The Known/Unknown Quantity

Chapter 44: When You're Older

Chapter 44: When You're Older

"Woll, who woulda' thought Agnes Nutter had a connection to Galileo?" Crowley grinned, turning the wheel so sharply the Bentley nearly drifted. Aziraphale watched the hillside drop away from the curve right before they fell back into the turn. He grabbed his vest, and chirped, then smacked Crowley across the torso.

"Would you please slow down!?!" But the demon wasn't paying attention. He was high on mirth and relief.

"To think Agnes got to meet him! What a small world indeed! Ha! Ha! Ha!" He threw his head back, and took on a couple of rolling hills, barely skimming the surface of the road. "Lucky for us, aye?"

"He was extremely longed lived, Crowley," the angel stammered, "Could you at least tone down on you elation, dear boy! I don't think, oh, I don't think—" he felt the loss of gravity beneath him, and shouted," Crowley, you idiot, we're airborne!"

The Bentley came down hard, bouncing the angel's head off the ceiling, fish tailing with a screech of wheels as the back tried to right itself with the front.

Crowley at last eased up on the petal. "Ol'right. Ya know, I don't think you're scared of my driving anymore. I think it just ticks you off!"

"If it makes you slow down, you can believe anything you want!"

"Have it your way. But, it's great, innit? Brilliant angel!" He kissed him hard on the cheek, and threw his whole body back in his seat, arms stretched out and stiff, cackling like a lunatic. "This is gonna work!"

"Well, yes. We did find a way. It just took a while," the angel relented, letting the demon's words feed his ego. "Did the children behave for you?"

Crowley's face shrugged before his shoulders did. "M'eh. They were fine. Nothing caught on fire."

"Frankly, I think you enjoyed every minute of it," Aziraphale said. Still preening over the compliment, but holding a secret humor after the way he saw Crowley let loose with the Them. "Although, taking them for a ride in the Bentley perhaps wasn't the best idea..."

Anathema was beside herself, "You kids! Get the Hell out of that car! Crowley, what the fuck!"

"What? They were having a blast! I had it under control!"

"You were letting Pepper drive!"

"Aw, come on! She's become an expert at swerving! Especially around that old fart with the dog."

"Oi, me? You're one to talk," Crowley poked. "After the witch stopped her tirade, I popped in expected to see you angrily waiting beside a tower of books. And what do I find you doing? Showing Wensleydale magic tricks."

"The young man shows promise. He was enraptured."

"Don't you think he's got enough stacked against him? Keep it up and you'll ruin that kid's life."

"Well, what about you? Taking off with Adam like that right when we were all about to leave?"

The demon was suddenly very quiet. Aziraphale noted the change in mood, and asked," It was important then." Crowley took the next curve, very, very slowly.

"We went fishing," he offered flatly, finishing the wide turn.

"Where did you get poles?"

"Some at the cottage."

"Do you know how to fish?"

Crowley let the car slow to a crawl as they entered the town proper. He looked at the angel, his mouth a thin line. "Didn't have to...."