Because he likes it. Of course Raju would choose to say that at this particular moment, while he touches his chest so delicately. It’s been that way for a while now, tenderness and care, as though Raju’s attention to his broken body would be enough to cure him alone.

He lowers his hand to the arm rest to brace himself as the bandages are removed and his chest goes through the wrapping process once more. If he could focus on the pain instead of the light flirtation, inadvertent as it is, it would probably be better for his mental state, dour and low as it already is from the beating he’s taken today alone.

But it’s good to smile. Hell, it feels good to focus on anything besides the town meeting and Hickey’s smug little face at all those not-guilty votes from their peers.

“Reading that godawful pirate book out loud, that’s what I’ll get you to do one day,” he decides, smirking softly.