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The fresh sea breeze and good balance of humidity was the first thing to grace them when they stepped out of the small Kahului airport. Jahaziel had tried to stop at a sunglasses stand on the way out, but Aziraphale coaxed him onward.
"But it'll be so bright," the former angel mumbled with a pout, but offered no resistance. Primarily because he didn't want to think about it, either. Jahaziel had been trying to find a new sunglasses look ever since... well, he Fell. He'd mentioned several times now that his rose-colored glasses didn't suit him as well anymore, and every sunglasses stand they passed was an opportunity for them to get lost in the weeds for over an hour.
It had not taken much convincing at all to get Jahaziel out of flat for an adventure; it reminded him too much of the old days to pass up the opportunity. And when Aziraphale had framed it as such, and had been so bloody mysterious about it… Someone knew how badly he needed to get back out into some real sunshine and give his corporeal body a reason to shed the “downer chemicals” - whatever that meant - that had been building up close to a year. He was determined to get over this. Now that they were here, Jahaziel’s mood lifted instantly - it smelled like their wedding night. The only difference now was everything was bathed in lazy late sunlight rather than gorgeous moonlight.
A couple local greeters held leis on one arm and bestowed them on new arrivals. Bowing his head for the lei, Jahaziel scanned the area around them with a bemused sort of smile. The covered exit to the airport bustled with every kind of human you could think of. The lot of them milled about waiting for rental cars or shuttles with their luggage. Aziraphale led Jahaziel by the hand to the west end of the entrance, covering his eyes from the late afternoon sun to scan the western side of the island.
"Ah. Right." He turned to his husband. Jahaziel hummed in response, distracted by a man trying to desperately fit a ukulele into a carry-on that was clearly too small. Aziraphale was all smiles (and perhaps a bit too optimistic for his usual demeanor). "We have a bit of a jaunt still. Would you like to stroll for a couple hours to get there or nip over quickly?"
The brightness of the smile Jahaziel faced caught him just a bit off guard. It told him the correct answer to the question presented to him, and he offered a little half-smile of his own. "You know I love a good stroll. But," he began, index finger extended matter-of-factly, "it has to be leisurely. I won't bother with anything else."
Beaming, Aziraphale clasped his hands. "Excellent. I rather hoped you'd say that." He didn't miss the slight discomfort in his husband, but he did pass over it in favor of his plan for now. He gave an ascending gesture over himself, natural obfuscation shrouding the change from passers by. In an instant, he was in the height of 1910s warm weather fashion. A lighter cream button up with rolled up sleeves, darker cream pinstripe pants, and a hat much like one he'd taken to wearing in the 40s. He didn't bother changing his shoes since they always matched anything he wore.
Following suit, Jahaziel himself went with something just a shade more casual - an open jacket, simple undershirt, and dark slacks. Fit in with the times Aziraphale chose, of course. By comparison, Jahaziel was always just a smidge underdressed. It felt almost traditional at this point, and Hazi was definitely one for comfort over looks. Unless it benefitted him, or he felt he looked exceptionally slick. Which Aziraphale always did, and now was no exception.
Offering his elbow, Aziraphale continued, "We deserve a bit of a nibble after that long flight, wouldn't you say?"
An approving nod accompanied Jahaziel taking the offered arm. "I would say."
Their walk was indeed nice, their chatter light and comfortably pointless. About an hour in, Aziraphale paused their usual chatter of everything and nothing to point out the solar and neon star roofed vietnamese cafe. "Here we are!"
Eyes peered over the rim of his glasses at the location they stopped at, and his brows raised in interest. "Food's real here, right?" He mumbled, but this time a tease, harkening back to the first time they’d met Anathema. Last time they went off somewhere to eat around this time of the year, Aziraphale subjected them to vegan-this and tofu-that. (He knew it wasn't on purpose. But if Jahaziel didn't tease him about it, Aziraphale wouldforget, and that would just not do.)
Aziraphale’s jaw visibly clenched, but his smile stayed woodenly in place as they walked across the street. "You know as well as I," he said, equally quiet, "that was for a perfectly good reason. One that needn't ever be repeated."
Well aware that the outing is what ultimately ended up saving their hides, Jahaziel wrinkled his nose in a cheeky grin in reply, but dropped the topic.
The elder demon got them both a table on the outer patio to fully enjoy the lovely view of the west mountains. Champagne fairy lights lined the patio roof edge, and the clientele was light this afternoon, especially due to it being a Tuesday. Sat and situated, Jahaziel ordered them a pair of the more colourful-looking mixed drinks. Aziraphale ordered their food for them: a bowl of clear seafood soup for Jahaziel, and a couple crisped up spring rolls and banh hoi nem nuong for himself.
Though the place wasn't like the usual establishment they frequented, the cafe had a very appealing atmosphere; careful and welcoming without at all being over the top. Jahaziel supposed being a little ways from the tourist landing zone would offer things a bit more genuine, and he appreciated the effort. Not that he didn't adore kitsch - they could be fawning foreigners later. Right now his human stomach wanted real, honest food for a change.
“I can tell you for certain, my love,” said Aziraphale. “This little cafe might not look like much, but it’s something quite special. They care about presentation - I sampled their fare myself a week ago, just to be certain. And oh,” he held up a hand, palm towards Jahaziel and looking up like a suburban grandmother would describe something scandalous. “I can only describe the taste as orgasmic.”
Jahaziel pursed his lips to attempt holding in a chuckle. “Not often you use that sort of high praise descriptor.”
“Indeed.” Aziraphale flicked out his napkin, which was thankfully cloth, and settled it over his lap.
"Well, you know I trust you." Jahaziel took a sip of his own drink. The drink’s oceanic blue and white rum concoction supported whorls of cream coasting on top like gentle waves. Fascinating, to say the least. Smelled nice, too. Hefty with the alcohol but also entirely dolled up for looks, and he couldn't have been more charmed.
Aziraphale gently touched the top of Jahaziel's hand once it came back down to rest on the table. "I do hope you're ready for a merry adventure today as well, my dear. I've got quite a few things planned."
Jahaziel warmly caught the fingers between his own before they could retreat. "I don't think I will ever be properly prepared for anything you could have in store for me."
Giving a very small, devious laugh, Aziraphale looked at his bizarre yellow drink concoction with a pile of weightless foam on it. "Did you say the bartender called this... em, 'Pineapple Innuendo'?'" He raised his brow at it. "It rather reminds me of the tallest baroque wigs."
This time, Jahaziel huffed a short laugh at the comparison. Perhaps the names could use some work, but they were still entertaining. "Eh? Well good."
“Not that good, rather. Loathed balancing those awful smelling wigs. Glad to be past that era of fashion. You were lucky you were in Mesoamerica at the time.”
"Not so lucky I couldn't see your balancing act. Sad."
Aziraphale carefully sipped at the delightfully creamy yet acidic drink. "Oh it's delightful, though! Smashing good drink." He offered some to Jahaziel. He also wanted to try his husband’s. Hopefully a bribe would work here.
Jahaziel leaned forward a bit before taking the offering, sliding his own drink over in fairness. "...Yeah, I could drink those for a while. Try this. You'll never believe, but I can't think of anything to describe the flavor other than blue. Spot on, really."
Aziraphale agreed and happily sipped Hazi’s, running his tongue over his palette to contemplate the taste. “Indeed. Blue.”
Not long after, their food arrived. Not a moment too soon, especially since Aziraphale was silently keeping an eye on the sun's position. They had plenty to do and a limited amount of time left in the day to do it. But he quite enjoyed the balancing act thrill today. This was for them. He thanked the waitress in perfect Vietnamese.
Jahaziel watched with mild amusement as Aziraphale performed one of his favorite tricks, which was obviously flattering humans with his intimate knowledge of most languages.
She startled so much that she nearly dropped a plate.
"Oh my god, you scared me," she said back in Vietnamese, laughing heartily and happily as she carefully set the plate down.
"Ah, I certainly get that quite a lot," Aziraphale chuckled back. He did so enjoy the brightness that humans would display now and then when you spoke their birth tongue. Before, her mind had been sour over something to do with a recent boyfriend. Aziraphale didn't like to see anyone upset in a place this beautiful, especially on his anniversary. "I do hope your night picks up. Your father is an absolutely excellent chef, and he deserves the patronage. And you deserve the tips, young lady."
She tittered and promised to tell her father that, flashing the biggest genuine smile. She seemed to forget Jahaziel was there as well, making a lot more eye contact with the blonde, but Aziraphale didn't notice that bit.
The former angel only half-tracked the conversation, letting them have their moment, instead looking out at the scenery. It was gorgeous, but that hardly surprised him. Some late afternoon, puffed clouds had started to roll in and kiss the tops of the lush green mountains off to the west. Though the area they were in was urban, the backdrop of those verdant volcanic peaks set it all apart. He was rather grateful he'd been brought here... Something familiar with nothing but goodness attached to the memories.
The waitress flitted off back inside. A small pang of worry clouded Aziraphale’s mind that someone below may have seen him lifting her mood instead of worsening it. But if he didn't make too big of a deal out of it, he supposed it wouldn't amount to much.
His pork meatballs were sensationally exceptional, spiced in just the right way. And the spring rolls were the perfect mixture, texture, and temperature. "Oh dear me, that's exactly what I hoped for," he said, mouth half full and not caring for manners at the moment, almost breathless with soft glee.
Chin in hand, Jahaziel looked over at Aziraphale at the comment about the food. "You want to feed it my dinner first before you keep subjecting it to your indulgent moaning?"
When he finished his first bite of the meat, Aziraphale tilted his nose up somewhat at Jahaziel’s comment. Really. “My love, you simply must know by now. Gluttonous indulgence is exactly why I was transferred under Beelzebub after Mammon.”
Half-rolling his eyes, Jahaziel made an 'I know, I know' light scowl.
Because he was a git, it was Hawaii, and he felt downright great, Aziraphale leaned forward. He looked at Jahaziel over his shades. They locked eyes. The demon licked his spoon just a hair too suggestively. He very much wasn’t going to allow himself to care about any wandering eyes when it came to his husband today. “You ought to give in once in a while,” he said, lowering his voice to a sultry, tempting rumble.
Jahaziel’s chest rose and fell in a quick sigh through his nose. "You'll have to help me then, won't you." His own reply was quiet and playful enough; perhaps just shy of a challenge. Because there was no universe in which his demon could not tempt him into anything. Whether he was willing to admit it or not. And the soup did smell good. Breaking the playful stalemate, he sat up straight, grabbed his spoon, and dipped it in Aziraphale’s bowl. And once he tasted the meatballs, Jahaziel found himself actively struggling to not make similar sounds of enjoyment. "...Comment retracted. It's bloody good."
Aziraphale chuckled, richly satisfied, and didn’t move from his lean forward, mimicking the more relaxed way Jahaziel had sat so many times before. Excitement buzzed in his stomach. This place… their marriage just one island over. He felt like he could let a bit loose. Be any way he felt. They both supposed this little sense of freedom was how some humans felt when they came to places no one knew them. Despite them not really being strangers to anyone with their deft understanding of language, it was definitely fun to play the part of bright-eyed tourist in a new land.
Quiet in his suffering, as always lately, Jahaziel still did feel the clawing of darkness coating his heart. He wanted to be able to love more freely, like he always had. Now, he was in the same boat Aziraphale had been in since the Garden. Tension was just that much harder to shed these days. Not that he hadn't been a bit uptight as well before. But it almost seemed like the feeling lingered purposefully, and he supposed it would from now on. For the moment though, he forced himself for the hundredth millionth time to be more positive than he completely felt.
Almost as if God Herself was pulling strings here, Aziraphale noticed a face inside the restaurant he wanted to see least of all in the world at that moment. His eyes all widened. “No,” he whispered.
Sitting straight up again, day-to-day mask firmly back in place, he threw as much obfuscation and illusion magic into the air surrounding them as he could. “Darling… uhmm.”
Mid-bite when he heard Aziraphale's whisper and clear tension, Jahaziel paused.
“Please don’t turn around. And finish your meal. We may have to cut this short.”
The former angel’s brows knit in concern. Unease threatened to overturn the desire for his food, and he eyed Aziraphale warily. Now what. Now what. Obediently, he sipped soup from the spoon and lamented that he couldn't actually enjoy the fluffy shrimp that waited for him at the end. "What's the matter." He kept the apprehension out of his voice, miraculously. "And should I create a diversion."
Jahaziel’s calm response served to allay some of Aziraphale’s fraying nerves at the moment. “No diversion. Yet. The matter is that Naberius is sitting inside this same restaurant.”
Aziraphale continued to eat, putting on and tilting his hat lower to hopefully cover his face and striking hair. He said over and between bites, “He is utterly insufferable, one of Wrath’s demons—Satan’s. If he wasn’t so low ranking and generally harmless, I would have turned him away from my service eons ago. But now he’s a regular. Loudest one in the pews. Gets uncomfortably personal before it’s proper or polite to do so.” He knew he was nervously rambling now, but he needed his husband to know how awful this demon was. “You’ll come to find in time just how petty Wrath demons are.”
"Mm." The comment stung a little, reminding Jahaziel of… everything. While entirely supportive of Aziraphale's chosen method of Discord, he was not yet comfortable enough for the church. Couldn't stay much longer than an evening at most. So he missed a lot of the sermons given, and thus a lot of the demons that tended to breeze through. He kept himself low to the table as he ate, listening, brain already a machine of trying to figure out the best way to get them out of there unseen. And with minimal collateral damage.
“There’s a reason the phrase is ‘revenge is a dish best served cold.’ And by Someone, he’s—” A glance back in the restaurant and Naberius was “—Gone. Oh no.” Aziraphale looked around them, unable to see the large demon anywhere.
His stomach dropped. His face contorted with barely disguised despair. “Oh! Why is he here, in Hawaii? Of all days,” he practically whinged. He didn’t know which was worse. Knowing Naberius was here or knowing he might know Aziraphale was here already. Or that he’s maybe followed them. And he’d quickly find out Aziraphale hadn’t ever introduced Naberius to his husband. That demon’s offense would be so strong, it’d be felt as far away as someone on an Ethiopian street. This could ruin everything. He felt panic setting in. He didn’t even care about the dessert now, shockingly.
Jahaziel reached out once again to grip Aziraphale's wrist, then his hand, grounding him. "Breathe, Aziraphale." Neither of them needed to, but it was the quickest way to dispel panic that he'd ever found - and it didn't seem like either could afford the risk of being caught using even the tiniest of miracles. Until necessary.
The hand on Aziraphale’s wrist did indeed ground him as intended, and he breathed through his rising anxiety. “Yes. Right,” he said under his breath. Jahaziel was right. Fretting would do no good here. They needed to do something.
Wary eyes cast themselves around the cafe, no one else seeming to have noticed the intrusion. Of course it made sense, but it still set him on edge just how utterly sneaky demons could be. (Would he have that level of fleet-footedness one day? Slip silently into shadows, lurk about unnoticed, cast aside the gaze of those who would tremble in his presence?) He chased away an unwelcome chill, focusing again.
"Follow my lead." The grip he had on Aziraphale's hand tripled in pressure, essentially holding down the table they sat at. His other hand raised, two black-tipped fingers swished in a swift half-circle. And he braced himself against the unreasonably powerful gust that sent the tables and chairs behind their own careening through the glass that rose up and around the little patio - right into the front of the restaurant. Ish. Enough to draw every pair of eyes in that direction.
The sudden, barely controlled gust of wind took Aziraphale’s breath right away again. He didn’t think Jahaziel would resort to actual physical damage of their surroundings, but it certainly did the trick. The glass broke with a huge cacophony, (and both demons would definitely lose bags of a certain denomination in these people’s kitchen after the anniversary trip.)
The corner wall adjacent to them sagged with the stress, pulling free the pane immediately next to them. Without another word, Jahaziel tugged the hand he still held, vaulting the wall between the crack and landing on the other side.
At the last moment, Aziraphale made the very smallest miracle as they ran hand in hand, placing what they owed (plus tip, and then some) in the waitress’s apron pocket with a polite note written in Vietnamese. He also saw Naberius inside at the bar, staring the opposite direction at the broken window. He didn’t seem to be searching for his priest, thank Someone and all the stars, and just looked confused.
This all would have worked perfectly... If Jahaziel had better control over his miracles. Not strong enough to continue taking out innocent outdoor furniture but enough to drag in some clouds and continued gusts of wind. And so much rain. The sudden downpour and gale drowned out the clamoring of humans behind them. Before he could even stop to curse his rotten bloody luck, Jahaziel took off at a sprint, Aziraphale in tow, trying his best to get them as far from the cafe as possible, as fast as possible, without getting hit by wayward debris.
Now all sorts of people were running for cover, wayward umbrellas the most common flying objects in the street. Along with palm fronds, garbage, and who else knows what.
Aziraphale absolutely couldn’t help but laugh as they ran. “Quite the distraction, my love!” He yelled over the wind and their running. He really needed to teach him more often to control and modulate his hellish power.
Jahaziel clicked his tongue and groaned, raising his voice over the noise to be heard. "I'm not good at thisss yet!" Truly, he hadn't meant for anything that destructive. At most he wanted some of the nearby umbrellas to tossle around like they were being juggled by an invisible giant, or something. It was embarrassing. At least Aziraphale didn't appear upset with him over it. That may have felt even worse.
Aziraphale took the lead in directing them, and they got to the rural roads and their destination in the mountains far quicker than they would have at a preferable, leisurely pace. Jahaziel wondered just how in the blue blazes someone with legs so much shorter than his could go so damn fast. The near death grip he had on the hand in his probably had something to do with it. Maybe. Where were they even going?
Aziraphale miracled away their fatigue several times in lieu of Jahaziel doing it himself - the tenured demon just liked taking care of him too much. Should the new demon try, he may throw their bodies into a fit of cocaine-like ecstasy. But now, at the sign that said “Iao Needle State Monument ahead”, he finally brought them to a halt.
Panting for the moment and still full of adrenaline, Aziraphale let go of his husband’s hand and rested his own hands on his sodden lower back, eyes to the clouded sky with a squint. “You know. We didn’t have to run the whole rest of the way. But.”
Jahaziel caught his breath as well, wiping wet hair up over his forehead and out of his eyes, squinting at the sign and flexing his released fingers. "Yeah?" The chill bit through his clothes and he grumbled, warming his hands enough to help himself dry off a bit faster. He could at least manage that without setting himself on fire, or something. "But exercise is so healthy.~" He accentuated his s' the way he did when he was being sassy, but the sass dropped as the skies cleared, and Aziraphale's laughter filled the air around him. Healing, it was. Could lift his spirits out of anything.
Aziraphale snapped, and he dried himself as well. The skies cleared a bit too, letting the later afternoon sun filter back to the ground. He looked back at Jahaziel. “I’m certainly more at peace about it. And.” He turned to hold his arms out wide to present the immense geological green “needle” jutting out of the earth. Gorgeous, lush jungle surrounded them as well, ringing the view under the needle. “We’re here!”
Turning to look at where they'd ended up, Jahaziel’s vision crept up the marvel; head slowly inclining to size it up. "Well, look at you... So tall and proud." He nodded in appreciation, smiling. "Tall buildings are impressive, sure. Gotta love when Mother Nature says, 'Hold on and watch this'."
One of Aziraphale’s very rare full toothed, brilliant grins lit up his face at Jahaziel’s reaction. “A wonderful sight it is, isn’t it?”
To the former angel, the demon’s smile was just as breathtaking as the scenery around them. Oh, the things he'd do for that smile. He couldn't even hide the adoration in his voice at his response, directed not at all obviously at his husband. "Wonderful indeed."
The area was miraculously free of other tourists. A nearby resting and information lodge sat atop some stairs, and the calming wind brought the smell of dense, wet vegetation and the rich perfume of plumeria flower trees. The sounds of myriad birds and creatures filled their ears, and hardly any insects disturbed the air at all, which had surprised him the first time around. Most of all, this place was so green. Lucious and vivacious and thriving. Indeed a beautiful example of Mother Nature at work. Entirely different from where either of them lived, and yet still steeped in the same human appreciation. And it sort of made Jahaziel want to take up some kind of gardening, despite him knowing that would be a terrible idea. The flowers were just so brilliant. Maybe he'd settle for a few paintings, instead.
Aziraphale could barely allow them enough time to marvel at the volcanic needle before he came up to the former angel’s side, a hand around his waist and another on his shoulder. He said in an excited lower voice, “How would you like to climb it?”
The warmth of the hands on Jahaziel continued to soothe, and he was midway into some kind of sappy little comment before he was stopped short. "What." He pointed at the needle, looking over at Aziraphale. "That? Us?" A glance was cast around quietly.
Aziraphale bit both lips to hide another excited smile. “Mm-hm!”
"What if we get caught?" ...Okay, when he said that, it did sound a little exciting. The adventure he was looking for, in the form of pure, primal, human enjoyment. "...You think we can?"
Aziraphale gave a short hop away, holding up a finger as he walked towards the nearest mass of foliage. “Not only can we,” he said, turning just a bit to face Jahaziel as he made a gesture up towards the sky. In a quick motion, his entire being shifted in a sort of playful, blue spiral of matter that settled into his large dove form, which floated down to rest on a thin branch. “But we’ll never be caught like this!”
If Jahaziel wasn't careful the depth of his adoration for the demon before him would manifest itself into literal heart-shaped glasses in lieu of eyes. Whenever Aziraphale got playful in any sense it set all his emotions ablaze. There was nothing in this world, in the Up or the Down, that could make him feel just so... Much. And of course, his dove form. Beautiful as anything, and for the first time in a while Jahaziel felt truly blessed.
But he did his best to keep his reticence out of his smile, instead wanting to only enjoy Aziraphale being so free. Given what had literally just happened, the redhead could feel his nerves seizing up as he thought of what might occur should he try to take on his snake form. Stuck in it, maybe. Or worse, he could simply be a regular snake for the rest of time. Or maybe it'd backfire so tremendously he'd turn everyone on the island into a critter of some sort.
At Jahaziel’s hesitation, Aziraphale mistook it for aversion to this plan in some way. “Oh come on then, Hazi. It’s been hundreds of years! We deserve to let loose, don’t you think?” He spread his wings in a flamboyant way - at least as flamboyant as an extra large, talking dove could be. “We deserve to feel free again! Come on!”
Jahaziel desperately wanted none of that to happen. He wanted more than anything to play with his beloved like they had so long ago. "Course we do," he agreed, doing his best to play it off like... Like something. Oh, it had never been easy to hide things from him.
The dove’s quadruple set of blue eyes fixed on his husband, and he situated his wings back in place. He could tell the fallen angel was trying to put up a front now. “My sweet, whatever is the matter?”
Jahaziel pulled a face, best he could muster. "Seems a... bit like cheating though, dunnit?"
Aziraphale began with a laugh, “Well, isn’t that what we…” he stopped himself before adding the obvious demons tend to do?
Aziraphale was an idiot. Jahaziel had to be thinking about the storm he just caused. His angel was still good, and he had to have felt quite guilty about it. Turning into a snake here, especially after he hadn’t done it in so long and with a power source he barely understood, must now be full of uncertainty.
Had Jahaziel himself not been so falsely cavalier to begin with, even after their trial and subsequent freedom, he probably would have learned a thing or two by now. But between the constant echoing screams in his flat, the essence of darkness that clung to him like plastic film, and the jarring checkups from actual Hell officials, he'd been a bit... distracted. It wasn't anyone's fault but his own.
He was just stubborn. And scared.
Aziraphale gave a sigh that came out as a dove’s coo. This was his fault. Guilt invaded his small flight shoulders. He pointed to Jahaziel with one of his orange little feet. “Hold out your arm, love.”
When his husband did so, Aziraphale flew over to land on Jahaziel’s jacketed arm. Now this close, he could not only see the anxiety, he felt it.
Jahaziel couldn't help but gently rest his forehead against the feathered one. How did Azzy, this demon, his demon, still manage to be so comforting?
“Hazi,” Aziraphale said, hoping his fond smile showed through his words since his beak couldn’t form one.
"Azzy," Jahaziel echoed quietly, pulling back to look at him.
“My angel. What exactly are you worried about?”
Jahaziel chewed on the question. "I... mmh." Glancing away, back at the needle, he sighed. "I don't know if I can. Anymore." And he'd been so adamant about not getting a Hellish critter, maybe he really couldn't. Aziraphale studied Jahaziel’s face as he spoke. "I'm afraid to try. I don't w.... I don't want to mess it up and hurt you on accident. Or any of them." He gestured lamely from where they'd came, back towards the road.
He could be cheeky. He could be a downright ass, sometimes. But genuine negativity was something he'd always merely been a casual acquaintance to. Even through it all, the Flood and Egypt and Sodom and Gomorrah, he'd never given in to it. It just seemed in such poor taste to benefit at all from something that had been so horrible. He was afraid that revisiting that, even to do his job, would end up being something beyond his control. And for all the warnings Aziraphale had given him about not giving into it, it just served to make him shy away from it that much more.
Aziraphale seriously pondered the concern, eyes dropping to the rich dirt below them. He wondered if something like that was possible. That a new demon’s power could ricochet out into the world much like his storm did.
He didn’t really want to say it, but Jahaziel had quite the unfair start as a demon. The Great War had been before the beginning and therefore before time itself. All of them, the entire host of hell, already had innumerable measures of time to adjust to their hellish powers by the moment Aziraphale fell in Eden. He’d had plenty of time as well to practice in a relatively safe space among the legions of Hell. Back then, there had actually still been a functioning New Arrivals department, after all.
No such thing existed anymore. They were going to have to start from the ground up here for his husband. He didn’t think telling Jahaziel all this would benefit him or make him feel that much more alone, so he simply didn’t communicate it. That reminder wasn’t what Aziraphale thought he needed.
Adamant that he—they—could fix this on their own with Aziraphale’s dusty memories of learning demonic influence, his bird body puffed and ruffled up his feathers in excitement. “Right. Well. I ah. I know this is somewhat of..” he lamely cleared his throat, which came out as a “OooOOO” dove noise. “Rather, I—we can make sure that doesn’t happen. I swear it. There’s no need to fear if we take this slowly.”
As always, Jahaziel trusted him. Beyond the love he had for Aziraphale, he knew the demon (other demon) had way more practice at this than he did. It was part of what made him feel so embarrassed about it, alongside the worry. He didn't like not being good at things. He had usually been so sure of himself in front of Aziraphale, even if they were puzzling things out together. He just didn't want his husband to think less of him, somehow.
"Right." But it didn't have nearly as much conviction. He was willing to try. Obviously, he was willing to try.
Aziraphale fluttered down to the ground and looked up at Jahaziel. Someone’s sake, he looked so tall this way. “Let’s break things down then. How did you feel the first time you became a snake? More to the point, how did you channel your power to do so? Specifically?”
Jahaziel fought against getting onto his level, never liking to look down on him more than he did by natural height alone. He instead focused on the question, thinking openly as he studied the scenery around them. Paced a little bit. "Elated," he responded plainly, after a few moments. "It was fun. How did I..." He clicked his tongue in thought. Narrowed his eyes. Tried to drum up an accurate description of the feeling that might actually help.
"It was like... A mental dive. Getting up. Approaching the ledge. Diving in and letting go, like I should be this way anyway. Hitting the "water"." Fingers curled in air quotes here. "It felt like-" His words delayed. This was surprisingly difficult. But his eyes lit up and he snapped (in recognition, not in miracle) and pointed down at Aziraphale. "I watch you, when you listen to music sometimes. The serenity and peace. It's like surrendering to music that moves you. Like a gift."
Aziraphale’s stomach dropped when he heard that. He hoped his reticence didn’t show in his body language. He was so fond of the sweet way Jahaziel described it through the lens of looking at Aziraphale enjoying something. But this… wasn’t how he was going to go about transforming anymore. Ever again, in fact. He’d certainly feel the elation and fun once they got moving around and full into play, but the process of transforming for demons was…
Well, it wasn’t that.
Determined to put this in a more positive spin, Aziraphale bobbed his head, looking for all intents and purposes like a pastel chicken. “Ah, right then. That’s good! Breaking it down to the essentials just so. Now.” He paused, trying to organize his words correctly. “Er. Now. When I transform,” not demons, but I, he made certain to say, “It’s a lot like diving underwater, yes. But.” Oh Someone, he didn’t want to say it was like a crushing abyss of dark power, because it was. That was the very thing…
OH! “You’ll have to shift your paradigm, my love. It may not be easy, but… Do you remember what it was like in space? When we were all setting the foundations of reality?”
He thought back to that time, how very small he personally felt in that illimitable, unfettered endlessness. He preferred cozy, closer spaces of planets, or the rare thrill of diving through the atmosphere. But Jahaziel. He knew his husband had a direct hand in making those vast creations.
“I want you to think of the deep expanse of space instead. You’ll… have to draw from below now, but… instead of being given your power, now you must take it. Pluck it up into yourself. I know you have some measure of what I'm talking about already. But. It doesn’t have to come from your fears. Or your anger.”
Jahaziel listened to everything, very intently. This was important and he knew it was important and for once he did his best to not just get distracted by Aziraphale talking. Whenever he spoke at length about something interesting or important or meaningful Jahaziel caught himself daydreaming about it, and just letting his voice wrap him up. He couldn't now. This was important. This was... Unfortunately, probably one of the most important conversations they'd ever have.
The demon took a few little bird steps away to give them space. “It varies from d—person to person, but for example,” he held his wings out, “when I use my miracles, I focus on how deliciously good it feels to have perfectly cooked chocolate French crepes. Or those Vietnamese meatballs we just had!”
At the thought alone, he demonstrated by transforming back into his human form for just a moment. “That instant of pleasure,” he retransformed back into a bird, wings still out in a little “ta-da” flare, “the overindulgence of feeling so very amazing is the barest essential of how I do all I must do.” He folded his wings back against himself.
Jahaziel struggled to latch onto something similar to Aziraphale's pleasure. Sure Jahaziel took pleasure in a lot of things - the stars, human discovery, alcohol. Something indulgent. Something naughty.
He thought about when he kissed Aziraphale for the first time. The moment of weakness but determination. The indulgence of wanting something an angel should never desire. The satisfaction of getting it. Could love be the answer to this question? Wars had been fought over love. Humans killed one another for love.
He closed his eyes. Focused on the tingle and warmth he could remember on his lips from their kiss... The whirlwind of what they did after. The strain of pulling up rather than bringing down was definitely taking a bit of a toll on him, but he went through the motion anyway - Getting up. Walking to the ledge. In the darkness, the loneliness of space, when he'd run away to hide from the High Council, he stood on the edge of the very glaciers he'd made, and dove in.
Into the darkness. Into his desires. He pulled from Below himself like a child throwing the covers over his head to hide from the monsters in his closet. The collision felt like hitting a pile of hay and it knocked the wind out of him slightly, but he kept going.
Aziraphale puffed out his small chest in pride as he watched. Yes, he’d figure this out. He was so brilliant. Most clever being he knew.
The transformation very slowly took hold of Jahaziel’s body. Instead of the fairy tale-like wisp of transformation that Aziraphale did, Jahaziel’s transformation was slow. Laborious almost. The red and gold shimmer played over him like cold oil. The elder demon understood why. It had been so long since he’d seen the angel transform into a snake that he couldn’t remember how he’d done it back then. Now though, he melted away from humanity like a sped up and reversed metamorphosis of a moth.
Gradually, his serpentine body fell into perfect, languorous black, gold, and red. Gorgeous coils of snake pooled at Aziraphale's feet, laying on the ground with his tail covering his eyes. He couldn't open his eyes yet. Something eerie and heavy still danced around him post-transformation, like a humidity one tried to shake off after stepping inside from a hot day.
The dove gave a hop of unrestrained pride and warbled. “Oh! Oh Hazi, you’ve done it!!” He reached his long neck forward. With his beak, he gently lifted Jahaziel’s tail off his devastatingly handsome ochre and golden eyes. “There you are!” Aziraphale whispered, so delighted and gratified.
Once the tail was lifted off the snake’s eyes, and he gazed up at the dove that was his husband, his wee little forked tongue flicked in cautious optimism. "Hello, love," he replied meekly, wiggling the tip of his tail just a bit.
“You’ve done it,” Aziraphale said again.
Ah… Jahaziel thought, This does feel much better. Like a big stretch in the morning just after waking. He lifted his head to Aziraphale's level, taste-smelling the air around them. Oh, it was fresh. It was crisp. It rejuvenated him in a way he hadn't remembered was possible.
Leaning back, Aziraphale turned and gave two quick flaps of his wings, glancing back to his husband. “I dare say. What would you wager you could beat me to the top?” He looked up at the Iao Needle. He did know some snakes could move at 28 kph, though he was sure Jahaziel could double that with his larger, stronger body. The demon would be… somewhat pressed to keep up with flying. He certainly couldn’t race or even run with one inch legs. He really was just beyond excited to fly at all again.
This made the snake’s head tilt, and he slithered closer to the dove to meet his gaze. "Loser gets tossed into the ocean. Fully-clothed." If snakes could grin, he absolutely was. "And they have to wear The Hat."
The sound of the Beetle’s tires screeched in Aziraphale’s mind. He tilted his head back, looking down his beak at the now closer large snake. “I really shouldn’t have brought up the baroque wigs.”
Jahaziel threw back his head in a laugh, fangs and all, then dropped back dramatically to face him once again. "You really shouldn't have." His eyes shone. "What do you say, Azzy? Are you a gambling man?"
Their first show of this prowess together had proved to him that Aziraphale was definitely worth his salt in terms of strength. Carrying a fully snaked-out Jahaziel was no small feat, and the urgency their situation had needed, he knew, did not make it easy on him.
But something wild and rambunctious in his now-long chest put them on even ground, and the humiliation defeat promised seemed too small a consequence to matter.
Aziraphale made a show of considering this further, playful adrenaline spiking in his body. “Hmmm… yes-”
Supernaturally fast and without any warning, he took off the ground at full speed, a veritable dart thrown into the brush. He burst into the jungle proper. He knew it was poor sport of him not to give them both equal footing to start, but the confidence radiating off Jahaziel now made him think twice about taking this race easy on him. Plus he didn’t want to wear that dreadful headpiece.
But he did so love the thrill of being chased by his angel.
"OI!!" Jahaziel hissed and almost scowled, tearing off after him. "Cheater! Cheater!!!"
Aziraphale looked down under him to see the snake indeed ripping through the dense underbrush, gaining on him fast. What could only be described as bird cackling bubbled up through Aziraphale’s throat.
Sleek, swift, and determined, Hazi traversed the ground towards the base of the needle through the greenery. All his senses were heightened like this, and it was exhilarating - he was able to keep perfect track of Aziraphale and all their surroundings this way. He debated briefly on climbing one of the trees and going that way, but the taller foliage seemed to thin out closer he got, and he'd lose that advantage before long. He instead stayed low, gaining whatever ground he could, and Someone help any creatures that tried to get in his way.
Aziraphale performed an exhilarating combo of aerial tricks to swoop under and over vines and branches, spiral just right through narrow trees, and dive in and out of the dense jungle canopy. At the crest of one particularly high arc into the trees he gave a loud “Ha-HA!!!” sort of whoop.
He did notice what appeared to be a hawk floating in the sky some ways off. He nearly adjusted to fly lower, but he could see it was just a dirty gull at a closer look. If any creature, great or small, threatened these demons in their moments of joy, it would have very quickly learned what it felt like to fiddle with a man-sized, aggressive, and territorial snake.
When they both reached Iao Needle’s base, Aziraphale was already breathless, using muscles he hadn’t in a long time, but not at all knackered yet. He looked up and knew he wasn’t the best at flying vertically. One quick glance under him showed Jahaziel was keeping pace better than he expected.
Electing to flit up plant by bush by branch, Aziraphale struggled to scale the vertical surface.
Jahaziel too was struggling, just a bit. Not willing to give in so easily, he opted to try his earlier plan - also climbing the branches like Aziraphale only a few feet off to his side.
Watching his angel slither up the vertical branched wall of the needle, Aziraphale caught himself staring too long just to watch how bizarre and deft the motion was. Jahaziel finally looked at home again in his own body instead of trying to be boneless in a very boney man’s body.
"Tired yet?" Jahaziel panted, hoisting himself up a few branches, mesmerizing in the way his body moved to do so, "you can give up, Dove. No one will think less of you."
All Aziraphale’s feathers stuck out to pincushion status. “Well!!” Aziraphale looked straight up the needle at the remaining 400 feet. Someone’s sake, that was still so far. He tested the elasticity of the branch he was on. “No one will, hm?” He started teetering up and down without letting go of the branch, causing it to sway up and down more and more aggressively.
Jahaziel actually stopped his slithering to watch whatever the Hell it is Aziraphale was trying to accomplish, and were he able to raise a brow in skepticism, he would have. His mouth did hang open a bit however at the spectacle. What in the utter...
“What.. you really mean… is-” Aziraphale grunted with effort between every other word. The leaves at the end of the branch shook about violently now. “-you’ll remind me of it… for the next.. three.. decades!”
On his last word, he let go at the branch’s upswing and catapulted himself a hundred more feet in the air.
Oh good Lord. Aziraphale's fling off the branch sent leaves and twigs scattering around them, puffed out from the tree like a cloud of exhaust from a rocket. Sharp eyes watched in sheer amusement, amazement, as he went higher and higher...
Aziraphale used the momentum to try flapping vertically as far as he could. He pushed and pushed until he felt his shoulders give out. He planned to glide to another bush or branch but—
“Oh my,” he said at the height of his jump.
His wings locked up. He started to fall in a spiral. He used a small, dexterous foot to miracle away the massive cramps in his wings. He attempted to right himself, but the world spun around him over and over. “Uh! Help?! Hazi!!!” He flapped wildly, disoriented and unable to find his bearings.
"Right-o!" Jahaziel lofted himself as quickly as he could a few branches over and a few branches up, bracing the bulk of his weight around a particularly sturdy branch to send most of the rest of himself out, reaching, creating a sort of cradle out of his body to catch his flailing husband.
Eyes trained on the sky, he moved this way and that to situate himself directly beneath him, waiting, almost there...
Keeping the muscle of his tail as tight as he could, the rest of himself relaxed as Aziraphale fell into the basket of his coils, "Gotcha-" knocking their heads together briefly in the collision.
They both shook stars from their eyes for a moment, but once his vision unblurred, Jahaziel scanned every inch of Aziraphale that he could as he brought the pair of them closer to the tree again, letting the dove nest against him as long as he needed while they hung there. "What a trick," he breathed in relief. "Are you alright?"
Aziraphale’s feathers were a complete mess, and he was sure he lost a few when he’d been caught. Getting back on his feet atop part of Jahaziel, Aziraphale felt awash with hot embarrassment, relief, and gratitude for Jahaziel. The snake held out a coil like an arm for Aziraphale to perch upon. The dove preened his back and wings as quickly as possible, very much like how he’d straighten his vest primly. “I’m fine,” he said to his husband. Jahaziel fought the urge to unwind his tail so he could help him preen. “I’m fine, really.”
"Alright, alright. You're fine. I'll never worry about you again." Jahaziel was clearly joking, and if he could smile it would have been showing.
It took a moment for Aziraphale to grasp the jest, pausing in his preening to stare at him in a mixture of offense and regret. When he realized though, he kept smoothing feathers. He cleared his throat in another coo. He shook his remaining fluffed feathers back into place, becoming a cream, light blue, and black speckled blur for a half second. “That was ehm. Well. To echo your comment earlier, that wasn’t supposed to happen. Ha. Thank you, dear.”
Jahaziel chuckled. "'Course, love. Impressive, though. Really thought you had it for a moment there."
Aziraphale flared his small nostrils at the base of his beak. He looked up to the needle top. “Well. Had I not gone fir—er. Cheated, rather. Call it what it is—” The snake’s head tipped as Aziraphale began his admission, hummmming gently to encourage him. What was that? He cheated? Fancy that! “I do believe you would have won this one.” He looked back to Jahaziel, side eying him hopefully. “Call it a draw? Snap to the top instead?”
A snakey gasp with teeth showed. "A draw?" The very idea!
Aziraphale knew he was full of shit for that comment. He knew it, yet he said it anyway in the hopes light flattery and this embarrassing fall would make Jahaziel forget the hat challenge.
Jahaziel lifted the section of himself Aziraphale rested on to bring him closer. "If I would have won, then we need to finish!" However, the entire length of Jahaziel’s body ached, especially after the little stunt. "Unless you really don't want to. I'd understand."
With a small sigh, Aziraphale looked up above once more. “Ahh.” He flapped up to land atop his husband’s smooth, sun warmed head. Muscles tensed to support Aziraphale as he landed, curling closer towards the branch to drape over it fully while they were there. “I don’t,” said the dove. “We’re here to enjoy ourselves. And you know for me, that doesn’t include willful exercise.”
The comment made the snake snicker, and like this he could loose his tail enough to prod at the fluff of Azzy's bird tummy lovingly. "And I've made you run so much today already. I'm sorry, love."
Somehow, Aziraphale was able to snap with his little bird foot and teleport them up the rest of the way. Jahaziel hit the ground with a soft 'uff', stretching his tail and working some kink out of it.
The dove fluttered in the air above him a moment, and with great effort, said, “And you touched the ground up here first.” Aziraphale landed on the small patch of bare dirt he’d teleported them to. “I concede to you, good sir.” He bowed his little dove head, holding his wings out elegantly.
Jahaziel dipped his head in reply, flicking aside his tail-tip in a flourish. "Concession accepted."
When they turned to look at the view, it took their already short breath away.
"Whoa..." the snake breathed. The sight was stunning. The sun glistened off the millions of leaves beneath them, dotted with still-drying rain. The wind up here was as fresh as you could possibly get on earth. So full of vivacious life. The short brush and lack of trees up here made their view unfettered and spectacular. He could see the north shore waves breaking, gulls peacefully riding the updrafts, distant cars moving about Waikulu and Kahului, and even a sightseeing helicopter way out near the horizon over the bigger east side of the island. He side-wound closer to Aziraphale, draping the end of his tail over him as he would an arm over his shoulders. Aziraphale leaned into his touch, waddling back just a bit to rest against his main body, closer to his snake’s long neck and chest. He relished in the closeness, sharing this lovely, deserved moment with the being he loved most in all creation. Jahaziel’s tail shifted further, allowing more closeness as Azzy drew in towards him more. He might have liked to hold him like this in their more ambulatory forms, but this? It was definitely nice, too. The view, the race. Even the rescue. The last time he'd been in this form - and he'd wager Aziraphale his - was in a literal fight or flight situation. It had been such a long time since they'd just been able to have fun together. What a sight they must have been, though. A giant snake and an oversized bird. Sharing a moment.
"Never gets old, does it?" the fallen angel asked quietly, flicking his tongue at the breeze. Wonderful. He... needed this. Crisis and all, even, perhaps. "View like this."
“It truly never does,” the demon said in reply, with an additional glance up, admiring Jahaziel in the near waning afternoon light.
A beetle the size of half a human thumb, iridescent and green, skittered in front of them. Aziraphale’s beak jutted out at lightning speed and devoured the unsuspecting insect in the blink of an eye.
Jahaziel felt the action more than he saw it, but he absolutely caught it out of the corner of his eye. He blinked a few times, entirely lost.
Balking in shock at his own animal instinct, Aziraphale stared at the beautiful view, no longer taking it in. He didn’t dare look up at Jahaziel. If his angel didn’t see that, the demon wouldn’t believe him. He gave a weak chuckle. “Tastes better in this form,” he said quietly, not qualifying it further.
Jahaziel’s tail wound a bit more around Aziraphale so the tip could cross his snakey muzzle in an attempt to silence the laughter threatening to make him burst. "We never did finish our meal," he managed, somehow keeping the laughter at bay. "Any port in a ssssstorm, right?" He cleared his throat after the little hissy fumble, looking to where the insect was a moment ago. Aziraphale was precious and Jahaziel loved him more than anything in the universe. But that was absolutely the last thing he had ever expected to see.
Glancing up at the snake, Aziraphale said, “No, we didn’t. I was just more peckish than I—” His eyes fell shut immediately, knowing it was too late to take it back.
Jahaziel immediately lost himself in a fit of laughter. It hit him so suddenly that he doubled over, tail pulling back to curl over his face to try and stop himself from being so loud about it. He looked like a damn pair of tangled headphones with how hard he was trying to not make it seem like he was roaring with laughter at his husband. "I'm sssssorry, I'm sorry-"
Trying to be salty as long as he possibly could, Aziraphale watched Jahaziel flop about in his fit of laughter. Really, he hadn’t meant to do it! But it was so infectious. He hadn’t seen the former angel laugh so hard in well over a year. And really, the absurdity of what he’d unintentionally just done—
Aziraphale’s chuckles turned into giggles then full on laughter as well. With him being somewhat grabbed, he only flopped back against the wiggling mass of his husband.
Jahaziel untangled himself to coil around Aziraphale in a very apologetic snake hug, burying his face against the feathers on his back. "You- I jussst-" He walked face-first into his own pun. "It was right there, Azzzzzzy. Oh. Oh, I'm sorry."
The dove shook his head, trying to speak through his own laughter. “No—no, it was! Tripped my way into it, I did!”
Truly, the series of events that led up to them being atop this beautiful marvel, starting from the beginning of their race until just now, was absolutely bloody hilarious. It was so absurd, so ridiculous, he couldn't help but laugh. It was the first time in a long time that he'd genuinely felt rather very okay. "Face-first, love. Face-first."
Aziraphale had to properly hug him, he couldn’t stand it. He wriggled free, turned, and opened his wings. He miracled them both back into their human forms. He spun the both of them, still laughing, and hugged his husband close to him. Used to the feel of them now and knowing he’d need them anyway in a minute, he allowed his true wings to manifest behind him, lending them as well to the warmest, happiest hug they’d had in Someone knew how long.
Jahaziel needed that hug. Arms wound tightly, fingertips pressing into fabric, face tucking into a familiar and comfortable neck. The warmth of him being so close was enough to finally quell the laughter, and he was left with a peaceful, very in love smile on his face.
"Thank you, Aziraphale." He didn't let go yet. No, he rather wanted to be babied for just a little bit longer in the cocoon of his husband. "I don't know much else to say other than that. You're just brilliant, you know? Brightest star in my sky. Always."
Excitement and loving warmth buzzing in his chest, Aziraphale pulled back to look at Jahaziel. His wings stayed around them, very much creating a living culvert from the winds, pleasant though they were. With another full toothed grin, he wanted to but couldn’t say, I missed that sound, darling. Your laugh. The grin faded to the fondest smile instead, and he reached up to brush some of his angel’s errant hairs back into place. It felt somewhat trite to say the same thing back. He struggled with these sentiments, sadly, due to going so long stopping himself from doing so for Hell’s sake - even to this day. So he simply said, “Of course, dearest. I’m so thrilled to take you on a good old fashioned adventure again. Just like old times.”
"I've missed them," Jahaziel admitted plainly, sighing and shaking his head. "Not that I ever wish hard times on humanity. But we seemed to get up to the most trouble right alongside them." Perhaps the two of them should look into something like geocaching. Or escape rooms. Make the stakes a little higher than normal. Anything to get out into the world again like this. It was healing.
Aziraphale studied his husband’s face, his own smile beginning to fade. He knew, even now, here in veritable paradise, Jahaziel still felt a degree of the past year’s sadness. Every day was easier than the last, but it was a slow process. It seemed like there was no full escape from it. It grieved the demon, but something like this could at least lighten their spirits. Get his beloved out of the awfully depressing flat.
In the deep recesses of his heart, Aziraphale still couldn’t help but blame himself for the state his husband had come to. Was there a world, another time, where Jahaziel was better off without a demon like him? The thought was never spoken, never written down in any diary or compendium of thought. But it was always there.
Right now however, his second of melancholy didn’t show long on his face. He chuckled and simply said, “Oh my love, I would kiss you right now. But I don’t ah. Hah. I don’t think you want the taste I have in my mouth at the moment.”
An undignified sound of suddenly-stifled laughter left Jahaziel, hand immediately going to cover his mouth again. There were so many things he could have said in reply to that, but he let all of them go in favor of letting Aziraphale keep his dignity about himself on the situation. For now. It would be just as amusing later.
Stepping back, Aziraphale spread his wings out into the air, stretching them to their full extent hard enough for the feathers to shake a bit. He gave a satisfied sigh at the couple of relieving joint cracks it produced. He folded them back in for the moment. “Well. I originally intended to pick you up and fly us to our next destination.” Just like Edo Japan.
Watching him, admiring those gorgeous wings, Jahaziel smiled normally again. "Ooh," he murmured. The sensation of being babied further was not something he’d ignore too quickly.
“However, I dare say it’s been eons since you flew yourself! My illusory spells ought to keep us obfuscated from anyone looking up.” He rose his brows enticingly over his shades. “What do you say, my dear? Fancy a quick gliding tour of the island at sunset?”
Jahaziel nodded in agreement. Tempting, tempting. He could slither faster than most, and that was fine and fun and good, but flying. Oh it had indeed been ages. Before he answered though he stepped in close; giving his husband a kiss regardless, because what did he know about taste anyway, and pressing their foreheads together briefly. "I say that sounds wonderful."
The kiss actually took Aziraphale off guard, and he was left with just the fondest bubbling of acceptance and love in his chest. “Ah- Good, jolly good.”
And Jahaziel moved back himself, calling forth his own wings. They had lost their raven-like iridescence after the fall, looking far more like crow’s wings now. Deep and sooty, matte black. It wasn’t a bad change. Just different now. They were still his wings, and they fit him. A bit easier than the snake-change - wings were at least stock on every model of being. Stretched to shudder too, Jahaziel rolled his shoulders and his neck before shaking the invisible cobwebs off everything. He bowed with a little flourish towards the edge of the needle. "Lead the way, Dove."
Aziraphale’s eyes widened with a little private smile at the new moniker. That was new. He kept his delight internal. He walked up to the edge of the cliff, quite fearless of the 1,200 foot drop. With a gesture upwards, he took away their climbing fatigue, leaving them fresh again. He pocketed his shades so they wouldn’t fall thousands of feet, miracling away his hat for now too. “Follow me then.”
He seriously considered trying to show off again. He was actually rather good at fast flying, especially free-diving. However, his shoulder smarted a little from being caught. Best not push it. Wings outstretched, he hopped off the edge and shoved air under him. He arched up on the warm air currents, his given wings taking to the winds like they never left. “Come on then!” he called as he circled back and cruised by. “Haven’t got all evening!”
Jahaziel waved his hand as the demon went by. "Right right, I'm on my way."
He slipped away his own shades and took a few steps back, enough to take a running leap, bounding gracefully on nothing for a few brief steps before orienting himself to catch up with his husband. At least this was effortless. Like riding a bike. Thousands of years and he still took to the air like he'd been born in it.
Once he caught up, he wiggled his fingers at the blonde. "Going to Peter Pan me?"
Watching Jahaziel take to the air again, Aziraphale was absolutely delighted. He barked a laugh and clasped his hands before him in the leisurely hover he’d come to some ways off. “Perhaps,” he sing-songed back. Locking his wings out to catch drafts, he took a much more leisurely, slower descent to the east. The wind was still loud, and he didn't plan on them doing much talking. He let the journey speak for itself.
By now, the shadows of the western mountain range casted a gentle blue shadow over the north shore. He took the two of them down low over it, riding the salty air. The waves were especially large and curling right now, and Aziraphale suspected it was due to the gale Jahaziel had made not two hours ago. But the sound of them crashing. The monumental, deep rumbling of millions of gallons of water pelting back down into itself, so strong they could feel it in their chests as they glided just above them, was wonderful. Perfect even.
Extremely content to follow and sight-see, Jahaziel took in all he could of the world around them. The colours, the smells, the sights. It was so different from London, even the parts of it that weren't filled with shops and buildings and such. Like stepping into another world.
The beaches looked like something out of a film, and the rocks and sand enticed him to run along the shores barefoot until he collapsed. Something about being out here, away from everything familiar, just made him want to explore.
People surfing and playing on the beaches couldn’t see them, but the gulls certainly could. The curious birds kept their distance, but they came close enough to cock their heads at the pair of demons.
Aziraphale then steered them over Waikulu and Kahului again. Some streetlights in certain areas flickered on, and early night life bustled. Very human sounds of various musical tastes thumped in random buildings. Fried and grilled and sautéed food of all kinds wafted up on the breeze. Cars of many different prices and ages sped or toodled down long streets. And the not so pretty stacks of smoke off to the east puffed out of a sugar cane plant. It was all so very human. Infinitely ingenious and human.
Jahaziel thought of Eden, of all things. But it wasn't a painful memory. He couldn't actually recall a moment as beautiful there as this one here. Even with the people. The pollution. The stretches of road and businesses and tourists. Their woes, their trials, their tribulations. Jahaziel could not think of any place he would rather be other than on Earth, with his husband, and with the humans and all their humanity. He adored it. Fully and honestly.
And then came the final sight. The one Aziraphale had based this trip on after seeing it on a billboard in Lambeth. And they’d timed it perfectly.
Aziraphale sighed happily at the sight, slowing their glide a bit to cut down the wind and enjoy the sight of the multicolored, ridiculously picturesque sunset.
Colours Jahaziel had never seen in the sky before lit up his face. He laughed again in pure incredulity, struck speechless otherwise. One might think someone who had spent so long as an angel would cease to be amazed by things like this. But even in stripping away most everything he had, Heaven could never take away his sense of wonder. Sure, he may have hidden it away, even pre-fall, behind a collected and cool demeanor. (Not so much with the space stuff. He was rubbish at trying to keep his glee under wraps at that.) But there had always been a light inside him, charged by the beauty and goodness in things around him.
A little dim nowadays, perhaps. But the dust was burning off. It would shine again soon.
"Makes you wish you could paint," he mused, eyes unable to leave the brilliant shades of fuchsia and violet, "really paint, I mean. With an honest effort. No magic. Don't think you could ever truly capture this kind of moment any other way."
Aziraphale looked over his shoulder to his husband. His eyes went soft again. “Indeed. I don’t believe you could. If anyone could attempt it, you could,” he praised. “Could you imagine, dear? This sight combined with one of your nebulas?” He laughed in delight, somewhat breathless. “Humans would likely write songs of a sunset that magnanimous.”
All the redhead could do was blush modestly and shake his head in wonder at the thought. He wasn't sure if he himself could stand something so grand. Which was hyperbole, of course - but if every time he looked at it, and he felt a fraction of how he did now, it would certainly take some recovery.
As the fuchsia began to fade to purple, Aziraphale led them to descend now. He saw their little culvert of quiet beach further to the south, still lit enough to see and easily land.
Angling himself, he beat his wings much like he did in his mourning dove form to land, only 30 times bigger and slower as a result. He landed with Jahaziel on the soft white sand. Not making a gesture for it, they both dispelled their wings back to the unseen shift in reality.
Nearby, the cabana Aziraphale had ordered for them was spread out and ready. It lay complete with a kitschy crowd of tiki torches, a thin, flower spiral post, and a sign hanging from it that had “the Fell’s” written in Ritz (though it was a second best choice being Ritz-Carlton) cursive. He saw a covered tray of what he knew to be fresh sushi, and bottles of Egyptian wine. Palm trees and native vegetation ringed the edges of the sand just behind the cabana, completing the scenery.
The sight brought an instant smile to Jahaziel’s face that he quickly smothered with a hand. The sign especially. Eyes and brows wrinkled in so many emotions, he pointed at it. Then between the pair of them, one after the other. "That's us." An emotional little peep. Oh, why did he feel so silly about it all? Even their ceremonies hadn't had him feeling this way! Perhaps though, it was simply the notion that it had all been very real, and was still real, and was apparent and known. He imagined Aziraphale proudly making reservations for him and his husband, for their anniversary, and the smile returned. Never in his thousands of years did he imagine being so utterly and completely blessed by something that made him so unrelentingly happy.
Aziraphale’s heart leaped when Jahaziel reacted to the little cabana accouterments, and especially the sign. He looked at the little sign as well. “It is,” he agreed, voice full of emotion as well. It finally is. He turned to Jahaziel, beyond happy to be here with him. His heart began to hammer. “Now.. ah. Darling?” The whole point of being here at this time in this place upon him. Someone’s sake, he hoped Jahaziel would like it.
Jahaziel turned to him. He could not - would not - will away the mistiness in his eyes for anything. If there was anyone he trusted with each of his emotions, the good and the bad, the strong and the delicate, it was Aziraphale. And he'd known since the beginning of time this trust had never been mislaid.
Aziraphale asked for one of his angel’s hands. In what was usually his pocket watch pocket, he took out a golden trim, black velvet ring case. Inside was the wedding band for Jahaziel he had commissioned months ago. It wasn’t made from Alexandrian gold scroll caps like his own. But it was made from a meteorite no longer in a certain museum. Laced with the deepest gold and small sporadic diamonds, it was set to directly mimic the nebula and stars he’d just mentioned moments ago. For his angel, nothing else would do. “Happy anniversary, Jahaziel,” he finally said, voice full of nerves and emotion.
Jahaziel suddenly understood why every instance of romance like this between humans left such a deep impact. He couldn't have helped the trembling in his fingers even if he had wanted to. He was struck speechless as his eyes connected to the ring now being put onto his hand, breath caught and failing to produce anything he wanted to say. It sat perfectly next to his golden snake ring.
He swallowed. Laughed at himself. "You thought I didn't need one." Full of humor and incredulity, his whisper barely crested the sound of waves around them. This wasn't going to miraculously cure his depression. Aziraphale certainly didn’t want it to. There was only so much the demon could do on that front. As much as he loved and cared for him, he could only do his best to protect the fallen angel from the worst of hell for so long. Jahaziel would have to come to terms with being “Crawley” eventually.
But not today. Certainly not here. Now, it was all for them and the special, fragile existence they shared so deeply together. A ray of light, pure and honest and good, did permanently strike through some of the darkness in Jahaziel’s heart now, latching and lifting it ever so gently out of some of the din. The wetness in his eyes, heavier now, made it difficult to focus on the utter love of his life, but he still didn't will it away. "I know it's- a very human tradition. But how long have we spent among humans, to not come to adore what they do for one another...?" He glanced away momentarily, clearing his throat. "I didn't think how badly I wanted something like this until... Until I got it. Ah." He waved his free hand. "Words, you know? I love it. I love you. Happy anniversary, Aziraphale." He squeezed the hand that held his, willing every ounce of love he had into the gesture. "Now stop making me cry, it's embarrasssssing."
Aziraphale laughed with tears as well. “I love you too.” He too had issues with words here. He squeezed his hand back. Used to letting unbidden tears fall, he didn’t bother wiping away his own very meaningful ones. He did, however, gently wipe away Jahaziel’s, resting his free hand on the former angel’s cheek. “I’m sorry,” he chuckled, his voice tight. “I’ll.. I’ll do my damnedest not to, yes?”
Oh, Jahaziel couldn't help it. He was a sap at heart. Very much so, in spite of the cool exterior and all that. Especially when it came to Aziraphale, there was nothing his heart did not pick up on and blow entirely out of proportion. Usually he could keep it in check. Right now though was probably the most appropriate time to not do that.
He nuzzled into the warmth on his cheek, savoring every moment of contact they were now blessed to have together. Eventually.... Eventually, yes. He would have to do all that. It wouldn't be easy and he certainly wouldn't be able to do it alone. But now was for them. He smiled a watery little smile at Aziraphale, nodding gently. "I mean. Don't ever stop being so sweet on me, but. Take into account this old heart every so often, eh."
Aziraphale smiled and whispered a little “of course.” He stepped closer and gave him a teary kiss. He poured every ounce of his love for Jahaziel into it.
It healed enough, in those moments, and that's all either of them could ask for. Jahaziel’s arms wound around his gorgeous and wonderful husband, giving just as much love as he received from it. The waves crashed gently next to them, the breeze ruffled their hair, and the promise of an enchanting evening just made him melt there, in Aziraphale's arms, and never want to leave.
They did leave that wonderful spot though, going to the cabana to eat and enjoy the last of the sunset’s colors. Jahaziel felt wonderful enough to start regaling some stories he’d had in Mesoamerica, mimicking the awful way Gabriel orated to the priests over there, steering well clear of the nastier topics that came of that time. He spoke of how their romp through the jungle a couple hours ago had reminded him of the caves he’d slithered though, getting lost for hours on end just exploring.
Aziraphale listened, rapt. He was certainly not one for caves. One too many times of being summoned to caves via demonic ritual cured him of his wonder there. But the way Jahaziel described them being wondrous works of nature too like the mountains certainly made him look upon them a little fonder.
The sushi was absolutely sublime, as he’d hoped. Extremely fresh and perfectly made. He also poured them glasses from a bottle of Egyptian white wine he knew paired with sushi. As they ate and the demon’s mind wandered, he really hoped the loser hat they’d discussed earlier had been forgotten. after all, he had just finally given his husband the ring.
“You know,” he began, “ah, do you remember that sweet little family we met in Sodom and Gomorrah?” Jahaziel hesitated, but nodded. “Well apparently, they relocated to Cairo! Started a wine business that’s been going from generation to generation ever since. This is one of their best vintages.”
Jahaziel made an appraising noise. The knowledge that the only family they’d managed to save from that whole nasty business was doing well for themselves and thrived into the present may as well have been his second anniversary gift from Aziraphale. But he wasn’t going to go all wibbly for a second time. He confined his unfettered joy at this information to a wide smile. “Now that is an incredible bloodline, that.” He leaned forward to rest on one of his elbows. “That was one of the first times I’d tasted wine, actually. In Egypt, that second time we met.”
Aziraphale sipped the vintage and raised his brows. “No? It wasn’t the first?”
Jahaziel wrinkled his nose. “Nah. Shem’s to blame for that one. Couldn’t take it on the boat. Begged me to share it with him. Nearly lost his hat running to get back on the ark once we finished that bottle.”
They fell into a companionable silence for a while as they ate the last of their rolls. The fallen angel uncharacteristically wiped the last of the spicy mayo off his plate. He regarded his finger, deep in thought. “Hm. I really can’t recall how we found our hat in the first place.”
Aziraphale willed himself not to react, dabbing a little bit of wasabi on his last roll of unagi maki. “I believe it was…” He tried to remember himself. “Well, it was definitely somewhere in Spain.”
“No no,” Jahaziel pointed his sauced finger at Aziraphale. “No, it wasn’t there. Wasn’t Latin America either.” He licked his finger clean then narrowed his eyes, mouth falling slightly open as he looked off into the more desert-like brambles in this part of the island. His tongue touched the roof of his mouth in thought. “Ah!” He smacked the wooden table, sitting back as he did. “Tidore! Ohhh, the Philippines! Couldn’t believe those Spaniards made it all the way around the globe back then.”
Aziraphale swallowed with a polite eyebrow raise before sticking the roll in his mouth. “Mm.” The way Jahaziel smiled was really unnerving him right now. It was too direct.
“I mean, do you remember how awful those travel conditions were? No bloody wonder they got Pestilence’s attention back then, he couldn’t resist.” Without breaking eye contact, Jahaziel reached under the table and miracled up the very hat Aziraphale hadn’t seen since an hour after the attempted bombing of Jahaziel’s observatory in 1894. “But really, look at this thing. You wouldn’t be able to tell that’s a Conquistador’s helm underneath all that anymore.”
Aziraphale paled. The thing was probably the biggest eyesore as well as the worst visual puzzle anyone could wear upon their head. Anything and everything you could think of that would have been a bad idea for a hat accent from the sixteenth century until the twenty first was affixed to the downright abomination. It looked like a cultural landfill. He knew for a fact it smelled like a shrunken head. He’d added it himself like a tail to the back in 1701. And absolutely nothing on it could decay or be taken off of it unless you were of supernatural inclination like themselves. “You’ve um.” He pointed to the upper right quadrant. “You’ve added more I see.”
Jahaziel looked at the tartan pinwheel sticking up out amongst the singular moose horn prong, skunk pelt, and ancient tonsil remover. “Oh yeah,” he said in a higher pitched voice. He looked back to Aziraphale. His eyes positively danced with mirth, and he gave his demon a full toothed grin. “Thought you might like that one.”
They both stared at each other, a silent battle of wills that Aziraphale lost. His face contorted. “No.”
The fallen angel’s grin only widened, as did his eyes with the exaggerated reply he gave. “Oh yes.”
“Hazi!”
“I thought you were a betting man, darling.” Jahaziel held out a hand to the absolute creature of a hat. “You did concede. S’only fair, eh?”
“I’m not going to put the hat on during our wedding anniversary,” Aziraphale positively pouted.
Jahaziel’s stomach roiled a little. They both hated this thing. But his tried and true moral compass would have its say here. “Well, it’s only fair. I wore it when I lost to you betting on that battle in 1678. And the mice in 1701. And in 1734--”
“Fine,” Aziraphale closed his eyes and looked the hideous thing in the eye for a moment. “Fine. Alright. I’m so--you’re right. It’s only fair.” He got up, rounded the table, picked up the dreadfully heavy thing, and carefully placed it on his head with the utmost contempt. Ugh, he smelled formaldehyde. Holding out his hands at his sides, he widened all four of his eyes pointedly at Jahaziel. “You won. I lost. Can I take it off now?”
“You’ve had it on five seconds; it’s not that bad.”
“Yes, it is!” Were Aziraphale in possession of any less pride in those moments, he would have stamped his foot.
Jahaziel stared at him, shit-eating grin too wide and raising a single brow. He didn’t need to say it. His demon knew full well that wasn’t the whole deal.
Aziraphale’s arms dropped, and he leveled his gaze at him seriously. “Jahaziel.”
The fallen angel stood up from his seat, quietly walking towards Aziraphale. Not intimidating in the least (he didn’t really do intimidating.) But he was definitely making sure it would be harder for Aziraphale to run away.
The demon backed away, out of his reach and further onto the beach itself. “No. No, you stop giving me that look, now!” The waves crashed louder and louder behind him. “Hazi!!”
“Time to pay the piper, Mr. Pan,” Jahaziel said, voice low and playful as could be.