Zero Tolerance: Stay of Execution
Title: Stay of Execution
Characters: Wyatt, Zero, Cass, DG, Azkadellia, Jeb
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Don't own Tin Man
Summary: At the Camp
Table of Contents
Wyatt tossed and turned as sleep started to leave him. He whispered Cass' name. He was reluctant to let those whisps go but when he looked up and saw Zero staring down at him, he jumped out of it immediately. He cursed, the sound an intent hiss. "Zero! For Gods' sake! Could you look any more sinister!?"
Zero looked down at himself as if he was going to find his long coat back on him. But no, his outfit was more fitting a Tin Man than any bad guy. "I suppose I could cackle," he replied to Cain as the other man pushed himself of his cot, stretching slightly. "I was gonna wake you, uh, we've got a runner from the Queen."
Ignoring Zero's 'offer', Cain nodded as he reached under the cot for his hat. He brushed it off slightly before rolling it down to his hand and placing it on his head. He got up and stepped to move past Zero. Zero put his arm out and stopped him. "Don't hurt my sister."
It sounded like a threat. And if there was anyone that Cain could recognise a threat from, it was Zero. Angry, he looked over at him, a snarl ready to vocalise. Whatever Cain was about to say died immediately before they left his lips when he saw the look on Zero's face. It was... almost vulnerable, and Wyatt was struck dumb. Like his sister being hurt would be striking Zero directly at the heart of him and he would never recover.
Wyatt knew that look well, he'd seen it in the mirror himself, thinking about Jeb or even DG. Seeing the look echo in the other man's face nearly drove him to tears himself. He dipped his head, hoping to hide them under his hat, and nodded. "Understood."
Zero's arm dropped and they continued to the Royal Tent. The princesses were already there and so was Jeb, though he looked he just been woken up. Actually, he looked as if the fact that he was awake was a mere technicality. The sight brought a smile to his father's face, Zero's little fright meant that Wyatt was a good deal more alert than his son.
"We're to cease fire," Cassandra told them without preamble. "Apparently, Ev have sent an envoy to the Palace telling the Queen that Hawk's Territory is now Ev Territory and we're to back off if we don't want a war. We don't want a war."
Zero's arms folded. "Whether we want one or not, we're going to get one," he pointed out.
"But a delay will help us..." Jeb rubbed his eyes. "Get our act together. Every little helps, right?"
"That's an uphill battle," DG remarked. "I mean, won't they be getting stronger too?"
"It won't mean as much to them as it does us," Azkadellia pointed out. "Ev's already a pretty strong nation. They're more likely to position the forces they already have. We've nowhere to go but up."
Jeb smiled. "Well, gee. We have this won!" he gave Azkadellia a gentle squeeze. She smiled at him. "Do we bring our people back from the border?" his tone suggested that he wouldn't but he would bow to Cain's greater experience.
"No. We leave him here, but we should start bringing the refugees closer inward, get them away from the border. Once they're fit."
DG nodded. "Dad's already gone back with Adora to get the recruitment drive going. And check up on more leads." Adora knew a few people in the Ev government, unhappy with how things were done. Undoubtedly from her time as a spy.
Great, just when I need to talk to her. "How are the refugees?" he noticed how DG went completely white as he mentioned them.
"Their recovery will be slow," Azkadellia replied thoughtfully. "But they should be able to move in a couple of days." She gave him an intent look. Unlike the camps' neighbours, the Tin Man couldn't ignore how badly deprived they were.
Wyatt sighed, gearing himself up. "You could use a hand?" The response was a collection of solemn nods.
DG came up to him, taking his hand in hers. "It's rough, Cain. You sure?"
"Yeah." Hawk is gonna pay.
Art of the Impossible
Characters: Wyatt, Zero, Cass, DG, Azkadellia, Jeb
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Don't own Tin Man
Summary: At the Camp
Table of Contents
Wyatt tossed and turned as sleep started to leave him. He whispered Cass' name. He was reluctant to let those whisps go but when he looked up and saw Zero staring down at him, he jumped out of it immediately. He cursed, the sound an intent hiss. "Zero! For Gods' sake! Could you look any more sinister!?"
Zero looked down at himself as if he was going to find his long coat back on him. But no, his outfit was more fitting a Tin Man than any bad guy. "I suppose I could cackle," he replied to Cain as the other man pushed himself of his cot, stretching slightly. "I was gonna wake you, uh, we've got a runner from the Queen."
Ignoring Zero's 'offer', Cain nodded as he reached under the cot for his hat. He brushed it off slightly before rolling it down to his hand and placing it on his head. He got up and stepped to move past Zero. Zero put his arm out and stopped him. "Don't hurt my sister."
It sounded like a threat. And if there was anyone that Cain could recognise a threat from, it was Zero. Angry, he looked over at him, a snarl ready to vocalise. Whatever Cain was about to say died immediately before they left his lips when he saw the look on Zero's face. It was... almost vulnerable, and Wyatt was struck dumb. Like his sister being hurt would be striking Zero directly at the heart of him and he would never recover.
Wyatt knew that look well, he'd seen it in the mirror himself, thinking about Jeb or even DG. Seeing the look echo in the other man's face nearly drove him to tears himself. He dipped his head, hoping to hide them under his hat, and nodded. "Understood."
Zero's arm dropped and they continued to the Royal Tent. The princesses were already there and so was Jeb, though he looked he just been woken up. Actually, he looked as if the fact that he was awake was a mere technicality. The sight brought a smile to his father's face, Zero's little fright meant that Wyatt was a good deal more alert than his son.
"We're to cease fire," Cassandra told them without preamble. "Apparently, Ev have sent an envoy to the Palace telling the Queen that Hawk's Territory is now Ev Territory and we're to back off if we don't want a war. We don't want a war."
Zero's arms folded. "Whether we want one or not, we're going to get one," he pointed out.
"But a delay will help us..." Jeb rubbed his eyes. "Get our act together. Every little helps, right?"
"That's an uphill battle," DG remarked. "I mean, won't they be getting stronger too?"
"It won't mean as much to them as it does us," Azkadellia pointed out. "Ev's already a pretty strong nation. They're more likely to position the forces they already have. We've nowhere to go but up."
Jeb smiled. "Well, gee. We have this won!" he gave Azkadellia a gentle squeeze. She smiled at him. "Do we bring our people back from the border?" his tone suggested that he wouldn't but he would bow to Cain's greater experience.
"No. We leave him here, but we should start bringing the refugees closer inward, get them away from the border. Once they're fit."
DG nodded. "Dad's already gone back with Adora to get the recruitment drive going. And check up on more leads." Adora knew a few people in the Ev government, unhappy with how things were done. Undoubtedly from her time as a spy.
Great, just when I need to talk to her. "How are the refugees?" he noticed how DG went completely white as he mentioned them.
"Their recovery will be slow," Azkadellia replied thoughtfully. "But they should be able to move in a couple of days." She gave him an intent look. Unlike the camps' neighbours, the Tin Man couldn't ignore how badly deprived they were.
Wyatt sighed, gearing himself up. "You could use a hand?" The response was a collection of solemn nods.
DG came up to him, taking his hand in hers. "It's rough, Cain. You sure?"
"Yeah." Hawk is gonna pay.
Art of the Impossible