Neutral Omens

A smile spread onto Uriel's lips. "That sounds definitely like a good idea," she agreed.

Perhaps, if Adam's attention was on Aziraphale, even Loki could relax a bit. He was still hiding behind her, not saying a word, and if Loki was using her as a shield, he was definitely not okay.

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Loki did his best to keep both Uriel and Remus between him and Adam while leaning cautiously closer to the angel.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" he whispered hoping she had very good hearing. "I thought you wanted to stay out of sight?"

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Angels did indeed have a very good hearing. "I've tried to stay out of sight, and I keep running into people all the time," she whispered back. "I figured I could just as well try hiding in plain sight. Maybe if I act like there's nothing weird about my appearance, nobody will think there is something amiss."

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"But do you have a story for them, if they ask?" It wasn't so much that she was going to be visible to everybody. It was the fact that she'd be working for Adam. "Can you tell it properly?"

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"I can always say I just needed a change. It's true, anyway. It's just that my body changed all on its own, not asking my opinion first." Had she known about Loki's true worries, she would have been very surprised. After all, Adam was the one she counted on to keep both her and her baby safe.

"I'll have to come up with a story anyway. You could always help me to make it up and then practice it. You should know how to do it convincingly enough."

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Loki glanced nervously at Adam.

"Well, not right now, okay?"

He thought Adam was looking at him. Not good. Not good at all!

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"Well, if we're goin', we might as well go, right?" asked Adam cheerfully, gently herding the others out of the library.

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-moonylupin-.livejournal.com

It was easy enough to have the four of them descend the steps, two sets of stairs before the carpeted floors of the lobby were in view. Remus knew the area he could walk it in his sleep, and after having worked the night this was very similar to walking in his sleep.

He yawned, covering his mouth quickly as they reached the bottom steps. It was obvious, then, that he'd miss what everyone else had stopped for.

"Oh," he said, finally, when he'd got a good look. He was sure he heard a giggle from his left.

There were two people at the desk, rather than the usual one. Mr. Fell was there, in his chair, and bending over him, gripping the collar of his ill-fitting tweed suit, was quite another person entirely. Dark-haired and good-looking, but seemingly reluctant to remove his sunglasses indooors, the man was kissing Mr. Fell rather enthusiastically. Neither of them had noticed the presence of the four.

He hadn't known this about his coworker. Remus glanced at Adam, worried about his reaction.

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In his attempt to avoid Adam Loki ended up reaching the ground floor first and therefore also being the first the couple kissing. He froze.

It wasn't like he was unfamiliar with the concept of homosexuality, of course. He'd even gotten somewhat used to seeing two men kiss thanks to his habit of hanging around all sorts of seedy bars back in America. He knew he was supposed to be tolerant. He could be very tolerant in fact, but seeing an angel kissing a demon and that demon in particular was just plain wrong.

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Uriel couldn't help it. When she saw Crowley kissing Aziraphale, her first reaction was to giggle. It looked so... wrong, in a way, and yet so very right. It was meant to be that way, she thought. The two belonged together.

After a second, however, she turned less amused. She couldn't help but remember Pestilence, remember how he had kissed her, and remember that he would never kiss her again.

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Adam stifled a grin and coughed rather theatrically to alert the oblivious pair to their presence. He tried very hard not to laugh as Crowley sprang back, swore under his breath, and started compulsively straightening his jacket.

"Uhm, Aziraphale? Could we have a word? Unless it's a bad time..."

His mischievous smile did break free then and he beamed at the two who wouldn't have been able to keep their relationship a secret much longer anyway.

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He registered the cough about the same time Crowley did, judging from the sudden stillness of the demon. The angel's eyes flew open - ohdearohdearohdear - and stared horrified into Crowley's, before they sprang - yes, that was the word - apart, frantically straightening and rearranging mussed hair, smoothing clothing.

Slowly, Aziraphale's blond head turned to look at Adam, and his three followers. "Oh." He noted Lupin, distantly, and the bald Loki and the robed Uriel.

"Hello," he added, when no one said anything. Adam's question sunk in. "No, no, no, it's not a bad time at all, do go ahead. Crowley and I were just- just- Er. What did you want to discuss, dear boy?"

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"We just wanted to see if you might be interested in workin' as the Manor librarian instead of at the front desk," said Adam with a grin.

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It took about five seconds, if one was counting, for the announcement - and all its implications - to sink in.

"You- all of you- you mean here, this library? A librarian? Working with..." His voice faded here till it was a whisper, infused with awe. "...books?"

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Laughing, Adam said, "Yes, all of us, here, and books. Uriel has offered to work the front desk instead. 'Course your first job's gonna hafta be findin' all the missin' books. Loki might be able to help with that..."

He glanced at Crowley who appeared to be fighting a smile and laughed some more.

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He didn't mind anyone laughing, not in the least.

"I could do that," the angel agreed, somewhat breathlessly. "She has? Oh, Uriel, thank you. And you, Loki, and Mr. Lupin, it's been a pleasure working with you, forgive my enthusiasm. Er, Adam, what- what hours would I work, what are my other duties...? When is Uriel prepared to start?"

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"I can start immediately, if need be," Uriel replied the one question concerning herself. She was smiling at the other angel's enthusiasm. "Well, as soon as somebody explains me what I'm actually meant to do. I've only got a very vague idea of what working at the front desk entails."

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-moonylupin-.livejournal.com

This was Remus' turn to interrupt.

"That's all right. I have had enough experience to teach you, I bet. I promise you, it is simple." He smiled reassuringly.

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"Well," said Adam scratching his head, "I guess you'll work the same hours you're working now. You can start after you've shown Uriel what to do here, and I'm sure you can figure out what other things need to be done in there."

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"Very well, Adam."

The angel couldn't keep his ecstatic smile off his face. "Thank you," he told him, earnestly, "and I do mean thank you."

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"You don't hafta thank me," said Adam blushing slightly. "I think it was Loki's idea. And Uriel volunteered to take your place here. I just kinda wandered in. But you're welcome. I hope you like it."

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ineffable-angel.livejournal.com - Date: 2006-07-26 07:19 am (UTC) - Expand

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average-adam.livejournal.com - Date: 2006-07-26 06:27 pm (UTC) - Expand

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"Who me?" Loki asked surprised. "Er ... you're not planning to allow that pyromaniac demon to check out any books, are you?" He nodded towards Crowley.

Crowley in the library was a worrying thought indeed. Who knew what damage he might cause if he got bored or angry.

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"You just seemed worried about them," explained Adam. "I thought you'd like to help find 'em again..."

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anthony-crowley.livejournal.com

Crowley glared at him. "I'm not deaf, you idiot. Of course I can bloody well check out books. And who the fuck are you calling a pyromaniac?"

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