Happy Holidays, milkhorror!

[goe_mod]

Title: The Garden of Earthly Delights
Rating: G (mild language)
Pairing: Aziraphale/Crowley
PAIRING/PLOT BUNNY/RATING: human au aziraphale/crowley. i know this is suuuuper overused but i’m such a sucker for crowley owning a flower shop! aziraphale can either own a bookstore like usual or something else! modern era would be cool for this too!!
Author’s note: Happy holidays. I had a lot of fun with this prompt. I made it as fluffy as possible and I hope you like it! In this fic Aziraphale goes by the name of Ezra and Crowley goes by Crowley.

The Garden of Earthly Delights

The bell above the door jingled as Ezra stepped into the flower shop. Crowley stood at his usual place at the counter, reading a trashy tabloid and tapping a pen to the mid-2000s top 40s playlist that was blaring from the shop speakers. Things seemed to be heating up for celebrities this year. At least four alleged breakups and a torrid affair in the span of a week. Crowley chuckled to himself. It was all clearly fake, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t worth a laugh or two.

Crowley looked up as Ezra entered, his face instantly lighting up the moment he recognized him. He could pick Ezra’s curly dark hair and bright brown eyes out of a crowd of a thousand. Ezra was dressed in his usual rumpled sweater and comfy cords, easily one of Crowley’s favorite sights.

“Welcome to Earthly Delights Floral Arrangements. How may I help you this afternoon?” Crowley said in his expertly mastered customer service voice. His warm smile gave him away though.

Ezra beamed as he walked up to the counter. “Oh, hello. I’m here to order a bouquet. I was wondering if you could help me pick out the perfect one,” he said.

Crowley pretended to frown as he thought deeply. “Well, I suppose I could find something for you. I’m gonna need some intel on what sort of bouquet you’re looking for.”

“Well, it’s a very special bouquet for a very special someone. It’s for an anniversary, you see.” Ezra stifled a giggle as he spoke.

“Oh? Congratulations. How long have you been together?” Crowley leaned forward as he asked.

“It will be five years this coming Friday,” Ezra said, leaning forward as well. “I have to say, I’m quite excited to celebrate.” He’d leaned in close enough to Crowley now that their noses almost touched. Crowley could smell Ezra’s rose perfume and couldn’t ignore the warm sense of comfort that settled in his stomach in response to the familiar scent. There were few smells Crowley loved more.

“I can imagine so. Five years is a very long time. I’m actually approaching an anniversary myself,” Crowley said, reaching out to take Ezra’s hand where it lay against the counter. He noticed absently that Ezra’s hand felt even softer than usual. His husband had most likely stopped to get a manicure before coming over.

Ezra feigned a gasp. “Congratulations to you, too. Do you have anything special planned for your sweetheart?” Ezra said, slipping his fingers between Crowley’s own.

“Of course I do. It’s a surprise. I’m sure he’ll love it though.” Crowley had put a lot of thought into Ezra’s present. It currently sat in a reusable shopping bag on the highest shelf in the kitchen. A first edition of Andrew Lang’s Blue Fairy book as published by the Folio Society. It was the last book Ezra needed to complete his Andrew Lang collection and Crowley could already see the look of delight on Ezra’s face when he opened the present. Ezra had been incredibly tight-lipped about his own present. However, knowing how Ezra preferred to stick to tradition whenever possible, Crowley assumed it was something wooden.

“You know, if you told me a little bit about your husband, I could better design the bouquet. Maybe you could tell me what he looks like or maybe some of his interests,” Crowley rubbed his nose against Ezra’s.

“Oh my, what a wonderful idea,” Ezra said. “First off, he’s rather tall.” He paused for a moment, leaning up to press a kiss against Crowley’s cheek.

“Oh? What else?” Crowley asked, clearly enjoying himself.

“He’s also incredibly handsome with these incredible cheekbones. I often find myself moonstruck after I see him when he first comes home from work.” Another kiss, this time to Crowley’s other cheek. “He has the softest dark hair and the most enchanting smile.”

“I think I’m starting to get an idea of the guy. I can almost picture him in my head. What about his hobbies? What does he like, besides you I’m sure?” Crowley couldn’t resist bringing Ezra’s hand up to kiss his fingertips one by one.

Ezra watched Crowley entranced before realizing that he actually needed to respond to what Crowley had said. “Oh, yes, he has quite a lot of interests. He loves action movies, especially James Bond.” Crowley nodded along as he pressed another kiss to the knuckle of Ezra’s little finger. “He loves music, even bebop.” Crowley snickered before pressing a soft kiss to Ezra’s ring finger.

“Does he have a favorite genre?”

“Oh yes. It’s soul music.” A kiss to Ezra’s middle finger.

“What else?”

“He loves old fashioned cars. He prefers everything else as new as it’ll come, but he’d never touch a car less than twice his age.”

Crowley chuckled as he pressed a kiss to the knuckle of Ezra’s index finger. “Older cars are more reliable, you know? They’re built to last.”

Ezra nodded before saying with a grin, “Oh yes, I’ve been told as much. Just can’t trust the new ones.”

“Absolutely.” Crowley paused for a moment, as if he were taking in everything Ezra had described. “So that’s your husband, huh?” Crowley leaned in so that he and Ezra were eye-to-eye. He put on his most solemn, serious face before saying, “He sounds like a real twat.”

Ezra froze, eyes going wide for only a second before bending over in paroxysms of laughter. His hand slipped from Crowley’s as he broke character, wrapping both arms around his stomach. “Crowley, Crowley oh goodness, oh my. You can’t just…” Ezra had trouble getting words out as he wheezed.

Crowley watched Ezra laugh with a look of unrestrained delight. He rested his chin on his hand before saying, “Sorry, Angel. Just couldn’t resist.”

“You don’t sound very sorry,” Ezra said as he finally caught his breath, though there was not a hint of actual anger in his tone.

“You caught me,” Crowley said, both hands raised in defeat. “Do you still want a bouquet?”

Ezra considered for a moment. “That would be lovely. I made our reservation at the Ritz. We can bring it there.” Ezra reached out to take both Crowley’s raised hands in his, rubbing his thumbs against the backs of his hand as he brought them down.

“Sounds nice. I can’t wait,” Crowley’s smile was warm as he spoke. “I love you,” The words slipped from his mouth as easy as breathing. Long ago he might have been embarrassed at how easily the words came, but the years had worn away any embarrassment or reluctance. It didn’t hurt that Ezra’s eyes always lit up whenever he said those words.

“I love you too, dear,” Ezra said as he smiled up at Crowley. “I’ll see you later tonight.”

“Yeah, see you then,” Crowley said, leaning in for one last kiss. He reluctantly pulled his hands out of Ezra’s grasp. He watched his husband of five years walk out the door of the shop with a small smile. Ezra gave a little wave once he reached the door before stepping out and closing the door behind him. Crowley slowly returned to his tabloid, humming along to the love song that was currently playing over the radio.

The days couldn’t pass fast enough.