Shoutouts!

Unknown-Dreams: I know! I was so sad! But I had to kill him off. It's vital to the plot! I'll make him a muse or something.

Ghost!Dice: YAY!

...yeah.

Pancakes: Suspense is my middle name, miss-grin- Actually it's not, but whatever.

Nosilla: Aww...Every time I hear that, I think of this adorable picture of Itey. It's SO cute!


"That sonuva bitch," Two-Bits muttered. Though she was fighting a heroic battle with her emotions, she was losing, badly.

Tears were streaking down her face as she stumbled, half-blind, through Brooklyn. It was when she came to the docks that she lost it.

Two-Bits collapsed onto a crate and buried her face in her hands. She broke down, trying to choke back her sobs. She was in Brooklyn, and if anyone saw her crying, she was bound to get harassed, if not worse. On cue, and arrogant voice drawled, "Hey, goily. What're you doin' cryin' on my turf?"

"S-sorry," she stammered, cursing herself. She sounded weak, but frankly, she was. Dice had raised her, had been her older brother. And now he was gone.

She stood up and glanced at the speaker. He was taller than she was, with a short torso, but very long legs, and he was pale, as if he had a bit of Irish blood in him. In his hand was a black, gold-tipped cane. What was most striking about him was the icy blue color of his eyes. He probably would be liable to be cute, if Two-Bits was not so distressed.

"Hey, why are you crying?" he demanded, reaching out and placing a hand on her shoulder. She brushed him off and began walking away, not really sure where she wanted to go.

"Just leave me alone," she muttered, turning away. His anger flaring, he grabbed her shoulder and spun her around.

"Hey! Do you have any idea who I am?" he demanded, and arrogance in his voice resumed. She shoved him in the chest.

"No, I have no idea who you are, and I really don't want to know," Two-Bits exclaimed. The tears had stopped flowing, and now she was seething with anger. "Just get lost."

"Well, for your information, I'm Spot Conlon, leader of the Brooklyn newsboys," he said, straightening his shoulders. At the word 'leader,' Two-Bits's anger vanished, and her mind flashed back to only half an hour ago. Snapping out of her reverie, she turned back to Spot.

"All right, King Spot. We've established who you are. Now, if your highness will permit it, I'm leaving," she said, scathingly. She gave a mock-bow, turned on her heels, and began to cross the Brooklyn Bridge.

"Hey, I just want to know what your problem is," Spot said, hurrying to catch up with her. Two-Bits rolled her eyes at his rather annoying habit of switching between arrogance and nicety.

"My problem is you," she replied. He grinned, cockily.

"How on earth did I know you'd say that?" She was not amused. "All right, what happened?" he asked, subduing his cockiness for her sake. She growled.

"None of your damn business," she muttered. He sighed.

"Do you have a place to stay?" Spot persisted. She snorted, making no attempt to hide her contempt, and quickened her pace.

"Nope," she said, shortly. Now Spot's interest was peaked.

"But youse a newsie, right?" he continued, struggling to match her pace. She nodded, curtly. "What borough?"

"No borough."

"Well, you have to have a borough," Spot said, chuckling, and struggling to keep the mood light. She was obviously upset, and it was his job to find out why. She's obviously never been on Brooklyn grounds before. "I take it you just left?"

"Yes," she said, stiffly, and Spot heard a satisfying crack in her voice. Now he was getting somewhere.

"Were you thrown out?" Two-Bits shook her head, not trusting herself to speak. "Well, then why are you crying?" Two-Bits whirled around to face him, her patience fully tried.

"Look, I don't know what your problem is, but just leave me alone! I'se can take care of myself, and I don't need some annoying Brooklynite pestering me about t'ings dat don't concern him!" she snapped. Spot took a step back. Two-Bits continued walking.

"Well, why can't you tell me?" he nagged, after a moment's pause. She sighed, closing her eyes, briefly. Then she opened them once more, and her blue eyes were fiery with anger.

"All right. You want to know what happened?" Spot nodded, eagerly. "I'm from The Bronx, and my leader, Dice, just got gutted." Spot's jaw dropped.

"By who?" he demanded.

"By that bastard Striker from Queens," she snarled. Spot grimaced at the name "Striker."

"Wow. Okay, well, I take it you're not going back to the Bronx," he said, quietly. She gave him a look that said, 'How stupid are you?' He nodded. "Right. Well, come with me. You can go to Manhattan."

"Manhattan?" she said, memories coming back from when she was younger. Spot nodded. "Is Skipper still in charge over there?" she asked, smiling in fond memory of him. Spot shook his head.

"Nah. He hooked up with some sailors. He always said that's what he wanted to do. He's somewhere down in Mexico," Spot replied. "Jack Kelly took over. He's real good with the kids, and the boys like him. He's an old friend o' mine."

"Yeah, I 'member him," Two-Bits chuckled. "I back-talked him when I was younger. He didn't like dat too much." Spot laughed.

"Yeah, his ego went down a bit over da years. Not much, mind you. Here we are," he announced. They were standing in front of the Manhattan lodging house. Spot opened the door with his usual 'King of the World' attitude. "Hey, Jack! I've got a newsie for you!" Two-Bits stepped in after him and gasped.

"Bookie!"