Rain pattered off the deep blue umbrella of a young, dark-skinned woman heading to her coffee shop in the early morning. Nina let out a soft sigh as she rounded the corner from her home and began to dig through her coat pockets for her shop keys once the building was within sight. She was lightly distracted as her mind ran through the various tasks she needed to do before she opened—Do I have almond milk? I might need to ask Maggie to pick some up—when her gaze caught on something strange. Despite the dark rain clouds shading the streets, there was a splash of vibrant, bright white situated just in front of the bookshop across the way. She stopped before her door, frowning lightly before she realized what it was.
A person. There was a person clad in all white sitting on the front step of A.Z. Fell and Co. in the pouring rain. Judging from how their turtleneck sweatshirt clung to their slim form and how their hair was drooping over their face, they'd been there for quite some time. Nina stared for a solid moment before turning away and fitting her key into the front door of her cafe. Pay no mind to it. It's not your business, she told herself but before she could push open the door all the way, a twist of guilt ran through her gut. She closed her eyes, bowing her head and letting out a sigh before abandoning the front of the shop and turning around to storm over to the figure.
She approached with a scowl, looking down at them as they turned their blue eyes to her in curiosity, and threw out a hand. "What the hell are you doing?"
They blinked, glancing at the step they were seated on and back again as though to say "Waiting."
Nina groaned, glancing back at her shop windows and mentally wondering how quickly Maggie might show up if she were to text or call her about this. Maggie was better at this sort of thing than she was but she also couldn't leave them there or it would bother her the entire time she was setting up for the morning rush. She turned back to the person—Woman? I'm not sure—and nodded to her shop.
"I've got towels," she offered. "I need to set up but you can wait inside instead of getting soaked out here. Muriel won't open until about ten."
They nodded and got up, lightly surprising Nina with their added ten-centimeter height difference—She looked small all curled up like that—and she raised her umbrella up to help cover them as they crossed back over to her shop. Once inside, Nina dropped her umbrella in a stand behind the counter and pulled one of the chairs off a table for them to sit in.
"You can sit there for now. I'll grab the towels from the back real quick." She paused then, giving them a glance as they eyed the shop with the smallest hint of curiosity. "I'm Nina, by the way. Are you a… a friend of Mr. Fell's?"
They turned to her and nodded. "Nithael."
"Nithael," she mouthed. "Yeah, sounds about right. Everyone around him has some odd name like that. You know he's not at the shop anymore, right?" She informed them as she started to head to the back door of the shop. "Some promotion or something."
She ducked into a cabinet in the back room, digging out a large cream-colored towel, and returned to the main room only to stare in surprise. All the chairs were off the tables and placed on the ground despite only a few seconds having passed; Nithael not even appearing to have moved from their chair. You know what? I don't want to know. Nina had seen a lot lately and she didn't even want to begin to think about it all. Angels and demons, miracles and love. Nope. Better to just set it aside and not give it the time of day. Save herself the trouble.
She held out the towel to Nithael who took it and started to slowly dry their hair; probably the only thing they'd be able to get dry given the amount of water they were dripping onto the floor. Nina made a mental note to get another towel for that and pulled out her phone to text Maggie about the unwanted guest, speaking to Nithael as she did.
"Not sure what you were thinking sitting out there in the rain like that. You'll catch a cold, you know." She tucked her phone away and watched Nithael for a second. "Mr. Fell isn't there like I said, and if you're looking for his partner, he's not there either."
That caught their attention for a brief moment before they gave a small nod and lowered the towel to their lap.
"I'll wait."
Nina rolled her eyes, turning away and heading toward the counter to start setting up the rest of what she needed. "Hope you have someplace to stay then. You'll be waiting a while. He's not dropped back in since Mr. Fell ran off. Good for him, honestly. Only one left is Muriel, who's not too bad but she's a bit… daft. You want anything to drink? Coffee? Tea?"
Nithael blinked, saying nothing and Nina raised a brow, trying to figure them out.
"Not sure?" She questioned, hoping that's all it was and when Nithael nodded, she sighed. "I'll just make something and if you don't like it then whatever."
She went for something simple; Earl Grey, given their friendship with Mr. Fell. She wondered for a moment if they might be more like Crowley though: Mr. Six Shots of Expresso. Shaking her head at the thought, she brought over the tea and handed it to them. Nithael stared down at the cup for a long moment doing nothing as Nina went back to setting up until she couldn't stand the staring any longer.
"You drink it," she quipped, wiping off the table and giving them a look. "It's tea."
Nithael hesitated for one more second before lifting the tea up and sipping it. Their eyes closed and the smallest hint of a smile crept across their face before the bell above the door chimed and Maggie poked her head in.
"Hello," she chimed, lifting up the small bag of almond milk that had been requested of her. "I brought the milk."
"Thanks," Nina sighed, heading over to take it and glancing over her shoulder at Nithael as she lowered her voice to speak with Maggie. "Friend of Mr. Fell's. Found her sitting on the front step soaked to the bone. I don't know how long she was there but she's… odd. Doesn't talk much. Figured you'd have better luck. I need to open soon."
"I'm on it," Maggie whispered back with a wink, letting Nina relax and head back behind the counter while she went over to Nithael enjoying their tea. "Hello. Nina says you're a friend of Mr. Fell's. How is he? I heard he got some big promotion."
Nithael lowered their cup and saucer and nodded. "He's fine."
Definitely not a talker, Maggie mused as she sat down across from them. "Well, that's good. Do you have some business at the bookshop then? He left a young woman in charge now. She might be able to help you with what you need."
Nithael nodded, glancing over at said shop with a hint of anticipation.
"Do you want another towel? You're absolutely soaked," Maggie offered, getting up but Nithael grabbed the edge of her coat to stop her, suddenly dry. "Oh, never mind then. I suppose the one was plenty."
Maggie too didn't want to think about what had just happened and lightly brushed it off. She spotted movement in the shop across the way though and smiled a little in relief.
"It looks like Muriel might be starting to get ready to open. Would you like me to walk you over?"
"No," Nithael said simply, placing their cup down on the table and standing, making for the door and pausing to turn back. "Thank you."
"Of course," Maggie replied cheerfully as Nina just gave them a small wave.
Once the door closed behind them and they were already well across the road, Maggie spoke up.
"She was nice."
"She said like two words," Nina countered.
"Five."
Nina rolled her eyes, nodding toward Nithael as they spoke with Muriel at the door to the bookshop. "She's weird like the rest of them. Took all the chairs down without moving a finger."
"Dried herself off too," Maggie added, the two of them exchanging looks before Nina cleared her throat.
"Could you switch the sign?"
"Yup."
Best not to think of it.
Nithael stood before Muriel who was no longer clad in her all-white police outfit but in a comfortable cream jumper, white dress shirt, and dark slacks. She'd been scolded by Crowley over the phone to find something better to fit in with the humans who shopped at the bookshop. Police officers don't run bookshops, he'd said and she was honestly grateful for him. He hadn't come by since she'd taken over but had called randomly one afternoon inquiring if she'd been given any direction as to what she was to do. She hadn't. It was all rather sudden and as much as she enjoyed being on Earth, reading, and learning about the people around her, she had been left rather lost. He helped and it was nice—"Don't call me nice. I'm not nice."—if a bit brief. She hadn't expected this though.
She wasn't sure what to do. Should she salute? The angel standing before her was above her in rank, though not seemingly by much, but it was only common courtesy, right? Yet, she hesitated, and before she could so much as utter a word, an envelope was held in front of her. She blinked at the paper with her name neatly scrawled over the front of it in Azirphale's handwriting, lightly taking it.
"For me?"
Nithael nodded, gaze drifting past her and into the shop before her manners kicked in and Muriel grinned, waving them in.
"Sorry, come in! Do you want some tea? The humans—people here often enjoy it."
Nithael shook their head as they entered, head swiveling to look around the shop as Muriel awkwardly scrambled to the desk off on the left where a letter opener lay. She sliced the envelope open, glancing at Nithael out of the corner of her eye, before pulling out the first correspondence she'd received from Azriaphale since he'd left.
Muriel,
Apologies for not getting in contact sooner. Things have been rather… complicated. I feel absolutely terrible for leaving you without direction and I'm sure you have questions so I've enclosed a list of things to help. Do look them over and do your best.
Now, I have a task for you, if you could. I've sent over someone I've been working with; Nithael. They're my only chance to get a hold of you and Cro—Never mind. I trust Nithael, that's all you need to know. I'm having them be my connection on Earth but I need you to help them. They don't know anything about humans, really, and I'm sorry for placing the burden of teaching them to you. That, and you can't tell a soul. Nithael is doing something very risky and if any other angels or demons find out, it could be dangerous for both of us.
I've put in the paperwork that allows them to miracle up what they need for a living space though they're welcome to any of the back rooms. They will stay with you at the shop, help you with whatever you need, and are exceptionally good at organizing. I recommend you give them the task of keeping the paperwork and books in order while you handle the customers. Nithael isn't much of a socializer.
They will report back to me every so often, so if there's anything you have questions about, let them know. Help them settle in and again, thank you for everything you're doing. I doubt this was your first choice of profession but I appreciate you being there and caring for the bookshop.
Aziraphale
Muriel flipped to the other paper with a list of rules to help her run the bookshop, skimming them before setting both papers down. Nithael was standing over by a bookshelf, hands behind their back as they eyed the books there, careful not to touch or disturb anything. Muriel's heart swelled, glad to have someone with her now. She'd started to get a bit lonely and as much as she enjoyed having humans popping in and out of the shop, it wasn't the same as actual company. She'd started to feel like she was back in Heaven at her empty desk waiting for someone to summon her and now she had a friend.
Could Muriel call them a friend? They'd only just met and Nithael hadn't said a word. That's okay, Muriel thought, cracking a smile. I'll call us friends anyway. They headed over and drew their gaze as Muriel teetered back and forth before thrusting a hand out.
"I'm Muriel. 37th class scrivener and now a bookshop owner. I'm pleased to meet you."
Nithael looked down at their hand and took it, showing the slightest hint of surprise when Muriel began eagerly pumping it up and down.
"Really, I am. It's nice to have someone else here especially a friend of Azira—"
Nithael covered her mouth before she could finish that sentence, eyes sharp as they looked around the shop. Muriel was surprised but realized quickly that calling Nithael a friend of Aziraphale's could be a problem if it was overheard. I'm… not very good at this, am I? Nithael turned back to her and removed their hand slowly.
"Nithael," they said quietly. "7th class."
Muriel smiled brightly, clasping her hands around theirs. "I cannot wait to show you everything."