Work Text:
Aziraphale was immersed in the fictional world of his novel, waiting for the train to leave. He had no particular business in Scotland, but it had been a while since he’d visited. The completion of the railway from London to Edinburgh a few years ago made the journey incredibly convenient now. While it had taken days to travel to Scotland by coach just a few decades ago, the Special Scotch Express promised to take Aziraphale to his destination in only ten and a half hours.
Humans really were marvellously inventive.
“Hello, Angel. Funny seeing you here.”
The familiar voice pulled Aziraphale out of his thoughts.
“Crowley,” Aziraphale greeted the demon as he closed his book. Crowley had taken a seat across Aziraphale, and Aziraphale had no doubt that his ticket would now miraculously acknowledge the new seating arrangement. “Where are you off to then?”
“To Edinburgh. If I’d known you’re going, I could’ve pushed my assignment on you.”
“Ah,” Aziraphale sighed. “I didn’t know I’d be going before this morning. Not an assignment. Just fancied a train ride.”
“Figures you like trains.”
“What’s wrong with trains?” Aziraphale asked.
Crowley waves his hand in the air.
“Nothing specifically except they’re so slow. Mind, I much prefer them to horses. Never could get a hang of horses.”
“It’s the demonic energy coming off you.”
“Why thank you,” Crowley smirked like it had been a compliment.
“I like the speed of trains,” Aziraphale said. “They get me where I need to go but give me time to enjoy the ride.”
“Isn’t the point just to get from point A to B?” Crowley drummed his fingers on the windowsill.
“No! The journey is just as important. It gives me time to admire the views and think about things,” Aziraphale said. “You can experience so much more when you take things slowly.”
“Not riding a horse all the way to Scotland slow though?” Crowley raised his eyebrow.
“I think these seats are much more comfortable than a saddle.”
The train began to move.
“I’d think you have some… less than pleasant associations with Edinburgh after the last time, my dear?” Aziraphale asked, hesitating to bring up the last time they’d both been in the city.
“Yeah? I’d think you do too.”
“Maybe so,” Aziraphale shrugged. “But I wasn’t the one who got into trouble for it.”
“Not really interested in talking about it, angel,” Crowley said. “Although while we’re on the topic, have you considered my request?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Right. I guess I’ll need to make some other arrangements.”
“What are you planning, Crowley?”
“That’s for me to know.”
After a few minutes of silence, Aziraphale spoke.
“There will be a half-hour stop at York. Would you like to have lunch?”
“Sounds great, angel.”
Aziraphale looked out of the window at the landscape they were travelling through and smiled. Maybe humans would in time come up with speedier vehicles more to Crowley’s tastes, but Aziraphale rather enjoyed taking his time to arrive at his destination.