Work Text:
31st December 2025
A Pavement On The Side of the River Thames
11:55 PM
Crowley was lonely. He had been for 2 years and 6 months, since he had kissed him and he left.
Crowley longed to see him again, so he could apologize for invading his space.
The Bentley, being the drama queen she was, had taken to going against Crowley's wishes and independently turned her hubcaps yellow, and did not want to turn them back. but she kept the main car black, because she knew the wrath of Crowley.
Her damned radio only played Nightingale in Berkeley Square, and, to top it all off the infernal machine only drove him to the bookshop, no matter how hard Crowley tried to make her do otherwise. (and trust me, he tried.)
So Crowley had taken to teleporting around London if he had to be somewhere, or walking aimlessly around the streets of London as if it would heal his broken heart.
But today, he was here for a reason. The New Year's Fireworks. Well, it's more of a light show now, but people still call it fireworks.
Crowley was walking through a crowded path by the river Thames, and noticed Nina and Maggie in a good spot next to the Battle of Britain memorial, onlooking the London eye.
He started walking towards the couple but then people started to crane their necks. It was happening.
Crowley moved himself into the most empty space he could find, backed against a tree, and hidden from view of everyone behind him by said tree.
'3! 2! 1! HAPPY NEW YEAR!' the people all around him yelled.
Crowley didn't join in. he was staring at Nina and Maggie. They were kissing.
When they broke apart, Maggie breathed, 'Happy New Year' to Nina, a smile on her face. Nina returned the gesture.
It was like a final kick in the teeth after all that had happened that day.
31st December 2025
New Scotland Yard
11:55 PM
Aziraphale was lonely. He had been for 2 years and 6 months, since he was kissed by him and he stayed behind.
Aziraphale longed to see him again, so he could apologise for saying those terrible things.
The Metatron, who was very strict, only let him down to earth for 15 hours a month. Aziraphale thought it unfair, but it may distract him from his work, so he did't question his intentions.
On the days he came down, for the first few months, he would check up with Muriel and teach them how to read and write earth literature and also how to appear human. Then he would search around London, looking for the Bentley, for signs of the demon that drove it, just to find it empty with yellow hubcaps.
Then he just found it parked outside the bookshop all the time.
So instead, he had taken to spying on Nina and Maggie for the hours the Metatron gave him, hoping they and him would cross paths, to no avail.
But today, he was here for a reason. The New Year's Fireworks. He knew he liked them. They reminded him of the stars he'd helped create. He was sure to be there.
He was sitting on the roof of the New Scotland Yard building, facing the London Eye. He was looking at Nina and Maggie, huddled together to shield from the cold. They were chatting and waiting, as were all the other people on the street.
And then they started chanting. A hum of many different voices, all except the one he wanted to hear the most. He would know if that one was among them.
And then he saw them. Lips pressed together, much unlike that day with him.
Aziraphale felt a pang of sadness, and guilt, and grief in his heart.
1st January 2026
A Tree
12:01 AM
Only the very observant would notice how a crimson haired person dressed in all black melted into the shadow of a tree and disappeared.
1st January 2026
The Roof
12:01 AM
Only the very observant would notice how the huge white dove wings that appeared on a person in a sharp grey suit lifted the person off of the ground and away into the night.