January 3, 2014
Wherever You Will Go-The Calling (3:29)
Tin Man
DG and Cain
He frantically pulled in the first breath of fresh air he'd had in Ozma knew how long. Bright blue eyes filled his vision and he fell to his knees. He didn't know who she was. He didn't care. He only knew that she'd saved him and he'd follow her anywhere for that alone.
He carefully took stock of himself and the situation as he cleaned up. He knew now that he couldn't stay with her. He couldn't infect her with his darkness. He wouldn't. She deserved better thanks than that. He had to get to Zero.
But she wouldn't let him. Her sharp retorts, soft voice and innocent eyes pulled him like a moth to a flame. Her stubborn innocence brought out his protective urges. She wouldn't survive a day by herself, headcase or not.
He grudgingly agreed to take them to Central City. Had she asked he would have taken her to the ends of the O.Z. Though he'd never tell her that. But she didn't ask him to take her anywhere but to Central City. She let him go. She believed in him. Simple faith. Simple trust. An innocent belief in a broken Tin Man.
And at the first, faintest hint of danger to her he'd come racing back to save her. Abandoning his quest for vengeance. Following her again.
He made a promise to the Mystic Man, his one-time boss and friend, to himself, to his dead son to her and then he'd lost her. This time she was the one needed saving and he wasn't there to do it…but then she'd saved herself and found Raw. He lost another bit of his newfound heart in that moment. It was okay though, he figured she'd keep it safe. She was good at that.
A search, a bar brawl, a net and her screams. He lost her again and this time they both needed saving. But against the odds they both found part of their lost families. And she'd saved herself again. Pale, terrified by something, heartbroken at the loss of the emerald but safe and with him again. She was something else. And he gave her the rest of his heart. She would hold it safely for him. He only wished that she'd give him hers.
The witch was gone, vanquished. Finally. And he wouldn't ever leave her side. It didn't matter that her mother was the queen. That DG would one day run the country. He would be there. He didn't care that the Queen and her Consort resented him, wished him far away. He didn't care that her sister still seemed on the edge of tears every time she looked at him. He was DG's man. DG's friend and he wouldn't leave her until the last breath was gone from his body or she asked him too. Though he doubted she ever would. She given him her heart same as he'd given her his.
She had said once that he could leave if he wished it. Even Jeb had protested that. Jeb knew DG needed him. Jeb liked her too. That was a blessing he hadn't expected but was thankful for. He would have hated losing his son again but he'd have done it. DG was his to protect and care for and love. Jeb had known it, embraced it. And he told her so.
Bright blue eyes grinned up at him. "Love you too, Tin Man," she whispered and stood on her toes to take his lips with hers. And he could finally breathe the fresh air into his lungs.