PHILTATOS // Foolish X Reader

10

The words were out of your mouth before you really knew what you were saying, but the way Foolishs' face lit up at the words make them impossible to take back. Plate of offerings forgotten between you, he reached forward, placing his hands on your knees.

"Really?"

His grin was almost blindingly bright, and he was almost vibrating with excitement. When you had read about the gods, Anoitos was always described as naive and, well, foolish. But now, looking at him, the descriptions had been selling him short. What you were looking at now was not naivety - it was pure childlike wonder.

"I mean - can you leave the temple?" You asked.

"Of course I can." Foolish said. "We're not supposed to, since we're supposed to have disappeared to test your faith and all that, but what Nkri doesn't know won't hurt him, will it?"

"I suppose not." You said. It hadn't even crossed your mind that bringing Foolish out into the city would be crossing one of the other gods, but strangely, you couldn't bring yourself to care. Looking at how excited he was, you felt the same feeling wash over you, though you had been out into the city thousands of times before.

It was strange, but you didn't mind it.

Foolishs' hands left your knees as he stood up, and the feeling died somewhat. You didn't much time to think about it though before Foolish was grabbing your hands this time, tugging you towards the door of the temple. "Lets go right now!"

"Wait - Foolish, hold on." You said, digging your heels into the ground to slow him down a bit. "We can't just leave."

Excited eyes turned confused. "Well why not?" He asked. "The city's right outside, isn't it?"

"It is but..." You paused, trying to figure out how to explain to a god that he was, in fact, a god and letting him loose into the city might not end well for all parties involved. "We can't just walk out - we're going to need an excuse for the men at the acropolis gates, and an alias for you in case someone asks."

If anything, Foolish got more excited at that. "I get to pick a mortal name?"

"You probably should." You said. It wouldn't do to be going around calling him Foolish in public - it would only raise more suspicion.

Foolish grinned, rocking back and forth on his heels. "What is your favorite mortal name?" He asked.

"Uh." You faltered trying to come up with something. "I suppose I don't really have one..." It wasn't really something you thought about regularly, and looking at Foolish, you couldn't find a name that suited him. He didn't really look like the average mortal man - not with his broad shoulders and warriors build. It contrasted with the boyish grin he always wore and left you unable to choose a name - did he deserve the name of a warrior, or the name of a boy?

"Well, what are some names then?" Foolish asked. "I'll choose."

Calling to mind the names of people you knew, you began to rattle off a few. "Evenus, Isodemos, Phaidon, Hypenor, Mygdon, Tropias-"

"Phaidon, what does that mean?" Foolish interrupted you. "I like how it sounds, but if it means something dumb I don't want it."

You laughed a little at the irony of it. "It means god-like."

"Perfect." Foolish said, grabbing your hand again. "Now we can go!"

You stumbled after him as he pulled you out the door, stepping out into the morning air. The back of your mind was telling you a million things could go wrong - someone could see you come out of the temple with him when you had gone out alone, Anello - who knew everyone that worked in the acorpolis - could stumble across you and see that Foolish didn't belong, the very gods themselves could interfere.

But you didn't stop Foolish from leaving the temple and guiding him onto the stone path that would take you to the acropolis gates.

He just looked so happy, peering around at the olive trees planted along the side of the path, laughing as a group of songbirds flitted by his head. In a way, you supposed it was your duty to show him what he had been missing - you were the last person who still reached out to him every day, his only set of eyes. You wanted him to understand.

You let Foolishs' hand go as you approached the gates of the acropolis, slowing your steps. "Don't say anything, alright?" You said, looking up at Foolish. "If they figure anything out, we won't be able to leave."

Foolish nodded gravely.

The guards rose to attention as you approached, standing up from where they had been leaning against the stone pillars on either side of the gate. "Praise be." One of them said halfheartedly.

"Praise be." You returned, trying your best to sound completely normal and not at all like you were sneaking a god out into the city.

"Where are you headed off to this morning?" The guard asked.

"The agora." You said. "It seems we've run out of myrrh for the temples, and the incense is an important part of the offerings-"

"And who's he?" The guard interrupted you, eyeing Foolish, who was a half step behind you.

"Phaidon." Foolish said, all too proudly for someone who was just supposed to be giving his name.

"He's to help me carry the wares." You rapidly covered.

The guard pursed his lips, and for a moment, you thought the jig was up. But then he just gave a half nod and moved to push open the gate. You slipped through as soon as you could, Foolish only a half step after you.

"Thank you!" You called back to the guards.

They gave no response, simply closing the gate behind you.

It didn't matter though, because Foolish was already wandering off, enraptured by the city. You watched as he took in the houses that lined the stone paved streets with wide eyes, that boyish smile playing on his lips again.

You found yourself mirroring it just looking at him.