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prettyinlimegreenboots · 3 years ago

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Code Silver - Life in the ER

This is the continuation of my “Life in the ER” series. This takes place two months after the previous installment. As always, you don’t necessarily have to read the previous installments but it may help clarify any questions you have.

Now take note of this MAJOR WARNING - there is an active shooter situation in this chapter. There will be blood, cussing, needles, surgery and death in this chapter. You have been warned.

I do not own Dr. Leighton. His name was originally used in Code Black, which is one of my favorite medical dramas. I do not own that name. And Dr. Weasley is named after the famous red-headed family in Harry Potter - I don’t own that name either.

As always, feedback would be wonderful and much appreciated. Buckle up kids, this is going to be a doozy of a ride.

June 10, 2021 11:00am

He never wished for a normal day while working in the ER but he wished for one today. Wishing for normal days, usually, meant that the hours in the ER were filled with chaos and craziness and somehow even more casualties than an average shift. He sighed as he thought back on the long night he had. Mack had been up most of the night, and usually Race could get her settled down but he was at his wits end. Spot ended up getting up to help him, making the 5am wake up call a struggle.

“Get it gear, Conlon.” Plums teased as she stood at the nurse’s desk giving a look. “Coffee not kicking in?”

Groaning, he looked up from the keyboard he was staring at a little too intently, nodding to the white cup sitting beside his hand. “This is my fifth cup; if it hasn’t kicked in yet then I don’t think there’s hope. Little miss only wanted me last night.”

“Ahhh those days are fun. Addie is in a Jack phase right now and I’m chopped liver.” Plums grinned. “Hopefully that won’t last long?”

Spot shrugged. “It’s been a week already. It doesn’t help when I’m working the early shift. She loves to party between 2 and 4.”

“Ugh do not miss those days. Addie is finally sleeping all the way through the night. She gets up at 5:30, just as I’m walking out the door though.” She smiled as Albert slid into a chair. “You okay, Al?”

He grinned. “Yea, patient in room four needs a checkup at some point. What’d I missed?”

“Noted - thanks. Spot’s kid throwing a rager from 2-4am.” Plums pointed out.

Albert chuckled loudly. “Ahh that sounds like fun.”

“Don’t laugh - this’ll be you this time next year.” Spot pointed his index finger in Albert’s direction. Finch and Albert had announced their little bundles of joy would be arriving around the beginning of December.

The grin slid from his face as Spot’s words made him pause. “Shit. I guess I will be taking notes from you both before that time.”

A call came over the intercom as Plums grabbed a chart before heading down the hallway. “Duty calls. Meet you guys in the cafe around 1 for lunch?”

“See you then.” Spot saluted her as he finished typing up his notes, looking over his shoulder at Albert who was writing in his own chart. “You doing good?”

A smirk crossed Albert’s face. “Doing well. Finch mentioned that we should have you and Race and Jack and Kat over for a cookout.”

“That’ll be fun.” Spot sighed, typing something in the chat he was having with another doctor, groaning as he stood up. “I’ve got to go draw another vial of blood. Don’t miss me too much.”

Albert blew him a kiss as he watched him walk away with a shake of his head. “Don’t worry, pooks, I won’t.”

Spot quickly drew the vial of blood from his patient in bay 12 before walking it upstairs to deliver Elmer. “Got some fresh, still warm blood for you. Orders should be in your inbox.”

“How’s the world of emergency today? Quiet?” Elmer accepted the vial before typing a few keys on his keyboard, giving Spot a quick smile.

Spot sighed, leaning against the wall, trying to stretch his back. “It’s quiet but two ambulances were pulling up just as I escaped up here. Is it 6pm yet?”

“Sorry, you still have 6.5 hours to go.” Elmer was way too cheerful as he delivered that news to Spot, who merely groaned.

The hospital phone that was attached to his hip dinged with a message that made him smile. “Hey if you haven’t eaten by 1, we’re planning on eating in the cafe. Come by.”

“I’ll see if I can get away. These results will be in your patient’s chart by the time you get back downstairs.” Elmer grinned.

Saluting him, Spot grinned. “Thanks, Elm. You’re the best.”

Whistling along to a song that was stuck in his head, he headed back downstairs, via the stairs. He hopped down the stairs as he thought about everything that he needed to do before his shift ended. Just as his foot hit the bottom stair, the intercom blared to life with a “Code Silver” followed by the Emergency Department as the location. Words you never wanted to hear in a hospital. A shiver ran down his back as his brain processed the words. Gripping the handle of the staircase he faltered in his step. Active shooter.

Throwing open the heavy stairwell door, he found himself in a surprisingly empty hallway. His shoes squeaked softly as he made his way to an empty patient room, quickly darting behind the door for protection. Grabbing the blue hospital issued phone, he opened it, silencing the volume. He sent a message both to Plums and Albert asking them where they were.

As he waited, all he could hear was someone yelling and the blood rushing through his ears. The phone vibrated in his hand as he quickly brought it up to eye level. From Plums: Patient’s room, door locked, everyone okay. You?

Ignoring her message for now, he started making his way back towards the center of the Emergency Room. In the back of his mind, he knew he should get out while he could but not while his sister-in-law and best friend were in the middle of danger.

“Where the hell is Nicole Ridder?” A loud voice raged, catching his attention as he slid under a desk. “Where is she?”

A gunshot went off as several more screams pierced the air as a hand slammed on a desk. “Where is she?”

Looking around the corner, Spot’s eyes went wide, as he took in the scene. Albert was under the desk, the very desk the man was loudly banging his fist on. Sadie, a nurse that Spot didn’t know too well, was staring down the man. “Sir, there is no Nicole Ridder here. I just checked our in-patients and there’s no one here by that name.”

“She texted me and said she’s here and now you won’t fucking let me see her.” The man screamed as another gunshot exploded, breaking the silent air. All Spot could do was watch Sadie crumble as the bullet hit her.

The man hit his hand once more before taking several steps, waving the gun in front of several other nurses, the air returning quiet. “Nicole, where are you?”

The man neared Spot’s position, as he tried to make himself smaller. “NICOLE!”

His shouts became more desperate as he started pushing open closed doors. Spot tried to regulate his breath as the man’s footsteps came closer.

He stopped at the desk that Spot was sitting under, his hand pounding the top. His voice was gruff as he cocked the trigger of the gun. “I know there are more people here - just tell me where in the hell Nicole is and I won’t shoot up the place.”

A cry broke the silence, as both Spot and the man looked towards a closed door. Within seconds the man was standing in front of the door, the butt of the gun banging against the solid wood door.

His hand tightened around the door handle, jiggling it to open it but found it locked. “NICOLE, OPEN THIS DOOR! I know you’re in there.”

A noise behind Spot made him look. Albert and a few other nurses made a break for it, running for a door that would lead them outside. Spot felt a rush of air escape his mouth. Albert was safe. But he feared for Plums’ safety.

Plums’ POV

The jiggling of the door handle sent a shiver down her back. She was currently hiding behind the bed, with her patient and her patient’s child, trying to keep them both safe. Putting a finger to her mouth, she locked eyes with the two.

She had been about to discharge Josie, who had strep throat, when the Code Silver had come over the intercom. Immediately she had shut the door, locked it and put the chair under the handle, blocking them in the small room.

“NICOLE, OPEN THIS DOOR! Goddammit I know you’re in there.” The jiggling continued as tears crowded her eyes. She attempted to calm her breathing.

Grabbing the blue phone, she quickly typed something in and sent it to both Albert and Spot, hoping the two of them got out before this madness began.

“NICOLE DAMMIT OPEN THIS DOOR.” The man’s voice pleaded as his fists hit the door, each bang louder than the previous.

She slipped her hand into the little girl’s, giving it a squeeze, as she prayed that the ordeal would end soon.

Spot’s POV

He felt the phone vibrate in his hand as he opened the message.

I’m in the room with her and her daughter.

The gasp escaped his mouth before he could help it but the pounding on the door told him the gunman hadn’t heard. He wished he had his personal cell on him but the hospital frowned upon that. He just wanted to get a message to Race.

His thoughts stopped for a minute. Race. His husband who was out on summer break, at home with their daughter. Or maybe he and Jack took the girls out for lunch and were at least together. Leaning his head back, he stretched his neck muscles, praying that he’d get to see his daughter and husband at least one more time.

Taking a steady breath, Spot’s mind started turning. He needed to get that gunman away from that door if Plums had a chance to get away.

Opening up the phone, he quickly typed out a message to Plums Right outside the door under the desk.

His butt was falling asleep as he sat scrunched up under the desk. He slowly adjusted himself, cussing when his shoe squeaked. Spot cussed under his breath as the pounding on the door came to a standstill. “Who’s there?”

Eyes wide, Spot bit his lip in an attempt to stay quiet. “Show yourself or I will put a bullet through this door. This isn’t a game.”

Another gunshot sounded as screams pierced the air. Several more gunshots were fired in quick succession as the man growled under his breath. “Damnit, Nicole, get your skinny ass out here now. Quit playing these damn games.”

Another several gunshots were fired through the door, wood splintering as the bullet made contact. Several screams pierced the quietness, one of which was most definitely Plums.

Spot could hear the man pacing in front of the door, as his shoes squeaked with each pass. Every few seconds, the butt of the gun would knock against the door. Spot could hear him growl, growing frustrated by the situation at hand. “You leave me no choice, Nicole.”

Before he could take another breath, the gun was fired in quick rounds, several bullets hitting the wooden door as screams erupted from the small room. Spot eased out from his position, looking at the man as he screamed and unloaded his gun into the small room.

He heard the familiar click of the gun, signaling that it was out of ammunition. Spot took that moment to stand and look at the man. He moved stealthily, as he made his way to the man. Before he could think, he punched the man, successfully crumbling him to the ground. The gun went sliding down the hallway as Spot punched the man a few times. “Plums, get them the hell outta here.”

The man attempted to hit Spot back but was unsuccessful and several seconds later, the police came in, slapping handcuffs on the man before helping Spot up.

Spot stood, chest heaving as his brain caught up on what had just happened. He faltered in his step just as a police man caught him. “Sir, you okay?”

“Dizzy.” He mumbled just as he collapsed and fell to the ground.

Plums’ POV

Holding up her hands, she hurled herself over to the police and told them to get the hell in there, that the gunman had been subdued.

Without another word, she watched several police officers make their way into the building as she was led to a makeshift medical area. She was led to a stretcher where her vitals were checked and she was given a check over. She had some cuts from glass and bruises but nothing life threatening. The mental reminders would take some time to overcome. Albert wrapped a warm blanket around her shoulders as she sat on the bed. “It was Spot.”

Albert’s hands stilled as he took her blood pressure. “Spot what?”

“Spot subdued the gunman by hitting him and knocking him out.” Plums whispered as she looked at Albert.

Albert dropped the stethoscope, before pulling her into a hug, as she lost it. The tears, fears, relief all came bubbling to the surface. He hushed her, brushing his hand up and down her back as he attempted to calm her down. “Hey it’ll be okay. Jack, Race, and Finch are all outside and as soon as you’re done, I’ll bring them all back, okay?”

She nodded, her breath coming out in gasps, as he took her blood pressure. He did a few other checks, she figured for bullets or any other damages before jotting down something on the piece of paper at the makeshift table. “Do you want me to stay or go get them?”

“Can you stay and have someone get them? Also, where’s Spot?” She asked, eyes wide with the fear still radiating through her body. She knew the adrenaline would be cursing through her body for some time yet.

Albert nodded, stepping out for a moment before coming back in. “Maddie is going to get Jack, Race, and Finch and she’s checking on Spot.”

“Albie?” She asked, clutching the blanket tighter around her.

“Yea Plums?” He asked, scribbling something on a chart in front of him. He looked up, looking at one of his family members, trying to keep it all together.

She sniffled, looking at the cut on her hand. “Was anyone killed?”

He stilled with the question, dropping the pen before walking over to wrap her in a hug as she broke down crying. “Shhh.” He whispered as he ran a hand up and down her back.

Tears clouded his eyes as he listened to her heartbreaking sobs. Soon they turned to snuffs as she pulled away from him and wiped her eyes. “Sorry.”

“No, Kat, you have nothing to apologize for.” He shook his head. “You’re safe and your body is trying to regulate itself. It’s okay. But to answer your question, I haven’t heard anything about anyone. Once I got out, they checked me out and said they needed help with injuries so I’ve been doing this. I was just relieved to see you run out.”

Looking up, she gasped seeing Jack, Race, and Finch all standing there. Before she could do anything, Jack was pulling her into a hug as she busted into another round of tears. Jack was mumbling stuff in her ear and running his hand through her hair as she immediately felt safe in Jack’s arms. Leaning back, she pressed a kiss to his lips. “Love you too.”

Stepping away from Jack, she pulled Race into her arms as he sniffled. “I’m so glad you’re okay. Where’s Spot?”

“He was the one who subdued the gunman. He’s probably talking to the police.” She mumbled, watching Race’s face crumble.

She watched many emotions cover Race’s face as he faltered. “He did what?”

“I don’t know how but he knocked the gunman out and told me to get out of there.” She looked at him. “He’s a hero, Race.”

Tears clouded Race’s face as she pulled him back into a hug. “He was fine when I was running out of there so I’m sure he’s talking to the police.”

She soothed him, by rubbing a hand up and down his back. She watched Jack talk to Albert and Finch. “Where are our girls?”

“Medda has them.” Race pulled back, wiping his eyes. “Jack and I were hanging out at your house when she stopped by. When this came across the news, Jack said we needed to get down here. We held our breaths every time the door opened. We got here just after Albert came running out.”

Nodding, she sat back on the bed, wrapping the blanket around her. She looked over at Finch, whose fingers were laced with Albert’s. “Hi Finch.”

“Hi Kat. Glad you’re okay.” He smiled, squeezing Albert’s hand.

Nodding, she looked at the men in the room, sighing. “Hey Al, can you go check with Maddie?”

He nodded, leaning over to kiss Finch before escaping out of the medical area.

Sighing, she kicked her legs, antsy with wanting to know what was keeping Spot. She figured the police would want to talk with him but he should be done by now. She felt Jack stand behind her with his hand on her shoulder. She knew it would be a long time before he would be able to have her out of his sight.

Albert’s face was stoic as he returned with a police officer. “Plums, this is Office Ramirez. He’d like to talk to us for a few minutes.”

“Katherine Kelly, sir. This is my husband Jack and our friends, Tony, Albert, and Patrick. Tony is Sean’s husband. Can you tell us what’s going on with Sean Conlon?” Plums sat up straight, trying to look more authoritative than she felt. Her heart plummeted into her stomach as he was introduced. Usually having a police office come talk to them was never a good thing.

Officer Ramirez shifted, pulling his hat off before looking at the same group of friends. “I was first through the doors when I saw Sean on the floor punching the gunman. Several officers took care of the gunman while I went over to Sean. I got him to his feet when he mumbled that he was dizzy and before I knew it, he had fainted.”

“Doctor White was in the vicinity and immediately started checking Sean. In the initial check, he had blood on the left side of his scrubs. Several nurses and Dr White loaded him onto a gurney and rushed him upstairs to surgery.” Officer Ramirez’s face was grime as he relayed the information. Race gasped, processing the information. “If you’d like, I will escort you up to the surgery floor where you can wait?”

Kat sat back as the words hit her. She looked over at Race, who staggered a bit, only for Albert’s arm to wrap around his waist. “That would be great. But I have one other question - was anyone killed today?”

The officer paused. He was conflicted on how much he should actually tell them. “There were two nurses and an orderly that were killed. There were several that were injured by the stray bullets.”

Tears crowded Kat’s eyes as she thought about her coworkers and their families. Hanging her head, she let a sob out as someone put their arms around her. She looked up at Race whose face was tight with a mix of emotions as he hugged her. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she looked at Officer Ramirez. “I’ll need a few minutes to talk with some of my colleagues but after that, can you escort us upstairs?”

“Absolutely ma’am. There will be a police officer outside the waiting room just for some extra protection. And we will need to speak with you and Mr. DaSilva at some point.” The office said, as Kat nodded.

She pushed the blanket off of her before she looked at Jack. Leaning up, she gave him a quick kiss and hugged Race before walking out into the still mayhem scene.

Maddie came up and gave her a hug. “I’m glad you’re okay. Any word on Spot?”

“He’s in surgery but that’s all I know. We’re going to head up to the surgical waiting room. Can you let the head honchos know?” Plums asked, giving the young nurse a look, as she looked around the mayhem of police officers, nurses, and patients.

Maddie quickly nodded. “I can do that. Do you want me to have food sent up?”

“Thanks, that would be nice since all of us just want a status update.” She smiled at Maddie.

“Consider it done. Just let us know when he’s out and doing okay?” She asked, as Plums quickly agreed before going back to the medical area.

Making sure they had everything, Kat gave Officer Ramirez a look as he led them through the eerie empty halls of the Emergency Room to the elevators. Katherine moved quickly, not wanting to be reminded of what had happened there just a short while ago. The group was silent as they got on the elevators, watching the numbers slowly rise up to level 8, the surgical floor.

Several police officers were already waiting outside of the waiting room as they stepped off the elevator. Kat led the group into the room, where a couple of styrofoam containers were on a table along with two sets of scrubs. “If you need anything, my officers will be outside. When you’re ready to talk to us, just let us know.”

“Thank you for everything. Let us get changed and get some food, then at least I’ll be ready to talk.” Kat told him before she looked at Albert, who nodded.

Officer Ramirez gave her a slight smile before stepping out of the room and closing the door behind him.

She watched Albert and Finch walk over to the food as Jack and Race hovered near her. She smiled weakly at them both before picking up a pair of scrubs and walking over to the bathroom to change. Not wanting to see the scrubs she had on ever again, she threw them into the trash before joining the men in the waiting room. As the door closed behind her, she pulled her hair down, wanting her hair to be done, instead of up in a ponytail like it normally was when she was on shift.

Jack and Race had styrofoam containers balanced on their knees as they ate. Finch and Albert were throwing theirs away.

“There’s a sandwich and mac and cheese there for you.” Jack motioned over to the table as he continued to eat.

Nodding, she sat at the table, immediately opening the mac and cheese container and eagerly eating the cheesy goodness. “Any word?”

Shakes of heads were her answer as she sighed and banged her head against the wall. She knew she should go downstairs to get hers and Spot’s stuff but she just didn’t have the energy.

Her eyes darted around the room. Apart from the eerie quietness, the people in the room were okay. She just wished she could find out what was up with Spottie and why it was taking so long. Her brain kicked into medical mode and she wondered how serious Spot’s injuries really were.

“Kat?” Jack broke her train of thoughts by softly calling her name. She raised an eyebrow at him. “The police are ready to talk to you if you are.”

Nodding, she quickly threw away her trash, grabbing a water bottle before she walked out of the room, ready to be done with the day.

Jack looked at Race who was twiddling with his hands, looking absolutely lost. “Race?”

“Yea Jack?” He asked, looking up from playing with his wedding band.

“I know it’s a stupid question but you doing okay? Do you need anything?” He asked.

Race shrugged, sighing. “I just want to lay eyes on him and make sure he’s okay. My mind keeps playing the what if game and it won’t stop until I can see him.”

“Do you want me to have momma bring up the girls?” Jack asked, knowing Kat would want to see Addie sooner rather than later.

Race was torn. On the one hand, it would be good to hold Mack until he knew about Spot; on the other, the little girl would want to explore the unfamiliar place and Race didn’t know if he could be patient with her as his nerves were already frayed. “As much as I would love to say yes, she’s better off with momma at the house.”

Jack nodded. “Do you want to play cards?”

Race loved his brother but he could slug him at the moment. He understood what Jack was trying to do but he just wanted to know how the hell Spot was doing. “No Jack. I’m fine. Just anxious to hear how Spot’s doing.”

Silence fell over the room as Race began to day dream. He thought back to earlier that morning. Did he even say he loved Spot as he said goodbye to him? Did he say have a good day or that he’d text him later? Race let his head fall backwards as it collided with the wall. Tears crowded his eyes at the lack of updates and knowledge of what the hell was going on.

Race wasn’t going to lie. It was painful to see Jack and Kat along with Albert and Finch reunite as he sat there awaiting the news of his husband. Race just prayed to whoever that Spot was okay and he would be back by his side soon.

His eyes met the clock on the wall. 1:35. Just over two hours since he heard the news about an active shooter at the hospital and his heart damn near stopped.

Pulling out his phone, he noticed there was a 40 in the top corner of his messages. People had been contacting him to find out if Spot was working and if he was okay. Race just didn’t have the heart to reply to any of them. The only one he opened was from momma as she had sent a photo of Kenzie sleeping. He smiled slightly before locking his phone and putting it back in his pocket.

The opening of the door caught his attention as a nurse slipped through. “I’m Maeve. Is this the family of Sean Conlon?”

Nodding, Race looked at the young nurse with a pleading look. “I’m his husband. Is he out of surgery?”

“I was in the operating room. The doctor is just finishing up surgery and will be in shortly.” Maeve tight lipped smiled at them.

Race cleared his throat. “Is he okay?”

“I’m sorry but the doctor will be out shortly.” She apologized as she slipped out of the room.

Jack stood, stretching his back. “I’ll go let Kat know. Anyone need anything?”

Everyone shook their heads, watching him leave the room. Race tapped his feet, a renewed energy knowing that soon he’d have some answers and maybe he could see Spot sooner rather than later.

Kat joined Jack as they came back into the room. Before she took a seat, she held something out to Race. “I had the police collect his belongings from downstairs. He has quite a lot of missed calls and texts.”

Race accepted the phone and Spot’s canvas bag with a nod. He didn’t go through it, and merely pocketed the phone. “How was your talk with the police?”

“Okay. They just wanted to make sure they had all their ducks in a row. They’re going to want to talk to Spot and you, Albert.” She directed her last words to him as he nodded, fingers laced with Finch’s.

“It might be a few days before Spot’s up for it.” Race gave his sister-in-law a look.

She quickly nodded, looking at him. “The police are well aware of that fact. His doctors will have to clear it before he is able to do so. Plus he’ll have us by his side when he does talk to them.”

The door opened once more as they all looked up. “Doctor Leighton.”

“Katherine, I’m glad you’re doing okay.” He gave her a side hug as he turned to the other four. “I’m Doctor Leighton, I did Spot’s surgery.”

“This is Tony, Sean’s husband. My husband Jack. You know Albert and his husband Finch.” Kat made the introductions. “How’s Spot?”

Doctor Leighton nodded at all of them before taking a seat. “Spot’s okay. He’s in recovery at the moment. It was tough and go for a while. He had a bullet hit him on his left side. We ended up having to remove his spleen but he lost a lot of blood. We’re currently giving him blood transfusions to try to replenish what was lost.”

“Will he make a full recovery? Can he live without his spleen?” Race asked, looking between Kat and the doctor.

The doctor nodded his head. “Yes, he will make a full recovery and at this point, we don’t see any cause of concern. We’re waiting for him to wake up. And yes, he will be fine to live without his spleen.”

“What are your concerns for him in the next 48 hours?” Kat asked, as Race was glad she asked because he didn’t know what else to ask.

Dr. Leighton sighed. “You know the concerns, Katherine. Since the spleen is so instrumental in fighting infections, I’m a bit more concerned with him catching infections going forward. He will need to make sure he’s up to date on all of his vaccines after he’s discharged.”

“So I should be more concerned when he comes down with a cold?” Race piped up as the doctor nodded.

Kat nodded. “Yes, especially in the next year as his immune system adjusts.”

“When can we see him?” Race asked, his toes tapping anxiously, just wanting to lay eyes on his husband.

Dr. Leighton looked at Race, smiling softly. “Give us about 20 minutes to get him moved to a room then you can see him.”

“Thank you Dr. Leighton.” Kat stood, shaking his hand as the rest of them did the same. He gave them a tight smile before he left them alone.

“Well he was helpful.” Race choked out as Jack Finch, and Albert both snorted.

Kat shook her head. “He’s a brilliant surgeon but he’s got little bedside manner. I’d request him in a heartbeat, a thousand times over some of the surgeons in this hospital.”

Race nodded, trusting her 1000% with anything medical related. Standing up, he started pacing, just wanting the time to go by fast so he could see Spot. “Race?”

He stopped, looking at Kat who softly called his name. “Do you need anything?”

“Just to see my damn husband.” Race sighed. “Sorry but I can’t think of anything else until I lay eyes on him.”

Kat nodded, as she couldn’t imagine if that was Jack in surgery and wanting to see him to make sure he was okay. “You heard Dr. Leighton, Race. He’s okay but I understand your frustration. Do you want us to hang back when you first see him?”

“Do you mind?” Race asked, his voice small, not wanting to give away how scared he truly was.

She stood, pulling him into a hug, running her hand up and down his back. “Of course not. You should be the first to see him. We’ll hang around while you go to visit him. Al still needs to talk to the police so he can do that while you go see him.”

The door opened and the nurse from earlier stood there. “We’ve got him settled into his room. We still have him sedated but you can go ahead and see him.”

Kat nudged Race. “Go see our boy and give him our love. We’ll hang back and see him later, alright?”

Nodding, Race hesitantly stepped forward as he followed the nurse down the hall to a room in the corner. “I’ll be right at the nurse’s desk in case you need anything.”

She propped open the door as he silently walked inside. There were two IVs, one going in each hand, one fluid of clear liquid, the other full of blood. He stood at the foot of the bed, looking at the step up, two chairs, one on each side of the bed, along with a table and two chairs off in the corner. Stepping around the bed, he sat in one of the chairs, and being careful of the IV, lacing his hand with Spot’s.

“Hey Spot.” He whispered, torn between waking him up and letting him sleep. Race had always loved watching his husband sleep, due to the fact when he was awake, he was never still. Spot was always moving around, unable to really settle unless he was sick or sleepy. “I heard through the grapevine that you’re some kind of hero. You saved a lot of people today, Spottie.”

Time, Spot only needed time. Time to heal, time to recover, time to wake up. “I know you want to sleep but I really want to see your pretty brown eyes. It’s been a pretty rough afternoon and I need to tell you I love you, because I’m not sure I actually said it this morning.”

“I’m not leaving, Spot. Wild horses couldn’t pull me away.” Race promised, squeezing his hand. “Kat, Jack, Albert, and Finch are out in the waiting room. Momma is at the house with Mack and Addie. As soon as you wake up, I’ll get her to bring the two of them up to see you.”

He continued to ramble about random things, always being told that patients could hear when they were unconscious. He didn’t want Spot to be alone and promised to fill the quiet room with his cheerful chatter.

Race held his breath, knowing that Spot would wake up with time but he wasn’t the most patient person. Squeezing his hand, he felt himself relaxing in the chair for the first time since arriving at the hospital. Race kicked his feet up onto the bed and let his head fall back to the back of the chair, listening to the constant beeping from the monitor, his eyes closing as he dozed off.

Kat’s POV

She watched Race leave the room, wanting to join him as he saw Spot but knowing Race needed some time to adjust to having Spot in the hospital bed. Standing up, she felt antsy from waiting so she paced the room as she answered texts from family and friends concerned about her.

“Kat?” Looking up from her phone, she looked over at Jack who had concern written all over his face. “You okay?”

She sighed, walking over to him and sitting beside him. “Just antsy. I’m glad Race gets to go see him but I want to check up on him as well.”

Pressing a kiss to her head, Jack nodded. “I know. Despite our rough start, Spot is like a brother to me and it’s hard when we don’t know what the next few days or even weeks will look like. But we have to go along with the doctor who seems optimistic that he’ll be alright in the long run.”

Kat reached over and laced her fingers with Jack’s. “We’ll see him soon. Let’s give Race some time with him.”

She looked at Finch and Albert and smiled sadly at them. “You two doing okay?”

“Just hanging out until we can see him.” Albert looked as worried as she felt. “You two hanging out for the night?”

Jack shrugged, giving them a look. “Depends on what Race wants us to do. We’re kinda letting him dictate what we’re doing. I just checked in with momma and she said the girls are down for their afternoon naps.”

She didn’t get a chance to answer as the door opened slowly as an older man poked his head in. Standing up, she weakly smiled at him as surprise was evident in her voice. “Dr. Weasley.”

“Katherine, they told me you were up here. I just wanted to check in with you, Spot, and Albert to see how you were doing.” He said as she nodded.

Motioning for him to come in, she sighed. “Spot had emergency surgery and he’s in a room down the hall. This is my husband Jack and Albert’s husband, Finch. Guys, this the director of the ER, Dr. Weasley. We’ve just been hanging out here waiting to see Spot after his surgery.”

Dr. Weasley nodded. “I heard that he had to have his spleen removed - he’s a tough nut and will be okay. I’ve come to tell you that you and Albert have the next week off. There will be a check-in before you’re allowed back into the hospital, per guidelines. As for Spot, we’ll take it day by day with him and when he’s cleared to return.”

“Is there anything we need to do in the meantime?” Albert came by Kat’s side as he was curious what the requirement was going to consist of.

Dr. Weasley smiled at them. “You’ll both need to see one of the hospital’s trauma specialists before you’re released to come back. You will also need to take the mandatory 5 days off before you step back in here.”

“How long will the ER be shut down for?” Kat asked, knowing it was only one of three emergency rooms within the city.

Dr. Weasley shook his head. “It’s going to be shut down for tonight but obviously the hospital doesn’t want it down for too long. They’re hoping to have it back up and running tomorrow morning.”

Frowning, Kat shook her head. “It doesn’t seem right. There were people killed in that ER earlier today and tomorrow it’s back to business like their lives don’t even matter.”

“I agree with you Plums but you know how the head honchos are.” Dr. Weasley agreed as he shook his head.

She rolled her eyes with a sigh. “It’s just not right. But I make pennies compared to them and I know nothing.”

“Keep up that attitude Plums and you’ll be alright.” He smiled, looking between her and Albert. “Do either of you need anything?”

Albert shook his head with a smirk. “Million bucks, new scrubs, better hospital food?”

“Noted but not sure what I can pull out of my magic hat.” Dr. Weasley looked between the two of them with a shake of his head. “You have my number if you need anything. I’m glad you two are okay.”

Watching him leave, Kat shook her head as the door shut gently behind him. “That was nice of him to check up on us.”

“You know it was because we’re not down at the ER with the rest of the staff.” Albert told her with sarcasm laced in his voice. “He knew it would’ve gotten around the ER if he didn’t come check up on us and Spot.”

Kat nodded. “True. I’m going to check up on Race. You guys staying here?”

Albert agreed while Finch and Jack stayed behind, letting the two of them go. Her shoes squeaked as she walked down the hallway. Pushing open the door, her shoulders immediately relaxed as she took in Spot’s appearance in the bed. A noise drew her attention away from Spot and to the chair beside him where Race was snoring away.

Stepping up to the bed, she looked Spot over as his quiet breathes matched Race’s deep snores. Albert shook his head as he reached up to wipe his eyes before taking Katherine’s hand and squeezing it. “He looks better than I thought he would.”

“What did you imagine?” Kat asked, looking over at him with a smirk.

Albert shrugged. “Bruises, black eyed, ruggedness. You know, someone who just got into a fight but he actually just looks normal.”

“Excuse you, I’m ruggedly handsome.” A voice drew their attention from each other to the bed. A smirk was on Spot’s face as he looked at two friends.

Kat’s eyes immediately watered with tears as she looked at him. “Spot.”

“I’m sore . . . what happened?” He asked as he tried to move but felt instant pain.

Albert stepped up, giving him a look. “You had surgery. They removed your spleen due to a bullet. You fainted in the ER just after the police came to take the gunman away. Race was really worried about you and had been in here for about 20 minutes before he must’ve fallen asleep.”

“Is that what that train sound is?” Spot asked, craning his head to look over to Race, who quietly snored away.

“Yes. He’s been worried sick about you.” Kat smiled. “Do you want me to wake him up?”

Spot shook his head. “Nah, let him sleep. Who’s got Kenzie?”

“Momma’s got her and Addie. Last we knew, they were taking their afternoon naps. Jack, Race, and Finch have been here most of the afternoon. They watched Albert run out.” Kat explained.

Spot nodded, as he bit his lip as a wave of pain coursed through his side. “Anyone killed?”

“Two nurses and an orderly.” Kat frowned. “But thanks to you, no one else was killed. There’s a few injuries but you saved a lot of people, Spot, including Nicole and her daughter.”

Spot shook his head. “I about died when you texted me that you were in the room with them. I knew I had to draw him away from the door in order for you to escape.”

“I’m thankful that you did but I almost passed out when I saw you slugging him.” Kat shook her head. “You’re an idiot Sean but I do love you.”

“Love you too Kat.” He reached over and squeezed her hand. “Do you want to go get Jack and Finch? I don’t know how much longer I’ll be awake.”

Albert rushed from the room, leaving Kat and Spot alone with the sleeping Race. “He doing okay?”

“Worried about you but he’s been alright.” She smiled. “He has your phone but hasn’t done anything with it. I got your stuff from downstairs.”

Spot nodded. “Thank you, Kat for everything. Any idea how long I’m in here for?”

“Dr. Leighton didn’t say but I’m sure he’ll be around to see you later.” Kat shrugged. “I’m guessing in a few days you'll be released. Albert and I are on mandatory leave for the next week and we have to see one of the trauma specialists before we’re allowed back in the ER.”

Spot didn’t say anything as the door was opened as Jack and Finch stepped into the room with Albert behind them. Kat stepped back, letting the two talk with him. Albert came over and wrapped his arm around her. “Counting your blessings?”

“Something like that.” She smiled, laying her head on his shoulder. “Just really glad my family is okay. Really glad my closest coworkers are alright. Sad that we lost some good people but happy that everyone else is okay.”

Albert shook his head. “Love you Kat.”

“Love you too Albie.” She squeezed his shoulder. “Are you and Finch heading home?”

Nodding, Albert sighed. “I just want to go home and put today out of my mind. I have a feeling we’re in for a few rough days.”

“Agreed. We’ll be around if you need someone to talk to.” She smiled. “I’m only a phone call away, okay?”

He nodded, a ragged sigh left his mouth. He watched Jack and Finch joke with Spot as he started to doze off. Once he was asleep, Finch and Albert made their way out, leaving Kat and Jack with Race and Spot.

“What do you want to do? I’m sure you could use a shower and some Addie cuddles.” Jack suggested as he looked between the two sleeping men in the room.

Kat stretched, a groan escaping her mouth. “You’re probably right but I just don’t feel right just walking away after everything we’ve been through this afternoon.”

“Kat, you’re not walking away.” Jack gave her a look. “How about I take you home, you can shower, cuddle Addie, then we can come back up here and bring them food? Does that sound like a plan?”

Nodding, she pushed off the way, pressing a kiss to both Spot and Race’s foreheads before walking out of the room, hand laced with Jack’s.

An Hour Later

The rustling of bedsheets was the sound he heard as he slowly woke up. Cracking open his eyes, it took a minute to figure out where he was. The hospital, active shooter, Spot surgery all came rushing back to him.

Sitting up in the uncomfortable chair, he cracked his back as he looked at the bed. The most beautiful sight he had seen was staring back at him. Spot, with a smirk on his face, and eyes opened as he stared at Race. “Hi.”

“After all this time and scaring the literal shit out of me, all you can say is hi.” Race was out of the chair and sitting on the side of the bed smirking. “Hi yourself. How are you feeling?”

Spot grimaced. “Sore, really sore. But other than that, okay. Kat and Albie filled me in on everything that had happened when they were here earlier.”

“You were awake and they didn’t wake me up?” Race frowned, giving Spot a look.

Squeezing their linked hands, Spot looked Race in the eyes. “I asked them not to as you were in a deep sleep. I’m sorry I didn’t wake you but I needed to know what had happened.”

“You doing okay, Spottie?” Race asked, worry in his voice.

Spot sighed loudly. “To be honest, I don’t know how I feel. I’m angry that someone interrupted the safe space the ER was. I’m upset that I lost coworkers. But I think I’m mostly grateful that Albie and Kat are both okay and safe.”

Leaning forward, Race captured Spot’s lips in a kiss. “I love you and it’s completely okay that you’re not okay. There were a lot of emotions involved in today but I’ll be here for you as we go through the next couple of days, weeks, and months. Kat and Al aren’t going anywhere and they’ll be here for you, when I can’t.”

“Love you, Racer.” Spot smiled slightly. “Also, you did tell me that earlier this morning before I left the house.”

A light blush raised on Race’s cheeks. “You heard me?”

“Yeah . . . but it was a big foggy so I couldn’t actually tell if you said that or if it was my mind playing tricks on me.” Squeezing his hand, Spot sighed. “I kept kicking myself that I didn’t have my phone on me. I only wanted to get you a message that I was okay and that I loved you. I’m just glad I have the opportunity to tell you that now.”

“Love you Spottie.”

“Love you too Racer.”

Later that Evening

He found himself sitting up in bed, a course of antibiotics and pain medication surging through his body. He was happily slurping on a strawberry milkshake while Race was cracking jokes with Jack. Kat was watching her husband and Race with an amused smile on her face. A few of their coworkers had stopped by to check up on them both, not staying long but to say their thanks to Spot for being a hero.

“You okay, Plums?” He asked over the crackle of Race’s laughter at something Jack had just told him.

Looking up from her fast food chicken nuggets, she smiled. “I’m fine. I got to cuddle Addie and Kenzie, take a shower, and pet Basil for a little bit. I had a good cry in the shower.”

“Promise me, you’ll text if you need anything?” Spot gave her a look, knowing full well that she was just as likely as him to keep things bottled up.

Nodding, she smiled. “Of course. I’ve been made to promise by Jack, Albert, Race, and now you. I scheduled my appointment for the trauma specialist for next week.”

“Good. I’m proud of you for scheduling it out already.” Spot said, giving her a look that he knew what she was thinking.

She couldn’t say another word as there was a knock on the door. Kat raised an eyebrow to Spot, silently asking if he knew who it could be. He shook his head, as she got up and answered the door. She smiled at the guests as she reached out and grabbed Addie. She pushed open the door as Momma walked in, Kenzie in her arms.

“Momma!” Spot sat up and grinned despite the pain on his side. Race stood, taking Kenzie from her arms before kissing her cheek loudly. “What are you doing here?”

“Thought it might be a good idea for you two to see your daughter. Addie is just along for the ride, though I thought her parents could see her too.” Medda grinned, watching Jack take Addie from Kat’s arms. “Besides, I wanted to check up on you to make sure you were okay.”

Spot grinned at the woman who had been the replacement momma in his life. Ever since he and Race started dating, Medda had taken him in as one of her own. “Doing alright momma. Will be laid up for a little bit as I recover but I’ll be just fine in the long run.”

“Good.” She patted his foot. “You make sure that son of mine takes care of you, waits on you hand and foot.”

Race, cuddling Kenzie, looked up at his mother with an insulted look. “Hey! As if I wouldn’t wait on him hand and foot! I take offense to that.”

Laughter sounded around the room as Medda shook her head. “I’m just thankful you, Spot, and Katherine are okay. I checked in with Albert and Finch earlier and they’re doing as well as could be expected. I’m just glad all my babies are okay and here with us tonight.”

Kat looked around the room, locking eyes with each of the people in it, giving them a smile. “I’m glad today is almost done and tomorrow is a new day. Tomorrow we start to move on from today and though we'll never forget, we will start to move on.”

Kat and Spot locked eyes. Though they had always been close since college, it seemed their bond had dug a little deeper. And she smiled, there was no one she’d rather have in her corner than Spot Conlon, as he would always have her back, just like she always would have his.

Feedback would be wonderful and I'd love to hear your thoughts!

#Life in the ER Newsies #Writing #Spot Conlon #katherine plumber #Albert DaSilva #Racetrack Higgins #Jack Kelly #finch cortez #PA Katherine #Nurse Spot #Nurse Albert

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racetrackhigg · 4 years ago

Text

Hunger Games AU

kinda

thank you so much to @bitchiaintanonymous for helping me with this!!! she wrote all the descriptions of the districts and she helped me figuring out stuff for the characters!

also i wasn’t supposed to make morris’ moodboard, but i didn’t realize until too late- so whoops

please don’t let it flop ive been working on this literally all day akdhsksbw

!!! TW: DEATH (kinda graphic? i mean i say how they died but that’s it), ABUSE, CHILD ABANDONMENT, MENTIONS OF STARVATION !!!

please don’t continue reading if any of those things trigger you

District 1: luxury

They produce jewelry and the people take pride in living there because of it. Most of the people from there are named after expensive material like “Cashmere” and “Glimmer” and as you know, they train and volunteer for the games so they have a higher chance of winning.

Oscar Delancey

Morris Delancey (died)

Morris lived with his uncle and his brother

He had a fairly privileged life, living in the richer side of the district.

However, his uncle was an abusive drunk and he usually took the hits from him to stop his brother from getting hurt

He trained for the games his entire life and eagerly volunteered to be a part of them when he was 17, hoping that if he won it would mean him and his brother could get away from their uncle and have a better life

Sadly, he died during the games by being stabbed in the back by the one and only Jack Kelly

He made 2nd place

District 2: Masonry and Defense.

These people work on weapons for peacekeepers and even have a training center for the peacekeepers, and they also volunteer for the games. It’s illegal for them, but because they’re so buddy buddy with the Capitol, they’re let off. They usually have Ancient Roman and Greek names.

Romeo (victor)

Romeo grew up having a somewhat decent life

Hs mother died when he was young, so he lived with his father and younger sister (who’s only 5 when he goes to the games) (he’s 15)

He trained for the games since he was young, and at first. he wanted to volunteer

However, as the reaping came near, he was starting to regret his decision, especially after overhearing some of his friends talk about the true horrors of the games

His dad threatened to kill him himself if he didn’t volunteer, claiming he would rather have no son at all than one who was a coward

So Romeo was forced to volunteer

Jojo (his mentor) becomes like an older brother or even father figure to him

Jojo de la Guerra (former victor, died)

Jojo lived in the poorer side of the district

He used to work a lot in weaponry to provide for his family Jojo was 17 when he participated in the games, and won

He was 22 when he mentored Romeo

And 23 when he died

He “trained” for the games for years, but unlike Romeo, he never volunteered

By “training” i mean that he was just a sparring partner for people who wanted to volunteer for the games

Because of this, he just picked up different fighting techniques over time

Unlike most people in that district, he hated the games and was not eager at all to be a part of them

He was assigned as Romeo’s mentor

At first, Jojo thought he was just another cocky kid who was overconfident he’d win

But then he actually met him. and realised Romeo didn’t want this

He made it his goal to make sure Romeo would get out of the games alive. After all, he was just a kid.

He was killed by peacekeepers after trying to protect Romeo. Pulitzer wanted to prostitute Jojo, and he refused, so as a warning they went to kill Romeo, but Jojo managed to stop them the cost of his own life

District 3: Technology.

They produce technology and electronics for the Capitol and usually use their knowledge of that in the games. They’re really smart and in the 10th Hunger Games, it’s said that a district 3 tribute hack into a drone that delivered supplies to use for themselves (doesn’t work that great cause they get killed though) but they’re still really smart.

Antonio “Racetrack” Higgins (victor)

Race never met his mother, She died a few days after he was born

So he was raised by his father

When he turned 6, his father started drinking

When he turned 7, he started hiring him

He met a girl named Sarah after trying to steal from her, and instead of reporting him to a peacekeeper, they actually became friends over time (even though Race was 2 years younger than her)

He often went to hide at the Jacobs’ house when things got too bad at home

Just a year after David volunteered, on the next reaping, Sarah’s name was called

So Race volunteered. (he was 16)

The jacobs’ had already done so much for him, and Sarah didn’t deserve to go through that, chances were she wouldn’t come back alive.

Race knew he probably wouldn’t either, but he had nothing to lose. He wouldn’t be leaving any family behind, because the man that called himself his father was not his family.

David was his mentor.

Much like David had before him, Race used parts of traps to make his weapons better, though he mainly used a bow and arrow.

For most of the game, he made a truce with a guy named Albert from district 4, and they became /very/ close.

He was killed by a guy from district 6, Finch, who was also the last person remaining apart from him.

Race killed him by shooting an arrow directly in his heart. It’s the only kill he doesn’t regret so much.

David Jacobs (victor)

David lived with his parents, twin sister and younger brother.

He was especially close to his sister.

His father got sick and died a few years later, when he was 15, so he had to work extra hard to help support his family

When he turned 17, his worst nightmare came true and his younger brother, Les was selected for the games

He volunteered to save his brother, and was determined to make it back alive, wanting his family to have a better life.

He trained a lot in physical combat, since he knew that without at least a somewhat proper training, he wouldn’t stand a chance.

Once in the games, he spent most of his time trying to avoid other people, not wanting to kill anyone else and not wanting to risk his own life.

However, he ended up having to kill a boy from district 10, Mike, to save his own life using a makeshift explosive he made out of parts from a trap he disarmed (or however it’s said).

He wins by tricking the last person left, Itey, into eating poison berries.

He never forgave himself for the lives he took, and it’s something that would always haunt him.

Just a year after that, he became Race’s mentor.

District 4: fishing.

First off, people say that this district had the most “decent-looking” people. As you may have guessed, these people specialize in “aquaculture” It sounds useless, but a character named “Mags” actually won her games because she was the only one able to swim the longest when the arena was flooded. They also use tridents and things like that and volunteer as “Careers” too.

Albert Dasilva (died)

Albert came from the more poor side of the district

He lives with his father, who fell ill a few weeks before Albert was selected for the games.

He’s only 16

He never really trained for the games, unlike many people. He didn’t have the time or money for that.

One of his friends, Sniper, promised to take care of his father while he was gone.

Albert knew he probably wouldn’t be coming back.

Early in the games, he befriended Race, and they survive throughout almost the entire games together.

He knew one of them was going to have to die, but Albert decided to ignore that. He was going to find a way around it.

However, while Race went out hunting, the only other tribute left strangled him to death and stole all their supplies.

He never made it back home to his father.

Sniper (victor)

Sniper was an orphan

Her family abandoned her when she was 5, and she lived in the streets for a short while until a kind man took her in

It was Albert’s father

When she got older, she started working to make her own living

Albert became her best friend, despite being 4 years apart. He became almost like an older brother to her.

Her best friend, almost brother, got sent away for the games and never returned.

Sniper moved back in with Mr. Dasilva to take care of him as he fell ill, and his son was no longer there to take care of him.

He got better, eventually, and was horrified and heartbroken at the news of his son’s death.

A year after his best friend was sent away to die, she got chosen for the games.

She vowed to make it back alive, no matter what.

She learned everything there was to know about the plants of the arena. She was already good at combat.

She won by poisoning the last other tribute.

Much like David, Sniper was never able to forgive herself for the lives she took.

District 5: power.

They specialize in providing power for the Capitol with electricity (they power homes and stuff so not technology like in district 3). They’re pretty smart and they use the coal district 12 mines to generate the power.

Specs

Itey (died)

Itey lived with their parents

They were an only child

Their life was pretty good- at least their family life

They were pretty poor, but still better off than a few other people, so they were grateful for what they had.

They were chosen for the games when they were 15

Their parents prayed Itey would make it back alive, but they knew it was unlikely, since he had no training whatsoever

They were right

Itey almost won, but they were starving, and didn’t know that the berries were poisonous

They came 2nd

District 6: transportation

The tributes shown from here are actually pretty nice and cool. During the 75th Hunger Games the tributes were nicknamed “morphlings” because of their addiction to the drug. The male tribute didn’t do much, but the female tribute sacrificed herself for Peeta and jumped in front of an animal that was trying to kill him.

Finch Cortez (died)

Finch lived with his younger brother

His parents died when he was relatively young (12 years old- his brother was 9) but they managed to scrape by

He started working pretty young to make sure his brother could have a roof over his head and not starve.

He was 17 when he was selected for the games, his brother was only 14

He was terrified, but determined to come back home to his only family

He made it to 2nd place

He was killed by an arrow straight through his heart.

Tbh if Race would’ve known Finch had a family to go home to, he would’ve eaten poisonous berries and let him win

Skittery

District 7: lumber.

They specialize in forestry and wood and paper and all that. They are strong-willed and hard headed, and don’t have many qualms about killing people. but more or less are loyal depending on the situation.

Sean “Spot” Conlon (victor)

Spot was an orphan

Well, kind of

He lived with his parents up until he was 10, when he ran away

They were both abusive and manipulative, and he knew if they kept this up, he’d end up dead

After he ran away, he made friends with a guy his age named Hotshot.

Hotshot had the perfect family. Loving parents and a younger sister.

Honestly, Spot was jealous

But they became quick friends, and Hotshot’s parents let him move in

Hotshot nicknamed him Spot because of the cigarette burns across his arms and back

He was 17 when he was selected for the games

Surprisingly enough, he didn’t think he’d come back

Because as strong and as much of a skilled fighter as he was, there were people out there that had been training for this their whole lives.

However, he managed to win. Had a pretty big kill count too- not because he wanted to, but because a surprising amount of people went after him. He had many good supplies and they wanted them.

The last person left apart from him was Buttons.

He won by bashing his head against a rock and then pushing him off a cliff for good measure.

In his defence, Buttons had tried to push him off a cliff first. Spot just took his chance.

Hotshot

District 8: textiles

Clothing. They fight for what’s right, and we’re actually among the first to rebel against the Capitol and follow Katniss, which, sadly, also made them the second most targeted district (the first being district 12 which was outright destroyed) A leader from district 8 actually became president after Katniss killed this woman named “Alma Coin” (the president of district 13)

Buttons (died)

Buttons lived with her younger brother, Elmer, and their parents

She was only 14 when she was selected for the games

She knew she wasn’t making it back

However, she let her hopes up w hen she was one of the only two left, and was a bit more careless with her actions

This is what led to her the death

Elmer

District 9: grain.

They specialize in grain, and salts. It’s the least mentioned of the districts, there is no known character mentioned from here, and all that is known is that both tributes died in the initial bloodbath

Henry

Smalls

District 10: live stock.

Believe it or not, no one except a crippled boy is mentioned from here. This is the second least mentioned one, it’s only known that a refugee from here told Katniss about district 13 so we can assume they know their rights and wrongs.

Mike (died)

Mike lived with his twin brother and parents

He was 15 when he was selected for the games, and he knew there was no chance he’d make it back alive

He was right, since he was killed by David, after trying to kill him and steal his supplies.

Ike

District 11: agriculture.

Common traits of this district are “dark skin and brown eyes” They are heavily abused by the Peacekeepers and are the most brutal treated ones. Their electric fences are activated 24/7, they have extreme knowledge of herbs and foods. Again, security here is greatly unforced and there are a lot of harsh measures like summary execution. (an execution where someone is accused of something and is immediately killed without a fair trial) It was one of the first districts to rebel, it was their response for what happened to Rue (a former 12-year old tribute who was Katniss’ ally and was killed during the games).

Graves

Rafaela

District 12: coal mining.

This district is divided into housing areas. The Seam is where people who work in coal mines live, and the others are centered around “The Square''. People from The Seam generally have dark hair, grey eyes, and olive skin, and the others have blond hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. Katniss and Gale are from The Seam whereas Peeta is a bakers son in the town. District 12 is the poorest out of the districts, and starvation is a big issue, and because of this, the Capitol usually bends the rules a little by turning off the electric fence surrounding them so people can go hunt for food for their families or sell their catches to the black market for money. District 12 is known for having only 2 victors in the history of the games before the 74th. A female named Lucy Gray Baird who died before the events of The Hunger Games happened, and Haymitch Abernathy. This is why the district is usually a laughingstock and volunteering for the Games is seen as suicide.

Jack Francis Kelly (victor)

Jack’s parents gave him up at a very young age, when he was only 2 years old

They sent him to live with an old family friend, William Snyder

Snyder was horrible to him.

He constantly abused and starved and neglected him, treated him more like a slave than anything else.

Jack had to balance doing whatever Snyder said and also making his own food and money by working so he could eat

When he was 14, his parents came to visit. He didn’t recognize them, and he didn’t know who they were until the end of the visit- when they were leaving

He was both hurt and furious

Although he was miserable and his life sucked, he did manage to make a friend

Crutchie

He was 3 years younger than Jac k, and his leg was injured beyond repair in a mining accident

When he heard Crutchie’s name at the Reaping, he immediately volunteered

Unlike him, Crutchie had a family. People who loved him.

Jack had nothing to lose

He didn’t expect to come back alive, he wasn’t sure he wanted to.

Multiple people tried to kill him throughout the game, thinking it as a fun game since he was of the “worse” district

Jack won by killing Morris

He didn’t know he had a brother, if he did, he wouldn’t have done it. Jack didn’t have anything to come back to, Morris did

He found out about this and his situation a day after his victory.

He was horrified, knowing he killed a man that was just trying to help his family.

Jack didn’t have a family. He just took a poor kids only family away.

So he made sure Oscar was away from his uncle and safe

It was the least he could do.

He was never able to forgive himself.

Charlie “Crutchie” Morris

District 13: nuclear weaponry.

Before they were “extinct” they made and built nuclear weapons for the Capitol, but after they tried to rebel, they were bombed and became “extinct”. In reality they lived underground and struck up a deal with the Capitol, that they’d be able to live in hiding, and in return, they would not rain war on the Capitol. Every food ration is cherished in this district and everything is very orderly as to not rouse suspicion. The lifestyle is very strict because of the circumstances. District 13 is the center for the rebellion in the books, and is where Katniss and everyone planned out the war between the districts and the Capitol.

Mush Meyers and Kid Blink

Blink came from district 12

He was an orphan, and his only family, his younger sister, died from starvation when he was 17, soon turning 18

She was only 10

Not even a year later, Blink snuck out of his district, except instead of just going hunting, he ran away.

He narrowly escaped a peacekeeper finding him

After a few days of being completely alone, he ran into Mush Meyers, who (slightly reluctantly) took him into his distract (he got into a shit ton of trouble for that)

However, Blink was allowed to stay.

Eventually, they got together (because we all need some Blush in our lives)

Capitol

Katherine Plumber

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chaoticgremlinwholikescheese · 4 years ago

Text

The Dare

A/N: I am so sorry I am so bad at slowburn. Also Katharine is kind of a jerk in this one.

JACK’S POV:

“Race, truth or dare?” He considers for a moment. “Truth.” Davey searches his brain for a good dare. “Favorite flavor of ice cream?” Everyone at the table groans. “They’re supposed to be scandalous questions, Davey!” Albert laughs. “I don’t know what to ask! Um. Are you a top or a bottom?”

“That’s more like it. And for your information, I am a switch.” He winks at his boyfriend Spot. Spot rolls his eyes with a smirk. “Jack’s turn. Jack, truth or dare?” I immediately say dare. These boys already know pretty much everything about me. I’d like to keep the few secrets I have secret.

Race glances around the room. He gets a mischievous glint in his eye. “Ask her out on a date.” He points to a girl across the room. She’s reading a book titled ‘The rise and Fall of Germany, ww1 and ww2′. It looks like it weighs as much as Spot.

“That’s Alex Kaminski. Every single guy who’s asked her on a date has been rejected. If you can get her to say yes, I’ll pay for your lunch.” I look down at my empty plate. “I already ate it.”

“I’ll pay for your next lunch.”

Satisfied with the bet, I get up. Asking out a girl is no problem. I’m the flirting extraordinarie. I make my way over to her table and sit across from her. I put on my flirtiest smile. “Hey.” She peeks over her book. “Can I help you?”

“Yeah. I lost my phone number, so I was hoping I could get yours.” She blinks slowly. “That was one of the worst pick up lines I have ever heard.” She closes her book. I finally get a good look at her face. She’s actually really cute.

She has brown hair tied back in a bun. Her green eyes are bright, staring at me with an emotion I can’t quite identify. Freckles dot her nose. I half expected her to be the stereotypical nerd, braces, zits, that kind of thing. I was very wrong.

“You’re Jack Kelly, right?” I nod my head. “How can I help you, Jack Kelly? Do you need a report written? Or a tutor to help bring up your grades?”

“As tempting as those offers are, I’m actually here to ask you out on a date.”

She raises an eyebrow. “A date?”

“Mhm. I’ll pick you up at eight-”

“Hold on, Romeo. I didn’t say yes.”

“Are you going to say no?”

She thinks for a moment. “Usually I would. But something about you intrigues me. Pick me up at eight. Here’s my phone number.”

She slides a piece of paper across the table. Then she goes right back to her book. I take the hint and get up, walking back to my table. They all look at me expectantly. I place the number on the table. Race’s eyes widen. “She actually said yes? I was counting on her embarrassing you in front of everyone!”

“Thanks, Race. And she did in fact say yes. I’m picking her up at eight.”

“Don’t you guys think this is kind of mean?” Davey chimes in.

“Aw, it’s just a date. Not like it’ll get serious or anything.”

Alex is waiting out front when I arrive. I wave. She climbs into the passenger seat. “Good afternoon, milady.” I look at the clock. “Or good night? I don’t know. Anyways, hello.”

“Hi. So, where are we going on this date?”

“I was thinking we could grab some pizza at Jacobis.”

She nods in approval and switches on the radio. An up beat pop song comes on, and she starts to sing along. She has a good voice. I hum along under my breath. She starts swaying to the music, and I join her. Soon the two of us are full on rocking out. The song ends and we both start laughing.

We pull up to Jacobi’s and park. I hold the door for her like a gentleman. We grab a table in the corner. A waiter comes over for our orders. “I’ll take a slice of pineapple and an orange soda, please.” Alex raises an eyebrow. “Pineapple?”

“Before you say anything, it’s delicious.”

“I’m not judging. I was actually going to get the same thing. Make that two slices of pineapple, an orange soda, and a lemonade.”

The waiter scribbles it down and rushes off. Alex crosses her arms on the table. “So. You like pineapple too.”

“Yup. And Race says that makes me the spawn of satan. Honestly, I take that as a compliment.”

“Fun fact, Hawaiian pizza was actually created in Canada.”

“My whole life is a lie.” I dramatically place a hand to my forehead.

The conversation flows easily, like tomato sauce. Not the best analogy. You know what I mean though. We actually have a lot in common. We both like art, we’re both bi, and we’re both failing math. She’s actually a really nice girl. I find myself enjoying the date.

We talk for hours. I only notice how much time has passed when Jacobi’s starts to close. We’re the last people in the restaurant. We quickly pay the check and leave. I drive her home, and we talk the whole way. When we get to her house, I realize that I don’t want the date to end.

“Thanks for tonight. I had fun.” She smiles. God, her smile is beautiful.

“D-do you maybe want to do it again? A second date?”

“I’d like that.”

“So? Was she crazy? Is she a serial killer? Or is she actually a secret spy for the FBI?” Race hounds me with questions. “I bet it wasn’t that nice. She’s not even cute.” Katharine mutters. “Actually, I had a really good night with her. We’re going on a second date.” Everyone’s eyes widen. “Now you have to tell me everything!” Race squeals.

“There’s not much to tell. We got pizza at Jacobi’s and had fun. She’s kind of awesome.” I blush when I admit that. “Jack’s got a crush! I told you I was an expert matchmaker, Davey!”

“What? You- but it was all a joke, right? You aren’t actually planning to date her, right?” I sense a tone of jealousy in her words. “I really like her.” I run a nervous hand through my hair. Davey pats me on the shoulder. “She’s a nice girl. You chose well.” Katharine scoffs under her breath. I choose to ignore it.

We all head into the cafeteria. I see Alex at her normal table, head buried in her book. I walk over and invite her to sit with us. She hesitates, but then she says yes. She takes a seat next to me at the table. The boys stare at her like with interest. She awkwardly waves.

“Everyone, this is Alex. Alex, this is. Well. Everyone.” I gesture widely around the table. They all give various greetings. “So, what are you reading?” Davey asks. She shows him the cover. “I read that a while ago! It was super interesting.”

“Look at the two nerds bonding,” Finch chuckles. “You’re Katharine Pulitzer, right? We have english together.” Katharine pastes on a fake smile and nods. When lunch ends, we all split up. Katharine and I head to Science together. “What’s your deal with Alex?”

“She’s nice. I just don’t like her vibe.”

“Her vibe?”

“She’s not really your type. I don’t really get what you see in her.”

“Once you get to know her, you’ll like her as much as I do. She’s great, I promise.”

ALEX’S POV:

I offer to pay for the movie tickets, but Jack insists on paying. We buy tickets to see a new comedy with Jack Black. We get some popcorn and candy. We have seats near the back. While we wait for the movie to start, Jack throws some popcorn and catches in his mouth.

I try but miss. He laughs and catches another piece. The two of us go back and forth, trying to see who can catch the most. By the time the trailers start, we’ve dropped almost half the popcorn.

About halfway through the movie, Jack places his arm around my shoulders. The classic date move. I don’t mind though. I lean against him, and I see his big dopey smile. I probably have one of my own.

Jack drives me home, and we chat the whole way. I feel like I’ve known him for ages. He walks me to my front door. We stare at each other for a moment. The air is tense, electricity zapping between us. My heart starts to beat faster. Blood rushes to my cheeks.

“Can-can I kiss you?” Jack chokes out. I don’t give him an answer. I just press my lips to his. He places a hand on my cheek. His lips are gentle, loving. When we pull away, both of us are breathing heavily.

“Wow.” Jack whispers.

I blush and avert my eyes.

“You’re going to take me out on a third date, right?”

ALEX’S POV:

Katharine is waiting for me outside our english class. “Hey, Kath!” She doesn’t say hi back. She ushers for me to follow her. She leads me to an empty hallway. “What’s with the secrecy?”

“I have something to tell you. And I’m only doing this because I consider you a friend.” I can see straight through her acting. She’s as fake as Regina George. “What is it?”

“I know you really like Jack. And that’s why I’m really sorry to have to tell you this. But the date he asked you out on? It was a dare. From Race.” I force a laugh. “You’re kidding right?”

She shakes her head. “Do you have any proof?” Katharine pulls out her phone. She scrolls for a few second before handing it to me. It’s a group chat between the gang.

RACE: I still can’t believe she said yes

JACK: I told you, I’m the dare master

ALBERT: that’s a terrible name

JACK: whatever, I still won

RACE: you can’t win truth or dare

FINCH: what are you going to do for the date?

JACK: Take her out for a cheap date, say it’s not working out, win the game

RACE: there’s no winning in truth or dare dude

I fight the tears gathering in my eyes. I hand Katharine her phone back. She stares at me with fake pity. “I’m-I’m going to go.” I rush out of the room. I head to the nearest bathroom and sit in the stall. I let the tears fall. I thought he loved me. I loved him. I was just a joke. He just used me to look cool.

For once I felt loved. Like someone liked me for me. I’m the weird kid, the one people ignore and make fun of. I should have known that he didn’t actually love me. I’m the oddity. All I’m good for is a joke.

I spend the rest of the period in the bathroom. I finally run out of tears. I splash some water on my face. My reflection stares back at me. I look like a ghost. I guess I am in a way. No one really sees me.

I walk to Jack’s science classroom. I wait outside. The bell finally wrings and people start to exit. I see Jack come out. He smiles and walks towards me.

“Hey, hon-”

“Don’t.”

JACK’S POV:

I think I’m in love. That may sound crazy, but it’s true. I’ve only been dating Alex for a month. Best month of my life. I’ve never connected with someone like this. The whole gang likes her too. Except for Katharine. She has something against Alex, I don’t know what.

The bell finally rings. I walk outside and see Alex leaning against the wall. “Hey, hon-”

“Don’t.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Was I just a dare to you?”

My face goes white. “Alex, it’s not like that! It started as a dare, but I really like you. I was going to tell you, but I didn’t want to mess it up-”

“You messed it up when you used me to win a fucking game, dare master. You’re a dick, Kelly. I thought someone finally saw me as something other than the school freak. I guess that’s all I am. A freak people use for their own gain.”

“Please. I love you.”

“Just stop. No more lies.”

She turns her back and walks away. I start to run after her, but the crowd of students pushes me back. I force my way through the crowd. I run into Katharine. Before she can get a word out I ask if she’s seen Alex.

“I haven’t. Is everything alright?”

“No. She found out about the dare. She broke up with me.”

“That’s terrible. I’m so sorry.”

“I don’t care about being dare master, I care about her.” I pause. How did Alex know about the whole dare master conversation? She couldn’t have. Unless someone showed her the texts. And she has her first period with Katharine.

“You told Alex.”

“So what if I did? She wasn’t the right girl for you. You need a girl like me.”

“You don’t get to make that decision! I loved her, and you took that away! Did you really think breaking me up with Alex would make me love you? I don’t love you, Katharine. I never will.”

Katharine tries to defend herself, but I run off. I need to find Alex. I search everywhere, but I can’t find her. Then I look out the window. She’s sitting under a tree. Her knees are pulled to her chest. Her arms are wrapped around her body like they’re the only thing holding her together.

I race outside. She looks up when she hears me coming. “What do you want?” She hisses. “To talk. Please.” She bites her lip. “Fine.” I take a seat next to her. I can see the tear stains on her shirt. My heart breaks. I did this to her. I hurt the woman I love.

“You have five minutes.”

“Alex, it started out as a dare. And I was stupid to take it. I didn’t think about how it would affect you. And I am so, so sorry. And what I said about loving you? That wasn’t a lie. I really do love you.”

“How can I believe you?”

“You can’t. And I don’t expect you to forgive me. I understand if you never want to talk to me again. And I’ll respect that. Whatever you want, I’ll do.”

“God damn it, Jack. You make it so hard to hate you.” Alex tearfully laughs. “What you did, it hurt. I’m willing to give you a second chance because I love you. Don’t make me regret it.”

I gently hold her hand. She leans her head on my shoulder. We’re not perfect. We probably never will be. But all that matters is that we love each other. That’s more than enough.

#jalex #jack x alex #newsies #newsies oneshot #I had so much fun writing this

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violetwolfraven · 4 years ago

Note

sprace 49

Uhhhh there is no 49 so I’m just gonna assume you meant 46? (In hindsight I’m now thinking you meant the other prompt list and I am a moron but I already wrote this thing so???)

(For any pairing except javid) I have to tell Jack about my relationship but he’s basically everyone’s big brother and—

Get ready for some canon-era with a couple of background ships.

...

“Okay,” Race took a deep breath, “I can do this. I can do this.”

Albert rolled his eyes, “You’re worryin’ for nothin’, Racer. He’s gonna be fine with it.”

“Yeah,” Finch agreed, “I mean, he was fine with me and Albie.”

“And me and Romeo,” Specs added.

“Damn near all of us is queer,” Finch pointed out, “Including Jack, himself. It’ll be fine, Race.”

Race shook his head, “It’s different. Both of ya and your partners are Manhattan.”

“Sorry,” Mike said, looking a little confused but smiling all the same, “Who’re we talkin’ ‘bout? Racer has a lover outside of Manhattan?”

“Race is fucking Spot Conlon,” Albert supplied.

“Daaaaaaaaaamn! Good job, Racetrack!”

Race just rolled his eyes. He and Spot had been together officially—as in, on the same page, in love and they both know it—for over a year now, after a talk they’d had right after the strike. And even if it had kind of started out as a friends with benefits kind of deal, just making out whenever they both had some time, ‘fuck-buddies’ or whatever the hell half Race’s friends seemed to think they were, did not describe what they actually were at all.

Albert knew damn well they weren’t fuck-buddies—Race told his best friend enough that he knew that they weren’t even fucking yet—which was why Race felt the need to slap him with his hat.

Like he had wondered many times, Race wondered again why he had to go and choose the one who loved to cause chaos as his best friend.

“I’m sure he’ll be fine with it,” Mike said helpfully, “Jack likes when all of us is happy.”

“Yeah, but he’s also really protective,” Race groaned, “He’s like a big brother to me—to all of us!”

“So let him give Spot a shovel talk,” Specs said simply, “That’ll be the end of it. Mike’s right. Jack can be protective, but he’s happiest when all of us is happy.”

“I’s been your friend since we was littles, Racer,” Albert put in, “And I’ve never seen you as happy as you’s been since you and Spot got official.”

Race had to admit, he hadn’t been this happy since... well, he didn’t remember being this happy even when his folks were still alive.

Spot made him happy, made him brave, and that was why he was finally plucking up the courage to tell Jack about them.

“Okay,” he said, forcing a smile, “I’m gonna do it.”

Race’s friends cheered him on as he headed out to Jack’s fire escape penthouse.

“Jack, we needs to talk.”

Race was kind of counting his blessings that neither Crutchie nor Davey was out there, so he had a one-on-one with Manhattan’s leader.

Jack looked a bit concerned as he put down the pape he was drawing on and nodded.

“Okay. ‘Bout what?”

Race took a deep breath, “What would ya say if I was... if I was kinda...”

“Spit it out, Racer. What is it?”

“I’m courtin’ Spot Conlon,” Race blurted, forcing himself to keep looking Jack in the eye.

He was scared of his brother’s reaction, but he needed to see it all the same.

Jack looked at the ground, “Shit. Shit. Oh my God. How didn’t I see that?”

“I’m sorry,” Race offered.

“Don’t be,” Jack chuckled, “I mean, I got Ike sneakin’ out to Brooklyn already, thinkin’ he’s slick. I don’t know how I didn’t see you doin’ it, too.”

“You gots a lot of guys. Ya can’t possibly keep track of all of us. Besides, I’m one of the ones ya know can take care of himself.”

Jack snorted, “No. No, ya can’t. You’re just stupidly good at talkin’ your way out of fights. So, how long has this thing with Spot been goin’ on?”

Race finally felt like he could breathe. Jack was taking this a lot better than he thought he would.

“Officially, since right after the strike. But we was makin’ out outside sellin’ hours for a few months before that.”

Jack wrinkled his nose, “Okay, I didn’t need to know that last part. But... damn. It’s been over a year. Am I that oblivious?”

He seemed fine with it, but...

“Hey, what’s up?” Race asked, “You seem sad.”

Jack sighed, “I ain’t sad, Race. Not exactly. It’s just... ya know how hard things are for me and Davey, right? We barely ever get a minute just the two of us, and that ain’t even takin’ into account havin’ to keep things secret.”

“Yeah. Of course I knows that.”

“Spot lives in fuckin’ Brooklyn. Not only that—he’s got the responsibilities of leadin’ probably the biggest borough in New York. I mean, anything’s possible, but I just don’t see how ya could make that work. I don’t wanna see you get hurt.”

Race tilted his head, “We make it work now. ‘Sides, it ain’t like I’m the leader of Manhattan.”

“Racer...”

Race’s stomach dropped as he realized what Jack was really saying.

“Oh.”

“Race... I’m 18. I’m gettin’ too old for this, and Davey and I... we’s been lookin’ at apartments. This wasn’t how I wanted to break the news to ya, but... we can’t stay much longer. And when we go, Manhattan’ll be yours and Crutchie’s.”

Race had known this was coming for... well, ever since he became one of Jack’s seconds, when he was 12. He’d known it more in how slowly, over the last few months, he’d found himself being asked for input on various issues more and more often. Jack and Davey thought they were being subtle, but Race and Crutchie had noticed weeks ago.

He’d known it was coming, but that didn’t mean it didn’t ache, just thinking about the boy who’d watched over him for most of his childhood leaving.

“When?”

Jack sighed, shrugging, “I don’t know. Soon. Davey wants to wait till after winter—hand you and Crutchie the reins when it’ll be easy to keep everyone alive so’s ya can get used to it before it gets hard.”

“That makes sense,” Race reasoned, remembering how hard it was for Jack. He’d had to take the reins during a hard winter, because the previous leader of Manhattan died.

“Look,” Jack smiled, “I’m happy for ya, Racer. Spot, too. Really. And honestly, I’m not too worried about him hurtin’ you intentionally. I know you was close friends before ya even got together—which, by the way, I cannot believe ya didn’t tell me, you asshole—so he won’t raise a hand or probably even his voice to ya. But it’s one thing with Crutchie, sneakin’ around with that girl he met at Medda’s—“

“Crutchie’s sneakin’ around with a girl?” Race asked, honestly delighted by this bit of gossip.

“Yeah... he thinks I don’t know, but we sleep on the same fuckin’ fire escape. I followed him one time when he snuck out to see her. Anyway, it’s one thing with that. For one thing, Crutchie don’t have to keep his sweetheart a secret ‘less he wants to—she’s a girl.”

“You and Davey—“

“Let me finish, Racer. For another thing, Spot is King of Brooklyn. He’s got eyes on him most of the time and even when he doesn’t, there’s no way he could sneak to Manhattan regularly without gettin’ noticed. He’s probably only gotten away with bein’ with ya this long because you sell at Sheepshead.”

Race wanted to argue, but he had to admit... Spot almost never came to Manhattan. Race was always the one going to Brooklyn for him.

“If you’s one of Manhattan’s leaders, you gotta sell in Manhattan, and even after hours, there’s no way you can constantly sneak off to another borough without some of the wrong people noticin’.”

Damn. He was probably right. Race and Spot were stealing moments now. If Race was selling in Manhattan, it would be damn near impossible to get time. He definitely wouldn’t see Spot every day anymore, possibly not even every week.

“Look—Crutchie could do this by himself, long as he’s got some muscle backin’ him up. With Mush, Blink, and Elmer, among others, bein’ young enough to stick around a while, that shouldn’t be a problem. If you don’t wanna be leader, I can start gettin’ him ready for—“

“No.”

Race had known he was going to be helping lead when Jack grew up and left since he was 12. He was 16 now—one of the older ones. He’d been instinctively protecting the others for years. He already looked at most of the younger ones as younger brothers.

Race had been ready for a long time to protect his younger brothers, no matter the cost.

Even if that cost was a closer relationship with the boy he loved.

“Spot and I can do a long-distance thing,” he said, “We’ll be fine. I’ll tell him... sometime. Tell me when you and Davey are movin’ out... I don’t know, but just tell me at least a little in advance.”

Jack nodded, “Okay. It won’t be for another couple months, at least, but...”

Race definitely wasn’t getting choked up. Those definitely weren’t tears in Jack’s eyes. It was just...

The Newsies were the only family either of them had known since they were little. Jack had been protecting Race, or trying to, at least, since they were about 5 and 7.

Race consoled himself with how it wasn’t like they’d really be saying goodbye. Jack had given up that old dream of Santa Fe. He was staying close, which meant he could visit, but...

Damn. Race was going to miss him.

“So, Spot’s good to ya?” Jack asked, “He treats ya right? Stops if ya ask?”

Race nodded, “Yeah. Yeah, of course. He’s... he’s great. I mean, he don’t seem to think he deserves me, or at least he didn’t, at first. He kept tellin’ me about all the kills he had to make as if that’d make me walk away.”

“Hmm...” Jack patted his shoulder, “Maybe we needs to have a talk about your taste in men, Racer. Do I need to tell Davey ‘bout who you’s courtin’?”

Race laughed, “Please don’t. I’ll tell him myself and you can have a worried talk ‘bout me later.”

“We ain’t your mom and dad, kid”

“Coulda fooled me, dad.”

Jack laughed, and Race had to admit, that hug made him feel a lot better about... well, everything.

“Seriously, though—you, me, and Davey—we’re goin’ over to Brooklyn tomorrow night. We’re gonna say we got business to talk, but really, me and Davey are gonna talk to your boy. Can’t have anyone hurtin’ Manhattan’s future leader, can we?”

Race laughed. Honestly, the idea of anyone giving Spot fucking Conlon a shovel talk was hilarious to him.

But, that was just Race’s family. He wouldn’t have it any other way.

#newsies #sprace #racetrack higgins #spot conlon #jack kelly #big brother jack kelly #dad friend jack kelly #background javid #background redfinch #background spromeo #violet’s writing

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orangecrane · 4 years ago

Note

Hey there Orange I saw your requests are open and I was wondering if you could possibly write something angsty with sprace? Happy ending or not! Your choice! I’m just depressed and I need more sprace content. Thanks!

no fault of mine

When what's supposed to be a happy day ends up being a terrible mess, Albert's left to pick up the pieces. But not everything is quite as it seems. (In which if people actually communicated a lot of pain could have been prevented. Maybe).

A/N: Thanks for the request, I hope it was what you wanted! If not just let me know. This got away from me a bit lol, I didn’t mean for it to get this long. Also, would anyone like a second part/follow up to this? I have a few ideas where I could take it but this was long enough as is and I was anxious to post it.

CW: Mild swearing, Illness (Fever)

“Damn Race, what’s got you in such a good mood?”

Race absolutely lit up. He’d already been unreasonably upbeat all day, from having a huge smile plastered across his face from the moment he woke up to practically skipping to distribution. He’d also been unusually giggly and had been draping himself all over Albert with a level of drama that was usually reserved for special occasions.

“Oh don’t get him started,” Albert groaned, “he’s been talkin’ my ear off about his date with Spot for the past two weeks.”

“Ain’t you two been on dates before,” Finch directed at Race, “what’s so special about this one?”

“Yeah, but today is exactly one year after our first date! Spot’s got a big surprise planned an’ I can’t wait,” Race was practically vibrating. “We’s gonna meet by the bridge after selling today, it’s why I’m staying in Manhattan with Al today to sell.”

“Well, good luck wit’ that Race,” Finch smiled. “And Albert, I hope you still have ears by the time you get home.”

The smugness practically radiated off of Finch. Albert grumbled and rolled his eyes at his teasing tone. “Wouldn’t bet on it…”

---

Race had just sold his last pape and was on his way to meet Spot. He was most certainly not barely restraining himself from running all the way to the bridge. Besides, if he did that then he’d only be early and have nothing to do but wait around for Spot to show up. So Race walked, at a perfectly normal walking speed, the rest of the way to the place they were supposed to meet.

He still arrived about fifteen minutes early, but that wasn’t a big deal. He could just pace around a bit and daydream about what they were going to do once Spot got here.

Race dreamed of walks in the park, of admiring the very last of the autumn leaves before winter well and truly came. Of holding hands to keep warm in the chilly night air and stealing kisses in the shadows. Of sharing a proper meal, the kind lowly newsboys never got to eat. Race dreamed of Spot.

He kept daydreaming until a passerby accidentally bumped into him.

Huh… that was odd. He had been lost in his own head for so long that he hadn’t noticed nearly half an hour slip by. That in it of itself wasn’t weird, Race was easily distracted and had a vivid imagination. But that meant Spot was fifteen minutes late.

Spot was almost never late. In fact, he often prided himself on his punctuality. Race was the one who got sidetracked or miscalculated how long it took to get somewhere or just plain forgot.

He must’ve gotten wrapped up in something with his boys. Oh well, Race had made him wait enough times to be forgiving about it this once. Even if it was a special day.

So Race resumed his fantasizing. Warmth and sweet words and Spot.

But that only lasted so long. Because fairly soon, Spot was half an hour late. Now Race was beginning to worry. What was keeping him? Did Race have the wrong place?

Another thirty minutes passed. Spot was officially an hour late. Race didn’t think Spot had been that late to anything in his life.

Another hour. Race was panicking. Did Spot forget?

No, Race was certain he wouldn’t, couldn’t when they had spoken about it just yesterday. Race had tried to get Spot to tell him about their plans but Spot was ever tight-lipped.

Was he hurt? Spot was strong but it wasn’t impossible.

Did something happen to one of the Brooklyn kids? But if he had known he wouldn’t be able to make it, wouldn’t Spot have sent a runner?

Another hour. What if Spot wasn’t coming? The sun was setting and Race was still waiting.

Another hour. Spot wasn’t coming. It was dark and Race was cold. He wanted nothing more to curl up into a ball and cry. Spot wasn’t coming, he’d left Race waiting for hours on their anniversary. Race felt sick to his stomach thinking of how excited he was only a couple hours ago, how he spent all day looking forward to this, weeks of- of hope and excitement and love. And this is what he got for it.

But maybe.

Another half hour. Race went home, tears blurring his vision.

He couldn’t feel his fingers or his toes by the time he arrived at the lodging house. A few of the older boys who were still up tried to ask him how it went. He ignored them. Stormed up the stairs and into the bunk room, to find Albert waiting up for him.

“Racer, how’d it-”

He cut himself off upon spotting the tear tracks on his best friends face.

“I don’t wanna talk about it.” Race tore his boots off and climbed into his bunk. Glad that at least his best friend knew when not to push him. He’d have to talk with Albert about what happened in the morning, but for tonight he could wallow. And wallow he did. The moment he allowed himself to think of Spot and the disaster that was tonight, hot salty tears streamed down his face. It felt almost like they were burning him. Race just laid there, mulling over everything that happened and how hurt he was until his head was pounding and the tears stopped. Only then did his mind quiet and he fell into a blissfully dreamless sleep.

---

Race awoke to the piercing shriek of the morning bell. He groaned, yanking his pillow over his head and trying to block out the sounds of the boys getting ready. That, on top of the fact that he was so hot he was sweating, made him dread the coming day. He threw his thin blanket off of him in an attempt to cool down. He’s nearly back asleep when something clangs the bed frame near his head.

“Whadda fuck?” Race’s head was still ringing and getting up to sell was the last thing he wanted to do today.

“Up and at em, sleepyhead,” Albert proclaimed. Race groaned, he was so tired. “Oh man, you look like shit dude.”

Race cracked his eyes open just enough to glare at his best friend. “I feel like it too, now lee’me alone.” Race’s voice was so scratchy that it even surprised him.

“Maybe you shouldn’t sell today Racer,” Al sounded worried. He reached over to put his hand against Race’s forehead, but he batted his hand away and whined. Al frowned with concern.

Race was going to object, he really was, but his head was pounding, his throat hurt, and he wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep. He ended up grunting and turning over to go back to sleep.

“Hey Jack! Racer ain’t lookin’ too good-” Albert’s voice faded into the background.

Race slept fitfully for a few hours, always too hot or too cold and in too much pain to really sleep. He wanted Spot. Spot always knew how to make him feel better, where was Spot?

Maybe he could ask some of the other guys, he could hear their voices but struggled to make out what they were saying.

“really warm”

“out in the cold”

The voices were too distant for him to recognize so he couldn’t understand what was going on. Wasn’t he supposed to be meeting Spot, was he going to be late? Race tried to push through the fog in his mind but only succeeded in confusing himself more. Why was it so warm, wasn’t it autumn?

“bad condition”

“crying- Spot” That was definitely Albert’s voice.

Race whined, tears of frustration stinging his eyes. He was tired and confused and just generally feeling pretty awful and he wanted either Spot or Albert to come make it better. Having them around always made it better.

Fortunately, someone noticed he was awake and shortly after he had his favorite red-head by his side. Race sat up and grabbed at Albert’s arm, looking somewhere between lost and scared. “Albie…”

“Heya Racer,” Albert began, real gentle, “how’re you feelin’ bud?”

Race just whined and buried his head into Al’s shoulder. Even the idea of talking hurt.

“Yeah, I can imagine, Specs n’ Daves say you’re runnin’ an awful fever. It musta been from being out in the cold last night.”

Race’s head was swimming and he had a hard time focusing on what Al was saying, but he thought he got the gist of it. Wait… “Spo-”

He was quickly quieted by Albert handing him a glass of water and gesturing for him to drink. Where did he get that? He certainly didn’t have it when he climbed up to Race’s bunk. Race drank the water in small sips, with Albert watching, until he finished the glass. Al took it from his hands and handed it to someone standing at the side of the bed. Oh, so that’s how he got it. Race was so, so tired.

Just as he was drifting off, leaning entirely against his friend, he jolted. “Spot- I’m supposed to meet Spot,” Race barely managed to slur out. Albert shared a look with the other boys who Race still couldn’t be bothered to identify.

“He’s not-” The mystery voice was cut off by a swift kick from Al.

“I… I need to meet Spot, where is he? I wanna see Spot!”

“Race why don’t you lie down,” Albert tried to gently push him back down.

“No,” Race said indignantly, deliriously. “Spot!” he called out, half expecting him to be just out of sight, like Albert had been. Why wasn’t Spot coming? He was always there for Race, Spot wouldn’t leave him like this.

Finally, Albert grabbed his hand. Through gritted teeth he said, “Spot’ll be here soon, he just had some business to deal with in Brooklyn, why don’t you get some rest in the meantime so you’ll have some energy when he gets here?”

Oh. That made sense. Race nodded agreeably and allowed himself to be pulled down to rest his head in Albert’s lap. He was tempted to try and stay awake anyway but he was exhausted and Al’s hand in his hair felt really nice, so he surrendered himself to sleep once more.

Though, this caused him to completely miss the discussion that followed.

“Spot’s not coming, we haven’t spoken to him at all, why would you say that?”

Albert rolled his eyes, he liked the guy plenty. but sometimes Davey just didn’t get it. “He was completely out of it, we needed him to calm down and he wasn’t gonna do that without Spot bein’ here so I did the next best thing. Besides, he probably won’t even remember this when he wakes up.”

“Well… maybe we should go talk to Spot and see if he can check on Race.” Albert was hesitant to do that. If only because of what he had seen last night.

“Evening distribution starts soon, you’ll miss it completely if you go to Brooklyn, and I have to stay here with the dumbass who went and got himself sick.”

“Tomorrow, then?” Davey insisted. And, well, Albert certainly had a few things to say to Spot given Race’s expression when he got home last night, so it really didn’t take much convincing.

“Yeah, I’ll head over tomorrow and get Jack to watch Racer while I’m gone if he isn’t any better.” Davey looked pleased at that, he still wasn’t fond of lying but he understood the utility of it. He really was worried about Race, and if Race wanted Spot then he wasn’t sure why Albert needed any convincing at all, but then again maybe he was missing something. He tended to miss social things like this.

Davey was ripped from his musings by Albert, staring down at him from Race’s bunk, “You better get moving or you’ll miss distribution.”

“Oh yeah! I’ll see you around Albert.”

“You too, Daves,” Albert nodded to Davey as he exited the bunk room.

---

The next day saw almost no improvement. Race was still running a fever high enough to be seriously disoriented and was continually asking for Spot. And Albert, once he left.

So Albert was on his way to Brooklyn to ask Spot Conlon just what the fuck he thought he was doing to Albert’s best friend. He wasn’t one-hundred percent certain what happened, but he’d spent enough of the last day listening to Race’s whining and rambling to piece together that Spot hadn’t shown up and Race had been left waiting for him for hours. He was also tempted to blame Race’s sudden sickness on him too, if only because he was frustrated and angry on his friend’s behalf and didn’t have anywhere else to direct those emotions. And maybe Race wouldn’t be sick at all if he hadn’t been out there in the cold waiting for some bastard who wasn’t coming.

Once he reached the Brooklyn lodgings he knocked twice loudly and stood there, arms crossed and clearly displeased. It was Digs who opened the door, normally Albert thought she was pretty cool but he was in no mood to be friendly.

“What are you doing here?”

“Where’s Spot?” She looked a little taken aback by his tone, and narrowed her eyes.

“What’s it to you?”

“I need to have some words with him.”

Digs observed him warily, “I have to talk to Hotshot, wait in the common room and don’t touch anything. She allowed him inside and disappeared up the stairs. It was about two minutes before she returned, Brooklyn’s second in tow.

“Get outta here ‘hattan.”

“Not until I give Spot a piece of my mind.”

“Spot isn’t taking visitors right now, leave,” Hotshot ordered. Albert was pissed but wasn’t willing to risk a serious conflict between boroughs, for now at least.

“Got any idea when the all mighty King o’ Brooklyn will deign to see me then?”

“No, now leave before we make you.” Digs was standing silently by Hotshot’s side, she hadn’t said anything since returning but was obviously willing to back her second’s orders.

Albert glared at the other newsies, and made his way to the door. He paused before exiting. “Hey, Spot!”

His voice echoed throughout the old building.

“He waited for you, you know,” Albert spat out before storming out of the Brooklyn lodging house and going back to Manhattan to look after his best friend. Someone had to, and he clearly wasn’t going to be able to get through to Spot.

---

Race woke up around noon on the third day feeling much better. He was still kind of dehydrated and groggy, but it seemed his fever had broken. He dragged himself out of bed, careful not to lose his balance on the way down, and slowly changed into a cleaner set of clothes and grabbed himself a glass of water.

Once he finished his first glass and went to fill it up again he was interrupted by someone else entering the room.

Albert looked surprised. “It’s good to see you on your feet, Racer. You feelin’ better?”

Race downed half his glass before answering. “Yeah,” he said, voice still raspy.

Albert smiled, then gently grabbed the glass from his hands and topped it back up. “”M glad, but Specs’d kill me if he found out I was lettin’ you overexert yourself when I was supposed to be lookin’ after you. And before you start poutin’, I’ll sit with you, Jack n’ some of the other boys have been pitching in to cover us so I can stay and babysit you.”

Race started pouting anyways. “I don’t need no babysittin’!” Race frowned, “An’ I don’t like the idea o’ the other boys needing to pay for us, especially when I was the only one who couldn’t sell.”

Albert snorted. “Too bad you big baby, you were outta commission and someone had to look after ya sorry ass.” Albert nudged him back towards the stairs. “Now c’mon, we got some stuff we need to talk about.”

Race followed him back up the stairs and to the bunk room, admittedly confused. He hadn’t been out of it that long, what could he have missed?

Albert took a seat on his own bed and gestured for Race to sit with him. Once he did Al handed him the glass back. Race took a few small sips. “So what did you wanna talk about?”

“Well the night before you got sick you were kinda a mess,” Albert began, “and then you had a nasty fever and seemed pretty upset about what happened. I think I got the basics but you were pretty incoherent…”

Oh yeah, that. Even the mention of that night made Race’s throat tighten. His hands started shaking slightly and Al once again removed the cup from his grasp.

Race sucked in a shuddering breath. “So uhh… basically? Spot never showed up, I waited for hours and- and I just kept thinking ‘Maybe he’ll be here in a few minutes and if I leave I’ll miss him’” Race trailed off.

“I only left once it was too cold and it was clear that… that Spot had either forgotten about me, didn’t care, or something bad had happened to him.” Race sniffled.

Albert looked kind of heartbroken on his behalf. He wrapped an arm around him and pulled Race into his side. “I went to go talk to Spot yesterday,” Albert admitted.

“You what?” Race turned to face his friend.

“I knew something had happened between you two and you kept asking after him.” Race flushed with embarrassment. “I wanted to find out for sure what happened, maybe give him a piece of my mind, and see if he could come see you. Figured he’d want to know you were sick, why wouldn’t he? Anyways, he wouldn’t speak to me at all and some of his newsies wouldn’t even let me see him.”

Race looked down and balled his fists in his pants. So Spot had really just stood him up and then refused to even talk to his best friend. They’d been together a year and Race thought he knew him, though with how things were looking, maybe not. He fully curled into Albert’s side. He didn’t want to think about Spot anymore, he just wanted to fall asleep to the sound of someone who actually cared about him breathing.

---

Four days after the anniversary Race was back on his feet, well enough to sell, and hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Spot. He spent the day in Manhattan on Jack’s orders. Couldn’t risk something happening to him too far away from home.

However, the day after he was allowed to return to Sheepshead once again. He was sort of expecting to run into Spot. After everything and Race not selling for a few days he thought that Spot would at least care enough to come talk to him. Then again he thought Spot wouldn’t ditch him like he did, so maybe it was a problem with Race’s judgement. Race just sold and went home, not feeling up to betting or waiting around for Spot. Again.

The pattern continued like this for a few days, Race would show up to sell, maybe chat with any Brooklyn newsies he came across, then leave. Whenever he tried to ask about Spot they just deflected. It was really starting to get on Race’s nerves.

If Spot wanted to break up with him why couldn’t he say it to Race’s face instead of hiding away like a coward. Everyday he waited for Spot to make the first move, Race wasn’t the one in the wrong here! And everyday he heard nothing.

Well Race was sick of waiting around for stupid Spot.

---

“Race? What are you doin’ here?”

“‘M here to see Spot.” Well, more specifically he was there to chew Spot out and possibly end their relationship if he didn’t have a damn good explanation for his recent behavior. He loved Spot, he really did but Race was not going to allow himself to be treated like this. He deserved better than someone who hurt him like this. But he wasn't gonna dump all that on a kid, especially one who could stop him from doing so.

The kid, Flicker, hesitated. “Spot’s not seeing anybody right now.”

“Well can’t I be an exception?”

“I’m really not supposed to…”

Flicker seemed very conflicted. Race didn’t want to use the kid but… he knew Flicker kind of looked up to him. It wouldn’t be too hard to persuade him to let him in.

“Please Flicks?” Using that nickname was dirty, but Race was at the end of his rope. Hopefully Flicker wouldn’t hold it against him.

His expression was downright pained. “I-”

Race gave him his most pleading look. “Listen, this is really important to me, I have to see Spot. You can trust me, can’t you?”

Flicker finally gave in. He glanced around nervously before quietly and quickly saying, “Spot’s in the refuge. Has been for a little over a week. We’s not supposed to say nothin’ bout it to anyone though.”

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dancerlittle006 · 5 years ago

Text

Extra Extra Read All About It!

First things first, I don’t own anything related to Disney or Newsies. Second of all, it’s been a couple of years since I’ve posted anything on this site but I’ve been writing for other fandoms – Jonas Brothers & One Direction! I’ve been watching and listening to Newsies since the beginning of quarantine and this was just something I threw together. Not sure if I will continue to write in the Newsies fandom but we’ll see where this goes!

June 1901

The sun hit his face as he waited at the circulation gate. He had been deep in thought, trying to figure out what he did. His sister had stopped coming around the lodge house and he couldn’t figure out what he or one of the other newsies had done to make her stay away. Jack had still been coming around, goofing off with his boys and even his brother had been staying quiet around him.

“Papes for the newsies. Line up boy.” Came the call from Weisel. Race watched his brothers line up, grabbing their papes.

The Newsies scattered, reading the headlines, trying to figure out what white lies they would be telling that day. The headline stunk again, making it another difficult day to sell.

“Yous alright?” His shoulder was nudged, causing him to stumble forward. “Yous head up in them clouds.”

Race’s eyes went wide, looking over his shoulder. Albert was standing there with concerned eyes, looking at his best friend. “You’ve been quiet. Everything okays?”

“I’ve got things on my mind.” He shrugged. “Ivs got to figure it out first.”

Albert nodded, putting a hand on Race’s shoulder. “Is here if you need anything.”

Nodding, he went to the gate to grab his papes before heading towards the racetrack. His normal customers made small talk while he sold the paper. They asked him about the headlines before handing over the coins. Before he knew it, the bells were ringing in the noon hour just as he sold his last one.

Adjusting his hat and his cigar, he shuffled his feet away from the racetrack. Inside his mind, he didn’t realize his feet had led him directly to Jack and Katherine’s brownstone. Taking a seat on the stairs, he took off his cap and messed with his hair.

He heard the familiar clanking of the typewriter as Kat typed up her latest article. He sighed, dragging himself to his feet. Walking slowly up the stairs, he raised his hand to knock, but quickly lowered it. He did it again twice before a voice captured his attention. “Doors opened, Race. Come on in.”

He jumped hearing her voice. Seeing her standing at the window grinning, he pushed a smile to his face before opening the door. Hesitating, he paused before walking in.

“Didn’t know you were coming over today.” She smirked, his head snapping up to look at her.

Shutting the door behind him, the smile fell from his face. He shrugged his shoulders half-hardheartedly. “Really didn’t expect to come here either. Feet just had a mind of their own.”

“You okay?”

She motioned him to follow her into the living room and sit on the sofa. He shuffled his feet before collapsing onto the brown sofa her parents had gotten her and Jack as a wedding gift. He sighed loudly. “Is got stuff on my mind.”

“Anything I can help with?” Kat pulled her feet under her on the sofa, glancing in concern at her younger brother. “How was selling today?”

“It wa’ fine.” Worry crossed his face. She got up from her place and sat next to him, pulling him into a half hug.

Rubbing his back, she sighed. “You’re worrying me Race. What’s wrong?”

“Did I do something to make yous mad?” He said, in such a low whisper that she had a hard time hearing what he had said.

Katherine’s hand stilled on his back. She heard what he had said but her mind was slow to catch up. “Say that again.”

“Did I do somethings to make yous mad? You haven’t been to the lodge house in weeks and every time I ask Jack what’s up, he makes up some lame excuse. He’s not the best liar in the city, Kat.” Race spat out, his chest heavily with emotion. “So Is asking, did I do something to make you angry?”

Katherine’s face softened at his heartbroken question. Ever since helping with the strike, she had more or less adopted the Newsies as her brothers. Since Race was so close with Jack, it was no surprise that she also became really close with the young man, to the point that she called him her brother.

“No, Race you didn’t do anything to make me mad.” She started, pausing to figure out how she would tell him. “Jack and I got some news.”

Race’s eyes went wide. “Yous okay?”

“Oh yea, everything’s okay.” She waved him off. “But you can’t tell your brother that I told you this . . . he has this whole thing planned out to tell you boys.”

Race held his breath. Jack hadn’t indicated anything was wrong but it had been a day since he saw his older brother. But he tried to slow his mind down of running through the worst case scenarios that could be happening with his older brother and sister.

“You’re going to be an uncle, Race.” Those words pulled him out of his own little world. His jaw dropped, his mind a little late to what he was hearing.

“A uncle?” He repeated before a grin split his lips. “Yous and Jack going to has a baby?”

Katherine nodded, putting her hands over her stomach. “Out of all the boys, I knew I couldn’t keep it a secret around you, since we’re so close, which is why I haven’t been to the house in a few weeks. Jack has a big thing planned out in a couple of weeks, but I knew I couldn’t keep it from you.”

“Plums, you’re not joking, right?” Race was a frequent jokester, and often recruited Katherine to plot and plan.

Tears were at her eyes as she shook her head. “Never, I would never joke about this.”

He stood, pulling her up from her chair before pulling her into a tight hug. “Plums, congratulations. Yous going to be a great mum.”

“Thank you Race. I’m sorry I made you worry. That was never my intention - I just knew that the moment I saw you, I wouldn’t be able to keep the news in.” She hugged him back.

Before he could wave off her apology, the door to the small apartment opened, with a whistling tune and heavy footsteps. Katherine simply shook her head, keeping an eye on Race, as Jack slipped his shoes off and soon was in the entryway to the kitchen. As soon as he saw Race near his wife, his entire body was on edge.

“Who’s hurt? What happened?” Jack immediately asked, stalking across the kitchen to two of the most important people in his life.

Race immediately shook his head. “All is good. Is just visiting Plums.”

Jack took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. In the middle of calming down, he gave his wife a look. “You told him . . . Plumber!”

“It’s Kelly, Jack and has been for almost a year.” She gave him a knowing look. “And also, I told him nothin’.”

Race snorted at the whine that came out of his brother’s mouth.

“Uh huh . . . sure you didn’t.” Jack pointed his finger between his best friend and his wife. “I know you both too well . . . Race looks like he swallowed the canary and you look like you wanna pass out.” A grin settled on his lips. “What do you think, Uncle Race?”

A sigh slipped between Race’s lips. “I think daddy and mummy are proper names for you both. Congratulations! The boys are going to be ova the moon for ya. Is this why yous been quiet around me when you’re at the house?”

“You can’t tell them anything and yes. I knew if yous called me out on it, I wouldn’t be able to not tell you.” Jack’s eyes went wide. “I have it planned out and everything.”

Race nodded, raising an eyebrow in his direction. “And how long do I have to keep this secret?”

Jack shrugged, looking over at Katherine. “Well . . . we haven’t really decided when we’re going to let the rest of the boys in on the secret. But you cannot tell anyone, not even Canlon or DaSilva.”

Race knew that not telling his boyfriend and best friend were going to be difficult. “Then you betta hurry up and tell the fellas.”

Three Days Later

A heat wave had descended down on New York City, causing all of the Newsies to sell their papes in a hurry before descending on Jacobi’s for a glass of refreshing water. Race looked around at the fellas who had joined him. Albert and Les were all laughing at what looked like Davey's expense. Specs, Finch, and Elmer had their heads together, discussing something important by the serious looks on their faces. Romeo had just taken a gulp of water before spraying it out all over Crutchie, causing the latter to cuff Romeo over the head.

The heavy closing of the door caught Race’s attention, a grin sliding across his face. “Look what the cat drug in . . . hey fellas, it’s the newlyweds.”

A rousing, hearty hello was thrown in Kat and Jack’s direction as they pulled up two chairs to join the crew. Jacobi brought over two glasses of water and refills for the boys before leavin’ them to their business.

“So why do we have the pleasure of seeing your mugs? Thought yous were going to be busy this week?” Albert looked at the married couple suspiciously.

Jack traded a glance with Kat and Race. He pulled a newspaper from his back pocket, nervously twisting it in his hands.

The boys had grown quiet, watching their leader with worried eyes. They hadn’t seen him this nervous since the strike happened. “Jack, yous okay?”

He lifted his head, looking over at Les’ concerned face. “I will be but I’ve got some news to share with yous.”

Race fought to keep the grin from his face at how Jack was milking his and making his brothers worry. Taking a deep breath, Race looked at his older brother. “Just tell us already . . . yous making the boys worried.”

“We got an early print of Plum’s new article.” Jack fumbled with the paper, pulling his eyes up to look at his boys. “Who wants to be the first to read it?”

The noise level went up - Katherine’s articles made it easy to sell papes - so every Newsies at the restaurant was eager to read it. Jack looked at his wife with a grin. “Who do you think should read it first?”

“Give it to Albert.” Kat’s eyes sparkled with the secret and nodded to the redhead.

Jack nodded, standing to walk over to Al. “Yous got to read it to the class so everyone can enjoy Kat’s words.”

The Newsies watched Albert’s eyes scan the paper, jaw dropped, before jumping over to Jack. “Yous serious?”

Laughing, Race, Kat, and Jack couldn’t hold it in anymore. Jack nodded, hugging Albert back. “How about you share it with thes rest of them?”

Albert went to open his mouth several times before looking at Jack. Picking up the pape, he held it in front of him, clearing his throat. “ Extra! Extra! Read all about it . . . . Jack and Plums are going to be parents.”

It was silent, until all hell broke loose amongst the Newsies. Eight Newsies clamored to get to either Kat or Jack to offer their congratulations. Race stood back, took in the sight and committed that to his mind to never forget.

“Wait!” Romeo spoke up, causing silence to hush over to the boys. “How come Race looks like he already knew? Jackie you keepin’ secrets from us?”

Race just grinned. “Just taking it alls in.”

Raising a glass of water, he motioned to the rest of the Newsies. “To the brother/dad wes always had to beings a real dad! Congratulations, Jackie and Plums.”

The Newsies celebrated the wonderful news of their growing family by toasting with water and having a festive feast at Jacobi’s.

November 1901

Jack had stopped by the lodge house to let the Newsies know the baby had arrived late on November 16 at 3am. He was sly with details but promised his brothers they would be able to visit soon after giving them a few days of adjusting to being a family of three.

Jack had seeked Race out at his normal selling spot and mentioned bringing some of the boys after selling hours. The boys had pooled some of their earnings to buy a bottle of wine for Plums, after Romeo mentioned they couldn’t show up empty handed.

Race had waited on the steps of the lodge house, waiting on the few he had mentioned Jack’s request to. Race had mentioned the event to Romeo, Albert, Specs, Crutchie, Finch, Elmer, Davey and Les so as soon as they had arrived, they set off for Jack’s.

Race kicked a pebble as the rambunctious group weaved their way through the streets of Manhattan. The streets were still bustling with people not paying attention to the ragtag team of young men. Soon, Albert had stopped the group at the familiar brownstone, causing a hush to settle on the group.

Jack was sitting on the brownstone with a giant smile on his face. “Hi boys . . . been waiting forever for yas to shows up.”

“Don’t ya have more important things to be worried about?” Race grinned, hopping up the stairs to hug his brother. “Doncha have a new baby to look afta?”

Jack nodded hello to the rest of his brothers, opening the door to the brownstone letting the Newsies in. “Can’t help that Is excited for you to meet the baby.”

Jack continued into the house, while the Newsies stopped. Kat was in a rocking chair in the living room with a bundle of blankets in her arms. Her face lit up at her brothers. “Come, come. Meet your niece.”

“Niece?” The boys echoed back, looking between Jack and Plums. “Yous have a daughter, Jack?”

Jack tilted his head. “Didn’t Is tell you that?”

“No, you told us the babys here, arrived on the 16th at 3 in the morning. Yous gave no additional details.” Albert supplied, shaking his head at the new dad. “Yous left us hanging.”

Kat laughed, rolling her eyes at her husband. “You poor boys. Well come here, meet your niece. Who wants to hold her first?”

Albert and Romeo playfully fought over who would be the first to hold her while the rest of the Newsies gave Jack and Kat hugs and admired the new baby from afar. Kat caught Race’s eyes and grinned. “Well Uncle Race, wants to hold your niece?”

Race immediately felt himself shaking his head, but knew he wanted to hold the baby and keep her safe. “Plums . . . Is never held a baby before.”

She shook her head. “Come here. Sit down, and hold your arms like so.” She demonstrated and as soon as his arms were stable, a yellow bundle was put into his arms.

Race felt himself relax as his eyes swept over the baby. Her lips were puckered and eyes closed tightly as she slept peacefully. “Wow Jackie, Plums, she’s gorgeous. What’s her name?”

“Samantha Anne Kelly.” Kat knelt next to the rocking chair, looking at Race. “What do you think Uncle Race?”

“She’s perfect.” He used his free hand to bat away tears that had escaped. “She’s just perfect. Congrats Plums. Yous a mom.”

The rest of the evening was passing the baby around and cooing at how perfect, sweet, and precious baby Samantha was. And Race was a very attentive uncle and vowed to himself to always protect that little girl from harm.

#Newsies #Fan Fiction #Fan Fic #Writing #Dancerlittle006 #the many adventures of sammi & race

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somedayonbroadway · 5 years ago

Note

Hey! Can you go into detail on the Outsiders AU

Okay, alright, here it is, the one you’ve all been waiting for...

The Outsiders AU

Characters

Romeo- Ponyboy Curtis

Crutchie Morris- Johnny Cade

Spot Conlon- Dally Winston

Jack Kelly- Darry Curtis

Racetrack Higgins- Sodapop Curtis

Albert DaSilva- Two-Bits

Finch- Steve

Morris Delancey- Randy

Oscar Delancey- Bob

JoJo- Cherry

Buttons- Marcia

Story

So Romeo is a greaser. He’s a scrawny kid. He’s a bit different from a lot of his friends and especially his brothers. While he loves to run and is extremely fast he’s nowhere near as built or as athletic as his two older brothers, the only family he has.

Romeo is extremely close with his big brother Racetrack. Yes, that’s his real name. Racetrack Kelly. No one knows for sure why. But Race never minded the name. It was always odd to know that their parents had a James and a Romeo and a Racetrack in the middle.

Romeo and Racetrack are as close as brothers can be. They are affectionate and playful and Race loves to make his little brother smile.

Jack, however, Romeo’s oldest brother, is a bit of a different story.

See, before their parents died, Jack and Romeo got along just fine, great even, but ever since the crash, Romeo and Jack has always budded heads. Jack always won the arguments. It was because he was twenty and Romeo was only thirteen. It was because Jack always told him that if he didn’t listen to him, he and Racer would end up in a boys home.

It was easy to forget that Race was still a kid, what with him dropping out of school and getting a full time job at a gas station. Race acted like Jack did. Like an adult with responsibilities and bills to pay. Race would even have to help Jack sleep sometimes by massaging Jack’s back after work, which Jack always protested. He didn’t like it when Race had to put him to sleep like that. He always just asked Race to help him relax so he could get them some dinner or something.

Jack is stressed all the time. He works two jobs to keep their house that their parents used to pay for. He gave up college to watch after his two brothers. And all he knew how to make after the crash was chocolate cake, resulting in them having chocolate cake for breakfast far too often. It draws their friends over a lot.

Romeo thinks Jack resents him. Being so young, he doesn’t realize that the reason Jack is so hard on him all the time is because he’s truly trying to protect him and keep him and Race with him.

One day, Romeo is walking home from the movies and a gang of socs see him alone. They decide to try and pounce on him. Scare him.

See, socs and greasers are mortal enemies. And every soc knows not to mess with any greaser in a pack. Greasers play dirty to protect their own. In the community that Romeo lives in, every greaser knows each other. Every greaser looks out for every other.

But today, Romeo’s alone. He loves going to the movies and doesn’t have anyone to go with. So he’s walking home alone.

And the socs jump him.

They knock him to the ground and pull a knife on him, teasing him and telling him they’re gonna cut his greasy hair. Romeo tried to act tough. He tries to push them off, but they manage to knick his throat.

That’s when the rest of the neighborhood finds them.

Albert, Race, Jack, Finch, Spot, everybody. They tackle the socs to the ground, jump on their car and on their backs to get them off of the kid. Jack grabs Romeo up off the ground and puts him behind him, practically daring anyone to try and take another swing at the kid.

When the greasers eventually scare the socs off, Race runs over to Romeo immediately, checking him over and making sure he’s okay. Jack does so too, asking him how bad the cut was. But Romeo leans more towards Racer. He always does.

Everyone is around to make sure Romeo is alright and Romeo sees Spot who he hasn’t seen in months. He asks when Spot got out of the clink. Spot just shrugs. He doesn’t answer really answer him. He’s more concerned about asking the boy next to him if those were the same socs that jumped him a few months ago.

Crutchie is the sweetest and kindest and purest sole among the greaser gang. He is the gentlest of them all.

Four months prior to this, Crutchie was jumped by a group of socs who nearly killed him. Crutchie brushes it off, tells everyone not to worry about him. He says he’d gotten worse from his father. See, Crutchie’s father is the one who gave him the bum leg that gave way to his lovable nickname. His mother’s a drunk. She never stops it. Crutchie floats around from couch to couch, ending up at Jack’s house more often than not, as it is widely known that Jack’s door is open to any greaser who needs a place to stay.

Anyways, Jack takes Romeo home as Race is close behind. That night, Race puts Jack to sleep by massaging his back and then takes Romeo to bed. They share the one queen size bed in the house and Jack has a twin bed in the other room that simply lays on the floor.

Race asks Romeo if he’s cold and cuddles up to him when he says that he is. Then he tells Romeo that the only reason Jack is hard on him is because of how much he loves him. Romeo argues and curls into Race, telling him that Jack doesn’t treat Race the way he treats him. Race gives up and tells Romeo to go to sleep as he rolls over. He says he has to go to work so Romeo needs to stay quiet and still. But the second he rolls over, Romeo wraps his arms around him from behind and makes Race laugh. He tells Race that he loves him and then goes to sleep.

The next day, Spot promises to take Romeo and Crutchie to a drive in movie theatre. He does. Spot grabs then a little early and he lets them watch while he terrorizes some kid socs.

Eventually, they make it to the movie where they sneak in after Spot cuts a whole in the fence with a pocket knife. There, they meet a couple of soc girls. JoJo and Buttons. Spot attempts to hit on JoJo but she tells him off with the help of Romeo and Crutchie who admit to him that he’s taking it too far. Spot would get angry and leave and JoJo and Buttons would invite the boys to move up and sit with them. Romeo and Crutchie would defend Spot a bit to them, stating that they don’t know Spot and he’s a really good guy if they would get to know them.

JoJo and Buttons get irritable after their boyfriends try to come in and tell them to come back to their date. They get them to leave them alone and try to explain to Romeo and Crutchie that not all socs are the same. They don’t really believe her.

Eventually, Spot comes back trying once again to flirt with JoJo only to get splashed in the face with soda and told to go away. They go to leave, asking Romeo and Crutchie to walk them home. They do, along with some greasers they find along the way, like Albert and Finch. They are however, followed by a group of socs led by Morris and Oscar, JoJo and Button’s dates. They are tipsy at this point, and they are already looking for a fight as they demand JoJo and Buttons get away from the “rats” as they call them. The greasers gear up for a fight only for JoJo to stop them. She tells Romeo that it would just be easier for them to go with Morris and Oscar.

JoJo and Morris have been dating for a while. Oscar and Buttons had only just gone out on one date.

The socs leave and the greasers walk home together. Albert and Finch leave Crutchie and Romeo in the park in the middle of their primarily greaser neighborhood, knowing that Crutchie always debated whether or not to go home to his alcoholic parents. They always offer him a place to stay, but Crutchie doesn’t want to feel like a burden so he typically sleeps in the park under a blanket of newspapers.

On this night in particular, Romeo sits down with Crutchie for a little while, just to talk to him, and falls asleep. Crutchie wakes him up about an hour later and tells him that his brothers will be worried about him so he needs to get home. Romeo offers Crutchie their couch if he gets cold and then heads home, leaving his friend in the park.

He gets home to find Jack and Racer sitting in the living room, anxiously waiting for him. The second he walks in, Jack is getting up and yelling at him for being late and scaring him out of his mind. Romeo tries to explain that he hadn’t meant to fall asleep or stay out so late. Race tries to calm them both down as best he can but Jack yells at him, telling Race that he doesn’t need his kid brother telling him how to deal with his other kid brother and then telling Romeo that he couldn’t even call the police because the police would take Race and Romeo away from him. Again, Race tries to calm Jack down, only for Jack to yell at him again.

Romeo jumps on Jack’s back and tells him not to yell at Race. That’s when Jack lashes out. He throws Romeo off his back and backhands him before he can stop himself.

Everything freezes for a moment. Jack can’t fully comprehend what he has just done. He tries to apologize, but Romeo is already off running and before Jack or Race can fully recover, he’s gone.

Romeo runs back to the park and wakes up a shivering Crutchie and tells him to come with him, that they can run away and get away from the people who don’t appreciate them. Crutchie tries to ask him what’s wrong and Romeo starts crying and tells Crutchie that Jack hit him and he goes on and on about how Jack hates him and wishes he had already sent him to a boys home. Crutchie tries to tell him that that is not true and how much Jack loves him, but he’s interrupted when they hear the sound of a car coming behind them. They freeze and look over at it only for Crutchie to pale and tell Romeo that that’s the same car the guys were driving when he got jumped.

The socs see them.

They try to run, but with Crutchie’s leg, they don’t get very far. Romeo says he’s gonna run to get Race (and Jack by extension, even though he doesn’t say it), but the socs catch them before he can. It’s Oscar and Morris and their friends. And they’re drunk.

They threaten the boys, tell them to stay away from their girls. Crutchie tries to stand up to them. It only makes them mad.They go to beat him but Romeo jumps on Morris’s back.

So they turn on him.

They beat him and drag him to the fountian a couple yards away. They try to drown him.

A few moments later, Romeo is pulled from the water. He half expects Jack to be there, pulling him into a hug and apologizing like crazy. He kind of hopes for it. But he looks over to see Crutchie standing beside him, looking completely shaken with a bloodied knife (a pocket knife that Jack gave him) in his hand. It doesn’t take Romeo long to figure out what happened. Not with Morris’s body only a few feet away from him.

He throws up almost immediately and Crutchie tells him it’s alright, that they’d figure this out. So they run off and go to find Spot. They’d find him at a party of some guy that he happens to be staying with and gives Romeo an extra set of clothes to warm him up and a loaded gun to Crutchie. He then tells the boys to get on a train and head west to an abandoned church he used to stay at when his father first kicked him out, commenting that he hated that he would be the one to have to tell Jack his little brother was going into hiding because of a murder.

The two do as they’re told. They go after Crutchie hugs Spot and tries not to cry.

The two hide from the cops on their way to the abandoned church and the morning after they get there, Crutchie goes out to get them some food, also grabbing a copy of Gone With The Wind for Romeo and some dye for the kid’s hair. Romeo immediately shoots down the idea but Crutchie explains that the socs went to the police and their descriptions are in the papers.

Romeo lets Crutchie cut and bleach his hair. He only cries a little, remembering how much his mother used to love his hair. He remembers his brothers and how close they had been when their parents had still been alive and he cries to Crutchie about how much he wants one of Jack’s hug at that moment.

It is widely known throughout the greasers that Jack gives the best hugs.

Crutchie reassures him that he’ll see Jack and Racer again and that everything will be okay. And then he lets Romeo cut his hair and tells him to have a field day.

For almost a week, the two are holed up at this place. Romeo reads Gone With The Wind to Crutchie for some kind of entertainment. One day they get up to watch the sunrise and Romeo recites a Robert Frost poem, “Nothing Can Stay Gold”. He admits he doesn’t truly know what Frost means by the poem and that’s why he remembers it so well.

Days later, Spot comes to check on them. He laughs when he sees Romeo’s blond hair and teases him about wanting to be more like Racer everyday. Romeo pushes at him but Spot gives him a letter from Race and Romeo immediately perks up. In the letter Race explains that he’s worried sick and Jack is even worse off. He tells Romeo that Jack cried for hours after he’d lashed out, and had tried to go out to find him.

Romeo feels horrible and gets upset so Spot tries to take both him and Crutchie out to eat to cheer them up, where he explains to them that ever since Morris’s death, the violence between socs and greasers have gotten worse and there is going to be a rumble later on in the week. And Spot would tell them they had a spy on the inside. JoJo. And that people that were investigating were thinking that Morris was killed out of self defense.

Crutchie would tell Spot he was going to turn himself in. And Spot would get angry. He’d tell him that he didn’t want him to turn out like him, mean and callous. Crutchie would say it's not like his old man would miss him and Spot would lecture him even more, telling him so what? Spot’s old man didn’t even notice he was in jail. But it didn’t matter. He had Jack and Hot Shot and Racer and Albert and all the boys and that was enough.

Then he would immediately tell Romeo that he better not tell Jack he said that.

They’d drive back to the city in Spot’s car, stumbling across the small church that has caught on fire. Without really thinking about it, Romeo jumps out of the car and rushes in to save a bunch of kids who are stuck inside. Crutchie and Spot rush after him, trying to get him out and Crutchie and Spot get caught inside while Romeo helps three kids out the window. The building collapses.

Crutchie and Spot are rescued and taken to the hospital while Romeo rides with a cop and is questioned about the entire affair. He sees Crutchie rolled in, barely conscious and burned up real bad. He’s told the roof collapsed and broke the other boy’s back. And he sees Spot come in not too long after, not looking near as bad as the older boy threatened to gut him if he ever did something that stupid again.

At the hospital, it’s only a couple of hours later that Romeo hears footsteps. He looks up just in time to see Race rushing towards him, lifting him up and hugging him tightly.

Romeo cries a bit in Race’s arms before opening his eyes to see Jack nervously standing behind them, watching Romeo with tears in his eyes. Before he can even offer a greeting, Romeo is rushing towards him and flinging his arms around his brother’s waist. Jack would admit he thought he lost Romeo like they lost their mom and dad and he’d hold onto him for dear life. Then the three brothers would just stand there clinging to each other in the hospital waiting room.

Jack takes his brothers home, practically clinging to Romeo the entire time and telling him how much he loves him.

The next morning, Jack wakes Race and Romeo up for breakfast and Jack asks Romeo if he’s feeling ok. Romeo insists that he’s fine but Jack says he could probably stay home if Romeo needed him to. That’s when Albert and Finch barge into the already full house, grabbing a chocolate cake and beer for breakfast as Albert sits in front of their old TV set to watch Mickey Mouse cartoons.

Albert says that he’ll babysit Romeo and Jack lets him, only teasing him by telling him to get a job on his way out.

Albert takes Romeo out for the day, walking around the city and visiting Race at work, like usual, asking about everything. Romeo doesn’t want to talk about it too much.

Eventually, they once again stumble over the same soc car that was full of the bullies who had nearly killed Crutchie months ago and then nearly drown Romeo just a few days prior.

Oscar says he doesn’t want a fight, though Albert gears up for one, along with Hot Shot who happens to be nearby. Oscar just asks if he can talk to Romeo alone for a minute. Romeo agrees, though Albert is hesitant.

Oscar lets Romeo sit in his car as he tells Romeo that he’s sorry and cries over his brother who is dead because they’d gotten stupid drunk and couldn’t have been stopped otherwise. He tells Romeo he is unhappy with the idea of the rumble and will not be participating and states that the violence between greasers and socs won’t be solved that way.

After that, Al takes Romeo to visit Crutchie in the hospital, where Albert calls the kid Charlie for the first time in years and cries over how bad he looks. Romeo asks if he thinks Crutchie is gonna die and Albert refuses to answer. Crutchie asks for another copy of Gone With The Wind so Romeo can finish reading it to him so Albert goes to get him one from the gift shop. When he leaves, Crutchie tells Romeo that he’s scared and, while he’d wanted to kill himself in the past, he didn’t want to die anymore. When Al gets back, they are asked to leave because Crutchie’s mother is there to visit him. Crutchie gets angry and begins to yell at the nurse to get his mother to go away. He passes out after fussing for only a minute and Albert storms out of the room crying and yells at the mother who is standing outside the door in a fit of tears telling her that she was only ever a lousy drunk and this is where it had led her.

The two boys then go visit Spot in the same hospital to find him flirting his way around the hospital staff. Spot tells them he’s going to break out of this joint soon and Albert laughs and tosses him a bar of chocolate which he says he stole from the gift shop.

Later that night, the greasers are gearing up for the rumble. Race and Albert and Finch are extra excited, doing handstands and flips all the way down there while Jack sticks back with Romeo and tells him to stay back because Jack can tell he’s not feeling well. Romeo promises to stick to the littler guys and call for Jack if he really needed help. So Jack lets him go, carrying him on his back to the park.

The rumble gets out of hand fast. Romeo gets beat on harder than he’d expected. But the greasers ultimately win.

Spot, who had showed up just in time for the rumble to start, takes Romeo back to the hospital to see Crutchie who they are able to talk to for only a moment before the boy loses his life, telling Romeo to “stay gold”.

Spot loses it. He begs Crutchie to wake up. He cries for him and gets frantic when the kid just lays there motionless before he runs out of the room, leaving Romeo alone with their dead friend.

Romeo goes home and immediately is in Jack’s arms. He has to tell Jack that Crutchie’s dead and Jack cries right along with him.

When the phone rings later that night, Albert answers it, telling Jack its Spot and that Spot is demanding to talk to him. Jack takes the call and is told by Spot that the police are coming after him again for robbing a convenience store down the road and that he needs help. Jack tells him that he’ll meet them in the park and tells everyone one else what’s going on.

They rush to try and hide Spot. But the police get to him first. Spot has an unloaded gun in his hand. The greasers know Spot’s guns are rarely ever loaded. They try to tell the cops that, screaming at them not to hurt Spot, but Spot is shot several times while he’s waving around his useless weapon and he dies right then and there.

Jack tries to turn around and hold onto Romeo. But Romeo collapses.

Romeo is sick for several days, weak from the burns and bruises and new concussion he has from the rumble. When he wakes up, Jack gives him a copy of Gone With The Wind, left to him by Crutchie and tells him that the hearing about Morris’s murder is the next day.

Jack and Race both take the day off to spend all the time with Romeo that they know they can. Jack calls Romeo “baby” a couple times, trying to show his affection more often now that he almost lost his little brother.

The next day, the hearing happens. JoJo testifies and tells the jury about how her boyfriend was drunk and looking for a fight and had been violent the last time she’d seen him.

Romeo is released into the custody of Jack and allowed to go home as he is cleared from charges.

A few days later he is going back to school. JoJo, who told Romeo a long time ago that she might not be able to say hi to him in public, goes back to ignoring him.

Romeo is told that his grades are dropping and that if he can write one good paper, his teacher will pass him with a C. He goes home to Jack and Race only for Jack to ask him about school and about where he wants to go to college and Romeo starts arguing with him. Once again, they try to put Race in the middle of it all, only for Race to get defensive and run out of the house.

Jack and Romeo chase him down and Jack holds him tightly, apologizing to him so much as Race cries about being a rope in a tug of war for them. And for a while, the three of them just stay there, holding onto each other.

The next morning Romeo begins to work on his paper, looking through the book that Crutchie had left for him. He finds a note. Crutchie’s last words to him, instructing Romeo to “Stay Gold” once again and telling Romeo that he was proud to die if it meant the kids they’d saved got to live.

Romeo starts on his paper, reciting the events that had happened within the past week or so.

And there you have it folks, 9 pages later here is your Outsiders RP Outline! I hope you all enjoyed it!

For more RPs, check out my list here! Thank you all so much!

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verilyruth · 5 years ago

Text

A New Beginning

(Part One of my series, A New Beginning)

AO3

Summary:

“Katherine? What’s the matter?” “Nothing, I just…” She took a moment to look at him and realized that what she was doing was unfair and selfish. So much was going on right now that he didn’t have the time to think about her. Christ, he was suddenly responsible for feeding his family and co-organizing a strike. And even assuming that he was interested in Katherine, this wasn’t the time for her to have this discussion with him. “Nothing.”

Or: Katherine likes Davey, not Jack.

Pairings: Davey/Katherine

Katherine watched as Davey attempted to control the boys at the lodging house. He, Specs, and Race were trying to help the injured kids and calm down the crying ones. Some of the other older boys were also trying to help but they all looked exhausted and most of them seemed to not even have the energy to rise from their bunks. Katherine wasn’t sure she had ever seen somebody look as overwhelmed as Davey currently did.

She approached him when he was talking to Race, figuring it was better than waiting until he was helping a kid again.

“I don't know, Race,” he said. “I’m…I’m going to try but…” Davey inhaled sharply and Race put a hand on his bicep.

“It’s okay, Davey. I know you’re trying.” He walked away.

Katherine saw Davey pinch the bridge of his nose in a way that suggested he was holding back tears.

“Davey?”

He spun around.

“Oh, Ms. Plumber. Are you okay? I’m sorry, I should have asked if you were injured.” He looked guilty.

“No! No, I’m fine, Davey, I just wanted to see how I can help.”

“Oh. Um…I’m not sure that you can.”

“Well, what do you have to do? Maybe I can help with that,” she said. Much to her dismay, he looked shocked by her offer.

“I’m…aren’t you supposed to stay out of it?”

“I am. This isn’t the strike right now, I’m just with a bunch of injured kids who happen to be striking.”

Davey chuckled humorously.

“Okay. Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

“Of course.”

“I…I’m trying to get them all food but I’m not sure how. Mr. Kloppman - he runs the lodging house - he’s not making anybody pay for dinner tonight but not this many kids are usually here or buy it so he doesn’t have half as much as we need. I’m…Jack keeps an emergency fund but it’s not enough and I don’t know what to do.” He looked desperate and helpless.

“Hey, it’s going to be okay, Davey.”

“I have to figure out how to treat the injured kids too. Some of them should really see doctors but they can’t. And…and…” he trailed off and looked directly in her eyes. “Why am I in charge? I’ve been a newsie for less than a week! Race is Jack’s second and…I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, I get that he’s helping, but I don’t understand why I’m in control. Why?”

“They see you as a responsible person.”

“But I’m not! I’m just as lost as the rest of them!”

“Yeah, but they don’t know that. Here, why don’t you sit down for a minute?” She tried to take his arm and lead him to the old couch but he shook his head.

“No, there’s no time.”

“Then let me help you.”

He bit his lip contemplatively for a moment.

“Could you…do you know anything about first aid?”

“A little bit. I have younger siblings.”

Davey exhaled amusedly.

“That’ll do it. Would you be able to check on some of the younger boys? Most of them are just bruised or have scrapes from falling that need cleaning. If you ask Specs he’ll get you some rags and water.”

She nodded.

“Of course.”

“Thank you, Ms. Plumber.”

“Katherine,” she corrected. She got a weak smile in return.

“Katherine.”

“Davey. Davey. Davey!” Katherine ended up shaking his arm to bring him out of his catatonic state. He was sitting on a bunk and the little kid he was helping a minute ago had gotten up, but he remained, staring off into space.

“Hmm? Oh, Katherine. Sorry. What do you need?”

“Nothing except for you to get some rest.”

“What? No, there’s still stuff to be done.”

“Like what? All the kids are treated and most of them are asleep, even some of the older ones.”

“We have to talk about finding Jack, and helping Crutchie, and how we’re going to proceed. I…fuck, we still have to get food for them for when they wake up.”

“Let others handle it.”

“I can’t.” He shook his head. “Race asked me to be in charge so I have to be.”

Katherine sighed.

“At least come sit on the couch. The other boys who are awake are over there.”

“Okay.”

“Where’s your brother? Les, right?”

Davey nodded.

“Yeah. I took him home.”

“What? When?”

“Right from the distribution center.” He stood up with a cringe.

“Davey, are you hurt besides your face? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I’m fine. I fell, it’s just from that.”

She was skeptical but decided not to push. They walked over to the couch area where the boys were spread out on the couch, the few chairs and the floor. He rested his hands on the arm of the couch and put his weight on them.

“Take my spot, Davey,” Mush said, standing from the couch.

“What? No, that’s okay.”

“You need it more than I do.”

“I’m okay standing.”

Katherine disagreed and it seemed the boys did too. All of them ordered him onto the couch between Race and Albert. He only relented when Mush put his hands on his shoulders and physically led him there. Davey looked at her.

“Katherine, you should sit, I’m fine.”

“I’m not injured.” She sat down on the floor next to Specs.”

“But-”

“What, because I’m a girl I can’t sit on the floor? Seriously, this isn’t the time for chivalry.”

He nodded reluctantly.

“Okay. What’s the plan?”

“Let’s wait and regroup in the morning,” Specs said. “It’s not like we could sell tonight even if we wanted to.” The others nodded. Davey didn’t seem happy but he didn’t argue either.

“Fine. What about food?”

The others looked at each other tensely.

“Kloppman said he can feed twenty but there’s fifty-two kids here total.”

“All right. I…I’m sorry, but I have to get food for my siblings and parents first but then I can buy for…” Davey was quiet for a moment, probably doing math. “I can probably afford four others. Five, if we spread it out more.”

“I can do two,” Finch said.

“Is that including yourself?”

“Three, including myself.”

“Good. Seriously, all of you have to make sure you eat first, got it?” Nobody said anything. “Got it?”

“Fine.”

“Okay.”

“Yep.”

“Thank you. So that’s twenty-eight.”

Katherine sat and listened to them try to figure it out, feeling like she should say something. She could pay for food for all of them but she didn’t want to compromise her journalistic integrity more than she already had. There was only so much she could ethically do.

Then again, she had to consider if her ethics as a journalist outweighed her ethics as a person. She decided to wait and see. Katherine wouldn’t let anyone go hungry but she would let them pay for what they could. Still, she felt a guilty pit in her stomach.

“No, Romeo, it’s okay,” Davey said as she zoned back in. “That goes for all of you. If you can’t afford it then say so.”

“Sorry, Davey. I don’t even have enough for myself,” Sniper admitted.

“Don’t be sorry. We’ve got enough food for thirty-eight people, and that’s pretty impressive.”

“How do we get enough for fourteen more?” JoJo asked.

“I…I can go to Mr. Jacobi and see if he’ll let me pay him back later or work it off,” Davey said. “If someone who he knows better wants to join me just to ask him that would be great. I’ll handle the payment.”

“Davey, you’re not doing it by yourself,” Mush said. “That ain’t fair.”

“No. I got us into this mess.” The boys all protested. “No, I did! I’ll figure it out. If anyone has any better ideas I’m happy to hear them but I don’t think we do. How much is a meal at Jacobi’s usually?”

“About a nickel.”

Davey looked pained. Katherine couldn’t imagine what it was like to be so poor that you needed to work off seventy cents. God, how could her father be so selfish? These were children! He would never accept it if someone did this to his kids so why were these kids any different?

“All right, that’s fine,” Davey said, even though it clearly wasn’t. “Specs, when you said fifty-two, were you including the kids who don’t stay here too?”

“Yeah. You’re eating here, right?”

“No, I’ll eat at home.”

Except he wouldn’t. Katherine knew that face. It was the same face she wore when she told her mother that she, Darcy, and Bill were going for a late dinner with friends when they were really going to Darcy’s apartment to get wine drunk because she knew it would upset her and it was the same face she wore when she told her boss that his wife was lovely even though she was the rudest person she had ever met. He was lying to protect the feelings of others. When he had said he was feeding his parents and his siblings, that was exactly what he meant - not himself.

“Then it’s fifty-one.”

“Great. I’ll go down to Jacobi’s now and see what he says.”

“I’ll join you,” Katherine said and stood up. “I don’t know him well but I’ve been there for lunch a few times.”

Davey nodded.

“You go to Jacobi’s for lunch?”

“I have once or twice. It’s near my office, so…”

“Yeah.” He kicked a rock as they walked.

“Davey, let me buy the food.”

“What? No. That’s very generous but we can’t put you out like that.”

“Davey-”

“No! It’s a lot of money and I can’t ask someone who isn’t even responsible for us to do that. I’m not going to let you potentially go hungry because of us.”

She stood awkwardly, unsure of what to say. Katherine didn’t want to lie but she didn’t want to make Davey feel embarrassed either. He seemed to notice her expression and he blushed again. “Oh. Sorry. I should’ve…I mean, not that you look poor or anything - not that poor people look a certain way, I just meant that you dress nice, and your hair is always perfect - we’ve only met twice, but both times and…and - yeah, I’m going to stop talking now.”

Katherine giggled and (unfortunately for her) snorted. Davey looked at her but she couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“I’m sorry,” he said after a moment. “I really shouldn’t have made any assumptions about you.”

“You don’t have anything to be sorry for, Davey.” Katherine laid her free hand on his bicep and held it. Davey’s eyes jumped to it and then quickly returned up. “My family has money and I want to use it for this. Please?”

Davey sighed.

“I can’t let you pay for all of them. You’ll compromise your journalistic integrity.”

Katherine smiled. She hadn’t expected anyone but her to be thinking about that.

“Okay. Just the fourteen you guys can’t.”

“It’s thirteen,” he reminded her.

“No, it really isn’t. You’re a bad liar, Davey, and you need to eat.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ve gone without food for a night before, it’s really not that big a deal.”

Her heart twinged and she found herself gripping him a little tighter.

“It’s a big deal to me. We’ll talk to Mr. Jacobi and then you’ll sit and eat.”

“I have to-”

“They can survive on their own for an extra twenty minutes. It’s not like all that food is going to be ready anyway. Okay?”

He sighed and nodded.

“Thank you. It’s really kind. I’ll pay you back when I have the money, I promise.”

“Please don’t.”

Jacobi agreed to make the meals and told Davey to bring some other boys to come back later to help carry them. He even agreed to let them use his dishes if they promised to bring them back the next day. Katherine asked if they could have something to eat and ordered Davey a soup and a half sandwich.

“You really didn’t need to order both. Just one would have been more than enough for me,” he said as they sat down. Katherine rolled her eyes.

“Don’t be silly.” She looked at his hand where it lay on the table. “Davey, your hand.”

“What?”

“It’s shaking.”

“Oh.” He glanced down. “Just tired, I guess. I’m fine.” He avoided further questioning because Mr. Jacobi brought them the food. Katherine watched as he ate. It was different than seeing her friends and family eat. When they had meals, it was relaxed and casual and there was nothing special about it. When Davey ate, he ate slowly and carefully, savoring the food and trying to make the meal last as long as he could. He made satisfied noises as he went (that were definitely not at all adorable, nope, not even a little).

Katherine stopped being entertained by it after a minute though. She realized the reason he was eating as if it was his last meal was probably because he didn’t have any idea when he would eat again. He was on strike now and she didn’t know how he was going to buy food.

“Thank you so much,” he said after a minute or two. “I really, really appreciate it.”

“I…yeah, no problem. Any time.”

“I never have meals this big so it’s…” he trailed off and blushed suddenly, as if realizing what he had said. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

It hurt to hear that. A soup and a half sandwich shouldn’t be a treat, it should be the kind of thing Davey could have whenever he wanted. He was skinny, certainly, but she hadn’t considered the idea that it could be due to lack of food more than anything else. Come to think of it, most of the newsies were pretty skinny.

She cleared her throat awkwardly. “So it’s good?”

“Yeah, it’s great, thanks,” he said with a nod. “Sorry that I’m taking so long. I’ll be ready to go in a minute.”

Katherine smiled softly at him.

“Take your time.”

“Katherine! Katherine!” Katherine turned around and saw Davey running through the crowded street, trying his best not to knock over any pedestrians.

“Hey! Watch where you’re going!”

“Sorry, ma’am!” He swiveled his head around to apologize as he worked his way towards her.

“Katherine! Wait!”

“Davey? What’s wrong?” she asked. “Are you hurt? Did you find Jack?”

“Wh- no, I’m fine. I just…” David sighed and handed her the paper he was holding. She looked down at it and then back up at him, confused.

“Why are you handing me the paper I just gave you?”

“I didn't read it before and now I have.”

“Is there something wrong with it?”

He picked his cap up and ran his hand through his hair.

“You talked about me.”

“Okay?”

“I’m not the leader, Jack is.”

“I talked about him too.”

“Yeah, but then why’d you have to talk about me at all?” He sounded frustrated and Katherine was suddenly very aware of the fact that they were standing on a busy street corner, people passing by them on their way to work.

“Davey, I’m sorry, I don’t understand what the issue is.”

“It wasn’t important to talk about me!”

“Why not? You and Jack started the strike and you’re the vice president of the union.”

He paled.

“I’m the what?”

Katherine couldn’t help but laugh. Davey looked upset and she tried to suppress it but she just couldn’t.

“Did you not know? I asked Jack and he said you’re the vice president.”

“I’m…no, I’m not.”

“Then who is?”

“I don’t know! Race? Crutchie? Not me!”

“Davey,” she said softly, touching his arm, “why are you so upset by this?”

“Because…it’s hard to explain but it’s too late now anyway. Never mind. Sorry to bother you.” He turned away from her but she grabbed his wrist.

“What’s wrong? Seriously, if I did something wrong you have to tell me so that I don’t do it again.”

David shook his head.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Of course it matters! Why don’t we go somewhere a little less crowded and we can talk about this, okay?”

“No, I have to get my brother and go look for Jack.”

“Well, then let’s do it together.”

“You don’t have to do that,” he assured her.

“I’m in this with you guys now, okay? One hundred percent.”

He nodded reluctantly.

“Okay.”

“Great. Where should we look?”

“I told the guys I’d look for him at Medda’s - the Bowery, I mean. She owns a theater there.”

“I’ve met her. All right, let’s go get your brother.”

“Yeah. He’s back at Jacobi’s with a couple of the boys.” He started walking but Katherine stood still. He stopped and looked at her. “I thought you were coming.”

“What, you’re not going to offer me your arm, like a gentleman?”

“I-I…I’m not- I- sorry,” he spluttered and blushed. Katherine laughed.

“I’m just teasing.”

“Oh. Okay.” He walked back to her and offered his arm anyway.

“So why are you so upset about the article?”

David sighed and looked down for a second. He almost bumped into an elderly woman and Katherine had to try really hard not to laugh again. He kept his eyes up after that.

“It’s not that…it’s a good story, Katherine, it really is. I mean it, you’re an excellent writer.”

“But?”

“But I would’ve preferred not to be mentioned. It’s my fault, I should’ve told you beforehand.”

“You made a speech that got other kids to join your side. Your words are the reason yesterday worked even a little.”

“Also the reason why Crutchie’s in jail.”

“Hey! That’s not your fault, all right?”

“I-“

“All right?” she repeated sternly. He sighed but nodded.

“All right.”

“My point is, it would have been weird not to include you. You’re a big part of the story, Davey. Why didn’t you want your name in there?”

Katherine watched as Davey chewed on his lip. He seemed to not even realize he was doing it. She wished he wasn’t so nervous but she couldn’t help but find it endearing.

“I want to go back to school.”

“Back? Sorry, I just don’t know you all that well and I’m-”

“No, it’s okay. Yeah, my dad got injured on the job and so my siblings and I needed to go to work. If he finds work again then we’ll go back to school.”

“Siblings? Not just Les?”

“I have a sister too.”

“Yeah? Does she sell too?”

“No, Sarah got a job at a factory. It’s more consistent, you know?”

“Tell me about school,” she said. “What does that have to do with being in the paper?”

“I’m not exactly popular at my school. I’ve got…I go to a school with people who really don’t like me for a bunch of reasons and no one else has ever had to leave because they needed to work. I was already going to be mocked when I go back and this is just going to make it worse.”

“You’re embarrassed to be a newsie?”

“No.”

“Then why-”

“Because the things they mock me for aren’t always embarrassing.”

“Oh.” She didn’t ask any questions because she had a feeling she wouldn’t enjoy the answer, no matter what it ended up being. “Well, I’m sorry. I won’t mention you in the future if it’s going to hurt you.”

“Don’t be sorry; it’s not your fault. And if you want to mention me again, you can. Might as well, right?”

“Right.” Katherine smiled. She meant to take her eyes away but they seemed locked on Davey’s face. He was just so…handsome. She tried to think of a better word but couldn’t (and wasn’t willing to contemplate what that meant for her skills as a writer). She snapped herself out of it. “So you think he’s at the Bowery?”

“Davey! Wait a minute please.” Katherine grabbed Davey’s arm as they made to exit the theater and pulled him into an alcove.

“What’s wrong?” He looked at her with concern.

“David, are you coming?” Les shouted.

“He’ll be there in a minute, Les! I’m just borrowing him.”

“Why are you borrowing me?”

Katherine hadn’t let go of his arm but he didn’t pull away. This was stupid. She never did this and she told herself that there was a reason for it. Katherine had been flirted with by plenty of guys in her life. Most of them, however, just wanted to marry a Pulitzer.

It wasn’t like there weren’t guys she was interested in before, but this felt different. Usually, she developed crushes after she knew a guy for a long time and by then she never thought it was worth ruining a friendship over. The first real conversation she had had with Davey was only a day ago but she already wanted to kiss him.

Was it a bad idea? Probably. Was she going to do it anyway? Probably. It wasn’t like everything she had done in the past week or so wasn’t crazy anyway.

“Hello?” Davey called her attention back to the present. “Katherine, is everything okay?” She nodded. “Are you sure? You don’t seem very sure.”

“I’m sure, Davey.”

“Okay? Then what’s happening?”

“Nothing, I just…” She took a moment to look at him and realized that what she was doing was unfair and selfish. So much was going on right now that he didn’t have the time to think about her. Christ, he was suddenly responsible for feeding his family and co-organizing a strike. And even assuming that he was interested in Katherine, this wasn’t the time for her to have this discussion with him. “Nothing.”

Davey frowned and looked like he was about to say something but he was interrupted before he could even begin.

“Dave! Let’s go! Your brother’s getting antsy!” Jack yelled.

“He really means he’s getting antsy,” Davey told her. She laughed.

“I heard that!”

She found Davey with his head in his hands and elbows on his knees, sitting on a staircase backstage. Les was absent. She sat down on the step above him and said nothing. Katherine had no idea if he noticed her presence or not but she waited anyway.

After a while, he inhaled and said, “I’m an idiot.”

“What? No, you’re not.” Katherine slid down to sit next to him. “Why would you say that?”

He picked his head up and looked at her.

“I can’t believe I thought this would work.”

“We all thought it would. And I don’t think all hope is lost. It’s obvious that everyone else is united and once we get Jack back-”

“I don’t mean the rally!” he said. “I mean the strike.”

“What? Davey, the strike is going to work,” she tried to assure him but he just shook his head.

“No. No.” Davey stood up and started pacing in front of her. “We’re going to have to give in soon and…fuck! Fuck Jack!” Katherine remained silent, thinking it best to let him vent. “Fuck him for making me believe in him and I know this isn’t the point but fuck him for making me look like an idiot! He promised me I wouldn’t have to be the one to speak!”

“You did a really good job, Davey. I’m sure if he had let you keep-”

“I sounded ridiculous! But…” He deflated completely. “But that doesn’t matter anymore. It’s over.”

“Don’t say that.”

“Why not? Why shouldn’t I? Without Jack there is no more strike! The newsies need a leader who knows what he’s doing.”

“Nobody knows what they’re doing! This is brand new and none of us know how to do it but the newsies have been following you most of the strike. This is the second time he’s disappeared.”

“You can be the leader then.”

“I’m happy to help but they need a newsie to lead them. You know that.”

Davey shook his head decisively.

“No, I’m not- I can’t be the one to do it. If they still want to then fine but it isn’t going to be me. Race can do it.”

“Davey, you know I like Race but he isn’t going to be able to do it like you would.”

“You saw him the other day in Jacobi’s! He gave everyone hope again without them even realizing what he was doing.”

“And I saw you speaking the first day of the strike. I saw you organize a citywide rally! You’re their de facto leader now! You shook hands with Spot Conlon, which I’m told is a pretty big deal.” Davey scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Why can’t you listen to yourself and seize the day? Isn’t that what you said?”

“Because there’s nothing to seize anymore! The day’s over.”

“So we start again tomorrow.”

“You know that’s not what I mean.”

“I do.” Katherine stood up and went to him. Davey didn’t pull away when she put a hand on his shoulder and she took that as a good sign. “You need to have more faith in yourself. Let’s go find the others and-”

“No.” He shook her off. “No, I’m sorry, Katherine, but I’m finding Les and going home.”

“But-”

“It’s what I should have done as soon as the rally ended. I’m not a strike leader - I’m a brother and a son and that’s my responsibility right now.”

“Davey, stop. You have to be more rational about-”

“Good night, Ms. Plumber.” He kissed her cheek and left.

She watched him walk away. Katherine knew that unless she had a solid plan nothing was going to convince him.

“Oh, and if I were a boy you’d be looking at me through one swollen eye!”

“Oh yeah, don’t let that stop you, huh? Give me your best shot!”

Katherine pulled her fist back and punched Jack as hard as she could.

“Fuck!” he screamed and fell to the ground. Katherine shook out her hurt hand, hissing in pain. “What the fuck, Katherine?”

She shrugged.

“You said I could hit you.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t think you would! Or that it would hurt that much! Jesus, you can pack a punch.”

“Thank you.”

“At least help me up, would ya?” She begrudgingly extended the hand she hadn’t hit him with and he pulled himself up. “Thanks.”

“Yeah.” She paused and looked at him regretfully. Maybe it was wrong to punch him. She was quickly learning that she knew a lot less about the hardships people her age went through and she had no idea what Jack’s life was like. “I…I need to know that you didn’t cave for the money.”

Jack exhaled sharply and turned around.

“No, I spoke the truth. You win a fight when you got the other fella down eating pavement,” he explained sadly. “All right, you heard your father. No matter how many days we strike he ain’t never giving up. I don’t…I don’t know what else we can do!”

“Ah, but I do,” she told him, excited.

“Oh come on.”

“Really, Jack, really? Only you can have a good idea? Or is it because I’m a girl?”

“Oh, I did not say nothing about-”

“This would be a good time to shut up,” Katherine suggested (ordered, really). “Being boss doesn’t mean you have to have all the answers, just the brains to recognize the right one when you hear it.” She took the paper out of her pocket.

“I’m listening,” Jack said, sounding beyond exasperated.

“Good for you. The strike was your idea, the rally was Davey’s, and now my plan will take us to the finish line.” He took it from her. “Deal with it.”

“The Children’s Crusade?”

Katherine explained it to him and was pleased that he couldn’t help but admit that it was a good idea - risky, but good. Jack figured out that they could use the printing press in the The World building’s cellar.

“Let’s go,” Jack said. “If we’re going to get this done by morning we need to get started.” She followed him down the firescape but hesitated when they reached the street. “What?”

“Where does Davey live?”

“What, he ain’t at the lodging house with the others?”

Katherine rolled her eyes.

“No, Jack, believe it or not he didn’t hang around waiting for you to come to your senses.”

“Oh.”

“Besides, I’m pretty sure Les was crying when I saw him and he had to get him home.”

“Well, we ain’t gonna be able to do this without him.”

“Agreed. We just have to convince him of that.”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s lost hope, Jack. He doesn’t think the strike’s going to work.”

“Why?”

“Because you abandoned him! Twice!”

“I didn’t mean to-”

“I know that and you know that but he doesn’t,” she explained. “Come on, we have to go get him and you have to apologize.” He started to protest but she shut him up with a single look.

“Well, then you go get those friends of yours you mentioned and I’ll go.”

“We should go together.”

“Why?”

Because she wanted to make sure he was okay. Because she wanted to see his face when he started thinking they could win again. Because she wanted to see him. Jack was right though. They didn’t have time for both of them to go to Davey and it was more important that he did. Reluctantly, Katherine conceded.

“You’re right. I’ll meet you there in an hour.”

“Good luck.”

“What the hell, Katherine? It’s almost one in the morning.” Bill did not look happy to see her.

“Hey!” She pointed to Darcy behind her. “He’s here too, be mad at him!”

“He looks like you dragged him out of bed.”

“She did,” Darcy said with a perfectly timed yawn. Katherine glared at him.

“What’s going on?”

“Get dressed and we’ll explain on the way.”

“Come inside and explain to me while I get dressed. I want to know what I’m getting myself into.” He walked away and left the door open for them. “So how illegal is whatever we’re about to do?” Bill asked from beyond his closed bedroom door.

“Only slightly,” Katherine promised. “We’re sneaking into The World building’s cellar and printing something.”

“Is this about the strike?”

“Yes. We want to shut down the city all together. Not just the newsies, but every working kid.”

“I’m in,” he said without hesitation. “I’m assuming Davey is going to be there?”

“What? How do you know Davey?”

Darcy snorted from his place on the couch.

“You mentioned him at least five times yesterday. It’ll be nice to meet the guy who gave Katherine Pulitzer herself writer’s block.”

“I don’t have writer’s block.”

“Speaker’s block, then,” Bill amended Darcy’s statement as he opened the door. “You kept having trouble describing him.”

“Stop talking, both of you. We need to go. I told Jack we’d be there in an hour and that was forty minutes ago.”

“Yes, well, we wouldn’t want to be late to meet Davey.”

She punched Bill’s arm.

“Ow! What was that for? Darcy’s the one who said it!”

“You enjoyed it more than he did.”

“Katherine!”

“Davey?” She was about to leave to go to the governor but was stopped by a gentle hand on her wrist. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, just…” He kissed her on the cheek. “Good luck.”

“Y-you too.” He turned away with a smile. Behind her, Bill and Darcy laughed quietly. “I hate you both.”

After Jack came outside to tell them that they had won, the newsies bought their papers and took a few minutes to chat and celebrate Crutchie’s return. Most of them didn’t really have time to, but the energy in the air was invigorating and people wanted to be with their friends. Les was talking excitedly to JoJo about something and Katherine took the opportunity to approach Davey, who was counting his papers.

“So, Mr. Jacobs, how are you planning on celebrating your big victory?”

He looked up at her and smiled, though it seemed a little forced.

“I’m going to sell and then go buy food from the grocer’s. Fun, huh?”

“Very. Well, when you’re done with that, I’m taking the boys down to Jacobi’s for dinner this evening. Want to join? I’m buying.”

Davey shook his head regretfully.

“I’d like to but I can’t. Thanks though.”

“Oh. Okay.” Could he actually not come or was she being obvious and this was his way of letting her down easy?

“Sorry, I just haven’t had any time to get chores done in a while.”

“Chores? You just won a strike and you’re going to do chores while everyone else celebrates?”

Davey huffed, apparently annoyed, and put his bag on forcefully.

“Yes, chores. Sorry if that doesn’t work for you, Ms. Pulitzer.”

“What did I do? Why are you so upset with me? Is it about my father? Because you weren’t that-”

“It’s not about your father.”

“Then what is it about?”

“You led me on!” he exclaimed. Davey looked around them and then repeated himself more quietly. “You led me on and you made me think you liked me and then you kissed Jack.”

She sputtered incredulously.

“I kissed Jack on the cheek! Are you serious right now?”

“You’re allowed to kiss whomever you want, Katherine,” he said dismissively and started to walk towards Les.

“Hey! Would you listen to me? I kissed Jack on the cheek! Who told you we kissed? Did Jack? I swear to-”

“No! Not Jack!”

“Then who?”

Davey looked down and picked at a thread on his bag.

“Les,” he eventually admitted. Katherine laughed. “Hey! How was I supposed to know what he meant?”

“Whatever! I’m assuming this means you’re interested?”

“Interested? As in-”

Katherine didn't let him finish before she pulled him into a kiss, heedless of the fact that they were right in front of the distribution window. Davey didn’t freeze for even a second, and kissed her right back, his arms wrapping around her. He had one on her waist and one on her neck. She took the opportunity to draw him in closer, her hands going to his shoulder blades and the back of his head.

It was magical. It wasn’t her first kiss but she could tell it was his. That was okay though. He was excited and passionate about it and Katherine loved it. She felt warm inside and wanted time to step and let the moment last forever.

“Guys!” Katherine heard someone yell, and she distantly thought it might have been Les, but she didn’t really care. Then, there was suddenly more yelling and she smiled into the kiss. Davey pulled away and rested his forehead on hers.

“So? Was that a better celebration than chores, Davey?”

“David.”

“What?”

“I’d- I’d prefer if you called me David.”

Katherine smiled and kissed him again, but only briefly. As she ended the kiss he leaned in for more and she laughed at his eagerness.

“Jacobi’s then? Or are you still too busy?”

“No, I-”

“Davey!” Jack called. David let go of her and turned to him. “Want to do the honors?” Jack held out his hand and pulled him up onto the box.

“Newsies!” David yelled. “Hit the streets! The sun is up, the headline stinks, and I’ve got a date!”

Katherine smiled and when he smiled back, it felt like a new beginning.

#newsies #newsies fanfiction #david jacobs #davey jacobs #katherine plumber #katherine pulitzer #davey/katherine #daverine #a new beginning series #stella writes stuff

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turtle-steverogers · 6 years ago

Text

safe with me

mmm here’s some canon era sprace cuz i never write that

warnings: past death (kinda graphic), alcohol

ship: sprace

word count: 1925

editing: no

Race kicked his feet onto Albert’s lap, humming contentedly as he toed off his boots, letting his feet relax for the first time that day. It had been a particularly hot selling day, the new Summer sun blaring relentlessly down on the city, leaving Race more tired than usual.

It wasn’t like the Summer bothered him. In fact, he preferred Summer to Winter. It was a lot easier to manage intense heat than intense cold. Besides, their clothes were all painfully inadequate for the biting cold of Winter, but that was never as issue in the summer. You couldn’t pull a jacket out of thin air, but you could strip down a layer.

Albert lifted the apple he was nursing away from Race’s feet, “Getcha stinky feet offa me,” he whined.

Race just smirked, lifting one of his feet to poke at Albert’s chin, “Nah, m’comfy right ‘ere.”

Race cackled as Albert groaned, trying to shove his legs off his lap, but huffing when Race stayed put.

“Can’t I ever enjoy a simple, quiet meal around ‘ere?” Albert complained, batting at Race’s foot when he tried to lift it again.

“Not with me around,” Race said, innocently.

Albert glared at him, holding challenging eye contact as he lifted a hand, a small smile flitting through his eyes as he began to tickle the bottom of Race’s foot. Race yelped, jerking his foot upwards and accidentally kicking Albert in the jaw.

“Ow, fuck!” Albert shrieked, successfully pushing a now laughing Race off of him, “Ya damn shit, I’ma soak ya.”

“Looks like I gotcha first,” Race countered, moving to cross his legs underneath him.

“‘Ey, Higgins, ya in here?”

Both boys looked toward the doorway, brightening when they saw Finch poking his head into the room.

“Right ‘ere,” Race said, waving to get Finch’s attention.

“Right,” Finch was shifting awkwardly on his feet and Race’s stomach sank. Something didn’t seem right, “Uh, Conlon’s outside. He, uh, he asked for ya.”

Race nodded slowly, allowing the words to sink in. His odd relationship with Spot Conlon wasn’t a secret, but they generally kept their little meetups private. It was rare that they ever met up in Manhattan. Usually, Race would head over to Brooklyn for a night, and even then, it would be awhile before he and Spot slipped upstairs unnoticed. They were never this blatant.

“Did he say what he wanted?” Race asked, trying to leave the nerves out of his voice.

Finch shook his head, “Nah, but he’s drunk as shit.”

Race paled, wordlessly standing and pushing past Finch. He could hear people murmuring behind him, but he ignored it in favor of rushing towards the front of the lodging house. Spot hated alcohol. He couldn’t stand the taste, or the way it made him feel, and the memories associated with it were enough to leave him trembling against his will. Race had never seen him do more than scowl at a beer bottle.

If he was drunk, something was very, very wrong.

Spot was sitting on the front steps of the building by the time Race got there, a bottle of god knows what held loosely in his grip. His head was ducked down, hanging low between his legs. He was completely still, but as Race neared, he could see the slight tremor of his hands around the bottle.

Race was careful to approach him, keeping his footsteps quiet, but loud enough to warn Spot of his presence. He cautiously knelt down in front of Spot, reaching out to tap his chin to get his attention.

Spot jerked, unfocused eyes meeting Race’s own. They were red and bloodshot, pain and something that looked sickeningly like terror swimming below the surface.

“Sean,” Race breathed, lips slightly parted as he searched Spot’s face for a clue to what was happening, “What-”

Spot shook his head, bowing his head back down, “I don’ wanna.”

Race frowned, “Don’t wanna what?”

Spot stayed still, his eyes glued to the ground between his feet, “I dunno, I jus’-” he looked at Race, desperation the only discernible emotion on his face, “I need you.”

A shiver went down Race’s spine, as if cold water had been dumped down his back. Spot never allowed himself to be this vulnerable, even around Race, whom he seemed to trust a greater deal than others.

Race blinked pushing his shock aside and mentally forcing himself to stay focused, “What do you need?” He asked, gently prying the bottle out of Spot’s grip and ignoring his weak protests.

Spot seemed to be having trouble forming his thoughts into words. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, looking increasingly distressed as each dragging second passed.

“Can I…” he swallowed, “Can I stay the night? I- I can’t- I don’-”

“Shh,” Race reached out, cupping his cheek. This sort of comfort was rare between them, but it felt necessary, “‘Course ya can stay. C’mon, m’sure Jackie’ll let us have his penthouse tonight,” he stood, hoisting Spot up with him, “ya good ta walk?”

Spot shrugged, “Dunno.”

Race sighed, “Aight, that’s okay. I gotcha.”

He draped Spot’s arm around his shoulders, firmly holding him around the waist as they made their way back into the lodging house. Race bit his lip, considering his options and settling to set Spot on the back stairs while he looked for Jack.

He found Jack in the kitchen, trying to sort out a quarrel between a couple of the littles, who seemed to be fussing over their bread. Race cleared his throat, earning a few awestruck look from the younger newsies.

Jack turned his head, the worn tinge to his eyes evident, even in the dim lighting, “Heya, Racer, whatcha need?”

Race’s eyes flicked to the littles and he jerked his head, indicating for Jack to follow him to the hallway.

Jack sighed, “Ya’d better not kill each other,” he muttered to the kids as he joined Race outside the kitchen. The kid’s giggles rang out behind them.

“What’s goin’ on?” Jack asked, looking vaguely annoyed and incredibly off-put.

Race scuffed his toe on the rotting wood floor, feeling strangely nervous to be asking Jack such a big favor, “Could I, uh,” he cleared his throat, “listen, so, uh, Conlon’s here-” Jack’s eyes widened and Race held up a hand, “-n’ he ain’t doin’ too hot, so uh, can we stay in your penthouse just for tonight? I wanna make sure he don’t do nothin’ he’s gonna regret.”

Jack frowned, shifting his jaw, “Not doin’ hot how?”

Race shrugged, “Dunno exactly, but he’s drunk and ya know he don’t ever drink, so somethin’ ain’t right,” he trailed off for a moment, thinking, “an’ he looks pretty spooked. Somethin’ bad happened over in Brooklyn I think.”

Jack seemed to have an internal argument before he clicked his tongue, throwing up his hands, “Yeah, go ahead. Jus’ don’t touch none of my drawings.”

Race saluted him lazily, already turning to retrieve Spot, “Will do, Kelly. Much appreciated.”

Spot hadn’t moved since Race had left him, but he seemed to be shaking harder now. Spasms were ripping through his torso and legs and it sounded as if he were struggling to take fulfilling breaths. He would gasp helplessly for a few seconds before forcing a deeper breath, but it didn’t seem to do the trick. Race watched him for a moment, his worry growing heavier in his stomach.

“C’mon,” he said, kneeling in front of Spot once more, “Jackie gave us the okay, let’s getcha somewhere quiet.” he helped Spot up again, his heart breaking as a ghost of a whimper escaped Spot’s lips. He seemed to curl closer into Race.

It took awhile, but eventually they made it up the ridiculous amount of stairs and singular ladder length to Jack’s penthouse. There were two mattresses up there, but Race decided to settle them both onto the one closest to the ladder.

The journey up must have worn Spot out, because he was already dozing by the time Race got comfortable. He pursed his lips, taking note of the way Spot’s eyebrows still scrunched, even in his sleeping state. He ran a gentle hand through Spot’s hair, pressing a soft kiss to the crown of his head before sinking into the mattress and allowing sleep to overcome him as well.

XXX

“Race?”

Spot’s small, scared voice jarred Race awake, leaving him alert in a matter of seconds. He sat up, taking a minute to gather his bearings before turning to Spot, who was also sitting up.

His teeth were chattering and he had his arms wrapped protectively around his stomach, eyes flicking helplessly around him. The lost aura that manifested around him almost made him seem younger.

“What’s goin’ on?” Race said, shifting closer to Spot, “What’s wrong?”

Spot locked eyes with him, terror growing stronger, “Where am I?”

Race blew out a breath. He’d been dreading this.

“Jack’s penthouse,” Spot’s eyes widened and he rushed to continue, “Ya showed up hammered as shit an’ scared as shit and I wanted ta take ya somewhere private.”

Spot seemed to relax, though it did nothing for his tense composure, “Oh.”

Race hovered his hand over Spot’s arms, waiting for the nod of approval before carefully pulling one of his hands away from his stomach and intertwining their fingers, “What happened, caro?”

Spot looked down at their hands, a slow eruption seemingly happening in his chest as he began to speak, “I...Boots, uh, ya know. The little bugger from my borough,” he stopped for a moment, forcing a deep breath, “he, um, he was messin’ around in the streets today ‘cause it was warm enough ta play and he-he-” Race squeezed his hand, prompting him to continue, “he didn’t see the carriage comin’ an’ I tried ta warn ‘im, but,” Spot shook his head, “was too late. Ran ‘im right over. There-” he choked, “there was so much blood, Racer. Ain’t never coulda guessed there was that much blood in such a lil’ guy, but it was all there. On the pavement, on the carriage, on his clothes...on my clothes.”

Race sucked in a breath, feeling slightly nauseous. He forced himself to push the images that entered his mind out.

“He was my responsibility,” Race looked back at Spot as he spoke again, “he was my fuckin’ responsibility an’ I-” He cut himself off, blinking rapidly as his face crumpled, giving way to a vehement sob.

Race ran his thumb across Spot’s knuckles, searching for the words to say. There was no way to fix this- no way to take away Spot’s pain, but damnit if he was going to try his best to make him feel safe again.

“My mama used ta say this thing to me,” he began softly, “when things were bad, or my dad was mean, she’d say, ‘Tieni duro, passerà’. Over and over, she’d repeat that, until I eventually believed her.”

Spot hiccuped, looking at him, “What’s it mean?”

“Stay strong, it will pass,” Race said, confidently, “whatcha had ta see sounds like hell, but it’s not your fault, Spot. Sometimes shit happens an’ it’s fucked up, but it’s jus’ how it came to pass. Ain’t no one’s fault.”

Spot let out a shaky breath, leaning into Race’s chest.

“An’ ya know what?” Race asked, wrapping his arms around Spot and burrowing his nose into his hair, “Sono qui per te, tesoro.”

Spot hummed, sending warm vibrations through Race’s chest, “What’s that one mean?”

“I’m here for you, love.”

sorry if the italian was wrong lol

thanks for reading, chiefs

hmu to be added to my tag

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@aw-jus-let-em-try @well-the-kids-do-too @spot-conlon-king-of-brooklyn @felix-loves-albert-and-ralbert @technically-whizzy

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#newsies #sprace #spot conlon #racetrack higgins #yeehaw #newsies fic #yeah #angst

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1899-newsboy-strike · 6 years ago

Note

I love your writing! Can you please do a 34 with Finch? Thank you!

34 - I’m scared what if someone finds out about us

Secret Affairs - Finch Cortes Imagine

Warnings: small freak out, slight argument

Summary: Ever since the end of the Strike Y/N and Finch have been secretly seeing each other in order to keep Y/N’s brother Spot from finding out. After a close call Y/N expresses her fears about getting caught.

——————————————–

“Finch put me down.” You giggled as Finch had you lifted so he could kiss you easily. He set you down and you were pinned against the wall of the alley you were in as he went in for another kiss. You wrapped your arms around his neck as his arms made their way around your waist. You heard footsteps near the alley and you quickly pushed him away as you panted and stood up straighter rubbing your thumb over lip as you distanced yourself from Finch. “Hey Y/N didn’t know you’s was visitin’.” You heard Race’s voice echo through the alley.

“Yeah, just wanted ta get away from Brooklyn, and I ran inta Finch.” You explained as you gestured to your boyfriend as you both awkwardly stood away from each other. “Well we’s playin games at da lodgin house lata if ya wanna come.” He explained and you nodded as he walked away. “That was close.” You sighed as your head rested against the wall. “Yeah, Race can’t keep a secret eitha.” Finch said as he rested his forehead on yours and held you. “I’s scared Finch… what if someone finds out about us. Then they’s gonna tell Spot and I’s not gonna be able ta see you.” You explained resting your hand on his cheek.

-“We’s don’t gotta worry about Spot Y/N, he’s ya brotha he can’t stop ya from bein’ happy.” Finch explained and you shook your head. “We’s not supposed ta be datin’ outside da borough. Spot doesn’t want a turf war. He can’t just make an exception cause I’s his sista. It sucks, da borough is family ya know? How’s ya supposed ta date family?” You explained running your fingers through your hair making Finch grab your hat as it started to fall. “Hey, it’s gonna be okay. He’s gonna see dat you’s happy and dat he can’t tell ya who ya can and can’t date.” Finch explained kissing you softly. You grabbed his hat and ran in the direction of the Manhattan lodging house.

“Y/N!” Finch called after you making you run faster. As you got close to the door you felt arms wrap around you as you got pulled back. “I’s think I’ll take my hat back now.” Finch whispered in your ear and you looked around not seeing any newsie and you pulled Finch into a kiss placing his hat back onto his head. You pulled away as you both walked in and you were greeted with some of the newsies pulling you into a hug.

“So what are ya guys playin’ today?” You asked as you hopped onto Race’s back since he was in front of you. “Just some poker.” Race responded making you roll your eyes. “Ya guys need betta games ta play.” You told him as you sat next to Finch. Even though no one knew about yours and Finch’s relationship, everyone thought the both of you were best friends, which didn’t cause any questions when you’d stay in Manhattan and sleep in Finch’s bed.

You watched silently as the boys played, Race winning most of the games. “I’ll play next round.” You said making some of them look at you. “If you’s gonna play next round, I’s out.” Albert held up his hands making you roll your eyes. “You’s just scared a losin’.” You explained and saw a smirk on Race’s face as he won the game that was currently going on. “Get ready ta lose Colon.” Race taunted you and you scoffed. “In ya dreams Higgins.” You teased and heard many of the newsies grumble about not playing anymore.

You had to admit that you were a tiny bit competitive when it came to playing poker with anyone. You’d even gotten in some fights with some of the newsies in Brooklyn because of some games. Eventually it was just you and Race playing, because the other boys had seen you fight another newsie before when they had gone to Brooklyn. Finch stared at you the whole time you played, and smiled as he saw your face concentrate on your cards and then you had began to glare at Race. As your glare turned into a smile Finch melted as he admired you and laughed when you threw your cards down and Race threw his across the room since he thought he’d win.

“I told ya.” You laughed as Race just glared at you for winning. “Aww, is Race upset cause he got beat by a goil.” You teased and Race rolled his eyes before throwing the whole pack of cards at you. “Y/N you’s gonna have ta stay tonight. Spot would kill me if I let ya walk home when it was this dark.” You heard Jack interrupt you and Race as you both had began to play wrestle. “Kelly I ain’t scared a my brotha.” You told him as you stood up. “Then why don’t ya tell him about you and Finch?” You heard Race ask behind you making you freeze and your eyes quickly looked at Finch who looked just as shocked as you.

“What are ya talkin’ about Race?” You asked as you turned around and looked at him. “You’s both all ova each otha all da time, we’s know you’s togetha, and I know’s Spot don’t know about da both of ya.” Race explained making you glare at him. “Just cause we’s close don’t mean we’s togetha.” You stood your ground but Race was more determined. “Didn’t know two people who was close made out in alleys.” He explained shrugging his shoulders and you felt someone behind you and you glanced quickly seeing Finch standing there. “I saw da both of ya earlier, and when I told da boys they said dat they see ya makin’ out all da time.” Race explained making you sigh. “Well maybe ya can keep ya mouth shut about it like the rest then yeah?” You told him and Race shrugged.

“Heard somethin’ ‘bout Brooklyn, you’s can’t date anyone outside da borough. Just cause ya won’t tell Spot don’t mean ya gotta hide it from us.” Race explained making you shake your head. “Now that you’s talking about it Spot will hear ‘bout it and then there’s gonna be problems. That’s why I gotta hide it from everyone.” You explained as all your thoughts started to jumble and you stormed out and ignored Finch calling after you. As you got outside your frustration turned to anger and you rested your forehead on the wall before punching it repeatedly. “Y/N, hey it’s gonna be okay.” Finch whispered behind you as he grabbed you slowly and pulled you against his chest. “He’s gonna find out about us, then he ain’t gonna let me see ya, I can’t stand not seein’ ya.” You shook your head as Finch tried to calm you down.

“I’s gotta go, I gotta tell him right now before he hears from someone else and then gets madda than he’s gonna be already.” You explained as you looked up at Finch. “Ya can’t go now, it’s too late for ya ta go alone.” He told you and you shook your head not listening as you made a run for Brooklyn. Finch wanted to go after you, but you had both been together for a while now, and he knew he wouldn’t have been able to stop you.

“Spot! Spot!” You called out as you shook him and he opened his eyes and shoved you. “What do ya want? What time is it?” He asked and you took a shaky breath as you took a seat on his bed. “I’s gotta tell ya somethin’. It’s important.” You told him and as he heard the worry in your voice he was finally fully awake and looked at you. “What’s da matta?” He asked and you bit your lip “I’s datin’ somebody… in ‘hattan.” You told him and he immediately got a frown on his face. “You’s not supposed ta be datin’ anyone outside da borough Y/N ya know that.” He explained making your blood boil as you began to get frustrated. “Dat’s not fair Spot! We’s like family ova here. If I dated one a da boys here it would be like datin’ you!” You exclaimed and Spot rubbed his face. “I don’t care if I gotta leave Brooklyn… I’s not gonna stop seein’ Finch.” You explained and Spot’s eyes almost popped out of his head.

“Finch? I wouldn’t have eva thought.” Spot laughed to himself as he looked deep in thought. “Okay.” He nodded and you furrowed your brows. “Okay?” You asked and he continued to nod. “Okay you can see him, I’ll tell da rest a da borough about changin’ da rule about datin’.” Spot explained making you jump on him and hug him tightly. “Thank you. I wouldn’t tell them about me though, they’s gonna think ya changed it just for me.” You told him and he nodded. You climbed up onto the top bunk and stared up at the ceiling smiling as you thought about being able to openly be with Finch around all the newsies and didn’t have to fail at hiding it any longer.

#newsies #newsies imagine #newsies x reader #newsies imagines #finch #finch cortes #finch newsies #finch cortes newsies #finch imagine #finch cortes imagine #finch x reader #finch cortes x reader #imagine #x reader #x reader imagine

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prettyinlimegreenboots · 4 years ago

Text

So FlyingPurplePenguin over on AO3 wanted to see the RedFinch proposal from this fic and I was only too happy to write it!! Alcohol and cussing are both mentioned!

December 18, 2019

The door slammed behind him as he struggled with the many grocery bags. The familiar thumping of Rex’s tail greeted him as he walked over to the kitchen table. After putting the bags on the round table, he walked back to the door to kick off his shoes and dropped his wallet and keys in the basket on the entryway table. Walking into the office, he unlatched the kennel door, leering a very excited black Labrador out of his cage. He laughed as Rex jumped and yipped excitedly.

“Come on boy, let’s go outside.” Opening the slider, he watched Rex bound outside, sniffing the ground looking for the perfect spot.

He quickly put the cold stuff in the fridge before going back to the sliding glass door. Standing in the doorway, Albert ran a hand through his hair, groaning as he reflected on the day. Of course, Race would find himself in the emergency room that morning and tailspin the day.

Slapping his thigh, he whistled for Rex, watching him run in the door.

Looking at the clock, he saw that it was 3:00 and he had plenty of time before Finch arrived home at 6. He shot him a text saying he had dinner covered and he’d see him when he got home.

Making his way into the bedroom, he heard Rex’s collar jingle as he followed. Laying on his bed, Rex gave him a look as Albert headed for the shower. He took a quick shower, letting his mind wander on the momentum weight of the night ahead.

He and Finch had been together for the last 3 years, meeting after a freak accident that included coffee, Race, and blood. As Albert was stitching up Finch, Finch asked him for his number and the rest, as they say, was history.

Throwing on a tshirt and a pair of sweatpants, he headed back to the kitchen to sort through the bags. He had planned on flank steak, potatoes, and green beans for dinner that night, along with a pie and ice cream for dessert. A six pack of Finch’s favorite beer was already becoming cold in the fridge.

Throwing together a marinade of olive oil, soy sauce, vinegar, lemon, and a bunch of spices, he threw the flank steak in the bag before putting it back into the fridge. He started cutting up potatoes and threw them in a pot of water so they were ready to start boiling in an hour. Once they were set, he snapped the green beans. Hearing the jingle of a collar, he looked up and saw Rex padding towards him hoping for some of the scraps. Throwing a green bean in his direction, Albert laughed when Rex jumped to snatch it out of the air.

Hearing his phone ring, he grabbed it. “Hello?”

“So you’re cooking dinner, huh?” Came Finch’s cheerful voice. “Did I miss something?”

Albert laughed. “No. Just felt like cooking. You’ll be home at 6, right?”

“More like 5:30. We're just wrapping things up and I’ve got a few emails to answer but I’ll be home around 5:30. Whatcha making?”

Albert nodded, realizing he couldn’t see him. “It’s a surprise but one of your favorites.”

“Do you need me to pick anything up? Jack mentioned it was a rough day for you.” He picked up the concern in his voice.

Sighing, Al finished snapping the beans, leaving them in the colander to drip dry. “No, I think I have everything. Race is an idiot and landed himself in the Emergency Room. He’s fine but it was a heart in your throat moment.”

“And how are you?”

Leaning against the counter, Albert leaned down and gave Rex a few pats. “I’m alright. Rex is keeping an eye on me.”

“Good. I love you. I'm excited to see what you’re cooking.” Finch laughed. “I’ll see you in a bit. Don’t burn down the house.”

“Shut up - that was one time and I’ve redeemed myself several times. Love you too, Finch. See you when you get here.” Hanging up the phone, he couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. Finch had always had that effect on him and honestly, he hoped it never went away.

Finishing up in the kitchen, he grabbed a bottle of water before going to sit on the couch. Rex jumped up and sat on him, panting happily. “What do you think Rex? Hmmmm … will dad be surprised?”

Leaning over, Rex licked his cheek before laying down. “I hope so bud. I hope he likes everything.”

5:30pm

The door shut as Rex started barking and made a run for the back door. Finch laughed, landing on his knees to greet the 65 pound dog. Albert shook his head at the two, draining the potatoes. Putting them on the counter, he felt Finch behind him. “Hello love.”

“Hi yourself. It smells good in here.” Finch kissed him before looking at him. “Is this the dress code?”

Albert looked at his sweats and shirt before groaning. “I meant to change before you got home …”

“Don’t. Sweats, tshirt, and steak sounds like a perfect evening.” Finch grinned, giving him another kiss.

Albert handed him an open beer. “Go get changed and unwind for a bit. Dinner will be ready in 15.”

Watching him walk out of the kitchen, Albert shook his head before grabbing the steak out of the fridge. The green beans were almost done and the potatoes needed to be mashed. Taking a deep breath, he took a sip of his beer before finishing the task at hand.

“What can I do?” Finch asked, hovering near the stove, looking at the variety of pots and pans around the kitchen.

Biting his lip, Albert motioned to the potatoes. “Wanna mash them?”

The two were quiet as they worked on their tasks. Albert seared the flank steak, letting a spicy aroma fill the kitchen, making Finch’s stomach growl. “That smells really good.”

“Good. That’s what I was aiming for.” Albert said as he flipped the steak.

He grabbed two plates, silverware and napkins before putting them on the counter. Draining the green beans, he added those to the plates as Finch dished up mashed potatoes.

Letting the steak rest for a few minutes, he pulled Finch into his arms. “I love you.”

“Love you too Al. You sure you’re alright after today? Jack seemed pretty shaken up.” Finch searched his face for any sign of concern.

Sighing, he let his head hit Finch’s shoulder. “I won’t lie, it was scary but I’m just glad he’s alright. Kat released him just before I clocked out. They’re were going home and having a low-key night.”

“I’m sorry that it was scary and it happened on your shift but at least it’s nothing serious.” Finch said, giving him a look. “Hey, he had a great nurse looking out for him.”

Giving him a smile, Albert stepped out of his embrace before cutting up the steak, putting some on each of their plates before walking over to the table

“Let’s eat.”

They held hands as they are, Finch entertaining him with stories from his job as a project manager at a major construction company. “You can cook the steak anytime you want. This is amazing.”

“A little of this and a little of that.” Al shrugged, grinning. “I just googled a recipe.”

Albert tried to stop his fidgeting but Finch picked up on it. “Alright, what’s up?”

“What do you mean?” Albert grabbed their plates, dumping them in the sink.

Pushing away from the table, Finch gave him a look, walking over to the sink. “You’re fidgety, so you’re either nervous about something or you have to tell me something. So which is it?”

“All will be revealed shortly. But you might want to go get some shoes and a hoodie or a coat on. We’re going outside.” Albert grinned, leaning over and kissing him. “The quicker you go get some warmer things on, the sooner you’ll know.”

Finch shook his head but did what Albert asked, walking towards the bedroom. He grabbed his coat and shoes before flipping the light on the patio. Rex sat at his feet. “Come on boy.”

Walking out onto the patio, he looked around the backyard they had spent so much time on. A big flower bed was on the right while a vegetable bed was to the left. They had spent the spring and summer prepping both beds and they had gotten quite a bit out of both.

He looked up at the old style lights he strung up. It had been a project on the to-do list for a while and he had strung them that afternoon.

“What are we doing -” Finch stopped short when he saw the lights and Albert on bended knee, a black box in his hand.

“Patrick Finch Cortes, I have loved you for the last three years and I will love you for the rest of my days. You are my morning light and the evening stars. Over the last three years, you’ve always been the first person I want to tell anything to and the last thing I see when my head hits the pillow. Will you do me the absolute honor and marry me?” Albert had tears in his eyes and couldn’t really see Finch’s reaction until he was tugged to his feet.

Swiping at his eyes, he saw Finch had tears in his eyes as well. “Well, what do you say? A big fancy party with all of our friends and family and at the end of it, I can call you my husband?”

“Yes, Albert, I will marry you.” Finch laughed, pulling him to his chest before kissing him. “I love you, you idiot.”

Albert laughed, standing on his tiptoes kissing him. “Me? An idiot, in what way?”

“Because I had this.” Finch held up an identical black box like the one that was in Albert’s hand. “I was going to ask you this weekend, but of course you beat me to the punch.”

Cracking open his box, Albert took out the silver ring, holding up for Finch. “Can I put this on you?”

Finch nodded, taking a shaky breath as Albert pushed the ring onto his left ring finger. “I love you Finch Cortes. Yesterday, today and even more tomorrow.”

Taking out his own ring, Finch slipped it on Albert’s hand. “I love you too Albert. Yesterday, today and even more tomorrow. You’ve made me the happiest man alive.”

“I don’t think that’s possible because I’m over the moon happy right now and I don’t think anything can bring me down.” Albert threw his arms around Finch’s shoulders, standing on his tiptoes for a kiss. “Who all knew you were going to propose?”

Finch grinned. “Jack and Race. Why?”

“Because Spot and Kat knew I was going to propose.” Albert laughed. “It’s hilarious that the four of them knew but didn’t tell their significant other. Shall we tell them?”

“Can we go inside first? It’s fucking cold out here.” Finch gave him a look, slapping his thigh for Rex’s attention.

Walking inside, Rex took his spot in front of their Christmas tree with Albert and Finch soon joining him. They took a selfie with their rings on full display before sending it off to the group with a simple message “he said yes!”

“How about we curl up and watch a movie?” Finch asked, pulling Albert up from the floor.

He groaned, looking at his fiancé. “I hate to be that person but I’m about to collapse. I held in all of my energy for asking you but I feel like I’m going to pass out. Can we take this to our bed?”

Picking him up bridal style, Finch walked them to the bedroom before throwing Al on the bed and collapsing beside him, giving him a kiss. “I love you a whole lot, Albert DaSilva.”

“Not as much as I love you, Finch Cortes.”

This was really fun to write as I haven’t explore RedFinch much! Let me know what you think!

#newsies #newsies fan fiction #writing #drabble requests #newsies drabble #ask #drabble prompt #redfinch newsies #albert dasilva #finch newsies

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neverplannedonnewsies · 6 years ago

Text

Tire Swing

This will surprise no one that it’s a Davey x reader pairing, I just love my boy. Pure fluff, newsies having fun with a tire swing, pretty straightforward. Based off the tire swing my brother and I had growing up. Trying to get back into writing, I’ve got a requested fic coming soon as well! Enjoy <3

Warnings: none. Davey x reader pairing.

------

“Y/n, you’ll never guess what we found!”

You halted in the middle of hawking your papers, smiling at the sight of Les running up with Davey trailing along behind. “You’re right, Les, I’ll never guess – what’d ya find?”

“A tire! Me and Crutchie found it down an alley, and Romeo helped us roll it back to the Lodgehouse. We’re gonna make a swing with it!”

“Really?” you asked, glancing at Davey for confirmation.

He nodded and said, “You should join us when you’re finished selling for the day. We’re going to put it up in the trees near the pond on the far side of the park; figure it’s less likely to be seen there.”

“So will you come, Y/n?” Les asked, impatient to spread the word to the other newsies.

“Can’t wait.”

---

Watching Race and Albert argue about the best placement for the tire swing, you asked Davey, “Why do you think that tire was tossed down the alley? It’s gotta be worth something.”

He shrugged, “It’s got a tear on the one side. Probably whoever tossed it decided it wasn’t worth trying to fix.” Glancing at you, he smiled ruefully, “What a different life they must lead compared to us, huh?”

You nodded, slightly glum thinking of the boys who stuffed old newspapers in the soles of their shoes to make them last longer and wore clothes too small because they couldn’t afford new ones. Shaking off those melancholy thoughts, you smiled at Davey, “Well their loss has certainly worked out for us, ain’t it?”

“Definitely.”

The sounds of arguing pulled your attention back to the boys. “For the last time, Finch is gonna be the one to climb the tree cuz the rest of ya’s will bust your legs if you try it,�� Jack stated authoritatively.

“I’m always impressed how well Jack handles all those kids,” Davey commented as you watched Finch shimmy up the tree and begin tying the rope. “I’ve just got Les to look after and I constantly feel like I’m not doing a good enough job.”

You looked at him in surprise, “Davey, what are you talkin’ about? You’re the best big brother I’ve ever seen.”

He smiled ruefully and shrugged, “Thanks, but I don’t always feel like it. I think Les would’ve preferred someone like Jack as his brother.”

You turned to him fully, “Davey, I’m sorry but that’s ridiculous. Les adores you! Yes he admires Jack and all the other newsies, but he loves you.”

“Really?” Davey asked, looking more worried about the answer than you would’ve expected.

“Of course! And not doing enough? I can think of a million things you’ve done for Les, including what we’re doing right now – I’m guessing the rope came from your place?”

“It did,” he admitted, looking at the ground and prodding at a stone with the tip of his shoe.

“See? So quit beating yourself up, you’re the best.” He quickly looked up from his inspection of the ground at your words, causing your face to flush a little and for you to stutter out, “T-the best brother.”

A whoop from the direction of the tire swing caught your attention and managed to break the suddenly charged atmosphere between you and Davey. Les was given the honor of going first, with the other newsies quickly lining up to go next.

“Y/n, you want to try it?” Jojo called over after most of the other newsies had gone once already.

You did very much want to try it, but trying to keep your cool in front of Davey you simply said, “Sure.”

Davey smiled at you, sensing your excitement behind your nonchalant words, “Come on, I’ll push ya.”

Buttons hopped off, and Davey held the tire still as you got in. When you were settled, Davey asked, “Ready?”

You nodded, smiling eagerly. Davey began pushing the tire back and forth, slowly getting it up to a speed where he could let it go and just give you a push when the tire reached its peak on one end of the pendulum swing. You whooped a little with delight, loving the wind rushing through your hair and enjoying the novelty of going so quickly. Suddenly Race appeared opposite Davey with a rather concerning grin on his face.

“Race…” you started in warning, not certain what he was planning, but fairly confident you didn’t want to find out.

“Spin test!” he cried, grabbing the tire when it reached him and pushing with all his might on one side. This sent you and tire hurtling in the other direction, spinning like a top. You let out a shriek that quickly dissolved into giggles as you held on for dear life. Fun as it was you could only stand a few rounds before you pled with Davey to intervene.

As you extracted yourself from the tire you became aware of just how dizzy you were, and only took a few steps before you completely lost your balance. As you began to fall Davey caught you, laughing right along with you. Your giggles subsided as he held you for what felt like a very long moment. Looking into his green eyes you wondered if it was the dizziness that suddenly had your stomach doing flips.

“Let’s get you somewhere you can sit for a minute” said Davey. He led you slightly away from the others to sit under a tree where you flopped down and waited for the world to stop spinning. Through the branches you could see the sky above was a beautiful blue, fading into the orange and pinks of a perfect summer sunset, and for a moment you were so glad that you were sharing it with Davey.

“Thanks for saving me, Davey,” you said, still slightly out of breath.

“No problem. I couldn’t just let Race do away with you, I need you around too much.” He suddenly stopped like he said too much, and went back to watching the newsies play with the tire swing. You sat up to see Albert on the swing now, sitting on top of the tire rather than in it as you had.

“You know, I meant what I said before. You really are the best,” you said, keeping your eyes on Albert.

“The best brother?” he asked, turning slightly to you.

“Well that. But also… just the best. Best person I know.” You suddenly found it very difficult to breath, waiting to see how he’d respond to that.

He leaned over and gave you a soft kiss on the cheek, then settled back to watch the sunset, both of you sneaking glances at each other with ridiculously goofy smiles for the rest of the evening.

Tag List

@my--little--happy--place

@thebroadwayaesthetic

@king-of-newyork

@bennie-badeend

@seasickdolphin

@backgroundnewsies

@buttons-in-the-refuge

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broadwaycantdie · 6 years ago

Text

Disneyland / Part 1...The Journey! - Newsies (Pride) Month . Day 9

( all ) + ( modern ) + ( hc story )

a/n: oh my do i love a good road trip // also sorry this is split up, i just ran out of time but i wanted to give y’all something

( this is part one but imma post the second part soon, so this is the journey and the next part is them actually at disneyland )

warnings: mentions of intimacy // minor cussing

background: Every year the newsies all get together and go on their annual Disneyland trip. They drive from Manhattan to Anaheim because it’s cheaper than buying 20+ plane tickets. They also have a collective jar in the lodging house that everyone puts money into to help pay. Davey plans the whole thing for months and somehow things still go wrong. It’s never not a wild ride with their family. But every year they still enjoy it.

——————————————————————————

it’s damn near impossible to squeeze everyone in one car unless they rented out a bus which didn’t fit into budget

but

they also couldn’t afford another car

so they just piled everyone into one van

that’s right

29 people in one van

davey bought a van a few years back that could fit everyone semi-comfortably before they had so many people

it was a big van, made for seating 18 people technically

but new people kept coming and they made a vow to never turn down someone in need

they also added partners and siblings and whoever else

so it was tough fitting 11 more people in an already packed van, but they did it

was it safe? no.

was it comfy? no.

did it work? sure.

they had curtains on the windows so police wouldn’t see in

and blankets and pillows on the floor for everyone sitting and laying and sleeping

they also put up a sheet across the back of the first 3 seats to create a wall between the adults and the children

also cause Jack is paranoid of the police finding out

but they keep it up high enough to slide snacks under the gap whenever people asked

Darcy drives most of the time since he is the best driver

Bill and Davey sit next to him in the two front seats and give directions

Jack sits on the floor between Davey’s legs and guards the snacks

they don’t stop at hotels

cause dear god that’d be a whole other budget they can’t deal with

so they just switch between the four people in the front driving and go continuously

occasionally stopping at rest stops, food places, etc.

the back is where it got crazy

the first row consisted of Crutchie against the window, Buttons in the isle seat, and Kenny on the floor next to them

behind them was Katherine against the window, Sarah in the isle, Smalls and Sniper in the gap, and Finch in the single seat on the other side

the third row was Specs against the window with Romeo in the isle, Henry in the gap on the floor, and Jojo and Tommy Boy sitting on each other’s lap sharing the single seat

behind them was Albert against the window and Elmer in the isle, with Bart and Myron in the gap, and Mush and Kid Blink sharing the single seat

then the back row

oh my the back row

Spot sat against the window behind the single seats with Race on his lap, Hotshot sat on the opposite side with Mike halfway on and halfway off his lap, and they stuck poor Ike in the middle

bless his soul

and Les just randomly found spots on the floor wherever he could fit himself

the ride was eventful, to say the least

there were a lot of games played

the people on the floor played uno, go fish, and other card games

while the people in the seats played i spy, the alphabet game, word association, would you rather, 21 questions, never have i ever, and the oh so popular “shut the fuck up, i’m trying to sleep”

they played punch-buggy for a bit but that had to stop on account of everyone getting hurt and Davey yelling at them

Davey also counted his lucky stars he set up that sheet because everyone’s favorite game is padiddle

everyone played—except for les cause he was too young, also if you were asleep you automatically didn’t count cause that’s only fair—and it was insanity

the people on the floor would fly up as soon as they had a chance to make sure they were safe

it was their only continuous game throughout the entire trip

the worst time of all was during hour 22 when everyone was going crazy and they all started singing

the look in Davey’s eyes was priceless

he didn’t even know how to react

he’s just glad he didn’t have to be back there

god bless his ability to drive

in the front—while Darcy was driving—Bill would rest his head on Darcy’s shoulder or place a soft hand on his leg

nothing too distracting

they couldn’t risk an accident

Jack could fit his whole body in front of Davey’s seat

for how packed it was, it was a pretty spacious van

but when Jack got tired of laying he would sit up and rest his head on Davey’s seat between his legs

and Davey would pet his hair and hold the side of his face

or he would sit upright, leaning his back against the seat and have Davey play with his hair or lean his head back far enough for Davey to place a kiss on his lips

none of them even wanted to think about what was happening in the back

Specs read almost the entire time

Romeo would cuddle up on his lap and beg for attention but Specs would just pet his hair and continue on

they exchanged kisses every time Specs finished a chapter

both Mush and Kid Blink as well as Jojo and Tommy Boy periodically switched who was on whose lap for comfortablilty

they also sometimes just sat on the floor or hovered above the tiny gap between the wall and the seat for extra space

every time Elmer slept he’d curled his legs up on the seat and place his head in Albert’s lap

Albert just rested his head against the window and put his arms around Elmer, holding him

at one point they forgot other people were around and during one of Elmer’s special dreams he starting rubbing up on Albert’s thighs until he woke up to do more and saw Myron’s disappointing glare

Sarah and Katherine held each other a lot

Mush and Kid Blink exchanged more than a few kisses but what’s new

Jojo and Tommy Boy were saints to be next to because they just wrapped their arms around each other and kept to themselves

everyone was pretty tame with their relationships in the van

except for the back row

that’s why they got put in the back, so no one had to look at them

Hotshot and Mike were actually the tame ones

only in comparison to Spot and Race

Mike sat mostly on top of Hotshot

they were always touching

most of the time they just held each other

but other times they wanted more

they would makeout and grab around but nothing too crazy

they kinda knew the time and place

whenever they started doing anything Ike would just slide down to the floor and play cards with Bart and Myron

but Spot and Race

oh god

Race sat on Spot’s lap pretty much the entire time, only adjusting to sit more comfortably or sleep

sometimes Race would drop down to the floor and wrap himself around Spot’s legs

there were certain times when everyone was asleep

with the exception of whoevers turn it was to drive

usually the entire van slept at night cause they didn’t want to ruin their sleep schedules that bad

though they did take naps throughout the day

but there was one time when everyone was asleep except for Spot and Race

so they did what any dumbasses would do

suck dick in the back seat

yup

race ‘dumbass’ higgins dropped himself on the floor and tested how quiet they could be

no one woke up and they didn’t dare tell anyone

when they finished, Race wrapped himself in Spot’s arms like nothing happened and went to sleep with the rest of them

they stopped at so many mcdonald’s, 7/11’s, diners, and random rest stops

the first stop—hour 4—they found a rest stop and a few people had to pee so some people got out and stretched while others slept inside

they got back on the van and left

it took 18 minutes for them to realize they left Crutchie

“Buttons! How could you not notice your seat partner was missing!”

“that is not my job, I was asleep”

they turned around and picked him up

after that Davey made an alphabetized list of everyone and took role before they left any stop after that

it also became a joke within the group

after what felt like the car ride of a lifetime, they finally made it

at 10 o’clock at night

and seeing the disneyland sign was like arriving at heaven’s gates

when they got out so many boys flipped and jumped and ran around

just because they were so happy and they finally didn’t have to sit in a car waiting anymore

they were like children

they are children, but still

they got to the hotel, checked in, got their rooms, and slept for the night

but the next day was when the real fun was going to happen

part two of them actually at disneyland coming soon

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violetwolfraven · 4 years ago

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36 and RedFinch?

We’re leaders of different rebel factions or gangs and kind of hate each other but we also have a ton of sexual tension.

Ooh awesome. I haven’t written anything from Finch’s perspective yet so I guess I’ll do that now. Btw this is like an AU where they have powers (same ones as my other superpowers au just cause it’s easier to keep track of them that way) AND they’re rebels. Basically, in this one, powered people are illegal.

...

Finch heard a small groan from the other side of the cell and rolled his eyes. Great. He was awake.

“Ugh. Finch. Where the fuck am I and what the fuck are you doing here?”

“You don’t remember?” Finch asked, “Ya messed up my rescue op, asshole.”

The rescue had been for Crutchie. Or, at least, it was supposed to be. Finch had finally, finally, after six months of planning, gotten the location of one of the Manhattan gang’s leaders. He’d gone in alone, knowing stealth would be better for this, anyway, and not wanting to risk anyone else. They’d already lost so many.

Of course, they would have lost a hell of a lot less if Manhattan hadn’t split up.

Basically, Manhattan had, once upon a time, been a formidable gang. They’d been the bane of President Pulitzer’s existence nearly as much as Brooklyn.

Then, their fearless leader, Jack Kelly, damn near the most powerful powered person in the city, got captured, and everything started falling apart.

Jack’s power was that anything he drew would come to life to some extent. Whether that was just the smell of clean, clear air coming off a drawing of a mountain range or a live bull charging through the police barricade straight off the page of a sketchbook depended on how hard he was actively trying to use his power, but it was definitely useful, especially in keeping their hideouts hidden.

Without him, Crutchie and Race had tried to keep the order, but neither of them were as powerful as Jack, and were mostly calling the shots off the fact that everyone trusted them.

After Crutchie got captured, the gang tried to stick together, but Race was hanging on by threads to maintain everything by himself.

Then Race got captured, and without him, it was total anarchy. After a while of duking it out, the remaining Manhattan kids figured out that without their leaders, they couldn’t work together. They’d split into half a dozen smaller gangs.

Albert had taken one group and Finch had taken another, and now, after months of hearing about the others falling to pieces, they were the only two groups left.

The thing was, they both knew that separate, their groups meeting the same fate as the others was only a matter of time. So they both kept looking for whispers of where Jack, Crutchie, and Race were being kept.

And Albert had to come along and mess up Finch’s rescue op, which meant they were both captured and neither of them got Crutchie free.

Albert was clenching his fist, staring hard at his hand as a weak, barely red-hot flame flickered around it.

Finch rolled his eyes, “I already tried. There’s power dampeners in the walls.”

He demonstrated, trying to pull a knife out of the air and ending up with a pin.

Finch’s power was that he could pull pretty much any weapon less complicated than a gun of nowhere. His usual preference was a slingshot, but today, it wasn’t like that would do him much good.

“Well, that ain’t gonna be much use,” Albert noted, standing up.

He’d gotten taller in six months. Maybe it was dumb that Finch was noticing that.

He looked good. Healthy pyros who used their powers regularly always seemed to have a kind of glow to them, like their fire was just waiting to come out. Even in a power-dampening room, Albert’s hadn’t faded.

Nope. Finch couldn’t think like that. Him and Albert had been friends, probably would have been more with how much they’d flirted, but after that last fight, that door was closed. Locked. Forever. Finch had thrown away the key and didn’t want to find it.

“How long was I out?”

He shrugged, “Maybe a couple hours. It’s stupid. It’s a pretty simple cell, and if there wasn’t a dampener, we could get out no problem.”

Albert snorted, “Ain’t that convenient.”

He looked around, taking stock of what they had as if Finch hadn’t already tried everything.

“So, how goes it in your gang?” he asked, bored.

“Probably ‘bout as good as yours. Tryin’ to survive, losin’ more’n a few.”

Finch was a bit surprised he was admitting that he was losing people, “Who’ve ya lost?”

Albert shrugged, looking at the ground, “Jojo got captured last week. Other than that, we haven’t lost anybody in a while, but there was this real big raid a few months ago where I lost nearly half my guys. You?”

“I lost Mike a month ago,” Finch admitted, “Ike ain’t been doin’ so good since then. But we’s been careful. Other than him, we ain’t lost anybody since Race.”

“Except you,” Albert pointed out, “They lost you. Hope ya got a clear chain of command.”

“What, do I look stupid? Specs’ll take command till I get out.”

“Well, you do look pretty stupid.”

A pin popped out of nowhere and fell to the ground somewhere on Finch’s right. That happened sometimes when he was upset. Pins and needles took on a whole new meaning when you had a nightmare and woke up to a bed full of them.

“Anyway, that should be interestin’,” Albert said, “Considerin’ Romeo’s supposed to take charge if I don’t come back.”

Finch groaned, “Oh, God.”

Everyone knew that despite being in rival gangs, Romeo and Specs were still together.

Another pin popped out of nowhere and Albert’s eyes suddenly lit up in interest.

“What?” Finch asked, vaguely knowing that look meant he had an idea.

“Can you pull a bunch more of those?”

“I could, but why waste the effort?”

Albert walked over, picked up the two pins in one hand, and closed his fist around them.

His hand smoked vaguely, and glowed red, and when he opened his fist, the pins were fused together.

“They can stop me from meltin’ the bars, but weldin’ together a few pins ain’t gonna be a problem.”

“You can make some lock picks,” Finch realized.

“Exactly.”

Finch grinned and started pulling pins from nowhere.

It took them over half an hour, but Albert managed to weld together a couple of workable lockpicks.

“Give them to me,” Finch said, “I’m better at pickin’ locks than you.”

Albert snorted, already reaching through the bars, “In your dreams, maybe.”

He batted Finch’s hands away as he tried to steal the picks.

“Albert, we don’t know how much time we have.”

“I know that. Which is why someone who’s tired from pullin’ dozens of pins out of the air with a power-dampener messing with him shouldn’t waste whatever time we got.”

“And melting those pins with a power dampener is better?”

Albert shrugged, “Pyros don’t really run out of power. Not as fast as the rest of you’s, anyway.”

Finch groaned. This was why him and Albert had fallen out. Because as one of the most powerful Manhattan kids, he was never careful. He thought he was invincible and his plans always involved unnecessary risks.

“Does anyone challenge you?” Finch asked quietly, “Does anyone even try to make you be careful?”

The sounds of Albert messing around with the lock stopped for a second as he froze, but he recovered quickly.

“No,” he admitted, “Not since you.”

It was a miracle he hadn’t gotten himself killed, then.

And it was probably a good thing they didn’t get together. Finch had barely been able to take Albert’s recklessness when they were friends. Not knowing when someone you loved was going to make their last careless decision—because eventually, it was sure to happen—was hard enough without real romance involved.

“Ya know, maybe you’s lost less guys,” Albert muttered, “But I ain’t heard of no one hittin’ big targets except me. My guys and I damn near took out the Delanceys last week. Can you say the same?”

Finch shook his head, “No. But was it really worth it? Losin’ Jojo just to take a bite out of the government?”

Albert was silent for long enough that Finch could hear the lock pop open.

There were no guards in the hallway. They could probably both make it out before whoever was watching the cameras noticed they were gone, since they’d made it this far.

“Look...” Albert took a deep breath, “I know we ain’t friends anymore. But if you get any info on Race, Jack, or Crutchie... send it my way? I think we both know we don’t stand a chance stormin’ the kind of place they might actually keep one of them alone.”

Finch nodded, “Long as you do the same.”

Even as he tried to hate him, the redhead’s smile still gave Finch butterflies.

“See ya around, Albert.”

“See ya around, Finch.”

“Hopefully not in prison, next time.”

They both laughed a little at that.

There weren’t any power dampeners in the hallway. Finch felt better about the fact that he could now pull a slingshot for himself. Albert’s hand lit up with orange and yellow flames.

Without a word, they left in opposite directions, one headed to the emergency exit and the other for the front door.

The fact that Albert would be so reckless was why Finch still couldn’t trust him.

#newsies #redfinch #newsie powers/rebellion au #albert dasilva #finch cortes #violet’s writing

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