#hmwt

(Name) had been keeping busy in the years since the flood. She performed miracles, did blessings - she took on work loads that were not her own to please those above her.

Especially Gabriel.

She would do anything for him, something her brother had teased her for endlessly over the years. Today there would be no teasing though. Gabriel asked another favor of her - in fact, of both herself and Aziraphale. If anybody else had asked her to do this, she would have said no. She might even have laughed at them.

But there she was, standing among the crowd that had gathered in Golgotha. The sound of each blow of the hammer had her wincing. She couldn’t imagine the sheer amount of pain Jesus was being put through, and a part of her wanted to run and stop them.

But she knew, even if she tried, that Aziraphale would stop her - whether than meant taking her hand to pull her back, or removing her from this plane of existence altogether she didn’t know. She just knew she’d never get anywhere near that cross.

“I don’t like this.” (Name) murmured to Aziraphale, trying to keep her hands from shaking by clasping them together.

“I know you don’t.” Aziraphale replied. “But there’s simply nothing we can do.”

“There’s never anything we can do.” She all but hissed out. “What’s the point of our miracles if we can’t perform them.”

“We can’t save everyone.” Aziraphale reminded her. “And we cannot question the lord’s plans-”

“I didn’t question them, I just judged them. Silently.” She cut him off.

“If this is what you consider silent, my dear, I would hate to see what loud is.” She wasn’t sure if it was meant to be a joke or not, but she found no humor in it. The two of them were silent, until a familiar figure dressed in all black slithered up beside them. (Name) didn’t recognize them at first.

“I’m sorry ma’am, can we help you,” She turned to them, her throat going dry when she realized it was Crawly.

“Hello, (name).” She said, grimacing when there was another blow to the nail. “You two come to smirk at the poor bugger?”

“Smirk?” Aziraphale scoffed. (Name) opened her mouth to say something, but Crowley beat her to it.

“Your lot put him up there.” She said.

“We’re not consulted on policy decisions.” Aziraphale grumbled.

“Hell consult you on everything, Crawly?” (Name) snapped.

“I’ve changed it.” She replied, ignoring (name)’s question.

“Changed what?” Aziraphale inquired.

“My name. Crawly just wasn’t going it for me. A bit too squirming at your feet-ish.” She said, not tearing her eyes away from the crucifixion. 

“Well, you were a snake.” Aziraphale reminded her.

“What’s your name then, ma’am?” (Name) asked. “Something long and hard to pronounce?” She smiled down at (name) for a split second, a smile that turned quickly into gritted teeth at the next blow of the hammer, and tore her momentary gaze away.

“Crowley.” She told her. (Name) winced, but nodded.

“Did you ever meet him?” Aziraphale asked Crowley, attempting to change the subject.

“Yes,” Crowley said softly. “Seemed a very bright young man. I showed him all the kingdoms of the world.”

“Why?” (Name) asked, and Crowley finally turned her eyes to gaze properly upon the siblings.

“He’s a carpenter from Galilee, his travel opportunities were limited.” She said, grimacing again. “That’s got to hurt,” She looked back as the centurion came around to start on Jesus’ other hand. “What was it he said that got everyone so upset?”

“Be kind to each other.” Aziraphale moved an arm around his sister, and she appreciated the small comfort. She leaned into him, stealing another glance at the red headed demon. Her form was cloaked in black, as it always had been, and she wondered how Crowley might look in white, like the Angels.

She quickly shook the thought from her head.

“Yeah, that’ll do it.” Crowley said, scrunching up her nose. (Name) bit down on her tongue to keep from gagging as the nail plunged into Jesus’ wrist, and she turned her gaze to Aziraphale. She kept reminding herself that she was doing this for Gabriel, a favor for the object of her affections. If he needed her here, it must have been for important reasons.

(Name) couldn’t bring herself to watch was they finished, using ropes to haul the cross upright, Jesus’ wails of pain tearing through every nerve ending in her body. After the flood, (name) didn’t know if she could ever take this much grief in one sitting, and she wanted to run.

But she couldn’t run. She would need to return to Heaven with her brother to inform Gabriel and the others that the crucifixion was successful.

She turned to Crowley, who had been rather quiet, watching with a distant gaze as the crowds began to dwindle. (Name) cleared her throat, and Crowley turned her gaze to the Angel.

“Until we meet again, Crowley.” She said.

“Until then, (name).” Crowley replied with a nod. (Name) took Aziraphale’s arm, and with a bat of her eyes, they were back in Heaven.

There was more work to be done.

So much so, that she would not see the demon Crowley again for eight years. Considering the many years between their last meetings, a part of her wondered why eight years felt like anything at all. 

She and Aziraphale had been in Rome to influence a boy named Nero - Aziraphale had suggested they turn his interest to music; but there was something deep down inside of the boy that (name) knew wouldn’t be influenced by much light.

Still, she would persevere.

She and Aziraphale had been at a local bar when Aziraphale’s attention had been drawn away by a familiar voice.

“Crawly?” He asked, and (name) turned her head to find the redhead sitting at the nearby bar, a pair of dark spectacles over his eyes. She tried not to make any noise of surprise or disappointment when she saw that he’d chopped off his hair, which was now almost to his scalp, with the acceptance of the front which was curled back.

“Crowley,” She corrected her brother. “What a coincidence, running into you here.” (Name) took the initiative to move over by him, and Aziraphale followed with no protest.

“Still a demon then?” Aziraphale asked, and (name) kicked him.

“What kind of stupid question is that?! ‘Still a demon’? What else am I going to be, an aardvark?” Crowley snapped, and (name) rolled her eyes.

“Just trying to make conversation,” Aziraphale said.

“Try a little less, brother dear.” (Name) said. “I must apologize for him - we don’t get out much.” Crowley’s gaze was on her, and there was a faint smile on his lips.

“You have drink?”

“Not yet, no.” (Name) replied, surprised when Crowley asked for another cup before pouring her some. “Thank you.” She said, taking it grateful.

“Salutaria!” Aziraphale raised his cup, which he had barely touched since he'd gotten it, and the two both clinked their cups against his. “In Rome long?”

“Just nipped in for a quick temptation.” Crowley said as he took a sip of his wine.

“Anybody special?” (Name) asked.

“The Emperor, Caligula.” Crowley said. “Not that he needs any tempting to be absolutely appalling - going to report it back as a success.” (Name) nodded quickly. “What about you two?”

Aziraphale took the chance to explain, and (name) took the time to study Crowley. He looked a little withered down, tired, and slightly annoyed - she guessed, from her brother’s question. She didn’t blame him for being upset. Aziraphale didn’t know when to keep his mouth shut sometimes - he’d almost gotten the two of them into trouble on many occasions.

A part of her wondered why he was wearing dark glasses - no one would ever notice his exotic eyes, other than herself and other supernatural entities. It disappointed her, and she had no clue why.

“What else are you up to while you’re in Rome?” Crowley asked suddenly, snapping (name) from her thoughts.

“We were thinking of trying Petronius’s new restaurant.” Aziraphale told him with a smile.

“They say he does remarkable things to oysters.” (Name) piped in, hoping neither of them had noticed her spacing out.

“I’ve never eaten an oyster.”

“Well, maybe we could tempt you to join us.” She could feel Aziraphale’s eyes on her, but kept her own on Crowley. He was gazing at her above the small, round lenses of his glasses, and she again saw the faint smile on his lips. “Unless, of course, I’m not allowed to do any tempting.”

“(Name),” Aziraphale warned.

“What? I am inviting an old acquaintance to a meal - nothing bad about that.” (Name) finished her wine and set aside the cup. “So, Crowley, what do you say? Join us?”

“Afraid not,” He said. “Though I do appreciate the offer, I have places to be.”

“Says the man we found alone at the bar.”