(no subject)

[clumsy_auror]

Tonks practically falls out of the main door onto Charing Cross Road. She ducks into the alley nearby, taking care not to be seen.

The black hair is still clutched tightly in one hand, and she draws her wand with the other."Locus Crowley," she intones hurriedly, and the hair glows blue for a moment. Then suddenly, a transparent map of the world hangs in mid-air before her, and a red dot pulsates over the Middle East. It continues to zoom in, showing Iraq, then Fallujah, then a partially-bombed building in the city's center.

Tonks takes a deep breath, wipes away her glamour spells -- she doubts the pink hair would go over well there -- and Disapparates.

Comments

[aj_crawley]

*Crowley surveys the street outside from the window, frowning as the men tarry in loading up the truck. One of the last few boxes of supplies balanced under his arm, he slips out the door, locks it behind him, and then turns. And bumps headlong into someone. He stumbles backwards, drops the box, and looks up, scowling.

And stares*

[clumsy_auror]

Crowley!

*Tonks looks around quickly, spots a nearby alley, and siezes Crowley's arm, dragging him over to it; when they're safely out of sight, she hugs him, quickly and tightly*

Crowley, you have to come home.

[aj_crawley]

*his voice is low and urgent*

Tonks, what the hell are you about, coming here? It isn't safe.

[clumsy_auror]

*she waves a hand impatiently*

I'm fine. And I wouldn't have come unless it was an emergency. But Bernard --

*Tonks cuts herself off, just shaking her head*

[aj_crawley]

*he is scanning the street, but turns his head sharply towards her at her words*

What? Bernard what?

[clumsy_auror]

*her voice drops to a whisper*

Bernard's worse, Crowley. Az--we think we're losing him. He's slipping further into the coma, not coming out of it.

[aj_crawley]

*if he stiffens at the hint of the angel's name, it's hidden by the shock that follows. He blinks a few times, stupidly*

...What?

*and then, quite suddenly, he sits down, slumping against the far wall of the alley*

But they healed him. Sirius - he broke the connection. They... he...

*he looks up at Tonks, plaintive*

[clumsy_auror]

*she crouches in front of him, hands on his knees; her grey eyes fill with tears*

I know. I thought -- thought it was going to be all right, too. But he's so weak, Crowley. He keeps trying to wake up, I can feel it, but then he just slips further and further away.

[aj_crawley]

*he takes off his sunglasses, rubs his eyes with the heels of dark-skinned hands*

And the a-

And nobody can do anything?

*there's something fierce and frail in the demon's eyes, and if he wasn't just that - a demon - it could almost be called faith*

[clumsy_auror]

*she shakes her head, he voice still a whisper*

Not so far. We've tried.

[aj_crawley]

Right.

Right.

*he hangs his head for a moment, then hoists himself to his feet. Slipping his sunglasses back on, he stalks out into the street, and barks a harsh order to the waiting men, waving the truck on. Before the dust from the wheels can envelope him, he is back beside Tonks in the alley*

Right.

*and then he unfurls his wings, shirt flickering and reforming around them. Dark lenses dare the witch to say one word, one word about the ugly bruises that still circle his neck*

[clumsy_auror]

*she sees them, and swallows hard, but says nothing*

We can -- I can Apparate us both there. It'll be faster.

[aj_crawley]

*he looks dubious*

It's... not too far?

[clumsy_auror]

*she looks skeptical for a moment, but then her face sets and she nods shortly*

I've got a dual Apparition liscence. Did it from Germany, once.

Trust me?

[aj_crawley]

*he holds out his hand*

[clumsy_auror]

*she takes his hand and pulls him closer, wrapping her other arm securely around his waist*

Okay. Hang on.

*Tonks closes her eyes and takes a few deep, focusing breaths; then there is a pop, and the alley is empty*