Ardn't nodded. He didn't want to go off and appear as any sort of aggressor. Just his large appearance, even calm, could invoke unease. The monk didn't seem worried about him, coming in with his warm smiles and gracious air. Ardnt would assume he had a lot to do why he was being accommodated so well. He did make it obvious that there were some suspicions about him, but of course, there would be. Luitwin touched his shoulder before showing him out, talking about getting cleaned up while they were at it. Ardnt was agreeable to it. He stank of old sweat, brought on by the pain even through the cold. It felt good to stretch his legs and he made sure to take in his surroundings as much as possible though didn't step a foot out of place behind the monk. He'd fallen asleep with his boots on, realizing too late, and not willing to put forth the effort to untie and pull them off. Kicking them off wasn't an option. Luitwin left him to relieve his bladder, Ardnt making a contented little sigh when he was able to.<br/><br/>Ardnt went into the next room where Luitwin was preparing water for a bath. His sleeves were rolled up and the outer layer set aside. When he didn't leave right away, Ardnt standing there awkwardly, it occurred to him that he'd be staying to help. Not unusual from a medical perspective, especially with the state his shoulder was in, mostly hanging there useless to him. Any rotation in the shoulder was painful and it pulled at the neatly put together skin.<br/><br/>He started with the laces on his breeches, realizing he would have to remove his shoes before getting them off. He sat on the edge of the bench, leaning over slowly to reach down to untie the laces at his boots, though even that took some effort and the sort of bend his body protested. The monk knelt to help with his obvious struggle and Ardnt was made a little uncomfortable by their positioning. Not by what the man was doing but because the brief thoughts of seeing a man, fair in complexion, at his feet regardless of motivations. He enjoyed such visuals too much, he knew. A ghost of his past sneaking up on him in unexpected situations like these when the man before him was doing something as innocent as helping him remove his boots. A devout Herzen no less. About as selfless as they came. Too fucking trusting. Luitwin was lucky he wasn't the man he used to be, twenty years younger. He took his gaze from the man and looked forward, towards the wall. His cock had given a twitch but he'd gotten control over himself, something he hadn't been able to do when he'd first stepped into manhood.<br/><br/>He'd shifted, less passive in the removal of his pants. He wasn't modest at all. The life of a soldier had made that difficult and he reminded himself that the man was just doing what he felt was his duty to him. It was easier when he wasn't looking at him and Ardnt made a conscious effort not to do so. He'd expected that would be it. Luitwin would stand and the interaction would end. His breath caught and his thigh went tense when the warm cloth was brought against his skin, not his own doing. Ardnt was grinding his teeth, unaware he was even doing so. There was no hiding anything and he wasn't sure he could keep himself from making it obvious if the man insisted on making direct contact with him.<br/><br/>Ardnt decided conversation might help his situation. He needed to distract himself.<br/><br/>“You never answered my questions. Where we were going. How long it would take,” he pointed out, hunched over slightly. Beneath the breeches, his flesh was no less perfect, marked with even more patchwork wound care.