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The Most Important Thing–Good Omens Fic

My fic from the @the-warlock-chronicles-zine is now available on AO3! Get the full fic and Cassieoh’s lovely art there!

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The most important rule when raising an Antichrist is: never get attached.

At least, it was for a demon sent to prepare the child to destroy the world and rule the ashes. The angel, as always, had a simpler job.

Brother Francis could present Warlock with his first kitten, watch the little face fill with wonder and joy. Nanny Ashtoreth had to teach the boy to let it go. He could comfort the child after a fall; she had to teach him to stand up and try again.

Brother Francis only had to love Warlock, and teach him to love in return.

Nanny was there to hone the boy, teach him to be strong, to command, to put his desires above all else. But she had another job, too.

The most important rule when preparing an Antichrist for his apocalyptic duty is: never get attached.

Particularly when one is preparing him to fail.

At any moment, the carefully laid plans of angel and demon could erupt into disaster. Someone had to be ready to act. To remember that the whole world was more important than a single child.

Nanny Ashtoreth stood always at Warlock’s side, watching like a serpent. Cold-blooded. Ready to strike.

“Warlock,” her voice snapped across the room. “You cannot bring every toy you own to America.”

“But I wuv dem!” The boy, not quite seven, clutched a teddy bear half his size.

Nanny folded her arms, stern as ever. Eyes concealed behind black lenses that reflected the world, showing nothing of herself. “What did I tell you about inanimate objects?”

He sighed. “Dey’re not f’me to wuv, dey’re tools t’be essploided in my quetht f’domination.”

“Correct. And save the baby-talk for the gardener, it doesn’t work on me.”

“Sorry, Nanny.”

“Better.” She studied the suitcase on Warlock’s bed, overflowing with stuffed animals, dinosaurs, gadgets, everything that held his interest these days. “This suitcase has to hold everything you need for your trip—”

“Ido need them!” He wrapped his arms more firmly around the bear.

Nanny raised her eyebrows, unmoved. “You need fourteen pairs of underwear. Is there room for those?”

One of Warlock’s hands worked itself loose to poke at the mess. “Mmmmmmaybe?”

“No. Nor is there room for your clothing, your spare shoes, or your toothbrush.” She gestured to the pile she’d prepared the night before. “The things you need. How do we solve this?”

He furrowed his brow while Nanny waited patiently. His parents were outside, watching the staff prepare the luggage for their trip to America. Likely wondering where their child was, but Nanny never rushed important lessons.

Finally, Warlock brightened, bouncing with excitement. “I know! Twosuitcases!”

Nanny pressed her lips into a line. “Close.”

Read the rest on AO3!