Chapter Text
"Mmmmrrrrooooowwwwwwww!"
A small fluffy paw beat against the kitchen window. Next the kitten's head rubbed against the glass. Another disgruntled meow emerged from her little lungs.
"Puck, my dear, please stay off the windowsill above the sink. We don't need a repeat of last time," Aziraphale lifted the white bundle from her perch and held her to his chest. "I know, I know. Your daddy will be back inside soon. He is playing with his new toy."
Aziraphale looked out the window as he stroked Puck's soft head. His husband was dismantling his new telescope to pack in away in his workshop shed. He insisted on purchasing one for himself to test it before giving one to Adam for his upcoming birthday.
"We've got to make up for all the birthdays we previously missed," Crowley had expressed.
"He's turning 12—would he even want a telescope this fancy?"
"Of course! Former antichrist or not, kid's still interest in typical kid stuff. Like space. Have you even paid any attention to him during our visits?"
Aziraphale actually spent more time talking with the boy's parents or Anathema during their monthly visits to Tadfield. Just to keep an eye on things. But he had agreed with his demon and two telescopes were subsequently purchased, though secretly he thought Crowley merely wanted an excuse to discuss the stars with someone. He couldn't blame him. He missed his stars—
"Mrrrrrr," Puck struggled against his gently hold, breaking the angel's thoughts.
"Already, fine, Miss Priss," he exhaled as he set her down on the floor. She slunk over to the back door and posed as if pouting. "But don't go causing any trouble. I'm trying to make tea."
The blond turned back to collect the kettle he'd set down when he spied the kitten. She was a bundle of chaos but well loved all the same. Just like a certain demon he knew. Perhaps that's why the two of them bonded so quickly. The kitten need Crowley as much as Crowley needed her. Of course, it meant Aziraphale now had two demonic forces to worry about getting into trouble.
The angel hummed to himself as he worked on making his tea. Crowley would probably want some coffee despite the late hour, but Aziraphale still didn't know how to operate his fancy coffee machine. Best leave it to him. His ears perked up when he heard the doorknob turn.
"Hi, Angel," Crowley purred as he walked into the kitchen. He quietly shut the door and moved over to wrap his arms around his angel.
"Hello, dear boy. How's the telescope? Did it give you any trouble setting it up?"
"Nah, the thing behaved itself. Works great by the way. The stars are gorgeous out there as always, just like a certain angel I know," he nuzzled his nose into the side of Aziraphale's neck. "It's a clear enough night to see most of them with the 'scope though. Thought maybe we could grab a blanket and go back out to look at stars together."
"Hmm, is looking at the stars together the only thing on your mind?"
"Maybe not," Crowley pressed closer, kissing along the skin under Aziraphale's ear. "Missed you."
"You were only out there a few hours, my dear."
"Still long enough to miss you, Angel," Crowley cooed and nipped at his ear lobe.
"I suppose I missed you too," Aziraphale turned in the demon's arms and gazed into his lovely yellow eyes. "Not to break the mood, but your little mischief princess missed you too. I rescued her from the sink windowsill again."
"Hmm, you're the one who adopted her, remember?" Crowley kissed the tip of his angel's nose. He moved to kiss lower, but Aziraphale pulled his face back to keep their eye contact.
"Yes, but you're the one she bonded with. You're the one who named her and unleashed her impish nature."
"Can't I at least get a proper kiss from my husband before he starts attacking me and our furry child?" Crowley's attempt at a scowl looked more like a pout.
Aziraphale rolled his eyes with a heavy sigh and soft smile. He loved this human-shaped being with all his heart. He leaned in for a teasing peck on the lips, but a sudden movement caught his eye. He sharply turned to face the small window beside them. A blur of white sprinted across in the moonlight.
"Uh, Angel," Crowley's lips and nose connected with his cheek. "Something wrong?"
The angel's heart beat quickened, "Where's Puck?"
"Wot?"
Aziraphale broke from his demon's embrace and looked over at the kitchen door. No Puck. His eyes glanced under the table. No Puck. He spun to face the stove. No Puck. He rushed back to the window above the sink.
"The little beasty is probably sulking somewhere. She's probably knocking your books off the shelves as we—"
"She's outside!"
"Ngk! Wot?!" Crowley leaped over to peer out the window beside Aziraphale. They both watched as their little strictly-indoors-only white kitten pranced and scurried through their backyard.
"She must have slipped out when you came inside—"
"Satan's mangled boll—she wasn't anywhere near the door! I'd have seen her, Angel."
"She was waiting for you," Aziraphale rushed out into the night. He knew Puck was a curious and—well—puckish cat, but she'd never shown any interest towards the outdoors. She watched at windows, pawing the glass or squeaking at the world beyond it. But she'd never attempted an escape.
"Angel, calm down. You don't want to spook her." Crowley was at his side on the porch in an instant, gently clasping their hands together. He brought Aziraphale's hand up to his lips for a quick kiss. "You said she was missing me, yeh? Then I'll come at her from the front, so she can see me. You come around back and we'll corner her in the garden. Alright?"
The blond angel nodded and squeezed his husband's hand. They were ancient ethereal and occult beings, why was a small earthly creature giving them so much grief?
Puck merrily chirped and wandered along the stone path to the garden. A moth caught her gaze. She darted after it. The fluttering insect flew past the garden phlox, resulting in the small kitten crashing into the flowers.
"Oi, Puck," Crowley muttered as he walked towards the impish feline.
Aziraphale watched as he swiftly moved in the shadows to the other side of the garden. Puck seemed distracted by Crowley's voice. Her fluffy head turned towards him with a questioning chirp. But as the demon took another step closer to her, Puck shifted and darted further into the luscious plants. She agilely maneuvered her lithe form through the flowers and further into the next section of the large garden.
"How now, spirit! Whither wander you?" Crowley playfully called out to Puck as she sashayed amongst his growing vegetables. "Best not eat any of those, good fae. Lest a dreadful curse fall upon you."
"Mrr?" Puck stopped and cocked her head towards the demon. Her fluffy tail swished in a seemingly defiant flair.
Aziraphale tiptoed up to the garden fence, preparing to either catch Puck or, more acutely, shoo the kitten back to her demon parent. Crowley nodded to him with a smile as the demon started to crouch towards the kitten. But Puck wasn't quite ready for her adventure to be over.
She skillfully dodged Crowley's outreached arms before gracefully leaping onto the low fence and flying past Aziraphale. The angel tried to grab her, but she was too fast. She landed on her feet and took off towards the back fence.
"Oh, Puck!" Aziraphale couldn't hid the exasperation in his tone. He straightened up and tugged at his worn waistcoat. "Come back here at once, young lady!"
She was their responsibility—his responsibility. As Crowley had pointed out so frequently these last few months, he was the one who brought her home. He was the one who thought a kitten would liven things up, and give Crowley another source of entertainment that wasn't torturing him with auto-terrorism. The Bentley and her obsession with Queen was bad enough! Yet the sweet though chaotic kitten had infiltrated both their hearts almost instantly. She was theirs. What kind of guardian would he be if he couldn't keep his family, no matter how small, safe?
"She just wants to play, Angel. She's never been outside before."
"All the more reason to catch her and get her back inside safely!" Tears blurred his vision as he marched towards Puck. She'd paused and stared back at them as if curious by their voices. Her pink tongue darted out to lick her paw.
"Now she's just mocking us. She's thinking 'Lord, what fools these immortals be'!"
"Crowley…"
"We could always just miracle—"
"No! We promised each other we would keep a low profile. Limit our miracles. Only use them when absolutely necessary. She is just a kitten, practically still a baby—she shouldn't be this hard to catch." Aziraphale's words caught in his throat as Puck expertly leaped up onto the back fence. She gave one last chirp before she slipped off and into the night.
Aziraphale cried out and rushed to the back gate. He struggled to unlock it. He couldn't see, couldn't speak. His heart pounded in his chest.
SNAP
The gate sprung open as a miracle sung in the air. Aziraphale twisted back to scold his husband, but Crowley quickly took hold of his shoulders.
"Angel—Aziraphale," Crowley shifted a hand to cup his husband's cheek. His thumb gently caressed the flushed skin there. His serpentine eyes were full of concern but also love. "That little kitten is clever. Very clever. Far more clever than either of us gives her credit for. She will be alright. We got her micro-chipped when she got her shots at her last check up. She's got her identification tags on her collar. Aaaand—her collar might also have a protection ward on it to keep her out of any serious harm. Like setting another fire or something."
The unshed tears in Aziraphale's eyes fell as he stared into Crowley's tender gaze. His bottom lip twitched in a pout, "How? When did you—"
Crowley leaned forward and placed a light kiss on his angel's forehead. He repeated the affectionate action on both eyes, wiping the tears away with his lips. Then he pulled back with a wink, "Might have warded her collar the morning after the wee beasty set fire to the pizza box in the kitchen last month. Not the only one who can perform a blessing, eh? Come on, sweetheart. We have a mischievous fae to find."