Author's Note: This has been my favorite chapter so far. ^_^
ALL IN A LIFETIME'S WORK
Chapter 3
Crowley followed Aziraphale around the ordered chaos that was a typical photoshoot tending to - or at least pretending to - tend to the angel's personal needs. Aziraphale had to pick up his jaw from his lap when he first saw Crowley, and the demon couldn't have been happier to illicit such a reaction. He also knew, from Aziraphale's pursed lips and glaring stare that the angel couldn't wait to ask him what the hell was he thinking. The demon's smile grew wider as he subtly encouraged even more chaos around him.
"Stop that, Crowley." Aziraphale quietly reprimanded the demon next to him while the wardrobe staff fussed around them. "I can feel you working them you know."
Someone handed the angel a hanger and he soon disappeared behind a dressing partition. After a few moments, he peered out confused, "Um, where's my shirt?"
"None, Mr. Azira." a young woman answered, holding the rest of the angel's 'outfit' in her hands. A pair of costume white wings. "You're being shot as an angel today."
Aziraphale's face registered surprise, blushed and disappeared once again behind his screen. Crowley started laughing manically - oh, the irony of it! He has almost reduced himself to a fitful heap on the floor when Aziraphale reappeared in a pair of tight white pants and nothing else. The demon's mouth clamped shut and took in the angel's bare chest. He swallowed, entranced, along with the rest of the women (and some men) in the immediate vicinity. Crowley noted this with distaste, and everyone gaping suddenly remembered a most pressing matter across the other side of the room.
The angel looked uneasy - a default Aziraphale face - and walked over to Crowley. He was about to say something when the photographer and Gabriel appeared.
"Perfect! Perfect! Where are his wings? Wings!" the photographer shouted across the room, and the girl carrying the prop came scurrying back. She strapped them on with Gabriel's help and Aziraphale must have looked ill.
Gabriel squeezed Aziraphale's shoulders, "You alright Azira? Baby! Need anything?"
"I... I could use something to calm my nerves right now."
The archangel's eyes swung towards the demon pretending to be nonexistent at the moment. "Crowley, get him something to drink."
"Hmm? Are you asking me to get you something?"
"Well, duh. Yes. Get him some tea. They always have some ready over at the caterer." When Crowley didn't seem to move, Gabriel glared, "What do you think I'm paying you for Tony?!"
Crowley's glare could have burned a hole right through the oblivious photographer and the wall behind him - and the room behind that - but nonetheless stalked away to fetch a cup of hot tea. It was a good thing that none of the mortals around could see past the sunglasses.
"Thanks." Aziraphale gave a small smile at his one celestial friend on Earth, and absently scratched at the straps running along his shoulders.
"We will digitally erase all of that out." the photographer said as he led Aziraphale onto a set painted a convincing shade of sky blue. There was a large white wingback chair standing off-center. "Come, this way here Azira. Stand here, perfect! Our art director today will explain the theme. Yes?" he hurriedly hopped off the small set's dais.
Out of the woodwork appeared another man, who took a moment to shake Aziraphale's hand. "Neil Garrison. Im with IdeaBox. Nice to finally meet The one and only Azira. I must say, I'm a fan."
The angel shrugged, "Just Azira. So, what are we doing today?" He vaguely remembered IdeaBox as his marketing agency.
"Today we're doing the cover for your new single, plus a couple other sets for the marketing campaign. The usual."
Aziraphale inwardly sighed, 'the usual' meant he'll be here until the wee hours of the morning. They'll be shooting everything today, from the CD cover to magazine spreads to billboard ads. Gabriel liked getting everything done in one fell swoop; he knew Aziraphale had a great aversion to photoshoots therefore making it easier for the both of them by doing everything in one go; and more importantly, he knew it was much cheaper to do it this way. Who'd have guessed that the Archangel was such a savvy businessman.
"Sure. What do you want me to do?"
Neil explained in detail the 'look' he was going for, how they were going to add and subtract things on the computer, the lighting, the mood (which was "a subtle mix of heavenly, sexy and retro-hip"). Aziraphale merely nodded, most of the information exiting right through his other ear. He's learned to ask the one question that yeilded the best answer;
"So, do you want me to smile?"
"No, no. But don't look grumpy either. Just look... uh... thoughtful. Contemplative. Yes! Like that. Perfect."
Aziraphale was confused, he hadn't changed his expression yet. But if that was alright, then just go with it he guessed. He shrugged then parked himself on the chair. The camera immediately started clicking away, and once in a while one of the assistants would come and touch up things here and there. They went through several poses - standing, sitting, leaning on the wall. The angel opted for the same neutral look all throughout.
As soon as the art director called a break, Aziraphale stepped off the set and was greeted by the sight of Crowley still holding a paper cup. He heard Neil behind him frantically talking on his cellphone.
"Here." the demon handed it to him gruffly, but he'd kept the tea warm. Aziraphale sipped at it gratefully.
"Thanks." Aziraphale drank down some more and checked who was within earshot. He saw that Gabe was busy on his cellphone, the irate director at his side. They seemed to be in a heated argument of sorts. Satisfied, he looked back at the demon, "How in the world did you convince Gabriel to let you stay?"
It was Crowley's turn to check if the Archangel was within listening range, "Let's just say that we made our own little arrangement. As long as I don't mess with your operation directly, I can stay."
"And as long as you do whatever Gabe says?"
"Perceptive angel. Yes." Crowley shoved his hands in his pockets, and grinned. "Although on the bright side of things, I have exclusive access to all of your moves. I'm sure my bosses would appreciate that." A forked tongue slipped out for only the briefest of moments, "I certainly appreciate that."
Aziraphale blushed, "That was very... sly of you Crowley."
"Sly indeed." Gabriel appeared between them and placed an arm over both their shoulders. "However demon, you're on my watch now too. And a deals a deal." a searing tone surfaced from the angel's typically jovial mood. It was a tone Crowley knew well, and he knew it was best - or rather, paramount - that he 'behaved' for his own continued existence. "One of our models for today couldn't seem to make it. I volunteered you Anthony J. Crowley."
"Now hold on, Gabriel, I agreed to nothing like this - "
The Archangel silenced him with a seething glare, "Oh. Yes you did. If you think your lot has got the contract signing down, I'm sure you'd be delighted to find that Heaven has caught up in that department as well."
"A model?" Aziraphale asked somewhat dumbly, trying to break the tension. It was the best he could do under the circumstances.
Gabriel's face split into a smile, "Yes. See, Ideabox won out the marketing bid with its Heaven smites Hell theme for your new single. Too bad their model can't make it today, but with the really tight schedule, we'll just have to make do." He gave Crowley a pat on the back which was only vaguely friendly. "And what do you know, I have a real demon available."
"Mr. Anthony Crowley?" a young assistant tapped lightly on the demon's shoulder. Should she have known who exactly she was touching, she may have realized how lucky she was that two angels were around to make sure she wasn't instantly reduced into a smoldering pile of ash. "I'll bring you over to hair and make-up, I understand you will be our demon for today."
Crowley scowled, but nonetheless followed the hapless young lady. He muttered almost inaudibly, just enough for the other two inhuman beings in the room to hear; "I swear Gabriel, if I look stupid, deal's off. You can keep Aziraphale."
"Hey!" Aziraphale pouted.
Gabriel laughed, "Hot air. You should have seen him practically beg to stay." The other angel nodded. "Can't wait to see the demon's face when he spots the bat wings and plastic pitchfork they got in the prop room."