Look. I'm glad you've never been in an abusive relationship but...
Imagine for a moment someone who held a lot of power over you since you were created comes back after you very recently carved a little bit of a free-er but still very fragile existence for yourself. And a certain someone in your life.
And they start talking about who should lead the Firm now that the last CEO absconded with the CEO of the rival mafia branch/cult/dictatorship...
I really don't give a shit who you want for the next Supreme Archangel. Can I go now.
Oh what the hell. Michael?
Oh fuck. What's his game now.
How do I get out of this. I have to, I have to find a way....
How very DARE you bring my Crowley into this.
You just dug your own grave old man. You have no idea.
Anyway so I was hoping my love you would come with me to the vipers nest.
Aziraphale.
Had NO choice.
Crowley darling, you know I don't want to go, right? Right?
Talking to an abuser who has power over you is a skill in its own right and something Aziraphale perfected, shielding his own fragile self and belief in what he was doing and feeling and hoping for and not endangering himself and especially his beloved in the process as far as he possibly could.
He knows very well how Heaven operates. How they manipulate and obfuscate the truth and pretend they are doing the right thing.
He saw through all of that before he met Angel!Crowley.
He did his best to protect himself and his demon while retaining as much integrity as he could.
He did that for millennia. Aeons maybe.
And I think he always knew this day will come.
When they will get him. When they will force his hand and he will have to either go out in a fight or give up and he would never give up while there is Crowley to fight for.
So he ground his teeth, and took a step into that lift.
Knowing he might never come back, but he will die before they will break him.
Breathe angel, you'll kick their ass. I know it.
