- Lucifer and Eros -
Lucifer and Eros stood before a large oval-shaped gate that was covered in runic patterning.
"You sure you don't want to stay longer?" Eros said while pulling out a tiny vial of blood.
Lucifer gave Eros a look that said "Really?" before sighing. "I appreciate Zeus's attempts at treating me with respect but I have a feeling that act won't last long. Besides, I made a promise with the others that I would rejoin them after a certain amount of time."
Eros raised an eyebrow as he dripped the blood onto the gate. "A certain time?"
The opening of the gate filled with bright red energy. The runic patterns made a blue glow as the red energy swirled, creating a vortex.
"I came here to spend time and relax with my team, not be a spectacle for the above-ground citizens," Lucifer said.
"There were some Underworld citizens in the coliseum," Eros joked.
Lucifer took a step toward the gate. "You're free to join us if you like."
Eros softly grinned. "Good to see you don't hate all of us. Unfortunately, as the announcer, I have to stay. If you're still here after a few days though, let me know."
Lucifer smiled. "Will do."
Lucifer stepped through the gate and was instantly teleported to a room in Hades's palace in the Underworld. As he stepped through the portal he was greeted by his team. The portal room was made from a blue stone that had been polished to look like marble. Two blue-cloaked guards stood on either side of the portal.
- Lucifer and Team -
"I was gettin' worried, Luce," Peter stepped forward. "I thought ya would try to leave the party sooner?"
Lucifer walked forward and looked around. "I was trying to..." He looked confused. "Where's Death?"
"Talking with Hades about something," Sabu said.
Lucifer shrugged. "Probably something ancient-related."
The team members exchanged worried looks with each other.
"Are you...okay?" Yvere asked. "And I mean actually okay, not your definition of okay."
Lucifer gave a regretful sigh. "I'm fine," He gave a glance back at the two guards. "Things got a little crazy, but there's nothing to worry about on my end."
Every team member could understand what Lucifer was trying to say. The team left the portal room and decided to head to a more private room in the palace. The team was seated in a room that had a large fish tank built into the right wall. The fish in the tank were long, gray, serpent-like creatures.
Elijah was standing in front of the tank. "I thought the hydra was supposed to be an enemy in Greek mythology?"
The rest of the team was sitting down at the table. Peter, Dimitri, Lao, and Yvere were facing Lucifer and Elijah, while Sabu and Heinrich were on the other side of the table with their chairs pointed at Lucifer. Half were looking at Elijah while the other half were looking at Lucifer.
"They were and then they were tamed," Heinrich said. "Satan had a surprisingly detailed book on the process back in the libraries."
Peter was giving a hard stare to Lucifer. "All right, enough," He leaned back. "The fuck were ya thinkin' with that stunt, Luce?"
Elijah tilted his head back but decided not to join in.
"I had it under control," Lucifer responded.
"The fuck ya did!" Peter slammed his hands on the table. "If ya were so~ in control, then tell me; where does it rank?"
"Rank?" Elijah asked.
Yvere leaned her head against her hand and spoke with a sigh. "Lucifer's ranking of the most damage he's taken before being healed."
Dimitri turned to Lao. "Is this what you deal with as his healer?"
Lao nodded yes. "He gives a warning to any healers that join the team."
"Macabre nature aside, it is useful for research purposes," Heinrich said.
"Figures the nazi says that," Dimitri mocked.
Peter smacked Dimitri on the back of the head. "Shut the fuck up Dimitri, ya weren't even in the human world when nazis came about."
Dimitri rubbed the back of his head. "Doesn't mean I didn't hear stories," He sighed. "It was just a joke," He said to Heinrich.
Sabu glared at Dimitri with his now glowing yellow eyes. "None of us ended up in Hell on accident."
Yvere sunk back in her chair.
"Sorry," Lao mouthed to Yvere.
Peter made a piercing whistle. The team, except for Lucifer and Elijah flinched at the noise. Even the baby hydras in the tank turned to look at Peter.
"Let's not forget who we're actually supposed to be mad at, okay?" Peter said while looking at Lucifer.
"So...the ranking?" Elijah asked Lucifer.
Lucifer looked at Elijah with an annoyed expression. "Probably first."
"WHAT?!" Yvere and Lao both shouted.
Dimitri was shocked at Lao's tone. He had rarely heard his husband get so emotional about anything. He had questions but was so curious about the situation he didn't want to interrupt Lucifer.
"So we're all on the same page here with how fuckin' stupid Luce was," Peter's tone was completely serious.
Yvere's tone was frantic as she spoke, "I basically regrew your torso in Sol!"
Lao's tone was slightly more controlled, "I've regrown both of your arms!"
Lucifer motioned the two to calm down. "I appreciate both of your efforts but you both already knew that neither of those situations was number one."
Yvere clenched her fists and slammed the table, cracking it. Everyone, even Lao who was currently joining her in her anger was surprised.
Yvere's tone was filled with anger. "I'd heal you a thousand times over during your training because that serves a purpose, but THIS, THIS is the kind of petty shit you would complain about the upper ranks doing. If you cared so fucking much about ruining the show, why didn't you just try to win?!"
Lucifer lowered his vision to the floor. Everyone, except for Dimitri, could instantly tell why. Dimitri looked around at the others wondering what the reason was until he eventually figured it out. The air in the room got tense. Everyone wanted to say something but no one wanted to be the first to speak. Luckily for them, someone else broke the silence. The door to the room swung open.
"Do you all want something to eat?" Persephone asked in a kind tone.
The team looked at her and then back at each other.
"That would be nice," Lucifer said with a sigh.
- Lucifer and Persephone -
The team went ahead to the dining hall while Lucifer stayed with Persephone in the palace's kitchen. Persephone was bouncing back and forth between pots and pans that were filled with delicious-smelling foods. Lucifer kept pace with her as she moved.
"Please don't tell Death," Lucifer said. "It would only make things worse."
Persephone kept moving as she spoke, "I know that. You think I want my step-brothers getting into a fight with a Rider? Hades doesn't need more stress."
Persephone lifted a large pot off of a burner. Lucifer went to help her but she shooed him away with her elbows.
"Besides..." Persephone slowly dropped the pot onto a counter. "It seems like your team could use some actual relaxation. I have a feeling some of you are treating this like it's a mission, which I can't have," She turned and patted Lucifer on the head. "I know you're not used to actual hospitality. Just eat, drink, and try to forget that the world above exist while you're here."
Lucifer smiled and stopped her patting. "I'm not a child...but, thank you for this. You and Hades."
"Anytime Lucifer," Persephone smiled. "Just please be more careful. Something's been going on with Poseidon."
Lucifer opened his mouth to ask what that something was but decided against it. He enjoyed the moment and didn't want to ruin it. He decided to just go back to his team. There was a feeling in the back of his mind that he ignored. Whatever it was, he was confident it could be dealt with after a good meal.
- Death and Hades -
Death and Hades were walking through the palace, following the smell of Persephone's cooking.
"I have to collect some items from a certain place while we're here," Death told Hades. "I would have told you before arriving but I didn't want you to think that was the only reason I was coming."
Hades took a long sniff of the smell of food in the air. "You're welcome in our territory at any time, and not just because you're an ancient. Please, don't tell me any more than you already have. I'd prefer not having to hide things from my brother."
Death grinned. He looked around at the guards of the palace. Their blue cloaks made him think of the Grim back in Purgatory. He hoped everything was alright. He hadn't been gone long but he wasn't going back for a while. He surprised himself with his worry. The feeling made him wonder if he had been getting softer from his time spent as Purgatory's leader. The word "softer" became "passive" in his mind, which made him scowl briefly.
Hades put his arm around Death's back and drew him in close. "Don't tell me you hate the smell of Kore's cooking?"
"What?" Death stammered. "Of course no-"
Hades laughed. "I know, friend. Just trying to keep you out of your head. You could defeat any god in this world, except for my brother," He winked, "but I think you can be weak when it comes to your own thoughts."
"Have you been talking to Lucifer?" Death questioned with a grin.
"Simple observation," Hades responded. "Now," he opened the door to the dining hall where the rest of the group was, "eat, drink, and forget whatever above-world problem is making you scowl."