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I think that would be best. Keep some of your dignity intact and get back into it with some rest under your belt in the morning.

[ Even Batman needs to sleep. No amount of skill can fix exhaustion and Crowley's quite sure that whatever this stupid riddle is, something worse is coming after the fact. ]

[ Despite his best intentions, Blake doesn't move from the chair. Instead, he leans his head back against Crowley's form and closes his eyes. ]

Is it not morning yet? Figured it was close at least.

[ He's long since locked up his watch so it doesn't distract him from his purpose. ]

How long're you stayin'?

[ Crowley brushes his fingers over Blake's temple and scratches lightly at his scalp. ]

I can stay a little while. Make sure you get your beauty rest. I have a book I can read.

[ Much as he'd like to lie down with Blake, there's too much to figure out for him to waste time sleeping when he simply doesn't need to. ]

[ Honestly, Blake's just trying to judge how long it will be before Crowley goes slipping off to do his own thing so he can get back to working himself. But he doesn't need to say as much (and he'll have a hard time convincing himself to get up that quickly, no doubt). ]

Mm. Is it a good book? Somethin' by Lewis Carroll, maybe?

It's actually a book about solving riddles. I'll fill you in if it winds up having anything useful to it.

[ He kisses the top of Blake's hair. ]

Now let's get you some rest. You can show me all of your notes in the morning.

Dunno if you'll find 'em all that useful, but yeah, in the mornin'.

[ Blake obligingly stands and hauls himself in the direction of the bed. His joints pop and he has to stretch his back briefly before he goes about removing his pants and button-down. ]

You'll wake me if somethin' happens?

[ Crowley half expects them to be in code just to spite him, but there's still a fondness there as he rolls his eyes. ]

Yes, darling, I'll wake you if anything interesting happens.

[ No, no code. Although, he has made them as obtuse as possible just because that's his way. He slides into his bed, uncaring of the fact that his clothes are puddled on the floor. He usually sleeps in something more than what he's got on, but considering how late it is, he just doesn't feel much like following his usual routines. ]

Or anything at all.

[ Far be it for him to be out of the loop. ]

I will wake you if literally anything happens other than you and I breathing.

[ He moves closer, leaning over Blake before he bends down to give him a kiss. ]

Now get some rest. We need your mind on this running at full capacity.

[ ~~You are such a lying liar that lies. Damn you for getting yourself killed!~~ Blake makes an affirmative noise and then rubs at the bed next to him. Seriously, you're not getting away that easily, Crowley. ]

Said you'd stay a while...

I know.

[ He slips his shoes off and loosens the knot on his tie. ]

I'll let you know if I figure out anything useful when you wake up.

[ Settling against the headboard next to Blake, he rests the book in his lap, one hand going to idly play with Blake's hair. ]

[ Feeling that urge to be close, Blake slides right up next to Crowley, curled against his leg since he can't spoon the demon outright. ]

Mm. 'Bout the dog... [ He rests a hand on Crowley's thigh and presses his nose against the fabric of Crowley's pants. ] Adam wants me to tell the Harvelles. Said they oughta know.

[ Blake agreed to tell them but maybe it can wait until after all of this. ]

I've made no move to hide her, but if anyone goes after her, she's trained to defend herself and that's on her attacker.

[ He doesn't sound entirely concerned with the matter, morally or literally. If someone is going to attack his poor baby, they're going to get what they deserve. ]

And I won't stand by and have people attacking her, either.

Me either. Adam didn't like hearin' it. Didn't like hearin' 'bout that croc, either. But I said I'd talk to 'em and I gotta be able to say that dog's always gonna be under control.

[ Blake trusts Crowley, but if something happens to the demon there's no saying what Perdita might do. ]

She's a good girl. She won't attack unless she feels threatened or I tell her to.

[ He smiles down at Blake. ]

Or if she thinks one of us is in danger.

Mm. Good.

[ No one can ask for any more or less than that, dammit. Everyone and everything has the right to some kind of defense. Damning Perdita in this scenario would be like damning Toothless. ]

Adam's so convinced you're playin' the long game, that I'm bein' blind. No one listens. It's like— [ He shifts until he can tuck his arm under his head and look up at Crowley. ] —like they don't trust me to know what I'm doin' here.

I wouldn't take it personally. It's more about how they feel about me than about you, sweetheart.

[ But he is playing the long game, isn't he? He's always been playing the long game, always doing what is best for him, whether that's saving the masses or damning them. He saved the world because he needs the world for Hell to thrive and he looks after Blake because he wants Blake.

He's good here because that's in his best interest. ~~At least, that's how it had started~~. ]

You're clever. They'll realize they're wrong eventually.

Or we'll outlast 'em all and no one'll be left to care.

[ That's what the future had suggested for them, right? Blake settles back in and gives Crowley's thigh a squeeze. ]

Thanks for stayin'.

I'm happy to.

[ This is a nice reprieve from the storm outside. He's going to read this book anyway and Blake's gentle breath not far away is a welcome source of calm. ]

[ Blake falls asleep quick enough after that, but it's fitful at best. He shifts and moves for upwards of an hour, and even when he does settle after that, it's hardly restful sleep.

At some point Crowley shifts and John starts, half-alert in a moment and propped up on an elbow to look around the room. ]

—you hear that? Gunshots, or— or— What was that?

[ There's nothing to hear, of course. Whatever it had been was only in Blake's fitful dreams. ]

[ Crowley pushes his book aside calmly and reaches for Blake's shoulder. ]

You must have been dreaming.

[ He shifts down until he's almost lying down with Blake. ]

We're going to find the sword. Don't worry.

[ The hand on his shoulder helps to ground him and with Crowley's familiar voice nearby he settles quickly enough. ]

Yeah... [ A stiff nod and John droops back into a position next to the demon, his arm thrown over the other man. ] Yeah, we'll find it.

[ He takes a deep breath. ] Is it mornin' yet? How long was I asleep?

[ Crowley's arms wrap around Blake as if it's the most obvious thing. ]

It's been a few hours. You could probably do with a little more rest.

[ John lifts his hand to check his watch and then burrows a little closer into Crowley's side. ]

You'd say that if I had an hour's sleep or ten. Think you worry too much.

[ He mutters it in a sleepy sort of way now that he knows things are okay for the moment. ]

[ Crowley agrees. He does worry too much and his worrying worries him because he shouldn't care this much. It shouldn't even be in his realm of capabilities. ]

I'm pretty sure you didn't get bitten by a radioactive bat, extraordinary as you are.

[ He's really not sure if knowing that Blake is Batman makes him worry more or less. Probably less. Blake's more than just a fit cop and that adds a lot to what Crowley sees in his capabilities, but even Batman can be overpowered or fuck up and much as Crowley had watched countless angels and demons underestimate the Winchesters, he worries that Blake will underestimate something here. ]

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