"Love is whatever you can still betray." -- John Le Carré
He stands upon the doorstep, in the shadow of the weathered signboard, listening. The bellows' wheeze, the forge's roar, the hammer's ring -- louder than all these in his ears is the beat of a magnanimous heart. It's always been his for the asking; he just never had the words before: You gave me a home; now give me --
"No!"
By the time the door opens and Charon calls, "Mytho?" he's dragged his body around the corner, fighting his sinews for every step. He bites his tongue to prevent it from answering, tasting blood sweet as desire and bitter as shame.