Crowley drew in a deep breath of air, savoring the smell of the morning smog mixing with his car's interior. 'Nothing quite like a morning drive,' he thought.
He had left Aziraphale both a note and a voicemail, letting him know that he was going for a drive and would be back before lunch. He hoped his angel would be alright without him. They'd both been pretty freaked out yesterday, but at least Crowley had driving as an outlet.
He turned a corner and stopped to let a parade of ducks by, smiling as they went. Picking up speed again, he drove out of London altogether, finding a stretch of countryside he could speed through without worrying about hitting other cars. This was the best part - getting to zoom up and over hills without a care in the world.
Parking on top of a hill and stepping out of the car, he let his wings out, flapping them in the breeze and savoring the cool air on his feathers. He briefly considered doing some flight practice, but figured he'd been out long enough and might as well see how Aziraphale was doing. Popping his back, he climbed back into the Bentley and casually made his way back to the flat.
Aziraphale was still asleep when Crowley got back, so Crowley miracled away the note and the voicemail, slipped off his shirt and jeans, and slid back into bed. The second he got in, Aziraphale reached out, grabbing him and pulling him into a hug the way a child might with a stuffed animal that has slipped away from them in the night. Crowley smiled, kissing Aziraphale on the forehead. His phone buzzed across the room and he miracled it into his hand.
*Marjorie Potts sent a message*
MP: Good morning!
MP: I hope I didn't wake you. I was just tidying up and found some old notes from a meditation class I took back in university and I thought they might help you two.
MP: When would you both have time to do a session? I would bring all needed materials, we just need a place to practice where we won't disturb anyone with loud noises.
AC: I'll have to ask Aziraphale about time when he wakes up, but here should be fine. Nobody lives around here anyway.
MP: Good to hear! Let me know when I should come over!
Crowley set his phone on the nightstand and rolled over, burying his face in Aziraphale's hair. Without even meaning to, he fell asleep.
Fire, everywhere.
He was back in the bookshop, when it was on fire. Hunting, desperately searching for Aziraphale. Screaming his name till his throat went hoarse and it hurt to even swallow. He shook as he realized that the flames were touching him now, burning his skin, and it HURT.
He turned over a bookshelf and saw a hand sticking out from beneath it. He tried to miracle the shelf away but he couldn't. He tried to stop the flames but he couldn't. He pulled as hard as he could and dragged Aziraphale's body out from under the shelf, gasping at how burnt it was. He was too late. But he placed a hand on his angel's shoulder (or what he thought was his shoulder, it was getting harder to see) and shook it.
"Aziraphale!" He cried weakly, tears unable to fall because of the heat, lips chapped and bleeding as the flames drew away every inch of moisture from his body.
"Aziraphale! Wake up!" He cried, over and over again, until the bookshop came crumbling down around him, and all he could do was call out.
"Aziraphale...Aziraphale..."
"Crowley...Crowley!"
Crowley was shaken awake by Aziraphale, still lying next to him in bed. Crowley took a few seconds to register where he was - Aziraphale alive, the bookshop fine, both of them fine.
"Crowley, are you alright?"
Crowley nodded. "Bad dream, s'all. Can I get some water?"
"You'll have to let me go first, dear." Crowley released Aziraphale from the lock tight grip he'd been holding him in, blushing with embarrassment. Aziraphale got up and walked to the kitchen, coming back with a glass of water.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked Crowley.
"Wot?" Crowley said drowsily.
"Your dream."
"Nah. S'all old sssssstuff. Nothing to dwell over."
"Dear..."
"I'll be alright! Happens every so often."
"Crowley!?"
Crowley cringed. "I'm FINE! C'mon, let's get breakfast."
"Ah," Aziraphale said, looking away. "Don't worry about me, I'm...not that hungry."
"Aziraphale?!" Crowley mimicked.
Aziraphale sighed. "I mean it! I'm still not feeling well from last night."
Crowley's face fell. "Ah. Are you alright?"
"I'm...not sure? I still feel a bit ill. I think I might lie here a bit longer and see if I feel better."
"Then I'll stay here with you," Crowley offered.
"Ah, er, you don't have to! I'll be alright."
"Are you sure? It feels like there's something you're not telling me. You're not just trying to avoid eating, are you?"
"No!" Aziraphale said, looking to the left.
"I'll make you some toast," Crowley said. "I've heard it's good for sour stomachs. Promise you'll at least eat that?"
Aziraphale nodded reluctantly. Crowley went to the kitchen and Aziraphale lay back down in bed, arms crossed over his stomach. Once Crowley had left the room he started poking and pinching his stomach, wishing he could just miracle it away. He felt gross and was sure he looked that way, too. He rubbed his face and wiggled his toes, trying to take his mind off his body, but by the time Crowley came back with some toast he was buried in the blankets so he couldn't see any of himself.
"Who's the most handsome angel in the world?" Crowley sang.
"Stop," Aziraphale begged.
"Where's my lovely friend? Huh? Where's my cute bastard?"
"Crowley," Aziraphale moaned.
"Eat this and I'll stop," Crowley teased. Aziraphale tried to hide under the blankets.
"Come on, Aziraphale. One piece of toast isn't going to hurt you."
Aziraphale didn't respond. Crowley sat on the bed, still holding the toast.
"Aziraphale. This isn't healthy. If you keep up like this you're only going to hurt yourself."
"That's what I want," Aziraphale said without thinking, surprising both of them.
Crowley set the plate down on the nightstand. "Oh, angel..."
"Don't," Aziraphale said, voice cracking. "Not right now. I know I'm being...stupid. Just leave me alone."
"You don't really mean that?"
Aziraphale hid his face under the blanket. "You don't have to leave. I just...I don't know. I'm sorry."
"It's alright. Do you not want to be touched right now?"
"...yes. I think. I don't know."
"Can I hold you? You can keep the blanket on, but you look like you need a hug."
"I...I suppose that's alright?"
"Alright. Let me know if you want me to stop."
Crowley scooted closer and wrapped his arms around where he thought Aziraphale was, rocking his angel back and forth gently. He started humming something, something by Queen, and Aziraphale started to cry.
"Do you need me to stop?" Crowley asked.
"No," Aziraphale sniffled. "I'm sorry."
"Why?"
"You're so good to me."
"You deserve it."
"I don't..."
"You do!"
"I really don't..."
"Aziraphale. You've saved me more times that I can count. You saved the whole world! You went in front of a whole crowd of demons, sat in a tub of holy water, and asked for a rubber bloody duck! Plus, you woke me up from that nightmare this morning."
Aziraphale sniffed. Crowley chuckled.
"C'mon, admit it, dear. You deserve to be held like this. And kissed, if I can find your face and you're alright with it."
Aziraphale wiggled, but Crowley didnt budge (though he did loosen his grip in case he was actually hurting his angel).
"Dear?" Crowley asked. Aziraphale curled up into a ball.
"I'm sorry. I'll stop joking around. Do you want me to let go?"
Aziraphale made a whining noise.
"Aziraphale?" Crowley said, concerned. He turned into a snake and literally slithered underneath the blankets.
"Azzzzzziraphale?" He called. He turned back once he had a good sense of where his angel was.
Aziraphale had gone completely beneath the blankets and was shaking.
"Aziraphale! Are you alright? Can you hear me?"
Aziraphale grunted, and Crowley miracled the blanket off. Aziraphale's head was between his knees, his arms clamped over his neck, his elbows covering his ears.
"What's wrong? What can I do?"
"I don't know!" Aziraphale cried, choking. "Everything...hurts..."
"Hold still," Crowley said, doing the only thing he could think of. He rested a hand on Aziraphale's forehead and closed his eyes. A second later, so did Aziraphale, his body going still.
"Sleep well, angel," Crowley said. "I'm sorry I couldn't do more."
Aziraphale awoke on the couch a few hours later.
"Crowley?" He croaked. Crowley was immediately at his side.
"How are you feeling?"
"Bad," Aziraphale admitted. "My head hurts and I feel ill. What happened?"
"I don't know. You were shaking, and you said everything hurt...I'm sorry, I had to miracle you to sleep..."
"You did the right thing. Thank you."
"What can I do for you, dear?" Crowley knelt down in front of Aziraphale.
"Some water would be nice. I should probably also eat something..."
"Anything in mind?"
"Something soft...and warm...maybe some soup?"
"Got it. Anything else?"
"Where did that toast from earlier go?"
"Right here," Crowley replied, pulling the plate out from behind his back like a magician. Aziraphale laughed, taking it.
"One more thing, dear...could you get me a shirt from my closet?"
"Of course. One second."
Crowley got Aziraphale a shirt, helping him put it on. Once Aziraphale was back in the blankets and nibbling toast, Crowley went to the kitchen, but not before handing Aziraphale his DS. "You can play while you wait, if you want."
Aziraphale nodded, ate his somehow-still-warm toast, and booted up Animal Crossing.
"Good evening, Mayor A.Z. Fell! In Eden, its Sunday, August 25, 2019, and the current time is 4:20 p.m. Well then, shall we get started? Wonderful. Let me get you set up. Ok! All set! Have a nice day!"
AC: hey do you still want to come over
AC: I talked to Aziraphale and I think what you were talking about earlier would be worth trying
AC: it's been a rough day
AC: can you come tuesday? Bring tea.
AC: I'd say tomorrow but I want to make sure he isn't going to collapse again before I have anyone over
MP: Sounds perfect! I can't wait.
AC: Thank you so much, Madame.
