Puzzle Piece:Â A Good Omenâs Fic
âYou go too fast for me, Crowleyâ
Aziraphale had once spoken Crowley, and every day since the words echoed in his mind.
Well, not quite an echo, more so a thundering reverberation rattling the mortal skull of the poor soul he possessed. An advanced echo if you will. It was always there.
Theyâd become a constant. Crowley and Aziraphale, always near one another.
Too fast? Too fast for him? The angel had been the one asking Crowley to crepes and lunches for near five thousand years and he had the audacity to claim that Crowley moves too fast?!
Annoying, really, but thatâs what he was. Aziraphale was annoying. Always had been and always would be, at least, thatâs what Crowley told himself to quench the burning hunger of- well- it didnât matter.
However, he couldnât quite figure out which was more annoying. The angelâs absence, or his presence? Heâd grown used to Aziraphaleâs antics. His predictability. His halo being in the way of anything they could have, ever. In the six thousand years theyâd been friends, never once had he put his image of being âthe nice oneâ aside without complaint. It was always a last resort- being Crowley usually did everything. The dirty work and what not. Never fret, he never minded the dirty work, but he did have better things to do such as wooing said angel. Or he did until the bloody bastard said he move too fast for him.
It had been six thousand fucking years. Six thousand years of flirting, wooing, courting, and defying everything Crowley was reprogramed to do all for this white-winged, halo bearing, heaven-sent-hell in the body of a platinum-haired Englishmen.
He thought about it every day. Every time Aziraphale leaned toward him on the bench at St. Jamesâs Park. Every time he reminded Crowley that he âcouldnât do such a thingâ because the Angels are supposedly the good guys. Every time he gave Crowley that look. It was a specific look reserved only for Crowley as though Aziraphale held unspoken sentiments he desired to share, but knowing his place it best they be left unsaid.
And Crowley was livid. His blood boiled at the thought of Aziraphale thinking any less of him, as it were, he did move a bit fast. At least, in perspective, it was a slow burn for Crowley, but that didnât mean it was the same for the angel. His angel. Therefore Crowley resigned at the thought that he would potentially have to wait another six thousand years before Aziraphale would be ready for even a minuscule bit of what Crowley desired.
Much to his surprise, the wait wasnât nearly that long. After a particularly scorching August afternoon, and a long summer of saving the world, the duo had retired to the bookshop where they indulged, or better, over indulged in the alcoholic refreshments provided by the angel.
âyou know, Crowley, â Aziraphale had started after a particularly long swig from a bottle. âIâve been thinking about me and you, â Crowley peered at Aziraphale from over his glasses,
âor ratherâŚUs.â there had never, in the time Crowley had known his angel, been an Us nor a We not even so much as an Our. It was always You and Me.
âUs? There is no us, â Crowley dared counter.
âI- well- what if there was an Us?â Aziraphale stammered. He was taken aback by Crowleyâs response and rightly so.
âYou want naught for there to be an Us, Angel. You made that clear already,â Crowley spoke willing himself to sober up, âdonât sacrifice more than you already have for me,â Crowley was honest. A rare habit he reserved for Aziraphale. Only ever Aziraphale.
âIâm trying to have a serious conversation, Crowley. Will you not listen to what I have to say?â Crowley let out a sigh,
âIâll listen,â Aziraphale sat up straighter looking Crowley directly in the eyes.
âIâve quite enjoyed our Arrangement and the time weâve shared over the centuries, you know. You- you do know that, yes?â
Crowly shrugged removing his sunglasses, âitâs news to me, angel.â
âYes, well, it was implied,â
âI thought so!â Aziraphale exclaimed. It had been implied, but that didnât mean Crowley didnât want to ruffle his angelâs feathers a bit. It was fun seeing Aziraphale all flustered and it showed Crowley just how much he truly cared.
âWell, I like your company. Over time youâve become something I canât very well see myself without. Like, like the last puzzle piece!â Aziraphale paused, âyou complete me,â
Crowley, gobsmacked, stared at Aziraphale for a long while. It was a rarity for him not to have some sort of snarky retort and this was one of those moments. His mind didnât necessarily draw a blank as one might when faced with a confession they longed for. No, his mind was, in the most literal of senses, screaming. An AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH that didnât stop until Aziraphale cleared his throat.
âYes?â The screaming silenced and Crowleyâs full attention was returned to Aziraphale.
âI- Iâm sorry if that was too forward of me. I thought, well, with what happened earlier that it would be best for me to initiate whatever steps would need to be taken next toâŚelevateâŚour Arrangement. If that is, youâd like to.â Crowley couldnât believe his ears. Elevate their Arrangement? To what level?
âwhat did you have in mind?â Crowley inquired. Aziraphale blinked.
âBy George, it hadnât occurred to me that I might get this far.â Crowley let his head fall to the table inhaling deeply the scent of old and new books alike. The two unique smells mixed to create, what Crowley referred to, as Medium Book Smell. Nothing inventive, but it was just as distinct as Old Book smell and New Book smell.
âHadnât it?â his words muffled by the table he was kissing.
âNo, it hadnât. Every time I thought of saying something, well, my palms would sweat and Iâm not really a fan of that sensation.â Crowley looked up at Aziraphale.
âAngel, youâŚyouâre a special one,â he admitted. He was, but in this particular scenario being special wasnât necessarily a good thing for Aziraphale to be. Â
âPardon denied. May I?â Crowley held out his hand indicating to Aziraphale he wished for his. Aziraphale stared at Crowleyâs hand with wide eyes as he slowly placed his hand on Crowleyâs. Crowley intertwined their fingers all while letting out a soft hum. Aziraphaleâs hands were exactly as he expected. Soft, not a callous on them. Â
âYou complete me,â Crowley spoke softly both repeating and confirming what Aziraphale had said. He pulled Aziraphaleâs hand to his lips placing a kiss gingerly on the back of his hand. A shy smile graced Aziraphaleâs face as he nodded. A silent understanding passed between them and they agreed to discuss it at a later date. Today they would relish in one anotherâs company enjoying their wine and confessions. Crowley was content knowing his angel returned his affections and knowing this he could wait another six thousand years for him if he had to. Aziraphale, little did he know it, was the missing piece of the puzzle Crowley.Â