“            the   only   reason   you’re   here,                  better   be   to            join   me.                     if   mom   has   a   problem   with   my   drinking   habits   then   she   should   do   her   job   and   come   down   here   to   stop   me   herself.            not   send   her   little   soldier.            “                        anger   is   hot   on   drunken   tongue,                  which   leads   to   thoughts   being   voiced,               even   if   those   thoughts   were   only   fleeting   and   not   a   reflection   upon   true   feelings.               it   was   their   mother   that   he   should   be   having   this   conversation   with.               yet,         she   scarcely   seems   to   find   time   beyond   being         a   savior            of   the   universe.            half   drunken   bottle   is   raised   to   his   lips   and   a   swig   is   taken.         there   are   already   two   bottles   scattered   at   his   feet,            both   empty.               “      what   is   she   even   doing   all   of   this   for?         no   one   is   going   to   give   her   a   gold   medal.      the   only   way   this   ends   is   with   her   dead.         with   me   dead,      with   you   dead.               all   dead.         “                  hot   tears   begin   to   blur   emerald   irises   until   mateo   becomes   misshapen.         “         we   may   as   well   turn   on   the   michael   beacon   now.         who   are   we   kidding?         “   

youth   is   so   often            forgotten   and   disregarded            in   exchange   for   survival.         barely   any   time   to   make   connection,         flirt,      or   play   with   friends.         that   is   what   made   this   thing   with   kal   so   inviting.               it   was   easy   and   practically   instant.               their   circumstances   actually   bringing   them   together   instead   of   driving   apart.            a   jovial   laugh   shakes   slender   shoulders   as   he   tries   to   retreat   from   the   attack   on   dark   locks.               “            oh,            now   you’ve   done   it.            prepare   to   feel         the   wrath   of   heaven.               “                        fingers   are   swift   in   their   assault,            tickling   at   the   cambion’s   sides.         whether   or   not   the   other   was   actually   ticklish   was   to   be   determined,         but   he   felt   it   to   be   a   good   retaliation.          

a   bottle   of   vodka   is   pressed   against   palm   and   raised   to   lips,         then   passed   along   to   the   other.                  stillness   between   them.            he   was   the   one   to   invite   other   out   here.         for   what   purpose?         he   wasn’t   exactly   sure   yet   ...            an   idea   forms,      perhaps            a   little   foolish,                  but   he   tilts   form   to   the   side   in   order   to   act   upon   it   before         pride   or   cowardice            can   get   in   the   way.                     “         hey,      i’ll   show   you   mine   if   you   show   me   yours.         “                  flash   of   a   grin   before   onyx   wings   gently   make   an   appearance.               wing   span   is   large   enough   that   they   have   to   slightly   curl   around   companion.         they   brush   against   kal   softly,         creating   a   shiver   that   runs   down   his   spine.               “               your   turn.                  i   want   to   be   impressed.      “   

THE    PAINFUL    SENSATION    MATEO    DESCRIBED    WAS    UNCOMFORTABLY    FAMILIAR.    it    made    jonah    sick    to    his    stomach,    as    if    the    aches    of    his    human    body    had    returned    all    of    a    sudden.    were    angels    and    nephilims    not    free    from    suffering,    after    all?    what    a    confusing    notion.    ❝    i    guess    i    understand.    i    technically    belong    here,    and    i    have    never    felt    more    like    an    o u t s i d e r    before.    i    know    i’ll    never    hurt    as    i    once    did,    and    i’m    free    somehow    …    i    really    miss    my    family.    and    my    best    friend,    rocco.    who    was    my    nephew    somehow,    but    we    grew    up    together.    it’s    a    long    story.    ❞    there    was    a    shrug,    a    sip    from    the    bottle    of    alcohol    before    cordially    offering    it    to    the    other.    ❝    what    is    the    thing    that    you    wish    for    the    most,    mateo?    i    thought    you    were    happy    here    …    aren’t    you?    ❞

ARROGANCE    WAS    FAR    FROM    BEING    an    attractive    trait    in    jonah’s    opinion.    but    he    had    his    mother’s    heart    and    shared    with    her    the    belief    that    people    should    be    valued    and    seen    in    the    best    possible    light,    that’s    why    kal    wasn’t    c o m p l e t e l y    repulsive    in    his    opinion.    ❝    you    forget    i’m    brazilian.    we’re    resilient    people.    we    never    give    up.    you    already    have    a    ‘no’,    so    …    why    not    try    harder    to    get    what    you    wanted?    could    be    the    third,    the    fourth    or    the    hundredth    time.    it    shows    you    won’t    accept    defeat.    ❞

                    “            mmm,         it   looks            fancy.               should   i   even   ask   what’s   in   it?         “                  fingers   wrap   around   the   cocktail   offered,         a   teasing   lift   of   lips.               “            i’m      trusting   you,      demonio.      “               words   that   have   probably   never   been   uttered   between   creatures   of   their   origin.            he   takes   the   glass   and   tilts   it   against   his   mouth,            taking   a   big   sip.                  whatever   it   may   be,         it’s   delicious.                     he   attempts   not   to   look   too   satisfied   or   else   give   the   other   a   reason   to   look   smug.                           “         i   do   hope   you   know   how   to   dance.            before   the   night   is   over,            we’re   going   to   end   up   on   that   dance   floor.               whether   i   have   to   force   you   or   not,            that   all   depends   on   you.         “   

his   brother   enters   the   room   right   then,            narrowly   missing   the   tip   of   his   wings   that   strike   out   in   order            to   protect.                  “            shit.            you   gotta   stop   running   in   here   like   that.            you   want   me   to   knock   you   out   on   your   ass   again?         “                  jaw   tightens,         but   anger   does   not   meet   emerald   hues.            those   are   still   wide   and   silently   begging   for            comfort.                     “         i’m                     it’s   fine.            just   a   bad   dream.            he   who   shall   not   be   named   came   and   visited   me   again.         brought   out   a   bad   ass   sword   and   everything   this   time.         i   actually   woke   up   before   the   climax,   but   i’m   pretty   sure   he   was   going   to   just   go         woosh,         “               arm   dramatically   reenacts   the   swinging   of   a   sword,            “         and   cut   me   right   down   the   middle.         “