The Known/Unknown Quantity

Chapter 21: Hellfire And Ice

Chapter 21: Hellfire And Ice

The demon's eyes flickered to his words, and they left fading trails in the air as he started to pace soundlessly in the dark. Finally, he emerged, haggard from his distraught displays. "How long have we been at the sex game, angel?"

                "Longer than normal, whatever normal is. There's no real precedent for an angel and a demon, is there?"

                "It feels too long. What is it, Friday morning?"

                "And we started this tryst on a Tuesday afternoon? Oh, bother..." even the angel was taken away with that one.

                "Come on, let's come up for air." Crowley bent down to the bed and drew the angel up to his feet, gave him a gentle peck on the mouth. "Get dressed, let's go out for a bit, walk amongst the humans, see how we fit into a regular day with all this stuff tumbling around inside us."

                "Then we'll come back?"

                "Yes, and maybe," Crowley was hesitant at first to speak but a heavy sigh helped to corral the concerns," If you want to try that with me, we'll have a go."

                "Alright." The angel kissed him back, and started to gather his things. As he did, he asked," How long do you think we can keep this up? Immortal we may be, we feel the pangs of life's requirements. When do we pause?"

                "When we feel a need to get back into the world for good, I suppose? It will arrive eventually, that need."

                "But so will this."

                "Yes, so will this."

They discovered things hadn't changed all that much. The world didn't look any different, didn't feel or smell altered as they paced through their routines together. It still immersed them in itself, let them feel a part of the hubbub of its march in linear time. But there were small changes with their interactions in it.

                Crowley found he was protective of the angel, bodily. At intersections and busy spots, crowded areas, he found himself drawing closer or resting a hand somewhere on him. Aziraphale, in turn, looked about quite a bit where ever they went. He didn't know what he was looking for. He was just...looking out, he supposed.

                A sort of calm normality returned, and with it they headed back to the bookshop. On the streets they had discussed going to Crowley's flat, but it didn't seem the right time.

                "We started at the bookshop," Crowley had said, "we might as well finish there."

                "What about your plants?" The demon had shrugged.

                "Fuck 'em. They know better than to die on me. If they have to, they'll go cannibalistic rather than disappoint me. Just means fewer plants."

                That brought a shiver to the angel, utterly appalling him. "Dreadful!" But they did go back to the bookshop.

                "How long can you be closed anyway, before people start to notice?" Crowley asked upon arrival. He opened the angel's door. Hmm, that was new too.

                They stepped inside and the angel doublechecked the closed sign. "Oh, as long as I want, if it's not for weeks. The good people next door might come and check on me, and I have a few regulars."

                "Despite not wanting to sell anything," Crowley scoffed, taking off his glasses and coat.

                "Yes," the angel conceded reluctantly, taking off his own and setting it on the coat stand, then grumbling and grabbing Crowley's to do the same. Then he paused, and turned to his friend. "Oh. Look what I just did."