Summary
Angels believe themselves above violence, taunting, or any kind of physical threat for that matter—
That doesn't apply to Aziraphale when his demon is being taunted.

***

Requested by: @snekdan and @ainewithane

Word Count: 1452

***

Crowley kept his hands in his pockets and his gaze cast down as he made his way, strolling along the street. He wasn't in a particular bad mood, he was simply used to brooding after nearly six millennia of doing just that.
However, it was hard to stay in such a mood when he rounded the corner and nearly bumped into sunshine incarnate. Two round blue eyes blinked down at him, accompanied by a small smile as Aziraphale cocked his head.

"Funny seeing you about, isn't it?" The angel beamed.

"Is it? I am right outside your shop after all." The demon's posture naturally straightened itself.

"Yes, well, do come in please-" Aziraphale began, hastily turning back towards the door.

"Weren't you just heading out?" Crowley snorted in amusement at how quickly Aziraphale had changed corses for the sake of Crowley alone.

"Oh, just to do a bit of shopping," Aziraphale hesitated at the door handle, "The Sunday Market always has the most scrumptious of pies.." He sighed longingly, eyeing the street behind them, closed off as the bakers from around the community set up their booths.

Crowley followed the angel's gaze and sighed softly, "Alright then, let's go." He turned around with a stretch.

"Oh do you really mean it?" Aziraphale grinned widely, hurrying to walk beside Crowley, matching his step as they strode towards the market down the street.

"What else have I got to do? Even if I still was in the job, they never checked on us anyhow." Crowley snorted softly.

"Speak for yourself," Aziraphale's expression faded to a soft frown, "I could always feel upstairs breathing down my neck when I used even a smidge more miracles than they expected I needed to per week...it was dreadful."

"Your type were always acting like they had sticks up their-"

"Crowley-" Aziraphale chided, putting a hand on his back, which did the trick in shutting the serpent up as he unconsciously leaned into it.

"Ah, you know it's true though." Crowley hissed, "A bunch of sticks in the mud is what sticks they are.." He mumbled.

"Yes, well, no worrying about that anymore, eh? All we have to worry about right now is finding the best goodies this market has to offer!" Aziraphale declares as they entered the scene.

Crowley strode along the sidelines of the event, hands in his pockets and shades pressed up high on his nose as he watched Aziraphale through them, a very soft smile threatening to tug at his lips as hell watched how excited the angel got at the smallest of muffins and the fluffiest of bread.
He seemed to talk to every baker as if they went way back, and was collecting at least one item from each booth until he had a plethora of bags.
Crowley thought he might join the angel more closely, but as he took a step towards the white-haired wonder, his eyes flickered upon a familiar face.

"What in the heaven is he-" Crowley began to mutter but quickly slunk into his serpent form, slithering under a nearby table, just behind the one that Aziraphale stood by, to hide from the approaching Gabriel.

He didn't seem to notice Crowley, who stayed hidden under the currently empty booth, he seemed only interested in stopping beside the, now previous, Angel of heaven, gazing at the breads Aziraphale was.
The stouter angel had yet to notice him, until Gabriel let out a quiet hum, and the human attending to the booth appeared to lay his head down for a quick induced nap.

"Looks like you have enough as it is." Gabriel murmured as he picked up the loaf of bread Aziraphale was reaching for, turning it over in his hand.

Aziraphale's eyes stayed locked in place where the bread had just been, after hearing a voice he had prayed he would never hear again, hand giving a soft twitch as he put it down by his side.
"Why...Gabriel..what an interesting coincidence.." He murmured as he slowly glanced to the side at the archangel.

"Is it though?" Gabriel clicked his tongue, leaning against the booth as Aziraphale turned his body towards him gingerly with a quirked up smile.

"I would say so. Considering we don't seem to have any business left with each other." Aziraphale said kindly, despite wanting nothing more than to spit in the Archangel's face...which, just the thought, made him blush from shame at having had considered such a rude gesture.

Gabriel rolled his eyes slightly, "You don't think I'm not still on to you and that stunt you pulled? I've got my eyes on you, tubby." He growled softly.
A hiss sounded from underneath the table, one that both the angels noticed immediately.
Gabriel kicked his foot underneath the booth, coming within an inch of hitting Crowley, who made a point of snapping his jaws at the angel's heels as hell slithered his way out.
Gabriel flinches before narrowing his eyes, "Is that...the demon Crowley?" He scoffed.

"..Sure as day." Crowley hissed as he morphed back into his humanoid form, standing beside Aziraphale with a hand on his hip.

Aziraphale looked shyly to the side at how smoothly the other had assumed his position.

"Of course you two are still skulking around each other." Gabriel lifted his eyes rows, "I can't say I'm surprised that Aziraphale needs your company still."

"He can do however he pleases-" Crowley began in a low voice.

"Can he though? If he needs to be babysat while grocery shopping." Gabriel grinned.

"I'll have you know-!" Crowley lifted a finger in Gabriel's face.

"Crowley, really, i-it's quite alright, he doesn't get to me, my dear-" Aziraphale put a gentle hand on Crowley's.

"Doesn't get to-?" Gabriel scoffed, glaring at Aziraphale.

"Let's go." Aziraphale put a hand around Crowley's waist to turn him around, surprising the demon slightly at his forwardness as he was led down the street.

"That was- surprisingly un-phased of you, Angel-" Crowley mumbled.

"Don't think your disgusting little boyfriend can help you much longer, Aziraphale!" Gabriel began.

Aziraphale stopped where he walked and Crowley stopped with him, "...Pardon?" He murmured.

"You're pathetic for associating with his kind! Leaving heaven is one thing, choosing to hang out with a slimey, putrid demon such as him is a completely other subject matter all together." Gabriel's eyes narrowed.

"Wow, what kind words-" Crowley began to drawl out sarcastically before Aziraphale interrupted him with a turn on his heel as he stormed back up to Gabriel.

"He is quite lovely, actually! And isn't disgusting at all!" He pointed his finger directly in Gabriel's face, who rolled his eyes.

"I think I can be at times but.." Crowley thought it best not to finish that sentence.

"He's a demon, Aziraphale- or he was at least- he's something worse now-" Gabriel snorted.

"He's perfect. And what he is now is mine." Aziraphale's fist shakily raise and decked Gabriel square in the jaw, sending him tumbling back.

"MOTHER OF GOD-!" Gabriel cursed as the people around them gasped suddenly.

Even Aziraphale looked surprised with what he had done, and all too quickly blushed in embarrassment, but not before he could finish the job by very lightly spitting in Gabriel's face before turning back to Crowley and grabbing his arm, "We're leaving-" He announced.

Gabriel was too stunned to remark as the two higher beings left the market, Aziraphale in the lead , Crowley was dragged along with a very goofy grin on his face, calling back, "And I quite like how Aziraphale's tubby-ness looks, dick!"

As they left the market, Aziraphale sighed softly, letting go of Crowley's arm, "I..I do apologize for that show of mine, my dear.." He murmured.

"Are you kidding me? That was fuckin' epic, angel!" Crowley laughed, walking beside his angel.

"E-Epic?" Aziraphale shakily looked at Crowley.

"I've wanted to do that for decades! I've wanted you to do that to him for decades! Well done, angel, well done!" Crowley clapped Aziraphale on the back, who winced slightly but smiled shyly at the ground.

"Oh, it wasn't much..." He chuckled softly.

"Of course it was! That deserves a drink!" Crowley declared.

"You think everything deserves a drink." Aziraphale rolled his eyes fondly.

"And I've yet to find a single thing that doesn't!" The demon winked.

Aziraphale stopped as they rescued the book shop, opening the door for Crowley, "After you, my dear."

Crowley snorted and began to enter, "I think I like mine more than my dear, angel.." He winked slightly from under his shades before fully entering as Aziraphale was left a flustered, blushing mess as he closed the door behind them.

***

So it's been awhile!! But I've noticed over the years that this book has remained my most active and figured you guys deserved a new chapter! Hope the wait wasn't too long!

-Jay