for salutosinedelectat

[sauntered_downward]

Follows this.

They couldn't just teleport themselves there. Any miracles, demonic or otherwise, would attract too much attention. No, Crowley was actually going to have to sit there, plugging their information into an online search engine, and do it all manually. Fluctuating airline prices were demonic work, and right now a trip to Japan was over six thousand pounds more expensive than if he had bought it three days earlier, which was totally outrageous. Crowley didn't know a lot about money except what it made men do to each other, he'd never had to. But now, making money appear out of nothing could turn the wrong eye on them if he wasn't careful.

Luckily, he had quite a few credit cards that never needed paying or had a limit on them. They would work in a pinch for a moment like this. He didn't know if that sort of perk-of-being-a-demon could ever be taken away from him, but he hoped not.

The flight itself was a long one, and Crowley settled himself in for it by making sure they were flying at least first class. That way they could see everyone coming at them and have a few glasses of wine on the journey.

"I don't think they know about these passports," Crowley says. "They might, but I doubt it. I had them made back during the last World War, just kept them in good condition."

The second World War was something that Crowley took responsibility for, but he hated every moment of it, and what his side did to make it worse made him sick. He was more than prepared to hide away if he needed to when things went wrong back then. And, at the time, he had also created a passport for Aziraphale, in case he wanted to come along. No other reason for that, he told himself.

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[sauntered_downward]

Crowley smiles a slow, lazy smile at the angel. It's impossible to think how, not that long ago, Crowley had every intention of leaving him for his own good. Of vanishing from this place and never seeing him again. What they would have missed if he'd been so stupid as to go. What he might never have known if he'd just gone.

Now, he would never be anywhere but by Aziraphale's side. He'd figure out a way to fight Hastur, of course he would. They'd make it away from Heaven and Hell no problem. What is it Aziraphale always says? Tickety-boo. It'd be fine.

"That was---" Hard to explain it in simple words. "---amazing." Well, maybe not so hard. Sometimes simple is better.

[salutosinedelectat]

Some things have changed. Others have not, such as time and time again deciding that they'll be together. Aziraphale, much to his regret, has not always been on that same page. But that's where one of the changes lies.

He keeps his hand over the back of Crowley's, gently keeping it against his face, giving the demon a soft, fond smile, with perhaps a bit more of gentle giddiness to his eyes. His other hand is still intertwined with Crowley's.

"Yes." Quiet and light. Loving all the same, as the connection they shared doesn't seem to have quite faded.

[sauntered_downward]

Crowley leans in to press a kiss to the angel's mouth, gentle and loving.

Six thousand years. Six thousand years they've orbited each other. Followed each other, cared for each other. And it's come down to this. Love and passion and connection. This is the first night on this path, Crowley thinks. There will be others. More connections, more kisses, more stolen 'I love you's whispered as they hold each other.

It's all Crowley has ever dreamed of.

Now, more than ever, he has to work out a plan. Something to keep them safe, something to keep Aziraphale out of trouble and himself from Hastur's view. But that's something to think about later.

Tmw getting laid broke their depression

[salutosinedelectat]

Six thousand years... And he couldn't even dream of a night like this.

Maybe angels are just bad at dreaming. They're certainly bad at seeing things for what they really are, whatever that could mean. Good at denial. Good at stubbornness. Good at rejecting what's not in the plan. Aziraphale had been good at those things, and not many others, but he's happy to be mostly letting them go. Well, at least those relating to his former side.

He hums quietly into the kiss, just a simple expression of the happy calmness of his mind. Opens his eyes slightly when it his broken, feeling warm and cozy and fuzzy, and all those little words associated to when one is happy and content.

He pulls his hand away from Crowley's and touches his cheek in turn, admiring the demon's face for a moment. Just letting the thoughts and the now gently float through his mind. There is a lot to think about, many new things to process. But he'll take a little while longer of looking at his demon, thank you.

Well something had to! They certainly couldn't go on like that forever

[sauntered_downward]

Crowley turns his head to press his lips against Aziraphale's hand.

He could happily stay like this forever, entwined with the angel. Go to sleep for a good dozen years or so in this blissful afterglow. Of course, until now he didn't think much of Lust a sin, but now he's completely rethinking that overall. Take in a long decade of Lust and Sloth with them, intersperse it with some Gluttony and wine...

"Who'd have thought it would take us six thousand years to get here?" he murmurs, looking down at the angel. "Probably didn't think that back when we first met."

[salutosinedelectat]

The angel chuckles softly, brushing his thumb on Crowley’s cheek. Despite the horrifying evening they had before this, everything feels so distant now. Barely a dream, a nightmare to just forget. In fact, it might take him a bit to remembered just all that happened and how close both of them had gotten to total destruction.

He tilts his head slightly, still resting against the bed, just looking up at him with soft, adoring eyes.

“Couldn’t have dreamed of it.” Really couldn’t, if he had to be honest. He could never imagine life would be so full of surprises.

He moves his hand from Crowley’s to the back of his neck, idly brushing against his hair.

[sauntered_downward]

If only they could stay like this forever. Just wrapped up in each other, in love, without any interference from the outside world. Crowley would like that. They might've had it, too, if Heaven and Hell hadn't gotten in the way. They might've found their way here eventually, and lived out their lives in London in each others' arms.

But at least they have this, now.

"Still have that sushi," he says, with a little smile. "And the sake. Saved up for whenever you want it."

[salutosinedelectat]

He would have liked that. He would have liked if everything had a pace that only they and their minds had a hand on. He would have liked if everything had been a lot more gentle and careful.

But he's happy to be here right now. He's happe in this. He's glad that, despite everything thing, they have-- they made this.

The angel blinks when Crowley mentions the food and drink. A second to remember what he's talking about, another second before he's chuckling quietly before he can help it, so he brings a hand up to hold the back of it to his mouth.

He doesnt mean to laugh. There's just something about it that is so... Endearing. And there's some of the ridiculousness that life may have, in its extremes and conflicting moments of blandness.

And, maybe, he's just happy.

[sauntered_downward]

Crowley raises an eyebrow at the laughter. It's not what he expected, but it's certainly not unwelcome. And, perhaps, the moment is a bit much, isn't it? The whole day, which started with them on a plane and has ended up with them here in bed together, has been a bit much, too.

But he's not afraid anymore. Not so long as they're together.

Crowley has never been happier than he is in this moment, lying with the angel. He's been in love with him for a long, long time. But now, right now, they're both openly in love with each other. No fear, no one to stop them. The outside world is a thing for later. They have each other now.

"I don't really know what else we do in a moment like this," he says. "Smoke a cigarette, maybe?"

[salutosinedelectat]

It's all been too much. Too much of too many things, but look, they've made it through, and with a rather good rating of success, too. And the conclusion wasn't too shabby, either. Yes, it's been a rather long day, and he's more than happy to take this moment to breathe, as it were.

"Seems fitting, I believe." Not that he's much for smoking, but it feels like part of the whole image. But he makes a bit of a face. "It wouldn't be too nice to smoke in such a rather pleasant place though, would it?"

Give him a moment to be his gently fussy self. It still all sounds more like idle teasing than anything serious.

[sauntered_downward]

"Did you know, Hell is actually non-smoking. Have to go outside the gates if you want one," he says. Not that Crowley really smokes, either. It's more Hastur's deal to smoke when he's trying to be intimidating.

He looks around the room a bit. "It's not bad here. We could stay here as long as you want. Get our bearings, see if they start looking elsewhere for us."

He has no idea what Heaven and Hell will do next. All he knows is he intends to stay with Aziraphale. Maybe order a takeaway, open another bottle or two of wine, and take advantage of what they've started.

[salutosinedelectat]

The angel raises his brows, vaguely surprised by that tidbit about Hell's company rules. "Really? Hum." Although, from what he saw down there, most of the place is a fire hazard. Hard not to wonder what would happen if you added the presence of lit cigarettes. Also, the smell. Ghastly, that.

"But we could, yes." He glances around as well, actually taking a proper look around this time. Simple. Minimalist. The coziness of it perhaps enhanced by the demon sharing the bed and an embrace with him. "It has its charm, I think. Not that--well, not that our choices are that extensive." If they want to remain safe, anyway.

His mind wants to get going on all future possibilities again, the risks, the dangers, but he much rather take in the comfort for now.

[sauntered_downward]

"I'm sure we can find other places all over the world," Crowley says. "Buddhist temples in China. India. All over. And I'm sure with the right nudging they'd let us stay, even if they aren't airBNBs."

What Crowley is trying to say is that they aren't trapped here. It might feel a little like it, because they're pursued on all sides without a real escape route right now. But that's a problem for later.

He reaches out and brushes his fingertips across Aziraphale's cheek.

"You could still let me go march into Heaven and demand they leave you alone."

[salutosinedelectat]

The angel looks at him, close as they are, with a thoughtful look on his face, albeit a gentle one. It’s funny, really, how things feel a little bit less...well, not less pressing, as they do very much need to ensure their own survival, but, in the very least, time seems tp have slowed down, even if just for a few hours. Lying here, like this, with him, after what they just shared, makes everything else not feel as overwhelming. And the irony of that detail, considering what had always kept them from true honesty, kept him from facing what was there, is not lost on Aziraphale.

But he soon smiles. Bringing up a hand to hold onto Crowley’s, he reaches the other to the back of the demon’s neck, brushing his thumb on the small hairs on his nape.

“That would be too dangerous.” And he’d make more of a fuss about it, but the moment calls for softness. He’s happy to deliver. “Much rather have you safe. Here.” A beat, and a coy, quiet tone. “With me.”

Not that the angel believes he can guarantee safety. But he can try. And having Crowley rush into Heaven making demands seems to maybe go directly against that.

[sauntered_downward]

Crowley leans down, pressing a kiss to the angel's chest right above the black mark left there by Hastur. This is really the first real battle scar they'll have to endure in this struggle, he knows. There will be others, on both sides. There will be more fights, more problems, more times they'll have to run.

But right now, they have this.

"Nowhere in the universe I'd rather be," he says, pressing another kiss to the angel's chest. "Than with you."

It's the truth. The whole world can shove it for all Crowley cares. He'd walk right into Heaven without a second thought if it could ensure they'd have every night like this together. But he can wait. They can figure something out together.

[salutosinedelectat]

They'll have to figure it out. They'll have to. And they've had other times in the past where they did, too. At least this time there won't be time wasted in running around pretending to still be playing for opposite sides.

The demon presses his lips on his chest and the touch, the feeling is still something so new, but so right. Warm and comforting in ways Aziraphale never considered he could have.

But it brings to attention the mark that's right there. Looking at it again, even just what he can see, what little Crowley isn't in the way or, is still rather...

Had the Duke actually damaged his vessel in a way he couldn't change? The idea, feasible enough, still bothers him. He's happy to still be alive to feel anything at all about it, or course, specially without knowing what would happen if he got discorporated, or whether his essence could ever survive such an attack, but he really could do without such a... Mark.

"Then I can count myself lucky, my dear." Pulling up the same sort of soft hopeful tone, after a pause.

[sauntered_downward]

Lucky. Crowley thinks they're both lucky to be alive after this evening, really. Lucky to have found a moment of reprieve to just be together. Things could have gone so much worse.

If Aziraphale had been discorporated, Heaven should've expected Crowley to come knocking at their door for his angel. He wouldn't just leave him there, hoping they'd let him out. That's for damn sure. If Aziraphale were gone forever----that's something Crowley can't bear to think about.

"Do you want to sleep?" he offers. "Get more rest for you?"

[salutosinedelectat]

There is something to say about the angel, which he doesn't himself realize: despite all the risks he takes when he's cornered and feels like there's absolutely no other way around a situation, at least he gets results. And the result, in this case, had been a discorporated Duke, an extension on their rate of survival, and a nasty scar to remember everything by.

They did, at least, find their way to relative safety and had a rather...thorough series of intimate moments, so he'd count most of it on the positive. Much better than expected, considering their last few months.

He hums mutely. "I've never quite been much for sleeping." He idly reaches a hand to gently brush a few loose hairs away from Crowley's brow. "But I do suppose I could give it a try."

Less for the sleep, and more for just a couple of hours of rest, of nothing, after how chaotic everything's been. As long as they can remain in each other's arms.

[sauntered_downward]

Crowley could sleep. He rather likes sleeping. Turning his mind off for a bit, letting dreams take over for a while. He's spent whole decades napping before and that's never been a problem for him. Can't exactly do that here, of course. Too much at stake to waste a few months or years asleep.

And that would mean less time with Aziraphale. He can't imagine sleeping away this time right now.

"Do you ever dream?" he asks. "Best part of sleeping, the dreaming part."

[salutosinedelectat]

The expression on the angel’s face is soft and gently thoughtful. As emotions settle down into a comfortable quiet, he truly does appreciate this as a space made their own. Everything feels a little lighter. Everything feels a little fuzzier. He doesn’t remember any time he really felt like this.

He thinks about the question, looking in the middle distance for a moment, a hand resting on Crowley’s back and his thumb gently brushing against the skin.

“Well, I haven’t actually...slept in a rather long time.” Always found something to do. Some other way to spend his time. “So I can’t remember the last time I’ve dreamt. But I assume it’s...possible.”

[sauntered_downward]

"Dream about all sorts of things," he says. "About the past, about the future. About the Bentley flying over Heaven while we flip your superiors the V-sign. Would actually love to do that one, even if we don't dream it."

Crowley often dreams about being an angel, which is sometimes disconcerting. He dreams about the life before, of being a questioner, of being one who sort of vaguely sauntered into his life as a demon. He's never been bad enough to be evil, but Aziraphale has always been too good to be an angel. What a strange pair they must seem to be to the ones chasing them.

[salutosinedelectat]

The angel listens curiously as he lists his dreams, and the last one makes him tut, but not without a barely contained amused smile.

"That would be a bit much, I think." No, it wouldn't. But he has an image to maintain.

He takes a nice deep breath through his noise, ending in a calm sigh, and rests his head back on the bed. Not sleeping, not yet, just thoughtful.

" I do wonder", he starts vaguely. "What it will take for them to finally leave us be."

[sauntered_downward]

"The only reason it worked the first time is because they were afraid of us," Crowley says, tucking himself up against Aziraphale's side and wrapping a leg around him. "And even then it didn't work for all that long."

He looks at Aziraphale. All white curls and blue eyes and softness. Hard for him to think of the angel as someone anyone could be afraid of. Crowley has always thought of Aziraphale as someone he associates with comfort and...well...home, really. Being safe. Crowley's made lots of people afraid in his time. None of his superiors, mind, but that's because he doesn't really go in for the scary parts of being a demon.

"Be nice if we had something to hold over them, something that would put us at an advantage."

[salutosinedelectat]

Well, to be fair, Aziraphale doesn't think of himself as someone anyone could be afraid of, either, which does leave them at the same level.

He always assumed Crowley was better at that sort of thing. Not that he thinks Crowley himself is that intimidating, but it has more to do with the airs one can keep. His whole dark and mysterious image could probably be used to that nature, Aziraphale thinks. Sometimes he wishes he could do something like that.

(He did have some fun with it during the trial, however.)

He glances, and moves to comfortably wrap an arm around Crowley's slender figure.

"It would." Said just as vaguely, as he tries to think of something that could be used that way. "Though I'd have to admit that I did believe that would have been it."

[sauntered_downward]

"I thought it would have bought us a little more time. A century, at the very least," Crowley says, letting out a sigh.

They didn't have anything. No weapons, no abilities that their enemies didn't have or have better than them, and they were basically surrounded on all ends. All they had was their knowledge of Earth, which their superiors didn't have. And oh, but they did know Earth very well. Crowley loved Earth and everything about it. Their superiors still hand-write notes to each other while Crowley was hacking into emails and inventing the selfie.

"Still, they'll be talking downstairs about how you discorporated a Duke of Hell," he adds. "Not a small feat, angel."