It had been a long day. Aziraphael had gotten into yet another scrape and I swooped in to save the day. It's a system that's worked well for thousands of years, but this time it's different.
Zira shakes in the leather seat of my Bentley. His hands are balled up in his clothes, gripping at the fabric like his life depended on it. He's acting like a stray puppy being taken to an animal shelter; so panicked and out of sorts.
I turn up the radio, and 'I Want To Break Free' blasts through my car in my mildly desperate attempt to relax him.
I pull up outside A.Z. Fell's and for once I come to a gentle stop; no need to stop spook him more with a jolt.
He unbuckles his seatbelt with those still shaking hands and carefully makes sure the belt is back in its place.
"I- umm... I'm sorry, Crowley, dear; I'll uh- I- I will see you tomorrow hm? We can have... breakfast? If you like?"
'He didn't invite me in,' I think, 'that's odd.'
I nod, trying not to let the slight hurt show. 'He's just having an off day, nothing to worry about.'
"Yeah, breakfast sounds good; we'll go somewhere nice eh, Angel?"
A nervous smile washes over his face and he fumbles for the door handle.
"See you for breakfast then, Crowley."
I wave as I hear the door pop open.
"See you for breakfast, Angel."
And with that he exits my Bentley and awkwardly waddles into the shop and out of sight.
An empty feeling fills my being as he disappears round the door and I'm left feeling hopeless in the drivers seat.
Why didn't he invite me in? He always invites me in; whether I've just taken him to lunch or he's nearly gotten himself discorporated, he without fail invites me in for tea, or a nightcap or something.
Was it something I did? Did I upset him somehow? Was it Queen?
No that's rediculous it could never be Queen.
So it must be something I did, great, I fucked up yet again. Wonderful.
I pop back the seat all the way and lie down in the beautiful leather chair, settling myself down for a little self loathing time.
The Bentley was always a jokester and liked to mess with me and this instance is no different as she plays 'Somebody To Love' from the radio.
"Nice joke, old girl." I say, gently patting her seat. It's things like this that I love about her; her vague sentience I'd somehow given her made the damn near 80 years I'd had her absolutely wonderful.
I lay there, thoughts swirling in my head of all the things I could've possibly done to upset Zira. Did he wear a new bowtie and I didn't notice? Was it that I didn't invite him out for dinner?
All these scenarios ran through my mind until I took a look at the clock to see that suddenly it's two in the morning. I lay my head back on the headrest and sigh loudly.
I'm jerked back into the waking world but loud knocking on the window, and Aziraphael was standing there, dressed fantastically as always.
I try to be nonchalant about the matter and roll the window down.
"Morning, Angel, ready for breakfast?"
"Crowley," Zira starts, "have you been sitting out here all night?" He sounds concerned, aww.
Think of something quick, Crowley.
"Eh? Nah, I just figured I'd be early for once; I went for an early morning drive and wound up here early enough to take a nap outside, that's all, Angel."
We both know I'm not a morning person, so he probably knows I'm bullshitting. That look of concern doesn't go away but he doesn't push me on it as he walks round the Bentley and hops in the passenger side, clicking his seatbelt in place as he speaks.
"Ah, alright; where are you taking me for breakfast then, dear boy?"
I smile, pop my seat in place and grip the wheel.
"Anywhere you want, Angel; anywhere at all."
