Spot went up to Manhattan every month at least as he did to every other borough to make sure nothing important happened that he needed to know. This time he brought Blackjack, she was from Manhattan and he thought she would appreciate it.
As they walked across the bridge she seemed much more subdued from the girl he had first started courting. She didn't argue with him, hardly stood up for herself and would try to pacify every one around him. Guiltily he realized how he had destroyed her. But he kept on telling himself that she deserved it. He knew she had been flirting with Fists, he knew she had been causing trouble, she shouldn't have told Preacher those things.
"What if dey ask how I got hurt?" Blackjack asked quietly. Secretly he missed her and her arguments, even if he did find them tiresome.
"Say ya got inta a fight." Spot said as he put his arm around her waist pulling her close to him. "I'se sorry." He mumbled into her ear, softly he repeated the phrase kissing her as she got pressed into a beam.
"Spot dis is public." she whispered trying to push him away, a bit of her old self creeping in.
"I tink it's a fine place." He muttered pulling her close, his fingers digging into her arms leaving bruises.
"Spot come on…" Blackjack winced "Ya hoitin' me."
"Don' be a wimp." Spot said. "Ya lucky I'se letten ya come wid me ta Manhattan."
"I'se sorry!" Blackjack apologized and moved to kiss him. "Its okay." She said fearfully.
"Dat's more like it." Spot said kissing her. Even though he had won it seemed like a hollow victory, nothing came of it.
They walked the rest of the way to Duane street silently. Before they entered the building Spot turned to Blackjack. "Don't tell em." He said quietly.
The door was opened and Jack welcomed the two in. Traditionally there would be a game of poker that everyone participated in. Blackjack declined after a sharp shake of the head from Spot.
"But Blackjack, normally ya love Pokah!" Mush said worried.
"Nah, I jus dun feel like playing." She whispered avoiding looking at him.
"Besides she's my good luck charm!" Spot said placing a hand on her possessively.
"Well I wanna tawk to ya some time Blackie!" Mush said his brown eyes big and pleading. "Ya nevah come ovah here any moir! Ya'd tink we was on opposite sides a da country!"
Blackjack turned around. "Can I please Spot?" She asked quietly. Mush screwed up his face when she asked permission. The Blackjack he remembered didn't ask any one's permission. She had a lot of bruises and cuts as well.
"When me and Jackie boy start tawkin lateah ya can." Spot granted her permission.
Mush took up the cards he hadn't realized he dropped and through his big brown eye watched a bruised battered Blackjack submit to what ever Spot wanted, he could treat her so much better… So much better.