Calmly he returned downstairs and headed for the front door, removing his coat and rolling up his sleeves.
"What are you doing?!" the young witch exclaimed.
"I may not be able to reach Crowley yet, but I can deal with the blaggard outside," he told her, hoping he sounded more confident than he felt. Throwing the door wide he stepped out on the path, Newt and Anathema flanking him in the doorway.
"I know you're out here coward, show yourself!" he bellowed.
"Who are you calling a coward?" a voice snarled from the shadows.
"I believe I'm referring to you, hiding amongst the trees."
"Grown a back bone have we?" Hastur appeared in a patch of moonlight. "Where's Crowley?"
"He's not taking visitors just now but he sends his regards."
Hastur sniffed. "You smell of Hell," he accused.
"That happens when you're friends with a demon."
"I knew something was off. It was you! I don't know how you did it but I'll find out."
"I have know idea what you're talking about," the angel bluffed, flexing his fingers and moving down the other away from the safety of the wards. He needed to keep Crowley and the humans safe.
"If blessing his door isn't enough, maybe disposing of his boyfriend will put a dent in his day. Never know, he might be so distracted by your demise that I can end him too." A nasty grin crossed his face as he ran at Aziraphale, claws bared, screeching like the demon he was.
With a flap of his wings the angel jumped over him and out of reach. "Oh you'll have to do better than that I'm afraid."
"How about this?" Hastur pulled an urn from his pocket, uncorking it.
Aziraphale already knew what it was and had to think fast as the flames of hellfire licked towards him. He dodged and flew out of reach.
"Keep playing dirty and I'll burn the house down."
"You're the one with the hellfire."
"Rumour has it hellfire can't burn you. Or was that a trick?" A knowing grin spread across his face. "Maybe I did kill Crowley after all," he laughed with glee.
Fuck. He's onto us.
"Come on angel, let's see how powerful you are."
Hearing Crowley's nickname for him come from someone else's mouth made Aziraphale's skin crawl. Steeling himself, he settled back on the ground as Hastur bottled the fire.
The smell of sulphur and other….unpleasant odours assaulted the angel's senses and he couldn't hide distaste.
The demon sneered at him. "So trusting. No wonder Crowley managed to manipulate you so well. Fancy and angel falling for a demon's tricks."
Aziraphale bristled "Is that all you've got? I few cheap taunts. What a pathetic excuse for a demon you are. No wonder Crowley was so popular."
"Crowley was a fraud! Trying to fit in amongst this lot. It's unnatural. He should have taken his rightful place millennia ago. Instead he decided to stay up here. He's pathetic. And it's your fault, you made him soft."
Aziraphale was at a lost as to what to say. Crowley wasn't soft as such he was just… oh yes right, now wasn't the time to be getting distracted. "You will leave this place. You will return to Hell and you will never show your face anywhere near us again."
"Or what?" Hastur scoffed.
"Or I will use this!" He produced his flask of holy water again. "I believe you've been acquainted with its affect of your kind."
The demon faltered then grinned. "You haven't got the guts."
The angel was losing his patience fast so with a twitch of his hand he produced his flaming sword. "Try me."
Snarling Hastur uncorked the hellfire, letting it loose.
In a panic Aziraphale threw the holy water at the fire. An explosion of energy sent them flying as the two elements mixed.
A screeching filled the night air and a shadow flew at the fallen demon. Claws slicing, teeth gnashing, wings beating as the black mass hovered above.
"Crowley! Please. You're one of us! No!" Hastur's frantic pleas filled the air.
Crowley's feet finally touched down as his wings stopped moving. He snarled and allowed his demon face to lunge forwards causing Hastur to scream.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to know what you were up to my Lord," he whimpered.
Crowley snarled bringing his hand up, claws glinting in the moonlight getting ready for the kill shot.
"Crowley!" Aziraphale yelled. "Don't. That's not who you are. Please." His shout caused his demon to hesitate, giving Hastur a chance to attack.
Crowley flew backwards, hitting the ground as Hastur gained the upper hand.
Hastur's hands scrabbled at Crowley's chest, trying to dig his claws in causing the other demon to scream in pain. If he could get his claws in deep enough he could discorperate him.
Crowley managed to get his own hands up, one clawing at Hastur's face, the other to the hands on his chest.
Aziraphale rushed forward, sword raised as the two demons suddenly took flight, Crowley's inky wings propelling them up into the night sky.
Wind began to howl round them, lightning flashed illuminating the clouds.
There was another scream followed by a wet thund.
The angel almost didn't want to look, terrified as to what had landed. As he stepped closer he felt a fissure of relief, there were no wings. The bloody mess on the floor was Hastur. He looked up searching the dark for Crowley, spotting him tumble from the sky, his wings flapping intermittently slowing his fall.
He landed heavily and Aziraphale's first instinct was to run to him but this wasn't his Crowley. This Crowley was feral and there was no way to know how he'd react to an angel's advance.
"Crowley my dear?" he called. "Can I help? It's just me." Taking a deep breath he stepped forward.
The demon hissed at him as he righted himself, backing away.
"You know me. I won't hurt you, dearest." He couldn't help the flinch as Crowley's demon face lept at him, all giant teeth and glowing eyes. "Now, now, none of that. You don't scare me," he huffed, trying to sound calmer than he felt.
As he stepped forward again, Crowley lunged for him.
"Aziraphale!" Anathema yelled in alarm, causing the demon to falter.
His attack stalled and the angel took flight, distancing himself from his friend. He watched as Crowley stared at him from the ground, eyes blazing in the dark like burning embers, a low growl sounding in the cold air.
With a flap of his ebony wings, Crowley was face to face with Aziraphale, snarling in the face of his natural enemy.
"Crowley. Please, you must remember who you are. You're Anthony J Crowley. You're my friend. You helped stop Armageddon."
The demon just glowered at him. The sneer on his face illuminated by lightning as thunder crashed around them from a storm that appeared out of nowhere.
As the wind picked up Aziraphale felt he had to move higher, out of the storm before he lost control.
As he flapped his wings Crowley grabbed his ankle and was pulled right along with him. He climbed up the angel's body until they were nose to nose and he flapped his wings taking them even higher before pushing the angel away, watching him fall.
Aziraphale let himself tumble a little into the safety of the clouds before righting himself and taking off after the demon. He couldn't leave him free on Earth, there was no telling what he would do.
He felt his heart clench as he caught sight of him heading towards the main village, the storm moving with him and prepared himself to counter-miracle whatever Crowley did. The demon would never forgive himself if he did major damage or caused harm, of that Aziraphale was sure.
As the village came into view Crowley's sight latched onto the church, a predatory smile split his features. With a screech he set fire to it,he thought it rather fitting in the circumstances.
"Oh no you don't!" the angel muttered, miracling the church back as it was before any neighbours caught sight of the flames.
The demon turned and saw the angel, another screech and he flew at him.
On instinct Aziraphale summoned his sword again, hoping it would slow Crowley down but it caught his side instead burning deeply..
He screeched and thrashed tumbling away.
Throwing the sword to the side, where it promptly vanished, Aziraphale raced to catch Crowley before he hit the ground.
He scrabbled to get a purchase on him and the demon reactively sank his teeth into the angel's neck where it met his shoulder as the angel pulled him close, slowing their freefall.
He managed to land them heavily back by the cottage.
Anathema and Newt ran toward them when neither moved.
The witch held up a torch and gasped at the blood on his shirt.
"I'll live," Aziraphale assured them. "We need to get him inside. The wound inflicted by my sword is one I can heal. I'll meet you up there." Taking Crowley in his arms the angel miracled them inside, Anathema and Newt followed.
"Is this a good idea? I mean he's not exactly….stable."
Newt ventured. " And what do we do about the pieces of demon out on the road?"
"The demon will be gone," the angel told him with a flick of the wrist, he didn't suppose anyone would be keeping score of his miracles anymore. As he set about healing the wounds on Crowley's side and stomach, Anathema set about seeing to Aziraphale's neck.
"Looks mostly superficial. He managed to draw blood though," she told him, removing his tie and undoing a button before cleaning it and dressing it.
"Thank you, I'm sure it'll be well healed soon."
"What do we do about him? How did he even get past the wards?" Newt asked, pointing to the red head.
"I suppose we'll have to wait and see when he wakes up," the angel sighed. "We can leave if you wish. I'm sorry I've brought this to your door."
"Nonsense. My wards still stand, no one can get in. You'll be safe, it's just he somehow can get out," the young witch told him with a frown.
"Thank you," he smiled sadly. "Perhaps you should both get some rest."
The couple nodded and said their good nights with trepidation.
"Oh Crowley," Aziraphale sighed. "Come back to me, please."
Never one for sleeping, the angel suddenly found his eyelids too heavy and decided to rest his eyes.
XxXxX
a/n; Anybody still reading? I'd love to hear from you; its blooming hit and I'm British so cant deal which means I cant sleep. Thoughts or comments would be lovely xx