Chapter Text
The demons cowered on their knees, they had been lined up and jugs of Holy Water stood behind them, with human slaves standing waiting for the order to pour them out. Neit was walking up and down the line, whipping any demon who fell or flinched. Neivo was sitting on a throne glaring at them all, he held up his hand and Neit paused. He pointed to a small mouse demon. Her eyes bulged out and she began to panic as the human slaves picked up the jug and held it out over her head. Neivo stayed their hands without a word.
"My friends, I don't doubt that you're all wondering why you are here. And I intend to inform you of the reason but first I must ask something of you." Neivo pulled out the book and handed it to Neit.
Neit opened it to a specific page and passed in front of the demons so they could read their own names from the book.
"It is thanks to this book that I am able to host you all. And it is in thanks to this book that I was going to unite Heaven and Hell and become God!"
He says this with relish, but then his face turns into anger.
"I would've sooner, if I had not been lied to about the true name of Lucifer. Now the time approaches and I still don't have the one being I need. And that my friends is where you come in, give me the true name of Lucifer and you will be free. Fail to do so and you will be destroyed."
With a wave of his hand Neit stalked over to the mouse demon. She shook as he grabbed her by the hair.
"Do you know the true name of Lucifer?" Neit snarled at her as tears of blood poured from her eyes. "Answer me!"
"N-no I don't, none of us do." Her voice squeaked out, the sigils branded into her chest did nothing. Neit snapped his fingers and the human slaves poured the jug out on her. Her screams tore into the core of every demon there. Neit continued down the line.
As the demons were interrogated Aziraphale crept along the halls. Hurrying as quickly as he could, he ducked in and out of alcoves. He heard the screaming and it made him falter thinking of Crowley.
"Crowley is in Hell, he fell off the Tower. He's not here." He reminded himself.
Coming upon a familiar door he snuck up behind the human guarding it. The human gasped and held his spear out, ready to fight him.
"Now listen here human, I implore you to let me in." Aziraphale said looking them straight in the eyes. "Do you know who you are guarding here?" He asked.
The human shook his head.
"This cell holds the Archangel Gabriel, it would look good on your record, come your death. Imagine that, helping to free an Archangel from bondage." Aziraphale watched as the idea took hold of the man. The man faltered for a second but dropped his spear and opened the door.
"Thank you, may you find peace."
Aziraphale stepped into the room and ran to the floor where Gabriel lay. After Crowley had been revealed to have lied about his identity Neivo had lost it. Neivo had Elonio hung from the tower as a warning. He also had Gabriel stripped and whipped until his flesh was raw and his blood soaked the ground. Aziraphale approached the Archangel and sat down next to him. Gabriel opened his eyes.
"Aziraphale is that you?" He muttered out pain behind every word.
"Here I am, I'm so sorry Gabriel." He didn't know what to do.
"The priest is desperate to find out the true name of Lucifer, they're executing demons to get it." Aziraphale said his voice hollow and weak.
"What about the one who was in here with me? The Crawly one." Gabriel asked, trying to keep his mind off the pain.
"Crawly? He fell off the Tower, he's probably back in Hell now." Aziraphale said, if his eyes were watering it was to be assumed because of their situation.
"Lucky him, Aziraphale, what are you doing here?" Gabriel asked.
Aziraphale pulled out a blade.
"I know it isn't ideal but if I can cut the sigils I can free you. If you're free then you can save everyone." His voice was monotonous and dry.
As Aziraphale had been making his way to the holding cell. A small army of angels appeared on the hills overlooking the city of Babylon.
As they surveyed the city the shadows stretched and grew, a small army of demons appeared. With Beelzebub at the head. Michael and Them locked eyes and under a flag of truce they approached each other.
"Beelzebub."
"Michaelzz."
"We're here to free our angels, we will not attempt to stop you from freeing your demons. We only ask that you do not cause harm to any huma-"
"If youz thinkz we not going to go after the humanz repson-"
"Let me finish, we only ask that you not cause harm to the enslaved humans. The rest are of no value to us."
"Very wellz, letz go."
They drew their swords and with the help of the other Archangels blasted the barrier down.
Angels and Demons tore towards the Tower, intent on seeing it brought to rubble.
Aziraphale had managed to sit Gabriel up, Gabriel was listing to the side but Aziraphale's strength made up for that. His hand shook a little but he steeled himself, finding the correct sigil he took a deep steadying breath and slashed through the sigil binding Gabriel to the room. Fiery hot pains tore through Aziraphale as he collapsed screaming.
The pain was over within half a minute and Aziraphale was able to sit up. He shook as he picked up the dagger, and placed it over the sigil binding Gabriel's powers. Taking another breath in tried to slash it but missed as Gabriel slipped from his shaking grip. Still he managed to spill blood and so his brands flared and this time it took longer to recover.
Neivo looked up in alarm as the sound of a roaring crowd descended upon the Tower. Suddenly he felt something shift as beings with flaming weapons poured into the Tower. The remaining chained demons took this chance to run as chaos unraveled. Neivo fled for his chambers Neit following behind him. As they ran into the room Neit slammed and barred the door behind him.
"Neit! What is going on!" Neivo asked clutching his precious book. Neit said nothing just looked terrified at him.
Outside Hastur scrambled looking for a specific person. He grabbed a fleeing fox demon.
"You, tell me where I can find the human known as Neit."
The demon looked at him a bit terrified.
"Down that hall and to the left. Third door."
They stammered out.
"Good, see you in Hell then." Hastur slit the demons throat discorperating them and earning them a fast ticket home. He stalked towards the hall a cruel smile pulled at his lips.
Aziraphale couldn't hold the dagger still enough to cut the remaining sigils. His hand trembled from the pain. Him and Gabriel stared at each other.
"I'm sorry Gabriel, I don't know what else to do."
Aziraphale said in defeat. Neither of them were in the shape to pay any attention to what was going on outside of the room. Gabriel had lost a lot of blood, but those damn sigils kept his corporation from dying. He looked at the tiny Principality. A steadfast soldier of heaven, seeking to do the right thing. He was willing to put himself in great pain for another's benefit. Gabriel smiled at this, he could use this.
"Aziraphale." Gabriel spoke tiredly.
Aziraphale looked up at him.
"I have an idea, I need you to discorperate me."
Gabriel said.
"How? I can't harm you without harming myself. How do you expect me to do that?" He was staring incredulously at him.
"You know enough about human bodies to know that one good stab in the proper place will destroy the body." Gabriel pointed out.
"Yes, yes of course." Aziraphale stood up his knees knocking, he licked his lips and tightened his grasp on the blade. He raised the blade and was about to plunge it into Gabriel's neck when the door slammed open and Michael and Raphael ran inside. Aziraphale immediately dropped the blade and fell backwards.
Michael's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"Brother, Sister you are here!" Gabriel let out a cry of relief.
"What's going on Gabriel?" Michael said eyes still locked on Aziraphale. Gabriel followed her gaze. Raphael was at his side healing him with a touch.
"We didn't know you were here, we thought it the only way to get out of here. It was my idea." Gabriel said taking the blame.
Michael stood down and offered a hand to Aziraphale. He took it and Raphael came and healed him as well, Aziraphale noted that the sigils were gone as well.
"We need to leave, this Tower is to be destroyed. Come on." Michael motioned for them to follow her. They took off towards freedom.
The shouting and shaking was getting louder, Neivo was quickly burying his precious book. He placed it into a special made box and covered it. So long as the book stayed safe he would not die, he had poured an extraordinary amount of his blood into the book. He bound his soul to it, and he garunetted himself eternal life. He didn't realize how he would come to regret it.
Someone was banging on the door, a raspy voice demanded entry. Neivo ran in and had Neit push the table against the door as the pounding grew louder.
"Knock knock." The voice called out. Suddenly the door erupted in flames. A cackling figure
Stood in the doorway, it had black eyes and white hair.
"Now you're supposed to say who's there."
The figure stepped forward Neit and Neivo pushed themselves back against the wall.
"I'm looking for a man named Neit, direct me to him and I'll let the other one go."
Neivo grabbed Neit and threw him forward.
"Him, he's the one you want. Take him, and let me go." Neivo shook.
Hastur smiled and grabbed Neit, pulling him up by his hair.
"For your help." Hastur lit Neivo on fire. Neivo screamed and writhed in agony as he died. Hastur laughed as he looked upon his prize, Neit trembled before him.
"Now I was told by a certain coworker of mine, one with red hair (Neit paled at this) that you were the one who killed my friend. I'm going to enjoy playing with you." Hastur grinned as maggots started to pour from his mouth.
Neit cried out in terror but was saved by the appearance of another demon.
"Duke Hastur!" Beelzebub called out to him.
"What?! Can't you see I'm busy here?" Hastur shot back.
"The angels are going to rain Heavenly fire upon this tower. We need to leave." Beelzebub buzzed advancing towards him.
"But this is the man who killed Ligur! I'm not going to let him go." Hastur complained.
Beelzebub sighed and ran up stabbing Neit in the chest. Hastur cried out indignantly.
"You can play with him in Hell, unlezz you want to zee if there's another zide for us you'll leave nowz!" With that warning they stormed from the room Hastur following behind.
As they ran he set whatever he could on fire, he couldn't let the angels have all the fun. They fled to the hills and met up with the other demons. They all watched as the Archangels called down fire to destroy and topple the Tower of Babel. They waited until it was burned to ash and rubble before leaving for their respective realms. The survivors were gathered up and taken to heal their wounds.
Neivo found himself surrounded by darkness, he couldn't see, couldn't move, couldn't make a sound. It felt like there were more people here but he wouldn't be able to confirm it. He had sold himself to the book for eternal life, and his lonely existence was just beginning.
Neit awoke in a stone cell, a figure draped in black robes was staring at him. He flinched back as the light of a torch caught his red hair.
"Hello my friend." Crowley smirked looking at the once mighty soldier.
"I have to say, I was worried that you would get lost in the fray of everything. I mean you and your buddies have caused a lot of paperwork for us to go through. Can you blame me if I wanted to make sure you got where you were going properly?" Crowley *laughed at the man's fear.
"What are you going to do? Whip my back raw? Cut out my tongue? Not very creative is it?" Neit challenged him.
Crowley shook his head.
"Naw none of that, I'm afraid I'm a bit too busy for any of that. I'm just keeping an eye on you for a coworker of mine."
The door opened and the white haired demon from before stepped in.
"They're wanting you in body claiming Crawly."
"Crowley. That was quick, I'm afraid my friend that I'm required to be elsewhere. But I trust you and Duke Hastur will get along just fine." Crowley clapped Hastur's arm and gave a two finger salute as he left.
Hastur grinned as the door shut and he was left alone with Neit.
Crowley brushed the dirt off his shoulders as he popped back into the world. He walked with his hips swinging, still breaking in the new corporation. It was exactly identical to his old one except for a couple minor details. As he approached the city a familiar scent hung in the air. He followed it to a tavern where he spotted a blonde angel drinking in a corner all by himself. Crowley couldn't have that, he bought a jug of whatever was the strongest and sauntered up to the table.
"Hello Aziraphaless." He hissed out. The angel lit up at seeing him.
"Crowley! I didn't expect you to return to earth for at least another decade. Are you drunk already?" Aziraphale beamed at him and Crowley just grinned his forked tongue flicked out.
"Well the Dark Council decided that in exchange for my information on the Tower I'd get bumped up on the waiting lissst. Of courssse they couldn't let me off sssscott free, damnit." Crowley hissed out a little miffed. Aziraphale just looked at him.
"They ssstuck me with a forked tongue and turned my feet into ssssnakesssskin, sssorry. Sstill getting ussed to it." Crowley downed a glass of whatever was in the jug.
Aziraphale looked away and stared into the distance.
"Aziraphale? Are you alright?" Aziraphale didn't respond. Crowley reached his hand out and gently brushed Aziraphale's. Aziraphale jumped a little.
"Sorry what was that?" He asked flustered.
"I assked if you were alright." Crowley looked very concerned. His pupils wide.
"Yes, I will be at least. It's just, well it's just hard to forget about that tower and all those who suffered there." There was a gentle sadness in his words.
"Yeah humansss have a talent for cruelty, but the Tower is gone as are the people who ran it. It'ss ok to talk about it Angel." Crowley held out his hand and Aziraphale took it in friendship.
Raphael had been insistent on the angels expressing their feelings so that they could heal better. Pretty much all of them turned it into anger at humanity, it would fade with time and a break from earth. But Aziraphale had been assigned to Earth not long after he returned to heaven.
However he would find that discussing what happened with a friend would come to help him love earth again. Even if he grew to be shy and awkward around humans. Crowley and Aziraphale chatted into the night, the longer they talked the happier Aziraphale became and the less Crowley hissed. That is until they were both too drunk to speak coherently at all.