#Aziraphale on the other hand practically poses for the camera

[thatskindarough]

Aziraphale and Crowley ❤️❤️

[eveningstarcatcher]

Day 15: Laughter

“Crowley,” Aziraphale said cautiously. Crowley had been lounging on the couch, scrolling away on his phone, while Aziraphale read at his desk. Crowley had realized that something was on the angel’s mind because he hadn’t flipped a page for over fifteen minutes, but he didn’t say anything. Best to let Aziraphale work up the nerve to talk about whatever it was.

“Yeah?” he glanced up, noting the furrow of Aziraphale’s brow, the way his eyes darted around to look at everything except Crowley, the way his hands were wringing in his lap. 

“There’s something I'd like to do, but I’m afraid you won’t like it. I do hope you’ll consider it, though. Just take a bit to think about it. For me.” 

“What is it?” Crowley sat up and leaned closer to Aziraphale, his golden eyes bright and inviting whatever plan Aziraphale had cooked up.

“Well, it’s a tradition. It’s not on our list, but it does seem rather fun and it would be a nice keepsake of our first christmas after, well you know. And you really don’t have to, dear, but -”

“Angel. Just say it.” Crowley raised an eyebrow, trying not to laugh at the way Aziraphale was rambling on.

“I would like to - I mean for us to - that is we could -”

“Aziraphale,” Crowley grabbed his hand reassuringly. 

“Could we take a Christmas card photograph?” Aziraphale’s eyes shimmered with uncertainty and anticipation.

“Christmas card photograph?” Crowley repeated. It wasn’t what he was expecting.

“Yes, it looks like rather a lot of fun! People get dressed up in festive clothing and they do silly poses and then they choose a photograph and it gets printed on a card and then they send it out to friends.” Aziraphale brightened up, but Crowley could see the hesitation hiding underneath. “What do you think?”

“You know, angel, I think that sounds fun.” Crowley genuinely smiled.

“Oh really?” Aziraphale glowed, squeezing Crowley’s hand.

“I assume you’ve already planned outfits and poses?” Crowley stood, pressed a kiss to the top of Azirahale’s head, then pulled the angel up to stand in front of him.

“Oh yes, dear! I’m so glad you agreed! I have so many ideas!” He was practically bouncing.

Crowley set up the camera and tripod, choosing the tree as the backdrop for the photos, and, after proving that he knew how to use the timer function, Aziraphale began pulling items out of a box that had been hiding under the tree, behind all the gifts.

“Which one would you like?” Aziraphale held up two equally offensive sweaters in bright colors and adorned with lights or sequins or ornaments or some combination of the three.

“How about this?” Crowley miracled a sweater, black with a red pattern printed in a traditional Norwegian style with snakes that looked like they were from an 8-bit game slithering across his torso.

“I suppose it works. Not quite as exciting as these, but it suits you.” Aziraphale smiled, removed his waistcoat and pulled one of the sweaters on. It was a bright Christmas green with gold tinsel garland wrapping up over one shoulder. Sequins created patterns of holly and snowflakes, and a few red bulb ornaments finished the look.

They took a few test photos, trying out a few poses, but Aziraphale wasn’t quite pleased.

“Let’s try this!” He dove back into the box and pulled out a traditional Santa hat, a necklace of blinking christmas bulbs, a striped elf cap, and a pair of signs on string.

“Props, eh? Alright!” Crowley had a nearly evil glint in his eye as he grabbed at them, placing some on himself and the others on Aziraphale.

“Dear, I hardly think I’m the naughty one…” the angel said, reading the sign around his neck.

“Oh, really? Who tried to kill the antichrist?” Crowley smirked, placing a hat on Azirphale’s head and adjusting the ‘nice’ sign around his own neck.

“To save the world!” he protested.

“I know, angel.” He pecked Azirphale on the cheek, then ran to set the timer on the camera. “Look bad.”

Crowley ran back and threw himself into Aziraphale’s arms, and pulling them backwards into a poorly executed dip. The timer went off just as Crowley tumbled to the floor, pulling Aziraphale down on top of him. The two burst into laughter as they disentangled their limbs and their signs. 

“How very graceful!” Azirpahale chuckled, sitting back on his heels.

“You didn’t catch me!” Crowley protested.

“You didn’t warn me!” Aziraphale straightened his sweater and stood.

“Fair point. Let’s try it again.” Crowley stood next to him. “Look like you’re tempting me and I’ll be swooning.” “Swooning?” Aziraphale mused.

“Yeah. It’s not too far from accurate, actually.” Crowley smirked at him from behind the camera, setting the timer again.

“I hardly think I tempted you, dear,” Aziraphale crossed his arms in an attempt to look offended, but widened his stance to prepare to catch a demon.

“You don’t know your own powers, angel.” Crowley ran back to Aziraphale, winked at him and threw himself into the other’s arms, dropping his head back and placing a dramatic hand to his forehead. Aziraphale was ready this time, and did not waver. He even did his best impression of a demon, one eyebrow raised and a crooked smile on his face. They barely made it through to the sound of the shutter before giving themselves over to laughter.

“Is that what you think demons look like?” Crowley asked, standing himself upright.

“Well, I can’t say that many demons have tried to tempt me, so I don’t have much of a reference there.” Aziraphale straightened his sweater and shot Crowley a sly look.

“I should hope not! Now you pick a pose.” Crowley removed his props and handed them over for Aziraphale to use as he saw fit.

“Alright!” He considered for a moment, then placed the Santa hat on his head and handed the elf hat to Crowley. He then placed the necklace of lights around Crowley’s neck and pulled a white beard out of the box, arranging it on his face.

“I’m the elf? Bit tall, aren’t I?” Crowley inspected the necklace with a bit of disgust.

“It’s fun, dear. Besides, I am a bit more jolly in appearance, so I think it works!” Aziraphale winked to Crowley and gestured for him to set the timer.

When Crowley was behind the camera Aziraphale had an idea and ran to the back room, dragging a chair out and placing it in front of the tree. He settled into it and waited for Crowley.

“And what am I supposed to do?” Crowley asked.

“Whatever you want.”

“Be careful what you wish for!” Crowley set the camera to take multiple photos, started the timer and crossed to the chair. In the few moments during which the camera shutter sounded Crowley stood next to the chair, lounged against the chair, knelt next to the chair, and ended up lounged across the chair in Aziraphale’s lap, head thrown over one arm and his legs thrown over the other. He looked rather pleased with himself.

“Crowley!” Aziraphale was laughing and Crowley enjoyed how his little round belly did shake like a bowl full of jelly. He had cast the roles well.

“What’s next?” Crowley’s eyes were now wide and mischievous.

“Oh no, it’s your turn now.” Aziraphale removed the beard and handed it to Crowley.

The two spent well over an hour taking all sorts of photos with every combination of props and every pose they could think of. By the end, their stomachs were sore from laughter.

A bottle of wine had been brought out just shy of an hour ago, a second bottle joined them 30 minutes ago, and the third was currently being opened and enjoyed.

They had pushed the armchair to the side and were standing in front of the tree, glasses in hand. The lights on the tree glowed brighter as the sun was going down outside. It wasn’t quite dark yet, but it wasn’t far off.

“Thank you for agreeing to do this,” Aziraphale smiled at his demon.

“Yeah, of course. It actually was fun,” Crowley raised his glass.

“Oh yes, a toast!” Aziraphale raised his glass as well. “What to?”

“To Christmas?” Crowley shrugged.

“To celebrating Christmas. Together.” Aziraphale’s eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled at Crowley adoringly. Crowley tilted his head slightly to the side, mirroring the soft smile. The tipped their glasses forward to meet in the middle, clinking softly as they captured the colored lights from the tree behind them and spread them around the room.

Without knowing which one willed it so, the camera shutter clicked.