Title: Tiger Stripes
Author: Lorelei
Disclaimer: I do not own any recognizable characters like Spot Conlon or Jack Kelly. These characters belong to Disney. I do, however, own Stripe and any other unrecognizable characters.
- - -
I crouched low in the black alley-way, fingering my stolen brass knuckles that were concealed in my pocket. I slipped them carefully on my rough fingers. The large boy advanced towards me and I ducked just in time. He sailed into the brick wall behind me, his attempted tackle failed. He staggered as he stood up. I brought my arm back, swung forward, and connected with his jaw in time to hear a sickening crack of bone. His body crumpled and I turned around to face my Manhattan friend Mush. "Aye Mush, ya' eva' get fresh wit me that's what's gonna happen to ya'." I joked, my thick Brooklyn and Irish accent seeping through my pores.
He nodded slowly and I realized he was shirtless and soaked, with what I wasn't sure until he collapsed against me. I staggered under his weight but managed to pull him out into the street lights. The red fluid shone in the moonlight and there was a gash on his chest. He looked up at me from where he was laying on the ground and I saw the two purple shiners on his jaw and under his eye. I pulled him up and used my last remaining strength to haul him to the abandoned warehouse where the Brooklyn newsies slept. By the time I got there my trousers and shirt were soaked with Mush's blood and the dirty water from the streets.
I pushed the warehouse's back door open with my foot and called out to Dice and Headline to help me with him. They hurried over and promptly asked what was wrong with him. "Looks like he's got a few bad hits to the face and this 'ere cut looks like it coulda come from a jack knife." I explained to my two friends. We settled him down on a few blankets after cleaning out his cut. Mush continued to slip in and out of consciousness. I left his side and went to sit next to Headline who was playing poker with Bridge.
"So where's me brudda?" I asked curiously.
"Ah, he went to Harlem to take care a some business. He'll be back tomorrow." Headline said.
"That Spot." I shook my head. "He's always gots some kind a business to take care a." I played with the key on a chain around my neck that matched my brothers. He was always worrying me like this.
- - -
Mush was standing, stretching, then wincing from the burning in his chest. He tied his tattered shoes and yawned slightly. He crouched next to me as I pulled my hat on over my greasy hair. "Come on goil, come back to Manhattan wit me. You can finally meet me boys." I shook my head, my brother Spot wouldn't like it if I went there. But then again, he's not here. As I pulled my suspenders up I thought back to the time I first met Mush.
He had just come out of a bar and was drunker than a sailor. A few guys thought it would be funny to beat him up and take what he's got. Knowing he didn't have much and was only a newsie, I managed to finally get him away from those guys. He passed out and when he came to we became fast friends. The day after the next, the newsies went on strike.
"I dunno Mushy." I said, "I don't think Spot is gonna like it."
"Oh come on. He's not here now ain't he? You could be back by tomorrow mornin'. You could stay wit us." His brown eyes widened as he attempted to look like a lost puppy.
"Aight, aight. " I said to Mush, giving in at his pathetic attempt to convince me. "Headline! I'm goin' to Manhattan for tah day, I'll be back tomorrow." Headline looked at me strangely as we headed out to carry the banner for the day.
- - -
After getting our papes we headed across the bridge and all of them where gone by the time we crossed into Manhattan. I'd only been here once before and it was with Spot. How do I act around these guys?
"Heya Mush!" a brown-haired boy with a crutch said.
"Crutchy! Good to see you walking again!" Mush slapped Crutchy lightly on the back. "'Dis 'ere is Stripe Conlon, from Brooklyn." Crutchy looked me up and down.
"Wow, its great tah finally meet ya' Stripe. Spot talks about ya' a lot." He spit in his hand and held it out. I spit in my hand and shook his.
Mush and I said our good-byes to Crutchy and continued down the street, Mush occasionally calling to some of his friends. As you neared newsie square, we heard shouts and someone blonde ran past us. Mush shook his head and smiled. "Jack's wreaking havoc again." He said,
"Jack Kelly?" I asked.
"Yeah, Jack Kelly. Ya' eva' hoid a him?" He asked, cocking his head to one side.
"A course I hoid a him! The strike leader. Who ain't hoid a him?" I said.
Mush laughed as we watching Jack run around the square, 10 or 15 newsies cheering him on. He raced across the street and over a few wooden crates. Something flew from his hand and his chasers picked it up and stalked after him. I realized, as one of them placed it on their head, that it was hat. Jack punched one of them in the face and they both ran off.
"Hey Mush. Who's da goil?" He asked, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Jack dis 'ere is Stripe Conlon, Spot's twin sista." He told him.
Jacks eyes narrowed and his fists clenched. "Spot Conlon's sista eh? I bet she's no betta than her brudda!" Fury flicked across his face as he turned on his heel and walked grumbling away. I jogged up to him and grabbed his arm.
"What do ya have against me brudda?" I demanded. Nobody talked about a Conlon like that. He pulled his hat up onto his head so I couldn't see his face.
Jack turned around and through my hand off his arm. "Nobody takes a goil from Jack Kelly. Nobody ya hear!" With that he stormed off down the cobblestone street.
"Come on Stripe, lets go see what Medda's up tah." Mush tugged lightly on my arm. Anger was welling up inside me. Spot was the biggest womanizer in all of New York, if not everywhere else. And he worries about me getting beat up, it seems that every guy in New York has a reason the beat up Spot.
I sighed . "Aight Mush, lets go see Medda."
- - -
We arrived at the playhouse a few minutes later and Mush led me up the dark stairs to a balcony he said was reserved only for newsies. The music was blaring and a red-head swept around the stage. The music stopped and then started up again, this time a little more upbeat and catchier. Mush pushed aside a red curtain to reveal twenty singing newsies.
"Aye Mush!" one of them yelled.
"Where ya been buddy?"
"Nice shiner!"
"Who's da goil?"
Mush introduced me to Racetrack, Snipeshooter, Skittery, and Specs. They all seemed friendly enough and we were having a great time. A very popular song came on and I saw a blonde newsie over on the side of the balcony closest to the stage. He knew all the words and swung down onto the side of the balcony while he was singing along. I realized suddenly, with a sinking in my gut, that he was beautiful. His perfect jaw line and sculpted cheekbones, floppy blonde hair with brown patch over his left eye. His smile seemed to sparkle from every point of his body and..
"Stripe?" Mush said, shaking me a little.
"Huh? Yeah?" I stammered, surfacing from my thoughts. I realized everyone was leaving. The show was over.
"Everyone's gonna go back to da lodgin' house. Come on." We headed out through the same staircase we came in.
- - -
Back at the lodging house Mush showed me around a little. There were three floors all together. The top floor was were the bunks and bathrooms were. On the second floor there was only Kloppman's room and his desk that was filled with records. The third floor was a basement with some tables, chairs and couches.
I was so exhausted by the time we walked out of the theatre, Mush had to carry me most of the way home. All the guys were heading downstairs to eat and just hang out. "Hey Mush, I'ma bit tired, so you care if I jus go crash in yer bunk while you hang out wit yer friends? Which bunk is yers?" I yawned.
"Are ya' sure? It's da top third on da right. Night sweet face." He held my hand to his lips and kissed it softly as I yawned again.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Sweet face me ass." I shoved him playfully and turned to walk slowly up the stairs. I dropped my suspenders to my sides and stretched slightly. I was never one to wear girls clothing; dresses were not me. Besides, people bought more papes when I told them it was all I had.
I walked into the bunkroom rubbing my eyes and absentmindedly climbed into Mush's bed, not realizing someone was watching me. I snuggled into the sheets that smelled just like Mush, a mixture of cigars and sweat. A yawn next to me caused me to open my eyes. A blonde boy with a brown eye patch was staring at me from the other bunk. My heart raced when I saw him, still as gorgeous as he was at Medda's. He was the first to speak.
"I'm sorry, did I wake ya'?" His voice was smooth and velvety, confidence in all it's glory.
I shook my head and sat up a little." No, no. Its ok, I was still awake." I felt like an idiot, unsure of myself and what I should say. Instead of closing my eyes and going back to sleep, I kept them open and watched him. He lay there with his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling. He held his cigarette to his mouth and breathed slowly in. His lips pouted slightly and the gray smoke rose into the air.
"Ya' know, I was watchin' ya' at Medda's." He commented with his eyes still on the ceiling.
"Hmm…really..?" I tried to sound as nonchalant as possible even though I knew it wasn't working.
"Yer not from around 'ere are ya'?" He asked as he rolled onto his side.
"No, I'm from Brooklyn." I told him. "I don't really come 'round here that much. Me brudda is sorta overprotective."
"Brooklyn, eh? Who's yer brudda?" His brown hat was now in his hands being turned in circles.
"Spot Conlon." I said, suddenly wishing I hadn't told him. People usually stayed away from me after I said that.
"Really? Yer Stripe then?" His one uncovered eyebrow raised.
"Yup, tha's me. Sorry but I don't tink I caught yer name." The signature Conlon smirk rippled over my face.
"Kid Blink, at yer service." He stuck his hand out towards my bunk and I extended mine, expecting a shake. Instead he brought my rough hand to his soft lips and brushed them against it. He lowered my hand but didn't let go. "Say Stripe, why don't ya' come ova 'ere so we can talk." He slid over on his bed. My heart raced as I climbed off Mush's bunk and onto his. We barely fit but I didn't care.
Then, it happened. He kissed me. It was soft and innocent but then it was suddenly hard and lustful. After only a few seconds he broke away and looked at me. I stared back, pleading with my hungry eyes, more, more. After only a minute that seemed like an hour, I got up the nerve to kiss him. This time his hands started roaming. Work roughened fingers drew circles on my stomach, going higher with every touch. My shirt was halfway off when we heard a familiar voice at the doorway.
"Well, well, well. I go away for one day and ya runaway to loose yer virginity." The Brooklyn accent chided. I hastily pulled my shirt back down as Blink turned to see who it was. "Heya Blinky boy." He directed his attention back to me. "It figures ya'd choose the biggest womanizer in all a New York tah sleep wit Stripe." I sat up in the bunk.
"Whatta ya' doin' 'ere Spot?"
- - -
A/N
Thank you all for reading! Its my first Newsie fic so go easy on me, even though I could use some nice flames to keep warm! Thanx again and don't forget to review!
~Lorelei
Author: Lorelei
Disclaimer: I do not own any recognizable characters like Spot Conlon or Jack Kelly. These characters belong to Disney. I do, however, own Stripe and any other unrecognizable characters.
- - -
I crouched low in the black alley-way, fingering my stolen brass knuckles that were concealed in my pocket. I slipped them carefully on my rough fingers. The large boy advanced towards me and I ducked just in time. He sailed into the brick wall behind me, his attempted tackle failed. He staggered as he stood up. I brought my arm back, swung forward, and connected with his jaw in time to hear a sickening crack of bone. His body crumpled and I turned around to face my Manhattan friend Mush. "Aye Mush, ya' eva' get fresh wit me that's what's gonna happen to ya'." I joked, my thick Brooklyn and Irish accent seeping through my pores.
He nodded slowly and I realized he was shirtless and soaked, with what I wasn't sure until he collapsed against me. I staggered under his weight but managed to pull him out into the street lights. The red fluid shone in the moonlight and there was a gash on his chest. He looked up at me from where he was laying on the ground and I saw the two purple shiners on his jaw and under his eye. I pulled him up and used my last remaining strength to haul him to the abandoned warehouse where the Brooklyn newsies slept. By the time I got there my trousers and shirt were soaked with Mush's blood and the dirty water from the streets.
I pushed the warehouse's back door open with my foot and called out to Dice and Headline to help me with him. They hurried over and promptly asked what was wrong with him. "Looks like he's got a few bad hits to the face and this 'ere cut looks like it coulda come from a jack knife." I explained to my two friends. We settled him down on a few blankets after cleaning out his cut. Mush continued to slip in and out of consciousness. I left his side and went to sit next to Headline who was playing poker with Bridge.
"So where's me brudda?" I asked curiously.
"Ah, he went to Harlem to take care a some business. He'll be back tomorrow." Headline said.
"That Spot." I shook my head. "He's always gots some kind a business to take care a." I played with the key on a chain around my neck that matched my brothers. He was always worrying me like this.
- - -
Mush was standing, stretching, then wincing from the burning in his chest. He tied his tattered shoes and yawned slightly. He crouched next to me as I pulled my hat on over my greasy hair. "Come on goil, come back to Manhattan wit me. You can finally meet me boys." I shook my head, my brother Spot wouldn't like it if I went there. But then again, he's not here. As I pulled my suspenders up I thought back to the time I first met Mush.
He had just come out of a bar and was drunker than a sailor. A few guys thought it would be funny to beat him up and take what he's got. Knowing he didn't have much and was only a newsie, I managed to finally get him away from those guys. He passed out and when he came to we became fast friends. The day after the next, the newsies went on strike.
"I dunno Mushy." I said, "I don't think Spot is gonna like it."
"Oh come on. He's not here now ain't he? You could be back by tomorrow mornin'. You could stay wit us." His brown eyes widened as he attempted to look like a lost puppy.
"Aight, aight. " I said to Mush, giving in at his pathetic attempt to convince me. "Headline! I'm goin' to Manhattan for tah day, I'll be back tomorrow." Headline looked at me strangely as we headed out to carry the banner for the day.
- - -
After getting our papes we headed across the bridge and all of them where gone by the time we crossed into Manhattan. I'd only been here once before and it was with Spot. How do I act around these guys?
"Heya Mush!" a brown-haired boy with a crutch said.
"Crutchy! Good to see you walking again!" Mush slapped Crutchy lightly on the back. "'Dis 'ere is Stripe Conlon, from Brooklyn." Crutchy looked me up and down.
"Wow, its great tah finally meet ya' Stripe. Spot talks about ya' a lot." He spit in his hand and held it out. I spit in my hand and shook his.
Mush and I said our good-byes to Crutchy and continued down the street, Mush occasionally calling to some of his friends. As you neared newsie square, we heard shouts and someone blonde ran past us. Mush shook his head and smiled. "Jack's wreaking havoc again." He said,
"Jack Kelly?" I asked.
"Yeah, Jack Kelly. Ya' eva' hoid a him?" He asked, cocking his head to one side.
"A course I hoid a him! The strike leader. Who ain't hoid a him?" I said.
Mush laughed as we watching Jack run around the square, 10 or 15 newsies cheering him on. He raced across the street and over a few wooden crates. Something flew from his hand and his chasers picked it up and stalked after him. I realized, as one of them placed it on their head, that it was hat. Jack punched one of them in the face and they both ran off.
"Hey Mush. Who's da goil?" He asked, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Jack dis 'ere is Stripe Conlon, Spot's twin sista." He told him.
Jacks eyes narrowed and his fists clenched. "Spot Conlon's sista eh? I bet she's no betta than her brudda!" Fury flicked across his face as he turned on his heel and walked grumbling away. I jogged up to him and grabbed his arm.
"What do ya have against me brudda?" I demanded. Nobody talked about a Conlon like that. He pulled his hat up onto his head so I couldn't see his face.
Jack turned around and through my hand off his arm. "Nobody takes a goil from Jack Kelly. Nobody ya hear!" With that he stormed off down the cobblestone street.
"Come on Stripe, lets go see what Medda's up tah." Mush tugged lightly on my arm. Anger was welling up inside me. Spot was the biggest womanizer in all of New York, if not everywhere else. And he worries about me getting beat up, it seems that every guy in New York has a reason the beat up Spot.
I sighed . "Aight Mush, lets go see Medda."
- - -
We arrived at the playhouse a few minutes later and Mush led me up the dark stairs to a balcony he said was reserved only for newsies. The music was blaring and a red-head swept around the stage. The music stopped and then started up again, this time a little more upbeat and catchier. Mush pushed aside a red curtain to reveal twenty singing newsies.
"Aye Mush!" one of them yelled.
"Where ya been buddy?"
"Nice shiner!"
"Who's da goil?"
Mush introduced me to Racetrack, Snipeshooter, Skittery, and Specs. They all seemed friendly enough and we were having a great time. A very popular song came on and I saw a blonde newsie over on the side of the balcony closest to the stage. He knew all the words and swung down onto the side of the balcony while he was singing along. I realized suddenly, with a sinking in my gut, that he was beautiful. His perfect jaw line and sculpted cheekbones, floppy blonde hair with brown patch over his left eye. His smile seemed to sparkle from every point of his body and..
"Stripe?" Mush said, shaking me a little.
"Huh? Yeah?" I stammered, surfacing from my thoughts. I realized everyone was leaving. The show was over.
"Everyone's gonna go back to da lodgin' house. Come on." We headed out through the same staircase we came in.
- - -
Back at the lodging house Mush showed me around a little. There were three floors all together. The top floor was were the bunks and bathrooms were. On the second floor there was only Kloppman's room and his desk that was filled with records. The third floor was a basement with some tables, chairs and couches.
I was so exhausted by the time we walked out of the theatre, Mush had to carry me most of the way home. All the guys were heading downstairs to eat and just hang out. "Hey Mush, I'ma bit tired, so you care if I jus go crash in yer bunk while you hang out wit yer friends? Which bunk is yers?" I yawned.
"Are ya' sure? It's da top third on da right. Night sweet face." He held my hand to his lips and kissed it softly as I yawned again.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Sweet face me ass." I shoved him playfully and turned to walk slowly up the stairs. I dropped my suspenders to my sides and stretched slightly. I was never one to wear girls clothing; dresses were not me. Besides, people bought more papes when I told them it was all I had.
I walked into the bunkroom rubbing my eyes and absentmindedly climbed into Mush's bed, not realizing someone was watching me. I snuggled into the sheets that smelled just like Mush, a mixture of cigars and sweat. A yawn next to me caused me to open my eyes. A blonde boy with a brown eye patch was staring at me from the other bunk. My heart raced when I saw him, still as gorgeous as he was at Medda's. He was the first to speak.
"I'm sorry, did I wake ya'?" His voice was smooth and velvety, confidence in all it's glory.
I shook my head and sat up a little." No, no. Its ok, I was still awake." I felt like an idiot, unsure of myself and what I should say. Instead of closing my eyes and going back to sleep, I kept them open and watched him. He lay there with his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling. He held his cigarette to his mouth and breathed slowly in. His lips pouted slightly and the gray smoke rose into the air.
"Ya' know, I was watchin' ya' at Medda's." He commented with his eyes still on the ceiling.
"Hmm…really..?" I tried to sound as nonchalant as possible even though I knew it wasn't working.
"Yer not from around 'ere are ya'?" He asked as he rolled onto his side.
"No, I'm from Brooklyn." I told him. "I don't really come 'round here that much. Me brudda is sorta overprotective."
"Brooklyn, eh? Who's yer brudda?" His brown hat was now in his hands being turned in circles.
"Spot Conlon." I said, suddenly wishing I hadn't told him. People usually stayed away from me after I said that.
"Really? Yer Stripe then?" His one uncovered eyebrow raised.
"Yup, tha's me. Sorry but I don't tink I caught yer name." The signature Conlon smirk rippled over my face.
"Kid Blink, at yer service." He stuck his hand out towards my bunk and I extended mine, expecting a shake. Instead he brought my rough hand to his soft lips and brushed them against it. He lowered my hand but didn't let go. "Say Stripe, why don't ya' come ova 'ere so we can talk." He slid over on his bed. My heart raced as I climbed off Mush's bunk and onto his. We barely fit but I didn't care.
Then, it happened. He kissed me. It was soft and innocent but then it was suddenly hard and lustful. After only a few seconds he broke away and looked at me. I stared back, pleading with my hungry eyes, more, more. After only a minute that seemed like an hour, I got up the nerve to kiss him. This time his hands started roaming. Work roughened fingers drew circles on my stomach, going higher with every touch. My shirt was halfway off when we heard a familiar voice at the doorway.
"Well, well, well. I go away for one day and ya runaway to loose yer virginity." The Brooklyn accent chided. I hastily pulled my shirt back down as Blink turned to see who it was. "Heya Blinky boy." He directed his attention back to me. "It figures ya'd choose the biggest womanizer in all a New York tah sleep wit Stripe." I sat up in the bunk.
"Whatta ya' doin' 'ere Spot?"
- - -
A/N
Thank you all for reading! Its my first Newsie fic so go easy on me, even though I could use some nice flames to keep warm! Thanx again and don't forget to review!
~Lorelei