An hour after Crowley arrived at work on Monday morning, Michael called and asked to meet him in Meeting Room B to finalise details of his last day.

Michael started off by confirming that he only had 5 days left. Crowley was looking forward to having the entire week running up to Christmas off. He was planning to get the last of his Christmas shopping done and visit Aziraphale in his bookshop - he could bring him lunch.

"Right," Michael said. "As you know, Hastur and Ligur are going to take over your duties between them. Unfortunately, Gabriel can't spare them right now so we're going to need you to train them this weekend, which would take your final day up to Sunday. You'll get paid overtime, of course, unless you would rather have days off during the week? Then you'd still only be working your five days. You'll still get a weekend bonus, either way." Michael's smile faded at the look on Crowley's face.

"S' just... I've got plans this weekend." Crowley was planning to spend the entire weekend with Aziraphale. They were going ice-skating.

"Oh? I'm sorry. There must have been a mix up. Gabriel gave me the impression that you'd already agreed to it?"

Anger burnt in Crowley's chest. Their run in with Gabriel yesterday must have set the bastard off again. "I bet he did. So this was all Gabriel's idea then?"

"You could stay late during the week instead if that helps? If Hastur and Ligur are willing." Michael frowned thoughtfully, and then she leant forward in her seat. "Did something happen between you and Gabe?"

Crowley let out a sigh. He knew he shouldn't say anything – Michael was an awful gossip – but he couldn't hold it in. He didn't want to hold it in, he was too angry.

"I'm dating Aziraphale - Gabriel's brother - and Gabriel isn't happy about it. I suspect he's trying to get me to work weekends so I can't see him."

Michael's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? Mr bowtie?"

"Gabriel warned me to keep away from him or else. I suppose this is the 'or else.'"

She sat back in her seat and raised an eyebrow. "When did he say that?"

"Last Monday. He called me into what I thought was a meeting and then told me to keep away from Aziraphale or he'd make my life difficult."

Michael let out a shocked sound. "Don't worry, I'll talk to Gabriel and make sure he backs off. Threatening a disciplinary should do the trick. Unless... Did you want to take it further?"

Crowley was surprised that Michael wanted to help, though he suspected it was mostly because she was enjoying the drama of it all. "Nah. Not really. Getting your boyfriend's brother into trouble at work doesn't set a great tone for the relationship, you know?"

Michael laughed. "I'll give him a stern taking to, and I'll figure something out so you can train Hastur and Ligur during your usual hours. I've got a feeling Gabriel will find he can spare them after all."

"Thanks, Michael."

She winked at him. "No problem. I'll let you know what happens."

Crowley had just left the meeting with Michael and made it halfway down the corridor when he heard someone shouting loudly behind him.

"Oi! Crowley!"

Crowley spun around and saw Hastur and Ligur marching towards him with matching looks of fury.

"Er. Hi, guys."

"Don't you 'Hi' us," Hastur yelled. "We ain't working weekends for no one!"

Ligur crossed his arms. "Yeah! It's Christmas, for fucks sake!"

"I know, right?" said Crowley. "I told Michael I can't work this weekend and she's gonna talk to Gabriel and make sure we can do the training during our usual hours."

"What? But I thought..."

"Did Gabriel tell you it was my idea or something?"

Hastur nodded. "Yeah. He said you refused to train us unless it was at the weekend because you wanted the overtime pay or something."

"Nah," said Crowley. "This is just Gabriel being an arse. He's got it in for me because I'm dating his brother."

Hastur stared at him. "You're gay? I heard a rumour but…"

"Yeah, I'm gay. Is that a problem?"

"No." Hastur said quickly, but then he pulled a face. "Although… You might end up with Gabriel as your brother-in-law."

"I'm trying not to think about that."

"So we definitely don't have to work this weekend then?" said Ligur, getting to the crux of the matter.

"Nope. I've refused."

"Gabriel can go fuck himself," Hastur said.

Crowley agreed wholeheartedly.

After chatting with Hastur and Ligur for a little while, Crowley went back to his desk and tried to do some work, but he struggled to concentrate. He felt a strong urge to find Gabriel and yell at him, but that wasn't very professional and would certainly only make the situation worse. Best let Michael handle it. Instead he decided to take his break early and try to chill out. Just when he was starting to relax, he made the mistake of checking his private emails on his phone and found one from Wensleydale.

'Morning, Crowley! I hope you had a good weekend. I thought you should know I received an anonymous email last night from some arsehole who felt the need to warn me against employing you. They were using the email address, 'thehillsarealive .uk.' Do you recognise it? I'm guessing it's that Gabriel guy you were telling me about. Aziraphael's brother. Clearly he doesn't know that you already drive for us, supply your prized Bentley, or that we've been friends since high school! Well, he doesn't need to tell me you're a troublemaker, I'm already well aware! The new girl in reception was tasked with getting references and I guess she didn't know that we don't need one for you. Maybe that was how he got our business email? Unless he overheard the name of our company and googled us? Who knows. Either way, we're disregarding his email and trying to come up with a witty response beyond telling him to go fuck himself. Kind Regards, Wensleydale.'

Crowley kept his cool as best he could while confirming through Aziraphale that the email address did indeed belong to Gabriel. Next, he calmly asked Wensleydale to send him Gabriel's email which he read before calmy forwarding the email to his work computer and then calmly printing it out. Then he not so calmly stormed towards Gabriel's office, ready to rip him a new one. This was the final straw.

There was a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door, which meant Gabriel must be on his break. He always took his lunch in his office – perish the thought of him sitting in the canteen with lowlifes like him.

Crowley knocked loudly on the door and then immediately opened it without waiting for a response. There was a slight resistance, as though the lock were half employed.

Crowley stormed in, waving the printout over his head. "What the fuck do you think you're-" His words died in his throat. Gabriel was not alone in the room.

Bee was there, and she currently had Gabriel pinned to the wall by his wrists, which were bound together with his lilac necktie. Their trousers were down around their ankles, their underwear just visible under the lengths of their shirts. Bee was wearing fishnet stockings.

Crowley let out a high-pitched yelp while Bee and Gabriel just stared at him like deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. Crowley had completely forgotten everything he was going to say.

"Stop being a twat!" Crowley heard himself shout, and then he threw the A4 printout in Gabriel's direction. It fluttered limply to the floor as Crowley spun on his heel and fled the room.

Marching back to his own office, Crowley wondered why the universe hated him so much. He sat down at his desk and stared at a spreadsheet on the screen without really seeing it.

Wait. Wasn't Bee married? Yeah, to Lucas. Crowley had meet him a couple of times at work parties, and had found him to be arrogant and sleazy, eyeing up the young ladies at every party he attended. While Bee had been elsewhere Crowley had once seen Lu hitting on one of the receptionists, who was clearly uncomfortable. Crowley had just been trying to figure out how to rescue her when Tracy had swooped in and told Lu very loudly that his wife was looking for him and that he ought to find her, before spiriting the young lady away.

Nobody deserved to be cheated on, but Crowley couldn't really find it within himself to feel all that sorry for Lucas. He wished Bee would divorce him instead of cheating on him though.

Bee certainly had a type. Why did she always go for such arseholes?

"Lemon sponge cake?"

Crowley jumped and then turned to find Tracy offering him a plate of little cake slices.

"Sorry, dear, I didn't mean to make you jump," Tracy said.

Crowley smiled and then took a small square. "Thanks, Tracy."

Tracy straightened up and then turned towards the door. "Hello, Beatrice. Lemon sponge?"

Crowley looked up at the doorway, stomach churning, face heating up.

"Thanks," said Bee, taking a slice. She smiled at Crowley. "Can I borrow you for a moment?"

Fuck. Crowley nodded and stood up, leaving his slice of cake on a paper napkin, ready for later, his appetite gone.

Bee led him to one of the nearby meeting rooms, and he followed her in there warily, relief washing over him when he saw that Gabriel wasn't there. It was just the two of them.

Bee sat down with a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry you saw that. I thought the door was locked."

"You're married," Crowley blurted out. He'd been fond of Bee, even if she were a little brash. He hasn't thought she'd be the sort of person to cheat, even if her husband was an arse.

"I. Yes. And I'm not proud of… Look. It's not been right between me and Lu for a while now. He's been staying out all night, and I just- I'm going to leave him. After Christmas, when I've got somewhere to live sorted out. But if he finds out about Gabriel, all hell will break loose, so I really, really need you to keep this on the down low. Do you understand?" She was firm, authoritative, but her voice held an edge of fear.

Crowley shrugged. "Okay."

"Have you already told anyone?"

"No. I'll keep it quiet."

"Good, that's good. Okay. Thank you." Bee seemed to relax a little. "So there's animosity between you and Gabriel? Can you tell me what's going on? He tried to explain it to me just now, but he was all over the place. Besides, I'd like to hear your side of the story."

Crowley found himself telling her everything, it all poured out of him like a torrent.

"Right," said Bee once he'd finished. "I'll make sure he stops messing with you - at work and outside of it too. Although, to be honest, he's so worried about you knowing about us that I suspect he's going to suddenly be super nice to you anyway. If it makes you feel any better, I'm sure this is just him being overprotective of his little brother. Although that's still no excuse for the way he's behaved."

Crowley scoffed.

Bee smiled. "I saw you and Zira chatting in the kitchen at the party. You're cute together. Gabriel will come around once he knows you're serious about him, so don't worry. I'm sure everything will be alright in the end."

Crowley hoped so.

By the end of the day, Crowley had confirmation that Ligur and Hastur would be available the very next day for training, that Michael had put Gabriel in his place, and that his new employer had received an apology email. He didn't see Gabriel at all for the rest of the day. Rumour had it that he was hiding in his office.

Crowley left work slightly later than usual, sticking around to make sure everything was ready for training the next day. There were very few cars left in the carpark when he crossed it. He smiled as he reached his car, looking at the bumper sticker on the back which read: 'My other car is a Bentley.'

Crowley had already told Aziraphale about the email the wedding car company had received - he'd told him when confirming Gabriel's email address – and then he'd reassured him that it was all sorted out. But he still hadn't decided how much else he should tell him. He didn't want to keep secrets, but he doubted Aziraphale would want to know any details of his brother's sex life. He'd definitely skip the bit about the tie.

Aziraphale had invited him over for a home cooked meal after his stressful day, and Crowley was looking forward to it. He just wanted to nip home first, shower and get changed.

He was just about to climb into his car when the door of the car next to him opened and Gabriel climbed out, a fake smile on his face. It was a company car, shiny and new.

"Hi there, buddy."

"Er."

"I'm glad I caught you before you left. Listen. I may have overreacted when I found out about you and Zira dating." He visibly winced, as though attempting to apologise physically pained him. "You two seen to be getting on like a house on fire! I was just protecting my little brother, you know? I'm sure you can understand my weariness. No hard feelings, right?"

Crowley made a noncommittal noise.

"Good! I'm glad we're on the same page. Bee said you agreed to keep what you saw a secret?"

"Yep. I don't think Aziraphale would be too happy if you got beaten to a pulp by Bee's husband."

Gabriel's smile faltered. "Yes. Well." He fiddled distractedly with his lilac tie and Crowley immediately remembered what that tie had recently been used for. "I'm more concerned about Bee. And you know Lucas sleeps around, right? He doesn't even try to hide it. Bee isn't doing anything he's not doing. She's going to leave him when the time is right, and then we can be together properly. So you'll keep the secret, right?"

"Sure. Whatever."

"Good lad. I knew I could count on you. See you tomorrow! Have a great evening!" Gabriel said, and then he got back into his own car before Crowley even thought about responding.

"What an arse," Crowley muttered to himself as he watched Gabriel's car drive away.

Aziraphale was in the flat above the bookshop, plating up his and Crowley's roast dinners. Once he'd put the fluffy Yorkshire puddings onto both of their plates, he looked up at Crowley who was leaning against the counter.

Crowley had just explained how he and Michael had both separately given Gabriel a stern talking to, scaring him off for good. Crowley seemed confident, and yet Aziraphale couldn't quite believe that would be the end of it. He knew Gabriel better than anyone, and he never backed down.

"Please be careful," said Aziraphale. "And don't forget that Michael is rather chummy with Gabriel, so we can't rely on her too much. It's possible Gabriel is just waiting until your guard is down. I'll call him later and give him what for."

"No, no, no. Don't do that. Everything is sorted out now, I promise. Don't worry."

Aziraphale couldn't help but worry. He drained the peas and then started to spoon them onto their plates. "But what if he starts plotting something outside of work? I need to make sure he leaves you alone."

Crowley shifted where he was leaning against the counter. "Look. Aziraphale. Er."

Aziraphale looked up at him.

"I should've told you this already, but- Ugh. So. The thing is. When I went into Gabriel's office to have a go at him, I just barged straight in and I caught Gabriel and Bee snogging in there."

Aziraphale gasped, peas escaping from his spoon across the countertop. "Th- They were kissing?! At work?! I can't imagine anything more unprofessional! She's married for heaven's sake!"

"I know, right? So they're begging me not to tell anyone. Gabriel is being extra nice to me now because he's scared of Bee's husband finding out. You're the only person I've told. Bee said she's leaving her husband after Christmas. She's trying to get a place of her own or something."

"They could have waited until after she'd left Lucas! It's called self-control. Oh, trust Gabriel to get involved with a married woman. I've met Lu at some of Gabriel's parties and he's an awful man, but that's really no excuse for this kind of behaviour." Aziraphale sat down heavily on the nearest chair. Lu was the kind of man you wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of. He had a short temper. "If Lu finds out… Oh, it doesn't bear thinking about. I don't want Gabriel to get hurt. Or Bee."

"So long as we keep it quiet and they're careful, everything should be fine. I just wish Bee would ditch Lucas already."

Aziraphale let out a humourless laugh. "I suspected Gabriel had a crush on her. He talks about her all the time. Oh, honestly, I can't believe Gabriel has gotten himself into this situation. Even if Bee does leave her husband, would Gabriel ever be able to trust her? Once a cheat, always a cheat, I say. Oh, I'm so cross. I suppose it would be rather ironic if I told Gabriel to ditch her, wouldn't it? I'm sure he wouldn't listen to me anyway."

Crowley sat down next to him. "For what it's worth, I've always kinda liked Bee. She's serious and stoic, but... I dunno. She's cool. It sounds like things are technically over between her and Lu. Bee knows that Lu is cheating on her. I mean, even I've seen Lu hitting on women. Not that I'm advocating what Bee and Gabriel are doing, obviously. But I can see things working out long term for them. Are you okay?"

"Yes. It's just a bit of a shock." Aziraphale said, looking up at him and then reaching out to hold his hand. "Thank you for telling me what happened. I know it can't have been easy for you."

Crowley squeezed his hand. "To be honest, it's good to finally get it off my chest."

After they'd had dinner, Aziraphale found himself leading Crowley to his bedroom.

It was wonderful to see him laid out on his bed, his dark clothes and red hair a stark contrast against the cream sheets. Aziraphale undressed him slowly, taking his time, memorising every inch of him. Crowley was so sensitive, always so eager to be touched, and Aziraphale loved touching him.

Crowley had his head thrown back, moaning wantonly while Aziraphale lay between his thighs, sucking his cock. Aziraphale's own cock was pressed to the sheets, hard and aching. He knew he could come like this, make a mess of the sheets while Crowley's cock filled his mouth.

Crowley's legs were trembling, and then they were spreading even wider. "Aziraphale," Crowley gasped. "D'you wanna finger me?"

Aziraphale lifted his head, heartbeat quickening. "What? Really?"

"Yeah, of course," Crowley teased with a breathy laugh as Aziraphale looked down at the curve of Crowley's arse cheeks where they were pressed to the bed.

Aziraphale's face heated at the thought, excitement and nerves battling inside of him. Aziraphale hesitated, unsure of what to say, suddenly painfully aware of how inexperienced he was when it came to this sort of thing.

"Only if you want to," Crowley said quickly, his smile faltering. "Are we both bottoms? That's okay. Happens all the time."

Aziraphale sat up, his face burning. "N- No. I'm not a bottom. Sorry."

"Hey, no problem. I prefer bottoming anyway. Unless. Are you a side? That's cool too. Anal isn't for everyone."

"No, I'm definitely interested. I just… I've never- I've never been with anyone who wanted to. I suppose I've only ever been with other tops. And – what did you call them – sides? I've never heard that term before."

"Oh, sorry. Yeah. Sides are people that don't like to top or bottom."

Aziraphale nodded. "I really enjoy frottage and oral, so I've always been more than happy with those. But topping... It's something I've always wanted to try. I've just never been with anyone who wanted to."

"Well, I definitely want to. Did you want to try it now? Or we can do it another time if you'd rather?"

Aziraphale couldn't believe this was really happening. He bit his lower lip, his imagination running rampant.

Crowley smiled impishly. "I really enjoy it."

A hungry sound escaped Aziraphale. "Would you show me?"

"Yeah, I can do that. I'll show you exactly how I like it."

Crowley grabbed his overnight bag from where he'd dumped it on the floor beside the bed, pulling it up onto the sheets. "I've got everything we'll need here," he said, pulling out a bottle of lube, some wet wipes and a condom.

"Oh, you're very organised."

Crowley winked at him, and then he offered him the bottle. "There's no such thing as too much lube so really go to town. Er. Shall I finger myself first and then you can take over?"

Crowley had already pulled up one knee to his chest, prying his cheeks open with his fingers, and the sight had Aziraphale letting out a shaky breath. Aziraphale could see his tight little hole, could see the way it twitched obscenely. He couldn't tear his eyes away, mesmerised by the sight of it, by the anticipation of what they were going to do.

"Yes. Maybe. To start."

The thought of watching Crowley play with his own arsehole had heat flooding through him. But it was more than just that. He wanted to learn how Crowley liked to be touched.

Crowley pressed a slicked finger against his rim, rubbing in little circles before sinking inside with a groan, and it got Aziraphale so hard it hurt.

Crowley's finger started to move in gentle little pushes and pulls, tugging so carefully against his opening.

"Oh. Oh, look at you," Aziraphale gasped, watching as Crowley worked himself. A second finger pushed inside, stretching himself even wider. "Does that feel good?" Aziraphale asked, although he already knew the answer. It was in the way Crowley's lips were parted as he moaned, and the way his hips were rocking with each push.

"Hnn. Yeah. So good. Touch me, I want you to touch me."

Aziraphale reached forward and ran his fingers over Crowley's inner thigh, enjoying the wrecked sound Crowley made, the way Crowley's probing fingers pushed even deeper.

"Would you like me to finger you?" Aziraphale asked.

"Fuck. Yes. The lube, grab the..."

Aziraphale grabbed the bottle, hands shaking slightly with anticipation as he flipped open the lid. "Are my fingernails okay? I can trim them if you want?"

He'd always prided himself on having perfectly manicured nails, but he'd happily trim them all down to the quick if Crowley wished it. In his late teens he'd tried fingering himself. He'd though that, as a gay man, it was something he should be doing, before realising that it wasn't for him. His fingernails certainly hadn't helped the experience.

Crowley grabbed Aziraphale's hand, running his fingers over the ends of his short nails. "They're good. Your manicurist knows what they're about."

Aziraphale nodded and shuffled closer, coating his index and middle finger with lube. His heart raced. Crowley had both of his knees drawn up to his chest now, his small round bottom displayed just for him, and Aziraphale took a moment to just drink in the sight of him, feeling overwhelmed already.

Aziraphale cupped Crowley's arse with one hand, spreading his cheeks apart with his thumb. Crowley's hole was slick and wet from the attention it had already received.

"Go on, angel. I'm ready," Crowley said, a hint of pleading in his voice, and Aziraphale felt eager to please him. He pressed a slicked finger to his hole, marvelling at the way it twitched under his attention. Remembering the way Crowley had touched himself, he rubbed little circles around his rim before gently pressing inside, feeling Crowley's body open up for him.

Crowley let out a long groan.

"Is this alright?" Aziraphale asked, his finger already in to the first knuckle.

"Yeah, that's perfect," Crowley sighed.

"Where's your prostate?"

"About two inches up, I think? It'll feel a bit different. Go a little deeper and hook your finger, and you should- Hnn! Fuck! That's it. Ngh."

Crowley's hands fisted in the sheets, and Aziraphale smiled. He kept rubbing at that spot, enjoying the way it made Crowley writhe in place. Crowley was so hot inside, and Aziraphale felt hot all over at the thought of sinking into him with his cock. He took hold of himself, stroking lazily while fingering Crowley's arse.

Crowley was moaning, thighs tensing, his untouched cock rock-hard and leaking. Their eyes met, and Crowley licked his lips. "Do you wanna put it in me?"

Aziraphale let out a shaky breath and nodded. "Yes."

He fumbled the condom out of the wrapper and rolled it on, heart pounding with anticipation as he coated his cock with lube and then moved closer to Crowley. He couldn't believe they were really about to do this.

Aziraphale pressed himself against Crowley's slippery hole, his breath hitching, and then, carefully, he sank inside, watching Crowley's rim stretch around him, wet and glistening.

"That's it," Crowley gasped, voice breaking. "Keep going."

Reassured, Aziraphale slid deeper, panting with pleasure as he sank all the way inside, his hips pressing against Crowley's backside. He stared at the place where he was buried to the hilt, the sight of it so arousing that he had to close his eyes for a moment against the intensity of it.

Crowley was whimpering, biting his lower lip, and then he was making pleading sounds and rolling his hips, urging Aziraphale on.

Aziraphale couldn't hold back anymore. A groan escaped him as he started to move, amazed by how good it felt, by how warm and tight Crowley was around him. Aziraphale's eyes were open now, trying to memorise every second that they were joined like this. He moved slowly, wanting to last as long as he could even though he was close already. Crowley's moans were loud in his ears and fed his desire all the more.

A wave of adoration for Crowley hit him hard, that Crowley trusted him enough to be this vulnerable with him, to give himself to Aziraphale so completely.

Crowley was gasping, holding his own cock in a loose grip, a look of ecstasy on his face. "Ngh. Please. Faster," Crowley groaned.

"If I do, I won't last much longer."

"Oh. Oh, god, please. I'm close too. I want to feel you cum inside me."

And suddenly Aziraphale was slamming into him, bending him almost double. Aziraphale was still being so careful with him, watching for any signs of pain, wanting Crowley to enjoy every moment of this, wanting to make him cum on his cock.

Crowley was moaning, lips parted, face flushed, eyes focused on the place where they were joined. Aziraphale couldn't help but watch too, captivated by the way he was sliding in and out of that tight hole, and the way Crowley was stroking himself, his hand a blur as he tugged and pulled.

Aziraphale groaned as orgasm ripped through him, shuddering with the intensity of it, burying himself deep. Crowley pumped himself harder and suddenly he was whimpering and spilling across his hand and stomach, his arsehole squeezing down on Aziraphale's cock.

They stayed like that for a little while, both of them panting, and then Aziraphale slowly slid himself free, watching as Crowley's hole twitched and tightened, the rim so very red.

Aziraphale felt a flicker of worry. "Are you sore?"

"Nah," Crowley said, his voice lazy and sated, a smile on his face. "Just feeling wonderfully well-used."

"Was- Was it okay? Did I do it right?"

Crowley grinned up at him. "You were amazing. You hit my prostate just right. Did you enjoy it?"

"It was perfect," Aziraphale said, and Crowley gave him a warm smile which Aziraphale immediately leant down to kiss.

"I'm glad you're a fan," said Crowley.

"I'm your top fan."

Soon enough they were curled up in bed together, Crowley's face tucked against Aziraphale's neck, and Aziraphale felt so happy he could burst.