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“I… I think I- no. It appears that I... have fallen in love, Master.”
Raphael blinked twice, then a slow smile began to tug on his lips. He laid down and beckoned to Aziraphale. "Come, my love, lie with me. Confide in me like you always did; I swear by my grace that anything you say will stay between us."
With a sigh, Aziraphale obeyed like he always did. This time though, obedience didn’t come with fear or unease; if there was one person he could fully trust, it was Raphael.
“It’s… so difficult, why does it have to be so difficult?” Aziraphale murmured. “He’s- he’s so patient with me. I know he has loved me for a long time but something happened and suddenly I realized that he is more than a friend and I feel stupid for not getting it earlier. And I’m already babbling, sorry.”
“Love usually isn’t without hardships,” Raphael soothed. “I can imagine that you are anxious. But, maybe talking will help. Just let it out, don’t worry about making sense.”
Aziraphale took a deep breath. “I’ve known him for a long time, and we’ve been friends, and I suppose, I’ve slowly grown to love him - and then, he does a specific kind gesture and- as if my eyes had been closed until this, they are suddenly open and my heart is swelling and- I really want to give something back, something more but at the same time, I’m terrified. I’m not supposed to love him. He’s not someone I should even talk to, what if they get wind of this, Heaven will be so angry!”
Raphael hummed thoughtfully, caressing his former aide’s hair.
“He is smart and handsome, my Lord, and can be kind, especially to me and, um, I am fairly sure that he’d also love to take this relationship further, if you know what I mean… And-” Aziraphale squeezed his eyes shut. “I’d love to let him. But can I? Can I even think of it, let alone offering myself to a-” He bit the sentence off.
“Oh my darling,” Raphael sighed. “You are such a good little angel, and I can’t blame you for that, that’s what you’re supposed to be. However…” He smirked. “I’m fairly sure that there’s nothing in Heaven’s rulebooks against having affairs with mortals. Some of us have done that, and they didn’t get punished, at least not for that. I’m just worried that once their time runs out, you’ll be back in the Garden, crying on my shoulder, and it’d break my heart, seeing you sad. But I also want you to be happy, so if you’re certain that their feelings are genuine-”
“M-Master…” Aziraphale interrupted, flushed bright crimson. “I need to be completely honest with you. Please don’t be angry with me but the one I love… It’s a demon.”