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stryx_ficsYet more Cain/Glitch. This all takes place post-canon and incorporates some bond memories as well. Very brief mention of penetrative M/M sex, so little I don't think it warrants restrictions, but CW/TW nonetheless. Also Glitch is again characterized as male/he/him, and "headcase" is used with affection, not intentionally derogatory. 1,563 words.
[Glitch/Ambrose POV]
He doesn't really love you.
I beg your pardon??
The Tin Man. He doesn't love you. Why else would he leave you here?
Because he doesn't live here at the palace? He has a son he hasn't seen in years that he thought was dead? He has a life to rebuild?
Quite convinient.
Quite logical, I'd think.
If he really loved you, why would he hide it? Especially from these good friends.
We both know it wouldn't be understood, two men in love. We just want our privacy.
Whatever you need to tell yourself. He was a good ally, to be sure, but the sex? Well, desperate times call for desperate measures, don't they? The Lady Gale didn't seem interested in his awkward advances, so he moved down the list. He needed to get off to relieve his tension and stress. You were convinient. He has no heart, that one.
He does have a heart! A good one! A warm and sincere one!
If he does, it is cold, and hard. Otherwise he'd stay. No, it's best you let him go, Glitch.
...I can't. I love him.
Then sleep. I'll take care of us.
Cain...
Shh, no, he's gone. Let me handle everything.
----------
[Cain's POV]
She'd sent me away for the last time that night, though I didn't know it then. Still, something felt off. And I realized I'd been so involved with her, I'd forgotten Glitch. Ambrose. Whatever his name was now. She'd been restoring his memory, so his name... fluctuated. Point is though, I went to his chamber, just to see him. I knocked.
"Glitch?" No answer. Somehow that stung. "..A-Ambrose?" The name felt awkward on my lips.
"Yes, come in."
He looked so different. His clothes were so neat, and the new, smoothed-out, side-parted hairstyle almost covered the zipper completely. But the way he looked at me from his chair was the worst. It was just... polite.
"What can I do for you, Mr. Cain?"
I scowled. "You don't even remember what we had, do you?"
His confusion was blatant in the hesitation before he answered. "...Lady Gale says we were friends and compatriots on the task to return her to power, rescue the King and Queen, and relieve her sister of her unfortunate affliction."
"Is that what she told you?" I couldn't help the sigh that followed. "No Ambrose...Glitch...you used to love me."
He looked shocked. "Mr. Cain, I'm sure you're mistaken. I've...well, I've been in love, but it wasn't to be. But with you? I'm sorry, that can't be. I'm not interested in men."
"Not 'men.' Me, damn it. You loved ME, Glitch." My hands clenched into fists at my sides and restrained tears stung my eyes. "Please, you have to remember."
He stood, walking toward me to show me out. "Mr. Cain, while it is flattering, I'm sorry. I don't--"
I didn't let him finish. I grabbed those slim shoulders and pulled him hard against me, pressing his lips to mine. He struggled. At first. I felt him relax in my grip and so held him in earnest.
He pulled away slowly when it was over, eyes still shut. "Cain..." he whispered. "Don't go."
His eyes snapped open, and I saw him again. My forgetful, eccentric, beautiful headcase.
"Where--have you--BEEN Cain?!" He asked me, taking my face in both hands, kissing over my features. He must have felt the flush under his lips, because he pulled back and bored those dark eyes into mine. I felt ashamed then.
"With Gale..."
"...Oh." He dropped his hands and took a step back, almost out of my arms. "Always thought you two had potential..."
"No Glitch." I pulled him against me again. "Something's felt off for... a while now. Can't put my finger on it. But that's why I came to you tonight. To apologize. And because I missed what we had. I missed you."
He got a far-away look then, like when Raw used to look inside his own mind. "She told Ambrose you were just friends. I tried to protest, but whatever she's done to bring him back, locked me out. His loyalty is to the royal family. Them alone."
He blinked and his smile returned. "But mine is to my friends. And to you, Tin Man. You are forgiven. And I've missed you too."
I smiled back and kissed him again. He sighed in utter contentment, and when he pulled away from my lips, buried his face in my neck, clutching my back with his hands.
"Don't let her take you away from me again Cain. Please?"
"I won't sweetheart, I promise. But we have to get you out of here." He lifted his head and gave me a quizzical look. "So she can't do it again. I won't let her erase me. Clearly, you need me, and..."
"And what Cain?" His voice was soft, but still managed to probe into my soul. I still can't hide anything from him.
"...And I need you too Glitch."
His whole face brightened. "Lucky for us, I know everything Ambrose knows." He packed while he spoke. "Like secret tunnels that will get us out of here."
And just like that, we were back on the Old Road. We managed to find an abandoned cabin, far enough away that we felt safe stopping. It needed fixing, but it was dry inside and we managed to make it warm. And afterwards, built a fire.
**
She called me back to the palace after a few days. The Longcoats had been searching high and low for the Gales' beloved advisor, but Glitch was cunning. And it did help he knew everything Ambrose did; the guards' rotations, when it was safe to go out, who allies would be. Because even after the Gales took over again as a family, not everyone was happy.
But I went to her. Kept up appearances. Something still didn't feel right, but I figured it was just because she knew Glitch was missing and assumed I knew something about it. I was planning to casually ask about him as cover and find out what she might already know. I strode into the great hall and she turned to face me, her left hand pushing back her hair. And I saw it.
The ring on her finger.
"What the fuck is that?"
Her eyes went big, startled. She looked at her hand and sighed. "Damn it. You weren't supposed to find out."
"Who's is it Gale?"
"Jeb's."
I gawked at her. "My son?! Why the Hell would he give you a ring?!"
"Because we're getting married Cain. I probably should have told you, but, well, I liked the sex." She flipped her hair over her shoulder and put that hand on her hip, as if daring me to challenge her.
"You...traitorous bitch." I spun around and left her there.
When I got back to our cabin, Glitch was reading in bed. I sat at the foot without even taking off my hat, or coat, or boots. He put the book down, walked on his knees till he was behind me, and put his hands on my shoulders.
"I didn't think you'd be back tonight." His voice has this way of wrapping around me like a soft quilt. Tension and rage leeched out of me, and in it's wake, there was pain. He felt it, I could tell by the way his fingers tightened on me. "What happened?"
"She's marrying Jeb. She kept me around for sex. I thought...yeah shit felt off, but I still thought..."
He pulled off my hat, lowered my coat from my shoulders, and reached around to unbutton my vest. I toed off my boots as he went for my shirt too, those thin, lithe fingers working so expertly, and then trailing back up my stomach and chest to my shoulders. I flexed them, rolled them back, and he gave an appreciative hum.
"Stand up, turn around," he whispered, planting a soft kiss on the side of my neck. My clothes stayed behind when I did. Still kneeling on the bed, he undid my pants and holster, and finished undressing me. Which was only fair, since he was already naked, his pale skin nearly golden in the candle light. Taking both my hands in his, he led me into bed with him. Looking down at him, feeling him securely beneath me, I tried again to explain.
"I thought we had something more, Glitch."
"I know Cain, I know. But do you need it?"
Shifting my hips just so, I slid inside him. His eyes rolled back, his body arched, and he gasped. My answer was whispered against his flesh, "No, not anymore."
----------
[Glitch's POV]
Look at him. So content now, at peace. And to think, I gave him that, just by remembering. The only downside is his eyes are closed. Gods are they striking. They see right into my soul.
How did she miss this? How could she not see his masculine beauty? The lines of his jaw, his sensuous lips, and I could write epic poems about his eyes. The secure strength of his arms, the muscled comfort of his broad shoulders and chest, the way he shields one from the world while making love...
It baffles me, how she threw him away.
[Glitch/Ambrose POV]
He doesn't really love you.
I beg your pardon??
The Tin Man. He doesn't love you. Why else would he leave you here?
Because he doesn't live here at the palace? He has a son he hasn't seen in years that he thought was dead? He has a life to rebuild?
Quite convinient.
Quite logical, I'd think.
If he really loved you, why would he hide it? Especially from these good friends.
We both know it wouldn't be understood, two men in love. We just want our privacy.
Whatever you need to tell yourself. He was a good ally, to be sure, but the sex? Well, desperate times call for desperate measures, don't they? The Lady Gale didn't seem interested in his awkward advances, so he moved down the list. He needed to get off to relieve his tension and stress. You were convinient. He has no heart, that one.
He does have a heart! A good one! A warm and sincere one!
If he does, it is cold, and hard. Otherwise he'd stay. No, it's best you let him go, Glitch.
...I can't. I love him.
Then sleep. I'll take care of us.
Cain...
Shh, no, he's gone. Let me handle everything.
----------
[Cain's POV]
She'd sent me away for the last time that night, though I didn't know it then. Still, something felt off. And I realized I'd been so involved with her, I'd forgotten Glitch. Ambrose. Whatever his name was now. She'd been restoring his memory, so his name... fluctuated. Point is though, I went to his chamber, just to see him. I knocked.
"Glitch?" No answer. Somehow that stung. "..A-Ambrose?" The name felt awkward on my lips.
"Yes, come in."
He looked so different. His clothes were so neat, and the new, smoothed-out, side-parted hairstyle almost covered the zipper completely. But the way he looked at me from his chair was the worst. It was just... polite.
"What can I do for you, Mr. Cain?"
I scowled. "You don't even remember what we had, do you?"
His confusion was blatant in the hesitation before he answered. "...Lady Gale says we were friends and compatriots on the task to return her to power, rescue the King and Queen, and relieve her sister of her unfortunate affliction."
"Is that what she told you?" I couldn't help the sigh that followed. "No Ambrose...Glitch...you used to love me."
He looked shocked. "Mr. Cain, I'm sure you're mistaken. I've...well, I've been in love, but it wasn't to be. But with you? I'm sorry, that can't be. I'm not interested in men."
"Not 'men.' Me, damn it. You loved ME, Glitch." My hands clenched into fists at my sides and restrained tears stung my eyes. "Please, you have to remember."
He stood, walking toward me to show me out. "Mr. Cain, while it is flattering, I'm sorry. I don't--"
I didn't let him finish. I grabbed those slim shoulders and pulled him hard against me, pressing his lips to mine. He struggled. At first. I felt him relax in my grip and so held him in earnest.
He pulled away slowly when it was over, eyes still shut. "Cain..." he whispered. "Don't go."
His eyes snapped open, and I saw him again. My forgetful, eccentric, beautiful headcase.
"Where--have you--BEEN Cain?!" He asked me, taking my face in both hands, kissing over my features. He must have felt the flush under his lips, because he pulled back and bored those dark eyes into mine. I felt ashamed then.
"With Gale..."
"...Oh." He dropped his hands and took a step back, almost out of my arms. "Always thought you two had potential..."
"No Glitch." I pulled him against me again. "Something's felt off for... a while now. Can't put my finger on it. But that's why I came to you tonight. To apologize. And because I missed what we had. I missed you."
He got a far-away look then, like when Raw used to look inside his own mind. "She told Ambrose you were just friends. I tried to protest, but whatever she's done to bring him back, locked me out. His loyalty is to the royal family. Them alone."
He blinked and his smile returned. "But mine is to my friends. And to you, Tin Man. You are forgiven. And I've missed you too."
I smiled back and kissed him again. He sighed in utter contentment, and when he pulled away from my lips, buried his face in my neck, clutching my back with his hands.
"Don't let her take you away from me again Cain. Please?"
"I won't sweetheart, I promise. But we have to get you out of here." He lifted his head and gave me a quizzical look. "So she can't do it again. I won't let her erase me. Clearly, you need me, and..."
"And what Cain?" His voice was soft, but still managed to probe into my soul. I still can't hide anything from him.
"...And I need you too Glitch."
His whole face brightened. "Lucky for us, I know everything Ambrose knows." He packed while he spoke. "Like secret tunnels that will get us out of here."
And just like that, we were back on the Old Road. We managed to find an abandoned cabin, far enough away that we felt safe stopping. It needed fixing, but it was dry inside and we managed to make it warm. And afterwards, built a fire.
**
She called me back to the palace after a few days. The Longcoats had been searching high and low for the Gales' beloved advisor, but Glitch was cunning. And it did help he knew everything Ambrose did; the guards' rotations, when it was safe to go out, who allies would be. Because even after the Gales took over again as a family, not everyone was happy.
But I went to her. Kept up appearances. Something still didn't feel right, but I figured it was just because she knew Glitch was missing and assumed I knew something about it. I was planning to casually ask about him as cover and find out what she might already know. I strode into the great hall and she turned to face me, her left hand pushing back her hair. And I saw it.
The ring on her finger.
"What the fuck is that?"
Her eyes went big, startled. She looked at her hand and sighed. "Damn it. You weren't supposed to find out."
"Who's is it Gale?"
"Jeb's."
I gawked at her. "My son?! Why the Hell would he give you a ring?!"
"Because we're getting married Cain. I probably should have told you, but, well, I liked the sex." She flipped her hair over her shoulder and put that hand on her hip, as if daring me to challenge her.
"You...traitorous bitch." I spun around and left her there.
When I got back to our cabin, Glitch was reading in bed. I sat at the foot without even taking off my hat, or coat, or boots. He put the book down, walked on his knees till he was behind me, and put his hands on my shoulders.
"I didn't think you'd be back tonight." His voice has this way of wrapping around me like a soft quilt. Tension and rage leeched out of me, and in it's wake, there was pain. He felt it, I could tell by the way his fingers tightened on me. "What happened?"
"She's marrying Jeb. She kept me around for sex. I thought...yeah shit felt off, but I still thought..."
He pulled off my hat, lowered my coat from my shoulders, and reached around to unbutton my vest. I toed off my boots as he went for my shirt too, those thin, lithe fingers working so expertly, and then trailing back up my stomach and chest to my shoulders. I flexed them, rolled them back, and he gave an appreciative hum.
"Stand up, turn around," he whispered, planting a soft kiss on the side of my neck. My clothes stayed behind when I did. Still kneeling on the bed, he undid my pants and holster, and finished undressing me. Which was only fair, since he was already naked, his pale skin nearly golden in the candle light. Taking both my hands in his, he led me into bed with him. Looking down at him, feeling him securely beneath me, I tried again to explain.
"I thought we had something more, Glitch."
"I know Cain, I know. But do you need it?"
Shifting my hips just so, I slid inside him. His eyes rolled back, his body arched, and he gasped. My answer was whispered against his flesh, "No, not anymore."
----------
[Glitch's POV]
Look at him. So content now, at peace. And to think, I gave him that, just by remembering. The only downside is his eyes are closed. Gods are they striking. They see right into my soul.
How did she miss this? How could she not see his masculine beauty? The lines of his jaw, his sensuous lips, and I could write epic poems about his eyes. The secure strength of his arms, the muscled comfort of his broad shoulders and chest, the way he shields one from the world while making love...
It baffles me, how she threw him away.
