Valentine's Day Romance

[sauntereddownward]

Crowley had made a vow to learn all he could about wooing Aziraphale properly. He'd read a few paperback romances, then had found a world of ebooks with romance of every flavor. And then he'd gone online to find more ebooks and Crowley had found a miraculous new world of something called Fan Fiction. It was remarkable. He devoured it. He had no idea who most of the characters were, so they were just lovely stories.

Stories with...trends. Crowley quickly picked up on how these stories were written. Certain elements recurred, certain things were important.

And over the weeks, Crowley carefully crafted a plan and when Valentine's Day, the most holy day for love, came round, he barged into Aziraphale's room at sunrise and flung the curtains open.

Rose petals appeared and fluttered down on him.

"You need to get up. I have a plan," he said.

Romance got directly to the point, he had learned. If it didn't get directly to the point then it was called slow burn, and, in Crowley's opinion, they'd already done that bit.

Comments

[theangelfell]

"Oh of course," said Aziraphale. "Completely fine." He sat down in a chair so that he could drink his tea, which of course was still piping hot. "Better than being outside in the storm. Oh, is that a fire place?"

[sauntereddownward]

Crowley had no idea if it actually worked or not, but with a minor miracle a cheerful little fire ignited.

"Quaint," he said, a bit distastefully. And then he took the seat next to Aziraphale and took his tea.

"Oh, you kept it hot," he smiled, a little surprised. He shouldn't be. Aziraphale was the kindest, most thoughtful, most Good thing he knew. Of course he kept the tea hot.

[theangelfell]

"I couldn't let you drink cold tea, my dear," Aziraphale said, and crossed his legs as he took a sip.

[sauntereddownward]

The room warmed with the fire as the wind howled and rain pounded the window panes.

"Particularly nasty weather," he mumbled, so badly in fact he could have plausibly said 'tickle your ass with a feather'.

And then the power cut out.

[theangelfell]

"Oh my!" gasped Aziraphale, and tried to see Crowley in the light of the fire.

[sauntereddownward]

The way the light of the flames danced in his auburn hair made him look impossibly youthful. Crowley wasn't ugly by any means. He'd once been an angel. Not as beautiful as Aziraphale, but he'd say he was a solid 'not bad'.

The angel in the firelight, though, it made his heart sing. It made his chest want to burst.

Thunder boomed again as a white flash lit the room.

"It's just a storm," he said. "Remember that first storm?"

[theangelfell]

Aziraphale meanwhile was thinking how Crowley's hair glowed in the firelight. Like flames, but Crowley.

Aziraphale jumped a little at the thunder, and the movement sent him closer to Crowley. He relaxed. "I do," he said softly. "Your hair was getting wet."

[sauntereddownward]

"We've seen a few storms in our time, hmm?" he purred, leaning in as close as he could get to Aziraphale.

[theangelfell]

It's not like it was actually raining inside, but for some reason Aziraphale opened his wings and held one over Crowley.

[sauntereddownward]

Crowley looked up and smiled a bit to himself.

He was truly a genius.

"You like to read, angel," he said. "What do you think is the greatest love story ever told?"

[theangelfell]

"Mmmm." Aziraphale considered this. "I like Pride and Prejudice."

[sauntereddownward]

"False!" he declared loudly.

Another flash and boom.

"I mean the greatest."

[theangelfell]

Aziraphale frowned. "For God so loved the world?"

[sauntereddownward]

"Love story, angel, not dogma," Crowley sighed. "The greatest love story of all time is clearly enemies-to-lovers-with-just-one-bed-trapped-in-weather-cozycore-true-love. My word, it's like you've never read anything at all."

The fire crackled merrily.

[theangelfell]

"Elizabeth and Darcy were enemies to lovers...' mumbled Aziraphale absently as he thought about the rest of it. One bed, trapped in the weather... "Well that's a coincidence," he said as he looked out the window.

[sauntereddownward]

"Yes, yes. It took Darcy time to love ardently," Crowley nodded. He looked pointedly at Aziraphale. "He got there eventually, though."

[theangelfell]

Aziraphale looked thoughtful. "Yes," he said. Pause. "Wait, are you Darcy?"

[sauntereddownward]

"Are you Elizabeth?" he asked, arching a brow.

[theangelfell]

"I..." Aziraphale blushed. "I suppose there wasn't a scene with a storm and a hotel room."

[sauntereddownward]

"Hmm."

The thunder boomed and another flash lit the room. And then it was gone and they sat in the firelight.

Crowley spoke quietly.

"In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."

He found it was easier to say if he was quoting something and not trying it on his own.

[theangelfell]

Aziraphale's eyes went wide. Weeks ago he would have assumed that Crowley was mocking him, but now...

So his lips twitched. "Please do."

[sauntereddownward]

Crowley had not expected that.

Outside, it finally began to rain. It was a torrential downpour that seemed as loud as the thunder, but unending.

"W-w-Well. Erm. Ardently," he stammered.

He'd only ever seen the film, though he'd promised Aziraphale more than once he'd read the book. He'd only seen the movie but he was certain this was the bit where Elizabeth lost her bloody mind.

"Very? Ardently?"

[theangelfell]

Aziraphale found it rather endearing how he was flustered. "Unlike Elizabeth I cannot pretend I'm not also... ardent."

[sauntereddownward]

Crowley exhaled softly in relief.

The thunder grumbled not even half as loudly as the storm moved to the building next door. The rain remained, but the noise was a pleasant, unthreatening distance away.

"Are you done with your tea, angel?" he asked.

[theangelfell]

"I am," said Aziraphale. "Thank you, Crowley." He held it out to him. "The fire is nice. It's chilly."