Horns n Halos Blackrayvn

Chapter Management Edit Chapter

Chapter 17: You're the Key Principality

Summary:

Shadwell and Pepper get the information from EDEN, but what is it, what to do with it.

Notes:

Well, this was a rewrite, but I actually like it better than the original chapter, I broke it up into 2 chapters.
Maybe three, it depends, originally over 12k words that I lost due to a glitch, but, I will get this all out to
you over the next few days and then the Wedding!

Chapter Text

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Pepper walked out of EDEN, holding a proverbial apple within her hand, it's color red, small, but containing all the knowledge needed to have the occupants of Eden cast out. The mother of all had her ineffable plans buried somewhere within this tiny little apple, and Pepper was walking away from EDEN with it. Turning the corner Pepper broke into a full bore sprint, she needed to get as far away from EDEN as she could, one could never tell precisely what had or had not been seen, or what was to come. Gabriel had a part in this story; his role wasn't clear to Pepper, did he love Aziraphale or was he the reason for the need to remove Aziraphale.

Beelzebub had made it clear that Aziraphale was not to be touched, what had they called him, a Principal... principality, the mother's angel. What did all of that mean, for the moment Pepper could see the Horns ~n~ Halos sign, she picked up speed, she was almost there. Shadwell didn't know she had gone through with this yet, so Pepper was on her own, though she knew in her heart Crowley and Aziraphale would not turn her away. Pepper knew they would hide her, keep her safe, Aziraphale was an angel after all, at least in her eyes he was.

Pepper made it to the bistro, sliding in through the doors. Pepper had her back up against the wall as Anathema looked over at her. Anathema could see the heaving of Peppers's chest as she breathed, the bead of sweat running down her forehead and the panicked look in her eyes.

"Hey, Crowley!, Panic at the Bistro!" Anathema looked far too proud of herself for her turn of phrase, one of which caused Crowley to groan as he was forced to stop what he was doing. Although truth be told, not even Anathema truly knew what Crowley was presently doing. As Anathema looked over at Crowley and Aziraphale, she shook her head, practicing their wedding dance was supposedly what Crowley had talked Aziraphale into, although, the current dip that Crowley had Aziraphale in consisted of him pinned against the piano with an angel giggling.

"Never utter that horrible play on words again. That was horrible, Anathema." Anathema continued to smile as Aziraphale went to her side, patting her on the shoulder.

"I thought it was rather good, Crowley." Aziraphale smiled brightly at him, melting his heart just a bit more. Shaking his head, Crowley walked over to the kitchen door nodding Pepper to follow, which she readily did.

"What's up, Pepper?" Crowley looked her over, concern crossing his countenance.

"I did it, Crowley, I got it, all of it. I need Shadwell." Pepper was beaming but still resembled a cornered animal in fear of capture. Crowley smiled and pointed to the door leading up to his and Aziraphale's flat.

"You're in luck, he's right upstairs, inspecting security or putting in more security. To be honest, I think he's wiring my place with cameras to watch." Crowley waggled his eyebrows, garnering him a punch to his shoulder and a smirk from Pepper. Crowley opened the door for her allowing her to pass. "Just make sure to announce yourself, don't want to get him upset, he's a bit of a stickler."

"Thanks, Crowley, we'll get this taken care of, no more worries about those arses." Pepper gave his shoulder a squeeze as she passed him heading up into the flat. Crowley could hear Pepper announcing her arrival as he was closing the door; now back to his angel, where was he?

"Aziraphale..?" Crowley called out as he left the kitchen, Anathema rolled her eyes as Aziraphale hauled ass out of the main room, darting around the tables, behind the counter, and into the kitchen. Crowley grinned with the knowledge of the locked door going to the flat, Aziraphale had trapped himself, in Crowley's kitchen.

"Hey, Shadwell, you up here?" Pepper called out into the large open room that she first entered as she topped the stairs. Looking around, she took in the plants, perfect, green, lush verdant, then the bookcases filled with books. Aziraphale had been working on a new collection, with Crowley's help he had already found a few of his most treasured books, some of them even older than the original ones he had had in his collection. The room was easily dissected and discerned by anyone with half a brain as too who was where most of the time.

The plush armchair by the bookcases, a lovely victorian lamp hung over the back, lighting the chair, a side table next to it, a few books stacked upon it, a tartan throw over the back of the chair. Obviously, Aziraphale, the angel. Black snakeskin boots, one there, the other on the other side of a brown leather couch that looked slightly ajar. Blankets covered the couch, in disarray, one arm of the chair much closer to the bookshelves the other arm towards the middle of the room. Pepper looked at the couch with a tilt of her head, trying to ascertain the reasoning behind the strange angling of said couch.

Shadwell had heard Pepper and came out from the backroom, placing his hand on her shoulder, Pepper jumped. Rearing back, her fist made contact with Shadwell's chest, knocking him backward, tripping over his own foot and falling back into the room. Pepper squeaked out loud, realizing what she had just done and quickly tried to stop Shadwells fall. Far too late on the uptake, Shadwell hit the ground with a resounding thud. Pepper at his side in a split second, her hand reaching out instinctively to help him back up to his feet.

"Do you greet everyone like that, Pepper?" Shadwell chided but meant nothing by it, if anything he was far more impressed with her reaction time, Pepper was carving herself a spot in Shadwell's business.

"I am so sorry Mr. Shadwell, I was looking at the couch trying to figure out why the room was set up the way it is and didn't hear you, and well, I am on edge. I got the thumb drive, I quite literally have the apple from Eden." Pepper held the apple out for Shadwell to take from her, she didn't want to hold on to it anymore, it felt like it was made from hellfire and was burning a hole in her pocket. Shadwell took it from her and glanced over at the couch and grinned.

"Pepper, I'll give you a hint about the room. When two people love each other very much and have alone time..." Shawell waggled his eyebrows, Pepper noticed, wondering if all the men in the building did that, it was slightly annoying. Casting her eyes back over to the couch, the distance from walls, from a bookcase, well from that bookcase, wait. Pepper looked at him and shook her head ~no~. Shadwell laughed at her reaction."Oh yes, I am more than reasonably satisfied, that couch has most definitely been Fuc.." Pepper cut him off.

"No, do not finish that sentence. If it has been, it's completely Crowleys fault, that angel would never be the one to provocate anything carnal on a couch, as if." Pepper was fully confident in her answer and the way she viewed the angel. Shadwell continued to chuckle, opening the door for her.

"Let's go, Pepper, we need to go to my office for this, we can keep you at my house make sure you're safe. I am sure Tracey won't have a problem helping out, she did take quite a shine to you." Shadwell allowed Pepper to go down the stairs first, but as the two opened the door into the kitchen, they stopped. Shadwell admiring the current view and situation in the kitchen, whereas Peppers's mouth hung open in disbelief for a moment. Looking back at Shadwell, Pepper frowned at him. Shadwell had leaned back against the door, crossing one foot over the other, crossing his arms, and had settled in to watch the goings-on.

On the far side of the kitchen, Crowley had Aziraphale pinned against a wall, thoroughly debauching him with a time-stopping, world-altering kiss, that had left Aziraphale breathless. Pepper was about to say something, when Shadwell touched her shoulder, as she looked back at the two, Aziraphale had opened his eyes, an angel did not reside in those eyes anymore, and it was Crowley that was now pinned to the wall being hiked up it. Shadwell cleared his throat as Aziraphale had leaned in, a knee sliding into the wall, holding Crowley there, pinned with an angelic knee between his legs.

Crowley grinned, hearing the Shadwell clear his throat, Aziraphale stilled, his face turning into a brand new shade of red, a shade that not even Crowley had seen before. Aziraphale's' head fell against Crowley's chest, trying to calm himself, breathe, and contain a rather ill-timed arousal. Crowley leaned his elbow on Aziraphale's shoulder, smirking wickedly, not minding the audience, his chin held him his own hand.

"Angel, mind moving your knee love; you have me rather attached to the wall currently." Crowley could feel the heat radiating off Aziraphale's reddened cheeks, as he so arrogantly slid down the wall, taking Aziraphale's hand in his own. Aziraphale's head looked at the ground, not being able to hide the flustered blush that was having a rave over the bridge of his nose and onto his cheeks.

Shadwell looked at Pepper, who was as red as Aziraphale, and he started to laugh. "Well, soft victorian fisting Pepper, look at your face, that's just priceless." Pepper shuddered and punched Shadwell in the arm, with enough of a punch that he grabbed his shoulder still amused. Crowley got to their door to the flat and opened it, traveling up the stairs, Aziraphale in tow directly behind him. Pepper smirked at Aziraphale.

"Go get um, Angel." Pepper grinned, maybe she was wrong about the angel, perhaps we more of an assertive angel, more like a warrior. Pepper liked that, Warrior Angel Aziraphale, with a nod, she turned to say goodbye, but the door was already closing. Catching just a glimpse once more of the two, she smirked, she was right, definitely more assertive, as the last glance she saw, was Crowley being lifted up against a wall going up the stairs.

"Alright, let's go pepper, we need to be off." Shadwell headed out, nodding to Anathema, letting her know that he and Pepper were out, and not to bother trying to find Crowley or Aziraphale. Anathema just laughed, she already knew, Crowley had been trying to work up Aziraphale all day, the angel definitely had will power and patience, but Crowley had been relentless. Anathema hoped Aziraphale made Crowley pay for all the teasing that he was put through. Anathema smirked to herself as she started closing up the shop.

Pepper and Shadwell pulled into the drive, stopping just outside of the front door. Tracey was already opening the door as soon as the car stopped, seeing Pepper in the passenger's side caused Tracey to glance around the yard. Waving them in as Shadwell opened the door for Pepper, escorting her inside as Tracey closed the door. Shadwell pulled Tracey into his arms, kissing her until her small hand slapped his shoulder with a giggle. Shadwell smirked, knowing the look Pepper was going to have on her face would amuse him thoroughly.

"So, Pepper here went and got the apple Trace. Time to see what I can find. Do you think you can help Pepper around get her set up and such, I don't trust these bastards to just sit idly by." Shadwell looked between the two women, getting a much-needed nod of approval, with a slap of Tracey's arse Shadwell smirked watching them leave. With a sigh he turned towards his office, it was going to be a very long evening, no one truly knew what was on the thumb drive yet. "Hey Trace, in about an hour or so, can you bring me a coffee IV? Think I am going to need it."

Upon entering his office, Shadwell looked around, taking in the contents. An ornate oaken desk in the middle of the room, on the walls, dance, and played angels and demons under the light of god almighty herself, on the ceiling was what one could only call a garden of Eden. Artistically painted, in all hues and colors, Adam and Eve stood just outside the wall as an angel and demon stood on the wall. A large white wing held over the head of the demon, in black, a storm raging around them. Shadwell always felt this painting he had commissioned was beautiful, it showed love where there should have been enemies, he often wondered what would have become of the two celestial beings.

Shaking his head at his thoughts, Shadwell toyed with the thumb drive, sliding between fingers back and forth over his knuckles, the movement mesmerizing, fluid, perfection. Silently he sat in his plush leather chair behind the desk, pushing in a code onto button no one would know were there, a monitor slid up from the middle of the desk. Once again, reaching around the side, Shadwell slowly and carefully inserted the drive into the slot of the computer. Watching and listening to the computer to turn on, groaning and growling to life, the screen before him lit up. Shadwell looked it over and sighed, getting up he walked to the door, poking his head out into the hallway he called to Tracey to just keep coffee coming.

Newt had arrived to pick up Anathema from work, though truth be told he had other ideas, it was their second anniversary. Walking in Anathema saw him, smiling she waved finishing the final closing of the bistro. "So, hungry? It is our second anniversary, and I had some plans, but I thought I would ask." Anathema smirked, giving him a quick kiss.

"Well, what did you have in mind?" Anathema looked up at him, Newt was rather tall, he might not hold himself in an intimidating manner, which Anathema was appreciative of, but don't let that shock you with the way he was in every other aspect of life. Newt smirked.

"Well dinner, dessert, movie...orrrrr" Newt pulled Anathema to him, "We could forgo all of that, and you could be dinner, " Newt kissed her neck, "dessert.." his mouth dropping lower, "and you could be the movie I watch." Anathema shuddered and nodded, letting Newt lead the way. Making sure the bistro was locked up, Anathema and Newt headed out, getting into their car, Newts driving would have impressed Crowley, he had places to go and Anathema to eat.

Hours had passed the last light of day had faded into the darkness of night, the moon shining in through Shadwell's windows, casting dancing shadows to distract him. Leaning back in his chair, he knew he was missing something, everything Shadwell had read, seen, he had already understood, there had to be something he was just not seeing. Tracey came in with a fresh coffee and a sandwich, looking over her Shadwell she smiled, being pulled into his lap. Arms wrapping around her, she played his Shadwells hair as he rested his head against her.

"There is something here, I just haven't found it, it is driving me nuts." Shadwell's brow furrowed, closing his eyes, inhaling her deeply as he sighed out a relaxed release of air. Tracey looked at the screen and caught the shimmer of something, not quite there, but it was. Moving her head slowly back and forth from where she was seated on Shadwell's lap, he looked up at her. "You okay, Trace?" Tracey nodded.

"Shaddy, look, there is something right there." Tracey pointed to a blank spot on Shadwell's computer, he looked up at her slightly worried. "What are you talking about, woman? There's nothing there." Tracey frowned at him while batting his shoulder.

"Look, get up and look from up here, I don't know what it is, but there is something there." Tracey slid off Shadwell's lap, still pointing, Shadwell got up to entertain the craziness that was Tracey, until it wasn't crazy anymore. Shadwell caught the shimmer of a folder or something. Placing his hands on either side of Tracey's face, he kissed her stupid and then went to work, it had to be a security measure, but this was new even to him. This was exciting!

Tracey sauntered out of the room and vaguely down the hall, peeking her head in to check on Pepper, who had since fallen asleep, feeling safe for the first time since Eden had contacted her again, Tracey ever so quietly closed the door and went to bed. Shadwell continued breaking through the walls of protection on that one shimmery folder, he could somewhat see there was a name to it now, but he had stumbled upon a riddle of sorts, something like one.

A series of folders now presented itself before Shadwell. Folders listed with names, numbers but as he went over each folder, he noticed a recurring theme, a letter out of place, a different capitalization, having nothing to do with any of the folders. Grabbing a piece of paper from the desk, he started jotting down the letters.

~Y, M, Y,P, R,N,I,A,E,C,TA,YP,Z,I,I,R,A,L,H,P,A,~

Shadwell looked down at the letters as his brow furrowed. "Well, shit." Scratching his head, he just stared at the notes on the white paper, slowly letters started becoming the enemy, and Shadwell was determined to destroy them. "Alright, this has to spell out something, a code, wait, wait, wait." Dragging another piece of paper out, slowly Shadwell started lining up letters, this way and that. The first attempt had him laughing to himself.
~My, Penial.~ Shadwell rolled, he needed a good laugh. Alright, clearing his head, he tried again. ~My Alpha Prince~ "Well, that's not helpful." Shadwell tried for a few more hours, Tracy came in with a morning coffee, as night had given refuge to the light and the sun was beaming its rays into Shadwell's office. Tracey put down the coffee for Shadwell and looked down at the letters.

"Oh, I love these mixed up letters puzzles! You know I won an award for figuring them out before while I was in school." Shadwell picked up his coffee, listening to her, and waving at the paper. Tracey wiggled just slightly looking at the letters, she looked up just a moment later, looking at Shadwell as though he had done something.

"What?" Shadwell looked at her, Tracey took the paper walking over to the window, Shadwell watched as he could see the wheel in her mind turning, figuring out the puzzle that so obviously had been out of the reach of Shadwell.

"Well, if I am reading this right and speeling it out correctly, it's his name." Tracey looked back at the letters, slowly coming back over to the desk, grabbing a pen and scratching out the letters as she put them in place. "Look." It's him, but as an angel, a warrior at that. Shadwell took the paper from Tracey and looked at her then the computer.

"If this is right, it might be what I need to get into the final folder to see what is hidden in there." Shadwell gave Tracey a kiss and typed in the letters as Tracey had placed them.

~My Principality Aziraphale~

Shadwell looked at Tracey, both turning their eyes to the screen as folders opened, then more folders, and at the center was simply a picture of Aziraphale, the mother of the company looking lovingly up at him, he was holding her hand and looking down upon her. Shadwell was flabbergasted, but Tracey remembered the photograph. "I remember this, it was shortly after Aziraphale joined the company, the mother seemed to know of him beforehand, she adored him, then the fall happened, and she vanished."

Tracey tapped her finger on her chin, remembering before the mother disappeared. "You know Shaddy, I was her executive assistant, I remember Aziraphale's mother coming in one day when he was gone, I had to make the arrangements. I didn't think anything of it, but they both met, I don't know why but when they parted, they both hugged each other." Shadwell looked at Tracey, as if that may have been essential weeks ago.

"That is kind of something that would have been really helpful, I need to get hold of his mother to figure the rest of this out." Shadwell sat back down, Tracey wrapped around him in an embrace, a collective sigh of both.

Aziraphale had woken under the limbs of Crowley, wrapped in the warmth of his beloved Aziraphale snuggled slightly deeper into the bed. Inhaling his love made him feel better always, but today, he had places to go. A second story flat with a young man by the name of Adam was waiting on him. Aziraphale had still not given up on singing, and as long as he was trying, Adam was by his side. Slipping out from under Crowley, he had gotten so much better at sneaking that sans attire, he spun and walked into the bathroom.

Crowley opened an eye as soon as his angel started to leave the bed, seeing Aziraphale confidence did his heart wonders, but there was still something just so damned adorable about his angel. Seeing him strut into the bathroom was too much; it took everything in Crowley not to simply get up and wrestle him to a wall. Crowley still considered it for a moment, then he heard it, it was low very low. A sound, it wasn't humming, it was more, Crowley almost got up to ready himself for the fall, but it didn't come. Instead, before the break, Aziraphale started to hum, rather happily, Crowley let go of the breath he was holding, sliding back under the covers into the warmth that Aziraphale had left behind.

Finishing his shower, Aziraphale got ready, slid his shoes on and slithered out the door, Through the kitchen, waved at anathema who was wearing who own particular smirk this morning. It was going to be a good day. Aziraphale hopped into his car and drove uneventfully to Adams. The door was already open, so Aziraphale walked right into Adam's house, into the music room. Adam was already ready to go, Aziraphale took that in stride and placed his belongings down, walking to the piano, he readied himself.

"You ready, Ezra? Let's do this." Adam started playing on the piano as Aziraphale fidgetted, but was ready to go.

Shadwell had gotten off the phone with Aziraphale's mother, he grinned as he sat back in his chair. Had he known about Aziraphale's mother, he would have called her sooner, but he realized there was nothing they could have done back then, but now was different. Now he could crush them; he simply needed Crowley, Anathema, Tracey, himself, and lastly, one angel, or more so, the key to the company that was Principality Aziraphale, Guardian of the Eastern Gate of Eden.

Notes:

I hope you enjoyed it!

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blackrayvn