THIS IS SO FUNNY TO ME because Crowley and Aziraphale are the most codependent characters in television ever like aziraphale was writing in her diary "that was the last I've seen of crowley for quite a long time" AND ITS BEEN A MONTH like I know (hope) Crowley won't immediately forgive him but "they aren't talking" yeah okay sure
whats insane is i had a gomens dream last night… something happened and aziraphale and crowley were in like a medical ward in heaven, and! crowley got turned back into an angel (named william but w/e) and controlled the eclipse, but lost his memories, and i think aziraphale fell or got demoted or never recovered.. crwzy bananas..
there is an excellent post (that I've blimming lost) about how Neil is very familiar with magic tricks but read this wonderful compilation of metas and you'll get the idea - NEW Crackpotting Theory Tracker
Magic plays a big part in Good Omens - and Neil is up to his own magic trick. Sendarya talked about how the kiss is a misdirection to the audience from what is actually happening
so let's get rid of the kiss (because I definitely find it distracting!) and let's look at what happens between Metatron and Aziraphale in 2x06
This is not an angel that wants to return to Heaven. He looks bored, like he doesn't even know why Metatron is there or why he's talking to HIM about who the next Supreme Archangel should be.
"Michael?" it's like he couldn't give less of a toss if he tried
he's just like hmm? yeah ok, super interesting, can i leave now
When Metatron suggests Azi should take over as Supreme Archangel, he looks horrified. this is not good news, at all.
Metatron tries to sweet talk him. You're so honest, such a good leader~
Azi isn't convinced.
"I've been looking back over a number of your... previous exploits, and I see that in quite a few of them you formed a-"
THAT EYE TWITCH
"-de facto partnership with the demon Crowley."
LOOK AT THIS REACTION. fear. worry. panic. guilt(?). we see that fight or flight response kick in - the eye movements, the swallow.
Can I point out, WE NEVER SEE AZI'S IMMEDIATE REACTION TO THIS OFFER. But I think we know that it's not a positive reaction - he knows what Crowley thinks of Heaven.
What we do see is the end of that conversation, and Azi is nervous and faking smiles. He is now agreeing to go along with Metatron's plan, even though the last time we saw him, he was completely resisting it. Something happened to cause this change.
It's very possible that Aziraphale has now made his own plan, but he has to make it seem like he's going along with Metatron's plan. The Metatron is very direct to Aziraphale that he knows about his relationship with Crowley, and as we know, Aziraphale is terrified of Crowley being destroyed. This was perceived as a threat to Crowley and possibly humanity, and Metatron's bombshell "the Second Coming" definitely extended that threat to humanity, which Azi is a fierce protector of.
"But what am I?"
"You're just an angel who goes along with Heaven as far as you can."
This angel did not want to return to Heaven. This angel is essentially being held hostage and is trying to save the two things he loves most from complete and utter destruction.
Fell the Marvellous has saved Crowley before, in 1941, with a perfectly timed sleight of hand. Now this time he must save everything, with his own death-defying 'bullet catch'.
What Neil is up to, well. I don't think we'll know until we see it. A good magician never tells.
Edit: 'Trust Me' - Aziraphale's Season 3 'Bullet Catch'