"You."

The squad stood at attention at their mentors sudden appearance, him noticing the immediate empty bunk, and pointed a finger at the one he had come seeking. Sasha pointed a finger at himself, looking about to see if anyone else was wondering if they too were being called on, when he turned back to the Power, the elder nodded at him.

"Yes, you." He wagged his finger, indicating for him to follow, and turned to walk off with the sure knowledge that the other would follow him. Sasha hurried to keep up with his quick pace, leading them to the Power's office, and Nisroc held the door open for him to enter and waited for him to duck under his arm into the room before entering himself and closing the door behind him.

"Sit."

Sasha sat in one of the chairs on the opposing side of the great desk, watching his old guardian as he walked around to sit in the leather chair behind the desk, their eyes meeting in silence. The younger angel squirmed lightly, averting his gaze for a moment, and swallowed deeply at the look in the elder's eyes.

"You found out, didn't you?"

Nisroc hummed, leaning back in his chair to cross his arms over his chest, "What I want to know is how long you knew?"

The younger angel shrugged, "Since the beginning, really." He didn't seem phased by the Power's surprise "I mean, we're best friends, we have no secrets between us." He examined his nails for a moment and looked back up to his mentor and old guardian as if this conversation they were having was no less then a simple talk of the current weather conditions.

Nisroc quickly recovered from the shock of the knowledge his charge had known of this affair for the entire duration, him and Akeelah told each other everything and there was no doubt that he would know of this secret, even if the elders didn't.

"How does he treat her?"

He had nothing against the Egyptians, any previous feud between them had long since been forgotten, but this situation was rather different in the case that it involved a young lady he was quite fond of, and would do everything in his power to tear down anyone who sought to harm her, physically or emotionally.

"Like she's a goddess. Honestly, he's so star struck," Sashael grinned to himself, "Pun intended." And moved on from his well placed pun "They're really in love with each other."

"How long have they been together?"

Sasha tilted his head, "Four months?"

His eyes widened and he leaned forward, "Four months?"

"They've been keeping it on the downlow."

Nisroc was still barely getting over his shock of that particular revelation "Who all knows?"

"Well, me, obviously. Paul knows. Anubis knows, he introduced them, so he knows too. Kokabiel knows. I think Semyaza knows. Zaves knows too, for obvious reasons, the other Egyptians know too."

"How can so many know and yet we not hear word of it?"

Sasha raised an eyebrow "There is so much you guys don't know about."

Nisroc hummed, raising his eyebrow this time, "Is there now?" he leaned forward to lean against his desk, "What exactly is it that I don't know, Sashael?"

…

The following morning, the Commander waited patiently for his Captain's squad to join them, eyes keen for one in particular, and he frowned when they all fell into place and there was one that was noticeably missing. He pulled his captain away at first chance, nodding to the squadron that was missing one trainee, "Where is she?"

Nisroc could only shrug, wishing he had something more sufficient he could provide in response, "I couldn't tell you. She hasn't been in my barrack since the Choosing Day ceremony and we had found them in the Garden."

Michael hummed, nodding as he turned his attention to the trainees before them, "Mind the training today, Nisroc, I must discuss something with my brother."

The Power nodded "Of course, sir."

…

The healer scurried off when the Healer waved him away at the entrance of his older brother into his Infirmary, it was not often Michael came in, not when it didn't involve someone he cared deeply for, he rather avoid the place with every fiber of his being.

"Brother?"

Raphael nodded in acknowledgement to the call.

The elder stopped before him, "Have you seen your Egyptian Hound lately?"

"Anubis?" he shook his head "Not recently. Why, has he done something?"

Michael hummed, "Done something indeed." He crossed his arms loosely over his chest "Akeelah has not been seen since Choosing Day last." He nodded once in assurance to himself "I feel as though your mutt may know where she may be."

"I can call him up here. He knows not to ignore my call."

His older brother shook his head, "No, I think we should pay him a visit this time."

…

Anubis seemed shifty from the moment the two archangels entered his temple, refusing to meet them at the entrance, forcing them to enter the temple and come to stand before his throne. He refused to meet their eyes, looking anywhere he may but at their appearance, and refused to answer any question that they may ask of him.

When it became evident that he was not going to answer any of his questions willingly, he turned to his younger brother, the only one it seemed that had managed to tame the untamable death deity.

Raphael nodded and leaned forward on his staff "Anubis." The Egyptian begrudgingly turned to look at him, taking on an appearance akin to a puppy having been found doing something they know they shouldn't be doing, his eyes slowly meeting those of his archangel guardian "Do you know where Akeelah is?" the jackal deity bit his lip and gave a slight nod "Show us where she is." It wasn't a question and shouldn't have been mistaken as one.

Slowly, he lifted himself from his throne, stepping down towards them sheepishly silent, gesturing for them to follow as he would lead them to where their destination may be, and follow they did.

He led them to another temple.

…

"Khonsu!"

The Egyptian turned at the call of his name, the guards in his temple noting the hope that overcame his features, as he turned from observing his moon phases chart, and his eyes widened at the entrance of the angel. He rushed down the stairs that led to where he stood to meet her halfway, hugging her close and twirling her around as they met, the moon deity set her on her feet and pressed their foreheads together again.

"You're here?" he kissed her nose lightly, making her eyes sparkle with a smile, "I thought I'd never see you again."

"My brothers can say what they want." She tucked herself under his chin, "But no one forbids me from doing anything."

He smiled, wrapping his arms around her lower waist and rested his chin on her long curls, they swayed from side to side.

"I don't want you to get into trouble just for my sake."

"You are the moon," her arms tightened around him "And I am the stars." She cuddled deeper into his chest "We exist together."

"I do not want to think of a space that you do not shine with me."

They swayed together in silence, enjoying each other's presence, wrapped up in each other's arms. Everything else around them fell away, it was just the two of them, in their own little world. There was no pain, no heartbreak, no denial, just the two of them and the deep love that they shared. The guards shifted, blocking someone at the entrance, but they paid them no mind as they swayed around together in silence.

Michael watched from behind the spears that the guards held, Anubis managed to get through, his allowance being that he was a fellow Egyptian god, as the two of them swayed back and forth in their companionable silence. He observed the way he held her, so gentle, so caring, so protective. The way his eyes shined when he gazed down to her.

He watched as she looked up at him, her eyes shining in a way he had never seen before, brushing her nose against the Egyptians, the way she smiled when he leaned down to peck her nose.

"Akeelah."

The archangel watched her stiffen at her name being called, but she refused to turn and face him, "You can't banish him here Michael. This is his home. His own land."

"I was wrong, little one."

That had her turning around, still wrapped in his arms, Khonsu smiled when she pressed back against his chest, "You were wrong."

There was no question in her statement, and there was never any intention of there being one, she thought all along that he was in the wrong.

"I can see how much he cares for you."

She nodded, as if to indicate he should hurry and make his point."

"If being with Khonsu makes you happy, that is all that matters to me, I care that you are loved, and you are happy."

Akeelah tapped the Egyptian's hands, and he let her go immediately, the young lady stepped forward. She waved her hand and the guards moved aside to allow them entrance. Raphael thanked them softly, stepping over to speak with Anubis on the matter of knowing their missing charge had runaway to the ancient city, and Michael stepped forward to meet her.

"Are you saying...?"

"You can be with him, so long as you are happy, and you don't miss training, you have my blessing."

She smiled "Thank you, Micha." And leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek.

The smile he received from his blessing of their union shined just as bright as the stars. Akeelah turned, running back to the moon god, throwing herself in his arms, and they laughed joyfully, twirling around in their elation.

He couldn't help himself when he cleared his throat when their lips met though.

Baby steps.