Chapter Text
The garden of Eden had been under the eyes of angels and demons alike, including The Serpent of the Apple Tree and The Angel of the Western Gate. There was another being, however, that stood and admired Adam and Eve living. Lilith, Duchess of Hell, couldn't help but watch the first ever humans interact with the new world. Unlike his sister, Lucifer wasn't interested in humans or whatever god was doing with earth. Since he fell, he didn't pay mind to the ones who ripped him of his angelic title.
โWhat makes them so interesting to you?โ Crawley, a demon Lilith was an acquaintance of, asked as he watched Lilith walk around the Gardenโs gates, looking for the humans. โIt's not of interest, Crawley. I just..โ She trailed off, searching her consciousness for the proper wording. Having been assigned to become Adamโs wife before Eve, she admired the couple from afar. For a chance to see what she chose to miss out on or just to see what they would do, Lilith couldn't figure it out. All she knew was the Duchess of Hell shouldn't be spying on Mortals. She had demons to do that for her. Yet here she stood with Crawley, watching Adam and Eve live.
โThey're just interesting to watchโ She finished after a moment, smiling at the demon that accompanied her. โI don't see what's so interesting about them. They're just people. We'll have billions eventually. Why are these two so important?โ Crawley complained, looking up at the sky before returning her attention to the garden before her. โThat's just the thing, Crawley! They are the start of something incredible! Can you imagine what will happen in the next-โ Lilith counted in her head how long this world could exist, โ6,000 years because of these two?โ She exclaimed, turning to Crawley. โWe're watching the beginning ofโฆ..well, everything!โ
โAnd it's all gonna be destroyed after those 6,000 years.โ Crawley muttered, watching as Adam stood in the river running through the garden. โ...right. The divine plan.โ Lilith sighed, just as Eve met Adam in the river. โYou plan on fighting the angels when the time comes? I know you've still got a friend up in heavenโ Crawley laughed at the question. โIf you call on me to fight, Lilith, I would be more than willing to fight.โ When Lilith first fell, Crawley wasn't hesitant to offer to general her troops whenever the time came; she had helped him numerous times in heaven before they fell, it was the least she could offer to the Duchess.
โEasy, now. Who said I wouldn't be fighting right alongside you?โ Lilith asked, arms crossing over her chest. โA Duchess of Hell shouldn't have to fight. You-โ โI know. I have demons that can do my dirty work. Butโฆ.โ She trailed off, walking on the edge of the gardenโs walls. โWe both know I've got some unfinished business upstairs. Scores to settle, you understand.โ She sighed, sliding into sitting on the edge of the gardenโs gate. โAnd Lucifer knows this?โ Crawley asked, sitting down right next to her. โ.... partially.โ
Crawley hummed at that answer, not looking at Lilith. A few moments of silence followed as they watched the couple go on with their day. โWhyโd God do that?โ Lilith asked. โDo what?โ
โThe apple tree. In the middle of the garden. Seems kind of weird to give them a โDonโt touchโ sign in the middle of the garden. If I was Eve, I would've already eaten one of those โcursedโ apples just to see what happens.โ Lilith rambled, Crawleyโs snake eyes staring at her as she spoke. โGod could've- I don't know- hide it in the mountains? Make them hard to get to?โ
โGod isโฆunpredictable. Who knows what they have in store for this worldโ Crawley sighed, standing up. Lilith watched as he stood, expecting him to leave. To her surprise, he stayed. One standing on the wall, the other sitting as they continued to observe Adam and Eve.
โYโknow what could be fun?โ Lilith asked, a mischievous smile spreading over her face. Crawley hummed a question, not feeling the need to have to explicitly ask what. โTempting them. Can you imagine what that might ruin in The Divine Plan? They share an apple, God finds out and smites them down just like that!โ Lilith laughed, snapping as she tried to demonstrate how theyโd be smitten. โAnd how exactly do you plan on tempting them?โ Crawley asked as Lilith stood from her seat. โWho said I was tempting?โ Lilith raised a brow.
โNo.โ
โCrawley, please-โ
โLilith, I would rather do anything else.โ
โCrawley, you're the only demon I know that has a snake form that can blend into the garden. Not even God would be able to figure out if you were the one that tempted them!โ Lilith pleaded. Crawley rolled his eyes, trying to ignore Lilithโs plan. Lilith sighed, realizing she wasn't going to let up anytime soon. โ...if I do it. Aziraphale has to know.โ
โWill he tell?โ
โNot a soul. I trust himโ
Lilith thought about his words. She hadn't met, to her knowledge, Crawleyโs friend. From what he had told her, however, he wasn't exactly the most angelic being in the world. To be fair, any angel knowingly interacting with a demon can't exactly be all that good. โAlright. He can know of the temptation, but only if you tell him it's your idea.โ
โWhy can't I credit you?โ Crawley asked.
โNever met the angel. Can't exactly trust that he won't snitch to the archangels and god about it being my idea.โ
Crawley nodded, understanding Lilithโs reasoning. Crawley stared into the garden as Lilith slowly turned her gaze to him. Crawleyโs ink black wings splayed out behind him as she planned out how to approach the mortals. โYโknow, I don't think your name suits you.โ
โHm?โ Crawley asked, snapping back to reality.
โYour name. Crawley doesn't fit you. Tooโฆ slithering slimily at your feet.โ Lilith explained, standing up.
Placing a gentle hand to the feathers of Crawley's left wing, she faced him. โYou remind me more of a crow than a snake.โ
"Crowley. Hm." Lilith hummed. "That has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?," She smiled, pulling her hand away from his feathers as she walked away from the demon. Crawley watched as she disappeared back to Hell, leaving him alone in the garden of Eden to do Lilithโs dirty work.