Acatl forgives him. Acatl forgives him. Or, well, tells him there’s no need for apologies and shares his food with him, which amounts to much the same thing. Teomitl honestly can barely believe it. He’d thought, after what he did—what he failed to do—the way he’d treated everyone—that he’d be shunned at best. At worst...he doesn’t like to think about the worst-case scenario. Mihmatini’s already furious at him. He’s not sure he could survive it if Acatl hated him too.

But instead there’s this. The temple steps, the sunset. Drinking chocolate side-by-side, close enough that he curses the caution—alright, the fear—that had led him to wear his full armor, because if he’d dressed normally he thinks he could lean against Acatl’s shoulder. He thinks Acatl would let him.

Acatl is smiling at him.