"I HATE HUMANS."

"Rain," Stella chastises, sneaking a glance at the three humans in the room who were staring at her brother's tall figure, bewildered, "don't say that in front of them."

"I do detest most of them, I cannot help it," Rain says, with a dismissive flick of his wrist. "There's nothing wrong in voicing it."

"We didn't even do anything to you," Bea mutters disgruntled, despite being intimidated.

She wasn't the only one.

As tall as Axel and Corban were, the man in front of them, who was supposedly Stella's brother, easily towered above both of them. While he was lean and muscular, there was a long scar that ran down one side of his face, continuing down his neck and concealed below his attire- and it made him appear a lot scarier in their eyes.

He only scoffs in response to Bea's words but his cold, hard eyes remain fixed intently on Stella.

"I came here to have a word with you," he says pointedly, "Not spend time on idle chatter among humans. Shall we?"

Stella lets out a sigh, glancing at the three others in the room before nodding reluctantly. "We shall."

She offers a small shrug in farewell, following after Rain, while the three of them stare at her retreating back in awkward silence.

Until of course, Bea decides to break it, leaning closer to Axel.

"You think he's an angel too?"

"Yeah, obviously-"

"Okay," Corban interrupts pointedly before they both dive into a discussion- placing his palms together and pointing it at them, "While I love how unconcerned you are about the fact that one member of your team is missing, I think it's important we address it. Where the fuck is Gale?"

"We didn't bring him along," Axel deadpans.

"No, duh," Corban retorts, just as monotonously, "Why not?"

Axel and Bea instantly fall into an uncomfortable silence, the amusement in their expressions dying down as they glance at each other with uncertainty.

"We couldn't get to him, Boss," Bea shrugs, her face twisting into a grimace, "As soon as comms were cut from our end, I saw men coming towards the van I was in, so I got the hell out of there."

"We were lucky she called me," Axel murmurs, as Corban looks between the both of them, "Blackwood's men would've captured us all."

"You think they got him?" Bea says with a concerned frown, "I lost sight of his van as soon as I saw men approaching mine. That must be around the time Blackwood was tipped off, right?"

"Yeah..." Axel's eyebrows furrow, as the familiar uneasiness bubbles up his chest.

"It's-" Corban hesitates, pondering over something, "Isn't it odd that he disappeared right when they were tipped off?"

They stay silent at that.

"I-" Bea's voice sounds weak when she speaks after a few uncomfortable moments, "I don't think he's... you know, Boss-"

"It's really not about what you think," Corban says sharply, "No one thought Axel would get shot because of a traitor either, but here we are."

She stays quiet after that.

Corban brings a hand to his forehead, with a sigh. "What do we do?"

Silence rings in the air after that question.

Because what were they supposed to do?

Their only lead was Kyrell Blackwood, and how had that turned out for them?

Now, they were back to square one, with one less team member.

"If," Axel forces his voice not to waver as he finally speaks, "Gale wants to remain hidden for whatever reasons, you'll need another computer analyst to help track him down."

Corban hums in acknowledgment, a pensive expression on his face.

"And," Bea adds suddenly, "you'd have to see if there's a signal connecting Blackwood's current residence to our HQ." When they both raise their eyebrows at her, she continues, "Y'know, for the anonymous tip thing."

"Yeah," Corban murmurs with another sigh, as he fishes a burner phone out of his pocket, "Elijah was working with Gale to track the signal, wasn't he? I'll have him look into it."

Axel and Bea look at each other, before nodding at him.

"Right and uh," Corban clears his throat awkwardly, "get some... uh rest. You must be... tired, from all that happened today."

With that, he was out of the room before they could comment on his rare somewhat display of concern.

"Wow," Bea says after a beat, as she leans back into the couch, elbowing Axel who was next to her, "Would you look at that? Boss-man actually cares about us, huh?"

Axel doesn't respond.

"Axe?" she elbows him again, "Did you hear what I said?"

"I did," he murmurs, before he turns to her- his eyes gentle, and thoughtful.

"B," he says gently, "why did you lie?"

He doesn't have to elaborate on what he's talking about, because it's obvious by the way she stiffens that she knows exactly what he means.

Why did you lie about your feelings for Kyrell Blackwood?

"You could've told me, y'know?" he continues, when she doesn't speak, "I'm your best friend for a reason, right?"

"I-" Bea clears her throat, and Axel can tell that she's struggling to make sure her face remains carefully blank, "It was- it's complicated, alright?"

"Then uncomplicate it for me," Axel shrugs, looking at her.

She hesitates again, looking down at her hands.

"I-" she bites her lip, as she stands- presumably to walk away, "I shouldn't have any sort of feelings for a criminal, Axel. That's how it's complicated."

"Bea," he says before she can take a step away from him, "You're allowed to feel. It's what makes us human."

Now, with her back to him, he can't tell what she's thinking or feeling- but the tension in her body never leaves.

"Sometimes," he tells her softly, "you can't help who you fall for."

She stays quiet again, something Axel isn't used to at all-but as he opens his mouth again to speak, she finally says something.

"I made a mistake, Axel," she looks over her shoulder, her sad eyes meeting his, "I allowed feelings to mix with my job when my job is the most important thing to me."

"B-"

"No," she shakes her head, "No matter how I feel, I would never turn my back to my job for a criminal. Even if it makes my heart hurt."

She turns back around, the dark hair in her pony-tail swooshing as she walks to the door. "You should go meet Boss, Axe. Figure things out with the rest of this mission. I'm going to take some rest."

Axel opens his mouth, hesitating for a moment as something Blackwood had said lingers in his mind.

"Bea?" he says right before she steps out of the door.

She stops.

"What did you say your favorite flowers were, again?"

"Really?" she turns around with an amused snort, raising an eyebrow at him, "Why, you plan on buying me a bouquet to make me feel better?"

Axel rolls his eyes. "Just answer the question?"

She sighs, her expression melting into a small smile.

And when she answers, he can't help but think that his best friend had the most tragic and unfortunate love he had ever come across.

"Daisies. I like daisies."

The dog that had stubbornly followed Stella and Rain outside, sits in front of them, tail wagging and tongue lolling, while the both of them sit in silence.

She should have known that they would know when she revealed herself to them.

Every time an angel on descent revealed their wings, it would release a tiny burst of light in the highest frequency of the spectrum- gamma rays.

The sudden burst of energy was significantly tiny, undetectable, and didn't interfere with human devices, but it was like a big pop-up notification in the heavens- so they were almost instantly alerted of it.

She should have been more careful about it, but in hindsight- the way she saw it, it was the only way.

She clears her throat delicately.

"So, brother," she says, evading the subject for as long as possible, "What have you been thinking about, lately?"

Rain simply looks at her.

A second passes, then a minute.

And then he speaks, in a tone gentler than she has ever heard.

"Your eyes."

Her eyes widen, as she instantly turns away from her brother's scrutinizing gaze.

"I thought it was Earth's nature that you loved the most, was it not?" he murmurs gently.

"Yes, it still is nature that I love the most," Stella says hurriedly.

"The colors in your eyes say otherwise."

She inhales sharply, squeezing her eyes close as if to try and make the streaks of grey that had now found their way into the green disappear.

"It's the human with the eyes of grey, isn't it?"

Her silence is an answer enough.

She can feel his eyes on her, but she refuses to meet them, not wanting to out herself further.

"You should know," he says after a few moments, "that humans are among the most-evil creatures to roam the Earth."

"Why'd you say that?" Stella questions, hoping she doesn't sound too defensive.

"Because, of their sense of right and wrong," he looks up at the sky, as the clouds above were slowly beginning to gather above their heads, "The beasts that they claim are dangerous like lions and sharks do nothing immoral because they have no moral sense. But humans' moral sense, curses them with the ability to choose evil, despite knowing that there is good."

"That's a human quote," Stella says, though she completely understands his reasoning, "a human said that."

"Yes," Rain nods, his pale eyes still focused on the sky, "One of the few who truly understood his own kind. But as evil, as mankind is, they're gifted with something else that transcends everything across the universe."

She gives him a questioning look, but his eyes remain skyward.

"Love," he says softly, "Oh, how they love. They love with every fiber of their being, with every thread of their soul- and they allow themselves to be consumed by it. That's what makes it dangerous."

"Why?" Stella asks quietly, "Because it's not allowed?"

"No," she isn't sure if she imagined it, but for a second, she thought she heard the pain in his voice, "It's dangerous because it always ends in heartbreak."

Stella could feel her own heart drop. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He doesn't respond to her question, as low thunder rumbles in the distance, and the skies darken further with clouds. Instead, he turns to her, his cold, pale eyes unusually soft.

Among the marvels of Earth, Rain loved its winters the most. It was something to do with how, even in the coldest of times, there could still be beauty- something that Stella associated with him.

So, whenever he came down to the planet, the gold of his eyes would morph into a glowing silvery-white, just like snow.

"There was a time," he says, his silvery eyes almost sad, "my eyes morphed into the most beautiful shade of honey brown, every time I descended."

Stella's eyes widen at that revelation.

"He was a wonderful man," Rain continues, turning back to the sky, "but I couldn't save him. I nearly died trying to, and that was the very accident that crippled me. Something that I am still scorned for."

Stella's face softens, as she reaches forward for his hand, wrapping her fingers around his own in a sign of offering comfort.

She was incredibly young when that had happened, and she didn't remember anything about it at all.

All she had known, was that her happy, handsome older brother had descended to Earth for a mission- and when he had returned, with scars and a leg that would never work the same way again- he was a completely different angel.

The rest disdained him for it. She never understood why they did.

Now, she knew.

"You are allowed to make your own choices," he murmurs, "You are old enough and wise enough. You must be careful, is all."

Stella swallows down the sudden lump in her throat.

She was already down the same path, what's to say she wouldn't end up the same way as her brother?

"Well," Rain mutters suddenly, having realized that his words unintentionally brought down her mood, "Lucien has been pitching fits ever since you descended."

Stella's lips quirk upwards, as she lets out an amused exhale. "Let him."

"He was raging when the Heavens got word that you revealed yourself to the humans," Rain lets out a tired sigh though he sounds amused too, "I often wonder why you chose to be his best friend."

"I wonder the same," Stella says shaking her head, "He argued with me before I left too- the arrogant prick. He told me that I was being naive when I told him that I was going to descend."

"Hmm," Rain closes his eyes leaning back, "He was insistent on bringing you back to the Heavens. He made it a point to inform everybody that he had tried to 'talk sense' into you before you left and that you refused."

"That is true," Stella lets out a little laugh, "So, you came here to avoid his incessant nagging?"

"Partially," he nods, his eyes still closed, "He refused to descend and walk among humans, but he insisted that someone descends to try and convince you to return."

"Eh," Stella shrugs, "he seems to be the only one with a problem if I'm not wrong. Has Aspen been well?"

Aspen had asked her to take him back some chocolate because he thought it was divine, she remembered. She hadn't ever tried chocolate herself, so she didn't know what the deal was- but her brother was very picky when it came to food, so if he liked it, maybe it was divine.

"He has," Rain nods, with a hint of pride in his eyes, as he speaks about their other sibling, "he's learning to read emotions better, and he's getting better at Latin too."

"Wonderful," Stella can feel herself smile. That must be a great achievement for Aspen.

They settle into another comfortable silence, as Stella reaches forward to scratch Marli's ear. She had curled up on the ground near her feet, and her tail was still wagging though her eyes were closed.

Now, that her brother was here, however, there was another thought that came to her mind- something that she couldn't find out from humans.

She had pushed that thought to the back of her mind, telling herself that she'd figure things out if they turned out to be true, but now she couldn't help but turn to him, to ask.

"Rain," she begins hesitantly, "have demons been active lately?"

"Demons?" Rain turns to her sharply, "No, of course not. Lucifer has them all on a tight leash, as far as I know. Why do you ask?"

"Well..." she pauses tentatively, "The night Axel was shot... he said he saw a pair of red eyes."

"Red eyes?" Rain's eyes narrow slightly, "There are chances the human might've imagined it, because of blood loss, Stella."

"Yes, there are," she nods hesitantly, "but I'd just like to make sure that this investigation doesn't involve creatures that are more powerful than what humans can handle."

Her brother only stares at her for a moment, before nodding and standing up. "Alright. I will look into it, and if there is anything worth investigating, I will let you know."

"You're leaving already?" Stella's eyes widen, as the sudden sense of homesickness makes its way into her heart.

"Yes," he offers her a small, rare smile, "Don't fret, Little Star, you'll be home soon. As much as I detest most humans, I trust you will help them with their investigation. Besides,"

He tilts his head to the side, listening intently, before looking at her.

"I think the missing human just arrived."

"Gale?!"

"Boss," the man acknowledges panting, "Oh my God- I am so sorry-"

"Where have you been?" Corban says tersely, rising from his seat, putting the documents that they were examining down.

Axel only stares at him from the corner of the room.

There was a cut on his cheek, with blood dripping down it, his blond locks were wild, and his clothes were disheveled and torn.

"This- This was a trap," Gale pants, his voice frantic, "The lead was a dead end- and this whole thing was a trap, they tapped into our comms and they tried attacking m-"

"You don't say," Axel deadpans.

Gale turns around quickly, at the sound of his voice as if he hadn't noticed Axel in the room when he had entered.

His eyes widen, before relief floods into his features.

"Where the hell were you?" he says, taking a step towards Axel, "And-And Bea? Where's she? The comms just went off, and men were chasing me-"

"Why don't you sit down first," Corban interrupts his rushed words, gesturing to the chair, "and tell us where you were."

"I was getting away," Gale rushes out, "There was a disturbance in our comms, and when I was investigating it- we got cut off."

"And?"

"Men were surrounding the van in seconds," he says, rubbing his forehead, and wincing, "I really haven't got a clue myself of how I managed to get out of that- even when I was being shot at. I was on foot for the most part, and then I caught a bus-"

"What happened to your van?" Axel questions with furrowed eyebrows.

Gale shakes his head, almost sadly. "Blown up. That was partially my fault, partially theirs- but it caused enough of a distraction for me to get out of there."

Axel blames his paranoia for his suspicion. At this point, he was practically suspicious of everyone except Stella, but he couldn't help it.

"And there's something important you should know," Gale's voice goes a notch lower, as he looked around the room before looking straight at Corban.

"I don't think Elijah can be trusted."

Corban lets out an annoyed sigh.

"Gale," he says, running a hand down his face, "I know you're upset that I made you work with someone to track a signal for a mission that's supposed to be a secret, but-"

"No, no- listen,"