Chapter Text
Aziraphale, now supreme archangel of heaven, stood in one of the large rooms with the archangels assembled in front of him; the present topic of conversation being the second coming. He knew they wanted it to be in the old way: smiting, judgment of souls, the end of the world, and so on, but he wanted it to happen differently. It had taken three earth years to slowly bring everything together in the way he wanted. Now with the final thread in place he could set everything in motion. Michael was currently issuing a status report, their words fading into the background as his thoughts drifted towards Crowley. How he wished he was with him, helping him to get everything just as they’d wanted, but the demon had made his choice, so now they both had to live with the paths they’d chosen.
When he became aware of silence, he quickly pulled his thoughts back from their pointless journey. “Thank you, Michael, for such a clear and concise report. Now, are there any other matters to discuss?” He caught sight of Muriel raising her hand. “Yes?”
“You wanted me to let you know when he was awake and corporeal and he is. Both.”
“Wonderful! And how did he take it?”
“Well, he was a bit confused what with the being awake and the whole new body thing, but I think he took it pretty well.”
“Wonderful! Now everything is prepared. Sandalphon will accompany Jesus on his flight to the United Nations where Michael and Uriel will be waiting to escort him in. Once there he will give his speech to all the nations of the world and usher in world peace and happiness.”
“World peace,” grumbled Sandalphon.
“Yes, there was a change of plans, remember?”
“Who actually authorized that?”
“Me, I did, so that’s that. Right, so everyone ready to kick off the second coming? Good, excellent, let’s get right to it then.”
Aziraphale led the archangels and Muriel to where Jesus waited though he found them first. Trying his best to cut through the poor boy’s confusion, he tried to explain what happened in the years since his crucifixion which only seemed to confuse him further.
“Ummm what about the red haired angel with the yellow eyes? Oh, he was nice. He showed me all the kingdoms of the world. Is he around?”
A flinch fought back; Aziraphale offered what he hoped would pass as a smile. “Also not in the picture, I’m afraid.”
“Oh, that’s a shame.”
“Sandalphon will keep you company until it is time for your flight. I have a few things to check out so I will be back soon. Everyone else can return to work.”
As everyone headed off, he returned to his chambers, the door closing silently behind him. The place was white, bare except for a large table and chair, also in white. Oh, how he wished for a tiny splash of colour, maybe even a book or two. “No, no, I mustn’t,” he told himself. Anything hinting of earthly pleasures was wrong. Yet even as the thought faded, he couldn’t stop himself from thinking of Crowley. It seemed there was one thing or rather, one being on earth he couldn’t separate from – and honestly, deep down he wasn’t sure he wanted to.
~
Being unceremoniously dragged out of a alcohol induced sleep by someone shaking him wasn’t going to set Crowley in a hearts and rainbows type of mood. Not that he ever had them anyway. “Go away,” he grumbled, “leave me alone.”
“Listen Mr. six shots of expresso, you can’t keep on like this.”
Managing by some miracle to haul his ass and all attached parts upright, he glared at Nina. Well, he tried, his vision was still swimming in booze. “Can’t keep on like wot?”
“Drinking yourself stupid and sleeping in an alley.”
“Why not? I’m heart broken and world broken. Anyway, what’s the point of anything?” Clearly his words didn’t have the desired effect because she was still there glaring at him.
“Why don’t you at least sleep in the bookshop.”
“NO!” The word left his lips so fast and so loud his bloody ears started ringing. “You know why I can’t.”
“Won’t you mean. You are just being stubborn.”
“And you’re being annoying.”
“Guess that makes us even then. Look,” she said on a sigh. “Come over to the café, I’ll even let you have a couple of coffees on the house.”
“Bribery? If I was still a demon I’d be impressed.”
“So, does that mean you are coming?”
“If it means you’ll eventually leave me alone, then yes.” With less elegance than usual he dragged himself upright, immediately regretting the move when the world started tilting on its axis. “Urgh, that’s not good.”
“Come on, six shots of expresso," she said, an arm around his waist to steady him. "Let’s get you sobered up.”
As they staggered towards the café, a small smile touched his lips. Maybe, just maybe, he still had a friend after all.