Chapter 3
Uriel and Michael approached Aziraphale with urgent haste. They were running almost in tandem. Uriel was the first to reach him, taking a deep breath before delivering the news. Michael followed shortly after, his eyes wide as he prepared to tell Aziraphale what he had found out.
"Something happened?" asked Aziraphale with smile to their brothers.
Uriel beamed with joy as she announced, "We've just located the demon on Earth!".
"We had intended to take action, but with so many people nearby, we couldn't," Michael said. Aziraphael nodded his head in agreement, acting as if he was getting irritated.
"So you came here just to tell me that you couldn't go through with it?" he asked, his voice strained as he tried to mask his relief.
"No, Aziraphale, what was different this time was that Mary stood on the same place and ordered the angels to leave, so we will like you to talk to her, as Supreme Archangel," said Uriel. His face darkened with anger. "So I suggest you do it."
Standing up and adjusting his coat, he said,"I will talk to her, is that all? I have a meeting to discuss the potential of nuclear weapons in five minutes."
Both angels nodded and left the room. As they walked out, someone passed by them with their head down, carrying a long scroll in their hand. The other angel bowed to Aziraphale as he removed his hoodie. He was shocked when he saw the face of this angel-it looked like his own but with graying hair and beard-like a version of him if he were fully human, except for the golden eyes.
"I'm about to review the nuclear plan, so if you can kindly keep all interruptions and proclamations to a minimum that would be great!" he bellowed out, causing every angel in the vicinity to flee!
The angel made the sign of silence and threw the scroll to the floor. He put his hands on his forehead, and a sparkling light filled the room.
"I can't do two things at the same time, so please take my head and run to the elevator." Raziel said in an unusually deep voice. He pulled off his white robe to reveal an ordinary gray suit. His shoulders were covered by a white sweatshirt which he pulled over his head and then tugged down to cover his face.
Aziraphale's eyes widened in disbelief. His mouth opened and closed, but no sound escaped. He was frozen in shock as Raziel smiled and took his hand, just like Crowley and him had done before they switched appearances. "I tried to find a face that looks like you," Raziel said.
After the switch, a tingle ran down Aziraphale's spine as he became more aware of his physical form. His fingers lightly grazed across his chest which had been transformed along with the rest of his body. "How much mortal time have we been granted?" The words came out heavy and thick, almost unfamiliar to him now that he was speaking through human vocal cords. It was strange, seeing himself in this new body. The skin felt different, the sensations were foreign yet somehow exhilarating at the same time.
Raziel handed him his glasses and his pocket watch. Aziraphale pulled out his flaming sword, better that she looked the most to him, Raziel glanced at the blade and slid it into its sheath. For a moment the supreme archangel thought that Crowley kept his human stuff and then smiled.
"You want a curfew like Cinderella?" said Raziel moving his neck getting used to Aziraphale's body "There is no curfew but I trust you too will know"
Aziraphale smiled as he embraced Raziel, his friend. The sparkle in his eyes shone like the stars above as a silent acknowledgement of the game about to begin. Raziel slowly unrolled the scroll in his hands, his brow furrowed with intensity as he read each word deliberately, committing every detail to memory.
With a quiet goodbye, Aziraphale took an elevator and tried to be as quiet as he could. His senses flared with sound as the doors opened; his heart hammered in his chest like a bomb that almost exploded. He revisited this place before, but he had been gone so long it seemed odd to see crowds of people on the street once again. He watched the men and women by a cafe window. Stepping out into the fog of London, something about hanging from this level was different now; a strange air hung over everything and amplified every scent underfoot. From underground came the smell of concrete, metal and human body fat. A little further away and sandwiched between other street noises was music: soulful sounds filtered through glass windows waiting for him inside.
Maggie leaned toward him, squinting at his eyes. "You're Mr. Fel's brother, right?" Maggie asked with a bright smile.
He saw her with a big smile, but before he spoke Maggie handed him a watch. The face was glass; the hands and numbers floated in the water-smooth surface like dreaming mermaids. A small window in the top of the watch displayed all twenty-four hours at once. It showed the time on every continent in its proper place: New York, Moscow, Istanbul, Tokyo... It took only a second to recognize it: Crowley's watch.
Maggie smiled warmly at Mr. Fel and said, "It's so nice to see you. We have lots to talk about." But before they could start their conversation, a black Bentley sedan pulled up beside them, nearly hitting Aziraphale and pulling him from his reverie.
He look at the car and whisper a little "I miss you too" he opened the cars door and sat in it, not looking at Crowley who was driving and paying no attention to Aziraphale.
Aziraphale and Crowley drove around, the air so thick and oppressive that it made their lungs heavy. Neither said a word as they pulled up to Penge Cafe, which was eerily quiet due to a billboar said "Close due repairs". Crowley stepped out of the car and melted the door handle with a flick of his finger, ready to rip the whole door off its hinges if need be. His scowl spoke more than words ever could have at that moment—the raging fire from within him burning so brightly that Aziraphale could almost feel its heat.
The cafe was dirty, covered in dust and the smell of wet paint heavy in the air. Sheets covered the tables. The floors were sticky with old drink stains and the air became so thick and oppressive that it made their lungs heavy. Not luxury at all
He pulled the sheet of the table off. "That watch is going to cover you from up there but we don't know for how long," he said while pulling at a corner of the thick cloth.
The angel nodded. "I see you two plan it all too well," he said with a smile, then remembered where the face from. He had seen this man in a play once on Earth.
Crowley's eyes blazed with fury as he grabbed the two chairs and flung them across the room. He glared at Angel, his voice a cold, razor-sharp hiss"At least you assigned me a bodyguard who knew what he was doing. Don't waste my time, Angel—speak."
He slowly took a seat and let out a deep breath. He had been going over what he wanted to say in his head since the day of the incident. Finally, he spoke, looking at himself in Crowley's glasses. "I'm sorry for what happened last time," he said softly. "I know I went too far."
Crowley gave him a mocking laugh that reached deep into his soul. "What do you possibly hope to gain by seeking forgiveness from a demon?" he spat out the word with all of the contempt in his heart. "You said you forgive me of my sins back at the bookstore—how has the balance shifted?"
"No, not just any demon," Aziraphale replied. "Crowley, so much is happening right now, but yet you want to stay here on this planet."
Crowley's face burned with fury as he spat out the same warning for a second time. "Dont go down that path!" His voice was loud and shaking, reverberating through the room like thunder. He glared at the person before him, his eyes flashing with rage.
Aziraphale was going to say something else, but before he could say anything Crowley took of his glasses and break the table where he put them. "I never tried to change a single thing about you angel," Crowley said. "I went with you to those magic shows. I almost lost my head not just once but... Hell- why do I count them? You're the one who's better at dates. And besides that old fucking bee gave you powers and a crown the first thing you do is try to destroy me.
Crowley began to lose his temper, and the air dimmed from blue to a shade of gray. Crowley's eyes flashed with demonic light.
Aziraphale took a sharp breath and held it. "Listen to me," he said firmly. "I love how you are."
He spoke with an angry tone, reminding of the fear he had when Aziraphale was holding the vial next to his mouth. "You wanted an angel by your side, not me," he said. "You're just as weak. It only took someone else for you to change your mind. Someone you hadn't talked to in millions of years was enough to make you think that what we had built over centuries was wrong and needed a change."
Crowley quickly stood from the table, his anger palpable. "You just wanted me to say yes so you could continue on with your plan," he spat, glaring icily at Aziraphale. "So if that's all-" His voice broke off, stumbling under the weight of what he really wanted to say. He shook his head and turned away, gritting out a harsh: "Just fuck off."
Aziraphale stood with a heavy heart, tears beginning to swell in his eyes. "You don't have faith in me," he thought. "The first thing you said was that everything I did was wrong. I asked you to come with me and you pushed my hand away. All the things I did before, you always had my back - but not this time."
"This is not your thing, that plan is Metraton plan not yours" he slapped.
A thunderous roar erupted from him as he hurled himself across the room and crashed into Crowley. Furniture exploded all around them, flying in every direction as pieces of shattered wood rained down. "No, it's not!" he growled, his face contorted with rage. "I have done anything to ensure that this universe will be restored" His yell echoed through the room like a clap of thunder.
Crowley stared at him, Aziraphale was more powerful he could feel it.
Aziraphale's eyes burned as the tears streamed down his cheeks. He had tried to stop them, but it was too late. His voice shook as he spoke: "My mistake was to move your card castle - you always take the same attitude when something doesn't go your way. You hurt everyone because it isn't your way. Very well Mr Im-a-Different-Demon, but not just different like the status quo - for you that means whatever suits you best."
Crowley's voice shook with emotion as he spoke, his words heavy and intense. "What I wanted was us, just you and me," he said, a tinge of desperation in his voice. "But instead, you included the entire universe!" His eyes burned with intensity, radiating an unwavering determination.
"What are you talking like that? Like its in the past" said Aziraphale hurted "You wanted us but just staying here, no conflict just us eating, drinking and waiting for someone to throw the next armagedon or the next antichrist and that's not just what I want Crowley"
Crowley's grip tightened around Aziraphale's coat until the fabric threatened to tear. He snarled through clenched teeth, "What do you want then? Answer me!" His eyes blazed with unfettered rage and his words were like daggers cutting through the air.
Aziraphale studied the thin lips of Crowley and felt their energies melding together as before. "I want to live with you, not just exist," he said. "For that we don't need to be angel, demon, or anything else; for living we need to be us."
The angel grasped Crowley's head and pulled him close, their mouths joining hungrily. He ran his hands over every inch of Crowley's body, and Crowley reciprocated, biting down on Aziraphale's neck. The fire in the air seemed to come from within them, as both feverishly ripped away each other's clothing until nothing remained. Aziraphale groaned with pleasure as he felt every touch, never breaking their intense gaze.
Crowley's eyes flamed with lust as their gazes remained locked. They collided in a wild kiss, each of their bodies desperate for the other's touch. Crowley pulled Aziraphale deeper into his embrace, pushing him towards the table draped in a sordid cloth. With every second that passed, they became more and more entwined in an uncontrollable desire.
Aziraphale drank in the sight of Crowley's unclothed body, and his breath hitched as the emotion of longing coursed through him. He spoke softly, almost reverently, "Crowley, I want you."
Their bodies crashed into one another, ravenous for contact. Aziraphale had studied the topic extensively, but it did nothing to prepare him for the burning moment when Crowley purred in his ear, "I need you, angel."
Crowley's voice sent a thrill of pleasure through Aziraphale. He felt the demon's heat against his body as Crowley pressed forward, and he gasped at the sensation. Crowley's hand found its way to his arse and their bodies seemed to melt together as they kissed with unbounded passion. Aziraphale felt his desire rise between them as Crowley moved against him.
The sensations intensified with each thrust, and Aziraphale and Crowley found a mesmerizing rhythm that drove them wild with pleasure. Every pulse sent Aziraphale's heart racing as they moved in perfect harmony. Beads of sweat trickled down Crowley's body, slickening his already aroused skin. Aziraphale's hand enveloped Crowley's throbbing member, mimicking the swiftness of their passionate movements. With every stroke, their rapturous pleasure was amplified.
"I can feel you," Aziraphale breathed, his head falling back as he surrendered to the pleasure.
"I can feel you too" Crowley echoed, surprised by the words that escaped his lips. The intimacy between them was profound.
Their eyes burned into each other, and the pure passion in Crowley's stare stole Aziraphale's breath away. He tugged Crowley closer, their lips devouring with raging desire. Their bodies moved together as one, and Aziraphale could feel the incredible intensity between them. Crowley's moans filled the room as Aziraphale writhed against him, pleasure intensifying until Crowley found his culmination in their embrace.
Aziraphale shuddered with pleasure as the last of his energy poured into Crowley, creating a moment of sheer euphoria between them. He wrapped his arm around his beloved angel, and tightly pulled Crowley closer to him, their bodies still intertwined. Aziraphale caressed Crowley's face with deep adoration, lovingly running his fingers through the soft gray locks.
In that moment, wrapped in each other's arms, they felt a bond that transcended time and space, a love that would endure for eternity. And in each other's embrace, they found solace and home again.
Aziraphale's words felt like they had broken the moment, but he nevertheless asked Crowley to take him to The Ritz. Despite his protests of being full, he was drawn in by a passionate kiss and allowed himself to be taken away with Crowley. Even though Crowley didn't eat as much as Aziraphale did, the sight of him smiling at every expression that crossed the angel's face was enough for the demon.
"What's the game plan?" Aziraphale queried as they strode towards the street lot.
"You stay here, and that's what we're going to do!" Crowley grinned, putting his arm around Aziraphale's shoulders.
He wrapped his arms around Crowley's waist and spoke in a soft tone, "Come on now. I have to go".
Crowley smiled to himself, remembering the words Nina and Maggie had shared: "You said I always come with the plan to save you… and you let me do it," he said. "This time, we're gonna make a plan together!"
Aziraphale guided him to a secluded back alley, and Crowley seized the moment. He ravenously kissed his neck while roaming down his body. His caresses were insatiable; it was never enough. Then he felt it-the energy of Raziel ebbing away. With reluctance, he pulled away from Aziraphale's embrace, cursing a single word: "Fuck". Raziel's force was draining, and they had no choice but to part.
Aziraphale touch the watch and nod his head, when they arrived to the conner near the elevator Crowley took his lover hand and took the watch but before he kiss on the palm giving the angel a luxury sight with his snake eyes from the glasses.
Aziraphale give a step and whispered into his ear "It breaks me to leave you Crowley" Gently, the angel kissed Crowley's cheeck and hand before releasing her grip.
Crowley wanted to take him and put him on the car to drive to the end of the world, he was about to do it but he knew things could be different.
The angel forced a smile as he pressed the button to Heaven and stepped inside. Aziraphale felt the heaviness in his heart again, and began searching for Raziel. He was stopped by Saraqael who told him to bring back the last report.
Fortunately, Aziraphale found it quickly and located Raziel on the 27th floor. His eyes were bloodshot, and he was struggling to stay upright in a chair.
The Archangel rushed to Raziel's side, but Raziel said weakly, "Just give me the scroll and I'll be on my way - I don't have much energy left." He tried his best to imitate Aziraphale in case anyone was paying attention.
When Aziraphale handed the scroll to Raziel, the latter grasped his hand and they swapped bodies. Raziel smiled and whispered "Don't summon me for the next century so I can rest."
Aziraphale beamed at him as he tried to speak, but he could feel Saraqael on his way. Raziel nodded and made his way to the elevator. When he reached the top floor of London's penthouse, he found Crowley packing his plants into boxes. "What are you doing?" he asked, flopping down onto the gray couch.
Before he could respond, Raziel grimaced and gestured toward him. "You don't have to leave," she said. "I know Hell hasn't returned your apartment, and as much as you love the CEO of Heaven, that doesn't mean right now he can give you a place to stay. You're welcome here for as long as you need." Raziel pulled off his coat and sweater, revealing a large bruise on his neck. "No commentary needed. Just stop staring at me like that. I'll change my appearance soon enough, but I need to be in a coma-like state first. Can you protect the area while I'm sleeping here?"
Raziel couldn't hear Crowleys response because his mind went black. He didn't have the strength to heal, no matter how hard he tried but this darkness was better than been on Aziraphale's place.
