This is hardly the first time Crowley’s ever teased him about being able to feel the love Aziraphale carries in his heart, [footnote: Demons can sense most emotions if they try, but their Fall strips them of the ability to sense love in others. Most humans can’t sense another’s love directly, but they have one advantage demons don’t: the ability to have faith in something or someone. The one exception to this rule is and always has been Aziraphale.] but it’s been so long that it catches him by surprise for a moment. His pulse knocks itself out of rhythm for a second under the sudden sensation of being known. Which in turn sends another wave of tenderness through him.

“I can’t help it,” he replies, his own voice raised to cut through the rising hush of the rain. “Reminds me of the day we met.”