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Lately the summer heat had drifted into the evenings, and Davey was definitely feeling it in his bedroom. Despite having the window open, blankets kicked off to his feet, and wearing the lightest clothes he owned, he was still breaking a sweat. After tossing back and forth around in his bed, he got up and walked towards his window that lead to the fire escape.
His large and tall frame made it a little difficult for him to get through, but he managed with careful ease. He decided to sit down on the small escape, it’s not like he’d be able to sleep anytime soon. The New York skyline was surprisingly clear, considering this time of year the factories were driving hard.
He could make out a few stars in the sky, some covered more by clouds than others. He wasn’t too big on astrology himself, but he caught himself trying to figure out different parts of constellations in the sky. It was something Jack would bring up regularly when he, Crutchie and Davey would spend their evenings out on the rooftop of the boarding house.
“I bet out in New Mexico you could see them way better than in this jungle of a city.” Jack had once said with a grin.
Since their victory with the hard fought children labor workers in the city, Jack had passed on the opportunity to live out his dream out west. He’d never told any of the newsies, not even Crutchie, as to why, but they’d all collectively agreed to not bring it up. But still, Davey could see how miserable Jack seemed up to now. What he once used to enjoy of painting and drawing for the newspaper chains in the city had seemed to fade. The same charm and flirtatious qualities hadn’t gone, but it seemed more like a mask for Jack.
Davey was snapped out of his trance when he heard a small rattle of the structure of the fire escapes. Carefully peering down, he could make up a small figure just a few stories below. He instantly recognized that all to familiar grey cap, even with the little reflection of light the night sky provided.
Being considerate that it was probably around 1 in the morning, Davey spoke in a hushed tone to his friend down below. “Jack what are you doing here why it’s the middle of the night!”
Poking his head out from the current level he was on, Jack flashed a grin at Davey before replying back, “Well I could ask you the same thing there Dave. Wait up for me up there will ya?”
Rolling his eyes Davey began to make space on the small platform for Jack to fit on. It took no more than 10 seconds for him to reach Daveys level, not even out of breath at that.
“Care to elaborate as to why you’re almost 10 blocks away from the boarding house Jack?” Davey tucked his knees up to his chest, offering a space for Jack to sit near him.
Plopping right beside him, Jack gave a cheesy grin, “it just so happened that I was actually at Meddas theatre. Just touching up some backdrops really, nothing too fancy.”
Davey gave a frown, “right, as if Medda lounges around her theatre after midnight. I might be dumb sometimes Jack but I’m not an idiot.”
Jack threw up his hands defensively, “woah hang on there Dave, who’s to say I don’t have a secret little key that Ms Medda gave me herself huh? How bout that.” He reached into his pant pocket and pulled out a little string, attached to it was a small silver key. Jack dangled it around in front of Daveys face. “See, I’m a man of my word Jacobs.”
Davey playfully pushed it out of his face, “fine alright you got me there, but that’s still quite the trip from here to our apartment, if not farther a trip back to the lodging house.”
Jack shrugged his shoulders in defeat, “yeah well, guess I just wanted to pay you a visit. We uh, haven’t caught up in a hot second wouldn’t you say.” He looked up at Davey, brown eyes meeting blue.
Davey could get lost in those eyes.
He was no artist, but had he own a sketchbook like Jack, the pages out be filled out to the rim in eye sketches alone. Jack always pushed his own features aside from others, “As if you don’t hold the seven oceans in your eyes Dave,” he’d say. But Jacks eyes were different. They held passion and charm and wittiness and, well you get the idea. Even through his noticeable lack of himself, Davey could still trace Jacks life in his eyes. He wondered how Jack managed it. To not lose his strongest points in his physicality. To still mask up for the newsies, his boys, his brothers.
He’d been staring to long he’d realized.
“Davey, you good there?”
Davey shook his head slightly, “wha- oh! Oh yeah, just think the tiredness is catching onto me.” He put his hand to his head, whacking himself a little, “what had you been saying?”
Jack laughed and shook his head, “don’t matter it’s not that important. How’s about you head inside, I’m gonna start heading back before anyone realizes I left.” He started to get up before Davey grabbed his wrist.
“No! I mean, n-no, stay, please I don’t want you wandering at this time of night. You can wear some of my clothes, honest.”
Jack gave him an earnest look, “It’s not trouble Dave, I promise I’ll be fine.”
Davey gripped tighter than he wanted too, “I’m not asking Jack and telling you. Truly, it’s alright.”
Giving him one last, deep look, Jack sighed in defeat before sitting back down on the fire escape. “Alright you win! God I hate how deceiving you make your eyes out to be.”
Davey gave a small laugh, “you’re not the only one who’s got charm around here Kelly.” To which he got a playful punch to the shoulder from Jack.
“As if you wouldn’t fall to me in a split second.”
Davey pushed a hand to Jacks face playfully, “Oh like I, rangy ol’ me, would ever try to take you on in a fight!”
Bouncing right back up, Jack spoke in quieter tone, “Who’s to say i was talking about a fight…”
Their play fight died down right on there. Immediately Jack backed away with a mixture of disbelief and embarrassment on his face. If the moonlight hadn’t been so strong on his face, Davey would’ve believed he’d been having a conversation with a ghost.
“I- I mean, um, forget I said that, uh, sorry I’ve got to go.”
As Jack began to bolt down the fire escape levels, Davey moved to the edge of his own, “Jack wait!” he called, no longer caring about who heard. He just wanted for Jack to come back.
Not bothering to remember he didn’t have shoes on, he began to climb down the escapes himself. Not as fast as Jack sure, but he had made some progress before he could hear Jack calling out to him further below.
“Dave just go. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for it to come out like that.” He was near the ground already, but Dave wasn’t going to give in. Just a few stories up, he was picking his pace up. He wouldn’t let Jack disappear into the night. Not again.
“Jack stop! Just hear what I have to say.”
That made Jack halt in his tracks. In true disbelief, Davey was able to get Jack who was just near the end of the block. Running on the dirty sidewalk, Davey took Jacks hand and turned to face him.
“You and I both know what you meant, and I’m sorry if my facial expressions came off differently. I- I want you to know I’m not mad at you.”
He place a hand to Jacks cheek, softly caressing it. “And, I’d love to take you up on your very tempting offer”
Jack snaked his hands around Daveys waist and met his eyes, “What can I say, I’m best at what I do.”
They intertwined their hands together, Davey closing in on the space between them. “Well hurry on then, my body won’t regulate this cold a temperature itself.”