Tin Man Drabble requests 11.0

[surranndie]

Let's get this party started! Also, help me get back to the best part of our lovely fandom - Glitch and Cain. I love other pairings like crazy (duh...), so if anyone has a burning desire for other (slash) pairings, I'll definitely fill those requests.

But - really. Glitch/Cain. *sage nod*

Comments

[surranndie.livejournal.com]

When they pried the door open, Ambrose was ready this time. He held his ground and caught the falling figure in his arms, slowly lowering him to the ground.

Zero was weak and dazed, gasping as though he had had been running for days rather than standing stationary for weeks. His hand somehow found Ambrose's arm, his grip surprisingly desperate. "Thank you," he sighed heavily, the words simply riding the tide of his breath.

But Ambrose wasn't listening. He had to make sure the man in his grasp was who he thought he was. Sliding his fingers under the collar of Zero's shirt, Ambrose pulled the back of the sweatstained cloth away from pale skin and found it to be a blank canvas. The mark of the Witch was no longer there; it must have disappeared the same way Azkadellia's had in the days following the eclipse.

With a violent start, Ambrose realized that this was Zero, the real one, his Zero. "By the stars," he uttered in a hushed tone, wrapping his arm firmly around the shivering figure. "I've got you."

"Are you...Ambrose?" Zero whispered brokenly, raising his head so he could see Ambrose's face. "How?"

"Same way that you're you," Ambrose gave a self-conscious half-smile. "After we killed the Sorceress, all of the darkness that kept us prisoner started to lift. The alchemists under her control were able to restore my memories, though the actual tissue wasn't viable. Everyone she took hostage or damaged is graduallly regaining their former selves again."

Zero was quiet for a long moment, studying Ambrose and his own hands and the glaring man looming over them. At that, he paused and frowned. "Cain?"

"Same as always," Cain replied abruptly. "I couldn't let Ambrose come out here alone. Somehow, I found it hard to believe that you would be back to your old self again, just like that."

"I...I'm sorry," Zero's hands shook and he gracelessly slid backwards until he was sitting on his own. Though he noted that Ambrose's hands remained warm, welcome spots on his back and arm. "I can never tell you how sorry I am for what I've done to you."

Cain shook his head, stepping back once. "I don't need your apologies. But so you know, I'm rather fond of Ambrose here. If you hurt him, I won't give you time to defend yourself. Is that clear?"

Zero could only give a slow nod, unsure what Cain was talking about until he turned to face Ambrose again. And found Ambrose looking back at him the way he used to, all those annuals ago. The way Ambrose would catch his eye across the wide table while the Queen discussed important matters that they both should have been listening to.

Rather than dwell on the time they had lost, Zero drew a breath and did something he never had the courage to before. He pressed his lips to Ambrose's small, delicate mouth and closed his eyes when his kiss was returned.

[avari-maethor.livejournal.com]

L-O-V-E this! Amazingly this is my second fave pairing of the series. This capturing everything I had hoped that prompt would.

[surranndie.livejournal.com]

YAY!!!! Thank you so much! It's such a different pairing to consider, so it was a bit of a challenge to think about characterization and situation that would make this plausible! :D

[puffballzeri.livejournal.com]

Ha ha, awesome. :) You're always amazing with the characterization.

I'm going to be honest and admit that I just wanted to be able to say that there's an Ambrose/Zero fanfic lurking out there that doesn't involve prison rape. ;)

[surranndie.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!! I'm extremely happy to have provided this and that you can now point to it and say, 'Look it exists!!' *grin*

[amedia.livejournal.com]

Ooooh. Aaaah. I like Cain being all protective, which could be read as slashy or not - and which makes Zero's kissing Ambrose an act of incredible bravery. And Ambrose kisses back! OMG. I love how you ended it there, and with Zero's eyes closed, so we never know how Cain reacted. It's a great moment.

[surranndie.livejournal.com]

Oooh! I hadn't even thought of that, that Zero didn't see Cain's reaction! *intrigued* That just brings a whole new perspective on the scene! *shiver* Thank you!!

[oddsbobs.livejournal.com]

How, erm, sweet. (This is something I never thought I'd say for a Zero fic... can't quite come to terms with using this word.)

Bravo to you for figuring out how to make the prompt work!

[surranndie.livejournal.com]

*nod* It was...difficult. But it happened! And I'm glad you were brave enough to read it! :D