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English
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Part 31 of Ineffable Growing Love
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Published:
2023-08-28
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1,334
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1/1
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Being the reason for your happiness

Summary:

Aziraphale is surprised that after all these years, Crowley never gets tired of watching him eat. When Crowley explains the reason, Aziraphale realizes something about what he loves about the demon.

Notes:

Some softness… again

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

 

Aziraphale closed his mouth around the spoon and couldn't help but close his eyes, letting out a small moan of pleasure at how delicious the dessert was.

A slight chuckle made him open his eyes and his gaze met Crowley's. 

Aziraphale felt himself blush and said to the demon with a pout, "Am I that ridiculous?"

Crowley shook his head and said gently, "I wasn't mocking you, I just found it amusing how the world ceases to exist around you when you eat something you find absolutely delicious, which is most of the time, actually."

Aziraphale shrugged and replied, "Whatever," then held his plate up to the display case in the middle of their table and transferred a slice of pie onto it. He set it down in front of him and looked at Crowley challengingly, saying, "I'm going to eat that piece of pie and there's nothing you can do to stop me."

Crowley gave a small chuckle and playfully replied, raising his spoon, "I could eat some."

Aziraphale replied, "You could, but I'd break up with you on the spot."

Crowley scoffed and replied, "You never would."

Aziraphale insisted, "I might."

Crowley just stared at him.

Aziraphale said in a less sure tone, "I might not." 

The demon picked up his glass, took a sip, and continued to stare at him without saying anything.

Aziraphale sighed, "I would never do that. I love you too much."

Crowley nearly choked and Aziraphale took a bite of the pie, a small look of satisfaction on his face at the thought of being the one who had flustered the demon. 

Seeing that Crowley had regained his composure, he asked, "All this time, do you ever mind watching me eat?"

Crowley leaned closer to the angel before replying, "You know, angel, it's like when you give someone a gift, like a scarf or a piece of jewelry or a pen, and when you see that person again, you notice they're wearing that scarf or using that pen."

Aziraphale, who had just finished another bite, frowned in confusion.

Crowley, with an indulgent smile on his lips, continued, "Well, in a way, I'm the one who showed you the pleasures of eating, so seeing you eat with such delight is like seeing you wearing or using something I would have given you." 

Aziraphale set the spoon down on the plate and wiped the corner of his mouth as the demon took a sip of wine.

The angel said softly, "That's very sweet of you, you know..."

Crowley countered, "I'm a demon, I'm not sweet."

Aziraphale replied, "Say what you want, I do know." Then he took another spoonful of the dessert, enjoying it as always with undisguised pleasure, and the demon commented, "Well, you can call me sweet all you want, but it's nice to know that I'm somehow responsible for the happiness you get from eating."

Azifaphale chuckled and replied, "Only you would be offended if someone called you sweet."

Crowley leaned toward the angel and asked, "Tell me, angel, what about you, is there anything in particular that you enjoy about me?"

He leaned back in his chair, the motion causing a lock of red hair to fly around, immediately catching the Angel's eye.

If only Crowley knew.

 

"Yes? Was that you?"

When Aziraphale arrived in front of the other angel, the first thing he noticed in the midst of the black immensity around them was the color of his hair. A color he'd never seen before. He could hardly look away.

The other angel asked, "Oh, hi, yeah. Uh, look, if you don't mind, could you hold this while I crank it all up?"

Aziraphale found it hard to pay attention to the other angel's words. He spoke animatedly and moved his head restlessly, causing his red locks to move with him, the curls catching the light with each movement.

*****

"Oh, you're an angel. I don't think you can do the wrong thing."

Aziraphale had avoided looking at the demon since the beginning of their conversation on the wall, but when he said that, he couldn't help but turn around to face him.

The red hair was still curly, but much longer, and the curls danced around him whenever he started to laugh. 

For a split second, Aziraphale almost forgot who they were and where they were.

*****

"Aha! Professor Hoffmann's modern magic. Ah, there you are." 

Aziraphale rushed to the shelf to grab the book, turned without paying further attention to the demon to put on his glasses and read the magic book's dedication, "To Mr. Fell," that's me, "a wonderful student." 

He flipped through the book, then, seeing movement in his field of vision, looked up to see that Crowley had removed his hat. 

Once again, Aziraphale found it difficult to look away from the striking color of the demon's hair.

Something in the atmosphere of the shop, in the color of Crowley's tie, brought out its distinctive hue, and for a moment Aziraphale found it hard to concentrate, almost wishing the demon would put his hat back on.

Almost.

 

"Angel?"

The demon's voice snapped him out of his thoughts and his eyes slid from the red hair to the confused expression on his face.

Aziraphale bent toward him, raised his hand, and caught a small red curl that was falling back on the demon's forehead, pushing it back.

His hand slid down Crowley's cheek and the demon leaned into it, smiling softly.

Aziraphale realized something at that moment.

The demon asked, "So, what is it about me that you love? My quick wit? My incredible style? M-"

The angel shook his head and, smiling with amusement, ran his thumb over his lips to silence him.

He said softly, "That's what I love most."

Crowley frowned and asked, "What? It's my lips you love the most?"

Aziraphale shook his head again, "No, not your lips, silly. Your smile. The one you only give me. And I think I understand better what you said before about enjoying watching me eat, because it's something you brought to me. I guess I love that smile because I know I'm the reason for it."

He used his thumb to gently caress the demon's lips, which widened into a mischievous grin as he said playfully, "Who's sweet now?"

Aziraphale replied, "I am an angel. That's to be expected."

They looked at each other in silence before bursting out laughing. 

When the laughter died down, Crowley's expression turned serious as he took the angel's hand.

He said gently, "You're right, you know?"

"About what?" asked Aziraphale, confused.

Crowley kissed the angel's palm before replying, "You're absolutely responsible for that smile," then, seeing the angel's expression, he hastened to add, "And I'm not sweet."

That did not stop the angel from smiling in amusement, challenging Crowley with his gaze before murmuring, "My sweet dem--" He did not have time to finish as the demon had closed the distance between them and pressed his lips to his own to silence him.

A little later, when they parted to catch their breath, Crowley asked, "And now? Am I still sweet?"

Aziraphale replied, "More than ever."

"Angel!"

The angel laughed, then said more seriously, "What if I told you that's something I love about you, too, just like that smile you only have for me, that I love the fact that you're sweet to me?"

Crowley sighed, "Angel, that's not very fair."

"Come on, Crowley, only I know. I promise to keep it a secret if..."

Crowley narrowed his eyes and repeated, "If?"

Aziraphale continued, "If you take me to Paris for crepes." 

The demon shook his head, chuckled softly, then added, a slight smile on his lips, "It's a deal."

Seeing that smile, Aziraphale thought to himself that there was indeed no better feeling than knowing that he was the one who had put that smile on the demon's lips, and that he would do anything to make sure that smile never faded.



 

Notes:

Don't hesitate to say Hi, I don't bite ! : here
_________

Still not beta'd
Still not my native language
Still hoping you'll enjoy this story  🥰
Still thanking you for bearing with me 😝

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