Kilo was awake when Castyr opened his eyes. The angel smiled when the star looked up at him brightly. Kilo gazed at the star with heart-shaped eyes, and his heart was light. Castyr was glowing; he was safe and content. Castyr's eyes widened when he realized how bright his glow was, his cheeks reddening from slight embarrassment.

"Sorry," Castyr apologized quietly while dampening his glow.

"Don't be," Kilo returned. "I like it when you glow."

Castyr's lips curled into a smile, and he wrapped his arms around Kilo and nestled into the angel. The star breathed in his angel's comforting scent and enjoyed the feeling of being to close to Kilo. "I can't believe I've finally got you back. It feels like a dream."

The moment the words slipped from his mouth, fear struck Castyr. The star's heart began to race as he lifted his head from Kilo's chest and looked up at the angel. "This isn't a dream, is it?" He asked frantically, scared that he had actually been rendered unconscious amidst the battle or worse, dead.

Realizing the star's panic, Kilo gently pulled Castyr into him and pressed his lips to the star's. Castyr's fingers wrapped themselves in Kilo's shirt as he kissed the angel. The warmth of Kilo's lips caused Castyr's fears to fade, and he melted into Kilo's embrace.

As Kilo released the kiss, he took Castyr's hand and placed it against his heart. Castyr kept his gaze locked with Kilo's as the angel said, "Feel this..." He then moved Castyr's hand to his chin where he brushed the star's finger over his lips. "Feel me... I am here. With you." Kilo then took Castyr's hand and interlaced his fingers with the star's. "This is real."

Castyr's heart swelled as he continued to gaze into Kilo's purple eyes. The star's breath hitched when Kilo placed his hand on Castyr's waist and slid his thumb beneath the hem of the star's shirt. Even though it was the slightest touch, the sensation of Kilo's skin on his sent heat rushing through Castyr's body.

"Does this still feel like a dream? Does my touch feel like a ghost against your skin?"

Castyr released a breath of relief. Kilo's touch had grounded him, and he no longer feared that this was merely a fantasy his broken mind had created to soothe his pain.

Kilo smiled at the star softly as he watched Castyr come to terms with the beautiful reality. "Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere."

Hearing Kilo's affirmations caused Castyr's worries to disappear completely. He did not care what happened next as long as he was with Kilo. However, there was one thing that the star was curious about. Although he was scared of the answer to his question, Castyr held Kilo closely and cautiously asked, "Where were you...all these years...?"

Kilo sighed softly and ran his fingers through Castyr's hair before quietly answering, "Somewhere you'll never go."

The angel did not disclose any further information, but through Kilo's response, Castyr learned all he needed to. Tears touched Castyr's eyes as he thought of the scars covering Kilo's body. All the pain, trauma, torment, all of it happened because of him. 

Kilo would not have had to endure such affliction if Castyr had not been so naive, and that killed him. Knowing that his angel was subjected to years of pain due to his carelessness ate Castyr from the inside out. "I'm so sorry." Castyr buried his face in Kilo's chest as he apologized for the pain he had brought upon his angel. 

"Don't be," Kilo responded gently. "They're gone."

"Hm?" Castyr looked at the angel in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"You healed me," Kilo replied while lifting his shirt. Castyr's eyes widened when he saw the angel's smooth skin. Reaching out, Castyr touched Kilo's flawless body. Placing his hand atop Castyr's Kilo slid the star's hand up his chest.

Castyr's heart raced as his hand felt the angel's muscular body. Kilo smiled down at Castyr and stopped the star's hand on his heart. Castyr could not help but blush as he felt Kilo's pounding heart.

"You healed this, too." Much like the night following Kilo and Castyr's fall from Ithyos, Castyr's light had healed his angel's wounds. "As soon as I saw you, I knew everything would be okay. So, don't be sorry, hm?"

Warmth filled Castyr as he heard Kilo's words. Nodding with a soft smile, Castyr let Kilo pull him into his chest. Closing his eyes contently, Castyr ran his hands around Kilo's chest to his back as he held onto his angel, the star's hands still under Kilo's shirt. 

As Castyr nestled into Kilo, he felt small twitches running up the angel's back causing Kilo to shift slightly. "What's wrong? Are you okay?" Castyr pulled away and looked at Kilo with worry.

"Oh, it's just my wings. They're getting twitchy 'cause they want to come out." Kilo knew exactly what was going on. After his wings had fully emerged, they would often bug him to release them.

"They can come out if they want to," Castyr encouraged with a smile of relief. Thank the Heavens it's not something painful.

Kilo chuckled at the star's innocent response. Even though Castyr had spent several decades living, training, and fighting with all sorts of angels, he did not realize just how much space a full set of wings took up. "Well...they're kind of big."

"That's okay. We can go to a rooftop." Castyr's lips curled into a small smile. He had been wanting to see Kilo's wings in all their glory. He did not want to pass up this opportunity even if it meant dragging Kilo out of the base.

When Kilo nodded in agreement, Castyr's heart thumped with excitement. Kilo chuckled at the star's cuteness and ruffled Castyr's silver hair before slipping out of the cot. Castyr was quick to follow his angel. Kilo waited for his star to exit the tent before interlacing his fingers with Castyr's. Castyr could not stop the blush that rushed to his cheeks while looking up at Kilo with a bright smile.

"Let's go," Kilo said softly before leading Castyr through the camp while following the star's directions.

Now that Heaven had won back the Transport Tower, security around the base had lightened some, so it was pain-free for the two to sneak out and ascend a nearby skyscraper. All the while the two made their way to the roof of the skyscraper, the couple walked hand-in-hand just enjoying being in each other's presence. 

The angel and star took deep breaths of fresh air as they entered the roof of a slick, black stone building. Castyr followed Kilo to the center of the roof, and the angel let go of Castyr's hand before walking a few steps ahead of the star. Closing his eyes, Kilo took a deep breath as giant, black wings emerged from his back.

Castyr's mouth opened in awe as he stared at the beautiful wings before him. The star slowly approached the angel and gently stroked one of the wings. He could not help but notice the tingles that ran down Kilo's spine in reaction to his touch. His wings must be incredibly sensitive.

"They like you," Kilo commented as Castyr continued to gently caress his wings. "They normally don't let anyone touch them."

"Ah. Well, they better like me 'cause I'm going to be around them for the rest of their existence."

Kilo smirked sweetly and ruffled Castyr's hair. How is he so cute?

A blast of cold wind caused Castyr to shiver as it gushed past the two atop the skyscraper. In reaction to the star's shiver, Kilo took Castyr in his arms and wrapped his wings around the two of them, covering Castyr with his warmth. The star smiled up at Kilo as the angel kissed his forehead. 

Beeping from the star's wrist device paused the romantic atmosphere, and Castyr begrudgingly checked his device to see a summons from his commanding officer. "Ilios wants to see both of us," Castyr said to his angel while reading the summons.

"One more minute," Kilo bargained while pulling Castyr back into him.

"Okay," Castyr readily agreed. He would do anything for more alone time with his angel.

As Castyr stood in Kilo's embrace, he realized he could stay like that forever. The star closed his eyes and absorbed every aspect of Kilo that he could. His musky, honey scent. The sense of safety. His muscular body and warmth. His deep voice and intoxicating, purple eyes. The feeling of comfort and love.

Another summons a few minutes later officially had the star and angel leave the roof and return to base. Kilo and Castyr salute Ilios as they reach his makeshift office. The colonel then motioned for the two to sit, which they promptly did.

"Guardian Kilo, I would like to reinstate you as a captain in Alpha Team under Major Azyr upon his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel," Ilios offered when all needed parties were present.

"I would be honored," Kilo accepted with a bow of his head. While Kilo accepted Ilios' offer with poise, Castyr's heart sped with excitement. Kilo is going to be on Alpha Team! Now, there would be no excuse for them to be apart.

With the guardian's receival of his new position, Ilios informed, "The promotion ceremony will be held in the Division of Defense in Azari. We will return to Azari once new troops arrive to guard Earth. Until then, rest up. You have done well."

The two then stood and saluted their commanding officer, and just before they turned to leave, Ilios added, "Lieutenant Kilo, the Division of Defense would like a debrief of the past fifty years when we return to Azari."

Kilo nodded shortly before following Castyr out of the compact office. He took a deep breath as the two entered the common area and headed toward Castyr's tent. However, as they made their way through the common area, alarms blared throughout the base, and warnings sounded from the soldiers' devices.

Castyr's eyes widened as he checked the device on his wrist. "Demons have been spotted in District 14. Alpha and Beta teams have been called. We need to go!"

The angel and star immediately rushed to their tent and grabbed their equipment before racing to the ground level where they joined Alpha Team in a hovercraft as Beta Team arrived at the emergency landing zone just outside the base. Major Azyr fitted Kilo with comm devices and two, holstered handguns along with a sheathed knife as the craft took to the sky.

"How many were spotted?" Captain Minhyuk asked as Sinjae handed Kilo a black, impact-resistant jacket to wear over his bulletproof vest.

"A small bunch. About twenty or so," Azyr answered before Sinjae warned, "They're most likely stragglers, but Hades may be sending out small groups to scout out the situation. We need to thoroughly assess who, where, and how many."

"I'm so glad we're going home soon," Destil commented quietly. He was ready for some peace and quiet.

Everyone nodded their heads in silent agreement. They were all ready for a break. They had been in the war longer than any other unit. The soldiers remained to themselves for the remainder of the flight, most thinking of home and the comforts that they missed dearly.

As the craft neared the southern division of the city, Castyr's leg began to shake nervously. It was slight enough, though, that no one except Kilo noticed. The angel placed his hand just above Castyr's knee and began rubbing the star's tight muscles. His touch made Castyr nervous for a completely different reason, but the star could not help but melt from Kilo's deep massage. Castyr's leg stopped moving as Kilo continued, and he eventually closed his eyes and enjoyed the massage.

Kilo removed his hand as the pilot announced, "Touch down in five."

"Better?" Kilo whispered as Castyr opened his eyes. The star nodded and sat up straight, clearing his throat. Hearing Castyr clear his throat caused Kilo to cock a brow and smirk when the star gazed at him with slanted eyes.

Castyr was quick to tisk at Kilo and turn away, his face instantly became red. What's he so smug about?

The craft landed three blocks from the sighting, and the team advanced cautiously once on the ground. Being the team's sniper, Castyr entered a skyscraper a block away and raced to the roof where he set up his rifle and began scoping out the surrounding area. Kilo followed the orders given to him and remained with the team while Castyr claimed his position.

While scoping the blocks ahead of his team, Castyr spied three demons milling about under an adjacent skyscraper. The star then notified his team of the demons' location through the comm device in his ear.

"Received," Azyr responded through the earpiece before telepathically delegating orders to his team members. Castyr returned to scouting the area as Alpha and Beta Team advanced on the demons.

When the two teams neared the demons, a slight motion caught Castyr's eye. "Movement detected two hundred yards from sighted targets," Castyr relayed while shifting his focus.

Azyr acknowledged the message a moment later, and the team slowed their advance while Castyr scoured every inch of the immediate area. The flapping of wings ripped the star's focus from his scope. Aware of the location of every member of both Alpha and Beta Team, Castyr knew the visitor was not an ally. I've been spotted!

The star whipped around as a demon lunged at him with his claws bared. There was no weapon in the demon's hand. Odd.

Instead, he shot daggers created from his energy that would merely maim Castyr. Although Castyr dodged every dagger, none of them would have been fatal should they have found their marks. He does not want to kill me. Why?

The star's suspicion rose as he observed the demon. "Who are you?" He asked gruffly as he and the demon faced off in a stand-still.

The demon merely sneered before throwing several energy daggers. Castyr easily evaded them and drew his gun. The star aimed for the demon's neck, but his enemy was quick; the bullet flew into the opposing building. Castyr's attacker dissolved his daggers and ran in swift, zig-zag movements until he was right in front of the star. Castyr reacted to the updated fighting style by holstering his gun and drawing his knife as the two engaged in hand-to-hand combat.

"What do you want?" Castyr demanded as the demon and he had the other in equal holds. This demon fought without an intent to kill, and that was highly unusual. So, Castyr thought he would do some investigation. But, what the demon replied with shocked Castyr to his core. It was not an answer he had expected.

"Your light," the demon answered in a growl. "I need your light, you wretched star."