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sl-newsie · 1 year

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Be Patient ( Riff x Brooklyn girl) *Mafia*

“Ey, Scar! I need to talk to ya!” King barks from his throne of crates.

I groan as I get up from my fishing post and walk up to the infamous ‘King of Brooklyn.’

“Whaddaya want, Spot?”

“What if I told you that you was get’n married tomorrow?”

I burst out laugh’n, hold’n my sides like a maniac. “I’d say you’s been in the sun too long, Spotty!”

His eyes narrow and he hops down from his perch. He’s only a few inches taller than me, but from his gaze I feel way more smaller.

“Quit the sarcasm, Scar. You’s get’n married tomorrow, capiche?”

He- He’s really not kidding?

I gape. “Wait- Wha… Colon, why the Hell am I get’n married? I ain’t even been asked out before!”

“Exactly, so you’s open for suitors. It just so happens that one-a the Jets needs a lady, so I set ‘im up with you.”

By now I’m pacing back and forth, trying to comprehend this ridiculous idea.

“Wh- Why’d you have to rope me into this? What’s so important ‘bout this guy get’n a goil?”

Spot crosses his arms. “Made an agreement that if you did this there’d be no more rumbles.”

“Colon, why the Hell would you do that?! Ya can’t just sell me off as some peace deal! If you think I’s gonna go through with this you’re crazy!”

He gets up in my face. “I say you are, ‘cause I’m tired-a Lorton and his rumbles! And I know you are too, ‘cause I’ve seen how you react to all the injuries you wrap up! Yeah we win, but we’s been get’n our asses kicked along the way! Give’n you to the Jets is the only way I can guarantee no more rumbles!”

I cannot believe this!

“How is me marrying a complete stranger any type of guarantee?!”

Spot smirks. “Don’t worry, I think it will.”

“So… I’m just a pawn to you? You know I’ve given all I have to the Brooklyn mafia- how could you just- just sell me away?!”

Spot holds up his hands. “Now Scar, I ain’t sell’n you away, I’s just look’n out for the family-”

“By giving me away? To the Jets of all mobs? Why not ‘Hattan or the Sharks? I’s got friends there!”

“Too bad, you’s marrying a Jet. That’s that.”

“And if I refuse?” I glare.

Spot then pushes me against a crate. “Then you’ll have to live through the guilt-a seeing more and more Brooklyn kids bleed in the street!”

“I- I…” I gotta get outta here!

I push past King and take off across the bridge towards the West Side, tears streaming down my face. How can he do this- after all I’ve done? I keep running until I reach Anita’s neighborhood in the West Side- a place swarming with Puerto Ricans and thriving culture. Why couldn’t I live here instead? I gotta get help.

I climb up the fire escape and into a familiar window.

“Hello? Anita? Maria? It’s Scarlet!” I call out.

“Scarlet? Mi querida, what are you doing here? How did you escape Spot?” Anita asks from the kitchen.

I roll my eyes. “More like escaped his wrath! The bastard married me off to some Jet boy!”

“What?!” Maria gasps. “You’re married?!”

“No, not yet. I got ‘til tomorrow unless I skip town. But King says that the marriage will be a peace agreement between Brooklyn and the West Side, so if I leave I’ll just mess up everything even more. B- But how can I just marry a complete stranger?!” I sit down holding my face in my hands while Maria comforts me.

“Don’t worry, mi querida. I’m sure it won’t be that bad-”

“That bad? After what they did to you and the other Sharks?” I outburst.

Anita hands me a cookie. “Si, Si, the Jets had their… moments with the Sharks, but after Tony and Maria’s marriage they’ve been on good terms ever since. Besides, Colon wouldn’t just send you off with a half-crazed random lunatic.”

“Still… I can’t believe he’d just spring this on me! I- I’ll be married tomorrow…”

Maria stands up. “But for now you’re not. Vámonos! We are going to pick out a dress for you. Anita, will you do the honors?”

Anita gets a wicked grin and begins leading me out of the apartment. “Vámonos, mi querida! We’re going to find you the prettiest dress in all of New York!”

We rush outside and into multiple isles of vibrant fabric, overflowing with reds, greens, blues, and other colors I hadn’t even seen before.

“Hold on, chica! I think you’ll look best in blue…” Anita scans the fabrics.

“But Brooklyn’s color is red-” I argue.

“And you’re marrying a Jet, so color codes don’t count! Red washes your eyes out, so blue it is! Here!” Anita holds up a piece of deep turquoise, like that of a deep sea. “Perfecto! Give me 12 hours, and I guarantee you the most beautiful dress you’ll ever wear in your life!”

I groan. “No, Anita- you really don’t have to do that-”

“Of course I do, chica. If this rushed wedding is going to be the biggest event of your life, then you will be properly dressed! I want that Jet boy to see you and fall right over!”

I chuckle. “That’ll be a nice get-to-know-you moment.”

“Exactamente! Now Maria, take her away so I can get started- I want it to be a surprise!” She ushers us away and heads back to the apartment.

Maria beckons me towards a bakery. “Here, Scarlet. Let’s pick out a cake!”

I scoff. “I’ll barely be able to afford paying Anita for the dress, much less a cake!”

“Oh nonsense! Anita will sew the dress for free! And we’re just window browsing- not really buying.”

We almost reach the bakery when I see-

“Crap.” I grit my teeth. “It’s Pulitzer.”

“What?”

“Pulitzer, New York police chief. He’s been look’n for me to get to Spot- I can’t let him see me!”

I frantically look for a way out, but come up empty.

“Ooh! Here!” Maria starts smudging my face with mud.

“Maria what in the woild-!”

“Don’t rub it off- the mud will make you look Puerto Rican!” She also uses mud to cover up my Brooklyn red tank top. After finishing up, she takes a good look. “Ahí está! Perfect!”

We linger behind some crates while we wait for Pulitzer to pass, when an arm yanks me away.

“Hola, señorita. Me thinks you wouldn’t mind tell’n me about some-a your Shark friends.”

Uh-oh. It’s Morris Delancy- and no doubt his brodda ain’t far behind.

“Run! Run, Maria! Run before they-!”

Morris clamps a hand over my mouth.

“Ah, you ain’t one-a them. You’s just one dirty goil, ain’t ya?” He chuckles darkly.

“I swear, Morris- I got a knife! You try anyth’n and I’ll turn you from a rooster to a hen faster than you can blink!”

“Shut up, skank!”

“Hey!” A voice shouts.

Morris is yanked away from me and before I know it is be’n beaten to a pulp by-

“Lorton?”

It is Lorton- Riff Lorton, the Jet leader himself. God, he must know who I'm marry’n tomorrow. And if he sees a Brooklyn member on his turf… I can’t let him know.

“And if I see you or your brodda on my turf again I’ll gladly give you anodda shiner!” Lorton wipes blood from his lip and then sees me sprawled in the dirt.

“Hey girly girl- you sure know how to pick a fight! Need a hand?” He helps me up and I can’t help but be surprised as to how considerate he’s being.

“So- ya new in town, señorita?”

He must think I’m Puerto Rican!

“Um- Si, I am. And uh- gracias. Thank you for your help, but now I gotta go.” I turn and quickly walk back towards the bakery when I feel Riff’s hand find mine again.

I look back and he’s smirking.

“Wow girly- I donno what’s worse. Your accent or your Spanish!”

I groan and hang my head in defeat. “Ok fine, I ain’t Puerto Rican. But it draws the cops off my back. Anyways, why’re you so nice to Puerto Ricans all-a the sudden, Lorton? I thought you hated them.” I cross my arms.

Lorton scratches his neck. “Gotta say, Tony really changed my perspective. Maria changed his whole woild, and in do’n so changed a lotta things around here. I ain’t like I used to be. But enough about me, who’re you, doll?”

“I- Uh-” I inch away more, but Lorton only cages me in even more.

“I know everybody from the West Side, but I ain’t ever seen you before. As a mafia leader, I gotta know, so I asks again: who are you?”

I glare up at his smirking face, then sigh in defeat.

“Name’s Scar, from Brooklyn. And before ya say anyth’n I’ll gladly leave your turf.”

I expect Lorton to start beat’n me up, but instead he seems surprised. “Really? Brooklyn? I’dve thought ‘Hattan foist, or Queens. By the look-a ya I’d say Colon treats you well.”

“Yeah, ‘till he betrayed me,” I mudda.

“Huh?”

I sigh again. Here it comes.

“Colon got me mixed up in some peace agreement and now my whole life’s plans are down the drain. But why do you care? Just-” I scoff and duck under his arm to continue walk’n. “Just let me leave, please! I gotta make sure Maria’s ok.”

“Oh, you’re friends with Maria? Then you must know Tony, and Cowboy.”

I nod. “When you know one, chances are ya meet all of ‘em.”

“Except me,” Lorton points out.

“Except you.”

“Well… whaddya think?” He raises a brow.

I stop and give Lorton a good look. “More gentleman-like than your reputation says. You’s certainly cleaned up, Lorton-”

“Call me Riff,” Lorton takes my hand and kisses it, nearly cause’n me to jerk away. “No need for formal names. I only use it dure’n mob business.”

I gulp. “Um, ok. But seriously Riff, I gotta go meet Maria to make sure she’s ok-”

“She is. If she weren’t, Baby John wouldda reported it. Believe me, I got connections everywhere, doll. So now that you got my name, can I have yours?”

“I told you it’s Scar.”

“I don’t think so- pretty goil like you has a real name. So what is it?”

“Pushy, ain’t ya? Fine- it’s Scarlet. Just don’t go spill’n it, ‘cause like you I got my own reputation to worry ‘bout, though after tomorrow I mine as well say goodbye to that too…”

“Sounds like this peace deal’s really get’n to ya.” Riff… actually sounds worried.

“Eh, I’ll grow into it. If it means what Colon says it means, it’ll be a big help to everybody. Now please, Riff- let me go find Maria.”

Riff seems hesitant, but then lets my hand go- and for some dumb reason I feel sad to leave. He’s really not a bad guy, and not bad to look at either...

“See ya later, Scarlet. I’ll keep tabs on those Delancys, alright?”

I nod. “Nice to finally meet the Jets leader. See ya, Riff.”

I walk back to the bakery and find Maria holding a box of donuts.

“Scarlet, mi querida! Are you alright?”

I nod. “Had some trouble, but… I think I just met Riff Lorton.”

She squints. “You think?”

“Yeah. I met him but he’s… not a jerk. He’s… actually quite nice.”

Later I eventually make my way back to Brooklyn, drag’n my feet in an attempt to avoid Spot’s rage. When I get back to the red Brooklyn mafia building I’m met by Danny.

“Hiya, Scar. Colon’s been wait’n for ya.”

I groan. “Where?”

He points up. “In his office.”

I climb the ruby stairs and cautiously pace down the dark hallway to Spot’s door. I knock three times.

“Enter.”

I open the door and find Colon at his desk, going over documents.

“Ah, Scar. Ya finally came to your senses. Glad to have ya back.”

“Colon, I’ll do your stupid marriage. But just tell me one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Will this random stranger make me happy?” I bite my lip.

Colon thinks for a moment, then nods. “Yes, I think he will. I wouldn’t have you do this if I didn’t think it was safe. Just trust me, ok? Now go get some sleep- we meet with the West Side tomorrow at noon.”

I gulp. “Um- Maria and Anita have a dress for me, so I’ll meet you at the church.”

Spot nods again. “Alright, but if you skip out on this-” he picks up a knife and twists the gleaming blade in his hands. “-don’t ever bother come’n back.” he adds darkly.

I give a stiff nod and head back to my bunk- not even sure I’ll be able to fall asleep before my life changes forever…

When I knock on Anita’s door the next morning, I’m run’n on only 4 hours-a sleep. Already feel’n nauseous, I donno how I’m gonna be able to make it through today.

“Anita! It’s Scarlet! I’m get’n married at noon!”

Maria open the door, wear’n a wide-eyed expression.

“At noon?! Ay ay! That only gives us a few hours!” She lets me in and leads me to Anita’s sewing room.

“Here we are, chica!” Anita holds up- without a doubt, then most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen!

“Oh Anita… you really shouldn’t have!” I reach out to feel the sheek fabric.

“Not now, mi querida! Now we must get you ready!

I what seems like seconds, it’s already 11:45 and I’m follow’n Maria to the church.

“I donno, Maria. What if- What if he doesn’t like me? What if I ain’t good enough?”

“Nonsense, chica! You will be an amazing wife, just as you are a good friend! No crying, or your makeup will run!”

We reach the church and already I can see Anita sit’n with Bernardo and a few odda Sharks next to Bucky and the odda Brooklyn members. Maria joins them while I go find Colon, but not before I scan the odda side-a the isle. I recognize Mouthpiece, Racetrack’s brodda, and a few odda Jets- but I don’t see Riff. Odd. But I do see Cowboy and a few odda ‘Hattan fellas.

I reach Spot in the back with the priest, and I nearly collapse when I realize what’s about to happen.

“Calm down, Scar. It’s your wedding- try to relax-”

“Relax? Spot, how can I relax when I’m about to marry a complete stranger?” I gasp.

“I wouldn’t say ‘complete.’” A voice says.

I whip my head around and see-

I gasp. “Riff?”

“Hey doll. How ya feel’n?”

Riff, Riff Lorton, is wear’n a tux.

“Wow.” He looks at my dress. “You look… stunning!”

He cleans up nice too- wait.

“Riff- I- I- You’re the one I’m…?” I look frantically between Spot ‘nd Riff, who both nod.

“Told ya it wouldn’t be that bad, Scar,” Colon says.

“B- But- He- I- Not good enough…” I studda complete nonsense as I try to wrap my head around this. Riff… my husband?

“Hey, hey…” Riff helps me sit down and gently wraps an arm around me. “I know ya hate me, Scarlet. But you gotta know- I never wanted this either. I don’t think I’s husband material- but when Colon brought up a deal about no more rumbles… It just works bedda for everybody. And- I’m sorry for make’n you do this. I didn’t know who I was marry’n either, but I godda say I’m glad it’s you.” He looks deep into my eyes. “Please forgive me, Scarlet.”

I choke down a hiccup. “But- Am I good enough? I wanna make sure there’ll be no more rumbles, but what if I’m not good enough for you?”

Riff’s eyes are now glazed over and his breaths are shaky as he grips me tighter- and by now I’m lean’n into him in fear of faint’n.

“God, Scarlet- you’s already shown me how good-a person you are. You don’t gotta prove anyth’n, and from what Colon says-”

“No.” I state firmly. “I want you to know me from how you see me, Riff, not from what Colon’s told you. I- I’ll marry you willingly, but you gotta let me get to know you. Like I said, you’s a stranger to me, and I need to know you better. Just… be patient with me.”

Riff nods, a tear trickling down his cheek.

“Riff, what’s wrong? Did I-?”

Riff buries his face in my neck and hugs me tighter. “God, I never thought I’d find a goil will’n to put up with me-”

“Yeah, yeah, cry me a river! C’mon, Lorton- get ready!” Colon pulls Riff away and has him follow the priest towards the altar. “Good luck, Scar!”

But- He- I can’t believe the biggest moment of my life is being so- so belittled and rushed!

The ceremony is cheap- no decorations, no music. But if this means I’ll get to spend my life with Riff, maybe it’ll all be worth it.

The que for me to walk is a brief nod from Colon, who looks bored out of his mind. I see Maria and Anita silently clapping for me, and some-a the boys are stare’n at my dress.

“Sweet Jesus…”

“Who made that?”

“Riff’s one lucky guy!”

I look ahead and see a Riff, who’s nervously biting his lip. When I reach the altar I don’t even hear the priest’s woids- I just stare at Riff.

“I’ll take care of you, Scarlet. I promise,” he whispers.

I give a shy smile. “I know you will, Jet Boy.”

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