Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

While all stories have a beginning, this one starts where most end. The afterlife was a complex cosmic hub where divine and supernatural beings resided. It was here that three main realms outside of the mortal plane existed; all intertwined, yet all so far apart. A continued existence throughout space and time, divided by the waves of creation.

The first and highest of these realms was Heaven. The paradise that was perfect in all forms and ways. It was the ultimate reward for all good souls on Earth created by the divine and omnipotent creator, known by many names, yet mostly known as God. It was a place for all good beings - be they Christian or Atheist, Jewish or Muslim, Hindu or Pagan, Capitalist or Socialist, Spiritualistic or Materialistic, Straight or Gay, Warriors or Pacifist, and countless others - to go upon death should they be worthy of it in the eyes of their maker. Those who did good, in the name of good, were always welcomed through the pearly gates, where the warm glow of God’s eternal love for all awaited them. It was also the home of the Angels, God’s most devoted workers to his will and plan for the universe. They were messengers, warriors, scribes, teachers, healers, and more with their own cultures, ranks, families, and traditions that saw them as the divine bringers of hope for humanity and the instruments in God’s grand yet mysterious plan.

The second, the lowest of these realms, was Hell. A place of fire, brimstone, and chaos. It was the home and birthplace of all great evils and negative energies birthed from the concept of creation itself. Initially, it was left alone as demons, the natives of this rugged land, formed their own cities and nations while battling against each other for resources and power. However, one demon, the most powerful in existence, eventually united the realm of Hell under his command. His name was Satan, the Lord of Darkness and the first true King of Hell. Satan had united all demons under his banner and sought to usurp God and his Angels. The endless resources of Heaven were too big of a treasure to ignore, and the desire to see the almighty creator broken before him only furthered his lust for conquest.

And so it was that the Demon-Angel War began.

The armies of Hell marched to the gates of Heaven, both sides clashing in near-endless stalemates as Angels and Demons were killed in the millions, if not billions. Yet, no matter how hard Satan tried, he could not break into the Heavens. This was all thanks to the mastermind planning of the Prime Archangels, eight leaders of the Angelic Armies who stood out among all their fellow winged warriors. Two names were the most spoken of, in reverence or in fear depending on the side,: Lucifer the Morningstar and Micheal the Guardian of Justice. Both were close friends, even calling each other brothers during their many years of battling side by side. Eventually, God himself was said to have delivered a single blow to the Demon King that saw him slain, with his body twisted and turned into the current seven rings of Hell themselves, constructed by his own bones and flesh. This is why demons of today still believe Satan is alive and worship him, as they believe he remains with them in the very earth and structures of Hell itself.

With Hell defeated, Satan’s most loyal servants, the Goetia, fell into infighting for territory and soon established their own nobility that spread across the rings as a warring states period that lasted for millennia.

Meanwhile, things in Heaven were not going well either. Lucifer had become jealous and felt betrayed by God for his new love for humanity, the creatures he had created in his image. He also believed he deserved to be the new ruler of the Heavens for all his effort in defending it. Eventually, Lucifer’s pride and anger drove him to rebel with his own host of Angels, and The Great War In Heaven went on for a hundred years as Angels fought against Angels.

Micheal, despite loving his brother, had no choice but to lead the loyalists against one of their own. In the climactic battle, Micheal defeated Lucifer with his mighty spear as God delivered the ultimate punishment to his fallen son and his army of traitors. For their betrayal, they were cast down, forsaken, no longer as Angels, but as Demons who were banned from ever returning to Heaven, save for those who truly repented.

Desperate and surrounded by enemies, Lucifer soon began his conquest with his mighty Fallen Angels upon landing in the underworld. With his tactical brilliance and power, the Morningstar soon conquered all of Hell, with all Demons bowing to him in submission or falling against his blade. Lucifer swore that he would have his revenge and decided if he could not be the ruler of Heaven, then he would be the King of Hell. Thus, Lucifer became the second True King of Hell and made it his mission to forever take as many human souls, damn them, and gather enough power to one day destroy God and claim Heaven as his own. For eons, a near eternal battle between Heaven and Hell was waged for the right to dominate the universe and the fate of mankind.

That all changed when Jesus Christ died to save mankind and allow them access to Heaven. Descending into Hell itself, the Son of God easily defeated the armies of Hell that Lucifer had sent to kill Christ before he freed all the souls of Hell and Limbo to join him in everlasting peace. Even Lucifer himself was powerless against him. However, instead of ending the Fallen Angel, Jesus claimed God would spare him if he agreed to a treaty between Heaven and Hell. Hell would be allowed to continue its own ways, with Lucifer ruling it as he saw fit. However, Hell would also see to it that the souls of the damned would find a way to redeem themselves and enter Heaven should they repent. There was a catch: should there be a year where too few or no souls were saved, Heaven would send Exterminators to eliminate the worst Demons and sinners in the rings to ensure that the population remained in check. A means to remind Hell who was the more powerful of the two realms. Lucifer reluctantly agreed, and thus the bargain was made between the two realms.

It was also agreed to create a neutral realm where neither angels nor demons could fight. A place where those who wished to live in peace without fear of attack and where souls neither fully good nor evil could rest and earn true salvation until they were ready to enter Heaven.

Purgatory: the third realm between salvation and damnation.

Purgatory was a realm very much like Earth that changed with the times, yet it was a realm where humans, Angels, and Demons could co-exist. For humans who were found to be not evil but yet not good enough for salvation, it was a hard-working place to earn the proper redemption needed to be allowed to enter Heaven. For Angels and Demons, it was a place where they were free to start new lives by creating their own business and dreams. Today, Purgatory has become a haven in a collective set of cities that were each designed for various purposes of helping humans repent and achieve salvation. Angels would teach the virtues, and Demons would tempt them as part of their test. Of course, some Angels too went to Purgatory for new opportunities or business.

And one of those is where our main story begins...

Chapter Text

Recently deceased Ryan Kenith wouldn't say he was a good person, but he wouldn't say he was a bad person either. If anything, his old gaming club buddies always described him as the perfect example of a "True Neutral Character." He believed in God, but never went to church. He dated many girls, but never married any of the women. He didn't smoke, but he was a heavy drinker. He had no real ambitions in his life, yet often dreamed about all the things he could one day do. Regardless of these lofty daydreams, all he wanted to do was kick back, relax, and let life pass by while doing his dumb postman job. It was really all about him, but he never made an effort to make people suffer. Maybe that was why he’d wound up in Purgatory after dying in that car accident; he’d never done anything with his life worth meaning. 

And here I am stuck doing my old job, all while attending classes for redemption on weekends. It’s like being back in Sunday School, Ryan thought as he walked off his post truck on the street of his latest stop before rubbing the sweat off his brow. At least the teacher was a hot-looking Angel.

He walked towards the large office building in front of him, where a human soul in a simple peach dress looked at him with a small smile. "Can I help you?"

"Yeah, I got a package for Mr. Blitzo on the fourteenth floor. Room 1400?" Ryan asked, showing said package in his hands.

"Take the elevator to your left," the secretary said with a smile. Just as Ryan was about to walk in, she added, "Also, a word of warning: the 'o' is silent. Remember it, or he'll go on about it for twenty minutes."

Ryan shrugged before pressing the up button. Like, I care what the guy thinks about his name. Who goes around with a name like Blitzo anyway? Sounds like some kind of clown name.

Arriving at the fourteenth floor in record time, Ryan walked over to the room labeled 1400 and was about to open it when half the doors suddenly exploded and sent the poor postman back on his butt. "Jesus Christ!"

A giant hole was right where his head would have been if he hadn’t ducked in time. Poking out of the hole wasn't a human, but a sky blue-skinned Angel with big golden horns glowing the same heavenly color as his halo. Although he wasn't all blue-skinned; there seemed to be some kind of white makeup on his face that covered his right eyes, as well as a heart-shaped tattoo on his forehead. 

The Angel gave a nervous grin. "Sorry about that! We got a cheap coffee machine designed by some imp in Hell. And before you ask, yes, I know, it's weird for an Angel to buy something demonic, but a bargain is a bargain! Even if sometimes what comes out is diarrhea and the occasional explosion from overheated coffee beans."

Looking down, the Angel noticed the package Ryan was holding earlier and looked at it gleefully. "Is that for me?!"

"Uh, maybe?" Ryan said as he got up and handed the package over. "Mr. Blitz?" 

"Yup! That's me! CEO and founder of the Holy Ordained Problem Enders! Got unfinished business back on Earth you need closure to find salvation and peace of mind? We're the group to do it!" Blitz said with a grin as he took the package and unwrapped it with vigor. Inside was some kind of white plastic pony doll with a sparkling blue mane. "Eeek! My G3 Sparkle Edition Majesty! I've been waiting weeks for this! Here's a tip!"

The Angel handed a ten-dollar bill to the surprised postman, who was about to say he couldn't take it (company policy and all) when another explosion rocked not just the hallway, but the entire building. Turning around, Blitzo shouted, "Darn it, Moxxie! I said to use the Holy Water Grenades on the demonic coffee machine! Not the Holy Fire Grenades! Those aren't cheap to get before Orthodox Easter!"

"Blame Loona, Boss!" Moxxie shouted. "She gave them to me!"

"Hey, it's not my fault!" a young female's voice shouted before growling. "I keep everything organized! You always mess it up when you start cleaning the office!" 

"That's because your version of organization is leaving everything on the floor! GAH!" Moxxie shouted, as hellish roaring and cries for help soon followed.

"Mox? Are you doing alright?" Blitzo asked.

"He can't answer, Uncle Blitz!" the female, presumably Loona, shouted as she made a cry of disgust. "The coffee machine started using those coffee liquids tentacles again. It’s trying to drown him in Colombian roast."

"Well, at least it's not using Swedish roast. That stuff tastes like mud," Blitzo said before he saw the stunned Ryan and gave a nervous smile. "Uh, I should get back to work! Thanks again! Jesus loves you!" 

The Angel rushed back into his office before Ryan just turned around and went back to the elevator. On second thought, working for the post office doesn't seem that bad now.

***

After taking care of the coffee machine (with a planned appointment for an exorcism), the employees of H.O.P.E. were gathered together in their meeting room by their boss for their weekly performance review. Blitzo, wiping his hands from the dried coffee stains, looked at the valued members of his little organization that he had come to know for the past three years that had become like family to him. 

The first was the best employee (though he considered all of them good in their own ways), Moxxie. Originally part of Heaven's Choir, he’d left to try and do more good in the realms by getting more personally involved in their affairs. Like Blitzo, he had light blue skin, but had the lucky notion of having pure white snowy hair. Blitzo knew it was a sin to be envious, but he wished he hadn't gone bald so young in his life. Like most angels, Moxxie had chosen white as his outfit for work, which included a spiffy suit with a nice-looking golden bow tie that he thought was cool (though Blitzo always thought made him look like a dork). Of course, it pleased his wife, so Blitzo wasn't going to make fun of him too much. Said wife, Millie, was currently wiping the frowning imp's face with her handkerchief since it was still covered in coffee.

Speaking of Millie, Blitzo couldn't help but feel proud that he had gotten his first and second employees together. The moment Millie entered the group six months after they’d officially opened, he’d seen Moxxie's eyes go wide in shock, stars in them and all. Blitzo couldn't blame him. Millie was a gorgeous angel with blue skin and white hair like them, but with the added bonus of having golden tips at the edges of her long hair and a figure that could kill. Like the rest of them, she wore white clothing, a long sleeveless dress that covered most of her lower body and yet was teasing enough to leave her upper arms and sides open for view. Not enough to make her look slutty — Angels had standards, after all — but definitely sufficient to make heads turn. The two were practically destined for each other, and Blitzo had helped set everything up on their wedding day just a few months ago. The two were happy as could be, and had Blitzo be their best man, with his adopted niece as their flower girl.

His heart skipped a beat, and his smile increased a bit when he saw Loona staring at him with a big smile, looking ready to prove herself as always. While not his real niece, Blitzo practically had been involved in Loona's life ever since her cherub mother gave birth to her. Her father, an Archangel, had been one of Blitzo's best friends since the old days in his previous career. A pang in his heart nearly broke the smile he was giving upon thinking about him and… that day...  

Images of hellfire, blood and laughing demonic voices nearly forced Blitzo to grasp his chair before turning away so the others couldn't see him. He took a few deep breaths before slowly rubbing his forehead. Even after nine years of trying to move on, that day still haunted him . It wasn't just the day he’d lost so many comrades, but the day Loona lost a father before her mother disappeared a year later. The moment he came back to Heaven, Blitzo did everything in his power to see that Loona was in his custody, and the two had always been family ever since. The little wolf angel just sat there, in her sweet blue and black dress, with her silver halo above her head, and, upon seeing her, Blitzo felt all his problems go away.

"Alright!" Blitzo said as he clapped his hand to get everyone's attention on him. "Now that we've all had our morning coffee — no offense, Mox — we can talk about what happened last week."

"We sent the apology flowers to the mother, right?" Moxxie asked nervously.

"Yes, Mox, I made sure," Blitzo said, rolling his eyes. "I'm not that forgetful about things."

"You were the one who forgot where the hospital was on that bus, Boss," Millie pointed out with a smirk.

"Hey, we still got the mother to the hospital on time before she bled out and the baby was born!" Blitzo said, hands in the air. "Sure, we might have broken a few traffic laws getting the mother to the hospital. The bus was totaled in the end. And we might have accidentally scared a few patients into having heart attacks when the brakes gave out, and we crashed into the door, but at least nobody died! That's what's important!"

"Save for the art of driving," Moxxie muttered under his breath while Loona snickered.

"Look, the point is this: we've managed to have a full one hundred percent success rate, and yet we barely made it in time. That's not something I want for this company," Blitzo said as he started to pace around. "I built this company as a means to help souls in Purgatory get closure for whatever business they left on Earth and move on to God's Kingdom faster. Failure is not an option. Not just because of the company's reputation, but because I want humans to head upstairs without any regrets."

"Don't you think you're overreacting a bit about this, Uncle Blitz?" Loona asked, tilting her head. "I mean, sure, that job was a close call, but that doesn't mean it’ll happen again."

Blitzo sighed and shook his head. "Look, cutting it close is not something you want. Trust me. I've been in far too many situations in my life where I tried to cut it close, and disaster happened. We can't afford to be like that. Not just for ourselves, but for the people who depend on us to make their final wishes come true. Need I remind you that some departments in Heaven still don't like what we're doing, even with the approval from the higher-ups?"

The reminder got the others to wince, and Blitzo couldn't blame them. While he would always be loyal to Heaven and God, some Angels were just plain jerks. There was always one or more groups of angelic beings who were holier-than-thou to the point that even other Angels despised them. In the old days of Heaven, it was a lot harder to get into with stricter means of what to do. Nowadays, Heaven accepted non-Christians, gays, and many others who once would’ve been rejected entry. There were Angels against this, but whether they liked it or not, God did have the final say, and thus they had to comply. Still, that didn't mean that they didn't have any influence, and there was more than one group eager to see Blitzo's company fail for one reason or another.

"So, we need to make sure that what happened last time doesn't happen again. Which, for one, means I'll be getting driving lessons," Blitzo said with a nod before pointing to his wings. "Can't rely on these too much."

"Oh, can I learn to drive too?" Millie asked excitedly, waving her hand. "I've wanted to learn how to drive ever since we saw that NASCAR race!”

"Me too! I want to drive around in a dune buggy!" Loona cheered. 

"You are way too young to be driving, young lady," Blitzo said, pointing to his growling niece.

"But I'm nineteen, Uncle Blitz! Most teens get their license when they turn sixteen at least!" 

Before Blitzo could argue, a knock on the door stopped him, and he flew over before opening it to reveal a tall, dark-skinned male with buzz-cut hair and a confused expression as he looked around. "Um, sorry. Am I interrupting something? I'm here for a request."

Hearing this, Blitzo's face seemed to brighten up, and even his wings perked up excitedly. "A request? Oh no, you're not interrupting anything at all!"

"Unless you're busy, I can-"

"Oh, don't be so modest! Come in! You can borrow my seat." He pulled out a seat that rolled from the table. It was one of those high back leather chairs - dark leather to almost pitch black with a yellow eye blinking at the new client. 

Stepping through the door, the man pointed at the chair. "Does that thing have an eye?"

"You like it?" Blitzo asked. "I got it on sale over at the demonic market. Don't worry, it's perfectly safe to sit in, and the eye won't do anything… just don't jiggle the handle under the seat."

".... Why not?"

"Let's just say that if you touch it, you'll spend the rest of the day trying not to get eaten by it," Moxxie informed him with dread in his tone that spoke of personal experience. "But as long as you don't touch it, you'll be fine."

 "Uh-huh…" Cautiously, the man sat down in the chair while Blitzo turned it to face his employees. Now up close, they could see what kind of man he was: dark-skinned with a white shirt and dark blue unzipped hoodie with a simple, small gold cross on a chain around his neck. They noticed tattoos on his hands and the base of his neck that hinted of snakes and bones.

"So, I take it you're new to the afterlife?" Millie asked.

"Well, yeah. Just got here yesterday. Things have been so crazy and confusing lately, and there's still trouble back home that's still around even after I died," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, things aren't going well for me."

"Good thing you've come to us!" Blitzo said, taking a seat at an ordinary spare chair. "But before we do, let's tell each other who we are. I'm Blitz - the O is silent."

".... What?"

"Exactly! I'm the C.E.O. and founder of H.O.P.E.! Holy Ordained Problem Enders! And these are my employees. This is Moxxie, his wife Millie, and this heart-melting, cutest-cherub-in-the-whole-wide-universe is my niece, Loona. So, who are you, and how can we offer our services?"

"Well, my name's Daniel Crayton, and… honestly, I'm just shocked I'm not in Hell," he stated while letting out a stress-filled sigh.

"Can I get you something?" Loona asked, standing up in her seat. "Maybe like water? Soda? Or maybe a coff—" She noticed the other Angles around her were shaking their heads and gesturing not to get him that. "Uh… hot chocolate?"

"No, not now, just… Look, can ya guys help me or what? I mean, I get why you wouldn't if y'all said no."

"Why'd you think we would?" Moxxie asked.

"Well… because when I was alive, I used to run a gang. I was the boss of one where… man… we were monsters. As more than just mugging people, ya know? I even served some jail time because of what I did."

"Hon, you sound like you really regret it," Millie pointed out. "If you're here, then that means that you probably did something good. So you can't be all that bad!"

"I mean… to be fair, when I got out of jail, I had a change of heart. A real ‘coming to Jesus’ moment, ya know? I saw how much hurt I was causing - to my family and my neighborhood especially. And yet, I know why all of this came about. Because we live in such a poor part of the city, life just beats ya down to the point where ya feel like there’s nowhere to turn but to crime. But when I got out, I wanted to do something about it. Maybe not big, but at least something. So out of nothing, I created a Youth Center where anyone like me could have another option. A better choice where folks could get relief and learn valuable skills for jobs and such when they get older. It might not have been much, I know, but it was something."

"Are you kidding?" Loona said with a big smile. "Going from criminal to social worker is incredible."

"Yeah, it was… until yesterday. With so many people coming in, they didn't turn to the gangs. My old one, especially. I guess things had gotten pretty bad for them, because on my way home from the center…they drove up and shot me. Right there on the street." Daniel put his elbows on the table and his face in his hands. "I was dead the moment I hit the ground."

"That is pretty heavy," Blitzo remarked with a sympathetic gaze. "So… are you worried that this center might close down since you've passed on?"

He shook his head. "I'm not worried about that. I've put the center in the hands of people I trust. I always knew there was a chance this could happen, and I made sure it would go on even without me. No, if anything, I'm more worried about my little bro, Zac." Pulling away from the table, he took a moment to collect his thoughts before continuing. "He just turned fourteen a month ago - roughly the same age I started all the gangster stuff. He’s doing better than I was - going to school, helping out at the center now and then - but I'm getting scared at the thought that, now that I'm gone… And being at that age, I'm worried that maybe he might listen too much to his grief to think straight. Don't get me wrong, he's a smart kid, but right now… I don't want him to fall into the same crowd that got me thrown into jail from the start. I mean… if I or someone could go down and just make sure he doesn't fall into that, maybe I wouldn't have to worry about it."

Sighing, he turned to the Angels and asked with a pleading tone, "Can you please make sure he's alright? Protect him and make sure he doesn't make the same mistake I did?"

The crew looked at each other one by one before smiling and nodding as Blitzo slammed his hand on the table. "Sir, your brother is in good hands! We'll make sure he stays as straight as an arrow! Rest assured, H.O.P.E. will be the hope he needs!"

"Great, but uh... I'm afraid I can't pay you yet. I just got here and haven't gotten my basic monthly income or a job or anything yet, so-"

"Don't worry about that," Blitzo said, holding his hand up. "We can set up a monthly payment plan after we successfully complete your wish. For now, we just need some information before we begin..."

***

With the company now in mission mode, everyone stood up straight in their chairs as Blitzo walked in front of a large monitor screen in the mission briefing room. The latest picture of Zac was on their large computer screen that the Angels managed to get from their connection to the Human Population Information Center in Heaven. In bullet points, some facts about Daniel from the H.P.I.C. had tiny bits of data about him, such as his likes, dislikes, and psychological details. One important note was that he took his brother's death hard and had frequent arguments with his parents.

Blitzo, now serious, pointed to their charge before clearing his throat. "Alright, gang. We have an important task on our hands. Our client has asked us to make sure that his little brother doesn't fall into the same gangster lifestyle he did before changing his ways. This is important as it's our job, as Angels, to make sure that God's children never follow a dark path that can turn them away from his light. We all know that children who get roped into gangster lifestyles tend to suffer or die at young ages. We can't have that happen to him."

Moxxie raised his hand. "So, what's the plan? My suggestion is to get him to talk and open him up first. I mean, the kid is grieving for his brother, and I'm sure he'll need to express it in some constructive way," Moxxie suggested as he looked at the photo with sympathy. "Having someone you care about to be taken from you by violence is hard enough. Especially if they were trying to stop said violence. It can cause you to feel depressed and hopeless."

"He might also feel afraid and intimidated to join the gang for his own safety - or the rest of his family if he feels they're threatened as well," Millie pointed out before pulling out a white knife and grinning. "I say we deal with the gang first and then help Zac. It would put the danger out of the equation for sure."

"Millie, you know we can't do that," Blitzo said firmly as he crossed his arms. 

"Oh, come on, Blitz!" Millie pouted as her husband patted her on the back. "These guys killed a human being in cold-blooded murder. Not to mention what other crimes they might have committed. They don't seem to be the type that wants to repent or ask for forgiveness for their sins."

"You know we cannot kill humans unless it's in self-defense or in defense of innocent lives," Blitzo said with a heavy sigh. "That being said, I will not be taking chances with this one. We can go in armed with our usual combat gear in case things do get ugly, but until I give the authorization, we're going with non-lethal force only should we be confronted by these criminals as - and I can't stress this enough - only as a last resort."

"Fine," Millie said as she shrugged her shoulders, "but I'm telling ya. This is gonna get ugly."

"Anyway, I think Moxxie's right on the money with this one," Blitzo said as he tapped on the monitor screen, showing a satellite image of the house that Zac lived in. "Once we get to Los Angeles, and more importantly find Zac, we're going to portal our way into Zac's home - here - and talk to him. Chances are, he's not going to be willing to talk at first, so we'll have to follow him as well. Invisible to all beings but him, but be prepared to show yourselves just in case."

"Okay, let's go!" Loona said with her hand out in a fist in the air.

"Sorry, Loona, but you're not going," Blitzo said, much to his niece's disappointment. "You're going to be here to prepare the portal in case something goes wrong."

"As always," Loona grumbles while flapping her wings in a huff. "Why can't I ever come with you guys? I'm old enough, and you've trained me for this. I can totally be trusted to help you guys out more."

Moxxie couldn't help but snort. "Yeah, I think past experiences have proven that to be a bit false."

"Oh, really? Name some."

***

"Ugh! Stupid Gladiator! You're lucky I ran out of Super Shotgun ammo!" Loona shouted as she glared at the sight of her Doom Slayer character getting killed by the demon. Grumbling, she pressed continue and restarted from her last saved point when the phone rang. Picking it up with her tail, she put it to her ears while focusing on the TV. "H.O.P.E., what do you want?"

"Loona! It's Blitz! Quick, I need you to open the portal right now!" her adopted uncle shouted as the sounds of gunfire and unholy moaning could be heard on the other end. "We managed to stop the voodoo priest, but Moxxie was an idiot and destroyed the staff! Now the undead are acting like an uncontrollable-son of a bliss-horde!" 

"You said to stop him by any means necessary, sir! Besides, we could have gotten here sooner if you hadn’t stopped to admire the Mardi Gras Parade!" Moxxie shouted on the other end before screaming like a little girl.

"Not now, Mox! Loona, hurry and open it for Lord's sake!"

"Sure thing, Uncle Blitz," Loona said as she continued massing buttons against the boss in front of her. "Just give me fifteen to kill this demon boss, and I'll get right on it."

"Fifteen minutes?! Demon boss?! LOONA, ARE YOU PLAYING DOOM ON THE JOB AGAIN?! YOU ARE SO GRO -" Loona hung up the call before he could finish.

"Alright, let's see how you like missile barrages, you unholy freak!" Loona shouted with laughter.

***

Loona could hardly keep her excitement down when she learned she was going on a mission with her uncle and his best friends on Earth… only for that excitement to be quickly snuffed out when all the mission wound up involving was sitting around and watching people. Their client, a deceased cop, had requested that they get proof his so-called partner was a two-timing traitor that had him murdered because he found out he was dealing with the mafia. Loona had hoped it would lead to some excellent action-packed battle between them and the criminals like a movie, but instead, it was just about observation and info gathering. The four angels were hiding outside an abandoned warehouse as the dirty cop talked with a bunch of other dirty cops and their mafia connections. While the others were busy getting the scoop, Loona was just texting on her phone, hoping they could just go home soon.

"Man, this is too easy," Millie said, using a video camera to record the meeting. "Though kinda boring. Think we can take out a few of them in secret? Chances are they're going to Hell anyway."

"It's a lot of guys, Millie. And I'd rather avoid getting us into any trouble if possible. Besides, we're here to give resolution to our clients. Not revenge," Blitzo pointed out as he increased the volume on the sound recorder he was using. "Once we send this recording to the police - the non-corrupt ones, mind you - justice will come for every one of these criminals."

Loona sighed as she wondered what she could do to pass the time when she heard a sound that made her eyes, ears, and tail go up. She turned around and saw a black cat looking at her, passively sitting on some trash can, before meowing at her. Instincts soon took over, and Loona started barking and rushed at the feline, who screeched and ran away.

"Loona! Down girl! Heel!" Blitzo shouted, but his voice didn't reach Loona's ears.

The furry Angel continued to chase after her prey around garbage cans, through broken cardboard boxes, and even over a snoring homeless man. The cat then squeezed through a set of open wooden doors that Loona smashed through with her incredible strength… before pausing in place upon seeing two dozen shocked eyes looking at her. She looked in the window direction of the others watching and saw them facepalm. 

Blushing, Loona rubbed the back of her neck and nervously chuckled. "Um... I'm here to tell you about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?"

***

While H.O.P.E. was in the market of helping humans, they weren't the only ones with such a business venture. Not that far away from their office was another company, consisting solely of cherubs, who had a similar gig: keeping people safe at the behest of their loved ones in Heaven. 

"Thanks for assisting us with this, Cletus," Blitzo said to the tiny little human toddler-looking Angel floating alongside him. He wore a red set of overalls with a white t-shirt, and his eyes were big and bright like most other Cherubs while supporting a silver halo above his pink hair. "Usually, we’d handle this on our own, but seeing as some of the members of this little church are part of your protection program, I figured we'd be better off working together on this one."

"It's no problem of mine, Blitz," Cletus said as the two shook hands. "We’re always happy to help out.”

"Yet we never get overtime pay for it," another cherub joked as she entered the building looking for her. She was a yellow sheep with yellow fur and mane wearing a bright yellow sundress with red velvet lacing and bowtie around her chest. She also had yellow leggings with red heels. "Is Loona gonna be joining us this time?."

"I am, Keenie!" Loona said as she rushed into the room, Moxxie and Millie behind her. Stars were in the wolf's eyes as she looked around in excitement. "After hearing that you were all coming, I just practically begged Uncle Blitz to let me take part in this one! No way am I staying behind while my friends go on a mission without me!”

“You sure it's not just because of a certain sheep?” Keenie asked, with a knowing smile.

Loona blushed but didn’t outright deny what Keenie was saying before asking, “So where is he?! He's here, right?!"

Keenie couldn't help but chuckle before turning her head to the wide-open door. "Collin! Come on! We're all waiting for you!"

".... Can't I just stay here and do paperwork?!" a voice from outside asked both in terror and playfulness. "You have enough people! I'll stay here and-"

Keenie rolled her eyes and went outside before dragging another sheep into the room. Despite his attempts to struggle out of her grip, he soon appeared before everyone. He was a sheep, like Keenie, but purple in appearance and color save for his woolly white hair. He also had a white long sleeve shirt with a white bow tie and four white circles on his chest. 

Upon seeing Collin, Loona's eyes sparkled as she floated close to him, hugged him close, and looked into his eyes with a longing, sultry gaze. "Hiiiiii, Lamb Chop!"

"I'm not your boyfriend!" Collin shouted in fear as he struggled to push the love-stricken wolf away. "Seriously, Loona! How many times have I told you to leave me alone?! We're just friends!"

"You've told me six hundred thousand, nine hundred and forty-two times, but I know deep down you don't mean it, Collin," Loona said while nuzzling his neck, much to his despair. "After all, you are the only little lamb for my appetite." 

" Okay! Going to stop here before Cletus hits us with a sexual harassment lawsuit," Blitzo said as he dragged Loona away by the ear, much to her annoyance. "Anyway, we all know the plan, right?"

"Yup!" Millie said as she pumped her fists. "We're going to set up defense points, keep the refugees safe, and make sure those warlord's soldiers are sent home crying with their bayonets up their asses!"

"Language, Millie," Moxxie chided, but he sighed. "But yeah, protect the church, heal the wounded, and capture the warlord so he can be charged by the earthly authorities for his crimes against humanity." 

"Great. Loona? Prepare to portal us!" Blitz said as she saluted and started drawing the circle inscription on the wall nearby.

"You know, I still don't know how you got this means to the human world, Blitz," Cletus said, crossing his arms while staring at the H.O.P.E. boss with curiosity. "Was it something you got from your last job?" 

"I just got it from a friend," Blitzo said in haste before Loona clapped her hands, touched the circle, and it opened up, revealing a blue portal. "Alright, everyone ready? Let's go!"

The two groups of angels flew forward and went into the portal, but nobody noticed when Loona grabbed Collin's hoof at the last second...

***

"Alright! We're here in South Sudan! Now let's… hey, wait a minute," Blitzo looked around and saw that two people were missing in their group. "Where are Loona and Collin?"

The others looked around and began to wonder the same thing.

***

"Uhhh, I don't think this is South Sudan," Collin said as he found himself in some kind of fancy restaurant, with Loona right across from him on a white-clothed table for two. There were lit candles, violin players, and a man holding a wine bottle ready to pour for the two. From out of the window, the sheep angel saw the Eiffel Tower not far from where they were.

"Oh, I figured Dad and the others could handle a few mercenaries hired by a crazed military warlord taking advantage of a civil war, and we could have fun here in Paris," Loona replied as she sighed deeply while looking into a blushing Collin's eyes. "So I had the portal teleport us here to enjoy a nice bit of fun and romance in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Tu ne trouves pas ça romantique, chérie?”

Collin's response was to fly out of the window as fast as possible. Loona watched as her crush flew away and sighed, "So much for always having Paris."

***

"Hey, at least you guys did the job fine without us!" Loona pointed out as the three continued to stare at her. Grumbling, she folded her arms and wings and pouted. "Fine, I get it. I'll sit this one out."

"Good," Blitzo said as he clapped his hands. "Now that that's out of the way, let's head on down to Earth, shall we?"

The three nodded as they went to prepare, but Moxxie couldn't help but ask, "You know, sir. I'm still curious about how you got the means to teleport like this to the mortal realm? You said you got this from a friend of yours?"

"Yeah, powerful guy. You wouldn't know him, not that important," Blitzo said in haste before ignoring Moxxie.

Moxxie opened his mouth to say something, but shrugged and continued to follow.

Chapter Text

In many ways, Los Angeles was the most ironic place on Earth - at least, from an Angel's perspective. Despite the name, the City of Angels was famous for being the land of drivebys, riots, fires, occasional floods or earthquakes, and soulless producers of terrible media. Viewed from a cynical eye, the city seemed more like a prototype of the Pride Ring of Hell.

Nevertheless, it was the place that H.O.P.E. needed to go. 

No one noticed when, on a brick wall in a nondescript alley, glowing lines formed a circle, a star, and other strange symbols that had been forgotten by time. Before long, the lines opened up, forming a portal. 

Blitzo, leading the way, stepped out first. "Alright, team! First thing's first, we've got to find where the youth ce- WOAH! " Unaware of his step, the Angel unexpectedly fell straight down into a dumpster.

"Blitz! You okay?" Millie asked, peeking out and jumping through the portal with her husband following after. 

Their boss clawed his way to the rim of the dumpster, looking like he stepped into several smelly messes of food, waste, and other unexplained trash but looked relatively unharmed. "Oh, don't mind me, I just smeared myself on ye old paint." Moxxie and Millie pulled him out while levitating in the air and landed him onto pieces of cardboard. Blitzo sniffed the air. "Forest fire smoke, rotten veggies, puke, beer, and aged lube… Yep… This is definitely Los Angeles, alright."

"Where exactly are we?" Moxxie asked as his boss got back on his feet.

"Close to the street where Daniel died, so we should be pretty close to the center. Now, before we go any further…." Blitzo flew up to the edge of the portal. "You can close it up now, sweetie. I'll call you when we're done."

With a sigh, Loona gave a half-hearted wave. "See you later, Uncle Blitz." A moment later, the portal shrank, and the lines vanished. 

After checking one last time that all their invisibility incantations were working, the trio turned to exit the alley and get a better idea of where they were. They entered a street where the buildings were mostly brick or concrete. On some of the walls were sprayed graffiti, right next to a dirty-looking sex shop with windows glowing in bright neon. The neighborhood they saw was like it had already gone through the apocalypse and barely managed to survive it. From the trash that tumbled by on the sidewalk to the cars that showed at least forty years of rust, it was like looking at the worst aspects of city life in America. Even the people who walked past the Angels looked hardened by the sheer misery in abundance. 

That is, except for one place on the street corner. It was a modest building, its doors open, windows cleaned, and sign glowing overhead. It stood like an island of hope, its name shining like a beacon in a sea of despair: Second Chance Youth Center .

It was the place the angels were looking for. They hovered over to peer through the windows, and what they saw was a welcoming sight. In one corner was a line of people waiting for their turn for a hot meal to fill their bellies. Over in another corner, a teacher was helping some very young children to read. And by the back, a table where volunteers formed an assembly line to put together with care packages that included medical supplies, toothbrushes, blankets, and fresh clothes before handing them off to the people there who smiled in thanks. There was no exchange of currency or goods, though there was a place for those donating food or clothing in a separate building area. It was all done for the sake of making people's lives in the community better. 

"There's so many in such a small building," Millie remarked in awe.

"And yet, look how great of a job they're doing." Moxxie smiled upon seeing a child being given a piece of cake that filled 'em with joy. "To think that a sliver of Heaven could be found in such a hopeless place, all because of one person's kindness." 

"Yeah…" Blitzo nodded, taking note of a couple being given their care packages. One was a man that he presumed to have been homeless by the ripped clothes he had on, and the other a volunteer with an arm around him to no doubt give him comfort. Though his employees didn't notice it, that small scene alone made the Angel feel wistful. A reminder of a time when he was once in a similar situation. 

"Hey! I think I see him!" Millie pointed out.

"Huh?" Blitzo said and blinked himself out of his thoughts.

"Zac, I think that's him over there!"

"I see him," Moxxie said, pointing with his finger. 

At first, it was hard to see through the line for the soup kitchen. However, at the end of the line, Blitzo spotted him. Noticeably shorter than everyone else, Zac handed out clear plastic wrapped brownies and smiled at everyone who took them. Blitzo compared it to the picture in his mind, and this kid seems like a dead ringer. He was dark-skinned with short, curly hair. Over his green apron, he had on a gray hoodie and jeans. Most noticeable of all was the simple, tiny gold cross around his neck - similar to what his big brother had. 

"So," Millie turned to Blitzo, "what's the plan?"

"Well, first we gotta find out where he lives so we can try to talk to him. We follow him over to make sure he stays out of harm's way."

Zac handed out the last brownie before turning to the others handing out food. He said something they couldn't hear, but it was evident by the way he was hanging up his apron that he was leaving. They waved at him - as if saying that they'd see him later - as Zac rushed over towards a backroom. 

H.O.P.E. went around the building in the direction Zac might exit from, an alley on the side where there was a door. As they got there, Zac was exiting through the door, but he wasn't alone. There were two people there waiting for him. They looked like they were in their mid-twenties and wore matching black hoodies. A ring with a skull with two guns by the sides were on their left pinkies. This alarmed the Angels, as these were the tattle-tale signs of Daniel's old gang from the information he gave them. Upon spotting who was there, Zac tried to run for it, but was quickly caught by his hood.

"Yo, why you running?" one of the black-hooded gangsters asked.

"Let go!" Zac screamed, struggling to get his hood out of the grip of his stalker. "Let go of me!"

"Dude, chill," the other said, raising his hands, "we just wanna talk is all."

"I said let go!"

The gangster holding onto Zac's hood spun him around and pushed him up against the wall. "How about we make this quick? Are you done playing at the kiddie place?"

"It's not a kiddie-"

"Okay. Are you done being a pussy then?" asked the other as he got up close to Zac's face. "Ya know, dude, you can't just avoid us forever. When are ya gonna grow up and start hanging with the big boys?"

"I don't want anything to do with you guys!" Zac tried to push them away, but they didn't budge. "Look, I just wanna go home."

"So you can run to cry to mommy?" the first one said, chuckling. "Nuh-uh, you ain't going anywhere unless we get a straight answer from ya."

"Leave me alone!"

"Is that a yes?" the other gangster asked as he took out a switchblade from his pocket. "Or no?" Pressing a button, a sharp, pointy knife popped out , Zac's fearful expression reflecting on the cold steel.

"Sir," Millie turned to Blitzo with worry, "we've got to do something and fast."

"Human disguises, now!" Blitzo ordered. Their invisibility was dropped, and they quickly enveloped themselves in human forms. The default disguises they always fall back on were designed to make their appearance seem as unassuming as possible. Since they started using them, they chose their masks to help blend themselves in a crowd. One where they came off as neither threatening nor noticeable. But in this case, they had to be noticed to save Zac. 

As soon as his transformation was complete, Blitzo yelled, "Hey! Knock it off!"

The three humans turned their heads, only to look baffled by what they saw. They saw three tourists come out of nowhere and wondered if they’d gone to the wrong city based on their dress-up: Moxxie had on a white T-shirt with a pair of cargo shorts and a camera around his neck. Millie had on the same but wore a blue sun hat. And Blitzo, whenever he went into his human form, always has on what could be described as the world's ugliest Hawaiian shirt of blue and white that was covered in tikis and short pants.

"You seeing this?" the knife-wielding gangster asked as he put his weapon behind his back.

The first gangster let go of Zac and started laughing, "Yo! Look at the retarded clown with the shirt," he pointed at Blitzo's shirt. "Hey man, where'd you get that? A landfill?"

"Hey, this came straight from O'ahu," Blitzo said, pointing at his eye-straining shirt while glancing at Zac. Zac looked back at him where Blitzo, subtly, nodded his head to the side to get out. "I paid two-hundred bucks for this."

"Dude, you got gypped," the other gangster laughed. "Those tikis look like a rejected Mickey Mouse sketch."

While the gangsters were laughing and cracking one joke after another, Zac, as quietly as he could, stepped away towards a fence lined with trash cans. 

"Hey, leave him alone!" Moxxie stepped in. "Don't you hooligans have someplace to be, like school?"

"Hooligans? Dude, did he-?" The other gangster laughed, then looked to the first to see if he heard it too. "Yo, are y'all like from the fifties or something? Or are you folks just fucking stupid?"

Millie growled upon hearing this. "Listen, Mister Notorious B-I-G wannabes!" She started to march with her fists raised, but Moxxie held her back. "Y'all think you're so high and mighty because nobody has given you a good spanking-"

"Millie!"

"No, let 'er try!" the first gangster hollered. "I wanna see if shortcake could do anything."

"Why, you little!" Millie tried to lunge at them, but her husband and Blitzo held her back once more. While they held her back, Moxxie and Blitzo eyed Zac, who had climbed over the trashcans and jumped over the fence to run away. 

After the other gangster calmed down, he told them, "Look y'all, you should really get out of here. This is no place for tourists."

While he said this, the other gangster noticed that Zac was gone. "Hey, where did the brat go?"

"He left while you were laughing at us," Blitzo said with a frown. "That kid didn't do anything wrong, so why not leave him alone?"

Realizing what just happened, the other gangster pulled the knife from his back, "Oh, you son of a…" before he could finish, he spotted a police car driving by. Turning to the other, he told him, "Let's get out of here. The kid's probably run home by now."

"Hey, aren't you gonna leave him alone?" Moxxie asked.

"Stay out of it. This ain't your problem." With that, the gangsters exited the same way Zac did.

Millie clenched her fists. "Those arrogant, self-centered…."

Blitzo put a hand on her shoulder, "I know, Millie." He narrowed his eyes as they climbed over the fence. "That… was strike one." Turning to his employees, he dropped his human disguise, "C'mon, we still got to follow Zac home."

Even though they were soured by the unpleasant encounter, the married couple nodded and changed out of their human forms. After reactivating their invisibility, they ascended to the air to find Zac, which didn't take them long. They saw him running through the streets, and the three Angels flew silently behind.

***

Why couldn't everyone just leave him alone?

That was the question that Zac asked himself as he hurried back to his home. Things had already been bad enough since Daniel's passing. Just when things were finally going well with his older brother getting out of jail, having a change of heart, and making a genuine effort to make things better, he was gone. He was taken away from everyone, including his family, making everything even more of a mess.

It was just Daniel's passing that was hard - but how the whole world seemed to react to it. The neighborhood felt as if the world had just ended. Daniel's old gang seemed to grow in confidence every day since his death. 

And his parents… Zac didn't know if they were moving on or in denial because they put everything now on the community center. And nothing else.

Three blocks from the center, among a row of small brick two-story homes, Zac went up to one where he jumped over the trinkets, long burned-out candles, and pictures of his brother on a step of the stoop to get to the front door. Pulling the metal screen door open and pushing the wooden door closed, all that Zac wanted was to go to his room to try to forget about his encounter with the gangsters. Yet, before he could go up the stairs, he heard a voice yell out from the kitchen.

"Zac! Zac, is that you?" his mother asked.

Zac went around the stairs with an annoyed grunt and marched straight towards the kitchen. His mom took a tray of brownies out of the oven with her back turned to him. She had stopped wearing her dark mourning clothes not long after the funeral and started wearing outfits with more color. Currently, she had a flowing shirt with a peacock design over her blue jeans. She seemed to resume wearing her wigs on her head - this time a dark one with blue highlights to go with her shirt. If this were any other time, Zac wouldn't have thought much of it, as it was something that his mother wore for as long as he remembered. 

However, to be back to normal so soon, especially after Daniel's death? It still didn’t feel right to him.

When his mother closed up the oven, Zac asked, "What're the brownies for?"

"Don't you remember?" she asked, placing the tray on the stove. "The dessert social is down at the center tonight. We're supposed to bring something sweet over, so I'm bringing these. Now," she clapped her hands and turned around with a smile, "before we go, be sure to put on something nice. And your dad will be coming over-"

"I'm not going."

His mother raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"Mom, I don't want to go tonight."

"No, you are going," Zac's mother said firmly.

"I've already been there today. There's no need for me to be going there again," Zac muttered while glaring downward.

She folded her arms. "Still no excuse, and don't use that tone on me."

"What tone?" Zac asked impatiently.

"That, right there. You talking back so dismissively, after all, your brother has-"

"Mom, stop!" Zac banged his fist against the door frame.

".... Did you just yell at me?"

"So what?"

"Zac, that was uncalled for."

"Uncalled for?" Zac said in disbelief. "Mom, Daniel has been gone for like, what? About a week, and you and dad have suddenly been acting as if the drive-by didn't happen at all! It's like suddenly you stopped caring."

"That isn't true."

"Oh really? How long did it take you to go from bawling your eyes out to baking brownies? Maybe you forgot that Daniel isn't gonna come home, but I haven't!"

It was a statement that made his mother feel like she was slapped across the face. "Alright, that's it, Zac, you're grounded."

"For what, speaking my mind?"

"Room." She pointed upstairs. "Now!"

"But-"

"You are not allowed to leave your room until we go to the social tonight. After that, you are not allowed to go out for two weeks."

"C'mon, I was-"

"Wanna make it three?" she firmly stated. "Upstairs, now!"

Punching at a wall, Zac turned around and marched upstairs, where each footstep was loud enough for his mother to hear. And as his feet pounded each step, he quickly concluded that this was probably the second-worst day of his life. First the gang, now this. He was in no mood for any surprises whatsoever. Zac was already two-hundred percent done with today, and all he wanted was to be left forever alone. 

For a brief moment when he reached the doorknob to his room, he thought that at long last, he could be left in peace. Instead, the universe seemed not only to deny this simple request, but to invade his space as well. Just as soon as he opened the door, Zac's entire room was bathed in impossibly white light.

"The Hell?" Zac asked aloud.

"Oh no, quite the opposite really… uh, hey, Moxxie? Could you turn down the heavenly light a little?" Upon this being said, the room's brightness dimmed significantly, allowing Zac to see that his room was occupied by three people. Although "people" wasn’t the right word; they were hovering above the floor, and they had wings with halos.

The tallest one waved at him. "That's better! So, where was I? Oh yeah," Blitzo cleared his throat. "Greetings Zac! And before you ask, yes, we are indeed one hundred percent genuine Angels, and we are here for yo-"

"Nope!" Zac immediately shut the door and retreated into the bathroom on his left.

Blitzo blinked. "Uh… okay wow… that's a new one."

"What?" Millie asked with a snort. "Didn't think he'd immediately reject us?"

"Not that. He took it worse than I thought." Blitzo frowned. "I mean, he left before we could even fully introduce ourselves. Maybe we should go check on him." Going through the door, they floated towards the bathroom door. "Zac? Are you in there?"

" Look, whoever you are, go away! " Zac told them from behind the wooden door.

"Listen," Millie knocked on the door, "we really are Angels from Heaven, and we just wanna talk."

" How about bothering someone else? Preferably somebody who's about to jump off a bridge. Y'all can show him what life would be like if he's never been born. "

"Just listen to us for a minute," Moxxie said. "It's important."

" I don't care! Just leave me alone! "

Millie gave a low whistle. "This kid's got an attitude on 'em."

Humming, Moxxie rubbed his chin thoughtfully until he got an idea. "Millie? Sir? Can I have a moment alone with him?"

"Why?" Blitzo questioned.

"Just trust me on this one, sir. Give me some time to talk to him. I’ll need some space for it."

Weighing his choices, Blitzo told him that he'd give him a try, so he and Millie drifted through the ceiling. However, Millie kissed her husband's cheek before she left him alone. "Call us if something goes wrong."

Promising that he would, Moxxie turned back to Zac's bedroom.

***

Zac wondered if he was hallucinating, or if he’d somehow accidentally taken some of that stuff his brother's old gang offered him once. Because he was still in disbelief over the idea that Angels were in his room right this very second. Zac wouldn't deny that Angels existed, even if recent events had made him very angry with God right now. But why would they even come before him, and why now of all times?

Clearing his face with water, Zac sighed and closed his eyes, hoping that if he just stayed silent, his delusions would leave him. That was, until he heard the sound of a guitar playing outside of his door, along with lyrics that he didn't understand. Admittedly, it sounded quite beautiful. Alluring, even. Curious, he slowly reached for the doorknob until he paused and wondered if this was some kind of trick the Angels (or his mind, for that matter) were trying to pull on him. However, he couldn't resist, and Zac slowly opened the door.

The short male Angel Zac had seen earlier was on his bed playing an acoustic guitar. He calmly stroked the strings and sang in a tone that would make his church's choir envious seven times over. Slowly, Zac walked out and came face to face with the Angel, who opened his eyes and smiled at him before ending his playing. "Liked it?"

".... It wasn't bad," Zac answered before crossing his arms. "But what the heck were you speaking? Latin?"

"Enochian," Moxxie answered before he snapped his fingers, his guitar disappearing in a flash of light. "It's the language of the Angels up in Heaven. Few humans ever hear it, but whenever they do it, it's the most memorable thing they ever hear."

".... Are you real?" Zac asked as he slowly sat on the bed. "I'm not hallucinating, am I? Or dying? Or having some kind of weird mental breakdown?"

Leaning forward, Moxxie allowed one of his wings to extend and poked a surprised Zac with it. "Go ahead. Touch it. You can even pull on them if you want. Despite what you might think, these things are quite sturdy."

Zac slowly lifted his hand and pressed his fingers on the wingtip before his eyes widened in shock. It was real. One hundred and ten percent real. He touched the feathers a bit more before slowly backing away. "Holy shit, this isn't fake?"

"Language. And yes, this is real. My friends and I are Angels from Heaven," Moxxie explained with a smile. "We're here to help you with your problems about Daniel's death.'

".... Unless you can bring him back, there isn't anything to discuss," Zac muttered as he leaned against the wall next to his bed and curled his feet in. "My brother's dead. End of story."

"Yes, and I'm sorry you lost him. He's a good man," Moxxie said as he sat up straighter. "That's why we're here. To help you and your family with his passing. He wants to make sure that-"

"Look, I appreciate you wanting to help, but I just want to be left alone," Zac said as he got up from his bed and paced around. "I've got enough problems in my life already, okay? I got a bunch of psychos who want me to join them, even though I know they killed my brother, and if I don't do what they say, they might come after my parents next. Meanwhile, those so-called parents like to think that everything's going to go back to normal even though their son is dead!"

"Don't you think they’re just moving on?" Moxxie asked, sitting up straight. "Or maybe that this is their way of grieving for him? From what it sounds like, they're trying to honor him and keep his memory alive."

"With what, that stupid community center?" Zac grumbled as he folded his arms and stared at the ground. "The whole thing is stupid. It's not going to magically fix this f'd up city."

"Maybe not, but it's changed some lives for the better, and sometimes that's all that's needed to make things change overall." Moxxie got up and walked over to Zac. "Your parents are doing their best. I know that it seems like they don't care, but they do. Daniel made his life about that center, and they think the best way of remembering him might be to help out. And they want what's best for you as well. I mean, you do miss Daniel, right?"

"Of course, I do!" Zac said before closing his eyes and sighed. "But everyone's acting like life is going to be normal again! How can it?! And my parents don't understand that! They never understand me! I bet you don't understand that!"

Moxxie couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this, which widened Zac's eyes. Covering his face, Moxxie shook his head and smiled. "Oh, believe me. I understand that a lot more than you think. My parents and I don't always understand each other either. I still think they don't, even after all these years."

"Wait, you actually have parents?" Zac asked, eyebrows raised. "I thought all you angels were made from God or popped out of the clouds or something?"

"No, we reproduce just like you humans. The only Angels created by God from nothing were the first generation; every other generation has either been saved souls or children born in Heaven," Moxxie answered before clearing his throat. "Anyway, I do know what it's like to have a difficult relationship with your parents. Despite what you might think, we Angels do have issues amongst ourselves in Heaven."

"Like what?" Zac asked, slowly sitting down on his computer chair.

"Well, before I joined my boss's organization, I used to be a singer in the Heavenly Choir. Our job is to inspire the good in others and give them the courage and faith they need in the darkest of times. All those warm feelings you get before doing something brave or noble? That's us encouraging you."

"But do people actually hear you?" Zac asked, tilting his head.

"No, it's mostly the harmonic energy that they feel emanating from our combined voices. Very few humans in all of history have ever heard the Choir," Moxxie answered, shaking his head. "My family's been part of that Choir since the start of creation itself. However, I did something that my parents disapproved of."

"What was that?"

"I quit."

***3 and 1/2 Years Ago***

"You what?!" 

Moxxie couldn't help but wince upon hearing his parents shout in surprise. The two of them were staring at him with wide eyes and open jaws. Being singers themselves, they had powerful voices of their own. He couldn't blame them, since he had just announced his resignation from the Heavenly Choir. He was the first in his entire family to ever do so. For generations, his bloodline had been part of the Choir and groomed their children to follow in their footsteps. And while Moxxie did enjoy his time there, he felt it was time for him to leave.

"I resigned," Moxxie said with a quiet tone to help ease the shock more to his parents. "I've decided I want to change my career, and I've been given permission to leave."

This didn't ease his parents' emotions, making him even more nervous. Moxxie's father, Matthias, had always been the most vocal and proud of his son's talents, calling him a chip off the old block. Well, in more ways than one. Moxxie took most of his features from his father to the point that you could put the two side by side and only tell the difference between them with three things. One, Moxxie's father was three feet higher than him. Two, Matthias was also purple-skinned, unlike Moxxie, who he took after his mother's blue skin in that regard. And three, no freckles. Another feature from his mother. Said mother, Molly, on the other hand, was about Moxxie's height and had long blonde hair but the most gentle of eyes. Eyes that she claimed had stolen his father's heart the day they met. 

Staking out of his stupor, Matthias glared at his son and growled. "Moxxie, what in God's Holy Kingdom are you thinking?! Quitting the Heavenly Choir like that?! We spent years preparing you for this role, and not long after joining it, you want to leave?! Why?! It's a great honor to be singing in the Heavenly Choir! You just don't join willy nilly! They only take the best!"

"Well, I just feel like I want to do more than just sing, Dad!" Moxxie said, spreading his arms out. "I know the Choir has an important job and all, but I feel like I can do more than just sing how great God is all the time. I want to physically be involved and help humans find their salvation. I want to comfort those in grief, heal those sick, and protect those facing evil. I'm not saying there’s anything wrong with what the Choir does, but it's just not for me! I want to do more!"

"Son, you're doing fine!" Molly said, taking his hands into his own. "Don't tell me you want to get involved in human affairs. You know how dangerous and… and… uncontrollable humans can be! Especially these days!" 

"Mom, I don't think humans are as bad as you and Dad believe," Moxxie replied as he rolled his eyes. While his parents weren't precisely Old Testament followers like some extremist Angels, they’d had a very dim view of humanity ever since the turn of the century. "I know they've had problems the last few decades, but that's even more of a reason for me to help out."

"No son of mine is going to break family tradition and join some pointless crusade to save people who don't want to be saved," Matthias grumbled before shaking his head. "Honestly, I still wonder how we haven't had the Second Coming at this point."

"Funny, wasn't that the exact argument they made before Jesus went-"

"That was different! Back during a time when they could listen! But now… it's pointless to go down-"

"Dad, I have a life of my own. I can choose what I want to do," Moxxie argued, glaring at his dad. "I don't have to do what you want!"

"We just want what's best for you, son," Molly said, trying to be diplomatic.

"Yeah, but I also want what's best for me," Moxxie said, pointing to himself. "Look, I've already resigned. It's too late to change that."

"I can get you back in easily," Matthias said, rubbing his chin. "We'll just say you had a change of heart and-"

"Dad, I've already applied for a new job," Moxxie replied, making his parents wide-eyed again. "It's for this new company called H.O.P.E. that helps souls in Purgatory find peace and-"

"Purgatory?! You're going to demean yourself to a place like that?!" Matthias shouted in horror and anger. "Son, those are humans who weren't worthy enough to get to Heaven! Not to mention Purgatory allows those filthy demons permission to enter and do business there! Why in the Holy Ghost's name would you want to work there?"

"Because the company sounds like a good cause! Helping people trying to get into Heaven by helping finish whatever unfinished business they left behind on Earth? It sounds like I could really make a difference for people, deceased and alive. The CEO, Blitz, says that he has the means to get into the human world without using the gates and has permission to do so! I already talked to him, and he sounds like a good man," Moxxie argued.

"Blitz?" Molly rubbed her chin in deep thought. "Isn't he the one that-"

"Yeah, I know him too," Matthias said, frowning. "They say he's not right in the head after what happened to him. Considering that he was in Hell for a full year, I wouldn't be surprised if he lost some of his sanity."

"He's a bit… quirky, but overall, he's a good man. At least, the people I’ve asked say so," Moxxie said with a heavy sigh. "Look, I've made my decision, and I'm not going to back down from it. You can either support me or not, but I would like the support of my parents..."

Matthias just huffed and walked out of the living room, which was a clear answer to Moxxie. Moxxie solemnly looked down as his mother slowly picked his head up and smiled softly at him. "I'll talk to him, sweetie. I don't personally agree with this either, but… you are your own man."

"Thanks, Mom," Moxxie whispered before kissing her on the cheek. "Will Dad come around?"

"Just give it time, sweetie. Just give it time."

***1 Year Later***

Moxxie looked outside his office, where he saw the rest of the company's employees getting ready to head out to dinner. After a successful mission in convincing their client's husband not to kill himself to join her (especially since it would condemn his soul), Blitzo had decided to treat everyone to a celebratory barbecue outside in the parking lot. He felt his heart melt upon seeing his girlfriend, Millie, laughing as Loona was chasing her obsessed love interest, Collin, around the parking lot while Blitzo and the other Cherubs were taking bets on how long the sheep would last. Apparently, the record was an hour and sixteen minutes. Joining this company had proven to be the best thing he had ever done. He had a good boss, a lovely girlfriend, and he felt like he was making a real difference in the lives of humans both in Purgatory and Heaven.

Only if everyone saw it that way, Moxxie thought with a heavy sigh. Despite it being a year, he hadn't spoken to his father since he left for H.O.P.E. His mother and some other relatives had still remained in contact, but it was heartbreaking to know that his own father was still angry.

He was about to head out and join the others when his phone rang. Deciding to answer it, he picked it up and said, "Holy Ordained Problem Enders! Moxxie speaking! How can we help you?"

".... Hello, son."

Moxxie felt his throat dry up and froze upon hearing a familiar voice for the first time in months. "D-Dad? I… I wasn't expecting..."

"I'm sorry," Matthias said, which made Moxxie go silent. "About everything. I… I acted out of line, and… I've been a bad father for not speaking to you ever since you left. Your mother… she's told me about what you are doing and… well… I may not fully approve of it… but I'm proud of you."

"D-Dad," Moxxie whispered as tears began to form in his eyes. "I… I… Thank you..."

"Listen, why don't you come over to the house this weekend, and we'll talk? Just father and son. You can even bring your girlfriend so she can meet the family."

"Y-yeah sounds great. I'll see you in the afternoon. I… I love you, Dad."

"I love you too, Moxxie."

***Present Day***

"So, things worked out between us. I mean, my Dad still wishes I was back in the Choir, and he has his issues with humans, but we cleared most of the air after a good long talk," Moxxie said to a silent and emotionless Zac, but it was clear from his eyes he was thinking hard about what the angel was saying. "Maybe that's just what you and your family need to do. Have a nice long talk about what's happened. Lay it on the table. All the pain, sorrow, and what you feel deep inside. That way, you can move on."

".... What if you don't want to move on?" Zac bitterly whispered, which made Moxxie pause and blink. "What if you don't deserve to move on? Because I sure as hell don't!"

"Zac?" Moxxie asked, but before he could say anything else, the human rushed out of his room. "Zac! Wait!"

***

Blitzo and Millie were shocked to see Zac, tears in his eyes, running out of the house with Moxxie crying out his name. Blitzo rushed over to his employee and asked, “Mox, what did you do this time?”

“Sir, I swear, I didn’t do anything wrong!” Moxxie quickly said. “He said something about not wanting or deserving to move on from Daniel’s death, and then he just started running.”

Blitzo looked over to where Zac was retreating and sighed. “Come on, let’s follow him.”

***

Zac kept running. He didn't care where he was going. All he wanted was to somehow lose those damn Angels that wouldn't leave him alone. Zac did what he could to get him off his trail. From going out the back door, climbing over a fence into an alleyway, crossing a street despite the oncoming traffic, squeezing past dumpsters, the homeless, a maze of graffiti, and even a construction site. He wasn't keeping track of where he was going - just so that when he looked over his shoulder, he wouldn't see them.

" Zac! Wait! Listen to us! "

But despite all his efforts, despite his lungs feeling like they were going to burst, there they were. The three Angels weren't too far behind, closing in like birds of prey. No matter what he did, from unexpectedly changing direction to tossing something down in hopes to slow them down, nothing worked. They either went a little higher to see where he went or flew right through walls like ghosts.

"We're trying to help you!"

Zac told himself that he needed to keep running. Even when his breath was huffing, he kept going; when his throat was bone dry and crackling, he kept going; when his heart threatened to go on strike if he went faster, he kept going; even when his legs buckled and pleaded for rest, he kept going. He couldn't stop as much as he wanted to.

"Please, Zac, just hear us out!"

And the worst part was that, judging by the people who passed by and never so much as glanced at the Angels, Zac knew that nobody was going to help him. After all, how could he not come off as crazy when it was clear nobody could see or hear those three Angels chasing him? There wasn't anything he could do except keep going, and going, and going.

For all he knew, he could have been running in circles for miles. He went down a familiar street, then underneath a fence with a loose board before he turned down an alley he didn't recognize - all the while hoping that he wouldn't run into a deaden-

"Hey yo! There you are!"

Zac's hood was grabbed, and he felt his legs give way. Landing on his back in a cold, murky puddle, he looked up to find himself surrounded by black hoodies and mocking laughter. He never realized that he came across his brother's old gang in all of his running.

Some of them picked him up by the zipper. 

"Zac, right? Man, we were just talking about ya!" In his squirming, Zac was suddenly overcome with fear of who was speaking to him. He was the only one in the gang to wear a dark hellish red with a spade tattoo on his bald forehead. Zac knew instantly who this was. Though his face may seem friendly, and his tone of voice lively and deep, he remembered what his brother had called him - the Grinning Demon. The new leader of the gang after his brother left them. "Hey yo, Zac, long time no see - how's it been?"

Zac tried to step back, but he slammed himself into a brick wall. 

"Just, ain't it the mother of coincidences, right?" The gang leader laughed. "Here we are, wondering if ya gonna finally man up and be in the gang, and suddenly, there you are!"

"Get the hell away from me!"

"Take it easy, man." The gangster in red held up his hands. "The only thing we want is an answer - I mean, the guys had been asking ya for a while now, and you ain't given us straight about joining us or not. I mean," he laughed again, "it's kinda insane not to, ya know? You're Diablo's brother-"

"Daniel, and why would I join? Y'all killed him."

The other gangsters ohh'ed as if they were one. However, the gangster in red chuckled, with his grin getting a little wider. "Now, that's special coming from you, with the big balls to say that in front of us." Not letting down his near demonic smile, Grinning Demon pulled out a gun, but didn't aim it at Zac. Instead, he let the barrel touch the wall by his head. "Diablo… had it coming. The man created the gang, did whatever we wanted - even went to jail for us - then suddenly… he pussed out. He betrayed us and then does all this charity shit where he's taking away our chances for keeping things as they are. So that left me to pick up the pieces.

"But… having you in? Why, shit… It'd be like having the gang back together. Oh, and don't worry, we'll have you be untouchable - like one of our own, ya know? That, and you can do any goddamn thing you want! Rob a store that charged ya extra for being black, shank a homeless guy, have any damn ass you want - and you'll never get caught. Hell, the police used to be afraid of us, but now… we don't have the teeth to give that bite. But to have you in-"

" Leave him alone! " came a loud voice that Zac could have sworn was a crack of thunder. He and everyone else turned to look where that sudden outburst came from. And though what everyone else saw were three tourists, Zac immediately realized that he had seen these three before. Though their forms were different, he recognized them as the Angels following him but in human disguises. 

"Hey, it's that weirdo with the ugly shirt!" one of the gangsters called out.

Blitzo looked down and grumbled. "Okay, seriously? What's wrong with my Hawaiian shirt? Why is everyone saying that it looks-"

"It looks like the tikis are shitting on each other." This got a laugh out of the gang.

Millie stepped forward. "Leave the kid alone. He didn't do anything to y'all."

"Hey," Grinning Demon turned his attention from Zac to Millie, "who's the pretty little hoe in the hat?"

"My wife," Moxxie got in front of her before she could lunge at them. "What do you all think you're doing with Zac?"

"Who, him?" Grinning Demon asked while he thumbed at him. "Nothing, we're just having a talk. But y'all shouldn't be here. It's dangerous on this side of town."

"Well, he needs to get to the center," Blitzo said to them while crossing his arms. "Just leave him alone, or we're calling the police."

The gang exploded in laughter. 

"Yo man," Grinning Demon said, stepping up to about a few feet from Blitzo and cocking his gun. "Y'all are hilarious, but you ain't callin' nobody."

Blitzo's gaze narrowed, and he stepped towards the gangster to the point where the pistol was just a few inches short from his head. "I know we don't look like much, but threatening any of us is a serious mistake. Let Zac go, and nobody here will have to go to a hospital."

"Ain't that so?" the Grinning Demon asked as he and the other gangsters pulled out guns, knives, brass-knuckles, garrott-wire, and baseball bats with nails hammered through. "Not if any of us put ya into the morgue first."

Moxxie stepped back while reaching into his pockets while looking at Blitzo, who had his fist clenched and his teeth-gritting, waiting for an order.

Millie was mere seconds away from pulling out her hidden weapons to slice these arrogant souls into the next millennium. 

Bitzo's rage was rising with every passing second - if any of these gangsters said one more word, he would override everything and authorize a heavenly smackdown.

"Stop! Stop!" Zac screamed as loud as he could, getting everyone's attention. "I'll do it. Just put your guns away!"

The Grinning Demon looked over to Zac, surprised but pleased. H.O.P.E., however, was stunned by this, yet, it was clear on Zac's face and voice that he was afraid. 

"No shit?" the Grinning Demon asked. He waved to the other gangsters to put their weapons away when he nodded. "About damn time. We'll initiate you later tonight."

"Sure, whatever," Zac said, eying the angles where he tilted his head subtly as if to say, ' Get out now. ' "Just… let me go get ready."

"No problem, first let us take care… where did they go?" Despite the Angels swapping back to their original forms, no one but Zac could see them. Where they saw an empty alley, Zac saw a near irate Millie, a disappointed Moxxie, and Blitzo, whose expression seemed unreadable. 

The gang let Zac go, and he went past the Angels who looked on as he left.

"We… We failed…" Moxxie said dejectedly. "We've failed the mission."

Blitzo raised his hand. "Hold on… something about this doesn't add up."

"I'd say it doesn’t!" Millie interjected. "Zac did the one thing we've been trying to get him not to do!"

"Not willingly; did any of you notice how afraid he was back there? I think there might be more to this than we're seeing."

"But what do we do now, sir?" Moxxie asked.

Thinking for a moment, Blitzo told them, "Let me go talk to him. In the meantime, keep an eye on this gang. It's vital now more than ever that we should keep them separate until everything's fixed. I'll come to find you when I'm done." 

With that said, Blitzo spread his wings and began to follow Zac.

Chapter Text

Millie despised every moment of this. Unbeknownst to the gang, the two Angels followed them just overhead. As to Blitzo's orders, they were simply watching them without being seen. That was it - just observing where they went. This alone was beyond frustrating. The mission had already blown up in their faces - plus, they had threatened not just Zac, but them as well. That alone must have been strike two, but for every minute that these little psychos were free, Millie was getting closer to snapping each of their little heads o-

She felt her husband's hand on her back. "It will be okay, Millie."

She shrugged it off. Yes, it was evident that she was mad, but not at… looking over her shoulder, she saw a hurt expression on Moxxie's face. "I'm not mad at you," she told him. "Just… I can't believe that Zac just suddenly gave in to these vicious, manipulating-"

"I know, I know." Moxxie nodded. 

"They can't just expect to get away with something like that." Millie clenched her fists. "I want Blitz to give the order to really rip these little jackasses a new one!"

"Millie!"

"What? You're thinking of it too!"

Taking in a deep breath, Moxxie flew around to face his wife. "Yes, but you know that we can't solve absolutely everything by punching… or kicking… or stabbing them thirty-seven times… or putting a bullet into their heads."

"What about-"

"Especially not by chopping their limbs off one by one while they're fully aware. Sweetie, you know we only use violence as a last resort. Only when we've exhausted every other tactic, every other negotiable way, every opportunity to show mercy do we ever use our weapons. Non-lethal or otherwise."

"Even when they clearly deserve it?"

"I didn't say they don't. And knowing Blitz, I can't imagine that he wouldn't have us call this mission accomplished unless we did something with them, regardless of how this turns out. We'll do it if we have to fight because it's necessary. In the meantime, you shouldn't let them get under your skin."

Millie didn't say anything because not only was it true - but it was her weak spot. Her husband knew that it didn't take much for her to become wrathful enough to want to hurt whoever had injured her pride and self-worth. In truth, she wasn't good at being patient with others when they acted with such disrespect. When Moxxie said about having those get under her skin, she remembered a time not too long ago when that happened.

***Nine Months Ago***

In hindsight, Millie should have let it go.

It started after the company had succeeded in a major mission that Blitz wanted to celebrate. And for a good reason - they’d prevented a small war in South East Asia by the request of a peace activist who formerly did some shady things with the Mayamer government. Having prevented so many potential deaths, much to their relief, the three of them went off to celebrate.

And they already had a place in mind. 

Aleph's Bar and Grill. 

The Angels often went there because they made pretty good mixtures that were more than decent, at least, as far as Purgatory was concerned. It wasn’t flawless, but whenever they wanted something to wash down their throats, it was the place to go. 

At the same time, however, the bar was noticeable for one other feature: it was one of the few places on this side of the afterlife willing to cater to both Angels and Demons. Despite Purgatory being a place where Demons and Angels could co-exist side by side, many refused to serve both. Ideally, the bar was meant to be neutral ground where the two polarizing sides could have a drink or twelve and not be at each other's throats. Of course, there was the occasional brawl, but otherwise, it was one of the few places where both sides could be civil to one another.

At first, everything was going great. The imp behind the counter fixed up their drinks with a flare that Millie could have sworn meant he was hitting on them. Blitz got his neon-bright Blue Hawaiian. Moxxie gingerly sipped a cocktail that the Demon called the Scottish Outlaw. And she was handed a Flamed Orange Twist with the orange slice still ablaze. For a while, things were going pretty well. The drinks were terrific, there was laughter with enjoyment, and getting complimented by their boss for their quick thinking over their previous mission. 

That was, until somebody sat down next to them at the bar. A heavyset leviathan demon with scales as dark and green as a polluted sea, and a smell to match. At first, the creature paid no mind to the Angels next to him after the first several shots of Bielsa Juice, hiccuping between drinks. But eventually, the bored glassy, amber eyes trailed off and finally spotted Millie.

"H-Hey! I know you!" The voice he spoke was near sickening to hear, like someone choking on seawater. "You… you used to be a cop, didn't ya?"

This got the attention of Biltz and Moxxie. Millie, however, tried her best to not look at him - only at her drink.

"Yeah, I have seen you before." The Demon downed another shot. "I remember the hair."

"Can we help you, sir?" Moxxie asked while he leaned over to the side of his seat.

"Oh nah, nah - I wasn't talking to you. Just the ex-cop over here that had quite the temper. Hey," The Demon pressed on her arm, "hey sweetheart, I'm talking to ya."

"And I'm not listening." Millie sipped on her cocktail.

"Aw, what's wrong? Don't you recognize me?"

"I do. Now go hug a landmine."

"Mille?" Blitz half stood up. "Is he bothering you?"

"Me! Bothering her?!" The Demon laughed heartily. "Don't you… Don't you know who she is? This was Officer Mille - the Angel with a temper that could rival Lucy."

"We know." Moxxie stood up. "If you're not going to leave us alone, then we'll have to call security."

"Boy, you have no idea, do you?" He laughed even harder with a cough in the middle. It was clear from the blush in his cheeks he was getting drunk from his drinking. "Like, this one time, she had me put in the hospital because I jaywalked. Can you imagine!? The boys have a nickname for her. You know what it is? Officer Trigger Happy."

Millie banged her hands on the bar and growled at the grinning Demon. "Are you about done?!" 

"Oooh! There's the short-fused farmer's daughter I know! Why yes, sweetheart. I know." He drunkenly smiled as one of his slithering limbs poked her nose, but this only made her face turn red with anger. "I know what you really are - a hick from Bountiful Valley - home to Haven's blue neck, inbred, stupidly simple, and simply stupid Angels that even God is ashamed of."

"Mille, let's go." Moxxie said as he tried to get his wife away and hopefully resolve this peacefully. Instead, that was when Mille picked up a napkin and stretched her neck a bit.

The Demon laughed. "Aw, did I upset the ex-cop?"

Suddenly, Millie jumped at him, knocking him to the ground.

"Ow! Hey! Get off me, you little shi- Wait, what are you doing with that napkin!? Hey, waitwaitwaitWAITWAIT, NO! STOP! AHHH! GET OFF! HELP! PUT THAT BACK! I NEED THAT! NO! HELP! HELP!"

Three things happened after the ensuing incident:

First, the fishy Demon was sent to the hospital in a speedy ambulance; alive, but severely wounded, and very, very traumatized.

Second, H.O.P.E. was banned from Aleph's for the next century.

And third… Moxxie would never look at a paper napkin the same way again.

***Present Day***

Moxxie put a hand on her shoulder, getting her attention. Pointing down at the gang that was on the move. "C'mon, we still need to keep an eye on them."

Millie followed suit, gliding over the streets with a sneering eye at the gang that was heading towards a familiar area. "Mox? Is it just me, or is something not right about this?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know how Daniel has told us that the gang usually goes around in back alleys and such? Well, look where they're walking. In the street where everyone can see. Don't you think that's odd?" Millie pointed out as a few civilians quickly fled or ducked under the nearest store upon seeing them. Yet the gangsters didn't even look worried. They were even showing some of their weapons out in public.

"Huh… that is strange. Where are they going?" Moxxie questioned.

"Well, it's not where Zac headed off." She thumbed behind her. "I don't know anything over there except…" 

It suddenly dawned on both Angels. They looked at each other with the same realization. 

"The Center?" Moxxie asked aloud. "But they said they wanted to initiate Zac tonight. Why go over there?"

"Do you think they might do something to it?" Millie asked with worry.

"I'm not sure, but we better be ready to move if they do." Moxxie looked over his shoulder. "I wonder what's taking Blitz so long?"

***

Blitzo gilded overhead, shadowing Zac's movements until he stopped in a place that the founder of H.O.P.E. should have expected - St. Maria Goretti Cemetery. Near the corner of it by a palm tree, Zac sat next to one of the headstones and started to cry. 

Gently, Blitzo touched the ground as though he walked on eggshells while doing the sign of the cross to pay his respects to the deceased around him. He silently approached Zac and saw the stone that he was next to. It wasn't a big stone like most of the cemetery’s - just a small piece of granite, a single name carved into it: Daniel Crayton.

"I-I'm sorry… " he heard Zac whisper above his hiccuping sobs. "I'm st-tupid, I k-know! I'm s-such a g-g-god-damned retard! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! " Tears were clouding his vision as he tried to wipe them away but it was useless. He just couldn't stop. " Why c-can't we trade p-places and h-h-have me dead? I should have b-been shot… not you… "

"Call me crazy, but I think you're being way too hard on yourself," Blitzo said as he got closer. 

Zac didn't bother to look up.

"You know, I could lecture you to death, but I don't think that's not gonna do anything. So… let me switch this up." Blitzo sat down on the other side of the gravestone. "I suppose what you need now isn't to be scolded but to be listened to."

Zac sniffed before grumbling, "You won't listen… nobody is going to."

"Oh yeah? Try me. You have my ears and my full attention. Just… answer me this one question before you write me off as completely useless." Blitzo took a deep breath before looking sympathetically at the young boy. "Why do you hate yourself?"

For a long, long time that might have been days, Zac didn't say anything. Blitzo waited for a reply among the sobbing and sniffing. He wasn't sure if Zac was trying to ignore him in hopes that he might go away, but he stayed. Waiting patiently for him to start and finally open up to the very beating heart of the problem, Blitzo just sat there in silence. He waited for Zac to have calmed down enough so he could finally talk without bursting into tears.

"You…" Zac muttered at last before rubbing his eyes. He turned to Blitzo with hesitation. "You said you met my big bro? Up there?” Blitzo nodded. "Does he hate me?"

Blitzo was taken aback by this question. "What makes you say that?"

"It's…" Zac winced before taking a deep breath. "It's my fault he's dead. His gang cornered me one day. They beat me up and said that if I didn't tell them where Daniel was, they'd kill my parents and me. I mean… What the Hell was I supposed to do? They were gonna throw a molotov cocktail to burn the center and our home down if I didn't say anything. But since he died, I wonder if… I should have kept my mouth shut. If I just let them kill me, maybe Daniel would still be alive right now…."

Blitzo didn't say anything for a long time as he laid back against the gravestone, thinking about what to say.

"So…" Zac turned to Blitzo and asked, "Does he hate me? If you're really from Heaven and all, I… almost hoped you'd be one of those avenging Angels. To do to me what I did to him."

"Trust me, if that were remotely the case, this would be a completely different conversation," Blitzo said, shaking his head. "You can't blame yourself for what happened, Zac. You're just a kid. If you were killed instead of Daniel, I’d probably be here talking to him at your gravestone. What happened wasn't your fault."

"You say that, but it doesn't feel that way," Zac replied. "It's not that I know everyone is trying to move on, but… I don't think I can. I may not have pulled the trigger, but I might as well have. I've made a stupid mistake and there's no way I can take it back."

After a pause, Blitzo got back on his feet and walked forward a few steps. Zac was about to ask what he was doing when he saw the Angel wave his arm, and suddenly, a staff popped out from his fist. It looked like a solid piece of silver, but the human noticed a jagged edge at the top, like a piece of metal that was broken off. Whatever it was didn’t serve much purpose except for a blunt weapon by the look of it. Still, as shattered as it looked, the way it almost looked organic and wave-like in the light of the setting sun was beautiful.

"Do you know what this was?" Blitzo asked, looking over his shoulder. Zac shook his head. "This used to be a scythe that had a blade so sharp, it could kill Demonic Royalty with one fell swoop. I literally could take Lucifer's head with this if I was even close to his power. Now, every time I pull it out and see that jagged blade… it stands as a reminder of something I can't take back."

"What do you mean?"

After a long pause, Blitzo turned around. "Zac?"

"Yeah?"

"What I’m about to say stays between us." he said quietly and seriously to the point that the glare he gave Zac made the human shiver. "The thing about Heaven that no one will tell you is that everyone - and I do mean: everyone , including God - has at least one regret." Looking at the broken end of his scythe, he said, "Now that I think of it… I have few things in common with your brother."

"How?" Zac asked, head tilting.

"Well," Blitzo took a moment to take a deep breath before looking up into the sky, "a long time ago, I was part of The Lord's army. One of the Special Forces Divisions. I was a fully-fledged warrior of God who did what I thought was right by mostly focusing on slaying Demons. I was told they were all evil, heartless, and soulless abominations. The superiors I answered to back then pretty much drilled it into my head since day one of my training. Although Angels preached about giving Demons second chances, I thought they were fools. It went against common sense in my mind. Good was good. Evil was evil. There was no gray side..."

"Did… did you kill Demons?" Zac asked, leaning forward.

"Kill them? No… I slaughtered them," Blitzo whispered as he gripped his former scythe. "The body count I had back then is enough to cover this entire graveyard and have more leftover for at least a hundred more. But back then, I saw it merely as a badge of honor to kill Demons..."

Blitzo then closed his eyes and began to tremble. "But then… one day…." 

There was a pause as Blitzo covered his eyes, hiding that tears were forming in his eyes.

Zac broke the silence. "Then… what?"

"I was… abandoned. I… I don't want to detail how it happened, but I was betrayed on a mission in Hell. I was left behind with a few others, including my best friends at the time. Wounded, weak, and at the mercy of everyone there. I should have died right there, but something… unexpected happened. Something that started to turn my worldview completely upside-down while giving it a good shake. What was supposed to be impossible…" Blitzo took a moment to close his eyes and sigh. "A Demon… took mercy on me."

"So… a Demon helped you out?" Zac asked in disbelief. "The ones you guys are archenemies with?"

Blitzo laughed and nodded. "It sounds crazy, I know, but… it really did happen. He bound up my wounds and took the time to heal me. At first, I thought it was a trick, but no. He showed me genuine kindness. Genuine compassion. Something I thought was beyond the understanding of any demon. Then when I was well enough, he showed me what kind of damage we Angels have done… the families that were shattered… the loved ones we took away… the children we…." Blitzo couldn't prevent the tear in his eye from falling as the sounds of screaming echoed in his mind before he shut them off with all his willpower. "Before I returned to Heaven, I came to realize that what we were doing was… wrong. We were supposed to be killing Demons, but only the worst of the worst. The ones beyond salvation. Not the average Demon who just wants to live. It wasn't just wrong, but evil…." Blitzo clenched his fists. "I was so heartbroken, so guilt-ridden, that I did something that no one had done before. In front of the Demon that helped me, I used my hands and personally snapped the blade off. Swearing to him that I would never kill again without questioning why."

Zac blinked and leaned back from hearing all this. "It sounds something like-"

"Out of a comic book? Yeah, I know, but… that's what happened. Yet, spending a year in Hell has opened my eyes to something few Angels realize. That Demons can be Angels, and Angels… can be Demons. While the whole experience would’ve been enough to fall into an abyss of despair, the Demon that helped me see that I still had the potential to do something positive. That I could pick up the pieces and do better. To have faith in myself that change, while painful, is still possible."

Going up to Zac, Blitzo knelt before him and put a hand on his shoulder. "I often find that in the darkest of times, when fear, self-loathing, and depression is screaming at you that you can't do anything - it is exactly that time when you must carry the faith that you can be better. After all, you still go to your brother's Second Chance Center even when it all seems hopeless. Daniel still has faith in you, so believe that despite all the mistakes you've made, you can go forward."

Lips trembling, Zac suddenly hugged the Angel, and, letting go of his broken scythe, Blitzo hugged him back.

"I'm so scared…" Zac whimpered. 

"I know, but you can't live in fear," Blitzo whispered back as he stroked his head. "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." 

"What… what about the gang? What if they come after my family and me?" Zac asked before looking at Blitzo face to face. "C-Can God protect us?"

"They won't hurt you." Blitzo patted his back. "I will make sure of it. And I act in His name. From now on, you and your family will be under God's protection. I swear it."

"But…" Standing up to let go of the hug, Zac asked, "What am I gonna do now?"

"If I were you, I'd go back to the center. Whatever you have to say to your parents, be honest with them to say that you're still hurting. From there? Still go to school and be the best sort of person you're capable of being. Be kind. Be loving. And above all, believe in yourself that you can change. And don't worry about the gang. After tonight, we'll make it so that they won't bother you anymore," Blitzo said with a warm smile.

"You… You promise?"

Blitzo nodded. "Upon the Sacred Work of Creation, my word shall be kept."

For the first time in a long time, Zac smiled and slowly nodded in thanks. Zac was about to leave when he paused to look over his shoulder to say, "If you see Daniel… can you tell him we won't forget him?"

Smiling, Blitzo nodded, watching Zac leave the cemetery. 

That was one part of the mission done. 

And now… for the hard part.

Slowly, Blitzo took out his phone and dialed a number. "Hello, yes, can you give me a connection to the Office of Divine Intervention and Retribution, please? It's an emergency."

***

Zac practically sprinted to the community center. Speaking with Blitz had caused him to feel something that he hadn't felt ever since Daniel died: hope. Hope that everything was going to be okay and that he would find peace again. For now, all Zac wanted to do was find his parents and tell them everything: about Daniel, his feelings, and about the gang. He knew the way to the community center by heart, and when he arrived, he found it was closed, but he still had his key on him and used it to get inside. There was nobody but his parents, busy putting things out for later tonight when they noticed him gasping for air at the community center entrance.

His mother looked at him with surprise and concert. "Zachary? What's wrong? Is everything-"

"I'm sorry!" Zac shouted, much to both parents' surprise. Teary-eyed, Zac took a few deep breaths to calm down before looking up at his mom. "I'm s-s-s-sorry, Mom... about everything… I… I just..." He lowered his head and bit his mouth. "I miss him… and coming here… it makes me miss him so much..."

"Oh, Zac," his mother whispered in understanding before walking over to her son and embracing him. He sobbed lightly on her shoulder and rubbed his back.

"It's all my fault..." Zac whispered as he shook his head. "I told Daniel's gang where he was because they scared me… I didn't mean to get him killed… and I don't hate the center… I just… I was so afraid… I'm still afraid… and every time I came here, I just saw him, and I kept thinking he hated me..."

"Zac, it's okay. You don't need to say anymore..."

"No! I have to!" Zac said, looking at his mother eye to eye. "They wanted me to join the gang! They said they'd burn down the center if I didn't! They said they'd kill you guys and me too, just like they killed Daniel if I didn't join them!"

"Son, why didn't you say something?" Zac's father, a big bald-headed man with a purple shirt and black pants, walked over and put his hand on the young boy's shoulder. "You could have said something. We could have protected you."

"I… I was afraid of making the same mistake… I lost my big brother, and I didn't want to lose you guys as well," Zac whispered as the three hugged one another.

"Zac," his mother whispered before tears appeared in her own eyes as well. "I'm sorry as well. I didn't know you were hurting still… I should have realized..."

"Son, I know you wanted to protect us, but you don't have to carry this burden," Zac's father said with a soft smile. "We'll make sure Daniel's old gang won't hurt this family again."

"B-But what about what I did?" Zac muttered, looking down in shame. "I told them where Daniel was, and he died..."

"Son, look at me," Zac's father said as he took him by the shoulders. "You were scared. It's understandable. What happened to Daniel wasn't your fault, because those who pulled the trigger are at fault. I know your brother, and he would never blame you for what happened, and neither of us do as well."

"We love you, Zac. We love you so much, so please don't hate yourself anymore for what you did," Zac's mother whispered as she kissed him on the forehead.

"Mom… Dad..." Zac whispered as a big smile appeared on his face before hugging his parents. The three closed their eyes and felt as if a huge burden had been lifted from their hearts. And deep down, even if they couldn't see him, they knew Daniel was there beside them in spirit with just as much love for his family as they had for him.

Unfortunately, it was all ruined by a small repeated series of claps that alerted the three that they weren't alone. Turning around, Zac gasped in horror upon seeing Daniel's old gang waiting there by the entrance and cursed upon realizing he kept the door open. "Wow, if I actually gave a crap about this, I'd be saying it was a moving experience," Grinning Demon said with a chuckle. "Of course, I'm a bit too pissed that you ratted us out to your folks, Zac."

Zac's parents quickly got in front of their son upon seeing them and growled. "Get out of here! This place isn't for you!"

"Aw, but I thought the community center was open for all members of the community?" Grinning Demon said, smiling with a devilish glare. "You'd think Diablo's parents would be more welcoming for his old friends from the hood."

"My son's name was Daniel," Zac's father growled as he clenched his fists, "and you punks murdered him!"

"Murder is such an ugly word," Grinning Demon said, shrugging. "I prefer the term ‘taking out the trash’."

"Bastard!" Zac's mother shouted.

Grinning Demon ignored her and focused on a gulping Zac. "So you decided to not join in the end, huh, kid?"

"N-Never!" Zac cried out. With determination on his face, he stepped out and stood by his parent's side. "I'll never join you. I'll never dishonor my brother's memory by becoming monsters like you."

"Well, I guess it doesn't matter. I wasn't really planning on letting you join or keeping my promise anyway," Grinning Demon said with a chuckle. "This so-called center has been giving us a bad name, and I aim to remind folks who really runs the streets here so they know not to mess with the proper authority in this neighborhood."

"I'm calling the police!" Zac's mother said as she got her cellphone out, only to freeze when one of the gangsters pulled out a pistol and aimed it at her.

"Yeah, that's not going to happen," Grinning Demon said as he stepped forward. "Here is what's going to happen. We're going to kill you three. Burn this place to the ground. And make sure everyone knows not to mess with us. Don't worry, you'll see Daniel real soon. Slick? Cap them."

Zac's father got in front of his wife and son as the gun was aimed at them. Closing his eyes, Zac thought. Please, Angels! Please help us! You promised!

A gunshot rang out. For a split second, Zac thought his family had been shot. He opened his eyes to see if either of his parents were down on the floor in a bloody mess, only to see them both alive and shocked. A scream went out as the gangster holding the gun fell on his knees, holding his bleeding hand, which had a perfect hole in it, while the weapon he held clattered on the floor. The gangsters all jumped and looked around with their weapons drawn upon seeing their crew member get shot.

"What the fuck?! Who's there?! Whose the fucking asshole that's going to die?!" Grinning Demon shouted.

"If you're looking for an asshole, why don't you look in a mirror?" a voice cried out.

Everyone turned to the left and was surprised to see three figures that appeared out of nowhere. Grinning Demon growled, "You?! The stupid tourists in the wacky shirts?! How the fuck did you get in here?!"

Blitzo, still in his human disguise, flipped his flintlock pistol and sheathed it before glaring at the gang leader. "We have our ways. This time you guys have gone too far, and we're here to stop you once and for all."

"You guys came!" Zac said with joy.

Millie smiled and winked at the joyful child. "Of course, sugar! We said we had your back, and we meant it."

"Let us handle this, Zachary. You and your parents should take cover somewhere safe," Moxxie said with a determined look on his face.

Zac nodded and grabbed his parents' hands before dragging them over to the back end of the community center, right behind the kitchen, and taking cover behind the food pick-up counter. Zac's father looked at the three and asked, "Zac, who are these people?"

"Friends of Daniel's," Zac said before his smile grew larger. "And mine as well."

"They're going to get killed! We need to call the police!" Zac's mother cried out as she went for her cellphone again.

"Don't worry," Zac said with a knowing smile. "I think they're going to be okay."

Meanwhile, Grinning Demon was glaring at the three noisy tourists and growling. "You three must have a death wish to keep getting involved in our affairs."

"And you really must not care about your soul, because Hell is where you are heading for, Mister," Blitzo said, narrowing his eyes. "Normally, we try to save as many humans as possible. But sometimes we find terrible trash like you who don't deserve God's Kingdom."

Grinning Demon snorted. "Please, what are you? A bunch of religious preachers? Trying to save me from damnation? You should be more concerned about yourselves considering you're about to die."

"Go ahead," Blitzo said, puffing out his chest with a knowing grin. "Take your best shot."

"Tch, waste these fuckers!" Grinning Demon shouted while pointing at them. 

Every gangster aimed their guns and fired at the three with a hail of bullets. Their gunshots echoed for a mile as everyone near the area started panicking and running upon hearing the gunfire. Calls to the police were made while nearby residents locked their windows and doors before getting as low as possible. 

Inside, when the shooting was done, there was a long silence from many stunned faces as three grinning disguised Angels just stood there without a single scratch on their bodies despite nearly a hundred rounds of ammo fired at them almost up close. Zac and his family looked behind the three grinning tourists only to find that there were over a hundred bullet holes on the walls that would require fixing later.

"Hmm, I feel fine," Blitzo said before turning to his co-workers. "How about you two?"

"Fit as a fiddle, sir," Moxxie replied.

"I'm good too," Millie answered.

"W-What the fuck?! That was point-blank!" Grinning Demon shouted as he stepped back in horror with the other stunned gangsters. "W-What the Hell are you?! Are you even human?!"

"Nope! We're not!" Blitzo said as he raised his hand and snapped his fingers. An aurora of white and golden energy surrounded the three as everyone covered their eyes before it faded away. Everyone gasped upon seeing the three human tourists replaced with the Angels' proper form as they floated in the air, smiling with confidence. "Allow me to introduce ourselves. I'm Blitz — the 'O' is silent — and these are my partners in miracles, Moxxie and Millie. We are the Holy Ordained Problem Enders! (H.O.P.E. for short.) Or in case you're too stupid to tell by the halos and wings, we're Angels from Heaven, sent here by Daniel to protect his family."

"A-Angles… from Heaven?" Zac's mother whispered while her husband quickly did the sign of the cross. "And Daniel sent them?"

"Yeah, he sent them to help me..." Zac said, getting both his parents to snap their heads towards him. "And they're here to help us."

Meanwhile, the gangsters were either in disbelief or utter confusion by what they saw before them.

"This… this is a trick, right?! Those can't be real angels!"

"Look at those wings! And those horns! I think they are real!"

"T-This is bad! We actually shot at angels, dude!"

"Must be a trick! Some kind of smoke and mirror things, man!" 

Grinning Demon growled as he shook his head in disbelief. "Bullshit! This is bullshit!" He pointed at the three unimpressed angels. "There is no way you fuckers are real angels! Daniel's in Hell anyway for the shit he did with us!"

"No, he's in Purgatory," Moxxie answered, glaring at the gang leader. "He's working his way into Heaven. Unlike you monsters, he developed a conscience and worked hard to forgive himself for the sins he did under your gang. He would have done a lot more good, but you guys ended his life when he was still young. Not to mention all the other crimes you did while also threatening to kill his family. You people are horrible!"

"S-So what?! What are you going to do about it?!" Grinning Demon shouted as sweat began to pour from his face. 

A ring from Blitzo's phone alerted everyone as the tension broke for a bit before the tall Angel picked it up and answered it. "Hello? Yup, this is me." A grin then appeared on his face. "Really? Good to hear. Thanks again."

"W-what was that? Jesus Christ?" One gangster answered.

"Ha! I wish," Blitzo said as he hung up the phone. "That was the Office of Divine Intervention and Retribution up in Heaven. You see, Angels like us have to follow many rules, and one of those rules is that we can't kill humans. Except if we get permission to do so for certain circumstances, you know, as a last resort. In the case of you guys trying to kill an innocent family while planning to do more crimes? We have to call to get proper approval to deal with you guys permanently."

At that moment, all three angels summoned a series of weapons. Millie drew two silver cylinder rods before two long straight blades appeared at the ends of each through a small opening. Both were glowing bright blue and had purple angelic lettering on them while she grinned like a maniac and flipped them in her hands. Moxxie pulled out two Sig Sauer P320 handguns that were marble white with black grips. On the grips were red crossed against a white shield and each pistol had extended ammo clips. Blitzo himself summoned his flintlock pistol but also a longsword in his hand from his old job. The sword's handle was golden with a golden pommel with a silver cross in the center. The guard was shaped like an Angel's wings with sharp edges on them, and the blade itself was pure black save for the white-silverish edges of the sharp steel. In the center of the blade was Latin writing that said: " Deferens iram Dei ad malum " which meant "Bringing the wrath of God to evil." Sensing a dangerous fight about to happen, Zac's parents quickly covered their son's eyes and forced him down with them, much to his complaint. 

"And guess who's going to face some divine judgment?" Blitzo whispered with an almost wanting glee as the gangsters all turned pale upon realizing what this meant. "Guys? Go nuts."

"Finally!" Millie shouted as she flew faster than any human could see before slicing the heads off two of the gangsters that sailed into the air before landing on the floor. Their necks were gushing with blood in a split second, and they fell to the floor like puppets cut from strings. Millie wasn't done as she quickly turned around and gutted one of the gangsters and sliced him open, causing his rib cage to open up and his organs to drop out before landing in a pile of mush. One of the gangsters, either out of fear or anger, attacked her from behind by trying to pistol-whip her. Millie countered by wrapping her legs around his arm, pulling him up into the air while hanging onto him, and slicing his arm off before letting him fall to the ground. He screamed in agony while holding his bleeding limbless shoulder before Millie came down and started smacking him over and over again with the decapitated hand while giggling. "Stop hitting yourself! Stop hitting yourself!"

"Fuck! Just keep shooting at them! All of them!" one of the gangsters shouted as he reloaded his machine pistol and started firing in all directions, but a quick headshot sent him down. 

Moxxie continued repeatedly firing, with each shot taking down one gangster at a time. He didn't even need to focus despite them trying to run as fast as possible out of the area. Ammo wasn't a concern since any weapon of Heaven's had near-infinite ammunition when it came to its firearms. Something that most would consider a cheat code, but an advantage was an advantage. A few guys managed to make it out by breaking through the window headfirst and rushing towards one of their nearby cars. Moxxie sighed and phased out through the floor.

"Turn the key! Turn the key and hit the fucking gas!" One of the gangsters in the air screamed as the driver fumbled with his keys until he managed to get the car running.

He pressed his foot to the gas pedal and started driving as fast as possible down the street. However, a few feet away, Moxxie floated up from the ground and landed his feet down while smirking at the car and its freaked-out passengers. With calmness, Moxxie lifted one of his two pistols and aimed.

"Run him over!" 

"Will that even hurt him?!"

"Just fucking do it!"

The car seemed to speed faster, but Moxxie didn't even blink. He just waited for the right moment while summoning his angel energy and putting it into the next bullet for a special surprise. Once it was about two feet away, Moxxie fired one shot that went straight into the car's engine, where it exploded in a burst of blue flames. The explosion caused the vehicle to flip up into the air, sailing over a calm and smirking Moxxie, who twirled the other gun and fired four times upward without even looking. 

When the car landed on the ground with a crash, four lifeless bodies were hanging out of it. Each with a bullet hole in their skulls. Moxxie twirled his guns and put them away before flying back to the community center to see if he was still needed.

While Moxxie had gone to deal with the escaping thugs, Blitzo had jumped alongside Millie and started slashing at the remaining gangsters with his sword and shooting away any nearby at the same time. He began with going low and cutting the legs off of two thugs before spinning around and slicing their upper bodies with one blow as they fell. He swiftly flew behind another gangster and stabbed him in the back, but not fatally. Wanting to add more fear to these bastards, Blitzo used him as a shield to take a double-barrel shotgun blast to the stomach. He then flicked the dead body off his blade, which absorbed the blood and made it clear once again, and fired his pistol into the head of the shotgun-wielding gangster. 

While he continued to fight side by side with Millie, who was stabbing a poor bastard in the ass a dozen times, memories of his past brought him back to the old days before H.O.P.E. He had done this to Demons not just powerful and fearful, but who had been guilty of far more deadly sins almost too numerous to count. But not all of them had been worthy of permanent death. And some of them had committed no crimes at all. But he didn't realize it until it was too late. Since that day, the day he shattered his blade, Blitzo swore to only kill when necessary and give mercy when it was needed. 

These criminals, however, deserved their one-way ticket to Hell.

There weren't too many criminals left, but the one he wanted most, Grinning Demon, was running like his pants were on fire while the remaining gangsters were behind him. Determined not to let him escape, Blitzo flew after them.

Grinning Demon saw the Angel coming and ordered his remaining men to fire on Blitzo even though it was clear nothing was going to work, and he was out saving his own skin. Blitzo decided to end this by flying so fast he seemingly disappeared for a split second before landing behind the group. He flicked his sword just once, and in a millisecond, every single one of them fell to the floor while sliced into so many pieces you could make a hundred kabobs out of their body parts. 

The only one remaining was a running Grinning Demon, screaming for help at the top of his lungs. De-summoning his sword, Blitzo grabbed his halo, aimed, and threw it like a discus. It sailed in the air while spinning like a saw blade before slicing right through the right leg of the gangster leader, which had him screaming and cursing as he tumbled all the way down to the pavement. Blitzo caught his returning halo and put it neatly back in place before walking towards the crawling criminal who desperately tried to escape.

Once he was in front of the pale-faced killer, Blitzo aimed his flintlock pistol at him. But before he could fire, Grinning Demon held his hand up. "W-W-Wait! Don't shoot! I surrender!" Blitzo held his hand on the trigger. "I'll confess everything! I'll go to jail! I'll… I'll find God in prison! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry for everything I did! Give me a second chance! I beg you, please! I don't want to die!"

Blitzo stared at the pleading figure before him, and there was a long moment of silence before he lowered his pistol and sighed. Slowly, he turned his back around and started walking back to the community center. Grinning Demon sighed in relief but growled and slowly pulled out a high-powered magnum from his waist and aimed it at Blitzo. Just as he pulled the safety off, Blitzo turned around and fired his pistol, shooting Grinning Demon in the head and killing him before he had a chance to fire. 

"Idiot..." Blitzo whispered as he shook his head in disappointment. "Might as well watch the next part..."

While he stared at Grinning Demon's corpse, something hazy began to leave his body before appearing in a more humanoid form. Grey and near-colorless, the soul of Grinning Demon opened his eyes and looked around before staring at Blitzo. "W-What happened? I thought you shot me."

"I did, you idiot," Blitzo said with a disapproving tone. "I was going to let you live, but you just had to do that stupid bad-guy-tries-one-last-shot-to-kill-his-enemy trope, huh? Well, now you're dead, and that's on you."

"I… I'm dead?" Grinning Demon whispered in horror as he looked behind him and gasped upon seeing his pale dead face staring into the sky with blood coming down his face via bullet wound. "W-what?! This can't be happening?! What's going on?!"

"What's going on is that you're one hundred percent fucked, Augustus Blane."

Upon hearing his name spoken in a dark and grim tone, Grinning Demon froze as if he was dipped in an icy lake in the middle of December. He slowly turned around only to scream in hysterical terror. Floating above him, about the size of a jeep, was another Angel, only this one was scarier than Blitzo. 

The being in question was floating without any legs because his long tethered black robes covered them as he hovered above with black raven-like wings with bones showing for the bases and joints. A large dark hood covered his head, yet that wasn't enough to hide the large skeleton face with glowing red eyes staring deep into Grinning Demon's soul. If that wasn't enough, there was a giant wicked-looking scythe made out of a massive spine with a big raven's skull on top where a sharp blade curved out with the images of screaming souls appearing on the steel every so often. Some of them were his fellow gangsters who lay dead inside the community center.

"Hey, Allen. How's the wife and kids?" Blitzo asked, waving to his fellow Angel as the grim reaper turned around. 

"Ah, Blitz. Everyone's fine. Molly’s getting ready for her first year in Kindergarten."

"Ah, time flies so fast. The little ones grow up quickly, don't they?" Blitzo said with a warm smile. "Be sure to post pictures on Crossbook."

"Oh, of course! My darling little Molly is going to be the star on my wall," Allen the Reaper said before noticing Grinning Demon attempting to flee while screaming. "Oh, excuse me. Duty calls."

Like lightning, Allen the Reaper appeared before a terrified Grinning Demon who tried to say something, but the Angel of Death wasn't wasting any time and sliced him with his giant scythe. The soul of Augustus Blane, aka Grinning Demon, was soon screaming in pain and terror as he was absorbed into the scythe's steel, where his terrified face appeared for a split second before disappearing and joining the others inside. 

"Well, I better deliver these to the Office of Judgment and Appeals," Allen said before giving Blitzo a nod. "See you later, Blitz."

Blitzo waved goodbye before walking back to the Community Center, where Millie and Moxxie were waiting for him while carrying the bodies to the side of the room. Zac and his family were still in the kitchen, keeping their son from seeing the carnage that was left behind (A good thing too in Blitz's mind since he felt the young boy had seen enough), but it was clear they were disturbed by the whole thing. 

"Phew, that was exhilarating," Millie said, stretching her arms. "I needed to let loose like that."

"I'm just glad we were able to stop these punks from doing more harm," Moxxie said as he dusted his hands. "I guess we're all done here, right, sir?" 

"Almost, let's just double-check with Zac and his family before the cleaning crew arrives," Blitzo said as the three Angels walked into the kitchen and appeared before the family of three. 

"Hey, guys. The fight's over, but I wouldn't go in there just yet. Don't worry about the mess and the bodies, a clean-up crew from up above is going to fix everything, modify a few memories, and make sure that this place is clean and spotless without anyone the wiser," Blitzo said with a smile before winking. "Just be sure to keep this entire event to yourselves. I doubt anyone would believe you anyway."

"So… you three are Angels, and Daniel sent you here to protect Zac?" Zac's father asked with both awe and uncertainty.

"Yup! And let me tell you, Mr. Crayton, you two did a fine job raising him," Millie said with a big smile. "He's a good man, and I have no doubt he'll be welcomed in Heaven after completing his lessons in Purgatory."

"Then… he's okay?" Zac's mother asked with a hopeful smile.

"Yup, Angel's honor," Moxxie said, crossing his heart. "Your son is in good hands."

Blitzo walked over to Zac and knelt before him. "Well, we have to go, kiddo. But remember what I said earlier, okay? Be good, stay in school, talk to your parents, and grow up to be someone your brother would be proud of." Zac smiled before hugging a surprised Blitzo, who soon smiled back and hugged him as well. "Take care, Zac. God be with you."

"You too, Mr. Blitz," Zac said as they ended the hug and waved at the angels who texted Loona to open the portal for them to return back to Purgatory.

Chapter Text

As soon as the portal had opened up, Millie rushed through. "Woo! Now that was fun!"

"So, what did I miss this time?" Loona asked with her arms folded.

"Let's just say that a certain gang won't be bothering our client any time soon," Moxxie said as he walked through the door. "But right now, I'm almost exhausted."

"It was another mission accomplished!" Blitzo exclaimed as he went through. And being the last, Loona had closed the portal behind him. "So, did we miss anything?"

"Besides me kicking some ninja butt on Ninja Gaiden and Collin not returning any of my calls? It's been a slow day."

"Sounds great." Blitzo smiled as he turned to his employees and saw Moxxie had a worried look. "What's wrong?"

"Sir, do you think that maybe we might have crossed a few lines back there? Especially how it… ended?"

"There wasn't much we could have done," Millie said while patting his back. "If we didn't step in, who knows what mayhem they could have caused."

"I know, but-"

"You guys? We did the right thing." Blitzo said as he knelt down to their eye level and put a hand over their shoulders. "It was a difficult situation, but in the end, we did what was best. At the end of the day, that's all we can do. And you know what? I'm proud of you - both of you." With a nod, he stood up tall. "In fact, given how difficult today's mission was, everyone here deserves a break."

"Sir?" Moxxie tilted his head.

"I'm giving you guys the day off! No, even better! For the whole weekend, you guys are free from work. You all deserve it."

"Yes!" Millie shouted with joy as she pumped her fist in the air. "Now we can finally go see that new spy movie that just came out."

"But sir?" Moxxie looked hesitant. "What about Dan-"

"I'll tell him the good news myself. I'll tell him that his brother is safe and the gang won't bother him anymore. In fact, I think he'll be happy to know they'll be in Hell soon after they fail their judgment case. In the meantime, you guys go and have some fun. Just be back here by Monday."

"You got it, boss!" Millie took hold of her husband's arm and flew him out the door before he could say anything else. "See ya later!"

With a nodding approval, Blitzo turned to his niece. "As for you, how about you go to the movies tonight as well?" Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out several bills he gave to her, much to her surprise. "That should cover your ticket and some snacks for at least fifty people."

"All this for me?" Loona blinked before raising an eyebrow. "Well, thanks, Uncle Blitz, but… aren't you coming?"

"I'm sorry, not tonight." He patted her head and smiled warmly at her. "I've already got something planned outside of here, which means that I'm gonna come home very late tonight. So when you get back, make sure you lock the door and-"

"Where are you going anyway?" Loona asked, tilting her head and glaring suspiciously.

Blitzo didn't answer. He just picked up the book that the company used to go to the human world and said, "I'm gonna go visit a friend. Knowing him, he's probably missing me."

"A friend?" Loona asked, tilting her head further. "Is he an old army buddy? Don't I get to meet 'em?"

With a smile, Blitzo rubbed her head. "Maybe one day, but for now, you go and have fun. I'll meet you later, probably in the morning."

"So, a long visit then?"

".... Something like that."

"Well, okay," Loona said with a shrug. "Take care and be safe." With that, Loona ran out the door, already forming plans in her head with a particular sheep in mind.

Alone, Blitzo started to lock up his business. Deep down, he didn't like having to lie to his niece… especially when he’d been doing this for so long. Yes, he tried to keep it a secret, but lately, Loona had been getting curious as to where he'd been disappearing to every month or so. He feared that somehow, eventually, she might figure it out one day. Part of him wanted to tell her, tell his employees, but… right now… it was too complicated.

After ensuring all the lights were turned off and securing the door, Blitzo exited the office building. With the book under his arm and the cover hidden from sight, he started to make his way to find a more… quiet place in Purgatory.

After all, he had an appointment to make.

***

When all the work was said and done, Purgatory became a nightlife funhouse that would put Las Vegas to shame. Bars, clubs, movie theaters, restaurants, sports areas, gaming clubs, VR sites, and more were free and open for souls, Demons, and Angels to enjoy. While most of the three had their own hang-out spots, a few allowed mixed realm interaction. It was rare to find, but some Demons and Angels were willing to put aside their differences to have some fun for the evening even though they would be at each other's throats the next day. It wasn't something many more traditionalists approved of on either side, but it was a sign that maybe someday the two realms could finally achieve some kind of peace or understanding with one another.

However, that sadly didn't look like it would happen any time soon, but one could hope. 

Blitzo sighed as he walked through the streets near the outskirts of central Purgatory City, where families, friends, and lovers from all realms were hanging out and enjoying themselves. It brought a smile to his face upon seeing such things, and he wondered how Zac and his family were doing now that the gang was out of their lives for good. While a part of Blitzo regretted using violence to end the situation, there was still that part of him that relished in it. A side he had tried, for years, to keep away from. But even when I try my best, I'm always forced to kill.

"Blitz? Lieutenant-Commander Blitz!" 

Upon hearing his old rank, Blitz turned to his left and focused on a Hawaiian-based outdoor bar and restaurant he had been passing by. Hurrying to the tiki decorated fence was a smiling Angel dressed in a gray shirt and sweatpants. The Angel was human-looking but blue-faced with a short, buzz-cut brown haircut below his halo while looking quite buff in the body area, but considering he had Heaven's Army logo in the corner of his shirt, he shouldn't have been surprised. It took a minute for Blitzo to recognize him, and he blinked in surprise as the human Angel saluted him. "It's good to see you again, Lieutenant-Commander Blitz."

Smiling, Blitz quickly saluted back as a familiar feeling went through his body. "Good to see you too, Private Jones."

"Sargent Jones, now," Jones answered with a prideful grin. "A lot's changed since you left the military. I've risen in the ranks, and I'm even in charge of my own unit."

"Well, I always did say you had potential," Blitz said before rubbing his chin. "Though, I seem to recall a certain private who was always getting confused on where to go when he looked at maps during the exercise sessions."

Blushing, Sargent Jones rubbed the back of his head. "I… I don't do that anymore, sir… Most of the time."

"I'm just dicking around with you, Sargent," Blitzo said as they grinned at each other and bumped fists. "So, is most of the old platoon still around?"

"Sadly, sir, most of us either moved on or got reassigned not long after you left," Sargent Jones said with a heavy sigh. "Shame too. The Styx Scythers were like family back then. Now it's just a few of us left in the same team."

"Well, nothing lasts forever, Sargent," Blitz said with a nostalgic smile as he looked up. "Not even old teammates."

"Oh, Captain-Commander Mikial is a Major now, you know?" Jones said, and immediately Blitzo's face darkened. "He still stays in contact with the old crew. Have you seen him, sir?"

".... No," Blitzo said, coldly, but Jones didn't seem to pick up on it. And it will be a long time before I do. 

"Anyway, you want to join my squad and me for dinner or a few drinks?" Sargent Jones said while nodding to some Angels in similar clothing as him. They were all chilling at the bar and watching the sports game on the tv screen while a few waved hello upon being noticed. "I'd be honored to have you join us, sir. We could tell the FNG's how we Scythers really owned those Demons during Extermination Day." 

"Maybe another day, Sargent," Blitzo said with a soft and saddened tone to his voice. "I've got to meet a friend soon. So maybe next time. Still, it was great seeing you again."

"You too, sir," Sargent Jones said as the two saluted and nodded. "May God bless you, sir."

"You too, Sargent, and congratulations," Blitzo said before he ended his salute and moved on, but with a heavier weight in his walk.

Sargent Jones made his way back to the bar to continue drinking his beer when one of his privates, a pink feathered avian humanoid, asked, "Hey, Sarge? Who was that guy you were talking to?"

Sargent Jones took a big swing of his drink before replying with a grin. "That guy? He might have been one of the greatest Exorcists in the history of Heaven, boys." That had gotten everyone's attention as they all paused and looked at him. "His name is Lieutenant-Commander Blitz, but maybe you've heard of him from his old nickname 'The Grim Reaper Exterminator.'" 

"No way! That guy was the Reaper?" one guy asked while everyone else’s mouths dropped in shock. 

"Yup," Sargent Jones said before taking another drink. "Youngest Angel to pass the Exorcist Qualification Exam and Physical Test. Seventh highest kill count among all Exterminators before reaching a commanding rank. Took down a Fallen Angel demon when he was a Sargent like me. All those rumors of him killing numerous legions of Demons during Extermination Day? All of them are true. I've seen it. The guy was a killing machine. An Angel of Death for Demons to the point that rumor is that his name is used as a fairy tale to make Demon kids behave."

The others looked shocked and in awe that such a small figure was one of the most famous Exterminators in modern history. Jones continued, "Any Demon in his path was dead as a doornail, and he went after everyone from Imps and Hellhounds to Goetia Demons and Fallen Angels and more. It didn't matter who he was facing, he was utterly ruthless, and I swear his kill count was past the hundred thousand range whenever he went fully unleashed. I was with him and our Captain-Commander, Mikial, during the raid on Demon Lord Torrath's Palace. The place was built like a fortress with numerous legions waiting to try and stop us. Blitz and Mikial were like a perfect pair together, and they managed to lead us to victory that day. Not a single loss on our side and Blitz held the Demon Lord's head in his hands while Mikial took care of his family. I swear, the Demons started shitting themselves even more after each Extermination Day that year. The man could have become a Major by now in his career if he didn't quit."

"Why did he?" one of the privates asked.

Sargent Jones sighed and shook his head. "About ten or so years ago, something went wrong during the final hour of that year's Extermination Day. I don't know what happened, but many of our boys and girls in our division were getting killed left and right. There were strange ambushes of some sorts, and a lot of people I knew that day, my comrades, were dead or left behind after we were ordered by Captain-Commander Mikial to retreat back to Heaven. Lieutenant Blitzo was one of them that didn't come back. We assumed he had been killed in Hell, but then, one year later, when the next Extermination Day happened, he was found alive and requesting assistance to return home."

"Wait a minute, the rumored Angel that survived an entire year in Hell?! That's him?!" one of the privates asked in disbelief. 

"How is that possible?!" another asked in shock. "How did he survive an entire year in Hell?! By himself?!"

"Who knows?" Jones said, shaking his head. "Blitz refuses to talk about what happened in his time there. Even the Prime Archangels asked, but he refused to give anything away. After it was confirmed that it was indeed him, and he wasn't corrupted by Hell itself, they offered to let him return to the military, but he asked to be released from his duties. I guess all he went through was too much, and he was honorably discharged from the military with a big pension. I can't blame the guy for wanting to leave after whatever horrors he went through since that day."

"What happened afterward?"

"From what I've heard? He adopted the daughter of one of his best friends, Second Lieutenant Fenris, due to her losing both her father that day and her mother later on when she disappeared on a mission to Earth," Jones said with sympathy. "Poor kid. I hear he raised her like his own daughter. Afterward, he started forming this new company here in Purgatory called H.O.P.E. to help the souls here in Purgatory pass on to Heaven faster by helping them finish whatever final business they left behind on Earth."

"Wait, he can go to Earth? Without the use of the gates?" one private asked. "How does he do that?"

"Don't know. Blitz keeps that a secret, too," Jones said before chuckling. "But then again, I've learned one thing when working with Blitz. Never underestimate him."

***

It took Blitzo some time to get to one of the Demon quarters of Purgatory, but he managed to make it to a dark alley where he wouldn't be disturbed just as night was about to fall. What he was about to do was not only considered illegal but downright heresy, but he needed to do this. He needed him after today. And doing it here, where demonic energies were prudent in the air, was the only way to avoid anyone sensing him. 

With a sigh, Blitzo turned to a familiar page and pressed his hand against the book, making it glow a crimson color. He slowly carved the symbol on the wall and then waited before saying the magical words. " Ego por sit perum."

The portal opened up, and Blitzo quickly went through it, so it didn't remain in existence for long. When he arrived on the other side, Blitzo looked around and found himself in a familiar room that had become a sort of sanctuary for him. It was a luscious bedroom with a roaring fireplace burning with logs made of wood from the Wood of Suicides that gave it a green and reddish glow. Books of dark arcane magic could be seen on the shelves of the owner of this bedroom, while up above was a gateway mirror to the cosmos as constellations and comets shone in the night sky. All the while, a familiar king-sized bed with red velvet covering awaited him. 

His eyes, however, were turned to the window where the hellish dark red sky was beginning to fade for the eternal night as one could see Imp City lighting up in the distance. Heaven, surrounded by a glowing halo above the sky, shining brighter than all the stars up above it. For it was not Earth or Purgatory that Blitzo had arrived in.

It was Hell. 

Yet this room was paradise to him.

The door soon opened, and Blitzo turned around just as it closed only to warmly smile upon seeing who it was. He was tall, feathery, and handsome. Wearing a red royal robe fitting his status as Demon Prince, his four glowing red eyes lit up with excitement upon seeing the Angel in his room. Without so much as a word, the two embraced each other before pressing their lips against one another.

For Blitzo, the taste of his lover, his Stolas, was the drug he needed to help him after today. The worries of the past soon washed away as he felt Stolas wrap his arms around him and drag him closer to taste the loving lips that had all but enslaved him to Angel's love. Such actions and feelings between these two were all but forbidden in both realms. The idea of an Angel and Demon romantically with each other was heresy that would see the two destroyed by either of their superiors if it was known. Yet neither cared because they were meant to be in their hearts regardless of what the system said. 

For both had saved each other and showed them what it was like to truly fall in love. Stolas slowly ended the kiss before putting his hands on Blitzo's face and smiled. "Blitzy. I missed you."

"No more than I missed you," Blitzo whispered as he kissed his lover on the cheek. "I had a rough day… and I needed to see you."

Placing his finger on the Angel's lips, Stolas whispered, "You don't have to tell me. Just show me. And I'll help you."

Blitzo smiled as he nuzzled the warm feathery neck of the owl Demon, who carried him to bed and gently laid him on the pillow. Slowly, the bird devil removed his robe and exposed his luscious naked body to the blushing Angel, who felt his insides turning and moaning upon seeing his lover exposed. In a few minutes, Blitzo's clothes were on the floor, and his tongue was in the mouth of his partner. From there, hidden in privacy, they engaged in what many would call an abomination of lust… but for them, it was the highest form of love they could express for each other.

***

A mix of white and black feathers was scattered all over the room as both lovers, embraced in silence, cuddled inside the covers of the bed that had been the plate of their lovemaking. Blitzo sighed in comfort as Stolas continued to wrap his arms around the Angel and cooed while nuzzling his horns. The feeling was enough to make Blitzo even want more from his lover, but he just was content with what he had now. Besides, he doubted either of their asses were ready for a sixth round. 

"Feeling better, love?" Stolas whispered as Blitzo adjusted himself so that he was lying on the fuzzy body of his lover. Stolas rested his head on the pillows behind him while playing with Blitzo's halo. "You were quite wild tonight."

"I guess I was still getting rid of some bloodlust," Blitzo whispered with a chuckle before sighing. "I took more lives today. Nothing permanent, and I'm guessing the assholes are in Hell getting raped in the ass like a bunch of bitches… but I still wish there was another way."

"Darling, I know you beat yourself up all the time for not finding non-violent solutions, but sometimes there is no other way," Stolas said with a sigh while pressing his forehead against his Angel. "Was it to save innocent people?"

"Yes."

"Then stop feeling guilty," Stolas said as he shook his head. "Sometimes, the only way to stop evil is to destroy evil. Without mercy."

"Says the Demon Prince," Blitzo pointed out.

"A Demon Prince trying to get redeemed to Heaven in secret," Stolas said with a warm smile. "So he can be with the man who changed him. The man he loves forever."

"You changed me too," Blitzo whispered as he got up and made his way to the balcony outside. Looking beyond the castle's ground, he saw all of Hell before him. Once, he would have loved to see it ravaged beyond utter existence with every Demon from the highest Fallen Angel to the lowest Imp skewered and slain into non-existence. And now he couldn't look at his own hands without seeing some sobbing Hellhound child crying for his parents, a sinner desperately asking for mercy as she tried to protect her friends, and a princess who looks at him with the saddest and innocent eyes despite her heritage, asking one question: 

" Why? Why are you doing this?! They've done nothing! They might be demons, but they didn't commit any crimes! Why are you murdering them?!"

That was the first time Blitzo began to doubt, and he wondered something. Were children really that guilty and needed to be Exterminated? Did God really command this? He looked into it, and he could recall the horror that he saw. The fact that orders were being changed, ignored, or outright lied about. Not all of them or even a majority of them. Just enough so that certain people in charge got their way. Like an idiot, he tried to tell those closest to him that someone was disobeying the Lord's orders. That they were killing targets not meant to be targeted. He thought that they could expose this and fix whatever treason was happening.

And then came the betrayal. 

The ones left behind and killed because they knew too much. 

And Blitzo was one of them, but he was the only one to survive.

All because he found himself in the garden of a prince. One who was now wrapping his arms around his neck and kissing his head. The prince who didn't kill him, but sheltered him, healed him, showed him the actual damage the Exterminations (now perverted by hatred and corruption) had done. At that moment, Blitzo broke his scythe, swore to never be The Reaper again, and dedicated his life to making up for his mistakes. He would save lives, not take them. Heal the damaged, not ruin them further. And he would find some way to save those he had forsaken, including the one he fell in love with within that one year he had been lost in Hell.

Blitzo turned to Stolas and sighed. "I can't stay up all night. I need to be home in a few hours."

"Aw, can't you stay for a bit longer?" Stolas whispered.

"Next weekend I can stay for a few more days. Holiday coming up and all, and Loona will want to spend time with her friends," Blitzo said before sighing. "I think she's getting close to figuring out everything as well."

"Aren't you going to tell her? She is your niece," Stolas said before placing his hand on the shoulder. "Don't be afraid of her. She will love you regardless because of how you helped her when she lost her parents. And I still have had no luck finding her mother on Earth, by the way."

"When are you going to tell your daughter, Octavia, about us?" Blitzo asked, which made Stolas blush. "Yeah, not easy either, huh?"

Blitzo sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "Did Charlie give any updates on the hotel idea?"

"Yes, they're ready to open soon. She's very grateful for all you've done, by the way," Stolas said with a warm smile. "It's going to be okay, Blitzy. It's been over a hundred years since any serious effort was made to reform Demons. If it wasn't for you and I helping Charlie take this seriously, then who knows what might have happened. All we need is to save a few souls, and the Exterminations might be lessened greatly."

"It's not going to happen overnight," Blitzo said as he looked at his hands. "Nor is it going to be easy for me to forgive myself for killing innocents..."

"You were manipulated by Angels who abused the system for their own reasons. They were going against God's orders," Stolas said with a comforting whisper. 

"Yet, I've done nothing to stop that since, all because I'm afraid of what will happen to my loved ones if I do," Blitzo growled as he shook his hands. "Most of my comrades are dead because we knew too much, and I couldn't save them. And I know they'll go after Loona, Moxxie, Millie, and my sister if I ever try to expose them. I… I don't know what to do..."

Stolas took him by the shoulders and then pressed him to his chest. "We'll figure out something, Blitzy. Remember that I will always do everything to protect you and help you, my love. You and I are together until the days end and Armageddon begins."

"I know," Blitzo said as he sighed and shed a few tears before hugging his lover. "I love you..."

"And I love you, my little Angel."

The two continued to embrace each other in the silence of the night as the stars continued to twinkle up above as always in the everlasting and eternal night. 

Chapter Text

Hey everyone! Good news for you all. Me and CrackedInkWell have decided that, yes, we will be doing the Leave It To Heaven series. This is thanks to all of those who read, reviewed, faved, and spread about our story. We believe we have a good numbered audience to dot his series and we're preparing to work on it later this month. We're not sure when Episode 1 will come out, but we'll keep you informed on my twitter page: https://twitter.com/LivesTalos

We want to once again thanks EMositeCC for the use of their characters and world. We also want to thank everyone who left detailed reviews and answered our questions. Some of your suggestions we are taking seriously and we will make adjustments going forward with the series. As for how many episodes and seasons, we're unsure of that. We know we're either going to do 8 to 10 "episodes" per season and so far we have enough ideas for at least 2 of those, but we'll see what happens when we seriously start planning after the Easter Season.

From CrackedInkWell: "I want to thank those who have given some constructive feedback for the pilot as it gives us ideas on how to go forwards with this. With that said, I'm both looking forward and curious to see what's gonna happen next. Hopefully, we can come up with something that would be both fun to work on and entertaining for all you readers out there. Who knows, perhaps we could give you all something to talk about."

Once again we thank you all and we look forward to what happens next. Happy Easter!