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Jack sank down on the bed Torch had been lying on, dazed. Blink came over and sat down next to him. He slung an arm over Jack's shoulders then whispered in his ear. "I gots ta talk to ya soon, k?"

Jack nodded, out of reflex. "Let's go." They left Race leading Mush, Skittery, and Crutchy in a game of poker. Jack led the way next door, to the washroom, where they started a hushed conversation.

"Torch is WHERE?" Jack almost yelled. As I said, it started as a hushed conversation. For about the first sentence.

"Keep it DOWN, Jack! Or I'll gag ya till you'se heah me out!" Jack took a deep breath, trying to calm down and process the information he had just been given at the same time.

"Awlright already. So, Torch is where?" The calming effect worked. The processing part was still a bit fuzzy.

"Ya hoird me! In Brooklyn! Spot assured me she'd be ok. Relax. Ya can go ova and check on her evry day if ya wanted ta. At least it's Brooklyn instead o' Hades, Jack. Be grateful fo' dat." Blink almost pleaded with him.

"Mebe I should, I dunno. Dis kid's been givin' me a lot a trouble." Jack blew up a breath to get the hair out of his eyes as he paced.

"What if you'se was in her shoes? What would you do? What do ya think she's feelin' right now?" Now Blink was the one close to shouting. Jack stopped and clamped a hand over his mouth.

Jack pictured the girl facing a room full of guys, whom she had never seen before, and whose gender had always betrayed her. He nodded in agreement as he thought. He would be petrified. Then another thought hit him. He took his hand off Blink's mouth.

"You got feelin's for da kid, Blink?"

"NO!" Blink was surprised Jack would even think of a thing like that.

"Keep it down, as ya said oilier, and I see a lie." Jack glared at him, the infamous glare that made all his newsies tell the truth, trying to find verity in Blink.

Blink threw up his hands, as if in surrender. "In all honesty, Jack, only protective feelin's. Like…like I was her olda bruddah or sumptin. Honest!" And Blink was telling the truth. This isn't a romance story. I swore it wouldn't be.

Jack studied his face.

"I swear on da promise o' life, on da pain o' death, an' on da grounds o' Brooklyn dat I do not like Torch, da newsie, in any type o' romantical way whatsoeva."

Jack finally nodded. "Awlright. I'se goin' ova tomorra afta 3. She gonna be sellin' papes or restin'?"

Blink let out a sigh of relief, glad he wasn't under pressure any more. "Restin'. At least a week, I tol' Spot. No getin' outta da House 'til her fevah breaks. Da trip ova was taxing enough."

Immediately Jack was concerned. His face said so. "What happened?"

Blink slipped a half smile onto his face and shook his head. "You wouldn't believe it if it kicked ya in da face."

- - - - - - - - - -

Later than earlier, but earlier than later

Alright, it was right before everyone got back, but at night. Alright?

They sneaked by lanterns and dodged light, trying to go slow enough for the wounded Torch but fast enough to get to Brooklyn before midnight. Torch was following Spot, who was being followed by Blink. All of a sudden Spot stopped.

"Oof." Blink ran into Torch.

"Oof." Torch ran into Spot.

"Ow!" Spot ran into a wall. They all fell over into a heap of snow. (Sorry! Had to do a domino effect!)

Wait a second. That isn't a wall. No way is dere a wall in da middle o' da sidewalk. Plus, it's got feet. And a bowler's hat. And a…black…suit…coat. Torch stood up and looked up into the face of a familiar adversary.

"So we meet again, Torii."

The figure stepped out of the shadows. Torii's face paled, but then gained a determined look that would have made Spot back down if he had seen it.

Snyder grinned evilly.

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