#sfwriting

This is a music edit based on a scene from my Good Omens fanfic which you can read here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/22984303/chapters/54948973

Chapters: 2/3 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: None Fandoms: Good Omens (TV), Good Omens - Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett Relationships: Aziraphale/Crowley (Good Omens) Characters: Aziraphale (Good Omens), Crowley (Good Omens), God (Good Omens) Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Sickfic, Hurt Crowley (Good Omens), Protective Aziraphale (Good Omens), Genderfluid Crowley (Good Omens), Fluff and Humor, Angst, Hurt Aziraphale (Good Omens), Sleep, Sleepy Crowley (Good Omens), Sleepy Cuddles, Aziraphale and Crowley Through The Ages (Good Omens), Historical Inaccuracy, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Near Death Experiences, Blood, Corpses, Its very brief but just to be safe, Heat Stroke, Hypothermia, The Fall (Good Omens), Drinking, Miscommunication, Post-Canon, Canon Compliant, God Is A Black Woman, Getting Together, First Kiss, glitched text, No beta we fall like Crowley, Aziraphale Has Self-Esteem Issues (Good Omens), Dubcon Cuddling, Non-COVID related illness

Summary:

At the Ritz, an angel and a demon were preparing to leave. Aziraphale eyed Crowley. “Ready?”

“Yeah, let’s go."

Crowley got up from his seat and collapsed on the floor. Not surprising, really. He was downright sloshed. Absolutely plastered. It’s what you did in the 70’s.

“Crowley, you need to wake up!”

Crowley groaned. “Five more minutes. No, make dat ten. Feels nice.”

Abruptly, he felt himself being lifted off the ground. He was weightless—floaty standing on his burned feet that were now going numb. He drove the angel home through the Blitz. Queen was singing from his cassette player as the digital clock flickered. Aziraphale clutched his bag.

Summary:

At the Ritz, an angel and a demon were preparing to leave. Aziraphale eyed Crowley. “Ready?”

“Yeah, let’s go."

Crowley got up from his seat and collapsed on the floor. Not surprising, really. He was downright sloshed. Absolutely plastered. It’s what you did in the 70’s.

“Crowley, you need to wake up!”

Crowley groaned. “Five more minutes. No, make dat ten. Feels nice.”

Abruptly, he felt himself being lifted off the ground. He was weightless—floaty standing on his burned feet that were now going numb. He drove the angel home through the Blitz. Queen was singing from his cassette player as the digital clock flickered. Aziraphale clutched his bag.

“Don’t worry, dear. I’ll take care of you.” -- Crowley finds out stopping time had more repercussions than he bargained for.

"It's not the first time this happens, is it?"

Dr. Bryne had a grave look on her face as she was wrapping another layer of bandages over Maya's arms.

Reed was standing on the other side of the infirmary bed with his hands crossed to his chest, not taking his eyes off her.  It was almost as if he was trying to memorize the features of her face one last time. He knew she would be okay, but he didn't want to think what would have happened if he hadn't gone to check on her, if the reckon mission lasted one more day.

"No, it happened before" he replied with a hoarse voice. "But I had hoped it would never happen again"

"Her records don't mention anything about it"

"She doesn't want this to be in the records. Said it would look bad if the UN tried to recruit her. Not that it matters anymore..."

"You really think the UN would have turned her down for a mental health disorder? She was terrific at what she was doing; still is. Why would she resort to this, though?"

Reed clenched his jaw "I don't know but I bet it has to do with that Josiah guy. When I get my hands on him-"

"You don't know?" Emma interrupted. "He left for Atlas"

"What?! When were you planning on telling me this?"

He was looking straight at her with his piercing eyes. He could feel the anger rising to his face.

"Well... you didn't ask" the woman replied, unbiased by his reaction.

"I didn't-" he let out a sigh of defeat. "When did this happen? He was not on the list of those who signed up to leave for the Atlas colony"

"Shortly after the last shuttle returned, he took off in another one"

"And why did nobody stop him? He was not authorized to just take a shuttle and go. Was there no security around?"

He was on the edge of punching someone or something. The growing fury in his eyes made him look menacing. But Emma knew better and she continued to keep her calm in the face of his visible unrest.

"Two guards were found unconscious on the floor in front of the hangar bay. There were hardly any people around, they were checking on the shuttles that had returned. Nobody saw him leave until it was too late."

"I need to speak to Alric about this"

"There's nothing he could have done, Reed"

"We'll see about that"

He stormed out of the infirmary with his fists clenched. His blood was boiling and his footsteps were thumping heavy on the metal corridors to the main deck. People were scurrying back an forth from one terminal to another, looking in their data pads, carrying tools and gadgets of all sorts, flocking in small groups and exchanging terms he didn't understand. He went straight for the Colonel's office.

A guard stopped him in front of the door "Sir, you can't go in. The Colonel's busy"

"I don't care what he is, I need to speak with him right no-"

"Is there a problem here, cadet?"

The colonel was sitting in front of the door that just opened behind the guard. "You!" Reed thundered. "I will make alien poop out of you!"

"How about you come in?"

Colonel Alric van der Heuvel was a tall, lean young man. It was unusual for someone like him, with hardly any military history or training, to become colonel but he made himself stand out in the crowd during the expedition applications with his clever thinking. He was calculated and calm, showing determination and an exceptional ability to make unbiased judgements. It was clear that the expedition needed someone like him and he was among the first civilians to undertake the rigorous military training on board the Aurora.

He kept his calm as he offered Reed a drink, paying no mind to the Major's obvious anger; he did have the tendency to quickly lose his temper.

"Now" he said, sitting at his desk. "You were saying something about alien poop?"

Reed drank the contents of his whiskey glass in one shot and slammed it on Alric's desk. "How could you let an unauthorized person take off like that without notifying me about it first? Two of my men were found unconscious. Not to mention we have one shuttle less. Why wasn't I informed about this?"

"You had just left for your mission" said Alric, continuing to stay calm. That annoyed Reed even more. "Besides, what would you have done? Blast him out of the sky?"

"Yes!" replied Reed exasperated.

Alric gave him a serious look "We didn't get to that point where we just shoot people, Reedus. Not yet"

Reed let out a long sigh and sat on one of the chairs in front of Alric's desk.

"I know you hated the guy" Alric continued with the same calm voice "But trust me, this is for the best. I couldn't stand the guy, he was always in everyone's business. I know his method broke protocol but I let it slide for the simple fact that I wanted him out of here. And I honestly never understood what Maya saw in him"

"How was that for the best? Maya is in the infirmary" said Reed with a sudden sadness in his voice.

Alric's calm expression shifted to a combination of shock and worry. "What do you mean? What happened?"

"I found her unconscious on the floor". He sighed. "It was... history repeating let's say"

The Colonel was left speechless. Him and Maya went a long way. She was in his draft of trainees as well. And while he made himself noticed with his strategical thinking, Maya was quick on her feet like a squirrel. A lot of times it was hard to keep up with her but they made a good team. And he was one of the few she'd ever share her past with.

"But she was doing so well" his voice faded as he spoke.

"I am not entirely sure what triggered it but I am more than certain that Josiah had a part in it. He must've told her something or worse..."

"Emma did say she seemed unwell yesterday" he paused for a moment. "I should have paid close attention. If only I wasn't held up here so much... Now that I think about it, you might be right. He did leave in quite a hurry. Why wouldn't he just sign up for the colony if he wanted to leave so bad? Everyone was more than welcome to join. Hell, I wouldn't have had anything against the entire crew settling on Atlas"

"Don't get me wrong, I am glad that he's gone. But if this is the effect it had on my sister, I can't help but wonder if it was the right thing that he left"

"And here I was thinking maybe I should have blasted him out of the sky" Reed gave a weak chuckle.

"But it can't be just that" said Alric standing up from his chair. He began to pace his office back and forth.

"What do you mean?"

"I know I haven't been around much lately, but I know your sister. His mere departure couldn't have been the only trigger. Something must've happened. She is not that weak."

"Well, what good will it do now though? He is gone."

"What if he was the one who knocked her unconscious? That makes him a dangerous person. One that I just let lose in a new colony on a new planet"

"I've seen in before, Alric. It wasn't him... but I have to agree with you, he could be dangerous. I always had a bad feeling about him"

"So we're finally agreeing on something" said Alric with a big smile on his face. "Yeah, don't get used to it"

Iain M Banks

Neal Stephenson

Neil Gaiman on finishing Sandman