What is the cost of lies between the ageless? With eternity at stake, a wily angel and a cunning demon pay the toll for what’s right and what’s wrong. And come to face the harsh reality that truly, no good deed goes unpunished.
Word count: 100,443
“You’re a demon now.” Jahaziel’s words held a sort of cutting finality to them, one that made Aziraphale wince. “I shouldn’t be seen with you.” It felt as if a rock settled in the pit of the angel’s stomach. This wasn’t something he wanted to say at all. He wanted to push a bit more. He wanted to find out exactly what he asked “why” about, and if it was one of the same “whys” he’d held in his heart. Heavens, Jahaziel really just wanted to shoot the breeze with him again. He’d never met anyone else that listened without a shred of judgment. But the angel was still here for a purpose. Until the shepherd and slave came out on top of this protest and got people out, Jahaziel couldn’t really slink off anywhere to do what he wanted. He had no way of knowing if quality assurance was watching him anymore, either. Too many people around to tell. They’d been so persistent after the whole Chinese astronomy business that he had more trouble acting freely than he’d anticipated.
Aziraphale nodded. “No… No, I suppose not.” He swallowed then, taking a sidestep away from him, watching the show unfold. The priests successfully brought their own vipers into existence by then, and the crowds applauded enthusiastically. “I hope…” There was hesitation, and the demon closed his eyes, raising his voice over the clapping. “I hope you continue doing what you believe to be right, Jahaziel.”
As Aziraphale walked away, Jahaziel felt the cold weight of regret settle on his shoulders. He clenched his teeth, staring hard at the ridiculing priests. The shepherd’s cobra attacked the vipers and swallowed them whole with a sort of cunning it shouldn’t have possessed. He’d never say such words, but he certainly thought quite loudly, Fuck it. “Oi!” he called out, pointing at the ground. “Anyone catch that their snake gobbled up the priests’? Power of Isis, my rear end!”
While the crowd’s attention was muddled and split, Jahaziel turned to spot the back of Aziraphale’s head walking down a nearby alleyway. With a final glance to the clamoring crowd, he followed. What did he have to lose at this point? His ‘job’ was finished, as far as he knew. He had time to catch up with an old friend. Differences be damned.
The demon’s chest had no real business hurting as much as it did. He’d said what he’d been more or less dying to say. He’d spoken to his old neighbor finally. He should be relieved. What else did he expect in response to being a demon? He’d known it would be like this for literally thousands of years!
But, and maybe foolishly, he’d still hoped it’d be different.
He needed a drink. A very stiff drink. This part of town had a couple high class wine taverns, and he was going to need at least two jugs today. He made his way into one of them on a high hill and sat at the bar. A hand on his shoulder stopped him before he could actually order though, and he tensed slightly.
“Aziraphale,” began Jahaziel. The angel was suddenly at a loss for what to say. He opened and closed his mouth a couple times before he finally settled on something that, at least to him, made sense. “What - what I meant to say. I shouldn’t be seen with a demon. ...On the job.” Brows raised hopefully, feeling an anxiety flitter around behind his ribcage that made him want to wring his hands as he waited for Aziraphale to reply. This was ridiculous. They had spoken all of three times now, and only one of those conversations had really been something the angel could consider to be positive. Neutral, at best. He already felt as though he was upsetting Aziraphale, disappointing him somehow, and that didn’t sit well at all. Which was curious to him, and something to think about later. Aziraphale was a demon now. His opinion shouldn’t have mattered, but it did. It mattered more than he would have thought. It seemed as if his own opinions still mattered to the demon too, which just added another layer of confusion to think about. Again… Later. “It should be alright to at least find time for a drink with one after.”
All the while, the demon himself was merely hoping for the opportunity to speak to Jahaziel again. So, understandably, he allowed himself to be hopeful at Jahaziel amending his earlier, hurtful statement. Aziraphale knew there was no way they could be as casual as before. And really, it was silly of him to have been so offended. He knew this, too. It was still a blow he had trouble deflecting, even after so long. Yet here was an olive branch. He would have been foolish to bat it away. (And there were still things he wanted to discuss with the angel - even if this ended up being their last meeting.)
“You’re in luck then, I believe.” Aziraphale waved towards the tavern keeper, and not much longer after that two cups of wine were set down in front of them. He smiled at Jahaziel, offering him one. “I happen to be a demon.” The cheekiness was delivered with some measure of uncertainty, for Aziraphale was not usually one to be so forward. And it wasn’t until just now that he would realize he hadn’t intended for anyone, from the Above or Below, to find out that he liked to imbibe. What surprised him more, perhaps, was that Jahaziel was willing to join him - and had suggested as much before Aziraphale had even ordered for himself.
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