Chapter Text
Crowley sits on a big armchair in the library. Drinking, again.
Its been a year and a half since Aziraphale left for heaven. A year and a half since he lost the one thing that gave meaning to his existence. He looked dishevelled, his hair had grown to his shoulders and he didn't even bother to change his outfit since Aziraphale left.
A few weeks after Aziraphale had gone, Crowley sent Muriel off to see the world on an impossible book finding adventure. He had sent them to look for the 9th Harry Potter book, a first edition of the original bible, and some other non-existent prequels and sequels.
Crowley occasionally tries to put himself together and visits Nina for his six shots of espresso. But most of the time he finds himself either asleep or drinking.
If he isn't asleep for days or weeks on end, he drowns himself in whatever decades aged alcohol he can come upon in Aziraphale liquor cabinet. Today happened to be one of those days. He reminisces about the time he spent with Aziraphale and how they would drink and talk about whales to the end of the world. Crowley misses his angel’s voice. “I forgive you” one of the last things Aziraphale says to him, replays in his head like a broken record. He wonders if Aziraphale watches him, what he would think of Crowley drinking in the morning with alcohol as his breakfast. How pathetic. He takes another swig of alcohol. Crowley gets up to grab another bottle until-
A knock.
Who could this be?
Maggie or Nina doing their monthly check up on him to make sure he was still somewhat functional(which he wasn't)? Or could it be Muriel, who somehow found every impossible book in his list? He decided to stay put, not wanting his existence to be acknowledged.
Even in his drunken haze he could sense an angelic presence. But it wasnt his angel's presence.
He hears another knock from the door.
“Shop's closed can't y’see??”
He angrily stumbled towards the front door not even bothering to miracle himself to look presentable.
The angel knocked again. Persistent bastard.
Crowley rolled his eyes and finally peered out the window. The angel was in an all white suit with a slightly unbuttoned grey undershirt, his auburn colored hair slicked back too perfectly. He knocked again
Crowley swung the door open too annoyed by this angels persistence. Now he was face to face with this mystery angel.
“Look, I don't care who you are or why heaven sent you here. Go away.” He said flatly
“Hello demon.” The angel said with a plastic smile and a tone that could trick any human, but to Crowley, it was filled with malicious intent.
“Fuck off.” Crowley was too drunk and too tired to deal with anything right now.
“The supreme Archangel Aziraphale sent me, I'm his secretary” the angel said with a proud smug look. Hearing Aziraphale referred to as ‘The supreme Archangel’ felt like a knife to his already bleeding heart.
“So the Supreme Archangel sent his pretty little secretary to me??” Crowley gasped not even trying to hide his sarcasm. “What could his majesty want from a pathetic demon like me?” He spat out.
“Well I'll tell you if you'd let me in demon.” The angel didn't even wait for Crowley's response and decided to let himself in.
Crowley just stood there, amazed but not surprised at the nerve this damn angel had.
When Crowley turned around and shut the door, the angel was already sat comfortable in the armchair across his, the armchair Aziraphale used to sit in.
“I'm Raphael by the way” The angel couldn't keep off his smug expression.
“I didn't ask.” Crowley said annoyed making his way to the adjacent chair.
“So, why are you here?” He said as he plopped down and miracled away the empty bottles of varying alcohols scattered on the floor.
“The supreme Archangel would like to inform you that he would be conducting earthly tours for lower ranking angels to make reports on for the Metatron. And knowing your past history… he personally requested that you wouldn't try to interact with him or interfere with his work. Understand?”
Crowley was stunned. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was the fact that Aziraphale was coming back after so long but didn't even want to interact with him.
He snapped “if his Royal Highness supreme fucking Archangel requested it personally why the bloody hell would he send a secretary??”
Raphael just raised an eyebrow at the demons sudden erratic behavior. “Demon, he is the supreme Archangel, he is busy. Aziraphale doesn't have time for the likes of you”
Crowley shot up and stormed away to grab another bottle. He couldn't deal with this.
He stumbled back annoyed to see the angel still there
“So what's your deal anyways? I don't remember Gabriel ever having a secretary” he said as he took a sip of alcohol
“Oh my dear demon, I'm much more than his secretary...” Raphael smiled, mocking Crowley at this point “im his partner.”
“What-?” He spat out. He simply laughed in disbelief.
“Y-You? Partner? I thought you angels weren't allowed to lie” he scoffed
“Oh that's why, I'm not lying. I'll put this in simple terms so your demon brain can understand. I am Aziraphale’s lover.”
He stood up and sauntered over to Crowley
“And I expect you to stay out of our way.”
“So, how did all that come to be?” Crowley sat, his mind dazing off elsewhere, defeated holding a half empty bottle of scotch wishing he was drinking holy water instead.