[Iratze]
Iratze listened quietly as she had to Armarion many times before. Thus far, this was the most unbelievable thing she had ever heard him say.
"Haha... That is very funny Armar..." She gave the god a playful push in the center of his chest. As the mortal youth these days might say Armarion was clearly 'trolling' her.
He didn't budge under her touch. Nor did the expression on his face change to indicate that, indeed, his words were only a joke. Instead, tears streamed down his cheeks. Instead, he smiled. Instead, his eyes were full of hope...
"You mean it, don't you? But that is... That's impossible!" She had no where to go, her back was against the wall of the building and Armarion stood close to her, crying on the sidewalk.
...Impossible ...
She put her fingertips over her mouth to try and hide some of her shocked expression. Her cheeks burned red.
Her mind and her heart raced.
"That's... That's... A terrible idea! What were you thinking!" Her own eyes wheeled up now. If the god really did have feelings for anyone he had certainly
misplaced them in Iratze. Iratze was only a messenger, she did not expect to be seen by anyone else as anything else... yet...
Armarion seemed to hate Brontes more than anyone. If these feelings were known then Iratze might be used against him the war that seemed more and more likely every moment. If anyone knew about these feelings, her stance of neutrality might be questioned, challenged, the other gods might not trust her to carry their messages discretely...
If Armarion knew more about Iratze... He would certainly change his mind about her!
"You best keep that secret! Don't you tell anyone!"She saw that sadness in his eyes. The deep loneliness of the faceless god. She couldn't stand it.
She leaned forward and kissed him. The gesture felt reflexive, automatic, she couldn't have stopped herself. As her lips touched his she closed her eyes. With her eyes close she thought she could see beyond his mortal disguise and see his true faceless self before her... As she kissed him she felt awakened, alive, like fireworks, like dancing... The colors of her hair and fingertips began to shimmer and change as her mortal disguise wavered under the stress of the emotion.
When she pulled away she looked up, she had left a rainbow-colored stain upon his lips like a mortal woman would leave a trace of lipstick.
She was breathless, but managed to tremble a few words.
"D-d-don't t-t-tell anyone about t-that e-either..."