( there is something stuck in aziraphale's chest, something warm, bright, and oh-so-full of love. it sits heavy within him, threatening to burst forth. threatening, threatening, threatening in that way that it always does whenever he finds crowley to be particularly charming. he thinks that he would have to be made of stone not to find himself moved by the show of tender affection.

tender hands, tender looks, tender thoughts.

for brief shining moment, aziraphale thinks about how anywhere with crowley could be tolerable.

he returns the squeeze with his own, saying something that he doesn't have the words for. )

It's not.

( said a little too softly, a little too warmly. )

I don't quite know what it is, but the stakes don't seem to be as astronomical.

( then abruptly, he's reminded that he is actually supposed to be welcoming crowley into cohabitation. not thinking any bold thoughts. how he's supposed to do that exactly, he's not so sure, but he imagines that he can cobble something nice together. )

Oh, I'd almost forgotten. Do you need anything to be comfortable? ( then a quick gesture with his free hand out towards the condo. ) I haven't gotten to redecorating it yet.

( more like he's been snooping around for clues and hasn't wanted to disrupt the area yet.

however, the motion of his hand and the warmth of the feelings in his chest spark an unexpected miracle. a cluster of small led tea lights appear from the air, clattering loudly against the coffee table as they tumble downward and spill onto the floor. )