Chapter Text
Aziraphale was struggling against one of the rebels using his flaming sword. Aziraphale's was sent down forcefully to fight against the rebels due to his shown strength. However that was not what he wanted, not what he wanted at all. He was terrified. Absolutely petrified. Aziraphale did not want to harm anyone. Rebel or not. It was just engraved into his nature. Aziraphale did not even like to linger on the idea of harming someone. He himself obviously did not want to get harmed either. Either way he felt this entire thing was absolute rubbish. There was no need for any of this fighting. And god would sure be angry about this. Extremely angry. But Aziraphale supposed that he should not think for the almighty. Best not to speculate. Her thoughts are ineffable. Aziraphale’s mind then began to wonder for a moment. Soon the thought of that sweet angel who was working on that star factory not too long ago. Oh he hoped that angle was not caught up all in this rebellion mess. That would be absolutely terrible in Aziraphale's head. Aziraphale continued with the struggle until he finally managed to push the rebel angel off of him. The rebel began falling, Aziraphale wanted to lift the rebel so terribly. But also thought of the consequences and the battle all around him. Aziraphale flung up into the air dodging past the battle and action. The whooshing of the air beating on his ears as well as the echo of the clanging of swords. He could feel his corporation shaking. He assumed that it was because of the fear. He hoped it was only because of the fear and not that he was falling. He had no reason to fall. Aziraphale was a good angel. A faithful angel who had done nothing to anger upper management. At least that was what he hoped. He could not think of anything in particular he had done. Aziraphale could not tell if anyone else might be fleeing. He could not tell in the least bit. If anything that formed a pit in his stomach. For being cowardly and running away from conflict. But he decided he needed to get out of there, that was his final decision. Flee before he himself got hurt. Or before he had to harm anyone else for self defense. At that moment a non-rebel angel was flung towards Aziraphale. Causing him to lose his flight and began falling. He began flailing around desperately. Trying to get his wings back into the correct coordination. But no. They simply would not stabilize. He felt everything flash before him. Then a strong arm grabbed onto him and pulled him up.
“Okay- Up we go,” that familiar voice of that angel he met. If Aziraphale's mind had not been playing that lovely angel’s voice over and over in his head had not recognized the voice. Aziraphale looked up to see the angel. In all of their braided hair glory. They were absolutely gorgeous. Aziraphale’s mind blocked everything else out all around him except for that sweet face of the angel. “Y’alright?” the angel asked. Aziraphale was frozen again. His wings were still being uncoordinated and almost tangled up in a way. “Here let me help you out,” the angel did a quick fix to straighten out Aziraphale’s wings, “there.” Aziraphale's wings began flapping frantically for a moment. His mind connected to his wings for those very few seconds. “Woah woah woah, there we go it’s alright,” the angel tried to reassure in a way, Aziraphale stopped thinking a mile a minute and his wings settled. “Right then, shall we go then?” the angel asked nonchalantly. This surprised Aziraphale but nodded. “Right,” the angel began flying in one direction away from all of the fighting. It was towards the right. Aziraphale quickly followed behind. His wings faltered every few inches. “This is so unnecessary, can’t we all just get along?” the angel was both talking to themself and Aziraphale. So if Aziraphale had not picked that up, the angel probably would not have repeated it.
Aziraphale then replied, “yes. Exactly what I was thinking. What is this all about anyways? I know its rebels of sorts but for what.”
“Eh well,” the angel stumbled out, “something about policies or somethin’ like that. Heh, not that I know.” The angel was clearly lying. That was alright though. Aziraphale did not mind. He did not particularly like how this was all being dealt with. But could possibly agree with the rebels depending on the policies. The angel then sighed, “this is so nonsensical. You could just compromise. No need for such foolish arguing.”
“Arguing? You mean brutally killing each other,” Aziraphale finally found some of his words.
The angel took a quick glance back, “ehhh…- I prefer to think they’re uhm- they’re being inconveniently discorporated. At least some of them are. Eases my consciousness.” Aziraphale raised an eyebrow and the angel shrugged. Aziraphale then peered back as well and gasped. Placing his hands over his mouth, it looks a lot worse from further away. So much worse. Angels were falling left and right. Golden looking liquid staining clouds below. Aziraphale felt paralyzed. The angel noticed immediately. “Aziraphale, right?” the angel asked for confirmation. Their voice was very soft. So very soft. “Alright, let's just, uhm uh, fly and not think about it alright, angel- Aziraphale,” the angel reached out for Aziraphale’s hand and gently pulled him to look back towards themself. “Yeah, let’s go now, let’s go,” the angel pulled Aziraphale further away from the fighting. Aziraphale was staring at both his hand and the angel’s hand. Both nicely pedicured nails. The angel’s nails were colored with a light red. Matching their hair. Aziraphale had to remind himself that this meant nothing, the holding hands.He was only creating useless delusions in his head. Delusions that would only hurt him. The same when he thought this same angel called him gorgeous. He had more worries to focus on. So much more important then a the silly little bit of intimacy that does not mean anything. Nothing what’s so ever. Except maybe perhaps, kindness. Yes, simply a simple act of kindness in a time of fear. “Right, so I’m-” the angel was about to introduce themself when they were struck and began falling as a non-rebel angel threw their body onto the angel that was so kindly helping Aziraphale. Aziraphale froze for a moment. It was all so quick. Too quick.
“Oh lord-!” Aziraphale gasps and nearly fell back in a delayed reaction, “oh dear-!” Aziraphale began trembling as he shot down and reached out for the angel that had been helping him. Aziraphale desperately flew closer and closer to the falling angel. The non-rebel angel had detached from the other angel. Aziraphale felt his breath caught in his throat. Glad he does not have to breathe. Aziraphale hooked his arm under the angel’s arm and hoisted him up desperately . “Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear,” Aziraphale shakily breathed out in relief as he trembled, “okay, okay, okay, okay, okay.” Aziraphale pulled the angel up more and more until they were back up towards the clouds and he flopped down in relief. Aziraphale was sucking in quick breaths. He heard it helps to calm down in stressful situations. “Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay,” Aziraphale repeated. He could feel his entire corporation tremble. He had never felt like this before ever, “it’s alright. It's alright. It's alright. It's alright. It’s alright. It's alright. It’s alright.” It wasn't alright. The angel’s body shook terribly. The face was glistening, saturated with fear. The angel stuck in his spot. Aziraphale then felt a soft hand hold onto his again. Aziraphale’s hand filled again. The angel was squeezing it lightly. Aziraphale looked over to the other angel. The angel looked lost and clearly did not know what to do. It was also clear that this angel was not used to not knowing what to do. But it counted that they were trying. That always counted to Aziraphale. The angel put a comforting wing around Aziraphale to shield his peripheral vision for additional comfort.
“Hey, er, Aziraphale, it’ll be alright,” the angel tried to reassure, “m’ sorry m’ not good with this kind of thing. Is there anything I can do to help? Anything? Anything at all?
“I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know. I-” Aziraphale began repeating involuntarily before the angel had interrupted him.
The angel squeezed Aziraphale’s hand again, “it’s alright. Just try to relax, alright. I got you. They can’t see us either. I perfectly match with the cloud. So we're both safe.”
“Okay…Okay…Okay…” Aziraphale took deep breaths after each pause of the words, “okay…” The angel’s face turned from lost to relief soon enough. “Okay…” Aziraphale leaned back on his own wings. They sat there in silence for a long while. There was only silence. Probably thanks to the angel’s power. To block out the battle far off from them. Once Aziraphale had completely calmed his mind was back to the angel’s hand intertwined with his own. Aziraphale was sure his face was becoming red. One of those rebel’s decided it was a fun idea to mess with the corporations by creating a mechanic that causes them to react physically for different emotions. Just for their own game most likely. Surely that would backfire on them. Aziraphale glanced down at his hand and the angel’s hand. Then up to look at said angel’s face. “Oh, Uhm, thank you. So very much I- I don’t know what came over me,” Aziraphale quickly looked down at the cloud below them both. Aziraphale nearly pulled his hand away when the angel’s grip tightened ever so slightly. “I’m sorry I- I don’t know what came over me I’ve never acted like this before,” Aziraphale quickly stuttered, “this was all new I don’t know- I just don’t know I-'' Aziraphale was getting himself worked up again. “I’m sorry I-”
“Hey s’alright, Aziraphale,” the angel soothed hesitantly, “s’alright. I got you.”
Aziraphale was on the verge of trembling again then asked without even thinking a second thought, “promise?”
“I promise I got you,” the angel squeezed Aziraphale’s hand, “I've got you. I promise I do. I’ll keep you safe. I promise. I promise. I won’t let you fall. I promise.”