The Known/Unknown Quantity

Chapter 76: Keep Going

Chapter 76: Keep Going

The laugh again, a bit nervous this time," And here's your acolyte."

"But no sacrifice," Crowley stipulated.

"Depends on your definition."

"I see you are preparing to get into the mood of the thing."

The hooded figure shrugged. A bit of his lower face appeared. His working mouth, his wonderful nose. Then, timidly, his large blue eyes.

Crowley leaned forward and cocked his head," Hello there."

Aziraphale gave him a brief, but wincing smile. "Thank you for just wearing your jeans."

"Glad to do it. Whot have you done to yourself under there?"

"Nothing unbearable."

"Lots of range in the word 'unbearable', angel," Crowley muttered. "Can you wave at me?"

"That would be a solid no."

"Can you move forward a bit?"

The angel shook his head.

"Wow, ok." Crowley edged further out until his feet came into the center of the circle, caging the angel between them. "Please tell me nothing's, ah, inserted?"

"Not necessary."

"Or clamped."

"Negative, dear boy," But his breath came a tiny bit labored.

"Do you remember our agreement?"

The angel nodded, but he acted as if raising his head required effort. "If I set out to create all this with details, you're allowed to make a few minor changes."

"Concessions, you called them. You would make concessions."

"Right. Yes."

"Can I lift the veil, angel?"

"It's a hood, Crowley."

"M'heh, does it matter?"

"No," he lowered his eyes, "my Lord."

Crowley absolutely froze.

The angel kept his eyes cast down, wouldn't let him see in. He looked at the floor as if it were the most interesting thing in the room. He was bent over so far his whole body moved with the hard rising and falling of his chest. And with utter resolve, and commitment to what his angel required, Crowley inhaled, and recited in his head the old words from the past. Playtime is over.

Gently, he reached out and pulled back the hood.

He refused to give in to his first impulse, which was to holler. And vent. And spew out a torrent of sarcastic objections to what he saw. Or rather, what he didn't see.

"Well," he offered softly. "Here's the first change we have to make."

Aziraphale had shaved off all his downy hair. It was so startling the demon had nearly swallowed his tongue.

Just a shaven scalp, rendering the angel's skull naked.

"Grow it back."