Hermod blinked, his face falling. Did she really think so little of him to believe that he would have a relationship with her for a thrill? He knew that this was her kind of place, he always knew that. There was no point in trying to tell her - again - that he didn’t care. His father had similar urges that took him from Frigg every now and then. But Odin always came back to her. They loved each other.
He could tell her - again - that he loved all of her. Not just the sex, but everything about her. Even how this place was something that she enjoyed. That he would never, ever ask her to change. He did not want her to be anything but who she was.
He could tell her all that, but he knew it would not matter. She had made up her mind that they would never work. Feelings didn’t matter. Neither did his opinion on it, apparently. He knew he was right. She did love him. He loved her. He would never hurt her.
But that didn’t matter to her. She was convinced that she was right and there would be no changing her mind. There was nothing left for him to do. Except for one thing.
Hermod took Bast’s face in his hands and, with all he was feeling, kissed her.