Crowley was on the phone with his angel as he wondered around his flat setting up wards, traps, and seals against any being and/or supernatural creature that would dare to try and sneak in to and around his flat.
"Angel, I can't avoid this.", Crowley said exasperatedly, "They have been very insistent about this, they've been bugging me about it for several weeks now. I've been assigned to Lilith herself, though being a Lesser demon herself, she is one of the oldest and more powerful out of the smaller bunch."
"Well... then... why don't you just... tell them you're too busy to go?", Aziraphale suggested desperately, "I mean, they haven't bothered us for years. My side washed their hands of me years ago, despite the fact I didn't fall, so why is your people calling in now?"
Crowley shifted the phone between his shoulder and ear as he quickly emailed his next-door neighbor, an elderly woman that sometimes liked to visit to drop off some biscuits or would water his plants when he had to travel long-distance for his 'job'. Which was exactly, what he was emailing her about.
His precious plants, that is.
"Don't you think I've tried every excuse in the book for weeks now Angel?", Crowley asked rhetorically, "It's the only reason I haven't left earlier."
"Well... it's been centuries since you've popped across the pond, you may stand out.", Aziraphale protested.
"You forgot about that one visit down in Kansas several years back.", Crowley reminded the Angel, "Remember when Azazel called, you do remember how hard it was to save those few people that I did, convincing and hinting that the deals would be more profitable by keeping the families alive of the people he made the deals with alive."
Aziraphale huffed grumpily, not liking the idea of his friend being transferred over the pond for an unknown amount of time.
"Well, even though time is nothing to beings like us, it's been a while since we've been separated for so long, the years will feel a little longer without you around.", Azirphale said softly from the phone, before his voice became, adorably so, demanding, "But I expect for when you come back to have a nice spot of Dinner at the Ritz, then maybe some wine here at the bookstore to celebrate your return."
Crowley chuckled fondly, "I'll be sure to be back when I can. I'm going to miracle the Bentley with me, just so you know. Think you can handle yourself for a while without me."
"I'll be fine with taking the bus.", Aziraphale assured, "Oh! There is something you should know, I've felt a weird rush in Illinois, I did a little bit of snooping and narrowed it down to city called Pontiac, you should probably start there dear."
Crowley nodded, despite Azirphale not seeing the gesture, "Right, I'll start there, maybe get an idea to what's going on. It doesn't help that they're just sending me over there. Didn't even give me an assignment, just told me to stay put until notified."
"..."
Crowley paused before grabbing the phone from his shoulder and holding it to his ear.
"Aziraphale?"
"Just... be careful Crowley. I don't know what's going on, but something big is happening. Call me whenever you get the chance, alright.", Azirphale whispered, as if afraid to be heard but someone other than the Fallen Angel.
He sounded... vulnerable. More-so than usual.
Crowley sighed, "I'll call you when I can Angel. You don't have to worry."
"Thank you.", he sounded relieved, "That's all I ask."
...
It wasn't long, thanks to a few demonic miracles, for Crowley to get where he needed to be. The city wasn't that big, but there was a high, and likely, chance that the power Azirphale felt came from the rural, countryside-like, area on the outskirt of the city.
So that was where Crowley started.
He was driving aimlessly on the roads, senses high and stretched as far as they can go, with Queen blasting loudly in the Bentley, as per usual.
It took him two hours to finally reach where he needed to be.
Slamming on the brakes the exact moment he got a whiff of something unordinary. Something big.
He parked the Bentley at the side of the road and followed the trail to a decimated grove of trees with a hole in the center of it all. Crowley crouched by the hole, studying it intensely.
A hole that strangely looked as if a person had dug themselves out from underground. A grave perhaps?
Crowley sighs, which sounded more like a mix between a human growl and a snake-like hiss, as he stood up and, with a wave of his hand, fixed the surrounding wild-life. The trees righted themselves and the grass regrew back to its proper place.
This hole is most likely a grave, which means, it must be a resurrected human. That makes sense, what with the explosion of power that most likely caused the grove's destruction.
The question is, which side resurrected a human, and why? Last he checked, neither side cared for humanity, so why bring one back?
True Demons are able to do so if needed, but not many have the desire to save souls that they can either corrupt or torture to their hearts content. So that's a no.
Boy, is he relieved that Hastur is dead, Crowley had to kill him because the crazy, but dumb, demon tried to hunt him down and kill him.
Against Hell's wishes mind you.
Long-story short, Crowley tricked Hastur, leading him to his death. Leaving Crowley free of worries until Hell decided to contact him once again.
"And here I was, thinking I managed to get an early retirement.", mumbled Crowley as his forked tongue flicked through the air, his snake tongue has a much better sense of smell than his normal nose.
No, this isn't the work of Hell. This is the work of Heaven.
So, what does Heaven want with a mortal.
Crowley would just have to find out.
Lucky for him, the revival needed a lot of power in order to be executed correctly. Which means, that the human left a trail of said power that resurrected him, it won't last long unfortunately. All Crowley had to do now, was follow it.
Hopefully he wasn't too far behind where he can catch up before the power wears off and the trail disappears.
So, he speeds walk to the Bentley and follows after the trail, leading him to a gas station with every reflective surface, glass from the windows, mirror, and TV screen, all shattered and scattered across the floor.
Not to mention some money and choice items missing. Easily fixed as well as replaced.
Ever since the Armageddon-that-didn't-happen, Hell no longer watched over the miracles Crowley used, practically allowing him to do whatever he pleased with them.
He was still careful though, never pushed too much.
He left in the Bentley once more, finding himself at a junk yard then a hotel for lovers, or humans after lust.
Whatever floats their boat, Crowley doesn't judge. Just hopes none of them go too far where they are sentenced to Hell upon their death.
And finally, he came upon a normal looking house, although what he sensed coming from it was not normal.
He felt a presence of an Angel. Their true presence was being drawn to that house.
At the back of Crowley's mind, he felt a tug as he sensed the familiarity.
But that wasn't his main focus, he had to get there before whoever was summoning the angel succeeded.
The door was luckily unlocked as he rushed inside, slamming the door open on his haste.
Just in time to feel the Angel's power flash, and a final desperate tug by the owner trying to pull it back, but it was too late.
A women's scream echoed through the house.
"Somebody call 911!", someone ordered just as Crowley entered the room.
"Everybody stay back!", Crowley shouted, gaining three of the four people in the room's attention.
Two gazes were filled with shock, the other filled with surprise and suspicion.
Crowley dashed forward, sliding to his knees, two of the men went to the woman's side as well while the third ran to call 911 as instructed. The Demon gently held the sobbing woman, her eye lids opened, but her eyes were missing.
"Shit!", mumbled Crowley, as he placed his hand over eyes, concentrating on easing the pain.
He's not much of a healer, that's more Aziraphale's thing, but he knows how to get the job done. It just takes more concentration.
Sadly, for this woman's case, once a mortal sees an angel's true form, their eyes are burned out, and they can't be healed.
And that's if they even survived.
"I can't see.", the woman sobbed, "I can't see! Oh God!"
The two men shared looks of horror, while Crowley remained stone faced.
He sent waves of reassurance and safety towards her with his aura. Something mostly only angels can do.
But even though he is a Fallen, he still was once an Angel, and he still has his Grace.
It just takes a lot more energy to use than it used to before the Fall.
He didn't mind using it for this woman though. In the past, Crowley has had some mortal friends that went through the same thing, most died, and those that survived...
Well... let's just say Crowley asked Aziraphale to help him master this certain trick of sharing emotions and/or feelings for this certain situation.
It's the only thing that he can do with such a change happening to a young woman such as this one.
Her sobs lessened, but they didn't stop. So, Crowley continued to wrap her in his aura that he made sure was filled with nothing but light.
An extremely hard technique that he was gratefully Azirphale taught him along with the aura connection.
He looked up at the two men with an unreadable, but questioning expression.
...
Crowley sat in a booth in a diner in a far corner from prying eyes, his voice low to avoid prying ears.
As soon as the ambulance arrived, Crowley made himself scarce after making sure the authorities had a handle on things. Leaving the three men before they could question him why he was there.
He didn't feel like lying.
"She saw an Angel's true form?", Aziraphale cried out in shock.
Crowley could feel his friend's heartbreak from where he was from across the pond.
"Yeah.", he answered tiredly, using as much of his Grace as he did, really tired him out.
"And she survived?", Aziraphale continued.
"Yep.", Crowley rubbed at his face, closing his eyes when he moved his sunglasses before reopening them when they settled back at their proper place.
"And you know what that means.", Crowley sighed, his voice raspy.
"Oh, the poor dear...", Aziraphale said softly.
"Uh-huh.", Crowley said, his tone sounded uncaringly.
But Aziraphale knew better. Crowley isn't Azirphale's best friend for nothing, the two know how the other ticks. He sounded as if he didn't care, but he's just using that as a shield to hide the fact that he cared a whole awful lot. And like the Angel, this hits far too closely to home for one's taste.
"I saw one of the men there with a brand of a handprint on his arm.", Crowley informed his best friend, "I'd say it's safe to assume he was the one that was resurrected back in Illinois. Woman was a psychic, a real one. I'm guessing they went to see her to try and figure out what brought their friend back to life."
"Humans usually don't look to closely when good things such as this happen, or they just explain it away.", Aziraphale mused thoughtfully.
"Angel, they're hunters.", Crowley informed.
"...Oh. Now that makes more sense to their snooping.", Aziraphale said after a moment, "Are you sure?"
"Angel, when you're Demon, especially one as old as me, it's easy to tell when a mortal is a hunter.", Crowley explained.
"I see...", Aziraphale sighs, "Well, I'm glad you called, and I'm glad you're safe. Keep me informed?"
"Don't worry about it. Also, that trick you helped me with centuries ago helped. With the woman I mean, if it makes you feel better.", Crowley mentioned off-handedly.
Another sigh, "It does, thank you. I knew you always cared."
"Shaddup."
There was a chuckle and Aziraphale hung up.
Crowley rolled his eyes and took a sip of his coffee just as one of the boys came back from the back, walking right past Crowley's table and joined his brother. They were so deep in their conversation; they didn't even notice him there.
Now, don't go assuming things right off the bat. Crowley left first, remember? He got to the dinner first just finished his food and begun his call with Aziraphale when the two entered and sat down at a table of their own, ordering food.
They didn't see him there when they entered.
But they will notice if he gets up and leave as soon as they came. He doesn't feel like having a talk with them just yet.
Crowley took another sip of his black coffee. Oh well, he can wait for a bit. He's in no rush.
Plus, he should probably stay just in case he needs to intervene if one of the Demons there decide to do something about the two hunters.
Crowley raised a brow as the boys' server set down the food they ordered, then proceeded to sit with them at the table. Ignoring their confused looks.
"Looking for a tip?", the blonde asked.
"I'm sorry, I thought you were looking for us.", the she-demon replied, her eyes turning black.
The True Demon watched the boys' expressions shift to alarm before looking around the dinner to see the chef and other 'customer' with black eyes. All revealing their true colors to the boys.
Well, all except him that is.
Having one's own body has its pros and cons he supposed.
The demon eating at the bar stood up and locked the front door before standing guard in front of it. Blocking their escape
Again, no one noticed him in his little corner. He's a little offended to be honest.
But he didn't get up yet, oh no, he will if it looks dangerous though. But he too needed answers, and maybe this demon will be willing to share.
Pride is one of the frequent factors of a demon's downfall.
"Dean.", the demon said smugly, "To Hell and back. Aren't you a lucky duck."
The blonde, Dean, gave a fake smile, "That's me."
Shit.
He knows that name.
He knows these boys.
One of them apparently went to Hell!
He knew the kid died four months ago, he kept tabs on the two boys ever since he left, he would never admit it, but Crowley was sad at the news of the oldest brother's death.
Hell Hounds was never a fun way to go in Crowley's opinion. He knew the deal, and he was, sadly, unable to interfere without putting Aziraphale in immediate danger.
But to find these boy's that he rescued all those years ago, to be in the middle of this mess. He may not what it is, but if Heaven and/or Hell is involved, it's always a mess of some sort.
Crowley quietly groaned to himself. No wonder the two boys looked surprise to see him come crashing through the house. His appearance is the exact same as when he first met them.
Damnit, this is starting to get even more complicated than he was expecting.
"No, I don't.", came Dean's steely voice.
Damn, he zoned out for a second there. Luckily, he didn't miss much.
But he's not going to get any more information than that. The Demons don't know who pulled Dean from the Pitt.
Well, they are Lesser Demons, so Crowley doesn't really expect them to figure out an Angel is at work. And Angels haven't let themselves be known to human kind in over thousands of years. Only Crowley and Aziraphale regularly wander the Earth now on days among the mortals. At least as a True Demon in Crowley's case, Lesser Demons love wandering Earth and causing chaos, usually.
Some are sometimes smarter than that.
"Lying is a Sin you know."
Crowley can see the realization on Dean's face. He's figured out that the Demons don't know too.
"I'm not lying."
His brother on the other hand, seems to be glaring daggers at the Demon.
"But I'd like to find out.", Dean's voice cut through the Tension in the air like a knife, "So if you wouldn't mind enlightening me, Flo."
"Mind your tone with me boy.", the Demon said darkly, "I'll drag you back down to Hell myself."
Dean's brother lurched forward as if to attack, but with a raised hand from Dean, he backed down. Unhappy about it though.
Crowley should probably start heading over there now, he can tell Dean is about to do something. And Crowley isn''t used to being around mortals who like to make stupid decisions, that's just what happens when you spend most of your time with a Angel that believes and executes proper manners.
"No, you won't.", Dean said confidently, causing the True Demon to pause his intervention.
The Demon smirked, although Crowley could sense a small dose of panic.
"No?", she asks.
"No.", Dean shakes his head, "Because if you were, you would've done so already."
"The fact is, you don't know who cut me loose.", Dean continued, "You're just as spooked as we are. You're looking for answers."
The Demon started to fidget, began to look nervous.
"Maybe it was some super-charged spirit hm?", Dean threw out, "Or a Godzilla."
Crowley would've resisted rolling his eyes if his sunglasses didn't hide them.
"Or some big bad boss Demon.", Dean's tone turned hard, "I'm guessing at your pay grade; they don't tell you squat. Cause whoever it was, really wanted me out. And they're a lot stronger than you."
The Demon just stared, swallowing nervously, Crowley watched, curious to what Dean was going to do.
"So go ahead, send me back. But don't come crawling to me when they show up on your doorstep with gasoline and a fire hose."
"I'm going to reach down your throat and rip out your lungs.", the Demon threatened.
Dean just smirked. He leaned forward... and smacked her.
Hard.
Crowley almost winced in sympathy.
The Demon flipped her hair back, and glared at him hatefully, Dean just smacked her again. She growled at him, and looked like she was about to slap him back, only for a hand to grab her wrist, stopping her before she could.
The trio looked up in surprise to see Crowley being the one to have stopped the attack, looking unfazed as the Demon tried to wrench her grip from his grasp with all her strength, but Crowley didn't move an inch.
"I've got to say, this place has terrible customer service.", Crowley commented lightly as if he wasn't in the middle of a high tense situation, "Here I was sitting over there with an empty mug, but the only server in this place is sitting down, supposedly on break, with some customers. Now that's not very professional is it."
Crowley tsked at her as if he were scolding a child, but considering how old he was, she pretty much was. The Demon herself looked frighten as she stared up at him, mouth wide open.
"This place gets no stars for me on my review, it doesn't help that the staff tried to attack a customer as well.", Crowley finally released her arm, patting Dean's shoulder good naturedly, "Well, fellas, best be going. Enjoy your meal."
He snapped his fingers, and the door opened wide before him, shoving the other Demon to the side with ease.
Crowley waved over his shoulder as he exited the restaurant.
"Ciao!"
And the door shut behind him.
Knowing the two boys wouldn't be that far behind him.
He quickly got into the Bentley, drove around the block in order to make a pass by the dinner. Proving his hunch to be correct when the two boys exited the dinner and walking across the road themselves.
Crowley stopped in front of them, handing Dean a card that had his phone number on it.
"Don't quite have answers for you yet boys, but I've got a hunch.", Crowley told them before either could say a word, "Don't worry, judging by the looks of things, you'll see me more often than not."
He was about to drive off, but Dean stopped him.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Wait!", Dean leaned on the open window, "You're him, aren't you."
It was a statement, not a question.
Crowley face scrunched, which could be mistaken for confusion, when in fact it was a grimace. He didn't expect either of the boys to remember him.
"You're going to have to be more specific.", Crowley said, hoping he was wrong and this just another guy named Dean that happened to be a Hunter, "When you've gone through the ages as I have, some things just blur together."
"From the night at the motel with the vampire that attacked us when we were kids and our dad was out finishing a hunt."
Crowley scowled at the reminder, still not their father's greatest fan, it seems he didn't make any changes besides turning his sons into living weapons. Yeah, great parenting yah bastard.
"I still 'ate those bloodsuckers. But, yeah. That was me.", Crowley admitted without hesitation, "Didn't recognize you boys on the account that my sources had told me that you died kid, while your brother went off the grid. Had to let them go on the case you obviously wanted to be left alone."
Now it was Dean's turn to grimace, "I did die."
"You've been spying on us?", his brother asked incredulously.
Crowley shook his head and waved a hand in dismissal, "Nah~. I merely kept tabs on the two of you. Glad I did too. Had to lead some Lesser Demons away from you a couple of times."
"Lesser Demons?", Dean questioned."
"Oh yeah.", Crowley nodded, making a broad gesture to the café, "That pay grade comment's top notch and definitely made a mark on their pride. All those chaps in there are Lesser Demons."
"How do you know all this?", Sam questions, sounding like it was something more than just information.
But Crowley decided to ignore it, waving him off unworried, "I've been around for a while. You just know these things if you were me. Which was how I knew you boys are hunters. Your good at covering your tracks by the way, my sources over the past couple of years had a difficult time keeping track of you lot."
Dean and Sam shared a look when Crowley stuck his hand out the window.
"Anthony J. Crowley. But Crowley is just fine.", Crowley introduced himself, "Nice to see you boys again after several years."
Dean, after a small moment of hesitance, shook it with a firm grip.
"I'm Dean Winchester and this is my brother Sam.", Dean introduce themselves to the Demon, both dropping their hands after the short name exchange.
"Good to see you up and kicking kid, trust me when I say it sucks down there, and I used to have to go there every couple of weeks.", Crowley told him.
"Wait... how-?", Sam started, but Crowley jumped in.
"Probably won't trust me at first, or you will, who knows.", Crowley shrugged casually, "But I just want you to know I'm not like my brethren. I've been out of the loop for decades after the stunt I pulled in Tadfield."
After a minute of Crowley staring off to space, he shook himself back into the present.
"Just to keep things straight before I leave, I've never wanted anything from you two, back then or today. I had heard a child's scream and I smelt a monster so I went in, no questions asked.", Crowley told them honestly, "And you two knew the night we first met I wasn't human. I wasn't really hiding it if we're being honest with each other."
He pointed at the card, "Anyway if you need help or have questions you can't find answers to, give me a call. I'm old, I know a thing or two surprisingly."
With that said, the window rolled up and the Bentley went speeding down the street, narrowly missing a few pedestrians.
"Hey Dean, is he a...?"
"Demon.", Dean finished for his younger brother breathlessly.
"Think he could be telling the truth?", Sam asked curiously.
Dean continued to stared at the spot the Bentley disappeared when it drove off.
"He didn't have to tell us what he was, but he did anyway.", Dean deducted, "He wanted our trust, and I can't tell if he has good intentions or not."