Chapter Text
Aziraphale stopped reading aloud from his book [1] and looked up when Crowley made an odd sound [2]. Crowley was slumped on the sofa, eyes closed.
Aziraphale placed his book down. “Crowley? Are you alright?”
Crowley stirred, blinking slowly. “Of course, angel,” he slurred.
His eyes weren’t quite focusing, leading Aziraphale to worry. Aziraphale covered the few steps to Crowley in a beat. He kneeled by him, and rested a hand on Crowley’s forehead [3]. “Are you sick? Are you hurt—”
Crowley’s lips quirked into a smile. “—M’just sleepy.”
Aziraphale sighed with relief. “Oh! Let’s get you to bed, then.”
Crowley waved a weak hand. “No, no, angel, it’s fine. Keep reading, your voice is divine…”
“No excuses,” Aziraphale said. He slipped his arms under Crowley’s body and lifted him up. Aziraphale had a bedroom in his upstairs flat above the bookshop, and this is where Aziraphale took Crowley now.
Unfortunately, the room had been set up by Crowley when Aziraphale first opened the shop, and Aziraphale hadn’t touched it since. Crowley’s nose wrinkled, for the room was rather dusty.
Aziraphale had the grace to flush. “Sorry, Crowley. I don’t sleep very often.”
Still in Aziraphale’s arms, Crowley clicked his fingers. All the dust disappeared, and the bedding entirely changed to a repeating motif of apples and angel’s wings.
Aziraphale rolled his eyes fondly at Crowley’s smug smirk. He lay Crowley down and helped him beneath the covers. “Alright, Crowley?” he asked, fingers briefly trailing over the delicate long strands of Crowley’s hair [4].
Crowley hummed.
Azirphale withdrew his hand and turned to leave.
“Wait. Angel. Where are you going?” came Crowley’s slurred words.
Aziraphale turned back to see Crowley’s hand searching the air, and Crowley’s eyes closed. “Ah. I was just going back to my books.”
Crowley patted the space next to him. “Please. Stay for a bit?”
“Oh, well, if you put it like that…” How could Aziraphale resist? He shedded his outer layers, improper for lying down, and slipped into the bed next to Crowley. His heart fluttered a little at Crowley’s bright, sleepy smile.
“C’mere, yes, just like that—” Crowley tugged Aziraphale, until they were both on their sides, Crowley’s front against Aziraphale’s chest, and Crowley’s limbs wrapped around Aziraphale as though snake coils. Then, Crowley stilled, releasing the lightest of sighs.
“Crowley? Dear?”
At no reply, Aziraphale sighed fondly. Crowley had fallen asleep [5].
Now, Aziraphale could extract himself from Crowley’s hold. But he had to admit that it was quite warm and comfortable.
Maybe I’ll try this sleeping thing, Aziraphale decided. He could read a book, but the position wasn’t his preferred; and he didn’t want to depart from his dear Crowley yet. Mimicking Crowley’s behaviour, Aziraphale closed his eyes and slowed down his breathing. He pulled Crowley’s arms against his chest, wriggled himself into an even more comfortable position...and fell asleep to sweet dreams of the stars beyond [6].
[1] For the interested reader, this was Aziraphale’s copy of the original Hans Christian Anderson stories. [return]
[2] This sound was in fact, a snore, but as the Principality Aziraphale tended not to be around sleeping humans, he did not recognise this fact. [return]
[3] Technically, Aziraphale didn’t need to touch a person to miracle them to health, but this was Crowley, and Aziraphale couldn’t help himself. And he had seen humans do this exact same gesture--that was his excuse, should Crowley ask. [return]
[4] Aziraphale had once mentioned in passing how he’d adored the flow of long hair—and to Crowley, that was that. [return]
[5] In fact, Crowley had fallen asleep instantly, for Aziraphale’s scent and Aziraphale’s softness was utterly overpowering and Crowley was entirely warm and comfortable and safe. [return]
[6] This was, in fact, also Crowley’s dream, filled with the joyous feelings of when he’d made those stars. And how, you may ask? Well, when angels and demons are close, their auras inevitable mingle and mix. And for Aziraphale and Crowley who have swapped faces, their auras have started to merge, just a little. [return]