a purposeful past | s.s

Chapter Seven

It'd been a week since Domino had first shown up to Manhattan, and she had a hard time admitting the fact that her trip hadn't gone exactly as she'd expected it to.

She'd had this stupid, naive idea in her mind that once she told the newsies everything, everything would fall into place. She'd be reunited with Specs and his memories, Jack would team up with her and form a plan to take down The Unknowns, and they would be defeated once and for all. But so far, she'd only managed to somewhat restore a broken friendship, keep everyone waiting, as if they'd expected her to make the next move, and slowly sever their trust.

She knew she had to do something.

"If you'd all give me all yer attention," she began, standing up on a chair. "Which isn't much, I know, so I'll make dis quick. It's pretty clear everyone he-ah's gettin' restless wit doin' nothin' while we know what's out dere, frustrated dat I've only acted like a messenger up until now, 'n I know dat's unfair ta everyone he-ah, so... I've been thinkin'."

"Shouldn't ya talk dis out wit me before?" Jack questioned, arms crossed, brow raised.

She shrugged. "I mean... I still could, but..."

"Yeah, dat's what I thought." Jack stormed over and grabbed her wrist to haul her down, but was stopped by Specs.

"Jus let her say what she wants ta say," he ordered. "If ya don't want us ta listen ta her aft-ah she's done, well, ya jus gotta tell us."

"Ise wit Specs," Lane agreed.

"Let us hear it!" Race shouted several times, apparently wanting to start a chant of the demand.

Domino bunched up her lips. "Hm. Guess dey wanna hear it now."

"Well, who knows what ya wanna say?" Jack hissed.

"... I do."

"Obviously." He rubbed his forehead. "Look, yer definition 'a fun jus seems a lot different den ours. Let's jus..."

"Oh, c'mon Jack," Albert groaned. "Let tha goil speak."

"Look, I'll back off if ya really want me to," Domino said at last.

Jack sighed, looking torn. "Seems like everyone else wants ta know now."

"But... ya still don't want me to."

"Yeah, I know."

"So, should I-?"

"Jus tell 'em," he grumbled, pushing her back.

She hid a grin at his obvious frustration. "Will do, cap'n! So, as I was sayin', I've been thinkin'. Most of our problems seem ta be comin' from tha Refuge right now, right? 'Cause dat's where tha former Refuge kids 'n Frisks is out hatchin' their brilliant plan. So I say we go ta tha root 'a our problem, 'n storm tha Refuge!"

Well, they were definitely intrigued. Unless their squinted eyes were narrowed out of disdain opposed to curiosity.

"We wouldn't all be able ta go, course," she continued. "And I know dis all sounds insane. But if we could convince those kids ta 'n find their... I dunno, happy endin' instead 'a seekin' revenge... we could end it. Really, truly end it."

"Ya already know Ise wit ya," Lane said first.

"Me too," Finch added quickly, glancing nervously at his girlfriend.

"I can't let those two do anythin' dis reckless without me," Albert and Race said in unison, raising an eyebrow at the other, although it was clear that they'd both meant different things. Race was in for the ride, as everyone knew it would be a ride indeed with those two, but Albert was in to stop the two - now three - from doing anything he considered idiotic.