Lucien stood, staring at Elian's shoulder with shocking patience.
The younger man stood beside the long bath, his fists balled beside him with unspoken defiance.
"Do you need help with the cloth?" Lucien asked, knowing very well Elian would be repulsed by the question.
Elian shook his head. "Can you leave?" he asked quietly, glancing over his shoulder to look at Lucien.
Lucien stood unmoving for a while. "Soak for five minutes," he said and left the washroom.
Elian sighed in relief, quickly untying the cloth from his waist and folding it neatly. He went over to the shelves and placed it inside one of them. He leaned over the deep bathing pool and dipped his finger into it.
Warm.
He inhaled and slowly climbed into it, one leg at a time.
