Chapter 6: Everyday (Reverse AU)

by strlingsilvr

Summary:

“Come to Heaven with me… it can be just like you’ve always wanted.” Crowley’s voice was almost at full volume, trying to drown out the words from Aziraphale that he couldn’t accept.

Crowley is offered the job as Supreme Archangel instead of Aziraphale, as he was Prince of Heaven once. Maggie and Nina have a discussion with Aziraphale instead of Crowley, and he has realizations of his own.

Chapter 1

Nina scoffed, “No, it won’t do any good.” She set a pot of coffee back in its machine.

“It doesn’t matter!” Maggie smiled, “We have to tell them.”

Another scoff escaped Nina’s mouth, “Fine.” She couldn’t say no to Maggie after all. Nina beckoned Mrs. Cheng to the counter. “If anyone wants anything, tell ‘em we’ll be back in five minutes.”

“Okay, five minutes.” Mrs. Cheng nodded.

. . .

Aziraphale carefully re-covered the summoning circle with his rug. After Crowley left to talk to the Metatron, he had nothing else to do but clean up.

A couple of snaps and the bookshop was as it was before the ball.

He clicked his tongue, glancing at the grandfather clock in the corner.

“Tidied up?” Maggie opened the door carefully, Nina sliding past her.

“Where’s the other one? We need to talk to you.”

Aziraphale jumped slightly at their sudden entrance. “Terribly sorry, he’s out right now. I’m not sure it’s a good time…”

“I wasn’t asking.” Nina rolled her eyes. “There are things you need to hear. You and your…” She thought for a moment. “... partner- have been messing with our lives.”

“We’re not a game.” Maggie chimed. “We’re real people. You can’t just pair us up for your amusement!”

Aziraphale’s eyebrows furrowed. “I-it- No! We were trying to help, and we needed an excuse for Gabriel-”

“My relationship just ended!” Nina interrupted, it didn’t matter the reason - - she was still upset. “I am NOT ready to start another one yet. I’d just be a rebound mess. I can’t start seeing Maggie. When, I’m ready I hope she’ll be there, but there isn’t any guarantee-”

“Yes there is” Maggie smirked.

“That’s not helping, My dear.” Nina glanced at Maggie, annoyed, yet giddy that Maggie was going to wait for her. Aziraphale’s heartstrings were tugged too - - when Nina called Maggie the same way he did Crowley. ‘My Dear’

Where was he, anyway? Aziraphale swallowed hard, thinking about the possible conversations between Crowley and the Metatron.

He glanced out the window, eyes landing on their table at the cafe.

“Look at you two!” Nina continued, snapping Aziraphale’s gaze back to her. “You’re the soft one, who still believes in magic and people being good and all that, and Mr. Wherever-He-Is is the hard bitten one, the “can’t trust anyone ever again” yet trusts you!”

Aziraphale exhaled with a nervous chuckle, “Why are you telling me all this? I don’t understand.”

“Exactly for that reason, Mr. Fell.” Maggie smiled weakly and with good understanding, “Because you don’t understand - - because you and Mr. Crowley don’t ever talk to each other.”

“W-We talk all the time!” Aziraphale protested. “We can talk about everything and nothing at all- - I mean, we have been, for millions of years!”

“You never say what you’re really thinking. That was all we needed. It’s what you two need as well.”

. . .

“You don’t have to answer immediately. Take all the time you need.” The Metatron placed his hand on Crowley’s shoulder.

“I don’t know what to say…” Crowley brushed the Metatron's hand off him.

“Then go, and tell Aziraphale the good news.”

. . .

Chapter 2

. . .

Crowley entered the bookshop, striding in eagerly and with purpose.

“We’re just going.” Maggie flashed her teeth in a knowing smile to Crowley as she and Nina walked past him.

“I’m sure you two have a lot to say.” Nina nodded to Aziraphale before she closed the door behind them.

“Right.” Aziraphale muttered to himself as Crowley inched closer. “Okay! I… I suppose I’ve got something to say.” He chuckled, a bead of sweat dripping down his neck. Nervous was an understatement. “I know I always do a lot, well, most of the talking… and I suppose it usually borders on rambling but I really need to say all this stuff and I’d appreciate if you’d do all the listening like normal, because If I don’t talk about this right now I don’t think I’ll ever be able to say anything again. Okay! So…”

“Wait.” Crowley interrupted. “Just let me say something first. I have some news, I thought you might like.”

“O-Oh?!” Aziraphale clenched his jaw.

“The Metatron. It’s been a while since we talked actually… y’know since I fell. He asked me back to Heaven. He asked me to become the Supreme Archangel again. I said ‘Me?’ And he said:

‘Well, yes. You’re a leader. You were once a Prince of Heaven, and yet you didn’t just tell people what they wanted to hear. I mean, you asked so many questions that you fell! But the Almighty is a forgiving person…’

And I scoffed at him! Then I said, ‘It’s too late for her to forgive me! She had since before earth was formed to forgive me. Why now?’

And he said ‘There are big plans afoot, and you’re the only one who can run them successfully. I mean, your planning with Gabriel worked-’

‘That was Aziraphale. All I did was figure out why Gabriel was on Earth and where his memory was…’ I said back to him.

And then he said ‘Yes, I’ve seen the de facto partnership you’ve formed with the former Angel Aziraphale. If you become Supreme Archangel, you would decide who you work with. You would be able to restore Aziraphale to the respected principality that he was.’” Crowley explained slowly, but not slow enough where Aziraphale could comprehend what was happening.

“He said what?” Aziraphale furrowed his brows.

“He said… If I become The Supreme Archangel again, you could return to Heaven. Just like you always wanted.”

Aziraphale chuckled nervously.

“Why are you laughing?”

Aziraphale’s smile widened. “Because I’m imagining you telling the messenger of God just where he could stick it.”

“I didn’t.” Crowley snapped.

Aziraphale’s eyes widened and worry smoldered in his voice, “I thought we agreed- that we are better than them! Hell- Hell asked me to work with them for betraying Heaven like I did- I said no! The only side we should be on is ours, your words- not mine!”
“Pfft- Yeah you said no to Hell! You would hate it there, it’s just suffering.” Crowley waved his arms around.

“And Heaven isn’t?!” Anger began to rise in Aziraphale’s tone.

“You’ve always said that Heaven is the side of Good, I don’t understand why you’re so bent against it now. It’ll be the two of us up there, won’t it?” Crowley tucked his sunglasses in his coat pocket, so Aziraphale could see the pleading in his eyes.

“Yes, but we’ll still be responsible for whatever they plan. I don’t want any part of what they’re scheming to do with Earth. When humanity dies, it’s gone forever. We can’t go back to how life is now, no bookshops, no picnics… no life together.” Aziraphale took a step forward, his hand grazing Crowley’s arm.

“We’ll have eternity together. Isn’t that worlds better?”

“Not Earth better.” He looked down, hands squeezing both of Crowley’s arms. “My Dear, Tell me you said no.”

Crowley placed a hand on Aziraphale's, before pushing them off him. “I’m doing this for you, Angel.”

“Crowley…” Azriaphale's voice quivered slightly as he retracted his hands. “Right, I had something to say. I was talking to Nina and Maggie and… Well, how long have we had a relationship?”

“6 thousand years.”

“Precisely, and we both care for each other, deeply… if I’m allowed to say. You can always rely on me, and I can always rely on you - - you’re always there for me when I need you most. I want to be there for you- and you always pretend like you don’t actually-”

“Aziraphale.” Crowley interrupted, yet Aziraphale ignored.

“But I do! I’m tired of pretending that I don’t want to care about you-”

“Aziraphale.” His voice grew louder.

“I didn’t even know I could feel this way about anything, er- anyone! Nina and Maggie explained to me how very possible it is- I- I’m an Angel. I’ve always been an Angel. I was created with only love. I am built, I am obligated to love every one of God’s creations - - even you! But this is different from just the purpose of my existence. I wish I could say I chose to feel this way… but I just.. do! It’s like there’s this invisible and unbreakable line that joins the two of us. We don’t need to rely on Heaven or Hell to keep us together, we already have each other! And- and Gabriel and Beelzebub are living proof it's possible! Two celestial beings CAN be made for one another- and..and they can go off and just be together. That can be us.”

 

“Come to Heaven with me… it can be just like you’ve always wanted.” Crowley’s voice was almost at full volume, trying to drown out the words from Aziraphale that he couldn’t accept.

“We can’t leave this life here.” Aziraphale placed his hand on the back of his armchair. “We can’t leave this bookshop.”

“Angel, Nothing lasts forever.” Crowley held out both of his hands.

“I suppose not…” Aziraphale clenched the headrest before taking a deep breath. “Then you should … go.”

“Go? Aziraphale, come with me. To Heaven! We can be angels, together! We’ll have forever, eternity! Don’t you understand what I’m offering you?”

“I understand perfectly. If you want it so much, go.” He countered firmly, eyes flickering between Crowley and the floor, yet not quite making eye contact with him.

“Fine then.” Crowley exhaled.

“Listen…” Aziraphale’s voice softened as his gaze lifted to the ceiling, his hand resting on his chest, “Do you hear that?”

“Nothing at all.” Crowley stared at him through his eyebrows.

“Exactly. No nightingales.” His hand fell to his side.

The bookshop was filled with a tense silence. There was so much they both wanted to say, so much they could say - - if only they could pour out the words that threatened their tongues, maybe they could have reached a resolution; the emotions were so heightened, the air so thick, they couldn’t even if they wanted to.

Only one had the courage to break that silence. Only one had the courage to say what they were always unable to say.

“I love you, Crowley!” Aziraphale closed the distance between them. Hands grasping at Crowley’s collar.

Crowley’s golden eyes widened as Aziraphale pressed his lips against his.

This was what Aziraphale wanted to tell Crowley. He hadn’t been listening before, but actions always speak louder than words.

Crowley was having his own internal battle. This wasn’t what he wanted. He hadn’t planned for Aziraphale to be so stubborn, for him to be angry yet so calm, he hadn’t planned for Aziraphale to be in love with him.

And something within Crowley denied that he was, too.

Of course, he loved Aziraphale, they both knew that. That’s why he wanted to accept the Metatron’s offer in the first place. He loved Aziraphale so much he would give up his rebellion to see him happy.

Yet he never explored the possibility that he could be in love with him, too. That prospect flashed before his eyes, and unexpectedly, he pushed it away.

Aziraphale’s fingers slid off the satin lining from Crowley’s lapels as he stumbled backwards.

Shock formed on both of their faces as they took in oxygen.

“Crowley…” Aziraphale reached for him again.

“It’s Raphael now.” He took a step backward, eyes darkening. “You idiot, we could’ve been us.”

“Please-”

“Don’t Bother.”

. . .

“How did he take it?” The Metatron smiled, following Raphael as he stormed out of the Bookshop.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” He pushed his sunglasses onto his face, hiding his conflicted eyes.

“Ah, I see. Right, Ready to start?”

“What about my car?”

“Yes, well, for now…” The Metatron pointed at Muriel, who was cleaning a tire. “I’ve entrusted it to Muriel, so it should be in good hands.”

“But…”

“Anything you need to take with you?”

Raphael glanced through the window of the bookshop, “No. Nothing I can.”

“Very good.” The Metatron entered the lift.

“Actually- I-” Raphael delicately placed his hand on the door of the elevator, still staring out at the Bookshop. “Never mind.”

They watched each other grow farther away from the other, both stuck in the place they never wanted to be - - anywhere without the other.

Notes:

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