[ Ben waits patiently as Aziraphale finds the right words, and then listens as he starts talking. At first Ben assumes the culprit is mere homesickness. And honestly, with the life Aziraphale is describing, Ben wouldn't blame him. Owning a bookshop... choosing all the books... making a life in that way, settled and small, helping people to find the right book for them... it sounds about as perfect as any life Ben can imagine. He wonders if he could have had something like that, if he'd lived long enough. But that's a dangerous road to look down. No 'what ifs'.

Then Aziraphale mentions it burning down, and the bewilderment and sadness on Ben's face is genuine. ]

Oh.

[ What is there to say, really? This isn't a problem Ben can fix in any significant way. There's only so much words can do. Still... words are better than nothing. So he waits to catch Aziraphale's eyes and admits quietly: ]

My home was destroyed right before I arrived, too. Just... leveled. So, I get it, and, I'm sorry.

[ That stuffy old place had been full of a lot of bad memories for Ben, it's true. But it was full of all the good ones, too. Practically his entire life had been spent in that building, and it hadn't really had a chance to sink in, seeing it as rubble on the ground. Grace and Pogo still inside. All of it - even the books. ]

Do you... think it would make it better or worse if you helped me get this place in order?

[ On the one hand, the reminder might be painful. On the other, action is much better than dwelling on past losses, and Ben doesn't mind sharing. ]