shipping | psl

"Just trying to display for you. Kind of tricky, like this. But you say nice things so I want to... you know, look nice for you. Show off for you."

He's starting to wonder if humans have an equivalent. He's sure they must have - how do they show reciprocation when certain interests are expressed?

"Darling, you don't need to display for me." He presses a kiss to Crowley's nose.

"You're already the most beautiful thing I've ever seen with my own two eyes." And also he's a little bit, you know, fetishistic about it. Because he's a merman, and that just makes him all the more beautiful to Aziraphale. But his intentions are pure. Too pure.

"And we're already betrothed."

Crowley looks mildly bewildered by this.

"I know, but isn't it good to continue to display for you? ...Do humans just stop showing off for their mates once they're courting...?"

He's not sure if there's an equivalent.

"Do... do humans maybe have something like - I don't know - fancy cloth that they put on? For occasions when they're happy or just want to look nice for someone special...?"

"Well, yes, of course, but it's only for special occasions. I can't just... go over and put on my suit every time I want to look nice for you."

He does think he could, however, do up his hair. Perhaps pinch his cheeks so they get a bit of rouge.

"I won't want to stop you if you wish to continue your display, but. I find you beautiful, either way." He reaches out to touch his leg, run his fingers over where the fringe should be.

He's about to ask what a suit is, but the fingers on his thigh have him more than a bit distracted. That feels - well, good seems to be an understatement - maybe phenomenal comes close, but still misses the mark.

A shiver runs through him, and his eyes flutter shut, as he fails to stifle a soft gasp. Gently, he takes Aziraphale's hand, guiding it along the grain of his scales, lean muscle twitching and flexing under is touch.

"If it gets you to do this, then I think I may, ah, keep doing it."

"Mm, cheeky," he responds, though he's happy to keep running his fingers gently down the scales, careful not to flip any. He imagines that might be painful, getting descaled.

"You really are incredibly beautiful," he says. He'd like to be able to touch Crowley like this, whenever he wanted. He wanted to be able to kiss him whenever, to love him however.

"What is the ceremony like?" he asks, finally. "For pairing?"

Crowley sighs happily as Aziraphale keeps petting the sleek, smooth scales. Scooting close to him, he runs his fingers through Aziraphale's soft curls.

"It depends - some are quite extravagant events, but most are usually a hunt and a meal with one's pod. The pair is then left in seclusion with several days worth of food, they exchange small gifts, and then remain in their primary den for days until their supplies run low."

He's sure Aziraphale can extrapolate just what they'd be getting up to.

"After that, they rejoin their pod and carry on. Just. As a pair now."

"Oh," he replies. "Well, I suppose I'll have to learn how to hunt, then." He thinks about this and comes to the conclusion that their wedding might be a little... hmm, simple, because he's not much a hunter.

Or, he doesn't think he is.

"Will you teach me?" he asks. "I'll have to be able to contribute my share of the food, after all." And the more he can contribute, the longer they can be left in seclusion...

Crowley is fairly certain these days they could do whatever they liked and simply declare themselves a pair, but people did seem rather attached to ritual and ceremony - even on land.

If it's something that's important to Aziraphale, then Crowley sees no reason not to see it through.

"I will," he says gently, nuzzling against his shoulder. "We'll hunt together, eat together, live together. You'll show me how to live on land, and I'll show you how to live in the sea."

He nods excitedly and then offers Crowley some fish, and eats some as well. "Living together with you would make me so happy," he says. "Happier than I've ever been. I've never loved anyone before," he adds, looking down a moment and then up into Crowley's eyes. "Suppose I've just been made to wait for you."

He busses Crowley on the tip of his nose, and then returns to his eating.

Crowley has a few more nibbles of fish, but his heart is drumming so hard, it's difficult to focus on anything but Aziraphale. He wonders if his life has been leading up to meeting Aziraphale? It certainly feels like it. He knows there's a great deal of mysticism surrounding love for his people, and that when it hit, it hit hard and fast.

He nuzzles up against Aziraphale's cheek, holding him while he eats, and keeps an eye out for any sign of trouble. He doesn't know what dangers lurk on land, and anything could come flying through the door or window.

"I'm glad we found each other then - shouldn't keep you waiting forever, right?" he teases, pressing a kiss to Aziraphale's shoulder. "Will you tell me more about weddings? What are those like? What'll we do when we're married?"

"Well," he says, growing a bit sad. "We'll have to do a secret one, I'm afraid. Won't actually be much like a wedding. But we'll... put on nice clothes, and make vows to each other. And exchange rings." He nods. "And then we'll also feast."

He does like the feasting part, wouldn't trade that or the vows bit for the world.

"Then we'll return here, and ah... hm." He looks down and mutters something inaudible, looking away, fiddling his fingers.

Should be fairly obvious what he's getting at.

He makes a mental note about rings. He has many, many rings, all quite glittery and shiny. He'll have to pick out one that suits Aziraphale, and also a proper gift.

When Aziraphale starts fiddling, Crowley grins.

"So it's just like a pairing then? Settle in for a few days of intimacy?"

It does seem very similar, except one part.

"Why keep it a secret though? Are we doing something wrong?"

"Well," Aziraphale says, now that that cat's out of the bag. And trust, of course Crowley would be excited to hear it. "It's just not acceptable here," he says. "But you also aren't human. We've never had a marriage like that."

He reaches for Crowley's arm to reassure him before he says, "Here, we only marry men to women and women to men. But I don't see why that should be, if I love you as I do. And I do."

He just wants to make sure Crowley knows that, first.

"Really? My people come up to the surface a lot to meet humans. I figured a few of us would adopt your traditions."

Maybe they just continued to keep their nature a secret? After all, he'd been warned since a young age not to go flitting about in front of groups of them.

"We'll have a nice, quiet, private wedding then. I don't want to put you in danger. And if they find out, we can run off together. Lots of space underwater, they'd forget all about us."

"Oh, yes. We could do that, run away." And he could study all the marine biology he ever wanted. The only problem is--

--"But I wouldn't be able to take my books with me." That's the one thing he has lots of. It's why his cabin is so small. He just spends so much money on books.

"It's alright. We'll talk about it if it comes up." He pecks a kiss to Crowley's lips.

"You really are perfect."

Crowley drums his fingers, considering this. He'd seen what water does to paper.

"We could find a place on land to hide your books. Safe and dry. Then when you want to come read them, you can come to shore. I know all about finding good places to hide stuff - strangers always coming round trying to steal my things and elbow in on my territory."

Crowley preens a little when Aziraphale calls him perfect, and rests his chin on his shoulder.

"We'll find a way to keep all your treasures safe. No one will be able to steal them. And I'll always keep you safe."

Crowley is by far the sweetest, most thoughtful person that Aziraphale has ever met, and he wonders if perhaps he just doesn't like most humans very much. He still likes them as a concept, but all of the ones around him seem to be the worst.

Aziraphale wraps an arm around Crowley's waist to keep him close.

He smells like deep sea brine, and toasted seashells.

"Mm, is there anything else you'd like to do today?" he asks. He wonders how much it would cost to buy a wheelbarrow, and be able to take Crowley into town or give him somewhere to sit should he get tired.

Crowley isn't quite so bad off on his feet that he needs a wheelbarrow. He certainly hopes not.

Especially when he inevitably finds out what one is.

"Sun's getting low. Could go sit out on the, uh. ...Hm. The wood bits? Yeah - those. Watch it go. You can tell me all about your studies and travels on boats?"

He does want to learn more about this clever sage. Learn why he lives on the fringes on society, rather like Crowley.

Though if humans don't like men pairing off, and Aziraphale's inclinations seem obvious, Crowley can rather suspect why.

Yes, it is rather obvious that Aziraphale prefers the company of that which society deems unacceptable, but honestly, he just likes to be left alone in his den with his books and his things and his work and not be too bothered.

He had moved into the city when he'd first gotten here, and there was a lot of entertainment and restaurants, but it was loud and there were so many nosy neighbors that he'd decided to cut his losses and move to the outskirts of town where he could afford to spend more money on books.

"Yes, let's go out to the woods." He goes to get a basket to pack a blanket for them to find some lovely shaded area to sit and look at the trees.

Crowley gets up, steadier on his feet now, though he still sways his hips unnaturally. He does a few tests for balance at the door, standing on one foot, then the other, testing his joints and, as Aziraphale packs, inspects his ankles.

When Aziraphale is ready, he even manages to figure the door out, just to get it open for him.

"Never seen 'em up close. All big and green like pillars. You get a few that fall in the water sometimes, but I bet being among them all clumped together like that is something else."

"Oh, well, we must go see them then." He beams at Crowley and then steps outside his door, locking up behind them before offering Crowley one of his arms to hold onto as they go off, though he'll lead the way.

"Hear they're quite different in Denmark. Neat and orderly." He sighs wistfully.

"I can't wait to see them. You'll have to compare!"

Crowley nods, minding his footing in the sand which seems to slip and slide under the soles of his new feet. But he holds tight to Aziraphale and manages to stay upright until they're on firmer ground.

Oddly enough, he doesn't seem to have any issue navigating the tree roots. There's a couple close calls when he's marveling at the way the trees stand so tall, pushing up to the sky, but he seems to be getting the hang of walking. Even his hip-swaying has gone from 'absurd and obscene' to simply 'scandalous'.

But then, he is walking around stark naked. Not that he particularly cares.

"Maybe with you studying fish, I should set my sights on studying trees, eh?"

He nudges Aziraphale lightly, before spotting a small outcropping of rocks. One of them looks flat and comfortable and perfectly warmed by the evening sun. Crowley eagerly points this out - perfect spot for them to snuggle up and watch the sunset together.

Aziraphale helps him head over to that crop of rocks, because indeed it does look rather comfortable.

They make it all the way and Aziraphale is so proud of him, for being a much better walker than he is a swimmer.

He unpacks his basket and lays out the blanket first and guides Crowley to sit on it, before taking out some of their food, including the rest of the cake.

"Thought we could use a little nibble."

Crowley sprawls out on the blanketed rock, stretching his long limbs every which way, like some manner of scaly scarecrow, before patting his lap invitingly. How convenient that there is a light chill in the air and his love might need keeping warm while he snacks on cake.

"Sounds tempting. Come here, love, let me rub your shoulders. You baked that cake and then did so well today in the water."

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