Kiln swung his blade, meeting Lute's spear. Twirling her weapon to push his aside, she swung her leg, and it connected with his side. Leaping backward, he began backflipping to get away from her and steady himself. His other hand flicked, and a dagger slipped into view. Holding both his blades before her, Lute knew he was now going serious mode. She drew her sword and dual wielded as he did. Swords, dagger, and spear clashed over and over. Jumps, kicks, headbutts, and leg swipes were thrown back and forth. Eventually, Lute got the upper hand and disarmed Kiln of his sword and his dagger. Her spear tip was an inch from his throat, silver eyes meeting golden ones. She smirked and chuckled softly.

"Checkmate, Kiln," she told him, ready to withdraw her weapon.

However, with the sound of magical humming energy, obsidian crystalline gauntlets coated his arms as he swats the spear tip away. Kiln chuckled as he stood back up, Lute taking a surprised step backward. Taking a slightly crouched combat stance, the Prince of Hell lifts one hand, ready to pounce and swing at her. She realized too late that she only had her sword now as the man leaped in the air, bringing his claws down towards her. She was able to catch the hand with her sword but coughed out in pain when a knee struck her stomach. Dropping her sword, she could barely react when Kiln's hand grasped at her throat, pushing her down onto her backside. Realizing he'd beaten her, she sighed and rolled her eyes at him.

"I yield. You win," Lute spoke to him.

He smiled and helped her up to her feet. Her scowl was soon replaced with a smile, and the harshness in her eyes was gone. She was impressed by how quickly he moved and how much he'd improved on his magic claw gauntlets. Retrieving their weapons, the two warriors sheathed their blades and stood in front of one another. The tall male looks down at his companion, as she only came up to his midriff. Resting her hand on her hip, she leans slightly to the side as she chuckled.

"Guess I owe you a coffee?" Lute asked him, to which he shrugged and said he was fine with.

As they sat on a hill overlooking what used to be Kiln's home city, they both held a cup of coffee each. The young man couldn't help but occasionally look at Lute, making her return his looks and occasionally look away, as did he. Sipping their coffees in silence, they admired the sunset in front of them. Kiln lifts his hand and points to one particular spot at the mountains far off in the distance.

"Over there, the sun illuminates the mountains just so in a way that if you focused your eyes, you could see a gateway almost. Whether it's an Elder Scrolls Oblivion gate or possibly a gateway to any other dimension, I guess it's up to the imagination, Lute."

The angel, curious in his words, squinted her eyes as she looked at where he pointed.

"Huh, it DOES look like a gateway. You weren't kidding, Kiln," she replied, smiling a little. Kiln had finished his coffee and incinerated it with his purple and green fire. Letting the wind blow the ashes away, he then lies down on his back as he looks up at the sky. Lute set her cup of coffee down and then lied down as well, mindful of her wings. Her hand moved over and interlocked fingers with Kiln's. The Prince of Hell looked over at her, raising his eyebrow. She smiled at him and gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

"Today was wonderful. It's risky if we're seen together, but I like spending time with you. You make me feel way better than that jerk, Adam."

"Well, you already know that I see everybody as equals. Doesn't matter what class you are. And you're special to me, Lute," Kiln says softly to her.

Sitting up, he unbuttoned his shirt and removed it before giant black feathery wings sprouted on either side of his spine and between his shoulder blades. Lute gasped as she saw them, surprised he had wings now. He lies down on his side, looking at her. Lute was speechless, unable to process for a moment. But then she smiled and sat up, getting to her feet. Kiln stood up as well, curious as to what's up.

"Fly with me."

She launched herself high in the air with a powerful down thrust of her wings. Kiln crouched and leaped up, thrusting down with his wings. Soon, the two winged warriors hovered above their little spot, both smiling at each other. Kiln moved closer and gently poked her shoulder. Then he saluted and flew off at a quick speed. Oh, so they were playing tag now, huh? Too bad for him, she was a master at this game. She zipped off after him, holding her arms outward as if a second pair of wings. She loved feeling the wind brush across her face when she flew. She loved the freedom it made her feel deep inside when she was flying. She hated being grounded so often and only being allowed to fly during Extermination Day.

She soon caught up to him and poked the top of his head. The two engaged in this playful game until they both saw the full moon. While Kiln was used to it, Lute gasped in surprise. She points at it, jaw hanging open.

"Is that . . . is that the moon?"

"Yeah, it is."

Kiln moved closer to her, hovering beside her without their wings interfering with one another. For a moment, they both looked at the moon in silence, Lute just moving her hand into Kiln's. He gently gave it a squeeze as he lightly herded her back towards the ground. Once their feet touched the ground, Lute hugged the half-breed. Kiln wrapped his arms and his wings around Lute.

"If we get found out, our friends won't like it. They'll think we're traitors," Lute whispers softly to him.

"I know. But hey, you and me? We're like a bad romance. Breaking the rules because Heaven and Hell have opposing views," Kiln says, gently stroking some strands of her hair away from her face.

His hand gently glides down her cheek and cupped her chin in his thumb and forefinger. Once again, silver eyes met golden as the two leaned closer to each other. Their hearts beat loudly in their ears. Their wings touch and wrap around one another.

"I can't. No, I WON'T lift my blade against you, Lute," Kiln told her, their faces only inches from one another.

"I'm in love with you, Lute."

"Kiln . . . I love you," Lute returned, her hand reaching up into his hair.

Their lips met, and their eyelids closed as they surrendered to this moment. Their hearts opened to each other, their affections reciprocated. Kiln held Lute closely against him, and she gripped his hair tightly as she lifted her other arm, rubbing his backside with an open palm. She lifts one foot, moving all her balance onto the one that remained grounded. In this moment, she wasn't Lute the warrior, the angel that was Adam's right hand woman. No, she was just Lute. Just like how this wasn't Kiln the Prince of Hell, nor was this Kiln the warrior, Kiln the Avenger. He was just HER Kiln, and she was HIS Lute.