Black and Blue
Dabbing his cheekbone with a damp cloth, merely to receive a sharp hiss of breath for her trouble. Mary exhaled slowly. She was irate- at his idiocy, at his human fragility, and at her anxiety when seeing him in such a state.
"You shouldn't have got involved, should you? Then there wouldn't a problem."
He blinked through his good eye, offering an apologetic grimace. As the cloth dabbed at his cheek again, he winced.
"I said I'm sorry, Mar," Bert protested. "Bu' I can' leave a woman being mugged in good conscience."
His whole left cheek was discoloured, an array of purple, blue, and red. There was a slight swelling by his cheekbone and on his left eye. As for his jaw, it looked no better. Though he said the other man had it worse.
"I know, Bert," she sighed. "I know you can't help being the hero but I'd rather you didn't get hurt in the process."
He flashed a charming grin, despite the state of his face. "Wha' can I say? I see a damsel in distress, I hav' to 'elp 'em."
"Oh, is that so?"
Brow raised, she turned to walk away, mainly to plunge the cloth back into the ice-cold water. But she was pulled back in her vain attempt.
"Now, don' be like tha', Mary!" he pleaded.
She let him hold her closely, looking everywhere but at him. Then she sighed heavily, meeting his eye. Kissing his surprisingly untouched forehead, Mary smiled.
"You're lucky you're so charming, Mr Alfred. Else I may never forgive you."