Chapter Text
Aziraphale's too distracted watching Adam and Eve in the distance to notice the snake slithering up the wall. By the time he looks over it has already started to morph into human form, much to the angels surprise. He watches in fascination as it turns from a snake into a man, a man with pale skin, bright red hair and a snake tattoo by his ear.
When dark wings grow from the man's back Aziraphale holds back his disappointment, instead turning back to the humans. He hasn't properly met a demon before but from the stories about them in Heaven, they were nothing he'd want to meet.
Aziraphale can't help another glance over at the demon, looking over just as he mutters "Well that went down like a lead balloon". With an awkward nod the angel looks away again for a second before looking back "What was that?"
There is no way two beings that are such polar opposites should be standing together so calmly. Any other angel would have already smited the demon but it just doesn't feel right. After everything that went wrong in the garden there's not much point bothering with the rivalry currently.
With a smirk the demon looks back at Aziraphale "I said - well that went down like a lead balloon". The conversation is almost... almost friendly. It feels wrong on so many levels but at the same time it's admittedly nice to have a proper conversation with someone. Aziraphale can't help being interested, even as the demon, who's name is Crawly apparently, insults God and insinuates the whole thing was unnecessary.
Just as he's starting to wonder if the demon might be right, against everything he's ever been told or believed, the subject changes. The demon lifts his snake eyes to lock with Aziraphale's and says "Didn't you have a flaming sword?"
Awkwardly Aziraphale stutters and looks away, trying to find a way out of this before admitting "I gave it away. There are vicious animals, it's going to be cold out there and she's expecting already. I do hope I didn't do the wrong thing"
Immediately this makes him start to worry, wondering if God might make him Fall like he did for this Crawly fellow. Being cast from Gods grace would be the most painful thing imaginable, even if he still believes his actions were justified.
Before he can start to fret too much Crawly looks over and comforts him "Oh you're an angel, I don't think you can do the wrong thing"
It shouldn't settle him so much that a demon approves of what he's done but it's so good to hear. Aziraphale wouldn't be getting reassured like this from any of the other principalities or archangels. It's a strange world indeed when a demon ends up being nicer than any of the angels Aziraphale's used to being around.
Unfortunately, or fortunately depending how you look at it, the demon keeps talking before Aziraphale can get too thankful "I've been worrying too. What if I did the right thing with the whole eat the apple business? A demon can get in a lot of trouble for doing the right thing. Be funny if we both got it wrong eh? If I did the good thing and you did the bad one?"
An unconscious smile creeps it's way onto Aziraphale's face listening to Crawly talk which quickly drops off when he realises what the demons saying. He hurries to reject the idea that anything as absurd as that could ever happen but Crawly still seems amused. Obviously since he already Fell he doesn't have anything to fear from making a mistake and would find it funny if another angel Fell.
They both silently watch Adam and Eve in the distance until a sound from above draws their attention. Aziraphale heard from one of the other angels in Eden that something called 'rain' would be happening but didn't know what that was.
Both the angel and the demon watch in shock as water starts to fall from the sky. Instinctively Crawly takes a nervous step towards Aziraphale even as a white wing moves up to cover him. Aziraphale doesn't know why he's doing this for an evil creature but couldn't help wanting to protect Crawly when he saw the panic. It's his job to be a protector so even if the being that needs protecting isn't one that should be protected, instinct is hard to overcome.
The two of them stand together, totally still and silent until the rain eases then Aziraphale lowers his wing. After an awkward shared look Aziraphale starts to step away but quickly Crawly takes another step towards him. Before the angel can react he leans in to press his lips against Aziraphale's cheek for a second then pulls away.
With one last smirk Crawly says "Thanks for that angel, I hope I see you around" before spreading his wings and flying off towards the horizon. Aziraphale stays frozen for an embarrassingly long amount of time, hand pressed to the cheek the demon just kissed. No one's ever done something like that to him before so it was weird but still enjoyable, a little like the demons company.
Finally Aziraphale drops his hand from his face and flies off in the other direction from Crawly. Though he'd never admit it to anyone he holds onto the hope that Crawly will follow through on his promise of seeing each other again. He might be an evil scheming demon but he's not the worst person to be around. It'll be a boring eternity if the only people Aziraphale has to talk to are the other boring, stuffy angels.