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Aziraphale did not need to be an angel to feel the exhaustion radiating from Crowley as he desperately clung to the angel’s hand. With each turn in the road, he nearly fell from his seat, and when the pair stood to disembark the angel caught him before he could fall from the bus.
“May I pick you up?” Aziraphale asked softly.
Crowley stumbled again, then grunted an assent. A moment later, Aziraphale had scooped him into his arms in a bridal carry. Crowley gave up all semblance of control and rested his head against the angel’s chest with a soft sigh.
Aziraphale hummed, “That’s right, I’ve got you. Top floor?”
“Yeah,” Crowley mumbled.
As they made their way into the lift, Crowley reached up to wrap his arms around Aziraphale’s neck and the angel stole the chance to kiss the top of his head, crinkling his nose at the smell of smoke which clung to the flame-red hair. The door to the flat opened of its own accord and closed behind them.
Aziraphale looked around for a spot to place the exhausted demon. There was a throne and a desk, neither looked like particularly comfortable options.
“You can put me down.” Crowley sleepily muttered, “There’s tea and wine in the kitchen if you want. I’ll just go back to the bed and sleep for a few hours, then maybe we can talk?”
The words slipped from Aziraphale’s mouth before he realized what he was saying, “You’ll make the bed smell of soot, can I help you bathe first?”
Crowley stayed silent in his arms long enough for the angel to come up with exactly sixty-three ways to apologize and he tried to will himself to put the demon down. But Crowley’s arms were still around his neck.
“You know traditionally we’d start with a kiss before we get to the naked parts.” Crowley moved his hand just long enough to pull off his glasses. He stared at Aziraphale, his golden eyes fervent and hopeful.
Aziraphale inhaled sharply. “I wouldn’t take advantage, not that I don’t—I…Can I kiss you?”
“If you want,” Crowley whispered, leaning closer.
The angel brought their lips together, gently. Releasing six thousand years of love as he kissed the demon in his arms languidly, savoring every moment for the most delectable experience it was.
As the kiss broke, he gave Crowley another quick peck on the cheek before asking. “So, where can you get a bath?”
“Down the hall, on the right.”
He carried Crowley down the hall, holding him close. When he arrived at the door he took in the jacuzzi bathtub. It was of course perfect for the demon. “I don’t want to presume. That is, I could help, if you don’t mind?”
“Please,” Crowley breathed out.
Aziraphale sat Crowley on the edge of the tub and slowly undressed him. Pulling the jacket off, then lifting off the shirt and waistcoat with the chain and scarf all in one sweep. He bent and pulled Crowley’s shoes then socks from his feet, when he noticed the small scars there.
“Is that from… the church? The bombing?” The day I realized how much you loved me.
“Ergh. Yeah. Doesn’t hurt, but y’know. Holy wounds.”
After carefully setting the shoes and socks to the side, Aziraphale stood and offered his hand. “Can you stand? Just for a moment.”
Crowley looked up at him exhaustedly and then with a wave of his hand the rest of his clothing was gone. “Fuck, I forgot how cold this thing is.” He jumped up and into Aziraphale’s arms. The two teetered for a moment before tumbling to the ground, Aziraphale wrapping Crowley tightly as they fell.
“Ssssorry, I’m sorry! Fuck, I—”
“Shh. It’s alright. No harm done.” Aziraphale tightened his grip on Crowley slightly. “But it would be slightly easier to clean you off if you were in the tub. And I’m, er, not sure how to work all the buttons.”
Aziraphale tried to politely watch the series of buttons Crowley pushed rather than staring at the demon’s body. This wasn’t about anything other than taking care of his very exhausted friend. Still, Crowley’s lithe body sliding in the water made his heart pound. He pulled off his jacket, placed it on a chair nearby, and rolled up his sleeves so he could assist properly.
When he turned back, Crowley’s head rested on a pillow at the edge of the tub and his eyes were closed. The angel snapped and a cup appeared in his hands. He carefully wetted Crowley’s hair then shampooed it. The only acknowledgment from the demon was soft sighs. He carefully poured water, rinsing Crowley’s hair and using another miracle to keep the water in the tub clean as he turned to the demon’s body.
There was a sponge resting next to the tub that Aziraphale used to wash first Crowley’s face, then down his neck, arms, and torso. By the time he got to his legs and feet, the demon was snoring softly in the water. He set the sponge to the side and stared at the being in front of him as he considered the prophecy again.
Faces. Crowley was beautiful right now in the serenity of his comfort and almost angelic in appearance. He loved no face more than this one, but they would be coming for both of them. It wasn’t safe for his demon to look like this. All of the decades he worried about holy water and now—
Holy water can’t hurt me. He could take Crowley’s punishment. It’d barely be an inconvenience, but to do that he’d need to look like the demon in every way and it wouldn’t help if they couldn’t find him, they’d keep searching and—
Can it be as simple as trading places? It had never been done. And to truly fool them it would require a mingling of essences, but there was no other being whose essence he would be delighted to share. It had meanings, of course. Angelic essences were only shared when the deepest of connection was present, and it was a step that couldn’t be undone.
Would Crowley even want this? Even if it was what it took for both of them to survive. He was making so many assumptions that the demon before him would desire more than whatever it was they already shared.
The memory of Crowley’s cracked voice saying he’d lost his best friend came to him. Maybe he would.
The demon sat up suddenly, “Aziraphale! I—what?” He looked around confused for a moment, then relief washed over him as he caught sight of the angel who was hastily miracling a warm towel to wrap him in.
“I didn’t want to disturb you,” Aziraphale explained gently as he extended his hand to help Crowley stand. Once the demon was on his feet, he wrapped the towel around him and scooped him into his arms. “You said there was a bed?”
“I napped long enough. And we need to talk, Aziraphale, they're going to come for us.”
“I have a plan for that, that is, if you’re amenable. Bed first. I want to be sure you can at least sit up properly before we go into details.”
Crowley looked up at him before frowning and muttering, “Next door down.”
The bedroom was nothing like what Aziraphale expected. He would have thought the demon would prefer something cozy and den-like instead of the open expanse of modern architecture. Still, the bed looked comfortable enough and he lowered Crowley down onto it.
“Don’t go?” Crowley asked weakly.
There were no chairs in the room. He stood awkwardly looking down at the demon in the bed until Crowley gave a short tug on his arm. Oh.
It was awkward to crawl over the resting demon, but he managed. Crowley never relented his hold on Aziraphale’s arm, meaning his arm was now wrapped around the demon’s chest. He gulped and reminded himself to not take advantage of the situation. Crowley was tired, their respective employers would be after them any moment and—
“If you wanted to kiss me again, that is… I wouldn’t mind.”
He ought to kiss Crowley. No, that was wrong. He ought to talk things out first, he wanted to kiss Crowley. And the demon was looking at him, his eyes vulnerable and hopeful.
The decision really was made far before this time. It had been made on a wall thousands of years ago when he had raised a wing to shield the demon in his arms. There was nothing he wouldn’t do to take care of him, and right now what Crowley needed was a kiss.
Aziraphale lowered his head and brought their lips together.
This one was not quite so chaste. When Crowley’s tongue darted out to brush his lips, they parted with a gasp. The demon was the sweetest meal he’d ever tasted, and he’d only just begun.
He knew he should let him rest, but when Crowley groaned into the kiss he couldn’t resist pulling him closer. And it was so simple to caress the demon’s neck and then slip his hand under the towel to brush Crowley’s collar bone and rest his hand on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. Crowley leaned into the touch as he reached up to slide his fingers through Aziraphale’s hair.
“You need to rest,” Aziraphale managed to gasp out weakly.
“I’ve got enough energy for this,” Crowley countered as he started to pepper kisses along Aziraphale’s neck.
There was nothing the angel wanted more than to give in right then and there. To let his demon take whatever he’d like, damn the consequences. Then he remembered what was on the line and that Crowley would need some of his energy.
“Stop!”
Crowley pulled back, his golden eyes fearful. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean, that is—”
“Oh my love, it’s not that. It’s just, you’re going to need your energy.”
“Need you more,” he said softly.
Wants and needs battled within Aziraphale. The absolute, undeniable need to keep Crowley safe and the want to give him everything he’d always wanted but never requested. To let himself simply become lost in those golden eyes and not worry was the most enticing temptation he’d ever faced.
“Let me take care of you, then we’ll talk?” Aziraphale murmured.
“You already have.”
Aziraphale leaned in for a drawn-out kiss. As it broke he whispered, “I’d like to do something more if you’ll accept?”
“Anything you want.”
He snapped his fingers, willing away Crowley’s damp towel and allowing a soft tartan blanket to fall over the pair. “Stop me if you don’t… that is if anything doesn’t make you happy.” Then he shifted so that he was laying on his side, his arm still tight about the demon, knowing his clothing must be scraping on the skin slightly. He hoped it would be enticing as he dove in and nipped and sucked at Crowley’s neck.
The demon let out a whine and jerked his hips up.
Aziraphale trailed his hand down, reverently tracing Crowley’s chest and stomach. When he arrived at his hips, he pushed them down firmly, and his partner whimpered. “Alright?” Aziraphale asked, concerned.
“More. Hold me down. Do—whatever you want. Just—” Crowley gasped out.
“You’re a wreck and I’ve barely touched you.”
Crowley gave a mock hiss with no real force behind it that Aziraphale silenced with a kiss, sliding his tongue into Crowley’s mouth as he wrapped his hand around the demon’s cock. Whatever words the demon tried to shout were lost to the kiss as Aziraphale stroked him gently. Crowley’s body thrashed and Aziraphale shifted again, laying chest to chest and weighing down the demon to keep him still as he stroked. The demon called out, trying to writhe and shove his hips up but unable to move far.
Aziraphale leaned in to kiss his neck and whisper in his ear as he sped up his hand, using the precome already dripping from Crowley’s cock as lube.
“I have loved you so very long. And there is nothing, no one, who will keep me from you now or ever.” I’m sorry it took so long.
“Zira, Aziraphale, Angel.”
The next stroke he twisted his wrist, letting his thumb graze across Crowley’s head, and was rewarded with a whimper from the demon below him.
“I love you, Crowley. Let me take care of you.”
“Want to—you too—”
Oh, my love. “Don’t worry about that. There’ll be plenty of time for that later.” He sucked at Crowley’s neck. “Can I leave a mark on you, my love? Would you like that?”
“Y-yes!”
Aziraphale smiled as he went back to Crowley’s neck, speeding up the pace of his hand. “Let go, I have you.”
Despite the weight, Crowley’s back arch as he spilled. Aziraphale stroked him through it, and when it was done he brought his lips back to Crowley’s for a soft kiss as he shifted back to laying next to him.
“I love you, so very much,” the angel whispered softly.
Crowley’s eyes slid shut. “Love you too.”
“Rest. Just for a bit. I’ve got you.”
Crowley curled up, clutching Aziraphale’s shirt he fell asleep. The angel didn’t dare move, but allowed his hands to wander, exploring the gentle feel of the demon in his arms. The curve of his spine, the feel of his hips. Mine. And I will protect you.
When he blinked awake a few hours later, Crowley was horrified. “I didn’t take care of you, and they’re coming, and—”
“Shh. You can take care of me later.”
Crowley’s voice was distraught, “There may not be a later.”
“There will be. I think I understand the prophecy. I just… Crowley.” He paused. Some human-like affection was one thing, but what he was about to ask was far more.
A hand brushed his cheek and he focused in on Crowley’s face. It was loving and kind, so much that he didn’t deserve after everything he’d done.
“Whatever it is, angel. Anything.”
“We trade bodies.”
“Won’t be enough, they’d sense us.... oh.”
He waited for Crowley to inevitably lose his temper and tell him he didn’t want him that way. That this had been a misunderstanding and there had to be a different interpretation.
Instead, when Crowley spoke it was in a small voice. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to. That’s a lot to ask of you. I’m a demon, and you just deserve—”
“I don’t deserve someone as wonderful as you,” Aziraphale whispered.
“You really want to do this? I won’t do this just for them, it needs to be for you. For us.”
“I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life. You’re my best friend. You have been for so very long. I cannot imagine anyone else I’d want to do this with.”
Crowley brought their foreheads together before he whispered, “Alright, let’s do this.”