Fic: Social Butterfly
Title: Social Butterfly
Rating: PG
Characters: Glitch/Cain, mention of DG and nameless others.
Summary: Glitch falls back into his old ways and Cain cannot take it.
Cain could only assume that his own, long-held prejudices were to blame. After all, it was common knowledge that headcases were more often than not former criminals. The stigma stood, even after the abhorrent practice had been banished from the justice system.
So, in the months following the fallout of the Witch’s reign, when everyone reclaimed their proper places in the governing body, it came as quite a shock to see Glitch back in his rightful position and presumably (since Cain had only known him for a short time), back to his old ways.
Every other pretty girl, and every third handsome young man, was seen as just another opportunity for Glitch to flirt and entice. Most often into a dark corner for a clandestine kissing session; occasionally into their bed.
And it was more than Cain could take, because he too, unwittingly, had fallen into that very same trap. At the time, half-frozen and weak, bundled under blankets and listening to the raging snowstorm outside the broken-down wagon, it had seemed like they had simply taken their growing friendship to the next natural step.
They had been casual lovers since then, more often than not simply sleeping in the same bed. Comfortable with one another, no need to use sex as an excuse to spend the night with each other, they had fallen into a rhythm that Cain had found soothing and easy.
But when the formal dances had started up again, the social butterflies returning to the palace to stake their claim in the royal family’s public circle, Cain soon realized that he was the only one who thought their relationship mattered.
And so, days before yet another ball, Cain had pulled Glitch out onto a deserted balcony and, unable to meet Glitch’s curious, innocent gaze, had broken off whatever it was that they’d had.
“I’m sorry, Glitch,” Cain had said, his fingernails digging into his palms at his side and his eyes fixed on a cracked stone tile on the floor. “I just...can’t do this anymore.”
“Was - did I - Cain, please tell me what I did wrong so I can fix it,” Glitch had pleaded brokenly and it was almost enough to shatter Cain’s resolve. Almost.
Cain had crossed his arms tightly, closing his eyes. “You and I...we’re just different people looking for different things, I guess. I can’t stand by and watch you...”
“Watch me what?” Glitch’s frown had been in his tone.
“Never mind,” Cain had gathered himself, drawing from all the pent-up frustration and anger he felt every time he saw Glitch walk away with someone else. “It doesn’t matter. Just - I can’t do this with you.” And with that, Cain himself had walked away.
Now, watching the flowing movement on the dance floor blur around him, Cain could only clench his jaw and watch as Glitch took another wealthy, educated, beautiful woman for a rousing waltz. It was for the best, Cain thought to himself. Glitch deserves a chance at freedom.
Cain’s thoughts were cut short by a resounding slap and he looked up to see Glitch’s dance partner storming away in a rage. Glitch was frozen in the middle of the floor, one hand hovering near his jaw but not quite touching. Cain saw him glance around, face stained red with humiliation, just before he hurried toward the nearest exit.
Out of the corner of his eye, Cain saw DG start to follow, but he caught up with her and silently touched her shoulder. The message was clear - he would take care of it. It was what he did.
Suddenly, Cain found himself alone with Glitch, having not spoken to the man since leaving him on a balcony just like this one. And he wondered what he had been thinking, coming out here.
Glitch was leaning against the railing, his hands gripping the top firmly. He glanced over his shoulder, taking in Cain’s presence before turning away again. “Why’d you follow me?” Glitch asked, his voice soft and filled with pain. “Come to gloat?”
“What happened in there?”
There was a pained laugh. “She asked me to go on a date with her,” Glitch replied, his tone colored with confused bewilderment. “But I...I turned her down.”
It was Cain’s turn at confusion. “Why would you do that?”
Glitch stood suddenly, spinning around and jabbing Cain’s chest with one long, thin finger. “Because I can’t - “
“Can’t what?” Cain pushed, seeing that same fire blazing in Glitch’s eyes that he knew burned in his own whenever he thought about the other man.
“You said you can’t do this anymore, not with me,” Glitch started over, firmly holding his ground. “But I can’t do this without you. You reminded me of who I am, of who I was and what I’m worth. You gave me confidence and I thought I could be what I was before. The Queen’s very own rentboy.”
Cain held his breath, held his tongue, waiting for Glitch to work himself out of whatever it was he was getting at.
Glitch raised his head, eyes clear and determined. “But I’m not that person anymore,” he declared resolutely. “And all I want is to be with you.”
“I’ve watched you make an ass of yourself the last few months,” Cain reminded Glitch. “Just like a butterfly, flitting from one pretty thing to the next, forgetting about it as soon as you turn your back. What makes you think you can be what I need?”
“What do you need?”
Cain sighed, lifting his hand to brush his fingers lightly over Glitch’s jaw. “I need to love you. Unconditionally. I need to know that if I need you, you’ll be there for me and not off with someone else. If that makes me selfish, for wanting you to myself, then fine. I’m selfish. But I love you, Glitch.”
The silence hung between them for a long time. Glitch couldn’t seem to find the right words, his throat working but no sound coming from his mouth. Finally, he settled for slinging one arm around Cain’s shoulders and pressing a solid kiss to Cain’s temple. “I love you too,” he finally said. “I think I always have. I just...forgot the person I’d become - with you - for a while. Sometimes, I forget how much time has passed. That I’ve grown up.”
“Don’t worry,” Cain felt a smile tugging at his lips and he decided to share it with Glitch. He stole a quick, chaste kiss. “We’ve still got plenty of time.”
Glitch grinned and ducked his head, bumping it against Cain’s shoulder. The zipper felt cold against Cain’s throat. “Wanna dance?”
“Thought you’d never ask. Come on.”
~*~
End.
Rating: PG
Characters: Glitch/Cain, mention of DG and nameless others.
Summary: Glitch falls back into his old ways and Cain cannot take it.
Cain could only assume that his own, long-held prejudices were to blame. After all, it was common knowledge that headcases were more often than not former criminals. The stigma stood, even after the abhorrent practice had been banished from the justice system.
So, in the months following the fallout of the Witch’s reign, when everyone reclaimed their proper places in the governing body, it came as quite a shock to see Glitch back in his rightful position and presumably (since Cain had only known him for a short time), back to his old ways.
Every other pretty girl, and every third handsome young man, was seen as just another opportunity for Glitch to flirt and entice. Most often into a dark corner for a clandestine kissing session; occasionally into their bed.
And it was more than Cain could take, because he too, unwittingly, had fallen into that very same trap. At the time, half-frozen and weak, bundled under blankets and listening to the raging snowstorm outside the broken-down wagon, it had seemed like they had simply taken their growing friendship to the next natural step.
They had been casual lovers since then, more often than not simply sleeping in the same bed. Comfortable with one another, no need to use sex as an excuse to spend the night with each other, they had fallen into a rhythm that Cain had found soothing and easy.
But when the formal dances had started up again, the social butterflies returning to the palace to stake their claim in the royal family’s public circle, Cain soon realized that he was the only one who thought their relationship mattered.
And so, days before yet another ball, Cain had pulled Glitch out onto a deserted balcony and, unable to meet Glitch’s curious, innocent gaze, had broken off whatever it was that they’d had.
“I’m sorry, Glitch,” Cain had said, his fingernails digging into his palms at his side and his eyes fixed on a cracked stone tile on the floor. “I just...can’t do this anymore.”
“Was - did I - Cain, please tell me what I did wrong so I can fix it,” Glitch had pleaded brokenly and it was almost enough to shatter Cain’s resolve. Almost.
Cain had crossed his arms tightly, closing his eyes. “You and I...we’re just different people looking for different things, I guess. I can’t stand by and watch you...”
“Watch me what?” Glitch’s frown had been in his tone.
“Never mind,” Cain had gathered himself, drawing from all the pent-up frustration and anger he felt every time he saw Glitch walk away with someone else. “It doesn’t matter. Just - I can’t do this with you.” And with that, Cain himself had walked away.
Now, watching the flowing movement on the dance floor blur around him, Cain could only clench his jaw and watch as Glitch took another wealthy, educated, beautiful woman for a rousing waltz. It was for the best, Cain thought to himself. Glitch deserves a chance at freedom.
Cain’s thoughts were cut short by a resounding slap and he looked up to see Glitch’s dance partner storming away in a rage. Glitch was frozen in the middle of the floor, one hand hovering near his jaw but not quite touching. Cain saw him glance around, face stained red with humiliation, just before he hurried toward the nearest exit.
Out of the corner of his eye, Cain saw DG start to follow, but he caught up with her and silently touched her shoulder. The message was clear - he would take care of it. It was what he did.
Suddenly, Cain found himself alone with Glitch, having not spoken to the man since leaving him on a balcony just like this one. And he wondered what he had been thinking, coming out here.
Glitch was leaning against the railing, his hands gripping the top firmly. He glanced over his shoulder, taking in Cain’s presence before turning away again. “Why’d you follow me?” Glitch asked, his voice soft and filled with pain. “Come to gloat?”
“What happened in there?”
There was a pained laugh. “She asked me to go on a date with her,” Glitch replied, his tone colored with confused bewilderment. “But I...I turned her down.”
It was Cain’s turn at confusion. “Why would you do that?”
Glitch stood suddenly, spinning around and jabbing Cain’s chest with one long, thin finger. “Because I can’t - “
“Can’t what?” Cain pushed, seeing that same fire blazing in Glitch’s eyes that he knew burned in his own whenever he thought about the other man.
“You said you can’t do this anymore, not with me,” Glitch started over, firmly holding his ground. “But I can’t do this without you. You reminded me of who I am, of who I was and what I’m worth. You gave me confidence and I thought I could be what I was before. The Queen’s very own rentboy.”
Cain held his breath, held his tongue, waiting for Glitch to work himself out of whatever it was he was getting at.
Glitch raised his head, eyes clear and determined. “But I’m not that person anymore,” he declared resolutely. “And all I want is to be with you.”
“I’ve watched you make an ass of yourself the last few months,” Cain reminded Glitch. “Just like a butterfly, flitting from one pretty thing to the next, forgetting about it as soon as you turn your back. What makes you think you can be what I need?”
“What do you need?”
Cain sighed, lifting his hand to brush his fingers lightly over Glitch’s jaw. “I need to love you. Unconditionally. I need to know that if I need you, you’ll be there for me and not off with someone else. If that makes me selfish, for wanting you to myself, then fine. I’m selfish. But I love you, Glitch.”
The silence hung between them for a long time. Glitch couldn’t seem to find the right words, his throat working but no sound coming from his mouth. Finally, he settled for slinging one arm around Cain’s shoulders and pressing a solid kiss to Cain’s temple. “I love you too,” he finally said. “I think I always have. I just...forgot the person I’d become - with you - for a while. Sometimes, I forget how much time has passed. That I’ve grown up.”
“Don’t worry,” Cain felt a smile tugging at his lips and he decided to share it with Glitch. He stole a quick, chaste kiss. “We’ve still got plenty of time.”
Glitch grinned and ducked his head, bumping it against Cain’s shoulder. The zipper felt cold against Cain’s throat. “Wanna dance?”
“Thought you’d never ask. Come on.”
~*~
End.