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“What did I say,” Crowley said dryly.
Harriet cast him a stern glare, reminding him to be a good friend. Crowley’s stomach fell then, cursing himself internally for behaving badly. He didn’t let it show, though.
“I don’t need you reminding me, Crowley,” Harriet spoke. “I’m already struggling as it is. What I need is your help.”
“Fine.” Crowley huffed, pretending to still be cross with her. Maybe he still was. After all, she was the one who left him and their band for a complete prick, a prick Crowley had predicted was not good news.
“It’d really help me if you picked Warlock up for me after his daycare.”
Crowley jolted at that. He hadn’t been two centimetres near the babe since it was born and had no plans of ever doing so if he could avoid it.
“Me!” He proclaimed.
“Yes, Crowley. Please.” Harriet’s eyes were soft then. “You owe me.” Her eyebrow raised fiercely, and then she crossed her arms.
Crowley let out a hiss, realizing he couldn’t slither his way out of this one. He did owe her substantially. For all the times she’s gotten him out right before things could turn into something really bad.
“Fine.” He huffed.
That’s how Crowley found himself parking just outside the daycare. Crowley looked at the clock in his car, giving off a quiet swear. He was early; damn his fast driving. Crowley got out of his car to light a cigarette while he wanted time to pass. He glared at the ill-matching car seat Harriet had fitted into his back seat. Crowley hoped the little demon wouldn’t wreck his car with his bodily fluids or what else not. He quickly took another drag of his cigarette, wondering once again what he’d gotten himself into.
Then, suddenly, an old model Volkswagen Beetle came pulling into the parking lot, grabbing Crowley’s attention. When the car was parked, Crowley couldn’t help but wander to it, noticing how much care and love the owner must have put into keeping it in such good shape.
“Hello there.” A voice called, and Crowley looked up to see who could only be the owner.
The man’s attire, a well-put-together beige suit, matched the car perfectly. The man’s cheeks were rosy, smiling wide from under short blonde curls. Crowley stood up, nodding his head appropriately in greeting.
“Nice car.” Crowley offered.
“Why, thank you.” The man held out his jacket by the lapels as if proud.
“‘62?” Crowley gestured to the car.
“Yes, it is. You are a car historian yourself.”
Crowley hummed, nodding nonchalantly. His eyes flickered back up to the man with interest.
“That’s mine over there.” Crowley pointed between another drag of his cigarette. “Made in 1926.”
“My!” The man exclaimed, looking at Crowley’s car in intrigue.
“Care to take a look?” Crowley asked then.
“Most certainly.” The man was smiling, excitedly almost.
Crowley led the way as he finished off his cigarette and crushed it to the ground below his shoe. Crowley started recounting the finer details of his car then, showing off a tad bit. He couldn’t help himself. But the man was nodding enthusiastically, his eyes sparking with interest. Interest was starting to stir in Crowley in turn. He did his best not to let it show.
“Oh, are you a parent?” The man asked, noticing the neon-coloured baby seat in the back.
“No. Just being a good friend.” Crowley replied, unable to help the annoyance that came through his tone.
“Oh, me too!” The man smiled. “Well, I’m the godfather, actually.” The man seemed to puff out with pride then, smiling. “Adam is the boy’s name. Five. He’s a very well-behaved, respectable boy, I dare say. How old’s yours?”
Crowley didn’t remember. “Toddler aged.” He thought.
“Oh, they’re so adorable at that age. Don’t you think? Sometimes, I think I really missed out.” He sighed wistfully then.
“What do you mean?” Crowley asked.
“Children.” The man replied. “They’re such a blessing, don’t you think?”
Crowley thought children were a curse.
“Alas, I never went down that road.” The man fixed his jacket absentmindedly. “But then I never have had a partner…” he cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Right,” Crowley replied, wondering if there was intention in that little snippet.
Another car was pulling up then.
“Oh, it’s Janet!” The man raised his arm to the air to wave. “Her daughter is such a sweetie.”
“Aziraphale!” The woman had gotten out of her car to wave and came over. “How are you?” She asked as she approached. “Oh, and who is this?” She lowered her voice in almost a teasing tone as her eyes flickered to take in Crowley.
Crowley quickly turned away lest he blush.
“This is…sorry, I never caught your name.” The man flustered.
“Crowley.” He supplied.
“Well, it’s a pleasure. Aziraphale.” The man was offering his hand then.
Crowley awkwardly shook it.
Janet chuckled at them. “Well, I’m going to go pick up Tabitha. We have to get to my mum’s tonight.”
“Yes. See you soon.” Aziraphale said to Janet before turning back to Crowley. “Shall we?” He prompted Crowley, tilting his head to the door.
“Oh, right,” Crowley replied dumbly. He found then Aziraphale opening the door for him and thanked him, appreciating the gesture.
Crowley was at the front desk then, unsure of how to proceed.
“I’m here to pick up my friend’s kid. Warlock.” He stated.
The woman on the other side of the desk’s eyes cast over him, taking him in. “Right. Of course.”
Crowley was shown into a room next to the one where Aziraphale was heading. Aziraphale offered him a smile before Crowley went off into the room. Crowley was instantly met with ear-piercing screaming.
“Warlock’s caretaker is here to pick them up.” The woman explained to another.
“Oh, thank God.” The other women breathed out.
Crowley looked over the room. He noticed the kids were older than he expected. Some kids were playing together nicely. Then, there were the kids running widely across the room, screaming.
“Warlock!” The lady called sharply. “Warlock!” She went marching over to one of the screaming children then.
Just fucking great, Crowley thought then.
Warlock turned out to be one of the screaming boys, with long brown hair. Warlock immediately got upset upon hearing he had to stop playing and go home. Warlock put on a great fit, running across the room to escape the lady in charge. Crowley was left standing there wondering what on earth he’d gotten into. He’d heard from Harriet that Warlock was a handful, but he didn’t expect this much. Warlock sat down with his arm crossed in the corner of the room.
“I want Mom!” He declared.
The woman sighed, coming back over to Crowley. “Is there anyway you could reach out to his mother?”
“She’s at work,” Crowley explained. “Trust me, I wouldn’t have come if I wasn’t forced to.”
“Honestly, I can’t blame you.” The woman replied.
Crowley took in a breath and approached Warlock. They were just a child, after all. Crowley was much more intimidating than a child.
“Now, Warlock, you remember me, don’t you?” Crowley crouched to the boy who was still seated cross-armed and cross-legged, pouting.
Crowley dared to push up his sunglasses. “Your mother’s friend who is in the rock band.” He offered, but Warlock didn’t even look up at him.
Crowley sighed and let his glass fall back down. “Well, your mother will be very cross with you if she learns of this behaviour.”
Warlock still didn’t budge.
“You can stay here, I suppose.” Crowley rose back up. “Till everyone is gone and you’re left alone, all by yourself, with the lights turned off. I don’t care.”
Crowley noticed Warlock jolt a bit at that out of the corner of his eye and smirked at the success. “Or you could come with me, and I can take you home to your mother. What would you prefer?”
Warlock grumbled but untangled himself and slowly stood up. Warlock made it clear he wasn’t too happy about the decision. Crowley smirked at the success.
Crowley managed to coax Warlock to his car right as Aziraphale was leaving, with a boy excitedly talking about his day.
“Oh, Mr. Crowley.” Aziraphale caught his attention.
“It’s just Crowley.” He explained, coaxing Warlock into his car while Warlock seemed agreeable.
“Will I be seeing you again?” Aziraphale inquired.
Crowley looked between Warlock, who was grumbly settling into his car seat. He then looked back to Aziraphale, who was glowing away, taking Crowley’s breath from him.
“Yeah.” Crowley said then.
“Oh, how wonderful!” Aziraphale exclaimed, beaming even more somehow.
“Aziraphale.” The other boy prompted, tugging at Aziraphale’s hand.
Aziraphale looked from Crowley to the boy, then back up. “I’m afraid we must get going. But I’ll see you soon.”
Crowley nodded as Aziraphale was off.
“Fuck.” Crowley swore in his car.
“You want to…?” Harriet was staring at Crowley as if he’d just grown two heads, which he might have quite possibly done. “You want to pick Warlock up for me?”
“As a favour.” He waved his hand nonchalantly.
Harriet studied him hard for a long moment. “You met someone!” She declared then.
Crowley looked away.
“And you said you’d never fall for someone with a kid.” Crowley could feel her smirking.
“He said he was the child’s godfather,” Crowley emphasized. “No kids. And no partner, more importantly.”
Harriet was indeed smirking. “Well, I appreciate your help, Crowley. Lord knows I could use it.”
So Crowley came early again, his stomach fluttering for possibly getting to see Aziraphale again. And he did, Aziraphale greeting Crowley with that beaming smile of his. They talked lightly before Aziraphale decided they must pick up the respective kids. Crowley grumbled but surrendered to it. Warlock was no less cooperative than the first time. It took some barging with ice cream to get Warlock to get into Crowley’s car.
The next time, Warlock was kicking and screaming as Crowley tried to buckle him up into his car seat.
“No!” Warlock screamed.
Crowley growled in annoyance as he somehow managed to buckle Warlock up. The next thing Crowley knew, the child bit him hard.
Crowley let out a cry at the pain, recoiling. “You little…” He almost swore.
“You’re going to pay for that.” Crowley pointed his finger at the boy. “No ice cream for you today.”
Unfortunately, that only worsened things on the drive as Warlock continued screaming and thrashing in his seat. Crowley had to stop on the side of the road, too distracted by Warlock’s screaming.
“I will abandon you on the side of this road, and you will never see your mother again unless you stop crying,” Crowley yelled at Warlock.
Warlock went stock quiet for a moment, then started bawling.
“Oh no.” Crowley realized his instant mistake. He quickly rushed back into his car to drive to Harriet’s as Warlock bawled away.
Crowley got to Harriet’s and handed her the still bawling Warlock off.
“Crowley, what did you do?” Harriet asked, looking confused.
“I’m sorry.” Crowley apologized. “I didn’t…”
“It’s fine.” She told him. “He’s probably just tired.”
Crowley felt a strange, finding almost disappointment in his stomach as he drove home that night.
“Crowley.” Aziraphale greeted Crowley as he smoked his cigarette outside the daycare.
Crowley nodded politely.
“Do you really think that…” Aziraphale started as he came beside Crowley. “Sorry, rude of me.”
“What is?” Crowley looked at him, interested.
“You’re smoking. Outside a daycare. Where children are.”
Crowley hummed in disinterest, though he let his cigarette fall and crushed it under his foot.
“I think mine’s defected.” He said then. “Perhaps we could swap.”
Aziraphale gave a sharp, delightful laugh. “No, we couldn’t.” He shook his head profusely. “I’m sure the parents would notice.”
“Pretty sure kids are all the same. Come at the end of the day. Right?”
Aziraphale chuckled quietly, a smile gracing his face. Crowley couldn’t help but reflect on it. He wanted to pry deeper and get to know the man more.
“Warlock’s apart of the butterfly room.” Aziraphale was talking again. “But he can’t be more than a year younger than Adam, right?”
Crowley shrugged. He still didn’t care to learn the child’s age. He was, however, starting to wish he hadn’t disposed of his cigarette.
“Do you think…” Aziraphale’s voice seemed raised, and Crowley turned to see him almost blushing. Interest perked back in Crowley. “Do you think they might like a playdate?”
Crowley realized the scheme, and his heart picked up. “For sure.” He replied, trying to seem as casual as possible. “Kids like that sort of thing, right?”
“Oh, yes.” Aziraphale nodded. “There’s this lovely park just across the walking path.” He pointed across the parking lot, where Crowley noticed an open grassy area. “I’ve taken Adam there before, after daycare.”
Crowley just nodded.
“Perhaps one day after daycare, we could arrange something. When they otherwise don’t have other thing plans.”
Crowley nodded, humming as if he could care less. But really, he was quite excited.
“Suppose we should pick up the hellspawn then, hmm.” Crowley gestured to the doors.
Aziraphale chuckled again. It really was delightful.
The temptation of going to the park worked on getting Warlock to cooperate the next day. But the boy was not too happy to have to hold Crowley’s hand on the walk over. Crowley didn’t really want to hold his hand either, but he wasn’t about to have the boy run off. Crowley and Aziraphale talked on their walk till they reached the park.
What Aziraphale and Crowley expected of the children playing together did not occur. Warlock took the moment of freedom from Crowley’s grasp to run like a crazed animal across the play structure and back down and right into the open grassy field.
Crowley swore to himself as Warlock started to make a break for it, hurrying to catch Warlock before he was gone for good. Crowley managed to grab Warlock, and he gripped the boy’s arms tightly, kneeling before him.
“You will not ruin this for me, you hear?” He hissed at the boy.
“Warlock?” Adam had come over. “Wanna play tag?”
“You want to play tag, right?” Crowley urged Warlock. Thankfully, the boy nodded.
Things went relatively well from there, all things considered. Crowley actually got to talk to Aziraphale and learn more about him. Their conversations were laced with filtration, and Crowley smirked every time he made Aziraphale chuckle or bush. This was all until Warlock’s sudden, sharp cry broke out over the space. Both men jolted, and Aziraphale led to rush over to the boy’s side. It seemed Warlock had fallen over, hurting himself. But no grave injuries seem to have taken place, a good thing. Crowley felt out of his depth with sobbing tears coming from the boy.
“It’s okay.” Adam comforted Warlock.
“Crowley.” Aziraphale urged with a gesture. “Comfort him.”
“Me!” Crowley explained. He didn’t even know the boy; why was it up to him to comfort the lad?
Still, he sighed and came over to pat Warlock’s shoulder rather awkwardly. “There, there.”
“Mama.” Warlock sniffled through his tears.
“Yes, I guess we can take you home now to your mother.” Crowley sighed again but picked Warlock up into his arms. He was quite disappointed that this all was ending so early when he and Aziraphale were just starting to warm up to each other.
Suddenly, Crowley found Warlock’s arms hugging around his neck. “Oh,” He got out as something warm filled him.
“Poor thing.” Aziraphale offered a sympathetic smile. “Shall we walk back with you?”
“Yes, thank you.” Crowley smiled in return.
They walked back, Warlock’s head against Crowley’s. Warlock’s arms were still around Crowley’s neck as he sniffled.
“We’ll see you next time,” Aziraphale said once they returned to the parking lot.
“Bye, Warlock.” Adam waved.
“Say bye.” Crowley prompted Warlock, and the boy muttered a watery goodbye.
Crowley then managed to strap Warlock into his car seat with much more ease than any other day. The boy seemed tired from his crying, and Crowley wiped his tears away with a sigh.
On the way to Harriet’s, she called, saying she’d be working late. Crowley sighed but assured her he could care for Warlock until she got off work. Warlock seemed at least manageable in his state. Crowley took Warlock out and carried him inside the house.
“Mama,” Warlock murmured into Crowley’s shoulder.
“Mama will be home soon.” Crowley found his arm coming to Warlock’s back comforting. “You’re stuck with me, unfortunately.”
Crowley found Warlock’s crib and placed him inside. The boy immediately grabbed his blanket to his face, sucking his thumb.
“You know,” Crowley whispered over the crib. “For the little demon you are, I suppose you’re not half bad.”