The A in Angel

9

2019 - Crowleys flat, two days after Armageddon

"What does that mean you can't?" 

Crowley and Aziraphale were sitting on the couch, watching an old movie. The demon had chosen what to do this evening, according to the angel he had chosen yesterday, ending up in the Ritz. What had finally turned out being an actual date. Nevermind the kiss on their favourite park bench. 

Whatever people had thought they had seen, it had been just a kiss. A snog. Nothing serious between them. It hadn't been a date. Dates were for humans, those who were on those strange websites, searching for trust. Virtual trust. And who figured out that the man or woman they had talked to online, was a loser. Inventing another, sucessfull identity to be heard, be seen. To be accepted. 

It was clearly to realize that Crowley had created these websites. It had happened a long time ago as he sat down in Hells basement and thought about other ideas of doing evil. And I mean a long long, LONG time ago. He had invented lots of things so far - selfies, annoying ringtones, the M25...yeah, well...and some memes(If you ever should see Nyan Cat again, don't blame the narrator!).

So, he decided to do another thing. A thing humanity would suffer of, a thing they would starve for...a thing of pure evil. Dating Websites! His project was a real hit, a boom in the internet. And it didn't take long until Crowley was done with all those stuff. He had met Aziraphale and everything had changed. Really everything. 

Well, not at all. In fact, Crowley was very sure his creations would work for his master. He was very sure he had done a great job, just like the others. But after meeting the Angel of the Eastern Gate, he had to face the truth. 

He wasn't evil. Whatever he tried, it always failed being an evil masterpiece. There were always demons doing it way better, not just like him sticking coins to the ground. Polluting the environment was evil. Kill the bees. Chop off trees. Putting thoughts into humans minds, doing stuff like killing other humans. 

And with all those stuff in mind, all those stories Aziraphale had told him, Crowley had turned his back on Hell. He had to move on. He had to live among humans. He had to do Good even if he didn't look like a Good Guy. Aziraphale had taught him doing it right. He couldn't be more grateful. 

The angels' voice woke him up from his wild thoughts. Aziraphale was sounding worried, fiddling with his fingers. He didn't really focus on the movie, his mind was full of unspoken things. His head was buzzing and if he didn't tell him now, it would drive him insane. 

"I...I don't know, Crowley. It's just...you are a demon! I am an angel. Isn't it obvious?"

Crowley paused the film by snapping his finger, crossing his legs. 

Of course, he did understand at some point. Aziraphale and him were just friends, nothing more than that. Knowing each other since The Beginning, since everything. 

Since his Fall. 

Of course, he had heard about the rumours. He had known since their secret meetings. Since Mesopotamia. Since Rome. Since The Blitz. 

Since that one kiss. 

"Angel, I know what you're talking about.", said the demon, settling deeper in the couch. His gaze resting on Aziraphales, waiting for him to answer. His lips were a straight line, unable to speak right now. So, Crowley went on. 

"I know you're surprised by the kiss and this stuff. But just think, Angel: We are free. We are independent. We have beaten our sides, made it out alive from Armageddon, Earth is still alive. Thanks to you and me. Now, we can do what we always wanted, isn't that nice? I thought about  to learn the piano and you can write books or something...it's all ours now, Angel! It's all ours!"

Aziraphale sighed, tears were filling his eyes. He tried to smile, but it didn't work. He exactly wanted something to happen in his life, this life he would spend with a demon. He exactly wanted the kiss to happen. He wanted to love his best friend. 

But still - there was something in their way. 

"Crowley, I can't.", he whispered, his voice breaking. All of a sudden, he felt his heart racing. Aziraphale sank to the ground, unable to breathe. He was bathed in sweat, his back started to hurt. He spat out blood, staining his white suit dark red and screamed. Crowley was overwhelmed with fear, not knowing what was happening. He bended over his friend, watching the angel shaking in pain. 

Then, his once shimmering white wings unfolded, being painted black. His eyes did the same, his hair and his clothes. Aziraphale closed his eyes, now trembling all over. His skin went pale, his hands stopped shaking. 

It was done. 

Crowley froze. Tears were rolling down his cheeks as he sank to the ground next to his friend, trying to feel a pulse somewhere. Nothing. 

He had failed. He had just witnessed his best friend becoming the same he was...becoming one of those he hated. He hadn't hated him, but the others. The others were cruel, truly evil. And Aziraphale, the Angel of the Eastern Gate, had just become that he had tried to prevent. He had experienced this a long time ago, so why it had happened again?

It wasn't fair.