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Every year, Whickber Street in Soho holds a community Halloween party organized by the Shopkeepers and Street Traders Association. All the shop fronts are covered in spooky decorations, and after closing time, families converge on the area and go Trick-or-Treating, stopping at each store to collect candy from the dressed up staff and owners. Aziraphale has never opened his own store for such things but had helped out a few times at the Record store next door. He loved handing out sweets to the children, and was always dressed up as an Angel. He was a real one of course, but this was a more human version of what an Angel should look like. He would have loved to get his real wings out as part of his costume but after trying it out one time, he came to realize they were too big to walk around with in crowded and closed in spaces. Little costume wings strapped to his shoulders with elastic worked just as well.
After the ApocaNope, Aziraphale decides it's time he join in the festivities properly. He asks Crowley to help him, taking the retired Demon by surprise.*
[*Crowley would normally spend Halloween night at home, alone, sometimes even in snake form, but always asleep. He sees it as the one time of year when he can have the night off.]
"Sure, Angel, sounds fun." Crowley smiles softly as his words earn him his favourite glowing smile. Honestly, how was he ever meant to say no to that face? "Got a theme in mind?"
"Hm, I think a Haunted Bookstore. Work with what I've got," Aziraphale replies, laughing a little. "Just need to shift some shelves, and get some decorations of course."
"I'll sort that if you like," Crowley offers, "What about costumes? Are we dressing up or doing this as ourselves?"
Crowley spots a light flush creeping over Aziraphale's face as the Angel looks him over before he visibly shakes himself.
"Oh well, I already have a costume sorted," he says, looking away from Crowley.
The demon laughs, "Oh yes, that very human Angel get-up of yours." Aziraphale squeaks in embarrassment. He didn't know Crowley knew about that. "Come on, where's your sense of adventure? Pick something else this year, maybe something that matches your shop theme."
Aziraphale sighs and covers his face with his hands for a moment. "Fine, I'll figure something else out." He glares at the still laughing demon, "You better dress up too, I will not be doing this alone."
"Don't you worry about that, I have an idea already," Crowley smiles slyly, wiggling his eyebrows, "Just you wait and see."
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October 31st comes along and Aziraphale decides not to open for business, instead spending the day preparing for the night to come. He sections off a portion of the front of the store and puts up the spooky decorations that Crowley had got together for him. A handful of small miracles at show time will complete the scene to perfection. He spends the rest of the time fussing over his costume. He's sure he has chosen well and hopes that Crowley will like it.* The Demon in question calls to check up on him once during this time, knowing full well that the Angel is already full of nerves about making his precious store so open and inviting for a change.
[*Not that his opinion matters at all only it really does.]
"It's going to be okay, Angel," he says while pacing his plant room, "No one is going to hurt your precious books. It's just a bit of fun for one night."
"I'm sure you're right," Aziraphale says, sitting at his desk coiling the cord of his Bakelite phone around nervous fingers, "Maybe I should give the wards a little bump, just in case."
"Whatever makes you feel better. Anyway, I'll see you later. Try not to fret too much." He hangs up, leaving the Angel to do just that.
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Just before 5pm, the low rumble of a vintage Bentley outside the shop announces Crowley's arrival. Aziraphale wills himself not to look out the window to get a glimpse of his costume. Seconds later, there is a knock on the bookshop door. Aziraphale opens it quickly and is stunned by what he sees. Crowley seems stunned too. They both gawk at each other for a moment. Crowley is first to recover.
"Good evening," he says with a polite bow, "I am Count Anthony Crowley, of Mayfair. I have heard many tales of your haunted bookstore, may I come in and see it for myself?"
His outfit consisted of a pair of black dress pants, black shirt and tie, with a deep blood red corset vest that snatched his already slim waist impossibly smaller. All this topped off with a long black cloak with blood red lining and a black top hat. He hadn't bothered with his usual glasses tonight, instead leaving his eyes bare to add to his vampire attire. The humans would just think they were contacts anyway. He had also let his snake fangs out a bit, and lengthened his hair enough for a small pony tail tied with a black ribbon.
Aziraphale could hardly breathe as he looked him over. Oh God, he was even wearing eyeliner.
"Uh, yes hello", Aziraphale said, trying not to sound like he's about to faint, "I am the Wicked Witch of Soho, this is my store. Please, do come in."
Aziraphale is dressed in a long black tartan Victorian gothic ball gown with three quarter sleeves and high neckline, along with a delicate silvery spiderweb crocheted shawl held in place by a small silver snake brooch. On the whole it was quite simple when compared to Crowley's outfit but it suited him well. It even seemed to somehow accentuate his plush curves, a fact Crowley had noticed immediately. He also wore a black witches hat, and he'd let his hair down passed his waist, still fluffy and feathery white despite it's new length.
Crowley stepped into the store and dropped his act.
"Angel," he breathed, "You look amazing. So different to anything I've ever seen you wear. I mean, the tartan is not a surprise, but wow!"
Aziraphale's face lit up as it was want to do whenever Crowley complimented him, "Oh, you really think so?"
Crowley nodded, "Go on, give us a twirl." Aziraphale did as asked, clapping his hands in delight as his skirts swirled out around him. "Very swishy!" Crowley declared.
As Aziraphale came to a stop he stepped closer without thinking to gently touch a section of his hair that now hung over his shoulder. "You've never really changed your hair before."
Aziraphale held still while Crowley ran his fingers through the unusually long strands, moving only to remove his hat so Crowley could see the full effect.
"You're so beautiful," Crowley whispered, not sure what had actually come over himself. It was as if the Angel had him under a spell with those stormy blue eyes of his. It would be so easy to just…
A jaunty yet mournful melody started up outside the shop signaling the start of the festivities, bringing the pair back to reality.
Taking a shaky step back, Aziraphale put the last of the miracles in place to really ramp up the spooky vibes he was going for. An unnatural green fog now rolled lightly across the floor, weaving between the shelves and carved pumpkins lit from within by battery operated tea lights*. A small spiderwebbed chandelier hung over the cordoned off space casting just the right amount of light to be spooky but not dangerous to the public, and in the darkness of the rest of the shop, ghostly figures flickered between the shelves at random.
[*no real fire in the bookshop ever again!]
Pleased with the result, Aziraphale turned back to Crowley only to find him still frozen in place.
"Crowley?" Aziraphale called softly, moving to place a hand on his friends arm, "Are you alright?"
Crowley seemed to come back to himself then, shaking off the comforting hand. "Ah yeah Angel, I'm good." He smiled in the face of Aziraphale's concern for him. "Come on, lets go for a quick tour of the sights before we settle in for Candy Duty." He held out a remarkably steady hand. Aziraphale hesitated for only a second, then took Crowley's hand and let himself be led out into the street, replacing his hat as they went.
Crowley tucked Aziraphale's hand into the crook of his arm as they crossed the street to pub opposite the bookshop. It had been quite in fashion many years ago for men to walk about this way, and it made Aziraphale a little giddy to be with Crowley like that again. Things were so much different now, not just in the social customs of the time but also they themselves. They were free to do exactly as they pleased, and right now it pleased the Angel to be walking arm in arm out in public with his best friend, in costume on Halloween night. The other Angels would never have understood.
The local publicans had gone with a Pirate theme, even serving rum based cocktails. Crowley was determined that Aziraphale would get at least one before the end of the night. Next they crossed to the little French restaurant kitty-corner to the bookshop. They had gone with Cannibals. Next the coffee shop, which was under renovation and new management but still managed to put a little something together. A rather charming little pumpkin patch greeted them here with some brilliantly creepy scarecrows scattered about. On and on down the street they went, then back up the other side finishing up at the little record store tucked in behind the bookstore. The whole street had really outdone themselves this year.
Aziraphale and Crowley returned to the bookshop in time to greet the first Trick-or-Treaters. The Angel Witch was quickly assigned to handing out the sweets, while the Demon Vampire flitted around the space, greeting the children and spooking their parents. A small group of young teenage girls giggled together as they made their way to where Aziraphale stood with his big bowl. They spoke in hushed voices pausing to look back towards the door.
"Ooo did you see him?" asked one, dressed as Harley Quinn. "I'd let him bite me any day."
"Yeah, he is sex on legs that one," said the second, dressed as Cat Woman.
The third girl, dressed as Wonder Woman giggled, "He's a walking wet dream!"
Aziraphale followed their line of sight and realised they were talking about Crowley. He blushed faintly when he thought about their words, secretly deciding they were not wrong at all, despite their rather crude way of putting it. Crowley chose that moment to look his way, and he blushed harder. The low lighting must not have hidden his face as well as he hoped because Crowley was at his side in an instant, taking his hand.
"Angel, are you okay?" He frowned in concern, searching his friends face for any signs of discomfort or distress.
Aziraphale smiled up at him, "I'm perfectly fine, my dear."
The teens had broken out in giggles again. Crowley paid them no attention but Aziraphale glanced over at them.
Cat Woman gave him double thumbs up, "You are so lucky!"
"Indeed I am," Aziraphale answered, holding out the bowl of sweets to them with his free hand. Only then did Crowley look towards the girls who were now making there way outside.
"I feel like I missed something important," he said, still holding Aziraphale's hand. Aziraphale just laughed and shook his head, "I'll explain later."
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As 9pm neared, the crowds had thinned out to a trickle so Crowley nipped across to the pub to snag a couple of cocktails for himself and his Angel. He returned right on closing with a 'Pirate's Booty' for Aziraphale, and a 'Captain & Ginger' for himself.
"Is that gold leaf in there?" Aziraphale asked, happily accepting the drink.
"Yeah, it's the edible kind though," Crowley answered, taking a small sip of his own drink, "There's even edible glitter in there too."
Aziraphale took a generous sip of his cocktail, "Oh that is divine." He closed his eyes and hummed happily at the taste.
Crowley couldn't help but stare at him. Watching Aziraphale's facial expressions when ever he ate or drank was one of his favourite things do. He had been doing it for thousands of years and he certainly wasn't about to stop now.
This time however, Aziraphale managed to catch him at it. When he'd opened his eyes again, he'd found Crowley watching him with a look pure desire in his eyes. Those beautiful eyes were usually hidden from him, but not tonight. Every emotion the Demon would normally hide was now on display.
He took another sip of his drink then put it down next to the mostly empty bowl of sweets and moved into Crowley's space. Crowley only a second to process what was happening before Aziraphale leaned up and kissed him. It was a soft, gentle thing and it over as quickly as it started but now that the unspoken line had been crossed there was no going back.
Crowley quickly put his own drink down and wrapped an arm around Aziraphale's waist, bring his free hand up to rest on the Angels cheek before dipping in to kiss him again. He tasted like rum and pineapple. Aziraphale shifted closer, bringing his arms up around Crowley's neck, practically pressing their bodies together full length.
Crowley pulled away just enough to speak against Aziraphale's lips, "I meant what I said earlier. You are so beautiful. Not just tonight, you always have been."
Another kiss then it was Aziraphale's turn to pull back, "One of those girls earlier said you were a 'walking wet dream', I'm quite inclined to agree. I've often thought that about you myself, though never in those terms of course. Another said that you were 'sex on legs' which I'm guessing means about the same thing."
Crowley flushed beautifully at the strange praise, "Yeah, same thing." He kissed Aziraphale again, "We should, uh, close up and take this party somewhere else."
Aziraphale laughed and stepped back, letting go of Crowley who pouted at the loss of contact, "You are absolutely right."
With a few snaps of his fingers, the shop doors closed and locked. The special miracles stopped and the shop returned to it's normal shape. He retuned to Crowley placing his hands on the Demons waist, gently pushing him back wards towards the back room while leaning up to kiss him again. Crowley took the hint and let himself be pushed.
As the former Angel and retired Demon settled on a comfortably worn couch in the back room, finally coming together at long last, a very confused Nightingale sang in the clear night sky.