Disclaimer:See first chapter.
Author's Note: I don't know how this got so long, but it really did.There are more then a handful of spelling errors in this chapter.I hope to have those cleared up by tonight. But until then please enjoy my buthchering of the english language.
The Connecting Strands:Baller Or Brawler?
"This collars determined to choke me."Cain complained,tugging at the stiff collar of his military jacket absently in the mirror's reflection.
DG grinned when she saw the ex-tin man touch the imaginary brim of a hat that was no longer on his blonde by the royal seamstress along with his gun at great risk to the portly womans life.He'd been growling under his breathe ever since.Duster and boots no where in sight,Cain was wearing a white uniform that reminded DG of the white formal uniforms the navy wore.But she had to admit,Cain pulled it off a whole hell of a lot better then Tom Cruise.
"At least you don't have to spend all night in three inch heels."DG said.Cain winced as he focused on the footwear in question.
"Got me there,you win."He conceded,but his hand still fumbled with the collar,trying to loosen the top button like he was accustomed to.And DG was getting annoyed.
"Keep that up and I'll tell Ambrose how you fussed over your clothes like a girl."DG teased.
Cain's eyes narrowed at her reflection in the mirror.
"Guess I'll let Zipperhead know who put braids in his hair post-op then."Cain offered, a faint smirk curling up one side of his mouth as DG's smile disappeared.
"Truce?"She squeaked.
"Truce."He agreed.Especially since Ambrose already knew that bit of information.
He turned to the mirror and scowled at his reflection as DG went to get her necklace.
"Tell me something,kid.You've got Ambrose and Raw going to this thing,they know how to play sophisticated,"Cain mumbled, turning to give DG a suffering look."So why'd you have to get me trussed up for it too?"
DG picked up the small emerald teardrop pendant from her dresser, the smallest piece of jewerly her mother seem to own and attempted to fasten it around her neck.
"Ambrose is escorting AZ to the ball, Raw is going alone to represent the other Viewers and I am an escort short."She shrugged."Sorry,Cain.Should of looked closer at your job description."
Cain scoffed,pulling the jacket hemline down lower, damn thing was too short."Should of read the fine print." He mumbled.
"I heard that!"
"Good."
Truth be told, the seamstress had just about as much luck with DG and complacency as she'd had with Cain.If the tin man was a growling bear, DG could be labeled a cornered wild cat.Of course, it could have been the puffy pink ball gown they'd orginally tried to put her in for this ball.It had taken a lot of persuading and compromise for DG to have all the underlayers,poof,frills and color tossed out the window and start the dress making process over again.In the end DG ended up with only one under layer to give the gowns skirt a slight bell shape, and a sleek bodice with silk, off the shoulder sleeves.All done in a rich hunter green color that was traditionally her sisters choice shade. She'd done very little to her hair, letting it fall across her shoulders in it's natural way,if slightly more tamed then usual.
The pendant was supposed to create a focal point on her throat,if the piece of jewerly would actually latch.But the latch was so small that DG had the small catch digging into her thumb and still gotten nowhere.
DG heard an exasperated sigh from behind,then the hairs on the back of her neck prickled as two foreign hands took both ends of the chain from her.
"Pull your hair out of the way."Cain said close to her ear as he tried to see where the two ends connected.
DG did as she was told in a slight daze, her eyes looking up into her vanity mirror to meet a strange sight.She looked slightly disheveled with her hair pulled over one shoulder,Cain bent over her bare shoulder to squint at what he was doing.His hand brushed across her neck as he fastened the thing finally and DG looked up to meet his eyes in the mirror.
His blue eyes crinkled at the sides in a faint, half there smile and offered his hand.
"Come on princess.Can't be late for your first ball."
DG smiled, trying to dispell how fast her heart was beating and took his hand.
-----
Standing on the staircase landing, four couples and a single were lined up in order to proceed down the staircase.Az and Ambrose,then Raw, followed by Ahamo and the Queen.DG and Cain had been forced to the front to boths displeasure.DG's mother thought it was better that the O.Z. saw their lost princess first,giving the people hope in the new future.
DG could feel a swarm of hornets flying around in her stomach and wondered why she couldn't feel butterflys, at least they were a more pleasant imagery.Cain stood stiff next to her as if he were going out to face a raging battle without his gun.His hand twitching a bit at where his gun would usually be.
"We're going to celebrate,Cain.Not shoot up a saloon."DG whispered to him out of the corner of her mouth.
Cain kept his eyes forward."Like you're doing any better.We'll go on three."
"Okay,on three."She said,holding his elbow a little harsher then necessary.
"1..."
"3!"Glitch said from behind as he pushed them both onto the first step.That's when the music started and they had no choice but to keep going.
Their walk down the stairs was thankfully unplagued by clumsyness or mishap, something that DG had feared the most.How do you openly welcome a lost princess and expect her to help run a kingdom if she couldn't even put one foot properly in front of the other?
Once the procession had finished, each member of the royal family and court met a warm round of applause.Even Az who had feared this event the most because of her posession, could genuinely smile at her people.
DG felt the tension start to slowly melt away as the music started to play and people around her started to talk animately.She,Az,Glitch and Raw had made a small group around the King and Queen's diase to keep each other company and talk while Cain took his place against the wall. Injecting a comment here and there or returning a friendly potshot at Ambrose when the two felt their old bantering rythme kick in.
"DG,Cain is being mean."Glitch whined.
"What are you, two?"Cain growled back.
DG rolled her eyes."Don't make me seperate you two."She chided, pointing her finger at them in some mock threat."I'll do it."
Glitch looked rather pleased with himself,Cain just shook his head and started watching the dancing couples that had taken over the floor.DG wondered what kind of response she would get if she asked the tin man to dance? But she had a funny feeling that either Cain wouldn't want to dance or he didn't know how. Still it would be interesting to feel what his arms were like outside of a hug or turning himself into a human sheild.
"Excuse me, Princess DG."
DG turned to the voice and found a man slightly older then herself standing there.Brown hair styled back artfully,dark blue suit immaculate, handsome features schooled into a smile that was dripping with sugar and bullshit.
DG may not have come across a lot of politicians in her life,but this one was kind of hard to miss.
"Yes?"She asked politely,feeling Cain tense behind her by habit more then the tingling of his Cain senses.
The man gave a bow equally as schooled as his smile."My name is Derek Corvin,representative of the Border Zones.I was wondering if I could request a dance with your highness?"
He was nice enough but DG still turned a pleading look on Az who only returned it with sympathy.
"Sure,why not?"DG said, repeating in her mind that she was taking one for the family here.Wishing in the back of her mind that she had pulled Cain onto the dance floor after all.
-------
Cain watched Corvin pull DG away from the group closely.Politics had changed since his time on the force, and his job had never really dealt too much with the higher branches of the law, so his knowledge of the past wasn't that much use when he tried to place Corvin's face.But Cain didn't trust politicians as a principle. And the fact that this one had just twirled the woman under his protection out of his reach made the man number one on his list until Corvin put the princess back right where he'd found her.
"If you stop scowling she might ask you to dance next, Mr.Cain."Azkadelia said from her seat.
Cain let his eyes move to the crown princess for a moment before sliding back to DG.He tilted his head towards Corvin. "Know anything about this guy?"
Az smiled knowingly."Avoiding the question, Mr.Cain."
"Doing my job, your highness."Cain replied monotone, refusing to let Az know that the idea of dancing with DG was very appealing.
Az sighed, letting it go since the man refused to give."Corvin is new I think.He was instated right after we defeated the witch.He's a climber,but most of them are." She said with a dismissive shrug."Other then that he's pretty harmless."
It should of put Cain at ease to label Corvin as harmless.But the way he held DG with false familiarity just got under Cain's skin.
-----
"It's a pleasure to finally see the long lost princess.I came all the way from the Border Zones just for the chance to meet you,your highness."Corvin said as he led her through the brisk dance.Thankfully it hadn't given either of them enough breathe to speak that much, but the man had tried none the less.
"That's nice,"DG said quickly, moving her feet along to the steps Ambrose had diligently drilled into her head the last week.She was more focused on counting the steps in her head then what he was saying."What are the Border Zones like?I haven't had a chance to see them yet."
Corvin spun her out and then back, he tried to pull her close but DG stubbornly kept their dancing frame firm to deter the contact.He frowned, a stage frown.
"The lands are devastaed from the Witch's reign I'm afraid.It was just as beautiful as the O.Z. once.But no more."
DG winced."Oh."
But Corvin's smile was quick to return,like a bright idea had just struck him."Maybe if you come visit, see the B.Z. yourself.I could be your personal guide to show you the sights of my home.That way you could see how in need of assistance we are."
And DG saw exactly why he'd pulled her out here."But we already have representatives in the Border Zones. We're doing what we can to help everyone, but it's still too soon to get everything sorted out."DG worded what she said carefully.But all in all she expected it was the best answer she could give.
But it didn't seem to slacken Corvin's determination."You can still pay a visit at least, your highness.I'd be happy to be your detail on the journey,so you won't have to worry about your safety."
"I already have a bodyguard, but thanks.I'm not up for any trips right now."DG said, a little annoyed this time. The guy just wouldn't stop.
But the mention of Cain made Corvin's nose twitch unpleasantly, like he smelled rotten garbage."Yes, the Tin Man.I guess when your a wash up like that, you'd take a royal hand out job as a blessing."
DG was stunned by Corvin's tone.Why was he insulting Cain?In front of her.
"For your information,Wyatt Cain is one of the three men who got me home in the first place.He deserves much more then the job he got, but he wanted to take it."DG replied hotly,defending her friend and forgetting the dance steps all together.
Corvin scoffed."The man spent eight years in a tin suit I heard.Spending half the war sealed away from the world, a useless wreck."
-----
"Uh oh,damsel in distress at three o'clock."Glitch spoke up, sitting up straighter in his chair when he saw the look on DG's face.
"DG angry."Raw agreed.
Cain had to blink before he saw it himself.He'd been so busy watching DG, he hadn't actually been paying attention to what she was doing.The pinched look on her face around her eyes and the tightness of her mouth was something Cain had seen before.
That boy better be wearing a bullet proof vest under his suit.
-----
DG glared at Corvin and jerked away from him."Wyatt Cain has more courage and heart then anyone I know.There is nothing wrecked about him at all." Her words were tight,her anger just boiling under the surface.
"Anything wrong?" The man in question asked as he walked purposefully towards them.
Corvin smiled tightly at him."Nothing at all..."
"I wasn't asking you."Cain said, cutting the other man off roughly.He turned to DG."Everything all right,princess?"
DG nodded,not quiet through with her anger yet to smile at him."Yes.Mr. Corvin and I just finished."
Cain nodded and offered his arm wordlessly which DG took, letting him lead her back to the others.But Corvin's voice caught them before they could go far.
"We were actually just talking about you, Mr.Cain?"
DG felt her blood rush in her ears as Cain stopped and turned to look at Corvin.
"That so?"
Corvin smiled that same nasty smile as before."Yes.I was informing the princess how unsuitalbe an old tin man was as a bodyguard.Wouldn't you agree, Mr.Cain?"
The grim smile that tugged at Cain's mouth at Corvin's words was intimidating.Cain turned around to face Corvin completely, his hand falling to his hip where his gun normally was."Want to see what an 'old' tin man can still do to people who bother his charge?"
The tone of Cain's voice was dangerous and DG put an hand on his arm to stop him."Cain,he's not worth it.Let's go."
She felt the muscles under the the white fabric loosen under her hand as he silently relented, somewhat reluctantly."Good dog."Corvin commendedCorvin's stupidity had obviously reached a new level.
Corvin found himself on the floor moments later, nursing a bleeding mouth.
The ballroom fell into immediate silence. The music stopped as did the dancers, who were now staring at the three figures frozen on the sidelines of the dance floor.Silent, that is, until DG's eyes widened and her eyes filled slightly with tears.
"Ow,ow,ow,ow!"DG whimpered,shaking her throbbing fist that she had used to punch Corvin with.The man looked better laid out on his ass,but god did punching him hurt.
Cain...didn't exactly know how to react to what just happened.DG had just punched Corvin,because of him.For some reason the fact could not register properly in his mind.Part of him wanted to kiss her for doing something so ballsy.But hearing DG's painful mewling,a bigger part of him wanted to kill a certain politician.
Corvin,who was still nursing his bleeding mouth in shock, cowered when he saw Cain towering over him with a warranted death glare.Cain only made a barely there gesture with his hand and two guards appeared out of the crowd to 'escort' Corvin from the ball and back to the Border Zones.In a slighter rougher way then how he'd arrived.
Once that was taken care of,Cain turned back to DG who was now frowning down at her red knuckles and trying not to cry.
Cain caught sight of Ahamo and they shared a silent understanding.
"Come on,kid.Let's get that fixed up." Cain said gently,guiding DG out of the ballroom and away from the prying eyes of the O.Z.
DG didn't know where Cain was taking her, and she didn't paticularly care.She just wanted the pain to go away.She was suprised when she felt strong hands wrap around her waist and lift.DG made a startled noise when Cain planted her on one of the palace's unused kitchen work tables where he could get a better look at her hand.
He carefully uncurled her fingers and DG felt the joints throb.
"Ow!" She whined pointedly and Cain nodded.
"Pains good.It means you didn't break anything."Cain informed her, moving each finger around carefully even as she hissed.If she kept them curled up like that the pain would get worse when muscles coiled too tightly.
"You're not supposed to go out on a limb to make my job harder you know."Cain quiped as he massaged the muscles between her fingers.DG winced at the tenderness of the skin but found a small comfort in the ministrations,the careful way he moved his thumb over her skin.
"Yeah well...when people start bad mouthing your friends,ow...who's job it is to punch the bastard doesn't really matter."DG hissed, flexing her fingers a little bit when Cain let go to find her hand wasn't so cramped and stiff anymore.
Cain watched her,not sure what he could say in the face of what she'd done.There were going to be reprecussions for a member of the royal family attacking a zone representative.DG must of known that, but she'd gone ahead and punched Corvin without a second thought.
"I'll get some ice for your hand."Cain said instead and walked away.
DG watched Cain as he moved about the kitchen silently, pulling a cloth rag out to fill with ice.He looked so out of place, they both did dressed like they were.It was funny.Dress them both up and they were still the biggest trouble magnets in the room.
Cain was back with the ice in a few minutes.Taking her hand carefully in his and applying the make shift ice pack with the other.DG bit back a whimper at the cold bite, but Cain let his thumb stroke gently over her wrist where there was no swelling and she felt her body relax a little.The cold ice starting to numb the pain away.
"Thank you."
DG's eyes widened,giving her a doe like quality."What?"
Cain smiled at her, a little wry but a smile all the same."I said thanks.I haven't seen a right hook like that in a long time. Actually made tonight worth while."
DG liked that look on him.His full on smiles were rare and wonderful, but the half smiles, the ones you caught just for a moment were special in their own way.That's how she knew he wasn't wrecked.
DG leaned forward, feeling how her knees pressed into his thighs and put her uninjured hand on his chest.Cain stopped what he was doing and watched her.And DG was suprised to feel his heart beating strong and rhythmically as if he'd just been sprinting instead of simply standing in front of her.
And DG could of taken that advantage,acted on a whim to see what would happen.But looking up at Cain's face,the expressionless features that stared back at her,molded perfectly around eyes that were frantically asking her what she was doing.It stopped her.Making her hand slide up to Cain's collar instead and undoing the first two buttons so the stiff fabric parted and exposed his throat.
"Better?"She asked as she watched Cain tilt his head to the side and scratch at his throat with a sort of relief. "Yeah,"he said,a little unsure.
Still he looked a bit stuffy.
DG suddenly hopped down from the table, ball gown and all and took Cain's hand in her uninjured one.
"Where are we going?"Cain asked,probably bewildered by the last few seconds.But DG thought it best not to dwell on what she'd almost done.
"To find your hat."DG said with a toothy grin.Giving them both a mission that for now would keep the questions they were both asking themselves at bay,at least for tonight.
Next Story:Comforter