While Iris was in the shower, Cas stayed on the bed, propping his good arm underneath his head and closing his eyes. He was tempted to doze off, but knowing how thoughtful she could be, he was pretty sure she would just let him keep sleeping if he passed out before she got back. Though he was tired, he still wanted to get cleaned up before he went to bed for the night. So, instead of drifting off all the way, he just rested his eyes until he heard the water turn off followed by the sound of the bathroom door opening.

As she approached the bed, he sat up again and stretched his back, stifling a weary yawn. His eyes swept over her, and he made room for her to sit next to him. As always, he was tempted to stare because he found her so beautiful. The pink tint in her cheeks was attractive, and he thought she was effortlessly pretty with her damp hair and skin. It was a wonder he’d even managed not to stay away from her for a few days after she’d helped him escape from her crazy father.

[color=#b97703]“Thanks,”[/color] he said, leaning forward to get up from the bed. However, before he could stand, he paused at the feeling of her hand over his. Turning back to her, he listened as she told him that he could talk to her too. It was something he already knew and had taken her up on once when they were in Bel Bicis, but he liked hearing her say it again. [color=#b97703]“Thank you for that,”[/color] he sighed, leaning over to press a kiss to her cheek before he rose to his feet. [color=#b97703]“I don’t think you can know just how much I appreciate it.”[/color] Before her, the only other person he’d felt like he could open up to completely was his mother. His father was too critical to confide in—the king would just find a way to pin blame on him if he was ever upset about something—and his friends almost always shied away from conversations that didn’t involve partying or women. For the last six years, he’d been told and convinced that he had to handle everything on his own, so it was nice to know that there was now someone else around who was willing to share his burdens.

[color=#b97703]“I’ll try not to take too long,”[/color] he assured Iris as he headed into the bathroom to wash up. Closing the door behind him, he turned on the water and stripped off his clothes while he waited a few seconds for it to heat up. Like the shower at Maisie’s place, he couldn’t get it very hot, but it was still warm enough to soothe his tired muscles when he stepped underneath the low-pressure stream. Enjoying the way it felt, he took a couple minutes to stand in the water without doing anything, closing his eyes as it flowed pleasantly over his head and shoulders. He didn’t want to leave Iris alone for too long though, so after he’d dawdled for a short while, he scrubbed the dirt from his skin and hair turned the water back off.

Pulling the curtain aside, he saw that there was still one unused towel left. He picked it up and quickly dried his hair before wrapping it around his waist and stepping over the side of the tub. As always, the feeling of being clean was something he relished, and he approached the mirror to straighten his hair a little before he would put his clothes back on. Looking at his own reflection, he could see that some of the injuries he’d gotten toward the beginning of his abduction were starting to fade a little, but for the most part, he was still checkered with cuts and bruises. [color=#b97703][i]It’s no wonder no one seems to recognize me out here,[/i][/color] he thought as he gently touched the scabbed-over cut on his cheek. Between the injuries and the fact that he hadn’t had access to a razor in a week, his appearance was practically a disguise by itself. He hardly even recognized the man staring back at him in the mirror.

With a shake of his head, he picked up his jeans and put them back on, though he didn’t do the same with his shirt. It had been a while since the last time he’d redressed the stab wound on his arm, so he wanted to treat it again before he went to sleep. It would be easier to do that without holding a sleeve out of the way. Tossing the loose shirt over his right shoulder, he ambled back into the bedroom and over to the backpack he’d left at the foot of the bed. [color=#b97703]“Hey, Iris?”[/color] he asked while he gathered the bandages he needed. [color=#b97703]“Do you mind helping me out with my arm real quick? You were right yesterday when you said it’s easier if someone else changes out the dressing.”[/color]