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Davey had been spending a lot of time around Jack lately. They'd been doing sleepovers, even, right on Jack's rooftop.
“I'm sleeping at a friend's house, pa!” Davey always told his father, a gleam in his eye as if he was going to see a girl.
In a strange way, he felt like he was. At least, Jack sometimes made him feel like he was going to see a girl. He brushed it off as excitement, Jack always managing to make the smallest moments feel exhilarating. Davey wanted, in some shape or form, to stay beside Jack for the rest of his life.
Les was growing up, he'd gone back to school, leaving Davey a fresh out of high-school man with time on one's hands. He was exploring himself, the world of New York City, and spending time with friends.
“As any kid should!” His ma laughed one night after Les complained that he was never home.
Davey fixed his hat as he headed down the streets of New York, a lopsided grin plastered to his face as he breathed in the smell of the air. A small part of it would always remind him of Jack, the man always spending enough time outside to smell like it even after he showered.
Davey looked up at the high building he'd have to climb up, wondering how Crutchie managed to do this every night. For even Davey, it was a pain. He loved Jack enough, Dave figured. Hell, all the newsies loved Jack enough to do this for him if he'd asked.
Davey managed to get up to see Jack watching a cigar as if it'd jump out of his hands at any moment. “Thought you didn't smoke.”
“I don't. ‘S for the other's,” Jack looked up at Davey from his place on the ground, a smile wide enough to stun him shining on his face.
The newer paper boy eased himself beside the veteran, looking down at the cigar. “Admiring then, huh?”
Jack let out an easy-going laugh, breathing gently into the sky before his eyes caught Davey's. “Maybe. Or maybe I was just antsy for you to get over here.”
The statement caused Davey to blush, hopping the dusk masked his cheeks well enough. “Well, sorry to make ya wait, Jacky. Didn't mean to hold ya up.”
“You never means to do anything, do ya, Dave?” Jack asked, no heat behind the tease. He handed the cigar off to Davey, letting the younger turn it in his hands.
“Again, sorry about what happened with—”
“Katherine this Katherine that. That's all I's been hearin’ about ever since we broke up. You know better than anyone she won't any good for me!” Jack flailed his hands up in the air for a moment before they smacked onto his knees, the man sighing. “Her pa and I were never gonna get alongs; and-and she was too smart for me, I never thinks she wanted some ragamuffin like me.”
Davey thought, for a brief moment, hoped, that he wasn't too smart for Jack. He brushed the thought away, turning his body toward Jack. “You're not no ragamuffin. You know, she helped us out tons a year ago, but that don't mean you owe her. You stayed with her cause you tried, and it didn't work out. Things like that happen, Jacky. You two were real young, you know?”
Jack scoffed, yet he seemed to be in agreement, taking the cigar from Davey to place in his tomorrow clothes. “Guess so. Thanks, Dave. You've always been there when I needcha.”
“I'll always be here, anyways. That's what you count on.” Dave smiled endearingly, and Jack whipped his head away from the other as if his smile stung.
“But anyway,” Davey looked away, into the stars that shone so close he felt like he could dip his hands into the sky. “Thanks for inviting me to sleep over. It's nice up here.”
“It's about time. We haven't had one of these in a while, huh?”
“Not really. Not for around a week.”
The two chuckled at the absurdity; the way a week felt like a while was exhilarating to them both.
“Damn. I've definitely missed your company up here. It's just hard getting Crutchie a place for the night so I can invite people over.” Jack laughed.
Davey laughed easily along with him, bumping their shoulders together. “Oh yeah? Like when you had Katherine over all the time. ‘Dave, can you take crutchie in? I gotta spend all night kissin’’” Davey mimicked the other, making Jack laugh even harder.
“Oh shut it!”
“And ontop of that, you never once came to me for the night..!” The laughter between them died down, both of their smiles remaining like ones from wonderstruck children. “You really oughta meet my folks. They're nice, you know. Won't bite for nothin’.”
“Ah, maybe,” Jack waved a hand, leaning back again. “I don't know about all that.”
“It'd be nice. You'd be able to see my room, Les would enjoy the company, too.” Davey nudged him gently. He didn't want to tell Jack how much he wanted him to have a warm meal that wasn't diner food. Or that he wanted to show him a warm bed, give him some actual pajamas to wear. He didn't want to let him know how many times he'd talked about him to his folks. Davey didn't want Jack to know how much he cared.
“I'll think on it, okay?” Jack nudged back, scooting away to grab a blanket for Davey. He took it with a thank you, fixing it over himself as he wiggled out of his shoes. “If anything, maybe it'd be fun…”
Davey perked up, eyes widening and reflecting the stars like pools of hope. “You're serious? You mean it? We could even do somethin’ next week. We'd be back with the guys before anyone knew a thing.”
Jack chuckled, shrugging as he lied down, feeling Davey join beside him. Their shoulders were pressed against one another, the two watching the galaxy dance before them. Their private show.
“Okay, Dave. I'll go to your folks’.” Jack gave in easy like pudding to Davey. Always to Davey.
“You'll like it, Jacky, and hey if it gets too much for you, just lemme know. Nothin's stoppin’ us from steppin’ out.” Davey promised, feeling the breeze on his face, letting the wind run through his hair.
“Sounds good, Dave. Thank you, anyways. Now howsbout we get some shutteye, huh?” Jack pressed his shoulder into the other's even more, making Davey laugh into the air.
“Sure, sounds alright, Jacky.” He mumbled, letting his eyes close.
The boys fell asleep within minutes, a smile remaining on their lips the whole night through.