Books and Bullets
booksandburningblades:
At his confirmation, he dumped the skins into a bowl and began to cut the potatoes into it. A pot was filled with water and put on the stove, and as soon as it had the hint of beginning to boil it was all dumped in. Who knew it would be so entertaining to make things like this for a loved one? Well. Of course, that much was obvious. But it was something that was always meant to be for girls. Not for a man, or at least– Not for two men. Simply unheard of. But as the other spoke, his ears tingled. What kind of tea– And then, he could feel the other’s body pressed against his.
“O-oh, I don’t know. I have plenty. I usually like it without any sugar or cream. Perhaps… Let’s do Earl Gray today. A proper English dinner.” He turned his head to give Crowley a gentle smile, his heart throbbing as tried to keep his cool regarding being so dreadfully close. It was hard to focus, as if they hadn’t already been intimate a handful of times already. His cheeks reddened, and stayed red even as Crowley stepped away, only one hand remaining on his hip as he went to make the tea. …Ah! The sausages! He’d forgotten! He turned them, breathing in sharply.
“Well. Anyway. Thank you for getting out all the plates and utensils, and that tea, I’m sure it’ll be lovely. Ah. It might still take a moment for the potatoes to finish. I mean– Well. It takes a bit of work to mash them.” He tested to see how soft they were in the boiling water, and as soon as he was satisfied, he transferred them to a pot where he began to mash them, only taking just a moment to add some butter and salt to the mixture. He took another glance at Crowley, soaking up the sight of the other helping him in the kitchen. He hadn’t realized how lonely he’d always felt in his home until now. And, at such a lovely thought, darkness began to creep into the thoughts in the back of his mind.
“Do you think anyone will ever get suspicious of us? Being together so often?”
Earl Grey, how exceptionally English of his lovely dove. And to think Azir was anything of the sort with as well traveled and conversed as he was. It was no wonder the blonde had chosen this dreadful island to call his home. It suited his mannerisms perfectly and his lifestyle to boot. Crowley suddenly became very aware of how obscure their meeting truly was. Fate by fate for fate’s sake seemed to be playing in their favor. He was far from being a God fearing man, but times like this, while basically standing in the graces of an angel, the redhead did have to wonder what the stars were playing at far above.
While he was busy toiling away with tiny bags of tea and taking the kettle off the stove, Crowley’s ear pricked to Azir’s words. It wasn’t the homely talk of peas and mash but rather something that made his heart drop to the bottom of his chest. If anyone will become suspicious of them? His heart thudded. Of being together too often? Again, a hard thump. Those amber eyes of his lifted from whatever his fingers were fiddling with. Was Azir suggesting they were spending too much time together. Was it making the blonde uncomfortable? Better yet, it was a reasonable question …where they becoming too obvious?
“Ngh, nah …jussst weekends really, isn’ it? Why, someone bein’ suspicious to you, Angel?” He asked with concern, but it left a strike of fear in his heart. Azir wouldn’t leave him out of fear of what the world thought of him, would he? Then again …it wasn’t like that wasn’t uncommon. Maybe meeting the blonde had been too good of fate to be true. The pot of tea was set and Crowley went along to help Azir pile a wonderfully home cooked meal onto the plates. However, that lovely warm feeling of a full house was lost on the redhead for the time, leaving him silent in his own thoughts as he retreated to their little table.
“My lot never give a damn, never care,” he hissed as he shook his head, flicking his eyes toward his lover. “Could …could alwaysss tone it down a bit, however. Stay away from the shop a few daysss.” He said as he scratched under his chin, once again thinking, staring. It was a safe idea, and a reasonable one, even if the thought left a sinking feeling in the redhead’s soul. Why must society treat them like, well, criminals! Crowley knew criminals, and there was nothing wrong with loving another man. In fact he knew it was the most wholesome and wonderful thing he’d ever done with his damned life.
“Oh. Oh, no, you don’t have to stay away,” Azir replied, his heart thumping in response to the answer. What a grotesque request. After he’d finally found someone he could be comfortable with? He hated the concept. He finished what he had to do with the food and gently and quietly thanked Crowley for the plate that was handed to him. He gave the two of them their portions of food, and sat down at the table that Crowley had set for them.
“It was just-- While I was at church, perhaps it was my imagination, but it felt as though everyone was staring. They had a conversation about... Relationships like ours. Made it quite difficult to not be paranoid, I’m afraid.” He patted a napkin onto his lap and smoothed it out, taking in a gentle breath as he steadied himself. What a thing to complain about, souring the mood of such a lovely Sunday. His lips pressed together for just a moment, and he found himself again as his eyes blinked upward to observe Crowley.
“Well. I apologize for that, we really shouldn’t think about such things. I’m being a silly-billy for being so worried. I’m sure it will be just fine. It’s normal, to have a friend. A... Oh, I don’t know. Business partner.” A good excuse, wouldn’t it be...? Someone who helped him acquire particularly rare books. The memory of the woman he’d met last night flooded his mind. The little business card she’d given him-- Even beyond it being a valid excuse for Crowley being around, he should well remember to look into that.
“Regardless! Tell me how the food tastes, if it’s up to your standards.” An effort to get out of an entirely dreadful conversation. He gave Crowley a warm smile and picked up his fork, awaiting the other’s words as he spooned some of the mash onto his utensil and took a bite. And gave a full-cheeked smile as the spoon left his lips.

















