lt_safe_house | One Magic Moment

Entry tags:

One Magic Moment

Date: May 15, mid-morning
Location: The kitchen, then one of the banquet rooms
Status: Open and Public -COMPLETE
Summary: Raphael makes a formal dinner for everyone at the manor

One Magic Moment

Raphael stared down the telephone. He had finished his Chinese take-out and to be honest he was more than a little hungry. It shamed him to admit it, but he wanted food.

Flopping back onto his bed he stared up at the ceiling, a hand coming down to ruffle his bunny's soft fur. His mind drifted to the time he had been here, the friends he had made, the people who had helped him when he had been teetering on the edge of discorporation... They felt like his family now. A large, adoptive family.

Slowly, an idea began to seep into his mind.

While walking around the manor he had seen a large ballroom on the first floor. At night, it almost felt like being surrounded by stars, the celestial lights above twinkling against the sky.

He leaped to his feet, startling his bunny, and dashed from his room. He knew there had to be a grocery store or a marketplace or something around here. It may take some time to find it (worst case scenerio he would have to buy veggies from an elderly lady's garden) but he knew he could make it there and back, including the shopping, and be back in time to spend all day setting up and all tomorrow cooking. He could have formal invitations made and slip them under the doors... Tomorrow night would be plenty of time, right?

He had to hurry. If he was going to gift his family with a formal dinner, he had twenty-four hours to go!

Before he left, however, he stopped at a certain angel's door. Knocking gently, he called, "Aziraphale? Are you there?"

((•))

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Aziraphale opened the door and smiled when he saw who it was. "Hello there, dear, what can I do for you?"

Raphael resisted the urge to gather his mentee into his arms and hug him til he purred. Instead he smiled broadly and explained what he was planning. "I'm going to go shopping today and then cook tomorrow. Would you like to help? I'm planning to have all kinds of food- Mexican, Italian, Middle Eastern, Thai, Chinese... Vegetarian meals too, want to help?" He was well aware of how he must sound but he was so excited he didnt care.

Aziraphale couldn't quell the grin that bubbled up. "Oh, I haven't cooked a large meal in ages! This sounds like so much fun! When were you planning on going shopping, or were you thinking of doing that by yourself, or what?"

"I'm actually going right now," he said, purring from the happiness radiating from his mentee. "I have a lot to do because the dinner is tomorrow night. Would you like to help me shop? Or you can meet me in the kitchen tomorrow at six. I realize it is quite early but so much needs to be prepared." He let out a squee of excitement.

"I would love to help you shop," Aziraphale gushed.

"Lets go then!" He grasped Aziraphale by the hand and pulled him down the hall with him. He stopped abruptly. "Erm. Should perhaps let you close up your room..." His cheeks burned but he was smiling.

Aziraphale laughed softly. "No need, my dear." After all, anyone who wanted to go into his room for whatever reason (Crowley, Beelzebub) would be more than able to get into it even if he did lock it up. "Are you well enough to walk now, dear? I wouldn't mind pushing the wheelchair again. Although I must say you look much better now than you did when we went to go get ice cream!"

"I get tired sometimes." He didnt mention the terror he felt about Belial draining his energy. "But I'm perfectly okay. Well, let's go then! Do you know where to buy stuff around here?"

Aziraphale smiled and took his hand. "I have no idea! But if we go walking into town, we'll be sure to find something! Let's get going, dear!"

Raphael couldn't contain his happiness. Mentor and mentee on a shopping day! Maybe hecoukd find a new journal too, something with colored pages and perhaps a nice pen to go with it.

Speaking of journals...

He pulled out his notebook and flipped to a blank page. Clicking his mechanical pencil he began to make a list of various dishes. Fettucini Alfredo... Red Curry... Misal Pav... (Must remember peppers!) ...Rice... Bread... Veggies... Steak... Rose would hopefully enjoy a nice steak. Belial would no doubt enjoy the Indian dishes. And he simply must get some sushi for Aziraphale to have.

Raphael showed him his list of dishes. "What will we need for these?"

Aziraphale nodded as he looked over the list. "That definitely seems doable. Might I borrow your book to write the ingredients down? That's far better than trusting my rusty memory to recall everything while at the store itself."

Raphael passed him his notebook and pencil. "I'll pick up a new one while we're out," he said.

Aziraphale smiled as he started writing down the ingredients, hoping he remembered misal-pav correctly, it's been so long, did this one use sugar? "My goodness, you're a prolific writer," he admitted as he noticed he was using a page near the end of the journal. "Yes, we shall have to get you a larger one while out."

He chuckled. "Come on, there's a little shop down the way. Let's see if they have vegetables!"

*

**

Raphael sat perched on a stone ledge, rummaging through his bags and taking inventory of everything they had purchased (with real money. Not miracled.) Turning to Aziraphale he asked, "What should we get for dessert? Or shall we bake something? Chocolate cake perhaps?"

Aziraphale brightened up. "I haven't made chocolate and caramel ice cream cake in ages and it's so delicious, oh do you mind if I run back into the store and get the ingredients?" he asked, eyes shining.

"Oh! That sounds fantastic, dear! Go right ahead, I'll just hop in here and get a new Journal while youre doing that." He purred happily... Everything was coming together and his excitement could hardly be contained.

"We'll meet out here in half an hour," he said, giving his dear mentee a big hug before sprinting into the store.

Aziraphale chuckled before walking back into the grocery store and getting what he needed. He waited, however, to time it perfectly so he got outside just as Raphael did, as he didn't want anything to melt in the interim.

*

**

It had a kitten on it, it had bubbles on it, and it was pink.
Besides his newly-acquired journal (which was practically encrusted in pink) Raphael also had a flat box, the contents of which he would surprise Aziraphale with tomorrow. In the mean time, he tucked it into his bag and waited for the Principality to emerge.

Aziraphale beamed at Raphael as he exited the grocer's. "Unfortunately we're going to have to head back to the Manor so these don't melt," he said, gesturing to the bag over his arm. "Shall we walk back or would you prefer to fly?"

Raphael grinned at that and spread his wings.

Aziraphale gnawed on his oft-abused lower lip as he looked over the food in front of him. "Misal-pav..." he murmured to himself, gathering the ingredients. "Whose idea was this dish?" he asked Raphael. "I haven't had it in ages."

Raphael was looking over his own ingredients. "I thought Gabriel would enjoy it, it's a Middle-Eastern dish and you know how he spent many years there. I bought some peppers to make it nice and spicy."

Aziraphale smiled. "Ah yes, the Koran. I hope that Michael's patronising of Judaism and Gabriel's patronising of Islam haven't strained their relationship." He took the peppers and began to prepare them. "Or, rather, haven't made it somehow even more nonsensical than it already is."

Raphael chuckled, setting out the ingredients he had purchased as well. "Oh, I think they'll be alright. It's been awhile since I let myself feel the Blessing of Lovers, but I can still sense it from time to time if I wanted to." He gave a fond smile, looking over at Aziraphale. "I sense it in you as well, you know."

Aziraphale stopped what he was doing and, blushing horribly, looked at Raphael with shock on his fair features.

"Pardon?"

Raphael wondered if he should push it. Well, maybe he could gently nudge it. "You have a heartstring reaching for someone," he said quietly. "And someone loves you. You just hadn't... connected yet. I can see it in you, Zizi... Please don't deny it?"

"They have a really nice counter here," Aziraphale stammered out. "Granite. Very lovely."

Raphael reached over and lightly put his hand on Aziraphale's cheek, gently nudging him to face him so that their eyes could meet. "Aziraphale, it's okay. I can see it, you know? Whoever it is seems to make you really happy." He remembered Hadassah. "Jist be careful," he added. "Love is a wonderful thing but it can get you eaten by Hellbeasts."

He returned to his position sorting ingredients. "At least you have better sense than I do. You wouln't fall for a demon's trickery. As if demons were capable of love..."

He brought his knife down to chop a carrot cleanly in half.

Aziraphale grasped at any part of that he could answer and not get smote for.

"I nearly got eaten by hellhounds once," he offered. "Ages ago, outside Akkad. You may have been there? Two thousand years ago, around thereabouts. Nasty buggers, but, you know, time flies like the wind, and fruit flies like bananas and all that hogwash."

Raphael had known Aziraphale since he was but a cherub. He had mentored him and taught him and he knew him. Thus, the Principality's reaction was like a neon light and all the clues suddenly snapped together, beginning with the heavy infernal aura.

He dropped the knife, clattering to the floor. His fingers grew numb and his blood chilled to ice as the realization set in. How could he have missed this?

"Aziraphael..." He moved and placed both hands on his shoulders, eyes fixed on his. "You're in love with a demon."

It was a statement of fact, not a question.

Aziraphale stared at Raphael in much the same way that Raphael was staring at him.

It was the first time the words had been spoken aloud, that he had been forced to confront the idea. He was in love with a demon.

He was in love with a demon.

"Oh."

"Who is it?" he asked tenatively. "I know it isn't Beelzebub, so it would have to be one of the other two in the manor..."

Aziraphale's mind grasped onto that. He considered telling Raphael that yes, Beelzebub and he were lovers and the story of Beelzebub's wanting him dead was a lie, but instead...

Wait, other two?

Baraq, Beelzebub, Belial, and Crowley were the four demons here. Raphael had to know about Beelzebub and Belial. But who was the other one?

He was gnawing on his lower lip, thinking.

"Aziraphael..." He felt a pang of hurt that the angel he had been so close to and mentored wouldn't let him in. Didn't I do that to my brothers...? "Please talk to me?"

"I... which demons are here?" Aziraphale asked softly, hoping Raphael would just humour him.

He did not want people knowing Crowley was here. The poor dear was just nervous enough that if one of the archangels looked at him sideways he might do something incredibly stupid. Baraq, he mused, was in the same boat.

Buggerall. It didn't help matters any that while he scrambled to salvage the situation, a good portion of his psyche was saying You're in love with Crowley you're in love with Crowley over and over again. Useful, that.

"Aziraphael..." His voice was soft and kind, eyes never shifting their gaze.

Aziraphale wished he had a cell phone that would go off at this perfectly convenient time.

And then the unattended misal-pav burst into flames, and Aziraphale certainly didn't stick his hand in on purpose while trying to douse them.

Raphael quickly grasped his hand, using his other one to grab the pan of boiling waterto douse out the flames. He sighed, quietly surveying Aziraphale's hand for burns. "You don't trust me," he said quietly.

Aziraphale winced as he looked at the blistered mess his hand had become. "I think I might need to go to the emergency room," he admitted. Raphael didn't have any powers, and Aziraphale wasn't allowed to use his without express permission and really he liked to save his miracles for actual emergencies.* "I think. I've never been a good judge as to what has to get medically treated."

*Or just have Crowley do it for him.

"Here, I can... I can help you." Unless he doesn't want me to... "I can help you the human way if... if you'll let me...?"

Please let me...

Aziraphale nodded. "You do know best, after all." He presented his blistered hand, forcing his mind to ignore the pain. He could just have Crowley take care of it later. "Heal away, my dear."

Raphael rummaged through the cupboards before he found the burn cream. Popping open the cap he squeezed some onto his fingers and began gently rubbing it into Aziraphale's hand.

Aziraphale, long used to having been injured in various situations, barely grimaced at fingers massaging the blisters and burns. "Very soothing," he said. "Thank you. Silly me, sometimes I wonder how I walk straight!"

He chuckled at him. "Dont wrap it, it needs air to heal."

He set the stove timer on and took a deep breath. It would be time to send the invitations soon.

Aziraphale nodded. "Thank you, dear heart. I ought to get back to my room though, especially since the food is done." He gave Raphael a kiss on the cheek. "Call me if you need anything."

When he made it back to his room, he didn't call on Crowley to fix his hand. Instead he stared at it, and wondered how much worse Raphael was.

Raphael watched him leave, something sad in his eyes. He took a deep breath and pulled out the envelopes he had purchased while they were shopping.

He began to neatly address each one.

He hoped everyone could come.

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One Magic Moment

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New thread?

Sorry <3 <3 <3

<3 <3

<3 <3

Re: <3 <3

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New thread? <3

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Ready to wrap this up?

Yes ma'am, this'll be my last post <3

And here is Raphael's last post! I'll tag it as Complete