A/N: Thank you all for waiting so patiently. I won't delay this any longer, except to say that I do not own any of the characters from Newsies; the character of Tag belongs to AdrenalineRush16 and was graciously loned to me once again so that Tug can have friends.
This chapter is rated T. Just to be safe.
Chapter 14
+Back Where He Belongs+
Each hour that had gone by since overhearing the conversation at the corner store seemed excruciatingly long. When Skittery tried to push the memory from his mind, it would inadvertently work its way back into his thoughts. As much as he hated to admit it he loathed the idea of Tug being with someone else, to the point that a small pile of cigarette butts had piled up beside him. Gazing down at the small mound, Skittery scowled and batted at the pile, watching the little cylinders scatter.
He had been rolling the situation over in his mind for hours, concluding that there wasn't much that could be done. Tug had moved on. He would have to do the same. Sending a smoldering look down at the streets below, Skittery pulled the last tube from the pack and stuck it between his lips. Just as a small flame popped into existence on the tip of his match, someone vaulted over the ledge and joined him on the roof. He felt a sigh ripple through his body as Blink strode closer and plunked down next to him. Skittery's lips tightened around his cigarette as he waited for the burst of energy that typically accompanied his friend, but there was only silence for some time.
"So a bunch of the fellas are goin' to Medda's tonight. D'ya wanna come?" Blink asked, looking hopeful.
Skittery shook his head, not trusting himself to speak.
Blink frowned. "Well, I just thought I'd ask. I mean, you've been sittin' up here for hours. I thought ya might wanna do somethin'."
He shook his head again. This time it had a touch of sadness to it.
Blink sat on his next question for a minute, deliberating, but he had to know. "Does this got something to do with Rook?"
Skittery turned his face and looked at Blink, considering his friend who look genuinely concerned, and then sighed heavily. "Yeah. It does."
With eyebrows raised in slight surprise by this confession, Blink pressed on. "So why'd ya ask about him last night, Skitts?"
Skittery took a long drag from his cigarette and then sourly crushed it against the ground before answering – the words tasting like bile in his mouth. "Tug's seein' him."
Blink's eyes widened.
"Tug and Inky were at the store last night. I overheard 'em talkin'." He crushed the empty cigarette pack in his hand and tossed it aside. "I guess I waited too long to get her back."
"I'm sorry, Skittery," Blink replied solemnly. They sat in silence for a few minutes, neither really knowing what to say to the other.
"Ya know what?" Skittery said suddenly. Blink looked over at him and quirked a brow. "I think a night at Medda's sounds alright."
Blink nodded a few times, thinking. "Well, Tag and Inky are comin' along, so it's possible Tug will be too."
Skittery felt his heart twinge at the thought. He gave a small smile and patted Blink on the back. "It's a small island. We're bound to run into one another sometime. I think it's time I got used to the idea."
Blink sat there, stunned, as Skittery stood to leave. This sudden change of heart seemed unlike the Skittery he knew, but maybe a night out was just what the newsies needed.
It was a bit unsettling to think that a place like Irving Hall could feel so foreign, especially after having spent countless weekends within its walls over the past eight months. Typically the old vaudeville theater felt like an extension of home, but not tonight. An odd feeling swirled around in the pit of Tug's stomach, making her hyper-aware of what her new situation entailed. Sitting among a group of people that she hardly knew, in a place so familiar, was going to take some getting used to – particularly when her old life was sitting on the other side of the room. A part of her yearned to be among them, but she had to make a new life for herself, start over. There were too many painful memories attached to the Manhattan newsies; for Tug it was best just to move on.
The weight of a hand on her shoulder pulled her from her thoughts. She blinked a few times and smiled at the cluster of newsies, hailing mostly from the Bronx and Battery Park. The hand on her shoulder belonged to the leader of the Battery Park newsboys, Rook Schiller. He was tall and lean with thick dark hair and blue eyes. His handsome face was leaning in toward hers and he whispered,
"How's about a dance?"
Tug grinned. "I'd love to."
He led her out among the sea of dancers. Once they found a good spot on the floor, he pulled her tightly against him. Tug loved to dance, and she loved that Rook loved to dance too. They stayed out on the floor for a couple of songs, moving to the beat of the music. Just as she was beginning to tire from the activity, Inky Porter pushed her way through the crowd, looking wild-eyed.
"D'ya mind if I borrow Tug for just a sec?" she asked, looking up at Rook but pulling at Tug's arm without waiting for a reply.
Rook shrugged. "I'll be back at the table."
Inky pulled Tug across the room to where Tag Carolucci was sitting. Tag gestured for Tug to sit down and Inky plopped down into another chair. It felt good to be among friends again, Tug thought as she looked from one girl to the next.
"I still don't like the look of him, Tug," Tag said, running her finger around the edge of her glass.
"You keep sayin' that, Tag. I just don't see it," Inky interjected with a shrug.
"That's because you're so focused on the fact that he's good looking," Tag shot back. She glanced over at Tug. "I'm just sayin', ya need to be careful. We don't know much about it him. He ain't been in Battery Park for long, but Zero seemed to think he'd be a good fit."
"Look, he's been nothin' but sweet to me," Tug began to say; Tag gave her a look. "But, I ain't gonna do nothing stupid."
Tag seemed to loosen up after that, because she leaned forward with a smile and asked, "So, how're things goin' over there?"
"It's okay. It's strange to be here with new friends when old friends are around too. I don't know how you two manage jumping between territories all the time?"
"It's simple. We don't mix work and play," Ink quipped with a grin, which was followed quickly by a grunt and a grimace; Tag had obviously kicked her under the table. "Sorry, Tug, I didn't mean nothing by it. By the way, your make-up looks fantastic, if I do say so myself."
"Thanks, Ink." Tug smiled. "So, how're things with you two?"
"Same old. It's still a pain tryin' to get Dutchy out on the dance floor." Inky made a face. "Hey, how 'bout you go over and threaten him into it, for old time's sake?"
The three girls laughed.
"If he don't shape up you come and find me, alright?" Tug smiled fondly at the memory.
"I thought ya said ya'd only be a minute?" a voice interrupted. It was Rook.
Tag and Inky exchanged a look. Tug smiled at him.
"I haven't been gone that long, have I?"
"Long enough," Rook said with a crooked smile and he offered her his arm. "I'm stealin' her back, goils."
Tug stood and took his arm. "I'll see ya girls later."
"Alright, see ya Tug."
Skittery sat between Blink and Specs, swishing the ice cubes around in his empty glass. He looked up as Tag and Inky joined the table, sitting beside their respective beaus. Tag placed a hand on Blink's shoulder and leaned in, whispering in his ear. When she had finished, she sat back in her chair and glared at Skittery. Perplexed by her expression, Skittery frowned and stared back at her. When she didn't let up, his frustration started to escalate.
"Why ya lookin' at me like that, Tag?"
"Because Tug shouldn't be sittin' at the Battery Park table with that cockroach, Rook; she should be here with us," Tag said, bitterly.
"That ain't my fault," Skittery retorted, raising his voice.
Tag snorted and crossed her arms over her chest, unconvinced.
Gritting his teeth, Skittery snatched up his glass and stalked away from the table. His emotional state was already heightened by the likelihood of bumping into Tug over the course of the night, so an attack by one of her friend's about their broken relationship hit him a little harder than it should. It certainly wasn't his fault that Tug had moved on to some seedy character from one of the lesser territories. He had no influence on the decisions in her life now that he wasn't a part of it.
Skittery slid onto the corner bar stool and slammed his empty glass on the counter. When the bartender worked his way over, he ordered another. He drank it a little more quickly than he would have liked to, but in the moment he really did not care. Just as he received another glass, Tag moved in beside him.
"What d'ya want?" Skittery growled over the rim of his glass.
"I wanna apologize for earlier. I shouldn't've gotten angry with you because I'm worried about Tug," Tag explained. "I was outta line."
"Yeah. It's alright," Skittery mumbled, half expecting to see Tug and her new boyfriend appear through the crowd.
"No, actually it's not all right. I really don't like it, Skittery. Something about him just makes my skin crawl. Something ain't right."
Skittery snorted. "Well, there ain't nothing I can do about it."
"You really don't want her back?" Tag said, frowning.
Considering her question, Skittery saw the sadness creeping into her eyes. His expression softened and he sighed. "It looks like I've lost my opportunity anyway."
"Yeah, well, it's only lost if you don't do anything about it."
"Considered it lost," he replied bitterly.
"Suit yourself," Tag replied, sliding from her stool. "But if I were you I wouldn't give up so easily." She gave him one last apologetic smile and walked away.
Skittery chuckled quietly to himself and gulped down the last of his drink. He definitely wasn't giving up – not just yet anyway – but it wasn't something he wanted to talk about. He didn't want any of them meddling in his business, which was bound to happen if they found out how much he really wanted to get Tug back. He wanted to wait for the right opportunity, one that was going to yield the best results. Maybe it would happen tonight, and maybe it wouldn't. He would wait.
"I don't think ya need another drink, Rook," Tug suggested with smile.
"Look, just go get another round for me and the boys," Rook repeated, leaning toward her and grinning toothily. He placed a hand precariously on her thigh.
Tug's smile faltered a little and she glanced around at the other faces that were watching her. "Okay."
She stood from the table and pushed her way out to where one of the bars was set up. Working her way to the counter, she glanced around for the location of the bartender. He was surveying up drinks on the opposite side. Her heart suddenly skipped a beat and she felt heat rise to skin; her eyes darting around embarrassedly. Sitting across the bar at the counter opposite her was Skittery, pondering what appeared to be an empty glass. Tug directed her gaze to the glossy counter-top to avoid staring at him and silently prayed that the bartender came her way quickly. Slowly her eyes rolled upward and back onto her old flame, her heart pounding in her chest.
"What can I get ya, little lady?" the bartender asked loudly, leaning on the counter top and eye-balling Tug.
Startled, Tug was jostled from her fixation. Embarrassed, she fumbled through the order. When he moved aside to fulfill the order, Tug found herself looking across at Skittery again. This time her gaze met his somber brown eyes. She felt her heart leap and struggled to keep her expression neutral as he gave a small half-smile.
Tug started once more as a hand found her hip and Rook's voice was in her ear. "What's takin' so long?"
"Nearly finished," she said, paying the bartender as he pushed the glasses towards her. "You can help me carry 'em."
Just before leaving to follow Rook, Tug stole another glance at Skittery, whose expression had grown very dark as he watched her interactions; then she scurried away, wanting to put as much space between them as possible.
"Hey, Rook," Tug said quietly once the drinks had been passed around. "D'ya wanna get outta here? I think I'd like to go home."
"It's still early, Tug," Rook replied. "And I gotta finish my drink."
"Please," Tug said, urging him with her eyes. "I'm tired."
"Fine," was his exasperated reply as he downed the drink in one go. Wobbling as he got to his feet, Rook said goodnight to his newsies and led Tug from the theater.
The cool night breeze felt wonderful against Tug's flushed face. With Rook's heavy arm wrapped around her shoulders, the two started off toward home. They walked in silence for a while and then made small talk. A gust of wind picked up and a shiver rippled up Tug's spine.
After a block or two, once they had passed under a streetlight, Rook grabbed her arm and pulled her into the darkened alley. Tug giggled.
"What're we doin'?" she asked playfully as he grabbed her face and planted a kiss on her lips, muffling her laughter. She pushed him away a bit, smiling. "I really should be getting home."
"Awe, come on, Tug. Have a little fun," he replied, pulling her against him. He pressed his lips against hers a little more forcefully this time. She could taste the alcohol on his breath.
Tug tried to push away again, but his hold was too tight. She wriggled in his grasp, trying to get him to let go. He slowly pushed her against the building. Tug felt her heart begin to race as she realized that this was getting out of her control. She pushed against his shoulders and he broke away from her.
"Stop!" she said loudly and firmly, trying to pry his hands off of her. Her voice echoed down narrow passage way.
"But we're having fun," he replied, his face an inch from hers; eyes hardly able to focus. He grabbed a hold of one of her struggling wrists and pinned it against the building. She could feel the brick digging into her skin as he pushed against her. Rook brought his mouth to hers with such force that her head bounced against the wall. She closed her eyes as little white specks popped into existence.
Panic rose in her chest as she struggled against the Battery Park newsy, whose free hand was roaming to exclusive locations on her body. Drawing from the depths of her being and centering herself into a mindset to fight back, Tug thrust her knee into closest area of his body. He crumpled slightly and grunted, but the maneuver had no real effect – it only made him angrier. Tug made as much noise as she could with the precious seconds she had.
"Get off me," she screamed, clawing at any piece of him she could get her hands at. "Stop! Please!"
Rook knocked her against the wall again; she could feel the brick scraping against her back and elbows as she struggled against him. She closed her eyes in horrified resignation at what was happening – this feeling of helplessness was something she was not entirely used to, but try as she might she was clearly overpowered.
What felt like hours to Tug was in reality only a couple of minutes after she had screamed, the pressure of his body was suddenly gone. She opened her eyes just in time to see Rook slammed up against the opposite wall of the alley.
"She told ya to stop!" Skittery growled in his face, pinning the surprised newsboy by his collar.
Rook fought back, swiping at him with wild punches. "Get the hell off me; this ain't none of yer business!"
"Actually, it is," Skittery replied, shaking him angrily. "I ain't about to let a no good bum like you hurt one of our girls."
Sinking back against the wall, Tug watched as the two boys wrestled one another against the wall, looking to gain the upper hand in the fight that was about to break out. Soon the swings got bigger and the hits landed. Tug gasped as Skittery took a rather nasty hit and retaliated with a blow of his own.
"Stop it!" Tug yelled, watching the fisticuffs with her hands over her face. She had no idea how to stop them, but certainly didn't want to get in the middle of it. Neither boy was easing up or looking to end it with the other still standing.
Turning at the sound of footsteps, Tug saw three figures running towards them. Specs slowed down as he neared, but Bumlets and Pie Eater ran passed to break up the fight. Specs took Tug by the arm, attempting to lead her away from the scene, but Tug shook him off. She wasn't leaving – not now.
It was a scramble, but Bumlets and Pie Eater – with the help of Specs after resigning to the fact that Tug wasn't going to leave – managed to separate the two entangled newsboys. It was a struggle to keep the infuriated boys apart. Rook was once again pinned against the wall, but this time by Pie Eater and Specs; Specs glasses were askew. Bumlets was pulling a reluctant Skittery, who was now yelling obscenities at the Battery Park leader, toward the street. Tug stood in the middle of the mess, uncertain of what she should do. The reality of what had happened finally hit her and her limbs were shaking. She even thought she might throw up. She turned away from where the boys were holding Rook – she couldn't look at him.
Bumlets reappeared, brushing by her to assist in the disposal of Rook. She could hear the Manhattan newsboys threatening him if he ever stepped foot in their territory again. Specs was suddenly at her side; this time she let him guide her out of the alley.
"They're gonna make sure he gets back to Battery Park. You don't got to worry about him anymore, Tug," Specs reassured her.
She nodded, afraid to speak. The nausea had not dissipated. Her knees still felt weak. How could she have let that happen? It could have been a lot worse had it not been for Skittery.
Choking back the bile still wanting to erupt in her throat, Tug was about to ask Specs about Skittery when they found him on the stoop of an apartment building a few doors down from the alley. He pushed himself to stand as they neared. Specs eyed him over his glasses.
"It's alright, Specs," he said gruffly. "I'll take it from here. You make sure the boys get that bastard back where he belongs."
Specs glanced at Tug, who hadn't said a word, shrugged, and turned to head in the opposite direction, leaving the two alone.
Tug stood there, motionless, once again completely uncertain of what to do – uncertain of what Skittery was going to do. A part of her wanted to give him a hug and feel the safety in his embrace, but there was the reservation that came with the fact that they hadn't spoken to one another in over a month. She held her breath and tried to keep her legs beneath her as she waited for him to make the first move.
"Come on," he said quietly after a minute of awkward silence. "Let's get ya home."
Without much conversation they began the walk toward the Connolly's apartment. It was a slow march across the city as Tug was still shaken from the events and Skittery was hurting some from the brawl. After a few blocks of silent deliberation, the tension was broken.
"You gonna be alright?" Skittery asked, having cast a sideways glance at her and noticing her distance gaze in the lamp light. The tension and fury that had penetrated his entire being was finally loosening; he would deal later with the venom of hatred that coursed through his veins every time he thought of what might have happened had he not heard her scream. His only concern now was getting her home safely.
"I think so," Tug replied, her voice cracking a little. She could feel the tears prickling in the backs of her eyes. She stopped suddenly, her hands wringing nervously in front of her. Her eyes rolled up to meet his and she unsuccessfully tried to blink back the tears. "Thank you, Skittery."
Skittery flinched like he was going to reach out to her and thought better of it. He looked at her for a moment, then threw caution into the wind and pulled her into his arms. "I'm just glad yer safe."
"You didn't have to do that, ya know?" Tug said stupidly through her tears, beyond grateful that he actually had. She rested her head against his chest and squeezed him tightly. It was the first time all night that she felt completely comfortable, and yet she still couldn't let herself get too far ahead of things.
"There was no way I was gonna let him hurt you, Tug. You've got to know that."
Tug smiled softly and pulled away from him. "I know. It's just nothing's felt right since – well, ya know."
Skittery nodded solemnly. "Yeah, I do." He drew in a deep breath; it was as good a time as any so he had to take advantage of the opportunity. "Look, Tug, I still care about ya. I hate the idea of you with someone else."
"Does this mean yer finally ready to talk about what happen with Mush?" Tug asked flatly, her mind still subduing her emotions.
"Yeah, I think I am." Skittery nodded firmly.
Tug took in a deep breath. Her knees still hadn't stopped shaking, but reason behind their unsteadiness had changed. She gave him a small smile. "Let's get home where we can talk more. I think we've both had enough of the streets for one night."
Skittery agreed. It was time for them to sort out this mess and move on with their lives, both knowing that they should be together.
A review would be stellar! Only one more chapter left in this collection after this - you have been warned. :)