come clean

Mr. Gavin is much taller than him, and apparently also frighteningly strong.

He scoops Apollo up into his arms with ease, taking him to the ensuite bathroom where there is a tasteful, creme-colored leather chaise waiting in front of the vanity, where soft classical music is playing. It is this lounge that he delicately lays Apollo onto, where he eases the disheveled clothing from Apollo's body.

In his state it doesn't really occur to Apollo to try and resist. Mr. Gavin's hands are practiced and strong, but gentle and kind. Apollo squirms under his attentions - the embarrassment that comes from being stripped nude in front of his mentor - by said mentor - sends all the blood to his cheeks. (And somewhere else, but he's not going to try to unpack all of that right now.) Blushing, Apollo turns his head away and keeps his eyes shut, which also works to keep the lighting (albeit the warm and comfortable lighting) out of his aching eyes. But Kristoph doesn't seem to have any problem or reservation about it. Once Apollo is divested of his briefs he's again lifted and placed gently into perfectly warm water - he can't help but whimper at how good it feels on his skin.

Mr. Gavin cleans him from head to toe with almost utilitarian efficiency, but with a light touch that just about puts Apollo to sleep at times. Calming lavender suds on a plush washcloth go all over his body, unlocking and relaxing his poor muscles. That combined with the warm water has to be one of the most, if not the most, luxurious things Apollo has ever experienced in his life. It feels divine, so good he starts to forget about how mortifying it is.

Kristoph is gentle, working a vanilla-scented shampoo and conditioner into Apollo's hair, washing all of the gel out with his adept fingers. He's had his glasses perched up on his head, as the steam coming off the bath would only fog them up, and his jacket's removed, shirt sleeves rolled up to the elbows, with his hair pulled gracefully back. Apollo probably should've been able to guess what he had in mind from his appearance, so rarely casual this way. He looks kinder, gentler with the glasses not mirroring his eyes.

It's been a very long time since Apollo has felt so directly at the center of someone's attention, and he definitely hasn't been bathed this way by someone ever. Dhurke had two rowdy kids to wrangle into a washtub every evening, and while he'd do his level best, most of bathtime for Apollo consisted of splashing water everywhere and playing with his brother. It was an event marked by raucous laughter from everyone, and while a good memory, wasn't something Apollo would classify as a calming or relaxing ritual.

Apparently this was how the other half lived, in splendor and comfort.

Apollo was still drifting when Kristoph gently worked his tense knees apart and brought the washcloth under the water.

Apollo startled then, flinching reflexively and pulling his legs together. Blushing red, Apollo just tilted his head away and squeezed his eyes shut. It wasn't supposed to be sexual, but it felt... too intimate? Too familiar?

Still, he hadn't said "no".

Mr. Gavin just chuckled, gently scrubbing Apollo's upper thigh with a "Now, now. There's no need to be shy." Apollo found himself blushing again, but he was used to acquiescing to his boss's will, and his leg muscles couldn't help but be relaxed by the warmth of the water around him. He unclenched his tense legs, allowing the washcloth in lower.

Once allowed access, his boss revealed just how fastidious he truly was about hygeine, which was very. Apollo looked conscpicously elsewhere as he was thoroughly cleaned, attention duly paid to every - yes, every - fold of skin, including a few he'd forgotten he'd had. When this concluded Apollo had never felt cleaner in his life - or more exposed. No doubt, he couldn't hide any secrets from Kristoph anymore. Everything was bared to him.

Carefully the lather was rinsed from his hair, the soap from his body. Apollo is barely awake when the water finally, finally starts to drain. It feels as if he's been soaking in here for hours. He's tingling all over from warmth, friction, and pressure - it's a nice feeling, though he's feeling more than a little over-exposed, too, just from being touched everywhere. He doesn't even have to get himself out of the tub. Once the water level drops Mr. Gavin wraps him in a plushy towel, lifting him from his sitting position and depositing him back on the chaise where he can be dried on the towel, his hair tousled dry with a second one.

When he is satisfactorily dried, a thick lotion that smells faintly floral and of talc is rubbed into his body. It's a bit cold, but the scent is so desperately soothing and the massage so pleasant, with just the right amount of pressure, that Apollo goes practically boneless, even when he's sat up and a light, breathable cotton sleep shirt with long sleeves is eased over his head.

He still has an iota of a presence of mind to slur through a yawn, "What about m' pants?" as his arms are guided through the sleeves, like he's a child being prepared for bedtime. Kristoph gently pulls the shirt down on him. It's generously long, acting more as a nightgown. "There aren't any. Did you know it's healthier to go without?" Apollo settled. That made sense.

"There we are. I think it's time for bed, hm?" Apollo nods imperceptibly, already in the beginning throes of sleep. Kristoph just chuckles quietly, lifting him up again into his arms.

It felt so unbelievably good to just let someone else care for him for a little while. And, though he wouldn't like to admit it, Apollo felt a certain connection to his mentor - the man was just so adept at anything and everything he did. He knew how to care for Apollo the right way, which only seemed to underscore how desperately inadequate Apollo really was at caring for himself. Just for an extra hour or so watching movies or anime, Apollo would do nothing but act like a child and typically take a five-minute shower, slapping on a cheap soap and barely paying any mind as to rinsing all of the shampoo out of his hair, and by the way, how long had it been since he'd felt this clean and relaxed? All it did was make Apollo realize how woefully underprepared he was to take care of himself correctly. For how long would he still need an adult to do these things for him in the correct way? It made a strange shame curl in his gut, that his busy, sophisticated mentor had to take so much time out of his day to look after him as if he were a child...

But any negative feeling was rapidly neutralized by the brain fog that was rapidly impending. Kristoph carried him from the ensuite back into the bedroom, where a soft bed was waiting. He laid him down upon the mattress, and Apollo pratically sunk into the memory foam, the Egyptian cotton sheets being draped over him in short order. Comfortable didn't even begin to describe it, as Apollo found himself practically snuggling into the feather pillow. And it had been a very long time since he had snuggled anything.

Apollo could smell the fresh, clean scent of his own hair and body, clinging to his warm skin, a comforting thing. Everything from the sleep shirt to the sheets and bedding was perfectly soft, so unlike collapsing onto a rock-hard mattress at home with a papery blanket and the television still blaring. He'd drop like a rock, being so tired, but then there would be nights where he'd toss and turn, itchy and anxious.

But tonight, every inhale brought with it the scent of lavender, and he breathed in nice and deep. His body relaxed naturally into a fetal position, one hand curled near his mouth. He really would sleep like a baby tonight, the thought bringing a light flush to his cheeks.

"Good night, my Justice. Sleep well." his boss's soft voice came from out of the ether, and Apollo wasn't even sure if he'd really heard it or if it was just a waking dream.

end.