"How about this?" Raphael asked, posing with his book, "I think it's interesting enough and I can do my research at the same time.”

"Hmmm. Fine." Azazel said while stirring his gesso "But I don't think we should be focusing on me. Our efforts should be going into searching for the miserable fuck who attacked you" he prepared the canvas, brushing the mixture onto the canvas’ surface. Left then right, and down to the bottom as it started gaining texture.

After their last failed attempt to find a sleep aid, Azazel decided to retake one of his many century-old hobbies: painting. Raphael was glad that he did it.

Despite having never been shown his work, it seemed to relax his husband a little. He had even asked him to model for the first time, so the angel was more than delighted to contribute.

"I can't have you running around with something we don't know anything about. It might hurt you more in the future and I’m not risking it. You'll always be my priority" Raphael said as he turned the page. 

Azazel kept looking at the palette in his hand, wrist flicking as he mindlessly mixed the colors, saying nothing in return.

After an achingly long minute, the angel looked over to his direction "What happened in the last dream?" 

"Business as usual. I was in Heaven" He tiredly replied.

Raphael made a sound of acknowledgement and Azazel started to paint.  

"Everything was the same until the end.” He threw in a stroke across the canvas. “There was a voice.” A fine line down. “Told me I was a filthy demon.” The brush was dipped for more paint. “An occult being that doesn't deserve anything.”

"We're both occult. I must not deserve anything either then.” Raphael had stopped reading, but kept still. For the hundredth time that month, a book proved to not have anything useful.

"Ethereal, actually. And you deserve entire galaxies and much more" Aze spoke yet kept his attention on the canvas, not seeing Raphael’s blushing face.

"When did you become such a snob? Was it during those 5 months, Mr. Actually?”, the angel teased, accentuating the nickname.

"Hey! I'm just telling the truth", the demon glanced at the angel, pointing with his brush.

"We both know we’re the same, so don't listen to that asshole." 

Aze looked at the canvas with uninterest. "Now that you mention it, that voice kinda sounded like your brother…" 

"Ugh! Do not start with that.” The angel rolled his eyes along with his entire body. 

"You did first~" The demon sing-sang amused. 

"Who even started that annoying joke? It's been centuries!" 

"I genuinely don't know, darling." 

"We are nothing alike."

"You’re both scaly." 

"He's the snake of ‘Eden’ and I'm the snake of Medicine! The good ol' Aesculapian!" 

"You’re moving, Raph." 

"And it would look bad on you" Raphael called out, not listening, throwing the book away and pointing at Aze "Imagine your bright and handsome lover… Being your boss' brother" 

"Sounds like a telenovela", the painting had long been forgotten as Aze had thrown the brush aside prefering to listen, legs crossed, palette still in his left hand and chin resting on the other one.

Raphael got up from his stool waltzing over to Aze, forcing his arms apart to sit on his lap, booping his nose accusatively once he did "I knew you were watching them!"

"They're great comedies!" Azazel countered, grabbing him by the waist.

"Sure." Raphael said dryly and put his arms on his shoulders.

"But, stupid Hell jokes aside. I just need you to understand…” his hands dusted off the demon’s shoulders. “You are the kindest, funniest, and the most clever and wonderful demon ever" for every adjective the angel threw in, -and to punctuate-, a kiss was placed on Aze’s now blushing face.

Raph’s hand went to the back of his lover’s neck, pulling him close until their foreheads touched. "You deserve the world and I won't allow any stupid telenovela voice to tell you otherwise. If it happens again, please tell me immediately.”

Aze seemed to want to say something but kept it in, shrugging instead.

"I've just decided to not sleep. I never had to before the ark, I can go back to that and focus on my hobbies" he said with a yawn at the end of his sentence.

“I’m not going to wait for you to get rid of a four thousand year old habit. And again, not risking it.”

Raphael really wanted to go back to the days where this whole situation didn't exist. He’d like nothing more than to pretend that this didn't happen, but he couldn't. This was his fault, his cross to carry and he had to find a cure. He was the archangel of healing, for fucks sake, if he couldn’t find one then who could!

“Want to go for some drinks, you stubborn snake?" He was taken out of his thoughts by the demon’s suggestion.

"Of course. But before we go, I must tell you something"

Azazel didn't reply, looking at him with raised eyebrows. 

"We have to talk to a witch." 

His eyebrows then furrowed as he let out a long and loud groan.

End of Chapter 1