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She sat quietly a little way from the crowd, watching as he spoke about kindness, humility, and love. That was the message, really. Love. A faint smile crossed her features as she tucked a lock of flame red hair that had snaked out of her headscarf behind her ear. Even from this distance she could hear him clearly as he spoke. A miracle , she thought wryly.
When the crowds finally broke up and began to move away, she stood and smoothed out her night black robes. One group after the other kept stopping by to touch his feet, grab his hair, give their thanks for his words. Crowley felt herself getting impatient. She wouldn’t have been accepted to sit at the grass around his feet. Not by them, at least. Funny how their faith in his teachings only went so far. Now if they could jolly well hurry up about leaving, that would be wonderful.
Finally the last lurker moved away, hands sated by his touch, and he turned her way. Her breath caught at the brilliance of his smile. It always did. So full of kindness and acceptance. He stood from the stone he had rested on, holding out his hands and taking hers warmly.
“You should join us one of these times,” he said. His voice was soft and it seemed to fill up the empty, aching place within her that she had thought would never feel complete again. She could see it, if she turned her head just so… that tiny part of him that was his father’s son.
Crowley shook her head, her expression hardening. “I’m not welcome,” she said.
“Everyone is welcome by my side, Crowley,” he replied. He slid her arm through his, joined together, and began to walk down the slope of the hill, away from the bustling city behind them. “You are a comfort to me, you know.”
That brought her up short. Was she? “How’s that?”
Jesus chuckled as he patted her hand resting on his arm. “Why wouldn’t you be?” he asked. “Since you first came to me, in the desert… I knew they would send someone. I was worried. Would I be strong enough to resist Hell’s influence? Could I stay true to myself and my message? And then, you appeared. All the things you showed me. The conversations we have had. You have strengthened my resolve. I only hope that I have been able to offer you some comfort for the sadness that I see in you. I wish I could take it from you, though I know I can’t.”
“No,” Crowley agreed softly. “You can’t.”
Jesus nodded. “But I can be a shoulder for you to lean against. As you have been for me, too. You know what I must do, don’t you? Though I’m afraid to do it.”
“I don’t know exactly,” Crowley muttered. “But I can guess what they want from you.”
“Both of us have a long, hard road ahead of us. But you give me strength to do what is right. As your angel gives you strength.”
“I… wot? My angel?” Crowley sputtered, eyes widening. “That’s just… you don’t…”
“Love is a beautiful thing, Crowley,” Jesus chuckled. “It is everything. Especially when it makes a bridge strong enough to span between Heaven and Hell. Embrace it! He can be a comfort for you, when I’m… well…” His voice broke. Crowley felt his hand on hers tighten as he tried to push down a sudden wave of panic. “After.”
Crowley glanced down at the sand beneath their feet. They had traveled a ways from the great wall of Jerusalem, two long sets of footprints stretching away from them. Jesus peered at her as she looked, curious.
“What are you grinning at?” he asked, a smile of his own quirking up his lips. Crowley shrugged.
“Just thought there would only be one set of footprints,” she joked.
“Soon enough,” he replied. “For now, just walk beside me, and be my friend.”