Chapter 14 Patch Up
"No, don't hurt 'er….no, no, no. Feister! Claire!"
"Mush, wake up yer havin' a nightmare!" Feister said while shaking him awake. Mush then shot up then clenched his stomach at the sudden pain. "Hey, hey, hey," Feister said quickly while putting one hand on his left shoulder and her other hand on his cheek. "It's ok, it was just a nightmare," she said soothingly. "I's safe, yer safe. We's both safe." Mush smiled and put his hand over her hand that was on his cheek. His smile only grew when he saw how pretty she looked at the moment. The moon light spilled into the room making her dark and messy braids aglow.
"Yer safe now, no one's gonna hurt you'se," Feister said tenderly with her big dark eyes sparkling. "Get some sleep. You'se had a long day an' ya need the rest."
"Yes mudda," Mush teased. Feister rolled her eyes. After a few moments she kissed the top of his head before getting up from the bed. And going to hers, or Romeo's in this case. Since Mush couldn't climb up to the top he had to switch with Jojo, and since Feister wanted to stay close with Mush she switch with Romeo.
As she left the bed he didn't let go of her hand. Feister looked back with a confused face."Can ya...ya know." Mush asked shyly. Feister could've sworn she saw the lightest shade of pink on his cheeks
"Like when we's was younger?" Feister asked quietly, while remembering that she used to climb into his bunk when she got a nightmare. But as she got older her nightmares became less and less so she didn't need to do that anymore. Mush only nodded and she smiled and said, "ok." Not wanting to disturbed his right shoulder, which was the more injured side, she had to go to the other side of the bed. After that She slipped under the covers and then snuggled into bed.
Feister smiled when she felt him wrapped his good arm around her, and kiss the top of her head. She laid her head on his heart and fell asleep. But before she did Feister quietly said, "If ya ever wanna tawk I's right here. Wake me up anytime, ok."
"Ok Feisty," Mush whispered.
"They look so cute together," Crutchie whispered quietly. The sun had risen and before Jack could go yelling at the top of his lungs Crutchie had shushed him and pointed to the bunk where Mush and Feister were snuggled up in each other's arms. So, he helped Jack quietly wake up the others, who refused to get out of bed, But as soon as they said the word, "Lovebirds" they all popped up like daisies.
"Think we's should let 'em sleep in?" Specs asked. At the moment all the Newsies were gathered around the bunk taking in the sweet sight.
"Yeah," Jack sighed. In all the craziness that has happened in the past few weeks it was nice to see something as sweet as this. "But someone has ta stay with Mush."
"I's think Feisty already has that covered Cowboy," Race said just as quietly. Jack patted Race on the back to show he agreed with that. All the boys knew that Mush and Feister have a bond stronger than glue, so it was a little obvious who would take first watch. With that being said the boys quietly got ready before leaving to sell the papers.
A few hours later Feister woke up, sat up, stretched, and rubbed her eyes. She then looked back at Mush who was fast asleep. She smiled and that's when she realized that Mush was back, he was safe, alive, and she couldn't be happier. Then she noticed that they were the only ones in the bunk room, which meant that the other boys all left to sell the papers.
After taking a moment to recap everything Feister swung her legs to the side of the bed and then stood up. She turned around and pulled the covers up to his chin. After brushing some of his hair and kissing his forehead she went down stairs and into the kitchen to make some breakfast for the two of them. As she walked into the kitchen she saw Kloppman was up. He was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee in one hand and a book in the other. His breakfast plate had eggs and a piece of bread with some butter.
"Good morning Feister," Kloppman said when he saw her walk in.
"Mornin' Klopp," Feister replied happily with a smile as she walked over to the counter and started cutting some pieces of bread.
"Someone's in a good mood this mornin'." Kloppman turned around in his seat to see Feister making breakfast for two. In all the years Kloppman has known Feister he has never seen her happy in the morning, or in a good mood. Usually the little news girl would be yelling at the top of her lungs. So, it was nice to see the toughest Newsie in the Lodge smiling.
"Really?" she asked innocently. "I didn't notice." Feister glanced over her shoulder to see Kloppman smiling.
"You sure about that? It wouldn't be because Mush came back last night now would it?" Kloppman asked with a smirk. Feister started to blush but kept her eyes on what she was doing.
"I's happy he's back, but I's feel real guilty bout what happened. This all started because of me. As usual." Feister sighed and turned to face Kloppman as she said, "Last year I's was the one who almost ruined our friendship, an' now I's the one who started this whole mess cause my idiot brudda came ta get me an'...all I's do is cause trouble."
"Feister, I know that none of the boys think you're a troublemaker. And I know Mush doesn't blame you," Kloppman said in a father like way. Then again he's always been like a father figure to all the Newsies. "Don't take it so hard. After all everyone makes mistakes."
"Thanks Klopp, ya always know how ta make me feel better." after that Feister continued to make breakfast. Once that was done she took the two plates and headed back up to the bunk room. When she got up there she saw that Mush was wide awake. He was sitting up and reading a leftover newspaper that was on the nightstand. She put on a smile as she walked over to the bed.
"Mornin'," she said once she approached the bed. "Sleep good?"
"Best sleep in I's got in a week," Mush replied happily as he put the newspaper away.
"Good. Hope yer hungry cause I's made breakfast." she put the plate down on his lap and then pulled up a chair before sitting down in it.
"I's didn't know you'se could cook."
"Mush, anyone can cut an apple an' bread an' put butter on the bread an' crack a few eggs," she replied while holding in her laughter.
"An' here I's thought that if you'es went near a stove you'd somehow start a fire."
"Ha-ha very funny," she replied with an eye roll. "But in all seriousness you'se need ta put some energy into that body so it can heal." Feister never realized just how much she missed hearing Mush tease her. He smiled and said, "Thanks for makin' this."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, Imma great friend." she rolled her eyes "Now can ya shut up already an' just eat," she said with a laugh. Oh, how she missed hearing his voice. When they both finished eating Feister grabbed her deck of cards so she and Mush could play war. Aka their favorite card game.
"So, did ya really punch Will?" Mush asked as Feister was shuffling the deck.
She looked up with a confused a confused face. "How'd ya know that?"
"Jack told me," he explained. She nodded before shuffling the deck a bit faster. Mush knew that when Feister starts to do things a little faster it usually means there's something on her mind. "You'se holdin' up ok?"
"Yeah, I's holding up just fine," she said quickly while shuffling the deck even faster. She tried hard to hold back her tears. That's when she felt a hand go over hers. She looked up and saw that Mush had that look that said, "no, yer not fine".
"Feisty, I's want the truth," he said softly. Mush knew it was tempting fate by pushing her to talk, but he hated seeing her like this.
Feister sighed and said, "I's dunno." Mush gave her a look that said "yeah you do" she knew it would be no use in hiding this so she said, "Will comes outta nowhere an' wants me ta go back with 'im, an' then the Delanceys get put into the mix, you'se goes ta the Refuge an' everything that has been happening is my fault. All I's do is cause trouble. Seems like it's the only thing I's good at is causing trouble an' putting it into other people's lives."
She dropped her shoulders and a tear slid down her cheek. But then she felt a soft hand wipe it away. She looked up and saw that he had his right hand right on her cheek. Which had to have taken a lot of strength to move. Feister moved her hand and put it on top of Mush's and the faintest smile appeared.
"Yer not a troublemaker," Mush said tenderly. "You'se smart, an' funny, not to mention feisty at the same time. You'se a hothead an' a smart Aleck, I'll say that. But that's what makes you'se, you'se." Now, that's when a smile appeared on Feister's face and she carefully hugged him. She felt Mush wrap his arms around her and kiss the top of her head.
"Thanks Mushy," Feister whispered before pulling away. "You'se should get some rest, ya look like yer gonna drop dead any second."
"Whatever ya-"
"I swear if you'se call me "mom" "mudda" or "ma" one more time I's gonna kick yer butt as soon as it gets better." Mush laughed but did as Feister said. Mush settled in as Feister pulled the sheets up. He felt her kiss his forehead and then take his hand as he drifted off to sleep.
It was dark, and dirty and it smelled worse than the streets. Mush was laying in bed in the sorry excuse for a bunk room. The last soaking was the worst so far. He felt sore all over and everything just burned and ached. It was late, it smelled, and it was cold. Something odd for the middle of summer.
Then, the door bursts open and Spider walked in with the creepy look that could scare anyone. His evil eyes looked around and then landed on Mush, who was trying to sit up straight.
"You!" Spider pointed and walked up to the bed. "Have a little visitor." his smile sent chills down Mush's spine, and not the good kind. "It seems like your little girlfriend decided to pay a visit." Mush's eyes widen and his heart dropped. He knew exactly who Spider was talking about. He then used as much strength as he could to sit up.
When Mush sat up he looked Spider right in the eyes with a serious look. "You'se or any of yer goons lay one finger on 'er an' I's gonna soak you'se," he grunted. Now, Mush has never been one for threats on that sort of line. But, when it came to her, it didn't matter. Nothing matter when it came to her.
Spider smirked and just as he did a guard came in holding Feister by her braids. She had her eyes closed and parts of her clothes were ripped. She was covered in bruises, scrapes and scratches.
"Lemme go!" Feister spat. The guard chuckled before letting go of her braids. When she got up and tried to fight back she got punched right in the face that sent her back to the ground.
"Feister!"
Mush popped up from the bed, and then clutched his stomach before making a little grunting sound. Just as he felt one hand go to his shoulder and the other to the back of his neck and a familiar voice say softly, "Hey, hey, hey, look at me." Mush looked up and saw big, dark, eyes looking at him. "It's ok," she whispered. "Everything is fine, alright." Mush smiled to show Feister that was alright, but in all truths. He wasn't.
"I know what will cheer ya up," Feister said. "Stay there, I'll be back in a few minutes." before leaving she quickly kissed his cheek and then left the bunk room.
As soon as Feister left the bunk room Mush felt his cheeks warm up a bit. He smiled as he lightly touched the cheek she had kissed just moments ago. Sure, Feister kissed him and the others on the cheek a lot, but this time it felt...different? Different how? Was it a good different, or a bad different? He wasn't sure what was going on, but something was definitely changing.
"Here." Mush was snapped out of his thoughts and he saw Feister was back holding a cup with steam coming out. "Drink this, it'll make ya feel better."
"What is it?" Mush asked as he carefully took the cup out of her hands. All he knew about the contents of the cup was that it was warm and smelled good.
"You'll see," Feister replied innocently. Mush smiled and then took a sip. The hot water was sweet, but had a slight tang to it. It felt warm and soothing as it went down.
"It's good," he said before taking another sip. She smiled. The smile that reached her eyes. Which is the one he loves the most.
"It's honey an' lemon. My mudda used ta make it for me when I's was younger. If I's had a bad day this would fix me right up," she explained. Mush smiled. Feister wasn't one to talk about her past too much. But when she did Mush made sure he was all ears.
"Ya know, I's think that's the first happy thing you'se told me bout yer past," he said softly, which made her smile grow. It was rare for Feister to smile like that, but it was one Mush loved the most. Her smile was definitely one of a kind, and it gave him this warm feeling from the inside out. Then he started to think why he was feeling that way. After all, they were just friends, right?
They're like brother and sister, that's it. That's all they were, and nothing else.
Right...?
Author's note
Talk about a long chapter. But besides that I love how this came out. So much brother/sisterly fluff. This chapter defiantly makes me smile every time I read it. What did you think? Anyways, thanks for reading. I'll see you all on Friday.
