Tin Man fic: Unfamiliar
Title: Unfamiliar
Author: Surreal
Characters/Pairings: Glitch/Cain, Raw/Jeb
Summary: Getting to know familiar strangers after the Eclipse.
Pushing through the thick, acrid smoke and past bodies of fallen Longcoats and rebels alike, Cain kept a sharp eye out for a face that was familiar and painfully new at the same time. In the aftermath of the ground skirmishes, a few haphazard medical triage tents had been set up right at the base of the damaged Tower. An occasional burst of gunfire echoed from the hills beyond the area as the Resistance tracked down the last pockets of the fleeing Witch's army.
The thin, comfortingly strong hand wrapped around his wrist grounded him and he was silently thankful for its presence. Not caring what anyone thought as he and Glitch weaved in and out of the tents. Until a shout from behind them had Cain turning, stumbling as Glitch struggled not to run him over. A battered pair of young men were making their way slowly toward them where they had stopped at the edge of a battered canopy. "Jeb," he breathed, his chest constricting as he took in his son's condition.
Glitch moved first, his firm grip on Cain's arm not breaking as they hurried to meet the injured men. Half-carrying his son was the man Jeb had introduced as Peter, his second in command, the same man who had been chained to the log with them in the Realm of the Unwanted. Glitch moved to Peter's side while Cain took up his son's other arm, wincing when his fingers brushed the bloodied sleeve. "Come on, there's a few medics already helping the injured," Glitch told them, leading the way under the tent cover.
Together, the four men found an empty space on the floor and immediately claimed it, guiding Jeb to the ground. Cain knelt at his son's side, shaking fingers touching Jeb's chin, raising his young face slightly. He looked at Glitch and his expression must have spoken for him because Glitch nodded sharply. "I'll go find someone." Not waiting for an answer, he hurried off again.
Peter reached across and touched Cain's arm lightly, drawing his attention. "It's not as bad as it looks," he assured Cain. "Only one deep wound from a bullet, on his upper arm. Tied it off with his scarf, so he hasn't lost as much blood as he could have. The rest is mostly deep gashes, mostly on his arms."
Cain nodded absently, not taking his eyes off Jeb's dirt-streaked face. "Son? You with us?"
Jeb tilted his head back, a sliver of color showing through barely opened eyes. "Father?"
"Yeah, you're all right now," Cain gave a breathy chuckle, rubbing his hand over Jeb's forearm until it finally just grasped the smaller hand. "Glitch went to get someone to help."
"'Kay," Jeb nodded faintly, licking his dry lips.
It was then Glitch came tumbling back to their place on the ground and an unexpected form cast a shadow over Jeb. Cain looked up and gave a deep sigh of relief when it was Raw that filled his vision. "Oh, thank the gods," he patted Raw's shoulder hard. Standing to give Raw space to work, Cain moved around to crouch next to Glitch. "Nice work finding Raw," he said with a grin, mirroring Glitch's earlier actions and wrapping his fingers around Glitch's wrist.
Glitch ducked his head, a small but proud smile curving his lips. "He was helping out the other healers and Viewers we released from the cells earlier. When I told him who was hurt, he nearly ran me over in his rush to come help Jeb."
"He's a good man," Cain murmured, watching as Raw's gentle, soothing touch gave Jeb relief.
"I figure we can take Jeb into the Tower after the worst of it is healed," Glitch told him. "Though by the looks of it, we might be in for a fight if we try to separate them," he said with a knowing grin.
Cain couldn't help but smile himself when Raw's big hand came up and brushed the long, pale curls from Jeb's forehead, making Jeb smile tiredly, even barely conscious. Raw turned to Cain, a mixture of questioning and longing on his expressive face. "Jeb rest inside?"
"Yeah, that's what we were thinking," Cain nodded, standing and wincing as his legs protested their previous position. "Peter? You're okay?"
"Of course, Jeb was the only one dumb enough to jump out and get himself shot," Peter answered with a rueful shake of his head. He stood, looking around at the others laying injured in the tent. "I'm going to stay here and see what I can do to help out, though by the looks of it the Viewers are doing a heck of a job."
Glitch smiled as he, too, took in the scene. Where only a short time before it had seemed distressingly hopeless, an sense of determination and satisfaction had settled over the clearing air.
Raw tucked his arms under Jeb's limp body, settling him comfortably against his chest. Jeb didn't protest the motion, instead letting his head rest on Raw's shoulder. He raised his eyebrows at Cain and Glitch in a silent question.
"Right, follow us," Cain jerked his head in the direction of the Tower. His wrist was again firmly gripped by Glitch and he was beginning to find it wonderfully familiar. He started to lead the way, turning back only once to look at his son cradled in Raw's arms, a sight that both frightened him and sent a surge of warmth through his heart.
His wrist was tugged and he glanced at Glitch, who just gave him an insufferable grin. "You can give Raw the Talk later. For now, let him and Jeb have some time to themselves. See what happens."
Cain gave a token scowl but wisely kept silent as he and Glitch led the way back to the Tower.
**
End.
On to "Perceptible"
Author: Surreal
Characters/Pairings: Glitch/Cain, Raw/Jeb
Summary: Getting to know familiar strangers after the Eclipse.
Pushing through the thick, acrid smoke and past bodies of fallen Longcoats and rebels alike, Cain kept a sharp eye out for a face that was familiar and painfully new at the same time. In the aftermath of the ground skirmishes, a few haphazard medical triage tents had been set up right at the base of the damaged Tower. An occasional burst of gunfire echoed from the hills beyond the area as the Resistance tracked down the last pockets of the fleeing Witch's army.
The thin, comfortingly strong hand wrapped around his wrist grounded him and he was silently thankful for its presence. Not caring what anyone thought as he and Glitch weaved in and out of the tents. Until a shout from behind them had Cain turning, stumbling as Glitch struggled not to run him over. A battered pair of young men were making their way slowly toward them where they had stopped at the edge of a battered canopy. "Jeb," he breathed, his chest constricting as he took in his son's condition.
Glitch moved first, his firm grip on Cain's arm not breaking as they hurried to meet the injured men. Half-carrying his son was the man Jeb had introduced as Peter, his second in command, the same man who had been chained to the log with them in the Realm of the Unwanted. Glitch moved to Peter's side while Cain took up his son's other arm, wincing when his fingers brushed the bloodied sleeve. "Come on, there's a few medics already helping the injured," Glitch told them, leading the way under the tent cover.
Together, the four men found an empty space on the floor and immediately claimed it, guiding Jeb to the ground. Cain knelt at his son's side, shaking fingers touching Jeb's chin, raising his young face slightly. He looked at Glitch and his expression must have spoken for him because Glitch nodded sharply. "I'll go find someone." Not waiting for an answer, he hurried off again.
Peter reached across and touched Cain's arm lightly, drawing his attention. "It's not as bad as it looks," he assured Cain. "Only one deep wound from a bullet, on his upper arm. Tied it off with his scarf, so he hasn't lost as much blood as he could have. The rest is mostly deep gashes, mostly on his arms."
Cain nodded absently, not taking his eyes off Jeb's dirt-streaked face. "Son? You with us?"
Jeb tilted his head back, a sliver of color showing through barely opened eyes. "Father?"
"Yeah, you're all right now," Cain gave a breathy chuckle, rubbing his hand over Jeb's forearm until it finally just grasped the smaller hand. "Glitch went to get someone to help."
"'Kay," Jeb nodded faintly, licking his dry lips.
It was then Glitch came tumbling back to their place on the ground and an unexpected form cast a shadow over Jeb. Cain looked up and gave a deep sigh of relief when it was Raw that filled his vision. "Oh, thank the gods," he patted Raw's shoulder hard. Standing to give Raw space to work, Cain moved around to crouch next to Glitch. "Nice work finding Raw," he said with a grin, mirroring Glitch's earlier actions and wrapping his fingers around Glitch's wrist.
Glitch ducked his head, a small but proud smile curving his lips. "He was helping out the other healers and Viewers we released from the cells earlier. When I told him who was hurt, he nearly ran me over in his rush to come help Jeb."
"He's a good man," Cain murmured, watching as Raw's gentle, soothing touch gave Jeb relief.
"I figure we can take Jeb into the Tower after the worst of it is healed," Glitch told him. "Though by the looks of it, we might be in for a fight if we try to separate them," he said with a knowing grin.
Cain couldn't help but smile himself when Raw's big hand came up and brushed the long, pale curls from Jeb's forehead, making Jeb smile tiredly, even barely conscious. Raw turned to Cain, a mixture of questioning and longing on his expressive face. "Jeb rest inside?"
"Yeah, that's what we were thinking," Cain nodded, standing and wincing as his legs protested their previous position. "Peter? You're okay?"
"Of course, Jeb was the only one dumb enough to jump out and get himself shot," Peter answered with a rueful shake of his head. He stood, looking around at the others laying injured in the tent. "I'm going to stay here and see what I can do to help out, though by the looks of it the Viewers are doing a heck of a job."
Glitch smiled as he, too, took in the scene. Where only a short time before it had seemed distressingly hopeless, an sense of determination and satisfaction had settled over the clearing air.
Raw tucked his arms under Jeb's limp body, settling him comfortably against his chest. Jeb didn't protest the motion, instead letting his head rest on Raw's shoulder. He raised his eyebrows at Cain and Glitch in a silent question.
"Right, follow us," Cain jerked his head in the direction of the Tower. His wrist was again firmly gripped by Glitch and he was beginning to find it wonderfully familiar. He started to lead the way, turning back only once to look at his son cradled in Raw's arms, a sight that both frightened him and sent a surge of warmth through his heart.
His wrist was tugged and he glanced at Glitch, who just gave him an insufferable grin. "You can give Raw the Talk later. For now, let him and Jeb have some time to themselves. See what happens."
Cain gave a token scowl but wisely kept silent as he and Glitch led the way back to the Tower.
**
End.
On to "Perceptible"