Let's All Just Blindfold The Poor, We Must Remind Them What's In Store

Catching Up

The plan was simple enough. At it's basics, Jack, Davey, Katherine, and Denton would go up to Pulitzer's office together, while Roosevelt and Spot would lead the rest of the boys to the library so they can spread the information through town.
But first, they had to break the plan to the boys. Kathrine, David and Spot were on stage doing that now, and Jack was terrified. He didn't know how the plan would be received, and he didn't know how they would take the news that Jack was just... back.
Kathrine peeked back in the curtains to see Jack pacing.
"Hey Jack, they wanna see you."
He nodded, making his way over to her.
She held the curtain for him, and he walked out to see a sea of boys screaming and yelling. He didn't know if they were saying good or bad things, he was too caught up in his thoughts earlier to hear what Kath and Davey actually told them.
All Spot had to do was put a hand up, and everyone quieted.
David spoke up, "just to reiterate to you all, what happened back at the lodge wasn't Jack. Pulitzer has been playing all of us."
Kathrine nodded. "Put that hate and anger towards my father, and if we listen to Jack we might actually be able to do this."
"How do we know we can trust him?"
That question pained Jack, especially coming from Race. "You'se just can. I'd put myself through hell and back for you'se all, and i's not askin' you ta like me again, I'm just asking that you'se trust me so that we's can fix my wrongs, fix the wrongs of Pulitzer and this entire world, and so's we can finally get people educated."
The boys liked that, and he heard some cheering. He was winning them back.
"So you don't think powers are dangerous anymore?" Romeo called from one of the higher seats.
"Idiot, he said that he didn't remember what he said he has no idea what youre talking about." Albert scoffed in response
"It's a simple question!"
"He wasn't even him when he said that!"
"Boys!" Kathrine called from the stage, trying to get them to quiet down - yet all of the boys still looked at Jack expectantly.
He gulped. "We'll of course theys a' dangerous, some of em at least, but humans a' dangerous by nature. If we win this thing, then systems and lessons will be able to be put in place, we's can learn how to take care of talents properly, how to control them so we can use them when it's appropriate without hurtin' others, so we's don't gotta be shamed our whole lives!"
That got a roar of a cheer out of the boys, and any anger or tension in the room melted away as the Manhattan kids all flooded the stage and drowned Jack in a hug.
There were smiles and tears and cheers, and the warmth of his family that Jack missed so dearly.
They were going to storm Pulitzer's tomorrow. Spot and Teddy had already taken the rest of the boys to review the plan, knowing that the Manhattan kids would be over soon. And, one by one they left to start working with the other boys, until Jack was left alone with Davey Kathrine and Denton.
He turned to face the other three as Katherine walked up to him. "Denton and I need to get back to work," she hugged him tightly. "Catch up with Davey, will ya?" she said, pulling away to give him a smirk, and then following Bryan out the door.
The two boys stood there in silence for a moment, until Jack held his stomach and said, "Goddd I'm so hungry."
David chuckled at the boy, "well let's get some lunch then."
Jack nodded quickly and walked towards the door. He held it open for Davey as they walked out into the bright busy street. It was a beautiful day, perfect for a walk. And Jack definitely needed to talk to his... friend. Oh, who was he kidding, his crush. His light, the boy that he hasn't been able to keep out of his head. Jack wanted to apologize for the rest of his life, he felt immense amount of guilt for whatever went down in the lodge last night, he could only think about making it up to him.
But, before they got very far, he heard a familiar voice.
"Jack!"
"Hey Spot." he said confusedly, Spot was supposed to be inside working on the revolution. Which was a little hypocritical, because Jack was also supposed to be working on that with Davey, but that doesn't matter.
"Glad I caucha, I wanted to give ya somthin." he said, pulling something out of his pocket. It was a small photograph, of a family. Of.. Jack's family.
Jack snatched it out of his hands and examined it as closely as he could. That was his mother. He had almost forgotten what she looked like after all these years, she seemed so... happy. And she was holding him. She had a beautiful smile on her face that was framed by dark curls. And his father looked very young. He looked sober and clean and happy. And then... There was francis. The same mischievous smile dancing on his face, the same eyes bags, though they looked much smaller.
Jack couldn't breathe, "where did you get this?"
"My father gave it to my mother when she got pregnant, to let her know that his life was already written, what with a wife and two sons. I never got to meet him, so I thought that this would mean more to ya. Considerin' it's your family an' all."
"Wait.. so you'se saying.. This guy is your father?"
Spot noded. He had no idea what their dad was like, but he thought that regardless, this would be hard news. It was quite the opposite. Jack had lost his entire family. But to learn he had another brother? A younger brother even - he'd always wanted a younger brother. And before he knew it, Jack held Spot tightly in a hug.
Spot hadn't had a family in years. And of course, the Brooklyn boys were like a family, but it was different. Spot was their leader, they went to him for their problems. He had no one to go to, except, maybe now he did.
Eventually, he pulled away. "Ok I gotsa actually do my job, you have fun on your date."
Jack scoffed, wiping away the tears he just realized that he had. "Yeah whatever" he cleared his throat, watching Spot walk back into the theatre before he turned back to face David. 'Uh.. sorry about that."
The boy shrugged. "It's fine, I'm just as surprised as you are."
Jack let out a sweet laugh as he continued walking with David, and he tried to not think about how neither of them denied that it was a date.
Once they were far enough away from the theatre, and from most people, Jack finally brought up what's been on his mind this whole time.
"Davey, what did I say? Last night, I mean."
They stopped walking. David took a deep breath, he figured that he'd ask eventually, but it was difficult to answer. "Well, just... things like... How this revolution was useless, and that we wouldn't get anywhere with it and that people with powers were dangerous and they deserved the lives that they were living." Jack's heart dropped, he didn't realize how bad this was. Well, he had some idea, but he didn't realize that he said that to everyone.
"Did I say anythin to anyone specifically? I jus... wanna make sure I can apologize ya'know."
They began walking again. "Well, Crutchie I guess. But that was just more of the, 'everyone with powers is a monster' kind of thing." Jack felt sore, he knows that this wasn't him speaking, and so does everyone else, but he still feels heavy amounts of guilt.
"What about you?"
There was a moment when David was silent. He didn't know how to answer, he didn't know if he even wanted to. But Jack deserved to know, didn't he? "W-well, you just... said something like... like how 'i have no idea how it is living with talents' and 'i have no idea how harshly their families treat them' when, I actually know first hand just what that's like. And how kids with powers didn't need some 'privileged savior' or somethin' along those lines." he said, trailing off a bit at the end.
"Fuck..." Jack said aloud, and he truly felt it. Fuck. He can't believe he said that, he can't believe that he put that into their heads and hurt them so badly. "I'm really sorry Davey. And I.. About the um... the..'' he started, unable to really form a sentence.
David shook his head. "It wasn't your fault Jack, honest. Do you... um... have something on your mind?" he asked worriedly.
Jack wanted to address the; 'you broke my heart' thing. He wanted to address how hurt David looked at that, he wanted to tell him that even if he doesn't love Jack anymore, Jack will always, always love him more than anything. And it was scary to admit that, even to just himself. That he overwhelmingly loved and trusted someone so much, someone that he'd hurt in the past. Someone that maybe liked him back at one point, until Jack ruined it all. Maybe if he was just more careful or strong...
"It's nothing. I think i'm just dyin' of hunger."
-
Lunch was great, Jack ate more than he could afford, but the waitress there knew him, and she let him off quite easily.
But now, Jack was walking David home. They were talking and laughing and enjoying each other's company just like they did the first day they met.
And sure, their end goal was David's house, but just like they usually do, they spent hours walking, pretending to be lost, sitting in the park, walking some more. David didn't want to go home, in fact he was terrified for tomorrow.
But Jack's presence comforted him. The sun was already beginning to set, but to be fair, it was winter and they ate their 'lunch' at a decently late hour.
Jack couldn't believe how lucky he was to know someone like David. To have someone that he could ramble to, to have someone that he could share his feelings with, and have someone that could talk to him comfortably, who trusted him enough to tell him about life and his feelings and his family.
And even after this inevitable conversation about their true feelings, and how David probably didn't feel that same anymore, and how it was too risky anyways, Jack would still hold dearly onto their friendship. He would never let David go, he would love and support him until the day he died, even if it had to be from a distance.
But that conversation didn't have to happen tonight. They could always do it after the revolution, once the water had stilled. For now, they were climbing up onto David's roof. It was just as humble and comforting as it was last time he was there. Their plants had grown, there was less laundry out and more chairs, but everything felt the same.
And they sat there. Some moments were more quiet, filled with thoughts and wonder and a comfortable energy, and some moments were filled with jokes and laughter, and thought provoking questions and personal answers and not being able to stop staring at each other.
It was almost hard to believe that jack was back - this time last night David was crying in Katherine's arms because of this boy - but now, he never wanted to be closer to him. He was blinking in the starlight, he finally was able to stop looking out of the window and wishing he could have something more, he was finally living it.
And Jack almost couldn't believe that Davey would have him back as a friend. But it felt like they had never been closer. And now he was here, shining in the starlight. And Jack knew this was where he was meant to be. He knew that he would give everything for this, whatever 'this' might be. 'This' was the revolution, it was his relationship with his brothers and it was David. The fog over his heart has finally lifted.
And that night, since David's siblings were all home, Jack reluctantly left. And he ended up, finally, back in the lodge. As he walked through the lodge, the boys greeted him and joked with him as if nothing had changed. And he went on the roof to see Crutchie waiting for him.
"Hey Crutch, how've you been?"
Crutchie shrugged. "It's been a long couple of weeks."
Jack went to sit down next to him, unsure if he was ok with touch.
But, Crutchie leaned into him.
"After tomorrow, we'll have won. We can finally rest."
A smile fell on the blonde boy's face as he shifted to rest his head in Jack's lap. "Sorry bout what you had to go through. With Pulitzer 'n such"
Jack shook his head as he began to run his hands through Crutchie's hair. "It was nothin', i's just sorry bout what I said to ya. You know I didn't mean a damn word right?"
Crutchie smiled. "I know."
And they spent the night like this. They caught up, and eventually Crutchie's head moved to Jack's chest and they layed down to sleep together. And it was a good, calming, comfortable sleep.
Jack knew that tomorrow would be hard, but for now, they were surrounded by love.