The Ineffable Adoption

It was not a nice day, but then again in London in the winter it never was. Crowley let out a big sigh as he stepped out of his flat's complex towards his prized Bentley. It was far too early to be out but Aziraphale had called him saying he needed to come to the bookshop about something that would probably spell trouble for the both of them. Crowley was so lost in thought about what it could possibly be that the angel would want that he didn't notice the teen trying to sleep on the sidewalk in front of him and promptly fell on his face.

"Ngk-What in the heaven" he yelled spinning around to see what exactly tripped him as he adjusted his sunglasses back into place to hide his yellow snake eyes from the humans.

Crowley was surprised to see a young person (he assumed it was a young person but even after 6,000 years human age still escaped him), sleeping on the sidewalk in the cold with no blanket or coat.

I should leave them don't want to get in trouble with downstairs for doing a good deed. Crowley thought but the sight of the person was too sad for him so he crouched down and gently shook them awake.

"Hey why are you sleeping on the sidewalk?" He asked as politely as he could

The teen looked up at him eyes wide in fear and it broke Crowley's heart a little and he soon became quite determined to help this person and personally smite anyone that hurt them.

"Sorry mister I'll leave" A soft voice squeezed out and started to get up.

"Woah. Woah. Woah. Where are you going? Do you even have a place to stay?" Crowley asked concerned

"Not really I got kicked out of my house and I don't have a job or anywhere to go." The teen replied sadly as they looked down on the ground.

"Come with me I know a place you can go no questions asked but you can tell me all about it if you like." Crowley said reaching out his hand. Aziraphale won't mind some company he thought and this kid needs a warm place to sleep look at them they're shivering through their clothes.

The teen looked hesitant but accepted the outstretched hand and Crowley lead them to his Bentley where he immediately turned the heaters on for the youth.

"My name's Crowley and what should I call you?" He asked as he prepared to set off for Aziraphale's bookshop.

"Ace" The teen responds softly reaching their hands out to the warmth of the heater

"Nice name Ace. I think I knew an Ace once or was that a dog?" Crowley rambled as he sped off towards the bookshop before glancing in the mirror and saying "oh yeah buckle up and hold on back there" as he began to do 90 miles per hour through central London. The teen was wondering just who they got involved with but had nowhere else to go.

Meanwhile in Aziraphale's bookshop earlier that morning

Aziraphale's shop was open at one of its normal irregular times that were specifically designed so that he would never sell any of his prized books. The angel had just finished making a cup of his morning coffee and was ready to sit down and read the local Soho paper when his doorbell rang indicating a customer had actually walked in to his shop at this early hour. Slightly annoyed and prepared to scare any potential buyers off Aziraphale rose from his desk to see who exactly had entered his shop. He walked out from behind a stack of books to see a young women staring around the shop. She didn't look that old to him and he could see that her clothes were ill fitting at best and covered in holes.

How odd humans can be. He thought before clearing his throat to get the young lady's attention and asking "Can I help you find anything my dear?"

The young lady turned around startled as if woken up from a trance and looked Aziraphale she had heard rumors about the bookshop run by the funny older man who had the oddest hours and who often was seen with a grump gentleman who everyone assumed was his partner as they would often bicker like an old married couple. The young lady had walked into the shop assuming that it would hopefully be a safe space for her and what she was looking for.