The Known/Unknown Quantity

Chapter 110: Showtime!

Chapter 110: Showtime!

Anathema reared up. "Well, aren't you going to stop him! He's in no proper state of mind right now!"

Aziraphale actually recoiled. "Already have."

"ANGEL!" A holler came from outside, making the group raise their shoulders around their ears. "What the blazes! Goddammit, you little shit!"

"Well," Aziraphale offered nervously, standing and wiping his hands, "I guess I should go out to see to that."

"We'll go with you," the witch said, tapping Newt and grabbing her coat. "My guess is you'll need a united front."

Meeting Crowley outside was like cornering an angry tiger. He was prowling around the Bentley, inspecting its every crevasse when the others arrived. On seeing the angel, he pounced on him, and shoved a finger in his face. "How DARE you miracle my car! It's a violation, do you hear me!"

The angel went crossed-eyed looking at the finger. Olivia put on hand on Crowley's shoulder, but he knocked it off. "I don't need your babysitting, either!" He looked wildly about the group and swept his arm out. "From any of you!"

"What did you do?" Tracy asked Aziraphale.

"Miracled it locked, and cut the ignition."

"Oh dear."

Crowley was pacing now, practically frothing at the mouth. "That's right! Everyone, get a good look! Well, you finally did it, angel! You have yourself a kept demon."

"Crowley!" Aziraphale exclaimed, trying to bodily cut him off, "I wasn't trying to embarrass you! But you're rushing—" Crowley swerved and went the opposite direction, so he ran after him,"—you're rushing off too rashly. If you would just hear us out!"

Crowley rounded on him, and they ran into each other. The angel bounced off his chest, looking terrified. Now the demon was stepping forward, hunched, snarling, forcing his friend to step backwards. "You've overstepped this time! How dare you. How dare you!"

"Crowley, listen to reason!"

Well, that was the wrong thing to say. The demon halted, and tilted his head. His demeanor changed, became mocking. "Reason? Oh yes, reason! You're the only one with reason, now, roit? Because this," suddenly he yanked out his pendant, and to the angel's horror, a lead began to form in his gripping hand, "demonstrates I'm incapable of it!"

"Crowley," Aziraphale hissed. "Put that away!"

"Why? It speaks the utter truth, doesn't it?" The lead finally ended in a tartan leash, and he thrust into the angel's hand. "Demon's lost his mind! Now he needs to be collared!"

Aziraphale was speechless, terrified before these people who he considered family. But he needed to shake Crowley out of his frenzy. He had to find some way of getting thru.

Suddenly, he raised his face, and with a determined look, uttered. "You want to play dirty?"

He shoved the leash to Crowley's chest. "I can too."

A glow surrounded the angel's neck.

"I said I would never do this," he intoned. "I gave you my promise. How many promises have we both broken in our time, Crowley? How many times have you embarrassed me for the sake of saving my life!"