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A/N: Wow! If I'd known I'd get this wonderful of a response, I'd have written a Tin Man story a lot sooner! Thank you all so much! Your reviews have spurred the Musey-poo into action a lot sooner than expected, something that doesn't happen often. PLEASE KEEP UP THE REVIEWING and tell me your likes/wants/thoughts/whatever for this story. They really do feed the Author's need! Enjoy this chapter…a little more DG/Cain!
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Chapter 2 "Unwanted"
She'd seen him enter the palace, his strong, purposeful stride unmistakable even though she was still a fair distance away. DG slowed as she entered the palace walls, her necessity to see Cain suddenly taking a back seat to a burgeoning nervousness. The butterflies she'd quashed before returned with a vengeance, and DG found herself fidgeting with the hem of her coat.
Deciding that putting off their reunion might be the better course of action – for she couldn't, at that moment, think of a thing to say to him – DG chose to simply take in his features from a distance as she slowly followed him. The breadth of his shoulders always seemed larger when under his long brown coat. Perhaps it was the cut of the garment, or the way he held himself: strong, honorable…brave.
Watching Cain, DG realized that the way a man carries himself tells a lot about their character. Whether in the heat of battle, infiltrating a hostile fortress or simply taking the lead while they journeyed down the Old Brick Road, she'd never seen Cain's body language project anything but confidence and power. She remembered how something warm and glowing steeled her resolve during the most frightening trials of her adventure, every time she looked at him.
Thinking back on that, and watching the (she secretly and grudgingly had to admit) rather attractive backside of the Tin Man retreat into the state room, DG allowed herself a small smile. He was back… and if the way her heart was speeding up was any indication, she had missed him.
There last encounter had been strained – he'd received word that Jeb needed reinforcements, and while that was enough to keep him preoccupied, he'd been almost short with her when she tried to ask him about the trip. DG knew he hadn't given the Queen an answer about becoming the Royal Guardian of the Palace, and she wanted to ask him about that too – but he'd brushed her off.
It had stung, no matter how much DG tried to hide it. She'd been feeling left out – barely able to spend time with her three friends for all the royal smothering she had to now endure. She was hounded day and night by tutors, servants, dress makers, and all other manner of princess-ly hullabaloo – it was maddening! Thoughts of home were invading her mind more than ever…and most of all… she wanted someone to talk to.
Wyatt Cain had always been her first choice. He'd never judge her, only listen and give advice when needed. She used to love the compassion she saw deep within those cool blue eyes of his – and occasionally, though her mind may have been playing tricks on her, she thought she saw just a little something more simmering beneath his gaze.
But before he left, he'd been distant toward her. And with her own emotions frayed, she'd taken it to heart – probably behaving a bit coolly toward everyone.
As DG neared the state room door she couldn't help but hope that perhaps, since he'd been able to spend the last two weeks with Jeb, and that maybe they both had needed a little time apart, things would be better.
The voices in the room caused her to halt just outside the door. DG knew it wasn't nice to eavesdrop, but with the way sound echoed in that place, sometimes one could do little but overhear.
The discussion about the state of the Royal influence in the Eastern Mountains was surprising. She didn't realize Zero had rounded up that many recruits. The raving psycho must have had better people skills than she gave him credit for.
She imagined what the map Az referred to must look like: something out of the seventeenth century with dragons and monsters marking the uncharted territories. From the way Az was talking about the O.Z. these days, it sounded as if someone should write "Beware! There be Monsters here!" all over half of the map. Something in DG that longed for a change to the doldrums of royal society perked its ears up at the thought of charting the unknown.
Her mood fell like a stone, however, when she heard her mother address the issue of Cain's future station. The Queen had again queried him about becoming the Royal Guardian – DG held her breath. When his answer came out stilted and unsure, she realized how immature she was being. As she listened to them discuss whether or not he should have a more 'mobile' role between the military and the crown – she felt her chest pinch with bitterness.
To her, it sounded like he wanted his carefree loner-life back – able to come and go as he pleased, do his job and nothing more. And who am I to deny him that, she wondered.
After hearing her mother and Az exit through another door, DG considered going in. But her heart had sunk along with her hopes that Cain might be glad to see her. It didn't sound like he wanted to come back to the palace at all – he'd much rather be out rough-riding with Jeb and the cavalry.
"Sure sounds like it to me. Besides, you've been gone so much since the Eclipse, how would you know how safe DG is?"
DG's head snapped up from her morose thoughts, Ambrose clearly ringing through Glitch's voice. He sure had come a long way from his stuttering days, though once in a while, it was clear that a circuit or two were still off.
The low growl in the Tin Man's voice made her spine tingle. It always seemed to have that effect on her, though she was loath to admit it.
"She's safe as long as I'm around."
That statement should have made her blush. There was a time when such a proclamation – powerful and adamant – coming from a certain Tin Man would have made DG's knees a little wobbly. It was a statement full of the bravado befitting the fairy-tale world she was a part of now, and once upon a time she might have even given into the hyperbole of the moment.
But all the statement aroused in the princess right then was indignation. Closing her eyes against the wave of emotions – the strongest of which being anger in herself for foolishly believing that the man who'd guarded her safety through her first adventure, would ever care about sticking around afterward – she rested her head against the cold stone wall. Perhaps she really didn't mean that much to him…other than a ward to be looked after.
DG was too hurt to cry, and even if the tears pricked her eyes, there was no way she'd let Cain see them. He'd said something about being back… for a while – his tone obvious that this was something he wasn't looking forward to – DG shook her head and nearly laughed at the irony. Her suspicions were true, it seemed.
But when he refereed to her as "the kid", yet again, something brittle inside her snapped and she strode into the room.
"The kid can take care of herself," she said coolly.
When Cain turned, giving her the roguish tip of the hat and that irritatingly handsome half-smile, she had to avert her eyes. He did look like he was glad to see her, and that only poured salt in the wound. After what she'd heard… DG chewed her lip, then feeling the ire welling again within, brought her eyes to his.
"Hey there, Princess."
She damned him for sounding so nonchalant, so at ease, so familiar – the phrase she'd loved to hear coming from him, as though it were private and special, meant only for the two of them. Her heart winced.
Glitch broke the silence that followed Cain's greeting. "Oh! Hey DG! Through with your lessons already?"
DG shifted her weight to one hip. "Yeah. I dismissed class early today. It was going nowhere anyway." She looked down and muttered, "Sort of like a lot of things in my life right now."
Cain's smile fell a notch and worry entered his face. "Something wrong, kid?"
Though she knew he meant it only as an expression of concern, DG tilted her head and squeezed her eyes shut, as though the effort of speaking with him was physically painful. It was.
"Don't," she bit out, "Don't call me that. Please." When Cain opened his mouth to ask her what she meant, she moved across the room to the map table. "I'm sick of being called that. I'm not a kid, Cain."
She could feel Glitch shifting nervously next to her while she looked over the map of the O.Z. He looked back and forth between the princess and Cain, the latter wiping the shock off his face and replacing it with a mask. Concern still emanated from Cain's eyes however, and Glitch knew DG had struck a blow – he just wasn't sure if he needed to start ducking as well.
Cain cleared his throat. "Sorry…your Highness."
At that, DG sighed through her nose, her brows drawing together and Glitch decided that a hasty retreat was needed before the two of them started exchanging fire.
"Well…uh… you know? I think I have some things to be taking care of," Glitch started back-tracking, "In fact, I know I do! Research, filing…"
Cain sent him a glare that meant "stumble over your excuses faster and get the hell out." Glitch nodded but before he left, he put a hand on DG's shoulder.
She looked up at him, surprised, and he whispered, "I know you're mad…about… something…but he did miss you, you know."
DG fixed her gaze back on the map before her, now completely alone with Cain for the first time in weeks – multitudes of words tumbling over themselves inside her head, all screaming to get her attention.
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Cain's foot falls echoed ominously throughout the room. DG stood still, pretending to look at the map as he came up to her side, studying her posture. He could see the strain in the set of her jaw, the anger radiating off her like heat waves on a sun-scorched sidewalk. But above the tension, Cain could feel her warmth, the lightness he always felt when close to her permeating his being.
It had been too long. For the life of him, he couldn't remember the last time he stood this close to the young princess, and it bothered him. But he could, however, remember the feelings that had been swirling in his brain the day he rode out for Jeb's camp – the events that led up the stifling awkwardness that surrounded them now.
Being too close was dangerous – for the both of them. Just before he left, she'd tried to talk to him, and he knew she'd needed him for something – even if it was just to open up. The spark had dulled in her eyes over the past few months, but Cain had just attributed it to the pressure of becoming princess. They'd locked eyes for what seemed like an eternity – until Cain broke the contact rather harshly, tamping down the feelings roiling within and hoping his ears weren't burning.
With word from his son about the growing numbers of Longcoats, the lawman in Cain ached to get back out and deliver justice – not to mention the growling animal he kept caged within his soul that yearned to get a hold of Zero one last time…
But that still didn't explain the flurry of emotions he had to deal with every time he was face to face with the forceful, sometimes out-spoken and always confusing youngest princess. And while Cain had dealt with many a scary thing in his life, this was something new and strange. Cain had never dealt with 'new and strange' very well…
Cain watched DG for a moment more before venturing to ask, "So, how are your lessons going these days? The Pooch still droning on about the light flowing and all that?"
There was a smile in his tone, and DG felt a little knot of tension in her shoulders ease. He always did have a way of settling her down, even when he was the one who'd riled her in the first place.
"Always," she said. "He still thinks I'm not ready to learn defensive magic yet, even though I know I can do the spells."
Cain smiled somewhat. "Well, some of that mumbo-jumbo could be dangerous – even to the one who's performing it." He watched her scanning the dark parts of the O.Z. map. "There's enough out there for me to worry about without you trying to blow yourself up."
"There it is again!" DG's voice rose, she leaned hard on the table and looked up from under dark bangs at him. "What part of 'I can take care of myself' don't you people understand? All I ever hear are people telling me what I can and can't do. Don't do this DG… its not like a princess to do that, DG… as a princess you are expected to be this, DG!"
Cain could do little but stand by and let her rant, understanding her frustration but not knowing how to comfort her. He'd been around enough royalty to understand the suffocation that comes with it. He'd worried what kind of toll it would take on DG.
"Hey, we're just looking out for you, DG."
Her arms flew out wide. "Yeah! I've heard that one too! When do I get to decide for myself?" She slumped in the desk chair and the pitiful set of her shoulders made Cain's chest tighten.
She ran a finger over the grey area to the right of the Northern Palace, her voice was hushed. "Back home, I was totally responsible for myself. I got myself to work, I paid my bills, and I fixed anything mechanical that Dad couldn't." She glanced up at Cain. "But here… it's like…I can't do anything right. Not the way everyone expects me to do it, anyway."
A part of Cain, the part who loved independence and self-reliance, understood her. But the other part – the one who'd protected innocents from things they couldn't possibly imagine all his life – only wanted to shield her.
Something in the way she said "back home" tugged at a string in his soul. "I don't think anyone expects you to be perfect, DG. But there are things that your aren't ready to deal with alone." He leaned in on the desk, drawing her eyes to the dark areas of the map.
Without thinking, as if his hand had a mind of its own, he reached out and stilled the finger she was using to trace over the grey area near the Northern Palace. Her hand was small and cool under his, for a moment he simply marveled at the way it fit under his fingers.
DG went rigid under his touch. Once she'd held his hand easily when she needed his stolid support, though now, a frightening flood of emotions came with the skin-on-skin contact.
Staring at their joined hands, Cain found his voice. It was softer, sincere. "You don't know what's still out there. I do. Zero is amassing forces all over the Western mountains. And even though the Witch is gone, there are plenty more nasties out there to take her place."
DG swallowed shakily and pulled her hand slowly from his grasp. Cain ignored the way the loss of her touch felt.
"I'm well aware that this world has all manner of crazy things lurking around. But at least… before… people gave me the benefit of the doubt. Life is all about learning and experiencing. Here, all everyone wants to do is avoid."
Cain heard the timber of her voice change when she, again, mentioned her life before coming to the O.Z. And he also couldn't help but get the subtle hint – the double entendre behind her avoidance remark. Glitch had hinted at the same thing, Cain thought sourly. He hadn't been avoiding anything – he'd been doing his job! But deep down, he knew in his heart of hearts that protecting DG was no mere job. It had become something more, though he knew he shouldn't and couldn't explore that possibility – at least not now.
Frustration took over. "I don't know how things worked on the Other Side, DG… but I do know the O.Z. So you're going to have to trust me when I tell you that it's best you follow Tutor's advice on the magic."
DG stood, looking incredulously at him. "Why don't you just restrict me to the palace? Since you seem to know what's best for me…"
"I may just do that, Princess," Cain shot back. His fists balled, but he set them at his hips pulling his coat back over his guns in an unconscious show of authority. "Look," he tried, "I know things have gotten tough for you around here, but–"
DG audibly scoffed. "Oh please. How would you know anything that has been going on around here, especially about me? You haven't been here!"
When his hands fell off his hips, his face melting into guilt and he started to justify his actions, she cut across him.
"I know, I know… you had to go facilitate our forces in the territories. And you know what, Cain? I understand that. I really do. You are really great at the military leadership thing."
He sighed and shook his head. "You sure don't sound like you understand much of anything, Princess." His voice lowered, and he searched her face. "I have a duty to ensure the safety of this realm, not just what's behind these walls."
Once the words left his mouth he regretted them – DG's eyes lowered, all the defiance replaced by sadness. Suddenly tired, Cain pushed his hat back on his head and sighed.
"DG, I–"
DG spoke up, crossing her arms over her chest, "I didn't mean to imply that your duty was to the Royal family alone, Mr. Cain."
The use of his formal name made him cringe.
"What I meant was that while I understood that you had to leave, I don't understand why you couldn't talk to me about it," she said. Her eyes met his, tiredly, "Or why you couldn't say goodbye."
He swallowed. "I'm sorry. Things just came up…I guess." It was lame and he knew it.
She nodded, setting her jaw. "Well, you don't have to worry about me. I took care of myself pretty well for twenty six years before I came here. I can keep on doing it. If you're needed elsewhere, go on."
At this, Cain wiped a hand over his face, exasperated. "Ah hell, DG! You can be so damned infuriating – I'm not GOING anywhere!"
DG's cheeks flamed in anger again as she shouted, "Well I don't need you here!"
There was a moment when she seemed to have shocked herself with the statement, and even though Cain knew she didn't mean it, the sting burned all the same.
"Well, I don't care what you want," he rumbled. He faced her down, and to his surprise she didn't back away – but stared defiantly back into his eyes. "I'm staying. So if you think you're going to go out looking for trouble to get into just to prove yourself… think again, Princess. I won't be far behind you."
DG lifted her chin. "Think you know me so well, do you?"
Cain leaned in, bringing his face only a foot from hers. He was close enough to see the anger crackling within her blue eyes, and he'd be lying if he didn't admit that he found it attractive. He'd always found women the most attractive when they were angry. That thought made something stir in his belly and he quickly reined his mind away from that line of thinking.
Pulling his hat low on his brow again, Cain's lips pulled into a smirk. "I know you."
It was a simple declarative statement – no room for misunderstanding. Oh he knew her alright – knew her penchant for getting into trouble – and he wanted to make it clear that she could pull nothing over on him. Cain knew he'd let his temper get away from him, but a fuming DG seemed to have that affect on him.
So when the nearest bookcase clattered to the ground and both sets of double doors to the room slammed shut with a deafening boom, he barely flinched. DG had been learning to move things with her magic for a while, but this was the first time she'd moved multiple things – heavy things – in the heat of emotion. DG jumped a little, startling even herself with the display of magical energy that she obviously wasn't trying to control.
Taking a step back and a steadying breath, DG glanced around. The three-tier bookshelf lay on its side, books piled around it exploded like confetti. Her face lost a little of the flush of anger, and Cain swore she looked weary. Perhaps using magic when her emotions were high was physically taxing…
He started to reach out to her, to ask if she was alright – but she pulled away, her brows lowered. Something shut off, like a door closing between them and Cain could feel icyness set in. If he wasn't so frustrated with her he might have said something.
But DG looked at him with a resigned finality he didn't quite understand.
"No," she said finally, her voice hollow. "You don't really know me."
His eyes linger in the spot she'd vacated, the sound of the door closing reverberated through his being. When had things become so shut-off between them? Why was she fighting him, tooth and nail, when she knew that everything he did was for her safety?
Why did he find himself thinking and feeling all these strange emotions around her all the time, like he wasn't comfortable in his own skin – and being near her rendered all his senses null? He hated himself for talking to her like her wishes didn't matter…like she was a job, nothing more.
And he hated that she was hurting and wouldn't tell him what he could do to help. If he could help… seemed to be the question. Lately he hadn't been the best of friends to her, and he knew it. Why had everything become so damned complicated?
Cain closed his eyes, trying to tamp down the anger, frustration and bone-weary fatigue of the last few weeks. His teeth ground together, hands fisted – before his brain caught up with this body, one of his boots came out and struck the heavy desk, a fierce growl tearing from his chest.
The weighty, dark wooden behemoth did a full flip before landing with a crash of splinters and paper. Heaving steadying breaths, Cain looked at the damage.
He straightened his hat and said a little prayer that the Queen would understand why one of her desks fell victim to his rage. DG had a way of getting to him… that was for sure…
"Dammit," he muttered, just before the guards came through the doors to ask why the Tin Man had unleashed his wrath on defenseless office furniture.
TBC…
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