fandomtownies | The Park - Tuesday Morning

...

And a devil happened upon him in the park.

After his conversation with the new sheriff, Lucifer had gone to the park to sit and relax before he left once more. To a place where he was mortal and in constant danger.

He was looking forward to it, really.

"Dr. Wilson."

It shouldn't have surprised him, since Lucifer had often come upon him in the park in the morning but Wilson couldn't help thinking of the Advesary as a bit of a night owl, rather than a morning person.

"Oh! Good morning, Lucifer," he said and scooted over by way of unspoken invitation.

"What brings you..." Wilson looked up as he started to ask the question and he frowned a little but finished off the words. "Uh...what brings you out this morning?"

Lucifer took the offered seat, staring out at the ducks and the pond.

"Just finishing up a few preparations," He replied vaguely. He was distracted and for once it was noticeable.

Which in itself caught and held Wilson's attention though the mortal tried to clamp down on the wave of concern he wasn't sure would be welcomed by the Prince of Hell. However, being James Wilson, he didn't do a very good job of hiding his worry.

"Preprations?" He asked softly.

Something told him, Lucifer wasn't talking about adding another piano to the lounge area of the Nest.

The mortal's concern was... calming. His tension eased slightly as he spoke.

"I will be leaving town for a short while," Lucifer replied. "Personal business."

Inwardly, Wilson frowned a little as much at his own sense of fretfulness in response to the news as to the news itself. He quickly tried to shake it off, after all, he often had to say good bye to Aziraphale for short periods of time when the angel went off on business but...

That didn't mean Wilson had to like it.

"Oh," he said, looking back out across the pond and tossing some crumbs to the ducks.

"Is...is everything, all right?" The question was soft spoken but genuine, despite the unlikeliness of a mortal asking such a thing of the Prince of Hell.

"If all goes as planned, it should be."

Though with the Basanos interference last night, he was certain that very little would go as originally planned. Adapt and change with the way things are going, it was how he was forced to live.

Wilson gave Lucifer a look that said just how much faith he put in the idea of 'things going as planned' and then he sipped on his tea.

"Do ... do you need any help?"

"No." He sat back in the bench. "Though I thank you for your offer."

Really, Wilson shouldn't have expected the answer to be other than what it was but he never had been comfortable standing back and not helping those he cared about.

Giving the Advesary a few minutes of peaceful quiet, Wilson tossed out a handful of crumbs in an attempt to seperate two drakes who were getting a wee territorial about his foot.

"May I ask what brought this on?"

He was mortal! He was curious! Remember, Eve and the blasted apple??

Creatures with wings couldn't seem to help themselves around Wilson. "A recent trip to Germany to visit an old acquaintance. Our discussion was quite illuminating."

That ... was a properly cryptic response and Wilson weighed backing off and simply enjoying the Adversary's company but the thought of Lucifer heading off island and perhaps not returning, nudged at Wilson's motherhenning instincts.

"Do you need Aziraphale or I to help Mazikeen keep an eye on the Nest?"

"No," Lucifer replied calmly. More calm than the situation truly warranted. "The new Sheriff offered to keep an eye on the club while I am away."

They had a new sheriff? Wilson pursed his lips and silently wished Tex well in her travels before he turned back to Lucifer.

For a few minutes, he studied the Advesary his concern only growing as Lucifer gave answers that were most proper yet a step off from what Wilson was used to hearing from the Prince of Hell. He wanted to just come out and ask, what had happened but if he'd learned anything in the early part of their association, it was the fact that one did not interogate the Morningstar.

Pursing his lips slightly, Wilson exhaled a soft breath, trying to rein in his worry. After all, in the end, the answers to his questions were just that...all about him and his curiosity.

Which wasn't very fair to Lucifer.

So, after another minute ticked by, Wilson shifted slightly until his shoulder bumped up against Lucifer's lightly. Making himself into a quiet, hopefully supportive pressence.

Lucifer might have leaned back just a little bit, relaxing and simply enjoying the park and the company before he left.

It was only when Lucifer showed signs of getting ready to move on that Wilson spoke again and he still managed to keep the questions under wraps.

Looking up at the Adversary, Wilson smiled and said. "Be careful."

Pausing in his movement, Lucifer nodded, hiding the small smile the concern brought. "As I always am."

....

....

"You're taking your sword with you right? Be sure to pack an extra sweater, the weather can change on a dime still."

Okay, a little bit of fussing because let's face it, 'as I always am' didn't exactly relax a body given the whole, Falling from Heaven situation.

Lucifer didn't have a good track record of keeping safe.

Still, Wilson let the words hang for a moment and then he peeped up at the Advesary from beneath his lashes and smiled goodnaturedly.

He fell very carefully. Hardly a scratch on him when he landed.

The smile from before grew and he turned to walk away. "Yes, mother."

And eventually, an angel wandered by.

Aziraphale had been engaged in a bit of introspection of his own. Specifically focused on what a joy it could be to have small children around. A fact that had managed to escape him over the previous six thousand years.

With an understanding smile, he sat down next to Wilson and offered the other man a refill from the thermos he was carrying. The angel didn't really have anything in particular to say, and so he simply sat quietly, his shoulder brushing against his lover's, and watched the ducks squabble over the crumbs.

Wilson scooted over a bit to interlock their shoulders together and he leaned his head against the curve of Phale's arm, setting the sack of scones between them so that the angel could feed the ducks with him.

Making a soft noise of gratitude for the refill of his tea, Wilson sipped at the tastey brew and enjoyed the warmth of the morning sun on his face and the warmth of the companionship on the bench with him.

Aziraphale let out a little sigh, and leaned his head to rest against Wilson's. It was nice to just sit and soak up the pretty spring day, and although he occasionally tossed a big of scone to the ducks, mostly he just sat and thought.

About recent events, and the years that had led up to this day, and how very lucky he had been.

It made him smile.

For a long while it was nice to just sit there and duck watch for a bit, especially when a particularly bold little duckling came over and decided to brood on Phale's instep for a bit. Seemed the duckling liked the sunshine in just that spot.

After chuckling as he watched the duckling get settled, Wilson shifted in to sit with his lover until the duckling decided to move on.

"I saw Lucifer earlier," he said, finally breaking the silence. "He was headed out of town for a bit."

The duckling didn't bother Aziraphale one bit, and in fact it rather reminded him of the children who had filled their house with laughter just a couple of days ago. So he sat quite still, and let the little creature sun itself for a while.

When Wilson spoke, the angel still made no movement, but it was obvious that his attention was now focused on the man beside him. "Did he say why?" Aziraphale asked softly, a small line forming between his brows.

In a strange way, he was becoming rather fond of the Adversary.

The duckling's eyes closed and it seemed to radiate a picture of content duckling like glee.

"He said something about personal business. He'd visited an old aquaintance in Germany and...I suppose it's something based on that meeting," Wilson said in a slightly perplexed tone.

"He...didn't seem himself."

Well, that didn't sound good. Aziraphale frowned for real this time, just as perplexed as the young doctor sounded. It was hard to restrain himself from poking his nose where it didn't belong, and he had a feeling that Wilson was fighting the same urge.

"If he said he planned to be back...then I imagine he can't expect the visit to be...troublesome," the angel finally murmured, although there was an uncertain tone to his voice.

It was an uncertainty that Wilson shared and since they seemed to be out of scone crumbs for the time being, he brushed his hand along his thigh and took Aziraphale's hand in his own, interlocking their fingers together.

"I guess... I just hope the planet doesn't blow up," he said and it was hard to tell if he was entirely joking. After all, he'd been witness to some of the power struggles Aziraphale had been sent to cope with.

In the meanwhile, the little duckling's siblings had wandered up from their frolicing in the pond and upon finding their brother...or sister...-how do you tell on a duckling?- they swarmed around Phale's foot and in short order the angel's shoe was lost in a sea of yellow and brown down.

"Did you step in something sweet to ducklings?"

The angel's expression was dark for a moment, as he looked off into the distance. "I'll know, before it does," he murmured, his tone low but with an edge that was unusual to Aziraphale. Then he shook his head, and at Wilson's words, looked down somewhat bemusedly at his foot.

"I hadn't thought so. You don't suppose they're...you know, on their own?"

The safety of the world at large and the comfort of potentially orphaned ducklings held an equal place in the angel's mind.

Storing his lover's reaction to the comment about the world blowing up away for later contemplation, Wilson cranned his head to get a good look at the fuzzy ducklings.

"They looke pretty healthy and hale, love. I think they're just drawn to you and the sunlight. I'm sure Mama duck is around here somewhere."

There was after all, a considerable flock of ducks still cleaning up the crumbs from the scones.

"No, my beloved angel...you can not take them home," Wilson said with a grin. Sometimes, it was just way too easy to read his angel's mind.

Aziraphale had the grace to look a little embarrassed, and to chuckle at Wilson's words. He hadn't been exactly contemplating adopting the ducklings, but...

Okay, he had been contemplating adopting the ducklings.

"Quite, James love. And I wouldn't want to whisk them off and then have to deal with irate mother. I'm sure you're right. It really is a beautiful spring, isn't it?"

Okay, Wilson had to admit that the mental image of Phale getting dive bombed by an irate mother duck -not to mention pummeled by her wings- brought a quick grin to the young doctor's lips and he chuckled softly.

"It's been a good spring, yes. Hopefully a good summer as well. We should make a trip down to the beach, don't you... OH! That reminds me, how did the meeting at the bookstore go yesterday?"

"James, I would to take a trip down to the beach!" the angel exclaimed, turning his upper body to give the young doctor a beaming smile. "We haven't had a proper vacation just for ourselves, you know. Not in some while."

Aziraphale continued to smile as he settled back against the bench again, this time slipping his arm around Wilson's waist. "Oh, it went very well. I met the new owner of the bookshop, and she's a very nice young lady. She doesn't know what sort of schedule her student employees will have just yet, but she said I would be welcome to work there, and she's promised to call me when she knows more."

"That's wonderful, Raphale!" Wilson said with a bright smile.

"I know you'll enjoy being able to work with the books and in a store again."

It was the worst kept secret that the reclusive angel had turned the corner and enjoyed interacting with all sorts of people these days.

Really, anyone who had been familiar with his musty little bookshop back in Soho would have a hard time recognizing the elusive 'Mr Phale' these days. He'd changed a great deal, and in no small part because of the man sitting at his side.

"I have rather missed it, at times," the angel admitted. "Although I think I'm a bit spoiled, having so much free time to spend feeding ducks and sitting with you."

Reaching up, Wilson ruffled his lover's short hair.

"Meh, it will keep you from getting spoiled rotten this summer," he teased the angel affectionately.

"Speaking of spoiled, however. Would you like me to grill you a steak tonight? I could grill some vegetables as well and maybe you could make a pasta salad?"

"A steak?"

Aziraphale had adjusted to living with a vegetarian by simply allowing his tastes to gravitate more toward fish and eggs than red meat, although Wilson certainly never neglected the angel's personal food preferences. They didn't often have red meat at home, though, and a steak was definitely a treat.

"I think that sounds right nice, James! Would you like me to make some dessert as well?"

"How about a tiramisu for when I get home from the clinic?" Wilson weedled with a playful leer.

"Tomorrow evening, you mean?" Aziraphale teased in return. "I suppose I could manage something like that. Shall I also put together some kind of snack for you, for tonight?"

The angel was still having a little difficulty reconciling himself to Wilson's increased clinic shifts. Not the fact that the young doctor was working more, but simply that Aziraphale still struggled with a sense of protectiveness. And the fact that Wilson had frequently put in longer shifts in his hospital days still seemed to escape the angel.

Walking his fingers suggestively up the angel's chest, Wilson's grin grew.

"I mean for this evening," he said in a low purr.

"And I'd love for you to come on down tonight with a snack."

One blond eyebrow flew upward, and the angel's lips twitched.

"I don't know, it doesn't sound as though you're leaving much time for sleep. What with your early shift tomorrow and all. Maybe I should make up a bed on the couch for tonight, so that you can get your rest."

Dropping his hand back down, as if thwarted, Wilson waited a beat and then snuck his hand back up the angel's chest, this time sneaking under the hem of his shirt so that his fingers touched warm skin.

"I can totally jump you silly on the couch if you'd like," he said with an innocent blink.

The wee ducklings scattered with a bit of cranky quacking as Aziraphale jumped, but his attention was focused exclusively on the young doctor now.

"Well...it isn't as if I really need to sleep, anyway," he murmured in reply. "And you know I always wait up for you when you have clinic evenings."

In fact, the angel was rather beginning to think that it might be time to leave the ducks to themselves and head on home.

The Park - Tuesday Morning

So... a doctor sat on a bench

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Re: So... a doctor sat on a bench (After Lucifer)

Re: So... a doctor sat on a bench (After Lucifer)

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Re: So... a doctor sat on a bench (After Lucifer)

Re: So... a doctor sat on a bench (After Lucifer)

Re: So... a doctor sat on a bench (After Lucifer)

Re: So... a doctor sat on a bench (After Lucifer)

Re: So... a doctor sat on a bench (After Lucifer)

Re: So... a doctor sat on a bench (After Lucifer)

Re: So... a doctor sat on a bench (After Lucifer)

Re: So... a doctor sat on a bench (After Lucifer)

Re: So... a doctor sat on a bench (After Lucifer)

Re: So... a doctor sat on a bench (After Lucifer)

Re: So... a doctor sat on a bench (After Lucifer)

Re: So... a doctor sat on a bench (After Lucifer)

Re: So... a doctor sat on a bench (After Lucifer)

Re: So... a doctor sat on a bench (After Lucifer)

Re: So... a doctor sat on a bench (After Lucifer)

Re: So... a doctor sat on a bench (After Lucifer)

Re: So... a doctor sat on a bench (After Lucifer)

Re: So... a doctor sat on a bench (After Lucifer)

Re: So... a doctor sat on a bench (After Lucifer)