Work Text:
“A. Z. Fell… doesn’t look like much, you sure this is the right place?” Charles tilted his head slightly as he took in the demure shop before them. If he didn’t know better, the weird shop hours and lack of advertising would make him think they didn’t want to sell books.
Edwin started across the street heedless of his words, and Charles dutifully followed. His friend had gotten word about some old book or another he’d been searching for for what felt like decades, there’d be no slowing him down. No harm in it though, not like anything would happen in a bookshop.
If Charles had thought the outside was unwelcoming, the interior was positively designed to make books hard to find. Edwin murmured old-fashioned words that were probably curses as he searched the stacks, trying to find some semblance of organization. The older blond shopkeeper sat behind a small counter, ignoring them. That was for the best, the less the living noticed the better.
As Edwin hunted his book, Charles explored the rest of the shop. Trinkets and antiques were sprinkled among the shelves, each catching his eye. A medal to “Aziraphale” dated 1800 was placed around a bust. There were candles everywhere, though Charles noted they were all electric. It was, however, a large Bible that caught his attention.
It was a large and illustrated copy, set open on a stand. The story of the Garden of Eden was on display, but that wasn’t what piqued Charles’ interest. In the book was an ornate and clear drawing of the shopkeeper holding a flaming sword. But why . He moved closer, examining the stand the book was set on. That was when he noticed the anti-angelic wards carved into the wood. Shit. Could be a coincidence, still as Charles turned to find Edwin, he reached into the bag to pull out the demonic locking sheet they’d used for David, tucking it into the front of his jacket. It didn’t hurt to be safe.
“Charles, look,” Edwin hissed as he shoved an old tome towards him. It was ornate and purple, in a language he didn’t recognize.
“Right, mate. Brills,” Charles muttered, “You need to see what I found, Edwin I don’t think—”
“Bag, please,” his partner interrupted, holding out three more books imperiously. The faster they got this done with, the sooner they could get out. Charles wasn’t sure if any of the books Edwin quietly exclaimed over were what they’d come for, but his friend was happy and that was what mattered to him most. Besides, the image had to be sheer luck. There was no way a demon would be running a bookshop in Soho. He focused on Edwin and forced himself to calm down.
That was until a gentle but irate voice behind him stated calmly, “I do hope you two were planning to pay for those. I’d be happy to discuss my prices up front.”
Edwin froze. “He can…”
“Seems that way,” Charles confirmed. “So Edwin, about the book I found a bit ago, do you remember our friend David?”
Edwin’s eyebrow raised curiously, “Really?”
The proprietor smiled, “My name isn’t David, you may call me Aziraphale. Perhaps we could talk?”
Charles still faced Edwin and he pulled enough of the sheet from his jacket, a question on his face. When his partner nodded primly, he spun fanning the sheet out behind him and over the blond. If he were human, it wouldn’t harm him any.
“Excuse—what in the Heavens—”
Aziraphale lifted his arms and tugged on the sheet, but was confined by the outline of the sigils. Hurriedly, Charles pulled some chalk from his bag and drew a more trustworthy circle around him that would pull any demonic powers back towards the creator. Aziraphale froze, it seemed that he realized struggling would do no good and instead, he was considering his options.
Once the chalk circle was completed, Edwin pulled the sheet from Aziraphale. “So, demon. Why a bookshop of all things? Are you using it to lure others in? Make a deal, perhaps?”
The blond rubbed the bridge of his nose with one hand while he sighed loudly. “I am not a demon.”
“Then why are you trapped in a summoning circle?” Charles smirked.
“Same stock,” Aziraphale grumbled. “And that still doesn’t excuse your blatant thievery.”
Edwin had the shame to look abashed, “You do have quite the collection you see, and I, well we—”
“What’s a demon need books for?” Charles cut in.
Aziraphale rolled his eyes, “Reading,” he spit out. “How do you two…” Aziraphale’s gaze unfocused for a moment. “Ah, you don’t belong here.”
Shit. Even though the blond was locked into place, Charles pulled out his cricket bat and took a protective step in front of Edwin. Their gaze met for a moment and the concern there steeled his determination.
Aziraphale took the movement in and then smiled gently. “I think I understand. And I would be happy to help if you could only release me. And, of course, return the stolen property.”
“Not going to happen,” Charles jeered. To Edwin he queried, “Got that demon banishing spell?”
“I don’t know if we need—”
“He’s a demon!”
Edwin was hesitant but still pulled the correct book and began the chant. At the end, Aziraphale stood there, arms now crossed.
“As I said, not a demon.”
Charles gently took the book from Edwin, “Why’s it not working?”
“Well, either as he said he’s not a demon,” Aziraphale waved his hand with a huff, “or he’s significantly more powerful than our usual run-of-the-mill encounters.”
“He’s in a book over there. About Eden,” Charles gestured. “It’s what I wanted to show you earlier.”
Edwin pursed his lips even as the shop bell jingled a welcome. From the other side of the shelves, a voice echoed, “They didn’t have the pistachio baklava so I got walnut.” With a wink at Edwin, Charles disappeared into the shelf to see if he could catch the stranger from behind. Hopefully, this one was only human.
* * *
Aziraphale met the calm eyes of the boy in front of him and whispered fervently, “I don’t want anyone to get hurt, and if your friend tries to harm my partner I can’t guarantee that won’t happen. Please.”
The boy closed the book he held and slid it back into the bag. “You care for him.”
“Dearly.”
“And are you controlling him? Possessing him?”
Aziraphale couldn’t keep the fondness from his voice as he assured the boy, “I don’t think anyone could control Crowley, not that others haven’t tried.”
The redhead’s voice shouted from the back room, “Angel, where are you?”
Understanding crossed boy’s face. “You—”
Before they could sort the conversation further, a few things happened very quickly. There was a shout of “Is that a cricket bat?” The second young man came tumbling back through the shelf and Crowley came around the other side looking disheveled.
The demon took one glance at Aziraphale locked in place and the two dead boys and growled, “That’s it, I have no idea what’s going on here but everyone is in time out .” He snapped his fingers and both boys were pushed back against the far bookshelf.
Crowley stepped towards Aziraphale but the angel shouted, “Don’t! The sigils, it will suck you in, too. We’ll be stuck at a stalemate.”
Aziraphale couldn’t help but notice the two boys had managed to move just enough to take the other’s hand. They shared desperate glances at each other and then at the demon holding them captive.
“What happened, did they want to buy some books?” Crowley asked lightly as he ran a hand back through his hair. The others may not notice, but Aziraphale could sense his concern.
“They tried to steal some books,” Aziraphale huffed lightly.
Crowley gave them both an appreciative glance, “And they’re still alive?”
The calm boy bit his lip nervously.
“You didn’t notice? These two are dead already. I’m surprised Death isn’t here looking for them.”
If a ghost could pale, Aziraphale was certain these two would have at his words. Still, the calmer one had his wits about him. He took a calming breath before he spoke. “I’m Edwin, this is Charles. We didn’t mean to stumble into your…territory. We needed a book for a case we’re on and were told it was here. I shall let my informant know he was mistaken and not to send others your way if you’ll let us go.”
At this, Crowley seemed slightly mollified. “Alright, you’re going to tell me how to release my friend or I’m going to put in a few calls.” Crowley pointed to Edwin, “ You smell like Hell. I’m wagering that they’d like you back.”
“No! ” Charles shouted. Edwin stared straight at Crowley though Aziraphale noticed his jaw tightening.
Something about their fear echoed inside Aziraphale. Six thousand years of worry about one’s partner does not let go easily. “Crowley, don’t,” he breathed. “Don’t you see?” A raised eyebrow and a slight tilt of the head with a pleading gaze was all it took. Crowley groaned.
“He’s an angel, isn’t he?” Edwin asked curiously. “That’s why the banishing spell didn’t work on him. Are you also an angel?”
The demon didn’t answer, instead, he turned to Aziraphale. “They’ve got a banishing spell?”
“Green book, in the bag,” Aziraphale confirmed.
Crowley picked it up to dig through it. “Ah, bigger on the inside I see.” Both boys were surprised to see him pull out the appropriate title and after a quick confirming glance at Aziraphale, it disappeared with a pop. “Won’t have any of that. He may be an angel, but we can’t all claim that here.”
“Then you should be banished,” Charles gasped out as he tugged on the invisible binds holding them.
Aziraphale leveled a gaze at the young man. “Have you never seen someone given a fate they didn’t deserve? He is not your friend David whom you mentioned earlier. And I’ll not have my demon threatened in our home.”
“Wait, wait. They thought you were like David? That upstart that’s been causing issues? I swear to Satan that pain in the ass—”
“Later, darling,” Aziraphale cut in lightly. “Current problems. For a moment, I thought they were referring to the actor that you always get compared to. You know the one on the medicine show.”
Crowley made a disgusted face.
“Aziraphale,” Edwin said lightly drawing attention back to himself. “I think that if we were to talk, we may be of a sort of assistance to each other. We needn’t be at odds. I took the books thinking that you were human and would be unable to sell to me, but perhaps we could come to an arrangement?” After a moment’s silence, he added. “You have my word, I’ll release him.”
With a dramatic wave of his hands, Crowley grumbled, “What good is your word? A ghost condemned to Hell.”
Edwin slowly raised his and Charles clasped hands. “I swear on this. On him. I will release your friend.”
With a snap, Edwin was freed. “Let him go,” Crowley hissed.
It was without hesitation that Edwin stepped forward, wiping away the relevant sigils. As they disappeared, Aziraphale felt his powers surge back and breathed a sigh of relief.
Edwin returned to Charles’ side. “Him now, please.”
“You going to keep him from trying to hit me with a cricket bat?”
With a fond glance at his partner, Edwin agreed easily. “He’ll behave.”
The moment Charles was released, he still threw himself in front of Edwin protectively, but there was a noted absence of a bat. Aziraphale spotted the telltale sign of Crowley’s eye roll behind his sunglasses, but he thought it was touching.
“Why don’t we have a seat in the back and you two can tell us what you’re about,” Aziraphale suggested. “And then we can discuss books and perhaps a visitation schedule.”