𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐬 & 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑒𝓈

dorothy felt her cheeks heat as scarecrow mentioned his heartbeat in relation to the tinman , memories that felt so distant she wondered if she had made them up racing to the forefront . entangled limbs , touching palms , syncopated pulses and runes of affection marking her body ... the brunette clears her throat , locks their arms a bit tighter , laughs bashfully at the unspoken thoughts parading around her fuzzy skull . " i don't think it's strange , " dorothy says delicately , looking up at him , lips a pair of rosebuds she presses into a soft , reassuring smile . " — your heart does that when you think of someone you care about . "

during their trek , not necessarily rushed but high-tempo for certain , dorothy informed the scarecrow of the many pleasant exchanges they had over the years . she fabricated some details , left out the more gruesome ends some of their journeys had found ( the tinman's axe above her head , blood splattering gingham with her beloveds bodies cut to pieces at her ruby encased feet ) and humored any proposal he offered ... including finding him upside down. not long after , they approached the orchard where she knew the tinman to be , squinting as she searched for the glinting of metal through the outstretched branches of apple trees .

" he's going to be rusted , " dorothy warns , giving the scarecrow's arm a squeeze . deep browns shift to find his face , which did little to ease the rouge staining her cheeks , before smiling reassuringly. " — he's alright . we'll just ... need to find his oil can . then, we can work together to help him remember . "

LOVE IT . hah — as if . dakota loved very little , tolerated was perhaps a better word for it . ( she liked it . why else would she keep him around ?? ) dakota scoffed , despite the fact her stomach fluttered at the accusation ... rolling her lower lip between her teeth as hazels followed suit . her mouth parts to retort , to feed into the petty arguments that always fueled something hot within both of them , but the words were lost upon her as tommy navigated the pathway of her parted thighs and settled his unoccupied hand — shamelessly — between her legs .

kota's breath hitched , a sharp inhale through nostrils that flared , oxygen sitting shallow in her chest . instead of fussing , dakota huffed , shifting her hips so her ass found his length through the denim stretching across his lap , rocking her weight a bit to adjust her position. she didn't shoo his hand away , but her gaze did make a quick trek across the room they were in ; investigating for any prying eyes . then , quietly ; " right now ?? " she asks , attempting to stabilize her voice as she seeks clarification , his touches rendering her nearly molten as she all but melts into their position . christ , how did he always know just how to work her nerves ??

a somber smile , tender as the touching of her palms to his woven cheeks , graces dorothy's salted lips . her head gently shakes , side to side , dismissing his apology as she forces down the urge to swallow his words whole . " it's alright , scarecrow . . . " she was used to this by now . the forgetting , the REPEATING , the endless circles ; the never ending path she walked along the yellow brick road . after all this time , it had cracked and began to fade , the colorful and fantastical place she had loved as a child splintering at its phony - sewed seams . much like she and her sanity seemed to be tearing , too .

dorothy nods as scarecrow's forehead finds her own , flushed skin meeting burlap , and yet - he was still as soft as she had always remembered . gloved hands held her as if she'd vanish if he'd let go ( in a way , she would . from his memory . lost until she was found again ) , and his warm kisses to her trembling hands sent little zips of electricity through her . awakening deep-seeded memories , desires , and fantasies that she'd only usually reunited with in the poppy field . when she was lulled , forced , into a deep , deep sleep . her fingers , plagued by tremors , fold into the gingham of her skirt as he steps away . she nods her head , wiping at the flushed button of her nose and apples of her cheeks with the back of a hand to rid them of the tears . " we must stop crying , " she breaths , linking their arms at the elbow once more , finding some peace in knowing that somewhere in the thick fog of his memory ... she was there . pieces of her , at least . " the tinman always rusts himself with his own tears . he doesn't need OURS as well . "

plot:  basically it's if i catch you i fuck you. kinda going with kidnapped / stalker vibes but they also could know each other and planned it for a bit of fun. any connection welcome.

—— open to f / m / nb

" WHAT OTHER CHOICE DO WE HAVE ?? " valerie hisses , slipping her knife in her boot , panic swelling in her chest ... though a morsel of anticipation - hunger - seeped through the cracks of her panic .

" the fuckin' clickers are gonna get him if we don't . he's useless and we're STARVING . "

THE SOUND OF HER HEART SNAPPING WAS LIKELY HEARD FROM THE WIZARD'S PALACE , ricocheting of each glittering , emerald wall and spire . he knew she was here ... he always did . did he know that memories meant to be lost were finding their ways through the cracks ?? " you ... remember ?? you remember us ?? me ... the tinman ... " it was a mix between elation and desperation , emotion bleeding into each pleading syllable . tear ducts once more flooded with moisture , crystalline beads forming in each respective eye's inner corner . dorothy steps forward , wanting to throw her arms around him , kiss every inch of his face — every stitch — and SOB until his straw was sodden .

but he pulled away from her .

whatever small flicker of hope had glimmered in dorothy's eyes was snuffed , confusion replacing recollection ... trust turning on its head as he accused her of being the witch . which witch , she wasn't sure . " w-what ?? n-no ... no , scarecrow , it's ... it's me . dorothy gale . from kansas . we're friends — i'm no witch . " attempting to swallow down her sobs , fists balled at her sides , dorothy's heels click on the road until they meet grass . her hands are then reaching out to touch his face , cradling each cheek , pulling the scarecrow's nose closer to her own . " whenever i have come back , you've never remembered . i have taken you down from that post many times . i know precisely how many nails are stuck in it . " dorothy is desperate , thumbs dragging across his warm , sun-loved skin , a rogue tear slipping free . she doesn't bother to wipe it . quieter then , as if they are sharing a secret ; " i know that all you want , more than anything , is a brain . you — you've told me once , many times , that you want a brain more than a heart because a fool wouldn't know what to do with one . do you remember that ?? "