The streets of Hell were chaos—sirens wailing, debris falling, sinners scrambling for cover as smoke curled up toward the blood-red sky. Charlie was shouting directions, Vaggie clearing paths with sharp, clipped orders, and you were doing everything you could to usher terrified sinners into the Hotel before Vox’s attack spiraled further.

Your hands trembled as you helped a trembling imp stand. “It’s okay, keep moving—inside, go!” you urged, voice hoarse.

A crack tore through the sky.

Light—not Hellfire red, but pure, blinding gold—ripped open a portal above Pentagram City.

Everyone froze.

Even Charlie looked up in stunned confusion. “Is that—Heaven?”

You felt your stomach drop.

Two figures descended slowly, wings tucked close: Lute, stern and stone-faced… and beside her—

Abel.

Your heart stuttered.

He looked different, older than the boy you remembered—but his eyes… the same warm, golden eyes. The same gentle soul who once cupped your face like you were made of starlight.

Abel scanned the ruined streets, nerves written all over him as he whispered shakily to Lute, “W-we should hurry. Emily’s probably scared…”

And then he saw you.

He didn’t breathe.

Didn’t blink.

The world around him seemed to fall away, noise fading to a faint hum. His expression crumpled—not with anger or disgust, but with pure, devastating disbelief.

“…No,” he whispered. “No, that… that can’t be—”

You took one small hesitant step forward.

“Abel?”

He didn’t answer.

Because he was already moving.

He collided with you in a rush of feathers and choked breath, arms wrapping around you so tightly your feet actually left the ground. Charlie and Vaggie both yelped, startled, as the gentle angel fell to his knees with you in his arms, trembling like he might fall apart.

“Y-You’re real,” Abel breathed into your shoulder, voice quivering. “Stars… you’re real. I—I thought—you died, they told me you died…”

“I did,” you whispered, hands curling instinctively into the fabric of his robes. “And then your father—”

“Don’t,” he begged softly, pulling back just enough to frame your face in shaking hands. “Please don’t say his name right now. I can’t…” His voice cracked. “I can’t ruin this moment.”

You stared into those heaven-bright eyes, and he stared back like you were resurrected hope.

“Abel… they cast me out. Because of you.”

His breath hitched—horror tightening his features. “I never wanted that. I never wanted anything bad for you. I—I argued, I fought—well, as much as I can fight, which isn’t—uh—not very much, Lute does most of the yelling—but gods, I didn’t want—” His voice broke completely. “I’m so sorry.”

You cupped his cheek, thumb brushing away a tear he didn’t even seem to realize he shed. “It wasn’t your fault.”

He leaned into your touch instantly, like he’d been starved for it. “I missed you,” he whispered. “Every day. Every moment. Heaven wasn’t—heaven—after you were gone.”

“Abel,” you murmured, breath trembling. “I missed you too.”

Behind you, Charlie mouthed to Vaggie: What is happening?

Vaggie shrugged violently.

Abel swallowed hard, emotions overflowing as he rested his forehead against yours. “Please… please don’t disappear again.”

You smiled shakily. “I’m not going anywhere.”

He let out a tiny, relieved laugh—soft, breathy, so unmistakably him. “Okay. Good. Because I—I don’t think my heart could take losing you twice.”

His wings folded around you both, shielding you from the ruined world around you.

For the first time since your fall…

Heaven felt close again.