The Fallen Guardian

Chapter One

Crowley was on the phone with his angel as he wondered around his flat setting up wards, traps, and seals against any being and/or supernatural creature that would dare to try and sneak in to and around his flat.

"Angel, I can't avoid this.", Crowley said exasperatedly, "They have been very insistent about this, they've been bugging me about it for several weeks now. I've been assigned to Lilith herself, though being a Lesser demon herself, she is one of the oldest and more powerful out of the smaller bunch."

"Well... then... why don't you just... tell them you're too busy to go?", Aziraphale suggested desperately, "I mean, they haven't bothered us for years. My side washed their hands of me years ago, despite the fact I didn't fall, so why is your people calling in now?"

Crowley shifted the phone between his shoulder and ear as he quickly emailed his next-door neighbor, an elderly woman that sometimes liked to visit to drop off some biscuits or would water his plants when he had to travel long-distance for his 'job'. Which was exactly, what he was emailing her about.

His precious plants, that is.

"Don't you think I've tried every excuse in the book for weeks now Angel?", Crowley asked rhetorically, "It's the only reason I haven't left earlier."

"Well... it's been centuries since you've popped across the pond, you may stand out.", Aziraphale protested.

"You forgot about that one visit down in Kansas several years back.", Crowley reminded the Angel, "Remember when Azazel called, you do remember how hard it was to save those few people that I did, convincing and hinting that the deals would be more profitable by keeping the families alive of the people he made the deals with alive."

Aziraphale huffed grumpily, not liking the idea of his friend being transferred over the pond for an unknown amount of time.

"Well, even though time is nothing to beings like us, it's been a while since we've been separated for so long, the years will feel a little longer without you around.", Azirphale said softly from the phone, before his voice became, adorably so, demanding, "But I expect for when you come back to have a nice spot of Dinner at the Ritz, then maybe some wine here at the bookstore to celebrate your return."

Crowley chuckled fondly, "I'll be sure to be back when I can. I'm going to miracle the Bentley with me, just so you know. Think you can handle yourself for a while without me."

"I'll be fine with taking the bus.", Aziraphale assured, "Oh! There is something you should know, I've felt a weird rush in Illinois, I did a little bit of snooping and narrowed it down to city called Pontiac, you should probably start there dear."

Crowley nodded, despite Azirphale not seeing the gesture, "Right, I'll start there, maybe get an idea to what's going on. It doesn't help that they're just sending me over there. Didn't even give me an assignment, just told me to stay put until notified."

"..."

Crowley paused before grabbing the phone from his shoulder and holding it to his ear.

"Aziraphale?"

"Just... be careful Crowley. I don't know what's going on, but something big is happening. Call me whenever you get the chance, alright.", Azirphale whispered, as if afraid to be heard but someone other than the Fallen Angel.

He sounded... vulnerable. More-so than usual.

Crowley sighed, "I'll call you when I can Angel. You don't have to worry."

"Thank you.", he sounded relieved, "That's all I ask."

₹

It wasn't long, thanks to a few demonic miracles, for Crowley to get where he needed to be. The city wasn't that big, but there was a high, and likely, chance that the power Azirphale felt came from the rural, countryside-like, area on the outskirt of the city.