*appears*
Hello
Here I am once again, posting Splossom content, because why not?
Here are the review responses that I totally didn't forget the last times, what do you mean?
Newsies Square: We should arrest Albert for animal cruelty. BUNNIES, I HAD TO INCLUDE BUNNIES, BECAUSE BUNNIES. Always Beethoven references. Specs always makes very good points. I'm so glad you liked it!
VeronicaWeasley: KMDNWDJS the fact that you're not such a fan of Newsies x OC content, but still liked Splossom makes me incredibly happy! And thank you! It took a lot of work developing Blossom and to be honest, I'm not completely done yet (I don't think I'll ever really be). Once again thank you so much!
Now onto the next Splossom one-shot that's just a complete mess.
Campfire ~ Splossom
"And that's how I barely escaped the claws of a half-bear, half-hawk monster," Buttons finished his story. Several bored sighs could be heard in the room.
"Thank god that's over," Albert said, "The stories aren't scary in here." He gestured around him. All the newsies and Blossom, Katherine's gardener, were gathered in Katherine's home. They were scattered around the living room. Some were sitting on the couch, some others were sitting on pillows on the floor. "C'mon guys it's halloween! It's supposed ta be scary!"
"Al's right." Race twirled his cigar around. "This place is way too bright! Maybe if we told da stories outside…"
"We have a little campfire place in the garden, we could go over there," Katherine offered.
"Little? That campfire place is huge! Have you any idea how long it takes me to clean that thing after you've used it?" Blossom asked, pushing her glasses up with her elbow. "Just saying it can get messy."
"Sounds like yer scared ta me," Finch said.
"I'm not, I'm just not looking forward to having to clean the place tomorrow." Blossom folded her arms across her chest, giving Finch a challenging look.
"Sure."
"I'll help you clean it up if ya want me to." Specs threw an arm around Blossom's shoulder.
"That would be greatly appreciated."
"So, everyone agrees on going outside?" Katherine asked. Several nods were shared across the room and so the party was moved outside. Everyone put on their coat and sat down in the garden, where Katherine started a small campfire.
"Who's gonna tell us a story now?" JoJo questioned as they sat down next to Henry.
"I'll do it!" Crutchie jumped up a little, raising his hand in the air. So Crutchie started telling them his story. Specs wasn't really paying attention. He was looking at the fire that had gotten noticeably bigger. Nothing dangerous, but rather mesmerizing. The dancing flames were calming and comforting. He wasn't sure how long Crutchie had been talking when he felt someone standing up next to him. He looked up just in time to see Blossom disappear into the house. Curious and worried he stood up to follow her.
"Specs, where are ya going?" Romeo whispered.
"I'm just gonna check on Blossom, I'll be back soon," Specs answered.
"Fine, but ya better be back when I'm gonna tell my story, 'cause it's freaking awesome."
Laughing slightly at Romeo's statement Specs continued following Blossom. Taking off his shoes before entering the house, he looked around to see if he could see her anywhere. There was no sign of her in the living room. He inspected the hall and the kitchen, but still she was nowhere to be seen. Nervously he looked at the stairs. There was a 90% chance she was up there, but why?
Specs hadn't been upstairs in Katherine's house before, even though he'd been there multiple times. It never seemed necessary. But now he wished Katherine had given him a tour of the entire house, just so he'd have an idea of where Blossom was. Maybe he was overthinking this. She could've easily just gone to get a glass of water or to get an extra coat, but then she should've been back by now. There was something wrong, he just wasn't sure what and how serious.
Quietly he climbed up the stairs, feeling like a creep. He was about to go back when he saw a door open from the corner of his eye. "Blossom?" The door was immediately slammed shut. Specs walked over to the door. "Blossom, are you in here?"
"No… dang it!"
Specs opened the door and took a careful step inside. As soon as his eyes adjusted to the dark he spotted Blossom sitting in a corner. She had her knees pulled up to her chest and was staring at the closet on the other side of the room.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Blossom muttered.
"You sure?" Specs sat down next to her.
"No…"
Specs shifted a bit closer to her so they're shoulders almost touched. "Do you wanna talk about it?"
"I dunno…"
"You don't know?"
"I wanna tell you…." Blossom sighed and hid her face in her hands. "But I don't wanna ruin your evening."
"I promise you won't," Specs assured her, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"I just-"
"You don't have to tell me if ya don't want to."
"No, no, I want to… I'm just-" Blossom mumbled. She took a few deep breaths and started her story. "Back when I was 12 I lived with my family in an apartment…. Then one day it just- it just happened. I don't know how the fire spread so fast, but suddenly it was surrounding us… Everything went so fast." Blossom's voice cracked in an awful way. "They tried to save my parents, they really did- but they couldn't… My brother was already gone- I could've helped, I could've helped them, if I'd just been quicker…" She took another deep breath. "And the fire outside…"
"It brought it all back," Specs finished her sentence, knowing exactly what she meant. Blossom nodded, a few tears rolling down her cheek. "Look, I can't speak from experience, and I can only imagine what this must be like for you. I do know that it ain't your fault and if you ever need me, I'll be right here. I'm here for ya, whether you want me ta be or not." Blossom looked up at him, for a moment everything was quiet, not a sound except for their breathing. "I-" Specs started, but he couldn't finish his sentence as he was attacked in a tight hug.
"Thank you," Blossom whispered, her face hidden in Specs' shoulder. "Thank you for being here."
"It's… it's no problem. That's what friends do, right?"
"Yeah, that's what friends do…." There was a small pause before Blossom slowly stood up. "We better go back, the others will be worried."
"Yeah, and Blossom?" Blossom turned around in the door frame. "Thanks for opening up to me," Specs said. She smiled and together they went back downstairs.
"Do you wanna go outside?" Specs asked as soon as they were downstairs.
"Yes, I think I can handle it." Blossom looked at Specs who gave her a reassuring smile.
Slowly they approached the others. They were all caught up in the story Crutchie was telling. "But no one saw the girl ever again. Except for that one night every year, during Halloween." Crutchie ended his story. Several relieved sighs could be heard.
"That wasn't scary!" Romeo said, but his shaking voice betrayed him.
Specs sneaked up behind his friend and quietly sat down behind him. "Boo."
"GAH!" Romeo jumped up and turned around so fast he hit Specs in the face with his elbow. "JESUS CHRIST SPECS, WHY?!" The group erupted in laughter as Romeo proceeded to "attack" Specs. Blossom watched the fight with a huge smile on her face.
"Did you leave because of the fire?" Katherine was suddenly standing behind her. "I'm sorry, I should've known it would make you uncomfortable."
"Nah, you're fine. Besides, Specs helped me out a lot," Blossom said.
"He helped you get over your fear?"
"Well, no… it's still there, he just manages to…" she had to think to find the right way to explain the way she felt. "He makes it seem less worse." There was a moment of silence.
"Oh my god, you like him!" Katherine exclaimed.
"Wha- No!"
"You totally do!"
"I- He's just… a good friend, I like him as a friend," Blossom defended herself, but as she said the words she wasn't so sure anymore.
"It's fine, I mean look at the fool I fell in love with." Katherine gestured at Jack who was telling a cowboy story to Crutchie and Elmer.
"I'm not in love with him," Blossom stated.
"Sure…" Katherine patted Blossom's shoulder before walking away.
"I don't like him!" Blossom yelled at Katherine, who ignored her.
"Like who?" Specs asked, walking up to her. His glasses were sitting slightly crooked on his nose.
"I uh…" Blossom panicked. "The pizza guy…" Really?
"The one that delivered the pizza earlier t'day?"
"No… the other one… I uh, I forgot my money so I got all flustered when I had to get it. Katherine thought it was because I liked him…" She cursed herself for the incredibly stupid excuse, but Specs seemed to believe it.
"That sucks. Romeo insists that every person I befriend is my soulmate, it can get annoying."
"Has he ever been right?" Specs frowned so Blossom elaborated, "Did you ever actually like the person?"
"Oh…" Specs looked at Blossom and then at Romeo before answering. "Maybe once…"
After a while Katherine appeared with three bags of marshmallows. "Who wants some?" She asked with a huge grin on her face. The marshmallows were put on sticks and soon every newsie was roasting their marshmallow above the fire.
"Blossom, are you sure ya don't wanna roast yours?" Crutchie asked, seeing Blossom eating cold marshmallows.
"Nah, I'm fine." She smiled slightly.
"Would ya like ta try mine?" Specs offered.
"No, no, I like them better cold anyways," she raised her hands.
"No really, I can just make another one."
Hesitantly Blossom accepted the marshmallow. She took a bite and… "Holy fuck."
"They're good, aren't they?" Specs laughed. Blossom nodded, not wanting to talk with her mouth full of marshmallow.
"Guys, how 'bout one more story before we have ta leave?" JoJo asked.
"I happen to know a very good one," Blink said with an unsettling grin. As he started telling the story Blossom moved closer to Specs, who was still roasting his marshmallow. It was already around 1 AM and the stars were shining bright in the sky. Specs put an arm around her shoulder, and Blossom closed her eyes. For a moment everything seemed perfect.
Tada! Feel free to let me know what you thought in a review, I hope you enjoyed this!