"You have the right," Raju insists roughly and his hand finally decides where to be, settling decisively next to Francis' head. Its curled fingers rest their backs against the side of Francis' face, barely touching. "I promise, they won't find any of it out from me."

Francis' eyes are bright again, the way that Raju knew they would be after he kept pushing. Exposing a wound to open air might not do anything to make it heal. There are times that the wound is like this one. But he doesn't regret doing it. There's nothing good about seeing what Raju recognizes here, his throat is tight, it hurts, and Francis' eyes aren't the only ones that aren't dry. But he sees what Francis has exposed now and there's a kind of need in Raju that's eager, relieved to see it. He couldn't explain what he's thinking to Francis if he tried to. He hadn't spoken about it after it happened anyway, except to Seetha, once. Not any time after. It wouldn't be the right time for it now, anyway.

"You were strong," he rasps. "At the end. And before. I tried to sound like it didn't matter. That was just to get you talking."

It's important that Francis knows that. Raju doesn't explain these things. What needs doing is what is done, and that's all. But there's a need here, that Francis should know.