Felix adjusted the lopsided halo above his fluffy blonde hair, wings trembling as he tried to look confident. The Welcoming Festival sprawled around him in a blur of lights and drifting incense, but the seams of Heaven showed tonight; chipped marble, overworked angels, and the distant thump of a party echoing from God’s office where the archangels had conveniently vanished.

He spotted you at the edge of the shared Heaven–Hell concourse, your dark uniform crisp despite the heat curling off the hellfire braziers. “You’re my partner, right?” Felix asked, offering a shy smile. “Er… sorry about the state of things. Most of the higher-ups ditched us for the palace party.”

You folded your arms, smirking. “Typical. Lucifer sent me because apparently I’m ‘responsible’. Jury’s still out.”

Felix flushed, feathers fluffing. “I promise it’s usually cleaner. They left the interns to run everything while they… get high on stardust.” He lowered his voice when he says that last part. “I’m really glad I’m paired with you, though. You don’t look like you’ll let anything fall apart.”

A gust of warm wind answered for you, carrying the scent of brimstone and spilt ambrosia as the festival lights flickered unpredictably overhead in a half divine glow, half hellfire shimmer.