#oh wait she was david finch | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

ya9amicide · 2 years ago

Text

The End of the World In a Woman’s Hands [Newsies]

chapter two

♡ newsies masterlist ♡ previous chapter ♡ next chapter ♡

summary: Being a girl in the everyday world is difficult. Being the leader of the Manhattan Newsies and a girl? Even more so. Especially when nobody knows you're a girl and the truth is the closest kept secret you have ever had. For Jack Kelly, keeping the truth of her gender a secret is one she's found easy after doing so for many years. Unfortunately, having close encounters with the iron fist, Pulitzer, and a new Newsie who seems determined to get to know her, that secret might just become the opposite.

pairing: fem!jack kelly x david “davey” jacobs

warnings: none

Race, a little tough guy, calls to the others as he dresses. “Hey, Albert, Elmer, Specs! You heard Jack. Get a move on.”

Albert appears next to him, still wiping the sleep from his eyes. “I was havin’ the most beautiful dream. My lips is still tingling.”

“Ooh, a pretty girl?” Race goads him.

Albert smiles cheekily. “A leg of lamb!” Racetrack pushes him playfully. More boys begin to appear as they dress and wash. Younger boys pump water for older boys, then trade-off. Teeth brushing, sponge baths with cold water–the older boys shave. Albert takes out a cigar and starts smoking it.

Race turns back to him, spotting the cigar. “Hey! That’s my cigar!” He tries to swipe it from Albert's hands.

Albert dodges Race. “You’ll steal another!”

Specs walks past and motions to all of the newsboys getting ready. “Hey, look, it’s bath time at the zoo.”

Henry preens himself in the mirror. “I thought that I’d surprise my mother.”

“If you can find her,” Albert jokes.

The other newsboys yelled at him. “Who asked you?”

Albert takes his turn by the mirror. “Papes ain’t movin’ like they used to. I need a new sellin’ spot. Got any ideas?”

“Y’know, from bottle alley to the harbor,” Race chimes in, “there’s easy pickin’s guaranteed.”

Finch yells from across the room. “Try any banker, bum, or barber. They almost all knows how to read!”

Jack confidently strides down to where the rest of the newsboys were, making sure they were ready for the day. “It’s a crooked game we’re playin’, one we’ll never lose. Long as suckers don’t mind payin’ just to get bad news!”

The newsies start racing outside to the square. “Ain’t it a fine life, fellas, carryin’ the banner through it all!” Mush shouts.

“Oh yeah, a mighty fine life, carryin’ the banner tough and tall,” Boots says sarcastically. “When that bell rings, we goes where we wishes, we’s as free as fishes, sure beats washin’ dishes.”

Mush quickly agrees with him. “What a fine life, carryin’ the banner home-free all!”

They pause, waiting for the rest of the city to wake. Finch shuffles over to Crutchie. “Hey, Crutchie. What's your leg say? Gonna rain?”

Crutchie shakes his leg comically. “Ah, no rain…Partly cloudy, clear by evening!”

Finch smacks his arm playfully. “They oughta bottle this guy!”

“Yeah, and the limp sells fifty papes a week all by itself,” Race says.”

Crutchie rolls his eyes. “I don't need the limp to sell papes. I got personality.” He pushes himself off the side of the building he was leaning on, smiling cheekily. “It takes a smile that spreads like butter! The kind that turns a lady’s head!”

“It takes an orphan with a stutter,” Race says.

“Who’s also blind,” says Finch.

“And mute,” says Albert.

“And dead!” Says Elmer.

Jack pushes past them. “Y’know it really stinks workin’ outdoors fellas. Summer stinks and winters’ always freezin’.”

Crutchie nods along. “You start out sweatin’, then end up sneezin’. You never catch a break! And, in between all that, it pours!”

Race runs ahead, arms raised to the sky. “Still, it’s a fine life, carryin’ the banner with me chums! All them big shots are tossin’ freebies to the bums.”

They all stop by the nuns of the local church while they hand out bread and coffee. A frantic mother wanders around, looking for her son. The Newsies don’t say anything, ignoring her, and walk past, breakfast in hand.

Jack and the gang leave the wagon, cross the square, and head for the gates of The World Building, keeping their eyes on the huge blackboards over the street. Newsies of all ages and sizes appear from every conceivable space and line up outside the gates, waiting for them to open, anxiously praying for a good headline to be chalked on the boards overhead.

Jack watches as two men climb up to write the headline. “Alright fellas, remember: you hate the headline, you make up the headline. Say anything you hafta.”

“C’mon…give us an earthquake or a war!” One Newsies mumbles.

“How ‘bout a crooked politician?” Elmer asks.

Jack smacks the back of his head. “Ya nitwit, that ain’t news no more.”

The Newsies watch in anticipation as one of the men writes the headline in large letters, “Trolley Strike Enters Third Week.” They all groan in disappointment as two tough-looking boys, Oscar and Morris Delancey, unlock the gates.

Racetrack covers his nose as if he smelt something bad. “Dear me, what is that unpleasant aroma? I fear the sewers may have backed up during the night.”

“Too rotten to be the sewers,” Boots says. “It must be…”

“The Delancey brothers!” Crutchie says.

For revenge, Oscar jerks Snipeshooter out of line and throws him to the ground where he lands roughly. “Inna back, ya ugly little shrimp!”

Oscar and Morris glare at the crowd, daring anyone to do anything about it. Jack calmly grabs Snipe and pulls him up, leading him back to his place in line, then faces the Delanceys who try to stare her down.

“Five to one, I say Cowboy skunks 'em,” Race says. “Who's bettin', who's bettin'?” Everyone shakes their head no.

“You shouldn't be callin' people ugly little shrimps, Oscar,” Jack says. “Unless you're referrin’ to the family resemblance in your brother here.” The brothers glower, look at each other, then back at Jack, who grins at them. “That's right. It's an insult. And so's this–,” Jack deftly reaches out both hands and flips the derbys off both their heads. The brothers scramble for them and chase Jack through the streets.

By the Horace Greely Statue, two boys, David and Les, are just arriving, hurrying towards the gates on a collision course with Jack who comes barrelling around the statue and runs smack into David. For a moment, everything stops. Jack catches her breath, and David looks at her in outrage.

“Watch it, will ya? What do you think you're doing?” David asks.

Jack smiles cheekily at him. “Runnin’!” She speeds on just as the Delancey brothers come thundering around the statue, bowling David to the pavement. Les looks at Jack as if he's watching Robin Hood.

She keeps running, keeping just out of the Delanceys' grasp, but then she trips and they've got her. Morris lifts her high into the air to smash her onto the cobblestones. The crowd of newsboys stops breathing but then Jack grabs the bars and like a monkey jerks free of the bully's grasp. The kids howl, loving the show as Jack avoids the brothers moving from bar to bar like Tarzan.

The moment is broken when a bell inside the World Building rings out. The Delancey brothers reluctantly, give up the chase, and head back towards the entrance to the World gates where the Newsies arrive at the distribution windows.

“We ain't finished with you yet, Kelly,” Morris sneers.

Jack still hangs on the gate as the gatekeeper unlocks them and they swing open.

“Ride 'em, cowboy!” Boots hollers.

Newsies yell out Jack's name as she rides the gates 'til the last possible moment, then leaps into the back of a wagon. Jack takes a bow as the boys cheer, moving into line.

Newsies jostle for position at the window, David shoving and jostling like the rest. He manages to elbow in near the front. Les, hanging back, has his eyes on Jack sauntering coolly to her natural place at the head of the line, flanked by Boots and Mush. She leans on the counter and grins at the rodent-faced man inside the window. “Ya miss me, Weasel?” She asks.

The man grumbles at her. “You know my name. It's Weisel. Mister Weisel to you. How many?”

She looks at him in mock offense. “Don't rush me, I'm perusin' the merchandise…Mr. Weasel.” The Newsies love it as Jack deliberately takes a paper, turns it, and scans it. Seeing Les staring at her, Jack winks. Les smiles back, fascinated. Jack turns back to Weasel with a fifty-cent piece. “The usual,” she slams the coin on the counter.

“A hundred papes for the wise guy,” Mr. Weisel says.

Oscar slams the papers down and Jack takes the time to count them as Race makes his way up to the window. “How’s it goin’, Weasel?” Racetrack says.

“At least call me ‘mister’,” is the response he gets.

“Ooh, well I’ll call you sweetheart if you’d spot me fifty papes.” Race gets a laugh out of the rest of the Newsies.

Weisel grumbles. “Drop the cash and move it along.”

Racetrack laughs. “Whatever happened to romance?”

“Fifty for the Race! Next!” Weisel shouts.

Suddenly a commotion at the window breaks out as Weisel gets upset at David. “Ya got ya papes, move outta here.”

David looks up at him in confusion. “I paid for twenty, you only gave me nineteen!”

“You callin' me a liar, kid...?”

The Delanceys start for David when suddenly Jack steps up and takes David’s papers, counting them quickly. “Nineteen, Weasel,” Jack sighs. “An honest mistake…On account of Oscar can't count to twenty with his shoes on.”

Weasel glowers and has the Delanceys give him the missing paper.

“Hold it,” Jack complains. Race, spot me two-bits.” Race flips her a coin and Jack slaps it on the counter. “Another fifty for my friend here.”

“I don't want another fifty!” David complains.

Jack moves away from the counter as the papers are placed there. “Sure you do. Every newsie wants more papes.”

David, puzzled, grabs the papers, and he and Les run after Jack. The gang trails along, watching, amused. “These papers are yours,” David complains. “I don't take charity from nobody! I don't even know who you are.”

“Cowboy!” Les yells. “They call him Cowboy!”

Jack turns and grins at Les. “That and a lotta other things, including Jack Kelly, which is what my mudder called me. What do they call you, kid?”

“Les. This is David, he's my brother. He's older.” He gestures offhandedly to David standing next to him.

Jack barely glances at David. “No kiddin'. How old are you, Les?”

“I’m ten…Almost.”

Jack tisks. “No good. Anybody asks, you're seven. Younger sells more papes, Les, and if we're gonna be partners–”

David looks at her in confusion. “Hold it! Who said anything about partners?”

Jack finally acknowledges David. “You owe me two bits, right? Okay, so I consider it an investment. We sell together, split 70-30, plus you get the benefit of observin' me -- no charge.”

“Sellin’ with Jack is the chance of a lifetime,” Crutchie chimes in. “You learn from him, you learn from the best.”

“If he's the best, then why does he need us?” David asks.

Jack rolls her eyes. “I don't need you, pal. But I ain't got a cute little brother to front for me. And Les here…,” she smiles down at Les who smiles back up. “With this kid's puss and my God-given talent, we can easy move a thousand papers a week. Whattaya say? Deal?”

Les looks up pleadingly but David still looks apprehensive.

“C’mon, Davey. My two bits come off the top, and we split everything 70-30.”

“50-50!” Les says. “You wouldn’t try to pull a fast one on a little kid, would ya?”

Jack looks down at him impressed. “Sixty-forty. Or I forget the whole t'ing.”

David reluctantly offers his hand. Jack spits in her palm and shakes. “Newsies, hit the streets,” she yells. “The sun is up, the headline stinks, and this kid ain’t getting’ any younger!”

The Newsies all start to split off. Les whoops as they move off and Jack is already playing mentor. “The name of the game is volume, Dave. You only took twenty papes. Why?”

“Bad headline?” David says.

“First t'ing you gotta learn: headlines don't sell papes, Newsies sell papes. We're what holds this town together. Without newsies, nobody knows nuttin'!” Jack leads David and Les through an open-air market crowded with carts and people. “Some newsies got corners, see–same spot, same customers. Me, I like to keep moving, enjoy the life of the big city. I spot an opportunity, I sell a pape. That's the advantage of being an independent businessman, instead of workin' for wages.”

David goes off, trying to sell his papers. “Paper. Paper. Trolley strike drags on!” He gets no takers as everyone walks away from him.

Jack laughs at him and snatches the paper. “Sing ‘em to sleep why dontcha? Extra! Extra! Terrified flight from burnin’ inferno! You heard the story right here!” Several people come up to buy a copy from her.

“What?” David asks. “Where’s that story?”

“Page nine–thank you, sir. 'Thousands flee in panic.”

David flips to page nine. “‘Trash fire near immigration building frightens seagulls?’”

Jack keeps selling. “'Terrified flight from flaming inferno!' Thank you, much obliged.”

“Our father taught us not to lie,” David complains.

Jack looks at him blankly. “Yeah? Mine taught me not to starve. So we both got an education.”

“You just make things up, like those headlines.”

“I don't do nothin' the guys who write this stuff don't do. It ain't lyin'. It's just improvin' the truth a little.”

Les comes running back, empty-handed. “Hey! I just sold my last paper!”

David grabs him. “Hold it–I smell beer.”

“The guy bet me I wouldn't drink some. Gave me a quarter for it too!”

“Hey, no drinkin' on the job,” Jack tells him with a smile, “it's bad for business. What if somebody called a cop or somethin'?” Les nods back in understanding.

David looks at the paper in his hand. “I still got one more.”

“Sell it or pay for it,” Jack tells him.

“Give it here,” Les snatches the paper and sidles up to a woman passing by, and puts the saddest look on his face. “Buy a paper from a poor orphan boy?” He coughs gently.

The woman looks at him sadly. “Oh, you dear thing. Of course, I’ll take a newspaper. Here’s a dime.” She hands him the coin in exchange for the paper and walks off.

Suddenly, they hear someone shouting nearby. Jack turns to see a police officer being directed towards them by Snyder the Spider, the man who runs the Refuge.

“There he is, officer,” Snyder says. “Do your duty!”

“Beat it–it’s the bulls!” Jack yells and she races off. David, confused, races after her, Les looks very worried as he runs with David. They pound down the alley, Snyder and the officer round the corner behind them.

Snyder shouts at them. “You, Sullivan! Stop, I say! You hear me, Sullivan?”

“Who’s Sullivan?” David asks.

“Mistaken identity,” Jack tells them. “All micks look alike to these birds!”

They clatter up several flights of stairs, Snyder and the officer clattering up below them, shouting, “You young miscreant! Wait'll I get you back to the Refuge!”

“The Refuge?” David says.

“Sleeper!” She yells and leaps over a sleeping man on the stairwell, and so do David and Les as they run out onto more sleepers; people living in makeshift shelters. Jack runs to a plank stretched between two buildings.

“I'm not crossing that!” David yells. “Anyway, I don't think they're chasing us–.”

Jack scoops up Les, who's loving it, and carries him across the plank. “No? What're they doin' then?”

“I think they're chasing you!”

Snyder and MacSwain huff out onto the roof. David, still uncertain, looks back at them, then runs across the plank. Jack calmly topples the plank to the street as the pursuers reach it, gasping for breath. She gives Snyder a little salute, then moves on to a rooftop exit.

They run out of a doorway onto the street. Jack stops and looks around carefully as if expecting Snyder to come bounding out of the sky. David is bursting with suspicion and starts to say something, but Jack shushes him, and leads them quickly, furtively to a side door, she opens it, waving David and Les inside. She follows, giving a quick look around before she closes the door.

#𐙚 sfw !#newsies #newsies movie #newsies fanfiction #newsies musical #newsboys #female jack kelly #jack kelly #crutchie morris #racetrack higgins #morris delancey #oscar delancey #spot conlon #david jacobs

3 notes · View notes

crutchie-with-a-y · 4 years ago

Text

Chapter 2: The Morning Machine

Chapter 1

"Wait, wait, what?!" Specs almost spat out his beer in surprise. "Jack and Davey? Those stubborn idiots? They finally got together?"

"Yep," Smalls said, smacking the back of a pack of cigarettes and sticking one in her mouth. She leaned her face towards the end of Race's cigarette to light her own. "End of one of Jack's art galleries, he finally sold a piece, and he was so happy."

"Hey," Specs snapped the cigarette out from between her teeth and took a drag. "Aren't you a little young to be smoking?" The rest of them laughed while she bit her bottom lip in a smile of annoyance.

"A, I'm nineteen," She snatched it back. "And B, you started smoking at thirteen so I don't wanna hear it." The group chuckled. Elmer, Race, Smalls, Mush, Finch, and Specs had all been sitting on the fire escape sipping drinks and passing stories and updating Specs on all that had happened in the time that he'd been gone. They'd been at it for hours, but it didn't feel like it'd been that long. That's how time passed when Specs was with his crew. He remembered coming home around four when he was a kid and just talking with his friends until Sarah came in and asked if anyone had had dinner yet considering it was eleven. "And Jack's doing art galleries now?" Specs asked, glancing down at the cars that were sputtering to life in the street. They'd talked clean through those early hours of the morning that still feel like night, and now they'd reached the early hours of the actual morning when the sun peaked over the roofs of apartment buildings and people started heading out for school and work. "Oh, yeah," Elmer started, but before he could continue, a brown-haired woman stuck her head out the window from the apartment to the fire escape. "Do any of you need any extra food for today? Considering that I have to leave in" She stopped rubbing her eyes to smack a thin, sage-colored watch on her wrist. "Jesus, I was supposed to leave already. Anyone need anything?" "SARAH!" Specs shouted with glee, causing her eyes to slam open. "Oh my lord, Specs, Darling! Where have you been?" Sarah smiled brightly with outstretched arms, the exhaustion wiped clear off her face. He stumbled over his friends and wrapped the only maternal figure he had in his life in the strongest hug he could muster. He used to run up to her and bury his face in her stomach, but now she barely reached his shoulder. "I thought I said to stop growing at five-seven, " She grinned, lightly tapping his nose with her finger. "Now you're going to be hitting your head when you get inside." "What time is it, Sarah?" Race said, over-pronouncing the R in her name. The rest of the group was stretching out and picking up empty beers. "About 5:15, Racer," She responded, mimicking him. "Ah, shit, I gotta catch my train in ten minutes." Finch scooched past everyone and pushed himself through the window. Everyone else groaned in similar frustration and began to climb through the window. Except for Elmer, who stretched back out on the porch with his hands behind his head. "Ah, the joys of unemployment. I don't have to be anywhere today," He smirked, his eyes closed in relaxation. "You got fired, Nitwit," Mush smacked him in the back of the head. "You gotta go find a job and go get those kids up for Sarah." Elmer groaned. "Tell them there's a pot of oatmeal on the stove and I sweetened it so don't add any more sugar," Sarah said as she waved Specs through the window. Elmer nodded and climbed onto the outside of the fire escape. "Oh, Elmer use the LADDER, Lord, you gotta cut that out!" Sarah hollered as Elmer dropped from the edge of the fire escape onto the one below. Specs laughed as he stepped into the apartment he knew so well. It hadn't changed much. To the left of the fire escape window was a dim bedroom with no light fixtures, and to the right, it opened up into a living room that extended into a small kitchen with a tiny bar and no room for a table. The living room had a couple of ratty couches and a rocking chair facing a beat-up old television. Old, creaking mattresses were scattered all over the floor, some stacked with piles of blankets and some with sleeping bodies still in them. The walls were covered in drawings and notes and school papers that had been tacked up with pride. Specs smiled. He could still see some of his work decorating the room. It was so good to be back. "Where the hell did Elmer just go?" Specs asked, blinking out of his nostalgia. "Oh, we had enough growing boys and enough of us had jobs that we decided to rent out the Jamesons' apartment after they moved to California," Sarah informed him, walking into the kitchen. "Yeah, and 'cuz with all those "growing boys" this place smelled like actual ass," Smalls said, plopping her petite body down onto one of the couches. "Don't get too comfy, you got work too, You Little Brat," Mush reached over the back of the couch and picked her up, throwing her over the back of his shoulder and carrying her towards the bedroom, Smalls squealing as they went. "Ohhh, alright." Specs followed Sarah into the kitchen where she was bagging up sandwiches at the counter. He reached for a bag to help, but she poked him and gestured for the sink. He smirked and walked over to turn the faucet on and began scrubbing his hands. "Yeah, it's been nice to have the extra space. The bedroom up here has everyone's clothes in it, and downstairs we have a couple of desks and a crib." Sarah said, finishing with a little hum. Specs loved that sound. She always made it when she was happy about something. Specs could tell she was proud of how far they'd come since renting out that single bedroom all those years ago. He knew, he was there, he remembered it like it was yesterday. He was proud too. "Wait, what do you need a crib for? Specs questioned, flicking his hands. He did some quick calculations in his head. "Everyone should be.....twelve at least." "We have a couple of babies, well, used to be babies." Sarah pulled a marker out of a drawer and began scrawling names on the lunch bags in her smudged, loopy handwriting. Always was like that, Specs thought to himself. "Now I think they count as kids, but they're still small enough to sleep in a crib without too much protest." "Where the hell did you find babies?" Specs was still confused. "Sarah brought them in from work," Finch entered the kitchen to brush his teeth at the sink. "From work?" Specs glanced between the both of them, passing a bag to Sarah. "Yeah, she's a lunch lady at an elementary school," Finch said, his mouth foaming with toothpaste. "Can't you tell?" Sarah laughed, gesturing to her long, white, button-up dress and white sneakers. She stepped back from the counter and walked into the living room, kneeling in front of the TV to look at her reflection on the screen to pin up her hair. "Yeah, and some of the kids there didn't have a place to go so she brought them here. And they had younger siblings." Finch finished brushing and turned around, drying his mouth with the edge of his sleeve. "That's....so nice of her." Specs looked back at Sarah, who had finished pinning up her hair and was now gentling shaking awake those who were still in bed. "I know and," Finch looked down at the rows of lunch bags sitting on the counter. "Christ, she did it again." Specs looked at him with his eyebrow raised. "She gets up every morning at like four and makes everyone lunches and breakfasts, no matter how old they are." He explained. "Just like she did when we were kids." Specs said quietly, his heart suddenly aching. "Yeah," Finch shook his head. Their attention was drawn away by the sound of the apartment door opening and a dozen footsteps coming in. A stream of kids, ages three to around seventeen came through the door, all yawning and chatting with each other. Some were carrying half-eaten bowls of oatmeal and some were jumping on each other's backs. Some of the faces Specs recognized, and others were entirely new to him. But they all had the innocent, playful aura of kids raised by the newsies of Lower Manhattan. As the apartment began to fill with lean bodies and laughter, none other than Jack Kelly stepped through the door in his loose white T-shirt and faded blue jeans, ushering the last of the line of youngens through the door. His eyes looked to his left at the kitchen counter and his brow furrowed. He stepped into the living room and raised his voice over the chatter. "So you mean to tell me that the lovely Ms. Sarah Jacobs with a full-time job got up at the ass-crack of dawn to make all of us breakfast and lunch and nobody is going to thank her?" Sarah looked up from where she had been kneeling on the floor in front of the mattress and locked eyes with Specs. Before she could move though, the swarm of bodies rushed towards her and latched on, yelling their "Thank Yous" and "You look so pretty todays" and "You're the bests" so loud the neighbors across the street must have heard. Then a couple of the older kids lifted her up on their shoulders, despite her giggling protests. They carried her towards the door when she began to say she needed to leave, and everyone shouted a wall-shaking "I LOVE YOU SARAH" as they lowered her to the door. She laughed loudly and said she loved everyone too before making her way down the hall. "Every morning," Race said, strolling into the kitchen behind Specs and his face-bursting smile. "I swear that woman has more children than God himself," Another familiar voice said, pushing through the door past the kids. David Jacobs slid into the kitchen, met by Jacks welcoming arms. "Specs! Specs, you're here!" David's eyes went wide as he noticed him. Specs had completely forgotten that he was even there, he felt like he'd been watching a movie. "I didn't even see you there!" Jack wrapped him in a tight hug...and then a scarring noogie. "H-HI, Jack," Specs wriggled out from under his arm. Jack laughed with the tip of his tongue hanging out. How has nothing and everything changed at the same time, Specs thought, looking between Jack's characteristic laugh and the arm David had wrapped around his waist. "How have you been, Mr. Deserts-Us-For-Another-City-That-Isn't-Even-Close-To-Santa-Fe?" Jack asked, bending down to toss a tennis ball back to some kids in the living room. "Santa Fucking Fe? You're still on that musty desert town?" "Hey, it is not a musty desert town!" Jack protested before the ringing of an alarm clock that sat on the counter interrupted. "That's my cue to leave," Finch said, patting Specs on the back and grabbing his lunch as he made his way towards the door. "I'll see you at around five or maybe meet you for lunch at Jacobi's?" He said. Specs nodded, realizing as soon as Finch had left that he didn't know when his lunch was. "And that's our cue to start packing up," Jack said, stepping back into the living room. "Aho, everyone. The alarm just buzzed so let's get moving. Let's see if we can beat seven minutes today, THOSE PAPES DON’T SELL THEMSELVES!" Jack clapped and everyone started speeding around the apartment, in what Specs thought could only describe as efficient chaos. Blankets and sheets were torn of mattresses and folded in the same blink of an eye. The bare mattresses were then stacked in the corner of the room, while another group of kids began washing oatmeal bowls off and stacking them on the counter before grabbing lunch bags and passing them to their friends who they were labeled too. Specs felt a little less than useless, as he didn't know how to help and mostly felt like just a block in the gears of this morning machine. But when Jack and David started pointing him out to kids they were assisting and their eyes lit up with recognition, that feeling was washed away. "Specs! Guys, it's Specs!" A mid-teens Sniper called to his buddies, before running up and nearly knocking him over with his enthusiastic embrace. The kids talked at a mile a minute, and Specs didn't have time to answer all their questions before Jack yelled that it was time to go, and everyone rushed to get in a line in front of the door, their every hand gripping one of the brown paper lunches as they waved goodbye and filed out into the hall. Before he closed the door behind the last kid whose hand David was holding, Jack grabbed his and David's lunch and scanned the apartment before laying his eyes on Elmer. "Where the hell is Crutch?" He asked him, narrowing his eyes. Elmer's hands flew up with innocence, but before he could say anything, Jack snapped his fingers at him. "Don't be getting smart with me. I asked you to help him up here, and if I hear that it took any more than thirty seconds for you to be helping him up here, you're dead meat, you hear?" He said, his tone assertive. Elmer sighed and nodded, swinging his feet off the couch. "Okay, okay, I'm going, Jack." "Alright," Jack's face switched back to his cheerful morning grin. "Tell Jacobi I'm covering your lunch, Specs. Actually, I'm stupid. We all have lunch. Let's all meet at Jacobi's for an early dinner. Sounds good?" He looked around and everyone nodded. "Elmer, you get the word out to everyone before the end of the day?" "You's always asking me to do stuff," Elmer moaned dramatically. "Ah, yes well that's what those who are in charge are supposed to do. I can see why you got fired." Jack said snarkily. "Alright, see you after work. Love you Elms!" And with that he shut the door before the pillow Elmer through could get to him.

"As you can see, Jack is a completely different person," Race said dryly, spooning the last bit of his oatmeal into his mouth and heading towards the door. Specs chuckled as he watched through the window as Elmer dropped down the fire escape again. "Okay, I gotta be on my way too. Crutch could probably use a hand if you don't have any plans for the day. And make sure Elmer leaves by noon otherwise not everyone will know to come to Jacobi's for dinner. See ya!" And with that, Race spun out the door, and Specs was left alone, seeing his childhood home a way he had never seen it before. Empty.

18 notes · View notes

newsiesobsessed · 3 years ago

Text

Striker

Newsies fic: striker

Warnings: fights, some bad injures, abuse

Newsies fic with girl reader ( sorry boys ). I kinda went all out with this and it’s super long. Sorry This is my first newsies fic. I’m using the livesies. Enjoy

“Come back here” you yelled in your dream. You were dreaming that the Delancy Brothers stole your dinner money. It wasn’t a lot but you still needed to eat. You chased after them. “Hey that’s mi-“

“ Y/n wake up. Wake up I says!” You woke up to Jack shaking you violently. You tried sitting straight up but Jack kept you down. Still kinda asleep and annoyed you said “ Wha-“

”You was havin a nightmare” Jack chimed in before you could finish your question. You plopped your head back down on the pillow. It hurt when you head hit the pillow. You were Wondering why but then you remembered. Last night. You quickly pulled the sheets over your head and got completely under the blanket before Jack could see your cuts and brusies. “ Mind tellin me whys you is in the sick room of the lodging house?” You wanted to ignore Jacks question so badly but you knew you couldn’t. “ I don’t wanna talks about it”

Jack understood. “ Well come out if you want. Somehow we got a huge loaf of bread and some soup for breakfast and we ain’t knowin where it came from. “ You chuckled. Jack was almost out the door when you called out to him. “ Oi Jack? Can you gets Crutchie in here?” He smiled. “ Yeah sure,” he said as he walked out calling Crutchies name. Moments later Crutchie Hobbled in. “ You wanted me?” Crutchie looked at you a little worried because you was in the sick bed mad didn’t tell no one.

“ Yeah. You can just sit down here on the bed. “ You scooted over to the other side of the bed to make room for Crutchie. Still under the covers you asked “ So how does your leg feel today Crutchie?”

He smiled glad that someone asked him how he was. “ It feels good today! How about you? Your in the sick bed are you alright.?” He asked You slowly slid your face out from under the blanket. You felt comfortable telling Crutchie what happened last night. Crutchie saw your bruises and cuts. “ Y/N! What happened to your are you alright?! When did thi-“

“ Crutchie I’m alright. And last night. This happened last night. Earlier yesterday Me and my brother Jojo was selling in Central Park and the Delancy Brothers came over to me and Jojo. They said somthin to Jojo but i don’t know what they said. Next thing I know they pushed him in the fountain. I told them to buzz of and punched Oscar in the nose. It started to bleed. I could tell they wanted to pummel me but seeing as we was in Central Park he might have gotten himself in trouble. So he waited. Anyways I made a little extra yesterday so I decide to buy breakfast for everyone to have this morning. When me and Jojo was walking back to the lodging house I told him to go ahead that I was bringing a surprise back with me. He was hesitant at first but he went. I stoped by Jacobi’s and bought a nice long loaf of bread. Walking home with the bread out of the shadows the Delancy brothers knocked me down from behind. I tried to take the bread and run. But they caught me and starting fighting me. I tell ya Crutchie I fought as hard as I could. The end resulted in them stealing my bread and me passing out in the street. When I’s woke up it was almost dark. All the other newsies would have been asleep by that time. Blood dripping from my chest. Had a broken ankle Not able to walk Black eye busted lip, along with some other minor injuries, and my shoe was missin. My body hurt all over. I kid ya not Crutchie when I tells ya I crawled to the church and got the nuns to fix me up. I didn’t wants to bother you guys with patchin me up. It felt like hours. The nuns said that I should probably go to the doctors today. But all of us combined don’t have enough money for that. They gave me some soup and left over bread from their dinner that night. I took enough to feed the entire lodging house breakfast. Seeing as I was soaked real good I decided to sleeps in the sick room. “ having told my story I relaxed into the bed.

“ Oh my god. I- oh my god! How bad did they get you?!”

“Let me borrow your crutch real quick so I’s can stand and I’ll show ya.” You said with pain.

You took his crutch, and getting out of bed you stood up revealing what looked a human punching bag.

“ Stay here. But give me my Crutch first. “ Crutchie said hobbling as fast as he could to the fellas. “ Guys come here you’s have to see what the Delancys’s did to Y/N last night. “ Crutchie said with a hint of panic and worry in his voice. And with that the fellas came rushing into the sick room. As they all barged in at once you just stood there feeling embarrassed for not being able to defend yourself.

“ WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YA! I KNEW I SHOULDN’T HAVE LEFT YOU BY YOURSELF!” Jojo yelled before running over to ya and making sure you was ok.

“ Well fellas. I think we’s got a nickname for her. Her new name is ‘Striker’!” Said Les.

“ Les not right now. she is in real pain. “ David whispered in Les’ ear. But there were murmurs of agreement. “ So Striker, what the hell happened to ya?” Said Race. You didn’t feel like telling the entire story again.

“ Long story short The Delancy’s was picking on Jojo yesterday in Central Park and I beat up Oscar for it. I didn’t mean to punch him THAT hard. Anyways I made a little extra money yesterday so I told Jojo to go backs to the lodging house and I would be back in about a hour with a surprise. He eventually left and as I was walking home with a loaf of bread from Jacobi’s bread the Delancy Brothers picked a fight with me. End result they took my shoes, stole the bread I bought for breakfast today, made me look like this with a broken ankle hence why I’m using Crutchies Crutch to stand, and cut me across my chest with a knife along with a few other injuries. They got so bad I passed out in the street. Woke up and it was dark. Late enough for y’all to already be asleep. Not being able to walk I had to Crawl to the church. I went there because I didn’t wanna wake you guys up and bothers ya with patchin me ups. Da nuns fixed me up and suggested I go to the doctors today. Which I’m not because I knows that all of our money combined isn’t enough for the fee and you guys need that money to eat and buy papes. Anyways they gaves me some soup and bread leftover from dinner. That’s how I got the breakfast this morning. When’s I gots back here I went to the sick room as to not wake anyone up. And that’s that”

“ So, you’s tellin me that the Delancy Brothers did this to you for beating up Oscar and for defending yourself in a fight?” Jack said sounding kinda suspicious.

“ Yeah.”

“ Well I say WE SOAK THEM!” Albert yelled.

“ NO.” You yelled. “I AINT LETTIN U GUYS END UP LIKE ME. IM GUNNA BE IN THIS BED FOR A WHILE. AND I DON’T WANT THAT HAPPENING TO THE REST OF YA“ You sighed. “ I only need one thing from you guys. I need just one person to stay here to helps me. Seeing as I can’t walk. I can barley stand. And then whoever stays the rest of ya devide their regular pape count between ya and sell them so we aint lose no money. “

“ So who do you want to stay with ya Striker?” asked Les hopin it was him. He looked up to you abs wanted to help. You knew this but if he stayed then David would stay. And that’s too many papers lost.

“ Lemme think. Not Jojo. Sorry little bro but yous gunna baby me if I choose u. Don’t even deny it. Not Jack, Finch or Albert. They are a little to uh- what’s the word? Oh yeah. Demanding” there were chuckles and a “ You can say that again “ from Mush. You continued “ I want to say Crutchie but he is our best seller besides Jack and Race. Which means that I can’t pick Race either. Not Les or David. Even thought David would take care of me just fine he has to take care of Les. So with that being out of the way I choose Elmer. “

“ Really? “ Elmer piped up.

“ Yeah. You are gentle and don’t push me to do stuff I don’t wanna“

“ Ok Elmer it is. The rest of us gotta be goin now. Feel better Striker. “ Race said. They fellas started running out the door and down the hall.

“ Oh yeah the reminds me. RACE”

Race poker his head in the room

“ Yeah?”

“ I needs to ask ya a favor. Elmer I know we ain’t supposed to use the tub much but can you’s draw me a warm Bath while I talk to Race for a minute?” And with that Elmer left the room.

“ So what’s you want to talk to me about?” Race asked

“ You sellin in Brooklyn today?”

“ Wha- I don’t sell in Brookl-“

“Race. It’s ok. I know bout you and spot and if you don’t want me to I won’t tell no one” You said cutting him off. A wave of relief washed over him. “ Yeah why?” He asked. “Well, I mean This in the best way possible. Spot has been in a lot of fights. He can fix bruises and shiners and cuts like magic. I would go to Brooklyn me self but I can’t walk. So if u could. Gets him over here’s or get him to meets me half way to help me patch up my br-“

“ Yeah. Sure” Race said. You thought you heard a little bit of nerves in his voice but then he softened. “ Anything else?”

“ Does you think you could find one of Crutchie’s old Crutches for me to use from when he was little?”

Race smiled. “ Follow me. “ So you started following him but you Fell. Race whipped around. “ Damn I forgot you can’t walk. Wait let me help you up. “ You almost fell again getting up but managed to get up on the bed. “ Ok so stay here. “ he went off and can back with 2 Crutches. “ Here. Use whichever one you is comfortable using. “

“Thanks Race. I owe ya. “

“ naw ya don’t owe me. You’s hurt. You don’t owe me “ race chuckled. Elmer popped back in

“ Tubs ready “

“ Thanks Elmer. Now Race get goin. You got papes ta sell” he winked at ya and with that he left.

You grabbed the shorter crutch and sent off the the tub. It was cracked and everything. Not a very sustainable tub. But it’s a tub none the Less.

“ Elmer listen to me. I already have Racer gettin spot to help patch me up. But I needs you to go to the Bronx and get smalls to come up here. She is like a sister ta me and I needs a girl newsies to help patch up my chest. And I trust her with my life. While you is getting her I’m gunna wash out the blood in my hair. As soon as you have her send her in immediately! You hear me?” Elmer nodded and off he went. Once you was sure he was gone you started washing your hair. You tried to patch yourself up but it was no use. Hopefully Spot knew how to tend to brass knuckle marks. After you washed your hair you went to get some food. There was little soup left and a piece of bread. You ate it and then decided to go up to Jacks penthouse in the sky to get some fresh air. It felt good to feel the cool breeze.The sun was staring to set. That meant that the newsies would be gettin home soon. Someone was climbing up the fire escape to the penthouse. But you didn’t pay no attention to it

“ Hey Y/N . Word is you was beat to the bone,” Smalls called out. You turned around and saw her standing on the ladder. You went to hug her but forgot about your ankle you were so excited and fell down trying to get up. Smalls let out a small gasp and rushed over to helps you up. “ What happened to you?!”

“The Delancy Brothers.” Smalls sighed. “ Figures. Ok let’s go get you fixed up. “ after a while she had fixed up your chest and gave you a new set of wraps. You thanked her and walked out of the bathroom to find Spot Conlon sitting in the sick room waiting for you. You saw him and gave out a glad sigh. He saw your crutch. And looked a little worried.

“ Damn. The Delancys have outdone themselves this time“ Spot chuckled. “ How ya doin Y/N?”

“ Ya know just feel like I fell into hell and rose from the dead. Also it’s Striker now. Finally got a nickname!” You smiled having wanted a nickname for months now. He chuckled. “ So,” spot started. “ How bad is it and what does I need to do?”

“ Well Smalls patched up my chest already.” Spot stopped you. “ What do ya mean ur chest?” “ Oh Race didn’t tell ya what happened. Well The Delancy’s cut me across my chest with a knife. They broke my ankle hence the crutch. Gave me a shiner. And a few other minor injuries that I can’t fix.” Spot sighed.

“ Well come on. Into the bathroom. I’m gunna fix that ankle first Bc that’s the worst injury I know of. Then we’ll work on your face. “ you nodded your head in agreement. He wrapped your ankle and put a stick on it in place of a splint. Before moving on to the face he had you walk to make sure your could stand. Seeing that you could be moved in to your face. There was nothin he could do about yo ur shiner but he did fix you lip. Kinda. It was still a little swollen but he told you to give the lip time. He moved your hair out of the way trying to scrub your face and he noticed marks that were no doubt made by brass knuckles. . You didn’t tell anyone bout that one.

“ And what is this? Let me guess. Delancys. “ You didn’t say nothin.

“ Well that could leave a permanent mark. I need ya to let me touch them. Can ya do that? Am I allowed to touch it?” You wanted to say no. But you also wanted it fixed. “ I guess. “

He started gently rubbing a wash cloth over the marks causing you to inhale sharply. “ On second thoughts just leave it alone. “

“ Y/N I mean Striker I know it hurts. I got beat by brass knuckles once. But if you want it to heal you need to let me fix them. I’m gunna go slow and run some water over it. “ as he ran the water over it the pain started to go away. In a matter of minutes he stopped. “ Ok striker do you need me to do anything else?” You did. You needed your back fixed. You don’t know what they hit you with from behind last night but it hurt. But it could also be your marks from the refuge and your parents. And you didn’t want anyone to see them. “ No, you need to get back to Brooklyn. I can fix the rest myself. “

“ ya sure?” He asked. He knew there was more injuries but he didn’t want to push ya. And you was right about needing to get back to Brooklyn.

“ Ya. Thanks spot. Here, take this“ you gave him part the bread from breakfast. He took it and went on his way. You heard him say somthin the the newsies as he left. But you didn’t know what that was. You came out of the bathroom and climbed back up to jacks penthouse. He surprisingly not up there. You didn’t know when you fell asleep up there but when you woke up it was morning. When you woke up your shirt was off so you could your wraps. You always slept in your wraps and ya pants. The boys knew this. And they didn’t mind.

“ Ah. Your awake. “ Jack called out. “ I saw your back was bleeding through your wraps. I thought Spot And Smalls Patched you up?”

“ They did. But only where I told thems. “ you responded.

“ So why is your back bleeding and why didn’t you tell no one about it?”

“ Because Jack. I don’t want no one seein my back. It’s a disaster of scars. Some from the refuge. Some from my folks. “ the rooftop went dead silent.

“ I’m sorry. Do you want anyone specific to help patch them up today because there is no way we is leavin you alone. “

“ It doesn’t matter who stays. As long as they can keep a secret. “

“ Ok. I’ll go tell the fellas that I’m stayin home from work today. “

“ Jack you are the best seller. You can’t!”

“Striker yes I can. Do ya want any of the others fellas to know about this. Do you think any of them can keep a secret. Do you think any of them make enough money that they can miss a days pay. I’m stayin with you.“ Jack kisses your head to which you pulled back. He looked confused. That’s when you pushed up your hair and revealed your beat up forehead.

“ Anything else you wanna tell me?” He started making his way back to his side of the penthouse to get some rags for your back when you blurted out “ Jojo is adopted. My parents adopted him to replace me. And then we left them when he found out what they did to me. That’s why the Delancys beat me up. For leaving the family. “ Jack froze. He stammered. “ Wait. This means that your a-“

“ Delancy. Yes. Y/N Delancy. But they ain’t my family. I got no family. The only person besides Jojo that knows is Smalls. . “

“ Wow. Well come here. Let me clean your back off. “ you halfway undid your wraps so that your back was showing but your front wasn’t. The rough washcloth stung as it ran up and down your back. “Jack. Your not mad at me. Are ya?” He was silent. Then he spoke. “ No Striker I ain’t mad at you. Mad at your brothers yes. Mad at your parents for treating ya like this. Yes. Mad that someone as sweet as you had to go through this. Hell Yes. But your tough as nails. “ That last part made you smile. Jack finished fixing you up help you redo your wrap. “ Your going to get better Striker. This WILL heal. How about we go to Central Park just to get ya outside. No papes. Just to be outside.” You could tell it wasn’t a question and more of a command. So you went to Central Park and spent the day there. A nice lady gave you a quarter. You don’t know why. It was getting dark and you and Jack decided to head back to the lodging house. When ya got back to the lodging house the rest of the newsies welcomed ya in. That’s when ya realized that ya had a family. And in the family there were no secrets. So after dinner ya told the newsies the entire story. There was no way that the newsies were every leavin you and Jojo alone again.

That’s is I hope ya liked it.

#newsies #jack kelly #les jacobs #davey jacobs #jojo fanart #racetrack higgins #sprace #spot conlon #albert dasilva #elmer kasprzak #smalls newsies #newsies broadway #brooklyn newsies

13 notes · View notes

denkimystery · 4 years ago

Text

Denki Mystery Series - 1st Episode: 『Six Men Getting Sick』

ー Midorito House, Eve of the Jyushimatsu Festival

A Voice: ... Come to think of it, the owner of my cab company… I wonder if he’s one of those people who's into the occult?

Ozo: I only come to the office sometimes. And whenever I’m there that’s all we talk about.

Ozo: Like, strange stories of this area? I’ve heard a lot about that too. I've heard it all from that person.

Takashi: Ah! I know who you’re talking about. He came to my store, too. He kept chattering on and on about how I should get out of this place before I am unable to leave, and then he just left.

Hajime: Wow. Is that person a local from here?

Ozo: No, it's nothing like that. I heard that he came here a long time ago, and then he was given the job and entrusted with the company. You're very curious, aren't you.

Karatsugu: I wonder what he was doing before that. He’s not from around here, but he knows a lot about it, right? The stories of this place, I mean.

Ozo: Come to think of it, people wouldn't talk so openly about that kind of stuff if they were from here. I wouldn't ask or deny it, though.

Ozo: He said I drive too rough, so he started calling me “Cowboy”.

Toshio: You sound like a villainous pro wrestler. It’s kinda cool.

Ozo: Right? But I'm not that buff! … Phew, that was a nice time. It's been about half an hour since we got back from the factory?

Ozo pops open a beer. The sound of the fizz is replaced by the sounds of him gulping his drink.

Chorosuke: It’s a bit late, but we've prepared a midnight snack.

Ozo: Whaaat, I didn't think the Master was here, but he cooked for me? That's very kind of you.

Takashi: Let me help, Chorosuke-san.

[[Takashi gets up to help Chorosuke set the food down.]]

Takashi: Wah, this looks so good.

Ozo: Ahhh! I'm so hungry!! … Ah, can you let me borrow your phone before we start?

Chorosuke: Sure, be my guest. … Dayoko, escort him please.

[[Ozo follows Dayoko out of the room.]]

Toshio: You have some for me too? Wah... It's mushroom soup! Looks good.

Chorosuke: Everyone, you must be hungry. After you eat, let's rest for today. We still have tomorrow.

[[Ozo comes back to the room.]]

Ozo: Thanks for letting me call. It was the president. I told him I was sick.

Ozo: Since we have a private gathering tomorrow, I told him I was gonna stay up and he replied with a resounding OK. Heheh!

Ozo: If it had been the old lady in the office, she would have told me to go home for sure!

Takashi: That’s the normal reaction. I think you're being underestimated by your president.

Karatsugu: Well, let's eat before it gets cold. Thanks for the food.

Toshio: Thanks for the fooood!

[[Toshio shoves a spoonful into his mouth, chewing eagerly. Everyone else follows suit.]]

Hajime: These mushrooms are delicious.

Chorosuke: These are the mushrooms that my student grew. He often gives me some, they are very fragrant and delicious.

Toshio: Are there other ways to eat it other than miso soup?

Chorosuke: You can also roast it, it’d still be delicious.

「Thank you for the meal.」 Everyone says when they’re finished.

Chorosuke: Did you all like it? Then, let's brew some tea. ... Dayoko, your big bwother*** will also help.

[[Chorosuke leaves the room.]]

Takashi: … Huh?

[[Takashi’s gaze is pointed down. Staring at something.]]

Takashi: ……. Jyushimatsu-niisan, why are you buried in the ground. Heyyy… Ah, another Jyushimatsu-niisan.

[[Hajime looks at where Takashi was looking at. There’s nothing but the floor.]]

Hajime: Ta-Takashi-kun? What’s wrong? … Are you ok!?

[[Meanwhile.]]

Ozo: … Hm? When did I get back to the car?

[[Ozo notices he’s not alone, looking into his rearview mirror he sees someone on the passenger’s seat.]]

Ozo: Customer-san, why are you wearing a paper bag?

Ozo: … Hie! [Ozo flinches as the customer removes his paper bag.]

Ozo: … You look just like me…!?

[[Toshio seems to be struggling.]]

Toshio: Uwah! What’s this thing in front of me! ... A big dog!

Chorosuke: Dayoko! I won’t hand Dayoko over to you!! Dayoko!? Where-? Dayoko?

Karatsugu: ... huh. I feel like my back is…

[[Karatsugu focuses on the feeling in his back before realizing that it’s sharp and he’s in deep pain.]]

Karatsugu: … W-Waaah!! I-I’ve been stabbed! I’m dead! I’m cuuursed!

Hajime: Eh... Where am I?

[[Hajime looks around.]]

Hajime: It’s pitch black.

Hajime: H-HIEEEEEEE!!! [[All of a sudden Hajime screams. Thrashing and flinging.]]

Hajime: H-Help meeee!!! SOMEBODY, HELP ME!

Takashi: Waaaaaah…!! … Huh. What was that?

Ozo: Wah! What the-? A-are these mushrooms safe to eat!? I just had a scary dream!****

Chorosuke: Huh? What’s the matter? Nothing happened to me, I’m fine. Here, have some tea.

[[Chorosuke starts pouring tea.]]

Toshio: I'm fine too.

[[Toshio starts munching on some of the snacks Chorosuke offered with the tea.]]

Toshio: Delicious! Where did you get these snacks?

Ozo: Eh ~ !? You're always eating them, so you've built up a tolerance? I don't remember it clearly, but I was really scared!

Toshio: Aah! Are you okay, Karamatsu-niisan? The corner of the desk is digging into your back.

Karatsugu: Eh!? The corner of the table? … Ah, thank goodness. I thought I was stabbed in the back…

Hajime: Haa~. [[Hajime releases a sigh he’s been holding.]]

Hajime: …. What was that. Just now. I’m not immune to these mushrooms… What did I just see…? Th-That was scary.

Toshio: Aaaa, that was delicious. … Well, I’m going home now. I’ll see you all tomorrow. My big brothers and Todomatsu!

Takashi: I'm getting a little used to it. That “Todomatsu”. Jyushimatsu-niisan.

Ozo: You live on the other side of the mountain, right? Why don't you just stay the night? Or, do you want me to drive you home?

Toshio: The roads are dangerous at night. I can take a shortcut.

[[Toshio stands up quickly in one fell swoop.]]

Toshio: Nanna is waiting for me.

Chorosuke: Here you go. Didn’t something break just earlier?

Toshio: Thank you, Choroma- Chorosuke-san. Todomatsu, my bigger brothers. Good night!

Thump, thump... Rustle, rustle, rustle. [[Toshio takes off running, his footsteps landing heavy on the dirt path. Soon after he runs through the bushes and into the forest.]]

Takashi: Ah…! He jumped into the bushes. I-I hope he’s ok.

Chorosuke: Ogami’s fine. Oh, and he’s always running around in the mountains.

[[Dayoko walks in to tell Chorosuke something.]]

Chorosuke: Hm, what. … Aah. Thank you, Dayoko. Everyone. The bath is ready. Please, help yourselves.

Ozo: Ah~, I'm going to catch my breath ‘cause my eyes are getting tired*****!

Chorosuke: Eh!?

Ozo: If we're going to talk about scary stories, how about we tell a “Hundred Stories” while drinking?

Chorosuke: Can you stop doing that I don’t want to get in trouble if something weird happens!?

ーThe Endー

Original Event

Summer Arc: 1 | 2 | 3

Mod Note: This came from the Stories that came with the Akatsuka Mansion Attraction from Trashneyland. All 4 and 3 star attractions have 3 stories, often related to the theme of the building. (ex. Akatsuka Mansion has 3 stories related to Denki Mystery. Geruge Castle also has 3 stories related to the Geruge Set).

The original title is 二豎(にじゆ)と六人の男 (lit. The Evil Spirits of Illness and the Six Men). *Nijiyu (二豎) is a term that originated from the legends of Zheng Chenggong. Unfortunately it’s all in Chinese and I’m already at my wit’s end so I can’t give you an exact origin lmao. I’m not sure what exactly happened but there’s this Duke who was cursed to not be able to eat anything new. He is feeling ill, he dreams of his illness and the doctor says that the illness can’t be healed because the cause is somewhere even his medicine can’t reach. That’s my rough understanding of what happened. Anw, that illness became known as the Nijiyu. Edit: I looked up David Finch's filmography again and turns out that the original title is referencing his 1967 work "Six Men Getting Sick (Six Times)". I've changed the title to make more sense to English readers, but I've kept the original title in the mod notes. If the stage names are references to David Lynch's movies then the story names are references to David Lynch's short films. And unlike the stage names, the titles of each story is relevant to what happens in the story.

*** Chorosuke uses Anii-chama again. Which is a cutesy way of saying bigger brother: Nii-san > Nii-sama > Anii-chama. He’s acting like a sis-con btw.

**** If you haven’t noticed, their mushroom trip is based on their original attack sprites. Ozo’s hallucination is a combination of his (Taxi + Passenger) and Toshio (Removing Mask)’s attacks. Karatsugu, Hajime and Takashi are slightly different from their original attack sprites (Karatsugu doesn’t write a dying message, Hajime doesn’t wield an axe and bolo, Takashi isn’t screaming). Chorosuke and Toshio’s hallucinations are original. Chorosuke is hallucinating about Dayoko being taken away and Toshio’s hallucinations involve a big dog, most likely the Inugami Youkai.

*****I think the original text is an idiom? I don’t know what it exactly means though so I did my best approx.

#Denkimatsu #Denki Mystery #Mystery Novel AU #Romantic Mystery #Osomatsu San #Hesokuri Wars #Translation #Event Story #Ozo Akashika #Karatsugu Aogo #Chorosuke Midorito #Hajime Shisaka #Toshio Ogami #Takashi Momose #Dayoko #Mod Pheo #Enjoy!!!

38 notes · View notes

what-goesaround-comesaround · 4 years ago

Text

Imagine, the newsies put on a variety show :

(Are these all based on personal events? 100%)

Jack asks Medda if they can put on a variety/talent show in her theatre for fun with the reasoning "for the kids!". Medda agrees wholeheartedly and organises an evening for them all to preform.

Jack and the others continue to invite all of the adults who are either parental figures or are just vaguely nice to them, including Kloppman, Hannah, Seitz, the Bowery Beauties, Toby the Candy Butcher, Mr. Jacobi, Medda's stage hands, David's parents ect. Denton is entrusted with recording the show and takes his job very seriously. Racetrack even invited Wiesel as a joke and took bets to see if he came or not (he didn't but no one lost money on that)

Now for the acts :

• First up we have a rendition of Country Roads by John Denver led by Jack, featuring Kid Blink, Mush, Boots, Crutchie and Specs on several instruments (Mush borrowed Race's kazoo). They practiced until 3am the night before on their various instruments leading to Skittery dousing water on Jacks head the next day as revenge.

• Next, a play about the tellitubbies being murdered by their hoover, complete with ukulele music, starring the younger newsies aka Les (as the hoover) Ten Pin, Snipeshooter, Tumbler and Swifty. Sarah provided the ukulele music as the sun and Skittery played a tree in background because the younger newsies bullied him into it. (This is oddly specific for a reason lmao) Some adults were left with several questions afterwards.

• After that comes a very interesting rendition of "That's what makes you beautiful" by Bumlets, Itey, Dutchy, Snoddy and Snitch each preforming as a member of One Direction with name tags to signal who's who. (There was a very loud disagreement about who's be Harry last night. Let's just say Bumlets won)

• Now for David who kept saying he wouldn't participate but is reluctantly forced into it by Sarah, Jack and Les and continues to recite the Element Song flawlessly, surprising everyone. Didn't even need the lyrics, he's that good.

• Up next, a magic act starring Racetrack and Albert, as his lovely (begrudging) assistant! They weren't allowed to to saw Albert in half but did manage a pretty cool vanishing act, making all of the younger newsies ask for magic lessons and everyone else being equally astonished.

• After that comes Super Bass preformed by Smalls while Sniper plays Pachelbel's Cannon In D on the violin. (Smalls recited the clean version per Medda's request)

• Next up is Buttons doing a puppet act with puppets he made himself! His ventriloquist skills are pretty amazing, he even made a puppet of Pulitzer! (Katherine asked for a commissioned copy of him after the show, she couldn't get over how funny and well made it was)

• Now for the Brooklyn newsies. They do an ensemble performance featuring Spot, Long John, Hotshot, York, Myron, Bart, Rafaela, Joey and more. What they perform you may ask? Oh a little dance called "An Dreoilín". It's chaos. Race and Jack jump in towards the end (they also know the dance and song?) and soon everyone'd clapping along. If you haven't heard of it before, look it up on YouTube, the music is brilliant.

• After that comes Bill and Darcy and their own duet of the song "I am the Very Model of a Modern Major General" which they perform frighteningly well. Let's be honest, they sort of are Gilbert and Sullivan and have been waiting for ages to show this party trick off.

• Next up, Jingle Bell Rock but it's the Mean Girls version made even more interesting by Romeo, Jojo, Elmer and Finch. (Do I need to even say who's Regina?) We even have Medda dancing along pretending to be the "cool mom" and Jojo kicking the boom box over, meaning everyone starts singing along. It's the perfect recreation.

• Now for Jake and Pie-Eater doing impressions! Characters included : Jake impersonating Jack with a cheap sparkly cowboy hat (bought an hour before performing), muttering about Santa Fe for 3 minutes straight. Next was Pie-Eater pretending to be Kloppman and Jake as Skittery in the mornings having their banter. They took on requests such as the Delancey Brothers, Wiesel and even Spot (requested by Race. Pie-Eater had trained for this moment and did not disappoint) Jake and Pie-Eater spoke with the right cadences in their voices and perfect body language. Scary impressive stuff.

• Katherine next. She deadpan gets up and switches on her background music ; "We didn't start the fire" and sings it by memory. She makes sure to point at Spot and the rest of the Booklyn newsies when singing "Brooklyn's got a winning team" during the 7th verse. Absolutely deadly.

• Last but not least we have Henry, Mike, Ike, Tommy Boy, Splasher, Coffee Bean and Barney Peanuts performing a rousing version of "Lay all your love on me" from Mamma Mia, matching flippers and everything. Soon everyone's joined in and they all finish with singing "Dancing Queen" with Jack putting a little too much emphasis on the lyrics "only 17".

All in all, a successful evening with the promise from Denton they'll all get a copy of the show sent to them after he makes a few edits (I told you he took this seriously)

Did I do it? Did I mention all the newsies? Seriously, this was an exercise in how many characters I could remember.

57 notes · View notes

they-say-you-go-blind · 4 years ago

Text

Close Around the Campfire | Jack / Davey Fanfiction

Davey and Jack were close. It was different, instantaneous kind of close that neither had experienced until this point. Did either of them intend to find the person they were meant to be with forever at counselor orientation day of a summer camp? Never in a million years.

———————————————

Davey had turned 19 less than a week ago. With one year of Political Science under his belt, but a hearty student loan to pay off, he was desperate for a job. With that first application, and a couple of phone interviews later, and he was set for the summer . However, now that he was pulling into the staff parking lot at Blockwood Summer Camp, he wasn’t so sure. He turned the keys of his beat up car and typed a text to Les.

I made it to camp safe. Going to do some counselor stuff for the next few days so probably won’t be able to talk much. I’ll see ya in a couple of weeks for A.R.K. camp.

He slumped in his seat. 10 weeks of leading campfire songs and doing archery and making sure a weekly rotation of kids stay alive... maybe he hadn’t thought about it enough. He opened snap and took a picture of his bags that were crammed into the back of his car. He looked at the photo for a second, captioned it with ‘I believe I’ve made a horrible mistake’, and sent it to the groupchat with his best friends.

He knew he had about ten minutes until he should start making his way to the Mess Hall, as it said in his Orientation Day email. His best friend, Katherine, was trying to call him and he nearly let it ring out. At the last second, he pressed answer and spoke,

“I don’t think I should be here.”

Katherine and Davey had been best friends since diapers. In Kindergarten, their teachers were convinced they were twins just because of they way they acted with each other (and their aversion to all others). In middle school, the two of them sang and did a choreographed dance number at the talent show. They were the Closet Gay prom king and Queen, most representation that their school had ever had. And now, going into their sophomore year of college, they were honest with one another about everything, could joke about anything, and be trusted with the deepest secrets the other had. It’s no surprise that Katherine blurted out,

“I’m sorry, have you seen your co-workers?!”

Davey was taken aback.

“How the hell do you know what they look like?”

Katherine blushed. Her secret was out.

“You gave me access to your email before you left, in case you got anything important.”

Davey nodded and and whispered out an ‘oh no’. Katherine started to send the screenshots as she spoke.

“I saw your orientation email... it wasn’t hard to find their socials from there...”.

Davey couldn’t believe it as he swiped through the profiles of the three other boys who were his new co-workers. Katherine started to narrate each of her discoveries.

“First off, is Harrison “Race” Higgins. Seems fun and all. Also, I’m sure you can see in the profile picture, but Rainbow Flag!”

“Ah yes, Christian church camp is where I’m going to find my b...”

Davey could barely get the words out. Katherine was the only person in his “real life” who knew that the “you two should just get married” comments about him and Kath would absolutely never happen. Katherine just giggled, like a schoolgirl keeping a secret.

“Just you wait, Davey.”

Davey pondered on Race’s profile picture. Seemed cute, a little goofy, a lot like a best friend. Katherine continued.

“Next is Zachary “Spot” Conlon. Don’t tell me why they both have nicknames. But he is...”

“He looks like he could beat me up with a glare.”

Katherine laughed at that.

“They’re dating, by the way. They give me forever together vibes.”

Davey swiped between the two profiles as she talked. She wasn’t wrong, forever vibes were There.

“Huh, noted.”

“And the last one,” Katherine cleared her throat.

“ and I’ll let you narrate this one yourself, is Jack Kelley.”

Jack Kelly was the most attractive boy Davey had ever seen. His profile picture looked like it was him in a painting class for University. He had a little bit of pink paint on his cheek and a beautiful smile. His eyes were the color of a clear blue sky. It looked that his cover photo was one of his paintings as well,... a landscape piece with the initials J.K. in the bottom right corner. His “about me” was a gold mine, and he would be sure to read every detail later.

“Dibs on this one.”

He told Katherine. It had been their thing, that once they’d both seen someone attractive, the first one to call dibs would have zero roadblocks to them. Davey was so enthralled. He just kept staring at the profile picture.

“He’s just...”

“Perfect? I know...”

She chuckled to herself.

“And, there’s one more thing you should know.”

She spoke and sent him the final screenshot. When Davey opened it, he was confused.

A picture of Katherine’s Facebook?

She nearly squealed, but kept composure to say.

“You really were not observant when you pulled into the parking lot. I expected better from you, Davey J.”

Davey was in shock. She couldn’t have made this up! He got so excited and nervous and relieved all at once. Looking around, he saw her car and waved.

“You’re not pulling my leg, right? This isn’t some twisted joke... really?!”

“Yes! Apparently one of the female counselors was Not who she said she was, so they called me last night and I am here for the summer!”

She spoke quickly, Davey could barely understand what she was saying.

“You’re literally my favorite person in the world.”

He spoke with sincerity. He couldn’t believe his best friend in the world would be spending the summer with him.

“I might have to become your second favorite. If I’m not mistaken, Jack Kelly just pulled in the parking lot.”

Davey turned his head to see him and couldn’t help but stare for a few seconds. Photos did not do Jack Kelly justice. Davey’s head was spinning. He didn’t know if he could manage spending five seconds with him. How was he supposed to survive the summer? Davey’s face grew red as he realized Jack was pulling into the spot next to him.

———————————————

“Kath, holy shit.” Davey blurted out as he snapped his head to the front. “Language, Daves. Christian children’s camp...”

Katherine snorted as she laughed at Davey, who was now flustered and red in the cheeks.

“What are we gonna do?”

He asked, his forehead falling on the steering wheel in defeat. Katherine pondered.

“We? No, you. You called dibs! I’m just along for the ride.”

“You’re an asshole. I’m actually going to die. He is... God Kath-”

Davey stopped mid-sentence as he heard a knock on his window. He lifted his head to see Jack Kelly.

“Good luck with that, babe.”

After making a frustrated noise, and trying to refrain from looking like an idiot, he hung up the call, cranked the window down, and smiled, waiting for Jack to speak.

“Hey there. You must be working here, too?”

Davey nearly combusted as Jack leaned back onto the passengers door of his car, which was nicer than his own. Did Davey care about that? Not really.

“Yeah, I’m David Jacobs. Most people call me Davey.”

“Jack Kelly.”

He stuck out his hand, Davey shook it through the window and chuckled. Jack continued.

“It’s nice to meet ya. You’re radiating ‘camp counselor’, but don’t wanna assume.”

Davey’s brain was all but melted. This boy wanted to talk to him. He got out of his car and made the effort to talk to him.

“Yeah, course. I- yeah.”

“What’s got ya so bothered you can barely form a sentence?”

“No, nothing it’s just- did they have other jobs? Not like I would want one but like-“

Jack laughed. This Davey kid was adorable.

“Sure they do, got my buddy Finch running around as a lifeguard, couple of others do maintenance, and I think they brought on Albert to be a ‘activity coordinator’. That basically means when we do archery, he’s in charge of us not shooting each other in the leg.”

Davey chuckled.

“So you’ve worked here before?”

Jack nodded and looked around. This place was a second home to him.

“My ma’s the camp director. Been goin’ here since I was like, 7 and workin’ for the past two years.”

Jack smiled wide and continued on.

“Speaking of workin, we should probably head in. I usually come early to help set up but she insisted I try to be more “normal” this summer. Famous last words, I guess.”

They both laughed quite a bit.

“You’re very friendly, Jack.”

Davey spoke, metaphorically walking on eggshells as to not mess up the friendship that he hoped was forming. He got out of his car and realized he was the same height as Jack, if only a little bit shorter. They were very close to each other.

“Why thanks, Davey. Tell her you said so...”

Jack laughed with him as they made their way to the mess hall. He explained to Davey the in’s and out’s of Blockwood. Most of the people who worked their had gone to camp in their teens and it was just natural to apply for a job there, too.

Before Jack walked in the mess hall, he turned to Davey. Jack had made eye contact every time he spoke with him. It was nice.

“Just double checkin, because ma ain’t always good with hiring ages, ya 18?”

“Oh, yeah. Just turned 19.”

“Good good. I’m about to turn 21, if that matters.”

“It’s good information to have, especially when we’re about to spend all summer together.”

Was Jack blushing? He didn’t know, and it was hot out. Either way, he didn’t care because Jack Kelly was talking to him and adorable.

“Yeah, Davey. For sure.”

Jack opened the door to see Race and Spot all over each other. He snapped his fingers at them and both looked towards Davey. Jack spoke up.

“Hey boys, we got a new one. Be civil, this here’s Davey.”

Race smiled, got up from his seat, and stuck out his hand.

“Name’s Racetrack. You can call me Race or Racer or Sweetheart. It’s good to meet ya, Dave.”

Davey chuckled and shook it. He really was late to the party. They all knew each other.

“It’s nice to meet you too.”

“That shortie there is my pal-“

Race shot a look at Jack, who shrugged. He continued.

“Sorry, are you?”

Race gestured to his rainbow friendship bracelet. Hoping that would be enough. At camp, they tried not to use the word. Some people had gotten very angry when their child had come home saying, ‘my counselor was gay’.

“No, no, no. I am. Not out, but, I guess I am, now. Yes.”

Race nodded and amended his statement.

“I gotcha, Davey. That’s my boyfriend, Spot.”

Davey gave a wave and Spot nodded and waved back. Had Davey really come out to people he met ten seconds ago? Jack looked surprised. At least you’re not obvious.

Katherine came inside soon after. She was immediately swooped up by Race and told to “lose the good girl vibe” from Spot. She laughed with them for awhile about the instant ‘Davey and Jack’ connection. It wasn’t hard to see for either of their friends.

Jack introduced Davey to the whole gang. Finch and Albert were in the corner trying to decide who was right about a candy from the snack shack. Sarah and Chutchie dancing to the approved “Camp Playlist”, and his mama trying to finalize a little bit of paperwork.

He got to Romeo, trying a pick-up line on Katherine, and stopped.

“Hey there, Miss. Don’t believe we’ve met before. My name’s Jack. Jack Kelly.”

He stuck out his hand and she shook it.

“Charmed. I’m Katherine, Katherine Plumber-Jacobs.”

Katherine and Davey smiled at each other and laughed. Jack looked between the two of them and his’s face was turning red.

“What... y’all ain’t married or something, are ya?!”

Davey and Katherine started to laugh without cease. Davey tried to explain through snorts.

“No... she just uses that line because she wants to be my twin. Kath, here, she’s my best friend.”

Romeo spoke up.

“Oh goodness. Well ain’t that the best of both worlds for ya, Jack?”

Jack narrowed his eyes and shot a glare Romeo’s way.

“Now that I know there’s two of ya, I won’t be so scared to let Davey wander. Thought I was gonna have to be glued to his side!”

“Don’t think he’d like me very much if you stopped leading him around.”

Davey was flustered, but Katherine and Jack laughed and laughed. She waved goodbye, going to talk to Sarah instead of interrupting their “together time”, as she called it while recounting the day with Davey. He tried to apologize to Jack.

“Sorry about her.”

“No way, she’s spunky and loud. She’ll fit right in.”

Davey looked around. He wasn’t wrong. It was chaotic and were Romeo and Race arm wrestling? Was Katherine really cheering them on?

“Yeah, she’s... great.”

“You’re great.”

Jack backtracked as his face grew red.

“Oh shit, um sorry about that. That didn’t-”

“Hey, it’s... you’re great, too. Just cut that language out before kids get here in a few days, Kelly.”

Davey smiled and Jack swears that if this was literally any other setting, he would kiss him or draw him a picture or do anything to see that smile every day. Unfortunately, Jack decided to revert to a Jack that didn’t like getting emotional in front of his friends. Chalk it up to force of habit.

“So, you enjoy it here?”

“Is that even a question? It’s awesome, Jack.”

———————————————

It had been a full day of training. Ms. Medda, as Davey had learned was Jack’s mother, and some of the more experienced staff got newcomers ready for camp. She explained how these first three days were training and that there were still things that needed to be done before kids came on Monday. Everyone did some basic first aid and some get-to-know-you games.

Katherine and Davey worked on learning names and people’s jobs. It seemed that when you thought you had it all figured out, Jack or Race would call ‘em a whole new nickname and the pieces would all fall apart. Maintenance (Elmer, Buttons, and Jojo) and lifeguards (Finch and Romeo) had a bit more training to do. Albert and Crutchie, outdoor and indoor activity coordinators, needed to organize some things for the first day.

That left the counselors. Davey, Jack, Race, Spot, Katherine, and Sarah decided to go on a nature walk. That group, of all people, would be spending the most time together. They took them through the woods, showed them the cabins, made sure that Davey and Katherine were somewhat oriented on the camp property. During the walk, Jack took the lead to explain where they were and what needed to be done.

• “Alright, adventure course- never go there without Albert... or me, I’m more fun.”

• “Cabins- good stuff. We can drive down the path to unpack cars later. But Ma’s got me on a tight schedule.”

• “Swimming house- also doubles as a bath house. None of us are going to smell particularly great until Off Days. But please, for the love of our Lord and Savior, make sure your kids shower.”

Race chimed in on this one, acting as if he were passing down an urban legend as Spot started to chuckle.

“They will try to persuade you, tell you they don’t need one. But they do.”

Sarah and Katherine had instantly been drawn to each other. Davey didn’t know how, but Katherine had already managed to be given two friendship bracelets. She would be just fine. He would be, too.

Jack sighed as the timer on his phone went off.

“Sorry gang, walk’s been terminated. But, now it’s time for my favorite part of camp.

Please don’t say hazing. No hazing.

“Building the campfire!”

Davey chuckled as the others wooed. Jack was the leader everyone needed.

———————————————

Over the past three days, Katherine and Davey had melded into this friendgroup seamslessly. They would roast each other and laugh and exist as a family. Neither were quite sure how they pulled it off. Each now had friendship bracelets from fellow counselors, and likewise made them for others. They had swam in the pool and laughed and sang and, Davey recounted, prayed together. It didn’t make sense how it could all be so perfect.

More than anything else, Jack had instilled the need in Katherine and Davey for a ‘Perfect Cooking Fire’. He knew that, of all things, this would have to be the thing they remember how to do. They built it well, only with a little help from Sarah, as Jack filed paperwork for him mom.

He would do that often. Disappear and reappear like a magician. He knew what needed to be done, and did it before his mother even asked. Davey had tried to offer help, but Jack just took out his reading glasses and said ‘No, no. It’s stuff I gotta do, Dave.”

The final night before campers were here, and all the college kids just wanted to drink in the moment. Race and Spot went to get the food for the “Last Supper” as they called it. Hot dogs, of course.

Davey was relived that Jack came to sit next to him after the food was done. The entire staff was sitting around, laughing and chatting and eating. Jack knew that he needed to talk to Davey, just not with everyone around. David blurted out exactly what was on his mind.

“I really like it here.”

“I’m glad, Dave. You did a great job with the cooking fore, too.”

“Thanks, I thought I wouldn’t. Ya know, in the car that first day, I was convinced that I made a horrible mistake.”

“I’m glad I knocked on your window then.”

“Why’d ya do that? Just to be nice?”

Jack looked around as he grew flustered.

“Can we, talk abou that later?”

“Of course.”

The festivities lasted until “Light’s Out” at 11pm. Medda suggested that everyone should turn in soon, as they would all have to be ready by 8am tomorrow. Race asked her, fishing for laughs, as she walked away-

“What if I just never got to bed, Miss Medda?”

“Then you would be unfit for the job, Mr. Higgins. Get some shut eye!”

The entire fire laughed at her retort.

The gang started to slowly disband. Katherine and Sarah were the last to go, hand in hand, except for Jack and Davey. Davey made a comment.

“God only knows what they’re off to do.”

“God is one lucky son of a gun.”

They both laughed at that.

They both sat there, next to the ashes of a once great fire.

Jack looked around and talked in a low tone.

“Davey.”

“Yeah, Jack.”

“I’m ready to talk about it...”

Davey gulped. This was it. He was going to tell him that it meant nothing that they always say next to each other. That talking until four in the morning wasn’t real. That these past few days weren’t an indication of anything.

“I, whew, that first day you were so nervous. Now look at me...”

Jack’s palms were sweaty and he wiped them on his pants.

“Hey, dude. It’s okay. We don’t have to talk about it.”

“No, no I want to. We need to.”

Davey’s stomach turned and he closed his eyes.

“I- shoot. I knocked on your window, because you’s were the prettiest boy I’d ever seen.

Davey opened his eyes and looked at Jack, who was now near tears.

“God, I’m real emotional about this, sorry.”

Jack took a breath and looked Davey in the eyes.

“Just, you’re perfect. And, I know we just met and all, and it’s highly unprofessional to say this but... I really think these three days have been a dream come true.”

“Oh Jack...”

Davey held out one of his hands. Jack took it with his.

“Honest, ya know... I’ve got so many friends and they’re always dating and everything but, you came along and just...”

He put his head on Davey’s shoulder and kept going.

“You’re just really nice and kind and, I don’t know, make me feel a new sorta way.”

Davey couldn’t believe it.

“You, like me, Jack?”

Jack spouted off, sarcastically as ever.

“No, it’s all an act! I caught ya in a gay lie!”

Davey laughed as Jack lifted his head and squeezed Davey’s hand.

“Nah, I do. And, nothing’s gotta happen, tonight or this summer or ever, especially since there’ll be kids and it’s a Christian camp and-“

“Your mom?”

“She doesn’t care. You’ve seen the way some of ‘em hang all over each other.”

“I know that, just wanted to check.”

“Yeah, but- like, God. You’re perfect Davey Jacobs.”

“C-Can I kiss you?”

Davey didn’t mean to say it, but he did. And Jack did. His eyes lit up and he closed the distance. It was warm. Davey had never kissed a boy before. He was certain Jack had, though.

Jack hadn’t. Coming out to himself was one thing, his family and friends was another, but to kiss a boy next to a campfire when you’re about to spend all summer with him? No, he hadn’t. Kissing girls was one thing, but this? With Davey? Was something he could never compare anything to. Jack pulled away for a second, wanting to be frank with him.

“Did you like that?”

“Do that again, Kelly.”

Davey pulled Jack back in. And that’s how they stayed, for a while. Neither could tell if it had been an hour or just a few seconds when they finally pulled away. Davey wanted to be honest.

“I’m not, out-out yet, if that could be an issue.”

“No, nah... and it doesn’t have to, nothing’s gotta come of this, ya know.“

“I know. It’s, it’s nice, though. I want it to.”

Davey leaned on Jack’s shoulder. He was so hesitant, usually. Jack Kelly might’ve been the only boy in the world who could do that to him.

“God, I was so worried I was scarin’ a closeted catholic boy away.”

Davey laughed. Everyone seemed to get that vibe from him.

“One, non-denominational. Everyone gets thrown off by that. Two, you’re not scarin me at all.”

Jack pressed a kiss to Davey’s temple and started to play with his hair.

“This okay?”

“Yeah, this is wonderful.”

They don’t know when they turned in for the night. But, 8am rolled around and camp was in session. Jack came up behind Davey, right before campers were about to enter and spoke calmly, putting his hand into David’s .

“It’s gonna be a good summer, Davey.”

“Yeah, it is, Jack.”

David gave his hand a tight squeeze as Jack walked away to unlock and the door. Upon opening the door, a boy, while looked to be no older than ten, ran to Jack and threw his arms around him.

“Cowboy!”

“Hey there, dude! How are ya?”

Davey smiled and looked at Katherine, who was standing by with the other counselors. He gave her a nod, and that was all they needed.

This summer is going to be great.

34 notes · View notes

lockerit · 5 years ago

Text

Right Hand Man /-/ Jack Kelly

< Masterlist >

A/N: I have attempted to write. I have no idea what I’m doing somebody help-

Warning: I lightly skimmed through this so it might not be edited well hhhhh it’sfuntowriteinthemiddleofthenightandit’slikemyfirsttimewritinganything’proper’forthisdamnedplaceackackack

“Y/n! Wake up or I’m leavin’ without ya!” A quiet groan escaped from your mouth as you slowly woke up to the sound of someone yelling.

A smile spread across your face at the sight of the famous leader of the Manhattan Newsies, throwing a pillow at his face with a snicker as you heard a playful whine from him.

The sun temporarily blinded you as you felt Jack’s rough hands grab yours, forcing you to stand up. “You’re no fun, Jackie! Can’t a girl get her rest? I need my beauty sleep-”

“You can get your beauty sleep once you’re done sellin’ papes. C’mon! I promise we’d sell togetha’, yeah? Well, we won’t if you don’t hurry up!” He looked at you with a smile as he left you alone to your own devices, making your heart beat ten times faster than it already did.

You had been working alongside Jack since the day you became a Newsie and you’d be lying if you said that working with him wasn’t the best part of your life. To Jack, you were his right-hand ma- woman and that’s all he needed you to be.

Yet, you always wished that he saw you in a different way but that didn’t matter. You had your team and that’s all you needed. It was Jack, Race and yo- Oh and can’t forget Crutchie! Now he wasn’t officially a part of your ‘team’ but damn, could you say no to a face like that?

Selling papes was easy, that was something you could agree on. Hey, if Jack Kelly wanted you to work alongside him then you had to be good at selling papes or it could have been he liked you for your-

You quickly shook those thoughts out of your head as you ignored the loud chatter from the other boys, hurrying down the stairs while you recalled the dream you had not too long ago.

How it unfortunate that the encounter was all a figment of your imagination but you still attempted to savor every second of it, oblivious to the fact that someone was yelling your name.

“Y/n? Y/n! Ya thinkin’ about Jackie again?” A familiar voice popped out of nowhere as a hand was placed on your shoulder, the disgusting smell of cigars filling the air.

Race was going through the same thing as you but in this case, you were going through worse. At least Jack still talked to him while you couldn’t even get him to notice you! To him, you were just another face in the crowd.

Moving your attention to Race, you spotted Albert, Finch, and Specs staring right at you with the same confused look on their faces.

Race waved his hand in front of your face, trying to shake you out of your trance. “Huh, what- Oh yeah! I’m fine, Racer and no, I am not thinking about Kelly. I have better things to do than dream about some.. some... I dunno! Now scram before I hit ya with a pack of papes!”

You watched them run away, hearing little remarks about you and Jack. “She still likes him!” “It’s a little obvious!” “Hurry up! I wanna see who decided to show up!” “Ignore them! You got me instead and we’s in this together! Plus, we got Spot on our side, no need to worry about Jack!” Race ruffled your hair before he ran off to join everyone else in Medda’s theater, following him with a small smile.

Today was the day you had been waiting for, the day where all of New York’s Newsies got together. The room was filled with kids from different places, even Flushing Newsies were here!

You felt adrenaline rush through your veins as the one and only, Spot fucking Conlon entered the room.

Everyone began cheering and rightfully so! That man... Now he’s something but everything began to go south as soon as you watch Davey and Spot shake hands.

That could have been you. Now, Davey is a sweetheart, you have to admit but you couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy in your chest as a random Newsies began asking David where he was. Everyone began to chant Jack’s name and frankly, it was getting too loud for your liking.

Of course, Davey rose up and began talking. It was impressive that he managed to shut the mouths of boys who couldn’t close their trap to save their lives but what really surprised you was what happened right after.

Jack Kelly decided to show up.

“Well, I’ll be damned..” You mumbled, earning a light punch from Henry.

As you expected, everyone began cheering once he joined the meeting and he began talking as any good leader would do but then he said something no one would have excepted to hear.

“If we disband the union-”

Everyone began revolting and yelling at him, bashing him for thinking such a thing when he was the very person to bring up the idea of a strike and what did you do?

All you did was watch. Hell, what were you supposed to do? Then you saw the very thing that ticked you off.

You couldn’t see who it exactly was but the one thing you did know that whatever he just did, whatever choice he just made, he got money out of it.

Everyone began yelling at each other as Jack ran out of the theater. Everything you and your brothers had worked so hard for fell apart in less than an hour. Jack began running to his ‘penthouse’ with the money his hands and in heat of the moment, you ran after him.

No, you weren’t as charming as Katherine and no, you weren’t as smart as Davey but there was no way in hell that you weren’t just going to let him run away from his problems.

You may have been angry at him but damn it, you cared about him to run away like that. “Have you gone mad, Kelly?! What were you thinking?! When we finally got Spot Conlon on our side, you just.. I don’t know?! Did someone come over to you and bust up your brain or somethin’?! Tell me how suddenly quitting does Crutchie any good?!”

He sighed in frustration, standing in the corner of the metal platform. “If you weren’t a goil, my fist would be in your mouth right now!” Jack snapped back, trying to keep himself away from you. Your face flushed as he spoke those words, throwing your hat at him. “Are you kidding me?! After weeks of trying to talk to you, after weeks of being replaced by Davey, a threat is the first thing you tell me?!” “Replaced? I... Y/n, what do you mean? I thought you and Davey were friends?” Jack caught your hat with ease, fumbling it nervously.

The distance between the both of you was further than you expected, shaking your head in disappointment as you began to head back to the ladder.

Just when things couldn’t get worse, the damn man you had fallen so hard for didn’t even notice how you felt about him! “Neva’ mind, you just proved my point- Let me go, Kelly!”

He grabbed your hand the same way he did in your dream, holding your hand firmly before you could leave. “Look, I’m sorry. I don’t know why you’re making a big fuss about all of this!”

“Because I love you, Jack! When I saw that you began growing closer to Davey, I didn’t bother stopping you because I didn’t think I’d get replaced but you know what really hurt?! When you told me that you were too busy to talk to me because you had more important things to deal with Katherine and Davey! Yeah, the strike is important! I get it but when you told me that, it really showed how little I mattered to you! We used to be a team! You, Race and I but then you pushed us away! You just... You stopped talking to us. You stopped talking... to me. I know it’s selfish but I just wish... I wish we could start talking again. I used to be your right-hand man, Jack. I used to have a role or somethin’ and look at me now. I’m like some old toy that’s been tossed away! Some stupid doll that serves no purpose!”

You yanked your hand away from Jack’s and wiped the stray tears that fell as you stopped rambling. Taking a moment to recollect your thoughts, you took a deep breath and looked away shamefully.

What were you thinking? Telling one of your closest friends how you really felt about him?!

Now Jack was never going to talk to you and you would have to move to Brooklyn so you didn’t have to look at his stupid, charming fac-

Your thoughts were interrupted by a tight embrace from Jack, running his hand through your hair while you buried your face into his chest.

“So you’s tellin’ me, that I made you felt like I didn’t matta’ you anymore? God, that’s terrible- I’m sorry, Y/n. I neva’ meant to hurt ya and hey, if it makes you feel any betta’, Davey and Kath are pinin’ afta’ each other-” He kept you close to him with a tired sigh, listening to your cries slowly cease.

“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean!? You better not be playin’ with me, Kelly or your face and my fist are going to get along just well!” You threatened, looking up at him with a scowl.

He looked down with you with a quiet laugh, gently placing his hand on your cheek. “Look Y/n.. I know I’ve been unfair to everyone and especially to you. I’ve been avoiding you because I was scared that if we lost everything we worked for, you’d think less of me. I didn’t want you to see how scared I really am-”

You placed your soft hands on top of his, trying to keep a positive attitude to reassure him. “Jackie, I’d never think less of you. We’ve been in this mess since the very day we first met, haven’t we? I know we’re going through tough times but I’m always here to help. You made me your right-hand man- woman for a reason.”

Jack in agreement and sighed in relief as if all of his worries were lifted up from his shoulders. He looked at you longingly as if he was trying to making a decision and nodded to himself. “I know this is a terrible time to say it but I love you, too and before you say anything, if I didn’t love you, then I wouldn’t be doing this.”

And my god, it was magical. Never in a million years, you would have thought that man you have been pining after would kiss you! To say he didn’t know what he was doing was an understatement but hey, take it or leave it right?

The kiss was later broken a part and you watched him took a few steps back, lifting up his hands in the air as if he was caught in the middle of a bank robbery. “I uh- Look Y/n, I really love ya’, I really do and I understand if what I did back there made me look like a total-”

Taking a leap of faith, you gently kissed him on the lips, your heart racing faster than it ever had. If you were being honest, you had no idea what you were doing but it was still something and in the first time in months, the both of you were happy. “You know.. you still have to talk to Katherine and Davey.“

“And for the record..” You paused and looked at Jack with a cheeky grin. “It did make you look like a total di-”

“Y/n!”

#jack kelly #jack newsies #jack x reader #davey newsies #katherine plumber #newsies #jeremy jordan #newsies broadway #this was like.. poorly check because two in the morning is a great time to write a an x reader fic-#newsies fanfiction

15 notes · View notes

thewoildis-yaerster · 5 years ago

Text

Abusus Non Tollit Usum

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five: Cats

Description: We get a closer look at the theatre nerds and Medda finds out about the plan.

Warnings: Mentions of fighting, swearing.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Who is Miss Medda, may I ask?” David questioned as the large group of students sped to a building that was disconnected from the high school. It was decently large, but it wasn’t as big as the school building.

“Spottie and I’s foster mom. Also, the drama teacher.” Jack answered.

“Call me ‘Spottie’ again and you won’t see tomorrow.” Spot spat out an empty threat.

“Ah, you love me.” They all skidded to a stop when they reached the doors. Jack tried to open them, but they were locked. He dug around in his pockets, only to pull them out empty-handed. “Hey, uh, Spot? Do you have your key?”

Said boy groaned and softly pushed Jack out of the way. “After that, you better be glad it’s more than just you and me. If it was just us, you’d be going in through the roof.” He pulled a key on a necklace out from under his shirt and unlocked a door, then held it open for everyone.

“It was just a joke!” Jack chuckled, his voice echoing through the large auditorium.

“’Thank you, Spot. Love you, Spot. You’re the best brother in the world, Spot. I don’t know what I’d do without you, Spot.’” Spot grumbled under his breath.

“Thank you, Spot. Love you, Spot. You’re the best boyfriend in the world, Spot. I don’t know what I’d do without you, Spot.” Race repeated Spot’s words and gave him a quick peck on the lips before following the line into the auditorium.

David hadn’t been in a theatre or an auditorium in such a long time. He did a few plays when he was younger, but he always got background roles because he couldn’t grasp the concept of acting. He always enjoyed it, though. He made so many friends and they were always like a huge family, but then his family had to move away and he never got back into it.

Everyone put their bags down in the back of the auditorium and moved to sit up front. After a few seconds, Buttons and Race jumped up at nearly the same time and dashed toward the stage. Buttons jumped and flipped onstage, whereas Race cartwheeled onstage. Romeo took off after them but disappeared backstage instead of staying up front. A few moments later, he came out brandishing a sword.

“Guys, look! It’s the sword I used in Romeo & Juliet in freshman year!” He shouted, pretending to stab Race with it. It was very reassuring to see them all in a better mood, but David knew the mood was going to be brought back down as soon as they told this “Miss Medda” the news.

Buttons gasped and ran backstage, then came back out wearing tap shoes. He also had a pair in his left hand and another in his right. “Tommy Boy! Specs! Mine still fit!”

Tommy Boy and Specs raced up to the stage and took the tap shoes, immediately shucking the ones on their feet and putting the others on. They began to perform a tap number in the middle of the stage, while Race and Romeo had a sword battle around them.

“Theatre nerds?” David leaned back and asked Katherine.

“Big time. Specs and Tommy Boy aren’t, though. They mainly participate in dance-centric shows. That number they’re doing right now is from Cats.” She responded with a smile on her face.

“You guys put on Cats?”

“Barely. We were in it when we were in middle school because hardly anyone in the high school wanted to do it. I played so many roles that it took me hours to scrub off all of the layers of paint they slapped on me in between songs. I know that dance, too, but my shoes probably don’t fit anymore.” She laughed.

“Oh gosh, wow.” David laughed as well. “Buttons seems to be really into Cats.”

“Oh, yeah. He’s always been into Cats. No one knows why, though. He won’t tell anyone. All he says is that it means a lot to him. He was begging Medda to let him audition long before she turned to the middle school students. He was ecstatic when she let him, but he cried when he got the part of Mr. Mistoffelees. That’s always been his dream role.”

“Who did you and the others play?” David had seen Cats once or twice in his lifetime.

“Ah, man, let’s see. I was Grizabella, Jennyanydots, and Skimbleshanks. Like I said, we were low on casting. Tommy Boy was Rumpelteazer. It was before he came out, but he enjoyed playing the role. Specs was Munkustrap. Race had multiple roles like me. He was Rum Tum Tugger, Mungojerrie, Rumpus Cat, and Macavity. I still don’t see how he pulled it off.”

“I’m just like Mungojerrie, Kath! A quick-change comedian!” Race shouted as he and Romeo fought across the rows of seats.

“You kids haven’t changed a bit!” A cheerful voice rang out through the auditorium.

“Miss Medda!” The theatre nerds (plus Jack, Spot, Specs, and Tommy Boy) exclaimed. They all dropped what they were doing and ran to her, hugging her at the same time.

“I’ve missed you all so much!” She hugged them all back and kissed them all on their foreheads.

“You see me and Jack every day, Mama Medda.” Spot had a genuine smile on his face.

“That doesn’t mean I don’t miss you during the day! Now, as much as I enjoy seeing all of you, I don’t recall posting auditions yet, so there has to be a reason all of you are here. Is Snyder after you all again?” Her smile fell and she put her hands on her hips.

“Not this time, surprisingly. It’s Pulitzer.” Jack answered.

“Pulitzer is after you?”

“Not…necessarily. We tried to get him to let us have a GSA.”

“It didn’t go well, I take it.”

“He called us disgusting, vile, and sickening, then threatened to give us detention if we didn’t leave.” Albert got out of his seat and joined the others.

Medda gasped. “He can’t say that!”

“That’s what I said!” Finch exclaimed.

“Do I need to march up there right now and give him a piece of my mind? Because I will.” Medda didn’t wait for an answer. She started walking toward the doors, but the group of kids held her back.

“No, Ma, don’t. We have a plan.” Jack’s mischievous smile spread across his face. Medda smirked and raised an eyebrow in response, a look that told Jack to explain. “The leader of our little revolution can explain it better. Davey, c’mere.”

“Okay, whoa. I wouldn’t call myself the leader. I’d consider myself the Hamilton to your Washington, except I wouldn’t cheat on my partner.” David rose from his seat and walked up to the group.

“Ma, this is Davey. He’s the one I told you I met over the summer.”

“It’s so nice to finally meet you, David! Jack’s told me so much about you.”

“Ma,” Jack whined.

“All good things, I hope. It’s nice to meet you, too, Miss Medda.”

“Oh, definitely. Almost all he did over the summer was talk about you.”

“Ma, please, stop.” Jack crossed his arms over his chest and looked away. David could’ve sworn he saw a light blush on his cheeks.

“Alright, alright. What’s the plan?” Medda laughed, then went dead serious in a matter of seconds. David outlined the plan and soon the entire group was gathered around Medda. “I believe you kids could pull it off, I do, but are you sure you’re all up for the task? We all know there are risks.” They all looked at each other, then back at Medda and nodded. “Well, you have my full support then. You know, I don’t think I have any pride items here, but there might be a rainbow-colored thing or two in the prop room.” They all gasped and took off backstage, but Medda made two of them stay behind. “Race, baby, you stay right there. Jack and I will be right back.” They exited the auditorium and stood outside. “Jack, do you like David?”

“…Yeah? He’s a pretty cool guy.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I…”

“You do, don’t you!?” Medda smiled brightly.

“I might! I don’t know!”

“Jack, you always get the goofiest grin on your face when you talk about him and let’s not pretend you don’t say his name in your sleep.”

“Oh my god, Ma. I’m going back inside.”

“Hey, we’ll talk about this more later. I’m not letting this go.”

“La, la, la, la, la. I’m not listening!”

“Send Racetrack out here!”

A few seconds later, Race came out of the back door with fear in his eyes. Before Medda could say anything, he began to ramble. “Did I do something wrong? Are you mad at me? Is Spot mad at me? Did I accidentally say something wrong? Did I-”

“Honey, no. You didn’t do anything wrong. Here, sit down.” She sat down on the back doorsteps and patted the spot beside her. He sat down and waited for her to speak this time. “Now, you don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to, but I’m a bit worried. I’ve known you for a long enough time to know that something is wrong when you aren’t wearing eyeliner.”

“I didn’t get any sleep last night. I…I was worried about what Pulitzer would say.” He looked down and fiddled with his fingers in his lap.

“Are you sure?”

Race looked up at her and shook his head, his eyes glazed over with tears. Medda smiled sympathetically and held her arms open. He nearly threw himself into her arms and broke down. She rocked him back and forth and rubbed his back.

“They fought all night again, Miss Medda. It w-was bad. When I came out of my room, m-my Mama was gone and s-so was all of her stuff. My dad went off on a business trip today and he won’t be back until n-next week. I don’t know what I’m g-gonna do, Miss Medda. I don’t want to be alone.”

***

When the final bell rang, they all exited the prop room looking like a miniature pride parade. Romeo had gotten ahold of a rainbow boa, Elmer got her hands on fake rainbow eyelashes, and Crutchie had gotten into the glitter from the looks of himself and everyone else. Medda and Race came in from outside and he immediately ran to his boyfriend.

“Do you mind if I stay with you for a few days? Medda said I could, but I just want to make sure I’m not-”

“Of course you can stay with us, babe. You’re always welcome at Chateau Larkin.” Spot chuckled, then frowned. “Is everything alright?”

“Yeah, just, uh…family issues. I’ll tell you later.”

“Alright. Hey, Jack! Race is staying with us!”

“Just don’t moan too loud! Sound from your room echoes in mine and I really don’t need to hear that!” Jack laughed while trying to pick a piece of glitter off of David’s face that was dangerously close to his eye. Spot laughed mockingly in response and started to leave the auditorium with Race.

“If you aren’t at the truck within five minutes after I get there, I’m leaving without you. I have shit to do.”

“You wouldn’t.” Jack gasped.

“Oh, I would,” Spot called over his shoulder.

“Would he?” David questioned.

“He would. He’s done it before. I’ve done it to him, too, though, so it’s alright.” Jack finally got the glitter away from David’s eye.

“If you don’t make it, I could drive you. I just have to pick my little brother up first.” David offered.

“Ah, I wouldn’t want to-”

“Nonsense. I already know what you’re going to say. If Spot’s gone, you’re riding with me. No ‘buts.’”

“Alright, jeez. You know, I’m kind of excited to meet your little brother. From what you’ve said about him, he sounds like a cool little guy.”

“You two are just alike, believe me. You’ll get along perfectly.”

12 notes · View notes

gokinjeespot · 5 years ago

Text

off the rack #1283

Monday, October 14, 2019

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to one and all. Thank-you for reading this. The Jee Gang gathered for a turkey dinner yesterday with the littlest 2-month-old Ashton being passed around like a hot potato because he was tired and cranky. His mom got him settled but you couldn't hear his tiny cries for the raucous noise from his cousins. The kids took over the larger formal dining room now that they outnumber us old folks. It was a nice big family affair.

Gwenpool Strikes Back #3 - Leah Williams (writer) David Baldeon (art) Jesus Aburtov (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). Gwenpool tries to save herself from cancellation by holding a "Contest of Champions" in this issue. Guest stars galore. This thing is so much fun.

Catwoman #16 - Joelle Jones (story & art) Laura Allred (colours) Saida Temofonte (letters). I'm glad I checked the credits on this issue since I said that I was going to let this cat out after reading last issue. I will always read a book by Joelle Jones even though this one had me befuddled with some jumping back and forth in time and the added "Year of the Villain" thing. I am curious to find out Catwoman's decision.

Loki #4 - Daniel Kibblesmith (writer) Oscar Bazaldua (pencils) Oscar Bazaldua & Victor Olazaba (inks) David Curiel & Carlos Lopez (colours) VC's Clayton Cowles (letters). I love a good trickster. Loki uses a good one to defeat Nightmare. I like this Loki.

Detective Comics #1013 - Peter J. Tomasi (writer) Doug Mahnke (pencils) Keith Champagne & Christian Alamy (inks) David Baron (colours) Rob Leigh (letters). It's Batman versus Mister Freeze as the super villain tries to resurrect his dead wife. Batman's flame thrower costume is a cosplayer's wet dream

Doctor Doom #1 - Christopher Cantwell (writer) Salvador Larroca (art) Guru-eFX (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). This was a pleasant surprise. The art caught my eye but the story is really good too. There's no sign of the good guy Sorcerer Supreme from a while ago. Just good old fashioned arrogant Victor. He scoffed at a new technology to reverse global warming and is accused of being jealous of it because it was invented by Reed Richards and Tony Stark. When disaster strikes, Latveria is blamed and Doctor Doom sacrifices himself for his country. The mystery is who framed him and I will keep reading to find out.

Web of the Black Widow #2 - Jody Houser (writer) Stephen Mooney (art) Triona Farrell (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). What the!? Two Black Widows? Doctor Doom isn't the only one being framed for murder. I liked the clever cut-out on Nat's bathing suit.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #11 - Saladin Ahmed (writer) Ze Carlos (art pages 1-8) Ig Guara (art pages 9-20) Dono Sanchez-Almara with Protobunker (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). Miles must solve the super hero's dilemma of saving a family member or a stranger's life. His decision leads to a confrontation with the Prowler. Is it Uncle Aaron? I can't wait to find out.

White Fox #1 - Alyssa Wong (writer) Kevin Libranda & Geoffo (art) Israel Silva (colours)

VC's Joe Sabino (letters). Another Agent of Atlas super hero gets her origin story told. She's based on Korean folklore. It was very well done and almost makes me want to read the new team book. There's also a peek at the Future Avengers by Alyssa Wong (writer), Ale Garza (art), Dono Sanchez-Almara with Protobunker (colours) and VC's Joe Sabino (letters). They're an Asian version of the Young Avengers but these guys used to be Hydra agents in training. Read on if you're wondering what turned them into good guys.

Age of Conan Valeria #3 - Meredith Finch (writer) Aneke (art) Andy Troy (colours) VC's Travis Lanham (letters). I wish the art inside was a nice as the Jay Anacleto cover.

Marvel Action Spider-Man #9 - Delilah S. Dawson (writer) Fico Ossio (art) Ronda Pattison (colours) Shawn Lee (letters). The Black Cat gets caged as the kids finally work together and start to treat each other with respect. Next, things get even darker as Venom attacks.

Batman 100 Page Giant #1 - There are five superb stories in this $4.99 US one-shot and you'll feel like you just read five $3.99 comic books when you hit the last page. The only story that was disappointing was the Batwoman story mainly because she was fighting a lame villain named Lord Death Man. It was written by Steve Orlando, who has never impressed me. The other four stories more than make up for it though, especially Scott Snyder's lengthy contribution. This book is a steal at twice the price.

The Amazing Spider-Man #31 - Nick Spencer (writer) Ryan Ottley (pencils) Cliff Rathburn (inks) Nathan Fairbairn (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). More hints are given to the secret identity of the super villain Kindred. Definitely related to Norman Osborn. That mystery is the only thing keeping me reading this book. As if the waters weren't muddy enough, the guy in the straight jacket isn't even Norman. I hope we don't get strung along too much longer because there will come a point where I say screw it, I don't care anymore.

Batman Universe #4 - Brian Michael Bendis (writer) Nick Derington (art) Dave Stewart (colours) Josh Reed & Tom Napolitano (letters). I don't mind this time traveling if it means that we see Batman and Green Lantern team up with Jonah Hex. The chase is on as Vandal Savage gets his hands on his prize. I know I've said that I don't like time travel and Vandal Savage, but this is a Bendis book and I'm a sucker.

Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy #2 - Jody Houser (writer) Adriana Melo (pencils) Mark Morales (inks) Hi-Fi (colours) Gabriela Downie (letters). I think the Floronic Man chowed down on Swampthing and Ivy is next on his menu. Well, it's Harley to the rescue and the girls seek help from a fellow super villain to see what's wrong with Ivy. I'm reading this because it looks so pretty.

Powers of X #6 - Jonathan Hickman (writer) R.B. Silva & Pepe Larraz (art) Marte Gracia & David Curiel (colours) VC's Clayton Cowles (letters). The house is built and the power has been connected for a new X-verse. Jonathan Hickman has managed to make mutants relevant again for me. There are a half a dozen new mutant books coming out in the next six weeks starting with X-Men #1 hitting the racks October 16. I'll be reading them all to see how I feel about them but I can't imagine that they'll be all worthwhile.

Event Leviathan #5 - Brian Michael Bendis (writer) Alex Maleev (art) Josh Reed (letters). I'm curious to find out who Leviathan is but it's not going to have a big impact on me since I'm not a huge DC fan. I'm sure DC fans might be able to suss out the secret given the Manhunter clue in this issue but I'm going to have to wait until next issue when all is revealed.

Joker/Harley: Criminal Sanity #1 - Kami Garcia (writer) Mico Suayan & Mike Mayhew (art) Richard Starkings of Comicraft (letters). I love new and different takes on iconic characters and this one is a killer. Harleen Quinzel is Doctor Harley Quinn, GCPD profiler, who is working a 5-year-old cold case of the murder of a hospital employee. Meanwhile there are other new murders landing on her desk. The writing is tight and the characterisations are vivid, helped by the beautiful art. Mico's black and white art chronicles the present while Mike's gorgeous colour art handles the flashbacks. DC's Black Label imprint is well worth checking out if you're a mature reader. This mystery not only looked good but made me feel good after I finished reading. I can't wait to find out what happens next.

Contagion #2 - Ed Brisson (writer) Stephen Segovia (art) Veronica Gandini (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). I know I said that I wasn't going to read any more of this 5-issue mini but this was on the racks with the awesome Power Man and Iron Fist cover so I snagged one after I finished reading all the others for the week. This issue was better thought out and the story flowed smoothly. Ben takes Sue, Reed and Johnny to Doctor Strange for help and the two of them go back to Yancy Street to contain the infectious bad guy. Danny and Luke are there helping the first responders and a couple of surprise super heroes show up too. The villain is briefly subdued but Doc Strange and Power Man succumb to the disease at the end. Uh-oh. The next issue teaser has Jessica Jones so that's reason enough for me to want to read it.

3 notes · View notes

akingsfool · 6 years ago

Text

I’m Sorry

Modern AU

Warning: character death

Jack had been pinning over Davey for months. Crutchie had finally talked enough sense into Jack to ask him out. Crutchie knew Davey liked Jack back, because he was the only one who had actual communication skills. Sometimes it seemed like Crutchie did all the work.

So Davey and Jack had been dating for about a year. Jack was at the apartment he shared with Crutchie, waiting for Davey to show up. It was the newsies annual movie night and Davey was already late. It was unlike Davey, to be late. That boy was always on time. And if he was gonna be late, he called ahead.

Race’s phone started to ring. Jack eagerly looked at the screen. ‘Incoming call from Spotify’ it said. Jack frowned as Race answered.

“Hey, Spotty, what’s up?” Race asked. Jack couldn’t hear what was going on at the other end. Race made a noise that sounded like an ‘ok’, and hung up the phone. “He said that he’s gonna be late. Oh, and he had Les with him, but hasn’t seen Davey since he left his house.”

Jack bit his lip and wrung his hands together. Not only was it Davey in the car, but also Sarah and Smalls. The boy jumped when his phone rang. Lunging at it, he picked it up and held it to his ear.

“Hello?” Jack asked after a moment of silence. He quickly noted that the voice speaking back to him was not Davey.

“Is this Jack Kelly?” the woman asked. Jack furrowed his brows and stood up, ignoring the confused looks he got from Crutchie and Race.

“Yeah, this is Jack,” Jack stood frozen, unsure of what to do. He didn’t know what to feel. Sure, he had gotten calls like this before. Like when Race got a concussion, or when Romeo broke his leg. But this was Davey that was in trouble, and he was not prepared.

“You are the emergency contact for David Jacobs, Sarah Jacobs, and Vanessa Larkin,” the nurse said. Jack’s heart sank and an uneasy feeling pooled in his stomach. “They had a bad accident, only Miss Larkin is conscious.” Jack rushed to the door, grabbing his keys and slipping on his shoes. Jack hung up the phone and bolted out of the door.

“I’m here for David, and Sarah Jacobs and Vanessa Larkin,” Jack said in between puffs of air. The nurse nodded and told him the room number. Jack searched frantically, panicking. He hadn’t panicked this much since he had a bad run in with the Delancey’s. Jack found the door, but before he could open it a doctor came out.

“How are they?” Jack asked, shoving his keys into his pants pocket. The doctor sighed, slowly putting down his clipboard.

“Critical condition,” the doctor sighed. “Vanessa was in the back seat when it happened. We’re lucky she’s even awake. Vanessa is suffering from a broken arm and a concussion. Sarah is suffering from blood loss, two fractured ribs, a broken nose, and a punctured lung. David is suffering from blood loss, a broken hand, and three broken ribs.”

“But, they’re gonna be ok, right?” Jack asked cautiously. His emotions were already on high, he didn’t know how much more he could take. But he had to know.

“Vanessa is fine. Sarah has a 70% chance of surviving,” the doctor said, turning to leave. Sarah and Smalls will be fine.

“What about David?” Jack asked, turning the door knob. The doctor turned and faced Jack.

“Mr. Jacobs has a less than a 50% chance of survival. Even if he does survive, he won’t be the same,” and with that, the doctor was gone. Jack stood there, frozen. Davey couldn’t die. No, he’d be fine, right? Jack pushed the door open and almost started crying.

Sarah was unconscious, looking like she just got hit by a buss. Smalls looked better than Sarah, but not by much. Davey looked the worst. Blood matted his hair and his clothes. Jack gave Smalls a fake smile. Smalls didn’t buy it for a second.

“He’ll be ok, Jack,” she said in a soft, quiet voice. “He has to be.” Jack could feel himself break into a million pieces. It felt like someone punched him in the gut a thousand times. Slowly, Jack crossed the room and sat in a chair next to Davey’s bed.

Davey looked peaceful. He wasn’t worrying about being on time. Wasn’t worried about Les or Sarah. Wasn’t worried bout grades or work. And it broke Jack. He wanted Davey to be relaxed, to be at peace. But not when he had a less than a 50% chance of coming out of this alive.

Jack didn’t even realize he was crying until his vision became blurry. He grabbed Davey’s hand, the one that wasn’t broken, and cried.

“You can’t do this, Davey,” he said quietly. “You can’t go. You have to stay. Sarah needs you, Les needs you, I need you. We all need you Davey.” Jack knew Davey couldn’t hear him, but he hopes he could. If Davey was gonna die today, then he needed to know these things.

“I’m never good at this. I never have been. I can illustrate, but you can create worlds with words. You once told me it was pointless to count things,” Jack cried, his bottom lip quivered. “But I know you have exactly 53 freckles going across your nose and cheeks. I know that your eyes sparkle when you get excited or ace a test, and it’s so cute. You don’t really give hugs but when you do they’re the best damn hugs in the world. You’re willing to sit there for hours while I rant to you about everything under the sun.

“You’re always there to tell me when an idea is stupid, so you fix it and then help me do the thing. You get into debates all the time and never lose your cool. You correct the teacher and stand up to homophobic people. Honestly, I don’t even know why you’re with me. You’re smart, organized, top of your class. And I’m just some guy who couldn’t care less about school.”

Jack didn’t care that Davey, most likely, couldn’t hear him. He had to say these things. Davey has to know. “You didn’t deserve to be in that accident. I should have gone to get Sarah and Smalls. I wish I could fix this. To just go back and redo it. But I can’t. I can’t fix this. I just want you to be ok. I want to see your beautiful smile again. I want you to tell me that I’m an idiot. I don’t want this to be how it ends. But, I know how this story goes. Happened with my mom and dad, but I never thought I’d happen to you. God, Davey, I want you to know how much I love you.”

Davey’s heart monitor went silent. Jack bit his lip and closed his eyes, squeezing Davey’s limp hand. Jack went home that night to an empty apartment. It was well after two in the morning. But Jack couldn’t sleep. He curled up into a ball, laying on the bed that he used to share with Davey. He cried. He cried all night until he fell asleep.

A few months later and Sarah and Smalls were home. They held Davey’s funeral a few days after Sarah and Smalls were discharged from the hospital. After that, Jack didn’t go out as much. He didn’t smile, he didn’t laugh. He stopped painting. Nothing looked as beautiful now that Davey was gone. Jack visited his grave, everyday. It was the only time he went out, other than for food.

“There hasn’t been a day that I didn’t think about you. And, it’s starting to hurt,” he said one day as he sat in front of Davey’s grave. “I can’t even look at a picture of you without crying. But I can’t bring myself to take them down. Your clothes are still in our dresser, your books still on the desk, your shows are still recording.

“Do you remember that letter you gave me?” Jack asked as if Davey was right in front of him. “You told me to wait until I was having a bad day to read it. I read it everyday, Dave, every. Single. Day. When I wake up, and before I go to bed. I’m sorry, Davey. I’m so, so sorry.”

Jack left two letters on his bed that night. The one Davey gave him, and one of his own. Crutchie walked into Jack’s room in the morning, going to tell Jack that breakfast was ready. But no one was there. Jack’s windows were closed and hid bed was made. Curious, Crutchie picked up Davey’s letter and read it out loud.

“Dear, Jack,

If you’re reading this, it means you’ve had a bad day. Or, a lot of bad days. I want you to know that you can keep going. You will pull through, I believe in you. You are smart, kind, loyal, and a goofball. You can do it.

I love you,

Davey”

Crutchie picked up the next letter, Jack’s letter, and began to read it out loud.

“Dear, Crutchie,

I’m Sorry. I couldn’t do it. Nothing has been the same since Davey….y’know. I can’t look at a picture of him without breaking down. Looking at Sarah or Les hurts. I think about him everyday, and it hurts. I can’t do this anymore, Crutchie, I can’t. Tell Medda and Smalls I love them. Don’t let Race get into stupid fights and don’t let Spot fight anyone. Albert isn’t allowed to touch the DVD player and Race can’t have alcohol. Romeo is not allowed to flirt with random people and Finch isn’t allowed in trees.

I’m sorry, Crutchie. I really, really am. It’s a lot, I know. But you can do it. I couldn’t, not without Davey. Davey told me to pull through and to be strong, but I couldn’t. Life just loses meaning when the light of your life is gone.

I’m so, so sorry,

Jack”

Tears were streaming down Crutchies cheeks. He sat on Jack’s bed and cried. They lost one friend, and now they lost two.

i cried while writing this, anon. hope ya like it

#newsies #newsies fanfic #newsies live #jack kelly #jack #davey jacobs #davey #les #sarah #smalls #spot #race #crutchie morris #crutchie #jeremy jordan #finch writes stuff

41 notes · View notes

2-for-a-penny · 6 years ago

Text

A Train and A Tumble pt.1

New multichapter Fic! ButtonsxTommy Boy moden au, they work in a train store warehouse!

Masterlist Archive

ENJOY!!!

Buttons pulled open the backdoor to the warehouse and entered. He laid down his stuff and waved to everyone already at work at their stations. He clocked in as his manager, Finch, was walking over.

“Hey Buttons, how were classes today?”

Buttons looked up from the computer and smiled at the guy asking. “Same old same old, they talked I listened, I may or may not have learned stuff. The usual.”

Finch smiled at the sarcasm and handed him a stack of papers. “Once you clock in I need you to pick these orders, shits about to get crazy soon with the holidays coming up.”

Buttons took the papers and began to file through them as he walked away towards the shelves. “Got it.” He called over his shoulder. Finch nodded and went back to processing orders.

Buttons glided through the warehouse, his feet taking him where he needed to go without thinking. Buttons knew this place like the back of his hand. A small warehouse with sixty or so shelves, jam packed with model trains, rails, and tiny houses alike. The smell of cardboard filled the musty room. Buttons continued along his path, scanning the paper in his hands, and expertly dodging the boxes half hanging off of the shelves around him. When he found the shelf he was searching for, he glanced down at the paper, and picked up the box with the correct label. Double checking himself, like the perfectionist he is, he carried the train over to the next open cart with the order form.

“Are you sure that’s the right train?” Buttons heard a voice call from the side. He turned to see a redhead calling from her computer in the corner of the warehouse.

“Yes, I’m positive Katherine. That was the only Railking on that shelf.” He called back to her. He walked over to her work station, she was dressed in the average warehouse clothes; a t-shirt, shorts, tennis shoes, and her long red locks were in a loose bun atop of her head. She smiled teasingly at him while she continued printing out the shipping labels for the boxes sitting in front of her. There was an entire full cart waiting to be processed, this was unusual for Katherine as she was normally a very fast worker and liked to stay ahead of the packers.

“Forget about me, looks like you’re a little behind there Kathy, something wrong?” Buttons asked jokingly. Katherine sighed dramatically and flopped her head down onto her head on the desk.

“Everything is wrong my dear Buttons! When is life ever right?” She exclaimed loudly, causing Mike and Ike to look up from the boxes they were packing, and give her a shake of their heads as they resumed their tasks.

“Awe what’s wrong Kathy?” Buttons asked consolingly.

“There is a temptress, she haunts my dreams! Everytime I close my eyes, there she stands, beckoning me! I feel her gaze, and she draws me in. Those eyes, those lips, I shant look away!” Buttons let out a small laugh at her elizabethan monologue and lightly pat her on the back. Buttons thought she was ridiculous. Katherine had been in love with the girl from inventory since she walked by to get a cupcake from the breakroom about a month prior. Katherine since then, had refused to go back into the inventory section, for fear she might make a fool of herself falling of a stool or something. This left Buttons to do all of the work that occured in that section of the warehouse.

“It’s the girl from inventory isn’t it.”

“Yes! How dare she just walk around like that!” Katherine declared.

“Walk around like what?”

“All pretty, and sweet, and perfect and stuff. Ya know?” Katherine looked up at Buttons hopelessly. He took pity on her poor soul. She was just a tired lesbian trying to make her way through life. He could relate...sort of.

“Yeah Kathy, I know.” She just continued to look at Buttons with her puppy dog eyes and finally he huffed.

“How about I talk to Medda and Nunzio and see if I can find out anything about her?” Katherine’s eyes lit up as she hugged Buttons tightly around the waist.

“Thank you! Have I ever told you how much I love you?”

“Not nearly enough.” She released him from her death grip, and quickly got back to processing the boxes on the cart, at a much faster pace now. Buttons rolled his eyes and grabbed an empty supply box, and made his way back to inventory.

Walls of rolly carts filled with stacks and stacks of trains and tracks waiting to be put into the system surrounded Buttons. He fluidly walked through the dangerous rows, careful not to break anything, and arrived at the first desk located in the very back. An old man with glasses and a rather fantastic mustache sat at the computer, staring at the pile of small matchbox cars laying on the desk. He let out a thoughtful noise, then quickly rose and grabbed a small cardboard container, and swiftly fit all of the cars neatly inside. He grabbed the sticker with the item ID and placed it onto the box, then moved it onto the cart next to the desk.

Buttons cleared his throat and the old man turned his head.

“Buttons! Long time no see!” The man said cheerfully. Buttons smiled at his enthusiasm and offered the man the empty container in his hands.

“I worked full time three days last week. I didn’t see you.” The man accepted the box and carefully balanced it on the stack that was currently taller than Buttons.

“Oh, I was on vacation last week, that explains it.” The two stood in comfortable silence before the man spoke again.

“So what brings you back here?” Buttons shook his head and smiled, “Can’t a guy just want to see you Nunzio?” Nunzio had been nice to Buttons since day one. He was the one that checked on Buttons every night. Making sure David knew if Buttons was working later that night, and getting him secret snacks, and showing him around the warehouse. Nunzio was sort of like Buttons and Katherine’s work father. They both loved him, and his semi elderly ways.

“They can.” He answered back, “But I know you have a purpose. You don’t normally come back here until the end of the day.”

Buttons put his hands up and let out a small laugh. “You caught me. I had a few questions, and maybe a favor to ask.”

“Shoot.”

“Okay, so you know the girl in inventory?”

“The one with the long hair, and also the only one back here under 40?”

“Yeah her.”

“Go on.”

“Well, our dearest friend Katherine, has a little crush on said girl.” Buttons explained.

“Ahhhh, so she sent you back here to find out more information and such on her.”

“Precisely.” Buttons responds with a curt nod of his head.

“Well, I can tell you, she and Katherine are probably soulmates.” Buttons laughed at this strange proclamation.

“What makes you say that?”

“They are the same person; twins in a different life if you believe in that sort of thing. They have the same attitude, and spunk. I think they would be good for each other.” Buttons grinned.

“I’m sure Katherine will be glad to hear that.” Nunzio smiled and shooed him off.

“Now get going, we both have work to do.” Buttons waved as he walked off, back to his station. He grabbed more sheets, getting ready to go on the hunt when Finch walked up to his station.

“Hey Finch.” Finch smiled in response and looked down at the clipboard in front of him.

“Hi Buttons. So quick question. With the holiday season coming up, are you still okay to work nights? I know school is going to start getting a little tougher with finals and everything. But you’re still okay with your normal hours?”

“Absolutely, if I ever need a day off I will let you know.” Buttons replied happily. Finch wrote something on his clipboard and focused on the paper in front of him, scrutinizing the words as he read them.

“Good, because we have a new guy that’s going to start here tomorrow. He’s a packer and he’s going to be working the late shifts with you. I think he actually attends the same school as you.” Buttons took in what was being said to him. He couldn’t help but feel a little sad. He really liked working the late shifts. He could play his music as loud as he wanted and charge across the warehouse without a worry for bumping into someone, or someone catching him mouthing the tune playing in his ear. It was also just more peaceful later. The whole place has a comforting silence about it. As much as he was going to miss being able to dance around while walking to the pickups, he was pretty sure the new person wouldn’t change much else. He probably wouldn’t even want to talk to Buttons anyway.

“Sounds cool. What’s his name?”

“Tommy Boy.” Buttons frowned. That’s a weird name.

Finch let out a small laugh. “Yeah, sure, go ahead and judge someone’s name, Buttons.”

Buttons scowled at the man in front of him. “Isn’t it time for you to go home Finch?” Finch checked the watch in his wrist and his eyes lit up.

“Thank God, you’re right.” He turned to address the full time workers of the warehouse. “Let’s wrap it up ya’ll!” He turned to head back to his station and Buttons plugged his headphones in. He walked around as the other workers filtered out around him. He could faintly hear “bye Buttons” and “See ya later”. He nodded in acknowledgement and continued the task at hand. When the warehouse was finally empty, save for him of course, Buttons took a deep breath and smiled softly, taking in his last day of peace in the small, dusty, dirty warehouse that he wouldn’t trade for the world.

Taglist (ask to be added)

@insane-tomato

@madiwest00

@thatpoorguysheadisspinning

@auspicioustarantula

#newsies #newsies liv #2forapenny fic #buttons #tommy boy newsies #buttons newsies

5 notes · View notes

hesthekingofsomewhere · 6 years ago

Text

Yet Another Chatfic pt 5

part 1 I 2 I 3 I 4

this is a long chapter! and im posting it ahead of schedule! bc I love yall!

please leave comments! likes! I love feedback!

Also! this chapter has a peek into sarah, finch, and alberts groupchat

Queens of New York

8:15

santagay: say yeet if you made it home alive

DJacobs: Yeet!

SJ420: yeet

richbitch: yeet

Spot8365631: yeet

respecs: yeet

albiehadalittlelamb: yeet

WhereforeArtThou: yeet

noteventhatshort: yeet

SJ420: wheres finchy boy?

littlebirdie: still at their apt

littlebirdie: oh right

littlebirdie added crispycrutch to Queens of New York

PM with albiehadalittlelamb

santagay: al, finch slept over

albiehadalittlelamb: yeah ik?

santagay: i hate to say this and be that guy, but al, he slept in crutchies room

santagay: ik whats its like to be cheated on, and i never thought i would be having this conversation about finch but I dont want you to get hurt.

albiehadalittlelamb: ill ask finch, im sure nothing happened

PM with littlebirdie

albiehadalittlelamb: did my fake bf cheat on me?

littlebirdie: …

albiehadalittlelamb: GET SOME BOIII

littlebirdie: lmao so your not mad?

albiehadalittlelamb: why would I be mad? even if we were dating id be chill about this, ik you have a huge thing for crutchie and lord knows youd never get any action from me

albiehadalittlelamb: the only problem is that jack thinks your cheating on me

littlefinch: ok so should we fake-break up? cuz i kind of dont want to, but if jack thinks im cheating on you…

albiehadlittlelamb: i have a plan

albiehadalittlelamb: does crutchie know that were fake dating?

littlebirdie: ye, theres no way i would even be allowed into his room if we were actually dating

albiehadalittlelamb: ok but heres the thing, if jack thinks you cheated on me, then race probably thinks the same

littlebirdie: oooHHHHHH

littlebirdie: so now im also fake cheating on you so that race will feel bad and fall for you and your sad situation

albiehadalittlebird: exactly!

littlebirdie: nice! what could possibly go wrong

Queens of New York

respecs: so why is this chat called queens of new york

inyourFACEtrack: well you see…

inyourFACEtrack: twas all hallows eve 2017

inyourFACEtrack: and 7 of us showed up to kaths halloween as drag queens completely independantly

noteventhatshort: and sarah kath jack and i were dressed as disney princesses

respecs: thats beautiful

respecs: and here i thought it was bc ?everyone? here is lbgtq

santagay: well if you think about it, its both

richbitch: when was the last time we even had a straight in this chat?

crispycrutch: i think we had morris in the chat for a week when he was dating romeo

santagay: oh god i forgot about that

SJ420: does he even count as a straight?

inyourFACEtrack: well there was a reason he was only in the chat for a week so…

santagay: true, speaking of which

santagay: specs, if you ever hurt romeo, we will find out where you live and steal all of you soap lest you ever get a date again

respecs: noted?

SJ420: he gave me the same threat when I started dating kath lmao

santagay: it worked didnt it?

SJ420: im hate you

santagay: you loved me once loser

WhereforeArtThou: oh shit he went there

inyourFACEtrack: oooooooooooo

crispycrutch: ??????

SJ420: once upon a time i thought i was a het, and then i dated jack for like 2 months

SJ420: and 90% of our relationship was checking out pretty girls together

SJ420: so i figured i should date those pretty girls

noteventhatshort: BIG MOOD

SJ420: for the record the other 10% of the relationship was jack checking out “cute” boys and me being like eh

santagay: and herre i thought you were just trying to stop me from being jealous

SJ420: jack at one point i kissed another girl in front of you and you did not care

noteventhatshort: AHHH

inyourFACEtrack: OOOF

richbitch: AN ICON

santagay: ok well

SJ420: don’t even try bud

DJacobs: That’s my sister!!!!!

santagay: but at least you didnt hide it

santagay: at least you werent kissing people behind my back like SOME people in this chat

SJ420: ????

Spot8365631: i thought you were over that

santagay: i am i just need to have moral high ground over someone

inyourFACEtrack: wait what

noteventhatshort: is this chat just stories of jack getting cheated on now?

richbitch: im living for this

richbitch: jack cant keep a man nor woman

noteventhatshort: but whats this about spot cheating on jack?

santagay: he BROKE my FRAGILE 15 y/o HEART

santagay: but spottie was too cool, lived too fast, couldnt be tied down to one man

Spot8365631: also david was a much better kisser

SJ420: OH SHIT PLOT TWIST

richbitch: CALLED OUT

inyourFACEtrack: 911? theres been a murder?

DJacobs: This…. is true.

inyourFACEtrack: THE LEGEND HIMSELF SPEAKS

respecs: i am living for the drama in this chat

crispycrutch: were kind of a mess tbh

respecs: i understand and completely respect that

inyourFACEtrack: you reSPECt that?

respecs: haha very funny not like thats my goddamn username or anything

Spot8365631: roasted

inyourFACEtrack: bitch

inyourFACEtrack: YO JACK ROMEO, GOT MY MFN 29TH

santagay: fuck offfffff

WhereforeArtThou: this bet is unfair

WhereforeArtThou: im only attracted to one gender, thats less than half the people to ask

santagay: dude ur still winning

WhereforeArtThou: yeah but its a lot more work

inyourFACEtrack: i only have 1 girls number, i think its p even

santagay: this seems like something you should have considered when we started

WhereforeArtThou: ok but consider this

WhereforeArtThou: i didnt

inyourFACEtrack: ok but consider this

inyourFACEtrack: ur a dumbass

WhereforeArtThou: strong words coming from a guy who threw a wii remote out the window

noteventhatshort: fight fight fight fight

inyourFACEtrack: my embarrassments are not ur entertainment smalls

noteventhatshort: ur embarrassments are my only entertainment what r u talking about

Spot8365631: also everything you do is embarrassing

inyouFACEtrack: i feel betrayed

santagay: you should

santagay: i once saw u put hot chocolate mix in oj

inyourFACEtrack: it tastes like a terrys chocolate orange i stand by my choices

crispycrutch: you snorted mr noodles seasoning bc spot told you to

inyourFACEtrack: and i got 20$ for it

Spot8365631: u didnt “””get”””” 20$ ur debt to me was just slightly reduced

inyourFACEtrack: EITHER WAY

crispycrutch: once i watched u drop a spoon into a pot of boiling water and stick ur hand in to get it

inyourFACEtrack: i think ur point has been made, thnk u crutchie

Spot8365631: please do not stop, hes had it coming

crispycrutch: i will stop only bc i value my safety and so i still have receipts for the future

inyourFACEtrack: oh god

inyourFACEtrack: why did i think it was a good idea to live with you

crispycrutch: bc you love me and i contribute to the rent

inyourFACEtrack: touche

crispycrutch: besides, i would have dirt on you regardless

crispycrutch: i have seen each and every one of you do stupid stuff, no one is safe

inyourFACEtrack: mooooom crutchies being meannnn

DJacobs: Crutchie, please delete your blackmail.

crispycrutch: how can i delete it when its in my brain

santagay: i have never been more scared of crutchie

SJ420: crutchie is my idol

crispycrutch: that does not make you safe my friend

SJ420: honestly at this point you could reveal anything about me and i would not care

SJ420: i have reached a god status where nothing you say could possibly embarrass me

richbitch: im so in love with you

SJ420: love you too babe

PM with SJ420

richbitch: ik youre in the next room but i dont want dave to hear, but I got a dinner reservation for two tomorrow at 7 and was wondering if you would like to join me

SJ420: i mean of course, but why are you asking me like this

richbitch: because

richbitch: also you should wear that dress you got for christmas

SJ420: ok?

More Than Just Cigars

SJ420: kath is acting weird

albiehadalittlelamb: what kind of weird

albiehadalittlelamb: like “i just lost a lot of money” weird

albiehadalittlelamb: “i just took a bunch of acid” weird?

littlebirdie: oh no is it “i just slept with jack” weird?!

SJ420: oh god no

SJ420: she texted me and asked me on a date

SJ420: i asked her why and she said because

littlebirdie: !!!!!!!!!

littlebirdie: DID SHE ASK YOU TO WEAR SOMETHING SPECIFIC

SJ420: ye, a dress from christmas

albiehadalittlelamb: OH MYYYYY GODDDDDDDD

littlebirdie: GIRL

SJ420: what????

littlebirdie: jfc ur blind

albiehadalittlelamb: if u havent caught on yet we cant morally help u srry

SJ420: GUYS PLEASE

littlebirdie: nope

albiehadalittlelamb: have fun on ur date tho

PM with santagay

albiehadalittlelamb: oh yeah finch did not, in fact cheat on me

albiehadalittlelamb: he was just making up with crutchie last night, they had a fight

santagay: and u trust finch in this

albiehadalittlelamb: ofc, ive known finch a long time, he would never

santagay: ok if you insist, i just dont want you to get hurt

albiehadalittlelamb: thanks jack

Queens of New York

littlebirdie: anyone else just, super glad that theyre gay?

littlebirdie: bc thats such an important feeling

DJacobs: Me too, Finch

Spot8365631: rt

SJ420: rt

noteventhatshort: rt

WhereforeArtThou: rt

albiehadalittlelamb: rt

santagay: rt but bi

inyourFACEtrack: rt but bi

richbitch: rt but bi

respecs: rt but bi

crispycrutch: rt but pan

littlebirdie has changed Queens of New York to Queers of New York

inyourFACEtrack: helllllll yeah

Spot8365631: no cussing, my mom checks my phone

inyourFACEtrack: oh my goodness im so sorry spot

inyourFACEtrack: ill delete the message right away

DJacobs: What?

DJacobs: Why does your mom check your messages, Spot?

DJacobs: You’re 23 and moved out?

DJacobs: Also I’m pretty sure I’ve seen you swear in this chat.

DJacobs: This is a meme, isn’t it?

santagay: u got there on ur own!

santagay: im so proud of u!

DJacobs: Thank you, Jack.

inyourFACEtrack: why does it feel like everyone is in loving and healthy relationships except me?

PM with inyourFACEtrack

Spot8365631: wow rude

inyourFACEtrack: were not in a relationship remember?

Queers of New York

DJacobs: Jack and I are not dating.

santagay: dude, were mom and dad, i think that’s close enough

respecs: question, in this mom/dad thing, who is everyone else

santagay: kath and sarah are the aunts obvi

inyourFACEtrack: smalls, romeo, crutchie, al, and i are their kids

inyourFACEtrack: finch used to be one of the kids but now hes dating al so that seems weird

inyourFACEtrack: i guess hes sarahs kid now?

SJ420: awwww i love my new son

respecs: what about spot?

santagay: hes kind of… his own entity… like an estranged uncle or neighbor that spends more time in ur house than his own

Spot8365631: rude but accurate

santagay: thats my name dont wear it out

Spot8365631: i hate you sm

santagay: then y r u always in my house???

Spot8365631: this metaphor has gone to far. blocked deleted and unfollowed.

santagay: honestly? thats fair

santagay: i respect ur choices

Spot8365631: sounds fake but ok

PM with Spot8365631

inyourFACEtrack: in a beautiful twist of fate, crutchie jack are going to see a movie with davey and kath, and im home alone with a meat lovers pizza on its way

Spot8365631: ok?

inyourFACEtrack: would you care to join me?

Spot8365631: no, sounds too much like a date, and were not in a relationship right?

inyourFACEtrack: dude, were friends, sharing a pizza, and maybe having anal sex

inyourFACEtrack: thats not a date its just what we do

Spot8365631: still no, i have to finish a foreign policy essay for tomorrow

inyourFACEtrack: oh ok

20 notes · View notes

krustywhore · 7 years ago

Text

beat and broken spirits

ok i made you guys wait long enough for this lmao (title is from the musical jasper in deadland)

tw: violence and depression (mild suicidal thoughts if you interpret them that way)

thanks to the lovely anon that requested this fic!!! here’s a little long-anticipated au in which jack goes to the refuge instead of crutchie

Jack knew it was stupid. He knew he was abandoning his newsies and virtually all of Manhattan, but he couldn’t care less. He knew Race had been dying to actually do something as his second in command and with Davey there, they’d be able to hold down the fort just fine.

Davey.

God, it had only been a day and he already missed him. Besides, he had no way of knowing if he was okay or not and the suspense was tearing him apart.

Davey was a part of him. They fit together like puzzle pieces, as cheesy as it was. They were two opposite pieces that fit perfectly when they were together, but now they were apart and there was nothing he could do.

Still, he didn’t regret it. Crutchie was his brother. The oldest family he’s ever known and he’d be damned if he ever let anything happen to that boy.

So into the refuge he went. It was a small price to pay, really.

But being away from them all was absolute torture. He’d been with all of those kids every day for as long as he could remember, but they had all spent nights apart in the past. Some more than others with a few kids going home to their folks like Davey or others like Race spending as much as weeks in Brooklyn at a time. Nonetheless, he missed them all when he didn’t have a choice if he could see them or not. Back home he could always spend the night at Medda’s theater if he wanted or even go visit other boroughs occasionally, but he could always go back home afterwards.

Not anymore.

So he kept his mouth shut and tried to make his stay as short and painless as possible.

That proved to be extremely difficult when Snyder came in for his first night. It had been nearly five years since jack had escaped from the refuge, but all of that pent up anger still remained and he held no mercy.

Jack woke up on the floor the next morning with more bruises than he could count.

Despite it all, he kept to himself, biting his tongue when he felt like spewing insults and holding his breath when he felt like crying. It wasn’t healthy, he knew that, but there was one way he would survive in there and that was by hiding anything they could use to hurt him.

He had a few things keeping him going; his family of brother and sisters and David Jacobs.

Davey was really something else. He was someone Jack would’ve never thought he’d find himself caring about, but that boy had a monopoly over his heart and Jack had no idea what to do. He didn’t know what to do with those feelings, but he sure as hell couldn’t make them known here if he wanted to live to see another day.

He was glad he did. Every time he decided to live one more day, there was something that made him regret it. He’d get picked my Snyder yet another time or he’d get sent to solitary for a day, but every time something made it feel like hell was sunshine and rainbows, something else would come around and he’d have a little sliver of hope again.

About three days in, he saw Specs at the barred window and nearly wept with relief. He wouldn’t have cared who they sent, but to see a friend was like a miracle. Still, that wasn’t all as the boy slid a small bundle of papers through the bars and told Jack he would be back with some of the others in the morning. He hadn’t been so happy in ages.

So he tucked the bundle under a mattress and waited until after Snyder had came to make his final rounds for the night. He climbed up to the windowsill once he was sure everyone else was asleep and read every page under the dim streetlights outside.

There was a letter from nearly everyone he loved.

‘Heya Jack, I guess ya’ could say I’s doin’ alright takin’ over for ya’, but it really ain’t the same without ya’. Don’t tell any a’ tha’ others I’s sayin’ that, but you’s way better than I could eva’ be. Wish me luck, Jackie. You’s gonna’ make it outta’ there, I promise ya’, and when ya’ do, I’ll do my best ta’ make sure you’s got somethin’ left ta’ come back to. -Racer’

He knew there was no way Race wasn’t selling himself short, but it was nice to know he’d at least still have a borough to come home to.

‘Jack these kids is losin’ they’s shit without you so hurry up and get ya’ ass outta’ there. -Spot Conlon’

That one was a surprise. Well, not what he wrote, but the fact that Spot Conlon took the time to write something was, well, something.

‘Jack, I don’t even know what ta’ say. I could say thank you’s, but I wish ya’ hadn’t done it. I could say I miss you’s, but that’s not even close ta’ how badly I need ya’ back. Specs n’ Race won’t let me come see ya’, but jus’ know I’d be there if I could. I’ll be here waitin’ for ya’ for as long as it takes. Your brother, Crutchie’

Okay that one he really had to try not to cry. He knew he wouldn’t if it meant it would ruin the writing, but he wanted to so bad.

He could tell exactly what the next one was without even reading a word. It was perfectly written with impeccable spelling and handwriting so neat it could’ve been printed.

‘Jackie, I need you out of there. I don’t know what I have to do, but I can’t do this without you. I can’t seem to bring myself to say anything I need to, but I guess that’s just because I trust you enough to get yourself out of there. I’ll be there to see you soon, I promise. Just hold on. I need you around so don’t you dare think about anything less than coming back home. I’ll wait as long as it takes. -David’

God, Davey just…did things to him. Feelings things. Disgusting, annoying, and painful feelings that would get him killed in a heartbeat if anyone found out.

He quickly stuffed the letters under his mattress and curled up on the windowsill. The next morning couldn’t come soon enough.

So he stood through beatings and woke up to yet another fist to his stomach. The blood in his mouth had become almost natural at that point as he added to the stain on the cuff of his sleeve and collected himself off the ground.

The other kids in the refuge weren’t cruel for leaving him alone, he was the only one they touched and for them to get a break from the never-ending torture of Snyder’s hand, they would take it gladly. Jack understood. The first time he was in the refuge, he would’ve done the same, he didn’t blame them at all.

But he wanted to get out. He wanted to be able to go home. He wanted to be back in the lodging house and lecture the kids about leaving the door open and probably stop Finch from shooting rocks at pedestrians out the window with his slingshot and he wanted to slip a few pennies into the pocket of a kid who’d had a slow day. He wanted to go home and take a head count of all of his kids as they came back from selling and tuck the little ones into their bunks like a real dad and tease the ones cuddled up and sharing together like a real big brother would. He wanted to pretend like he didn’t know what Race was doing when he snuck through the window past midnight with his hair ruffled and his suspenders hastily buckled. He wanted to chase around one of the younger kids that decided to try on Specs’ glasses. He wanted to save Katherine from Romeo’s never-ending advances when she came to visit. He wanted to go home so he could leave again in the morning to go with all of his kids to the circulation gates and see Davey again.

That was the only thing keeping him going as he crawled his virtually-useless form up to the window and grinned at the boys climbing up the fire escape.

He could see the sun spots refracting onto the metal bars and the bright red waves from a mile away but before he knew it, there they were right outside the bars and he finally felt a little closer to home.

“Jack, holy shit!” Albert practically screamed as he climbed up to the window, jack quickly slipping his thin wrist through the bars to quiet him.

“Shut up, ya’ hear? If Snyder comes back ‘ere I ain’t got a chance,” Jack hissed, relaxing a little when he was sure no one was coming. “I can’t have ‘im gettin’ the two a’ you’s too.”

Specs crawled up beside Albert and nodded solemnly. “Yeah, we’s sorry. It’s jus’…ya’ look terrible Jack.”

He rolled his eyes to hide the fact that he knew just how bad he looked and that wasn’t even the worst of it.

“Thanks, real charmers, both a’ you’s,” he teased before they decided that the two weren’t having any of it. “I’s fine, I’ll be out a’ here in no time, jus’ make sure Manhattan doesn’t implode while I’s gone.”

That got a smirk out of Albert at least.

“I think when ya’ get back you’s gonna’ need a new second,” he chuckled knowingly, nudging Specs who groaned.

“What? Don’t tell me Racer cracked unda’ pressure,” Jack exhaled, running his hands through his hair.

“Nah, he’s doin’ jus’ fine, but he’s got some competition now ’s all,” Specs clarified, intriguing Jack.

“Crutchie?”

“Davey,” he revealed, Jack grinning at the mention of the boy.

“Oh,” he spoke softly, a slight redness covering his cheeks as he couldn’t shake the smile. “How is he?”

The two boys looked between each other before shifting towards the ladder.

“He made us promise not ta’ say anythin’ until he could come visit,” Albert started, swinging down onto the ladder. “He’s comin’ by in a few hours. He jus’ had ta’ make sure Les got home okay, but he’s been real worried ‘bout you’s.”

And with that he dipped down out of view and Specs took his place, descending down the ladder after the other.

“Jus’ try ta’ stay safe, Jackie. We’s got a plan in tha’ works ta’ get you’s outta’ there, don’t worry,” he winked, slipping down the ladder and leaving Jack sitting there with a giddy smile on his face.

Davey. Davey was coming to see him. He was going to get to see Davey.

He couldn’t shake the smile off his face for the rest of the afternoon. In fact, he waited on that windowsill all day until he heard the rattling of the ladder and all of a sudden…there he was.

“Jack?” Davey’s shy voice broke Jack from his awe-like trace as he just stared at the boy with childlike wonder.

“Oh my god you’re real,” he spoke, unintentionally out loud.

The other boy’s smile was enough to make Jack feel like he was already out and running free. He made him feel like he was already back home. Davey made him feel at home.

Davey felt like home.

“Jackie…what have they been doing to you?” Davey looked horrified as he slipped his wrists through the bars on the window as let his fingers brush gently over the bruises covering the other boy’s face and neck. He could feel his face heat up at the touch, but shied away, his heart pounding out of his chest.

“It’s nothing, Dave. Serious, it ain’t that bad,” he mumbled, trying to keep the smile on the other boy’s face as long as he could. “How’s tha’ strike goin’?”

Davey looked disappointed at Jack’s sudden change of topic, but shrugged it off anyway.

“We’re managing. We had an idea to hold this rally at Medda’s theater with all the city’s newsies,” he spoke, brightening a little talking about their plans.

“Tha’ rest a’ tha’ city? You mean they’s all with us?” Jack couldn’t help but feel a rise of hope in his heart as Davey confirmed.

“It wasn’t worth it though,” Davey grumbled, his excited expression crumbling.

Jack froze, looking up and reaching through the bars to place his hand on Davey’s knee.

“What d’you-“

“Losing you wasn’t worth it, Jackie,” he whispered, leaning his head against the bars of the window, Jack doing the same. “I…I can’t do this without you.”

Jack felt his eyes burning and his throat close up as he reached through the bars, clinging to the other boy’s hands for dear life.

“I need you’s all ta’ make this work, Dave,” he started, his voice cracking as tears spilled down his cheeks. “I can’t stay in this place, I’s running out a’ things that make me want ta’ keep goin’, I don’t…know what to do without you here.”

As soon as those words left his lips, the tears he was held back for so long just cascaded down his cheeks in an unstoppable flood.

“I-i’s s’pposed ta’ be strong n’ get out a’ here so’s I can get back home, b-but I jus’ want out. Not just out a’ here, but jus’…out in general,” he whimpered, a small sob cracking Davey’s own ragged breaths as he grabbed Jack’s hands, clutching them tightly.

“No, no no no, Jackie I need you! I can’t do this without you much longer, I-I’m nothing without you here. I’m gonna’ fix this, I promise you,” he whispered, neither of them daring to look at anything other than their intertwined hands.

“P-please help me…,” he choked out. “I don’t want to feel like this, it just…hurts.”

Davey nodded shakily with their foreheads pressed together.

“I know, I know, but we’re gonna’ get you out of here in no time and then once we do,” he exhaled, sniffling slightly. “I’m never letting you go again, I promise.”

Maybe it was a mix of all of the loneliness and the finality of their conversation, but for whatever reason, this felt like his only chance. Jack leaned back, Davey’s hurt expression appearing the moment they separated, but Jack simply pulled him close with their hands clasped together as their lips met gently through the bars over the window.

When they separated, it only seemed to hurt more that, yes there definitely was a chance that they’d never be able to do that again, but with one heartbroken smile from each, they promised each other that they’d make sure it wasn’t. Davey slipped out of view, tears still running down his cheeks as he climbed down the fire escape and reluctantly left Jack alone up on the windowsill to sit with his thoughts.

One more day, he told himself. Just keep going one more day.

#my writing #javid #jack kelly #david jacobs #davey jacobs

28 notes · View notes

thecowardlycreative · 7 years ago

Text

We’re Okay

Fandom: Voltron: legendary defender

Pairing: Klance with past Laxum

Summary: There’s probably going to be a part of Lance that will always love Plaxum and, deep down, Keith is pretty sure he’s always known that. (part of the single-dad!lance au)

Words: 1637

notes: man, I should really get on and actually write this fic chronologically…

Keith knew, before he was even fully conscious, that he was alone in the bed. The sheets felt too loose around him, the air too cold. Still, he couldn’t help reaching out for Lance with one hand. He must have gone to the bathroom. But the light under the door wasn’t on.

Keith frowned and rolled over to Lance’s side of the bed. It was already cold there but it still smelt like him and Keith guiltily buried his face in his pillow for a moment. He stayed there, waiting for Lance to come back. Maybe he’d laugh at Keith’s clinginess. Maybe he’d pull out his phone and take a picture so that he could blackmail Keith until the end of time with his inability to sleep alone anymore. Maybe he wouldn’t say anything at all. Maybe he’d just smile in the soft, brittle way that he has when he feels too much at once and crawl back into bed, wrap himself around his boyfriend, and fill the bitter cold that had settled in his absence.

That would be nice.

But he still wasn’t back and it had been almost ten minutes. Even if he was getting a glass of water, he shouldn’t be taking so long.

Allowing himself one more lungful of Lance, Keith stood up, his feet freezing on the wooden floor.

The house slept and the wind blew outside and the mountains swam with life as they always did; the sound of night creatures might have disturbed him when he first moved here but now they were barely noticeable, like the sound of waves in the background. He ducked his head into Ruby’s room but she was still sound asleep, her cheeks highlighted purple by her nightlight. Keith smiled despite himself at her serene expression and shut the door again silently.

He found Lance in the living room. The lights were still off but the TV was on and it’s eery blue flicker had lead him in the right direction. Lance was hunched in front of it on the floor, curled around a cushion with his chin on his knee, watching the screen with a blank face. He barely seemed to be blinking. The volume was down so low that Keith couldn’t hear it from where he stood in the doorway but the woman on the screen was recognisable enough.

Dr. Platea Honorè – Olkari University, the banner at the bottom of the screen read.

Her hair in two thick braids, a recently graduated Plaxum talked animatedly from the middle of some rainforest, her hands waving, eyes alight and Keith felt something twitch in his heart. He tried not to frown. There was no point being jealous of a woman who was already dead, he knew that. But he also knew that there was some part of Lance would never really stop loving her.

“She always wanted to meet David Attenborough,” Lance’s voice took him by surprise. He must have sensed Keith there because he never even turned around. “Never got to, in the end… But she did get invited on this one documentary – it’s not Attenborough but it’s still damn impressive, in my opinion – and sometimes I… You know, just when I need to hear her voice.”

Keith wasn’t sure if he was breathing. Honestly, he wasn’t even thinking about whether he was breathing or not because every single atom of him was trying to think of something to say – anything that he could say to make Lance stop sounding like that.

“I probably know her whole bit off by heart,” said Lance quietly. “‘Because it’s a widespread species’,” he said in perfect synchronisation with a tragically young Plaxum. “‘We’ve always know it was a widespread species – even having been introduced intentionally in some areas for pest control to disastrous effect – and I just sort of started to wonder: maybe I’d found the ‘Darwin’s finches of the Indo-Australian region’. I mean, they’re not literal finches but maybe I could find something that differentiated the different populations and use that to map the historical spread of monitor lizards through the area –”

Lance was still going, his voice coming out in a steady stream, even his hands seemed to mirror Plaxum’s but his face – god, his face was so twisted with pain that Keith was striding across the room before he had even thought to do it. He wrapped his arms around the other man and that voice, that terrible, awful, fake-cheery voice that warbled at the edges and set Keith’s teeth on edge finally stopped. And Lance sat still. Just breathing. Not moving. Plax kept talking around them.

“Sorry,” he said at last, his voice breaking but at least his own. “I don’t… Sometimes I forget what she sounded like. And when I try to remember, all I can hear…” Keith pretended he could hear the wet sniff that interrupted Lance’s sentence. “All I can hear is this fucking… thing. And I… I don’t want to learn about stupid lizards anymore. But it’s not like she’s here to talk about anything else.”

What should he say? What should Keith say?

God, he didn’t know. His heart hurt and he couldn’t tell whether it was still from some illogical jealousy or just the knowledge that Lance must have fallen apart like this over and over and over again until he knew every line in that damn documentary by heart. All alone with Ruby sleeping ignorant and happy upstairs and the TV flickering in a dark room, Lance must have clenched his teeth and buried his face in a cushion and wished for someone to come and save him night after night after night. And now, even though Keith was right there, he couldn’t do anything but tighten his arms around him and let him cry.

Lance didn’t cry for long – the product of much practice, no doubt – and then he curled his arms under Keith’s shoulders and toppled them both sideways until they lay like parentheses on the rug, foreheads and toes touching. Plax had finished her piece and the documentary had moved on, following the Wallace Line through South-East Asia, but neither of them seemed to even notice. Lance’s nose still ran and his eyes were rimmed pink, his mind was still trying to reach out for the fragments of his wife that were always just a little too far. He didn’t mean to, in fact almost all of him was right there, enjoying the soft rug beneath him and Keith’s thumb rubbing hesitant strokes over his ribs with all the inexperienced concern that made him so Keith, but some days Plax just seemed a little closer than usual and it was always too tempting at those times not to try stretch out and grab her.

Keith still hadn’t said anything, just stared at him with those big, dark eyes and bored his forehead against his as if he could rip out all the painful memories by sheer force of will. He was so… kind. That was the only word Lance could think of to describe him and that was somehow hilarious because ‘kind’ would be the last word Keith would ever use to describe himself. And maybe that said something. Maybe it wasn’t ‘kind’ that Lance was thinking of. Empathetic? Protective? Caring? Whatever the word, Keith was Good and Lance was floored on a regular basis that he didn’t seem to see it.

Plax would see it. She would have taken one look at all of Keith’s awkward affection and fond insults and worried nagging and known exactly how Good that boy was. Even now his eyes were widening in fear as Lance frowned at yet another unbidden thought of Plaxum. He was worried. And Lance loved him for that.

“You know,” he whispered across the few inches between them, “I think she’d love you. I mean, not in the way I love you but in a platonic ‘this kid is great’ sort of way.”

Keith’s thumb stilled on Lance’s ribs and his eyes opened even wider, flicking back and forth between Lance’s searching for who knows what. He stared and he stared and he stared until Lance started to feel himself shift uncomfortably at it.

“What?” he half-laughed because it was easier to cover his discomfort with blustering.

Keith’s adam’s apple bobbed once. “You love me?” he breathed.

Lance felt caught between a smile at the quiet look of awe on Keith’s face and fear that he might have just colossally screwed up. “I do,” he said, all the same.

“Me?” Keith confirmed.

“You.”

“That’s… whoa. Unexpected.”

“We are dating?”

“I just… didn’t think you’d… I’m kind of a mess?”

There was no confusion that time in what he wanted to do and Lance laughed, throwing one arm over Keith’s waist to pull him closer. Keith frowned.

“Babe, we’re all kind of a mess,” Lance said with a grin.

“Oh,” said Keith. And then the tiniest little smile picked up the corners of his mouth, it seemed as if this was only just dawning on him and he pressed his forehead more firmly against Lance’s again. It seemed to be his signature move when overcome with emotion. “I love you, too,” he whispered and Lance just kissed him.

In the background, the narrator of the documentary gave some witty soundbite and a swell of orchestral music spilled softly from the TV as the credits began to play. The tragically young Platea Honorè was gone, tucked away back onto the DVD as nothing but data again. And maybe there would be some part of Lance that would always love her, and maybe some days that would continue to scrape illogically at Keith’s insides, but, at the same time, maybe that was okay. Because none of that meant Lance had to love him any less.

#klance #laxum #modern au #voltron: ld #lance mcclain #keith kogane #plaxum (vld)#klance au #kid fic #i'm getting awfully sick of tumblr not retaining formatting when i paste something in #i don't want to have to go through and re-italisise everything...#fic: Yesterdays Makeup #long post #enjoy!#fiction #fanfiction

14 notes · View notes