"It's not far," Barty promised, holding Bill's hand and honestly feeling as if Aziraphale was the one whose hand he really ought to be holding. He looked over at his brother to make sure he was still following. Nightlife was foreign to Aziraphale, a gay nightlife even more so.
"How are you, handsome? Hey, Bill!" A drag queen passed by them both, smiling as she greeted them both, before looking at Aziraphale, clearly confused. Aziraphale wasn't exactly dressed for clubbing.
"We'll just start out at a bar. Nothing too overwhelming." Barty explained it for them both, hoping that Bill wouldn't be too impatient. "We can still go dancing later."
"Heeeey, love. Love the dress." Bill called out back, wolf whistling playfully before he looked back behind him at Aziraphale, who was still staring at the drag queen and not moving his feet. "Oi, Azira, move!" He had started shortening Aziraphale's name, it was such a mouthful - Aziraphale hated it. He always tutted but he never said anything.
"I am moving. I just ... I think I should just, I mean, it's not really -- I could always get the bus back any time. You don't have to worry about me." They really did have to worry about him. Who went to this sort of area in a suit and bowtie? Aziraphale did.
Aziraphale, who looked and felt out of place, unbelievably overwhelmed and unsure why he was even doing this. He couldn't help but think that this was all a grave error.
"Bar first, have a round and then we go dancing. It's much better when you go dancing." Bill insisted, though Aziraphale didn't believe it. "Way better for meeting people."
"True. Bill and I met while dancing." He assumed that Aziraphale was unlikely to have the same kind of experience. Or hook up with anyone, which was all that Bill and him had done to begin with. Still, maybe he could at least get Aziraphale to let loose a little. Enjoy himself.
"You'll like the cocktails at the bar we're going to. You like fruit." Well, he seemed to like orange juice, anyway. There was a lot of limits to what Aziraphale had been exposed to so far. "We'll just have something to drink and hang out. Nothing so daunting about that, is there?"
He knew there was, but he was trying. "Let's get a table in the corner somewhere." He muttered it to Bill before holding the door open for both him and Aziraphale, moving in behind them. There was music, there was laughter, but it really was quite relaxed when compared to a club. And Aziraphale was the only one in a cream suit.
Aziraphale didn't really want to drink or to do this sort of thing. He was content to be alone. He didn't really need love, he just wanted it but that was fine, he could have other kinds of love. God loved him, his brother loved him, he was pretty sure the pigeons at the park adored him. He spent most of his free time there on his lunch break.
Honestly, he was only here because Barty wanted him to be here and he did love his brother dearly.
Bill grabbed a table in the furthest corner, some sad broody table, and gestured at Aziraphale to sit. "Let's scope out the talent, find some hotties. What do you say?" Bill winked at Aziraphale, who looked mortified.
"It doesn't hurt to look," Barty said as he sat down, gesturing to the waiter. He ordered for all three of them, getting Bill the usual, himself a whiskey and Aziraphale something very fruity and quite sweet, knowing his brother's tastes. Then he put a hand on Bill's thigh and shrugged his shoulders. "It's what everyone is doing here. Looking around, seeing who's hot. Deciding who to cruise tonight."
It was fairly obvious, he thought. "Bill has excellent taste, I'm sure he can point out whoever's hottest tonight."
"I don't believe I wish to play such a game. I just -- oh, this is most definitely a mistake. I really shouldn't be here. I don't want to-to look or to... I shouldn't have come." He should have stayed home, watched the telly - there was a fascinating documentary on how coins were made and he was missing it to be here, looking at men that -- just looked like men. Well, some were very handsome but he hardly wished to look longingly at anyone. Instead, he looked at the table very determinedly.
"Riveting." Bill deadpanned, giving Barty a look before he scanned around himself. "There's some lookers, like over there, with the jacked abs. Or that little one there, his hips would do all sorts of things, you can tell." God, he could see Aziraphale getting redder and redder as he spoke. "Come on, look around."
"You could at least look and try and see what your type is. Although I suppose we have at least an inkling." Given they had found his secret YouTube account. It was fascinating, he'd not have pegged his baby brother as having a preference for alternative looking men, but he supposed it made as much sense as anything. After all, there was the allure of the forbidden, the demonic. Couldn't forget that.
"This is telling you more about what Bill likes. You'll have to look yourself to get an idea." Barty turned to take the drinks as the waiter handed them to him, placing it down in front of Aziraphale. And then he caught a glimpse of the door as it opened again. "Ah. Look who just walked in, Bill. That one is right up Aziraphale's alley."
Dark red hair, sunglasses, all dressed in black leather. Seemed about right.
"I don't have a type, I was browsing for... for work purposes." Whatever work involved looking at underwear models and sexy goth men was another question but he had to defend himself. Embarrassed, he looked away from the pair and tried to resist Barty's teasing. He was so deleting his youtube. And never using the internet. The internet was sin incarnate.
He turned, finally, curious and then immediately looked back. His face was red and he shook his head insistently. That boy was much too young and not at all his type. No. No way.
"Oh shit, that's Crowley. I know him. He's his type? Oh man." Bill snorted in amusement and then raised his hand. "Crowley!" Well, why not beckon him over?
Aziraphale's eyes widened. Then he looked at Barty. Oh, the betrayal! "No, no, no, what are you doing? You said we would just -- just hang the three of us."
"Bill tends to know people." Barty shrugged, not too bothered. "You get used to it. Just say hi."
"Hi," Crowley said it himself when he reached their table, giving them a nod. Then he grinned at Bill, shaking his head. "You really are old and dull now, huh?" Sitting in a corner with his boyfriend.
"Yes, it's dire." Barty reached for Bill's hand, but also gestured. "Sit down. I'll buy you a drink."
As Crowley happened to be near skint, he didn't argue with that, sitting down. Of course, sitting down meant that he was draped over the chair in an odd way, legs spread apart. He looked at Aziraphale now, a bit confused by his outfit choices. "Hey. I'm Crowley."
"I'm not old, I'm just refined now. Hang out with the ol' brother in law. Having a casual, calm evening like mature adults." Bill mocked gently as he watched Aziraphale sink into his seat, looking mortified already and they hadn't even started. "Didn't know you were out tonight, no work tomorrow? Nice for some." Including Bill. He had no work tomorrow. He had no work! He was studying. Life hack.
Aziraphale looked at the young man and tried not to stare. He had beautiful red air, like a nice red apple or a delightful sunset on a lovely summers eve. The sunglasses hid his eyes so it was hard to tell who he was looking at, he found that a tad easier to handle, he felt less judged. The trousers were... so tight. He looked down once and immediately regretted it, looking instead at the charming art on the wall.
"I'm Aziraphale, I'm Bartemius' brother." He smiled politely and held up a hand in greeting. "Lovely to meet you."
"Nice to meet you. Love the outfit." He said it in good humour, no malice or even true mockery. It was a nice outfit, just a bit of an odd choice. But, hey, at least it wasn't boring. "You don't have much family resemblance."
"Different mothers," Barty explained with a shrug, "It's his first time out."
"Really?" Crowley let out a whistle. "Then what are you doing wasting your time here with the married folk, Aziraphale? Come with me." He held out a hand to him and grinned. "I'll show you where to have fun."
"Oh, thank you. I didn't know what else to wear so I wore what I liked." Aziraphale admitted as he smiled at Crowley, happy that someone appreciated his outfit. "And it has an inside pocket. Well, it has two. The inside pocket and then the secret one." And then he showed both to Crowley, as if he was asking to be robbed.
Well, the inside of his suit jacket had lovely lining, he wanted to show it off.
"Uhh... thank you but I think I -- I should probably stay with my brother. It's better if I bore him, he's family so he has to tolerate me ruining his evening but I'm sure you have lots to do and I'm not the best company." He didn't drink, he didn't get gay culture or the current lingo. Besides, he wasn't really ready for this sort of thing. As tempting as it was. Oh, to be ten years younger and less ashamed of himself. He really wanted to take his hand.
"I always just wear what I like too." He hadn't expected a full tour of Aziraphale's jacket, but Crowley had to admit that it was charming. And indeed very lovely lining, had to admit that. It all led to him smiling, very much amused. And even more determined to spend some more time with the odd one out.
"Don't let me down now, I'll look like a loser to everyone." Crowley kept his hand outstretched and Barty watched them both, mostly taking in just how deeply his brother could blush. It was impressive. "Anyway, I'm not that easily bored."
"I'll stay right here if you need me, sunshine," Barty told Aziraphale, trying to encourage him. "Off you go."
"I, uh, well - for a moment, yes. I will but not-not too long." Aziraphale reached out and took Crowley's hand. Oh, it was nice - warm but not sweaty or cold. He liked that a lot. He got up reluctantly and turned his head to the side, looking at Barty with alarm and panic. "Don't leave without me, please."
"We won't. He made a promise." Bill dismissed and then looked over at Crowley. "Play nicely."
Aziraphale finally looked away from his brother, his heart pounding in his chest as he followed after Crowley. "What are we doing, exactly? Are we going somewhere?"
"Nah. I mean, yeah. But we're just going over here, it's dull over there with those two, don't you think?" Crowley did indeed simply go 'over there', which was across the room and a lot closer to the speakers, so he could turn and face Aziraphale, looking at him properly for the first time. "Better lighting here. I wanted to make sure you're as cute as you looked."
He was cute. Downright adorable. He gestured up to his eyes, explaining himself. "I've got sensitive eyes, that's why I wear shades inside. I'm not just a giant tool." Although maybe sometimes he was a bit.
"Oh, no, no, I'm not -- no, don't be silly." He couldn't be cute, he was too old and this boy had no idea. He didn't think he was cute at all, just fussy and awkward. And definitely not someone who liked this sort of thing. Music, lights, drinks - he didn't even drink! It was just very stressful to pretend he didn't hate it here. At least soon he could go home with some entertaining memories.
He looked at Crowley and then frowned, completely confused. "I didn't think you were a giant -- well, that. Is it not done to wear sunglasses indoors? I wouldn't know. I don't really get out and about much. I don't take much note of fashion either."
"Really? With a tailored suit like that?" He ran a hand along Aziraphale's lapel, mostly because he wanted to feel the fabric and a little to see whether it would fluster him at all. "It's not usually done, no. But I'm glad you don't mind it. They used to make fun for it in school, so I decided to own it with the rest of my style."
He gestured down himself as if that explained it. "Anyway. Are you telling me you've never been called cute?" Evidently not. "Can I tell you something else then?"
Without waiting for an answer, Crowley leaned in, speaking close to Aziraphale's ear while both arms went around him. "Nice bum."
He stopped short of actually touching said bums, hands at the small of his back instead, pulling him in.
"... What?" Well, that came out high and squeaky and not very cool at all but what else could he do to that? It was all very touchy and flirty, very forward. And he was in shock. Why was this young man hitting on him of all people? Did he think he had money or -- well, no, that's a cruel thing to think. He was sure this boy wasn't a trickster or a conman. He had such an earnest face. Sort of. The glasses made it hard to be 100%.
He pulled back but Crowley's arms kept him in place and he looked at the man, eyes wide, swallowing hard.
"Well, I, uh, I -- thank you? I -- I have never had such a conversation before, no." So what did he even say to it? Other than thank you. "I'm sure yours is lovely too..."
"You should touch to make sure," Crowley suggested, somewhere between teasing and flirting. There was something so painfully earnest about this man that was irresistible in the oddest way. He did think it was intriguing, sexy, but it was also so very entertaining. Made his heart warm, which was an odd thing to think.
Crowley, truthfully, didn't do it that much. At least compared to most of his friend. Find a bloke and seduce him, hook up, anything like that. And he had a feeling that Aziraphale might be looking for a bit more too. "You don't really like this place here, do you?"
"I won't but thank you, what a lovely offer." Aziraphale rejected politely, keeping his hands hovering a little awkwardly so he didn't accidentally touch any part of Crowley. He didn't dare want to touch without permission and besides, it was scary. He didn't do much physical affection. His family didn't do it, only Barty did it and he hadn't been around him as much as he'd have liked.
It was all very new and foreign to him.
"I don't, no. I'm not really into this sort of thing. My brother just really wants me to be -- be present. Out. In the world. And I would rather be at home." He laughed awkward and then looked away from Crowley, clearly embarrassed. "I'm not very into parties. Well, no, I do like birthday parties but only when I was a child. Then there's cake." He smiled at that thought. "I do like cake." And he didn't like bars with music and the smell of booze and cigarettes.
"Then we should get you some cake," Crowley suggested, letting go of Aziraphale but only to take a hold of his hand again instead. "I know a bakery not far off, they are open till late. Come with me. My treat."
He didn't have much money, but he knew the woman who ran the bakery and he'd be very surprised if he couldn't persuade her to lower her prices a little with a well timed smirk thrown her way. Usually worked in his favour. "We can tell your brother and take off. I'm not always for this scene either."
And Aziraphale clearly stood out, in his clothes and behaviour, in every single way.
"Are you quite sure? You came all the way here, I'd just hate to have spoiled your evening, dear boy. I can amuse myself, I promise." Aziraphale assured, not wanting to steal the poor lad away from a night of fun because he was awkward. Should he deter him? Tell him that he didn't stand any chances with him? Seemed a little -- well, rude. And he didn't want to be rude. He always figured that instead of rejection, he could just run very, very fast.
As much as he wanted to put him off, Crowley seemed more determined and they were walking back to the table already.
Aziraphale was blushing. As always. A new shade, almost more pink than red. "Crowley wants to go and - and get food."
"Yeah, I'm going to buy Aziraphale some angel cake. Seems fitting." He turned his head to smile at Aziraphale, seeing that conflict on his face. Good for the ego, honestly, that he seemed to be winning out here. "You don't mind, angel, do you?"
Barty leaned back, hand on Bill's thigh still, and he gave a brief nod. "Have fun, Aziraphale. Don't let him take advantage of you." He was making fun of his brother there, but it was quite the funny image. Someone so full of swagger and his little brother.
"I'll behave," Crowley promised, looking at Bill. "You didn't tell me Barty had a hot brother."
"I didn't know he has one." Bill was still waiting to see a hot brother, he mostly saw a dork in a cream suit, looking so out of place, people kept gesturing at him. Honestly, better if he got out of here, it really wasn't his scene. "If you need us, call."
"I will keep in touch. Safe travels, Barty, don't be out too late." He was the younger brother, he knew that and yet, he was still worried and he still had to say something.
Looking a little unsure, he smiled sheepishly at Barty and then turned to Crowley. He really did feel dreadful, this poor boy could pull anyone looking like that. Why did he want to spend his time with him? Maybe he really did just want a quieter evening. Now that he could deliver. "Shall we?"
"We shall," Crowley agreed, taking Aziraphale's hand in his. He headed for the door with him and Barty watched them go, marvelling a little.
"Safe travels. Hm. Where does he think I'm going?" Honestly, he was more wondering just where exactly Crowley might be taking him. "You know him, right? I don't have to worry." From what he knew, Crowley was less dodgy than his apparel might suggest.
As Crowley and Aziraphale entered into the night air, he made sure to walk close to him and turn the right direction right away. "What do you think, should we go for cake right away or grab some sushi first?" There was a nice sushi bar close by, after all.
"Nah, Crowley is a good sort. Never much makes a move though. Guess his type is mormons." Bill mused as he knocked back his drink and held out his hand to Barty. "Let's go do something fun now. Please."
Aziraphale smiled excitedly at the food idea and nodded excitedly. "Oooh, yes, sushi sounds fun. And please, please, let me pay. Honestly, I can. I have a rather good wage and I would be happy to treat you. After all, you saved me from the loud music and cigarette smell. I feel I owe you one."
With a sigh, he relaxed in the night air and seemed to ease up a little. Less tense, less rigid, less awkward. "My favourite sushi place is this one spot in Soho I go to. Nitochi. The chef is from Kyoto! A fun place to practise my Japanese. I'm not the best speaker, my reading is much better."
"Japanese, yeah? Go figure. I'm lucky to be guessing my way through English." He supposed he shouldn't be surprised by any of this. Good wage, speaking different languages, all kind of to be expected from someone who dressed like that and who was Barty's brother. "I'm not sure the sushi bar is as fancy as all that, but they've got good deals on."
Which was mainly the draw for him. "My wage is shite, honestly, so if you feel like treating I'm not going to protest too much. The cake is on me though, I promised that." So he'd hold himself to it. "What do you do then? Are you a lawyer like your brother?"
"Oh, gosh, no. No, I couldn't do such a thing. I currently work at a library, though I yearn to do something where I don't have rental books. The condition of them makes me so sad. I would much rather sell books than loan them." He was hoping that he could somehow get himself a loan together and a business plan, open his own book store, hide there for the rest of his days. It seemed nice. Quiet. Easy going. Just work. No love, no people, no fuss or pride or any of that lark. He could just be alone with books all day.
"For now, I'm happy enough. I live near my work and I don't have too many expenses so I have a nice, tidy sum saved up." From before he left and after, he had always been a saver and now he was very fortunate to have as much as he did.
"I just work at a garden centre, not much saving up happening." That, and he liked spending. He liked his little luxuries, his car, his furniture, the sleek lifestyle. Well, it wasn't as if he had to save up for anything. "Books, eh? Never been too fond of those."
Maybe that wasn't a good thing to admit to, so Crowley justified himself a little. "It's the eyes, reading puts a lot of strain on them, starts to really hurt after a while." Also, it was pretty dull. He didn't read, he was too cool to read. But he didn't want to tell Aziraphale that. "Are you going to be all right selling books, when you own that bookstore?" If he was that saddened by bad book treatment, was bad book ownership any better?
"That's fine, books aren't for everyone. I think it's better that you know it than waste money on trying to like it. That is something I will... grow accustomed to when I own my store." He found books were something that only a select few should own but he knew that are a controversial thought. "Must be such a shame, with your eyes and all. There's always audiobooks, I suppose. Though I'm sure you have many other hobbies, a lad your age and all."
He imagined Crowley loved clubbing and drinking and seeing friends. That was what people did at his age. However old he was. It was normal.
"I was never the sort to get up to mischief. I'm not one to dally around and do such fancies. I suppose I'm a bit of a dork in that sense." Aziraphale laughed at himself awkwardly and looked away from Crowley, a little embarrassed. "I suppose it's very obvious."
"It's obvious, but you have the outfit and the charm, you're pulling it off. When a kid is a dork, they get bullied. You are a gentleman." Clearly. Anyone with money and a customised suit was a bit of a level on a normal kind of dork. It was working for him, made him seem classy.
"Audiobooks, maybe. Honestly, I kind of have a thing for theatre, don't tell my friends. Now there's a dorky hobby." He was joking mostly. For one thing, his friends knew he liked the theatre, so it wasn't as if there was much point hiding it from them.
"Oooh, I love the theatre. I didn't get to go for most of my youth but I recently started going to more and more plays and musicals. It's amazing. I enjoy it that vastly more than whatever it son the telly. Not that I don't love BBC Two." Aziraphale admitted, just excited to share things and talk to someone outside of his brother who seemed to be, well, not overly judgemental. Some of the people at his work could be a tad mean to him about his lack of knowledge and he knew Billy teased him often too. Only Barty had the time for him and his gaps of pop culture knowledge.
"Perhaps one day we could see a play! Not that -- Not that I'm being forward or anything. You never have to see me again but-but, well, perhaps one day we will see each other at the theatre or something." There. That sounded way less forward and needy.
Crowley stopped, rather theatrically, as befit the conversation they were having. He turned to face Aziraphale, bowing playfully. "It'd be my honour." After saying that, he raised the man's hand to his lips and kissed it, before letting go of him entirely, for the moment, so he could hold the door to the sushi bar open. "Shall we?"
He was hungry and apparently it would be Aziraphale's treat, so the evening was looking up. As Aziraphale passed him, he said, quietly but loud enough. "I wouldn't mind you being forward."
Crowley really was something else. Like something out of a daydream. The way he dressed, the way he acted, the way he talked to him. As if he actually liked him or something. He was baffled but excited. He wished he could have been about ten years younger and less awkward - then maybe this could be something.
As they took a seat, Aziraphale smiled at Crowley. "I can't promise that but I can promise I will make sure your time is well spend with me. Pick whatever you want to eat! It's always exciting, watching what others pick and trying new things." He never had experiences like this until he was an adult so to him, it was exciting.
"Er, I usually just get whatever's cheap." If he had to be honest here. Given that Aziraphale was promising to be exceedingly generous and also seemed intent on Crowley enjoying himself, he walked up to the counter and asked what they recommended, so he could pick that. Seemed nice, getting a selection of stuff. "They have sake. It's pretty good, actually, you should try some. I got drunk on it once, no hangover."
"Oh no, you can but I don't really drink. It's just a left over piece of me from -- before. I don't know, it's silly. Maybe it's just... in my head." He didn't know why he was still following their rules when he left for a reason - so he could live his own way. he looked at the sake again and then remembered that he was out here with a boy who was into him and he could do whatever he wanted. "Actually, well, perhaps tonight is the night to break an age old tradition of mine."
He laughed a little to himself and then looked at Crowley, sheepish yet happy. "Would you drink with me?"
"Of course!" Crowley asked for some sake as he led the way to the bar, sitting down and gesturing for Aziraphale to settle in next to him. Now that there was proper lighting, he looked younger than he'd assumed he was. Well preserved, Crowley assumed, but it was difficult to really gauge. He looked the way he was, truly, which he felt was kind of comforting and also amusing in a way. "To the breaking of old traditions and the making of new ones."
The sake was poured for them and he slid one cup over to Aziraphale before emptying his own. "Cheers!" Or whatever they said in Japan, he didn't know.
"Kanpai." Aziraphale raised his glass and then took a long sip. Huh. It was strong, very intense at first but he liked the aftertaste. He huffed out an amused little noise and then smiled at Crowley, amazed that he had broken a life long rule so swiftly. He was being impulse - how thrilling!
"Interesting. I like it. I never thought I'd drink, not sure why but I just never considered it. I know Barty does but he always found breaking the rules easier than I did." which was why Barty left at 17 and he left at 34.
"Yeah, you two seem very different. You're less scary, for one thing." Which he approved of. Barty was cool, which Crowley admired to a certain degree - when he'd been younger, he had more or less subconsciously tried mimicking it a little - but he was also enigmatic and only Bill seemed to understand him and not find him unsettling. Aziraphale was not unsettling in the least, if anything he was the opposite.
"You grew up with strict rules, right? Bill's told me a bit." It sounded oppressive. "The only rule at my home was to not get decked." At least that was the rule he'd tried to live by.
"Yes, well, I suppose. We were raised as Fundamental Latter Day Saints. I suppose most people call us Mormons these days." Only mormons had nothing on what they experienced, the FLDS was as extreme as it could get sometimes. "Barty fled when he was young, he had no desire to be a part of it. I always admired that about him. He didn't keep his faith. I did."
Aziraphale realised how it sounded to people who didn't know him and instantly held up his hands apologetic. "Not in the mormon sense, in my own person sense. For myself. I find organise religion is a bit of a scary beast."
"It is, innit? I've never gone in for it." Some of his siblings liked to style themselves as satanists, but for his money they just felt it was another excuse to act like a berk, as if they needed one. "I think it takes a lot of courage to get out of that kinda thing, especially if you still believe in any of it. Good on you."
It was impressive, thinking about this mild-mannered man doing something so radical. "I'm not much of a believer in anything. Never made much sense to me why any god would make the world only for it to go so wrong all the time."
"I suppose I just think that it's comforting to imagine someone who could be involved in your life from afar and love you no matter what. Even with your mistakes and flaws. I think the concept is something that could be beneficial to people, whether or not it's real. It's sort of like - love personified." And as someone who planned to never really date or find love, had no affection from his parents and no real friends, the concept of unconditional love from afar was very comforting.
"In the end, it was an easy decision. I didn't do it for myself. God knows, I don't think there's much from the world I can really get these days but I did it because I don't want people to a part of something so negative. People who see God as punishment and use it to hurt others." It just seemed so wrong.
He sighed and looked away, feeling a little awkward. "Sorry to ramble on, it's not the most interesting. All these years and I still find a way to talk about religion of all things. I'm so sorry!"
"Big part of your life, so it makes sense. You sound a bit like Holden, he's a friend of mine. He grew up Catholic, he wanted to be a priest for a while." Which maybe Holden still wanted to be? Crowley wasn't sure, though he thought perhaps it was better not to become a priest when so clearly in love with someone, but what did he know? "I like the idea of love, but I don't think I believe anyone's loving me from afar."
He certainly never felt that had shone through much in his life. "Love's not always a good thing either. Gets to be toxic quite often." And the love God seemed to have appeared to fall into that category frequently. "But there's things you can get from the world, Aziraphale. We'll get cake, for one thing. And now we're getting sushi."
Which was indeed placed in front of them just then, as their sake was poured again as well. "Enjoy."
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"How are you, handsome? Hey, Bill!" A drag queen passed by them both, smiling as she greeted them both, before looking at Aziraphale, clearly confused. Aziraphale wasn't exactly dressed for clubbing.
"We'll just start out at a bar. Nothing too overwhelming." Barty explained it for them both, hoping that Bill wouldn't be too impatient. "We can still go dancing later."
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"I am moving. I just ... I think I should just, I mean, it's not really -- I could always get the bus back any time. You don't have to worry about me." They really did have to worry about him. Who went to this sort of area in a suit and bowtie? Aziraphale did.
Aziraphale, who looked and felt out of place, unbelievably overwhelmed and unsure why he was even doing this. He couldn't help but think that this was all a grave error.
"Bar first, have a round and then we go dancing. It's much better when you go dancing." Bill insisted, though Aziraphale didn't believe it. "Way better for meeting people."
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"You'll like the cocktails at the bar we're going to. You like fruit." Well, he seemed to like orange juice, anyway. There was a lot of limits to what Aziraphale had been exposed to so far. "We'll just have something to drink and hang out. Nothing so daunting about that, is there?"
He knew there was, but he was trying. "Let's get a table in the corner somewhere." He muttered it to Bill before holding the door open for both him and Aziraphale, moving in behind them. There was music, there was laughter, but it really was quite relaxed when compared to a club. And Aziraphale was the only one in a cream suit.
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Honestly, he was only here because Barty wanted him to be here and he did love his brother dearly.
Bill grabbed a table in the furthest corner, some sad broody table, and gestured at Aziraphale to sit. "Let's scope out the talent, find some hotties. What do you say?" Bill winked at Aziraphale, who looked mortified.
"Oh no, no, absolutely not!"
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It was fairly obvious, he thought. "Bill has excellent taste, I'm sure he can point out whoever's hottest tonight."
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"Riveting." Bill deadpanned, giving Barty a look before he scanned around himself. "There's some lookers, like over there, with the jacked abs. Or that little one there, his hips would do all sorts of things, you can tell." God, he could see Aziraphale getting redder and redder as he spoke. "Come on, look around."
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"This is telling you more about what Bill likes. You'll have to look yourself to get an idea." Barty turned to take the drinks as the waiter handed them to him, placing it down in front of Aziraphale. And then he caught a glimpse of the door as it opened again. "Ah. Look who just walked in, Bill. That one is right up Aziraphale's alley."
Dark red hair, sunglasses, all dressed in black leather. Seemed about right.
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He turned, finally, curious and then immediately looked back. His face was red and he shook his head insistently. That boy was much too young and not at all his type. No. No way.
"Oh shit, that's Crowley. I know him. He's his type? Oh man." Bill snorted in amusement and then raised his hand. "Crowley!" Well, why not beckon him over?
Aziraphale's eyes widened. Then he looked at Barty. Oh, the betrayal! "No, no, no, what are you doing? You said we would just -- just hang the three of us."
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"Hi," Crowley said it himself when he reached their table, giving them a nod. Then he grinned at Bill, shaking his head. "You really are old and dull now, huh?" Sitting in a corner with his boyfriend.
"Yes, it's dire." Barty reached for Bill's hand, but also gestured. "Sit down. I'll buy you a drink."
As Crowley happened to be near skint, he didn't argue with that, sitting down. Of course, sitting down meant that he was draped over the chair in an odd way, legs spread apart. He looked at Aziraphale now, a bit confused by his outfit choices. "Hey. I'm Crowley."
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Aziraphale looked at the young man and tried not to stare. He had beautiful red air, like a nice red apple or a delightful sunset on a lovely summers eve. The sunglasses hid his eyes so it was hard to tell who he was looking at, he found that a tad easier to handle, he felt less judged. The trousers were... so tight. He looked down once and immediately regretted it, looking instead at the charming art on the wall.
"I'm Aziraphale, I'm Bartemius' brother." He smiled politely and held up a hand in greeting. "Lovely to meet you."
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"Different mothers," Barty explained with a shrug, "It's his first time out."
"Really?" Crowley let out a whistle. "Then what are you doing wasting your time here with the married folk, Aziraphale? Come with me." He held out a hand to him and grinned. "I'll show you where to have fun."
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Well, the inside of his suit jacket had lovely lining, he wanted to show it off.
"Uhh... thank you but I think I -- I should probably stay with my brother. It's better if I bore him, he's family so he has to tolerate me ruining his evening but I'm sure you have lots to do and I'm not the best company." He didn't drink, he didn't get gay culture or the current lingo. Besides, he wasn't really ready for this sort of thing. As tempting as it was. Oh, to be ten years younger and less ashamed of himself. He really wanted to take his hand.
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"Don't let me down now, I'll look like a loser to everyone." Crowley kept his hand outstretched and Barty watched them both, mostly taking in just how deeply his brother could blush. It was impressive. "Anyway, I'm not that easily bored."
"I'll stay right here if you need me, sunshine," Barty told Aziraphale, trying to encourage him. "Off you go."
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"We won't. He made a promise." Bill dismissed and then looked over at Crowley. "Play nicely."
Aziraphale finally looked away from his brother, his heart pounding in his chest as he followed after Crowley. "What are we doing, exactly? Are we going somewhere?"
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He was cute. Downright adorable. He gestured up to his eyes, explaining himself. "I've got sensitive eyes, that's why I wear shades inside. I'm not just a giant tool." Although maybe sometimes he was a bit.
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He looked at Crowley and then frowned, completely confused. "I didn't think you were a giant -- well, that. Is it not done to wear sunglasses indoors? I wouldn't know. I don't really get out and about much. I don't take much note of fashion either."
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He gestured down himself as if that explained it. "Anyway. Are you telling me you've never been called cute?" Evidently not. "Can I tell you something else then?"
Without waiting for an answer, Crowley leaned in, speaking close to Aziraphale's ear while both arms went around him. "Nice bum."
He stopped short of actually touching said bums, hands at the small of his back instead, pulling him in.
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He pulled back but Crowley's arms kept him in place and he looked at the man, eyes wide, swallowing hard.
"Well, I, uh, I -- thank you? I -- I have never had such a conversation before, no." So what did he even say to it? Other than thank you. "I'm sure yours is lovely too..."
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Crowley, truthfully, didn't do it that much. At least compared to most of his friend. Find a bloke and seduce him, hook up, anything like that. And he had a feeling that Aziraphale might be looking for a bit more too. "You don't really like this place here, do you?"
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It was all very new and foreign to him.
"I don't, no. I'm not really into this sort of thing. My brother just really wants me to be -- be present. Out. In the world. And I would rather be at home." He laughed awkward and then looked away from Crowley, clearly embarrassed. "I'm not very into parties. Well, no, I do like birthday parties but only when I was a child. Then there's cake." He smiled at that thought. "I do like cake." And he didn't like bars with music and the smell of booze and cigarettes.
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He didn't have much money, but he knew the woman who ran the bakery and he'd be very surprised if he couldn't persuade her to lower her prices a little with a well timed smirk thrown her way. Usually worked in his favour. "We can tell your brother and take off. I'm not always for this scene either."
And Aziraphale clearly stood out, in his clothes and behaviour, in every single way.
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As much as he wanted to put him off, Crowley seemed more determined and they were walking back to the table already.
Aziraphale was blushing. As always. A new shade, almost more pink than red. "Crowley wants to go and - and get food."
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Barty leaned back, hand on Bill's thigh still, and he gave a brief nod. "Have fun, Aziraphale. Don't let him take advantage of you." He was making fun of his brother there, but it was quite the funny image. Someone so full of swagger and his little brother.
"I'll behave," Crowley promised, looking at Bill. "You didn't tell me Barty had a hot brother."
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"I will keep in touch. Safe travels, Barty, don't be out too late." He was the younger brother, he knew that and yet, he was still worried and he still had to say something.
Looking a little unsure, he smiled sheepishly at Barty and then turned to Crowley. He really did feel dreadful, this poor boy could pull anyone looking like that. Why did he want to spend his time with him? Maybe he really did just want a quieter evening. Now that he could deliver. "Shall we?"
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"Safe travels. Hm. Where does he think I'm going?" Honestly, he was more wondering just where exactly Crowley might be taking him. "You know him, right? I don't have to worry." From what he knew, Crowley was less dodgy than his apparel might suggest.
As Crowley and Aziraphale entered into the night air, he made sure to walk close to him and turn the right direction right away. "What do you think, should we go for cake right away or grab some sushi first?" There was a nice sushi bar close by, after all.
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Aziraphale smiled excitedly at the food idea and nodded excitedly. "Oooh, yes, sushi sounds fun. And please, please, let me pay. Honestly, I can. I have a rather good wage and I would be happy to treat you. After all, you saved me from the loud music and cigarette smell. I feel I owe you one."
With a sigh, he relaxed in the night air and seemed to ease up a little. Less tense, less rigid, less awkward. "My favourite sushi place is this one spot in Soho I go to. Nitochi. The chef is from Kyoto! A fun place to practise my Japanese. I'm not the best speaker, my reading is much better."
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Which was mainly the draw for him. "My wage is shite, honestly, so if you feel like treating I'm not going to protest too much. The cake is on me though, I promised that." So he'd hold himself to it. "What do you do then? Are you a lawyer like your brother?"
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"For now, I'm happy enough. I live near my work and I don't have too many expenses so I have a nice, tidy sum saved up." From before he left and after, he had always been a saver and now he was very fortunate to have as much as he did.
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Maybe that wasn't a good thing to admit to, so Crowley justified himself a little. "It's the eyes, reading puts a lot of strain on them, starts to really hurt after a while." Also, it was pretty dull. He didn't read, he was too cool to read. But he didn't want to tell Aziraphale that. "Are you going to be all right selling books, when you own that bookstore?" If he was that saddened by bad book treatment, was bad book ownership any better?
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He imagined Crowley loved clubbing and drinking and seeing friends. That was what people did at his age. However old he was. It was normal.
"I was never the sort to get up to mischief. I'm not one to dally around and do such fancies. I suppose I'm a bit of a dork in that sense." Aziraphale laughed at himself awkwardly and looked away from Crowley, a little embarrassed. "I suppose it's very obvious."
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"Audiobooks, maybe. Honestly, I kind of have a thing for theatre, don't tell my friends. Now there's a dorky hobby." He was joking mostly. For one thing, his friends knew he liked the theatre, so it wasn't as if there was much point hiding it from them.
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"Perhaps one day we could see a play! Not that -- Not that I'm being forward or anything. You never have to see me again but-but, well, perhaps one day we will see each other at the theatre or something." There. That sounded way less forward and needy.
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He was hungry and apparently it would be Aziraphale's treat, so the evening was looking up. As Aziraphale passed him, he said, quietly but loud enough. "I wouldn't mind you being forward."
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As they took a seat, Aziraphale smiled at Crowley. "I can't promise that but I can promise I will make sure your time is well spend with me. Pick whatever you want to eat! It's always exciting, watching what others pick and trying new things." He never had experiences like this until he was an adult so to him, it was exciting.
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Seemed magical to him.
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He laughed a little to himself and then looked at Crowley, sheepish yet happy. "Would you drink with me?"
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The sake was poured for them and he slid one cup over to Aziraphale before emptying his own. "Cheers!" Or whatever they said in Japan, he didn't know.
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"Interesting. I like it. I never thought I'd drink, not sure why but I just never considered it. I know Barty does but he always found breaking the rules easier than I did." which was why Barty left at 17 and he left at 34.
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"You grew up with strict rules, right? Bill's told me a bit." It sounded oppressive. "The only rule at my home was to not get decked." At least that was the rule he'd tried to live by.
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Aziraphale realised how it sounded to people who didn't know him and instantly held up his hands apologetic. "Not in the mormon sense, in my own person sense. For myself. I find organise religion is a bit of a scary beast."
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It was impressive, thinking about this mild-mannered man doing something so radical. "I'm not much of a believer in anything. Never made much sense to me why any god would make the world only for it to go so wrong all the time."
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"In the end, it was an easy decision. I didn't do it for myself. God knows, I don't think there's much from the world I can really get these days but I did it because I don't want people to a part of something so negative. People who see God as punishment and use it to hurt others." It just seemed so wrong.
He sighed and looked away, feeling a little awkward. "Sorry to ramble on, it's not the most interesting. All these years and I still find a way to talk about religion of all things. I'm so sorry!"
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He certainly never felt that had shone through much in his life. "Love's not always a good thing either. Gets to be toxic quite often." And the love God seemed to have appeared to fall into that category frequently. "But there's things you can get from the world, Aziraphale. We'll get cake, for one thing. And now we're getting sushi."
Which was indeed placed in front of them just then, as their sake was poured again as well. "Enjoy."