“Fine. Then I’ll just see for myself.”

“What? No! It’s none of your business!”

Ash’s eyes widened when Eric started to advance towards him. Then he did something he did not expect; he tickled him. While Eric thought it might cause him to laugh and let down his guard, it did not make him laugh, it made him cry out in pain.

Eric pulled away looking confused. “Wha…”

After the pain finally passed, Eric asked him, “Why do your ribs hurt too?”

“I already told you *huff* it’s none of your business.”

“Well I just officially made it my business.” Eric said and got up to move over to where Ash was sitting cross legged on the floor. “Now hold still or it will probably hurt.”

Ash didn’t want to give in, but he also didn’t want to be in more pain than he was now, so he held still. Eric moved behind him and gently grabbed the thin blanket from his shoulders.

When he saw his back, he gasped and dropped the blanket. Covering his mouth, he backed to the wall and slid down it. “That bad?” Ash asked him. “I haven’t seen it yet considering my neck still hurts some.”

“They did that to you?” Eric asked incredulously.

“No. I did it to myself.” He said sarcastically.

After calming himself down, Eric back over to the crate and came back with more water and what seemed to be a shirt. “What are you doing?!” Ash asked with wide eyes.

“I’m going to clean the blood off you. Hold still. It might sting a little.”

“Please don’t.” Ash trembled.

“I’m sure it feels sticky, and it would feel a whole lot better if it got cleaned off. How do you expect to get any better if you don’t even try?”

“Okay. Fine.” He said with a shudder.