Disclaimer: I don't own a thing. Duh. A.N. Prompt was Angels and Demons, and well. I miss Crowley. Also, I wrote in a state of total exhaustion, so I hope it makes sense! XD
Second time's the charm
Crowley was not nervous. Of course he wasn't. Hell was fine, the world wasn't ending, for a change, and he had every reason to be happy. Proud, even. After all, he'd bagged his moose. Not shot him, obviously. Crowley wasn't feeling especially suicidal, ta very much. Fine, someone might argue against that, but at the very least, it would hopefully be quick. If he'd killed Sam, Dean wouldn't give him that courtesy.
No, he'd...even thinking the word seemed like it could invite bad luck, but he'd finally deepened his connection with Sam, in a delightfully Biblical way. And soon, they'd go on a date. Now, if Crowley had the reins of that, he wouldn't have reason to be tense. He actually liked spoiling his partner a bit. Showing off all he could offer.
But Sam had 'come clean' to his brother, with the reasoning that their secrets and one-sided recklessness always tended to trigger the apocalypse-tiered events, so they were supposed to...double date. Ugh. At least, when he'd said that he doubted Dean's tastes in partners, Sam had grinned at him and told him Cas had finally made a move. Despite the ups and downs in his attempts to cooperate with the angel, to both their satisfaction, he'd be a much better companion than the latest waitress on Dean's ever-growing list.
A tail slapped loudly against the door of his room. "Juliet, what are you doing here?"
She cocked her head, and he almost burst out laughing. The resemblance with the most tolerable (and sometimes delightfully naive) of angels was impressive. "I'm busy, girl, no time to play. If I play my cards well, Sam's going to cut this stupid evening short and we can have fun. "
Juliet play-bowed. "Not like that, sweetie. Much better. Shoo, now."
She whined. "I know you like him too, but I said shoo. I can't bring you along." It wouldn't be the first time he did let her tag along to a meeting with Sam. They'd grown rapidly fond of each other, and frankly, Crowley found it terribly cute.
"Dean will be there, and he's not a hound-person." Not that he blamed the man for that. She gave him a look.
"And no, you can't just be very, very quiet. Cas will notice you." Her head drooped, and Crowley couldn't help himself. He scratched her ears consolingly a few times. "I'll kiss him for you too, shall I?" She licked his hand and finally left.
A little more fussing over his attire (he'd been a tailor himself; he knew how to dress to impress), and he finally transported himself to the front of the bunker.
Sam opened the door with a grin, and invited him down, stealing a kiss when a few stairs' difference made it the most comfortable.
His boyfriend looked very nice (as ever, honestly) and had even ditched the flannel. Pity..,Disparaging that was always a fun idea to get him naked.
"Ugh." That was Dean, of course.
"I've not complained once about you and Cas," Sam pointed out.
Miraculously, Dean didn't retort. "So you've been making up for lost time, I take it?" Crowley teased.
"Don't." The older hunter's voice went threatening.
"Hey, congratulations. You've definitely done worse." He was there for it.
"Thanks." That was Castiel, who'd popped out from...somewhere. Between ogling his boyfriend and keeping an eye on the volatile mood of his sibling, he couldn't be expected to track everything.
The angel went on to kiss his own Winchester, which at least would ensure his mood would improve. He kept at it, too, definitely longer than the welcome he'd had. In fact, Crowley was wondering if he should just follow suit and kiss Sam again, because he'd never been much on the voyeur side.
Then again, how red Dean at the end was and how sharply he mentioned a reservation and marched them all to the garage pulled the cutest smile from Sam, dimples and all, and an answering one from him.
At the Impala, Crowley went into the backseat, (knowing the rules by now), wondering vaguely who would join him. He was all too happy when Sam did, making the huge car suddenly feel snug.
"Behave, back there!" Dean said, starting the car,
"Just as much as you will," Sam replied, pulling a groan from his sibling.
Apparently, he meant it, too. And the other two were frustratingly proper. Sure, Dean technically had a car to drive, but it's not like he couldn't do it even concussed. It was all a ploy, he was sure. At least, the trip was mercifully short, because he didn't like resisting temptation. He had to keep himself distracted. And the thought that came to mind almost made him laugh aloud, and wouldn't explaining that be awkward.
It struck him suddenly that - this was the new and improved version of the lead up to the apocalypse. Dean and his angel. Sam and his demon. Only both of the girls had missed the point of their - and the boys' - calling. Manipulating Sam? Trying to drive the relationship, despite pretending not to? Come on, the boy wanted what he wanted, and made sure to get it. And even if Ruby's plan had worked flawlessly, and Lucifer had worn him on the spot, Sam would be annoyed enough at the trick he'd make sure to request, and get, her head. Not whatever reward she was dreaming about. Crowley already had all the power he could wish for, and was dreadfully bored of it. Of course he didn't mind going along with his moose's initiatives. Dean? In his human state, a people pleaser. And a graceless Anna had fawned over him. No wonder he'd drifted to someone who had absolutely no qualms taking the lead when the situation called for it. The boys were just lucky that both Feathers and he were pretty satisfied with the status quo...apocalypses just brought more trouble than they were worth.
The place they stopped at was actually nice, in a cozy kind of way. Not what he liked to offer Sam on their outings, but not as abysmal as he feared. It actually took Dean until after they'd ordered to remember he probably should take his big brother-pseudoparent role and threaten him at least a little, and normally Crowley would have replied with a quip about flirting, but now he just laughed. "I'm dating him. The threat comes with the package, and frankly, I wouldn't have it any other way."
That got him another kiss, just because Sam could. Which of course meant that Dean had to retaliate by turning to Cas.
Crowley had every intention of winning this one for length, and would have, if they hadn't been interrupted by the waiter. Cheers for prompt service, boo for timing.
Conversation went surprisingly easily after that, and besides, the other couple was surprisingly cute. Not the adjective he'd normally associate with Dean Winchester, and he might be murdered if he said it aloud. But truth was truth. Honestly, the whole thing was...normal. Or as normal as things ever were when one was at dinner with an angel of the Lord and the king of hell. Which, he suspected, was the whole reason Sam had roped him into this.
Sure, moose deserved it. He deserved whatever Crowley could give, because hey, he made sure to keep him happy, too. Gleeful, even some days. Crowley had never taken anything without making sure the other party was properly compensated. If he wanted to keep Sam longterm (and he did), well. He could endure ordinary, every now and then. At least if he got to share dessert with him. What use was having dinner otherwise?