(no subject)

[amicably_absent]

Glitch had swum for hours, chasing fish and insects and bubbles and sunbeams. Eventually, worn out and tired, he had swum to shore and curled up on the bank on the sun warmed pebbles, grumbling about his lack of coat until he fell asleep.

He woke up with Rennie shaking him, a scolding voice telling him he had to come in, he was all wet and dirty and needed a bath and clean clothes, and was she going to have to strap him in the chair.

Glitch reacted predictably.

He screamed at her, judo flipped her while sitting down, dove into the water, swam to a far edge and took off.

Rennie asked Cain to go find Glitch and bring him in before he froze or hurt himself.

Glitch had retreated to the rotunda, sitting on the seat and swinging himself back and forth, watching the sun setting on the lake. He was soaking wet again, but his trembling didn't seem to worry him at all.

Comments

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Glitch has a lot of new clothes that he's never worn, preferring to wear the same ratty clothes day in and day out.

But, regardless of that, Glitch finally dries off and comes padding out with the towel wrapped around his body and favouring one foot. "Wyatt?"

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

He hums acknowledgment, but takes a moment more to turn around.

Which is when he sees the foot, and starts walking over. "Yes?"

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"Are you okay? Just thinking?" He keeps standing there, wrapped in the towel and hair still wet.

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

His expression softens, and he nods, coming to stand in front of him. "Just watching the moons.

"You?"

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"I like the moons. They're just bright enough that I fall less." He looks to the window. "Um, oh! I remembered what I was going to say! My foot's all scratched up."

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

"Then we'll fix it." He helps Glitch to one of the armchairs. "Sit down, let me have a look."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Sitting down, Glitch stick out his bony leg, wriggling his toes. The sole of his foot has several long scratches that had scabbed over until the vigorous drying and plenty of smaller ones. Nothing serious though.

Glitch hugs the towel around him more. "Did we eat?"

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

"Not yet. Rennie's bringing up food within the hour." Holding Glitch's foot in both hands, turning it to the side gently but firmly to make sure it's just scratches, he glances up.

"I'll get the medicaid box, clean the sores, wrap them up nice and good." He gets up, heading for the bathroom.

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Glitch nods and stays still for about two seconds before a new thought comes. "Hey, Wyatt, who's Rennie?" He stands up, for a tiny moment, the towel forgotten.

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

He doesn't get far; turning his head mid-step to repeat what he swears he's said a dozen times already; all thoughts of Rennie vanishing at the sight of long legs leading up to narrow hips and a dark patch of h...h...h--

He tears his eyes away by sheer force of will, his face fast approaching the shade of a ripe red plum. "Glitch. Towel. Towel, or clothes."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"Towel?"

Things click back into place. Glitch shrieks and dives for the towel, wrapping himself up into a virtual knot in it, knees in front of him and cloth tangled around. "Oh my goodness, oh my goodness." His face in buried in his knees.

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

And Cain responds by doing the only thing he can do. He gets the Medicaid box, makes a detour by the bed for the clothes, and then crouches down in front of Glitch with a soft sigh.

He places his hands on those pale, bony, covered knees. "Hey, Sweetheart, it's okay. I'm not embarrassed by you, or the fact you forgot. I'm embarrassed because I couldn't stop myself from looking. You have nothing to be ashamed of. I forget what happens to white clothes when submerged into water, you're so comfortable around me, you forget about context. No big deal."

That's enough of a ramble for one day, but he's got one more little thing left in him that needs out. "As long as you don't forget kissing me in there, we're good."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Glitch peeks out over his knees and over Cain's hands, cheeks red. He nods rapidly, scrubbing at his cheeks with his hands. "Forgot I wasn't dressed," he admits.

"I don't think I'll forget that. Ever."

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

"You'd better not," he teases, eyes glinting with ill disguised humour. "But if you do, I guess I'll just have to remind you."

He picks up the sweater he found, holds it out. "But first..."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"Clothes." He reaches his arms out, sliding into the sweater and dragging it on over his wet head. "Feels funny... it's so loose."

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

"As long as it's comfortable." He gives Glitch an assessing look, then, "It looks good on you."

The pants, he'll...be a good sport and help out with those too. Just so Glitch gets each foot in the right pants leg, is all. So he doesn't forget.

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

With the towel for protection, Glitch wriggles on the pants up and under the cloth and gets them done up.

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

And that done, Cain folds the towel and places it under Glitch's feet, then reaches for the medicaid.

"You know how this goes. Cleaning wounds can hurt no matter how shallow they go." He pops the cork on a small, dark blue bottle, soaks a cotton bud with the contents, and sets to work.

Every last scratch on Glitch's feet will be cleaned up and tended to before he's done.

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"I know. It's okay." He leans back into the armchair, breathing out. He stays quiet, hissing under his breath as each touch washes out the injuries.

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

He works in silence, meticulously working over every cut, every nick, every trace of Glitch's recent escapades.

He even goes so far as to clean his feet before bandaging them up and easing on a pair of socks.

It's only after that he feels awkward. He didn't have to do all those things. Not technically.

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Afterwards, Glitch slides gracefully down half into Cain's lap and hugs him. "Thank you, Wyatt. You didn't have to do all that."

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

Full of grace...

It very nearly makes Cain's heart swell to the point of breaking, and he wraps his arms firmly around his friend. He has no idea what word to put to this something between them, other than 'good', other than 'right'.

He looks into Glitch's eyes, a soft smile to his lips, the turns his face to press a tender kiss to his cheek.

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Glitch is still a touch awkward at hugs, all elbows and knees, but he does cuddle in and lean close.

He looks back and beams when he gets a kiss. "What did I do to get that?"

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

Hidden among the black curls that smell like satsumas, the smile on Cain's lips grows wider.

"You didn't have to do anything, Sweetheart."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"Oh. That's nice then." He leans in more, cuddling close.