Read-all-about-itgoil-Yay, a new reviewer!! hehe I'm just bringing my two favorites things together into a story lol. I'm a huge fan of both as well. Thanks for reading and reviewing! I'm going to call you RG from now on; that's your nickname lol.


The rain pounded the heated summer ground of New York City in the evening. Six o'clock neared and umbrellas sprang up in various places in the streets. A herd of nearly fifteen in total, distraught newsboys traipsed over the bridge to meet with their enemies in Brooklyn at the end of the overpass. Silence had taken over them and the only words spoken were those of sorrow and grief. And the mood was no different with the Brooklyn boys. To say they were melancholy and miserable would be an understatement. The torrential downpour was almost an exact reflection of the emotional atmosphere. But add a few lightning bolts in the sky and oversized hail, and it would have been precisely accurate.

Spot stood with his loyal boys, arms crossed stiffly over his chest and eyes staring resolutely at the ground as they waited for Manhattan's arrival. His newsboys surrounded them, a few pacing back and forth, and some with girls who wept with pity. Sapphire ambled up to Spot and placed her hand on his arm, reaching to her tiptoes to whisper in his ear.

"Why are we here?" she asked dumbly and looking around at everyone.

Spot looked at her with an aggravated appearance. A stare of such irritation made Sapphire to step back instinctively and slink away from his sight. Spot was famous for such looks.

Jack, surprisingly sober, led his boys as they neared the end of the bridge. His arms swung slightly at his sides, clenched and rigid. A raindrop landed on his eyelash and he blinked it out, annoyed. He had a feeling that Spot would ask for something truly unfair and irrational; it was his style. But Jack was prepared for the worst. He was ready to argue any type of castigation Spot wanted, because it would probably be some sort of cruel and unusual punishment. Mush appeared at Jack's side.

"We got your back, Jack," he reassured him.

Jack nodded. It was odd; Jack was pitiful as a leader within the past years and somehow his boys always stuck to him in the most desperate of occasions. It was true loyalty.

Quiet swept over the two groups as they stared at each other with detestable expressions. Jack and Spot both glared at one another in the middle. Sheets of gray rain stood between them amid the defiant stare. Boys on either side did the same and one of Manhattan spat at the ground offensively. Jack stepped forward.

"You want to tell us why you dragged us out here, Spot?" he asked.

Spot tightened his hat and adjusted it, taking a step in front of him. "Kelly, you know why you're here. Your boys killed Drake and he was family. Now, I can put up with the small fighting shit, but this time you've crossed the line. Not to mention one of you fuckers came to my party and killed Switch."

Chase became enraged quickly and swiftly leapt forward and was immediately brought back by Mush. "Fucking asshole. That cousin of yours killed my best friend! Orlando was like family to me! Don't fuckin' tell us to come out here and expect to punish us when none of your boys were there."

Spot's jaw clenched and the Brooklyn boys fought to lash out and beat the bold uptown boy to the ground. Mush kept a hold on Chase's collar just in case and the Manhattans stared at Chase to see what else he had to say.

"Just so happens Drake snuck in to our house to murder Caden. He fucking started it! But obviously your heads are shoved way too far up your asses to realize it. Caden refused to fight the lowly shit-head and when Orlando tried to defend him, Drake killed him. And you have no proof that we were even at your fucking party, let alone killing that guy."

The famous Conlon stare took affect and all could feel the rage building up within Spot. Mush's grip tightened, fearing Chase would take it a step further. He did.

"Yeah, you're not so arrogant and cocky anymore, are you?"

Spot lunged forward and punched Chase in the eye, giving grounds for everyone to throw a few clouts angrily. Spot knocked Chase to the ground into a puddle of mud as they punched and swatted at each other furiously. Crouching over Chase, Spot started to strangle him with a firm grasp on his throat. Chase struggled underneath him and gripped Spot's wrists and arms painfully to brake free.

Just as Chase started to panic frantically and the terror was upped to a maximum, Spot was shoved off of him and onto the ground forcefully. A Manhattan pistol pointed at Conlon and launched a bullet into the ground merely inches from his head as he lay on his back in the muddy grass. The fighting came to a stop as the revolver's resonance ripped through the air and Jack stood close to Spot with his arm extended and gun clutched tightly in his hand.

"You need to tell us what the fuck you want, Brooklyn," Jack stated firmly.

Slowly but surely, everyone regained composure and got to their feet, situating themselves to actually talk. Spot wiped the dirt off his cheek and faced the Manhattans with his boys standing beside him, angrier than ever.

"What we need to discuss is Caden," said Spot. "And what's going to happen to him."

Jack squinted at him and narrowed his gaze on him. "And what would that be? And please underplay, because I can already tell it's unreasonable."

"Banishment."

"Fuck no!" Blink protested. "That's low, Spot, even for you!"

"All right, then. Whoever finds him…kills him."

Jack stepped forward and pointed directly at Spot's face. "There is no way I'm letting that happen, Spot. You've got a lot of nerve telling me you're banishing one of my best newsboys."

Spot grabbed Jack's arm. "Kelly, let's talk for a second over here." He turned to his boys. "I don't want any shit from you guys! Leave them alone."

Jack nodded to his. "Don't try anything, either."

The two leaders walked over away from earshot. Spot faced Jack with a serious face.

"Jack…" he started and rubbed his forehead, looking away. "You know I don't want to do this. You know I can't stand this stupid rivalry. However, we can't let this thing go with a fuckin' slap on the wrist. There has to be consequence."

"You're asking too much, Spot. Banishing one of my own and allowing it? I can't do it! And if you don't want to do it, then don't."

"Then you're asking for a war. Nothing inconsistent and what we've been doing. An official war. And we'll declare it on you if we can't negotiate."

Jack's eyes widened. "War?" He knew his boys wouldn't handle it. They couldn't beat them. Brooklyn boys were tougher than Manhattan, tenfold. He closed his eyes and turned to the side, thinking over the dilemma. And there was no way they could "negotiate" between banishment and war. He had been out of such responsibility for so long that it had weakened his concession skills. But he needed to give him an answer soon. War would mean putting the whole territory at risk as opposed to Caden still alive but not uptown. The rain seemed to increase and made a shiver rush up Jack's spine. With a heavy sigh he turned back to Spot and gave him an answer. "Banishment it is."

Spot nodded and they walked back to the group of newsboys who looked particularly goaded and annoyed.

"We've come to a decision," Spot began and stood at the center of the divide between the regions. "Caden is hereby banished from Manhattan and any other territory surrounding the city, to Staten Island."

Enraged groans and shouts erupted from the Manhattan side but were soon cooled by Jack. Brooklyn looked a little higher in satisfaction as their leader continued.

"Anyone who comes in contact with him will report him to either leader, or there'll be hell to pay. I'm not playing around."

Chase sprang at Conlon but was brought back by, again, Mush who was fighting to lash out as well. Spot and Jack shook hands reluctantly and Brooklyn walked away.

The uptown boys were fuming and couldn't believe the actions of their so-called leader as they traveled back to their home. Obscenities were yelled and insults were thrown at Jack, who took them without a second glance. He knew he was killing Caden slowly, but it was better than a whole town full of his dead boys.


Hiding noiselessly in a place behind a mess of wood and docks was Caden. He was drenched and soaked to the bone. His face was pale and eyes puffy. Unknown to his friends and foes, Caden had been listening and watching the whole meeting.

"Banishment?" he repeated to himself. "Why not stick to death, which is far worse than any fucking banishment!" He punched at a box crate, knocking it to the ground.

"Watch it, man," said a scratchy voice from behind him. The man came into view through the pounding rain. "Sorry to hear about it, Caden. That's rough."

Caden looked at him. "Racetrack?"

"Hey." He let out a round of harsh coughs and faced him. "So, Staten Island seems nice to me."

Muttering obscenities under his breath he leaned his head against a crate. "It's not just that. I'm stuck in something…"

"Like what?"

Caden sighed and turned toward him again. "I'm engaged."

"Well, if she loves you I'm sure she'll move with you."

There was a pause in Caden's words. "It's Spot's cousin."

Race's eyes widened. "You're supposed to marry Adriette Conlon? That's one fucked up family tree if you ask me."

"Well, I didn't ask you!" Caden snapped at him curtly. "Call me fucked up, when you're homeless, selling drugs at the docks in Brooklyn!" He beat his fists against another crate.

Race nodded. "I won't take offense to that."

"Sorry. I'm just a little pissed off at the moment."

"We'll figure something out. Don't worry." Race patted Caden's shoulder and took a swig of something strong and alcoholic.

Caden placed a hand on Race's shoulder. "Thanks, Race."