Mark closed his eyes when the water splashed. Half wet clothers were just as awful as half wet hair. He leveld an irritated gaze at Ace. "I think I can wait until morning still." he retorted, determined. He shot a hand out to support Ace's hurt ankle when he raised it up. "Don't strain it, Ace! You'll hurt it more." he lowered it back into the bath, swatting bubbles aside so that he could see it below the water. "I'll make it better if you stop making it worse." to cushion the pain and distract him Mark pressed a kiss to Ace's knee. "we'll go on a picnic, yes."<br/>Ace rambled about clouds as Mark took the cloth and began to wash him. He had ignored the question about ace's skin being soft but only because he knew Ace was baiting him. But when was Ace not baiting him? The soft cloth spread soap over the frail skin, deceptively smooth and young. It was so frail in reality... The words 'fresh blood' caught his attention. Fresh blood meant extra trouble. It meant more work and finding a donor. It meant a messy transportation and ... "I can try." he said simply. He wasn't planning on pursuing the topic further. "We'll go to Mellow Mushroom and we'll get two pizzas this time." distractions distractions from the blood. But the mention of Pepsi... Ace with soda in him was always a bad idea. Still... He spoiled him. "If you stay off your foot and be good." he paused a moment. "It's okay. It's only water." When he looked up Mark was met with the widest eyes he had ever seen. Ace was working him over. Mark worked the clasped hands apart, taking one in his own. With the greatest care he traced the lines of Ace's palms with the cloth. Dipping the green cloth back in the water he touched the warm soft material between each of Ace's fingers. Flicking his wrist he wiped the slender digits clean, sliding the cloth up Ace's forearm. He dipped it in the water before trailing it across the slender shoulders and just under the small chin. Mark uided the cloth up and down the ivory neck, down into the water the brush over the chest and abdomen of his little patient. Ace might rarely have cause to get truly dirty but he loved to washed and attention bathed on him. And mark, having felt a bit of guilt at having to leave him, would typically give him anything he wanted right after he got home. After the bath, of course, it was right to bed with both of the wrist braced and an ankle binding on. Speaking of... "Ace where did you put the braces when you took them off?" the injured wrist was no longer swollen but that didn't mean the damage was undone.