions to let him see, and to no avail, no matter what he promised, whether it be wine or something made especially for Aziraphale, he always said no. The two had become quick friends, both denying and or ignoring their feelings for each other, which was driving Anathema and Tracey insane. Hastur and Ligur kept tabs on the bistro, but no mention from Gabriel or Bee. It was quiet, albeit, a tenuous quiet, something was brewing, they all knew it.
This day though at Horns n Halos was going to be the first open mic night with live music, everyone was going. Maybe not everyone wanted to go, Aziraphale swore he wasn't going to go, Tracey had other plans, he was going to be her date. Tracey was well aware of how well Aziraphale could sing, in her humble opinion, angels wept when he sang. Aziraphale knew where his talents lay, Aziraphale damned well knew he could sing and was a showman, but didn't like crowds. Tracey had already made him promise to take her; even now, he was trying to find an out; he knew, at his core, this would never work. So sucking it up, he gathered his belongings and waited outside for Tracey.
Tracey changed in the bathroom before coming down, she was wearing a red swing skirt with a black top, her hair back to being blonde was entirely done around her face, a big smile as she saw him. "Well, look at you, you showed up." Aziraphale shook his head, "I very well couldn't stand a lady as beautiful as yourself up, now could I." Tracey smirked, linking her arm with his, together the two walked down to Horns and Halos. Anathema was holding open the door for the drummer, she was counting as the instruments were brought in, and checking everyone in. Tracey whistled, grabbing Anathemas' attention, pointing at Aziraphale; this was not lost to Aziraphale, who leaned down slightly. "What are the two of you up too?" Tracey grinned, "Now, why would you think I am up to anything love?" she batted her lashes at him. "Oh, you certainly did something, you're not that innocent, and neither is she." Tracey just grinned, much to Aziraphale's dismay.
Anathema came forward, giving each a hug, "Glad you both could make it, hurry on in, I saved a table upfront for us. Crowley's running late, I hope he can make it." Tracey winked at Anathema, both the paramount of innocents, especially since the wink got by undetected. Anathema closed the doors, it was a full house, she walked them to their table. Aziraphale pulled out the chair for Tracey and then sat down. Looking around, the place was packed, not a chair empty, not a table without people sitting around them having a drink. Anathema brought them a glass of wine, a bottle left by Crowley for them. Aziraphale smiled and took a sip.
Lights twinkled like starlight along with the ceiling, and around the stage, sparkled white and black velvet stage drapes were hanging, it was all very romantic, beautiful. Aziraphale took another sip, being thoroughly impressed with what he was looking at, his heart ached looking at it, drifting off into a daydream all his own as the band played.
Suddenly Anathema had his hand, and he was being pulled up on stage, the band was playing Dream A Little Dream before he could even register what was happening, they had him singing. Aziraphale tossed a knowing frown at Tracey, she had ratted him out to Anathema...
(Feeling Good)
The crowd applauded at the end of the song, waiting for him to sing another song, the band started playing Feeling Good, the group looked at him, and he nodded signaling he knew the song. Aziraphale tipped his wine glass to his lips, taking a quick sip of his wine. He found his confidence and fell into a rhythm with the band, something not seen in him very often. Anathema was standing next to Tracey in awe, the showman had arrived, even though Tracey knew he could sing, this was beyond what he had ever let her see, there was more to Aziraphale than met the eye. The band found their own comfortable groove with Aziraphale, they were only missing the pianist who was running a tad late.
Aziraphale undid his tartan bowtie leaving it hanging around the collar of his blue button-up and releasing the top two buttons of his shirt; he had single-handedly taken over the open mic. People were excited, kept ordering drinks, and cheering, some dancing. Anathema tapped Tracey, pointing in the back as Crowley walked in, both watched as he hit the swinging door open to the kitchen. Just as disappointment rested on their faces, the door swung back and didn't shut, walking back out of the kitchen looking straight ahead was Crowley. Anathema and Tracy watched as he turned towards the stage, dropping his belongings where he stood in the back. Crowley watched an angel on his stage, singing like it was an everyday event for him. Both women patted each other on the back, sighed sitting down, and waited.
Anathema and Tracey observed Crowley longingly stare at Aziraphale, for a moment as the starlit lights danced off of his white gold curls, his eyes were shut as he sang, his face expressing the emotion from the song. Watching his facial motions revealed how lost Aziraphale was in the song. If you didn't know this particular angel, you would have never thought he had an anxious bone in his body. Not a touch of anxiety anywhere on or around him shown, blue eyes lazily opened, looking out over the crowd of people as he sang. The music loved him, the notes flowed off him like angelic divinity, wrapping around the songs, his voice moved through and caressed Crowley's soul. Forgetting his belongings where ever they had fallen, Crowley didn't care; he saw nothing but the angel. Crowley more than sauntered up to his piano to hi-jack the songs that he wanted to hear come out of that angel's mouth.
The crowd was enthralled and spellbound by the angel on the stage, Crowley got behind his piano on the scene, sitting down on the bench, Aziraphale didn't notice him there as he continued to belt out the song like it was the most natural thing on Earth for him. Crowley was enraptured, gazing wantonly at Aziraphale, thankfully Crowley knew how to play all the songs by heart on the list that the band and himself had discussed, so he played, watching his angel. My angel, his soul, spoke, his heart high fived his spirit, our angel. Crowley's eyes closed as he played, listening to Aziraphale, fingers danced on ivory keys, as the crowd couldn't help but stand on their feet, as an angel sang his heart out for them. Aziraphale went into the last part of the song and dominated it, he scaled the notes, amazing the crowd. The Heavens were definitely watching Aziraphale but would have to wait for his arrival. Crowley played but watched in awe of his angel, he wondered to himself if he could make an angel sing.
Smiling brightly with a laugh he bowed as the song came to an end, he turned at the sound of the piano, it wasn't being played when the song started, Crowley grinned, winking at him. Smiling Crowley watched that blush creep down Aziraphale, from his cheeks to his neck; that was when Crowley noticed that a tartan bow tie wasn't fastened anymore. It was loose, and as far as Crowley was concerned, Aziraphale could finally breathe. Crowley swallowed as his eyes danced down the throat of his angel.
(L.O.V.E.)
That wickedly coy grin was back, and Aziraphale was about to leave the stage; Crowley shook his head, ~no~, and started to play L.O.V.E., nodding his head towards the microphone. The band picked up the song quickly, Aziraphale smirked, two could play at this, so he sang the song Crowley picked out to him directly...
L is for the way you Look At Me...
O is for The Only One I See...
V is very, very, Extraordinary...
E is even more than anyone that you adore can
Love is all I can give to you...
Each and every time he had to spell the song, he would look directly at Crowley, who, in turn, kept blushing much to the delight of one angel. Anathema couldn't help the swooning smirk on her face as she saw her best friend blush in earnest, to someone who truly loved him. Aziraphale played to the crowd, including them in on the song; still, those blue eyes would find Crowley every time the song spelled out L.O.V.E. As if by clockwork, Aziraphale would be back on the stage in time to belt the melody, primarily if it worked on a blush from Crowley. Aziraphale owned the stage and owned Crowleys heart more than he ever knew.
Anathema watched Crowley deliberately; she was watching when she saw the last of those walls he had built around himself, crumble down around Aziraphale's feet. Tracey whispered into Anathema's ear only to get a nod, both squealed with delight. For the rest of the night, they would sit back and enjoy the show. Just to watch it play out, purely for prosperities sake, of course. *cough* They swayed together to Aziraphale's singing and the band playing.
During the musical interlude of the song, Aziraphale would sit either on the piano and sing or lean on it but would get a sip of wine. Singing directly to Crowley, especially if it was during the letters, then with a grin would spin back to the front of the stage. Aziraphale, showman incarnate, would sing to the ladies and the gentleman making both swoon, but always returning to Crowley for each spelling of the words.
L is for the way you Look At Me...
O is for The Only One I See...
V is very, very, Extraordinary...
E is even more than anyone that you Adore can Love
Love is all I can give to you...
Aziraphale decided to channel his inner Frank Sinatra towards the end of the song. Belting it out while singing to Crowley, directly leaning on the piano.
L is for the way you Look At Me...
O is for The Only One I See...
V is very, very, Extraordinary...
E is even more than anyone that you Adore can Love
Love is all I can give to you...
Holding his wine glass, he swirled it, as he held the last note. As the song came to an end, Aziraphale went to the bassist and drummer, whispered a song to them. The band looked at Crowley and back at Aziraphale, with heads shaking, grins spreading across their faces, they started to play Fever.
(Fever)
To which Aziraphale the Bastard, powered up, he sang to the crowd for a moment before turning towards Crowley. Blue eyes with blown pupils somehow seemingly locked on to wide-eyes hiding behind those damned glasses, Crowley swallowed and played, he had to play, so did Aziraphale. Sitting on the piano bench, he leaned back against Crowley, who could do nothing but listen, and have an angel fully leaning against him, singing, drawling some of the words more seductively than needed. Letting his breath hitch, or stagger when breathing through some of the words. Making his voice drop lower on some of the ending portions of words. Always and only when near Crowley.
Tracey and Anathema were not expecting this particular performance, they were cheering with the rest of the crowd anyway, Crowley was trying to breathe, something his body thought it didn't need anymore or entirely forgot how to do. Keeping his hands where they needed to be was a sheer battle of will, he was eventually going to lose this fight.
Aziraphale slowly stood back up, dragging his fingers down bare arms, his eyes igniting Crowley, slowly Azirphale walked to the front of the stage again. Crowley was left on the bench playing a song that an angel choose to sing to him; that was definitely to him, wasn't it, either way, Aziraphale left him internally shaking. Aziraphale returned to the pianist, Crowley shivered as angelic fingers played up the back of his neck into his hair, and quickly pulled away back to the front to the stage. Aziraphale played the crowd for a while, always looking back once in a while to make sure he had Crowley's attention. An insanely unangelic smirk stayed kissing the lips of an angel.
Aziraphale winked at Tracey, twirling her in place, dipping her, slowly bringing her back up before returning to the stage. Sitting back down on the piano bench, Crowley's breathing was ragged at best as Aziraphale leaned against him, that smirk still there. Aziraphale leaned forward, his elbow on his knee looking out into the crowd, telling a story. Leaning back against Crowley, he sang of Romeo and Juliet, standing with a spin, let his pointer finger slide up Crowley's throat, tilting his head back slightly, his eyes dropped to Crowley's mouth. Returning to the front of the stage, he finished the point of the story, glancing behind him he winked at Crowley.
No one noticed in the back of the room, seven people had been watching from the shadows. Looking throughout the sold-out venue of Horns n Halo's first-ever open mic was Bee, Gabriel, and the rest. Gabriel, frowned as he realized it was Aziraphale was singing to a roaring crowd, giving him their full approval. No one ever noticed the people in the shadows who were used to getting all the attention where ever they went, here they were nothing, and the one the treated like nothing was everything. Especially to the owner of Horns n Halos, it was beyond evident that they were in love, and Crowley was utterly entranced by Aziraphale. Growling they left, this was going to end.
His voice seductively caressed the rest of the song, tearing at Crowley's resolve. Sitting on the bench with Crowley, he leaned against him, his heat filtering through Crowley, he let his free hand gingerly roam on Crowley's leg, purposely hitching his breath. Crowley turned his head toward his angel who was singing, ever so slowly, Aziraphale slid a finger down his cheek, pushing off him with his head. Standing he walked back to center stage to finish the song, on the last few words of the song he looked at Crowley. Letting his eyes drop to his mouth again, lingering there long enough that there was no way on God's green Earth that Crowley didn't see that. If Crowley had any doubts about what Aziraphale felt for him, it was rapidly disappearing as the songs continued and became more direct.
Crowley had one card left to play and decided to pull one last song out of his pocket. The song slowly came to a close with a final touch, a slow drag down Crowley's arm, he ended in the front of the stage. Aziraphale took a bow.
(When I Fall in Love)
Crowley played another song, the band falling into place. Aziraphale stopped breathing for a moment, catching himself just as he needed to start singing. Aziraphale fully turned for a moment while singing, looking at Crowley with more love in his eyes than Crowley had ever seen, Aziraphales eyes softened, and spoke volumes of everything that needed to be said to Crowley but he hadn't. Finally, tearing his eyes away from Crowley, he turned back to the front, placing the microphone back into its holder. Holding the stand, Aziraphale sang, with as much emotion as his grace could muster, his heart wouldn't let this particular song go on a whim. Singing into the microphone, his heart thrummed against his rib cage, he performed like a true showman, he graced the stage with a performance of a lifetime, and as his eyes looked over his shoulder, he smiled. A smile that first stopped Crowleys heart in his tracks, and as he continued to sing, anyone watching knew Aziraphale was singing to Crowley.
Anathema and Tracey listened to Aziraphale sing, knowing that Crowley had picked that one song out, for sure. They held on to each other, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to fall down. The love on that stage was palpable. Tracey and Anathema watched on, they both knew they had done the right thing on this night. It was their idea, after all, it was the two of them that set everything up, it was never an open mic night, it was always going to be Aziraphale who would be singing, and Crowley wasn't late, he was right on time. Anathema and Tracey had talked and found the two men had a love of music, one could play the songs that the other could give life too. Maybe just maybe, that connection would let them say everything they couldn't and give life to them together.
Aziraphale took the microphone and leaned against the piano finishing the song, singing it directly to Crowley with no pretense, just love. When the song ended, the two men stayed that way for a moment longer than needed before Aziraphale turned back to the front and bowed to the crowd. Opening his arms to the rest of the band to get the cheers as well. Smiling, he took a bow with them.
(You Don't Know Me)
So much could have gone wrong that didn't, both sighed in relief, at the end of the song, Anathema put on the music that would play for the rest of the night, giving two idiots a chance to talk. Maybe really talk. Anathema was clearing a few drinks away as when she looked up, Aziraphale had turned towards his name being called, a hand grabbed him, he smirked and disappeared from the stage.
Tracey saw the two walking in the back of the stage area, hand in hand. Anathema saw Tracey waving her down, calling her over, this was a little voyeuristic but neither cared, they wouldn't stay long, just long enough. That long enough took all of a minute, Crowley looked down at Aziraphale, his angel. Aziraphale still riding a high from the singing, the lights, and Crowley himself, reaching up to take those damned glasses off his face. Crowley looked down, only to have an angelic hand slide past his cheek, he looked up. Molten gold was all Aziraphale could see, and his breath hitched as he said, "Beautiful." That was all Crowley needed to hear; he lifted his angels face up slightly, blue eyes finally locked onto his. The gentlest of kisses were placed on lips that he had only dreamed of; Aziraphale took any doubt that Crowley had and threw it out the window when his hands slid into Crowley's hair pulling him closer.
Tracey and Anathema, true to there word, quietly stepped away, leaving the two alone. A hug later they had a drink, a cheers to their best friends, and to each other. They did an excellent job. Anathema opened the mic for real now, and people came and went, but Horns n Halos finally had its Halo. For now, everything was perfect, two opposites finally stopped being ineffable idiots, at least for the foreseeable future, their together had just started. Tracey and Anathema danced the last dance together, a celebratory dance, and a last drink of wine.
Clearing out Horns n Halos, no one saw them, and they weren't looking, but Anathema shut the lights down, and let the music play, the only lights left on for them, were the soft twinkling from the starlit lights of the stage.
