"Come onnnn, open the doooor!"
The door did open after the owner took a moment to scrutinize his appearance. "Mr. Crowley? What are you-?"
"Heyyyy, got something to tell ya." Crowley insisted, stumbling to lean on a bookshelf. "J-Just let me… sober up real quick, yeah?"
"Sober… Oh! You're what humans call intoxicated!" Muriel gasped. "I learned all about it the other day! See, I had a reopening for the bookshop and they served some human wine. I thought since you and Mr. Fell adored it so much I may…"
Crowley nodded through her story as he pushed the alcohol right back out of his system and into the bottle back home.
"-Miss Nina called it a 'hang-over', most likely because I was hung over on the… Oh, what's the device again? The one humans use to get rid of their waste?"
"You do know you can get it out using your 'holy' power, right, cherub?"
The woman blinked. "Oh. Oh, yes, of course. I absolutely did it that way rather than… the full human experience…"
"Mm." Crowley nodded in disbelief before snapping his fingers. "Got to tell you something important."
"Is it the same thing that caused you to drink excessively?" Muriel asked in innocent curiosity.
"Yeah, that's it."
"Okay, but first, I have to get something off my chest." Muriel exclaimed. "We were thinking of calling you over to make it a surprise but since you're already here…!"
Crowley was practically dragged over to the sitting area and felt the human heart in him drop.
"Mr. Fell came to visit!"
"Ah, hello Crowley…" Aziraphale smiled, placing his teacup back on his saucer before folding his hands in his lap. "I was looking for you but then I bumped into our dear Muriel and she insisted I come in, completely disregarding my numerous declines."
"Declines? Aw, that doesn't sound like you at all, angel." Crowley wrinkled his nose, leaning on the opposite chair. "Especially not at your own bookshop."
"My- You misunderstand, good fellow." Aziraphale's smile tightened. "As we've all agreed upon, this is Muriel's shop now!"
"Oh, we all agreed on it, yeah?"
"Most certainly. You were part of the decision, remember?"
"And you were?"
Muriel gave a slight cough, interrupting the tension. "Ah, why don't I make some tea? Mr. Fell, could you-?"
"I'll help you, Muriel."
Arizaphale nearly had his arm around Muriel's in his eagerness. He gave a sharp laugh, looking back at Crowley. "You? All you know how to boil is the sinners in Hell. Hardly fit to-"
"Actually, I think it's a wonderful idea!" Muriel smiled, clasping her hands together. "If Mr. Crowley doesn't know how to make tea, you could show him, couldn't you, Mr. Fell?"
"Cherub, that's not-" Crowley started.
"No, no, we couldn't possibly-!" Arizaphale flustered out.
Muriel had already walked them to the makeshift kitchen in the back complete with a burner, sink, and kettle. This had been set up strictly for tea by the previous owner.
"Have fun! Bond lots and overcome your little tiff!" Muriel called before running off in a fit of giggles.
They slowly looked back to each other, eyes full of mistrust.
"Little tiff, what does she think this is?" Arizaphale muttered softly while Crowley got out the tea bag and turned on the water. "I- What are you doing?"
"Making tea, angel. That's what we're supposed to be doing, yeah?"
"Well, I'm not making it with you around." Arizaphale huffed, grabbing for the kettle at the same time he did.
The two touched hands in the attempt, causing them to look up at each other in surprise.
Crowley could see his eyes widen and his cheeks turn slightly pink. Could it be…?
"K-Keep your slimy hands off." Aziraphale growled, slapping his hand away. "You're distracting me."
Crowley smirked. A way in. "Distracting you? I thought angels shouldn't get distracted by demons such as myself."
"We don't." Arizaphale muttered, filling the kettle with water. He turned to find Crowley right there behind him. "O-Out of my way, fiend!"
"Say, what am I distracting you from?" Crowley asked, sitting down in a nearby chair. "The Ineffable Plan?"
The angel gritted his teeth, turning up the heat of the burner, setting it to boil.
"No? Second Coming then? Ooh, your God won't like that-"
Crowley was suddenly yanked by the chain necklace he often wore around his neck. He readjusted his glasses as he looked up at a seething Aziraphale. It seemed even brainwashed his angel still made the same cute pouty face.
"It would take less than a second to bless that water, demon, I could destroy you, right here, right now."
"You wouldn't though."
"And why wouldn't I?"
"… Because you refused nearly every time I asked you to before. Wouldn't get me holy water until you knew I might get myself in trouble."
The angel narrowed his eyes as if fighting on what to say before he finally spoke. "Yes, well, that was the past."
He finally released the man and sat across from him.
"My, you truly can still get me all riled up, even as my new self… I have to be sure no more angels aren't led astray, hence why I'm here."
Crowley didn't like how quickly Arizaphale's unusual smile returned.
"Be a nice demon and pour the tea leaves in for me."
Crowley slowly got up to do so, suspicious at this sudden change. "… Why are we making tea, archangel?"
"Because Muriel asked us to!"
"Why are we really? You look awfully excited about it all the sudden." He dropped the tea leaves in.
"Don't look at me like that, I'm not pulling some evil scheme, I'm an angel." Aziraphale hushed.
Crowley felt his heart beat faster as the angel suddenly leaned against him after getting out of the chair. He then noticed it was only to get the tea cups from the cupboard behind him.
He gently set out the cups.
"Help me, won't you?" Arizaphale took Crowley's hands and guided them to pick up the steaming kettle. This didn't hurt a bit seeing as he was a demon but the way Arizaphale was looking at him, with gentle warmth, that's what set him aflame. It was almost like it was his angel who often guided his hands when pouring the one-too-many glass of wine after they were already so intoxicated.
Aziraphale smiled faintly, leaning forward.
Their lips were so close now…
"There we are…"
Crowley felt himself finally relax when Aziraphale pulled back only to realize his mistake. "You just spiked the tea…"
"Only the best for our dear Muriel." Arizaphale smirked, waving the little bottle of almond extract he held before dropping it into Crowley's palm.
"That's it, drink every last drop…"
Muriel slowly placed her cup down after draining it. She slowly looked up to meet the archangel's eyes. "…"
"Well, how is it?"
"Wonderful, Mr. Fell, thank you." She smiled softly.
Arizaphale smirked. "Ah, I can't take all the credit, the demon helped me make it."
"The demon…?" Muriel turned to Crowley.
"That's right. I'm terribly sorry, I know you must be offended that such a foul beast was even was near-!"
"Thank you too, Mr. Crowley!"
"Anytime, cherub." Crowley tipped the cup to her.
Arizaphale gave a small laugh. "F-Forgive me… Did I just hear you say… Mr. Crowley? As in… you don't despise him?"
"Why on earth would I despise him?" Muriel laughed. "Mr. Crowley's helped me so much with the shop lately, I don't know where I'd be without him."
"Probably with the choir in the great kingdom." Crowley gestured up to the sky. He downed his cup before nearly smashing it on the table, making the angels flinch. "By the way, Aziraphale, not to toot our horns but this tea is smashing. Is that… almond I taste? Really adds a nice little kick."