“Well, if it isn't the Supreme Archangel.” Disdain dripped. “To what do I owe the pleasure of such an honourable visit?”
Look at me.
The sunglasses were dark. Impenetrably dark. So much so that Aziraphale was reminded of 2500 B.C. again, of demanding the demon look him in the eye and tell him he wanted to kill children.
The demon had and he'd lied well. He needed to lie well. It was safer for him that way, both before and most definitely after, their Arrangement. Ever since Crowley had lit Job's first house ablaze and Aziraphale's panic had simmered into something he hadn't felt since the first of God's Grace had touched him - trust (as simple, as terrifying, as awful, as glorious as that) - he had been able to see right through those lenses.
He couldn't see through them now.
(He hadn't been able to see through them at the bookshop those last few precious moments they'd shared together.)
He watched the demon Crowley finish examining his wine label. He watched him pour a glass. He poured exactly the right amount. No more or less than a well trained sommelier might.
(Crowley had lost control of so much. Aziraphale knew he could control this, however. How much he poured. And how many glasses.)
A second glass didn't appear.
A second glass was not filled.
Crowley picked the single glass up and looked in his direction. The glasses were so dark.
Look at me.
The glass moved, an impatient gesture that sent the wine rolling along the edges like the sea disturbed by the Kraken. (Great big bugger.) “Well?”
Aziraphale knew every line on that face and every inflection of that tone. This was so tightly controlled that Aziraphale couldn't help but think of a snake coiled and poised to strike any threat to his nest. (Peaceful, fragile existence. Aziraphale hadn't known how fragile.)
“The Second Coming-”
“Don't care.”
It was a lie. His throat worked as he swallowed wine.
Crowley cared.
Crowley had always cared.
“I'm not going to do the dance-”
“Didn't ask you to.”
“-and I'm sorry I made you.”
Lips tightened at the corners. Lips that were firm and warmed by far more than internal damnation. Lips that had clumsily, desperately pressed to his own. (“You idiot...”)
“If that's all-”
Aziraphale shifted, fidgeting, restless. The movement seemed to lodge itself in Crowley's throat, silencing him when that hadn't been the intention. Crowley could ask him to leave. He had every right to ask him to go.
Aziraphale laid a book (he had so many books) down between them. It was embarrassingly, painfully old. The sort of old that would've had someone claiming it to be a miracle that it had stayed together for so long. For its part, the book was just as surprised to be intact for all the use it had been getting as of late.
“I've gotten as much information as I can so far on the plans.”
“I said I don't care.”
(Had they really said what they meant yet? They hadn't. They must. They would.)
“His plane is scheduled to land in the States tomorrow.”
“What part of I don't care-”
“Look me in the eyes and tell me you don't care.” (He remembered how to be bold. Heaven tried to make him forget. It would always try.) “Look me in the eyes and tell me you would let this world turn to ash. That you would let them all die for a war that has never had anything to do with them.”
Lips curled. A fang glinted threateningly. The glasses didn't come off. (Aziraphale could be sad later. He would be sad later.)
“All of them,” Aziraphale said quietly, “against all of us is what you told me.”
And there, there, a flicker. The most minute adjustment of long fingers. (Did you catch it? Could anyone without so many years spent learning everything possible about someone who needed to remain at arm's length?)
“I'm a good soldier, Crowley. I always have been.”
There wasn't another adjustment. There was only... (Faith. It was always faith. I could always rely on you.)
A steadying breath. Aziraphale pushed the book closer. “I shall see you tomorrow.”
And Up he went.
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