CASTYR'S POV
I rush to my tent and grab my equipment. Kilo dons a bulletproof vest and follows me to the landing pads. We join Alpha Team in a hovercraft as Beta Team arrives at the pad.
Major Azyr fits Kilo with comm devices and two holstered hand guns along with a sheathed knife. Kilo accepts the equipment as the craft takes off. I watch Beta Team lift off in a craft and follow.
"How many were spotted?" Captain Minhyuk asks as Sinjae hands Kilo a black, bulletproof jacket to go over the vest.
"A small bunch. About twenty or so," Azyr answers.
"They're most likely stragglers, but Hades may be sending out small groups to scout out the situation," Sinjae warns.
"I'm so glad we're going home soon," Destil comments quietly.
Everyone slightly nods their heads in silent agreement. We are all ready for a break. We have been in this war longer than any other unit. We remain to ourselves for the remainder of the flight and think of home. As we near the southern division, I begin shaking my leg nervously. It is slight enough, though, no one except Kilo, who is sitting next to me, notices.
Kilo puts his hand right above my knee and begins rubbing the tight muscles. His touch makes me nervous for a totally different reason, but I cannot help but melt from his deep movements. My leg stops moving as Kilo continues. I close my eyes and enjoy the massage.
Kilo removes his hand as the pilot announces, "Touch down in five."
"Better?" Kilo whispers as I open my eyes. I nod and sit up straight. He cocks an eyebrow as I clear my throat and smirks when I look at him with slanted eyes. I tisk at him and turn away, my face red. What's he so smug about?
We land three blocks from the sighting and slowly advance. I enter a skyscraper located a block away and climb to the roof. Kilo follows his orders and remains with the team as I set up my position. I scope the area and spy three demons milling about under an adjacent skyscraper. I notify my team of the location of the demons through the comm device in my ear.
"Received," Azyr responds through the ear piece.
I return to scouting the area as Alpha and Beta Team advance on the demons. A slight movement catches my eye as the teams near the three demons.
"Movement detected. A hundred yards from sighted targets," I relay.
Azyr acknowledges the message. They slow their advance, and I scour every inch of the area. The flapping of wings rips my focus from the scope. I turn just in time as a demon lunges at me, his claws bared. How did they know I was here?!
There is no weapon in the demon's hand. Odd. He shoots daggers from his energy that would just maim me. I dodge the energy daggers, but none of them would have been fatal. He does not want to kill me. Why? My suspicion rises.
"Who are you?" I ask gruffly as we face off in a stand-still.
He sneers before throwing three energy daggers. I evade them and draw my gun. I aim for his neck, but the demon is quick; the bullet flies into the side of an opposing building. My attacker dissolves his daggers and runs in quick, zig zag movements until he is right in front of me. I holster my gun and draw my knife as we engage in hand-to-hand combat.
"What do you want?" I demand as the demon and I have each other in equal holds.
"Your light," he answers truthfully.
This stuns me for a split second. How does he know I am a star? The demon takes this opportunity to wrestle out of my grasp. Well, the secret is already out. Might as well use it.
I send out a bright pulse of light, blinding the demon and giving me the opportunity to slice my knife across his throat before drawing my gun and putting three bullets in his head.
"Aish!" I curse as four more demons land on the roof. I turn to my right as I hear wings flapping. Kilo and Azyr land beside me.
"What's going on? Are you okay?" Kilo asks as Azyr opens fire on the demons. I quickly nod to let Kilo know I am not hurt.
"Later," I say briefly. Kilo nods. He draws his sword, and we join Azyr.
"Is everyone alright?" Azyr says through the comms after the demons have been either eliminated or subdued. Azyr ordered for at least one demon to be kept alive and shipped back to base.
Various voices from both teams respond. A captain from Beta Team was injured, but, thankfully, there were no fatalities. I stand on the roof with my head turned to the night sky, my mouth open as I pant. Kilo comes over to me after handing a subdued demon over to the Beta Team. He wraps his arms around me after putting up his sword.
I sigh in relief as I feel Kilo's touch. We are alright. We are alive, and we are together. Determination fills me as I think back to how many times Kilo and I nearly lost each other just in this one fight. I pull Kilo away and look him in the eyes.
"We're doing it. Tonight. I can't go another day without it," I tell him firmly.
Kilo looks at me with wide eyes. He does not get a chance to respond as Sinjae says through the comms, "Okay, people, let's load up. The craft is here."
I take Kilo's hand and lead him down the stairs. The hover craft lands, and we pile on. I lean my head on Kilo's shoulder and close my eyes for the entire flight, just soaking in Kilo's presence.