Tony reacted the way Riff figured he would. Quietly, with huge fucking tears rolling down his cheeks.
Normally Riff secretly liked how Tony always showed him his softer, gentler side-a side none of the Jets knew existed-but this time all he felt was awful and guilty.
He wasn't worth anyone's tears.
And he certainly didn't want to make Tony cry.
"Hey, they ain't sure." Riff reached out, stopping himself before he grabbed Tony's hand. Cuz best friends don't hold each other's hands. "They gotta do this spinal thing before they know."
Tony nodded, biting his lip, his tears falling faster.
So Riff did what he always does when he feels nervous, and just started rambling.
He talked about the time Tony practically had to carry him home two years ago after a brawl with the Rockets when he sprained his ankle, the time they both had chicken pox, and "Remember Tony when you accidentally stuck your hand in that hornets nest and got stung so bad your hand swelled up twice it's size?"
Riff wasn't sure why he was bringing all that up, but he felt like he just had to keep talking, at least until Tony stopped standing there crying. Luckily, his last comment got Tony to break a small smile, rolling his eyes slightly.
The nurse came back in, with an appointment card, telling them this spinal tap thing was scheduled for the day after tomorrow as well as a meeting with an oncologist. Riff tried to swallow down the fear he felt when he saw the word printed on the card. He glanced at Tony and offered him a grin before shoving the card in his pocket. The nurse gave him a sad look as she handed Riff his walking papers, wishing him the best. Then he and Tony headed out, neither of them talking as they headed out of the hospital.
"Doctor's aint always right." Tony said finally, once they were safely out onto the street.
"Nope." Riff bumped Tony slightly before springing in front of him, his fists raised. "Besides, I feel fine, Superman." He threw a fake punch at Tony, making him finally crack a smile. "I think I'd know if I had cancer." He reached out and flicked Tony under his chin before taking off, down the street, laughing like a mad man.
It didn't take Tony long to catch him. After all, his legs were much longer than Riff's. He grabbed Riff, putting him in a headlock, before roughing up Riff's hair.
"How do ya like this, Batman." Tony asked laughing.
Riff somehow managed to scoot out from Tony's grasp. He made a break for it towards the safety of the lot where the Jets were undoubtedly hanging out, calling Tony an asshole over his shoulder.
Sure enough, they were all there, huddled in a circle. Riff stopped short, sensing immediately something was wrong. There was this angry buzz in the air and hardly anyone was talking. All their heads popped up and turned as they saw Riff and Tony, their faces somber.
"What's wrong?" Tony asked, clearly sensing the tone of the group as well.
"Two of those fucking Sharks jumped Baby John." Action snapped, his eyes blazing."For no fucking reason."
He moved aside and Riff caught a glimpse at Baby John, who was sitting on the ground, Ice's arm around his shoulders. He looked like he'd been crying. He had a bruise forming near his temple and his nose was bleeding.
Riff immediately felt his blood boil.
It was bad enough when any of them were jumped…But for this to happen to Baby John….
Baby John who was gentle and harmless.
Until he'd joined the Jets the guys never been in so much as a fist fight.
He was like everyone's little brother. They all looked out for him ever since Riff brought him into the gang almost a year ago.
"What the hell happened?" Tony asked, shoving past Riff, facing Action head on.
"I don't know." Action snapped, "Me and A-Rab found him like this. He ain't talking other than to say it was those damn good for nothing Sharks. Where were you two anyway."
"Nevermind that." Tony snapped, he shoved past Action, and crouched down in front of Baby John.
"What happened?" He asked softly, but Riff could hear the rage brewing underneath Tony's voice. He knew Baby John wasn't ever gonna talk. Not like this. The kid was too shy. Too skittish.
"Give me a minute with the kid." Riff heard himself say before he really thought much about it. He hardly ever stepped outta Tony's shadow, and if he did he hardly ever went against what Tony has already stated.
The rest of the Jets half turned, half paused as if they didn't know which of the two to listen to. Where Tony was their commander, their leader, each and every one of them was personally more attached to Riff.
"Yeah, guys." Tony locked eyes with Riff, giving him a slight nod of approval, "Give them some space."
The Jets and Tony cleared out, moving a few feet away, leaving Riff and Baby John alone.
"So, what happened?" Riff asked, sitting down next to Baby John.
"I honestly don't know, Riff." Baby John said quietly. "I was walking here hang out. I took a shortcut down the alleyway on 65th. Suddenly I hear these two guys come up behind me, talkin in Spanish. Next thing I know I'm on the ground and they're punching and kicking me. They then took off, yelling about how the Sharks rock and the Jets are dust."
"Did you see who it was?" Riff took out a cigarette and lit, passing it to Baby John, before taking one out for himself.
"No." Baby John shook his head, "I shut my eyes the whole time. And tried to cover my face." He paused before he let out a shaky breath. "I'm sorry, Riff. I shoulda have paid better attention."
"It's okay." Riff reached out, gently squeezing Baby John's shoulders. "Getting jumped don't exactly come with a manual. We'll figure out who did it. The important thing is just making sure you're okay."
"Thanks, Riff." Baby John said quietly. "I feel like Action thinks I'm stupid for not knowing who did this."
"Eh," Riff waved his hand, "Action ain't mad at you. He's just pissed it happened to you. Guys just not good at expressin himself. You know, like I am."
This made Baby John smile.
"Now, just let Ice look ya over, okay?" Riff got up, pulling Baby John to his feet. "He's mended all of us up more than once."
The rest of the day was spent on planning their revenge on the Sharks.
Tony seemed more fired up than usual, barking orders left and right. He sent Anybodys to sneak around in PR territory to see if anyone was discussing why they beat up Baby John. Tony wanted names so he could officially dish out the punishment to the appropriate people.
For a while Riff forgot all about the hospital and cancer and all the shit he might be facing.
"Ain't you gonna tell the guys?" Tony asked, as they walked alone later that night, "I'd think they'd want to know."
"Naw," Riff, shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets, "Not until there's something to tell."
"I get it." Tony nodded, his voice softening, "Maybe there will be nothing to tell."
"Right." Riff swallowed, "Why stress anyone out. We got enough problems with this thing with Baby John anyway."
"You should probably stay outta the fighting." Tony said, pausing. He turned and looked at Riff, his face full of concern. "At least until we know what's wrong."
"I'll be fine. " Riff rolled his eyes, "I'm not taking what the damn spics did to Baby John laying down."
"Riff…" Tony sighed, shaking his head. He looked like he wanted to say more, but knew he was fighting a losing argument. "Alright, but if I feel it's too much I'm pulling rank and taking you out."
"I ain't sick Tony." Riff said, "I swear to you I'm gonna be fine."
Although Riff wasn't sure which one of them he was trying to convince.
Riff met up with Bernardo that night. He knew he would. He always went to Bernardo when things in his world felt more fucked up than usual. That's when he craved Bernardo the most and what he gave him. He didn't allow himself to feel guilty though because he knew Bernardo craved and used him in the same exact ways. They filled the holes that were created in each others lives that no one else seemed to fit. Even though it was dangerous. Like bad habits that neither of them could lick.
They were each other's goddamn addiction. Or demons maybe, depending on where religious beliefs fell.
He met him outside his job-Bernardo worked at the local farmers market bagging groceries-giving their low whistle signal before going to the docks to wait, his body shaking. He felt restless, nervous, and like he was disappearing all at once. Not even the three cigarettes he chain smoked could calm him down.
Sure enough, Bernardo showed up less than ten minutes later. He heard him come up behind him, slapping his hands away from their normal greeting. He had business to attend to first.
"Why'd your guys jump Baby John?" Riff asked, his voice flat.
"What?" Bernardo frowned, stepping back, his arms swinging awkwardly by his side instead of at Riff's waist.
"You heard me." Riff stepped back too, letting the street light shine subtly on his face. "Out of all my guys, why'd you guys pick Baby John. He ain't never done a damn thing to anyone."
"I know nothing about that. " Bernardo sighed, "I've been at work all day."
"You better figure out who did it then. You know both sides have been chill minus for some minor shit. It was totally unprovoked."
"Look at you busting out the big words." Bernardo leaned in to kiss Riff, but Riff held up his hand.
"I mean it Bernardo. Figure out who did it. My guys are looking for revenge. I am too. You know it was wrong."
"Alright." Bernardo said, now grabbing Riff roughly by his hips and pushing him against the wall, "I'll talk to them." He began kissing Riff on his collar bone. Riff could feel himself melt. He leaned in and bit at Bernardos ear, smiling as Bernardo let out a pleasurable moan.
They fooled around like that, almost out in the open for a while. Something about the danger of someone catching them was a major thrill. Then Bernardo mumbled they head back to Riff's. Without a word, they turned and walked, separating to opposite sides of the street, Bernardo walking slightly behind Riff. It wasn't until they got to Riff's apartment did they join up together again.
Riff barely closed the door before Bernardo swooped in, grabbing him by the shoulders and slammed him hard into the wall. He pinned him there, biting Riff on his lip before kissing him there. Riff returned the favor, this time shoving Bernardo into the wall. They rotated like this, yanking off one another's clothes until they made it to Riff's bed, where they collapsed, holding on to one another.
When they finished having what Riff could only describe as fucking mind blowing sex, he felt himself sigh happily, folding into Bernardo's open arms. They lay there for a while, both of them catching their breaths.
"It's always amazing with you." Bernardo said, running his hands down Riff's bare arms, "I can't seem to find this with anyone else. Not even Anita."
"Must be all our pent up aggression." Riff said, knowing that had something to do with it. At least on his side of things.
Bernardo mumbled something in Spanish and then slowly began tracing Riff's hipbone with his finger. Riff jolted and shivered slightly, sucking on his lip, anything to resist the urge to laugh. Bernardo chuckled at his reaction before pulling Riff tighter into him.
Riff swore lightly at him under his breath. The bastard knew from previous get togethers Riff was stupidly sensitive there. And the asshole loved exploiting it.
Riff both hated and loved how Bernardo seemed to know his body better than anyone else. Damn fucker could make Riff beg and plead for both mercy and for continuance.
Being with Bernardo was like sitting at the top of a roller coaster before it dropped down the biggest hill.
Sometimes the anxiety of whatever unpredictable way Bernardo felt like going was enough to get Riff off on the anticipation alone.
Tonight was no exception. Bernardo bit Riff's shoulder, lightly dusting his fingertips over Riff's ribs, laughing to himself as Riff once again squirmed next to him, trying in vain to catch Bernardos sadistic hands. Riff could feel his face flush as he let out what could only embarrassingly qualify as a stream of snickers because gang members definitely don't giggle and they definitely aren't ticklish. Right as Riff was about to protest, and call him a bastardo (one of the very few Spanish words Riff knew), Bernardo switched tactics on him, and began playing with Riff's ear, something that normally and once again did turn Riff into a pool of complete and wonderful bliss.
This time though, instead of Riff melting, he suddenly opened his mouth and out came the confession. The one he'd been holding in since he and Tony left the hospital.
"They think I got cancer." Riff said, his words sounding strange coming out of his mouth.
Bernardo immediately stopped what he was doing.
"What?" He asked his voice deeper than Riff ever remember hearing it.
"Somethings off with my blood." Riff turned, surprising himself with the motion, as he locked eyes with his sometimes-lover-sometimes-enemy. He suddenly spilled everything. How he's been feeling, the fatigue, the nosebleeds….all of it.
"Mi amor…." Bernardo said softly, leaning in and placing a kiss on Riff's forehead. "I pray that you'll be okay. I do have to tell you you look skinnier than I remember you being."
"I've had a busy summer." Riff said feeling a little self conscious. He always hated how skinny he was to begin with. He didn't need to be reminded of it.
"When will you know?" Bernardo frowned, tracing Riff's cheekbone lightly with his thumb.
"I got an appointment the day after tomorrow."
"Please, just keep me updated." Bernardo pulled Riff a little closer, lightly running his fingers up and down Riff's back. It didn't take long for Riff to feel himself begin to drift off into a beautiful state of uncaring. Before he knew it he was asleep.
