Ariel leaned back some, hands falling into her lap as he began to remove the garments. Layer by layer until there was naught left but flesh and the metal. Where the plates met the skin it seemed more red, puckered. She didn't touch it out of respect for him, but she wanted to. She wanted to feel the metal, and the skin. But she wouldn't because it hurt him to even tell her the story. She could see it in his face, the way he had turned his eyes from her own as she spoke.
Finally she leaned forward, she lifted her hand and she placed her fingers on his cheek. She turned his face so that they could see each other again. Her green eyes met his blue ones, "I'm sorry they hurt you. You dont deserve to hurt. Nobody does. Especially not you. You are a good man, I can see it. Even if you can't. If you weren't you would not have helped Steve come for me." She wanted him to know she didn't fear him. What happened to him was terrible, but he would be alright. And she would be there.
Slowly she moved from him. She broke their gaze and slipped from the counter. Her hand found his and she lead him slowly from the kitchen, past the living area and easily down the hallway.
"You need rest, and so do I. Would you lay with me and sleep?" It wasn't a request made in lust, there was nothing physical about it other than the fact that she could rest next to him and feel safe there.