Disclaimer: I don't own a thing. A.N. I've learned that 9th August is Book Lovers' day, so this had to happen. Pretty sure it's still the 9th somewhere.
Bound
It's easy to get in Aziraphale's good graces. The angel is, after all, of a genial disposition most of the time. Much, much rarer is to earn his eternal (and it's not an idiom) gratitude. After all, he's a considerably powerful creature. Rarely in debt to anyone else. He can just miracle himself out of any tough spot. Yes, sometimes he seems to forget it... but the results are always delectable, and include a certain demon.
Unsurprisingly, there's a common thread binding the people Aziraphale is grateful to. And it's most often linen. (Of course, lately...he still misses parchments sometimes, just unroll and you're done.) Because Aziraphale can take care of himself, but his books? Sometimes, he doesn't have the chance (or wherewithal) to. And they can't miracle themselves out of trouble. Or will themselves. Instead, they tend to be the unfortunate collateral damage in some of his more reckless endeavours.
The only reason Aziraphale's collection is, to this day, complete (extended, even) is because a few people, along the way, have protected every page. (And wouldn't it have been a tragedy if in his rashness, the angel would have taken one out before help could be given?)
Now, Aziraphale looks forward to the chance to repay Adam. It might have been intended as compensation, but he didn't exactly deserve it, did he? It's not as if he's done what he has for the child in particular. No, he's definitely still in debt. Maybe there will be some book he can procure for the kid in the future. Or a writer to gently bless so they'll finish the next volume. (Or something else, of course, but Aziraphale prefers to offer what he's best at.)
Crowley already has him, so - that'll have to be enough.
