En Route

[Smalls]

Smalls walked alongside Lucky, fingering the switchblade in her pocket with morbid determination. After months of no leads and no information they'd finally managed to track the kidnappers down, and it appeared for the first time the newsies were united in their effort, all taking what could be considered "the Brooklyn route" in dealing with the situation. The adrenaline pumping through her veins left Smalls feeling a bit euphoric about their march to, what she considered, certain death. Having made it to seventeen was an accomplishment in itself as far as she was concerned, and hell, she'd had a good run.

As they continued down the path in silence her stoic expression faltered as the slightest hint of amusement glinting in her eyes. Being so near death brought about a certain degree of insanity to even the toughest of men to be sure, but in the case of the short blonde, it was pure vindication. They were coming, and the bastards were going to learn just what happened when you fucked with newsies.

[Zeke Cooper]

Zeke took his finished smoke out of his mouth as they walked, dropping it onto the ground and stepping on it as they went. He looked around at his brethren and then back at the rest of them. A smirk crossed his face as he looked around at the boxers he knew from the ring, Danny, Lefty, River.. and there was Fight. He smirked a bit, probably a bit more jolly then the rest.

His pipe in his hand but really, his fists were his weapon and he grinned one of those dangerous grins only a man that has nothing to lose can smile. Someone ready to die. Who would have thought they would have lived this long anyway? He ruffled Smalls' hair and continued on. Death comes on swift wings, or some shit like that.

He'd meet it head on.

[Dez]

Dez scurried past the Manhattan crowd to reach the Queens acquaintances that he considered friends, stumbling over a rock and nearly face planting in the mud. As he regained his balance he stepped up beside Prince, whom he knew best, though their relationship to all others appeared vague at best. Prince had allowed him to stay at the lodging house, to become one of the gang, and he had always adored her.

Clearing his throat after his near fall he continued like the rest in silence, glancing sidelong at the Queens leader on more than on occasion for any insight on their situation. He understood it would be dangerous, but in the spirit of the moment he had felt unstoppable. As they neared their destination anxiety began playing with the Cuban boy's mind, drying his mouth and causing the slightest tremble in his hands, should he attempt to hold them steady. This revelation caused his features to flush as he glanced again at Prince, praying she wouldn't notice his cowardice.

[mittens]

Mittens walked along the road, clenching her fists. It seemed like they have been walking for hours now. Mittens grasped the knife in her pocket when some one bumped into her, "Get the fuck out'a of my way" She growled, Mittens walked with some of her old Brooklyn friends and grinded his teeth together, she only had one thought in her head. What everyone else here was thinking, (well except for that boy Matchstick, Mittens was almost completely sure he was crazy) to kill those ass holes. Mittens knew Fighter was thinking that same thing just by the expression on her face.

Mittens nodded at Zeek when he saw the pipe in his hand, Zeek would enjoy this very much. And so would she. Damn bastards where going to pay.

[Styx Kennedy]

Styx

"Whaddya sayin' that for? Whassa matter, kid?"

“Can’ really say for sure, it’s more of jus a feeling twins have.” He was trying to play it down, trying not worry everyone any more than they already were. “I’ve had a really uneasy feeling ever since Nike got nabbed and it suddenly just got a lot worse...” He started walking again, “Don’ worry about it, should be okay.” He took a drag of his almost forgotten cigarette, “hey can you make sure no more ‘looney birds’ bother Brook? I gotta go talk ta Prince...” Clapping Specs on the shoulder, he walked faster, catching up with Prince as she walked with Jack and Dodger.

He cleared his throat, “’Ey Prince? Can I talk to ya?” He tried to keep the fear out of his voice in front of the leaders, but wasn’t sure he succeeded. “I think something bad jus happened.”

[Lord Byron Hastings]

Byron looked around at the faces around him. Some were faces of anger, some of determination, but most were of fear. Fear of what was waiting for them, fear of what would happen, and fear for their friends, knowing some may not return. He walked forward to walk beside Dodger and Lexi, his mind racing back to Pallet and Shamrock and all the ones who stayed behind. Waiting in fear, not knowing who would be coming back or how they would be coming back.

Byron was not a fighting man, he was more of a lover, a poet. For once though, he felt he must fight. He had to support his friends, and he had to do his part to protect them. His grip tightened around the pipe Shamrock had found for him in an alley, and he sighed. He scanned the crowd, a grim look on his face. The people surrounding him, reminded him of what Lord George Byron spoke about in his poem, The Song of Saul. "Warriors and chiefs! should the shaft or the sword, Pierce me in leading the host of the Lord, Heed not the course, though a king’s in your path: Bury your steel in the bosoms of Gath! Thou who art bearing my buckler and bow, Should the soldiers of Saul look away from the foe, Stretch me that moment in blood at thy feet! Mine be the doom which they dared not to meet. Farewell to others, but never we part,
Heir to my royalty, son of my heart! Bright is the diadem, boundless the sway, Or kingly the death, which awaits us to-day!" he quoted to himself, not realizing anyone could hear him.

[Danny Hughes]

Danny walked causally down the path, hardly conscious of the massive crowd that surrounded him. The impending moment was something he had both longed for and dreaded for the past month, ever since he had lost her. The constant battle between his hope and fear left his sleep restless and waking hours torment, his very life and identity lost in his concern for another.

Danny wasn't one to reflect on his feelings or examine his thoughts. The cause of his misery was often hidden from him by his own aversion to involvement. He lived on the outside of the world, looking in the dusty windows and watching the lives of those around him unfold through the dramatic influences of passion and despair. He never asked to be a part of this world and certainly never wanted to make its troubles his own, but none of that seemed to matter anymore.

Continuing to walk he sighed lightly and stuffed his hands in his pockets, pulling out a cigarette and leaning over to Lucky, breaking the tense silence. "You got a light?"

[Prince]

Prince
Prince saw Dez pick up his pace and come along side her. She glanced over at him and gave him an encouraging smile, the best she could. She hoped everything would be alright. She had a feeling that maybe things wouldn't go so badly after all, that was until Styx came up to have a word. She saw Dez's face flush a little, she didn't know why, but she gave him another quick glance before focusing on Styx.

She held back a little so that she could talk to Styx without any of the other leaders trying to listen in. She had liked these twins. They were both good people. Strong people, helpful people, and very close at all times. She almost envied them having each other on a consistent basis. When Styx felt something was wrong Prince was puzzled. "Whadaya mean?" she asked brow furrowing questioningly. "What's wrong?"

[Styx Kennedy]

Styx wasn't sure where to begin. "You know how twins can sometimes know what the other is feeling even when they're not together? Well I can tell something's wrong with Nike." This is where he was afraid he'd loose Prince, so he explained.

"When she first got nabbed, I felt uneasy. That feeling's stayed with me this entire time she's been missing. But just a few moments ago it got a lot worse. Casey's told me what it feels like from her end when i nearly get myself killed doing some stunt: Prickling hairs on the back of your neck, your stomach dropping down into your toes, and a huge feeling of fear and unease." Styx looked Prince in the eye here, "Either she's dead, or she's going to be if we don't get there soon."

[Jack Kelly]

Jack
"Seems all the adults are comin' to our back when we need them the most, Jack. We're goin to need them.." Although it probably meant a worst-case scenario, Jack knew that Dodger was probably right. Kloppman, Medda, Miss Mason, anyone else who could help in any way would be necessary in the end. He hated to think about it, but there would probably be a lot of injuries. Jack was surprised that no one had tried to stop them, to tell them they were just being crazy. All the better. That was one thing Jack didn’t need to be reminded of. Dodger spoke again, this time to David, who was at Jack’s side. "We still just a bunch of angry kids with no money, Dave?" At this, Jack chuckled darkly and slung an arm around David’s shoulders, as Dave replied: "Sure. But that ain't exactly a bad thing anymore. Ain't a bad thing at all." It wasn’t, Jack realized. Maybe angry kids with no money couldn’t be a union. But they could be an army.

Racetrack
… Santa Maria, Madre di Dio, prega per noi peccatori, adesso e nell'ora della… He stopped there. The next part, he realized in dark humor, would be redundant. Looking around him, he could see people walking alone and in small knotted groups. The three leaders and David were up front. He could see the Brooklyn kids, for the most part all together, and the kids from the other three boroughs scattered about. Mush was marching behind him, and Race slowed his pace a little, allowing people to pass him by, while he came up next to Mush. “How ya doin’?” he asked, as if this was a casual day, walking to the distribution center. Any minute now, Mush would respond with cheek and they would discuss the lousy headlines…

Specs
"Kid you got five minutes to get lost before we have a fatal casualty…" Specs nodded at Skittery before turning to the creeper kid, his eyes cold. “That’s right,” he confirmed. “Whadda they call that in the army? Friendly fire. Happens all the time.” Specs decided then to let the kid be, so long as he stayed far away from Brook. He wasn’t worth the energy. They had other things to focus on. Now what was Styx saying? He’d had a weird feeling, and Specs didn’t want him to spook anyone else. The last thing they needed was a bunch of jittery kids charging into a guarded factory. Styx explained: “Can’ really say for sure, it’s more of jus a feeling twins have. I’ve had a really uneasy feeling ever since Nike got nabbed and it suddenly just got a lot worse... Don’ worry about it, should be okay. Hey can you make sure no more ‘looney birds’ bother Brook? I gotta go talk ta Prince...” Specs chortled and put an arm around Brook. “I’ll guard her with my life,” he joked, and gave Brook a reassuring grin.

Decker
Returning Lucky’s smirk, Decker noticed her pocket knife and wished he had stolen one. He wondered if the weapon he had stolen was any better or worse than a knife. Better because he could be further away. Worse because he had to stand still to use it, and he wasn’t entirely sure how to use it. He reached into his pocket and unfurled a horse whip he’d stolen from an unwatched carriage. He held it in his hand, and it dragged on the ground next to him. He twisted his wrist experimentally, hoping he would somehow know what to do with it when the time came. He said in a hushed tone to Lucky, “I thought Birdie was comin’. She chicken out, or what?”

[Prince]

Prince
Prince was instantly concerned. "Oh, okay, well... then... let's pick up the pace, shall we?" She turned to the leades. "Let's step it up," she said. "The sooner we get there the better..." she was going to avoid making Styx sound like a total nut case, and would rather inflict that judgment being passed on herself instead. "Plus, if they've noticed Sweets been gone, or the fact that we're coming... they could..." she didn't have the rest of that sentence planned out. "I just... think we should hurry?" She glanced at the leaders, Dodger, Lexi, Jack, even over to Dez to get feed back, hoping they'd agree with her.

Mush
Mush looked over at Race, happy for the recognizable question. "Me? I'm alright," he said with a shrug, but still that cute little dimply smile, that he always had. "I mean... well I been worse," he said chuckling. "And how are you?" he asked back looking at his friend with a sideways smile.

Avalanche
Avalanche had heard that the newsies were moving out. Not that he didn't want to miss the action, but he was going to go help. He wasn't intending on fighting, but he wanted to help those that got hurt. He was hurrying to catch up with the group. He saw them off in the distance and hurried a little.

[bunky]

Piper ran as fast as she could to catch up with the group. She heard of the newsies taking action and they were off to get the newsies that were taken. Piper wanted in on the action, sos she grabbed her favorite hat, got her lighter in hand and ran off to catch up with the rest of the group. Those poor newsies that were taken needed to get out of there and fast, and Piper wanted nothing more but to help him.

She saw the newsie army walking and she caught up with them, smiling to herself knowing she was going to a part of something big. She took out a cigarette and lit it, breathing in a deep breath and letting the smoke fill her lungs. Drifter came to her mind, knowing he was going to be mad at her for being a part of something violent. But she wasn't a typical girl, she was brought up to fight for herself and others. She lowered her hat over her eyes and followed the newsies.

[David Jacobs]

David shot a grim smile at Jack as the other boy slung an arm across his shoulders and he was once again struck with their ability to all come together when it mattered most. Looking around he could see that more seemed to be joining the march, others crowding around the leaders as they walked. Prince, the leader from Queens, seemed to be conferring with a few of her own before she turned to angle a question at Jack and Dodger about picking up the pace and David couldn't disagree, the faster they got there to help the others, the better.

"That might be a good idea," He spoke up, backing Prince's suggestion and thrusting his hands in his pockets, fingers closing around the knife that he hoped never to have to use. "Considering what Birdie told me, we should be coming along that hill soon. Might be good to use that as cover, any plan beyond that or are we thinking we'll catch them unawares?" There were a lot of kids gathered and goodness knows those guarding the workhouse would never anticpiate that they'd have the gall, let alone the organization to march on the workhouse. But they didn't know the Newsies.

[dutchy]

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition.

Dutchy couldn't remember what that was supposed to be from. Henry the Eigth or Richard the Fifth or Claudius the Third or something. He knew it was Shakespeare and that Shiner had read it to him when he had casually asked what book she had her nose stuck in. She liked Shakespeare. Mostly because her actor parents used to perform it. Occasionally her father would give a soliloquy or two breaking from the usual song and dance or dog in a tutu trick. Shiner hadn't seen her father in almost three years. Dutchy sincerely wondered if she ever would again.

He left a note for Doctor House, Shiner's uncle, to expect a few dozen kids showing up either at the hospital or his front steps, which ever might be closer. He wondered how well they had planned this out. Where would they take the wounded? How many would be hurt? How badly? Dutchy gripped tighter on the heavy iron poker in his hands from Don't Ask's smithy as he gave a glance to those around him.

...We band of brothers...

How many faces was he looking at for the last time?

[Bumlets Russo]

Bumlets caught up with Dutchy and fell into step next to him. He wasn't really thinking of to much but he'd heard a few stories about guys going to war with all of their friends and only two coming home. He had a knife in his pocket and his broomstick in his hand, his face was dire. His mother would be angry if she knew he was doing this and that thought had an almost grim smile cross his face. Even though she was alive and well in Hell's Kitchen, he hadn't really thought much of what would make her angry or not in ages. Even what his sister thought of his life was never on the forefront of his mind.

"I'm glad Mabel went home," he muttered as he looked over at his friend with his hot poker and actually smirked. He just hoped they made it out of this alive. That was all, but that was never the case was it?