Something More Than Temporary

Disclaimer: Alright, this is the usual disclaimer I guess, lol. I don't own Newsies, but I guess I own Fleck. Okay? Okay…and thank you so much to those of you who reviewed! It definitely makes my day! My thanks especially go out to Gypsy, Bittah, Olive, Candi Kane, Blinks-Tiger, Dragon, Sab, Script, and Draco's Secret Lover! You guys just plain rock!

If this chapter seems a little rushed, or thrown together, I apologize. I wanted to get everything down before I forgot, and I don't want this to become an epic!



Chapter 12: Starting With One, Ending With Another



The morning passed slowly between Jack and Fleck as they sold papers. There was very little communication between them, besides talk of the news or exploitable headlines. Jack attempted to steal a few kisses, but Fleck barely responded, pulling away or turning her head at the last second so his lips brushed her cheek instead of their true destination. Obviously, Jack noticed, but he said nothing. Nothing, that is, until they reached Tibby's for lunch.

Jack was relieved to find that they were the first newsies to arrive. And surprised, considering how long the morning had seemed. He glanced at the clock. It was only 10:30. "It's still early."

"No kiddin'."

"Fleck, what's with ya taday?" Jack asked, getting right to the point.

"Whaddya mean?"

"You'se actin' weird."

"No I ain't."

"Yeah ya are. Ya barely said more den five woids ta me taday."

She shrugged. "Like ya said, it's still early. I ain't a mornin' person."

"But we been tageddah all mornin'. Ya coulda said somethin'. Anythin'."

"Jack, we was sellin'. No one really tawks when dere sellin'. You of all people should know dat by now."

"Maybe. But ya wouldn't let me come near ya! Every time I went ta kiss ya, ya pulled away from me."

"We was in da middle a da fuckin' street! What da hell else was I supposed ta do, huh?"

"It nevah woulda bothahed ya b'fore if I'd a kissed ya anywheah. Even da middle a da fuckin' street."

"Have some decency, wouldja? Dere's some things dat ya just don't do in da middle a da fuckin' street."

"Me have decency? Look who's tawkin'."

"What's dat crack supposed ta mean?"

"Well, you an' I both know dat you'se one a da last people on Earth dat any newsie would call decent."

Fleck stared at him but she stayed seemingly emotionless. "Fuck you. I may be easy, but I know dat I'se at least a decent goil. An' I ain't gonna be seen whorin'-it-up with Jack Kelly on da cornah a thoity eighth."

"Ya know, you'se da most fickle goil I'se evah met. Foist ya complain dat I nevah recognize ya as my goil in public. An' now dat I have, you'se yellin' at me ta keep our relationship private!"

"Just cuz I wanna be recognized as your goil in public don't mean I wanna fuck ya in da middle a da street!"

"Well it shoah sounds like it!"

"Jack, I just wanted ta be somethin' ta ya. Somethin' more den just da goil ya fool around with when no one's lookin'. I just wanted ta be more den…more den just temporary."

"But now dat ya are it seems like ya resent it or somethin'."

"It's only da foist day. I just ain't used ta dis. It's been awhile since I done dis."

"We been fightin' a lot lately."

"So what else is new? We always fight."

"Dat's what I mean. Normal couples don't fight dis much."

"So we ain't a normal couple, so what? Ya thinkin' we should break up?" she asked almost hopefully.

"No, it's too soon fer dat. I just think we gotta get used ta it, dat's all. Things are different now."

"Don't gotta tell me twice."

"Why, you think we should break up?"

Fleck would've answered back, but just then, a couple newsies started wandering in. Among those were Blink and Mush, who walked over and joined Fleck and Jack, Mush sitting next to Fleck and Blink next to Jack. "How da hell did you two get heah so fast? I thought me an' Mush was havin' a good day!"

Fleck shrugged. "Easy day I guess."

"Fleck, I hoid ya got ya ass kicked by Sarah aftah I left dis mornin'," Blink said laughing.

"No she didn't," Jack answered for her.

Blink smiled. "Dat's good. Cuz if dat priss beat ya up, I woulda lost what lil respect I still had fer ya."

"Ya know Blink, you'se a real asshole," Fleck said quietly.

"Hey, I do what I can."

"Apparently."

Mush stepped in and changed the subject. "So, didja eat yet?"

Jack shook his head and Fleck said, "Nah, I ain't dat hungry really."

"Ya shoah?"

"Yeah. I donno, I think I might be comin' down with somethin'," she lied. She knew she wasn't sick, but she was still emotionally drained from the past few days. "Jack, wouldja walk me home?"

"What, now?"

"Yeah, dat's da idea."

"Fleck, I ain't goin' now, I ain't done eatin' or talkin' with me friends yet an' I'se still goin' back out to sell in a lil while."

"Jack, I'se just askin' ya ta walk me dere, ya don't gotta stay or-"

"Nah, I don't wanna."

"Please?"

"Just walk yaself."

"Fer God's sake, Jack, would it be so hard ta do somethin' fer me fer a change?" she said, becoming angry at his stubbornness.

Jack just rolled his eyes. "Well now I definitely ain't goin'-"

"I'll take ya," Mush cut in. "I'll walk ya home."

"Ya will? Are ya shoah?"

"Yeah, no problem."

"Thanks Mush. You'se a real friend. Seems like maybe I'se goin' out with da wrong guy," she said, staring at Jack the whole time without missing a beat.

"Maybe," Jack said, returning her stare. "Just get da hell outta heah awready."

Fleck rolled her eyes at him, took Mush's hand when it was offered and followed him out the door angrily. Jack threw down his fork and sat back in his chair, frustrated with their relationship. He thought going out with her would fix everything and make it better, but it just seemed to complicate the situation even further. And for once, Blink watched in silence.

Mush and Fleck walked in an uncomfortable silence for several blocks as Fleck struggled to hold back angry tears. The whole exchange had made Mush extremely nervous. He liked Fleck, but he sure didn't want to come between her and Jack. "Are you awright?" he ventured innocently.

"He's sucha bastard, ya know dat? Aftah everythin' I done fer him, he won't even fuckin' walk me home! What an asshole! I donno why I'se goin' out with him. I don't even wanna anymore."

"Well, it's only been a day."

"But aftah only one day everythin's been ruined! It's been da woist 24 hours a me life."

"It can't be dat bad."

"Balieve me, it is."

"Ya know, it's probably none a my business, but…well, why doncha just break up?"

Fleck sighed. "He'd nevah let me do dat. He broke off his whole future with Sarah ta be with me. He ain't gonna let me end it just like dat," she said, letting a few tears fall. "It's gonna be his call, not mine when it happens."

"Well dat ain't how it should be."

"Yeah well, dat's how it is. But you'se wrong 'bout one thing," she said, wiping her eyes and looking to Mush. "It is too your business."

"How's dat?"

"Cuz you're da one I wanna be with. Not Jack."

"Me?"

She stopped walking and a slight blush rose in her cheeks. "You're diffrent den da oddah guys I been with. Ya listen ta me an' make me feel important. Ya care 'bout me, or at least I feel like ya do. An' you'se da only one dat ain't nevah left me alone on da mornin' aftah. Not once. Dat's gotta be woith somethin'."

"You really feel dat way?"

Fleck turned and faced him. "Yeah, yeah I do. An' I wanna be with ya."

"But what 'bout Jack? Or what 'bout Spot even?"

"What 'bout dem?"

"Dey'd kill me if dey knew dat I 'took' ya from dem."

She leaned in and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Dat's a risk I'se willin' ta take. Ain't you? 'Sides, we don't gotta tell 'em just yet, if ya don't wanna."

He contemplated the turn of events quickly in his head. What could Jack and Spot really do to him? It was their own fault that they lost her anyway. And this was what he had wanted for a long time now. It was the right thing to do. He smiled and gently pulled her in the direction of the lodging house for the remaining couple of blocks. He took a quick look around and, secure in the fact that no one was around, they walked upstairs into the bunkroom. Mush closed the door and turned back towards her. "Now, ya shoah dat ya wanna do dis?"

Fleck answered that by pressing her lips against his firmly. Her tongue made its way into his mouth and lingered there for a few moments before he pulled back for a second.

"Should we be doin' dis right heah? I mean, what if…"

"Don't worry 'bout it. No one's gonna be back fer a couple a hours, it'll be fine," she said smiling against his lips as her hands already began unbuttoning his shirt. "'Sides, we'll heah if anyone is comin'."

Mush would have protested, but he was quickly becoming too worked up to do much of anything except pull her towards his bunk. By the time they made it to the bunk, his belt was unbuckled and her shirt had been left in the middle of the floor. He laid Fleck down on her back and hurriedly pressed himself against her, hands roaming and mouth quickly working it's way down her body. He sucked on her neck for a moment while he deftly pulled off her skirt and she slid his cutoff pants the rest of the way down his legs. He brought his mouth back up to hers and kissed her tenderly while he slowly entered her body. She whimpered slightly as his thrusts steadily sped up, rocking the entire bunk. It was all she could do to keep from screaming out in happiness. She felt a liquid sensation as he shot into her and sighed in euphoria. Glistening with sweat and exhausted, he pulled out and fell back next to her. For a moment, they were silent, save their heavy breathing, and everything in the world seemed perfect.

Fleck pulled her skirt back up and Mush did the same with his cutoffs, but she didn't have enough energy to retrieve her shirt, which lay in a heap on the floor a few yards away. She kissed Mush on the cheek and closed her eyes, for what was supposed to be only a few moments. But fatigue overcame her and she was soon in sleeping quite deeply. Mush didn't have the heart to wake her by moving his arms from around her sleeping body, so he too fell asleep. Mush assured himself that he would still be able to hear someone coming if he only closed his eyes. How very wrong he was…