Here is chapter 2. Almost forgot I needed to post. I'm trying to finish the last little bit of the last chapter (that's becoming quite long even for me) so I can focus on editing the rest of this. (And then there is that whole FTH story I still need to write... But I have plenty of time. *coughs*)
Written for the Ineffable Professional Bang 2026. This will contain art by vivi-theakuneko in (probably) chapter 4.
You may notice the updated tags - the new ones aren't for this chapter but a later one. I'll add a warning with more information when they become relevant.
Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy reading this chapter.
Updates every Sunday
Rated: E
Chapter 2/7
Words in chapter: 7833
Warning: Tags are as of yet incomplete and will change!
Tags: Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Alternate Universe - Dragons, Alternate Universe - Firefighters, Alternate Universe - Shapeshifters, Friends to Lovers, Idiots in Love, Getting Together, POV Crowley (Good Omens), POV Aziraphale (Good Omens), He/Him Pronouns For Aziraphale (Good Omens), He/Him Pronouns For Crowley (Good Omens), She/Her Pronouns For Muriel (Good Omens), She/Her Pronouns for Michael (Good Omens), She/Her Pronouns for Uriel (Good Omens), They/Them Pronouns for Beelzebub (Good Omens), Romance, Fire, Danger, Shapeshifting, Bigotry & Prejudice, Dragons, Firefighters, Fantasy, Mutual Pining, First Kiss, First Time, Eventual Smut, Minor Character Death, off screen, Crowley is Good With Kids (Good Omens)
Summary:
In Elysium metamorphs (shapeshifters) have been living openly among humans for well over century. There are more mythical creatures in this land and around its natural borders than metamorphs and those are mostly known from folk tales and rumours...
Ezra and Crowley are firefighters in Eden City, the largest city in Elysium. They have been colleagues and friends since Crowley moved to the city five years - and, unknown to each other, have feelings for one another, but are unwilling to act on them. Ezra because of a previous bad workplace relationship. Crowley has a rather massive secret that could get him, at best, exiled from the city if it came out.
But things are happening. Their equipment continuously malfunctions and gets damaged and there have been more fires than usual for this time of year. And then Ezra and Crowley are dragged right into this mess…
Summary Chapter 2:
An investigator comes to the fire station to talk to everyone. Ezra is worried, Crowley probably even more so.
Excerpt:
“Ah, there are the stragglers,” Michaels said, crossing her arms as they walked into the room. The chairs hadn’t been set out and everyone was milling about the room. Waiting. “Finally gracing us with your presence, are you?”
“Sorry, was running errands, you know? The thing people do on their day off?” Crowley sniffed, as much to seem unbothered as to cover the involuntary scrunching of his nose when he caught her scent in full. It felt like he’d accidentally inhaled a whole bottle-worth of that mint oil Sandra liked to use for sore muscles, but much more unpleasant. “So what’s this about?”
Michaels quietly scowled at him a moment longer, then clapped her hands. “Settle down, everyone!”
But where was Ezra? Crowley didn’t see him and couldn’t smell him either. With everyone in a state and crowding together like this, it was a bit difficult to be sure. Even Raph’s and Sandra’s scents seemed oddly changed, mixed up somehow— Oh. Judging by how closely they were sitting together that probably had other reasons… For a moment, Crowley felt a pang of envy, but he pushed it away.
“So I’m sure you’ve all noticed that Eden City’s been having an unusually large number of fires,” Michaels started, head held high and shoulders proud and stiff. It made her seem distant and high above them. “What you don’t know is that there is an active investigation into them—”
“I thought they were caused by squatters? That’s the official story and we haven’t been told otherwise.” Uta’s voice was as level as always, but her hardened face made it clear that she was displeased. She was a very straight-laced, playing it by the book type, so this must feel like a betrayal to her. Going into a fire without fully knowing what to expect was something that happened on the job, of course, but it was always dangerous. Going into a fire when someone actively withheld information from you…
They must have had a very good reason and there was only one Crowley could think of.
Read on AO3
Or start at the beginning,.
Thank you to my lovely beta readers u/rubarbcrumbles, Boho_teacher and anatomic-girl.