Reflections
Cain found his eccentric friend hiding behind tall grass and splashing fish, his chin leaning on his knees as he held them closer to him with every new footstep the other man made. The bright blue pond shone just as beautifully as the metal on Glitch’s head, the shining Moon high in the sky and the wind offering up a gentle breeze.
When Cain finally made it into the very tiny clearing, hat removed and eyes filled with concern, Glitch slowly turned his face around and looked off to the opposite side, sniffling his nose. The tin man saw evidence of tears soaking into the other man’s new shirt. Cain had thought Glitch was attractive enough even before he was forced to clean up, shower, and redress. But when he met Cain for an informal lunch blue eyes nearly fell out from the sharp features and bobbing curls, the other man’s skin fair and like porcelain against the dark lips and eyes.
That had been the day the Queen announced her ball, in honor of the four heroes. That had been the day the Queen announced her ball that would upset Glitch more than Cain could handle.
“Glitch.” He stated rather than asked. Both men knew that he wouldn’t turn away. Another sniffle and Glitch almost wiped his nose on his sleeve, but then thought better of it and just sniffled harder. Cain reached into the pocket of his dress pants and removed a handkerchief. Walking over he offered it to the smaller man, only sitting down beside him, thighs touching, when Glitch took it with a nod.
“I don’t want to go back.” Whispered the advisor. His eyes were stained with tears, some still running down his embarrassed cheeks. Seeing them, Cain cupped his face and used his thumbs to slowly wipe them away. He watched as Glitch’s eyes closed shut from the gesture, his smooth skin making the anger in Cain even larger.
“Everybody’s worried about you, Sweetheart. They just want to help.”
“I know, and I thank them.” Glitch replied, pulling away from the touch and staring across the water. “But all of the guests don’t care…They just wanted me out of there.” He stared at his feet, bringing his knees even closer. Cain wrapped an arm around his shoulder and simply placed his lips against the feather-soft curls under his chin.
It had taken one comment to make Glitch run from the large ballroom. One comment from some snobby, arrogant little prince to have all of the royal and rich guests laughing and staring at poor Glitch. Their eyes spoke nothing less than "useless" and "vile". But all their friends took charge after he left and provided stares back of their own, including a few colorful gestures from the youngest princess. It had only taken Cain a few held back breaths before he darted out the heavy doors for his dear friend.
And here he sat now, tears forcing their way out of his strained and hurt face. What surprised Cain the most was the fact that he didn’t look a tad bitter. It was all pain and humiliation.
“Forget the guests, Glitch. All they care about is themselves and making the Queen happy.” He said, “Of course after what happened in there I doubt the Queen will be offering up any kind words to those…” He stopped, remembering how his friend didn’t seem to like filthy language. To be honest that’s something that made the rather curse-happy tin man more attracted to him.
“But they called me such horrible things…”
“They won’t anymore, Darling.”
“But if I go back in there I’ll see them and remember all the things they said! And that seems worse than them just yelling at me.” Glitch admitted, sniffling into the handkerchief again before snuggling it against him and his knees like a safety blanket. Cain rubbed his shoulder soothingly.
There was a brief silence where Glitch was lost in thought, and Cain knew that the previous insults were flying around inside of his head.
“You know Glitch you are not useless.” He said, raising his other hand to push back a few stray curls so slowly, “You are not at all dumb, or silly – well, not the bad kind.” He smirked at the tiniest of smiles on the smaller man’s face. “You are intelligent, important, funny…” Cain coerced the rebel curls behind sensitive ears, “…and beautiful. Much more than even the most well dressed of ladies at the ball tonight.” The comment rewarded him with Glitch’s attention, the brunette’s smile wrinkling his pointy nose.
“Thank you, Wyatt. But I really don’t feel so beautiful.” He replied before turning his attention away from the older man and to the pond. Cain, speechless, could only stare at the full moon shining down onto them. How could Glitch think of himself so negatively?
“Cain…there’s another me looking at me!” Yelped Glitch, grabbing Cain’s shirt tightly. Looking down, Cain couldn’t help but chuckle.
“You forget about reflections, Sweetheart?” He teased, waving to the water Glitch. “See?” Raising his hand hesitantly, Glitch smiled, amused, when he waved back at himself.
“I don’t remember this.” He whispered, sulking back down. Not wanting the sweet headcase to keep feeling hurt, Cain wrapped both his arms around him and made him stare back down at their reflections.
“What do you see, Glitch?” He asked, curious and wanting to help.
“Um…I see me.”
“I know that, but tell me all the details. How do you know that’s you?”
Glitch, thinking hard, answered: “I see dark brown eyes, and messy hair, with an ugly zipper and a girlish face.” His voice was distressed, almost bleeding. “He looks weak and lost.” He let out, no longer thinking before he spoke. A few tears made Cain’s vision sway and go blurry.
“And that’s you!” Glitch pointed, “All tan and big…with your strong blue eyes and handsome face.” Glitch laughed lightly and wiped his nose again.
“Wanna’ know what I see?” The tin man asked, his voice leaving him. He motioned for the other to look at his own reflection again. “I see big curious eyes under perfect brown curls,” His fingers traced over a few locks, “with a delicate and sweet face under a remarkable scar that reminds everyone of what he had done to try and save them.” He watched as the reflection Glitch sniffled and leaned into his touch as he caressed his cheek. “He looks wimpy,” Cain smirked as Glitch pouted at him, “But I know for a fact that no one in the entire OZ would survive if they told him that. And he definitely doesn’t look lost.”
“Why not?” Glitch asked shyly. Cain pointed to his own reflection.
“Because he looks like he has someone there to watch out for him.” A long silence filled the small space between the two men, both just letting the hidden tears fall carelessly down their faces.
“Will you escort me back to the ball in a few minutes?” Glitch whispered innocently, his watery voice sounding much better now that the pain dissipated.
“Of course. And I hope you’ll still be excepting dances when we go back.” Cain admitted to both of them, and Glitch smiled as his nose was wiped for what he hoped would be the last time that night.
“I don’t know if I’ll have time, I mean your reflection is pretty attractive.” He joked, getting pulled closer to the blonde who smiled back down at him.
“What am I gonna’ do with you?” Glitch wrapped his arms around Cain’s waist slowly, still somewhat shaken up.
The stars lit up as the orchestra could be heard faintly, drifting across the breeze and dancing around the two. Cain leaned down.
“Look, Wyatt! Your reflection likes mine.” Glitch said amused, watching reflection Cain kiss reflection Glitch. A warm and soft feeling filled his temple and he leaned further into the pleasure.
“I think he likes reflection Glitch a lot, Sweetheart.”
