Disclaimer: Don't own Tin Man.

- Part 7 -

They were on the road again. DG was comfortably seated on Glitch's shoulder, leaning against the side of his neck, dozing. The advisor hummed happily as he walked, Raw beside him and Toto trailing behind them both. Cain was... keeping up, at least.

He had refused, point blank, to be carried by anything other than a horse. Since there were none to be found - and even if there had been, he most likely would have been swatted like a fly - he was forced to follow by air. That had been his original plan, at any rate. It, kind of, only worked half the time. He was alternately hopping and fluttering behind them, blue sparks trailing behind him.

At about the hundredth THUMP, followed consecutively by muttered curses, DG readjusted her position so that she was now lying on her stomach on Glitch's shoulder, facing backwards.

"Hey, Cain, looks like you're having a bit of trouble," she stated flatly, even though a grin was gradually sneaking onto her face.

Cain got to his feet with what dignity he could muster as he glared up at her relaxed position across the Zipperhead's shoulder. His jaw clenched, wings buzzing and he took flight again, saying nothing.

She noticed his sudden ability to defy gravity with interest. Her eyes darted to Glitch's neck, then back to the glaring Tin Man. Ohh, so that's how it was going to be. Well, then, time to up the anti...

DG's smile turned mischievous as she scooted back around to sit up. She used a tiny hand to brush the thick, curly hair back from Glitch's ear and, leaning in, began to whisper to him. Glitch's step faltered a moment at whatever she said to him, then a deep chuckle erupted from the former advisor as he started back to walking.

She could hear Cain begin to mutter as he fluttered past them to hover next to Raw's head. This seemed to make the poor seer nervous. He began to eye the Tin Man, as if he expected Cain to explode in a shower of blue glitter. It almost made DG feel bad about what she was doing, almost. DG sighed and leaned against Glitch's neck again. This was almost too fun.

Cain gritted his teeth as he continued to concentrate on staying aloft and not on an annoyingly snarky princess. Just what was she trying to pull, anyway, laying on Glitch like that? It was way too casual and not at all proper.

It was certainly not how a Princess should be behaving around a Headcase, even if he had been the Queen's top advisor. She should be wingless and clean and leaning against someone with a whole brain, who could protect her properly; someone who could put up with the damn pranks she pulled, all the time, to avoid the stress of having to suddenly learn to rule a kingdom; someone who could handle her without having their head explode; someone who loved her because she was DG, not a Princess. Someone like him.

That last thought sent him tumbling to the ground in shock.

The sudden impact with the ground did little to jolt his thoughts into order. Why was it that every woman he got involved with was as stubborn as a mule and as devious as a harpy?

He should've seen this coming. DG had more things in common with Adora than not. They, undoubtedly, would have gotten along famously. With this sudden realization, Cain groaned. He was doomed.

Closing his eyes, he thought: 'They might as well lock me back up in that damned suit.' He was no more in control of his life now than he had been then.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Raw's large, furry foot stop next to him. The Viewer bent over him, chuckling softly as Cain picked himself up, trying to ignore him. Paying no heed to the Tin Man - or his need for personal space - the seer leaned close and whispered quietly: "Cain felt like he been hit by Demilo's wagon. Think he never feel again? DG had Cain around pinky finger before even met Raw."

Cain sighed in defeat. If the Furball knew, how long would it be before DG figured it out? What if she already had? His deep seated paranoia started to set in and he twitched in reaction to the thought.

It was at that moment, he saw DG turn to look at him over her shoulder. Their eyes met for a brief moment before she turned back to Glitch... and proceeded to place a tender kiss on the man's pale cheek.

Glitch chuckled warmly again and murmured something to DG that was just beyond Cain's sense of hearing, causing the Tin Man to bristle indignantly. This was simply not acceptable!

His wings began to beat rapidly and he shot back into the air, nearly taking Raw's nose off on the way back up. He heard Raw sigh as he flittered ahead of the group to scout for danger. He wasn't going to contemplate what he was going to actually do about any danger he might find, but he was going to find it first.

DG watched Cain fly ahead of them and, for a moment, a sad look crept into her eyes. She felt Glitch turn his head to regard her and she turned to meet his gaze.

"I know I only have half a brain, but I'm not sure your plan worked the way it was supposed to, Doll," he told her gently.

DG sighed, her wings drooping in disappointment. "Yeah, I think I might have gone a little too far. But, Glitch, it's just so frustrating! Why can't he just tell me how he feels?"

Glitch sighed along with her, his own eyes turning to follow the tiny Tin Man as he continued to flit clumsily ahead of them. "Cain's a stubborn one, Deeg, I don't think you can crack him in one day."

Of course, she took this as a challenge.

"Well, what do you suggest I do? Drag him behind the nearest bush and jump him?" DG looked at Glitch. "Hell, I was practically straddling his lap an hour ago, and all he did was throw me off and walk away like he..." That devious smile was back in an instant.

At her sudden silence, Glitch glanced back over. Her eyes had glazed over and that smile was plastered over her face. "You know what? You are so right, Glitch."

"I am?" He sounded worried. People never said things like that to him.

"Uh-huh. He's one tough cookie." She nodded. "So, how far away are we from Finaqua?"

"Um, less than five hours, I think," Glitch replied. "We should be there by nightfall."

DG stretched her arms above her head and leaned back against his neck. "Alright, then, I'm going to take a nap while Cain wears himself out. Tell me when we get to the hedge maze."

Oh, this was the best idea she'd ever had.