One Last Chance ~ Crowley x Aziraphale

The Pearly Gates

Up with Aziraphale, his regrets had already set in as the elevator doors shut. He regretted not listening to Crowley, to not agreeing to go with him, to agreeing with Metatron. He felt that this was the right thing to do but it didn't feel right. Not without Crowley by his side. Gabriel left for a reason, hadn't he? Aziraphale never had the chance to learn of this reason, though, but he had a feeling it had to do with whatever Metatron had referred to as 'The second coming' and Aziraphale felt nothing good would come of it. As the elevator went up, his thoughts raced.

Crowley had waited for him to leave. He waited for him to change his mind. Why couldn't he have just gone with Crowley in the first place?! Aziraphale silently cursed himself for this, but he couldn't turn back now, could he? He had made this decision, he might as well do the best he could with it now, right? Maybe he could better protect Crowley this way?

It was wishful thinking and Aziraphale knew it. He had just blown his last chance to be with Crowley. To be truly and utterly happy. Be watched Beelzebub and Gabriel have it their way, why couldn't he and Crowley have it? Because he was stupid. Aziraphale thought to himself. This was his fault.

But now he couldn't stop it, the elevator closed and something told him that Metatron wouldn't be so polite if he were to try to leave now, so he plastered a smile onto his face and pretended his guilt wasn't running wild at that moment.

He had forgotten how bleak and sterile heaven was. The sight tore his insides up. He wanted to go back to his cozy bookshop. Oh how he hoped Muriel would take good care of it. He silently walked alongside Metatron, following his lead.

He figured he'd best not piss off the people that could completely erase his existence. He shuddered at the thought. They had the book of life in their hands and now Aziraphale hung in the balance, his life in the archangels and the Metatron's hands.

And he didn't like that.

He didn't like it one bit.

But there was nothing else for him to do now, he just had to hope that he could do something to protect Crowley from where he is now. Lord he felt terrible for leaving Crowley.

Just like that, the bead of guilt that had already been sitting in his gut grew, feeling like a lead ball weighing him down. But he hid it, putting on a smile as he was led to a desk.

"This is where you'll be staying for the time being." Metatron motioned to the desk and Aziraphale glanced down at it. It was a far cry from his desk back at the bookshop which had some of his books and other things he enjoyed decorating it. This one though? Well it was just bland and... Quite sad honestly.

He struggled to hide his distaste and Metatron shook his head, "There's no material objects in Heaven supreme archangel so your desk will be staying this way."

Aziraphale swallowed and nodded, "Right.. Of course." He tried to hide his disappointment. He was already missing the coziness of his bookshop, the neat yet cluttered spaces he had learned to call home. But it never truly felt like home without Crowley by his side so this place, this desk would never be his home. But he swallowed that thought and sat down at the desk, Metatron giving a satisfied smile at this.

"Well then, I'll let you get settled in now then." Metatron then walked away, leaving Aziraphale with his growing sorrow and guilt as the homesickness started to twist in his gut. It was all consuming back he bit it back, forcing a smile as he stared at the seemingly infinite sterile bleakness that surrounded him. How was he supposed to live here?

He fought back the oncoming onslaught of tears that pushed to his eyes. He'd just have to suck it up while he was here.