[Oh dammit, don't sound so disappointed in him--Lif's eyes open and his gaze briefly darts back to Aela, before a sigh escapes him and he acquiesces.]

...You have my apologies.

[Lif's not going to make any excuses for that--he hasn't been injured this bad in a long time, but lying to Aela is ill advised. And in hindsight, getting her irritated with him is...

It's something he shouldn't do, yes, but it isn't something he wants to do either. He looks away again, but--]

It is, yes. They were not able to land many blows on me, but that one is more than enough for the rest of them. It is...painful, but I am certain that--

[But Lif starts again when he feels Aela starting to dress the wound itself, gaze darting back down to her in surprise. It's...probably clear that he isn't used to this, though he lets Aela work despite his bewilderment. It's one thing to fight, another to accept a hug, but this? This isn't something Lif had ever really gotten used to in life, even--]

Ah...thank you...?

[...He probably sounds as bewildered as he looks, and unbeknownst to him, the blue part of his face darkens a little. He's so unused to being taken care of, howmst the fuck.]