“Rock, paper, scissors?” Dustin says, getting a cloth out of his backpack.
“Nah. I’ll do it. You help him clean up,” Rick says to Dustin.
Ronan puts the axe in his belt, and Dustin comes over. He gets out a bottle of water and uses it to dampen the cloth and reaches out. Ronan leans down a little to make it easier. Dustin slowly cleans Ronan’s face and neck, and Ronan’s willing to bet that when Dustin stops, there is not a speck of blood on his skin, just his clothing. He feels better with the blood gone. He’s never gotten used to having blood on his skin.
“You okay?” Dustin asks as Ronan straighten ups.
“Yeah, that was just intense,” Ronan admits, putting his hand on Dustin’s waist, needing to feel him, knowing the closeness will ground him. He knows he’s done the right thing, killing
