Page 269 of Scarbound

“I know.”

Duri frowned. “Does it hurt?”

Noeul looked at the water. “Not yet.”

Duri moved one step closer. “Can I cool it a little?”

Noeul shook his head.

Duri stopped. For several seconds, they simply looked at each other. Then Duri sat on the closed toilet lid instead. “Okay.”

Noeul’s shoulders loosened slightly. “You’re not going to argue?”

“I want to.”

That almost made Noeul smile. “But?”

“But you said no.”

Noeul looked away. He removed the towel and slipped into the bath. The heat bit immediately, and his breath caught.

Duri noticed. “Still okay?”

Noeul nodded, then, after a moment, said, “Maybe a little colder.”

Duri stood. “Can I?”

“Yes.”

He turned on a thin stream of cold water. Noeul watched the ripples spread through the bath. “That’s enough.”

Duri turned it off immediately. “Better?”

“Yes.”

He sat again. Neither spoke. Noeul rested his head against the edge of the tub and closed his eyes.

After a while, Duri asked, “Do you want me to leave?”

Noeul’s eyes opened. “No.” The answer came softly.

Duri smiled. “Okay.”

He stayed. Noeul let the heat sink into his muscles. His thoughts still moved more slowly than they had before everything happened, especially when he was tired. Some memories returned in fragments. Others remained behind closed doors. But the fog was thinner now. Enough that he could recognize Duri’s presence without needing his name repeated. Enough that the room remained a bathroom instead of becoming somewhere else.

Noeul lifted one hand and touched his hair. “Duri.”

“Hmm?”

“Can you wash it?”

Duri stared at him.

“My hair,” Noeul clarified.

“I know what you meant.”

“Then why are you staring?”