The sun neared the colorful horizon as Castyr ran his fingers through Kilo's dark hair. The angel's head rested in Castyr's lap as the two relaxed on the roof of the base; Kilo's eyes were closed in a deep sleep. The wind was gentle and rustled the star's silver hair while caressing his skin.

Kilo had continued to keep the link cut as he slept in Castyr's lap. Castyr missed Kilo's constant presence in his mind, but he did not pressure the angel to reactivate their telepathic connection. Castyr knew that it could not have been easy for Kilo to interrogate someone using Hades' methods after he himself had just escaped the very pits of Hell.

Leaning down, Castyr pressed a gentle kiss into Kilo's forehead, the angel's crinkled brows relaxing with the star's touch. Guilt consumed Castyr as he gazed down at his angel. He knew that Kilo endured something so cruel to keep him safe, and he hated that Kilo had to become a tormentor because of him. Kilo was hurting. Castyr knew he was. He could see it in Kilo's eyes; he could hear it in the angel's unstable breathing and sense it in his restless sleep.

Tears touched Castyr's eyes he stroked his fingers through Kilo's hair. I am the cause of your pain...

"I'm so sorry." Castyr's vision grew blurry, so he lifted his head to look at the sun. A tear escaped Castyr's eye as the sun met the horizon. A hand reached up and wiped the tear away before it fell from the star's face.

"Why are you crying?" Kilo asked softly. He had awakened with the star's kiss and was saddened by Castyr's tears.

Looking down, Castyr's gaze met Kilo's purple orbs, but the angel's face blurred from the tears welling up in Castyr's eyes. The angel sat up as more tears streamed down Castyr's face. "I'm so sorry, Kilo," Castyr apologized as he cupped his angel's cheek lovingly.

"What's wrong?" Kilo asked as he brought the star into his arms. "Why are you crying?"

"I don't want you to hurt anymore," Castyr responded between sniffles. The star curled his fingers into Kilo's shirt and buried his face in his angel's chest. Kilo petted the back of Castyr's head as the star released his tears.

After a few moments, Kilo pulled away and took Castyr's hand. "You healed me, remember?" Kilo said as he placed Castyr's hand on his heart. "And you're constantly healing me. Every time I look at you, the pain in here goes away. You're my comfort, not my pain."

Castyr's lips curled into a small smile as he met Kilo's eyes. Castyr nodded in understanding when he saw the sincerity in Kilo's expression. Kilo wiped Castyr's cheek with his thumb before pulling the star into him. Castyr leaned his head on Kilo's shoulder, and his tears lessened. The two remained in each other's embrace as they watched the sun set beneath the horizon.

When the light from the sun had vanished from the sky and the stars had begun to unveil themselves, Ilios joined the two on the roof. Kilo and Castyr promptly stood and saluted their commanding officer upon Ilios' arrival. It was time for Castyr to return to Heaven.

"Have a safe journey," Ilios bid the angel and star before pulling Castyr into his embrace. "I'm proud of you, Castyr."

Ilios' words meant so much to Castyr. Ilios had been the star's mentor and brother-like figure for the past fifty years. All Castyr knew about war, strategy, and the hardships of life were learnt from training and fighting next to Ilios. Castyr hugged Ilios before the angel could pull away. "It's been an honor, Colonel," Castyr said earnestly before stepping away and saluting Ilios once more.

Ilios returned the star's salute before turning to Kilo. "We'll meet you up there after the troops come in." When news of fresh units being sent to Earth to relieve Ilios' regiment arrived, the decision to sent Kilo and Castyr back to Heaven was expedited since the entirety of Ilios' command would be returning to the heavenly realm shortly.

"Good luck, lieutenants," Ilios said before stepping back as Kilo spread his wings. The guardian angel wrapped his arms around Castyr securely as the star held onto him, and after a few powerful strokes of Kilo's wings, the two were on their way to Heaven. Wind gushed past Castyr as the two lifted off the roof and headed for the moon. Ilios watched Kilo and Castyr ascend safely before exiting the roof and rejoining his soldiers within the base.

Castyr rested his head in the nook of Kilo's neck as they entered the night sky. The star then closed his eyes and breathed in his angel's comforting scent as Kilo flew them to the moon. When the two had flown closer to the bright, celestial orb, Kilo's angelic honing ability was activated, and a bright light engulfed the two. Now that Kilo had his wings, he was able to enter the heavenly realm after a flight to the moon.

A soft wind greeted the pair as they flew between the silver-crested clouds. Castyr relaxed in Kilo's arms as the angel flew them to the nearest transport station where they then teleported to the city of Haiyam, the city surrounding the hill upon which Ithyos, Castyr's residence, resided. Castyr's residence glowed faintly as the two hiked the hill and arrived at Ithyos' front entrance.

Castyr swallowed dryly as he recalled his time in Ithyos and the longing to escape that consumed his every waking moment. It was because of his curiosity for the world and wish to escape the bounds of his residence that his turbulent journey had begun. Though he had returned to Ithyos following Kilo's capture, this return was much more emotional for Castyr.

He had returned with his angel, and he had experienced many a planet during his search, but he could not reverse the clock and erase the pain and trauma that had accompanied his tragic adventure. The worlds he had so wanted to see were hollow in nature, and he was rewarded with scars and tears.

Evenso, when Kilo took his hand and led him into his residence, Castyr was excited to begin this new segment of his life. He had returned home with his angel, and they could now live in peace. His curiosity for the universe had been satiated with twisted experiences, and all he wished for now was to spend the remainder of his days safe and warm with Kilo by his side.

Thus, as he entered Ithyos, Castyr was not filled with his sad memories of lamenting his lost angel in solitude but rather was filled with hope for the future. So, he began to view his residence in a new light, and everything was welcoming and beautiful. Heaven's moon illuminated the glassed-in, central atrium, casting a cool glow throughout the residence.

"Welcome back," Castyr voiced with a small smile as he and Kilo made their way through Ithyos.

"It's different than I remember," Kilo commented as he observed the updates and changes Castyr had done during his years of cadet training before being officially dispatched to fight in the war against Hades.

Castyr furrowed his brows in slight confusion. "I thought you never came in," the star returned whilst stopping and facing Kilo. From what Kilo had told him in the past when they had first met, the guardian had refrained from entering Ithyos to keep his identity and existence unknown to the star. But what Kilo just said caused Castyr to realize that was not entirely true.

Kilo averted his gaze to the side and sheepishly explained, "I might've come in once or twice without you...erm...noticing."

"Oh, did you now?" Castyr asked with a playful smirk before taking the angel's hand and leading Kilo to his private quarters. Moon rays washed the wide room in an ethereal light. Elaborate, white curtains billowed slowly in the soft breeze while stone columns supported the open, long end of the room parallel to the bed.

As the two stared at the large, single bed, Castyr shyly apologized, "Sorry, there's no guest room. It's usually just me here at night."

"That's good," Kilo responded as he walked over to the bed. "Huh?" Castyr's reaction left his lips before he could compose himself. "What's-what's good?" He had not expected Kilo to respond with that.

"Both." Kilo answered while sitting on the edge of the bed. "I'm glad there's not a guest room, and I'm happy it's just us, now."

Castyr remained still and blinked at Kilo's coolness. The angel looked so relaxed and natural although he had just admitted to wanting to be alone with Castyr with no one else in sight. How is he so composed?

When Kilo saw Castyr standing frozen with a shocked expression on his face, Kilo carefully inquired, "Do you not feel comfortable with me?" The angel's inquiry snapped Castyr out of his daze, and he fervently shook his head while answering, "No! No, that's not-"

The star was cut off when Kilo let out the slightest smirk, grabbed Castyr's wrist, and spun the star around so he landed with his back on the bed. "Then, why are you so shy?" Kilo asked when he landed on top of the star, his arms propping him up to hover over Castyr. The angel's voice was low and seductive, and he stared into Castyr's eyes deeply.

Blush rushed to Castyr's cheeks as he stared up at Kilo with wide eyes. "Well, that's because...because..." His voice trailed off as Kilo looked at him captivatingly and yet, earnestly.

"Hm?" Kilo sounded when Castyr fell silent. "Because of what?" The angel moved his face closer to Castyr, his eyes flitting to the star's lips.

"Because...I like it," Castyr answered breathily. Oof, how cheesy! Castyr cringed internally the moment the words left his mouth. But it's the truth. I did like it when Kilo said that.

"Like what?" Kilo asked. His voice was low and husky, but a hint of true interest lied beneath the angel's cool gaze. When the star remained silent, Kilo brushed his lips across Castyr's cheek just to the side of his mouth causing the star's cheeks to glow a hot red. Kilo's slight touch ignited a fire within Castyr, and he momentarily lost his sense of self-composure and answered truthfully, "You being...possessive."

Immediately following his response, Castyr bit his lip bashfully. I cannot believe I just said that!

While the star glowed with embarrassment, Kilo's lips curled into a small smile. "Then...you like being mine?"

Castyr could detect a hint of hope buried within the angel's husky voice, and he nodded in confirmation. "Very much."

"Good." Kilo smiled down at the star, his eyes flitting to Castyr's before he leaned down and kissed the star softly. Castyr's eyes fell shut as he enjoyed the taste of Kilo's lips. Once the two broke for air, Kilo ran the tip of his nose on Castyr's cutely before getting off of the star.

Castyr lied on his back and looked up at the ceiling as Kilo got the bed ready for sleep; he was still recovering from the angel's ardent gaze. He finally started to breathe again when Kilo got him under the covers and wrapped him in his arms. Kilo kissed Castyr on the forehead as the star turned into him. Castyr breathed in Kilo's comforting scent and released a sigh, relaxing in his angel's embrace.

"Thank you for coming back to me," Castyr voiced sleepily as he stifled a yawn. The stress and exhaustion from the previous several days was finally catching up to him, and sleep was threatening to send him into the realm of slumber.

Kilo smiled and pet Castyr's head while promising, "I'll always come back. Always." The angel kissed the top of Castyr's head and pulled his star closer while releasing a long breath.

Castyr found himself falling asleep almost immediately. The moonlight, billowing curtains, caressing breeze, and the comforting presence of Kilo made this moment perfect. With Kilo's strong arms around him, Castyr's thoughts faded into the night.