Chpt.4

The first fight Laces had ever gotten in was trying to defend JoJo. The other newsie had insulted some group of boys and he didn't stand a chance alone against them.

Laces was selling some papers when she heard JoJo grunt in pain and in an ally she saw the boys beating on her fellow newsie.

The sight made Laces clench her jaw in anger when she saw JoJo getting beaten in the middle.

She didn't care how the fight started, but she knew that she'd have to help. Running into the group with full speed and using a wall as a place to spring from, she jumped on one of the boys backs and with her open palms, slapped his ears, causing the boy to cry out in pain and sink to the ground. She kicked the boy while he down, but when she went to turn to another boy, she felt someone punch her in the face.

Swiftly getting up, Laces dodged several punches and elbowed one of the boys in the stomach. The girl had never felt an adrenaline rush like this. Yes, it did hurt to get punch or kicked, but when she landed another solid blow or blocked an attack, she felt her heart race in excitement.

As she fought, Laces noticed that JoJo was a bloody mess in the middle of the circle. She made her way over to her fellow newsie and stayed over him, making sure that whatever blows that were thrown were directed at her and not at him.

JoJo had helped her plenty of times in the past and now she was going to make sure that she repaid him. Sure, all he really did was help spot her some extra money for more sheet music, but that didn't matter. JoJo was one of her brothers, and she wasn't going to let him get beaten to a bloody pulp when she was around.

However, when it was five older boys against her, it didn't take long for Laces' reflexes to start to slow, and she felt several blows to her stomach and face.

She didn't care. If she was going to fall, she was going to fall on top of JoJo so she would take the brunt of the attacks.

Luckily, Specs and Mush heard the loud commotion and ran up to the group to intervene.

With the extra newsies, the other boys quickly ran away, taking too much of a beating for their liking.

Specs and Mush stared at Laces and how she stood over JoJo on wobbling legs. She was shaking from still being high on adrenaline.

"Laces, your nose…" Mush whispered. And that was all it took for all the pain to hit her like a train. Laces wobbled on her feet, but Mush quickly had the girl in his arms.

"That… was…kinda fun." Laces rasped. "Y'know, except for all this hurting."

Mush took out a handkerchief from his pocket and gently placed it on her nose.

"Laces, this is gonna hurt, and I'm really sorry." Mush stated in an even tone, and Laces looked at the boy in confusion.

"What's gonna-AGH!" Laces screamed as she heard a sickening pop as Mush reset her nose so that it was back in place, and he kept the handkerchief under her nose to soak up all the blood. Laces whimpered, the pain intense and tears pricked the corner of her eyes. This was the worst pain the girl had ever felt.

"Shhh. You're okay." Mush said gently as he wiped a small tear away from Laces' eye. He could tell how much pain she was in by how she shook and the look in her eyes. "Don't worry, it'll be alright." Mush whispered, then looked over at Specs. "How does JoJo look?" he inquired and Spec was holding the other beaten newsie.

"He's pretty roughed up, but nothin' fatal lookin'." The boy with the glasses informed, looking at JoJo with concern, then at Laces. "JoJo would've been worse if it weren't for Laces distractin' the other boys with her face."

"Let's get these two back to the lodging house and have Kid Blink take a look at 'em. He usually knows when things look bad." Mush stated, and Specs nodded.

"Do I really look that bad?" Laces whispered, feeling ashamed that she couldn't keep the boys attacking her at bay so she wouldn't be part of all the fuss. She wanted the others to pay more attention to JoJo. He was the more injured out of the two of them. Right?

However, Mush, the sweet talker, chuckled,

"Laces, you're always beautiful. It's just now you're a little bruised and bloody. But under all that is a pretty face." he smirked. Laces laughed, but then winced in pain from her nose hurting.

"You'll be alright, kid." Mush stated, but he looked so concerned. It was as if him saying it over and over would make it become true.

He looked at Laces' hands and frowned.

"You got blood on your knuckles."

"My blood or theirs?" Laces questioned and Mush frowned.

"It looks like yours."

"Damn." Was Laces' response and Mush laughed at that.

"That was your first fight right?"

"Yeah, it was." Laces nodded.

"Not too bad for a first fight. I broke my nose my first fight, just like you." He smirked.

"Does the pain ever go away? I feel like all my nose is doin' is bleedin' and throbbin'." Laces frowned.

"Once Kid Blink is done checking it out, we'll put some ice on it. It'll be fine." Mush grinned, and Laces smiled back at him, liking the idea of something soothing her nose.

Once back at the lodging house, Kid Blink looked over JoJo and Laces. He dubbed them both as 'okay' but JoJo was going to be confined to his bed for a while so he could rest and Laces had to be careful of her nose.

Meanwhile, Mush had gotten her some ice, and Laces sighed in relief as it rested on her nose.

"Thanks Mush." Laces smile and Mush just chuckled.

"Ain't a problem, kid." Laces was finding it hard to breathe through her nose due to the swelling, so she took even breaths in through her mouth.

"Laces!" the girl looked up and saw Jack storming over to her, and she tensed at the sight. Seeing the look on Jack's face, Kid Blink and Mush quickly left the room.

Jack looked furious with his eyebrows furrowed and jaw set. "What were you thinkin' takin' on those boys alone?!" he exclaimed.

"JoJo needed help sssso's I-I…" Laces stuttered, shaking a bit from Jack's outburst. She had never seen him this angry.

"That's when you get one of us ta help you!" Jack exclaimed. "You can't take on those guys alone. Look at you! You're small and thin and you get sick a lot and there's only one of ya! You're lucky that the only thing they broke was your nose!"

"I…I couldn't risk letting JoJo get beat another moment. H-He looked like he'd be beaten to death!" Laces suddenly felt herself getting angry. "What was I supposed ta do? Let him get beat up while lookin' for someone!?"

The tension in Jack's shoulders seemed to dissipate, and his eyes softened.

"Just… promise me that you won't do that again." Jack stated, but Laces shook her head.

"If I have to make a choice like that again, I wouldn't do anything different." She stated. She and Jack held eye contact for several moments, and then the boy let out a long sigh.

"You're so stubborn." He grumbled, sitting next to the girl. "Sorry I yelled at ya. I know that you don't like it. Just… I was so worried when I heard that you got soaked." Jack explained, and Laces rolled her eyes.

"I'm fine, Jack." Laces stated and Jack chuckled a bit.

"Yeah, you're a tough guy, right? A messed up nose 's nothin'." Jack smiled and Laces smiled back.

"You got that right."

Laces and JoJo both rested in bed the next day. Jack didn't want to risk Laces' health since she was prone to getting sick and he figured her injuries wouldn't help matters, and JoJo was still healing.

Meanwhile, Specs, Mush, Jack, and some other newsies all found the group of boys who beaten Laces and JoJo. The newsies then proceeded to beat the other boys, making sure each one of the bullies noses were broken.

It wasn't quite the justice they wanted, but it was close enough.