It smears, but it's difficult to simply wipe off. Rhy tries anyway, less to clean him and more because the act of trying itself feels like the bare minimum of something when it's all he can do.

Rhy's response is immediate and firm.

"I'm not leaving you."

He doesn't care about the black stuff. He cares about Ronan, suffering through it alone.

"Come. Let me help you finish undressing."