Chapter Text
**EDEN 4004BC**
The guardian of the Eastern gate was staring out over the broad stretch of Earth wistfully. He felt as though he was breathing for the first time since the start of his existence- the cool, clean air filled his lungs, a light wind whipped past his head. He admired the sound it made in combination with the gentle rustling of the leaves high up in the trees. He wondered how he could ever go back to Heaven with its sterile white walls and complete echoing silence, and promptly chastised the voice in his head for blasphemy against Heaven. He wondered if the Almighty could read his thoughts and would make him Fall for his ungratefulness. His brow broke out into a sweat.
He focused on the expanse of desert beyond the garden, sprawling out as far as his eyes could see- golden sand that danced in the breeze, and glittered when struck with a beam of light, as if saying an appreciative thank you for the sun’s warmth. He thought to himself how this Earth was the loveliest place to be, and was back to the feeling of his insides starting to hurtle downwards as his thoughts supplied all the ways he could fail in his responsibilities.
He loved to think, he loved the process of formulating thoughts, but the trouble with his mind was that it tended to enjoy wandering off. Since being positioned on Earth, his thoughts drifted towards ways he could end up forced back to Heaven, or even to Fall. This line of thinking had led him to discover how cathartic it could be to chew on his bottom lip, and now not only were his insides agonisingly achy with worry, but he had a mouth full of blood. The metallic taste threatened to choke him. He was surprised and noted it down as a new thing that his corporation could do.
A presence that was becoming more familiar each day had sidled up to him while he was deep in panicked thought.
His torn-up mouth patched itself back to normal. This stumped Aziraphale. The lingering warmth of a newly performed miracle faintly glowed, but he was sure that he hadn’t performed one. His confusion deepened when he felt the gaze of the demon from the garden staring down at him.
He smelled musky, he must’ve just come up from the garden itself as the heavy haze of jasmine was radiating from his skin. A mess of claret red curls crowned his head, some strands resting lightly on his shoulders while the rest billowed behind him in the wind. His face boasted chiselled cheekbones and yellow eyes which seemed almost hungry with curiosity.
“Oh. Hello!” Aziraphale stuck his bottom lip out “Was that you?”
“I am here now, lucky you.”
Aziraphale furrowed his eyebrows, trying to place this specific demon.
“Crawley” He supplied, sensing his troubles.
Ah. The serpent in the garden. The tempter. Undoubtedly pitted against him by hell to disrupt his guardianship. The purity of heaven versus the fiery evil of hell.
Aziraphale introduced himself too, for politeness’ sake. Can’t go around being known as a badly mannered angel now could he? He had bristled at the casual tone of this demon, who he now labelled as his mortal enemy. But he was equally baffled as why his mortal enemy would miracle his pain away.
“No, you’re deflecting, you know what I was asking”.
The unease in Crawley’s face hardened as he shook his head and shrugged causally. Aziraphale decided not to press the matter, perhaps it was the Almighty, blessing him from high above.
Something in his chest swelled with hope. Of course that would be it, an infinitely more likely possibility than a demon aiding him. Yes, that was it. This was his sign from the Almighty that all was forgiven, that he wasn’t a bad angel. Just as relief started coursing its way through his body.
“Didn’t you have a flaming sword?”
Oh dear. The boulder had plummeted its way back into his stomach. And now this demon had vital information which he would absolutely hold against him. He recognised the glow that had started to shine from Crawley’s eyes as pure, wicked excitement. No doubt to make Aziraphale’s future miserable.
“Sorry?”
“You did, it was flaming like anything! What happened to it?”
Shame and irritation flared in Aziraphale’s chest. Now all of Hell would know that he was incapable of following basic orders. He would become an easy target for demons to try and thwart at every bend. He dug his nails into his closed palms, how could he make such a foolish mistake?
He mumbled the truth, it was taking everything in him to not lie and therefore succumb to another sin.
“You what?!”
The demon’s eyes lit up with glee.
“I gave it away! There are vicious animals! It’s going to be cold out there and she’s expecting already, and I said here you go, flaming sword, don’t thank me, and don’t let the sun go down on you here”.
The glee on Crawley’s face turned into something like startled amusement.
There was something odd about this demon. Aziraphale was sure he was plotting something to humiliate or discorporate him. Or worse, to lead him to Fall. He narrowed his eyes and made a mental note not to let his guard down around him, after all he had humans to protect now- fragile beings relying on his guidance.