❝ I rather think that's a tad rich, considering you're the one insulting me in my own shop. ❞ he remarked on the subject of his "poor attitude," careful to remain outwardly calm and egregiously charitable; even if, behind the stiff set of his shoulders, he felt terrifying close to turning tail and fleeing the archangel's imposing presence altogether. - and it's a gambit that pays off, as it turns out, because his carefully crafted words strike a very evident blow; there. it almost leaves the principality in a state of shock, seeing the archangel's mask slip and falter. " GOD knows I would never... " ❝ -- but you are ...aren't you? ❞ he interjects, almost breathless with intrigue. it was unthinkable, but ...well, how could he deny something so blatantly staring him in the face? ❝ ...that's why you're here. you don't understand why She didn't stop me. ...why She let me live, when you wouldn't have. ...you're questioning Her decision. ❞ that was, as it turned out, the wrong thing to say; or perhaps it was the right one, depending on how one looked at things. regardless, the end result was that gabriel was now using expletives and encroaching far deeper into aziraphale's personal space than left him feeling even remotely safe. every atom of the angel's corporeal being was screaming to flinch back and away, to cow himself beneath the overt threat of this obviously superior being who had lorded over him for quite literally his entire existence. ...but therein lied the rub. because gabriel no longer knew that he was superior. as far as he knew, aziraphale couldn't be smited ...smote? -- smitten. not even by hellfire. oh, gabriel could most certainly destroy the angel where he stood with a single bolt of lightning ...but the only way gabriel would know that he could was if aziraphale told him. and so, it was imperative that his reaction do expressly the opposite. he couldn't so much as flinch; no matter how terrified he may be. the angel exhaled a slow breath and kept his shoulders square, neatly folding his hands behind his back to keep the other from noticing how badly they were shaking.

❝ ...language. ❞ he warns flatly, the picture of calm as he meets the archangel's virulent gaze. ❝ ...oh, come now. I rather think you're clever enough to tell at a glance if I had fallen. it's obvious that I'm still an angel; the problem, then, is simply that you don't understand why. and you want to. ❞ -- which made gabriel much more like the morning star than he cared to think on; but aziraphale very tactfully held his tongue on that matter, and continued on. ❝ at least, I'm assuming that's why you're here. I mean, surely you're not here to deliver harm unto me ...unless you are, in which case I would warn you that action would be   rather. inadvisable.   ...but I highly doubt it, because you simply aren't so foolish. you tried to kill me already, and you couldn't. so then. the only sensible reason that remains is that you want answers. and if I'm wrong, then I am. but that rather still begs the question, gabriel; why are you here? ❞

a scoff , ❝ insulting ? well i'm sorry aziraphale if the truth has insulted your unsullied traitorous reputation . ❞ the name , the angelic name aziraphale was spoken with no more respect than he would any demon . ❝ i haven't said anything untrue and you must know that , right ? ❞ brows knit together briefly , ❞ do you really not see what you've done ? ❞ the question was asked with absolute sincerity . however if given an answer it would be rebuked immediately . no , aziraphale was lost . at least , to the archangel he was . however , as the conversation proceeded , the messenger of god was losing what tenuous grip he had over the other .

no . no no no no . frenetic thoughts expand mind and real fear begins to form . it had never been felt , it was unfamiliar and cold and unkind and the archangel was unable to push it away , try as he might . there he stood rooted to the spot , that shark like smile disappeared . eyes the color of biblical rage focused solely on the turncoat aziraphale . another crack , larger this time , feeding into the first formed behind gabriel it burrowed through the old walls of the bookshop , knocking over a small stand . papers spilling to the ground .

since literal creation itself the archangel gabriel had been in the upper echelon of rank . it had never changed , never faltered and it certainly was never questioned . there had been no self doubt , no confusion or anxiety . until now . until the voice of god was no longer heard . until aziraphale . strong jaw clenched so hard , if pain were able to be felt it would ache . still , that smile was worn . and it was most certainly now on the wrong side of normal . ❝ don't . ❞ spoken low , index finger pointing toward the other . ❝ treat me like i'm .. ❞ YOU . how he so badly wanted to say YOU , AZIRAPHALE . talked down to . ❝ i am the archangel fucking gabriel . ❞

❝ do you think our friends will be back , mister fell ? they were nice , i think . shame they didn't buy any books ! next customer that comes in i'll be sure to sell 'em , don't you worry about that . y'know your husband did say i'd make a really good ... what , hmm what did he say ? scam artist . i could sell anything ! ❞ eyes shone , excited .

❝ oh ! oh how rude of me , did i offer you a hot chocolate ? man it's good and good for you ! i hear chocolate is quite the remedy for a lot of people . makes me feel warm ? happy . i'd .. huh well i'd make you some myself but i'm not really ..allowed to use the uh .. ❞ he hooked a thumb toward the back . ❝ .. stove ? whew it gets hot . did you know that ?? ❞

a smile for no reason , happiness because there was no burden . the entire cosmos had been removed and his head was less ..embiggened ? tilt of his head , looking perplexed as the former archangel blinked slowly . ❝ no that .. doesn't sound quite right . embiggened . em-biggened . smallend ? ❞ he puzzled out loud . ❝ no my head is LESS big , is what - ❞ train of thought easily derailed . attention now turned toward the door as it opened and bell rang . ❝ customer ! boy , we HAVE been busy ! first it was that lovely group of people before , then that constable and now you ! mister ! ... you ! mister you . welcome ! ❞ arms open wide in greeting .

there was a laugh , it did not sound quite right . never had the great angel felt anxious , never was there even a sliver of fear but now ? ❝ it was impossible for us to do the wrong thing , was it not ? ❞ words spoken carefully while gabriel paced back and forth . slow . considering . the bar the pair had met at directly after the disaster had been emptied by some miracle . there was no music playing . ❝ this what was god had intended , how could god ! have allowed those two traitorous creatures to live ? ❞ anger clear not so hidden between clenched teeth and jaw . this fear had been amplified by simply calling a meeting with lord beelzebub a beast of hell . the air around such an emissary had been charged , the power almost palpable .

❝ should we go after them again ? try once more ? i just i don't .. ❞ there were no orders from above so what was there to do ? ❝ do we continue on with the war ? ❞ the question was posed to the other as gabriel was at a loss . ❝ i tried speaking with aziraphale and he held his ground the fucking judas . ❞ the curse , couldn't be helped .

❝ i thought you'd like some tea , because your ..well because mister fell enjoys it . if you don't i could make you some hot chocolate instead , tastes great . i mean it's .. well it tastes better when mister fell makes it but you probably already know that with as much as you hang around him . ❞ a smile , nothing like before . nothing that held the malicious glint in violet eyes . ❝ i just figured you'd want something to calm your nerves . you seem nervous . ❞ eyes squint a bit , he was thinking . ❝ ..i mean ARE you ? is that the right phrase . you pace a lot . ❞

the impact of the heavy tome on the table serves what was doubtless its purpose in making the principality flinch for the sound, but in spite of this aziraphale attempts to maintain at least some semblance of composure. it was easy enough when pressed by threats of mere mortals, but always more difficult to do so in the presence of his fellow angels; to remain unflinchingly kind and unflappably polite when he was in a situation wherein he could actually be harmed. …but could gabriel harm him? – physically, it nearly went without question that yes; he very much could. but did the archangel have any jurisdiction to do so? or was this simple intimidation? only posturing out of some misplaced sense of injustice done upon him by the shunned angel?

hedging his bets on that hypothesis, the angel folded his hands neatly behind his back and tipped his chin up to face the corporate celestial with as much patience ( and as little fear ) as he could muster; a feat that was only slightly undermined by the way his eyes struggled to maintain contact with gabriel’s malicious violet. he doesn’t attempt to answer any of the questions posed – that would be foolish, since it was rather clear that gabriel wasn’t actually looking for an answer; at least, not yet. so aziraphale magnanimously let him speak. until he was practically blue in the face. until he was rather unpleasantly close to aziraphale’s, until he could feel the other’s plosives coming off his words like “poof” and “pet demon.” and still, aziraphale does not retreat, no matter how quickly his chest may be rising and falling with his breath, or how badly his body may wish to scramble behind the desk at his back. because showing even a sniff of weakness in front of this archangel was as good as accepting defeat; and, quite frankly? – because aziraphale was rather fed up with being bullied by this point.

❝ …wrench. ❞ the principality replied, tone decidedly unimpressed. ❝ …I’ve also known “a spanner in the works” to be employed, occasionally. …must She, now? ❞ he inquired, sounding somewhat scandalized in his delivery; he was well aware that he was treading a very fine line, but there was something to be said for the way the angel could get when his most sacred temple, his bookshop, was intruded upon and he was threatened in his very own dwelling. he found he rather did not care for it – particularly not from this archangel.

❝ …because the way I see it …I rather suspect that She wouldn’t allow for anything to happen that she didn’t fully intend. to suggest otherwise would be …well. it would be to question Her omnipotence and infallibility, would it not? ❞

the angel employs every marginal fraction of his courage then, as well as every ounce of knives-out-under-the-jacket, bureaucratic back-speak tactics he’s learned from eons in heaven’s upper regimens in the delivery of his next remark. ❝ …and, judging by the nature of this visit? …yes. ❞ he drags the syllable out. ❝ I rather suspect they can, evidently. …but not me. no. ❞

why else would gabriel be so thoroughly enraged, if not in violent response to his own feelings of humiliation and bitter disappointment?

confusion colored a perfect complexion , brows knit together and mouth rolls upward .  ❝  what ?  ❞  came the reply .  ❝  what does that even ..  ❝  and of course all too late the archangel understood .  ❝  yes , a wrench . you threw a wrench into GODS plan . that's hardly the point of this entire ... ❝  eyes widen a bit , as though speaking to a dullard arms reach around into a circle to amplify the word  ENTIRE  with hand gestures .  ❝  .. entire conversation . and what on earth is a spanner ?  ❝  the question hardly was even worth asking . and then , well ..

  a gentle answer can normally turn away wrath , or so it was written . but a harsh word will stir up anger . tone was off , the angel  (  EX  )  the traitor , turncoat , had a wicked tongue .  cruel .  ❝  you'll want to watch your tone , aziraphale .. ❝  a smile all throughout though it did not touch violet eyes as they watch . glare , rather .  ❝  i don't know where you're getting this poor attitude from , your pet ? is that it ? it must be , they have such poor manners down in hell . the cast aside , the forgotten . who needs 'em ? am i right .  ❝  a grin as foul as any real demon . a wink .

  and then aziraphale continued on and immediately smile faltered . ah , the root of fear for the archangel ; questioning GODS great plan .  (  no no that's not what i'm doing i would never , i would NEVER i am not like the fallen  )   ❝  GOD knows i would never ..  ❝  breath caught and there was true panic if only for the briefest of moments .  ❝  GODS plan is .. it was ..  ❝  the normally silver tongued archangel felt at a loss .  

impossible . shame ? a crack formed on the wall behind him . plaster spilling out , dust falling .   the archangel had been created by GOD , perfected by GOD . he himself was a force of nature . he had done nothing wrong .  (  right ?  )  eyes fall from the other to the floor , mind reeling .  no , no this wasn't what was supposed to happen . and still this , THIS !  ❝  fucking judas .  ❝  gaze lifts as the curse trips so easily from his tongue and then the smile returned , hands clasp together in a BOOM ! a step forward .  ❝  well well .  ❝  he appeared almost manic in a way , those eyes were aglow .  ❝  you've truly fallen , haven't you . what happened , hm ? were you not happy serving a kind , loving god . did you feel you deserved more ?  ❝  both palms still together in a sort of praying gesture he pointed all ten fingers toward the other .  ❝  ..selfish . greedy . hedonistic .  ❝  a finger wag to the other .  ❝  you remind me of someone else , what WAS that name .. oh ! right right , the morningstar . how RIGHTEOUS he thought his cause was .  ❝

blissfully unaware most ( ALL ) of the time , jim james gabriel went about with the duster . a sneeze every so often was heard but other than that the former archangel prowled near silently . except for the constant humming . or whistling . picking up one rather large book the duster was brought over it a few times which did nothing to remove the layers of film it had collected . water ! yes certainly water would do the trick , all he would have to do is run this book under water to wash it away .

headed to the back , considering the possibility of tea ? dousing it with some of that tea mister fell enjoyed might work far better he paused in step . it was a feeling that touched the back of his neck and slithered down his spine . this chill coiled at the base of it before gaze settles upon the other . they stare , the ever present smile worn had faltered somewhat .