Following You
So I ingest everything
'Cause I'm in it to win
nothing but time on my side
Anywhere I choose
'Cause I wasn't built to lose
- Survive by Sick Puppies
The cold light of day streamed through the window above his bed and he blinked his eyes open. He'd gotten in late the night before but the habit of waking with the sun was too hard ingrained and so he found himself rising to get dressed. His thoughts immediately drifted to Naomi, who'd be rising about now to head to church with Bea and Mrs. Snow. This in turn directed his thoughts to his impending meeting with Ruckus.
He tucked in his new slingshot, the one he would have had a lot earlier had he not walked out on Naomi the first time, put his newsboy cap on his head and grabbed his cane where it leaned against the wall. Though he still felt a little off without his key, he knew it was in good hands. Smiling at the thought of where it hung now, he briefly remembered how he got it like it was yesterday. He'd been five, just a few weeks before he'd been left on the streets by the maid, and his younger brother Henry had come down to the kitchens to taunt him with the then shiny key.
"Look what mommy gave me!" He'd exclaimed, his hazel eyes shining triumphantly as he hung it over Spot's head. It hadn't helped that his younger brother had been slightly taller than him at the time. Glaring, Spot turned his face away to show indifference to his brother's taunts.
"What's that foah? Ta unlock ya diapah cuz youse a big baby?" Spot had snapped back, jealous that his mother never gave him anything or even acknowledged him.
Henry had sneered, something he had perfected over the years, and tucked the key in his pocket, "No. It's a key ta get in the house because mommy always wants me to come back. Unlike you, who she never wanted in the first place." They had been young but both had learned early on who Veronica Masters-Turner had loved and who she didn't. Regardless, the dig had stung Spot more than he would ever admit.
He stormed away but had snuck into Henry's room late that night to take the key he'd taunted him with; his revenge for the cutting words of his younger brother. He'd hidden it outside under a stone so when they searched his meager belongings they'd never find it no matter how sure Henry was he'd taken it. When he had found out from eavesdropping on the cook and his mother that they were going to abandon him on the streets he had gone back to the rock and taken his prize with him. At least he'd always have a way back in, not that he was stupid enough to try.
Shaking his head at the memories, he left his room and strode down the hall to the boys bunk room. Sundays he usually allowed them to sleep in as late as they could sleep, but a few were up and getting dressed for the same reason he was; a habit after waking up with the sun six days a week for so many years. Nodding to those that were awake, he walked down to the very last bunk on the left where Ruckus was curled up sleeping.
A small stab of regret ran through him until he shut down the feeling. Maybe it wasn't fair to thrust the position of leadership onto anyone so young, but then he'd been fifteen, too, when Hero had chosen him as his successor. With that thought in mind, he poked Ruckus in the ribs with his cane, "'Ey, Ruckus. Time ta get up."
Ruckus groaned and swatted at the cane, "Leave lone." He murmured, trying to bury himself more into the bed to get away from Spot's incessant cane.
"Up and at 'em, boy."
"Jeez, Spot. It's barely light out." The boy grumbled, finally sitting up enough to glare at the Brooklyn King through bleary grey eyes.
Spot chuckled, "Days a wastin', kid. Get dressed and meet me down stairs in five minutes." He turned from his second, smirking as Ruckus muttered curses under his breath, before adding over his shoulder, "Oh, and don't look too sloppy. We're goin' ta the Snow's afterwards."
That statement was met with another groan and he chuckled again to himself as he headed down the stairs, his eyes straying briefly to the door at the end of the hall where Naomi was any other day of the week. A few boys, Magic in particular, had been pretty miffed that after his speech to them about leaving the nurse of the lodging house alone he'd gone and made her his girl, which was something he'd never extended to any of his flings before her. But, after Wicked and Joker had told the boys about how Naomi had found him, brought him in and healed him she'd become an honorary Brooklyn Newsie and all the boys had since then doted on her. She was, after all, the reason he was back.
He plopped onto the worn couch that sat in the corner of the room and watched as the occupants began to rise. Many of the ones who had risen early were leaving to go about the city, either to catch a little snack from a vendor busy with customers or get into the market crowds when they were busiest to pick a few pockets.
"Spot Conlon." A voice said, before Joker spun around the corner with one of the younger boys' wooden swords, "Prepare to fight!"
As she moved forward she lashed out with her sword and just in time he blocked it with his cane and stood in one smooth move. "That the best ya got?" He taunted.
Blue eyes blazing, she took a step back before she lunged forward again. He parried the blow and smirked at her. Narrowing her eyes, she moved to the right as he turned his cane to follow her. Suddenly, she made a small, owl-like 'whoo!' and Wicked came around the corner to his left and managed to prod him in the ribs with her own sword.
"Aha!" The twins exclaimed, as Spot grabbed at his side and gave a fake groan of agony.
They clashed their swords together and did a victory dance. "We beat!" Joker began to sing.
Wicked added the second verse, "Spot Conlon! We beat!"
"Spot Conlon! Woo!" Joker finished their short song and both turned to look expectantly at Spot.
He raised an eyebrow, "Maybe I shoulda sent the two of ya ta a mental institution instead of lettin' ya stay here."
Wicked scoffed, "If you'd have done that,"
"Then who would make you laugh?" Joker finished, and both raised their eyebrows at the same time.
Before he could make a comment, Ruckus came down the stairs and stopped next to him. He nodded his head at the twins, "Joker. Wicked."
"Ruckus." They greeted in unison.
Ignoring the two, he turned to Spot, "Awright, I'm ready."
Footsteps on the stairs had all four turning to watch as two of the younger boys, General and Peanut came flying down the stairs. "Joker! Gimme back my sword!" Peanut exclaimed, coming right up to the brunette.
She scowled, "No. I won it fair and square, kid."
Peanut glanced at Spot with large, doleful brown eyes, "They said if it was heads they won and if it was tails we lost."
Wicked cackled but was cut off as General, who had not demanded the sword back but had rather went flying straight at her to grab at his sword. Wicked made an 'ah!' in exclamation before tugging back the sword, "Leggo, scamp!"
General pulled with his whole tiny body, "Ya tricked us!"
"Hey, Wicked," Joker began as Peanut began running around her and making grabs for his sword.
"Yeah, Joke?" Her counterpart panted, still having the tug of war battle with the smaller newsie.
"Remember when you were so angry you could kick a child?" Spot and Ruckus watched in amusement at the scene of the two girls fighting with the kids.
"Yeah." Was the clipped reply as Wicked jerked the sword free and lifted it high in the air, trying to keep it out of General's reach.
Joker lifted her own sword up high but unfortunately neither of the twins was very tall and Peanut managed to jump up and knock the sword out of her hands and they both froze and watched it slide across the floor. "Mind bringin' some of that anger back?" Joker asked, before her and Peanut both went running for the sword that lay abandon on the floor.
"Should we do somethin'?" Ruckus asked Spot.
Spot gave Ruckus a serious look, "As ya go through life, there are three choices ya have when it comes ta a confrontation between those ya lead. One, break it up. Two, let them handle the situation themselves."
Ruckus raised an eyebrow, "And the third?"
The Brooklyn leader smirked, "Sit back and enjoy the show." He clapped Ruckus on the back as the twins continued their battle against the two boys.
Twenty minutes later, Spot and Ruckus left the lodging house with the disgruntled, swordless twins.
"You shoulda kicked General." Joker muttered, darkly.
Wicked glowered at the sidewalk, arms folded tightly as she replied, "Then you would have laughed and we'd probably still be without swords."
"Don't you two have somewhere else ta go?" Spot asked, glancing back at the twins as they followed him and Ruckus in the direction of the docks. At this time of year the docks were more often than not deserted, which made them a perfect place for him to talk to Ruckus about his duties and obligations.
Joker glared and sniffed at his question, "Nope. In punishment of not helping us keep our swords,"
"Which we won fair and square from them two little brats," Wicked added.
"We're going to give you an extra dose of our sparkling personalities." Joker finished.
Spot scowled at them, "No, ya won't. Me and Ruckus have stuff ta discuss that you two can't hear."
Wicked made a face, "When you say it like that,"
"It makes us want to stay around longer." Joker completed.
Rolling his eyes, he contemplated swinging his cane at the two, "Beat it." He finally said.
"Fine," Joker snapped.
"We see when we're unwanted." Wicked ended the sentences this time and they looped arms, crossed the street and got lost in the morning crowd.
Ruckus snorted, "No, I think that's a first." He said to Spot in reply to Wicked's departing comment.
Spot smiled, "They come with Brooklyn."
His second's face fell and Spot had to keep from laughing out loud. Ruckus had more than showed his mettle in the last six months. He'd attacked Lighter, had gotten Spot to Manhattan and had even found Spot when he was staying with the Snow's. After all that, he'd volunteered going back to Brooklyn to rally those that were loyal to Spot and even had rounded up the traitors. Though at the time he'd been small and unassuming, the main reason Spot had chosen him to be an undercover spy, over the last couple months he had hit a growth spurt and now he was growing like a bean pole.
All in all, he'd proven to be observant and quite cunning. He liked to let people assume the exact opposite of what he was really like and Spot knew without a doubt there was no one better suited to take his place in Brooklyn. No matter how many newsies were concerned about his decision.
As they stepped onto the docks, their footsteps on the wooden planks were drowned out by the slapping of the East River. They continued to the end where Spot turned and faced Ruckus, "Awright, ta continue where we left off last week…"
The first hour, Spot spent his time telling Ruckus the tricks of the trade of being leader. Once he'd covered everything he wanted to, they warmed up and began sparring. Ruckus had not been the best fighter which is why Lighter had been able to corner him in that alley last April. He was definitely getting better, though, Spot reflected after they'd finished. He wiped the sweat from his forehead; the fighting had gotten his blood pumping so much he'd discarded his jacket, but he picked it up now and slipped it on. "Ready?" He asked, squinting in the afternoon sun as his second caught his breath.
Ruckus turned to look at him, his grey eyes wide, "Do ya…ya think the Snow's will like me?"
Taken aback by the random question, Spot leaned back on his heels and surveyed the boy in front of him. He'd never given it much thought, but now that he did he remembered Ruckus had been a newsie since he was quite small; since he was four or five, in fact. Spot began to see the parallels between them and he almost asked Ruckus about his past but he stopped himself just in time. That was the first rule of being a newsie, you never asked about another's past unless they volunteered it.
"'Course they will." He replied, not use to reassuring others. Ruckus didn't often come off as vulnerable, but with all the time they had been spending together perhaps the boy was trusting in Spot not to think him weak for asking such a question.
Spot hid a smile at the look of relief that had past across the younger boy's face as they began their walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Ruckus had crept past Spot's barriers and had taken on the role of his little brother; a role that had been filled a long time ago by someone who'd been unwilling. Lucky for Henry, Spot had long since relieved him of any responsibility; especially after their meeting two years ago that had ended in a fight.
"So, Naomi has a sistah and mothah?" Ruckus asked, breaking the silence half way across the bridge.
"Yeah. Mrs. Snow always insists that I call her Lily but I don't and then there's Bea. She's thirteen." Spot smiled as he thought of his girls.
Ruckus nodded and they fell back into an easy silence. Spot noticed Ruckus got more nervous the closer they got but he made no comment. They took the stairs two at a time and stopped in front of the apartment door. Spot straightened his jacket and adjusted his hat before he knocked. He threw a wink at Ruckus as Naomi opened the door and broke into a large grin.
"Hi." She murmured before throwing her arms around his neck and giving him a warm hug. It was still hard for him to believe that he'd found someone he could trust so completely.
"How was ya day?" He asked when she'd pulled back to smile at Ruckus.
"Hello, Ruckus. Come on in." She moved aside to let them through before she answered his question, "It was good, yours?"
Ruckus stood close to Spot, looking uncomfortable for a moment before Mrs. Snow caught sight of them, "Hello, boys." She wiped her hands on the apron tied around her waist and held her hand out to Ruckus, "You must be Ruckus. Spot's told us a lot about you. It's wonderful to meet you."
"Spot!" Bea exclaimed as she came out of the bedroom and flung herself at the Brooklyn leader. He laughed as she about tackled him and returned her hug.
"Bea, I just saw ya yestahday." He told her, exasperated but giving her a wink so she knew he was kidding.
She smiled and pulled away to look at Ruckus, "I'm Bea." She told him shyly, a light blush rising in her cheeks as she held her hand out to his second.
"Ruckus." He said, giving her a smile and shaking her hand gently. Spot nodded his approval and looked at Naomi who was standing off to the side.
Her eyes lingered on the two in front of them before she turned and caught him gazing at her. She gave him a sweet smile and slipped her hand in his, "I bet you're hungry." She murmured quietly to him.
Before he could open his mouth, his stomach gave a loud growl that silenced the apartment. When his belly was done complaining, they all laughed.
A/N: So, basically a lighthearted filler chapter. Plot's gonna pick up in the next chapter and since I'm a chapter ahead of myself I thought I'd treat you all to this one. Especially because I'm not sure how much I'll be updating the next two weeks or so. Please review?
Truly,
Joker is Poker with a J~
Disclaimer: I only own what you do not recognize. Everything else is the property of their respective owners.
