'Til We Meet Again - Crowley x Reader

Chapter 52

Sunday, the Very First Day of the Rest of their Lives

Y/N stirred from her sleep as the bus came to a stop in the bustling streets of London. Her eyes blinked open, and she looked to her side, where Crowley offered her a warm, reassuring smile.

She got up from her seat and prepared to disembark the bus, her eyes flickering to Crowley momentarily. He leaned in close and whispered, "I'll follow in a second. Just need to tell Aziraphale something." Y/N nodded and stepped off the bus, waiting on the pavement.

Crowley emerged a few moments later, glancing back at the bus as it pulled away. Y/N waved to Aziraphale, who was leaning casually against the window, watching their departure. He gave a small, almost sheepish wave in return.

With a quick, conspiratorial smile, Crowley took Y/N's hand, and they began to walk down the busy London streets together. Y/N couldn't help but notice that Crowley seemed a bit more proper than usual, his voice carrying an odd edge.

Crowley leaned closer to Y/N, his words laced with an intriguing anticipation. "We're meeting Aziraphale later in the park." Y/N's curiosity was piqued, her gaze narrowing at him, but she nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Aziraphale had arrived at his beloved bookshop. He couldn't help but stare at the miraculously unburnt exterior, an expression of sheer wonder on his face. As he pushed open the door and entered the familiar interior, his eyes widened in amazement.

Every shelf was perfectly stocked, and the books were arranged with impeccable precision. Aziraphale moved through the shop, his fingers grazing the spine of a tome, marvelling at the almost too-perfect interior. The bookshop, it seemed, had been miraculously restored, and Aziraphale's heart was filled with both joy and gratitude as he relished the moment.

......

Y/N and Crowley continued their stroll down the road towards Crowley's apartment. As they approached the building, Y/N's eyes widened in fascination as she beheld Crowley's Bentley parked outside, looking utterly untouched and unscathed. It was a stark contrast to the fiery explosion she had witnessed the day before.

Her gaze remained fixed on the sleek, black automobile. It was as if time had rolled backward, reversing the destruction, and leaving the car in perfect condition. Her amazement was palpable.

Crowley, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by the remarkable sight of his beloved Bentley. His nonchalance only deepened Y/N's suspicion.

Breaking her gaze from the Bentley, Y/N turned to Crowley and inquired, "When are we meeting Aziraphale?"

Crowley offered a simple response, "Now." With that, he swiftly moved to the edge of the sidewalk and hailed a passing cab. Y/N's suspicion deepened as a taxi promptly pulled up to the curb, and Crowley swung open the door, gesturing for her to get in.

With a slight shrug, Y/N complied, taking her seat in the taxi beside Crowley. As the driver pulled away from the curb, they were en route to St James's Park, where Aziraphale awaited them, alongside a chance to discuss the recent mysterious turn of events.

......

Upon their arrival at St. James's Park, Aziraphale was waiting for them. They exchanged greetings and began to stroll alongside the meandering river, the placid water reflecting the tranquil atmosphere around them.

As they strolled along the serene riverbank of the park, Y/N couldn't help but notice a newfound sense of relaxation in Aziraphale's demeanour. He seemed unusually carefree, his steps light and his shoulders relaxed. Y/N shot an intrigued glance at Crowley, who seemed far more uptight and formal.

The world had taken an unexpected twist, and things had somehow returned to normal, but it was all so inconceivable.

Aziraphale, his curiosity piqued, inquired of Crowley, "How's the car?" His tone was laden with suspicion.

Crowley smiled warily, responding, "Not a scratch on it." Aziraphale nodded in satisfaction, content that his beloved Bentley had also made it through unscathed.

Curiosity reciprocated, Crowley asked about Aziraphale's cherished bookshop. "How's the bookshop?" he inquired, fully expecting it to be miraculously undamaged.

Aziraphale replied apprehensively, "Not a smudge. Not a book burnt."

As they continued their leisurely walk, Y/N couldn't help but comment, "Everything's back to normal, it seems." Though, she still felt something was off about her friends.

The warm London sun danced over the serene park as Y/N, Crowley, and Aziraphale reached an ice cream stand nestled under a large oak tree. The sweet scent of freshly made ice cream wafted through the air, beckoning them to indulge in the delight of a frozen treat.

Aziraphale stepped up to the counter and ordered three ice creams, each a different flavour. With their ice creams in hand, they stood aside, the world around them calm and content.

Crowley, focused on his ice cream, casually inquired, "Heard anything from your people yet?" Aziraphale shook his head before responding, "Yours?"

Crowley, enjoying a mouthful of ice cream, shook his head, the chilly sweetness momentarily silencing him. After he swallowed, he replied, "Nothing."

Y/N, looking at them both with curiosity, broke the ice, asking, "Do either of you understand what happened yesterday?"

Aziraphale, with a pondering expression, admitted, "Well, I understand some of it. But some of it... Well, it's just a little bit too..."

"...Ineffable." a deep, resonant voice cut through the air. Death stood in the park across from them, staring intently. Y/N and Crowley immediately turned their attention to the ominous figure.

The sight of the skeletal figure that was Death standing nearby made Crowley uneasy. His typically smooth demeanour faltered as he mumbled, "Oh, that... that's funny, seeing him here. That's meant to be bad luck." He stammered as he repeated his words, "That's meant to be bad..."

Y/N frowned, her concern mirroring Crowley's as they both turned to look at Aziraphale, who was bound and gagged, struggling against his angelic captors.

As the angels pulled Aziraphale away, Crowley marched forward to help his friend. The angels, stern and determined, stopped him, and they could only watch in despair. Their path to their friend blocked, the angels spoke in unison, reciting a haunting rhyme:

"Renegade angels all tied up with strings. These are a few of our favourite things."

"You should focus on your girlfriend." one of the angels declared, nodding towards Y/N.

Crowley turned to find Y/N, panic welling up within him. He opened his mouth to call out to her when he saw a flicker of movement behind her. It was Death, cloaked in shadows, its presence looming over her. Panic surged through him, and he shouted in warning, sprinting toward her.

As he approached Y/N, about to grab her and flee, he was suddenly struck from behind. It was Hastur, cleverly disguised as a human, who called out to Crowley, "What's wrong, love?"

Crowley glanced up just in time to see Death grab Y/N. A black cloud of smoke enveloped them, and she vanished, leaving him alone with Hastur.

Sneering down at the disoriented demon, Hastur taunted, "Ooh, bad luck, dear."

Still reeling from the blow, Crowley replied, albeit dazed, "It's not a problem. It's Tickety-boo."