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Nick Chopper has always been a sensitive man. Still, after losing his heart he didn't want to cause no harm. He even cried when he accidentally stepped on a mouse. But with no heart he felt numb, becoming unreal. Those first few hours after receiving a heart from the wizard was a rush of emotions. Emotions he hasn't felt in years, some he missed more than others.
The first was joy, he finally got what he always wanted, a heart! Sadly that joyfulness didn't last long when it was time for Dorothy to leave. He cried rusty tears that she carefully wiped away as she kissed his cheek. When Dorothy was gone he and his friends mourned the absence of the beloved girl.
Days after Dorothy's departure the Tin Man started feeling different.. not himself. He stayed with Scarecrow in the Emerald City to help him get comfortable, and for the woodman to figure himself out. Recently the metal man's heart hasn't felt right. He could feel that emptiness inside him causing a sense of dread washed over him.
He was to never be human again. Never to touch, never to cry clean tears, never to feel warmth. The empty man sat there thinking of all he lost, forced to listen to the echoing ticks of his heart. Brown tears pricked his eyes moments before he began to cry. Nick Chopper sat on those green steps with his head hanging low for hours, crying.
“Tin Woodman?” The Scarecrow was standing lopsided in the giant green doorway of his new castle. He saw the shiny silhouette of his tin friend on the steps, still as ever. The new ruler stumbled over to the woodman; dropping beside him to sit. The Scarecrow leaned over to take a better look at the metal man’s face with his painted blue eyes.
“Tin Man, have you been crying?” Scarecrow asked quietly, his mouth forming a frown. He looked a little closer and realized he had rusted himself with all his tears! Out of panic the king called one of his guards to fetch him the oil can for his friend. While the guard went to complete his command the scarecrow dried the woodman's tears with his gloved hands, staining them brown.
Once the guard returned with the oil can the monarch quickly took the can and started oiling the tin man’s joints. The straw man sat on his knees, oiling Nick’s neck first so he was able to move his head back. Once the Scarecrow was able to push the Tin Man’s head back he started oiling his jaws, then his arms, legs, feet, and shoulders. The rusty mad stretched his creaky limbs, standing up to stretch his legs. His majesty stayed on the ground; watching the man stretch his squeaky joints. Once the Tin Man was done he sat back down and sighed.
“Thank you my dear comrade. Once the tears come they cannot stop!” The metal man let out a rusty laugh, but not truly finding his comment humorous. The Scarecrow did not laugh. The painted frown stayed prominent on his face.
“What were you crying about my friend? I know we’re all still very upset about Dorothy but I think it’s not that.” The Scarecrow said, scratching his head.
“No, no.. Though I miss her, it is not that. It’s hard to explain and something I fear you won’t understand.” Tin Woodman frowned, looking away from the new king of Emerald City.
“Try me! I’ve got a brain now you know and can understand a whole lot more now!” The Scarecrow boasted, very proud of his new organ. The Woodman looked at him with a face full of sorrow.
“I thought a heart would make me feel human again… but it has not. It’s only made me feel worse, for I can never be alive again. I feel like an empty shell of the man I used to be.” Nick Chopper looked down at his fidgety metal hands while the Scarecrow just stared. The Tin Man was right, Scarecrow had never been alive so he does not know how his metal friend feels. The Scarecrow did the only thing he thought was right for this situation and pulled the Tin Man in for a hug.
“I’m sorry I cannot understand what you're going through. Though I hope I can help you through it, I only want the best for you Nick. If you are suffering I want to be suffering with you.” The Woodman sat rigidly for a second, processing what’s happening before wrapping his metal arms around the hay filled man. He held onto him tight and started crying again but this time not because he lost his humanity, but because he felt love after so long of losing it. The numb feeling was no longer there but instead being replaced with a feeling of belonging.