Tin Man fic: Perceptible - Chapter 2/10
Title: Perceptible - 2 of 10
Author: Surreal
Rating: Overall NC-17, just to be safe.
Characters/Pairing: Raw/Jeb, Glitch/Cain, plus lots of other characters
Word count this chapter: ~1450
Disclaimer: The characters and settings belong to L. Frank Baum and the creative minds behind Tin Man. I do not claim to own anything.
Summary: Jeb Cain has found someone who sees him for who he is, for what he needs, for the first time in his life. He can’t quite believe that it’s that easy.
A/N: Entire story uses magic4mula 40-word prompt table, 4 prompts per chapter. This chapter: "ocean…bewilder…umbrella…blanket." This story is everything that happens between the two drabbles “Unfamiliar” and “Spring Fever."
Previously...
~~
Four lunar cycles passed and summer was in the height of bloom and heat when Jeb saw the impossible expanse of ocean for the first time. All his life had been spent deep inland, surrounded by the safety of thick trees and the rare open field.
Standing at the edge of the cold, living water that rolled over his bare feet and sent a chill through the body his family and friends had molded into a healthy glow, Jeb glanced surreptitiously to his left at Raw. The man who had made it his role in life to stay at Jeb’s side from the day they defeated the Witch.
It still perplexed him that Raw had taken to him so quickly and so completely. The most confusing part was that Jeb never found Raw’s constant presence to be overwhelming or unbearable. Raw was simply there, from the moment Jeb emerged from his room in the morning until the time the Viewer saw him back at bedtime. A quiet, reliable, solid part of his new life that was reassuring in its novelty.
Neither of them had pushed for more, simply existing between one lingering touch and the next. Jeb could tell there was something more than a growing friendship developing but he could not quite put his finger on what it was. If it was affection, or attraction, it was like no other Jeb had experienced before.
The problem was, Jeb knew that Raw could sense his uncertainty. And Jeb had no idea what to do about that.
“Are you just going to stand there or are you going to swim?” Wyatt’s booming voice made Jeb jump, feet sinking deeper in the wet sand when he landed.
“The water’s cold,” Jeb called back, crossing his arms over his bare chest self-consciously.
Raw chuckled next to him and Jeb smiled at the warm sound of it. “Jeb gotten soft,” Raw reached over and pushed playfully on Jeb’s shoulder before wading into the water himself. He had left his thick fur coat and half-pants folded neatly on the blanket being shared by Glitch and Wyatt back on the dry part of the shore, leaving him in nothing but a thin pair of borrowed, dark green shorts. Jeb was certain that Raw was only wearing those for the sake of the others, what with them being prude humans who blushed furiously at the mere thought of public nudity.
Looking back at his father, Jeb squinted against the bright suns. “How come you guys get to stay warm and dry?”
“Wyatt’s not allowed in cold water,” Glitch answered with a kind of frightening fortitude.
“And Glitch’s zipper will rust in salt water,” Wyatt added with a wave of his hand.
“Wimps,” Jeb grumbled as he slowly edged his way into the freezing ocean.
~~
“He’s come a long way,” Glitch observed casually as he leaned back on pointed elbows, long legs stretched out in front of him. Most of their bodies stayed in the large shadow cast by the oversized beach umbrella Raw had procured from some unknown place in the Palace.
Wyatt sighed and pulled his knees up, wrapping his arms around them as he watched Raw pull Jeb into the calm waves, his son laughing lightly as they splashed. “It’s like he’s not even the same kid we found on the side of the road,” he replied. “Can’t say I’ve had a hand in that.”
“We’ve all done our part to give Jeb his life back,” Glitch bumped one bare knee against Cain’s hip. “Though I’d say Raw’s been the best thing for him. Who’d have guessed?”
“Certainly wouldn’t have been my first choice,” Wyatt mumbled, earning him a more firm kneeing.
“You may be his father, Wyatt, but it is most definitely not your place to tell him who he can spend his time with,” Glitch told him in a warning voice. “Especially with the way he looks at me, horning in on his mother’s place.”
Wyatt’s head snapped around, jaw tight. “I don’t care what he thinks, you are not any kind of replacement for Adora. I loved her, a long time ago, and always will. The way I love you...well, it’s just not the same. Jeb’s just going to have to deal with it.”
“Just like you’re dealing with the way he looks at Raw?” Glitch’s words were leading and he knew it, not expecting Wyatt to respond. He wasn’t disappointed.
Despite their sharp words, their silences were always comfortable. They had grown accustomed to bickering with each other, putting up with DG’s gentle teasing that they needn’t bother planning a wedding because they were already married.
“Oh, look at that,” Glitch tilted to lean on one elbow, bringing his other hand up to point at the sky.
Wyatt raised his head, ducking a bit to see past the edge of the garish lavender umbrella. “What?”
“Weaver gulls,” Glitch smiled, watching the small flock of birds spinning and weaving around each other over the water, as their namesake suggested. “Must be getting late in the season.”
“Must be.”
“I wonder why they do that,” Glitch let his head loll idly as he was mesmerized by the movements of the gulls. “You’d think they would get dizzy.”
Wyatt slumped down, stretching out to lie alongside Glitch so their shoulders touched. “Don’t watch too closely or you’ll make yourself dizzy.”
“Too late,” Glitch wobbled and conveniently fell over on top of Wyatt.
~~
Jeb looked back at the shore in time to see his father being trapped under Glitch and felt his lips give an involuntary twitch. Despite his ongoing struggle to accept that Wyatt had moved on with his life, which Jeb could not fault him for, it was always strangely endearing to see how the two men cared for each other so effortlessly.
It made Jeb wonder if he was giving his own personal feelings too much thought.
A loud splash nearby drew his attention back to Raw, who emerged from underwater and shook his head, spraying Jeb with thick droplets. “Hey!”
“Already wet,” Raw pointed out with a grin.
“Wonder what they’re talking about up there,” Jeb twisted and let himself float on his back, drifting further from land but always feeling safe with Raw nearby.
“Gulls,” Raw replied, paddling lazily in Jeb’s direction. “And us.”
“You can hear them? From out here?”
“No,” Raw denied as he rolled over. “Feel the mood. Certain...topics have special emotions, colors. Know what they talk about, not their words.”
“Huh, that’s a neat trick,” Jeb admitted with faint admiration. “So, what color is their discussion about us?”
Raw grunted. “Don’t want to know,” he sighed, ducking under the water for a moment before coming up again.
Jeb’s growl was vaguely familiar. “It’s none of his business.”
“None of ours what they feel,” Raw reminded him. He changed the subject, sensing Jeb wasn’t ready to have this conversation. “Glitch likes gulls. Bewilder him.”
Coughing out a mouthful of water, Jeb laughed. “You know, I’ve never met a headcase quite like Glitch before. Most of them can’t even talk after...that.”
“Glitch special,” Raw replied, knowing Jeb wasn’t being judgmental but was genuinely curious. “Smartest man in O.Z. Smarter than most even with half.”
“Explains a lot,” Jeb nodded, head bobbing in the calm water. “He’s good for my father, isn’t he.” It wasn’t a question.
Raw reached over, just brushing his hand over Jeb’s forehead in the guise of pushing back clinging wet hair. A rush of emotions flowed through Jeb and he nearly lost his balance, if not for Raw being right there to keep him afloat. “The best,” Raw said out loud, needlessly in the wake of what he had shown Jeb.
“You know this isn’t easy for me,” Jeb swam a few strokes away, needing the space. “I thought he was dead. This...he’s...Wyatt is my father, but he’s not...my dad, hasn’t been since that day Zero came.”
“Wants to be,” Raw said gently, gliding along but keeping his distance. “Give time.”
Jeb smiled suddenly, letting his head fall back to float on the sun-warmed surface water. “You know, until recently I would have called you crazy for thinking like that. That we had time. But we do now, don’t we?”
“As much as needed,” Raw confirmed, pushing forward to capture Jeb in his arms mischievously. “Water still cold?”
“Not anymore,” Jeb grinned shyly and turned his body so his back was pressed against Raw’s chest, the Viewer’s arms coming around to envelope his body. The feel of naked skin against his own was unexpectedly satisfying, though he knew the two of them were nowhere near ready to move past what they already had.
As Raw had said, they had time.
~~
End Chapter 2
Continue to Chapter 3
Author: Surreal
Rating: Overall NC-17, just to be safe.
Characters/Pairing: Raw/Jeb, Glitch/Cain, plus lots of other characters
Word count this chapter: ~1450
Disclaimer: The characters and settings belong to L. Frank Baum and the creative minds behind Tin Man. I do not claim to own anything.
Summary: Jeb Cain has found someone who sees him for who he is, for what he needs, for the first time in his life. He can’t quite believe that it’s that easy.
A/N: Entire story uses magic4mula 40-word prompt table, 4 prompts per chapter. This chapter: "ocean…bewilder…umbrella…blanket." This story is everything that happens between the two drabbles “Unfamiliar” and “Spring Fever."
Previously...
~~
Four lunar cycles passed and summer was in the height of bloom and heat when Jeb saw the impossible expanse of ocean for the first time. All his life had been spent deep inland, surrounded by the safety of thick trees and the rare open field.
Standing at the edge of the cold, living water that rolled over his bare feet and sent a chill through the body his family and friends had molded into a healthy glow, Jeb glanced surreptitiously to his left at Raw. The man who had made it his role in life to stay at Jeb’s side from the day they defeated the Witch.
It still perplexed him that Raw had taken to him so quickly and so completely. The most confusing part was that Jeb never found Raw’s constant presence to be overwhelming or unbearable. Raw was simply there, from the moment Jeb emerged from his room in the morning until the time the Viewer saw him back at bedtime. A quiet, reliable, solid part of his new life that was reassuring in its novelty.
Neither of them had pushed for more, simply existing between one lingering touch and the next. Jeb could tell there was something more than a growing friendship developing but he could not quite put his finger on what it was. If it was affection, or attraction, it was like no other Jeb had experienced before.
The problem was, Jeb knew that Raw could sense his uncertainty. And Jeb had no idea what to do about that.
“Are you just going to stand there or are you going to swim?” Wyatt’s booming voice made Jeb jump, feet sinking deeper in the wet sand when he landed.
“The water’s cold,” Jeb called back, crossing his arms over his bare chest self-consciously.
Raw chuckled next to him and Jeb smiled at the warm sound of it. “Jeb gotten soft,” Raw reached over and pushed playfully on Jeb’s shoulder before wading into the water himself. He had left his thick fur coat and half-pants folded neatly on the blanket being shared by Glitch and Wyatt back on the dry part of the shore, leaving him in nothing but a thin pair of borrowed, dark green shorts. Jeb was certain that Raw was only wearing those for the sake of the others, what with them being prude humans who blushed furiously at the mere thought of public nudity.
Looking back at his father, Jeb squinted against the bright suns. “How come you guys get to stay warm and dry?”
“Wyatt’s not allowed in cold water,” Glitch answered with a kind of frightening fortitude.
“And Glitch’s zipper will rust in salt water,” Wyatt added with a wave of his hand.
“Wimps,” Jeb grumbled as he slowly edged his way into the freezing ocean.
~~
“He’s come a long way,” Glitch observed casually as he leaned back on pointed elbows, long legs stretched out in front of him. Most of their bodies stayed in the large shadow cast by the oversized beach umbrella Raw had procured from some unknown place in the Palace.
Wyatt sighed and pulled his knees up, wrapping his arms around them as he watched Raw pull Jeb into the calm waves, his son laughing lightly as they splashed. “It’s like he’s not even the same kid we found on the side of the road,” he replied. “Can’t say I’ve had a hand in that.”
“We’ve all done our part to give Jeb his life back,” Glitch bumped one bare knee against Cain’s hip. “Though I’d say Raw’s been the best thing for him. Who’d have guessed?”
“Certainly wouldn’t have been my first choice,” Wyatt mumbled, earning him a more firm kneeing.
“You may be his father, Wyatt, but it is most definitely not your place to tell him who he can spend his time with,” Glitch told him in a warning voice. “Especially with the way he looks at me, horning in on his mother’s place.”
Wyatt’s head snapped around, jaw tight. “I don’t care what he thinks, you are not any kind of replacement for Adora. I loved her, a long time ago, and always will. The way I love you...well, it’s just not the same. Jeb’s just going to have to deal with it.”
“Just like you’re dealing with the way he looks at Raw?” Glitch’s words were leading and he knew it, not expecting Wyatt to respond. He wasn’t disappointed.
Despite their sharp words, their silences were always comfortable. They had grown accustomed to bickering with each other, putting up with DG’s gentle teasing that they needn’t bother planning a wedding because they were already married.
“Oh, look at that,” Glitch tilted to lean on one elbow, bringing his other hand up to point at the sky.
Wyatt raised his head, ducking a bit to see past the edge of the garish lavender umbrella. “What?”
“Weaver gulls,” Glitch smiled, watching the small flock of birds spinning and weaving around each other over the water, as their namesake suggested. “Must be getting late in the season.”
“Must be.”
“I wonder why they do that,” Glitch let his head loll idly as he was mesmerized by the movements of the gulls. “You’d think they would get dizzy.”
Wyatt slumped down, stretching out to lie alongside Glitch so their shoulders touched. “Don’t watch too closely or you’ll make yourself dizzy.”
“Too late,” Glitch wobbled and conveniently fell over on top of Wyatt.
~~
Jeb looked back at the shore in time to see his father being trapped under Glitch and felt his lips give an involuntary twitch. Despite his ongoing struggle to accept that Wyatt had moved on with his life, which Jeb could not fault him for, it was always strangely endearing to see how the two men cared for each other so effortlessly.
It made Jeb wonder if he was giving his own personal feelings too much thought.
A loud splash nearby drew his attention back to Raw, who emerged from underwater and shook his head, spraying Jeb with thick droplets. “Hey!”
“Already wet,” Raw pointed out with a grin.
“Wonder what they’re talking about up there,” Jeb twisted and let himself float on his back, drifting further from land but always feeling safe with Raw nearby.
“Gulls,” Raw replied, paddling lazily in Jeb’s direction. “And us.”
“You can hear them? From out here?”
“No,” Raw denied as he rolled over. “Feel the mood. Certain...topics have special emotions, colors. Know what they talk about, not their words.”
“Huh, that’s a neat trick,” Jeb admitted with faint admiration. “So, what color is their discussion about us?”
Raw grunted. “Don’t want to know,” he sighed, ducking under the water for a moment before coming up again.
Jeb’s growl was vaguely familiar. “It’s none of his business.”
“None of ours what they feel,” Raw reminded him. He changed the subject, sensing Jeb wasn’t ready to have this conversation. “Glitch likes gulls. Bewilder him.”
Coughing out a mouthful of water, Jeb laughed. “You know, I’ve never met a headcase quite like Glitch before. Most of them can’t even talk after...that.”
“Glitch special,” Raw replied, knowing Jeb wasn’t being judgmental but was genuinely curious. “Smartest man in O.Z. Smarter than most even with half.”
“Explains a lot,” Jeb nodded, head bobbing in the calm water. “He’s good for my father, isn’t he.” It wasn’t a question.
Raw reached over, just brushing his hand over Jeb’s forehead in the guise of pushing back clinging wet hair. A rush of emotions flowed through Jeb and he nearly lost his balance, if not for Raw being right there to keep him afloat. “The best,” Raw said out loud, needlessly in the wake of what he had shown Jeb.
“You know this isn’t easy for me,” Jeb swam a few strokes away, needing the space. “I thought he was dead. This...he’s...Wyatt is my father, but he’s not...my dad, hasn’t been since that day Zero came.”
“Wants to be,” Raw said gently, gliding along but keeping his distance. “Give time.”
Jeb smiled suddenly, letting his head fall back to float on the sun-warmed surface water. “You know, until recently I would have called you crazy for thinking like that. That we had time. But we do now, don’t we?”
“As much as needed,” Raw confirmed, pushing forward to capture Jeb in his arms mischievously. “Water still cold?”
“Not anymore,” Jeb grinned shyly and turned his body so his back was pressed against Raw’s chest, the Viewer’s arms coming around to envelope his body. The feel of naked skin against his own was unexpectedly satisfying, though he knew the two of them were nowhere near ready to move past what they already had.
As Raw had said, they had time.
~~
End Chapter 2
Continue to Chapter 3