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Chapter 41 - Brotherly Fluff

- Chapter 41 - Manhattan's New Kid VS the King -
Warnings: Anxiety
Between Canon and Modern Eras, about 1928
Third Person POV

Disclaimer: This is a part 4 to a group of one-shots I made in another book, but it can be a stand-alone.

Race (12) walks behind Jack and Crutchie.

Blink (13) and Specs' (14) arms were slung around his shoulder and he could hear the other boys laughing and chatting together.

He was too anxious.

He liked the boys, he really did, but meeting a lot of people at once scared him.

He still didn't trust people easily and even though he trusted these boys, he wasn't sure he'd trust the Brooklyn boys.

After a few minutes of talking, Specs and Blink seemed to notice his silence.

Blink also noticed him picking at his nails and skin on his fingers.

"Don't do that, you'll hurt yourself." Blink tells Race, taking one of his hands in his own. "What's up with you, kid?" He asks, a bit concerned.

Race looks at his hand in Blink's.

He opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off.

"I wouldn't say 'nothing'." Albert (13) states from in front of them, where he was walking backwards. "We know it's not nothing."

"You're gonna hurt yourself." Race points out, reaching out for him in concern.

He cringes a second later when Albert falls.

Tommy boy (13) helps him stand up. "Man, you're turning into Racer, aren't you?" He jokes. "I mean, I get that he's cool but you don't have to copy him."

Race blushes ever-so-slightly.

Specs chuckles when he notices. Race was easily embarrassed and wasn't used to compliments, so he was usually blushing.

Albert rolls his eyes, taking Tommy boy's hat off of his head and smacking him with it.

Tommy boy rolls his eyes, snatching the hat back from him.

"So," Specs starts. "What's up?" He asks Race.

Race shrugs. "Just-" he stops. "How do I put this into words?" He mutters, mainly to himself.

"Nervous?" Albert asks.

"Anxious?" Tommy boy questions.

"Apprehensive?" Blink adds.

The boys laugh, Race included.

"That was a big word, Blink." Race shoves him softly, laughing. "I'm so proud of you." He jokes.

Blink smiles playfully. "Thanks, Racer. Always my goal." He responds.

The boys laugh again.

"You don't need to be anxious, Race." Specs tells him, smiling warmly. "You have wonderful older brothers that will protect you!" He declares.