Chapter Text
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And then fucked off into another realm.
Whatever should She have done anyway now that her favourite form of entertainment had desperately plead themselves out of existence?
There would never be a pairing as good as that Demon and Angel whose creation had been entirely accidental.
6000 years of yearning? Unmatched.
Just as those two incredibly mentally unstable lovebirds had requested, God would not interfere with this universe.
No Heaven, no Hell.
No Angels, no Demons.
From time to time God would observe the new humanity She hadn't really created though.
Maybe the Demon had been right after all.
Letting humans be human without punishing them for it had its charm.
These two lovesick souls had been kind of annoying the fuck out of Her in the nothingness of non-existence.
Always surrounding each other like nebulae intertwining and twisting.
She could feel their smiles, their happiness of finally being together. Even if it meant being together like this. Where nothing could ever truly touch, nothing ever truly feel or hear.
But they insisted on staying in this state.
These ineffably stubborn souls had been silently watching over their creation ever since the first organic cell had formed. Protecting but never interfering. Out here, on the outskirts of the universe, there was no existence of time or corporations or communication.
God was able to sense it though. Laughter. Smiles. Love. Unbearably bittersweet and better than any romcom.
So She let them stay. Their essences would never fade, their watchful eyes glancing upon earth (and if they had been able to, each other).
Maybe She could grant a single wish in this new universe.
After 13.8 billion years of evolution on earth, God interfered.
Just once. Never again.
Former Demons and (Former) Angels were creatures of habit. Knowing that, it should come to no surprise that God would wait until two humans to Her liking got married until She let them descend.
Not really descend.
More... sauntering vaguely downwards?
It was more entertaining that way.
Okay the "Fall" wasn't pretty at all.
***
Keys in a door.
„Angel?“
The scent of sandalwood, jasmine and old books greeted him like an old friend.
„Angel!“
The wooden door shut quietly behind him.
„Angel…“
The singsong voice called through the cottage located in South Downs.
Anthony Crowley had just come home from a lecture on astrophysics at the university he was teaching at, now rapidly taking off his shoes and coat at the door.
„Oh hello, dear!“, Asa Fells voice came from the kitchen.
He had been trying to tend to all of his (failed) sourdough starters since lunch, but just seemed to be out of luck today. As Anthony came swaggering through the kitchen door, he let out a chuckle. Asa was practically covered in flour from head to toe.
„Whatcha trying to do? Looks like you’ve been fighting with the pantry“
Asa pouted, „Well, I was trying to bake some bread.“
„Using these? Angel, I don’t think that’s what dough is supposed to look like.“, Anthony crossed his arms, but only pretended to make fun of his husband.
Asa was incredible adorable when the tips of his ears turned pink in embarrassment.
„Why is baking always more complicated than eating the yummy bread, anyways?“
Anthony just smirked and started to clean up the mess his husband had left.
„Oh you don’t need to do that for me, dear“, Asa fretted.
„Relax, Angel. Do you want me to clean up this mess or you first?“, Anthony wiggled his eyebrows.
Asa looked up at him so bewildered and flustered as if he’d never heard his husband be cheeky before.
„Oh, you foul thing“, he laughed playfully, then looked down at himself.
„It does appear that I have created quite a mess, haven’t I?“
***
After having taken a very relaxing bath, Asa came back to the living room to find his beautiful husband sprawled on their couch, a wine glass in hand. Anthony had ordered some Chinese takeout and was now scrolling mindlessly on Instagram Reels. The kitchen was of course spotless by now.
„Got carried away a bit while shampooing your hair, Angel?“, the redhead mumbled.
„No, yea.. I kinda fell asleep in the bathtub.“
„Were you reading in there again?“, Anthony smiled.
„You caught me.“
„Aren’t you glad I bought you that waterproof Kindle?“
„I mean, I really shouldn’t cuz these things are taking away bookkeeping jobs, but I do admit its quite handy.“
Asa took the noodle box that was left on the table and sat next to his husband, who immediately scootched closer, draping an arm behind Asa.
„So, how was class today?“, the blonde asked between bites.
Anthony had, as always, stopped what he was doing to watch Asa eat. He loved to see his husband be delighted by food, he always had. A smile unfurled on the gingers face and his eyes lit up a bit the way they always do when he got to talk about his studies and students. One hand resting on Asas thigh, he snuggled into the blondes side.
„You know first week of the semester is always a circus, but today I taught some very enthusiastic first years! They still have that light in their eyes you know.“
Asa chuckled at this, „Sometimes I wonder if you’re actually a strict professor or just tell me that you are to make you seem tougher.“
Anthony feigned being offended. „Oh! Oh, I am very strict, very harsh at teaching, yeah they all hate me so much!“
„Oh so that’s why today you got mail from one of your former PHD students saying how much you mean to them? I know you.“
Anthonys cheeks turned bright pink at that, in times like these he wished he had some dark shade glasses, so his husband couldn’t see just how flustered he was. Asa chuckled again and put the empty box back on the table, wiped his mouth with a napkin, then picked up Anthonys hand from his thigh and intertwined their fingers.
„You’re cute.“
"Well, you married me so you must at least kinda think so..."
"You're silly and cute."
„I’m not. Very serious, me.“ but the redhead didn’t complain any further as his husband placed a kiss on his hand.
„Who was it?“
„Hm?“
„The phd student. It was Lea wasn’t it?“
„Yea, she said she got accepted working at NASA“
„You tell me this now?! You should have lead with that, Angel! Oh, how great! I’ll have to email her ASAP! Ohh, maybe she can share what they’re working on nowadays, my NASA days were some of the best! That is before I had met you of course!“
Asa smiled as Anthony had already opened his emails to immediately contact back. When his husband was like this he reminded him of a happy snake. Relaxed and sprawling against his own side.
***
Two hours later, after catching up on one of the many TV shows that they were hooked on together, Anthonys hand slipped out of Asa's grip.
He paused Bridgerton, then turned off the TV.
Comfortable silence engulfed the both of them, the only source of light in the room being the vintage lamp on the left of the sofa.
The blonde smiled softly as he watched his husband's chest rise and fall.
He would never snore, but sometimes he’d grumble in his sleep.
Their legs had somehow ended up intertwined while cuddling, Anthony wrapped around Asa like his life depended on it. He always did this, always seeking Asas warmth. He thought it was adorable.
„Darling boy“, Asa whispered softly. „Wouldn’t you prefer the bed? This sofa isn’t really too kind on my back you know.“
Anthony stirred.
The lanky mans' head was resting on Asas shoulder, face almost resting directly on his neck. He could feel his breath on his skin.
„Love…“, Asa's voice couldn’t physically be any softer.
Anthony stirred again.
„Alpha Centauri…“
„What was that?“
Anthony finally woke.
„Hm?“
„You were just saying something in your sleep. Alpha Centauri. Isn’t that the star you like so much?“
Anthony was too tired to be offended by this. „It’s a star system in the southern constellation of Centaurus… Nevermind. Let’s head to bed, Angel.“
***
In true gentleman fashion, they helped each other into their matching PJs.
Asa had insisted on Tartan, which Anthony despised but tolerated if it made his husband happy.
His set was black and red, while Asa opted for softer brown and angel blue.
„Come here, old man.“ Anthony mused as Asa had returned from the bathroom.
„You’re three years older than me!“, Asa exclaimed, as he snuggled his back close to his husband.
„Oh, so you get to be small spoon today?“
„I thought you were tired, dear“, Asa yawned. „If you want me to turn around and be the big spoon do it now so I can choose a side to sleep on.“
Anthony chuckled.
„Alright, I’m an old lad with backpain, is that what you wanted to hear, silly?“
Anthony exhaled, draping an arm around Asas chest protectively.
„You’re my old lad.“
„Always“
***
If there was one thing Anthony was good at besides astrophysics, gardening and making his husband happy, it must have been sleeping. There were some days he would go to bed immediately after work and only wake up when he absolutely needed to. He loved sleeping and no one, not even Asa could do it as efficiently as him. He had never really dreamt though. Sometimes there had been shapes and colours, sometimes he had awoken to the thought of his studies, but he had never experienced the fully immersed dreaming experience as others had described it to him.
But today was different.
It was vivid and real.
He smelled cologne, old books and incense. Not unlike their home scent. Anthony found himself in an unfamiliar bookshop. It was Asas', that he was sure of. But Asas' bookshop didn’t look like that, did it? Although it would completely fit the blondes style. Classy, filled to the brim with classic literature, old stuff everywhere.
Anthony could sense he wasn’t alone.
„Hello?“ he called out, „Angel?“
So he was indeed here to see his husband.
„Aziraphale?“ Then there came a very familiar voice from the back of the shop.
„Oh dear, I’m coming! Got a bit carried away with this book.“
„Not surprised“, Anthony grumbled.
„I’m terribly sorry you had to wait.“, the voice came closer now.
The person that stood in front of Anthony spoke like Asa and dressed like him. He looked like him for all that mattered, except that his hair had more locks and appeared almost golden white.
„Crowley. You’re dressed sharply as always“, the familiar face smiled and looked him up and down with a mix of adoration and extreme restraint on his face.
„Let’s go then, Angel. The Ritz is waiting.“
***
Anthony woke with a jolt.
„Shit, Anthony“, Asa grumbled next to him, who’d been woken up by the sudden movement. „Keep your lanky self on your side of the bed.“
Anthony turned around to face Asa.
„M’Sorry, Ange. Had a weird dream.“
„It’s six in the morning. It’s Saturday. Let’s sleep until at least 8 before you tell me, please.“
Asa took Anthonys hand and cradled it, drifting off to sleep instantly. The redhead couldn’t fall asleep again though. He watched his husband instead. His breathing soothed him. Why had he referred to him as ‚Aziraphale‘ in his dreams? And what had happened to his hair?
Anthony used the time on his hands to answer some emails eager students had sent him during this first week of classes.
Some of those definitely should have gone to his assistant, June (who was a very intelligent M.A. student of his and worked part-time in Asas' bookshop), instead, but he was bored enough to answer them himself right now.
After a few minutes of reviewing a paper, Anthony took to scrolling through reels instead of working.
It was the weekend after all.
“We should get you some new sunglasses”, Asa mumbled, startling the Anthony.
“Pardon?”
"I said, we should get you some new sunglasses, dear."
"What makes you think that?"
“I don’t know, last week you were mentioning how sensitive your eyes are lately. Also I think I just dreamt you had some on. Never took them off actually, which was a shame. I was really devastated about that in my dream, I don’t know why. Probably because I love your eye colour.”
Anthony smirked. “You don’t.”
“I do!”
“What eye colour do i have then?”
Realizing his mistake too late, Asa had already taken the opportunity to yank Anthony closer to him. Astonished but not surprised by his husbands strength, Anthony blushed as he put all his weight on him, straddling his hips and leaning down to get a good look at his eyes.
Anthony chuckled as the wind was knocked right out of his lungs.
His angel always got him flustered without meaning to. Or maybe he knew exactly what he was doing.
“I think they’re hazel. but in the sunlight they shine like honey. Too bad you can’t look into the sunlight.”
“No one should look directly into the sun, Angel.”
“But I’m doing it right now”, Asa whispered.
Anthonys cheeks turned bright red. He cleared his throat.
“Wanna risk getting blinded?”
Anthony was only feigning confidence at this point. He loved when Asa held him like this. Tenderly but firmly. Underneath his angel, Anthony felt safe and loved.
Asa smiled and kissed the trembling pile of human beneath him.
***
Physical contact wasn’t something that defined their relationship. They could comfortably live together and love each other without cuddling or hugging or having sex for months on end. Sometimes intimacy was overrated. Other times kissing the other feverishly until both their lungs couldn’t keep up said more than a thousand words. They both didn’t really label themselves, but if they had to, Asa would probably call himself asexual. Which didn’t mean he didn’t enjoy making Anthony feel good. He loved that part. It just wasn’t something he needed for himself. Sex was just as good as takeout food for him. Nice to have, but not better than high quality sashimi. Anthony wasn’t really a fan of sashimi. He was a fan of Asa though.