24

You what?!"

I glanced quickly across at Aziraphale as we walked down the busy streets of Soho, both of us stopping occasionally to allow a group of tourists walking along the street to pass us by.

"We agreed that I would keep my angelic disguise a secret from everyone except for you," Aziraphale replied casually, keeping his eyes forward as he moved confidently along the pavement.

I shook my head incredulously at him, looking back ahead as I followed closely behind him.

"And you really thought it wise to tell me this now? In broad daylight in the middle of Soho? I've already got people following me around all the time! Why now? And why me?" I demanded angrily.

"Because you're my best friend, Crowley. Even though I know that we aren't really that close and I should know not to trust you yet, I do. There's no harm in telling you, I hope," he answered, glancing over at me briefly as he spoke, "If we had just kept things between us to ourselves we wouldn't even need to go to the bookshop today. Besides, the bookshop is safe. My family's been living here for hundreds of years now, we've done our best to maintain it, and besides it isn't very often that Crowley gets angry or upset."

"I'm sure if we'd stayed silent and gone out of our way to avoid each other during our stay at the flat I think that you would have gotten bored of me eventually. After all, I've been nothing but an annoyance to you ever since the day I met you. Maybe you should start feeling some sympathy towards me instead." I snapped at him sarcastically as we entered the coffee shop.

"You really know how to hurt a guy's feelings here, Crowley. Don't worry, I won't give up on you. I won't stop being friends with you just because you said you didn't like me, I promise. Just please don't leave again… Please stay here with me. I don't want you to leave me alone. Not again." He pleaded softly, looking up at me, his dark brown eyes filled with pleading.

I sighed deeply.

"Alright", I said tiredly, placing my hand gently against his cheek, "For God's sake, I'll stay with you. If it makes you happy."

He leaned against my hand for a moment, closing his eyes briefly as I stroked his cheek gently and then pulled away, leaning back against the counter as I watched him carefully.

"Crowley… Do you ever wish that we weren't angels? That you were human? That we were normal humans, just regular people who went to school and worked and did normal things and lived happily ever after… Well… At least, for a while anyway. Then something happens and there's this… thing… And sometimes I forget how human you are when you're like that." Aziraphale confessed quietly, his eyes still closed.

"Yeah… Me too…" I replied quietly, thinking back to that fateful night four years ago when I'd met Aziraphale, and suddenly felt a wave of guilt wash over me. It wasn't fair… I couldn't just pretend everything was alright anymore, no matter how hard I tried… I loved him… More than anything I wanted him to be happy and I hated that he suffered every day, that he had to hide in plain sight to protect those he cared about… "Sometimes… Sometimes… It feels like I should have known. Should have saved you. And maybe I should have… I wish I had."

It's fine, darling, truly", he said as he opened his eyes and smiled warmly at me, "I'm used to it. Besides, it doesn't seem to bother you. So, what happened the other night that brought you to Hell's Gate in the first place?"

The question took me aback and I shifted uncomfortably, avoiding his gaze as I picked up my drink and stared into the glass absently, trying to recall those horrible events which led me to be there, "My father, the Archangel Gabriel… I had a fight with Uriel and Michael and he banished me for a month."

"What did you do that warranted expulsion from heaven? Did something happen? Tell me!" He pressed impatiently, frowning slightly at me as he reached out to place his palm on top of mine.

I hesitated, sighing deeply.

"I'd rather not talk about it right now."

"Come on, now. What happened, Crowley? If it has anything to do with your dad, I promise I will always listen."

I looked up at him hesitantly, meeting his warm hazel eyes as he patiently waited for me to reply to him. He looked concerned