![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Title: Wallpaper of Broadway
Characters/Pairings: Glitch/Cain, everyone else in the series.
Rating: R for implied adult situations
Summary: What if Cain, DG, and Raw had first encountered Glitch working as a bartender in the Mystic Man's club? This story is an AU that parallels the series using this scenario.
Notes: This could not have been completed without the awesome beta work by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kseda. Whenever I shouted “LINE!” – she came through and I love her endlessly for it!
Chapter 4 – The Tower
The wagon still had a broken axel and they had no choice but to head back down the mountain on foot. Cain’s clothes had dried stiff and chaffed in the most uncomfortable places. And Glitch hadn’t stopped talking since they started out that morning.
“...it really is fascinating to consider,” Glitch prattled on aimlessly, wandering from tree to tree on their journey toward the Tower. “What do you suppose I did, working for the Queen? I mean, I can’t picture myself on the military side of things.” There was a self-deprecating chuckle. “Can you imagine?”
“You saw that painting,” Cain reminded him. “You don’t look like you used to and with the headcasing, your personality was probably changed quite a bit as well.”
Glitch paused, one hand resting on a thick trunk. “Huh,” he frowned. “I hadn’t considered that. You no doubt would have liked me better back then, if that’s true.”
“I like you just fine now,” Cain nudged him with a hand to get him moving again. “But if you don’t shut up, I might just leave you back here. We’re trying not to announce ourselves here.”
“Oh, right,” Glitch nodded and continued on in silence.
By mid-afternoon they were huddled on top of a grassy hill amid prickly bushes and yellow-green moss. Below, neat formations of leather-clad soldiers marched without any apparent purpose. Cain watched them as he calculated distance, possible paths, and odds of the two of them getting into the formidable structure unnoticed.
“...I’m not saying I was the most interesting or talented dancer at the club but I cut quite an image up there in my day,” Glitch was saying, his back turned to Cain and apparently in his own world once again. “You can mock me all you want, Cain, but there was a time that I was a fantastic dancer.”
It was one of the more common results of headcasing – becoming a prisoner of your own mind, caught in a loop of memory or thought that could not easily be interrupted. Cain knew they were far enough away not to be heard so he let it go for now.
After a pause and a sigh of frustration, Glitch went on. “She may have taken my brains, but rhythm, that comes directly from your – “
“You have any bright ideas how to get in there?” Cain finally cut him off sharply.
“I mean – I don’t mind taxing my half-a-brain for DG, but just once I wish that someone,” Glitch glance pointedly over his shoulder at Cain, the long chains swinging with the movement. “...would acknowledge me for my rhythm. Which – as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, comes directly from the soul.”
Cain stared at Glitch, fascinated and more than a little amused at the intensity of Glitch’s conviction. After a moment, he saw Glitch’s head turn back to him with a little hint of a smile, but that disappeared quickly when whatever he was hoping to see in Cain’s face apparently had not been there.
Glitch turned away again, reaching up to tug at his chains. By now, Cain had figured out that this was Glitch’s nervous fretting. “Sometimes, Cain, you make me feel just like the people at that nightclub did – like I blend right in with the stage curtains.”
As he spoke, Cain spotted a group of Longcoats standing on their own, not paying attention to anything around them. He smirked. “That’s a good idea.”
Glitch’s head snapped back again and he grinned, catching on more quickly than Cain would have expected. “You wanna dance?” His grin was crooked and devious, a combination that had Cain’s stomach knotting without warning and his heart starting to pound. He blamed it on the rush of the upcoming fight.
“I’ll lead, you follow,” Cain told him firmly, though he could tell he was grinning in return. They stood together and made their way down into the dip between short hills.
Signaling Glitch to stay back and silent, Cain skulked forward until he was close enough between the four men to see what had their rapt attention. Figures, a porno flick, he thought, catching sight of the portable video player they held between them. He laughed along with them until one turned and noticed him.
Within seconds, a melee had erupted and Cain caught a fist to the jaw, sending him staggering back. Before he could pull himself up and worry for their safety, Glitch came flying out from nowhere, feet-first and he had two men on the ground, the other two subdued in a flurry of fists and roundhouse kicks. It was like nothing Cain had ever seen, not even during his own academy training. He couldn’t hold back the shocked exclamation of approval as Glitch whirled in perfect, confident rhythm, his hair starting to come loose from its tie and his chains swaying with every move.
Stunned and frozen in place, Cain stared in awe as Glitch was the last one standing, surrounded by four downed soldiers. Glitch gave a single firm nod as if to indicate his work was done.
Then suddenly he was flying at Cain and for a crazy moment Cain was worried that Glitch had forgotten they were on the same side. Then they were in the dirt, on their backs next to one another, arms wrapped intimately and Cain saw a jeep out of the corner of his eye, driving dangerously close to where they were.
“You’re a deep well, Glitch,” Cain finally said, turning to face Glitch.
Glitch, pale and breathing hard, gave a sharp nod. “It’s all about rhythm,” he repeated, somehow making the words sound matter-of-fact rather than seductive.
Cain got the feeling that Glitch was changing, slowly but surely, into his former self the longer he was away from the seedy depths of the nightclub scene. He wasn’t sure if this pleased him – he had rather enjoyed the playful flirting and occasional touches. Though at what cost, he reminded himself, had that personality come into being.
“Come on,” Glitch sat up, dragging Cain to his feet with him. Glitch shucked his jacket and tucked it under a nearby bush, leaving him with only the white tank top again and a full display of his tattoos. Cain forced himself to look away, to concentrate on what Glitch was doing. Which, it turned out, was stripping the long, leather jacket from one of the unconscious Longcoats.
Catching on, Cain discarded his own jacket and hat, hiding them with Glitch’s coat and procuring a disguise of his own.
Glitch was the first to finish figuring out all the buckles and buttons and snaps so he reached out and helped Cain get his stolen coat properly fastened. “There,” he declared then wrinkled his nose. “That is definitely not a good look for you.”
Cain chose to his tongue, as all he could think was that the black leather was most assuredly a good look for Glitch. The dark eyes, dark hair pulled back to reveal the trellis of tattoos winding up the back and sides of his neck, the silver chains with their assorted colorful attachments...even the zipper...it all worked to blend in with the design of the Longcoat jacket. It was a bit disconcerting, actually.
Giving himself a shake, Cain nodded his head in the direction of the Tower. “Come on. We’ve got a Princess to rescue.”
“How very noble!” Glitch said in all seriousness and trotted along after Cain.
They made their way into and through the dim halls of the Tower undisturbed, which was strange in itself as Glitch’s zipper was not exactly standard issue for Longcoats. Deciding to take advantage of their good fortune, they both focused on reaching the prison cells and hopefully find DG.
Neither one noticed movement to their left until it was too late and there was a horrific crack, then Glitch was on the floor, clutching his head. Cain knelt down, terrified that Glitch had been seriously hurt, terrified they’d been caught, until he heard a distinctly female voice above them.
“Mr. Cain!”
Cain looked up, Glitch still in his hands, to see DG wielding a massive wrench and Raw standing at her side. “Hey, Princess,” he greeted her with a tight smile before turning back to Glitch. “You okay?”
“No, but I think we should get out of here first,” Glitch sat back on his heels and scratched at his zipper with a grimace, the chains rattling. “That could bust a zipper,” he snapped at DG. He fingered the lengths of his chains, counting them to make sure none were broken. Assured that they were intact, he took Cain’s proffered hand and climbed unsteadily to his feet. “Which way?”
DG pointed to a small, annoyed-looking dog. “He seems to know the way out.” With that, she ran after the animal and the others had no choice but to go with her. They made their way through tight tunnels and dark corridors until they emerged out of a massive pipe into the sunlight.
They ran full-tilt into the woods, stopping only when they were well hidden and Glitch had stumbled into Cain, nearly knocking them both down. Cain caught Glitch in his hands. “Here,” he said gently, quickly working the leather coat off of Glitch’s frame. He tossed it aside. “Sit down, let me look at your head.”
Glitch sank down gratefully, wincing when he touched his tender scalp.
“I’m really sorry about that, Glitch,” DG said, kneeling down in front of Glitch. “I didn’t know it was you guys.”
“It’s okay, doll,” Glitch’s smile was tight with pain. He sat still as Cain’s fingers probed his head and he closed his eyes, enjoying the rare gentle touch while he had the chance. Soon those hands were replaced and a large palm rested on his head, followed by a sudden flood of warmth. The pain disappeared.
Looking up, Glitch saw Raw standing over him, looking pleased. “Better?”
“Yeah,” Glitch blinked, surprised. “How’d you do that?”
“He’s a Viewer,” Cain said as if that explained everything, helping Glitch to his feet again.
“Ah,” Glitch nodded, though he only had a vague recollection of what that might mean.
The tiny dog that had led them out of the Tower barked urgently and the four of them turned in time to see it, and the air around it, warp and change until abruptly there was a man there. Glitch stumbled back and hid behind Cain.
“Don’t be scared,” the stranger said, his voice slow and soothing. He looked at DG. “I’m a friend of your mother’s. She sent me to help you.”
~~
End Chapter 4
On to Chapter 5
Characters/Pairings: Glitch/Cain, everyone else in the series.
Rating: R for implied adult situations
Summary: What if Cain, DG, and Raw had first encountered Glitch working as a bartender in the Mystic Man's club? This story is an AU that parallels the series using this scenario.
Notes: This could not have been completed without the awesome beta work by
kseda. Whenever I shouted “LINE!” – she came through and I love her endlessly for it!Chapter 4 – The Tower
The wagon still had a broken axel and they had no choice but to head back down the mountain on foot. Cain’s clothes had dried stiff and chaffed in the most uncomfortable places. And Glitch hadn’t stopped talking since they started out that morning.
“...it really is fascinating to consider,” Glitch prattled on aimlessly, wandering from tree to tree on their journey toward the Tower. “What do you suppose I did, working for the Queen? I mean, I can’t picture myself on the military side of things.” There was a self-deprecating chuckle. “Can you imagine?”
“You saw that painting,” Cain reminded him. “You don’t look like you used to and with the headcasing, your personality was probably changed quite a bit as well.”
Glitch paused, one hand resting on a thick trunk. “Huh,” he frowned. “I hadn’t considered that. You no doubt would have liked me better back then, if that’s true.”
“I like you just fine now,” Cain nudged him with a hand to get him moving again. “But if you don’t shut up, I might just leave you back here. We’re trying not to announce ourselves here.”
“Oh, right,” Glitch nodded and continued on in silence.
By mid-afternoon they were huddled on top of a grassy hill amid prickly bushes and yellow-green moss. Below, neat formations of leather-clad soldiers marched without any apparent purpose. Cain watched them as he calculated distance, possible paths, and odds of the two of them getting into the formidable structure unnoticed.
“...I’m not saying I was the most interesting or talented dancer at the club but I cut quite an image up there in my day,” Glitch was saying, his back turned to Cain and apparently in his own world once again. “You can mock me all you want, Cain, but there was a time that I was a fantastic dancer.”
It was one of the more common results of headcasing – becoming a prisoner of your own mind, caught in a loop of memory or thought that could not easily be interrupted. Cain knew they were far enough away not to be heard so he let it go for now.
After a pause and a sigh of frustration, Glitch went on. “She may have taken my brains, but rhythm, that comes directly from your – “
“You have any bright ideas how to get in there?” Cain finally cut him off sharply.
“I mean – I don’t mind taxing my half-a-brain for DG, but just once I wish that someone,” Glitch glance pointedly over his shoulder at Cain, the long chains swinging with the movement. “...would acknowledge me for my rhythm. Which – as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, comes directly from the soul.”
Cain stared at Glitch, fascinated and more than a little amused at the intensity of Glitch’s conviction. After a moment, he saw Glitch’s head turn back to him with a little hint of a smile, but that disappeared quickly when whatever he was hoping to see in Cain’s face apparently had not been there.
Glitch turned away again, reaching up to tug at his chains. By now, Cain had figured out that this was Glitch’s nervous fretting. “Sometimes, Cain, you make me feel just like the people at that nightclub did – like I blend right in with the stage curtains.”
As he spoke, Cain spotted a group of Longcoats standing on their own, not paying attention to anything around them. He smirked. “That’s a good idea.”
Glitch’s head snapped back again and he grinned, catching on more quickly than Cain would have expected. “You wanna dance?” His grin was crooked and devious, a combination that had Cain’s stomach knotting without warning and his heart starting to pound. He blamed it on the rush of the upcoming fight.
“I’ll lead, you follow,” Cain told him firmly, though he could tell he was grinning in return. They stood together and made their way down into the dip between short hills.
Signaling Glitch to stay back and silent, Cain skulked forward until he was close enough between the four men to see what had their rapt attention. Figures, a porno flick, he thought, catching sight of the portable video player they held between them. He laughed along with them until one turned and noticed him.
Within seconds, a melee had erupted and Cain caught a fist to the jaw, sending him staggering back. Before he could pull himself up and worry for their safety, Glitch came flying out from nowhere, feet-first and he had two men on the ground, the other two subdued in a flurry of fists and roundhouse kicks. It was like nothing Cain had ever seen, not even during his own academy training. He couldn’t hold back the shocked exclamation of approval as Glitch whirled in perfect, confident rhythm, his hair starting to come loose from its tie and his chains swaying with every move.
Stunned and frozen in place, Cain stared in awe as Glitch was the last one standing, surrounded by four downed soldiers. Glitch gave a single firm nod as if to indicate his work was done.
Then suddenly he was flying at Cain and for a crazy moment Cain was worried that Glitch had forgotten they were on the same side. Then they were in the dirt, on their backs next to one another, arms wrapped intimately and Cain saw a jeep out of the corner of his eye, driving dangerously close to where they were.
“You’re a deep well, Glitch,” Cain finally said, turning to face Glitch.
Glitch, pale and breathing hard, gave a sharp nod. “It’s all about rhythm,” he repeated, somehow making the words sound matter-of-fact rather than seductive.
Cain got the feeling that Glitch was changing, slowly but surely, into his former self the longer he was away from the seedy depths of the nightclub scene. He wasn’t sure if this pleased him – he had rather enjoyed the playful flirting and occasional touches. Though at what cost, he reminded himself, had that personality come into being.
“Come on,” Glitch sat up, dragging Cain to his feet with him. Glitch shucked his jacket and tucked it under a nearby bush, leaving him with only the white tank top again and a full display of his tattoos. Cain forced himself to look away, to concentrate on what Glitch was doing. Which, it turned out, was stripping the long, leather jacket from one of the unconscious Longcoats.
Catching on, Cain discarded his own jacket and hat, hiding them with Glitch’s coat and procuring a disguise of his own.
Glitch was the first to finish figuring out all the buckles and buttons and snaps so he reached out and helped Cain get his stolen coat properly fastened. “There,” he declared then wrinkled his nose. “That is definitely not a good look for you.”
Cain chose to his tongue, as all he could think was that the black leather was most assuredly a good look for Glitch. The dark eyes, dark hair pulled back to reveal the trellis of tattoos winding up the back and sides of his neck, the silver chains with their assorted colorful attachments...even the zipper...it all worked to blend in with the design of the Longcoat jacket. It was a bit disconcerting, actually.
Giving himself a shake, Cain nodded his head in the direction of the Tower. “Come on. We’ve got a Princess to rescue.”
“How very noble!” Glitch said in all seriousness and trotted along after Cain.
They made their way into and through the dim halls of the Tower undisturbed, which was strange in itself as Glitch’s zipper was not exactly standard issue for Longcoats. Deciding to take advantage of their good fortune, they both focused on reaching the prison cells and hopefully find DG.
Neither one noticed movement to their left until it was too late and there was a horrific crack, then Glitch was on the floor, clutching his head. Cain knelt down, terrified that Glitch had been seriously hurt, terrified they’d been caught, until he heard a distinctly female voice above them.
“Mr. Cain!”
Cain looked up, Glitch still in his hands, to see DG wielding a massive wrench and Raw standing at her side. “Hey, Princess,” he greeted her with a tight smile before turning back to Glitch. “You okay?”
“No, but I think we should get out of here first,” Glitch sat back on his heels and scratched at his zipper with a grimace, the chains rattling. “That could bust a zipper,” he snapped at DG. He fingered the lengths of his chains, counting them to make sure none were broken. Assured that they were intact, he took Cain’s proffered hand and climbed unsteadily to his feet. “Which way?”
DG pointed to a small, annoyed-looking dog. “He seems to know the way out.” With that, she ran after the animal and the others had no choice but to go with her. They made their way through tight tunnels and dark corridors until they emerged out of a massive pipe into the sunlight.
They ran full-tilt into the woods, stopping only when they were well hidden and Glitch had stumbled into Cain, nearly knocking them both down. Cain caught Glitch in his hands. “Here,” he said gently, quickly working the leather coat off of Glitch’s frame. He tossed it aside. “Sit down, let me look at your head.”
Glitch sank down gratefully, wincing when he touched his tender scalp.
“I’m really sorry about that, Glitch,” DG said, kneeling down in front of Glitch. “I didn’t know it was you guys.”
“It’s okay, doll,” Glitch’s smile was tight with pain. He sat still as Cain’s fingers probed his head and he closed his eyes, enjoying the rare gentle touch while he had the chance. Soon those hands were replaced and a large palm rested on his head, followed by a sudden flood of warmth. The pain disappeared.
Looking up, Glitch saw Raw standing over him, looking pleased. “Better?”
“Yeah,” Glitch blinked, surprised. “How’d you do that?”
“He’s a Viewer,” Cain said as if that explained everything, helping Glitch to his feet again.
“Ah,” Glitch nodded, though he only had a vague recollection of what that might mean.
The tiny dog that had led them out of the Tower barked urgently and the four of them turned in time to see it, and the air around it, warp and change until abruptly there was a man there. Glitch stumbled back and hid behind Cain.
“Don’t be scared,” the stranger said, his voice slow and soothing. He looked at DG. “I’m a friend of your mother’s. She sent me to help you.”
~~
End Chapter 4
On to Chapter 5
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
From:
no subject
This described that look he has in that scene perfectly! Never fails to make me giggle.
I love that you made Cain seem more caring when Glitch gets hit in the head. And the talking that Glitch did while sneaking through the forest... so Glitch.
From:
no subject
Thanks for following my crazy rewriting as I go! Suppose I should start the next chapter...
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
Oh give in to your desire, Tin Man! You know you wanna really dance with him. >:D
From:
no subject
*hugs* Thanks for keeping up and all the encouragement! :D
From:
no subject
and then later:
like I blend right in with the stage curtains.”
You! Brilliant!
His grin was crooked and devious
Hee! And it always makes my heart pound, too.
“That is definitely not a good look for you.”
Mwah! This should have been canon. In fact, Glitch said this in a deleted scene, I'm sure of it!
as all he could think was that the black leather was most assuredly a good look for Glitch.
*shivers happily!* Ooh, what an intriging thought!
I loved everyone being properly concerned after the wrench incident, Cain's panic, DG's apology...
“It’s okay, doll,” Glitch’s smile was tight with pain.
Oh, that's just what he would have said, too, been all forgiving...
Also, I liked Cain's little insights into Glitch's personality throughout this and the understanding he has for him, like why he gets stuck on one thought and seemingly can't let it go, etc.
From:
no subject
*blushes!* Thank you! You're far too kind, m'dear! And it was TOTALLY canon! Glitch would so say that! I thought Glitch looked good in the jacket...it complimented his hair and zipper very nicely...*mmmmm*
*gleefully follows you as you read...*
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
Fabulous! I love the way you weave your storyline in with the original - plausible without being predictable!
Then suddenly he was flying at Cain and for a crazy moment Cain was worried that Glitch had forgotten they were on the same side.
You know, I bet that's exactly what Cain WAS thinking in the original...
The black leather! And the gentleness with the owie! *wibbles*
From:
no subject
That's one thing the mini lacked that I take great pleasure in filling in - the comfort to go with the hurt! :)
And on a more shallow level, Glitch DID look hot in the Longcoat jacket.