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csi_sanders1129These are the 7 entries I made into the ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
tm_challenge for their Tin Man Grand Prix.
Title: A Simple Cure
Prompt: 'Muglug'
Rating: K+
Word Count: 513
Pairings/Characters: Cain/Glitch
Synopsis: The whole palace is sick, its only a matter of time before those hiding out in basement labs are affected, too.
The silence surrounding the usually noisy lab was unsettling at best and a sign of impending doom at worst.
“Ambrose?” Cain called into the darkness of the room, eyes scanning with the aid of the various lights and lasers. “Are you here?” If he wasn’t, Cain had nowhere else to look.
A noise from the back corner of the room caught his attention, and he followed it to the outline of a figure hunched over clutching his head.
“Ambrose!” He knelt beside the other man. “What happened?”
Ambrose pushed him away. “I’d stay clear if I were you. I think I may have Orthomyxoviridae Fever. You might get infected.” A series of sniffles before a loud sneeze only seemed to further Ambrose’s self-diagnosis. “Oh, fantastic. I’m getting worse.”
Ignoring the warning, Cain hauled the inventor to his feet. “I’m going to get you back to your room.”
“But, Cain, I’m contagious!” He protested, covering his mouth to keep from breathing contaminated air on the Tin Man. “You could get sick, too!”
“I’m not just going to leave you sitting down here, Ambrose.” Cain replied, steadying the man.
Ambrose swayed, one hand half holding onto Cain and half clutching his pounding head and the other still covering his nose and mouth. “I must respectfully demand you release me at once.”
Cain rolled his eyes. “Look, you’re complaining because you don’t want me to get sick, right?”
“Right.” Ambrose replied, though it sounded nothing like the single syllable it was.
“I’m sorry?”
Ambrose pulled his hand away long enough to repeat his answer, and Cain took the opportunity to grab the hand and press his lips against the ex-headcase’s. “Cain, what have you done? You’ll be infected now for sure!”
Cain didn’t look at all phased, he just marched Ambrose toward the door again. “Guess you don’t have to worry about me getting sick now.”
“Extraordinary. Now if you’ll just infect the rest of the O.Z. we’ll be set.” Ambrose griped, as another wave of dizziness overcame him.
“Relax, sweetheart. You don’t have the Fever. You have a simple cold. Nothing a bowl of muglug soup and some nice rest won’t fix.” Cain informed him. It was hardly surprising, given that half of the palace had it.
Temporarily cooperative, Ambrose allowed the Tin Man to lead him upstairs to his chambers.
Once Cain got him settled in bed, he called for an alchemist to medicate the inventor and for one of the cooks to bring up a bowl of muglug soup.
“Did I tell you that my mother would always make muglug soup for me when I was sick?” Ambrose inquired, once the food was delivered.
Cain sat on the edge of the bed while he ate, observing the younger man. “Yes, you did. I figured you’d want it over that hideous noodle concoction DG had them brew up.”
Ambrose smiled. “Thanks for this, Cain.”
“No probl - Achoo! -em.”
“Told you that you’d get sick.”
Cain glared, begrudgingly maneuvering himself under the covers beside the ex-headcase.
“I’ll just send for another bowl, then.”
Title: Once Upon A Time
Prompt: 'Brick Route'
Rating: K+
Word Count: 609
Pairings/Characters: Cain/Glitch, OC
Synopsis: Everyone knows the story behind the downfall of the evil witch.
Everyone in the O.Z. has heard the tale of the first Other-Sider and her journey down the yellow brick road, just as everyone has now learned of the newest Other-Sider to repeat history. Children often beg their parents and grandparents to hear the story again and again as a bedtime tale. And it is no different for the young one in Glitch’s arms.
“Tell it again!” His daughter, Amelia, begs, giggling happily, as he settles down beside her.
“Again? Aren’t you tired of this one yet?” He asks, incredulously. She shakes her head, so he begins. “Once upon a time there was an evil witch who took control over one of the Princesses. No one knew of the evil and one day her younger sister was hurt. To save the young Princess, the Queen had her sent to live and grow up on the Other Side.”
“Just like Princess DG!” The little girl announces, still too young to connect that the two Princesses are one in the same.
Glitch nods. “Just like Princess DG. Then, a big storm hit the other side and brought the Princess back home to the O.Z. where she was captured by members of the Eastern Guild. They thought her a spy for the Witch.” He brushes his hand through her blonde hair and continues. “Well, once they’d left her alone, she realized that someone else was also being held by the Guild. A man dressed in worn clothes with only half a brain.”
“But he was still really smart, right?” She adds in, a smile on her face. The one her father always called the Scarecrow was one of her favorite characters.
“Yes, he was, but he still had his forgetful moments. Anyway, the Princess helped the Scarecrow escape and the two set out for the yellow brick road, what we now call the brick route. The scarecrow got them lost and they came to an old house in the middle of the woods.
Amelia grins again, at the introduction of her other favorite character. “The Tin Man.”
“Right. He was a Tin Man, just like Daddy is. He was very sad when the Princess and Scarecrow found him. But, the Tin Man still helped them find the Brick Route and protected them when they had to venture through the Papay Fields. You see, the Papays were not always as friendly as they are now.”
“Which is why I’m still not supposed to go there alone?” She recites, just as Glitch does every time they reach this part of the tale.
He nods. “Precisely, little one. While the three friends wandered through the fields, they found a very special lion in one of the Papay traps. They saved him and he joined their group.”
Amelia pipes in again. “Was he a Seer, like Mr. Raw?”
“Yes, he was.” Glitch continues. “The four eventually made their way along the brick route to the Evil Witch’s castle. The Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Lion all went to stop the Witch’s evil plan and save the O.Z. while the Princess went to save her sister.”
“Did they do it?” She asks with just as much excitement as she did the first time she’d heard the story.
Cain steps into the room, having been observing the two for several moments. “Of course they did, peanut.” He says, kissing his girl on her forehead. “The Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion saved the O.Z. and the Princesses defeated the evil witch.” He looks to Glitch. “How’s it supposed to end again, Sweetheart?”
“And they lived happily ever after?” Glitch supplies, smiling at Cain.
“Exactly. They all lived happily ever after.”
Title: More Than A Memory
Prompt: 'Orchards & Vineyards'
Rating: K+
Word Count: 567
Pairings/Characters: Cain/Glitch, DG
Synopsis: Scent has always been the strongest link to memory.
“Cain, are you sure this is a good idea?” The young Princess inquired as she led the way into the sweeping apple orchards that bordered the Finaquan Palace.
With the recently rebrained Advisor leaning on him, Cain nodded. “We’re running out of choices here. It’s worth a shot.”
They’d tried everything, but the man would just not wake up. They were all beginning to have their doubts now, but Cain, as well as DG and Azkadellia, had all refused to give up on him. It had been Cain who had proposed this idea.
DG fell back into step with him, helping to keep the unconscious man in place on Cain’s back as he shifted. “We’re almost there. There’s a clearing just ahead.” She assured him.
Cain trudged onward, weaving through the newly flourishing plants around him until he finally reached the clearing the princess had spoken of. “Help me set him down?” He inquired, looking to DG.
“Of course.” She aided the tin man in lowering Ambrose’s still form. Cain sat down in the plethora of fall colored leaves with Ambrose’s head in his lap. DG sat down beside them, absently picking at the leaves that stuck to her dress. “Do you really think this will work?”
“Scent’s been known to trigger memories the best.” He reminded her. “I’ve heard that Ambrose loved apples. And I know Glitch mentioned them at least once. I‘ve also heard he liked wine, so we might try the vineyard to the west if this doesn‘t work.”
DG sat in silence for a few moments, watching the tin man as he watched Ambrose for any signs of waking. “That scent thing ever work for you?” She asked, tentatively probing. Sometimes he’d talk about Adora if he was in the right mood.
Cain nodded. “Yeah. Adora used to make this delicious pumpkin cake in the autumn. She was amazing with gardening, gave pumpkins to our neighbors every year. But, when I smelled the spices she used in the cake I couldn’t get home fast enough. The chef‘s are starting to make pumpkin dishes now that falls coming on…” He trailed off as his eyes fell back to Ambrose, who hadn’t seemed to have responded to the scents of the apples.
“It doesn’t seem to be working.” DG remarked, forlornly. She grabbed two apples off of a nearby tree and tossed one to Cain. “There has to be a way.”
“I’m not giving up. We’ll think of something.” He answered, taking a bite out of the fruit.
DG sighed. “A shame this isn’t some fairy tale.”
“How do you mean?”
“If it were, all we’d need would be for his true love to kiss him or something equally not complicated.” She mused, wishing once more that life were that simple. “Then he’d wake up and we’d all live happily ever after.”
Cain nodded, knowing just as well as she did that things were never that easy. “Too bad.”
The princess stood, having finished her apple. “I’m going to go get some help getting him back to the palace.” She walked back the way they came, leaving Cain alone with the ex-headcase.
“You never know.” He said, unable to resist even the possibility that it might work. He leaned down, pressing his apple-flavored lips to Ambrose’s in one last attempt.
And a moment later came the Advisor‘s reply. “Cain…”
“Nice to see you again, Sweetheart.”
Title: Magic & Medicine
Prompt: 'Did I Say You Could Move?'
Rating: T
Word Count: 577
Pairings/Characters: Cain/Glitch
Synopsis: Cain has some thinking to do about what's important the next time Glitch gets hurt.
He’s nearly lost Glitch twice today. Once when Zero shoots him - with Cain’s own gun, no less, which makes it all the worse when he sees the horrible scene. There was so much blood, he‘s amazed Glitch is still alive. And then again when the ex-Advisor nearly doesn’t survive the operation to save him. There were Alchemists and Healers scurrying about refusing to let him see the other man for hours. But, now that he’s been assured that his Glitch is out of the woods, he expects to find the headcase lying comfortably in bed, relaxing as the Alchemists have ordered. Instead, he finds a disturbingly vacant bed in the room they’ve shared for nearly a year.
“Glitch?” He calls, about to panic. But then, he realizes that the door to their balcony is open, letting the scents of fall flowers fill the room. “There you are.” He breathes a sigh of relief upon spotting his lover, leaning against the railing.
Glitch whirls around, clearly taken aback. “Oh, I know you wanted me to stay in bed, but it was so nice out and I…” Glitch starts, upon realizing he’s been caught disobeying the instructions the head Alchemist has left him with. He is felling much better now, what with all of the magic and medicine in his system, but he doubts that alone will be enough to appease the Tin Man looming just behind him.
But, Cain cuts him off, arms curling around the other’s lithe frame, careful of the heavily bandaged bullet wound on his chest. “I know, sweetheart. It’s fine.” Glitch is surprised, but does not protest as Cain presses his lips to the back of his neck, head resting on his shoulder as they gaze out over the lakes of Finaqua. “I was terrified, you know. Of losing you.”
Glitch is silent for a moment, and then, “I know. But, you didn’t.”
Cain nods, a movement Glitch feels more than he sees, his eyes drawn to that spot, just by the stables. Where it had happened. Cain’s eyes follow the path that his have just traveled and a moment later the arms fall from their grip and Glitch is suddenly aware of the chill in the autumn air without his lover pressed to him.
“Did I say you could move?” He inquires, turning to see what has made his Tin Man pull away. “Cain?”
“I’m fine, Glitch.” He lies, his mind on how he can make Zero pay for all that he’s done. First Adora, nearly his son, and now nearly Glitch. The man is clearly not taking no for an answer. But, he’ll deal with that later. He has someone he needs to take care of right now, someone who comes first. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get you back into bed.”
Glitch relaxes when Cain’s arms curl around him yet again, and he allows himself to be led back inside. “Lay with me?” He asks, knowing he’ll sleep better, and probably not be plagued with nightmares if Cain is with him.
Cain leans in again, pressing a soft kiss to the headcase’s lips. “Of course.”
By the time they both fall into the safe haven that is heavy down blankets and extravagant cloth, the only thought running through Cain’s mind is that Glitch is alive and in his arms, and as long as he has that maybe he can let go of his past and focus on what he has now.
Title: Save The Last Dance
Prompt: 'Remember'
Rating: K+
Word Count: 565
Pairings/Characters: Cain/Glitch
Synopsis: Glitch sometimes forgets whose taking him home.
Glitch, both as himself and as Ambrose, both seemed to love dancing with a passion. The Queen had once explained that Ambrose had always loved it, even when he was growing up. It was pretty much the only thing her Advisor had done besides inventing.
Ambrose had been a shy, wall flower type of person, who would step onto the floor to dance the occasional dance with the occasional interested party. Glitch, however, danced to pretty much anything offered, usually with anyone who offered. The difference was startling, and it taken some getting used to on the part of those who had known Ambrose
Those who knew Glitch, though, especially one Wyatt Cain, took to the other man quite well. In fact, out of everyone Glitch danced with at any event, Cain was always the first and the last of the evening. It did not take a brilliant advisor to figure out why.
It seemed Glitch could dance with whomever he chose to, as Cain watched on, rarely agreeing to dance with anyone else, except for occasionally DG or Azkadellia, as long as the often scatterbrained man didn’t forget to whom he owed the last dance. Or to whose room he’d be retreating to once the festivities had ended.
Problem was, Glitch often did kind of forget. Not purposely, of course, but simply because he still wasn’t used to the idea of a single dance partner.
Like tonight, for example. It was the night of DG’s long awaited ball, where her parents would announce that she was taking on the throne now that she’d been properly trained to do so.
Glitch, however, was too busy dancing away with one of the many courtiers the former Queen had been pushing on him to realize that the ball was nearly over.
Cain approached the couple just as the final song of the evening entered it’s first chorus. “May I cut in?” He cleared his throat, standing beside Glitch and his dance partner, a lovely blonde woman who did not seem to want to part with Glitch.
DG and Azkadellia stood nearby, watching as Cain swooped into place the second the girl reluctantly backed away.
“Glitch forgot again.” The elder princess sighed.
“I think he’ll remember shortly.” They watched for a moment as Cain leaned in close, whispering something in Glitch’s ear.
“Princesses, may we have this dance?” Two young gentleman approached them, interrupting their spying, and offering their hands to the sisters. They nodded and allowed the men to lead them onto the floor.
“I didn’t realize the festivities were nearly over. I didn’t realize the festivities were nearly over. I didn’t realize the--” Glitch’s glitch was abruptly ended when Cain’s lips pressed to his.
Cain smiled. “No worries, sweetheart,” He pressed another kiss to Glitch’s neck, ignoring the surprised and slightly mournful look from Glitch’s previous dance partner. “We’ll just have to finish this dance upstairs.”
“Sounds like a plan to me, Tin Man.” Glitch grinned, allowing Cain to pull him towards the exit. He mumbled a quick goodnight and goodbye to the Princesses as he and Cain passed them.
“Night Glitch, Cain.” DG called after them, but she doubted they’d heard.
Az laughed. “I think Glitch forgets on purpose sometimes. Cain’s always so possessive when he has to cut in. I bet Glitch enjoys it.”
The younger princess laughed. “I think you might be right.”
Title: Hide & Seek
Prompt: DG - 'Sticks'
Rating: K
Word Count: 583
Pairings/Characters: Glitch, DG, Az
Synopsis: DG, Az, and Glitch play a game of hide and seek.
Comments: Please note, by the time I realized the prompt was anything more than 'DG' I had already submitted this. So, it has nothin to do with Sticks. And I fail.
“Ready or not, here I come!” The young princess shouted, uncovering her eyes.
She raced through the winding halls of the Northern Palace at top speed in search of her elder sister and Ambrose, who’d been charged with watching them while the Queen and Ahamo were off dealing with a crisis in the Papay Fields.
“Az!” She called, running up the staircase from the entrance hall, after checking all available hiding spots. “Come out, come out, wherever you are!”
Obviously, Azkadellia stayed silent, content in her expert hiding place in the wardrobe in one of the spare rooms. A lanky Ambrose squashed himself into a storage closet in the kitchens, much to the chagrin of the cooking staff.
Coming up empty on her search on the search in the room she and her sister shared, she moved on, speeding past the rooms they weren’t allowed to play in towards the abandoned ones at the end of the hall.
Where she found her sister rather quickly.
“You found me!” Az proclaimed, climbing out of the wardrobe. “Have you found Ambrose yet?” They, being Princesses, did not often talk so informally of others, but, as Ambrose had been around them since their respective births, an exception was made.
DG shook her head. “No, not yet. Ambrose always finds really good hiding places.”
They found him ten minutes later in the kitchen. The mood of the kitchen staff was a dead giveaway.
“This is the last round, ladies. Then it’s off to Tutor for your lessons.” He told them. “I’ll count, if you’d like?”
“Okay!” They both agreed. Both ran off once his eyes were closed and he’d started counting.
“1...2...3...”
Azkadellia took off toward the library to hide amongst the rows of books while her sister headed toward the stairs, ascending farther and farther until she’d reached the top floor. The attic, as it were, used for storage.
Ambrose reached 100 soon enough and started his search. He systematically cleared each room on the first floor where he found the older Princess between the mystery books she loved so much and the fairytales her sister enjoyed.
“I’ve spotted you, Azka-D.” He laughed, and the two headed off in search of DG.
They searched for some time, unable to locate the princess. Normally, none of them went above the second floor. It wasn’t a rule, but due to having only 100 seconds, none of them typically attempted it.
“DG!” They called together, making their way through the fourth floor rooms. “Where are you DG?”
“Any idea of any secret new hiding places?” Ambrose asked Azkadellia.
The princess shook her head. “No. Well, there’s the… Oh.”
“What?” He inquired.
“The attic.”
They both sighed. Ever since Tutor had mentioned a story about four friends, one of whom had been a slipper, DG had been searching for the book. One of the library staff had told her it was stored in the attic.
“Let’s go.”
Sure enough, they found her there, huddled in a corner, her dress a dusty mess. “Have we not told you that you’re not to come up here without one of us?” Ambrose gently scolded her.
“I found it!” She proclaimed, holding up a small book.
“That’s fantastic.” Az agreed, offering to read it to her as they headed back downstairs.
Ambrose shook his head as he surveyed the dust filled air and again took in the amount clinging to DG’s clothes. “Your adventures have a way of getting others in trouble, little one.”
Title: Victims
Prompt: Cain - 'Cold'
Rating: K+
Word Count: 502
Pairings/Characters: Cain, Glitch, DG, Raw, Az.
Synopsis: Perhaps they can all heal...
Wyatt Cain has, if nothing else, had a hard life. The hours, days, weeks, months, annuals, he spent locked up in that dreaded iron suit are not easily forgotten, and that is made evident by the fact that he can’t sleep under blankets at night or walk into confined spaces without someone nearby to pull him back out.
Those close to him, DG, Glitch, and Raw, try to understand. They really do. But, they weren’t there. No one but Wyatt Cain knows exactly what he endured all those annuals he spent trapped there.
And he plans to keep it that way. No one else needs to bear the weight he carries with him.
He spent eight damn years watching the same scene over and over and over again until finally it stopped. He finally stopped having to see the worst moments of his life play out again and again.
But, that doesn’t stop the memories from assaulting him once he is freed, though. They’re in his dreams, his nightmares, he sees it all over again every time he closes his eyes.
And it was all a lie. They were alive. Jeb and Adora, alive.
He thought he was watching the death of his wife and young son, when, in reality, they had been safe. He could have been with them if he’d just fought a little harder. At least that’s what he tells himself when he’s lying awake at therein the morning unable to sleep.
Knowing that most of the time he’d spent mourning the loss of his family, they’d been spending mourning him was too much. Knowing that less than a year before he’d been freed his wife had been living, raising their son on her own. It took a toll on his heart.
Before Zero had ruined him, the words ‘Tin Man’ had solely identified his occupation as an officer of the law in Central City. Now it more suits his personality, his metallic heart, which he’ll surrender to no one. Not again. Now the people who don’t know him think he’s just another cold victim of the Witch’s reign of terror.
And maybe they aren’t that far off.
In a way they all are. Those that do know him are all suffering as well.
DG, the young princess sent to the other side. At last returned to save the OZ. To a world she barely remembers.
Azkadellia, the tortured sister, finally returned to normal. Or as normal as normal can be when one has spent the last 15 annuals possessed by a power so evil it turned a previously good witch wicked.
Raw, the cowardly viewer, an outcast from his own people. Now, a hero with deep scars of his own.
Glitch, the inventor turned head case, never to be returned to his former genius.
And there’s him. Wyatt Cain. Tin Man with a heart of ice. A heart as cold as his eyes are blue.
Victims they are indeed.
Perhaps together, they can all heal from their wounds.
tm_challenge for their Tin Man Grand Prix.Title: A Simple Cure
Prompt: 'Muglug'
Rating: K+
Word Count: 513
Pairings/Characters: Cain/Glitch
Synopsis: The whole palace is sick, its only a matter of time before those hiding out in basement labs are affected, too.
The silence surrounding the usually noisy lab was unsettling at best and a sign of impending doom at worst.
“Ambrose?” Cain called into the darkness of the room, eyes scanning with the aid of the various lights and lasers. “Are you here?” If he wasn’t, Cain had nowhere else to look.
A noise from the back corner of the room caught his attention, and he followed it to the outline of a figure hunched over clutching his head.
“Ambrose!” He knelt beside the other man. “What happened?”
Ambrose pushed him away. “I’d stay clear if I were you. I think I may have Orthomyxoviridae Fever. You might get infected.” A series of sniffles before a loud sneeze only seemed to further Ambrose’s self-diagnosis. “Oh, fantastic. I’m getting worse.”
Ignoring the warning, Cain hauled the inventor to his feet. “I’m going to get you back to your room.”
“But, Cain, I’m contagious!” He protested, covering his mouth to keep from breathing contaminated air on the Tin Man. “You could get sick, too!”
“I’m not just going to leave you sitting down here, Ambrose.” Cain replied, steadying the man.
Ambrose swayed, one hand half holding onto Cain and half clutching his pounding head and the other still covering his nose and mouth. “I must respectfully demand you release me at once.”
Cain rolled his eyes. “Look, you’re complaining because you don’t want me to get sick, right?”
“Right.” Ambrose replied, though it sounded nothing like the single syllable it was.
“I’m sorry?”
Ambrose pulled his hand away long enough to repeat his answer, and Cain took the opportunity to grab the hand and press his lips against the ex-headcase’s. “Cain, what have you done? You’ll be infected now for sure!”
Cain didn’t look at all phased, he just marched Ambrose toward the door again. “Guess you don’t have to worry about me getting sick now.”
“Extraordinary. Now if you’ll just infect the rest of the O.Z. we’ll be set.” Ambrose griped, as another wave of dizziness overcame him.
“Relax, sweetheart. You don’t have the Fever. You have a simple cold. Nothing a bowl of muglug soup and some nice rest won’t fix.” Cain informed him. It was hardly surprising, given that half of the palace had it.
Temporarily cooperative, Ambrose allowed the Tin Man to lead him upstairs to his chambers.
Once Cain got him settled in bed, he called for an alchemist to medicate the inventor and for one of the cooks to bring up a bowl of muglug soup.
“Did I tell you that my mother would always make muglug soup for me when I was sick?” Ambrose inquired, once the food was delivered.
Cain sat on the edge of the bed while he ate, observing the younger man. “Yes, you did. I figured you’d want it over that hideous noodle concoction DG had them brew up.”
Ambrose smiled. “Thanks for this, Cain.”
“No probl - Achoo! -em.”
“Told you that you’d get sick.”
Cain glared, begrudgingly maneuvering himself under the covers beside the ex-headcase.
“I’ll just send for another bowl, then.”
Title: Once Upon A Time
Prompt: 'Brick Route'
Rating: K+
Word Count: 609
Pairings/Characters: Cain/Glitch, OC
Synopsis: Everyone knows the story behind the downfall of the evil witch.
Everyone in the O.Z. has heard the tale of the first Other-Sider and her journey down the yellow brick road, just as everyone has now learned of the newest Other-Sider to repeat history. Children often beg their parents and grandparents to hear the story again and again as a bedtime tale. And it is no different for the young one in Glitch’s arms.
“Tell it again!” His daughter, Amelia, begs, giggling happily, as he settles down beside her.
“Again? Aren’t you tired of this one yet?” He asks, incredulously. She shakes her head, so he begins. “Once upon a time there was an evil witch who took control over one of the Princesses. No one knew of the evil and one day her younger sister was hurt. To save the young Princess, the Queen had her sent to live and grow up on the Other Side.”
“Just like Princess DG!” The little girl announces, still too young to connect that the two Princesses are one in the same.
Glitch nods. “Just like Princess DG. Then, a big storm hit the other side and brought the Princess back home to the O.Z. where she was captured by members of the Eastern Guild. They thought her a spy for the Witch.” He brushes his hand through her blonde hair and continues. “Well, once they’d left her alone, she realized that someone else was also being held by the Guild. A man dressed in worn clothes with only half a brain.”
“But he was still really smart, right?” She adds in, a smile on her face. The one her father always called the Scarecrow was one of her favorite characters.
“Yes, he was, but he still had his forgetful moments. Anyway, the Princess helped the Scarecrow escape and the two set out for the yellow brick road, what we now call the brick route. The scarecrow got them lost and they came to an old house in the middle of the woods.
Amelia grins again, at the introduction of her other favorite character. “The Tin Man.”
“Right. He was a Tin Man, just like Daddy is. He was very sad when the Princess and Scarecrow found him. But, the Tin Man still helped them find the Brick Route and protected them when they had to venture through the Papay Fields. You see, the Papays were not always as friendly as they are now.”
“Which is why I’m still not supposed to go there alone?” She recites, just as Glitch does every time they reach this part of the tale.
He nods. “Precisely, little one. While the three friends wandered through the fields, they found a very special lion in one of the Papay traps. They saved him and he joined their group.”
Amelia pipes in again. “Was he a Seer, like Mr. Raw?”
“Yes, he was.” Glitch continues. “The four eventually made their way along the brick route to the Evil Witch’s castle. The Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Lion all went to stop the Witch’s evil plan and save the O.Z. while the Princess went to save her sister.”
“Did they do it?” She asks with just as much excitement as she did the first time she’d heard the story.
Cain steps into the room, having been observing the two for several moments. “Of course they did, peanut.” He says, kissing his girl on her forehead. “The Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion saved the O.Z. and the Princesses defeated the evil witch.” He looks to Glitch. “How’s it supposed to end again, Sweetheart?”
“And they lived happily ever after?” Glitch supplies, smiling at Cain.
“Exactly. They all lived happily ever after.”
Title: More Than A Memory
Prompt: 'Orchards & Vineyards'
Rating: K+
Word Count: 567
Pairings/Characters: Cain/Glitch, DG
Synopsis: Scent has always been the strongest link to memory.
“Cain, are you sure this is a good idea?” The young Princess inquired as she led the way into the sweeping apple orchards that bordered the Finaquan Palace.
With the recently rebrained Advisor leaning on him, Cain nodded. “We’re running out of choices here. It’s worth a shot.”
They’d tried everything, but the man would just not wake up. They were all beginning to have their doubts now, but Cain, as well as DG and Azkadellia, had all refused to give up on him. It had been Cain who had proposed this idea.
DG fell back into step with him, helping to keep the unconscious man in place on Cain’s back as he shifted. “We’re almost there. There’s a clearing just ahead.” She assured him.
Cain trudged onward, weaving through the newly flourishing plants around him until he finally reached the clearing the princess had spoken of. “Help me set him down?” He inquired, looking to DG.
“Of course.” She aided the tin man in lowering Ambrose’s still form. Cain sat down in the plethora of fall colored leaves with Ambrose’s head in his lap. DG sat down beside them, absently picking at the leaves that stuck to her dress. “Do you really think this will work?”
“Scent’s been known to trigger memories the best.” He reminded her. “I’ve heard that Ambrose loved apples. And I know Glitch mentioned them at least once. I‘ve also heard he liked wine, so we might try the vineyard to the west if this doesn‘t work.”
DG sat in silence for a few moments, watching the tin man as he watched Ambrose for any signs of waking. “That scent thing ever work for you?” She asked, tentatively probing. Sometimes he’d talk about Adora if he was in the right mood.
Cain nodded. “Yeah. Adora used to make this delicious pumpkin cake in the autumn. She was amazing with gardening, gave pumpkins to our neighbors every year. But, when I smelled the spices she used in the cake I couldn’t get home fast enough. The chef‘s are starting to make pumpkin dishes now that falls coming on…” He trailed off as his eyes fell back to Ambrose, who hadn’t seemed to have responded to the scents of the apples.
“It doesn’t seem to be working.” DG remarked, forlornly. She grabbed two apples off of a nearby tree and tossed one to Cain. “There has to be a way.”
“I’m not giving up. We’ll think of something.” He answered, taking a bite out of the fruit.
DG sighed. “A shame this isn’t some fairy tale.”
“How do you mean?”
“If it were, all we’d need would be for his true love to kiss him or something equally not complicated.” She mused, wishing once more that life were that simple. “Then he’d wake up and we’d all live happily ever after.”
Cain nodded, knowing just as well as she did that things were never that easy. “Too bad.”
The princess stood, having finished her apple. “I’m going to go get some help getting him back to the palace.” She walked back the way they came, leaving Cain alone with the ex-headcase.
“You never know.” He said, unable to resist even the possibility that it might work. He leaned down, pressing his apple-flavored lips to Ambrose’s in one last attempt.
And a moment later came the Advisor‘s reply. “Cain…”
“Nice to see you again, Sweetheart.”
Title: Magic & Medicine
Prompt: 'Did I Say You Could Move?'
Rating: T
Word Count: 577
Pairings/Characters: Cain/Glitch
Synopsis: Cain has some thinking to do about what's important the next time Glitch gets hurt.
He’s nearly lost Glitch twice today. Once when Zero shoots him - with Cain’s own gun, no less, which makes it all the worse when he sees the horrible scene. There was so much blood, he‘s amazed Glitch is still alive. And then again when the ex-Advisor nearly doesn’t survive the operation to save him. There were Alchemists and Healers scurrying about refusing to let him see the other man for hours. But, now that he’s been assured that his Glitch is out of the woods, he expects to find the headcase lying comfortably in bed, relaxing as the Alchemists have ordered. Instead, he finds a disturbingly vacant bed in the room they’ve shared for nearly a year.
“Glitch?” He calls, about to panic. But then, he realizes that the door to their balcony is open, letting the scents of fall flowers fill the room. “There you are.” He breathes a sigh of relief upon spotting his lover, leaning against the railing.
Glitch whirls around, clearly taken aback. “Oh, I know you wanted me to stay in bed, but it was so nice out and I…” Glitch starts, upon realizing he’s been caught disobeying the instructions the head Alchemist has left him with. He is felling much better now, what with all of the magic and medicine in his system, but he doubts that alone will be enough to appease the Tin Man looming just behind him.
But, Cain cuts him off, arms curling around the other’s lithe frame, careful of the heavily bandaged bullet wound on his chest. “I know, sweetheart. It’s fine.” Glitch is surprised, but does not protest as Cain presses his lips to the back of his neck, head resting on his shoulder as they gaze out over the lakes of Finaqua. “I was terrified, you know. Of losing you.”
Glitch is silent for a moment, and then, “I know. But, you didn’t.”
Cain nods, a movement Glitch feels more than he sees, his eyes drawn to that spot, just by the stables. Where it had happened. Cain’s eyes follow the path that his have just traveled and a moment later the arms fall from their grip and Glitch is suddenly aware of the chill in the autumn air without his lover pressed to him.
“Did I say you could move?” He inquires, turning to see what has made his Tin Man pull away. “Cain?”
“I’m fine, Glitch.” He lies, his mind on how he can make Zero pay for all that he’s done. First Adora, nearly his son, and now nearly Glitch. The man is clearly not taking no for an answer. But, he’ll deal with that later. He has someone he needs to take care of right now, someone who comes first. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get you back into bed.”
Glitch relaxes when Cain’s arms curl around him yet again, and he allows himself to be led back inside. “Lay with me?” He asks, knowing he’ll sleep better, and probably not be plagued with nightmares if Cain is with him.
Cain leans in again, pressing a soft kiss to the headcase’s lips. “Of course.”
By the time they both fall into the safe haven that is heavy down blankets and extravagant cloth, the only thought running through Cain’s mind is that Glitch is alive and in his arms, and as long as he has that maybe he can let go of his past and focus on what he has now.
Title: Save The Last Dance
Prompt: 'Remember'
Rating: K+
Word Count: 565
Pairings/Characters: Cain/Glitch
Synopsis: Glitch sometimes forgets whose taking him home.
Glitch, both as himself and as Ambrose, both seemed to love dancing with a passion. The Queen had once explained that Ambrose had always loved it, even when he was growing up. It was pretty much the only thing her Advisor had done besides inventing.
Ambrose had been a shy, wall flower type of person, who would step onto the floor to dance the occasional dance with the occasional interested party. Glitch, however, danced to pretty much anything offered, usually with anyone who offered. The difference was startling, and it taken some getting used to on the part of those who had known Ambrose
Those who knew Glitch, though, especially one Wyatt Cain, took to the other man quite well. In fact, out of everyone Glitch danced with at any event, Cain was always the first and the last of the evening. It did not take a brilliant advisor to figure out why.
It seemed Glitch could dance with whomever he chose to, as Cain watched on, rarely agreeing to dance with anyone else, except for occasionally DG or Azkadellia, as long as the often scatterbrained man didn’t forget to whom he owed the last dance. Or to whose room he’d be retreating to once the festivities had ended.
Problem was, Glitch often did kind of forget. Not purposely, of course, but simply because he still wasn’t used to the idea of a single dance partner.
Like tonight, for example. It was the night of DG’s long awaited ball, where her parents would announce that she was taking on the throne now that she’d been properly trained to do so.
Glitch, however, was too busy dancing away with one of the many courtiers the former Queen had been pushing on him to realize that the ball was nearly over.
Cain approached the couple just as the final song of the evening entered it’s first chorus. “May I cut in?” He cleared his throat, standing beside Glitch and his dance partner, a lovely blonde woman who did not seem to want to part with Glitch.
DG and Azkadellia stood nearby, watching as Cain swooped into place the second the girl reluctantly backed away.
“Glitch forgot again.” The elder princess sighed.
“I think he’ll remember shortly.” They watched for a moment as Cain leaned in close, whispering something in Glitch’s ear.
“Princesses, may we have this dance?” Two young gentleman approached them, interrupting their spying, and offering their hands to the sisters. They nodded and allowed the men to lead them onto the floor.
“I didn’t realize the festivities were nearly over. I didn’t realize the festivities were nearly over. I didn’t realize the--” Glitch’s glitch was abruptly ended when Cain’s lips pressed to his.
Cain smiled. “No worries, sweetheart,” He pressed another kiss to Glitch’s neck, ignoring the surprised and slightly mournful look from Glitch’s previous dance partner. “We’ll just have to finish this dance upstairs.”
“Sounds like a plan to me, Tin Man.” Glitch grinned, allowing Cain to pull him towards the exit. He mumbled a quick goodnight and goodbye to the Princesses as he and Cain passed them.
“Night Glitch, Cain.” DG called after them, but she doubted they’d heard.
Az laughed. “I think Glitch forgets on purpose sometimes. Cain’s always so possessive when he has to cut in. I bet Glitch enjoys it.”
The younger princess laughed. “I think you might be right.”
Title: Hide & Seek
Prompt: DG - 'Sticks'
Rating: K
Word Count: 583
Pairings/Characters: Glitch, DG, Az
Synopsis: DG, Az, and Glitch play a game of hide and seek.
Comments: Please note, by the time I realized the prompt was anything more than 'DG' I had already submitted this. So, it has nothin to do with Sticks. And I fail.
“Ready or not, here I come!” The young princess shouted, uncovering her eyes.
She raced through the winding halls of the Northern Palace at top speed in search of her elder sister and Ambrose, who’d been charged with watching them while the Queen and Ahamo were off dealing with a crisis in the Papay Fields.
“Az!” She called, running up the staircase from the entrance hall, after checking all available hiding spots. “Come out, come out, wherever you are!”
Obviously, Azkadellia stayed silent, content in her expert hiding place in the wardrobe in one of the spare rooms. A lanky Ambrose squashed himself into a storage closet in the kitchens, much to the chagrin of the cooking staff.
Coming up empty on her search on the search in the room she and her sister shared, she moved on, speeding past the rooms they weren’t allowed to play in towards the abandoned ones at the end of the hall.
Where she found her sister rather quickly.
“You found me!” Az proclaimed, climbing out of the wardrobe. “Have you found Ambrose yet?” They, being Princesses, did not often talk so informally of others, but, as Ambrose had been around them since their respective births, an exception was made.
DG shook her head. “No, not yet. Ambrose always finds really good hiding places.”
They found him ten minutes later in the kitchen. The mood of the kitchen staff was a dead giveaway.
“This is the last round, ladies. Then it’s off to Tutor for your lessons.” He told them. “I’ll count, if you’d like?”
“Okay!” They both agreed. Both ran off once his eyes were closed and he’d started counting.
“1...2...3...”
Azkadellia took off toward the library to hide amongst the rows of books while her sister headed toward the stairs, ascending farther and farther until she’d reached the top floor. The attic, as it were, used for storage.
Ambrose reached 100 soon enough and started his search. He systematically cleared each room on the first floor where he found the older Princess between the mystery books she loved so much and the fairytales her sister enjoyed.
“I’ve spotted you, Azka-D.” He laughed, and the two headed off in search of DG.
They searched for some time, unable to locate the princess. Normally, none of them went above the second floor. It wasn’t a rule, but due to having only 100 seconds, none of them typically attempted it.
“DG!” They called together, making their way through the fourth floor rooms. “Where are you DG?”
“Any idea of any secret new hiding places?” Ambrose asked Azkadellia.
The princess shook her head. “No. Well, there’s the… Oh.”
“What?” He inquired.
“The attic.”
They both sighed. Ever since Tutor had mentioned a story about four friends, one of whom had been a slipper, DG had been searching for the book. One of the library staff had told her it was stored in the attic.
“Let’s go.”
Sure enough, they found her there, huddled in a corner, her dress a dusty mess. “Have we not told you that you’re not to come up here without one of us?” Ambrose gently scolded her.
“I found it!” She proclaimed, holding up a small book.
“That’s fantastic.” Az agreed, offering to read it to her as they headed back downstairs.
Ambrose shook his head as he surveyed the dust filled air and again took in the amount clinging to DG’s clothes. “Your adventures have a way of getting others in trouble, little one.”
Title: Victims
Prompt: Cain - 'Cold'
Rating: K+
Word Count: 502
Pairings/Characters: Cain, Glitch, DG, Raw, Az.
Synopsis: Perhaps they can all heal...
Wyatt Cain has, if nothing else, had a hard life. The hours, days, weeks, months, annuals, he spent locked up in that dreaded iron suit are not easily forgotten, and that is made evident by the fact that he can’t sleep under blankets at night or walk into confined spaces without someone nearby to pull him back out.
Those close to him, DG, Glitch, and Raw, try to understand. They really do. But, they weren’t there. No one but Wyatt Cain knows exactly what he endured all those annuals he spent trapped there.
And he plans to keep it that way. No one else needs to bear the weight he carries with him.
He spent eight damn years watching the same scene over and over and over again until finally it stopped. He finally stopped having to see the worst moments of his life play out again and again.
But, that doesn’t stop the memories from assaulting him once he is freed, though. They’re in his dreams, his nightmares, he sees it all over again every time he closes his eyes.
And it was all a lie. They were alive. Jeb and Adora, alive.
He thought he was watching the death of his wife and young son, when, in reality, they had been safe. He could have been with them if he’d just fought a little harder. At least that’s what he tells himself when he’s lying awake at therein the morning unable to sleep.
Knowing that most of the time he’d spent mourning the loss of his family, they’d been spending mourning him was too much. Knowing that less than a year before he’d been freed his wife had been living, raising their son on her own. It took a toll on his heart.
Before Zero had ruined him, the words ‘Tin Man’ had solely identified his occupation as an officer of the law in Central City. Now it more suits his personality, his metallic heart, which he’ll surrender to no one. Not again. Now the people who don’t know him think he’s just another cold victim of the Witch’s reign of terror.
And maybe they aren’t that far off.
In a way they all are. Those that do know him are all suffering as well.
DG, the young princess sent to the other side. At last returned to save the OZ. To a world she barely remembers.
Azkadellia, the tortured sister, finally returned to normal. Or as normal as normal can be when one has spent the last 15 annuals possessed by a power so evil it turned a previously good witch wicked.
Raw, the cowardly viewer, an outcast from his own people. Now, a hero with deep scars of his own.
Glitch, the inventor turned head case, never to be returned to his former genius.
And there’s him. Wyatt Cain. Tin Man with a heart of ice. A heart as cold as his eyes are blue.
Victims they are indeed.
Perhaps together, they can all heal from their wounds.
