Happy Holidays, Atsuki!

[goe_mod]

Title: Don't You Dare Touch Him

Summary: Aziraphale takes matters into his own hands when someone hurts his precious Crowley.

Rating: T

Aziraphale Fell hadn't live long in the old brick apartment building when a beguiling but mysterious man became his neighbor. Crowley was shunned by most of the posh inhabitants, but Fell knew there was more to him than the cold, devil-may-care attitude he tried to pawn off on others. He was running from something, from someone, always keeping him distant and afraid. But Aziraphale had slowly but carefully teased out his softer, truer heart on cold winter nights shared by Aziraphale's fire, between the pages of books and eventually sheets.

But Crowley's past was not one for letting him go, and one day Fell woke up to the sound of glass breaking from the apartment next door. Aziraphale didn't carry a gun, but he had a collection of katanas and swords he had collected on travels around the world. And when he heard Crowley screaming, he grabbed one of his oldest fifteenth-century swords and stormed out of his flat. He could smell the smoke coming out of Crowley's place and panic rose in his chest. How could they?!

He slashed through the locked door, flames licking at his blade and oil leaking on it from somewhere above the threshold. He found Crowley nearly unconscious on the ground, with flames rising up around him, on the drapes and the sofa. He scooped Crowley in his arms, then heard the evil cackle behind him. Aziraphale whirled, holding the sword out in front of him, the blade still aflame with the fire that was taking over Crowley's flat.

A stranger, dressed in grimy black with pale white hair, stepped forward with a gun cocked. Aziraphale reacted without an instant's hesitation. The sword came down and the gun clattered. The stranger yelled in agony, his fingers coated in red. "Now get out of here," Aziraphale seethed. The stranger hobbled out of the flat, and Aziraphale could hear the sounds of sirens outside, fire engines and police. He felt the impact of the smoke now on his lungs, and he cupped Crowley in his arms, hoisting him up to his feet and out the door.

They said it was a miracle the two of them made it out safely. Aziraphale didn't care who it was that protected them that day. He held Crowley close to him as his love caught his breath and huddled in the blanket the fire department wrapped around his shoulders. "You'll be okay, my love," Aziraphale said. "No one will hurt you when I'm around." And Crowley, all bruised and ashen and tired, looked at him with absolute love in his eyes and an undying trust that with Aziraphale, he'd be safe.