Simple Endings…..

Authoress' Note: Epilogue One. Last chapter of Dutchy/Specs. Dude. I'm sorry that they're both cry-babies throughout this story! Gah! I feel so bad…. I don't know if this is a good or a bad thing. Heeeeelp meeeeee!

Thank Yous: Lotsa people. Jessie (Carmen Maria) and Laura. Reviewers, who I LURVE!  Mine Betas.

Disclaimer: The Newsies are not mine, nor is anything else that is someone else's. And Stuff. Basically, same as in earlier chapters applies here.

Foundations

Chapter Nine: When you're Blue

            When Dutchy and Specs arrived at the Lodging House night had already fallen. They passed Kloppman, who told them gruffly "you're paid fer da night", and trudged up the stairs, dusty and disheveled. Most of the other boys had gone to bed; a few were lounging on the fire escape in the moonlight, talking and smoking. Dutchy sat on his bed and pulled off his shoes, before sliding his pants over his hips. He then removed his over-shirt, trying the shake some of the dust out of it. He looked over Specs, and saw that he was also getting ready for bed. Neither of them spoke

            They both slid into their separate beds, and Dutchy saw Specs' bowler and glasses turn to fuzzy outlines as he slid his own glasses off his nose. He settled into his bed, facing Specs' back, an off-white blob against a darker background. 

            'Ise kissed Specs, dinit Ise? Why?' He searched his memory, wondering where the impulse had come from, and found nothing. 'Ise wasn' t'inkin'. But Ise do loike 'im, Ise positive 'bout it. Can Ise really deal wid somet'in' loike dat dough? 'Sides… 'e dinit kiss me back, an' Ise can' do anyt'in' widout t'inkin' o' Arch….' He mentally shuddered, and pushed the unwanted thoughts away. Squeezing his eyes shut, Dutchy tried to sleep.

- Dreaming had never been pleasant for Dutchy, not since he was a kid.

He was running down a long, dark hall, the candles lighting his way blew out as he passed them. He heard a frequent dripping all around him, as if the walls and ceiling were weeping fluid. He could see no end to the tunnel, but behind him he heard approaching footsteps. They seemed to be going at a slow walking pace, but Dutchy still knew that they were gaining on him. No matter how fast he ran they got closer. The hall smelled of burnt wicks, melting wax, and an unnamable copper-and-salt smell; Dutchy's breath was coming short and he could see the air leave his body in short puffs. His legs hurt.

The floor was slick, and slightly sticky. Even ahead of him, where the candles had yet to extinguish themselves he could not tell its color.

He kept running, his breaths panting out of him, the noises he made echoing in the tunnel. His feet thudded against the ground, sometimes slip-sliding through puddled liquid, sometimes sticking fast to the tacky floor. He stumbled, his feet skidding out from under him. His foot twisted sharply and he fell to the ground, his hands breaking his fall. As he pushed himself to his hands and knees he felt his hands sink into the fluid that was dripping from the ceiling. Just as his hands became submerged in the thick liquid he could see it, even in the dark, as if it was illuminated by his touch. Peppermint stripes of blood and semen ribboned the hall; Candy colors hid dark meanings. He gasped in horror, and tried to wipe the vile stew from his hands, but it was already drying, sticking to his flesh in falsely merry colors. The coppery-salty aroma wafted up from the floor, and he could taste its tang in the back of his throat. He tried to get to his feet, tried to ignore the sickly familiar aroma.  Just as he was getting up to run again, he felt the familiar grip of a hand on his wrist. It pulled him up, and as he was yanked around he saw a frightfully familiar face leering down at him.

Specs' face.

Specs' glasses were pushed down on his nose, and his grin was feral. Dutchy's eyes widened in shock. –

And then he woke up. He wrenched his wrist from the grip holding it, barely realizing that he was awake at all. His chest heaved as tried to catch his breath, his ankle throbbed faintly. Seeing an off-white blob by his bed, Dutchy reached over and grabbed his glasses with slightly shaking hands. Vision cleared, Specs stood next to the bed, his arm outstretched. 'So Specs was da one ta grab my wrist, an' not jus'  in dat dream eidah.' Specs leaned forward and his face became illuminated in the moonlight; Dutchy's mouth snapped shut as he saw Specs' face.

Specs sniffed loudly and rubbed his puffy, red, eyes with the back of his hand. His glasses were nowhere to be seen. His face thinly veiled his sorrow; he looked like someone had destroyed his hopes or snatched away the thing most precious to him. It seemed one wrong word would make his burst into tears. His brow was furrowed, and his mouth was set in a stony line. He blinked furiously, before opening his mouth, and croaking out,

"Ise sorry, Dutchy," he started softly, "Youse da one wid all da trauma, Ise should be da strong one an' help youse t'rough it all. Not comin' ta youse on da verge o' teahs…." He sniffled helplessly, and rubbed his eyes again. Dutchy just stared at him for a few seconds before he replied quietly, somewhat indignant.

"Youse so stupid! Ise not ecspectin' youse ta be strong Specs. Hell, youse killed someone yestahday. Frankly, I'd be worryin' if youse wasn' broke up abou' it. Wese both got stuff ta deal wid. Oi'll be yoah crutch, and youse be moine." 'Ise too tired ta deal wid dis.'  "Stop 'pologizin' an' cry, already. Ise be dere foah ya, Ise promise." Specs looked a bit poleaxed, his eyes widened slightly. Dutchy rolled his eyes, dream pushed aside for now, and slid over in his bed, patting the vacated place with a long-fingered hand.

Specs, somewhat self-consciously, sat down on the bed. With a 'do-I-have-to-do-everything' look on his face Dutchy slid his arms around Specs' shoulders, and pulled him into a loose hug. Specs didn't immediately burst into tears, as Dutchy had thought he would. He simply shuddered into the embrace, a few slow tears trickling down his cheeks. Dutchy pulled him close and whispered comforts softly into his ear.

"…Everyt'ings gonna be ok. Ise be heah when youse need me. Always. Ise promise youse dat. I'm heah Specsie. Youse can let go, nobody's gonna hoit youse. Ise promise Ise gonna be heah. Shh…It's gonna be ok…." 'Ise gotta be strong now…foah 'im. 'E needs me.'

Unexpectedly, Specs wound his arms around Dutchy's waist, pressed his wet, warm face into Dutchy's neck, leaned against his shoulder.

Drowsing in their combined body heat, Dutchy drifted off again. This time, his sleep was untroubled.

***

            Specs woke earlier than usual, pins and needles pinching his arms, about half an hour before Kloppman would make his rounds. He blushed hotly, realizing he was still twined around Dutchy, who appeared to be sleeping soundly. He carefully untangled himself from the blond and sat on his own bed. He hoped no one had seen them sleeping, he couldn't even imagine the teasing they would receive. It might even be worse then the teasing following that fateful game of strip poker. He sighed; it had been the underwear that really did it.

His mood improved, he prodded Dutchy with a foot; the other boy yawned, and cracked an eye open. He pulled on his clothes and gestured for Dutchy to do the same. 'As long as Ise up…moight as well get an eahly staht on da moahnin'. An' drag Dutchy wid me.'  Dutchy sighed and rolled his eyes, but swung his feet over the edge of his bed, and searched for his pants.

They walked outside, side by side, neither talking, shoulders brushing casually. The sun was just rising, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets. The only noises to be heard were the soft cooing of the pigeons and the quiet scuffle of boot soles against stone. The air was still and calm; the sky nearly cloudless and an achingly clear navy. Sitting on the steps, not a word passing between them, Specs and Dutchy watched the sun rise.

Specs glanced over at Dutchy and his breath caught slightly. The blond's face was tilted up slightly, a wistful half-smile played on his lips; his bangs fell over his eyes and behind his glasses. The rays of the sun shone on his face, spreading light across his cheeks and mouth, glinting in his hair. His long-fingered hand tapped out a rhythm on his thighs, but the rest of him was still and serene. Specs let out a breath softly, his eyes captured. 'Wow… e's jus' goahgeous. Mahvelous.' Dutchy was completely oblivious, content just to watch the sun rise. 'Ise t'inks Ise moight jus' loike 'im. Da same way Snoddy loikes Skitts…. Took me long enough ta realize it.' A grin spread across his face, lighting it better then the sun could. 'Y'know. It moight've been a good idea ta realize dis yestahday. Loike when 'e kissed me.'  Pushing the thought aside, Specs continued grinning, and went back to staring at the sun.

"Wha'cha grinnin' 'bout, Specsie?" Specs looked over at Dutchy, who was looking at him intently.

"Nothin'…." Specs trailed off.

"Oh, out wid it." Dutchy demanded, scowling slightly, Specs just smiled back.

"Youse sure youse wanna know?" Specs asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Yeh…."

"Well, okay den." Specs leaned over and pressed his lips to Dutchy's quickly, before withdrawing. As he drew back, Dutchy's eyes widened.

"Specs…." Dutchy started, his voice serious.

"Yeah?" Specs answered innocently.

"Do… do youse…?" Duchy stuttered to a halt.

"Loike youse? Yeh. Ise t'ink Ise do." Specs grinned again.

"Youse gotta be teasin'. Youse gotta be shittin' me." Specs looked slightly taken aback. He placed his hands on either side of Dutchy's face, and leaned close, brushing his lips ever-so-softly against Dutchy's again, before pressing slightly harder.

"Wese don' gotta do nothin' physical…. Y'know wid Arch an all dat…." Specs blushed.

"Yoah cute, y'know dat?" 

"Well youse goahgeous." Dutchy slung an arm around Specs' shoulders and leaned his head against Specs'.

"Ise t'ink wese gonna be all right. Wese jus' need time."

"Wese got plenty."

***

End Epilogue One

End Notes: Ta da! That's all the finishing this plot's gonna get. I think it worked out ok! Okay, so they're not very romantic. Eh. ::shrugs:: Only one chapter left. ::wide grin::  Tell me what you think!