Work Text:
Aziraphale couldn’t believe what was happening in front of his eyes. As his former boss held hands with Crowley’s former boss and they smiled indulgently at one another, he couldn’t help but glance over at Crowley. Crowley was staring at the two of them just as incredulously as Aziraphale had been a moment ago.
As the shock started to wear off, thoughts started to pour into his head. How had Gabriel and Beelzebub gotten to this point? Now that they had, were he and Crowley free to do the same? Would Crowley even want to? Crowley had just mentioned Alpha Centauri again. Aziraphale remembered when Crowley had asked him to run off with him, the first time. The second time, he had been too worried to properly understand what it meant when he said no. He hadn’t even been sure he’d ever see Crowley again, as he slid into his car. He thought he had come to terms with everything that had happened with Adam and the apocalypse, but now those memories were playing before his eyes. What if he had gone off with Crowley the way Gabriel and Beelzebub seemed like they were going to?
He couldn’t think. He needed a moment.
He gazed at Crowley, as their two former bosses slowly faded out of existence, and wondered how to put what he was feeling into words. As Crowley slowly turned and their eyes met, he had a feeling he might not have to.
“Hey Angel,” Crowley's voice was soft. “Do y’ever think… with them I mean… except it could be us…” his voice trailed off. He looked out the window. He stopped and started a few times. “What I’m trying to say is, you and me, we’ve been on this planet a long time. We rely on each other. If they can do it, why can’t we? Go off together, forget Heaven and Hell. Just be… us. What do you say?”
“Oh Crowley,” sighed Aziraphale. “I would love that.” He reached out and took the demon’s hand in his. Crowley squeezed it gently. “But what about the bookshop? And Earth? Did you want to go to Alpha Centauri as well? I know you asked me before but we were under a LOT of stress and I wasn’t sure what you actually meant by it… “ he trailed off as Crowley squeezed his hand again, moving closer.
“Angel, we don’t have to go anywhere. We can stay right here. You can keep your bookshop, keep doing good. We can do exactly what we were doing before. Just… you know. Together. Seems like no one’s getting smited for it these days.” He flashed a crooked half smile. “If that’s what you want?”
“It is. I’m tired of pretending we’re enemies with a grudging understanding. I want what they have,” he tilted his head towards where Gabriel and Beelzebub had been standing moments before. "I won’t have you thinking otherwise for even a moment longer. I think we’ve both been very stupid.”
“Lots of time now to get it right, Angel. Breakfast first?”
“Of course.”
They turned, hand in hand, to realize their quiet conversation wasn’t quite as private as they had thought. Metatron was staring at them, a stern expression on his face.
“Aziraphale, a word please?”
Aziraphale tightened his grip on Crowley’s hand. “No.”
“I beg your pardon?” Metatron exclaimed in disbelief.
“I have been your pawn and obedient soldier for too long. It’s time to choose my own path, like the humans I was charged by the Almighty to protect. If you’ll excuse me, I believe a table for two has just become available at the Ritz.”
And with that he gently pulled Crowley along behind him towards the door.
“Muriel my dear, do take care of the shop until I return, and feel free to read as many books as you like!”
“Oh! Yes of course!” Muriel grinned and bobbed up and down in excitement. “Have a lovely time!”
And they did.