Chapter Text
Aziraphale has always known that Crowley was a tempter by trade.
Even as an angel, Crowley had been…magnetic.
For millennia, Crowley had unknowingly made it so very, difficult to not say “bugger it” and run off to have a life on Earth free of divine politics.
Aziraphale had known for centuries that he liked being around Crowley, that he was happiest in the company of the Serpent of Eden, despite all of the rules and reasons why that shouldn’t be the case. He’s chalked it up to having a more…flexible definition of loving all of God’s creatures. Love, of course, is Good. Angels are encouraged to Love. It wasn’t until 1941 that the angel realized that he was in love with the demon. The way humans love. The “let’s go on a picnic and hold hands” and “let’s move in together” and “let’s spend the rest of our lives, which in our case are eternal, together” kind of love.
After coming to that conclusion in the rubble of a church, on consecrated ground that Crowley had braved for him, with the books Crowley had saved, Aziraphale had spent the rest of the night trying to help Crowley in turn. He also spent a fair bit of time wondering what would happen if he simply pulled the demon in for a kiss. After Crowley left that night, Aziraphale realized how much trouble he could get into if he acted on his desires.
But oh, did he desire.
Crowley knew, of course he did. Twenty-six years later, he’d flat-out told the demon as much.
You go too fast for me.
After the world didn’t end, it went into lockdown. Aziraphale had quickly regretted not inviting Crowley over. When the demon awoke, Aziraphale finally picked up his pace, but Crowley hadn’t noticed, hadn’t mentioned ‘our side’ until everything was falling down around them.
Then, when Aziraphale finally had a chance to do real good, suddenly, Crowley wanted to be an ‘us’. Suddenly, Crowley was tempting him with the kiss he’d spent decades longing for. Well, almost. Aziraphale had envisioned something more…romantic.
I’m a little bemused as to why Crowley should risk destruction for you. You don’t seem his type at all.
Crowley didn’t believe Aziraphale could do good, thought him just as incapable as Heaven used to.
Aziraphale, what are you? Crowley’s emotional support angel?
If Crowley loved him, it still wasn’t enough for him to help Aziraphale do good.
Aziraphale, hurt and confused, he’d damned their relationship with three words: I forgive you.
And suddenly, he had nowhere to go but Heaven.
As he stepped into the elevator, he’d felt lonelier than he had in 6,000 years.
Since Eden, but especially after the whole business with Job, Crowley had chased away the loneliness that came from being the only angel on Earth. In fact, he’d chased it away so thoroughly that it hadn’t come back. On top of that, Crowley was so much nicer than he would ever admit.
3004 BC - Mesopotamia
The Ark rocked violently on the water and Aziraphale’s stomach twisted uncomfortably as he stumbled into an empty hold.
He just wanted a moment alone. The Ark was so cramped, so loud, and it smelled.
”Shhh…someone’s coming.”
Aziraphale sighs, wondering what mischief Ham and Shem’s children are getting into now. Really, he likes children, of course he does. But he would like a second to gather himself. Forget for just a brief moment, the screaming and the wailing of all the people the Ark didn’t save.
“Hello?” He calls, hoping to sort out the situation quickly.
He turns the corner, illuminating about half a dozen young children trying to press themselves into the corners and the shadows.
“Crawly help us!” One of them whispers.
Aziraphale gasps as a very familiar demon steps out of the darkness, his yellow eyes staring unblinkingly. A little girl who can’t be more than three is balanced on hip, resting her head on his bony shoulder.
“It’sss alright.” Crawley hisses, with a tone that tells Aziraphale it damn well better be, “Thisss isss Aziraphale. He’ssss ah…a friend.”
“Of-of course.” Aziraphale stammers, “I bring no harm! I am an angel of the Lord thy God!”
”Yeah,” Crawley sucks in a breath through his teeth, “That probably isn’t going to mean anything to these kids, Angel.”
”Whatever do you mean?”
“Well, the Almighty may not have been angry with the Australians or Americans, but I suppose They didn’t care that most of Africa is polytheistic!” Crawley spits the words out like knives meant to inflict the most amount of pain. His accuracy is unparalleled.
”Oh…” Aziraphale’s eyes fills with tears, “Oh dear…”
”Angel…” Crawley sighs, his tone softening, “Sit down. Relax for a moment.”
Aziraphale nods, curling up against a wooden barrel. Suddenly, he is nauseous for an entirely different reason.
One of the little girls sits beside him, and takes his hand.
“My name is Sisay.” She says softly.
Aziraphale sniffs, and gives her a shaky smile, “It’s very nice to meet you my dear.”
Crawley settles on the other side of Sisay, who turns to cup the cheek of the little girl in Crawley’s arms, who lets out a terrible cough that seems to be too loud for her small frame.
”Will she be alright?” Sisay asks.
“I dunno. I’m trying.” Crawley presses the shivering child closer to him, wrapping a bit of fabric around her tighter as her teeth clack together.
“Who’s this now? ” Aziraphale asks, trying for a playful tone and failing miserably.
“My sister, Etenesh.” Sisay whispers, voice cracking with unshed tears.
“She swallowed a lot of water. She’s spent the last few days coughing it all up, but it had some sort of disease in it that she’s caught.” Crawley explains. His voice has grown angry again, but this time it’s not aimed at Aziraphale.
Without hesitation, Aziraphale performs a healing miracle that brings a bit of color back to the girl’s face. The sheen of sweat on her brow disappears, and she stops shivering so violently.
Sisay looks at Aziraphale in awe, and Crawley is looking at him with something that Aziraphale can only call amazed pride.
“Well, well, well.” The demon says, “Apparently I’m not the only one thwarting the will of God.”
“Is that what you’re calling this?” Aziraphale asks, blatantly ignoring the part of the sentence that he doesn’t like.
”Ssshut up.” Crawley warns, although there is no bite in his voice.
§
Etenesh’s fever breaks with the day thanks to a few more angelic miracles. There is a brief lull in the storm, and the gentle rocking eases the children to sleep.
”It doesn’t seem very demonic, saving children.”
“Nn, I told you. Thwarting the will of God. More innocent souls to lead into temptation later.”
”Of course.” Aziraphale nods as Crawley smooths down the toddler’s hair.
“Will you get in trouble, do you think? For helping her. A child that’s supposed to be dead?” Crawley asks softly.
”Of course not!” Aziraphale huffs, “I can’t get into trouble for helping children.”
The demon stares at him with so much pity that Aziraphale has to look away.
”Crawley?” He asks after a moment.
“Hm?”
”How did you choose which children to save?”
“The same way God chose which children to murder. Randomly. If it’s good enough for God, it’s good enough for me.”
Aziraphale was put on paperwork duty for about a decade after that, but that had nothing to do with helping Etenesh. That was because there was a lot to sort out after the Flood.
Aziraphale’s mind drifts back to the present.
Crowley wasn’t trying to hurt you! He thinks to himself as a tentative smile forms on his face, He just doesn’t remember how Good Heaven can be.
That must be it!
Aziraphale would tease out the Good he knows exists, he would show Crowley that good, and then Crowley would come back. Aziraphale would apologize for his callousness, and it would all work out!
The situation no longer seems hopeless to Aziraphale as the elevator opens.