Secret Saviors - Aziraphale X Crowley Fanfic (Finished)

5 - Abyss

"Crowley!" Crowley looked at the angel who was kneeling before him. Aziraphale let out a sigh.

"What just happened dear? You just froze up for several minutes."

"Uhh... Sorry angel... It's just... Well I think I remember something from heaven." Aziraphale looked surprised.

"Really? What do you remember?" The demon's brows furrowed.

"Was I an arch angel? ... Was I Raphael?" Aziraphale responded softly:

"Yes."

"I saw the day you created the snake." Aziraphale smiled sadly.

"Ah yes, the day of my last exam." This confused he demon after what he'd just heard in his memory.

"I thought it was your second last?" The angel looked down.

"It was meant to be. But that's when everything started going downhill. My last exam was a couple of weeks later. Gabriel pulled me out before I had even had a chance to start the exam. He... Did something that you had seen in your vision. You knew that it had started. So that night, You used one of your spells to put me to sleep, swapped our bodies and followed Gabriel's instructions on my behalf. You left me a note inside that book and the next morning, I found out you had fallen."

"But what did Gabriel do to you?" Aziraphale remained silent.

"What, do you seriously not trust me after all this time? And especially after telling me all that?"

"Of course I trust you Crowley! But...."

"But what?"

"Crowley...."

"I don't believe it." The demon stood up to storm off until he heard Aziraphale's voice again.

"You were always the strong one Crowley. The one who could hold his own. The one who wasn't afraid. The one who always knew what to do." Aziraphale breathed. "That was never me. I've always been weak. You've always protected me, but now it's my turn and I don't know how. I'm not strong enough." Crouching back down and putting a hand on the angel's cheek, Crowley spoke:

"Aziraphale, I don't need you to be strong. Not with me. You don't ever need to pretend to be something you're not. You just need to tell me the truth. That's all I need from you." Placing a hand over his demon's, the angel lightly nodded and began to explain.

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The day before the fall:

Aziraphale was trying hard not to fall apart at what he'd just learned. He had thought about finding Raphael, but he wasn't even sure Raphael would still love him when he found out. Aziraphale paused as he found himself in front of the abyss. It was one of the furthest corners of heaven. The abyss had no known bottom. If one were to fall into the abyss, without their wings, they would likely fall forever. And it was one of Aziraphale's favorite things to do.

Turning his back to the eternal nothingness, Aziraphale shut his eyes and allowed himself to fall backwards into the pit. The rapid whips of air chilled his body and dispersed the tears from his eyes. The nothing around him relieving his senses. The thought of falling forever tempted him as the pure serenity filled him.

Suddenly a powerful warmth embraced him. As the angel opened his eyes, he was met by Raphael's, whose arms firmly wrapped his body up. Raphael smiled lightly as they both continued falling, just experiencing the serene. Eventually, and completely in sync, both pulled out their wings, catching themselves from falling any further. Raphael's wings were far brighter and softer and larger and stronger than Aziraphale's. Aziraphale couldn't help but stroke a hand over the white wing. Raphael just let him, holding on to his Angel's waist.