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[CROWLEY POV]
The end of the world, better called as a second armageddon, Crowley honestly just couldn't believe it, although he had experienced the first armageddon and had successfully stopped it before any real damage was truly done, this time was different.
He didn't have Aziraphale with him to help and he didn't have any intel other than that it was happening, which was extremely frustrating
Crowley knew that, although he wasn't weak and was most definitely far from it, without his angel to help him with ending another Armageddon, he couldn’t do anything to change the fact that the world would end and he would be powerless
The thing that hurt the most was that he couldn’t spend time his last time on earth with his angel, not that the end of the world would truly affect him, not physically at least, since he could simply go back to hell, but he wouldn’t ever see the angel he loved so very much ever again since only an angel can open a door to heaven and without a door to go through, he would never be able to have access to heaven.
A lot of thoughts ran through the demon's head, such as: ‘Is Aziraphale even going to try to stop this just as he stopped the first Armageddon with me?’ And ‘Aziraphale is too brainwashed by heaven to do anything about it, he's not my angel anymore, this is so hopeless, I am so hopeless.’
These thoughts made Crowley extremely miserable, and whether true or not now, Crowley believed that Aziraphale didn't care about the earth or Crowley or fighting against heaven and hell's toxic system anymore.
Although Crowley believed all of this, he couldn’t help but to want to talk to Aziraphale, just one last time, he didn't want his last memory of seeing Aziraphale to be staring desolately at the angel as he went into the elevator to heaven.
He wanted his last memory of Aziraphale to be hugging him, kissing him even, he didnt care what happened, all Crowley knew was that he wasn't going to let Aziraphale leave him all alone be his last memory of Aziraphale all together.
He really needed Aziraphale near him, even if it was an argument between them or if Aziraphale attacked him for whatever reason, he just wanted Aziraphale to be close to him again like the old times when they were on ‘good terms’.
How Crowley wished they were still on good terms.
But they weren’t and Crowley had convinced himself that Aziraphale hated him and therefore didn’t make an effort to try to reach out to Aziraphale.
[AZIRAPHALE POV]
Aziraphale was shocked about the Armageddon, what he worked so hard to stop would now be coming back.
He wished he would’ve just stayed with Crowley, rejected heaven and they could have lived in the bookshop until the end of time together.
Now that the Armageddon was happening, he didn't have crowley to help him but he did have intel, which was of course useless without his demon helping him to end the Armageddon, it was so frustrating how powerless he was, all he wanted was to see the demon he loved so very much, but he couldn’t because he was an archangel now and needed to fulfil his duties in heaven.
He needed to go back to earth, he needed to see Crowley just one more time before the world ended, he didn't want his last memory of Crowley to be looking at him while he was leaning against the Bentley.
Oh how guilty Aziraphale felt in that moment, having to see Crowley in such a hopeless state, although his eyes were hidden by his glasses, Aziraphale could see that in his eyes, he was practically begging for Aziraphale to just come back to him and refuse the Metatron’s offer.
He really did regret accepting the offer, he now realises that no matter how good heaven is, it could never replace being with crowley.
Crowley probably hates him now for leaving, Aziraphale just wanted Crowley to be near to him again like the old times when they were happy and on ‘good terms’ with each other and not on whatever terms they were on now.
Now, Aziraphale has the idea that he should try to sneak back to earth, to see Crowley again so he can apologise for leaving and maybe Crowley would forgive him and they could be happy together.
But then again, Crowley might not forgive him, Aziraphale thinks that would be the more likely outcome but he hopes more that he forgives him after what he did.
He didn't really want to sneak out of heaven, maybe he could just say he had some duties to fulfil on earth, it might raise some suspicion but then again, Armageddon was happening so he could just say that it was for helping the Armageddon move into complete success.
So it was a plan, go back to earth and talk to Crowley and maybe they could make up and be happy again, somehow.
They could end the second Armageddon together like they ended the first one, it shouldn’t be that hard, right?
Just need to find the antichrist and then they will be set to end it, crisis averted and no more problems anymore and Aziraphale and Crowley can be happy together and love each other until the end of time! And nothing bad will happen at all! They will be happy together forever!
Aziraphale stood up from his office desk, and walked through heaven, as normal as possible for what he was going to do, he walked past Michael, they didn't seem too bothered about him walking past outside of their dislike for him for his interactions with Crowley.
As he approached the elevator, he felt increasingly nervous, and his palms became sweaty, he almost turned back but Aziraphale persevered with determination.
He knew that there really was no turning back and that this was his real last chance to see Crowley, that's what motivated him, crowley was what motivated him.
Aziraphale stepped into the elevator, he knew this was probably the wrong thing to do, but at this point, he didn't care, all he cared about was seeing Crowley and that was it.
Aziraphale stood in the elevator, tensing slightly as the elevator doors opened to reveal the all too familiar Soho.
He needed to talk to Crowley, perhaps he was in the bookshop, even if he wasn't there, Aziraphale could just ask Muriel where Crowley might be since they run the bookshop now and surely he would have visited the bookshop, despite the absence of the angel.
Aziraphale stepped out of the elevator, walking to the bookshop and entered, it appeared that the bookshop was empty, where could Muriel be? But Aziraphale had bigger plans than finding Muriel.
He needed to find Crowley first, Aziraphale sat down at ‘his’ desk, opening a first edition copy of Sense and Sensibility, signed by Jane Austen herself.
[CROWLEY POV]
Crowley sat in his car in an agonising silence, no music playing, no one there to comfort him, he just sat expressionless, his body now curled up in a ball, he felt the type of overwhelming sadness where he couldn’t even let a tear fall, nevermind actually crying, he didn't want to cry anyways.
All he could think of was memories of Aziraphale, reminiscing about the happy times and thinking what could have been.
He regretted everything, he could have accepted the offer to go to heaven and be happy with Aziraphale, how could he be so stupid? No, he shouldn’t think like that, he wouldn't be happy as an angel, no matter how much Aziraphale would have done for him, he would have hated being an angel.
Crowley suddenly heard the sound of a siren, making his ears ring, it sounded familiar, too familiar….. it suddenly hit him what the siren was for… it was the Armageddon siren.
Crowley decided that he should go into the bookshop, to see it one more time before he couldn’t. If he couldn't see Aziraphale, he would have to see the one thing that reminded him of Aziraphale.
The bookshop used to feel comforting, it used to feel like home but not anymore, not after everything happened, not after Aziraphale left. It was like the bookshop had lost its soul, Aziraphale was the bookshop's soul, that's what made it comforting, that's who made it feel like home.
As Crowley touched the door handle to open it yet paused, he couldn’t help but feel a strong wave of guilt wash over him, he couldn't do this.
Crowley's hand became loose on the handle, eventually falling to his side, he turned around, before walking back to the Bentley and entering it once again.
Crowley simply lay on the backseat, contemplating what to do.
[AZIRAPHALE POV]
Aziraphale paced around the bookshop, familiar yet so different to when he had last seen it, it gave him an almost deja vu feeling.
Rumbling shook the ground, books falling to the floor around aziraphale, tinnitus rang out in his ears.
It must be time for the chaos to begin, and still, Crowley wasn't around with him.
This really is the end of the earth, but surely luck will be in their favour, and everything will work out in the end.
Aziraphale picked up the fallen books and put them back in their correct place. Despite the shaking, he secured the books in just the right position so they wouldn’t fall again.
Aziraphale felt sweat grow on his palms, wiping them off on his pants.
[CROWLEY POV]
Crowley stared into the dark nothingness, thinking about Aziraphale, he just wanted to scream how much he loved him, but his body felt paralysed, it wasn’t really him to do that kind of thing, that type of expression of love, yet the angel made him want to do such a thing, just for the sake of love, for the sake of them being together.
Crowley felt the surrounding world getting ever so slightly hotter, the temperature rising, the Bentley's windows rolled down, not really helping at all, only intensifying the heat.
Explosions erupted in the distance, out of sight but most definitely not out of hearing distance, the world, hotter and hotter the temperature grew, until it was burning, not a problem for Crowley, being a demon, but he could still notice it.
Explosions grew closer until the last one chimed in Crowley's ears, a tear finally dripped down his cheek as he closed his eyes, everything went black.
A familiar smell lingered in the air, the rot of hell, Crowley sighed sadly.
He was back.
[AZIRAPHALE POV]
Aziraphale heard an explosion outside in the distance, a calm panic struck him, it was time, he didn't want to accept it but knew it was for the best.
He still hadn't seen Crowley yet, He really wanted to see him, but that feat was impossible now, it was no use, acceptance was the only thing in Aziraphales body, he didn't feel anger towards Crowley, but he still wasn't happy, but they wouldn't have any time to forgive and forget, not anymore.
Sometimes stories don't have happy endings, stories like his, and that’s something Aziraphale accepted long ago, yet it still affected him quite greatly, no matter how much he tried to accept and ignore the fact, he just couldn't, he felt he deserved a happy ending, everyone else got their happy ending, so why couldn't he?
He closed his eyes as the bookshop was incinerated around him.
There was no way to stop this, the outcome will not change.
He finally realised that.
Aziraphale's vision faded to black before he was met with the familiar aura of heaven, the divine presence of the surroundings overwhelmed him, guilt, sadness, and tiredness were the emotions to at least slightly encapsulate what he felt.
Aziraphale sighed sadly, whether for the loss of earth or for the loss of Crowley by his side.
Aziraphale was back in heaven, back where he ‘belonged’