(no subject)

[amicably_absent]

Six weeks is a long time for anyone. For Glitch, it is both forever and no time at all, depending on the exact minute.

Overall, it's been a long time. He's been glitching again, not severely, but more than he prefers. Going through his old labs in Central City, in the palace itself, he's remembering glimpses that flinch away as he reaches for them.

He has no concept of how long has passed. No one's thought to really remind him, he almost prefers not knowing. And no one was sure about when the Tin men would return, so no one really pushed it.

Which is why Glitch isn't waiting for them when they return. He's sitting in the garden, reading his old diaries and half listening to the whispers of Ambrose. He's still wearing Cain's hat though.

Comments

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

It's easy enough to find DG, not quite as easy to get away from the welcoming committee showering you with hugs and news and the heartfelt inquiries of how things have been. Wyatt leaves Jeb to bring everyone up to date on their work, while he slips off with DG to find Glitch. She leads him briskly to the garden, surprisingly silent in her new pair of favourite boots and her not so favourite mass of flowy skirts, and once they're there, she kisses him on the cheek, pointing to exactly where she saw Glitch last. Good luck, she says, and pushes him along.

Not that she needs it, he's already rushing in among the flowers and trees. It mends his heart and breaks it all over again to find Glitch sitting under a big, old apple tree.

"Hey, zipper-head! I hope you saved some apples for me!"

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"I can't eat that many apples, tin man."

The he pauses.

Glitch looks up from where he was seated, already on his feet. "Wyatt?!" He runs, hand steadying the hat on his head, diaries dropped and papers scattered as he flings himself forward into Wyatt's arms, kissing him deep and hard as he hits him and not caring if they go over.

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

He's bracing the moment he sees Glitch move, laughing at his obvious excitement and when he crashes into him, it's like it was just yesterday that they kissed last. It's lacking anything even remotely akin to finesse, but he doesn't care much for it. Right now, all he cares about is the fact they're together, and they're both well.

When they finally come up for air, words just fall off his lips without the slightest effort. "I've missed you so much. Could barely think of anything else."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

He kisses hard and relieved, grateful to have the man back in his arms where he belongs. "I didn't forget you," he whispers. "Not once. I never forgot and Ambrose didn't forget, except the one time he forgot who Her Majesty was too and then Raw put him to bed."

He's building muscle again though, pallid skin slightly coloured by sunlight.

He kisses him again.

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

Trusting someone that they'll keep a promise is one thing, because no matter how deep that trust goes, there's always the hint of doubt that they will, lurking at the very back of your mind. To see that it kept, to know it is exactly the way you hoped it would be is such an incredible release that Wyatt isn't sure he can take it all in.

But there's one thing he can do, once their second or fifth or twelfth kiss ends. "I want to show you something."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Glitch keeps kissing, getting very close to bearing them to the ground in his eagerness.

"Hm? Show me, something?" He takes another deep kiss.

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

There will be no bearing anyone to the ground in the Queen's own garden, but Wyatt can't keep them both standing up much longer. They'll have to compromise by settling on the ground in a half sitting heap.

He holds up his left hand with a smile.

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Glitch looks at his left hand, half sitting on his lap. He remembers Cain, but very specific details elude him.

"That's not my hand. The shooting hand is my hand."

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

"But this hand used to wear a ring," he says, very measured. "A ring of great importance, but I don't need it anymore."

He gave the ring to Jeb not long ago, feeling it belonged in his care now. It does. More than that, he wanted Jeb to have the complete set.

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Glitch takes his hand, fingers rubbing along his fingers along each one until he pauses. "Your wedding ring! Oh. Your wedding ring, you've taken it off. Are you sure?" He clutches Cain's hand to his chest.

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

"I won't lie, it feels strange without it." Not to mention he could barely get it off, but he doesn't say that. Instead his hand flexes against Glitch's chest.

"But it feels right, Glitch. It is right, for me."

It was Jeb who'd convinced him it was the right thing to do, once again returning to his initial standpoint; that there's no use living in the past, and that Adora would want to see him happy. She wouldn't judge him for finding happiness again.

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Glitch beams. "I always knew you had a bit, squishy heart under that tin." He perks. "And I have something for you!"

He sweeps off the hat and perches it back on Cain's head. "I didn't forget you. I won't ever forget you. Not except for those little moments where my brain glitches and I introduce myself again..."

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

"But I love those glitches." He chuckles, bumping his forehead softly with Glitch's. "Don't ever stop, okay? Never."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"Don't think I could if you wanted me too." He leans his forehead to Cain's, staying there. "I missed you so much, Wyatt. So very much."

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

The hint of cold steel at his hairline is beyond soothing, and it makes him sigh with contentment. "Count the ways, why don't you? I've been going crazy the past few days, knowing we were going back."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"You can only ever miss someone one way. And that's like a physical ache. Because they're always in your heart and you can always remember them... unless you're me, but even I don't forget some things."

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

He wasn't even serious about counting the ways, but when Glitch goes there, something tightens in his chest and releases a flood of warm affection.

"You don't forget me."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"No." He hugs him back, then kisses him again, deep and slow and leaning him back into the grass, hands cupping his face and tenderly holding on while they kiss.

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

There's so much he wants to talk about, so many questions he wants to ask, but all of it evaporates with the touch of Glitch's lips, of his hands and his weight encouraging him to lay back.

With the suns up above like this, and the soft earth underneath, he can't think of any other place he'd rather be.

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Glitch stretches them out comfortably, lying on Cain as he kisses him again, slow and deep.

"Missed you. Don't go again. Not yet."

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

With some luck, DG and Raw will know to keep people away, no matter how well-meaning they are. But, disregarding the fact they're outside, in a somewhat public place, it's so nice just to be close again.

"...about that." He hesitates, not knowing how to put it. "I've been thinking about that. That, maybe my place isn't in the Queen's Guard."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

And the part of the garden is private and cut of, which is why Glitch sits out here to read.

And now, lies on Cain here. "Oh?" He kisses him again. "Where then? I don't want you to go again."

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

"No, hear me out." He looks into his lover's eyes, hoping they show that it's okay, he has no plans of leaving so soon.

"I'm thinking of rejoining the tin men. Here, in Central City."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

He looks him in the eye, delight showing in his face as he listens. "Tin... Oh Wyatt!" He hugs him and kisses him again passionately.

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

He laughs through the kisses, hugging Glitch tight, hands bunching the fabric of his clothes both here and there, moving one second to bury themselves on soft, dark curls, the next to bring pale hands to his lips - still pale, despite the hint of colour to them. He had a feeling his plans for the future would get an enthusiastic response, but this is more, better, than what he expected.

"I wanted," he says between kiss after kiss after kiss; between smiles and chuckles. "To be closer to you. To have something more of a routine from day to day," more kisses cut him off. "Some structure."

He feels like structure is something they both would benefit from.