Down the street from Marco's Deli, a blue Chevrolet Trax slowly approached. Ruby leaned on the wall, watching it come closer and stop in front of her. She couldn't hold back a smile when the vehicle's door opened, and a petite girl wrapped in a thick black downcoat stepped out.

The coat covered the girl from her neck down to below her knees, making her look even smaller than usual. Ruby chuckled—Kye couldn't stand even a little bit of cold. When they were little, Ruby used to wrap Kye's sock-covered feet in an old towel, but they had always been icy no matter what. They had made Ruby jump every time they touched her back at night as she and Kye used to share a tiny bed.

"Hey, sis..." Ruby came over with open arms.

"Hey, how you've been holding up?" Kye smiled and quickly checked the surroundings before squeezing Ruby's thin body. Kye knew she was likely paranoid, but there was nothing as being too careful, especially when it had to do with her family's safety.

Ruby backed up a few steps to observe the car when Kye let go of her. "Cute. It suits you."

Kye smiled and tapped the car's body. "Yeah, it's not bad. Michael wanted to give me something else, but I like this one. It's simple, got everything I need, and any car is better than no cars," She chuckled.

The girl had never dreamed of having a car growing up. There were only a few working ones in their whole neighborhood from before the War. Most people could only walk or ride the train. It was not like Kye and Ruby had ever gotten the need to venture far anyway.

"I bet if it's up to your feather boyfriend, he would not want you to leave the loft at all or go anywhere without an entire entourage. I know his type," Ruby smirked.

Kye blushed without commenting but agreed inwardly. Michael was overprotective, and she didn't mind. She loved that side of him.

"You got that right, unfortunately," Kye sighed.

Her smile didn't dim one bit. Ruby could tell her sister was smitten. A note of bittersweetness echoed in her chest as Ruby knew exactly what it was.

"I told Michael that mom wanted to have dinner with just the three of us," Kye continued without noticing her sister's subtle change, "Like the old times, but he was welcome to come over next time. He sulked from last night until this morning before leaving the loft," she laughed.

"Then you know what you have to do when you get back." Ruby winked suggestively.

Kye rolled her eyes and hooked her arm to Ruby's. "Right... Going inside, shall we? It's freezing out here."

"Try living by the mountains, then you know what freezing really feels like."

As soon as they stepped inside, it was as if someone had rewound the clock. The interior had not changed for decades, and the warm smell of greasy food—grilled meats and french fries— was as delightful as the girl remembered. It hit their nostrils strongly, making both their stomachs grumble even when neither of them was hungry.

A thin man-not much taller than either of them-approached with his eyes and mouth wide open. He wore a simple short-sleeved button shirt that used to be white a long time ago under a sauce-stained red apron with "Marco's Deli" in white letters. A white chef cap covered his bald head.

The man removed his cap to wipe the sweat on his forehead with it. "Jesus, if my eyes aren't playing tricks with me right now..."

Ruby and Kye crunched their noses in slight disgust before their smiles spread from ear to ear. This was home. Kye still got to come here every month on her break, or anytime Michael was not busy and in a mood to visit home with her, but Ruby had not been back here since she had left three and a half years ago.

"No, they're not Mr. Marco, Ruby in the flesh!" Ruby spread her arms and twirled in front of the man.

His mouth still gaped open. "Jesus, you even got taller!"

Ruby threw her head back with a hearty laugh. She didn't think she would ever hear that again. Ruby knew she had not gotten any taller in the past three and a half years. Matter of fact, 'Tall' and 'Ruby' had never belonged in the same sentence, ever. That could only come out of Mr. Marco's mouth.

The backroom door suddenly swung open, revealing a tiny elder lady with a dirty rag in her hand. She wore an old floral short-sleeved dress under an off-white apron, white socks, and brown clogs. Her cloud-white curly hair was tightened in a ponytail.

"Hey Luis, are you working or chitchatting? These quarters ain't gonna slice themselves..."

Her voice was raspy as ever, and her wrinkles were deepened with displease. The old woman was a spitting image of her son. Before she could continue, her dull green eyes seemed to pop out of her sockets, and her voice rose, "Holy Mother of God, is that you, Ruby? We thought you were dead. That old hag Violet kept saying so. I told her over and over again that if she ain't shutting her trap, I'd do it for her. Always says some awful, awful shit. No wonder her husband left..."

"Ma! Can you please stop? These girls just got here! And if you can't stand Mrs. Pagano, why do you keep going to her house to play bridge every Sunday, huh? I get a headache listening to your complainings every day!"

"I get a headache listening to your complainings every day..." Ms. Marco mocked her son, "What do you expect me to do? Going to church on Sunday? There ain't no church no more, stupid!"

She then whipped Mr. Marco with the dirty rag. Her son expertly avoided the hits like he had done so a million times while rolling his eyes. Mr. Marco finally walked away and prayed loudly in their native language.

Even after everything the Heavenly Host had done, some people still couldn't abandon their praying ritual, which had been built into them since their childhood.

Mr. Marco stopped with one foot already inside the backroom. "Forget to ask what you girls want to eat? Kye, the usual?"

Kye nodded and smiled at the man.

"What about you, Ruby? Still like the meatball slider? How about the Special platter?"

"I'm not hungry, Mr. Marco, but if you insist, the slider sounds great." She then winked at Kye, "Never turn down a free meal."

"Got it!" Mr. Marco yelled back.

Ms. Marco glared in her son's direction, then turned back to look Kye and Ruby up and down. "You girls sit down," the old woman grumbled. "Don't just stand there blocking the door."

The deli was basically empty besides the four of them.

The elder woman then walked around the place, busying herself with wiping tables and arranging condiment bottles. Ms. Marco was still full of energy despite her age. She always insisted people call her 'Ms. Marco', not 'Mrs. Marco', since the woman "don't like the sound of it. I'm not a housewife."

Her husband had passed away a long time ago, and Ms. Marco had never remarried. She had worked her butt off, raising the kids all by herself. The Marcos were community pillars. They had been in the same place since before the War. Their house and business had been destroyed several times, but they kept rebuilding everything from the rubble. It was nothing short of a miracle.

The girls mused at Ms. Marco's hunched back. Ruby then pulled Kye toward the table in the corner, facing the entrance. They sat down and smiled at each other without saying a word.

"Feels just like the old times, doesn't it?" Kye finally said.

"Yes, it definitely does..."

Ruby gazed at her sister. Her heart felt so full and at home. All the problems she had seemed to melt away like snow under the sun, but that feeling was short-lived, and Ruby remembered the reason why she came here.

"Kye..."

Ruby stared down at her tightly locked hands, trying to figure out where to start before a loud clanking noise from behind the counter startled her. Ruby jumped up with her hand reaching for the gun in the back of her jeans' waistband. Her eyes were alert. Her whole body tensed up, and she was ready to act before a white cap rose from behind the mountain of deli meats and cheeses.

Mr. Marco had dropped something on the floor and was trying to pick it up while cursing under his breath.

Ruby let out a sigh and sat back down. "Sorry, habit..." She rubbed the back of her neck. "OK, so listen... I want to ask you something I know is extremely selfish, and I hate that it's the reason why we meet up, but I really need your help, and no one but you could help me with it."

Kye felt a knot slowly form in her stomach. It was quite unusual for Ruby to ask for help. No, it was extremely unusual. Something serious must have happened.

Growing up, they had been thick as thieves and had gotten into a fair share of trouble together, but Ruby rarely asked for anything from Kye. It was always Kye's own decision to stick her neck in and help Ruby with whatever the girl needed. So what had happened this time that made Ruby crawl back here asking for help after almost four years of no words?

"Ruby, what's happened?" Kye leaned forward before something came to her mind. "How long have you been back? Last time, in the alley, did you wait for us? Did you know we were going to be there?"

Kye squeezed her eyebrows. A lot of questions and no answers. She sure didn't like the feeling of this.

Ruby sighed, "Kye... I had been back for a week before the attack. I wanted to catch you alone as soon as I was back, but it was next to impossible. You hardly leave the loft or go anywhere by yourself, and you never picked up your phone."

"Sorry, I usually don't pick up unknown numbers. If I didn't anticipate your call, I would've not picked up at all that night. A lot has happened. A lot of harassment and threats had been thrown at us. Servants and domesticated companions alike. It gets worse every day. I'm not necessarily feared for my life or anything, but it has become a nuisance..." Kye pressed her lips into a thin line, "We have become easy targets for people to vent their anger toward the angels. They seem to forget we're humans too with family and feelings, and some of us just do the job out of necessity. We just try to survive like the rest of them." Kye then looked up at Ruby. "So what has happened? What do you need from me?"

"It's a long story. You may be surprised..." Ruby chuckled dryly and leaned back on her chair.

She proceeded to tell Kye everything, from her relationship with Gadreel and what happened at the camp—from the beginning up to three weeks ago—to what she had planned and needed Kye's help with. Ruby told the story in a calm and orderly way, but Kye easily caught on to her sister's occasionally shaking voice at the parts she tried desperately to skim through.

"Jesus, Ruby," Kye covered her mouth. "I didn't know all that... I didn't know you had to go through something like that. Why didn't you come home? You could've come back to us instead of going through it all alone—"

"I'm ok now," Ruby grabbed Kye's hand. "I promise. I...didn't want to come home and worry you guys with a mess I was at the time, but I'm much better now, and I'm not alone."

"Ruby..."

"I promise that I'm ok," Ruby squeezed Kye's hand, "but that's why I need your help. To get Gadreel out. I owed him my life. I could never make it out of those months alive without him. He can't stay in that area for long! They've likely already known that there are angels in the team by now. We don't know what they're gonna do to them, but it can't be anything good. Neither Luc nor Alastair has a reputation for being merciful. Especially to the angels. They may want angels' blood more than we do." Ruby looked gravely at Kye.

"I understand, Ruby, but it's not easy. I don't think I can or want to do anything behind Michael's back... He has been more than kind to me and our family during the time you've gone..." She looked down at her hands, "And he means a lot to me."

The old Ruby would jump on her feet and curse at what Kye had said. The old Ruby would try to shake some sense into her sister, but the old Ruby was not here anymore. Knowing Gadreel had changed everything. Ruby had learned to see angels in a different light. Not all of them would be kind and protective like Gadreel, she knew, but some were. Some even came close to what the old Bibles and her late mom's bedtime stories had described.

"Kye, I would never ask you to do something I think is impossible, and you won't have to do it alone. I'll be there every step of the way." Ruby lowered her voice to a whisper. "Michael won't know it's you. We tried to access his vault in the past. The security measure was not at all crazy. He's changed its location a few times, but that's about it. He checks the vault maybe once a year unless there's an emergency. There are simply too many things in that vault to keep track of everything! I would say Michael has maybe less than ten items he really cares about. He's too powerful. He doesn't need any weapons while on Earth. His power is unmatched by any angels. Humans are insects to him. The weapons in the vault are more like a personal collection or an extra, just-in-case security measure than anything. The guy just loves to keep his toys close," Ruby shrugged. "As soon as we get everyone back, the Resistance will make sure every angel garrison is on Alastair's ass. We'll take that slime ball out of the game once and for all! Two birds with one stone." Ruby grinned wickedly.

Kye stared down at the table, lost in her thoughts for what seemed like hours before looking up and boring her eyes into Ruby. "I need you to be honest with me, Ruby...You still haven't answered my question about how you knew we were going to be there in the alley. Michael just zapped us to a random location. It's not like you could track where he was going to land... Did you know about the attack beforehand?"

Kye's voice shook, and she could feel the cold wave of anxiety rising inside. She prayed to God her sister didn't lie to her face and play some game with her and Michael's lives just to achieve whatever goal it was. Kye always trusted Ruby like second nature, but she also knew people could change.

It had been almost four years of no communication between them, and Ruby had been with that shady organization throughout. It was not really a long time, but it was not short either. The Resistance was known for its ability to brainwash people and keep them very loyal. Every revolutionary movement and organization has its own cult-like quality. That was why Kye disliked them all.

She was not sure if she could still trust Ruby.

At that very moment, Kye felt a prick at the back of her head. It was like a tickle at first then turned into a gentle but hard-to-ignore scratch that spread all over her body. Kye quickly closed her eyes and tuned into the source of that feeling.

It's ok. I've just argued with my brother, but we're talking right now.

The feeling quickly subsided and went away after a couple of minutes. Fortunately, Michael couldn't differentiate her emotions from the distance, but he knew it was a negative one, so the archangel had decided to check on her.

That was close. Kye exhaled and waited for her mind to be completely quiet again before opening her eyes and looking at Ruby.

Ruby noticed what had happened but didn't ask any questions. She had experienced the same telepathic connection with Gadreel sometimes. It was good until it was not. Ruby firmly believed in personal space, especially mind-space. She had warned Gadreel not to go too far and tried to snoop around in her head. That was so not human-like.

So far, the angel had been respectful enough. He had been happy with whatever Ruby was willing to share.

"Wow," Ruby chuckled sadly. "How low you think of me, Kye. You really think I could somehow sit back and hope for you to get hurt? You think I'm some schemy piece of shit who plays with her family's life like that... Didn't you grow up with me? How many times I rather risk my ass than let anything happen to you? You forgot?" Kye's implication caught Ruby by surprise and hurt more than she could ever anticipate. It soon turned into anger. "I don't have to lie to get your help because you are my sister, Kye. I trust that you would have my back just like I have had yours a thousand times over, no question asked. I would not risk my neck or any of you guys' getting in bed with someone like Alastair, even if someone puts a gun to my head and orders me to do so! I'm not stupid or that devoted! Screw the cause! It might be the reason why I joined, but if I have to choose, it's my ass, you guys', and Gadreel's any day!"

That statement on top of their conversation could easily cost them their lives if someone from either side happened to hear it. The Marcos had always been like family, that was why Ruby picked the deli to meet up with Kye. It was the first place on top of her list that was neutral and safe enough. Ruby was familiar with the deli, so she didn't have to waste time scoping the place out as usual. She also didn't want to go home and deal with Ma's tears and Nick's constant bad attitude. She would be in an emotional mess herself.

"I had been tailing Alastair's men from several of his businesses for the whole week before we ran into each other. He said they were in the middle of something big the last time he called to taunt us, so I figured it was the best way to know what they would do next to plan my moves. I contacted my handler two days after I got into the city, and the guy went off on me for leaving camp without permission, but he still helped me track Alastair. He told me the guy had headed to the city with some trucks that contained serious heat. Something was definitely going down. At the same time, I learned about the meeting between Michael and Crowley, don't ask how, so I bet all of my money that Alastair would show up there and wreak havoc. I put tracking devices on all vehicles registered to Michael and hacked the security cameras in that area, which was a task in itself. I knew if Alastair attacked, most likely, you guys wouldn't come out the same way you went in, so I put a simple angel trap in the alley nearby to make sure Michael would land in that spot, and I could easily follow you guys from there. It was a risky move since any angel could've landed in it too, but I need to somehow catch you, so fuck it! The organization didn't want to do a damn thing about the team so I have to do something about it before it's too late and I never get to see Gadreel again!"

Ruby rubbed her face harshly trying to wipe away her tears. She could be an expert at bottling her emotions, but sometimes, it was impossible. Ruby had tried to be strong for weeks. Gadreel's safety depended on her, so she couldn't allow herself to fall apart, but right there and then, in front of her sister, all covers just broke.

Kye grabbed Ruby's wrist. Her tears also built up and started to flow. "Ruby, I'm so sorry that you were in this situation, but I can't do something that would hurt Michael. I just can't... You should understand."

"I understand. Trust me. If I didn't know how much you care about the archangel then, I definitely do now. We're definitely sisters after all. Even have the same type." Ruby chuckled through her tears. "I promise you Alastair won't touch a hair on Michael's head. He can't keep the weapon for long. We have people from inside the Council to make sure the angels will be on his ass the moment that weapon is given to him. My handler, Bobby, who's a big shot in the organization, gave me a green light, so it's safe to say the plan is on. Bobby never goes back on his words. Also, worth to mention, just for your peace of mind, that in the worst-case scenario, and Alastair somehow manages to get away, which is highly unlikely, the weapon is a close-combat type that you need to get close enough to stab the person with it. Think a knife or a sword, not a magical wand. Can you think of anyone who could sneak up on Michael like that?"

Kye bit her lip. Torn was an understatement for how she felt right now. She heard everything Ruby had said. Michael was a powerful creature. She had seen him burn people and, on some rare occasions, angels to crisp just by a touch of his hand. He could bend time and space as effortlessly as sipping water. Besides when he was attacked by surprise and shot with the angel bullet, she had never seen Michael get injured or hurt in any way. The thought of someone stabbing him with a knife almost made her laugh out loud for its absurdity-Michael would pull the thing right out and smite the person for being stupid.

On the other hand, Ruby had rarely asked her for anything, let alone almost got on her knees and begged like this. Kye had the responsibility to take care of and protect Ruby. That had been her belief since the moment that they'd met. Their bond had been instant. Kye knew her sister didn't have a lot of faith in people. Ruby always believed she could do everything on her own. Back when Kye's family had first taken her in, for a while, Ruby had continued to act as if she was still the orphan who had lost everything and was forced to wander the world all by herself. If this angel Gadreel meant that much to Ruby, and his life was in danger, as her sister, Kye felt it was her duty to at least try.

However, Kye didn't know how reliable Bobby or the Resistance was. She didn't care for those people. All she knew was what Ruby had given her, and it wasn't a whole lot. Everyone in the city knew Alastair had been a weasel for years, and the best the Council could do was put his and his associates' faces on some wanted posters. A lot of good it had done. Even when the plan Ruby had proposed sounded good and all, and the Resistance was truly on board, something could still go wrong. Alastair could escape and turn that weapon-whatever it was- into something much more dangerous than the angel bullets. It was just too many unknown factors.

Kye didn't want to deceive Michael in any way, shape, or form. The archangel had been her best friend, family, and more in the past few years. He had become a part of her that Kye never wanted to be without. He had never lied to her and had given Kye everything she could've asked for. Under the cold facade, Michael was fiercely loyal. He was unwavering. Kye was one of a very fortunate few. She would never want to try something stupid and lose what she had.

"Can you give me some time to think?"

Kye hated the question as soon as it came out of her mouth. It was a sign that she had yielded and entertained the idea of doing something potentially harmful to Michael. Even if it was for her family, what would Michael feel when he knew that she had chosen someone over him?

No matter what she liked to call it, it was still a betrayal.

Kye leaned back in her chair and looked up at the ceiling. The old single-tier chandelier, caked in years worth of dust and grease, swung slightly as a heavy delivery truck passed by the deli. The trembling light fixture reminded Kye of her own heart.

The deli fell in silence. Both Kye and Ruby were deep in thought about their own situation. They were only jolted awake when some heavy footsteps approached.

Mr. Marco reappeared with a big rectangular tray filled with five different kinds of sandwiches and some sides.

"Mr. Marco, what are all of these?" Ruby looked puzzly at the mountain of food in front of her.

"You girls are skin and bones. Ma wanted me to make more, but just finish these first! Start eating before she comes out and gives us an earful!" The guy sashayed away before they could say anything else.

Kye and Ruby had no choice but to pick up the food and ate. Some people had come into the deli so the girls sped up their paces and wrapped most of the food to go. There was no way on Earth they could finish that much in one sitting.

Kye dropped some money on the table and signaled Ruby toward the door.

"I'll see you guys later." Ruby waved at Mr. Marco who was busy behind the counter, then jogged out before either the mom or son could stop her to shove more food in her bag or demand her to take the money back.

Kye chuckled at the scene. She used pretty much the same tactic every time she came here.

The girls both inhaled deeply when the door closed behind them. The street had started to look more lively then as people and cars poured out from schools and businesses.

"Just like the old days." Ruby sighed.

"Yup. Want a ride?" Kye tightened her coat and looked at Ruby. The cold wind had started again.

"No, thanks. My car's nearby. I have to do something first." Ruby squinted her eyes at the setting sun behind the line of trees.

"Ok, call me if you need anything, better during the day...If you have time, go home. Ma and Nick would be over the moon to see you."

"Yeah," Ruby pressed on some small stones until she could feel them through her boots. "Maybe later... I still have a lot to."

Kye grabbed Ruby's wrist and lowered her voice, "Please take care of yourself or you may collapse before getting him back. I will think about it, Ruby, just give me a few days."

Ruby nodded. Words couldn't show how grateful she was to Kye. Ruby knew what kind of tall order she had asked. "I owe you big time, Kye. I will make it up to you."

Ruby wrapped her arms around Kye's small body and squeezed hard.

"No need to...We're sisters." Kye closed her eyes.

The moment was so perfectly peaceful with a few warm rays of sunlight and pearls of children's laughter down the street, but Kye knew a storm was coming and there was nothing either of them could do to stop it.

The Marco's Deli

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