Michael gave Ravenna a look of disbelief, trying to make sure he had heard her properly. She had given him so much attention and care, but she had yet to show him the same kind of affections that she had while they were travelling. –And she just asked me to…get rid of my trousers?–
"Excuse me?"
Ravenna pointed at the silken black trousers that he wore, before turning away to gather more bandages. "Are you not wearing undergarments?"
"...I am…"
"Then you'll need to take those off so I can take a look at your stitches. It's been a few days, I'm sure they can probably come out today. I can't imagine that it's very comfortable to have them in your leg."
"...right."
Michael felt odd removing his trousers in front of Ravenna after she had made such a blunt request for him to do so. He had hoped he could have done so in a bit more of a romantic setting, but the Ruler had made sure that was ruined for him too. He gave a quiet sigh, not wanting to upset the woman who had cared so much for him after his disastrous Fall.
He stood before the bed, his trousers in his hands, wearing only his undergarments and the excessive bandaging on his torso. –This probably does not make me look like the most desirable partner right now…– Ravenna still prepared herself on the other side of the infirmary room, and his discomfort grew as he waited. He was unsure of what he was supposed to do; if he was supposed to sit, stand, or lie down, or if he was supposed to just wait for her to give him instructions.
The young healer finished her preparations, and came back to the angel standing awkwardly beside the bed, trying to cover himself with the pants that he held in his hands. "Would you like to lie down on the bed so I can take a good look at your stitches?"
The Seraphim nodded, and obediently laid across the two beds that had been pushed together for his expansive height. Ravenna untied the bandages that protected his stitched laceration, and expertly removed the linen. She ran her fingers next to the wound, mindful not to touch it. "I think these can come out. It's not painful, but it is an unusual sensation; it will feel like…like a tugging sensation. Is that okay?"
"It can't be anything worse than the Ruler or the Archs did to me, but I appreciate the warning."
Ravenna dipped a scalpel in alcohol, and waited for the knife to dry. She swiftly cut through the knots in the stitching, and then placed the scalpel aside. "I'm going to remove the stitches now, please tell me if anything hurts, okay?"
"I will."
She pulled on the first loose stitch, and watched for any reaction from the angel; when none came, she continued to work.
As Ravenna tugged the stitches free from his thigh, Michael bit at his lower lip. He wanted to ask, but he was afraid of the answer. –Had she moved on while I was imprisoned? But she's taken such good care of me... but then again, healing is her job…–
He took a slow and steady inhale, preparing himself to hear the words his heart could not bear.
"Oh! Did I hurt you?"
"No...no. My leg is fine. I was just..."
Her golden-brown eyes looked up from her work, trying to meet his, but he looked away. "What is it?"
"It's... it's nothing."
"It's not nothing. I can tell by your expression. What are you thinking about?"
Michael rubbed his jaw, hating himself for bringing it up. She had taken him into her home and given him all the care she had. He felt stupid for his thoughts. "Well I just...I was worried you weren't interested in me any longer. You haven't kissed me the way we did at the inn...I was worried my time imprisoned in the Kingdom was too much time away..."
Ravenna left her place at his side, leaving several stitches loose to remove later. "Oh, Michael... you have no idea, do you? I missed you greatly, and there is nothing more I would love to do than to show you how much I missed you. Come with me."
She helped him stand, and guided him to her bedroom. She stood him in front of a floor-length mirror that the villagers had placed in her room when they rebuilt her home. "Tell me what you see, Michael."
He stood before his reflection, in horror of what he saw. –No wonder she's distanced herself...I look terrible…–
"...I... I'm... I'm not okay.... there's bruises everywhere... they're starting to heal, but they're everywhere... you still have some stitches to take out of my leg. I haven't seen what is under the bandages on my body, and I don't think I want to yet...My lip was split, I can see that it's healing. I can see that both of my eyes were black..." He turned away from his reflection, facing Ravenna. "You still care about me. It's because you care that you've been careful with me. I'm so sorry. I should have known better."
Ravenna nodded, giving the broken man in front of her a sad smile. "I don't want you to hurt. I want you to heal before we worry about anything else. But your recovery won't take forever. Please try to be patient with me."
He drew her into his bruised and battered arms, before turning to look at his reflection for a second time, trying to comprehend that the wingless man in the mirror was indeed him.