The tension in the grand hall lingered like a ghost, refusing to dissipate even after dusa's departure. The flickering lanterns cast wavering shadows, and for a mont, no one spoke.
Then—
Aphrodite exhaled dramatically, setting her cup down with a soft clink. "Well. That was fun."
Bast stretched lazily, her tail flicking behind her. "I almost thought she'd take a swing at you," she mused, her feline eyes gleaming as she glanced at Athena. "Would've been entertaining."
Athena shot her a look. "I wasn't in the mood for a fight."
Bast smirked. "Pity."
Hestia, ever the diator, sighed. "Let's not make this more complicated than it already is." She turned to Athena, her warm brown eyes searching. "Are you alright?"
Athena hesitated. Then, with a quiet exhale, she nodded. "I didn't expect forgiveness."
"No," Amaterasu murmured, finally speaking. "But you wanted it."
Athena didn't answer.
Lucifer, who had been silent throughout the exchange, finally moved. He slipped his hands into his coat pockets, his gaze unreadable as he watched Athena.
"She'll co around," he said casually, as if it were inevitable.
Athena raised a brow. "You sound sure of that."
Lucifer smirked. "I am."
Aphrodite let out a soft chuckle. "That's cute. You think ti heals everything."
Lucifer turned his gaze to her, amusent flickering in his golden eyes. "Ti doesn't heal. People do."
Aphrodite humd, swirling the last of her nectar. "And so wounds don't close."
Hestia shot her another warning look, but Aphrodite only smiled.
Athena rolled her shoulders, shaking off the weight of the mont. "Either way, I'm not going anywhere."
"Good," Lucifer said smoothly. "Then it's settled."
Amaterasu's gaze lingered on Athena for a second longer before she nodded. "For now."
The room fell into a more relaxed silence, though the air still felt charged.
Then, Bast grinned, her fangs flashing. "So… now that the serious talk is over." She leaned forward, tail curling around her wrist. "How long until dusa and Athena actually start throwing punches?"
Athena groaned. Hestia sighed.
Lucifer chuckled.
Aphrodite smirked, lifting her cup once more. "I give it a week."
Athena pinched the bridge of her nose. "You're all insufferable."
Bast's grin widened. "And yet, here you are."
Athena shot her a dry look, but before she could respond, Amaterasu stood, her movents fluid and deliberate. "Enough teasing," she said. "This isn't a matter to take lightly."
Bast stretched her arms above her head with a lazy yawn. "Oh, we know." She flicked her tail, amused. "That's why it's fun."
Hestia shook her head. "You're terrible."
Aphrodite swirled the last of her drink. "I prefer 'entertaining.'"
Athena sighed, but despite herself, a small smirk tugged at her lips. "You're all impossible."
Lucifer chuckled, stepping beside her. "Welco back, indeed."
Athena rolled her eyes but didn't argue.
Then, the doors to the hall creaked open.
A familiar presence entered before the figure even stepped into view.
Nezha.
His golden eyes scanned the room as he strode forward, his usual confident energy subdued. His twin fiery rings hovered around him, spinning lazily, crackling softly against the silence. He stopped a few steps away from Lucifer, his gaze flicking briefly to Athena before settling on the Morning Star.
"You're needed," he said simply.
Lucifer arched a brow. "By whom?"
Nezha crossed his arms. "By ."
Lucifer studied him for a mont. Then, a smirk. "That serious?"
Nezha's lips thinned. "See for yourself."
The energy in the room shifted.
Lucifer's gaze sharpened ever so slightly. He turned to Athena. "Looks like our reunion has to wait."
Athena nodded. "Go."
Lucifer glanced at the others. "Try not to start a war while I'm gone."
Aphrodite smirked. "No promises."
Lucifer let out an amused breath before turning back to Nezha. "Lead the way."
Without another word, they both vanished, the space where they stood crackling briefly with energy before settling back into stillness.
The room fell silent.
Then—
Aphrodite clapped her hands together. "So. Who wants to take bets on what fresh chaos awaits?"
Bast stretched out across her seat, tail flicking idly. "Depends. Are we betting on the scale of the chaos or just how long it takes for Lucifer to break sothing?"
Hestia sighed, rubbing her temples. "Do you all ever stop?"
Aphrodite grinned. "Not when it cos to Lucifer. He's practically a walking storm."
Amaterasu leaned back, her gaze drifting toward the space where Lucifer had vanished. "Whatever it is, it's not small."
Athena folded her arms. "You think it's war?"
Amaterasu's fingers tapped against the armrest. "Nezha isn't one to bring trivial matters."
A beat of silence followed, the weight of her words settling over them.
Then—
Bast snickered. "Well, at least it won't be boring."
Athena shook her head. "You're impossible."
Bast grinned. "And you're predictable." She stretched lazily. "Running back to him was only a matter of ti."
Athena's gaze hardened. "I made my choice."
Bast's ears flicked. "Oh, I know. Doesn't an dusa has to like it."
Athena's jaw tightened. "That's between and her."
Aphrodite humd, sipping the last of her nectar. "And yet, we're all caught in the aftermath."
Athena exhaled through her nose. "She said ti will decide."
Aphrodite set her empty cup aside, eting Athena's gaze with sothing sharper than amusent. "Ti alone doesn't fix things. Effort does."
Athena didn't respond imdiately. She knew that. She just didn't know if dusa wanted her effort.
Hestia, sensing the tension, stood. "Enough. We'll deal with it when it cos." She turned toward Athena, her expression softer. "And for what it's worth, I'm glad you're here."
Athena inclined her head. "Thank you."
Amaterasu rose next. "Rest while you can. I suspect we won't have that luxury soon."
Aphrodite stretched, smiling. "Chaos first, resolutions later. As it should be."
Athena sighed. "You really are impossible."
Aphrodite winked. "I try."
As the group slowly dispersed, Athena lingered, her thoughts heavy.
dusa wasn't the only unresolved matter.
Whatever Nezha had brought to Lucifer—it wasn't small.
And she had the sinking feeling that this was only the beginning.
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