Chapter Text
Hell is not something you ever expect. When you don’t believe in an afterlife you don’t tend to see it coming when you end up there, and when you do believe in an afterlife you only see yourself going up. Never down, never to the fire and brimstone. When you only arrive once a year to exterminate the population of hell you also don’t normally predict to see yourself ending up there permanently as a resident, yet Adam and Lute have found themselves in this exact predicament. Perhaps rebelling against the Princess of Hell and her newfound proven system of redemption sounds like a sure-fire way to get there on paper, but hindsight is 20/20.
“This fuckin’ blows, man.” Adam said, kicking rocks as Lute walked behind him at a respectable distance through the city landscape. “How was I supposed to know Sera was bein’ that serious? One demon glowing white and going up doesn’t seem like a good enough fuckin’ reason to change everything!” He threw his arms up in an exasperated manner, barely aware of his surroundings.
“I agree, sir.” Lute replied, though she was aware he wasn’t looking for an actual response. A small statement to fill the silence in between his own words was all he needed as he ranted and raved at the injustice he had been served.
“I mean, seriously, I’m not just some guy they pulled off the streets, I’m fuckin’ Adam, the original! Throwing me down here like I’m NOTHING. Can you fuckin’ believe the balls that must have took?” Lute nodded along as they walked to nowhere. They were aimless down here, walking for walkings sake, and Lute didn’t have the energy to question it. She might not be talking nearly as much as the original man, but she agreed with his statements. He was a leader, a man of virtue, and she was his right hand Exorcist. Or ex-Exorcist now. She thought it was some kind of abhorrent mistake that either of them should be here in this hole in the ground, let alone both of them. Theirs was a presence that demanded respect and honour but here they were, amongst the sinners. Speaking of which, there was a considerable lack of sinners out with them. Was it night? Was Hell always dark or was this their equivalent of nightfall? Lute wasn’t sure. Maybe, she smiled to herself, they were scared. Their wings, their masks and her weapon and left arm gone, and it was still enough to send the demons away, shaking in their wakes. This was almost certainly not the case, but a bit of fantasy didn’t hurt to cope with the… unfortunate situation she found herself in.
“And you know what, hot stuff, don’t think I don’t blame you for your part in this bullshit,” Adam interrupted Lutes thought process. It took her a moment to realise his implication.
“Excuse me?” She stopped keeping his pace and came to a halt.
“You heard me! You’re supposed to be the one who keeps me under check, it’s apart of why you’re kept around! That and the badass kill count you rack up.” Adam paused his own walking when he realised she wasn’t at his side, though that quickly changed as she appeared in front of his face in less than a second, her one remaining hand gripping the collar of his white robe pulling him down to her eye level.
“My job is to do as you say, not babysit you.” Her voice was low and steady, her eyes level with his own. Without the mask to cover them eye contact now felt intimate in a way he wasn’t comfortable with. “If I thought my loyalty was misplaced I’d have left you to it. Do not,” she spat, “blame me for your own idiotic ideas. All I did was support my superior.” With a flick of her wrist she let go of his collar, making him stumble before regaining his stance. For a five foot-nothing bitch she sure could throw him around as if he weren’t a total juggernaut. He wasn’t to going to think about that too much.
“Okay, okay, calm your tits.” Adam crossed his arms over his chest in an attempt to seem nonchalant after having his ass handed to him in less than five sentences. It had been his idea. He was the one who convinced Lute to join him in going against Sera’s acceptance of the princesses plans after one of her residents made it to Heaven. Granted, she hadn’t needed much convincing at all, he was more than aware of her own distaste to the sudden change. It had been embarrassing enough at the battle at the hotel for him to take up Lucifers offer of mercy and retreat after he was so badly injured, but now he was downright mortified at the situation his ego had left him in. The situation he has dragged his best friend into with him. Looking down at her he felt compelled to ask why she was still here at all. He fucked up, and now he had gotten them both cast down to the blazing abyss. “So like, why are you tailing my dick down here still?”
Lute allowed herself a moment before replying. “I have my loyalties. Just because we no longer look over an army doesn’t mean you’re not still my commanding officer.” A pause. “And just because you fucked up doesn’t mean I’d abandon my post.” He could almost say he was thankful that despite everything she was still here instead of leaving him to wallow like he definitely would have if not for her eyes on him forcing him to keep himself up. If there was ever a time to attempt to open up and try to show his appreciation for her sticking around it would be now. For Lute, his confidant and friend. It was the perfect opportunity to express a level of gratitude he has never and probably will never show to a woman again.
“Wow… forget big dick energy, I must have humongous dick energy to still have someone this loyal in Hell! Ha!”