“Belmir is a chilly place. It's why most people here wear clothing,” Reis commented as he searched for the salve he had only just brought home. Ezra was standing there, naked, in the middle of his room, seeming unsure of what was expected now that he was actually in the forbidden bedroom. To his surprise he made comment of his own desires, not wanting to be sold to Andras.<br/><br/>“Ezra, we don't speak so ill of family,” Reis scolded mildly but he knew that Andras could be mean-spirited. What prompted Ezra to decide this for himself Reis wasn't really sure. Perhaps he'd yelled at Ezra for making a mess. Reis had been close to screaming at the asha himself. His tear laden face had stopped him. Likely he'd learned a more valuable lesson than any of his anger could have taught. Ezra pressed his lips together right after, as if he knew that he shouldn't be saying such things but it was evident the scolding Reis issued was a weak one. Like a parent correcting a behavior out of obligation, not because they believed what their child was doing was wrong.<br/><br/>Despite the many options Ezra crossed the long distance to his bed, getting partially underneath the blanket while his back was exposed. Reis couldn't really fault him. It was the more comfortable option and layered with blankets since Ezra was apparently cold. Reis went over to him with a warm cloth and the salve. He used the washcloth to rid Ezra of the soot marring his face, his touch gentle and considerate after what was obviously a traumatic experience. His back wasn't anything he could guarantee the same comfort with, at least initially. It's cooling properties would take a minute to sooth but he painted a generous amount onto the damaged flesh with his fingers.<br/><br/>“I don't know if it'll scar. Maybe it won't if we take proper care of it. You'll be sleeping on your stomach for a while,” Reis said, sitting on the edge of his bed. What was he supposed to do with him now that he was in his bedroom, comfortable in his bed? He'd imagined he would have made a spot for him on the floor or the couch. He realized the floor would definitely be too cold, chill seeping up from the stone. In his bed like that it was easy to imagine him there for other purposes. Ezra was far too tempting and it made Reis wonder what Andras had really been up to. He didn't usually do things without a purpose.<br/><br/>“Tell me about the shadows. They are harmful in Tuloa?” Reis asked, wiping his hands on the blanket to clean them of the creamy substance. He'd hardly paid any of Ezra's words any mind when he'd first started in about them, not taking him seriously. The fear of them was obviously enough to cause panic within the asha and so it only made sense to learn more of it. There had to be some explanation behind it or some basis in which the superstition stemmed from.<br/><br/>“How do they hurt asha that are alone?” Maybe it was just the way their minds operated when forced to withstand loneliness. Ezra had hurt himself twice in some imagined fit of his, going against logic to throw his fist through a glass window, and then tonight in getting himself badly burned. The latter didn't add up some much to Reis, only because the first time Ezra had a definite goal in mind.<br/><br/>“What were you trying to do when you burned yourself?” Reis asked, brows knitting together.