Ok, so I'm not really sure how long it's been, and I feel hypocritical. I mean, I'm the one always saying how much I hate inconsistent updates, and yet here I am, updating sporadically. So I apologize to my community for my hypocrisy. Speaking of books, as that was a reference, have any of you read the Lunar Chronicles? I just got Fairest today, and it was freaking amazing! Ok, done with books now, enjoy the beginning of Spot's legendary fighting abilities! And please, reviews are nice, even if they are constructive criticism.
Spot finally had his opportunity to speak to Roadblock on the day he was assigned to clean out an isolation room. When the rooms were not in use, they were allowed to accumulate dust and dirt, and the only things that disturbed them were boys cleaning them and couples meeting there after curfew. The walls of the iso rooms were specially padded so no sound could escape, in case a boy or girl yelled or screamed while being kept there, making it ideal for a secret meeting place. Spot was cleaning one that had not been used for anything for so long that the dust was a half inch thick when Roadblock walked up the stairs holding a rag and a bucket of water.
"Hey kid! Hic tol' me ta give dese to ya." Spot took them, and as Roadblock was walking away again, called out.
"Hey! Wait! Kin I'se talk ta ya fer a second?"
"Depends. 'Bout what?"
"Well...I'se been watchin' ya fight sometimes, an' you'se real good! Minch has been...soakin' me, an' I'se gotta stand up ta him 'ventually. Will ya teach me ta fight like you'se kin?" Roadblock hid a smile. He was right about the kid wanting to learn. But he couldn't teach him without showing any reluctance.
"Kid, I spent two long, hard years of my life livin' on da streets, teachin' myself ta fight. Why would I teach you'se what I hadda figure out myself?" Spot looked up at the older boys face. Roadblock took note of how young the face looked, a seven year old's face, yet the eyes were clear and green and filled with more pain and knowledge and understanding and wisdom that Roadblock had ever seen in a kid so young. He may have only been living in the world for seven years, but he had been through more than most go through in a lifetime.
"Roadblock, I knows ya see Minch soak me. I knows ya know how ta fight. I knows ya know dat even if ya challenge Minch, he ain't gonna fight ya. I knows he's only gonna fight someone dat he don't think kin fight. An' who betta ta challenge him den da kid what puts up no fight at all? If I'se learns how ta fight real good, half as good as you, I kin beat him, I knows I can! An' den at lease we ain't gotta put up wid Minch along wid da bulls! But da only one in da Refuge good enough ta teach me what I needs ta know if you'se." If Roadblock hadn't been convinced before to teach Spot, he was now. The kid had a way with words, and every point he made was sound. No conning like most in the Refuge would try. He did see Minch soak Spot. He did know how to fight. Minch did get out of most challenges, and if Spot learned how to fight, Minch would most likely accept a challenge from him. This kid was smart and logical, two very rare traits in the Refuge. But Roadblock still couldn't just give in, even if he wanted to. He had a reputation to uphold.
"What's in it fer me?" Spot thought a moment before responding.
"Well, I'se got my spies already gettin' extra food an' blankets, an' I don't think Hic would like havin' ta git more of dat kinda thing. But I'se could arrange fer bettah job assignments, I think. Or if ya want information on anything, my spies can get it for ya. Dey's real good."
"Spies?" This was new information. The kid was also sneaky, and if his claims were true, resourceful.
"Yep. A system. Started wid seven, but I'se got mebee...fourteen now. At least one in each dorm, one goil, and a few extras I think. Dey's is passin' information on Minch an' his boys ta me. We'se got a plan dat is gonna start in a week."
"We? Who else is helpin'?"
"You gonna tell Minch?"
"Tell me da plan an' da names an' git one more bit of information fer me, and dat is your payment."
"You'se is gonna teach me?"
"For the price." Spot thought carefully. On one hand, if he told those things to Roadblock, Roadblock might tell Minch, which would ruin it. But if he didn't tell, he wouldn't learn how to fight. He made his decision.
"I'se kin tell ya da plan, but I ain't namin' names. I ain't no rat, even if ya ain't gonna tell no one." Roadblock grinned.
"Den ya owe me two pieces of information."
"Deal." Roadblock spit on his hand and held it put to Spot. "What?"
"On da streets, dis is how ya make a deal. Ya can't break it, or dey's got da right ta soak ya. Mostly da newsies use it, 'cause most of da rest of us don't make no deals, but we use it when we gotta. Da price of doin' business is how dey put it." Spot nodded. He repeated the spitting action and shook Roadblock's hand. "When is I teachin' ya, an' where?"
"Why don't we meet here."
"Huh?"
"Dere's usually an empty iso room, an' dey's good at keepin' noise in."
"Only with a closed door. And dey lock automatically when closed." Spot grinned.
"Leave it ta me. Dat won't be no problem. Meet me up here in a week, durin' free hour. We kin fix a better time later, but dat will work for now."
"Free hour nex-"
"Ay! You! Your supposed to be cleanin' the dorms, not muckin' around up here!" A bull stomped down the hall towards the two boys and grabbed Roadblock's arm. Roadblock nodded at Spot before he was gone. Spot grinned once more, turning back to his work with his new, slightly less dirty, rag and bucket. Part one of his final plan was implemented, the fighting lessons. And part two was ready to get up and running. And the only price he had to pay was information. This might be easier than he thought it would.