One Last Chance ~ Crowley x Aziraphale

Clumsy Guardian Angel

Muriel had been struggling to keep the bookshop organized and neat, and she was still worrying about Crowley. She wasn't sure she made the right choice to give them the holy water.

She hadn't seen them go back to their apartment in a while, or even leave the flower shop at that, so she decided she'd go visit the serpent.

She closed the bookshop for the night and quickly walked over to the flower shop, seeing Crowley crying as they sat in the middle of the shop, surrounded by the flowers they had been putting so much love and effort into.

Love and effort she figured they wished they were able to put into Aziraphale. She gently nudged the door open, a small bell ringing as she did so.

Crowley froze before shortly calling out, "Shops closed." Their voice trembled as they spoke and Muriel gently stepped inside.

"I'm not here for flowers.." She spoke softly and Crowley looked over at her in surprise. "I haven't seen you leave here in a while and.. I wanted to make sure you were alright.." She walked over to Crowley, sitting beside them, keeping some space between them.

"I'm fine..." They grumbled, making sure their sunglasses properly covered their red eyes.

"Are you sure..?" She asked softly, not wanting to push it too far. Crowley just scowled and nodded.

"Think I'm a liar angel?" They snapped, Muriel having to stop herself from recoiling from Crowley's harsh tone and the use of their nickname for Aziraphale on her.

"No- no not all Crowley, I-"

"I don't want to hear it. You're all the same aren't you?" Muriel knew Crowley was just lashing out, that this wasn't personal and that they were just in pain but she couldn't help but feel hurt by their words.

"I just wanted to make sure you were alright, I wasn't trying to insinuate you're a liar. I'm sorry that I was trying to be a good friend. I'm not saying you're a liar but crying in the middle of your flower shop doesn't particularly feel like something you'd do if you were 'fine'." Muriel crossed her arms as she spoke, making Crowley wince.

"Sorry- I... Sorry... I've just... I haven't been able to get him out of my head and it's been... Fucking with me, I'm sorry for lashing out at you, that wasn't fair.." They mumbled quietly and Muriel nodded a little.

"I understand..." She gently placed her hand on their shoulder. "It's alright.."

"No, it's not." Crowley stated more firmly, "I snapped at you when you did nothing wrong, that's not okay."

Muriel smiled ever so slightly, "I forgive you."

Crowley felt their lips tug into a frown as they remembered the last time they spoke with Aziraphale.

He had kissed the angel, in some kind of desperate last attempt to get him to stay, to make him understand how much they needed him. Yet, as they let go and Aziraphale pulled away, struggling for words, struggling to process what had just happened, all he told them was "I forgive you."

It shattered their heart as they knew that was it, he was leaving them for some pipe dream in heaven that would never come true. They stared at the angel, sighing before walking away.

"Don't bother.." The words left their mouth without them truly even thinking about it, making Muriel's smile falter slightly. She opened her mouth to speak but Crowley quickly cut her off, "I think it's best you leave." They spoke shortly and Muriel slowly nodded.

"Right.. Right of course.." She mumbled quietly and stood up. "You know where to find me if you need anything then.." She added before leaving the shop.

Crowley buried their face into their hands, the tears coming back.

They stayed by their car, holding out hope, grasping onto any sliver they could find. They watched the angel they so desperately craved and adore follow the Metatron. Watched as he looked back at them, silently praying to the god they'd given up on to send Aziraphale back to them.

But alas, they were failed once more as Aziraphale turned and went back into the elevator. Then they climbed into their car and drove away, needing to get away from the memory of him, from the pain, from the hurt.

But it had followed them. Crowley honestly didn't think there was anywhere they could go without finding some memory of the angel. Even if they'd gone to hell, Aziraphale had been there, just after Armageddon to save Crowley from holy water as they'd saved him from hellfire. His memory would linger wherever they went.

And once more, their mind wandered back to the thermos of holy water that sat in their safe, but this time, they got up and headed out to their car.