Raju tips the bottle over his own palm, looking pleased, sets the bottle down, and rubs his hands over one another in two long swipes. There's something about the way Francis had agreed, the quiet tone over the excited words. All this means as much to Francis as it does to Raju. Well, of course it does — but hearing it. Hearing it is wonderful. It's because he sounds happy.

Raju leans forward to smooth his hands over Francis' cheeks, fingertips first, into fingers, into his palms. His fingertips trace the hills and valleys around Francis' mouth and he smooths his hands over the whole landscape once more, taking the time to rub it in. Then he moves his hands across Francis' jaw, under his chin, over his neck, from the middle outward. It feels odd to have his hands spread over Francis' neck like this; the movements of his hands are very gentle.

"There," he murmurs, gaze moving up to Francis' face. "How do you feel?"