I apologize again for how long it's been taking me to write chapters. Life just takes over y'know. Anyway here's the sixth chapter! Yay!
Disclaimer: No rights... no matter how much I wish I owned Tin Man i don't
They all waited with baited breath as Cain made his decision.
"Oh all right... but you," he pointed to DG "Better not do anything this stupid again." DG nodded. "And you," he pointed to Glitch this time.
"What?" Glitch said his goofy grin back in place.
"Try not to be too much of a hastle." It was true that Glitch hadn't been much of a hastle on this journey but now that DG was here... there was no telling what kind of trouble the pair could get into. Glitch nodded
"Fine that sounds easy... that sounds easy... that sounds easy..." DG put her hand on his arm.
"Glitch," she said warily.
"Oh, sorry..." He said breaking out of his glitch "damn synapses don't fly right."
"Well if we're going to be getting anywhere anytime soon..." Cain said with the air of a leader once again. "We better be off." placing money on the counter to pay for the drinks Cain led everyone back out the door. As they left DG dawdled behind Raw, Cain, and Glitch so that she could get Jeb off to the side.
"Listen Jeb..."
"No it's fine." he said looking her straight in the eye. "I understand... that basket case."
"Jeb I never said I chose." DG said closing her eyes. She l-lo-loved both of them but how much and in what way was still a mystery to her. DG sighed. "Okay so just, let me have some time." Her eyes opened slowly to look at him for an answer. He could tell from the way that she was looking at him that she was telling the truth. What was he supposed to do about that? Try to win her over that's what. His youthful airs came back to him in a whirlwind.
"Alright then." he said grinning. DG smiled back.
"I never said I forgave any of you either." she teased then walked off towards the rest of the group. Jeb could not stop grinning. He may have lost the battle but he would not loose the war. That basket case goof was no match for him.
"So where are we going?" DG asked Cain, excited to be with them once again even if she was terribly mad for them abandoning her.
"Realm of the Unwanted, from what I've heard it's all cut throats and criminals down there." Cain said gruffly. For chrissake why did she have to come along? "Jeb you keep a close eye on her when we're down there." Jeb grinned at this.
"Alright." He said happy with his role as protector. Glitch's face fell abit as Jeb strode to join DG. She smiled at him and it felt like Glitch's heart was in his throat. Where was he in all of this.
"Glitch,"
"Yea Cain"
"You too." Cain didn't look back at him but somehow he knew that his friend's mood had lightened with that. Both of them would be great protectors no matter how much of a space case Glitch was. A. They both loved her and B. They could both fight. Wasn't that what Glitch's gun lessons were for. The advisor to the Queen was packing and he even knew how to fight. That had been obvious whenever they needed to take down some bad guys.
"Okay." he said trotting over to the other side of DG. She linked arms with him and his smile broadened as Jebs' waned.
Trying to compensate Jeb grabbed DG's hand and brushed his lips against the back of it before letting their hands drop so that they were walking hand in hand. Luckily each of them was glaring at the other so DG could release the eye-roll that was absolutely neccassary. In response to Jeb Glitch manuvered their arms so that while they were still linking arms he could hold her hand. DG snorted but again neither of them noticed. She glanced over at Raw who was trying to compose his laughter.
"DG like attention?" he asked and both suitors turned their glares on him
"Sometimes." she smirked. Wriggling her hands out of theirs she turned and kissed each of them on the cheek before trotting up to where Cain was and linking arms with him.
"Hey kiddo." he chuckled
"Hey. So Realm of the Unwanted..."
"Yup... don't go getting yourself kidnapped again I dunno what these two would do. Or your parents for that matter." DG laughed
"I'll try not to get kidnapped." she agreed
"That-a-girl"
"Cain I think we should stop. It's getting kind of dark" DG suggested
"Not yet"
"Almost there. Need rest. Walking for hours." Raw pitched in
"C'mon Tin Man have a heart" Glitch complained
"We should keep going," Cain said whipping around, " We could get into the Realm of the Unwanted before nightfall if we kept going..."
"Dad night is already falling." Jeb pointed out.
"Alright, alright. A little rest never hurt anyone"
Glitch sighed thankfully and collapsed where he was. DG who had turned around just in time to see this smiled. She let out a comfortable sigh. this was all so familiar. The adventure... the closeness. It was so much better than the confines of the palace.
"Deege." Jeb broke her out of her trance. DG realized that her and Glitch had been staring at each other as both of them thought. He was probably reminiscing too.
"Yea"
"Here's your pack" About an hour before Jeb had offered to carry DG's pack for her. She smiled at him.
"Thanks'
"No problem" Jeb smiled back as DG took her pack from him. She was so close that he could smell her. Jeb liked that feeling. Feeling both his father's and Glitch's glare on him Jeb fought the urge to embrace DG. Taking a step back he cleared his throat. "Well, I have first shift," DG nodded "So... Good Night."
"Night" DG agreed taking a step back, then as a second thought she kissed Jeb on the cheek. He might have been caught off guard but he didn't show it. When it looked like he was leaning closer for a real kiss she teasingly spun around and walked towards where Glitch had collapsed.
Glitch was staring at DG. His mouth hung open. She really was a strange one. When it looked like she had chose she just went off and did something completely unexpected. Although he couldn't complain at this current moment because when she walked away from Jeb she came over and started setting up her sleeping sack by him. She was smiling kindly at him and any thought of her and Jeb flitted out of his head.
"Hey there" He said softly
"Hey" she said answering his softness with some softness of her own.
They could hear their other three companions setting up camp around them but both were intranced by the other.
"Glitch" Cain snapped at his friend
"What?!?" exclaimed jumping out of his trance.
"Come help set up the fire." ordered the Tin Man
"Sure" He said and bounded towards the logs and twigs that had been collected. He started the fire as quck as he could then returned to DG's side.
Having crawled into her sleeping bag DG was extremely content. It was cozy, even more cozy because of the jacket that she was wearing. When Glitch returned DG smiled sweetly at him as he sat down.
"Cain would be lost without me." Glitch said in the fake arrogant way that he had
"We all would be lost without you." DG told him propping her head up on her hand.
"Thanks Doll, but I think it's the other way around."
"We all need each other," DG told him. She put her free hand on his hand that rested on his knee, "believe me."
Glitch stared at her hand for a second then looked up at her face. They both stared into each other's eyes for a while. Words went unsaid but acknowledged through that gaze. It was a gaze to rival that of Buttercup's and Wesley's in Princess Bride. And yet there was still a bit of uncertainty in it. Neither knew how anything was going to play out. Especially DG. Glitch knew this but still he raised her hand to his lips and kissed it softly then placed it over his heart, never breaking eye contact.
"There's nothing you can do about it..."
"Huh?" Jeb asked his father tearing his eyes off of his DG and that zipper head.
"They have a pretty deep bond."
"Psh, what ever. She belongs with someone her own age."
"That's your opinion." Cain said trying his hardest to stay unbiased, although he thought it was clear who DG's heart was picking even if his little princess didn't quite know yet.
"Well you can't seriously support them!" Jeb exclaimed motioning in their direction. Even if they were in earshot it seemed like neither of them would hear him, or pay any attention to him for that matter.
"I told you the night this war for her heart began... I support whomever DG chooses. That is not up to you... nor is it up to Glitch."
"Well... well... she's gonna pick me!" Jeb huffed and stormed away. Cain shook his head.
"He has to learn on own." Raw said from behind him. Cain jumped.
"I wish you wouldn't do that."
"Sorry... but you know there is nothing you can say."
"I know... I don't think anything will get through to him...."
"Maybe DG..."
"Yea well," Cain jerked his head in DG's direction "I don't think she's exactly helping right now."
"She knows not her own heart."
"But you do." smirked Cain
"Raw thinks Cain does too."
"Yea, well there's something in her eyes."
"It's," DG yawns "Been a long day"
"You should get some rest." Glitch told her considerately
"I know..." yawning again DG's eyes fluttered sleepily as she moved her hand and rested her head on the ground "Everything's just so uncertain, y'know. I don't want to go to sleep and wake up and find that we've all been kidnapped again."
"How about I make you a promise?"
"And what's that?" DG smiled curiously
"That I won't leave your side no matter what happens." Glitch smiled back. DG nodded tiredly
"I like the sound of that."
"Then just sleep my princess"
Before slipping into sleep DG entwined their fingers and wriggled closer to Glitch. With the smell of him close by and his body heat warming her DG slipped into a peaceful sleep brought on by exhaustion and comfort.
"They're nearing our Realm" the dark entity informed Zero.
"They won't get in."
"Oh no? How can I trust you?"
"I know them better than you."
"Really? And how will that help you?"
"Well," Zero smirked "I know their weaknesses."
"They are men, their weaknesses are evident."
"Yes but I thought the goal was to lay low."
"Oh it is... I'm just... testing you."
"Ha," Zero laughed "Like I need to be tested."
"Oh but you do... oh but you do."
"Do not worry. I will prove to you my worth." Zero assured it
Jeb was storming around the seemingly endless fields talking to himself.
"That stupid zipper head. How can she... him and not me? What is wrong with me? Was I too foward? Should I have... no it's better this way. I still have a chance. After all they could be just... but then what does that make us? No they are definitly not romantic... but maybe... no if you start doubting yourself you'll never..."
"You should really be more quite if you're trying to stay out of trouble." A menacing voice said behind him. Jeb spun around
"Yo-" BAM he was struck on the head and knocked out. Everything was black except for one thought. DG... you better protecter her you stupid, messed up...
Zero stood smirking over Jeb's body. They couldn't escape him, no matter how much they tried. Wyatt would come to the rescue. He would, of course, try to keep the little bitch princess out of the fray, but from the gossip Zero had heard she wouldn't. Her beloved would be in danger, and knowing her to be stubborn she would come trailing along one way or another. That zipper-head was no problem, and that viewer was barely anything to worry about. This was all working out perfectly so far. Now all he needed was the perfect ending and the O.Z would finally be enveloped in darkness.