goodtobebad | open post;

Mm, yeah. Y’come around, ‘ventually.

[ Crowley snaps his fingers, and another bottle of the Bordeaux he’s drinking presents itself, as well as a second wineglass. ]

Sit! Have a drink! Don’t get your feathers all ruffled. I went to a club, y’know, to watch some humans doin’ their... their human things. Livin’ their... human lives.

[ Whenever Aziraphale gets closer, he leans in conspiratorially. ]

Saved them, we did, didn’ we? Helped ‘em, anyway.

[Aziraphale gives him a look at the ruffled feathers comment, but he pours himself a glass of wine, anyway. If you can't beat them, join them.]

Thank you, dear.

[He takes a long sip while Crowley rambles on, his shoulders relaxing. When Crowley leans in, he can't help but mirror the gesture, the corners of his mouth turning up.]

We did. They'll never know, but that's the beauty of it, watching the world continue to turn as it always has.

[He takes another, smaller sip of wine. Savors it. It's an excellent vintage.]

You know, I haven't set foot in a club in quite some time. What were they up to? Dancing?

Yes! Exactly. They just keep doin' their thing, and it's bloody brilliant.

[ He gulps at his own wine, clearly far enough in that he's no longer caring so much about the vintage, or the aroma, or anything like that. ]

Oh, they weren't doin' anything you'd think of as dancing... heh. They seemed to enjoy it, though.

[Aziraphale rolls his eyes, but there's a smile there, too.]

Don't be so sure of that. The Gavotte was known as the 'kissing dance', after all.

Angel...

[ His voice takes on a tone not unlike that of a parent gently guiding an adorable but naive and ignorant child. ]

The sort of dancing they do in clubs nowadays is nothin’ like the gavotte... ‘s always been a mating ritual, y’know.

[Crowley paints a vivid image and the angel blushes a bit, more over his own naivety than anything.]

Is that what put you in a cuddly mood, then? Watching the humans?

[The words are out of his mouth before he has a chance to self-edit, and he takes a hurried sip of wine, as if he might somehow be able to disappear into the glass.]

Ehhhh, welllll...

[ Crowley isn't too bothered by the question, or at least he's drunk enough not to think too hard about it, and he sort of rocks his head back and forth as he considers. ]

's a thing they do a lot, is all. Touch. Cuddle. Dance real close. Always have done. Ever think about it?

[Aziraphale lowers his glass, expression turning thoughtful.]

Not really. I mean, yes, early on when there were only two of them. I always assumed that it was a way to demonstrate their love for one another. Or lust, I suppose. It must feel good, to touch someone that you care about, and be touched in return. That's the conclusion that I came to, anyway.

What, you don't know?

[ It 'must' feel good, eh? ]

Aziraphale, the great hedonist, connoisseur of all things sensual, and you've never cuddled?

[Aziraphale's blush returns and he fumbles with his wine glass before frowning at himself. Why should he be embarrassed about this?]

I've comforted humans on occasion, when they've been sick or scared. But... no, not in the sense of simply holding someone else for the pleasure of it. That... felt like crossing a line somehow.

You’ve never been afraid to cross lines before, to help humans.

[ He leans over, his head almost touching the angel’s shoulder. ]

And... and I know plenty of humans who would’ve been happy to...

[Aziraphale doesn't scoot over when Crowley leans into his space, although he does look away, that soft blush remaining on his face.]

I don't think I'd enjoy it very much if it wasn't someone I already cared about deeply. I've met some lovely humans over the years, but they're still human. They're here for a moment and then gone.

[There's also the fact that there's only one being he's ever wanted to cuddle in the first place, but he's only a drink into this conversation, so he swallows that fact down with the rest of his wine and then pours himself another glass.]

What about you? I never pegged you for the cuddly sort, but it sounds like you enjoy that sort of thing.

Mmm, welllll... there’s been a few over the years...

[ He keeps it vague. Is he even talking about “cuddling” at this point? ]

I’m a demon. Humans like to tempt each other with that sort of thing all the time, I figured I’d better know something about it...

I see... and yet you texted me to come over...

[That has to mean something, doesn't it? Crowley could have become physically close to any of those humans in the club. But he texted Aziraphale.

Very gently, he knocks his knee into Crowley's.]

What's it like?

Well yeah, I’m not doing Hell’s bidding anymore, am I? Can... spend time with any celestial beings I like.

[ He doesn’t have to pretend anymore. ]

What’s what like?

It's the same for me, Crowley.

[He says it quietly, like he's confessing a secret. Another sip of wine, and he feels brave enough to smile.]

Cuddling. You're the expert here, my dear.

Not an expert.

[ Far from it, really. ]

But. Uh, well, ‘s nice sometimes. To... cuddle. Warm. Humans drool sometimes, though. And then some of them want other things.

Enough of an expert to know that you're cuddly.

[He listens, genuinely curious. His brow wrinkles at the drooling. And the mention of 'other things'.]

That's why I never indulged. But... um. If you... were still interested...?

[He hasn't forgotten how inebriated Crowley is, but this seems safe enough. A little indulging between friends.]

[ Crowley slithers forward, pressing his face to Aziraphale’s shoulder and wrapping his free arm around his waist. ]

You sure? I won’t drool on you and ruin your jacket, promise.

[Aziraphale lets out a little exhale and doesn't move for a second or two. Then, carefully, he wraps an arm around Crowley's shoulders.]

I'm sure. And if you do drool, you can always miracle it away.

[He shifts a little, relaxing into the back of the sofa. Crowley wasn't kidding, this is warm. This is so warm. Should it be this warm? He feels flushed, and Crowley's hair is tickling his chin, and everything about this is perfect.]

[ It is nice. Crowley, being a serpent after all, loves the warmth, soaks it up greedily, but doesn’t do more than what he’s already done. He can feel Aziraphale starting to relax by turns, and that... that’s good. His mind is still fuzzy with drink, he hasn’t sobered up, but he’s aware of how big a step forward this is, all the same. ]

‘S not. Uh. Not too fast for you, then?

[ His voice is uncharacteristically quiet, uncertain even. Almost mumbled into the angel’s neck, like he’s not sure he wants Aziraphale to hear him. ]

[The question starts up a painful ache in Aziraphale's heart. It's the way Crowley says it, as if he's waiting for the angel to come to his senses and push him away. So, instead, he does the opposite, gathering Crowley a bit closer with the arm around his shoulders, holding him firmly against his warm body.]

No, not at all.

[He sets aside his glass of wine and wraps that arm around him in turn so that Crowley is in a full embrace.]

The truth is, I've been wanting to do this for quite some time.

[ Crowley is quiet for a moment at that admission. It startles him a little, not sure he ever expected the angel to say anything like that to him.

Or wrap him so thoroughly in an embrace, for that matter, at which he lets out a totally unnecessary, shuddering breath. ]

What, really? Me?

Yes, you.

[There is laughter in his voice, but there is a bit of a sob caught in there, too. He turns his head to let Crowley's hair brush against his cheek, inhaling the demon's familiar and comforting scent.]

Only you.

... right.

[ Still drunk, still warm, still trying to wrap his head around this new development, Crowley is even less articulate than usual. ]

Never tempted you, y’know. Not... uh. Well, wasn’t in the job description, tempting angels. Never wanted... I mean... ngk.

[ Is it so hard for him to say “I wanted you to like me for real”? Yeah. It is. ]

Just... like bein’ around you.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject