Tin Man fic: Perceptible - Chapter 7/10
Title: Perceptible - 7 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: ~1780
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: "gentle…green…letter…mistaken." This story is everything that happens between the two drabbles “Unfamiliar” and “Spring Fever.”
Previously...
~~
Raw was the first to hear the missing men approaching the town and he bolted to his feet, grabbing Cain frantically. “Here! Glitch and Jeb...hurt.” He didn’t wait for questions but simply stormed out of the house and leaped over the steps rather than using them.
At the edge of the road he spotted Glitch’s faltering steps as he fought to reach his goal. Raw did a quick, searching check of Glitch and determined him to be well enough for Wyatt to handle. Instead, he turned his attention to Glitch’s burden, the young man whom Raw had just become engaged to two days before.
“Jeb,” he whispered as he hurried to relieve Glitch of the sagging body in his arms. Sparing a glance for Wyatt, Raw hefted Jeb’s weight easily and immediately felt the burning heat of infection and the jagged edge of pain that Jeb had retreated from in sleep.
Not even noticing anything around him until Emily’s hand on his arm warned him of the stairs, Raw’s attention was completely focused on Jeb’s health. Somewhere in the distance a door opened and suddenly there was a small cot someone had unfold in the front room.
Making a mental note to thank Glitch for programming the “nurture” into the robots so thoroughly, Raw very slowly lowered Jeb onto the thin mattress, on his side facing away. Quickly tearing away the blood-soaked shirt, now more red than white, he pressed his palms on the source of the heat and pain. A sympathetic shudder ran through his body and under his hands, Jeb thrashed and cried out from the contact.
Raw noted Hank moving into his field of vision, lending a hand to keep Jeb still so Raw could concentrate on healing. After that, he lost track of everything around him, his senses mingling with Jeb’s as they joined.
~~
Emily was right there inside the door to take Glitch to the kitchen and sit him down in a chair with a glass of water, leaving Wyatt torn between his son and his partner.
“I’ve got Glitch just now,” Emily took the decision out of his hands. “He only needs a minute to breathe. Go check on your boy.”
Wyatt swallowed, then nodded. Leaning down to press his mouth to the top of Glitch’s head, he said in a gentle voice, “I’ll be right back, sweetheart. Just in the next room if you need me. You’ll be okay?”
Glitch raised the water glass to his mouth, but it shook so badly that Emily had to reach across and take it before it slipped from his hand.
“Whoa,” Cain surged forward in time to catch Glitch as he tipped sideways out of his chair. Lowering him to the floor, he looked at Emily helplessly.
Emily touched her fingers to Glitch’s throat, then his forehead. “His heart’s racing,” she said informed Cain. “And he feels cold. I think he’s in shock.”
“What does that mean?” Wyatt knelt beside Glitch, one hand resting on the rapidly moving chest. “I thought he wasn’t hurt!”
“Maybe not, but he still walked who knows how far carrying that poor boy, probably scared out of his wits,” Emily pointed out, standing to retrieve a short stepstool from where it was pushed into a corner. She came back and tucked it under Glitch’s legs. “There’re some blankets in the hall closet, just around the corner.”
Wyatt nodded and left the room, nearly running into a wall when he finally caught sight of Raw and Jeb. He was taken aback by how very small and young his child looked and it gave him pause. As much as he wanted to go to him, to touch Jeb’s hair and whisper soothing words like he used to so long ago, he knew he would just get in the way.
So he pushed himself on, finding a small pile of green blankets in the storage closet quickly and returning to where he was needed, with Glitch.
“What can I do?” He handed over the blankets and helped Emily tuck two of them around Glitch, who hadn’t spoken since he collapsed. His eyes were half-open and glazed, staring at the ceiling. Wyatt eased one of the folded blankets under Glitch’s head then brushed the stray curls from his forehead.
“Just talk to him, keep him comfortable and relaxed,” Emily said, fingers wrapped around one of Glitch’s wrists. “Let him know he’s safe.”
Wyatt nodded, leaning down close so Glitch could see him. “Hey, sweetheart,” he said, running his fingers over the clammy, pale cheek closest to him. “Everything’s okay now, you’re here with me and Raw and Jeb’s being taken care of. Can you hear me?”
Glitch blinked a few times before turning his head slightly, eyes finally meeting Wyatt’s. “Cain? Where’s Jeb, he’s...he’s hurt...”
“I know, Jeb’s safe now, he’s with Raw,” Wyatt reassured the confused Glitch. “You got him to us, you’re both going to be just fine. You saved him.”
“Oh,” Glitch sighed, his head rolling to the side to look at Emily. “Hi.”
Emily smiled at him. “Hi, Glitch,” she said, letting go of his wrist and instead combing her hands over his still-dirty hair. “How’re you feeling?”
Glitch frowned, taking a long time to consider his answer. “Tired.”
“I’m not surprised,” Emily replied, fussing with the top of the blankets. “You just rest for a bit. Are you warm enough?”
“Yeah,” Glitch closed his eyes for a moment then made an unhappy sound, reaching up to touch the back of his head. “Stupid thing,” he mumbled, fingers tugging at the end of the zipper.
“Here,” Wyatt shifted to sit down flat on the floor, stretching his legs out in front of him. Scooting up, he helped Glitch sit up just enough so Glitch could lay his head on Cain’s lap, the dip between his legs making a natural space for the zipper pull. Getting Glitch settled, Wyatt looked up at their hostess. “Can you check on Jeb for me?”
“Of course,” she got up quickly, giving Wyatt’s shoulder a reassuring pat as she passed by on her way out.
~~
Jeb woke surrounded by warmth, but not the same pain-filled fever he last remembered. He opened his eyes slowly, blinking to clear his vision and seeing only an unfamiliar room. A tall bookcase, the back of a chair and a stone fireplace was about all he could see so he shifted to sit up, only to find that he was trapped.
Pressed securely against the middle of his chest was Raw’s hand; Jeb’s arms had folded over it unconsciously. Under his head was Raw’s other arm and Jeb realized he was completely tucked within Raw’s body and they were curled up on their sides on a narrow cot.
Raw snuffled against the back of his neck and Jeb smiled. The last thing he remembered was a blur of pain, dirt and blood, so he knew Glitch must have gotten him to Raw somehow. He definitely owed Glitch one for that.
“Jeb?” Raw’s voice in his ear was soft and warm.
Turning his head, Jeb saw Raw looking down on him. “What happened?”
“Glitch brought you to town; we already here. Jeb hurt badly. Sick,” Raw answered, sliding his hand down to rest on Jeb’s side.
“But you took care of me,” Jeb finished for him. “Thank you.”
Raw pressed a kiss to Jeb’s throat. “Love,” he murmured against Jeb’s skin.
“Love you, too,” Jeb moved his hand up to clasp Raw’s where it was resting. “Where is everyone? My dad? Glitch?”
“Glitch not feel well,” Raw informed him. “Resting with Cain in bedroom.”
“Is he okay?” Jeb moved to sit up, concerned for the man who had become a second father to him.
“Yes,” Raw assured him, shifting to sit up as well. He kept his hand on Jeb’s back, warm and secure.
Jeb turned to look toward the nearest window, noting the darkness. “How long has it been?”
“Middle of night,” Raw answered. “Many hours.”
“I want to see my father and Glitch,” Jeb decided. “Where are they?”
Raw stood, too, leading Jeb down the hall silently. They stopped at the first room on the left and Jeb saw that the door wasn’t closed all the way. He pushed on it slightly, enough to see into the room. There was a small lamp sitting next to the bed and Wyatt was sitting up, a book in his hand, while Glitch was sleeping on the side furthest from the light.
Wyatt looked up and saw them, a smile emerging quickly. He set the book on the table and eased off the bed, careful not to disturb Glitch.
Joining them in the hall, Wyatt pulled the door closed behind him but didn’t let it shut, leaving it cracked like before. He spun around quickly and took his son in his arms, holding him tight for a long time before saying anything. “Hey, kiddo,” he finally whispered. “You’ve been sleeping all day, every time I checked on you.”
“Did Glitch tell you what happened?” Jeb asked, pulling away but staying close enough for their quiet conversation. “At least the parts we know?”
“Yeah, he said you were both thrown and you were lucky enough to land in a sharp stick,” Wyatt answered, dropping his eyes down to inspect the nonexistent damage.
“Does anyone know what the explosion was?”
“Same as we heard the first time. It wasn’t a gunshot, it was an underground fuel tank exploding. The one that you two got caught next to was the next in a line of storage tanks. They’re still trying to figure out what made them go up like that, if I’m not mistaken,” Wyatt replied with a frown but shook his head. “We called ahead to the Palace earlier, had them send over a car and a couple of stable hands to take the two horses we still have back. We can leave first thing in the morning if everyone is feeling up to it.”
Jeb nodded, leaning against Raw as his energy started to fade again. “It’ll be nice to get home,” he said, resting his head against Raw’s shoulder, folding his arms over his chest. “Remind me when we get there to write a thank-you letter to Glitch.”
“Why not just tell him in person?”
“Because if it’s written out, he won’t forget how much I appreciate what he did for me.”
Raw wrapped an arm around Jeb’s middle, pulling him close and resting his cheek on the top of Jeb’s head. “You are tired.”
"A little," Jeb admitted, failing to hold back a yawn.
“Take him back to bed,” Wyatt told Raw, leaning in to kiss Jeb’s temple. “Sleep well, son.”
“You too, dad,” Jeb replied.
~~
End Chapter 7
Continue to Chapter 8
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: ~1780
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: "gentle…green…letter…mistaken." This story is everything that happens between the two drabbles “Unfamiliar” and “Spring Fever.”
Previously...
~~
Raw was the first to hear the missing men approaching the town and he bolted to his feet, grabbing Cain frantically. “Here! Glitch and Jeb...hurt.” He didn’t wait for questions but simply stormed out of the house and leaped over the steps rather than using them.
At the edge of the road he spotted Glitch’s faltering steps as he fought to reach his goal. Raw did a quick, searching check of Glitch and determined him to be well enough for Wyatt to handle. Instead, he turned his attention to Glitch’s burden, the young man whom Raw had just become engaged to two days before.
“Jeb,” he whispered as he hurried to relieve Glitch of the sagging body in his arms. Sparing a glance for Wyatt, Raw hefted Jeb’s weight easily and immediately felt the burning heat of infection and the jagged edge of pain that Jeb had retreated from in sleep.
Not even noticing anything around him until Emily’s hand on his arm warned him of the stairs, Raw’s attention was completely focused on Jeb’s health. Somewhere in the distance a door opened and suddenly there was a small cot someone had unfold in the front room.
Making a mental note to thank Glitch for programming the “nurture” into the robots so thoroughly, Raw very slowly lowered Jeb onto the thin mattress, on his side facing away. Quickly tearing away the blood-soaked shirt, now more red than white, he pressed his palms on the source of the heat and pain. A sympathetic shudder ran through his body and under his hands, Jeb thrashed and cried out from the contact.
Raw noted Hank moving into his field of vision, lending a hand to keep Jeb still so Raw could concentrate on healing. After that, he lost track of everything around him, his senses mingling with Jeb’s as they joined.
~~
Emily was right there inside the door to take Glitch to the kitchen and sit him down in a chair with a glass of water, leaving Wyatt torn between his son and his partner.
“I’ve got Glitch just now,” Emily took the decision out of his hands. “He only needs a minute to breathe. Go check on your boy.”
Wyatt swallowed, then nodded. Leaning down to press his mouth to the top of Glitch’s head, he said in a gentle voice, “I’ll be right back, sweetheart. Just in the next room if you need me. You’ll be okay?”
Glitch raised the water glass to his mouth, but it shook so badly that Emily had to reach across and take it before it slipped from his hand.
“Whoa,” Cain surged forward in time to catch Glitch as he tipped sideways out of his chair. Lowering him to the floor, he looked at Emily helplessly.
Emily touched her fingers to Glitch’s throat, then his forehead. “His heart’s racing,” she said informed Cain. “And he feels cold. I think he’s in shock.”
“What does that mean?” Wyatt knelt beside Glitch, one hand resting on the rapidly moving chest. “I thought he wasn’t hurt!”
“Maybe not, but he still walked who knows how far carrying that poor boy, probably scared out of his wits,” Emily pointed out, standing to retrieve a short stepstool from where it was pushed into a corner. She came back and tucked it under Glitch’s legs. “There’re some blankets in the hall closet, just around the corner.”
Wyatt nodded and left the room, nearly running into a wall when he finally caught sight of Raw and Jeb. He was taken aback by how very small and young his child looked and it gave him pause. As much as he wanted to go to him, to touch Jeb’s hair and whisper soothing words like he used to so long ago, he knew he would just get in the way.
So he pushed himself on, finding a small pile of green blankets in the storage closet quickly and returning to where he was needed, with Glitch.
“What can I do?” He handed over the blankets and helped Emily tuck two of them around Glitch, who hadn’t spoken since he collapsed. His eyes were half-open and glazed, staring at the ceiling. Wyatt eased one of the folded blankets under Glitch’s head then brushed the stray curls from his forehead.
“Just talk to him, keep him comfortable and relaxed,” Emily said, fingers wrapped around one of Glitch’s wrists. “Let him know he’s safe.”
Wyatt nodded, leaning down close so Glitch could see him. “Hey, sweetheart,” he said, running his fingers over the clammy, pale cheek closest to him. “Everything’s okay now, you’re here with me and Raw and Jeb’s being taken care of. Can you hear me?”
Glitch blinked a few times before turning his head slightly, eyes finally meeting Wyatt’s. “Cain? Where’s Jeb, he’s...he’s hurt...”
“I know, Jeb’s safe now, he’s with Raw,” Wyatt reassured the confused Glitch. “You got him to us, you’re both going to be just fine. You saved him.”
“Oh,” Glitch sighed, his head rolling to the side to look at Emily. “Hi.”
Emily smiled at him. “Hi, Glitch,” she said, letting go of his wrist and instead combing her hands over his still-dirty hair. “How’re you feeling?”
Glitch frowned, taking a long time to consider his answer. “Tired.”
“I’m not surprised,” Emily replied, fussing with the top of the blankets. “You just rest for a bit. Are you warm enough?”
“Yeah,” Glitch closed his eyes for a moment then made an unhappy sound, reaching up to touch the back of his head. “Stupid thing,” he mumbled, fingers tugging at the end of the zipper.
“Here,” Wyatt shifted to sit down flat on the floor, stretching his legs out in front of him. Scooting up, he helped Glitch sit up just enough so Glitch could lay his head on Cain’s lap, the dip between his legs making a natural space for the zipper pull. Getting Glitch settled, Wyatt looked up at their hostess. “Can you check on Jeb for me?”
“Of course,” she got up quickly, giving Wyatt’s shoulder a reassuring pat as she passed by on her way out.
~~
Jeb woke surrounded by warmth, but not the same pain-filled fever he last remembered. He opened his eyes slowly, blinking to clear his vision and seeing only an unfamiliar room. A tall bookcase, the back of a chair and a stone fireplace was about all he could see so he shifted to sit up, only to find that he was trapped.
Pressed securely against the middle of his chest was Raw’s hand; Jeb’s arms had folded over it unconsciously. Under his head was Raw’s other arm and Jeb realized he was completely tucked within Raw’s body and they were curled up on their sides on a narrow cot.
Raw snuffled against the back of his neck and Jeb smiled. The last thing he remembered was a blur of pain, dirt and blood, so he knew Glitch must have gotten him to Raw somehow. He definitely owed Glitch one for that.
“Jeb?” Raw’s voice in his ear was soft and warm.
Turning his head, Jeb saw Raw looking down on him. “What happened?”
“Glitch brought you to town; we already here. Jeb hurt badly. Sick,” Raw answered, sliding his hand down to rest on Jeb’s side.
“But you took care of me,” Jeb finished for him. “Thank you.”
Raw pressed a kiss to Jeb’s throat. “Love,” he murmured against Jeb’s skin.
“Love you, too,” Jeb moved his hand up to clasp Raw’s where it was resting. “Where is everyone? My dad? Glitch?”
“Glitch not feel well,” Raw informed him. “Resting with Cain in bedroom.”
“Is he okay?” Jeb moved to sit up, concerned for the man who had become a second father to him.
“Yes,” Raw assured him, shifting to sit up as well. He kept his hand on Jeb’s back, warm and secure.
Jeb turned to look toward the nearest window, noting the darkness. “How long has it been?”
“Middle of night,” Raw answered. “Many hours.”
“I want to see my father and Glitch,” Jeb decided. “Where are they?”
Raw stood, too, leading Jeb down the hall silently. They stopped at the first room on the left and Jeb saw that the door wasn’t closed all the way. He pushed on it slightly, enough to see into the room. There was a small lamp sitting next to the bed and Wyatt was sitting up, a book in his hand, while Glitch was sleeping on the side furthest from the light.
Wyatt looked up and saw them, a smile emerging quickly. He set the book on the table and eased off the bed, careful not to disturb Glitch.
Joining them in the hall, Wyatt pulled the door closed behind him but didn’t let it shut, leaving it cracked like before. He spun around quickly and took his son in his arms, holding him tight for a long time before saying anything. “Hey, kiddo,” he finally whispered. “You’ve been sleeping all day, every time I checked on you.”
“Did Glitch tell you what happened?” Jeb asked, pulling away but staying close enough for their quiet conversation. “At least the parts we know?”
“Yeah, he said you were both thrown and you were lucky enough to land in a sharp stick,” Wyatt answered, dropping his eyes down to inspect the nonexistent damage.
“Does anyone know what the explosion was?”
“Same as we heard the first time. It wasn’t a gunshot, it was an underground fuel tank exploding. The one that you two got caught next to was the next in a line of storage tanks. They’re still trying to figure out what made them go up like that, if I’m not mistaken,” Wyatt replied with a frown but shook his head. “We called ahead to the Palace earlier, had them send over a car and a couple of stable hands to take the two horses we still have back. We can leave first thing in the morning if everyone is feeling up to it.”
Jeb nodded, leaning against Raw as his energy started to fade again. “It’ll be nice to get home,” he said, resting his head against Raw’s shoulder, folding his arms over his chest. “Remind me when we get there to write a thank-you letter to Glitch.”
“Why not just tell him in person?”
“Because if it’s written out, he won’t forget how much I appreciate what he did for me.”
Raw wrapped an arm around Jeb’s middle, pulling him close and resting his cheek on the top of Jeb’s head. “You are tired.”
"A little," Jeb admitted, failing to hold back a yawn.
“Take him back to bed,” Wyatt told Raw, leaning in to kiss Jeb’s temple. “Sleep well, son.”
“You too, dad,” Jeb replied.
~~
End Chapter 7
Continue to Chapter 8