Keeping it Safe

Chapter Nine: Reprimands and Drunk Talk

Note: Due to the ridiculous delay of this chapter, it is recommended for readers to re-read/skim the last few chapters in order to avoid confusion.

-

We got to the Lodging House and split ways, Race to check up on things with Skittery and I to… wander around the room aimlessly. I ended up lounging with Dutchy and Specs as they watched Snitch come up the stairs, bemused.

"He'll stay," Dutchy said with a sort of all knowing, lofty air. Specs just laughed and rolled his eyes.

"Ha! No, Jack's gonna kick him out faster than a… he's gonna kick him out no matter what. Snoddy?"

I shrugged. "Snitch'll be gone before morning," I said. "Bumlets too. Jack isn't going to stand for competition, even if it means losing a little money."

"I dunno if Bumlets will be gone," Dutchy said and inclined his head towards a lower bunk near the door. Bumlets lay sprawled on it, arms and legs barely contained on the mattress. "Look at him. He ain't movin' too soon."

Indeed. Bumlets hadn't moved an inch since he had fallen during the fight. I was worried, but at the same time distant, like I didn't care but I thought I should. Jack spotted Snitch and leapt to confront him. Snitch, for once, looked like he didn't want any trouble. He brushed by Jack and knelt by the bunk, holding Bumlets' arm. Jack crouched beside him and began talking, but we were too far away to hear.

"Damn," Specs muttered. All three of us moved casually forward. Still no luck, but Snitch wouldn't meet Jack's eyes, eyes which were shining maliciously. Jack laughed grimly, then stood and slapped the shorter boy on the back. Snitch's gaze remained fixed on Bumlets' face, his expression stoic. I saw now that one of his hands had grasped Bumlets' wrist, but it was dropped as Snitch stood up. He took a long look at Jack, then walked out again. Slowly, thoughtfully. He closed the door behind him, and that was the last I ever saw of Snitch.

Jack glanced one more time at Bumlets before casting his glance around the room. His stare met mine and his right eye narrowed in a smirk. I turned back to Dutchy, yawning.

"Speech," I told him, and a moment later Jack cleared his throat.

"Go to bed," he said, and smirked again. I raised my eyebrows. Nothing more came, Kid Blink emerged from the crowd and joined Jack as he went downstairs.

"Hmm. I'm surprised, yet glad," Specs said with a hint of a smile. He didn't seem to be bothered by any of the recent events in the least. I fell asleep wishing for his indifference.

-

Bumlets was gone when we woke. No one asked questions. You could tell we were all itching to, though, everyone was casting uneasy glances around the room and at each other. The bunk Bumlets had been resting on was neatly made up, far neater than it had probably ever been. Race came to me to get a match for his morning cigar and stood, puffing away absentmindedly.

"Mornin," he said.

I rubbed at my eyes. "Mornin."

Race opened his mouth to say something, but then Skittery called him across the room. He began to walk away, then stopped and turned to face me again.

"It's going to be a strange day," he said, then shook his head and joined Skittery. I shivered despite myself and glanced outside. The air was thick with the morning's fog. It certainly had an eerie quality to it. I entered myself into the tail end of the line of boys heading out to sell and readjusted my hat. I felt like I should be used to strange days by now.

Jack surprised us all by locking the Lodging House after everyone had left and joining us in our trek to the distribution center. He put an expression of mock hurt when someone questioned what he was doing, reminding us that he "had to say goodbye to ol' weasel." I sensed no other motive. It was simple, really. Just another chance to rub his new superiority into our faces. Beautiful.

-

Jack made his way to the front of the line, Kid Blink close in tow. Of course. Skittery hung back, bemused, and tried to get Race to let him play with Race's harmonica. Things seemed normal, save for the heavy fog that still hung low over our part of the city. It gave everything a spooky look. And it was cold. The cold always makes me moody. What happened next did nothing to help.

"Jacky-boy."

There was only one voice powerful and recognizable enough to silence a crowd of newsboys with a word, and that was Spot Conlon's. But this wasn't Spot Conlon, no, Spot's voice didn't have the tendency to turn my blood to ice. Somehow, though, Swifty's utterance of those words quieted everyone down real fast. We turned as one to the gates of the 'center where he stood.

Little more than his form was visible through the fog. He leaned against the rightmost brick wall, head bowed. One of his legs supported his frame, the other was bent up with the bottom of his foot against the wall itself. Once he knew he had our attention he turned his head and looked Jack square in the eyes. Jack himself hopped off the wooden platform and took a few steps towards the taller boy, then stopped. He crossed his arms and spit casually to the side.

"All smiles today, I see," Swifty said bitterly. He shifted and stood up straight. I realized I was holding my breath. Race and Skittery had stopped fooling around and Skittery actually looked concerned.

Jack shrugged. "And why not?" He asked. "I'm in a good position. I'm spending some quality time with my boys. And it's a beautiful day."

Swifty through his head back and laughed mirthlessly. "It is a beautiful day," he said with a smirk. His expression hardened. "Beautiful night, last night… yeah?"

Jack swallowed. "I dunno, Swifty. You talking about the actual night or the girl you was with?"

Swifty shook his head with another chuckle.

"So you didn't tell 'em, Jacky-boy? Didn't let your boys know? Or did you decide it would be… your little secret." He paused. "Whoops. Our little secret."

Jack looked disgusted. "I have no idea what you're talking about. You have no idea what you're talking about." He turned his back and began to return to the window.

"Tell them, Jack," Swifty said loudly, and Jack halted. "Tell them what you were doing last night."

Jack started walking once more. Swifty tried again.

"Hey! Jacky-boy! Where's Bumlets?"

Now our crowd was really quiet. Necks craned forward, everyone wanted to hear the answer to the question none of us had been brave enough (or stupid enough) to ask.

"I don't know," Jack said quietly without turning.

"What?"

"I don't know!" He shouted. "I don't know, you bastard! Shut up!"

Swifty was angry. "You don't know! You don't know where he is now! What about last night? It takes a lot of bricks to weigh a person down, doesn't it, Jacky-boy! How many bricks did it take, Jack? How many bricks?"

"I don't fucking know!" Jack spun on his heel now and made as if to charge Swifty, then stopped a foot or two from the other boy's face. They glared daggers at each other, seething.

"Tell them, Jack!" Swifty was still shouting though he was inches from Jack. "Tell them how you dragged Bumlets' body through the street because he was too heavy for you to lift on your own! Tell them where you found the bricks to tie to his arms and legs! Tell them how he woke up before you were done and don't forget to tell them how he tried to scream before the water c-"

Jack punched him.

Author's Note: Man, this sucks. Like, a four month delay and all you get is a short chapter. I'm sorry! Hopefully finishing this will kick my arse into gear to finally finish this thing up. Review, please, lovers! Woo.

There's something about the way reviewers look tonight…
Trolley: Thank you oh-so-much! Yes, yes, must keep lovin' that Evil!Swifty. He's a marshmallow inside. Really!
Flare-the-Llama: Well, uhm, you got your wish! Merr. If you are still feeling Jack!love I admire you for your loyalness. Snoddy says: "Hola."
B: Hurrah! Much love to you, darling, and I hope you will continue reading this… thing. Swifty is never a happy camper. Tsk tsk.
Wifey: Marry you? Were you talking to Evil!Swifty or me? I hope it was me, or else we will need some serious marriage counseling! Arr.
rumor: Yaa run-on reviews! Sah-WEET. Haha, yeah, Snoddy likes to think he's the cool one but we all know that Swifty has that title. He'll learn someday. And Spot… snark! Eehehe.
Gothitica: COME BACK GOTHY! Love, Kez.
Thistle: Mmm, nope with the poison thing, but I do like how your mind works! Haha. A fine idea, I may have to steal it for later. -eye dart- Er… of course not. That's dirty. Foul play. Ahem. LOOK! IT'S NELSON MANDELA! -runs while everyone is distracted-
Midnight Flare: Aaahaha you are insane. I'm not really sure what else to say. Really enjoy reading your reviews, though. They are a little unnerving, but hey, that's life… er, or something.
Tabby: You haven't any idea of the least.
Mondster: Aw, sweetie, I love you! Come back to us you are working at the Peach Ladder… Orange Blossom… Apple Orchard… whatever that place is, you are working too much there! I need to hear more Jai!obsession stories, damn it!
Falco: HAWT.