Bad Auspices ~ A Good Omens Fanfiction

Chapter 1 - Scene 3: An Angel and a Demon

      Gabriel and Beelzebub commonly meet one another in Burgess Park. Initially they had met in St. James Park, but one too many times they had arrived there sensing other angels and demons. It would seem they weren't the only clandestine angel-demon pair. And that had made St. James Park a riskier place to meet. 

      It was Gabriel who had suggested they meet in Burgess Park instead. He was there every Saturday morning to partake in the weekly 'parkrun', which was five kilometers of just running. Finding it to be void of other angels and demons, he had suggested it to Beelzebub as an alternative, and the demon had agreed.

      Currently they were seated one a picnic blanket right next to the waterfront. Gabriel hadn't eaten any of the pizza after Aziraphale had left, so they were able to enjoy all of it together with fruit smoothies he had made for the two of them. 

      The cool breeze of the lake blew pleasantly against them as they chewed, reminding them both of how precious their moments on Earth were. It would all come to an end now that the Antichrist child on earth.

      "An American diplomat?" Gabriel questioned as he chewed some pizza, "sounds like a cheesy tv show. But the kind that's popular enough to be on digital billboards in New York City."

      "Not just New York, but the rest of the world. Everywhere. Everyone's watching this damned show."

      The two of them were sitting with their legs crossed. They were an odd duo, but seen at the park often enough that no one batted an eye at their presence. They often sat on picnic blankets, staring out onto the lake as they spoke. Once in a while, when things were damp from inclimate weather, they would merely stand or perhaps look for a dry bench to sit on.

      "Would it be stupid of me to ask if...well. Are you sure that was the Antichrist?" The angel asked, sipping his smoothie.

      "It would be stupid, yes. The Dukes of Hell themselves gave it to me. And then I delivered it." 

      An unpleasant image filled Gabriel's head. How had...the Dukes of Hell given it to Beelzebub? Beelzebub delivered it?

      Beelzebub looked over and saw Gabriel's thoughtful grimace and then scoffed, tearing a handful of grass from the ground and throwing it at the Principality who looked back at them startled.

      "Don't get the wrong idea. They gave it to me in a basket and then I ensured it was put into a human family."

      "Oh...well be careful. I don't want my suit soiled." The angel complained, brushing the grass aside. The demon smirked, knowing they could've done much worse than throw grass on him. But that would've been a serious waste of a smoothie.

      "You won't have a nice suit anymore when it's all over..." Beezlebub commented glumly, "I mean, I guess you could manifest one. But it wouldn't be made of real material the way you like it."

      "Yep, it's sad. But that's how it has to be." Gabriel shrugged with a sigh. Beelzebub was about to agree when an idea came to them. And much like a character from a children's cartoon, an evil grin overtook their countenance.

      "No more pizza parlors." The demon continued with feigned hopelessness, though their tone was audibly singsongy. It was not missed by Gabriel, who looked over questioningly.

      "Yes? No more anything." The angel replied, analyzing the demon's stature.

      "No more morning runs through the park."

      "Hey now," Gabriel began, "what's your point?"

      "Tailoring suits is out. Tailoring anything is out. No more shopping in the mall."