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.


"I didn't think even you would find me down here. I thought the abyss blocked your senses?" Aziraphale murmured. Raphael took a hand and brushed it through his Angel's hair.


"I don't need my senses. I can always find you my angel." Both angels remained in the abyss for a long while, just hoping not to be disturbed.


"So tell me," Raphael eventually spoke. "What's wrong?" Aziraphale sighed, not even sure where to start. "It's okay my angel."


"No... No I don't think it is." Raphael could feel fear emanating from his angel, but it wasn't the type of fear he'd expected to feel.


"You know I love you no matter what, right?" Raphael said firmly, holding onto Aziraphale. The Angel's eyes raised to meet Raphael's. He looked so sad and scared and defeated.


"Gabriel pulled me out of my final exam today." Aziraphale begun. Raphael remained silent to give his angel room to continue. "He told me heaven had a different plan for me. A different plan for the guardians. He took me into one of the voids. He told me I was to serve a better cause..." Aziraphale started sobbing. Cautiously, Raphael grabbed his shoulders. Aziraphale nodded, knowing he needed to continue.


"It's okay Angel, take your time."


"Raphael," Aziraphale slowly pulled away before looking into his eyes. "He turned me into a half breed." Raphael's eyes widened in shock.


"He injected you with demon blood!?" Aziraphale nodded. Hugging himself. It turns out though, he didn't need to. Raphael rushed into Aziraphale holding him tightly.


"I'm so so so sorry angel. I should've been there to stop it. I'm sorry."


"Th... That's not all." Raphael only very slightly pulled away to look back at Aziraphale. "He's sending a team of half breeds down to hell tonight... Twelve half breeds... Including me."


"WHAT!?" Raphael exclaimed. "Why? It'll kill you!" Aziraphale nodded with more tears. Raphael's clutch on his angel was so tight, he wondered if he'd burst.


"I don't want to die!" Aziraphale sobbed against Raphael. Raphael gripped onto Aziraphale's arms so tightly, they ended up bruising. With a deadly look, he met his Angel's saddened eyes.


"You listen to me." Raphael spoke firmly. "I'm not going to let you die. I. Will. Fix. This." He said carefully.


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"That was the last time you and I spoke before you fell." Aziraphale murmured.


"You're half Demon?" Crowley asked quietly. Aziraphale couldn't meet his eyes, but nodded gently.


"You don't look half demon" Aziraphale nodded.


"I know, but both this body and my angelic body are miracled to appear the way they do. My true form depicts both my angel and my demon."


"Can I see it?" Aziraphale met Crowley's eyes sadly.


"Please don't make me... It's... It's hideous."


"Angel..." The angel quickly stood up.


"I'm sorry Crowley... I can't..." With that, he quickly left to the back of the store. Crowley sighed. He picked up the book next to him, wanting to read the note he had left to his angel, but as he opened the cover to read it, The words began to disappear, melting away and new ones appeared.


'Crowley, by the time you read this, you'll know who I am, who you are. I need you to understand that all of this was done for Aziraphale. And if you truly are still me, which I know you are, you'll know that you'll do anything to protect your angel. I know I hurt him. I hate that I did that. But I couldn't let him die in this godforsaken war. I chose to fall so that you and he could have a chance to be together. Chances are that he'll probably be quite upset for some time. Just be patient. He will forgive you. Keep him safe. Love him well. And always always stay by his side.'


Crowley sighed. If he had any doubts about who he was before, he sure as hell didn't have now. The letter spoke truth, he'd do anything for his angel. Leaving the book to the side, Crowley stood up and followed his angel to the back where he was curled up on the bed. Crowley snuck in, wrapping his arms around the angel.


"I love you Aziraphale. More than anything." With that, he drifted off into an exhausted sleep. Aziraphale however, was nowhere near ready to rest. His eyes remained closed until he was sure the demon was fast asleep. Then his eyes burst open, glowing brightly. Very carefully, he snuck out of the bed, leaving the demon to his rest. Opening his bright wings as he exited the bookshop, he flew off into the night towards a dark room. There was only just enough light from the candles to see the dark looking man before him.


"Daniel," Aziraphale acknowledged gruffly.


"Aziraphale. Are you ready to comply now?"


"There is very little I won't do for his stone. But I am not a full angel, creating nephilim using my blood would be creating monsters."


"I don't care! You have no idea what it's like being this thing!"


"If you'd actually listen to me, you'd realise I know exactly what is like."


"How could you! You're just an angel!" Aziraphale rolled his eyes there was obviously no use trying to get through to him. The nephilim raised his hand and a silver dagger appeared within it.


"Daniel..."


"Give me your blood or you'll regret it!"


"Do you really think I'm afraid of that? Or of you?"


"No maybe not, but I know what you are afraid of!" Aziraphale winced as Daniel yanked the stone off his neck violently. "Raphael! I summon you!"

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