The Known/Unknown Quantity

Chapter 189: Just Another Brick in the Wall

Chapter 189: Just Another Brick in the Wall

On their way back through the darkness they paused to rest by a farmer's field.

Crowley sat on a stone fence, one leg down, the other folded up. His head rested in his hand, his head elbow resting on his bent knee. For as long as the angel paced back and forth the demon watched him, both lost in their own thoughts.

Something had happened to them respectively, and they were still riddling out their plights before engaging with the other one. An invisible wall like the one below Crowley began rising in the middle of them.

How the heaven was he going to tell Aziraphale about the snake? Woll, he still hadn't made up his mind about the whole thing. Not an issue yet. Oh, olright: a big issue, a massive issue. Just.... put that on the back burner for now. No need to borrow trouble...

"Aziraphale?"

"Hmmm?" the angel halted so fast it was almost humorous. Yikes, he's still amped.

"A penny for your thoughts?"

"Eh?" Aziraphale brought his hands up from his back to his front, and stroked his vest, and winced.

"Will you stop with the nervous tiddy grab, angel, and speak with me?" Crowley dropped his leg and sat up straight. "Is this about Life and Law?"

"More trouble, I'm afraid." Aziraphale approached him and nervously withdrew something from his coat and handed it over.

Crowley lifted his glasses to inspect it better. "Rikbiel?"

A quick nod.

"Whot is this list?"

The angel's hands were cupped under his chin. He released them and tentatively poked the paper. "These are the parents," he whispered," and every one of them wants to follow us into the next Big One."

The demon's mouth dropped. "You mean it really is an army?"

"Eh, correct?"

"Bloody hell!" Crowley groaned and wiped his face. "Has the fucking world gone mad?"

"I tried to explain things."

"What did Rikbiel say?"

"He said they would find someone else to follow, if we refused."

"Is all your lot mad, or just the ones who occasion down here?"

"There are demons with them."

"Fucking loons, every one!" Crowley jumped off the fence and shoved the list back into the angel's hands, then slumped over hands in pockets, walking out his own worries. "They can go stick their heads up their arses for all I care! Although, I think they're already there."

Aziraphale delicately placed the paper back and took up step with him. "You're not wrong. Seems your lot or mine are always looking for a fight."

"War is all they know! All they want! As if that's the answer every time."

"I doubt they'll act until they have reason."

"Get ready for that last minute hassle."

"Luckily, it's not our most pertinent concern. We'll keep an eye on it."

"Sure," the demon agreed. "Wait and see with that one. So, whot else?"

"The likelihood of a universal appeal appears more and more unlikely, Crowley."