Tin Man fic: Perceptible - Chapter 3/10
I hope everyone's able to keep up all right! :D
Title: Perceptible - 3 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: ~1720
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: "cobblestones…tower…fish…crystallize." This story is everything that happens between the two drabbles “Unfamiliar” and “Spring Fever.”
Previously...
~~
Early winter settled over the Palace and its occupants settled with it, preferring to stay indoors and sleep in with the later rising of the first sun that marked the season.
Freshly bathed and looking forward to breakfast with the rest of the families, Jeb left his room and started striding purposefully down the hallway, only realizing after a dozen steps that for the first time since joining this clan, he was alone.
Raw was always waiting for him when he set out for the morning meal.
The moment of disorientation passed and Jeb shook his head hard, silently scolding himself for his childishness. He’s not your keeper, for the gods’ sake. He’s probably already down at the dining hall stealing all the bacon.
If his walk was a touch swifter than usual, he couldn’t be bothered to notice.
At the table, the two Princesses were busy eating toast and eggs, while their parents indulged in coffee and assorted sour fruits. Vy-Sor, as always, was tucked into a corner chair with his predictable tea and newspaper. Wyatt was just sitting down with a plate of steaming eggs and bacon, while in the seat next to him Glitch was building a tower of melon slices that had nearly reached his chin.
“Quit playing with it and eat,” Wyatt admonished Glitch, who grinned audaciously and snagged the middle piece from the stack so quickly the tower barely wobbled.
“Hey, Jeb,” Glitch said around a mouthful of fruit. “Where’s Raw?”
Jeb frowned, glancing around again at those gathered. “I...don’t know. I thought maybe he’d beat me down here. Has anyone seen him this morning?”
“No, sorry,” DG answered with a grimace, shaking her head gently.
“Maybe he’s just sleeping late,” Ahamo offered.
“Yeah, maybe,” Jeb replied absently, biting at a thumbnail. “I’m just going to...” he started to say, then abruptly turned on his heel and pushed past the doors he had just entered.
~~
Wyatt stared thoughtfully after his departed son, then turned when Glitch nudged his arm. “What?”
“It really isn’t like Raw to forget,” Glitch said softly. “He knows Jeb needs that consistency.” He stood quickly, dropping his napkin on the table next to his plate with its tower of melon. “I’m going to go make sure everything’s...you know, okay. With Raw.”
“Right,” Wyatt sighed and shoved a stiff piece of cooked meat into his mouth as he, too, stood. “If you’ll excuse us,” he nodded to the others, noting their looks of understanding and concern as he followed Glitch out.
When they reached Raw’s room, the door was already cracked open so Wyatt slowly pushed it further in with a light knock. “Jeb? Everything all right?”
“Dad,” Jeb’s voice shook as he called back, sounding so small and young it made Wyatt’s heart jump.
A breath later, Wyatt and Glitch were behind Jeb where he sat at the edge of Raw’s bed, the Viewer curled on his side, still sleeping. “Jeb?”
~~
“Dad, I can’t wake him up,” Jeb told them, his hand shaking with fear where it rested on Raw’s shoulder. “And he’s burning up with fever.”
Wyatt reached past him and pressed the back of his hand to Raw’s damp forehead, wincing. “All right, I’m going back down to get the house doctor. Glitch, you and Jeb work on getting that fever down. Cold cloths from the bathroom.”
“Sure,” Glitch gave a brisk nod before sprinting across the floor toward the en suite. By the time Jeb heard the quick footsteps returning, Wyatt was long since out the door. “Here,” Glitch said from just over Jeb’s shoulder and Jeb stuck his hand out to take the cold, damp hand towel while Glitch crouched awkwardly at his knee.
“Thank you,” Jeb said automatically, folding it up and pressing it firmly to Raw’s forehead. He was relieved to get at dissatisfied, if faint, rumble in return.
Running his hand down Raw’s arm below where the thick fur coat ended, Jeb noted how the usually soft skin was pebbled from the cold air, not unlike cobblestones.
“He’s just got a touch of the winter chill, I’m sure of it,” Glitch said with an encouraging smile.
“Yeah,” Jeb gave a little nod, though his insides were churning. He should have seen this coming. Not Raw getting sick, but how he was reacting to it. Seeing Raw as the one needing help when it had always been Raw who was the solid one, the firm, immovable object that Jeb had come to rely on. His constant.
All his life, he’d never let anyone get close. Had kept his distance, knowing the next day he, or they, could be dead. Or had changed sides in the war. Now that all of that was over, Jeb had left himself open to someone who understood him in ways no one else could hope to. Could feel the coldness, the anger and bitterness that had driven him for annuals and under that, buried so deep it was an afterthought - his pure, unreserved, youthful terror.
Just as he was settling into a rhythm, with his father and Glitch, with the royal family and the guards he used to lead into battle but now led into the day’s work; with his life and with Raw fitting in so seamlessly within it all. Now that Jeb had made that connection, he was absolutely terrified of losing it.
Because Raw was not just a friend, someone with a special gift that simply got Jeb in ways even he didn’t quite grasp. It was that Raw was new; he wasn’t someone Jeb had known in the dirty, torn and frightening ragtag groups he had drifted with for most of his life. Raw didn’t know him and Jeb didn’t know Raw; they had no history, no past to cast a shadow over their friendship. They were each a clean slate, a fresh start for both. It was something Jeb never knew he needed so very much until now, until it showed the potential of slipping away on a cold, winter morning.
“Ah, yes, here we are.” The jarring, ungodly cheerful voice shocked Jeb out of his daze and he looked up to see the short, bespectacled face of the royal family’s resident physician, Emmett Hartley.
Jeb stood instantly, making room for the doctor, who set his black bag down and snapped it open, whipping out a stethoscope. He worked quickly and efficiently, taking measurements and listening to things. At one point he stopped to fish a thermometer from the side pocket of his case, which he proceeded to jam under Raw’s tongue.
Unsure what to do with himself, Jeb stood by and watched with growing apprehension. His father’s arm came around his shoulders and he was grateful for it, as was he for the warm, comforting hand Glitch placed in the middle of his back, under Wyatt’s arm.
Hartley finally made a satisfied humming sound and reached into his bag, emerging with a small bottle and syringe.
“What’s that?” Glitch spoke up, breaking the silence.
“Just an antibiotic,” Hartley replied without missing a beat, skillfully preparing the injection and pushing the contents into Raw’s arm without hesitation. “Seems Mr. Raw here picked up a bit of a bug. Nothing serious, but I’ll be coming by to check on him again this afternoon.” Standing and repacking his supplies, the doctor smiled at the three men. “Keep him comfortable, the cold cloth is the best thing for that until the fever breaks. And if he wakes up, he can have water, just a little, but no food until I say so.”
“That’s it? He’s...he’ll be fine?” Jeb looked past Hartley to give an unsure look at the sleeping Viewer. “But why can’t I wake him up?”
“Raw will be right as rain in a few days,” Hartley gave Jeb’s shoulder a hearty pat, his eyes gleaming. “Viewers have a bit of a different way of getting well. Just like they can heal others by reaching inside, they need to reach inside themselves to recover from illness or injury. He’s...centered, I suppose is the best word for it.” He winked suddenly, grinning. “Don’t worry, Master Jeb. It’s not contagious.”
Jeb flushed with embarrassment but didn’t bother to correct the man’s assumption. “Thank you,” he replied instead.
After Hartley left, Jeb glanced back at Wyatt and Glitch. “Guess I overreacted a bit,” he mumbled.
Wyatt stepped up and cupped the back of Jeb’s neck firmly. “You saw someone you love needing help. You think the rest of us don’t react the same way?”
Jeb blinked rapidly, words stuck in his throat.
“Listen,” Wyatt said softly, sending a look over to Glitch who somehow knew exactly what it meant. Glitch wandered off to fuss in the bathroom. “I know the two of you are taking things slow, but you know what’s going on. You know how fast things can change. Don’t wait too long, all right, kiddo?”
“Father...”
“That’s all I’m going to say about it,” Wyatt stood straight, giving Jeb’s shoulder a quick squeeze, then turned his son around. “Glitch is getting you a bowl of water to keep the towel cool. I’ll bring you up some breakfast in a few minutes. No sense making yourself sick by worrying.”
Jeb rubbed his temple, then walked back to the bed and sat down next to Raw. He saw Glitch moving around him, carefully leaving a bowl on the side table. “Keep an eye on him for us, will you?” Glitch asked before stepping back to join Wyatt.
“Sure,” Jeb smiled, retrieving the towel from where it had been tossed aside earlier. He dampened it, going through the motions mindlessly.
“Back in a few,” Wyatt reminded him, taking Glitch by the wrist and leading the two of them out.
Alone with Raw, Jeb used the cloth to brush the long, clinging hairs away from Raw’s forehead before laying it across the hot skin. “You’re not allowed to get sick,” Jeb took advantage of his quasi-solitude to let the childish admonishment slip. An idea began to crystallize in his mind as he watched his hand move over Raw’s face.
Raw sighed in his sleep.
~~
Jeb never had to worry about finding the hallway outside his room empty again, because after this, he made sure to wake up in the same bed as Raw.
~~
End Chapter 3
Continue to Chapter 4
Title: Perceptible - 3 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: ~1720
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: "cobblestones…tower…fish…crystallize." This story is everything that happens between the two drabbles “Unfamiliar” and “Spring Fever.”
Previously...
~~
Early winter settled over the Palace and its occupants settled with it, preferring to stay indoors and sleep in with the later rising of the first sun that marked the season.
Freshly bathed and looking forward to breakfast with the rest of the families, Jeb left his room and started striding purposefully down the hallway, only realizing after a dozen steps that for the first time since joining this clan, he was alone.
Raw was always waiting for him when he set out for the morning meal.
The moment of disorientation passed and Jeb shook his head hard, silently scolding himself for his childishness. He’s not your keeper, for the gods’ sake. He’s probably already down at the dining hall stealing all the bacon.
If his walk was a touch swifter than usual, he couldn’t be bothered to notice.
At the table, the two Princesses were busy eating toast and eggs, while their parents indulged in coffee and assorted sour fruits. Vy-Sor, as always, was tucked into a corner chair with his predictable tea and newspaper. Wyatt was just sitting down with a plate of steaming eggs and bacon, while in the seat next to him Glitch was building a tower of melon slices that had nearly reached his chin.
“Quit playing with it and eat,” Wyatt admonished Glitch, who grinned audaciously and snagged the middle piece from the stack so quickly the tower barely wobbled.
“Hey, Jeb,” Glitch said around a mouthful of fruit. “Where’s Raw?”
Jeb frowned, glancing around again at those gathered. “I...don’t know. I thought maybe he’d beat me down here. Has anyone seen him this morning?”
“No, sorry,” DG answered with a grimace, shaking her head gently.
“Maybe he’s just sleeping late,” Ahamo offered.
“Yeah, maybe,” Jeb replied absently, biting at a thumbnail. “I’m just going to...” he started to say, then abruptly turned on his heel and pushed past the doors he had just entered.
~~
Wyatt stared thoughtfully after his departed son, then turned when Glitch nudged his arm. “What?”
“It really isn’t like Raw to forget,” Glitch said softly. “He knows Jeb needs that consistency.” He stood quickly, dropping his napkin on the table next to his plate with its tower of melon. “I’m going to go make sure everything’s...you know, okay. With Raw.”
“Right,” Wyatt sighed and shoved a stiff piece of cooked meat into his mouth as he, too, stood. “If you’ll excuse us,” he nodded to the others, noting their looks of understanding and concern as he followed Glitch out.
When they reached Raw’s room, the door was already cracked open so Wyatt slowly pushed it further in with a light knock. “Jeb? Everything all right?”
“Dad,” Jeb’s voice shook as he called back, sounding so small and young it made Wyatt’s heart jump.
A breath later, Wyatt and Glitch were behind Jeb where he sat at the edge of Raw’s bed, the Viewer curled on his side, still sleeping. “Jeb?”
~~
“Dad, I can’t wake him up,” Jeb told them, his hand shaking with fear where it rested on Raw’s shoulder. “And he’s burning up with fever.”
Wyatt reached past him and pressed the back of his hand to Raw’s damp forehead, wincing. “All right, I’m going back down to get the house doctor. Glitch, you and Jeb work on getting that fever down. Cold cloths from the bathroom.”
“Sure,” Glitch gave a brisk nod before sprinting across the floor toward the en suite. By the time Jeb heard the quick footsteps returning, Wyatt was long since out the door. “Here,” Glitch said from just over Jeb’s shoulder and Jeb stuck his hand out to take the cold, damp hand towel while Glitch crouched awkwardly at his knee.
“Thank you,” Jeb said automatically, folding it up and pressing it firmly to Raw’s forehead. He was relieved to get at dissatisfied, if faint, rumble in return.
Running his hand down Raw’s arm below where the thick fur coat ended, Jeb noted how the usually soft skin was pebbled from the cold air, not unlike cobblestones.
“He’s just got a touch of the winter chill, I’m sure of it,” Glitch said with an encouraging smile.
“Yeah,” Jeb gave a little nod, though his insides were churning. He should have seen this coming. Not Raw getting sick, but how he was reacting to it. Seeing Raw as the one needing help when it had always been Raw who was the solid one, the firm, immovable object that Jeb had come to rely on. His constant.
All his life, he’d never let anyone get close. Had kept his distance, knowing the next day he, or they, could be dead. Or had changed sides in the war. Now that all of that was over, Jeb had left himself open to someone who understood him in ways no one else could hope to. Could feel the coldness, the anger and bitterness that had driven him for annuals and under that, buried so deep it was an afterthought - his pure, unreserved, youthful terror.
Just as he was settling into a rhythm, with his father and Glitch, with the royal family and the guards he used to lead into battle but now led into the day’s work; with his life and with Raw fitting in so seamlessly within it all. Now that Jeb had made that connection, he was absolutely terrified of losing it.
Because Raw was not just a friend, someone with a special gift that simply got Jeb in ways even he didn’t quite grasp. It was that Raw was new; he wasn’t someone Jeb had known in the dirty, torn and frightening ragtag groups he had drifted with for most of his life. Raw didn’t know him and Jeb didn’t know Raw; they had no history, no past to cast a shadow over their friendship. They were each a clean slate, a fresh start for both. It was something Jeb never knew he needed so very much until now, until it showed the potential of slipping away on a cold, winter morning.
“Ah, yes, here we are.” The jarring, ungodly cheerful voice shocked Jeb out of his daze and he looked up to see the short, bespectacled face of the royal family’s resident physician, Emmett Hartley.
Jeb stood instantly, making room for the doctor, who set his black bag down and snapped it open, whipping out a stethoscope. He worked quickly and efficiently, taking measurements and listening to things. At one point he stopped to fish a thermometer from the side pocket of his case, which he proceeded to jam under Raw’s tongue.
Unsure what to do with himself, Jeb stood by and watched with growing apprehension. His father’s arm came around his shoulders and he was grateful for it, as was he for the warm, comforting hand Glitch placed in the middle of his back, under Wyatt’s arm.
Hartley finally made a satisfied humming sound and reached into his bag, emerging with a small bottle and syringe.
“What’s that?” Glitch spoke up, breaking the silence.
“Just an antibiotic,” Hartley replied without missing a beat, skillfully preparing the injection and pushing the contents into Raw’s arm without hesitation. “Seems Mr. Raw here picked up a bit of a bug. Nothing serious, but I’ll be coming by to check on him again this afternoon.” Standing and repacking his supplies, the doctor smiled at the three men. “Keep him comfortable, the cold cloth is the best thing for that until the fever breaks. And if he wakes up, he can have water, just a little, but no food until I say so.”
“That’s it? He’s...he’ll be fine?” Jeb looked past Hartley to give an unsure look at the sleeping Viewer. “But why can’t I wake him up?”
“Raw will be right as rain in a few days,” Hartley gave Jeb’s shoulder a hearty pat, his eyes gleaming. “Viewers have a bit of a different way of getting well. Just like they can heal others by reaching inside, they need to reach inside themselves to recover from illness or injury. He’s...centered, I suppose is the best word for it.” He winked suddenly, grinning. “Don’t worry, Master Jeb. It’s not contagious.”
Jeb flushed with embarrassment but didn’t bother to correct the man’s assumption. “Thank you,” he replied instead.
After Hartley left, Jeb glanced back at Wyatt and Glitch. “Guess I overreacted a bit,” he mumbled.
Wyatt stepped up and cupped the back of Jeb’s neck firmly. “You saw someone you love needing help. You think the rest of us don’t react the same way?”
Jeb blinked rapidly, words stuck in his throat.
“Listen,” Wyatt said softly, sending a look over to Glitch who somehow knew exactly what it meant. Glitch wandered off to fuss in the bathroom. “I know the two of you are taking things slow, but you know what’s going on. You know how fast things can change. Don’t wait too long, all right, kiddo?”
“Father...”
“That’s all I’m going to say about it,” Wyatt stood straight, giving Jeb’s shoulder a quick squeeze, then turned his son around. “Glitch is getting you a bowl of water to keep the towel cool. I’ll bring you up some breakfast in a few minutes. No sense making yourself sick by worrying.”
Jeb rubbed his temple, then walked back to the bed and sat down next to Raw. He saw Glitch moving around him, carefully leaving a bowl on the side table. “Keep an eye on him for us, will you?” Glitch asked before stepping back to join Wyatt.
“Sure,” Jeb smiled, retrieving the towel from where it had been tossed aside earlier. He dampened it, going through the motions mindlessly.
“Back in a few,” Wyatt reminded him, taking Glitch by the wrist and leading the two of them out.
Alone with Raw, Jeb used the cloth to brush the long, clinging hairs away from Raw’s forehead before laying it across the hot skin. “You’re not allowed to get sick,” Jeb took advantage of his quasi-solitude to let the childish admonishment slip. An idea began to crystallize in his mind as he watched his hand move over Raw’s face.
Raw sighed in his sleep.
~~
Jeb never had to worry about finding the hallway outside his room empty again, because after this, he made sure to wake up in the same bed as Raw.
~~
End Chapter 3
Continue to Chapter 4