Chapter Text
Crowley walks into the bookshop and looks around for Muriel, “oi!” He calls out and hears some books fall, “Muriel?”
“Here Mr. Crowley,” she sighs as Crowley turns the corner seeing young woman on the floor. “Just trying to place things in order.”
He chuckles and kneels, “yeah he never would put things where people could buy anything.” He grabs a book and looks at the title “’Devil’s Cub’?” He sees the author and freezes.
“Yes,” she looks at the book. “It was in the back room. It is written by—”
“Georgette Heyer,” he interrupts her. He stands up as he drops the rest back in the pile on the floor.
“That is right,” she claps. “You a fan?”
He stutters at her curious eyes, “no not even close.” He throws the book on the small table, “just—”
“There are quite a few in that back room,” she shrugs. “I guess Mr. Aziraphale hadn’t been able to get them out yet.”
Crowley sighed, “that is not it.” He could remember the first time he caught Aziraphale reading this book.
*Flashback*
“Angel! I brought us some new brandy, supposedly to knock your socks off! Let’s get to drinking!” He snaps all the doors locked and the shades pulled. He goes into the back room, and he sees the angel shocked to see him
“Crowley really?” Aziraphale places a book on his armchair.
Crowley realizes that he surprised the angel, which only happens when he is really into a book or a task. Something seemed off, Aziraphale was pink cheeked and seemed… Nervous? He stops and takes a small sniff, that was… something he didn’t think the angel was capable of… Lust?
“Wot got you all in a coil Angel?” Crowley sits the bottle down and saunters into Aziraphale’s personal space. “I can smell something different…”
Aziraphale blushes harder, “oh that is none of your business.” And he almost screams (rather femininely) as Crowly grabs the book from under his elbow where he was hiding it.
“Georgette Heyer?! Wowee Angel a spicy romance!” He holds the book high enough that the angel couldn’t reach it in his grasp. He chuckles at the divine being kept trying to steal it back.
Crowley smiles softly, and then quickly neutralizes this expression. He sees Muriel looking at him with curiosity. “Wot?”
“Nothing,” she stutters as she keeps getting the books collected. “Oh, someone came by today.”
“Did you sell something?” He growled.
“N-no sir,” she shakes her head. “It was just that—”
“Spit it out!” Hissing at her.
“Mr. Aziraphale was here today!” She squeaks and seems to shrink into herself.
“Wot?!” He freezes looking at her. “Aziraphale? Here?” He wanted to calm his expression, but his body tensed, and his heart thrummed. “When?”
“About 30 minutes ago,” she says meekly. “I didn’t know if you wanted to know…”
He hisses at her while putting his hand up to silence her, he closes his eyes and tries to find the angel in his area. His serpent tongue slithers out tasting the air, he could faintly tasted Aziraphale’s scent fresher than it has been in almost a year. “Why is he here?”
Muriel could see the serpent of Eden was so tense. She didn’t understand their relationship, well any relationship really. But since been given the upkeep of the bookshop and apparently that came with an overprotective demon, she has come to ‘care’ for Crowley. He used to drink and throw things but recently he was calmer and would even sit with her as she had a cup of tea. He apologized to her and even helped her when she was lost. Even though he was a demon, he was nothing like what she was told.
“He said something about a treat,” she whispers.
“So that would mean he would be going to the bakery,” he walks toward the door. “I’ll be back.”
Crowley runs to the bakery, and he almost takes out Nina, “oi! Did you see Aziraphale?”
Nina glares at him, “a sorry would be a better start!” Matching his stance.
He sighs, “no time. Did you see Aziraphale or not?”
Hearing the angel’s name, her eyes widen. “He’s back?”
“That’s a no,” he hisses and tries to get around and she gets in his way. “No time human!”
“Hold up,” she puts her hands up. “What are you going to say?”
“I-I am,” throttle him, is what he wants to say. Kiss him again? No. Talk? Hell no. “I don’t know.”
Nina looks at him with sympathy. “Listen Espresso, going off without an idea is going to spook him.”
“He should be spook,” hissing at her. “Almost a year.”
“Why don’t you start with hello?” She offers, but she turns seeing the demon turn green and sees Aziraphale walking out of the bakery. She turned back to him, and he was gone. “Really? Coward!”
Aziraphale hears Nina’s voice, “oh Nina! So good to see you!” He greets her as she twirls to face him. “Are you ok my dear?”
“Huh? What do you mean if I am alright?” She sputters and looks the angel over, nothing really changed from what Nina could see in his appearance but his eyes. Usually, Aziraphale’s eyes were so blue like the ocean but now they look like a storm. Fatigued, worried and lonely were all written there in the swirly grey eyes. “I am not the one that disappeared a year ago and magically reappeared.” She huffs at him, “not even a so long to me and Maggie. She was sick with fright until Mr. Crowley told us that you have gotten a new assignment and was moved.”
He sighs, “I am so sorry my dear. It was very sudden,” he deflates a little. “How is Maggie?”
She smiles hearing her partner’s name, forgetting she was annoyed with the angel. “She is fantastic, records are coming back, and her business is ticking upward. She has asked me to move in with her above the shop.”
Aziraphale smiles sweetly, “I am so glad you two are stepping to the future together.”
“Thanks,” she smiles at him. She sees a gorgeous woman walk up to Aziraphale, “who is this?” She almost feels protective of Aziraphale.
“Oh, excuse me,” she squeaks. “Sir, we have our meeting in 10 minutes.” She held a small box in her hand, she seemed uncomfortable holding it.
‘Another angel?’ Nina thinks to herself seeing Aziraphale smile at her sweetly.
“Thank you Rabia,” he nods to her. “I am sorry Nina when I have more time I would love to catch up.” He smiled at her sadly, she could feel that he really didn’t want to leave. She looks at the woman that stood the same height as Aziraphale.
The young woman looks at her and for a split-second Nina could see another familiar face, she nods to her as Aziraphale turns and the two walk away.
Crowley was a coward, he growls when he realizes that he miracle himself just outside of the park. He stomps off and goes to the lake. Why? Why would Aziraphale come here?
“For a GOD DAMN NIBBLE!” He screams at the sky causing people to look at him as if he was insane. He growls and speed walks toward the lake.
TW: Blood, insinuated Rape, Pain
Muriel hears the bell, “welcome!” She calls out and goes around the corner, “is there something I can help you find?”
“Aw a sweet little angel,” a disfigured man smirk down at her. “And a low class it seems…”
“We should have no problem taking this bookshop,” another appears behind her.
“Demons?” Muriel squeaks, “h-how did you get in here?” She grunted when the scaly thing behind her grabbed her and locked his grasp. “LET ME GO! YOU ARE BREAKING THE LAW!”
They started laughing, the first one she seen spoke. “Oh no, who is going to stop us? You?”
“You can’t stop us,” the other hissed and licked her face. “She tastes divine!”
Muriel grunts and manages to wiggle herself enough so she can elbow the one holding her. It releases her and she takes off down one of the library aisles. She tries to scream when the other one slams her against a bookcase causing all her breath to escape.
“Silly angel,” he slams his disgusting large hand against her cheek shoving her face against the bookcase. “Probably never felt sin before, have you?” He hissed and pressed his crotch against hers.
“Hold on,” the other gurgled. “You will get to get your fun Mammon, but let’s break her first so she doesn’t hurt yeah?”
She felt the other punch her stomach as she was pinned, she screams and coughs as he hits her again. “S-stop…please.” She wheezes. She keeps trying to kick at them, and the others started choking her. “H-help…” she whispers into ether. “Please...Help… God?!”
They start laughing at her and it slams her down causing her to taste blood. “God can’t save you now…” the one gurgles.
She feels a cold blade against her neck, she senses the hellfire in the blade. “P-please…” she sobs as the blade nicks her skin. “IT BURNS!”
They laugh at her; one starts kicking her and the other strangling her again. She sobs and pleads for the pain and torture to stop. She tries to make herself small. Suddenly she was on her back, the blade cutting her pants open.
“Your God will not even want to see you know once I use you up f*cking angel…” the one hisses.
Help me… she pleads into the ether.
“MURIEL!” She knows that voice, it is someone who protects and cares. She feels flames above her and a horrible scream from the demon.
“You bastard!” The other gurgles, “we are the same! You are Crawly!”
“C-Crowley…” Muriel calls out to him.
“You are f*cking heathens,” Crowley fangs and nails extend. “You dare to enter this bookshop! You dare to touch its keeper?!” His body transforms to a half man at the head and the rest became a long black snake.
He curls himself around the other demon, his serpent eyes large and his fangs glistening in the light. He growls at the demon as he starts constricting around it.
“Wait no-no!”
Muriel looked away when Crowley constricted the being to nothing with his long body. She whimpers when she feels hands on her cheek. She opens her eyes to Crowley's worried eyes, “M-Mr. Crowley?”
“Y-Yeah,” she watches his eyes look her over. “I got you Muriel,” he rubs his thumb up and down on her cheeks. “I-I am so sorry…I don’t know how—”
“I let them in,” a somewhat familiar voice calls out of her sight. “They served their purpose…” the voice continues. “Now you, snake, are done for!”
“Who-“before Muriel could ask he sees Crowley get thrown off of her. “C-Crowley!” She feels the darkness consume her.
