Hell is surprisingly fair, as a low ranking demon Crawley is treated well as long as they do their work properly. After resting for a day Crawley had enough energy to heal themself and was put to work. They're not a strong fighter but they need a tempter, not a fighter on earth and Crawley knows that so they dust off their darker human side and got to work tempting the other Fallens into either doing their work for them or taking a 'short' break. It took a few tries before they managed to succeed and it took a few days before the higher up noticed.
"Crawley, well done in raising up in ranks in a few short days, I am impressed. A weak Demon like you should have taken a long time to raise up in rank but here you are." Lucifer, or Satan as he has chosen for themself, said as he stood up from his throne and walk towards Crawley. Crawley is still as pretty low in rank but they are no longer dead last.
Crawley is on one knee with their head bow so they can't see Satan walking to them. "Thank you, My Lord." They had suspected that Satan didn't recognize them when he sent them through the wall but this just confirms it, they know that he would never allow them to bow to him if he knows that they're Raphael.
Satan circle the Demon that has not yet lifted their head, he has the urge to keep them by his side but he has a job that would be perfect for them. He stopped in front of Crawley and hook his finger under their chin to lift up their head. "I have a job for you, Crawley. Go to earth and cause some trouble, I heard that God has created a garden for the humans and I want them out, do you understand?"
"Yes, My Lord," Crawley smirked as he put on a mask of excitement even though they are already feeling guilty, they know what they would have to do and they know what would happen to the humans once they leave the Garden but it must be done.
Not thinking that perhaps Crawley might be stronger than they actually are Satan crush their lips together and force his magic into their fangs. "Hell venom, use it well, Crawley. Strike down any Angels with it if they give you any problem." He said as he let go of Crawley, it won't do if he loses them to an Angel because they aren't strong enough to protect themself.
Crawley's eyes widen as they drop their mask, they were not expecting their first kiss to be like this if you can even call it a kiss. The feeling of a venom sac being forcefully created and being filled with deadly venom goes against everything that they are, even as a Demon, even if they no longer have God's love and is twisted beyond recognition it still feels πΈπ³π°π―π¨, but they did not complain and did their best to not show how distress they are about it. "Thank you, My Lord. I will not let you down." They could not muster up the strength to even smile so they kept their face expression as neutral as possible as they give Satan one last bow before leaving.
Satan watch as Crawley leave and he can't help but lick his lips, he can still taste Crawley on his lips and they taste π₯π¦ππͺπ€πͺπ°πΆπ΄. If it wasn't because they are the best Demon for the job he would have kept them here with him... Well once Armageddon is over they'll have the rest of eternity to be together. He'll just have to be patient.
The first thing Crawley did when they are finally on earth is to explore the Garden, they have always enjoyed the beauty of nature and it feels so good to just bask in the warmth of the sun, that part may or may not be because they are now a snake. They are just going to enjoy themself for a few hours before getting to work, no one has to know they are slacking off.
Of course, all good things must come to an end. They slither up to Eve and sweet talk her into thinking that eating the apple would be worth the knowledge she would gain and that she should share it with Adam because sharing is good. They can't hide the sadness in their eyes as they watch the first two humans bite into the apple. They got the ball rolling now, in 6000 years Armageddon will start and they will have to do everything in their power to stop it, with or without any help.
"Well God sure came down on them like a ton of bricks." Crawley hissed as they shift into their human form, they had decided to take on the form of Crowley in the show when they saw that Aziraphale looks exactly as they have remembered, and unfurl one pair of their wings, it won't do for people to know that they were once an Archangel.
"Sorry. What was that?" The Angel next to him, Aziraphale, turn towards Crawley and asked.
"I said 'Well God sure came down on them like a ton of bricks'," Crawley repeated themself as they watch Adam and Eve.
"Oh. Yes. Yes, She did. Rather." Aziraphale said before turning his attention back to the pair of humans.
"Bit of an overreaction, if you ask me. First offence and everything. And I can't see what's so bad about knowing the difference between good and evil, anyway." Crawley said honestly, being able to see the difference between good and evil means they have the free will to choose different choices in life.
Crawley now has Aziraphale's attention again. "Well, it must be bad..." Aziraphale stopped, not knowing the name of the demon next to him.
Crawley has to fight back a smile of excitement, here they are talking to Aziraphale as Crawley, how many fans of the show won't be excited? But they kept their expression neutral as they introduce themself. "Crawley."
"Crawley..." Aziraphale smiled slightly as he tests out their name. "Otherwise you wouldn't have tempted them into it."
"Satan asked me personally to get the humans kicked out of the Garden," Crowley said honestly, no point in keeping it a secret.
"Satan?" Aziraphale gives him a look of confusion.
"That's the name Lucifer had chosen for himself." Crawley shrugs their shoulders, trying to look nonchalant.
"Oh..." Aziraphale is probably going to have to report that to Gabriel...but then again he will get into trouble for talking to the demon instead of smiting them down where they stand.
"Not very subtle of the Almighty, though. Fruit tree in the middle of a garden, with a 'don't touch' sign. I mean, why not put it on top of a high mountain or on the moon? Makes you wonder what God's really planning." Crawley can't help but smile for a second when they saw the thoughtful look on the Angel's face and his eyes looking up when they mentioned putting it on top of a high mountain or on the moon.
"Best not to speculate. It's all part of the Great Plan. It's not for us to understand. It's ineffable."
"The Great Plan's ineffable?"
"Exactly. It is beyond understanding and incapable of being put into words."
"Didn't you have a flaming sword?" Crawley asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Err..." Aziraphale looks away nervously.
"You did. It was flaming like anything. What happened to it?" Crawley is doing their best to not give away that they already know what happened to it.
"Err..." Aziraphale looks at everything but Crawley at the point.
"Lost it already, have you?" They can't help the smirk that appeared on their face.
"I gave it away," Aziraphale muttered softly.
"You what?" Crawley widens their eyes as they slip on a mask of shock.
"I gave it away! There are vicious animals! It's going to be cold out there, and she's expecting already, and I said, here you go, flaming sword, don't thank me, and don't let the sun go down on you here." Because Aziraphale is looking away from Crawley he didn't see the soft smile on their face or the kind look in their eyes. "I do hope I didn't do the wrong thing."
Crawley has turned back to watch Adam and Eve, they do hope they will find their own happiness out there. "You're heart was in the right place, Angel. They can't fault you for that."
"Aziraphale." He said when he realised he didn't give Crawley his name. "And thank you. I do hope they'll be alright."
"You and me both, Aziraphale," Crawley said softly as they watch Adam fight a lion.
Aziraphale winced when he saw Adam kill the lion, but it was self-defence... He looked up when he heard the rain falling and immediately lift up his wing to shield the Demon without a second thought. His actions surprised him and the fact Crawley did not hesitate to move under his wing surprised him even more. The tempter sent by Lucifer himself has placed their trust in him, to protect them from something they have never seen before after only knowing him for a short while makes him wonder if they had met before the Fall. But it also made him happy, he can't explain why it just does.
"Hello, Aziraphale." Crawley greeted as they sidle up to Aziraphale's left.
"Crawley." Aziraphale greeted, looking a little happier than before.
"So giving away your flaming sword, how did that work out for you?"
"The Almighty has never actually mentioned it again."
"Probably a good thing." Crawley looks at the ark with a mask of curiosity even though the sight of it left them with a heavy heart. "What's all this about? Starting up some kind of collection?"
"From what I hear, God's a bit tetchy. Wiping out the human race. Big storm." Aziraphale whispered so the humans can't hear him.
Crawley turns to the humans in shock before turning back to Aziraphale. "All of them?"
"Just the locals. I don't believe the Almighty's upset with the Chinese. Or the Native Americans. Or the Australians." Aziraphale tried to sound positive but Crawley can hear the pain in his voice.
"Yet," Crawley muttered.
Aziraphale continues as if Crawley didn't say anything. "And God's not actually going to wipe out ALL the locals. I mean." He points at the ark. "Noah up there, his family, his sons, their wives, they're all going to be fine."
"But their drowning everybody else?" Crawley asked in disbelief.
Aziraphale nods his head with a pained look on his face.
Crawley turns to where the children are playing happily before turning back to Aziraphale. "The kids. You can't kill kids." They knew it's going to happen but they still hope it is not the case.
Aziraphale continues nodding his head with a pained look on his face.
"But they are innocent of whatever the adults have done to piss off God," Crawley said softly, letting the pain into their voice.
"Yes but, when it's done the Almighty is going to put up a new thing called a rain-bow." Aziraphale tried to look on the bright side because he cannot interfere. "As a promise not to drown everyone again."
Crawley refused to find the bright side to all this. "How kind." They said sarcastically with anger in their eyes. They will not sit back and let every single kid die, even if it's only one they will save them.
"You can't judge the Almighty, Crawley. God's plans are..."
"Are you going to say 'ineffable'?" Crawley turns to Aziraphale with a raised eyebrow.
"Possibly," Aziraphale muttered softly as he looks away from Crawley.
"Oy! Shem! That unicorn's going to make a run for it. Oh, too late. It's too late! Well, you've still got one of them." Crawley doesn't really care about unicorns, the way they see it they are no different from a normal horse and they are much useful dead than alive. Children in the future will have fun imagining how magical unicorns are and enriching their childhood instead of being disappointed with the truth.
Aziraphale looks up with a heavy heart when he heard thunder above them. "I have to be on the ark with them. If you want..." He is offering Crawley a place on the ark even though he shouldn't.
Crawley shakes their head. "I'll wait it out in Hell." They wave as they walk away. "See you when it's all over."
Crawley watches as the humans all rush around frantically, the gravity of the situation has finally settled in and they are all trying to save themselves and their families. Some had run back to the ark to beg for Noah and his family to let them in and when it didn't work they begged him to at least take their children but it all fell to deaf ears.
Crawley closes their eyes sadly, no matter what the humans had done they did not deserve this. They sigh softly and open their eyes as they unfurl one pair of their wings and fly onto one of the roofs before shouting to get the human's attention. "Your God has forsaken you and under God's instructions, Noah would never let anyone of you on his ark no matter how hard you beg! But not all hope is lost!" They spread out their pure black wings. "Entrust your children to me and I promise they will survive!"
They must have looked like Death himself in the eyes of the humans but there are still parents who rush over with their children, desperate for a way to save them. They snap their fingers and a wagon for the children to sit in appeared. They took as many children as they can, letting the older children carry the younger ones so there is enough space for everyone, and carrying a baby in their arm. In the end, they have a total of eight children, three toddlers and one baby. They waited a little longer before leaving with the children. If parents are reluctant to part with their children they are in no position to force them. They just hope that they do not suffer for long.
Crawley tries to not show how nervous they are as they stand in front of Satan with a wagon full of children and a baby in their arm. Usually they would report to Beelzebub but because they entered Hell with a bunch of children that are still alive they were sent to Satan.
"You have five minutes to explain yourself, Crawley," Satan growled, he sent them to the human world to corrupt the humans, not the other way around.
"Thank you, My Lord." Crawley bow, glad that they had placed the children to sleep before coming here. "God had planned to drown everyone but one family in their village and I have taken as many of the forsaken children as I possibly could on my own."
"I can see that, Crawley. But the question is why?" Satan asked as he leans back in his throne.
"Simple. According to God, they are all marked by Death so saving them ruined God's carefully laid out plan." Crawley smirked as they put on an air of confidence. "And as children, they are easily moulded. Heaven has got their worshippers, don't you think it is time Hell has their own?"
Satan returns the smirk, understanding where Crawley is going with this, as he laced his fingers together. "I see. And you are sure this would work?"
"I cannot guarantee it will be a success, My Lord. It is not something any Demon has done before but I promise I will give it my all so it will have a higher chance of success." Crawley promised, if they fail they might not be able to do what they are planning next.
Satan nods his head, accepting his answer. "Very well. Take all the time you need to care of them and I expect you to succeed."
Crawley bow. "I won't fail you, My Lord." They said before pulling the wagon out of Satan's throne room. They let out a sigh of relief when they are far enough. "Well that went better than I expected." They muttered softly as they look down at the sleeping children. "I am so sorry." They whispered, knowing the path they are forcing them to go down.
"That's it, just a few more step. You can do it." Crawley coo as they hold their arms out, ready to catch the toddler, Euodias, who is walking towards them. "Yay!" They cheered when the Euodias fall onto their lap. They pick Euodias up and spin her around before showering the giggling toddler with kisses.
"If I didn't know any better I would think you are it's parent." A voice put an end to the happiness.
Crawley glare over at Hastur before handing Euodias to one of the older children, Hushim, and told the children to play in the corner before walking over towards Hastur. "I have to, you'll catch more flies with honey than vinegar after all. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"The flood is over. Our Lord wants you to return with good news once you are done with the humans." Hastur sneered at the mention of the humans. "I swear if it isn't because it goes against Her plan I would have killed them all myself."
Crawley roll their eyes. "Do you think I enjoy babysitting them?" They hissed. "I have to tolerate them, having their precious humans reject Heaven and worship us if the best kick in the balls we can inflict on them." They actually don't mind babysitting the children and they really have no reason to get back at Heaven but no Demons needs to know that.
Hastur roll his eyes. "Whatever. Just get them out of here." He turns around to leave. "And don't forget to think of a name for yourself, Dagon wants your answer after you're done with the humans." He said as he walks away.
Crawley sigh softly when Hastur is finally gone. "That went well." They muttered as they turn to the kids with a smile on their face. "Time to go home now." They said softly as they help them back into the wagon, thoughts already going to everything they'll need to teach them so they can survive. Forty days is a long time for children to be staying in Hell and it wasn't easy for Crawley to keep them all safe and alive but they managed somehow.
