AN: Just figured I'd let yall know that I've just made an ao3 account, and after I get out of class today I will be posting all of this on there as well and all future chapters will be cross-posted. Thanks!
*Anthony J. Crowley created the group chat "Mayday"*
*Anthony J. Crowley added two people to the group chat*
Anthony J. Crowley: So, I know we don't all know each other very well, but you were both a big help in Tadfield and I need your help again
AC: Aziraphale has been having a very rough time lately. He hasn't been eating or sleeping well and doesn't like using his angelic abilities. The other night he tried to pull out his wings and we couldn't find them. I realize this is not in your fields of expertise but I don't know what to do.
*Marjorie Potts set her nickname to "Madame Tracy"*
Madame Tracy: How horrible! I ought to bring him some tea.
Anathema Device: oh god you want me to use the book again dont you
AC: temptation is my whole job
AD: Newton and I agreed to stop using it because we wanted to live our own lives.
AC: that's fair but are you sure I cant look at it
MT: Why don't you just ask Adam for help? He seemed rather nice.
AC: Hes a child
AD: Hes a child!
AC: Plus hes still the antichrist
AD: but also a small boy
AC: yes that too
MT: I still think it would be a good idea.
AC: only as an absolute last resort
AC: anyway anathema can I please borrow the book
AD: sure
AD: tbh you can take the damn thing
AD: when should I drop it off? can I come see Aziraphale?
AC: I'll have to ask him
MT: What sort of tea does he like?
AC: I'll find out once I know if he's cool with having people over
MT: [thumbs up emoji]
Crowley set his phone down and rubbed his face. His phone buzzed again.
*Anathema Device sent a message*
AD: should we ask that witch hunter guy? I know he tried to kill az or w/e but maybe he knows something about heaven
AD: also do you wanna get lunch
AD: I wanna ask you about az but I would rather do it in person
AC: just me?
AD: yeah
AD: dont get me wrong I wanna see az too but I wanna know how things are going with u first
AD: when r u free
AC: today if you want
AC: Aziraphale is still asleep
AD: does he do that a lot now?
AC: yeah
AC: slept for a month after I tried to take him for sushi
AD: tell me more at lunch!
AD: do you drink coffee? I've got a Starbucks giftcard I've been meaning to burn
AC: never been but ok
AD: be there at 2?
AC: cool
Crowley tugged at the collar of his shirt. He'd opted for red instead of black today and was now wishing he had worn something less obvious. He carried his unicorn frappuccino to the back of the cafe, looking around for a slightly familiar mess of brown hair.
"You drink that crap?"
"Makes a few more lives harder if I order it," Crowley said, turning around. "Gets me some brownie points with Hell."
Anathema shrugged, gesturing to an open table.
"What did YOU get?" Crowley asked.
"Matcha green tea frappe. The usual."
"Fair. What did you want to talk about?"
"A lot, honestly. I feel like I barely know you two. Start from the beginning."
And so, over the course of a few hours, Crowley told Anathema everything, starting with the garden and ending with the disappearance of Aziraphale's wings.
"Christ," Anathema said.
"Yeah, bit of an awkward time, that was."
"No, I mean...that's a lot to work through. How are you holding up?"
"Me? I...I'm alright. Mostly just worried about Aziraphale. But I've been taking care of myself too."
"Good! Can't draw from an empty well, y'know."
"Yeah. He's just...so different. Some days he's been happier, almost like he used to be, but most of the time he's so somber. And now that his wings are gone, he barely even speaks anymore. I know its different for you humans. You're not going to suddenly not be human. But for us, you're either an angel, or a demon, or dead. And to be neither? I'll admit, even I don't know what's going on."
"Are you sure he's not an angel anymore? Like, 100%?"
"He can't pull out his wings, that's all we know."
"Has he tried any miracles?"
"He uh...hasn't been doing any since he er...you know. It's...it makes him twitchy. Last time he did it was that time he slept for a month."
"Is it a trigger?"
"A wot?"
"A trigger. Anything that sets him off, makes him "twitchy"."
"I...guess?"
"Any others you've noticed?"
"Ah...bright lights, moving too quickly, people being mean to him, pretty much anything that reminds him of Heaven...his figure is a whole other issue..."
"Yikes, that's a lot. Has he had any other panic attacks?"
"He's come close a few times. There was one time in the park where he seemed off but he said he didn't want to go home, and right after I brought him to my flat and he was breathing pretty heavily..." Crowley sighed. "Any of that help?"
"Yeah, honestly. Thank you."
"Don't mention it," Crowley said. "Did you bring the book?"
Anathema nodded, wiping off the table with her arm before pulling an old book and a smaller notebook out of her bag.
"I went ahead and translated a few passages I assumed referred to you two. A lot of what I found has already happened. "An angel will fall without Falling, and will hide himself from the light and dangers of the world. A demon will commit crimes of unspeakable goodness. A unicorn and a patch of grass will share lunch."
"Pretty vague."
"I mostly wrote summaries. Anyway, here's what else I found.
"A village of animals will capture the angel. The angel will learn the way to his demon's heart."
"It still refers to him as 'angel', that's good."
"'A large amount of stress stifles the true power of the soul, but a gentle breeze allows wings to burst forth.' That one sounds like a fortune cookie, how'd that get in here?"
"That one sounds interesting, actually. Any others?"
"An unlikely ally becomes a powerful asset. Chamomile tea, if you please. The boy's help is not needed."
She closed the big book. "That's all I've found so far. Any of that help?"
"I think so. Will you send me your notes?"
"Here," Anathema said, snapping a quick few photos with her phone. Crowley's phone buzzed.
*Anathema Device sent 3 photos*
Crowley swiped the notification away, freezing when he saw another one.
*Missed Call from Aziraphale*
"Shit," the demon said. "Aziraphale's awake."
"Do what you gotta do," Anathema said. "I'll let you know if I find anything else important. Keep me posted on how he's doing, alright?"
"Will do," Crowley said, getting up from his chair.
"Oh! I think I remember one more thing!" Anathema opened the book again.
"If demon brings the angel a warm cup of roasted beans, he opens many doors."
"Anything in particular?"
"He's your angel. The book doesn't offer many hints. But I suggest one of the new caramel things."
"Aziraphale! Are you alright? I'm sorry, I haven't listened to your..."
Sitting just inside the door of the shop were Aziraphale and Madame Tracy.
"Oh, hullo," Crowley said awkwardly. "Brought you something, Aziraphale. Sorry I didn't get you anything, Tracy, I didn't know you were coming today."
"Well, of course! I read your messages and thought I should come over today! I brought a cake!"
"A...cake?" Crowley handed Aziraphale the coffee, and his partner took it gladly, free of the eye of conversation.
"Of course! Cake always cheers me up when I feel terribly, so I thought he might like some too. Poor thing needs something sweet to keep the meat on his bones!"
Crowley and Aziraphale made eye contact, sharing an unspoken conversation.
"I am so so sorry," Crowley said.
"We're talking about this later," Aziraphale replied.
"Well, I must get going, I have an appointment at four and it takes me ever so long to set things up in my boudoir. Enjoy the cake, dears!" And with that, Madame Tracy left, leaving the bookshop painfully silent.
"I want to be clear right now," Crowley said before Aziraphale could open his mouth. "I didn't say she could come over. I don't even know how she found the shop. I'll admit I had texted her asking for help, but I was planning on giving her a specific time to come over once I had asked you if it was okay."
"Ah. Thank you for clarifying, dear. Sit down?" Aziraphale seemed to relax a bit, but Crowley still looked nervous.
"I was going to tell you once you woke up. I texted her and Anathema, and Anathema said she'd bring the book of prophecies if I met her for coffee. Which we did. Found some good stuff, too."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Here, let me show you her notes."
Crowley showed Aziraphale the conversation he'd had with both women and the picture of Anathema's notes.
"It keeps referring to you as 'the angel'. We took that as a good sign. I think we can get through this, Aziraphale."
Aziraphale nodded. "Thank you, dear. I do feel a little bit better knowing that."
"Anathema had asked if you could still do miracles. I told her why you couldn't, but..."
"You want me to try to do one."
"Only if you're comfortable with it! I don't want to hurt you."
"I appreciate it. Will you hold my hand?"
Crowley obliged. Aziraphale took a deep breath, concentrated on the cake Madame Tracy had brought them, and snapped his fingers. It transformed from a brown mystery to a beautiful slice of carrot cake.
"Holy shit," Crowley breathed. Aziraphale leaned against him.
"That didn't feel quite so bad," he lied, his voice trembling. "But I think I'd like to lie down now."
