Sorry it's taken me forever to update, but with exams and band rehearsals I simply haven't had time. But don't worry, this chapter's gonna be good! –Rel

To say the least the group never made it to Brooklyn, mainly because of Athena. She allowed Spot to take me all the way to the start of the Bridge before she knocked out his two goons and faced him. "You want answers, I want ta go home; it's a win-win situation. I tell you what you need ta know about dat uprising an' youse let me go. Deal?" Spot smirked and shook his head. "It doesn't work dat way Athena. Ya gotta wait until we get back ta Brooklyn. Isa need time ta ponder all 'o' dis." Athena snapped her knife open and held it towards Spot's neck. "Den makes time Conlon, Isa don't got all night an' it only take me three seconds ta kill youse." Spot decided not to argue with the person that could murder you with one flick of her wrist and leaned up against the structural pole of the Brooklyn Bridge, motioning for Athena to continue. "Alright Pallas, youse win. Tell me all about da uprising in Midtown an' who gave youse permission ta look into my borough's private affairs an' Isa can let youse go."

Athena took a deep breath and began, withdrawing her dagger from the King's throat and hiding it away in her back pocket. "Alright, dat uprising in Midtown ain't da newsies, its da gangs. Dey has been trying ta bringing us down ever since da early 1890's an' now dey found a way in. Brooklyn's slipping outta ya grip as it is an' if dey put da right people close enough ta youse it'll fall along with da rest 'o' da borough's ya allies with, perhaps with the exception 'o' Manhattan. Jack found out about it months ago an' sent us around making sure it doesn't happen." "How has youse been going about stopping dis so called threat?" Spot sneered. Athena decided to ignore the expression and continued. "Jack didn't recruit me because I look good as leader Spot. Before I became a biord I was a hired hit man for West Side, taking out people in da Black Market an' such. He chose me because I can make decisions on my feet and under pressure. I sent Juno into a big time gang called the Gunners ta retrieves dere information an' targets three weeks ago, an' she came back with everything we know now. Do youse remember dat newsies who went selling a few days ago an' didn't come back?"

Spot's mouth dropped open as he vaguely recalled ordering a search party for the small boy but coming up empty after only a couple of hours. Athena grinned smugly. "To put it plainly, he wasn't a newsie." Spot groaned and kicked the light pole over and over again in frustration. Athena waited patiently while he vented, then resumed talking after he had calmed down. "Dere are two people whom hold our borough's together Spot- youse, an' Jack. My team's job is to make sure our city's safe an' sound which includes, unfortunately, our making sure youse don't get killed."

Spot didn't like the way Athena had put it, but he decided to ignore the comment and tried to let all the information the bird had just told him sink in. "Youse saying dat basically Brooklyn's falling apart an' Midtown's trying ta take advantage 'o' dat. Jack found out, sent ya team ta gather as much intelligence about da situation as possible. Youse took it one step further an' used ya training from youse time in da West Side ta take down all 'o' dem Midtown leaders ta save New York as we know it. Am Isa doing well so far?" Athena nodded once, indicating he was dead on. "Dat would be about right. Like Isa said- if Brooklyn falls, so does everyone else." Spot bit his lip nervously. It was true that he hadn't been paying attention to all the happenings around his borough like he normally did, but he hadn't known the gang threat had gotten this bad. As much as he hated to admit it without Jack and his team looking out for him he might not have seen any of it coming until it was too late.

Athena smiled to herself inwardly, making sure Spot realized all of this. Without her telling him all of this his rule of Brooklyn could have been over just like that; the least he could do was dismiss her to get back home and bury Juno properly. She had, after all, saved his life twice. She shifted in her position and coughed attentively. "So, uh, now dat ya got what ya need can ya let me go? Isa got several things ta do before da night's up if ya don't mind!" Spot waved her off, still thinking. "Yeah sure, go on ahead. Ya gotta team ta look aft' anyhow." Athena blinked, shocked that he was letting her off so easily, but her turned tail and took off.

But Spot wasn't finished with the assassin just yet. He whirled around and called after her "Stop!" Athena groaned and skidded to a halt, glancing over at the King. I shoulda known it wasn't gonna be dat simple, she complained to herself. "What is it now Conlon?" He ran up to her and stood in her way, blue eyes piercing into her soul. The girl raised her mental barriers up, unsure whether or not to return the gaze or just politely listen. "Ya were an assassin for da West side, right?" he asked. Athena rolled her stormy gray eyes. "Yeah, so what?" she responded coolly, masking her emotions like she had been doing all her life. She was an emotionless assassin to most everyone and that was the way it was going to stay. Spot drew in a breath and bit his lip again, choosing his words carefully. "Dat means ya was trained ta hide everything about youseself, am Isa correct?"

Athena nodded solemnly, not revealing anything in her body language, voice or eyes. "Yes, beta den every other hired killer dere. Why are youse so interested in me old life Conlon? It seems ta me ya got everything ya need ta get back at Midtown; youse should be making sure Isa stay outta youse hair, not dive into other people's lives." "Because youse killed ya own friend like it was nothing," Spot said, tone confronting and almost forceful. "Ya didn't show any emotion while doing it, none while Isa tried ta take Venus away, and nothing but anger and negativity while we're standing here. Ya don't just off ya friends ta protect ya worst enemy Athena, no one does dat on just a whim. Youse had another plan, didn't youse?"

Athena shrugged and turned away, looking out over the dark waters of the river below them. "Dat's my job, Spot," she answered quietly. "I'm da one who always has ta has a backup plan and defends my team. Dat was da whole point 'o' all 'o' dis ever since Juno attacked youse again; I had ta kill her regardless, she was too dangerous ta have around an' I couldn't disband her either. If I killed her and you still took Venus I could replace her instead, feed you all the things I know about Midtown and Brooklyn, and in turn you would release me and I could get home. You can finally maintain hold 'o' ya borough an' Isa can go. Again, it's a win-win situation."

Spot couldn't help but be impressed. The assassin was good, no doubt there. She had everything figured out before he had taken her on. He stepped back and allowed her to pass through and get back to Manhattan. If Athena considered giving him any thanks she didn't let on, just walked right past him. She stopped as soon as her feet left the bridge, turned around, and cast Spot one last look of disgust. "This doesn't change anything," she growled, and then she fled off into the night. Spot watched her leave, enraptured by the way Athena's figure moved gracefully in and out of the shadows before disappearing all together. For the first time he let mind wander to the fact that she was the most beautiful person he had ever seen, and then turned and walked back to his lodging house.

"But dis does change things Athena. It changes everything."

Ω

Athena slipped into the lodging house as quietly as a mouse and made her way to the back room, where the rest of her team was gathered along with Sarah and David Jacobs (they were good friends of Athena's) Racetrack and Jack. Jack was busy pacing the floor arguing with Diana about something. Since Diana was now leader (but not for long) she carried the full weight of the team and borough's safety on her shoulders. But even with everything Athena had taught her on how to protect one dwelling in Di's mind the pressure was obviously too great, as the new leader sat in a chair with her shoulders slumped. It was clear to Athena that her second was having difficulty adjusting to her new role. Good thing I got back early, she'll have the entire lodging house ticked off at her before long, the assassin thought.

Now, everyone has some sense of humor, and even though she was as hard core and emotionless as one could get Athena had at least a little bit. Smirking, she silently pressed crept into the room and pressed herself against the wall behind everyone. NO one noticed another person had come in. The girl could hear everything Jack and Diana were talking about- her.

"Di, Athena ain't gonna be back for a while, if at all!" Jack told the girl. "Spot'll keep a tight grip on her considering she's a hit man, one 'o' da best at dat. He'll want her for himself!"

"Yeah Di," Racetrack chimed in, lighting up a cigar and puffing it. "Ya saw da way Spot looked at her when he saved him from Juno. It was like he couldn't believe she was sticking up for im'!"

Hestia shook her head and pointed to Venus, who was sitting in Steven's lap asleep. "She wasn't sticking up for him, she was executing a plan!" the den mother reasoned. Jack looked at her like she was crazy. "What plan could Athena have possibly come up with in da short time Conlon was here?" he asked confused. Hestia sighed and leaned back in her chair. "Jack, you really do have to get to know Athena better. I mean, you've employed her longer than anyone else on the team and you can't even remember her birthday! Can't you see what she was doing? As soon as she knew Juno was out for the King's blood she knew she had to kill her, thus gaining his respect and ridding the team of an incompetent member. I'm not saying Juno wasn't a good friend, but she had a bad side that almost got several people killed. Anyhow, when Spot took her with him she could tell him everything he needed to know and save his borough while making sure that he was backed into a position where he had to let her go. Let the picture?"

Jack nodded in semi-understanding and finally sat down, much to the relief of Athena. When Jack started to pace it got everyone nervous. "Alright, it was a good plan, but why would she go ta all dat trouble just ta get back here? Wouldn't it be more easy ta just go with it all until opportunity allowed her ta escape? It doesn't sound like da Athena we know."

Sarah groaned softly and rolled her eyes at her boyfriend. She, like the remaining members of the team, understood at least a little bit of Athena's logic. "Jack, it wasn't about going with it, it was about protecting Manhattan. I may not know a whole lot about how a newsie borough works, but I understand plenty about how war goes. She knew that holding onto information was dangerous and passed it onto Spot so that he could prepare for an attack from Midtown. Everyone here knows that while Manhattan's power rivals Brooklyn's we have neither the time nor the man power to fight its battles. This was Brooklyn's fight and she knew it. If Brooklyn prepared for an assault then Manhattan could move onto other projects."

David stared at his sister with pride and Athena mentally applauded her. While David and Sarah were both equally as intelligent, Athena would have guessed that strategy was David's area of expertise. She would have to remember Sarah's ideas next time she needed a back-up plan. The assassin tuned into the conversation again and saw Jack stand up again to pace. She huffed and crossed her arms in frustration.

"OK, Isa get dat Athena had everything planned out ta help Manhattan get back ta its own business, but dat ain't all da pieces ta da puzzle. Where in da world is she if she coulda already told Conlon everything?" Athena chuckled and emerged from the shadows of the dimly lit room. "Right here Jack."

Everyone minus sleeping Venus snapped their heads to the back of the meeting room. Racetrack almost fell out of his chair in surprise, putting out his cigar in the process it catching himself. When he recovered his eyes widened. "Where ya been Thea?" he exclaimed, grinning. "Better yet, how long's she been there?" David rephrased. She shrugged and pushed off the wall she was leaning on to sit down beside Jack's point of standing, pretending to take out an imaginary pocket watch and check the time. "Oh, Isa say about 15, 20 minutes," she said, smiling at everyone. "Long enough to hear that last end of your an' Di's argument, Kelly. So tell me, how well do ya think youse know me now?"

The entire room burst out laughing except for Jack, waking up poor tired Venus who bounded over to Athena at the first sight of her. "Thea, I'm sorry!' she sobbed, clutching the re-instated leader's leg and sniffing. "It was my fault….. Spot got youse….. I shoulda been dere instead!" she wailed. Athena pulled the 9 year old off of her and held her tightly in a hug. "Venus, youse stop ya bawling right now ya hear me girlie? It wasn't youse fault; it was da stupid idiots who first got ya into dis fine mess. I chose take ya place an' dere ain't nothing wrong with dat, it was my own doing and dere wasn't nothing dat coulda changed my mind. So youse cheer up an' we all go ta bed happy, OK?"

The small newsgirl wiped her eyes and managed a small smile. "Okeyday Athena, Isa ain't gonna cry no more!" she declared. Athena laughed, one of those rare kinds you're unlikely to hear again in one month and set her down in Steven's lap again. "Alright, now dat we're all back here in one piece safe, sound an' keeping no secrets from Brooklyn Isa would like ta try an' move onto a new project, eh?" she announced, returning to the calm, collected and emotionless leader she was. Hestia almost cried when she heard new project. "What do you mean new project?" she wailed. "You've barely gotten back and recovered from the last one!"

Athena frowned and gestured out the door. "I meant finding a replacement for Juno," she responded quietly. The whole room went silent at that and they all looked down into their laps sadly. Athena grew frustrated at the fact that everyone was quiet and stood up, pounding her fist on the table and startling all. "Now don't youse go all mushy eyed on me, I can't have dat now!" she demanded, gray eyes blazing. "Listen, Isa know dat Juno was a friend, but Hestia was right; she wasn't all stable. It's not da best thing dat she's dead and I feel even worse dat Isa had ta kill her myself but we can't dwell on it right now. We need someone ta replace Juno Sospita soon or else we won't be able ta function properly as a team, youse got it?"

The girls nodded and Sarah stood up calmly, clearly at ease amongst the tension that thickened the air about them. "I might know someone," she told her friend. Athena felt her ears perk but and she stared intently at the girl. "Go ahead Sarah, Isa listening," she replied. "There's a women's lodging house not far from Manhattan's border on the Bronx. I went there to deliver something from mother to the matron there once and met a few girls whom I've become good friends with. One of them in particular, named Madeline, is the kind of type you'd be looking for if you want a close resemblance to Juno." Athena met eyes with Diana's brown and Hestia's honey colored ones. The looks of them weren't opposing, and Athena turned back to Sarah. "Is there any way ya can get her ta come here tomorrow afternoon? Isa need someone preferably by den if youse can manage it."

Sarah nodded. "Sure, I think I can convince her. I feel I need to warn you though, she's more street-raised than most, an even nastier temper. You might have a harder time training her than you did Juno, Athena." "Street-raised as in what?" Diana asked curiously. Sarah looked at the second hesitantly. "Street-raised as in pick-pocket street-raised," she said. Out of the corner of her eyes Athena spotted Hestia bite down on her bottom lip nervously. It had been Hestia who had disciplined and taught everyone else in the team besides Athena and had done so with ease, as Juno, Di and Venus had been around some sort of affectionate influence at one point. With an orphaned street rat it would be loads harder, something everyone would have to pitch in on. But at least Hestia gave her consent in the matter. Athena sat back down in her chair and nodded. "Isa think we can manage."

David checked his watch and stood up just as Athena had sat down. "I'm sorry to break this up, but its past midnight and we promised Mom we'd be home by 1 am at the most." Jack waved him off. "Go on ahead Davey; it's about time we turned in to." He kissed Sarah lightly on the cheek and showed the two out. Steven lifted his sister off of his legs and handed the sleeping-again newsie to Hestia (Venus was probably dreaming of Les, Sarah and David's little brother whom she fancied, Athena reckoned), who took her in her arms. "Yeah, I should get going too," he announced. He brushed a hand onto Venus's cheek and smiled warmly at Hestia. Athena was the only one who noticed the exchange between the two and new at once they shared more than just caring for Venus. She smiled inwardly at the thought mainly because Hestia needed someone other than her team 'family'. The leader maintained her serious disposition and watched as the two headed into the hall, Steven to his own apartment and Venus upstairs to tuck Venus in bed, then turned to see Race getting up as well.

"Jack's right, we should head on up ta hit da hay," he said. Athena saw him wink at Diana, who blushed, before disappearing to the boy's room. She glanced at her best friend, who was still red, and allowed herself a slight glimmer of satisfaction. The two liked each other, anyone could tell. Racetrack, being the 14 year old he was, had been turning his head to see pretty girls for a while, but Diana, still 12 (I raised her age to 12 in case you need to know), was still adjusting to being noticed as an attractive young lady. This caused Athena ta become slightly wary of Race and his intentions, but she knew he was too morally inclined to think of anything that stupid. Race already knew that Athena would become hell on two feet if he did.

Diana and Athena were the last people left in the room. The second swiveled in her chair a bit to face her boss directly and raised an eyebrow. "So, how'd it go with Spot?" she asked bluntly. Athena blinked, surprised, at the question. "What do youse mean, what happened?" she responded, letting her confusion show. Diana snorted at her best friend's expression and grinned, amused. "Thea, c'mon! You're da only one around here dat don't have anybody! I mean look around! Jack's got Sarah, Hestia's got Steven, Venus has taken ta Les just like he has ta her and would you just take a glance at me an' Racetrack! Only youse is alone out here! Didn't ya see da way Spot looked at ya when ya saved him?"

Athena rolled her eyes. "Yes, I heard, he was shocked that I was sticking up for him! Di, he was just shocked, dat's all!" She took a deep breath and lowered her tone a bit as to not wake the sleeping boys above them. "It's not like there was anything there to begin with. We got into a fight Diana, not some cute little spat. I mean, look at him- he's got control ova a whole borough, woman practically flinging themselves at his feet and newsies to attend to anything he could possibly desire! And me, well, I'm just-"

"A beautiful young woman who can fight and win against anyone, has a way with words, is as smart as hell and isn't afraid of anything!" the second finished for her. "Thea, you might not realize it yet but he's interested in ya, whether he knows it or youse know it youseself." Athena frowned and stood up. "The idea is blasted unlikely Di. Can we put dis ta bed for da night; we've all had a long day." Diana shrugged and got up, and then they two started to make their way to bed. As the Manhattan spy leader lay down to sleep, she had to wonder if maybe Diana was onto something- but she pushed it aside. There was no living way Spot Conlon, of all people, would think twice about a cold hearted killer like her. Whether he had flirted or shown any sign of liking her was irrelevant. She couldn't and refused to get her hopes up. Not that she had any to begin with.

Ω

A full month passed. In that time Race had finally asked Diana out (Athena had followed them their first date to make sure they were alright, then dismissed her previous misgivings and left after the first 5 minutes saying there hadn't been anything to worry about) and Les and Venus had soon become inseparable, going everywhere together. Steven and Hestia had been spending more time with each other recent, but when questioned about both claimed they had a recollection of the event (this soon became the private joke amongst the rest of the lodging house behind their backs).

But relationships weren't the only things that had been happening around Manhattan. Word had reached Athena's ears through her sources in the West Side (she still had allies there after all) that all of Midtown's gangs had mysteriously disbanded and disappeared and the newsies were now free to roe around the streets after dark once again. The assassin figured Spot had something to do with it and her suspicions had been confirmed after Brooklyn showed a remarkable rise of strength, but she never said anything. As far as she was concerned Spot Conlon wouldn't show his face in her life again, which was perfectly fine with her.

No one, not even Diana, knew the details about her and Spot's talk on the Brooklyn Bridge, and it showed. Every time talk of it came up she Athena became strangely quiet the rest of the conversation. She had stopped visiting Irving Hall to see Medda's shows and only showed her face there when she needed to see one of her spies or Jack. She had become even more reserved than ever, more silent, deadly, mysterious and emotionless than before.

Speaking of spies, Sarah's friend Madeline-renamed Eris (goddess of ruckus) had passed the test and was now officially working as a spy. Her training required the energy of everyone, including some of the newsies. Hestia, try as she might, couldn't teach the poor girl how to speak properly (Diana and Athena had told Madeline not to fret, Hestia hadn't corrupted their speech either), Diana hadn't succeeded in getting her to handle her temper, earning her the title she now went by and neither Jack nor Athena could teach her how to fight. Eris had inherited Juno's old leather strap and Athena had thankfully taught her well enough how to snap another's neck with it, but the girl's fighting was sloppy. Fists were swinging and easily deflected or caught, kicks were weak and threats were little to none. In short, she was going to need plenty of work. But, on the bright side, Eris brought the practical joking back into the lodging house and all enjoyed her company. There was many a day where one would wake up to a dead rat on their chest or a harmless green garden snake in their hair and know it was Eris.

It was on days like these where Athena liked to get out and scout the city, looking for new routes to go places and meeting up with old friends from West Side. Although everyone had noticed the drastic change in the spy leader and learned never to A: get on her bad side B: prank her or C: laugh at her expense; she knew that they would try to get her to open up on such occasions. She had never liked to be read like a book and decided that a personal tour of the city was a nice distraction from the crazy world around her.

These were such times where she could be herself and act the way she used to around old friends. The West Side newsies had always known her as the trickster assassin who liked to play around before the death of her old partner at the hands of the Midtown gangs had forced her to flee to Manhattan looking for decent work that suited her area of expertise, which was why she trusted them more than anyone in Manhattan, not even Diana. Di was a good partner and friend, but she had never completely understood Athena like the West Side had.

Walking up to a little known bar in the area called The Lucky Penny, the assassin eyed the tiny crowd inside, found her friend Magic in the back and trotted over. She sat down silently and greeted her friend, a rare smile popping up on her lips. Magic grinned in return and ordered her a drink (water of course, Athena had never bothered to try actually booze). "So, Grim Reaper," Magic said, using Athena's West Side name. "What brings ya here on a Saturday night ta these parts? Isa thought youse liked 'Hattan!" She eyed the boy mischievously, letting her gray eyes twinkle. "Manhattan's crazy Magic, youse know dat," she replied. "Sometime a gal has ta get away, relax an' let her hair down if youse know what Isa mean."

Magic nodded and tapped his hand on the small round table top absentmindedly. "Isa hear ya got two separate images in New York Reaper," he conversed.

Athena shrugged. "Yeah Isa guess, why?"

Magic frowned. "Youse ain't da same giorl ya were when youse was working for us, so Isa heard."

The assassin took a long drink from her glass and then set it down, a single eyebrow raised coolly. "Go on."

The Westie newsboy took a deep breath. "Dey says ya da leader 'o' dem biords. Isa always knew dat would happen, ya had more guts, courage an' brains den Drifter eve' did-"

"Don't talk about my old partner like dat Magic, he was a good man."

"Isa ain't sayin' he wasn't, just dat youse was beta. Anyways, word on da street is dat ya nova showed ya beta side ta 'Hattan like ya did ta us. Ya always emotionless, tough, no feelings or remorse, an' nova letting anyone have a bit 'o' fun with ya. What eve' happened ta dat joker 'o' a giorl we once knew Reaper, huh?"

Athena rolled her eyes at Magic. "Magic she's still here, she always has been. But Manhattan's not da same as here. In order ta survive ya gotta prove ya worth dere. Combine making sure no one messes with youse an' da death 'o' ya partner all my spark got closed up ta da world." She sighed, continuing. "Isa guess Isa still blaming myself for Drifter's death, but dat's not all it is. I'm an assassin Magic; I can't pretend I'm fine with killing people."

The newsie blinked, surprised. "Youse a biord, why ya going off killing people like ya did for us? Not dat Isa mind it, but dat's just a bit bold for an easy going guy like Jack Kelly." Athena bit her lip. No use hiding it now. "Magic, being just a spy isn't enough. Sure, Jack's a generous payer giving us da rent an' food money, but when you're a biord ya can't just have dat. Youse need money for bribing an' pay-offs an' such. Jack can't supply dat an' sell papes too, so Isa decided ta take up a few extra jobs off da grid-"

"Youse a paid hit woman now!" Magic exclaimed, still in a low voice but frantic. "Reaper, killing while protecting ya borough is one thing, killing innocent people for money is completely another!"

"Calm down!" Athena hissed. "Do ya want me ta get arrested? Believe me, Isa do extensive research on my victims before Isa take da job. I'm not killing people for no reason I'm killing off only da criminal's dat deserve it! Dere, beta now?" That relieved Magic immensely and he leaned back in his chair. "Much. Now, can we talk about other more pleasant stuff now? Dis killing thing is depressing, Isa don't know how youse do it!" Grateful to be off-topic now, Athena and Magic started to chat about nonchalant things like headlines and the local buzz. By the time they were done it was well past dark and the bar was closing. Turning out into the streets, Magic realized the streets were darker than he'd expected. He turned to Athena. "Hey Grim, youse need a place ta stay tonight? It's getting dark an' ya know how dangerous da West side can get at night."

She waved it off. "Nah its fine Magic. I'll be Ok; I've got my friends with me." She reached down and pulled her two blades out of her boots. Magic smiled and applauded. "Nicely done Reaper, ya haven't lost youse touch. Well, our door's always open if ya need us!" They said their good-byes and the two went their separate ways.

$N$

Athena got as far as 8 blocks away from The Lucky Penny, over by the workyards,before she stopped and looked behind her. There was someone following her, had been for weeks now. She didn't like it. The assassin fingered the third hidden dagger her kept secretly hidden in her coat pocket. If a fight broke out she might not have time to pull out her thrusting knives. She scanned the shadowy perimeter for any signs of danger then called out "Alright Conlon, how long has youse been following me?"

The King of Brooklyn slinked out of the shadows, sulking at getting caught. He stood about 10 feet away from Athena, tapping his gold-tipped cane on the pavement and frowning. "How long has youse known Isa was dere?" he questioned. She pressed her lips together in a firm line. "Oh, I dunno," she spat out sarcastically. "Maybe eve' since yet sent out biords da day aft' Isa returned ta 'Hattan, since early dis morning when youse came around youseself an' tailed me all da from da Bronx ta here? Tell me something Conlon, what did ya get outta me little conversation with Magic, huh?" She then leaned back onto a light post, smirking. "Isa wanna see what ya already know."

Spot glared at her. "Ya forgot ta mention ta me on da Bridge dat youse were offing people along side working for Jack," he snarled. "Yeah, well youse nova asked, now did ya?" Athena snapped back, storm gray eyes flaring up with lightning crackling inside them just waiting to be let loose. That made Spot back down a bit. He hadn't bothered to get on Athena's nerves before, but now that he had he was pretty sure he didn't want to again. If the girl had gotten away with killing people for over 4 fours working for West Side and then on her own he was positive she could do it to him and no one even look at her. And even if West Side knew Athena had done it, they wouldn't rat her out, not one of their own. That was the thing wit West Side; once a Westie always a Westie. They took care of their own no matter what, something Spot had admired.

"Isa always thought Jack took care 'o' ya guys at da lodging house," Spot continued, more careful now that he saw what he was up against. "He cares about us, but if its biord business besides the original mission we're on our own," Athena informed him coldly. "Sometimes just food and a place to sleep isn't enough." Spot nodded, understanding where she was coming from. Athena had never been a newsie, but she was no stranger to poverty. He decided to take the tension down a notch and dropped his leader act. He was trying to be this girl's friend, not make another enemy that was probably the only one who could kill him and leave no trance of the crime.

"I'm sorry," he offered, sitting down on a bench beside him and motioning for Athena to sit down. At first she regarded him with coldness, distrust and distain, but eventually she was won over and she sat down beside him, tension thickening the air. "Well, dere ya go again!" Spot spat out, crossing his arms over his chest in frustration. "There I go do what again?" Athena asked, finally letting mortal feeling show and expressing confusion.

"Whenever ya start ta actually feels comfortable around people ya clam up again!" Spot pointed out angrily. The girl next to him huffed and rolled her eyes. "It's not my fault I'm like dat!" The King got up to stand before her and began to pace. "From what da guy youse met in dere said youse wasn't like dat until ya came ta Manhattan," he mumbled. "Ya actually acted like ya was human in front 'o' him, not some machine dat does what it's programmed ta do without question!"

The assassin looked at him without a hint of remorse in her eyes. "I do my job!" she countered. She was about to say more, possibly let loose a tenfold of curses at him, but then she stopped. She stared up at the King of Brooklyn strangely, then got up as well, walked a couple feet over and gazed out into the empty street. Spot watched her intently, wondering what she was thinking about. When Athena finally spoke her voice was short and strained.

"If ya had been actually paying attention ta me an' Magic's talk ya woulda caught da fact dat my old partner Drifter died at da hands 'o' a Midtown gang a year ago," she told him. "I've spent my entire life since den trying ta making dem jacks pay for it. They were the reason I had to leave da West Side or else I'd still be dere now and nothing showed for it. Back den Isa was happy, free. All Isa had ta do was protect my borough, dey didn't care how Isa did it as long as Isa got it done. West Side's a smaller borough Spot, a lot smaller den Manhattan eve' was. Dat meant dat even da smallest threats could be dealt with. But when da dangerous stuff rolled around dey was horrible. I thought I was prepared. I was wrong."

She stopped to take a breath and a strangled sound came out of Athena's mouth, a sound that sent a chilling feeling down Spot's spine. She pivoted around to meet his gaze again, eyes barricaded with tears. "My first really big case for da Westies was my last one, da one Drifter got murdered on. When I saw Drifter's body hit da ground for da first time I was horrified. I'd been frightened or scared before, but this was completely different. This…. This was something that scarred me so bad I never wanted to experience it again. I felt so, so weak."

She then wagged her pointer finger at me, tone hard. "So when you ask me why I don't display feelings, why I won't show anyone who I really am you'd do well to remember I can't. I won't eve' be caught off guard like dat, never again. It showed Isa wasn't ready, dat Isa couldn't handle it. It ain't like I can just go back ta being who I was Spot. Aft' seeing all dat… ya never can."

Spot stood there, at loss for words. "I didn't know," he said quietly. Athena stared back at him, tears gone from her beautiful gray eyes as quickly as they had come and leaving no trance they had even existed. "Yeah, well now you do," was all she said. Then she brushed past him and started on her way back to Manhattan. Spot caught up with her and the two walked side by side silently, each absorbed in their own thoughts. By the time they both reached the parting way the led off to their own respective boroughs their eyes met one last time, blue on gray.

"Nothing's changed between us," Athena said, just as she had a month ago but not quite as cold. "Everything's changed," Spot countered. The girl raised her eyebrows questioningly. "How den?" Spot shrugged. "Isa da only one from ya new life that's seen ya soft side an' Isa know a secret dat youse haven't even told ya best friend Diana. Isa think dat's changed up quite a bit." Athena nodded only once, but it signaled she's agreed. "Isa guess it's only fair enough saying ya right." She then turned away and presumed to return back to her lodging house.

Spot watched her leave and was about to go himself when she suddenly twirled around, eyes blazing. "But if youse use dat as blackmail Isa will kill you!" she threatened. The Brooklyn newsie leader smiled inwardly and nodded. "Isa wouldn't have it any other way." Then he ran back to Brooklyn.

$N$

That was the way their relationship was from then on- a semi-peaceful understanding and a brief meeting of the minds, simple yet so very complicated at the same time. But from time to time Spot found himself staring at her during newsie meetings (these particular events required all the newsie leaders and their seconds and all the bird leaders and theirs from every borough to attend and were a monthly thing, making the time Athena and Spot saw each other at least that much frequent), admiring her glossy black hair that fell in waved down her back or running his eyes down her fine and muscle- toned hourglass figure instead of paying attention to the meeting, thinking about how perfectly her body would fit into his.

He inevitably caught himself, but sometimes his daydreaming moved a little bit more past the annual meetings and he often thought about visiting Manhattan just to see her. Spot knew she would never be able to look past the fact that they were enemies and see that he was falling for her. He already had the feeling that the other newsie leaders knew it too, for how much effort they put into trying to make Spot think they didn't have a clue.

Athena had more control over what she let herself feel and what she didn't, but even she realized that Spot had been acting weird recently. Their 'simple understanding' as she like to call it was about as close as she got to a truce as she would allow it to get (as they were still enemies), and by just gathering glances at him to form short picturesque images she knew he wasn't at all fine as he appeared to be. She soon decided, right after coming back from a mission to Harlem, that she would pay Spot a 'friendly' visit.

$N$

Again, I apologize IMMENSELY for my not updating sooner! Hopefully I made up for in this one, though. So, review? – Rel