Chapter Text
The day already started off badly. First the alarm clock decided to quit work and Aziraphale got up late. Then he slipped on the soap in the shower and knocked his head. At breakfast he noticed he had run out of cream for his tea and the bread tasted moldy. When he arrived at university he noticed that he wore his vest pulled left. The caféteria was out of strawberry cakes. And when he opened his pencil case he noticed that the ink mine had leaked and soaked through the leather.
Maybe lunch would be better... he wanted to meet Anathema and was looking forward to a chat. But after the morning lectures he received a message that she would not make it on time, awfully sorry. Grumpily he ordered pasta bolognese, but the cook seemed to be in love today... because the sauce was way too salty.
On his way to work a dove had the audacity to poop on his shoulder. Swearing Aziraphale changed into the only other clothes he had with him, his sports T Shirt. His boss Sandalphon would be delighted... not... But he could not drive home now, not enough time till his shift started. Perhaps Muriel would brighten his day... but Sandalphon told him, that they were sick today, if he could probably stay one hour longer...
Aziraphale sighed. He could use more money for paying the rates of his car, but after not really having a suitable breakfast and lunch, his mood went a bit sour. Grimly he nodded and Sandalphon shook his head. Aziraphale was known to be a ray of sunshine, always cheerful. "Whatever it is that is bugging you, pull yourself together and don't let it show..."
"Yes, sir..." Aziraphale sighed and tried to put on his brightest smile.
Finally, his shift was over and he was looking forward to some time with Crowley. "Hey... what do you say about some dinner in town? Maybe a walk in the park? I had such a shit day... I think I yell at someone if I don't get out right now..." he wrote in his message.
"Oh, poor darling... I think that can be arranged. Any suggestions?"
They agreed on meeting at the sushi bar.
Aziraphale's stomach rumbled when he reached the parking lot and his face fell, when he saw that the restaurant was closed, due to staff shortage.
Crowley also wrote that he was in a traffic jam and it would take him longer to get there.
"No need, it is closed... I need anything, I am near starvation... perhaps we just get a pizza or I don't know... I wait here and we can decide together..."
He decided to read a bit in the book Sandalphon had allowed him to have over the weekend. When he pulled the book out, he froze... that stupid pencil had leaked again and the cover was smeared with ink... shit... Aziraphale could have cried... he would have to pay for the book now. It was rather expensive. And really a pity... on the other hand... perhaps he COULD remove the stain and otherwise he would have never bought himself a book that expensive... with a curse he threw away the pencil. Which had been expensive as well. He huffed.
Finally Crowley arrived. He chuckled "Hey, angel, what are you wearing there? What happened to your vest?" and Aziraphale snapped "Look at your own clothing, Mr I look so perfect..."
Crowley rose an eyebrow "Well... seems like your day was really shit. But wasn't my fault, Aziraphale..." a slight warning in his voice.
"Right... sorry... no it is not. I am just so frustrated..." and he told Crowley in a rough summary about his day who nodded sympathetic.
"I see... Well, here aren't so many restaurants in this area, but how about some ice cream in the park? We could walk there... and have some spring rolls and anything you like from Mr Shan later at home?"
"Sounds not so bad... why not." Aziraphale agreed and Crowley put an arm around him while walking to the park.
Aziraphale really tried to brighten up his mood, but he was still snippy quickly and complained about everything. The sun was too hot, the wind too chilly. The icecream waffle wasn't crispy enough, the strawberry icecream did not taste berry like enough... the bench was too hard, the people around looked too happy... He was a sulky little angel. Still Crowley grinned about the pouting it did look rather cute.
"What are you looking so stupid at me?" Aziraphale muttered which earned him a smack on his arm. "Easy, angel... I still did nothing wrong... I understand that the day was awful, but the weather is fine, the ice cream is nice, we are out together, try to calm down."
"I don't WANT to calm down. Calm down yourself..."
"That is quite enough, Aziraphale. I don't want to punish you, when you had such a hard day already, but you come close on crossing the line..."
Aziraphale huffed and rolled his eyes, but said nothing. Crowley decided to let it slide.
"What about your exam paper, did you hand it in? You haven't told anything about it since last week."
"That is due till next Friday, still time..."
"Ahm... no... I am quite sure you said that it would be today..."
"Can't be!" Aziraphale pulled his calendar out...of course, Crowley had been right. He watched Crowley who had stood up to feed the ducks. Aziraphale joined him with a sheepish look on his face.
"Oh, shit! You're right... Now I have to ask Mrs Hudson tomorrow if she still accepts it..."
Crowley turned around with an admonishing look. "Well... if you used the calendar in your phone it would remind you of things like this. You KNOW that you aren't good with remembering dates..." Crowley had noticed that he had dropped a letter and was bending down to get it.
Aziraphale, on the verge of explosion, wasn't only bad with remembering dates, but also bad with listening to criticism. Grumpily he kicked at Crowley's butt... who lost balance and fell into the pond.
"Oh my... oh, no... sorry, Crowley, I..."
Crowley came back up, spitting out a mouth full of duckweed.
"GET. ME. OUT. OF. HERE... Right now..."
"Yes... sir, I am sorry..."
"Oh, you are so going to regret this..." Crowley hissed.