A Jealous Tinman

Part The First

Tinman walked into Lion's room after a long search through the house, "Hey, Lion, have you seen Scarecrow?"
The Lion opened an eye, having been taking a nap before, and responds, "He went out with some girl, Patchwork, I think." Tinman's heart seems to drop, though he's unsure as to why.
"A girl?"
"Yes, a girl."
"Oh, well that's alright." Though he can feel that's only half true.

The Tinman had sat down to wait for his Scarecrow's arrival. Wait, his Scarecrow? He shook his head and kept on waiting. One hour. One hour and thirty minutes. Time ticked slowly as Tinman awaited his friend's arrival.  "Oh, I can't believe it. It's been over two hours and Scarecrow has yet to come back."
Lion had found a spot to lay at near the window, where the sun hit his fur and warmed him, and looked over to the Tinman now, "So?"
"Well, I didn't think he'd leave me here all alone with no one to talk to. All because of some Patchwork girl," he spat the girl's name as if it were cursed, surprising himself at the sudden anger he felt at said word, "No one to talk to at all."
"I'm right here." The Lion said, feeling slightly offended.
"As I said, no one to talk to at all. That dumb Patchwork taking away my time with him."
Lion let out a snort, "Well, it sure sounds to me like someone's jealous."
Tinman looked at him in surprise, "I don't know what you mean."
"Well, I'm not one for much romance but if I had to say, you might be head over heels with Mr. Strawman." Lion stretched out like a cat and stood from his spot by the window.
The Tinman felt his face heat up, though he knew it wasn't visible. "Why ever would you think that? The last person I ever loved was Nimmie Amee, and I haven't loved anyone as such since."
"I highly doubt that. With the way you act around Scarecrow, it's obvious, at least to me, that you are completely enticed by him."
"Prove it." Tinman spat.
"You always get flustered when he's oiling you up," Lion stated matter of factly.
"W-well, anyone would. He's handsome and it's strange having him at such a close-. Oh, I see." Tinman stuttered, having thought of all those times Scarecrow had oiled him after he rusted and the way his hand always cupped the Tinman's face with such delicacy that Nick could have fallen asleep. It gave him butterflies.
"Yeah."
The Tinman, pushing away his feelings for once, shook his head furiously. "No. I refuse to acknowledge these feelings as more than friendship."
"Uh-hu. I'm going out. Just think about it, won't you?" Lion walked back to his room.

"Say, Patchwork. What about this one? It seems like it could work for you and your sisters. It's fine silk, it says." Scarecrow looked over at her, his painted eyebrows raised. Patchwork looked at the silk and examined it closely, "Oh, 'cuz. I don't know about that one. As pretty as it is, I don't think a dress made of that would be suitable for our work."
"I suppose not." He turned to look at a golden glimmer which caught his painted winter blue eye and took the object in his hands, turning it over carefully. "Oh, look! An oil can. I bet Nick would appreciate a new one." He'd remembered how the Tinman's old silver oil can had begun to rust, ironically, after several uses. This new oil can was shining silver and was etched with elaborate golden patterns on its rims, giving it an almost royal look.

As he inspected the can, someone bumped into him, fortunately, he had learned to keep his balance by now and neither he nor the person toppled over to the ground. "Oh, I'm sorry, sir!" Said the girl, her dark eyes shone in distress. "Oh, it's quite alright. This old Scarecrow can take a little bump. Hey, wait a minute. Are you from the city?" He asked, noticing the girl's appearance seem more of royalty yet out of place in Emerald City. "Oh, no. I'm not. Actually, I'm from Munchkinland. I found my way here, I've been looking for my lost love. A witch cast a spell on him and removed his heart, to put it shortly."

The Scarecrow raised an eyebrow in thought, a spell that removed a heart... "The man you're looking for... His name wouldn't happen to be Nick Chopper?"
"Why, yes actually. Do you know him? He was my Knight In Shining Armor."
"Well, he's got shining armor, alright. He's actually a good friend of mine."
"Oh, he is! That's wonderful. I hope not to be a bother, but if you could perhaps take me to him? I've missed my dear Nick."
"Why, of course. I'm sure he'll be pleased to see you after so long!"
"I hope you're right." The Munchkin girl knew that Nick had lost interest in her after his heart had been taken, but she still hoped to see him. Start a friendship, at the very least. Scarecrow smiled at her, his stitched mouth stretching to his painted cheeks in a friendly grin, "my cousin and I are currently looking for fabrics. She and her sisters want to make a dress. Why don't you join us, and once we're done shopping, we can go to Nick."
The Munchkin girl looked up at the tall, but not so tall, Scarecrow. "Thank you, Mr..."
"Scarecrow. Call me Scarecrow."
"Oh, well, I'm Nimmie Amee. Call me Nimmie." Nimmie curtsied slightly. Patchwork piped in, deciding she wanted to be properly included in the conversation, "pleased to meet you, miss Nimmie. I'm Scraps Patchwork, Scarecrow's cousin'."
"Pleasure is mine, miss Patchwork. I love your hair."
"Why thank you, made out of fine yarn." Patchwork smiled her pearl teeth and patted her red braids, golden nails shining in the light as she did so.