Chapter Text
Please skip this chapter and read chapter 2! This is the Guess the Author event abridged version.
The singular beast responsible for spreading most of the scary myths told in the mountains woke up with the unpleasant surprise of hearing a loud yelp, and the sound of his favourite water clay pot shattering, followed by a faint “Oh, bugger.”
Crowley squinted at the small window of his den. No one was supposed to be up at this hour, not before the sun set properly. Cursing under his breath, he stumbled out of his nest and stomped to yank his door open, just to stop abruptly and cover his eyes.
“What the…?”
Crowley was absolutely certain it was nightfall, and yet it was like the sun itself had fallen into his courtyard. Blinding light seeped through his hands and eyelids, but it didn’t burn him like it should’ve. Instead, it felt warm and sounded flustered. Wait, what?
“Oh… H-hello there! I’m so sorry about the pot, I can bring you a new one the next time I fly by tomorrow.”
Crowley risked peeking through his fingers and opened his eyes with some difficulty. Under the onslaught of light was revealed the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen; a head full of curls spun out of cottongrass, cheeks kissed by poppy petals, small, pretty rosebud lips, and eyes the colour of blue Crowley didn’t know existed. Then Crowley noticed how they were clutching their robe sleeves and how their eyebrows were scrunched together, still standing amongst the broken pieces of his watering pot. Crowley shook himself and leaned against his door frame, covertly straightening his raggedy dressing gown.
“Don’t mind the pot, I’ll throw a new one in no time,” he drawled. “Lost, are we?”
The person visibly relaxed and chuckled. “No no, I just seem to be running a bit late… No one else of my brethren ever seem to stop and appreciate the sights. Like this lovely meadow!” they spread their arms at his meadow.
Crowley tore his eyes away from the almost violently blue eyes and blinked furiously. He gasped as he saw his meadow in a way he'd never seen it before, in all the hues of late afternoon sunlight. “I didn't know they could be so… colourful.”
“Of course they are colourful, they're flowers! This is one of the most vibrant meadows I've ever seen.”
“I didn't know what colour they'd be during the day, I've been focusing on their bioluminescence and scent.”
The sunrays head whipped back. “They're yours?”
Crowley scoffed. “I wouldn't go that far. But I do tend to this patch of land. Not like the plants appreciate it,“ he huffed towards the field.
“They're very pretty. You've done an excellent job,” the sunray smiled.
“They're just plants,” Crowley mumbled as he turned his eyes away from the radiant smile.
The sky rumbled, and they both peered into the distance. Storm clouds were drawing near, and Crowley turned towards the last ray of sun. Crowley was a creature of the night, sun scorched him and sun dwellers were dangerous, and yet, he couldn’t let this meeting end so soon.
“Looks like it's gonna rain soon. My den isn't the fanciest, but it's cosy enough. I erm, I’ve got some real nice dandelion root tea, dug it up and dried it last week. Oh, and I baked fresh pollen biscuits too–”
The sunray visibly dimmed as their smile turned sad. “I can't stay.”
They quickly corrected themselves after seeing Crowleys face. “Not because I don't want to! But I have to keep moving. You can see why, can't you?”
The sunray kept dimming. Crowley could see their features better now. Their delightfully plump face looked soft and kind, but their piercing blue eyes were crinkled with something akin to anguish. Crowleys mouth was uncomfortably dry as he hesitated the next question.
“Will you be back?”
The sunrays eyes widened for a moment before they lowered their head. “I could bring Dawn early tomorrow? If you’re amenable.”
Crowley started nodding before they’d finished their sentence. “Cool. Great. I mean—yes, I'd like that. You're welcome to my meadow any time, uhm…”
“Aziraphale. What's your name?”
“Crowley.”
The sunray smiled brilliantly. “Well… Mind how you go, Crowley.”
They flew off almost faster than Crowley could see. The very next moment, the sky cracked open, pelting everything with big, fat droplets. Crowley cursed and jumped back into his den. Even when surrounded by darkness once more, Crowley felt helplessly blind as bright shapes of the peppy sunray danced in his eyes.
He’d never be able to surface during the day, nor did he really want to… But Aziraphale caused his chest to nearly burst with something scary yet thrilling. Maybe he could withstand one speck of sun, if they could tolerate one creature of the dark. Determined, Crowley set to work.