Another one for Nosferatu!
Title: Pace
Rating: PG
Summary: Glitch is lagging behind and Cain comes up with a way to make him keep up.
Notes: Yes, another one between the wagon and the tower because that part is so cute ;u;
"Pick up the pace, zipperhead." Cain called back yet again.
He was the one who had a bruised chest and was recovering from hypothermia, but it was Glitch who had lagged behind for most of the day. When they had first set out and left DeMilo's wagon behind them, Glitch had been his usually chipper self and had walked right beside Cain. But as the day progressed, even with the decrease of snow and cold as they got farther away from the Northern Island, Glitch began to fall a few steps behind Cain.
"I'm tired," he said softly, stopping and swaying slightly on the spot.
Cain sighed and turned around to face Glitch, "I know. Believe me, I'm tired as hell too but we need to get DG..."
"You know," Glitch said with a sudden glint in his eye as he took a step closer, "we wouldn't be as tired if we had a distraction."
"Like what?" Cain quirked an eyebrow,
"Oh, I don't know," he took another step closer, "maybe you could hold up the other side of the conversation for once?"
Cain breathed out a laugh and took a step of his own towards his friend, "If I remember correctly, when I woke up I found you talking nonstop as if I had been listening the whole time. I doubt you need me to have a conversation."
"Maybe not, but it would definitely make it better."
"Still tired?" Cain asked, only half sardonically as he realized that they were nearly face to face now. He reached out, giving a light lingering touch to Glitch's arm as if to say "let's go", and closed the remaining distance between them. The intention had been to give an encouraging, very brief hug. But to his surprise, this headcase that he had met a few days ago, this man who had saved his life, didn't feel as alien in his arms as he should have. Maybe that had to do with spending hours in a wagon, huddled together for warmth; but whatever the reason, he didn't flinch or draw back when Glitch pulled him into a full embrace.
"I knew you were a big softy deep down." Glitch said, Cain feeling his soft smile against his cheek.
"I know you're tired," He said after the unexpectedly intimate moment, "but if it's conversation you want, I'll make you a deal. For every twenty steps that we stay at the same pace, you can tell me something about yourself and-"
"You'll tell me something about yourself?" Glitch asked, his eyes wide and brows quirked with interest.
"Well I was going to say that I'd listen and...I don't know, make a comment or two-Hold up my end of the conversation." he rubbed the back of his neck, wanting to get moving already, "But if that's what you want, sure, I'll tell you something about me... But only if you can keep up." He finished briskly, "So start walking, sweetheart."
"Deal!" Glitch smiled and started doing just that, walking eagerly and counting under his breath in concentration. True to his word, he kept in step with Cain, following the pace he set for them; and soon enough he spoke up.
"I don't like snow that much but I love it when it rains."
"My favorite season is spring," Cain said in return, "not too hot, not too cold, and everything blooms."
For a while all they said was simple, mundane details like those. They told each other everything from their favorite colors, to their sleep habits, to their best talents. Though it seemed that talking about himself all this time-albeit with regular interjections to say or ask something to Cain-had distracted Glitch so much that it had triggered something in his memory. Because by the time they had reached the tower, Cain was frustratedly trying to figure out how they would break in, and Glitch was still talking about his days as a fantastic dancer.