And when you close your eyes, does it almost feel like nothing's changed at all?
It had been a while since Azuriel had been in the Mortal plain. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, she had retreated to her Pocket Dimension where she had stayed for at least a century, Dimension time. In reality, it had only been half a century, just about. She remerged in 79 A.D apparently. Rome was all the rage right now. Deciding she needed a break she travelled to Pompeii where the baths were rumoured to be the most luxurious. Landing on the outskirts of Pompeii, Azuriel waltzed through the market, taking in the sounds of bargaining and simple gossip. Her nose twitched as she caught a familiar scent on the wind, mingling with the fruity tinge of wine. Letting her sense of smell lead her to a small seafood bar by the docks she ducked under the arch as she enters, instantly overwhelmed with the smell of the ocean.
Swaying slightly, she caught herself on the frame of the arch, letting her sensitive nose adjust to the smells curling in the air around her. Shaking her head, she travelled further into the food place before spotting a head of flaming orange hair, encircled by a golden wreath. Smiling once again, Azuriel made her way to Crowley, weaving and dodging people and trays as she sauntered her way over. Magicking up a chair she placed it in between the two chairs already set up, Crowley on her right, Aziraphale on her left, they had a platter of oysters resting between them, although Aziraphale already had one half-way to his mouth.
“Sorry to drop in unannounced Gents. I was just in the area. Heard Pompeii had some rather luxurious baths, thought I’d check ‘em out.” Crowley blinked in slight surprise, Aziraphale just raised an eyebrow over the top of his shell as he slurped his oyster.
The Goddess watched in amusement as Crowley shot the Angel a look of disgust and brought his cup to his mouth and took a huge swig of wine, Aziraphale snapping a napkin into existence.
“So sorry dear. It’s no problem, really. It’s always a pleasure to see you around.” Aziraphale spoke through the fabric of his napkin as he dabbed around his mouth.
Smiling at Aziraphale, she seemed to have done a lot of smiling, she glanced quickly at Crowley who still had a scowl on his face. Studying both of their expressions, she caught a glimpse of concern in both of them. Before she could ask, Crowley spoke up, cup hanging loosely in his hand.
“So where have you been? Disappeared for 46 years and then you magically show up here. Where’d you go?” Crowley’s normally unbothered attitude had been swapped for short and to the point, his mostly hidden eyes peering at her, questions filling his gaze.
Ducking down abashedly, Azuriel sighed. Lifting a hand to rest on her head she explained that she had retreated away from the world, that Jesus’ death and resurrection had just got too much for her after the massacre of the Great Flood. Aziraphale’s gaze softened as he devoured another oyster, humming sympathetically. Crowley simply grunted before taking another gulp of wine. Deciding that the mood was too low she nicked an oyster off Crowley’s half of the platter and slurped it down. Swallowing her shellfish with a grimace, whilst she enjoyed food, slimy things never agreed with her, she placed the empty shell in the bowl next to her. Grinning at Aziraphale and patting Crowley on the head as he swiped a clawed hand at her, she stood and magicked the chair away.
“Well, gentlemen, I’m going to make my way to the Baths. Got to make sure those rumours are true, you know?” Azuriel turned around and slunk her way out of the restaurant, the oyster settling uncomfortably in her stomach.
There was a feeling of danger hanging in the air, a barely-there mist hanging over the place like a blanket of bad fortune. Brushing it off as paranoia she continued on, missing the volcano sitting quite innocently beside the town completely.
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Crowley and Aziraphale were just finishing their meal when it happened. Well, actually, Aziraphale had finished the meal, Crowley had just got drunk. But anyway, the meal had been finished and Aziraphale was once again patting his mouth with his magic napkin as Crowley raised the half-full cup to his lips when a sudden tremor knocked his chair sideways and Aziraphale was left gripping the pillar closest to his to keep steady. Screaming was heard as people ran past the restaurant for the boats. The Demon and the Angel looked at each-other before looking back outside. The quake soon stopped, and Crowley stood, straightening his glasses before speaking in a low voice.
“I’m not drunk enough to have imagined that, am I?” Aziraphale slowly shook his head.
Exiting the food place, they watched in horror as people were tripping over themselves and others in a desperate rush to get away from whatever it was that was causing so much disarray. Following the stream of screaming humans their eyes landed on a mountain in the distance. Their gazes travelled up the mountain, higher and higher before they inhaled in surprise and shock. The mountain was no mountain but instead an active Volcano, A Volcano that was in the act of erupting. Lava and ash spewed from the Volcano; chunks of blackened rock rained down from the sky. Chaos and terror bombarded Aziraphale and Crowley from every side as more and more people came screaming from down the road. As the sky darkened, the sun blockaded by the cover of ash blown from the eruption, the unlikely pair simply traded glances before running against the crowd, helping those they passed to rise from where they had been knocked down, but a single goal shared between them. Aziraphale stumbled as someone slammed into him, Crowley hissed in anger as he caught the shoulders of the babbling man.
“Where did you come from? Are there any others trapped?” The man sobbed.
“M-My wife! She’s in the baths, She told me to go and find help, the doors have been barricaded by the falling rocks. Those who are in the baths are still trapped in there!” The Angel and Demon exhaled in fear.
“Crowley, Azira must have made it to the baths before all this. She’s—” Crowley cut him off with a hiss.
“I know, Angel. C’mon, we got to go.” Aziraphale nodded and they took off, running as fast as their legs could carry them towards the baths.
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Meanwhile Azuriel was doing her best to reassure those in the baths that they were going to be okay while keeping the roof above them with no little struggle. The power she was using was limited in her human form. With the amount this was straining her she might be forced to change into her Godly form, if only to channel more magic.
Okay. As a human, you might be thinking “But Azuriel is a God! She has infinite powers, she can hold up a measly ceiling in her human form, it’s only a change in appearance after all.” You’re not wrong, but not right either. Similar to Aziraphale and Crowley her body is just a vessel. True, it isn’t exactly like the corporations of Angels and Demons, but it isn’t that different either. A God’s body is not made to look human. When a God wishes to be ‘human’ they change its compatibility for magic. Think of it as pouring hot water into a previously iced glass. If you pour too much magic into a human vessel too quickly the body will shatter leaving only the Godly essence behind. Now, as a God Azuriel can’t just go and ask the Angels for a new body. Instead, she has to reform her body over time, meaning that while she reforms her body, she will be trapped in her pocket realm. Now, if Azuriel was to use her Godly body to channel more magic she would have to change quickly which would rupture the human body, meaning she would need to heal it.
Enough explanation. All you need to know is that Azuriel was in trouble. Sending a look to the concealed sky she prayed that Aziraphale and Crowley would get here soon. She could feel cracks start to spread on her back where her wings formed, soon enough they would spring free and blow her cover. Another earthquake hit as she struggled to keep the building stable, wincing as she felt crack spread from her back to her forearms and neck. Shushing another crying maiden, she decided enough was enough.
“QUIET!” Azuriel shouted.
Everyone went silent. Basking in the silence she took a deep breath.
“Thank you. Now, what I’m about to do will only give you mere moments to escape. When I say run, you run. The doors will open, and you WILL run. You will not look back. I will follow if I can, but you must save yourselves. Do you all understand me?” The women all nodded in unison.
Taking another deep breath she let her human shell evaporate, all eight of her wings springing free and her eyes glowing a pure white. Diverting most of her power to the doors she pushed them open, using only enough magic to keep the ceiling from collapsing.
“GO!” Azuriel shouted, no longer sounding strained as she let her magic run free.
The Goddess watched as the ladies ran from the building, safe from imminent danger. Casting a blessing on all of them to reach safety she let herself rest for a moment. Striding out of the baths, Godly form glowing with heavenly light she checked the surrounding area for any more lifeforces in other buildings. Sensing none she was about to turn and flee herself when something burned straight through one of her wings. Crying out in pain she looked back at her wings. Her left Raven wings had been burned straight through by a large glob of Lava. Wait, that wasn’t right the Volcano hadn’t… Oh. Never mind. The lava ran down the side of the steep slope at an increasing speed. Panicking she moved buildings into a complex formation, hoping that it would at least slow the flow. It was a slow job, moving buildings and placing them strategically. More and more globs of Lava were flying into the air, landing on her skin, her wings, her clothes, burning through everything it came in contact with. In the end she was panting with exhaustion, bleeding holes littering her body and wings, clothes drooping off her form. Clutching the Golden Star around her neck she didn’t feel her Phoenix brooch melt and drop to the ground next to her scorched feathers. Gathering the last dregs of strength she vanished into thin air, leaving nothing behind but a few black feathers and a half-melted Phoenix Brooch.
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Crowley and Aziraphale made it to the baths. Well, what was left of the baths. The entire building had collapsed and there was nothing left but rubble. The pair shared a frantic look before they started searching for their friend, perfectly aware that they were running out of time. Ash and rocks still rained from the sky, covering the ground in black snow. Aziraphale’s white hair had been dulled down to a smothered grey and Crowley’s normally fire-red hair had been doused in a cover of ash. They had rushed amongst the piles of stone before Crowley’s sunglasses caught the faintest glimmer of gold. Running over he fell to his knees and dug.
“A-Aziraphale…” Crowley shook as he gently picked up a gold-stained feather, doused with ethereal blood that had lain beside a pile of half-burned feathers and a mostly melted brooch that had been on Azira’s chest.
Aziraphale ran over, gasping as he saw the remains.
“She isn’t… That isn’t…” The Angel couldn’t focus, couldn’t force out a whole sentence.
Crowley simply curled around the feather, letting out a small sob. Aziraphale took a deep breath before settling a comforting hand on Crowley’s shaking shoulder.
“We have to get out of here, Crowley.” They both stood albeit shakily.
Spreading their wings, they took to the skies, leaving the danger behind.
Their friend was gone.