Thanatos misses him. He really misses Zagreus. That's the only explanation for why he's trying to complete his tasklist at the speed of sound. He feels an inexplicable pull toward Asphodel Meadows - quite a misnomer now, what with the lava flooding - and the only explanation for that pull is because Zagreus must miss him, too.

Secretly, he's very pleased that Zagreus is still trying to escape. Because it means he hasn't reached the surface yet. Thanatos reaps yet another wretched, screaming soul, shaking his head and telling himself that it's bad to be pleased that Zagreus keeps dying over and over, but the smallest of smiles graces his face anyway. He teleports to the chamber of the Erinyes, pushing the frightened shade to their knees at Meg's feet. She readies her whip and he turns to leave.

"He fought Alecto this time," Meg says quietly.

"So, he's still -"

"Thanatos." He pauses. "Why do you keep helping him?"

Why…? Honestly, he hasn't quite figured it out yet either. He would rather not see Zagreus leave, especially with the risk of his departure being permanent and all. Then there's the matter of Lord Hades' explosive anger if, or maybe when he eventually finds out, but… the deadbeat prince is trying so hard. He's never tried this hard for anything before, and ever since his first escape attempt, Zagreus has had nothing but laser focus on his goal and it fills Thanatos up with some warm, fuzzy, unwelcome feeling.

Plus, he's never seen Zagreus happier. And really, he just wants to see Zagreus happy.

Sensing his internal turmoil, Meg clicks her tongue.

"Forget I asked. Go get him, Than," she says with a smirk, turning her attention to the new shade before her. Thanatos tips his head in thanks and teleports away.

Asphodel is much too hot for his liking. He can feel the sweat starting to form on the back of his neck and across his forehead, and is immensely thankful that he cut his hair before all this flooding nonsense. He is also thankful that the heat gives him an excuse to look irritated, because he is definitely irritated at Zagreus' reaction to his arrival.

"Thought I might find you all the way out here. Although, quite frankly, I'm surprised you're still alive," he remarks, taking note of Zagreus' physical state. He's worse, compared to the first time they ran into each other in Elysium. His chiton is singed and rivulets of red blood trickle down from open wounds on his arms and chest. One of his eyes, the green one, is bruised and so swollen that Thanatos can hardly see it. All of these injuries are no doubt due to his new weapon, the Eternal Spear. Where did he get access to -?

Varatha seems so long and ungainly next to Zagreus' shorter frame and Thanatos wonders whether he should give him a centaur heart right away.

"I can hold my own in case you haven't noticed, Than," Zagreus snarks back, brandishing his spear. Ah. So there are hard feelings then.

He's mad at you because you were very harsh to him last you spoke and he has every right to be, Thanatos reminds himself as he breathes volcanic air in through his mouth and out through his nostrils. Just because he's mad at you doesn't mean he hates you.

The tips of the bident have a deadly, faintly green glint to them that Thanatos thinks he saw last time on the Stygian blade. One of the Olympians, he realizes, aiding his escape. His golden eyes narrow with disdain.

"I haven't noticed, Zag!" He says the nickname with a sneer and the prince's eyes flash dangerously. "Now, stand back, and let me show you how it's done."

Then come the inferno bombers. On top of being much too hot, Asphodel is also much too loud. Thanatos winces at every explosion, especially the ones punctuated by Zagreus' groans. It would be so much better if Zagreus just sat back and let him rid the chamber of all the shades, but no, the fool chooses to fling himself into harm's way. And for what? Pride? To prove that he can hold his own? Thanatos clenches his jaw as a bell tolls and he brings his scythe down on yet another horde of shades. A fool.

Meanwhile, Zagreus is doing the exact opposite of proving that he can hold his own. Every time he lifts his spear in some attempt to power his swing, the enemy has a more of a chance to get the better of him. New weapon, indeed, Thanatos thinks as another bomb knocks the prince off balance into the lava.

Nonetheless, there's something remarkable about the way Zagreus just won't give up. He's a quick study, artfully changing tactics mid-fight. He dashes through the shades while attacking them, then turns around at lightning speed to throw the spear at their exposed backs. Thanatos catches himself staring at the way Zagreus' muscles move whenever he catches the spear, and forces himself to focus on the task at hand, admonishing himself under his breath.

While Zagreus may be a quick study, he adopts this new tactic too late and the shades stop appearing before he can overtake the god of death's kill count. He's close though, Thanatos admits, something Zagreus seems to note, even relish in. The prince wears a haughty little smile as he walks over to receive another boon from another Olympian. He and his weapon are enveloped in a pink light and Zagreus smiles even wider. Thanatos scoffs and rolls his eyes.

Zagreus limps his way over to the rafts to the next chamber. His smile disappears as he regards Thanatos curiously, using his spear to prop him up.

Thanatos can't read his expression. He hates that he can't read his expression.

"What's with the look? You had your hands full, now you don't, thanks to me…" Thanatos grumbles. He feels his cheeks warm under the prince's silent, piercing stare. This was a bad idea. He shouldn't have come after all. "Tsch, seems I'm left to thanking myself, since you're too proud to do it."

He doesn't wait for a response as he teleports back to the House of Hades, telling himself that the only reason his face is red is because of the scorching heat of Asphodel.

As Thanatos cools down in more ways than one, he hears Hypnos calling for him from the main hall. And since Hypnos is Hypnos, there is no way he's going to get up and go to his brother. Instead, he will stay put and caterwaul and annoy everyone until Thanatos goes to him.

So Thanatos teleports all of ten feet to his brother's side. No matter how many times he does this, Hypnos is always startled, yelping and fumbling with his clipboard.

"What, brother?"

"Thanatos! You're back! I've really missed you, you know, since you're so busy all the time and you hardly ever come to visit -" Hypnos moves to hug him, but Thanatos floats just out of arm's reach.

"What, brother?" He repeats stonily. Normally, he'd allow one hug or at least for Hypnos to throw his arms around him and dangle off his neck, but right now he refuses to be the reason his brother gets distracted and scolded by Lord Hades again. Hypnos puffs out his cheeks in frustration, but retreats anyway.

"So, uh, Lord Hades wishes to see you. Not right now, of course, he's still getting through… this." Hypnos gestures vaguely at the line of whispering shades ambling about in front of them. "Partially my fault, I think his lordship is backed up because I'm backed up, but - Yeah, anyway! He says it's something about your 'recent absences,' whatever that means! What did you do? Did you do something wrong?" Hypnos's eyes are practically sparkling.

"Don't know," Thanatos lies smoothly, running a shaky hand through his hair. He hasn't had an audience with Lord Hades in many years, at least, not about his work performance, and he was growing increasingly uncomfortable with the thought. "Thank you, Hypnos. Try not to fall more behind."

Suddenly, he hears frantic splashing and a loud gulping gasp from the Styx. The brothers turn their heads.

Ah. Zagreus.

"Welcome to the House of Hades!" Hypnos chirps. Thanatos does not want to witness the fool of a prince drag himself out of the pool of blood, so he teleports back to his balcony. He doesn't know if the prince will talk to him this time since he was obviously upset with him in Asphodel, but he can't leave until he has his audience with Lord Hades. So he looks out to the slow-moving waters of the Styx, biting the inside of his cheek and willing his anxiety away.

"Thanatos."

Thank the gods.

Thanatos turns just his head to find Zagreus standing awkwardly behind him, looking completely uninjured and refreshed after his dip in the Styx. But his eyebags are darker, his cheeks more sunken, and there is no smile upon his face this time. Thanatos squeezes his eyes shut. He wishes Zagreus would just stop already, stop and rest, or at least pause for just a day. But the prince has always been stubborn and rebellious, and now, he's also determined and persistent, too. How annoying.

"Be on your way, Zagreus. I have an audience with Lord Hades in a moment. An inquiry into my recent absences." He tries to mask his worry with an icy tone, but Zagreus knows him better than that. The prince takes a step forward, but freezes under the god of death's glare.

"What are you worried about, Than?" Zagreus no doubt remembers the last thing Thanatos said to him last time they were on this balcony together, if his nervous laughter is any indication. "You've never given him a reason not to trust you."

Thanatos whirls around angrily, but stops himself when he sees Zagreus' expression. Is he really worried about him? Does he really care? No, Thanatos can't let himself think that he might actually care or he'll break down. And he can't do that, not before he has to meet with Lord Hades.

"Recently I'm not so sure." Thanatos floats closer to the prince, towering over him. Zagreus gives back as harsh of a glare as he's getting and it just about breaks Thanatos' heart. "Whatever you're doing, it had better be worth it," he hisses.

Then, because he can't bear the fact he might actually wilt under Zagreus' anger, he teleports away to the administration room. The prince had his rights to this room revoked, he reminds himself. Thanatos lets out a sigh of relief and leans back against a wall of scrolls.

The chattering in the room dies down as the shades steal glances at the god of death, trembling and slumped over in the corner. Thanatos blinks and straightens up, realizing that while he may be far away from Zagreus, he is far from alone.

"What are you all looking at? Get back to work!"