(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.

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[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."

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"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.

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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.

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"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.

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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."

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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.

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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?"

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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."

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

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He breathes deep, his eyes fall shut, and for the first time in forever, he doesn't feel shut in. He can just sit here, safe within the protective circle of Glitch's arms and feel...everything.

The brush of skin on skin where their cheeks touch, the rustle of fabric and the clean, warm smell of Glitch beneath the artificial citrus. The heavy blanket of warmth settling around his heart, the heavy weight of his wedding ring; it's about balance. Laura used to say he'd never subscribe to the easy life, and right here and now he knows she was right. Life won't be easy with Glitch, but he wouldn't want it any other way.

"Yeah."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Glitch eventually stops fidgeting and wriggling and actually settles where he is, because while it is strange and new, it's something that he likes and could get used to.

"I don't think anyone ever did this before."

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It's a good thing that the wriggling stops, because there's only so much a man can do to focus on keeping things platonic. But Glitch relaxes, sinks deeper into their embrace, and maybe that's okay.

"About time someone did, then."

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Glitch hums softly,

There's a knock on the door. "Mister Cain? Master Ambrose?" Rennie, probably with food.

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He pats Glitch's back. "Food. Let's get up, huh?"

To Rennie, "Just a second."

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"Sooner stay here than eat," Glitch grumbles and pouts.

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"Just minutes ago you asked if we'd eaten yet. I say we eat, then we can do whatever we want."

He pulls away, to look into Glitch's eyes. "Almost anything. You need to give your feet a rest."

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"I am a bit hungry..." He untangles himself and slides back up into the chair, folding himself up small to fit comfortably. "No dancing outside?"

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And Cain stands up, knees creaking like the old joints of some machine. "Maybe you can persuade me. Later."

One peck to his lips later, Cain's at the door to let Rennie in. "Much obliged, Rennie. Come in."

He's still not quite dry since helping Glitch with the bath, but if he doesn't mind, neither should anyone else.

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Glitch doesn't react in time to return it but beams at the kiss and bounces in his chair.

Rennie comes in with a tray with enough food for two. "Kitchen said you missed dinner and lunch, Mister Cain." The tray goes down.

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Cain shrugs, mouth working silently to somehow politely decline the offer for food. He doesn't come up with anything worthwhile to say, so he stops trying.

"I was busy. Thank you."

Doing whatever chores the kitchen staff needed, then chopping wood, and after the dip in the lake, losing himself in whatever distracting and physically exhausting thing what needed doing he could find... Talking to Jeb on farspeaker... It's been a busy day.

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"Bad, Wyatt. If you don't remember to eat, I can't do it for you! I can't do it for me." He bounces over though, grabbing a cup and inhaling. "Mm, muglug."

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He comes over, picking up his cup of soup, at which point his stomach decides to voice its opinion. Hunger pangs, his first, actual hunger pangs in days.

Smells good. He sips, and the familiarity of the flavours makes him smile. "I'd forgotten how good this is."

So what if you can't tell what's in it. It's filling, it's tasty, and it's inexpensive. Nothing like it.

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"There was a place used to give out muglug. Didn't even comment on the zip. Or at least, I don't think they did. I don't remember it..." He takes a deep drink, exhaling a puff of steam. "Hot."