(no subject)

[amicably_absent]

It was something Ambrose had been putting off doing.

In the privacy of his rooms, he took off his coat and hung it up, slipping off his shoes and tucking them under the bed. His socks went next, into the laundry chute, then his shirt (off over the head), and his striped undershirt, which was tossed down as well. He dumped his pants down there as well, mildly disgruntled at Glitch's refusal to bother with underwear.

He cracked the curtains to let a streak of setting sunlight through. He walked forwards, tugging the cloth from the mirror.

It was not as bad as he feared.

It was not as good as he had hoped.

Some of the scars were vaguely familiar. One on his arm from a sword fight, maybe. On his hand from a design that went wrong. Others though...

He turned, looking at himself. He was even paler than he had been, arms and legs thinner, but there was wiry muscle. It seemed to be the fat had gone first, then the muscles. Little relief, but it was something.

It was still a sight he didn't like. The wild curls softened his face and just seemed messy. The zipper was an ugly scar he couldn't remember; his fingers touched it softly, barely able to look in the mirror and completely unable to look away as he saw his fingers touch metal as he feels the coolness, the rough texture catching his skin even as he felt soft tugs on his scalp as it happened.

He drew his hands away sharply, looking down to his body again. Small shifts changed the light casting over him, brought other marks into sharp relief. A star burst in his shoulder and in his lower back, bones jutting against pale skin, ghost like and alien body not his own very much his.

He closed his eyes and reached for the cloth on the ground, ending up standing there with his head bowed, cloth clutched to his chest as he was torn between throwing it over the glass and wrapping it about himself.

At least the sunlight on his skin felt the same.

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[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

Evening came, and they had finally agreed to settle in for a quiet evening of just being together. They'd share a pot of coffee, maybe something sweet to go with, and they'd curl up wherever they wanted to read Glitch's diary and Wyatt's letters. It was something Wyatt had looked forward to since he left that day with Jeb. They'd spent the day together, completely lost in the blissful rush of being together again, but as the day drew to a close, Wyatt had begged a short reprieve so he could clean up in his rooms, get the dust of the road off him. He promised to come back within the hour, with a fresh pot of coffee, and whatever the kitchen staff would let him sneak away with.

When he comes back, the door to Glitch's rooms is slightly ajar, and he takes it as a sure sign of invitation. He steps inside, and only then catches sight of the bathroom door, also ajar. And inside, the glint of light off metal, the hint of bare skin.

It's the quietude that makes him set down the tray on the table by the fireplace. It's concern that makes him draw closer to the bathroom. Something is not quite right.

"Hey." Softly. Gently, watching from the threshold.

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Ambrose had been completely lost in his own thoughts and musings, in the conflict of emotions and internal roiling and conflict to pay any attention to the outside world. The voice takes him completely by surprise, making him drop the cloth with one hand, half turning to look at Cain with wide eyes. "I didn't realise, I was just, he didn't..." He swallows and tries a shy smile. "Hello?"

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And just like that, he knows what's going on. Or rather, he knows that Glitch isn't the one in need of some support.

He smiles back, meeting Ambrose's eyes before reaching for the bathrobe on its designated hook just to the right of the door. "It's all right. I don't mind."

It's been a long while since they had a chance to chat, him and Ambrose. He doesn't mind at all as he holds out the robe, in case that's what Ambrose needs.

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"I didn't realise you were coming back so soon," he murmurs. "Thank you, Wyatt." He slides on the robe, dropping the cloth to wrap himself in the robe, doing it up. "I'm sorry for startling you."

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"You're welcome. To be fair, I think I startled you more than the other way around."

He eyes the mirror, connects a few dots on the way. "...would you like some coffee? I brought a fresh pot and some peach cobbler. There's more than enough for the three of us. You, me and yourself."

What he meant to ask was if Ambrose is all right, but he supposes he'll take the long way 'round. If he sticks around long enough, that is.

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He draws the robe further closed around his neck, slightly pinked in the cheeks. "Thank you. I'm very fond of both." He picks up the cloth, throwing it over the mirror again and cutting away the view.

"If you don't mind me staying." It's the offer to try and let Glitch back through. "It's been a long time since you were here."

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He offers the bend of his arm, despite the fact it's a ridiculously short walk to the table and the surrounding chairs. "I wouldn't have offered if I did mind. I'm sure Glitch won't either. Shall we?"

Him and Glitch will have plenty of time making up for the weeks they spent apart, all in due time.

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Ambrose takes his arm with another shy smile. "Thank you, Wyatt." He feels a touch unsteady after examining his body anyway. "You're a true gentleman."

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"My old man taught me well," he replies, leading the way at a moderate amble. Lets Ambrose pick a seat before taking the chair next to him, and pours them both a cup of java.

"How have you been, Ambrose?"

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"He did." He seats himself down, adjusting the robe to cover himself properly and make sure no skin pokes out.

"Me? I've been going through my old work. I understand a lot, but I don't seem to be able to make it work like I used to. Glitch can though." He takes a cup of coffee and sips softly. "How was the trip away? With..." he pauses, frowning slightly. "With... your son?"

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

"Really? That's interesting. How you deal with different things, I mean." The interest is genuine, because, he suspects, if he knows how Glitch's brain works, he'll better know how to be there for him if need be.

"It was hard work. We tracked a group of Longcoats halfway across the Zone before we caught up with them." He sips as well. "It feels so strange, being on the other side of the fence. I used to be part of the Resistance, now I'm fighting it..."

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Ambrose nods slightly. "If nothing else, I'm learning a fascinating study, if too personal one, about head casing and re-brainment, watching how the two of us interact."

He nods as Cain speaks. "Much how I felt during the war. I was used to being in the advantageous position and suddenly we were on the back foot, losing ground to Azkadellia's army. It's good to be back on this side."

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"It's good to be back," he echoes, reaching for a plate, and scoops up a nice helping of cobbler for his friend - even if it's something like a stretch at the time, that's where they're headed if he has any say in the matter. Makes sure he gets a nice bit of biscuit like crust, then hands it over with the addition of a dessert spoon.

"It's good to know the suns will continue to rise every morning. It's good to just be alive and reasonably well, knowing things will change for the better."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, again," Ambrose says softly. He lets it cool a bit more, breaking it up with his spoon, blowing on it and then popping it in his mouth to suck clean.

"You can feel the upswing in the land itself. The magic is seeping back into the land now it's not being channeled and perverted by the witch."

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He nods, helping himself to a serving. "People are starting to hold their heads high again."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Ambrose takes a small nibble of his food with a sigh. "The weight of the world is lifting... People are playing again. Even the adults." There's a faint smile and sparkle in his eye as he glances up at Wyatt and back again.

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There's the faint hint of colour blooming on Wyatt's cheeks as Ambrose's words hit home. "Yeah," he chuckles. "Yeah, even the adults."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Ambrose gives a small chuckle that sounds suspiciously close to a subdued version of Glitch's giggle. "The world's been too solemn for far too long."

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"I couldn't agree more." He raises his cup in an informal little toast that needs no exclamations and no clinking. He sips, enjoying seeing Ambrose like this. He's been too solemn for too long, too. He obviously needs to get out more.

"How do you like the cobbler? Anything like you remember it?"

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Ambrose smiles around the next mouthful, swallowing before speaking. "I don't remember it. How silly is that? I remember liking it, but not how it tasted." He sighs with contentment. "Like baths. I don't remember them from before either."

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

"No, it makes sense," he tries to reassure Ambrose. "I know exactly what you mean. Like coffee. I hadn't had a cup for years until I went to the kitchen at the Tower the morning after. I didn't remember what it tastes like, or how I used to brew it. I just wanted a cup. It's the same with a lot of things."

He feels the same way about other things, but he isn't sure how much he should share. "I remember Jeb as a boy, running towards me. I remember sweeping him up and spinning him around before hugging him, but I don't remember how heavy he was, or his warmth, the texture of his clothes or his hair or if he smelled like the woods after a day of fun and games.

"I just remember loving him."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

It's something Ambrose can't compare to. He can't remember loving anyone like that.

"It must be hard, to have those memories of your son fade like that. But remembering that you love him is maybe enough." He looks slightly distant for a moment. "My birth family was dead before the war. But I can't remember how they died."

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

"It's enough for me. There's no other way."

He looks up, watching Ambrose calmly despite wanting to pull him into a hug, because all he can see is Glitch sitting there, remembering something heart wrenching. But maybe he's imagining things.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"I should just be thankful I remember they were gone before the war," he shrugs slightly awkwardly and looks down. "My family was always in the palace. Until little DG..."

His gaze goes distant for a moment.

He looks up with a small frown.

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

"Yes?"

Better to be safe than sorry, he figures, to let Ambrose figure things out in his own time.