For A Thousand Years Part 3

It had happened completely by accident.  Crawly wasn't expecting to see his angel again.  It didn't matter that he'd been turned mortal, Crowley always called him angel.  Aziraphale hadn't minded in the least.  They considered it a pet name, of sorts. 

It had been a little more than a thousand years since his angel had been turned human.  Slightly less than eight hundred since the angel had died.  The flood happened and Crawly really hadn't cared all that much.  He just had to go on.  He had to do what he was put on the Earth to do.  And he did it better than any other demon.  It was the best way to take revenge on God for what she'd done to his angel.  The more souls that ended up in Hell, the better. 

And then, he saw him.  The man must have been about twenty years old.  His almost white blond hair and bright blue eyes looked completely out of place in the market.  He stood out amongst the dark hair and dirty clothes.  And he looked almost exactly like his angel, but not quite. 

"You seem a bit lost."  Crawly said with a smile as he walked up to the young man. 

"Oh yes.  I'm meant to be at the synagogue right now but I got caught up in the crowd heading to the market. 

"I thought perhaps you didn't really belong here."  Crawly nodded.  "I can show you back the right direction if you like." 

"I really would appreciate that." The young man said.  "Though I do take offense at you saying I don't belong here.  Am I that obvious?" 

"You stick out like a sore thumb, dear boy."  Crawly said with amusement.  Oh and the young man blushed which made him that much more adorable. 

"I suppose I do."  He said with a nod.  "If you wouldn't mind, I'm most certainly late for temple..." 

"Right, of course.  This way."  Crawly started to walk in the right direction and the young man started to follow.  "I'm Crawly, by the way."  He offered over his shoulder. 

"Asriel."  The young man offered with a bright smile.  Oh he really was absolutely beautiful.  There was a glow about him that told Crawly this wasn't just anyone.  This was his angel.  He was back in the world as this adorable being that didn't belong anywhere near this horrible city.  He had another chance.  It didn't take them very long at all to get to the synagogue and Crawly stayed just outside the grounds. 

"Perhaps I'll see you again." Crawly said with a slight bow. 

"I would like that very much."  Asriel nodded before turning and going inside.  Crawly watched him go and then went about his work a little happier.  They were practically inseparable after that.  Crawly was always nearby whenever Asriel would finish his work for the day.  They would have dinner together and drink wine together and sometimes just go on walks together.  It was wonderful.  All the while Crawly was very careful about what he said or did around Asriel.  The young man was obviously very religious and Crawly was getting a bit tired of having to come up with excuses on why he couldn't join him for worship.  He didn't want to scare him away. 

"I'm sorry, angel, I just can't."  Crawly sighed. 

"What......what did you say?"  Asriel asked.  Crawly's eyes went a bit wide when he realized what he'd said. 

"I said I can't."  He cleared his throat. 

"No....I mean.....what did you call me?"  Asriel just stared at Crawly.  Crawly took a deep breath and let it out slowly, closing his eyes for a moment. 

"Angel.  I'm sorry, it's a habit from another time..."  He didn't want to look at Asriel, afraid of his reaction.  They'd been spending time together for nearly three years and Crawly was very certain that it was about to come to an end. 

"You miserable food, why didn't you say something sooner?"  Asriel asked with a bright smile on his face.  Crawly opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow, very confused. 

"I....what do you mean?" 

"We could have been together this whole time but instead you let me just stay hidden in here."  He took both of Crawly's hands and kissed the backs before looking him in the eye.  That's when Crawly saw it.  Something that he hadn't seen before.  It was....recognition.  Not just of who he was but of what he was. 

"Zira?"  He asked shakily as he reached one hand up to touch the pale, white cheek.  Asriel nuzzled the hand and smiled softly. 

"My poor, sweet demon.  I'm so terribly sorry to have kept you waiting.  I promised you that we would be together again, didn't I?"  Asriel said in a much more mature tone than Crawly was used to from him.  Crawly pulled Asriel into a tight hug, burying his face against his neck and just holding onto him as if he were never going to let go. 

"I missed you so much, angel."  He almost sobbed. 

"I know, my love, I know."  Asriel reached up and ran his fingers through Crawly's hair while he cried.  Crawly knew that this would just be a repeat of the first time.  They would spend as much time together as they could before this body grew old and died.  None of that mattered, though.  At the moment all that mattered was that he had his Aziraphale back.  They could sort out the rest later. 

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