Crowley raised an eyebrow, his arms crossed, his body stiff and tense as he kept a distance from Aziraphale.
"I want a proper apology."
Aziraphale blinked. "Oh." He breathed. "Right. Of course, yes, I…" he cleared his throat, twisted on his feet and waved his hands at his sides anxiously .
Crowley narrowed his eyes. It had been a while but Aziraphale never had been so nervous about the apology dance.
Truthfully, he had forgiven Aziraphale almost as soon as the angel turned up but he would admit to wanting Aziraphale to grovel just a little bit.
Aziraphale let out a breath, his lips pulling into a nervous but genuine smile, and before Crowley had any time to process what Aziraphale was about to do, the angel was crossing the distance between them.
He met Crowley's eyes, grabbed hold of his lapels and Crowley's heart leapt into his throat as Aziraphale pulled him fiercely down to him, pressing his mouth to his.
It was as awkward and stiff as Crowley's kiss had been, both highly inexperienced in this area, and Crowley frozen with surprise.
Then Aziraphale tightened his grip, but eased the kiss, parting his lips just slightly and the tender, gentle movement nearly knocked Crowley completely off his feet.
He barely had time to comprehend that Aziraphale was kissing him, that what he was feeling was Aziraphale's mouth on his, this time willing and eager and so tender and loving.
Aziraphale broke the kiss, pulling away slowly and when Crowley finally managed to open his eyes, he could only stare in awe at the angel staring hopefully back up at him.
Aziraphale's grip softened, his palms now resting flat on his chest.
"I'm sorry, Crowley." He whispered, for probably the hundredth time. "And I hope that was enough to prove my affections for you."
Crowley's brow slowly lifted and a small noise escaped the back of his throat as his eyes darted down to Aziraphale's lips.
His chest was tight and heavy as he stepped back out of Aziraphale's grasp and Aziraphale's face fell along with his hands back to his sides.
"Crowley…" It was Aziraphale now whose voice broke in desperation and Crowley lifted a finger in the air in a wait gesture.
Then he continued to move that hand up to remove his glasses, his eyes closing tightly as he prepared himself to be vulnerable again in front of Aziraphale.
He let out a deep breath and then opened his eyes, taking in the clear vision of his angel standing before him and he was beautiful.
Aziraphale's brow twitched, his eyes questioning and then widening as Crowley moved slowly back towards him, his eyes fixed on his.
"Do you mean it?"
The answer scared him but he had to know. He was ready to dive back in, if Aziraphale would only say the word.
Aziraphale's eyes searched his and then he slowly brought his hand up to touch his face. Crowley flinched against the gentle touch but didn't pull away.
Aziraphale's thumb brushed tenderly across his cheek and Aziraphale gently pulled himself in closer until they were barely a breath apart.
"With everything I am." He whispered and his eyes moved down to Crowley's lips and his tongue darted out to lick his lips.
"Crowley, I…"
Crowley wasn't listening anymore. He grabbed Aziraphale around the waist and pulled him against him, swooping down to kiss him.
Aziraphale made a little noise of surprise but quickly recovered, his hand pressing harder against Crowley's face, leaning into the kiss.
The kiss was still desperate but no longer angry. Just longing and passion and love expressed in a gesture two beings were just beginning to learn.
Crowley's hands slid up his back and Aziraphale's hand trailed up into Crowley's hair, his other hand moving to the base of his neck.
"Angel…" The term of endearment was pulled from his throat in a low but affectionate growl as Aziraphale pulled away.
"I-I love you."
Crowley's brow shot up, his eyes popping open and he gaped at him and Aziraphale let out a shaky breath and a small, anxious but giddy laugh.
"I had to say it before I lost my nerve but it is the truth." His hand ran tenderly through his hair. "My dear…" his voice became so sweet and tender, Crowley thought he might actually melt from the warmth of it. "You are perfect and I love you just as you are and I'm sorry that I ever led you to believe otherwise." He closed his eyes and leaned in, pressing his forehead to his. "I don't want you to change for anyone or anything, least of all for me."
Crowley released his breath and tears stung at his eyes. His grip once more tightened on Aziraphale, checking once more that he was real.
"I know I don't deserve it but I do hope that now you can forgive me."
I forgive you.
The words started but halted in his chest. Those particular words that tore his very heart out.
Instead he took Aziraphale by the hips and pulled back just enough to look down at him.
"You are forgiven, angel."
A bright smile lit up Aziraphale's face, along with a relieved sigh and then he leaned in, wrapping both his arms around Crowley and resting his head against his chest.
Crowley closed his eyes and buried his nose into the soft, fluffy hair of his angel.
He felt whole again, with Aziraphale against him, complete in a way he never knew he could be.
Aziraphale had come back, had kissed him, had told him he loved him and yet…
His chest tightened and he pulled out of his arms, grabbing him gently by the shoulders.
"What about Heaven?"
Regret flickered across Aziraphale's eyes but then his brow furrowed into determination. "I was wrong. I wanted to believe I could do good, change things but I can't." He reached up and covered Crowley's hands with his own. "I thought our side was the side of Heaven but it isn't. You and I have always been on our own side." He squeezed Crowley's hands. "I'm sorry I needed a little bit of a wake up call to understand that, but I never wanted to hurt you. You were right all along," he smiled a bit and shook his head, "Our side is together, without Heaven or Hell but Crowley…" his smile faded and he met his eyes seriously.
"The Earth needs our help. It is through my own doing, my mistake in accepting Metatron's offer, that the plan for the Apocalypse has been set into motion much sooner than it should have. We have little time and I have to fix the mess I made and…I need you."
Crowley took in a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling. He closed his eyes tightly for a few moments, still feeling Aziraphale's gaze burning into him.
"We stop the end of the world…" he spoke slowly and looked back down to Aziraphale. "We stop the war and then…then we go off together. Just us. Alone."
Aziraphale nodded quickly, inching in closer. "Yes, yes. Anywhere you want to go, I promise. Alpha Centauri, anywhere in the universe, it's…"
He was cut off again when Crowley pressed his lips to his fiercely. Aziraphale hummed against his mouth, smiled and kissed him back.
Then Crowley pulled away with a groan, threw the glasses back on his face and grabbed a tight hold of Aziraphale's hand. "Alright, angel. Let's stop this thing."