The Known/Unknown Quantity

Chapter 79: Go!

Chapter 79: Go!

They stood up and regarded each other with mild surprise. Aziraphale even straightened his collar.

"Woll," Crowley said unsteadily. "Don't you look...dapper. Unruffled."

The angel tried to give him an encouraging smile, and failed. "Inside, I'm shaking like a leaf."

"Ah." Then, looking about," What are we doing outside, angel?"

"Just like we planned, dear boy. Aftercare. It was rather intense."

"My heart is still pounding." But said distantly.

"You're unbinding me, and laying me out on the bed, with a little tray of water and other things." He smiled genuinely then. "You're rubbing my limbs. Crowley, you're so tender."

"Roit."

"You know exactly when, and how, to take care for me. You even wait before you touch me."

"Yup."

"You have no idea what's going on out there, do you?"

"Not one bit," but he ripped his eyes away from the scenery and added," But I guess nothing in here is stopping me from doing it."

"Not one bit."

"So glad to hear." He turned his attention back, and scrutinized the world around him.

"It's very innocuous to you, this field?"

"Aye."

"Don't be deceived."

Crowley cracked his neck. "My nature won't allow it."

"Jolly good."

"Mnlll."

Crowley grabbed his hand, and started a steady pace down the hill.

"Don't apologize for what I see over the next rise, angel."

"I'll fight the urge. I promise." Then, "Do you still have the scabbard?"

Crowley reached down and felt its reassuring weight at his hip. "Ready to go."

"That's more for you than me?"

"Many thanks for letting me bring it."

"Crowley."

He stopped, He looked back.

"Are you sure about this?"

"As sure as Heaven can go fuck itself."

"Ah, just checking."

They continued down the hill.

This wasn't an ominous place, hills covered in waving twitch grass. Manageable hills, with an easy decline. But large hills, hills that hid what lay around the bend.

As they descended, Aziraphale inspected the aspect of his sweet little snake. A snake whose muscles were coiling. A snake remembering its predatory instinct.

Or, protecting its nest.

"You're doing this to reaffirm the harmlessness?" he repeated, his eyes on the empty scabbard.