This chapter hates me so much. -whines and complains- Ah, well, here we go! I'll do my best on this mofo!
Disclaimers: Did I mention that I don't own Newsies? Because I so don't.
Warnings: Language
Angelsight
Chapter V
"It's... it's the color of her blood."
Skittery gaped openly at Stage. "Her blood?! Angels can bleed?!"
"How can angels bleed if they're already dead?" Snitch asked, looking generally horrified at the concept.
Stage opened her mouth to respond, then shut it abruptly, then repeated the same action several more times as though she didn't quite know what to say. She turned to the other angels, blue eyes pleading for help.
Shortie sighed and fluttered to the ground, tossing her short, dark hair behind her ears - a familiar, nervous gesture. Stage and Raven immediately stepped backwards, relieved to not have to explain the situation to the perplexed teenager in front of them. Shortie stared at the ground for a second or two, composed her thoughts, then glanced back up at Skittery, Snitch, and Mush.
"As you three already know, the whole purpose of a guardian angel is to protect their ward from various evils that they can't see. Well... as hard as we try, the evil outnumbers us every now and then," she explained, obviously working to keep her face as blank as possible. "After all, there's only one angel per human and an unlimited number of creatures who could want to hurt you."
"But no matter what happens, we will never let anyone hurt you if we can possibly help it," Raven broke in. Stage nodded vehemently in agreement.
"Exactly," Shortie agreed. "But in some cases, an angel knows that if she doesn't do something drastic, the evil will get past her and get to you. So, an angel in this situation has the choice to... to, well..."
"Basically, to give up her essence," Raven supplied. She gestured to the silver band around Skittery's neck. "Blood isn't really quite the word; we don't have blood. That is the color of our essence. If we choose to give that up..." She trailed off, her face greying slightly.
"It is a bit like dying all over again," Stage said quietly.
"It's exactly like dying all over again," Shortie muttered darkly. "The angel has to be completely and totally willing to give up everything for the one in her care. It's an incredible sacrifice."
"And that's what Glimmer did."
Somewhere, deep in Skittery's gut, something twisted at the sound of the name. "Glimmer?"
"She was your angel," Raven explained.
"Glimmer was getting attacked from all sides, and none of us were there to help her," Shortie murmured, obviously still plagued with guilt. "She knew that if she didn't do something soon, you would die. So, she took a blow that was meant for you and just... gave up."
"So... so she died?" Skittery whispered hoarsely after a short pause.
Stage shook her head. "No, she was already dead. She just went back to where she came from. But she experienced all the pain, all the fear that goes along with dying."
"But who do I have to protect me now from all the bad shit?" Skittery inquired, his dark brown eyes large and frightened. "I'm just stuck with nobody to help me?"
"No, of course not!" Raven cried. "When an angel gives up her essence for you, you remain with a kind of... impenetrable shield against the evil."
"Nothing can touch you now. You are completely immune."
For the second time that day, Skittery gaped.
"It makes quite a lot of sense when you think about it. Look how much power and energy it took Glimmer to set this... this shield in place," Stage explained. "She gave up her very existence to do it. So, naturally, it would take at least as much power and energy to remove it."
"And the dark creatures just don't seem to have that much power," Shortie chimed in.
"Exactly. That mark around your neck sends anyone who may think about causing you harm a message; you are completely, totally, and without a doubt off-limits."
"But if angels can just make their kids safe from all the danger in the world, why don't they just all do it?" Mush asked, his wide, innocent, brown eyes narrowed in confusion.
Stage raised an eyebrow. "It's bad enough dying once, Mush. Would you want to do it twice?"
Mush's face fell. "I guess not."
"Besides," Shortie said as she fluttered over to curly-haired newsboy and affectionately wrapped her arms around his neck, "we become rather fond of you. We'd hate to leave you forever."
"I wouldn't like it myself," Snitch muttered.
A slightly awkward silence ensued as the company glanced expectantly at Skittery. The tall newsboy, however, kept his gaze trained carefully on the floor.
"That's the story," Stage said quietly. Skittery nodded and looked up.
"I'm glad I know. I only wish... well, I only wish that I got to know her."
Raven flashed a half-smile. "But you do know her. You've always known her."
Much to Skittery's surprise, a tinkling laugh brushed across the back of his mind. He couldn't ever remember actually hearing the laugh, but, somehow, it was familiar, comforting.
He slowly returned the smile. "Yeah... yeah, I think you're right."
-----
"What are we going to do?"
Spot slouched in the bench, nonchalantly tugging his hat lower until it shadowed his eyes, before shrugging and letting out a soft sigh. "I don't know."
He knew better than to look directly at Dewey as he spoke. He'd attract attention if he looked right at her and spoke in a normal tone of voice. Over the years, he had definitely had enough public conversations with his guardian angel to know what would and would not make casual passers-by stare. However, her slow pacing, nervous fluttering wings, and genuinely frightened expression surely did not aid him in his quest to appear to be just another newsie taking a short break on a park bench.
"They attacked them once, Spot, and they'll do it again before long. And this time, they will not be so lenient."
"I know, Dewey. We both know that."
"So we've got to do something! We have got to protect you boys somehow!"
Spot smiled slightly beneath the shadows of his hat. "You've done a pretty damn good job of that over the past seventeen, eighteen years."
"But this is different," Dewey insisted. She fiddled nervously with a fold of her white gown as she spoke. "This time, a set group has banded together to specifically attack you boys. They've formed an alliance, Spot! That has never happened before!"
Spot frowned as Dewey continued to fidget and murmur. Then, he blinked as realization surfaced.
"Dewey."
"Hm?"
"If they can form an alliance, why can't we?"
Dewey finally stopped pacing and turned her full attention to Spot. "What do you mean?"
"Well, there's gotta be other creatures out there, right? Ones that ain't evil?"
"Of course."
"So, maybe they'd help us."
Dewey remained completely silent for a moment or two, her thick, curly, brown hair falling, curtain-like, into her eyes, masking her expression. Finally, the curtain parted and she glanced up, her dark eyes shining.
"Spot... Spot, that is an amazing idea! I cannot believe we didn't think of it before!" She laughed suddenly, joyously, and Spot couldn't help but grin.
"Glad to know I'm good for somethin'."
"We really should go tell the others now. If we plan on recruiting help, we'll have to do it quickly."
"When?"
"Today, preferably."
Spot blinked. "That's definitely quickly."
"I know. Now, come on, we are going to Manhattan."
Spot sighed as he scrambled to his feet and tugged the brim of his hat back up. "You're gonna run me ragged."
"It'll all be worth it."
"You're lucky I like you."
Dewey beamed. "I know."
-----
Spot raised a skeptical eyebrow. "We couldn't find nobody else?"
"Manhattan's a big city, Spot," Jack muttered. He tossed his smoldering cigarette to the ground and leaned against the alley wall. "You're lucky you found any of us."
Spot sighed and glanced briefly around at the other boys. Jack stood closest to him, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, a scowl on his face. Blink and Mush stood slightly off to the side, muttering to each other in between stolen glances at Dewey. Racetrack leaned casually against the wall, idly picking at the bandage on his neck as he stared off into space.
With a shrug, Spot turned to Dewey and nodded. "We can do it with just this many, right?"
Dewey beamed. "Spot, we could do it with just the two of us, if we had to."
"And don't forget about us!" Sapphy crowed proudly. "We're gonna help, too." Behind her, Shortie, Raven, and Mayfly murmured their agreements.
Spot glanced at Sapphy, nodded, then turned to the other newsboys. "Listen up, guys.... hey! Shut up and listen! So, all this shit with Shadow Walkers and vampires is gettin' out of control."
"No shit."
"Shut the hell up, Blink. But, listen, me and Dewey? We got this idea." He tapped his cane gently against the cobblestone alley as he spoke. "Those guys, they worked together when they fought us. So, we gotta work together, too. Not just us, though. There are other things out there that don't wanna kill us, things that maybe hate the vampires and the Shadow Walkers like they hate us. All we gotta do is find them and ask them for help."
"Easy to say," Jack commented. "How are we gonna find these people or these things or whatever they are? And even if we could find 'em, why would they help us?"
"They'd help us," Dewey said quietly, her large, brown eyes solemn. "I know that they would."
"But who?" Mush asked, frowning. "Who could we even ask?"
"The Kins!" Mayfly yelled from the back of the alley.
"And the pixies," Shortie added.
"But the pixies are neutral," Raven protested.
"I think we could persuade them."
The boys exchanged confused glances.
Dewey giggled. "Don't worry. You will find out everything you need to know about them. We will tell you on the way, I promise." She smiled serenely and casually tossed her mane of curls behind her shoulder before turning back to Spot. "Shall we all split up? That should make everything go much faster."
Spot nodded. "Yeah, I think that's a good idea."
Sapphy and Mayfly rushed forward, giggling and clutching each others' arms. "We want the Earth Kins!"
Blink and Racetrack glanced at each other and shrugged helplessly.
"I'll take the Water Kins," Raven muttered, crossing her arms.
"Don't I get a say in this?"
"Shut up, Jack, you do not even know what these things are. Shortie...?"
"I'll go with you." Mush looked eagerly up at Shortie, then at Raven, then grinned broadly and nodded.
Dewey's gaze flitted quickly across the small group of boys and angels. Then, she smiled.
"All right, then. I suppose Spot and I will have-"
"Wait for us! Eep, eep, wait for us!"
The entire group turned to look as Smalltalk barreled, giggling, into the alley with Pie Eater close behind her.
"We saw a bunch of wings and heard some yellin' and figured that you guys were doing something important," Pie Eater stated with a grin.
Dewey laughed. "We are planning on asking for help with out... little situation. Would you like to come ask the pixies for help with Spot and me?"
Smalltalk's hazel eyes widened. "The pixies?! Pixies! Yes, yes, pixies!" She giggled and bounced quickly up and down, her pale, bony arms thrown triumphantly into the air.
Pie Eater appeared to be in awe. "So... we really get to talk to pixies? Real, live pixies?"
"Of course!"
"Let's go, then! What are we waitin' for?!"
Had they known that this was to be their final conversation as a full group, perhaps said conversation would have ended differently. Perhaps secrets would have been revealed or, at the very least, they would have ended it with a "goodbye."
But they did not know. So they merely smiled and set off in opposite directions without so much as a backward glance.
End Chapter V
Well. This took WAY too long to get out. This chapter was actually supposed to be much longer. I was going to have them talk to all the random supernatural people, plus put in my First Big Thing (TM). That, however, will all occur next chapter. This will probably be the last update for any of my fics for a while now, guys. Next month is NaNoWriMo, plus I've got college applications and a buttload of homework... so don't expect to hear from me too much. -sheepish grin- Reviews, however, might encourage me to hurry... -whistles innocently-
Onto the shout-outs!
J-Sparrow: You and your Buffy! Mwaha! Speaking of your spontaneous obsessions, did I tell you that I saw Barbossa's actual costume when I was in Disney World? It was mucho fun. Much love!
Froggie: That letter you wrote to the NJL? NOT COOL. -pouts and glomps!- Don't EVER make me think you're leaving again! In other news, I adore you!
Lutelicious: Okay, okay, there will be comfortsex-snogging. DONNELLY LIKE WHOA. I love you more. -slaves and sixes!-
Colleeny-bean: You're probably talking to my parents right now as I'm writing this. I heard the show is mucho fun. And you are an airhead. But I adore you. Even though you don't update. THE GREAT SOCKS WARRIOR! I totally forgot about that! And I found that picture of you with the seagull making the weird face that I wanted to make an icon out of ("don't fuck with me! I've got a seagull!") You are the best ever, hon. MWAH!
Aura: Ahahaha! You are so random and awesome! You rock my world, chica! Thanks muchly for the review-age! -beams-
Kexxxa: -bestows coherence upon the Kez- Mwaha! Glad you like Ruin. -fans the blob of incoherence that once was Sistah Kez- Love!
Twitchinator: What are we doing for Halloweeeeeen?! Because I have the day after off! So CALL ME WITH PLANS. And I need a COSTUME. Okay, now that that's out of the way, LOVE LIKE WHOA EVEN THOUGH YOU REFUSE TO UPDATE! Aha.
TSB: Race will have plenty of loving in this fic. And he gets plenty of loving in Donnelly. At least, he gets a lot of handcuff sex. -nods- Aha. I ADORE you like whooooa, even though you said I'm meeeean! -beams-
Sapphy: I'm getting Lute to mail you to me. Seriously. I will put you in a bubble, and you will live in my room. Because you are ADORABLE and I LOVE YOU and I want to STEAL YOU. Like whoa. Tee-hee. -glomps!-
Tabloid: FFN ate your review. I love you anyway. -tackles!-
icanreadncount: Aw, thanks muchly! -beams- Glad you like it, and thanks so much for the review!
B-woman: TSB yelled at me for the Race abuse. -sniffles- But now you have made me all happy because of your approval of the Race abuse. Much love and adoration to you, because you are AMAZING like WHOA. -hyperventilates-
Ireland: -giggles and bounces- You liked, yaaaay! It's scary? Really? AWESOME! -bounces more- Thanks for the review, darlin'! LOVE!
Stage: You said something about your eye hurting a few reviews back, so I was replying to it in my last shout-out. Or something. I don't remember. Aha. But you are the Stage and I love the Stage because she is the Stage. Okay. Enough of that. LOVE FOR THE STAGE. Wait, I said that already...
G.A: -ponders- You know, you're right. Gah, what a cliche. Why did I WRITE that? Okay, no more flashing from here on out. Unless it involves a newsie and a trenchcoat. -shifty eyes- BLINKTRACK COOKIE. -hyperventilates- BLINKTRACK COOOOKIIIIIIIE! -attacks with love and dashes off with cookie!- COOKIECOOKIECOOKIE.
Rumor: Darling Rumey-love! I haven't talked to you in forever! I HEREBY PROFESS MY UNDYING LOVE FOR YOU! Where did you goooo? I miss yooooou! -sniffles!- LOVE.
Mama Rachelily: Dear Mommy, here is the chapter, can I stop living in the tree outside and come back home now? Love, Me.
Saturday: I think I love you more than is healthy. Seriously. And I totally blame that on Lute. You rock my SOCKS, chica! You're all funny and random and you make Spot sing John Mayer, and I LOVE YOU. Okay. Enough rambling. (iloveyou)
Janel: ... -TACKLES- I. MISS. YOU. Ahem. Love. -beams-
Next time on Angelsight! -cheesy music plays- The boys and their angels chat with the leaders of the Water Kins, Earth Kins, and pixies, and Sita's First Big Thing (TM) happens! -gasp!- REVIEW! MWAHA!