(no subject)

[thewidewideworld]

{From here}

Sinric leads Athelstan back to their rooms, through a door behind the stairs. Their rooms are neatly kept and clean. It's clear Sinric has been very watchful about his duty to keep their rooms. He brings a chair over for Athelstan before heading off to run him a bath.

"Are the painkillers helping? I can fetch stronger ones, if you need them?"

Comments

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan turns to watch him.

"Just these left", he says, trying to find the end of the wrappings around his back and ribs.

[thewidewideworld]

"I'll get it. Please?" He runs his hands around Athelstan's chest to find where the bandage starts, rolling it with care away from Athelstan's skin.

He stays behind Athelstan, mostly so Athelstan can't see the pain on his face as he sees the mess of Athelstan's back.

[athelstanthescribe]

"You'll spoil me so", he says with an effort at lightness, "I forget how to do things for myself."

[thewidewideworld]

"You are loved and hurting." Sinric answers with the same forced lightness, kissing the tip of Athelstan's shoulder. "You don't have to worry about doing things for yourself when you have us here to look after you."

He offers Athelstan his arm to help him into the water.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan takes it, never more glad of the walk-in bath, and slips into the water with a hiss of mingled enjoyment and fleeting discomfort as it soaks into his wounds.

"Will you join me?"

[thewidewideworld]

He smiles and nods, waiting for Athelstan to be safely settled before stepping back to strip.

There are healing bruises on his hip, his thigh, his shoulder. He sits on the edge of the bath to unstrap his own bandages before slipping into the water.

"Would you like me to keep massaging your legs? It felt like you might be very stiff."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yes, please." He moves his legs a little in the water. "I've been very idle lately."

[thewidewideworld]

"They have permitted you time to rest and recover?" He asks, moving his lithe body into the water to settle at Athelstan's feet. He takes Athelstan's leg across his lap, his hand move neatly and gently over the overworked muscles.

[athelstanthescribe]

"They don't want me for my physical labour", he says a little dryly, hands settling gently on Sinric's shoulders. "So I'm allowed to sit and watch the world pass me by."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric nods and moves to allow Athelstan to steady himself better on Sinric's shoulder as he works on the muscles of Athelstan's calf.

[athelstanthescribe]

He's sitting bolt upright, letting nothing but water touch his back.

"The heat is helping, I think."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric dips his head, kissing Athelstan's shin. "Here, I have an idea."

He slips out of the bath to fetch a towel and the tie from one of the robes hanging behind the door. He bundles the towel into a pillow and binds it up with the tie. He gestures Athelstan over to the edge of bath. He guides Athelstan to lean back, using the towel as pillow. That way his neck and head are supported but his back is off the side of the bath.

[athelstanthescribe]

"You're a genius." He can relax a little better now. "The cuts there are healing, I think, but..."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric chuckles and shakes his head. "Not a genius. I just know how to look after the people who matter to me." He moves back into the bath and resumes working on the knots and strains in Athelstan's legs.

"They look better than they looked when I saw them last."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I haven't seen them", he admits, "but they feel better. Still tender, but not so raw."

[thewidewideworld]

"They are-" He catches himself, rethinking his words with care. "They are healing. And will heal. With the help of the doctors and healers here, the scars can be eased."

[athelstanthescribe]

"They're ugly, aren't they", Athelstan says quietly. "And I can't have them wiped away."

But lessened a bit, maybe.

[thewidewideworld]

"They are very distinct. I can see why they are so painful." He moves up to Athelstan's thighs, still gentle and careful. His touch is personal but he tries to keep them from becoming too intimate, lest Athelstan isn't ready for such touches.

[athelstanthescribe]

He isn't sure he'd be able to satisfy anyone, let alone Sinric, and hasn't let himself think of it - but he welcomes the gentle touches wherever Sinric is willing to go.

"That should ease on its own with time, I hope."

[thewidewideworld]

"With care and time." Sinric promises, moving up to the nasty knot in Athelstan's hip where the jarring of his broken step must be causing him pain. He keeps his touches gentle and away from anything that might feel sexual just yet. Unless Athelstan gives him cause to do otherwise.

"When I have done with your legs, do you feel strong enough and safe enough to kneel and lead in the edge of the bath? There are knots in the tops of your thighs but only if you feel safe to do so."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I can kneel", Athelstan agrees. "If I can make a stable position - and the edge of the bath will be good support."

[thewidewideworld]

"Try and see. But if you don't feel comfortable, I can try later when you are laying on a bed." He offers softly.

[athelstanthescribe]

"All right." He rearranges himself, turning to kneel with his back to Sinric, and rests his head on the towel again.

[thewidewideworld]

"Can you fold your arms under your chest? It will give you more support."

He waits till Athelstan is comfortable before working his fingers into the lower curve of Athelstan's rear and the top of his thighs, working towards his outer hips. His little hands are strong and practiced.

[athelstanthescribe]

He does just that, keeping his hands clear, and then Sinric starts to work and he hums in appreciation.