"So", Fergus asked, "what do you guys know about Leviathan Tablet?"
From the way his father tensed and Aziraphale started to pick up the crumbles of teacakes, he knew that he had hit the spot.
"W-why would you ask about something like that?" Anthony shot back.
"You see, what I'm mostly interested about is, are there more artifacts like that? As in, tablets considering, I don't know, Angels… or Demons."
Tension in the room was so thick that one could have been able to cut it.
"…Ah… My, how time flies! It's so late already, we should all head to bed now!" Anthony said suddenly and rose up, yawning widely. Aziraphale nodded along enthusiastically.
Fergus sighed loudly. "Father, sit back down. None of us requires any sleep, and you keep doing it just because you enjoy it. Now, would you two kindly tell me what you know about this?"
The Snake of Eden and the Angel of the Easter Gate looked at each other and then back to the King of the Hell, sitting at the table and playing with his teaspoon.
"Tablets are safe", Aziraphale started. "They have been hidden."
"Both from Heaven and Hell", Anthony added, "And thus it should stay."
Aziraphale shot a strict gaze at Fergus. "So don't you go around digging them up, young man – um, demon; it wont do any good for anyone."
"That's right", Anthony agreed. "As long as neither side knows exactly where they are, we have a balance."
"Balance of terror", Fergus mumbled, but his father heard that and smiled fondly at him. Like always, it made younger demon feel like he really should stop pestering them, and that was kind of worrisome. Anthony took his hands and looked him straight in to the eyes before continuing,
"Please, Fergus – let it rest. There are things that are best to leave unknown. Those Tablets… As a weapon, their power would be way too terrible to use. It would make this world rift apart. Please."
Fergus stared at him and then turned his head away, trying to hide his nervousness. "What it is with you two that makes me feel like I'm a bad guy?"
Anthony smirked at his son and messed up his hair a little bit. "You are the bad guy, Fergus – and I know that you love every second of it."
"Father, stop it – I'm no kid, remember?" Fergus resisted, but he didn't look all that offended by his father's demonstration of affection. "Ah, well – I should probably be on my way, now", he then added while rising up.
"Already?" Anthony asked.
"Well, like you said: it's getting late! But, speaking seriously; I should head at Bobby's. Poor dove looked so crestfallen when I told him that I couldn't stay after dinner this time…"
"…I see", Anthony answered with a cunning smile.
"Hey, cut it out – Well, I'm out – bye bye, Aziraphale."
"Take care of yourself, dear boy, and say greetings from me to Mr. Singer!" Aziraphale answered.
"I will – see ya soon, father!"
"We should do something fun next week, go out or something", Anthony said as he gave his son a brief hug.
"Yeah, well, I'll see what I can do - kings duties never ends, yadda yadda… Bye now~!"
Fergus was gone by one buff of sulfur.
"Well, that was kinda close call", Aziraphale commented.
"Yeah… Where did he even find out about the Tablets?" Anthony pondered.
"Um… You're sure you haven't let it slip out – by accident, I mean?" Aziraphale asked carefully.
"No, Angel, I'm not that stupid – I know that Fergus would try to use them for his own gain and that would end up into a disaster. I mean, I love that boy, but that doesn't make me blind for his lust of glory…"
"I know, dear. But you really should tell him that, already… that you love him", Aziraphale said and reached out one of his hands to stoke his demon's cheek.
"I will, soon. I just… I want us to be alone, then. We may get little… sentimental, and it would be easier for us if there weren't any audience for that."
"For a longest time I couldn't see why was it so hard for you two to be clear with your emotions – but I think I can understand it now. It's not like demons are taught to appreciate things like love and kindness and honor", Az said as he gazed lovingly in Anthony's golden eyes. "And that's exactly what makes it so precious to see you – the both of you – to act by them."
Anthony blushed. "Yeah, well…", he coughed a little, "let's just make sure Fergus wont get too close to those Tablets. I hid the Angel Tablet in one of Lucifer's crypts and got ridden of all documents of it's location… um… except one… Damnit, I need to go and destroy that parchment before it's too late‼"
Anthony took one step towards the door, but Aziraphale grabbed his arm. "Wait! I… I have to confess something…"
"Huh?" Anthony turned around to see a very embarrassed-looking angel and groaned. "Az… Please tell me you hid the Demon Tablet somewhere safe…!"
"Oh, I did… maybe I just hid it little too well. You see… I've no idea where it is."
"…HUH?!"
"I think it may have been in one of the boxes with the books I… um… sold away", the angel stammered. "You see, after Adam messed up my store - well, I know he only wanted to help me, but -"
"AZIRAPHALE!"
"Oh, please dear, don't be angry at me!" Aziraphale cried out with teary eyes. "I was pure accident, I swear…!"
Anthony looked at crying angel and then pulled him into a hug. "I… I'm not angry at you – well, not much, at least. I… We'll find it, okay? We'll find it, and hide it again, and everything is good again, right…? Just… Please, Angel, stop crying!"
After Aziraphale's tears had stopped flowing Anthony withdrew and patted him on his back. "See, that's better…! Now, why don't you sit down and make a list of those places you've been selling books while I make quick visit to the Hell and dig up that parchment, okay? Then we can start looking the Demon Tablet."
"V-very well, my dear. And please pardon me for causing such lot of troubles…"
"Nah, it's fine… I mean, it's not like I haven't cause us any problems duiring the years, right?" He smirked encouragingly. "We'll fix this, Az."
After planting a quick kiss on Aziraphale's cheek, the demon sprinted away.
"I certainly hope we'll be able to fix this in time, my dear", the angel whispered to his empty house.
