world class lurker

The fire eventually dies down. It sinks back into his bones where it lives, and the light goes out from his skin, and as it did the last time it leaves him shakingly cold, emptied out. His clothes are all scorched again. Now that it's over, he's afraid to turn and look at Claudius -- he's afraid to see something he might be able to recognize as fear. He stays where he is, still, gazing at the greasy burnt stain on the carpet.