Capture The Moment (boyxboy)

Chapter 4: First aid

"You show me your skills and I'll show you mine."

⛑ 

As Clark is led down the main corridor to a small room, he continues to whimper at the strong grasp Roshan had on his hand, with Roshan determined not to let the guy go until his injury had been taken care of. "This way." He utters as Clark is pulled into a small room with a raised bed, a chair and a small kitchenette area. 

Roshan guides Clark's arm over the sink as cold water begins to pour over the burn. "Ah sss!." Clark hisses, instantly wanting to pull his hand away, but the stronghold stayed firm. 

"I know it hurts, trust me I know, but I need to do this." Roshan replies, as he holds the arm in place. Clark purses his lips and squeezes his eyes closed, doing his best to endure the pain, which felt like forever until his arm felt numb. 

It's now that Roshan finally lets go of Clark's hand, to retrieve a fluffy white towel to dry the undamaged skin. Clark watches how Roshan is so careful and gentle with his touches, as he patted down his wet arm.  It felt strangely comforting and a welcome distraction from the burning sensation which felt like it was making a return, now the cool water had been taken away. "You can't be careless when you're cooking Clark. The kitchen can be your enemy as much as your friend, depending on how you want to play it. I question whether I should delay next week's knife skills lesson with you." 

"I'll be fine." Clark says, trying to brush it off. Of course he would be fine, because he was planning not to be back next week. 

"Well it depends on whether you are prepared to listen to what I'm saying." Roshan continues as he now puts down the towel in order to find the first aid kit in the top cupboard. "Rest your arm here and take a seat." He instructs as he pulls on a latex glove and seeks out some ointment from the box. "This will sting." He adds as he gently applies cream to the burn with two fingers, making small circular movements, then seeking out a suitable covering to dress the burn.  As he looks up at Clark, watching what he is doing, Roshan is curious. "Tell me, Why did you choose my course?" 

Clark now looks at Roshan with surprise. That really wasn't the question that Roshan should have asked. The real question should have been, why did he choose to stay? "Umm, uuuh..."

"Is it because all you eat is takeaway?" Roshan says with a small smile.

"What do you mean by that? Are you saying I'm fat or something?" Clark says rather offended. He knew he needed to hit the gym maybe, but he knew he wasn't that overweight. 

"No." Roshan replies with a loud laugh. "Your apron....Subway" 

Clark now looks down on himself, remembering what he is wearing. "Oh...this is not mine. I borrowed it from the guy sitting in front of me, the one with the black hair." 

"So you really are a novice! Not even bringing an apron, I mean, did you not read the course letter? ...and the eggs. You don't know how to fry an egg do you." 

Clark almost feels ashamed to admit that he had lied about it. "No." He mutters under his breath as he looks down. "But I enjoy eating them." 

"Why did you feel like you had to lie about something like that? I'm not here to judge, I'm here to teach. That's all." Roshan now finishes the dressing with two strips of surgical tape. 

Clark looks at the neat job that Roshan had done on his injury. Then looks up at Roshan who was disposing of the waste. "Thank you....chef." he mumbles as he gradually makes eye contact. 

This causes Roshan to stop in his tracks. "What?...did I hear that correctly?" He says with a cheeky smile. 

"I can take it back, you know." Clark says in a mocking playful tone. As he stood up from the chair. "And you don't have to call me Mr. Layton. Call me Clark."

"So I guess I've earned your respect then Clark. Maybe I should get the knives out next week. What will I get for treatment for a severed finger?" Roshan questions as he turns to face Clark in the small confines of the medical room. He looks straight into Clark's eyes, not wavering from the stare as a playful look presents on his face. 

He looks down to see Clark swallowing as he tries to think of some kind of comeback. But one thing Clark did know was that he wasn't going to let Roshan have the upper hand. He closes the gap a little more and to Roshan's surprise, he leans forward to whisper into the shell of Roshan's left ear. 

"You show me your skills and I'll show you mine." 

It's now Roshan's turn to swallow hard as he pulls his head back a little and looks at the man now inches away from him.