The eye contact was brief, but it was enough to make Valerian's heart skip a beat. There was something there in his expression, something he desperately wanted to unpack and act on... except it was quite possibly the worst time for that, considering that the pain had not subsided even after half of the wound had been coated with dittany already. He kept his mouth shut, still afraid that he would let out some embarrassing sound; he could do whimpers and hisses and groans, but he refused to squeak or squeal or sob. He tried to distract himself with the image of Greengrass' expression again—slightly widened eyes and a trembling lip, looking so innocent and confused and upset all at the same time. It was almost as maddening as the dittany.
Relief washed over him when the tense silence was replaced with action. Greengrass grabbed his arm and began working on it once more, only this time he'd positioned himself so his entire body was wedged between Valerian's chest. He hadn't wanted to see what Greengrass was doing before, but now that he physically couldn't see he tilted his head at an uncomfortable angle to try and get a look. His breath came out in pants as the dittany touched his skin once more, but he tried to suppress the groans that pressed at the base of his throat. Greengrass was so close, and now that he'd made a quicker job at handling the dittany he didn't want to make a single sound that would make him hesitate. He was doing a good job—better than he would have expected, and he knew he wasn't making things easier.
It felt like an hour, truly, but realistically Valerian knew it couldn't have been more than two minutes by the time Greengrass had managed to work his way to his shoulder. There was one spot that was particularly painful, but also so high on his shoulder that Valerian could only see the bright red of the broken flesh from where he'd pulled back to allow Greengrass greater access. His chest shook with a silent sob, and he dropped his head against Greengrass' shoulder, unable to consider how Greengrass might take it with how the stinging sensation had so completely taken over his senses.
Relief washed over him when the tense silence was replaced with action. Greengrass grabbed his arm and began working on it once more, only this time he'd positioned himself so his entire body was wedged between Valerian's chest. He hadn't wanted to see what Greengrass was doing before, but now that he physically couldn't see he tilted his head at an uncomfortable angle to try and get a look. His breath came out in pants as the dittany touched his skin once more, but he tried to suppress the groans that pressed at the base of his throat. Greengrass was so close, and now that he'd made a quicker job at handling the dittany he didn't want to make a single sound that would make him hesitate. He was doing a good job—better than he would have expected, and he knew he wasn't making things easier.
It felt like an hour, truly, but realistically Valerian knew it couldn't have been more than two minutes by the time Greengrass had managed to work his way to his shoulder. There was one spot that was particularly painful, but also so high on his shoulder that Valerian could only see the bright red of the broken flesh from where he'd pulled back to allow Greengrass greater access. His chest shook with a silent sob, and he dropped his head against Greengrass' shoulder, unable to consider how Greengrass might take it with how the stinging sensation had so completely taken over his senses.
