Chapter Text
Issac walked down the bridge on his way towards Amusement Row to meet Boots. Usually he wouldn’t go there alone but Boots had said it was for personal reasons not newsie reasons. As he reached the end of the bridge he saw Boots standing there.
“Just who I wanted to see,” Boots said quietly.
“Why are you so nervous did your dad escape Blackgate again,” Issac asked concerned
“Well yeah but that’s not what I’m here to tell you. You’ve heard about the recent string of attacks on newsies,” Boots said sadly.
“I have but I thought we were talking about personal matters not business matters here,” Issac said nervously.
“We are. My sisters missing! The bastards have upped their game and word is that she was last seen on this very bridge. Now I’m only telling you this because some of my newsies think a northern newsie took her. I need you to stay alert cause if things get worse I fear this all might end in your death,” Boot said suddenly yelling.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. I may not be that street smart but I know when to keep my head down. I just hope we find out who’s been trying to mess with Gotham’s newsies because I fear a war is coming if this keeps up,” Issac said, trying to calm Boots down.
“I know. Please be safe. I love you,” Boots said, sighing as he started heading back home.
“I love you too. I’ll get to work finding your sister. I promise she will not be missing for long,” Issac said, also starting to walk back home.
“Thank you,” came Boots' voice as the early morning fog covered the bridge.
As he walked toward the old church Issac smiled trying to put on an air of confidence even as his fear threatened to consume him. Slipping through the lose plywood covering the almost completely rotted away door he thought about what type of idiotic monster would mess with newsies.
“So what did Boots have to say,” Jet said happily leaning on one of the old pews.
“I told you it was a private meeting. Did you tell anyone about it or did you finally decide to keep quiet about me and Boots for once,” Issac said angrily sitting next to Jet.
“No chill. Look, I’m sorry about telling your dad about you and Boots. I don't think he would kick you out for it. I get it was an awful thing to do, I’m sorry. How many times do I have to apologize,” Jet said exasperated.
“No, I’m not angry about that anymore. Something a lot more pressing than my family problems have come about. Besides, my dad would have killed you if you didn’t tell him you had no choice,” Issac said tiredly.
“What’s the problem,” Jet nervously said.
“You’ve heard of the guys attacking newsies down in Crime Alley and East End. Well they’ve taken it one step further. They kidnapped Boots' sister and it seems like they want to frame us for it,” Issac explained.
“Rose, why would we kidnap her? She is the sweetest 8 year old I’ve ever met,” Jet asked, confused.
“Sweet is hardly the word I would use to describe that little badger,” Issac said, chuckling.
“You know what I meant. None of us have any grudges with her. So why do these guys think this fucking plan will work,” Jet said, lighting a cigarette.
“Think about it, she’s the sister of the head of the Crime Alley newsies and well purly historically speaking the Crime Alley newsies and the Northern newsies have always been enemies. Yeah me and Boots signed a truce but many of the Crime Alley newsies think that I’m planning something and don’t want them looking to close into what I’m doing. Now will you put that thing out. You know the rules you smoke outside but not in the Hub. I don’t want one of our few good hiding spots to end up burning to the ground,” Issac said.
“Sorry, so how do you plan to solve this,” Jet said while stomping out his cigarette.
“I don’t know. All I do know is that someone has to find her and bring her back before the Crime Alliers get too upset about it. I’m going to see if I can find Signal or Black Bat today. They usually are the most helpful with this sort of thing and I’m sure the Red Hoods already heard about it. You know what they always say the more bats the merrier,” Issac said trying to cheer himself up.
“I’m pretty sure you're the only one on the entire North Side who says that but you are right where we are going to need all the help we can get,” Jet said looking down at his watch “Shit, my dad’s going to kill me. It’s almost 7:30. I can not be late for piano practice, not again!”
“Well then go you idiot. Though I think he’s going to yell at you anyways for how dirty your suit is,” Issac yelled after Jet.
“Fuck you,” came Jet slightly muffled voice as he exited the church.
Issac started making his breakfast but considering it consisted of 2 stale croissants and a half drunk coffee it wasn’t much of one. Looking down at the turn up that he had worn for a month ever since his dad kicked him out he sighed. His life had gone to complete shit well almost. One of the newsies had managed to get him a pretty nice place by the waterfront which he was to move into within the week and he had been given some nice outfits though he still hadn’t worn them yet. They all had done help him anonymously though probably not wanting to bring their family 'shame' for helping out a street kid.
The longer he was away from the family the longer he realized how shitty Gotham was. Yeah Boots had told him about some of the things that happened on the streets but it was different when you had to constantly see it first hand. He had always thought all of Gotham was like the North. Yeah there was crime but it was organized with targets being chosen months, sometimes years in advance. That way of thinking was foolish as he realized despite there being patterns, crime was as random as a game of bingo even in the North Side. The fact he hadn’t die yet with how little he knew about how the streets work was a miracle.
Grabbing his newsie cap with the small Moomin pin he got many years ago from his Great Grandma he went out of the church carefully looking around as he went to get his papers to sell for the day.