Aziraphale soon found that Crawly was not a danger to him like the other demons. He was an annoyance at worst and enduring associate at best. He often would bother Aziraphale while he was out picking for the seven-year famine that would be arriving soon. It was the second year of the seven years of plenty. The demon never left his side for more than a few days and that was only because he had "demonic work to attend to."
Aziraphale didn't know if he should be disturbed or impressed that Crawly stuck around him so long. He didn't know much about demons. Only that they betrayed Heaven, were all violent monsters incapable of basic feelings emotions or love, hated humanity, hated angels and wanted to destroy all that was good in the world.
However Crawly did not seem to be any of these things. He had still not forgotten about the time Crawly saved him from being tortured by the demonic torturer Dagon he had thought the demon had been crying afterward. But this must have not been true for any time he brought it up he was always screamed at and told to come off it.
He didn't seem to hate humanity persay although he seemed disillusioned by their destructive tendencies. But while here in Egypt seeing as how all of humanity here was putting aside their differences and their weapons of War, the wastefulness of Pollution and instruments of Death in order to focus on outweighing the scales of Famine Crawly seemed intrigued by all this.
He was the only one who was of demon or angel other than Aziraphale himself who seemed to understand that humans were capable of great good just as they were of great evil and it felt good to have someone around who saw that even if they didn't openly say it out loud. Sure Crawly was a nuisance but could also be a great companion for a night or two.
Crawly had a hard shell around him too. One that was of anger and callousness. Whenever he was called nice or even suggested to be so he lost it. He was short-tempered as his red hair and was a bit of a hothead at times. He had a layer of humor but also could be annoying if he kept on it for too long. Then there was also a secret layer even bellow that. It was hidden and it was a blink and you'll miss it sort of thing. It was a quiet gentleness almost like the night time sky. And he hid it well.
But one night Aziraphale got to see that side of Crawly again. They were up on a hill near a palm tree. The desert sand tickled their feet like feathers. They were stargazing. Crawly suggested it.
He took the time to point out all the different stars in the constellations and what they were called to the angel beside him. He also told all the stories about them to Aziraphale. He reminded Aziraphale of a human child he watched in the fields the other day pointing out every type of beetle to this father.
Then they saw something move down from the sky. Aziraphale recognized it from an Egyptian girl who had explained to him it was a shooting star. He told this to Crawly and he chuckled.
"What will humans think of next? That is what I like about them. Always finding some meaning in everything."
"Sometimes too much meaning my dear but it is an enduring characteristic of theirs."
"Sometimes I wish humans weren't so afraid of me."
Crawly said it so quietly and sadly Aziraphale almost didn't hear it. He impulsively reached out and touched his shoulder and felt his aura. It was a deep blue and was so so sad. He also felt a light violet of deep-seated remorse and guilt. Was this how Crawly felt all the time?
It didn't last long as Crawly brushed his hand off with a huff and told Aziraphale to never touch him again before storming off. He really was quite a hothead. Aziraphale looked down at the sand sadly and not sure if it was for him or for the demon. Either way, sadness was not really allowed amoung angels.