Chapter 2
Aziraphale pinched the bridge of his nose. "I told you last time I wouldn't eat anything," he said, closing the book.
Raziel put a box of croissants on a table near to him. She said, "I wanted to try it with these." On the lid in big silver letters was written CROISSANTS. The box was white with crinkled cellophane latched shut over a blue ribbon and bow.
Raziel snapped it open and pulled out a sweet chocolate flakiness.
Aziraphale stared at her, trying to recall the memory that had crossed his mind, both walking down near the London eye eating those "Fake Croissants".
He opened his mouth to speak but was met with silence instead. His expression shifted from one of annoyance to confusion as he processed what he had just discovered. "He knows," he said.
"Yes, I introduced myself after I had successfully slain 10 angels that were hunting him," Raziel explained. She kept her words plain and simple, as she did with most things.
Aziraphale tilted his head in confusion. "You've done that a hundred times. What was different this time?"
"That doesn't matter, he's fine." She took a bite of the croissant and chewed it slowly. "Now, you wanted to tell me something?"
He stared at her as he said, "I want to know what happened."
Aziraphale stood up and approached Raziel, towering over the woman. "Tell me what you saw," he said. "This isn't some sort of game."
Raziel shrunk away from him. "I can't say anything if I truly saw something," she said.
"Please." He knew that he was begging, but he couldn't help it. He had to try - this might be his last chance. "If Crowley is thinking about meeting with me…." His voice trailed off as he remembered how the last meeting had gone.
He had been so close to converting Crowley into an angel, and if it hadn't been for the fear in the demon's eyes…. He shuddered at the memory, feeling a deep sense of guilt and regret. Was there any hope left? Could he still find a way to make things right?
Aziraphale never held back his words, and Raziel was thankful for that. Every time they met wasn't just to discuss Crowley, though it seemed like lately that was all the angel wanted to talk about.
Raziel's long, slender fingers delicately plucked one of the buttery croissants from the plate and offered it to him. As soon as he took the first bite, he was transported to another world. The warm, soft bread melted in his mouth, filling him with a sense of comfort and warmth that he hadn't experienced in years. A fragrant steam rose from the tea that Raziel had poured into a delicate porcelain cup. She held it out to him with a smile.
He savored every sip of the tea, letting the flavors dance on his tongue. It was bitter and sweet at the same time, with subtle nuances that brought him back to cozy nights spent with someone who never strayed from alcohol or coffee. The memories made him smile a little bit as he took another sip.
She hesitated a moment, then said, "He is considering it. But you have to meet on your own terms, not with Michael, Uriel, and Metatron on the other side of the door."
Aziraphale's body trembled with uncontrollable emotion as his voice rose to a desperate plea. "I know, I know! I must speak with him!" The thought of finally meeting the one he had been longing for filled his soul with unbearable anticipation.
"I desire for him to be with me, experiencing all these amazing things together!" he said, his voice full of longing. Aziraphale felt himself tremble as his desire overwhelmed him. "I ache to feel his lips on mine, as he did that day in the bookstore."
Raziel inhaled deeply, feeling the impact of truth in his words. Aziraphale's expression revealed his deep sorrow and emotion. Raziel handed him a napkin with the server's phone number written on it in black ink. Aziraphale took it and let out a laugh that was tinged with tears still lingering in his eyes.
"My apologies, I did it again, didn't I? No matter, that's why we always double-check the napkins!" she chirped and handed him a fresh one.
Aziraphale's voice trembled as he asked, "How is he? Did you see that his eyes were still burning with love for me?" He took a deep breath and chugged the tea in one gulp, asking in an accusing tone, "Oh my, are you using the truth against me?"
Raziel smiled, seeing her amusement. He may have had the power to extract honesty from others, but it didn't seem he'd need to use it on him. She let out a hearty laugh. "No, that's all you, dear angel," she said, "but if it makes you feel any better, then go ahead and say I used it!"
The angel let out an exasperated sigh and set the cup down on the table. "I would give anything to know what he told you," he muttered, his voice heavy with both frustration and curiosity. He wanted to know so badly, but was fearful of the answer.
"You can ask him," she responded quickly.
Aziraphale held his breath for a moment, and then he exhaled with the weight of centuries resting on his shoulders. He stood up, knowing that he would soon be hounded by the others. There were many who were looking for him. "Please let me know what he said, and keep looking after him; he now knows who you are but he still needs protection."
Raziel cleared the room, closing her eyes, and the noise from outside and the presence of all angels waiting for Aziraphale flooded the room. "You take care too, please," she said, smiling.
As she strode forward, her gaze lightly flitted to Aziraphale as he was surrounded by other angels. Raziel had the ability to remain undetected from any other angel in Heaven, yet not from her creator.
She arrived at the penthouse, and Crowley was on the terrace, there looking at one of his plants. Scents clung to him like a melody that floated from his body. His eyes were distant as he stared into an unknown distance. "You smell like him from here," he said.
"I'm taking that as a compliment... I think?" she said, advancing towards him with a sly smile.
After setting the plant next to its fellows, he spoke; "Now that we have some privacy, I'd like to hear an explanation from you."
"I need you to go outside; it's important that you stay in public spaces," she stated with conviction. "There are angels and demons out to find you, and if you inexplicably disappear overnight, it won't turn out well."
He said sarcastically, "It wasn't like he ordered you to take care of me."
Her eyes twinkled mischievously as she said, "Yes, and for that, you have to hang out. I'll watch from a safe distance, and you won't even know I'm there."
With a fiery expression, he demanded to know, "How can you be so confident that I'll do your bidding? Are you planning on kidnapping me and forcing me to speak with him?"
She removed her glasses as she spoke, saying "No, you said you would consider it. I wasn't aware that you had already made up your mind."
"Ahh, trying to pull the wool over my eyes with the good cop approach? I must say, that's a creative attempt, but not very shrewd."
"Demon, you have been in here for too long. I'm not trying to manipulate you or anything; I just need you to leave so everyone can see you and be happy." She was beginning to lose her composure.
He snatched up his jacket and glanced at the elevator. Raziel started to take off her shoes, while Crowley frantically fussed over an invisible speck on his shirt.
Inhaling deeply, she turned to him with an inquisitive look. "Can you tell me what's on your mind? Why do I even bother asking?" Aziraphale had the same blue expression a few minutes ago.
He stepped closer to her, his red eyes visible even behind the black glasses. "What are you doing all this for? Why?" he asked.
She took a deep breath and allowed her mind to wander until she heard a familiar voice calling out her name. She recognized it immediately, but she wasn't sure why. Turning towards Crowley, she said, "I have to leave. Someone's calling me. You need to go out now."
He queried with a raised brow, "Is that individual in the public domain?" She affirmed with a subtle nod. "Ooh, marvelous! Therefore, I can escort you to that locale, swig a smattering of beverages and wait for you so I can formally interrogate you?"
Raziel chuckled as she rolled her eyes and declared that it was alright. Suddenly, her clothes shifted to a black going-out outfit and a leather jacket.
Holding his hand, Raziel and Crowley appeared in a private zone in the middle of a concert in Central Park. A band was starting to sing. Tons of humans sang and drank nearby. He turned to Raziel. "I thought you liked a quiet place to talk."
"It's not a problem," she said. "Go then; I'll find you when we're done." With that, she walked out.
Crowley smelled the wine bottles all around and he made himself comfortable under a tree. He grabbed a few bottles and started chatting with a herd of girls who surrounded him like ants to candy. They all admired Crowley's glasses and outfit.
Eventually, Crowley tuned in to the music and realized that the band playing was Queen. After performing Somebody to Love, Killer Queen, and other classics, Brian May took the guitar and began playing Love of My Life.
Leaving the group and walking under a big tree Crowley gazed upwards to the sky, his chest heaving with emotion as his thoughts were consumed by memories of his partner in existence. He remembered the touch of his skin, the bright flash of his smile. Words escaped him as he opened his mouth to let out a cry of anguish, whispering: "Love of my life, can't you see?"
Raziel bit her lip as she slowly settled herself on the tree. "Did it take too long?" she questioned, taking a sip from her glass. "I heard reports from below that you were here yet no one from heaven was here," she went on, glancing around cautiously.
Crowley's stare burned like an inferno, as if he was seeing through the veil of time into another realm. Raziel peered at Crowley, curious if he was alright. "Yes," Crowley responded, his cheerful grin widening."What did the Almighty say?" His eyes burned into Raziel, awaiting a response.
"No, darling, it wasn't God who drank away my energy and caused me to be here," she said with a laugh as she finished her glass. A server approached their table with a bottle of champagne, courtesy of a couple at another table.
"They may think we are swingers," Crowley said laughing, "Let's go somewhere else."
The demon and the angel walked to one of the benches near Shakespeare Garden. Crowley remembered.
The room seemed to spin as she filled up two glasses with Dom Perignon. The fizzing golden liquid bubbled and glimmered in the glass, a million tiny stars of anticipation. When she spoke, her voice had an edge to it - "It's quite pleasant here." Then, with a knowing glance, she asked, "So, what is it that you wanted to know?"
Crowley quickly gulped down his glass before speaking up again. "Listen, I'll meet him, but it has to be here," he declared. "There's no way I'm going up there."
Her eyebrows arched up with surprise. "That's it?" she said. "You are not going to ask for something?"
He spoke through gritted teeth, anger bubbling up from within. "No, I wanted to do it anyway and I must try it again - and I know I will fail." His fists curled into tight balls, his knuckles turning white with the strain. A cold fear blanketed him as he stared ahead, steeling himself for inevitable failure.
Raziel questioned Crowley as she filled his glass, "Are you going to tell him the truth? And I'm not just talking about your feelings."
"What do you mean?" He asked, looking at her.
Raziel's golden eyes twinkled as she spoke in a melodic voice, "If Crowley is now your chosen identity instead of Lucifer, will you tell Aziraphale...?"
But before she could finish, Crowley's eyes clamped shut, and his hand swatted viciously at her, sending her words back into her throat. The noxious fumes made Raziel's eyes bulge for an instant before she collected herself and spat out, "You can try to hide away the truth, but there are no secrets for me, whether you accept it or not."
The menacing noise of Crowley's deep hissing snakes filled the area. His chest heaved quickly as he clenched his jaw in pain. "You will not take them from me," snarled the serpent.
A brilliant stele made of glass was close to Crowley's throat, and Raziel held it tightly. "You don't understand, do you?" she laughed, in spite of the excruciating pressure on Crowley's neck. "You've been living here a long time, Crowley."
The demonic force released the angel, granting her freedom once more. "I'm not a human or a demon who seeks to take advantage of secrets that have been entrusted to me," Raziel declared as she rose from her captivity. "I was designed to keep these secrets safe and secure, never allowing them to see the light of day." Her voice was stern and unwavering, emphasizing each word with a passion that could not be denied.
Crowley's face twisted in rage as he growled, "And that's how you help him?" he sneered, his eyes boring into the other's. "You've seen him destroy entire worlds, and yet you did not intervene? You are more powerful than even Metatron; you could have released him years ago." His words hung heavy in the air, each syllable a razor-sharp blade cutting through any semblance of pretense or excuses.
"Do you mean I should have saved him the moment after you two kissed? That's not my decision, Crowley. You neglected your responsibility after the encounter was wrong and chose not to pursue it again. Aziraphale decided to follow his own ideas and listen to Metatron's voice," Raziel said with indignation.
Crowley's face softened slightly, his fury giving way to a deep sadness. "I just want him to be happy," he admitted, his voice trembling with vulnerability. "But I fear that my presence will only bring him pain and turmoil."
Raziel reached out and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Sometimes, the path to happiness is filled with challenges and difficult choices," she said gently. "But that doesn't mean you should give up on it. You and Aziraphale have a unique bond, and you owe it to yourselves to explore what it could be."
The demon took a deep breath, his thoughts swirling with conflicting emotions. "I'll meet him," he said finally, determination in his voice. "But on my terms, and without the interference of others."
Raziel smiled warmly at him. "That's all I ask," she said. "I'll arrange the meeting for tomorrow, and then the rest will be up to you."
With a newfound sense of purpose, Crowley stood up, ready to face whatever the future held. He wanted to say thank you but that would not happen, even Raziel feel it "You're welcome," she replied. "Now go, enjoy the concert, and remember, I'll be watching from a safe distance."
Crowley gave her a small smile before disappearing into the crowd, his mind filled with thoughts of the upcoming meeting with Aziraphale.
As the concert continued, Raziel remained on the bench, her gaze fixed on the stars above.
