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They stood for a moment just staring at each other. Aziraphale shifted, uncomfortably aware of his Heavenly pale grey morning coat, stiff and unfamiliar compared to Crowley’s black-clad, loose-limbed self. He looked as beautiful as always. Sinuous and just faintly ridiculous. A fond smile twitched at Aziraphale’s lips briefly before he shoved it down as a bad idea. No matter how familiar they had once been, Crowley was now looking at him with a grim expression that Aziraphale wasn’t sure he had ever seen on his friend’s face.
The angel cleared his throat and nervously fingered his cuffs. “Um. Yes. Hello.”
Crowley stalked towards him, his face still in that ominous expression.
“I -” Aziraphale wasn’t sure how to start. He had assumed Muriel would keep Crowley up to date with the goings on in Heaven. Had hoped that by the time they saw each other again he would understand at least a little of why he had had to leave.
Crowley paused barely a step away. Aziraphale held his breath to be so close to him again, not daring to move, his lips tingling with remembered sensation from the last time they had been this close.
Suddenly he was enveloped in Crowley’s arms, wiry and strong around his shoulders, his own coming up to Crowley’s back without a thought, squeezing him closer.
“Never. Do that. Again.” Crowley said firmly from where his face pressed against Aziraphale’s neck.
“I rather think Heaven will not be looking to invite me back any time soon,” Aziraphale said lightly.
Crowley only gave him a squeeze. “Don’t leave me.”
Aziraphale clutched helplessly at Crowley’s jacket. “Oh, dearest. I never wanted to leave you. I never want to be apart from you. You understand don’t you? I was trying to keep you safe. Keep us all safe.”
“I know.” Slowly Crowley released his hold, just enough that they could face each other. Aziraphale politely ignored the wetness just visible at the edge of his sunglasses, while Crowley gently swiped a thumb across Aziraphale’s cheek, catching the droplet there. “Our side has never been the two of us has it?”
Aziraphale sniffed and shook his head.
“Humanity,” Crowley said with feeling. “The universe. This Creation we have.” He looked at the sky with a deep breath. “It’s part of our side too.”
“I couldn’t just leave.” Aziraphale pleaded, hoping Crowley would understand. “I couldn’t. I’m s-”
“If you say ‘sorry’, Angel, I’ll never forgive you,” Crowley said, meeting his eyes, with a gentle smile. “Because then I’ll have to apologise too and I’m not doing that dance ever again.”
A giggle burbled up from Aziraphale’s throat sounding more like a hiccup or a sob. He settled his head on Crowley’s chest, letting Crowley rest his chin on his head.
“You’ve made a good start,” Crowley said quietly, “but we’ve got a ways to go if we’re going to save our side from the other two.”
“I know,” Aziraphale said, glad Crowley could not see his face as he felt a blush creeping up his cheeks. “There is one other thing first. If you’re amenable.”
“Anything, Angel.”
“Well…last time…before…well…you kissed me.” He felt Crowley stiffen and gave him a squeeze, desperately hoping he was not about to tear them apart again. “I was wondering whether you might want to…do it again. Though a little gentler might be in order this time.”
There was a pause long enough that eventually Aziraphale had to see his face, had to see if he could tell the thoughts percolating behind those glasses.
“You want me to kiss you?” Crowley said hesitantly.
His cheeks were definitely red now. “Or I suppose I could kiss you,” Aziraphale offered. “It’s just…I have been thinking about it rather a lot. Have hardly been able to stop thinking about it in fact. Thinking about you…”
Crowley’s hand drifted to his jaw and he leaned into it. “You’re sure?”
“Oh Crowley of course I’m sure you dolt!”
Aziraphale lurched forward, closing the already narrow gap between them. At first the kiss was almost as brutal as the first, until slowly they both relaxed, Crowley cupping his face gently, Aziraphale’s hands slipping to Crowley’s hips and pulling him as close as possible. As their lips moved against each other Aziraphale felt the blood from his cheeks sink decidedly lower, a tiny but growing knot of need settling in his belly. His breath came faster and when he shifted his hands to Crowley’s waist, under his shirt the noise the demon made had him holding down a growl.
It was a long minute before they broke apart and then only hesitantly, coming back for small pecks at each others’ lips as they gradually disentangled themselves. Crowley’s kiss stained lips had him mesmerised as he pulled away, the colour incredibly fetching, enticing him to bold thoughts he had never had before…
“Angel…” Crowley said, somewhat dazed, and said angel had a certain amount of sympathy, feeling somewhat dazed himself.
Aziraphale cleared his throat, taking a step back and completely unable to keep his hungry eyes from the other being. “Yes. That…that is something we are going to have to come back to.” He looked Crowley up and down and felt the excitement ripple through him. “When the world isn’t ending.”
“When the world isn’t ending,” Crowley agreed, his own gaze seemingly captivated. “That’s a promise, Angel.”
“Oh yes,” Aziraphale said. “I should think so.”