Lombardi's Pizza

[Fighter Mallory]

Fighter laughed, "I have a feeling you'd find a reason to smile even without me. I'm sure you're brother gives you plenty of reasons." She knew that when she wasn't around Davey one of the few others who could lighten her moods was Gwennie. It was something about the innocence that surrounded the girl even after everything she'd been through.

"I don't have any plans, actually." Most of her days were pretty easy going since she'd been fired from her job. Now most of the time she just trolled the city looking for easy marks to lift some money from. "Do you have something in mind?"

She hoped he did because she wanted another oppurtunity to spend time with him. It still sort of amazed her how much she enjoyed being around David. She had grown comfortable with him a lot faster than she normally would but then again she was getting used to the feeling. Enjoying it even because with David she didn't have to keep all of her shields up all the time and actully liked letting him in.

[David Jacobs]

"Les gives me reasons, sure," David agreed with a shrug and a little half smile over at Fight. "But not the best reasons." The way his heart sort of fluttered when his eyes found hers made him want to shrink away and turn towards her all at once and David could admit that he just might be in over his head. But he didn't give a damn, he didn't want to back away, not from her...not ever.

"I was hoping I could maybe talk you into coming into Manhattan tomorrow," He said softly, wondering if anyone would notice if he took her hand, but decided against it because he never knew who might walk through the door. "I wanted to show you the harbor," He explained, recalling their conversations of favorite places in New York. He wanted to walk with her down the pier and point out the way you could see the ships, tall and strong far out if it was a clear day, and the sheer size of the ones coming into dock.

[Fighter Mallory]

"Oh...what are the best reasons then?" Fighter flashed a teasing smirk at her words, enjoying how easy it was to banter like this with David. He did what so many others had failed to do, he put her at ease just with his company. He helped her push a lot of the dark thoughts from her mind that had been plaguing her lately.

Fighter's smirk turned into a wide smile at his invitation, "That sounds like fun." Which was her way of saying she'd love to go. It had been awhile since she'd visited that part of the city and she would love to walk it with David. Maybe even get a bit more privacy then what they had now.

[David Jacobs]

"You..." David said softly, picking up his glass and taking a sip of his drink as he kept his eyes on her face. He knew neither of them were especially all that comfortable of letting go of what had been weighing them down recently, but at least together they could let some of it go. "You give me a lot of reasons to smile. Most of them unexpected but that makes them that much better." He grinned when he thought about how she had ran through the streets that first day, mischief light her eyes. The way her hair had felt between his fingers as they'd sat in the abandoned building and the softness of her lips as they'd shared that first kiss. So many reasons to smile.

"Fun is what I was going for," David said with a slight shrug, trying to hide the way his heart sped up a little as she readily agreed to accompany him to the harbor. They always had a good time together and he figured it would be nice to have her there...in Manhattan where he knew the lay of the land and maybe find some time for them to just be.

[Fighter Mallory]

Fighters eyes lowered for just a moment at his statement and then she grinned and glanced back up at him almost bashfully, if that was possible for her. "Well the feelings mutual," She thought back to the first time they kissed and her smile widened just a little bit. She never thought she'd enjoy kissing a man after everything she'd gone through with Scar. She'd been attracted to others but had never let anyone as close as she let David.

Grabbing her glass she finished her water and nodded her head, "Well, good because there isn't nearly enough fun in the city lately." They had to find it where they could and she usually found it when she was with David.

[David Jacobs]

David found himself suddenly wishing he could speed up time and they'd be at the next day, walking down the docks with the wind and sun in their faces and the prospect of some real privacy lying in front of them. Instead they were here and he decided that for the moment, that was good enough. "Guess we'll have to make some of our own then," He said softly, winking at her before blushing a little and looking away.

"I'll have to get Les off to school in the morning, but I thought maybe if you could get away we could head down to the harbor mid morning?" David offered, hoping that it wasn't some kind of dream and that she really was going to show up in his borough tomorrow. "We can meet wherever you'd like..." He didn't want to suggest the lodging house because that was just asking for trouble if one of his friends saw them together.

[Fighter Mallory]

Fighter smiled when he blushed and tugged a stray hair behind her ear, "That sounds good. I can meet you at Les' school if you want." She wasn't sure if other newsies hung around that area and she didn't know if he'd want to meet there if that was the case. "Or I can just meet you at the bridge after you drop him off."

[David Jacobs]

"The bridge is closer," David said with a little half smile as he nodded his head and allowed his eyes to return to hers again. They had long ago finished eating and their drinks had been reduced to the remnants of ice melting in the bottom of their glasses, all indications were that they should probably get up and leave but David found himself resisting. "I...uh..." He looked around the table and then a little helplessly over at Fight because he knew it was getting late and they both had things to get back for.

"Thanks for coming to lunch with me," He said finally, settling his hand on the table, reaching a little so his fingers could brush ever so slightly against her arm. "Made the day heck of a lot better."

[Fighter Mallory]

Fighter nodded, "Then I'll see you there tomorrow." She glanced towards the entrance and sighed, it was time for them both to be going. But she'd see him tomorrow so she didn't worry about it too much. "I enjoyed it," She smiled brightly when he brushed his fingers against her arm. "Glad I could be of service."

Once again she glanced towards the entrance, "We should get going."

[David Jacobs]

"Yeah...we probably should," David frowned a little at the table, knowing that they had put it off as long as they could. Digging into his pocket he extracted enough for both of their meals and dropped it onto the table. He didn't make a show of it, figuring she wouldn't like it if he did, but he wanted to take her out to lunch, do what little for her that he could.

"So until tomorrow then, I guess?" He said, standing up and waiting for her before continuing on to the door, the pang he always felt when he left her already starting in his chest.

[Fighter Mallory]

She frowned for just a moment when she saw the amount he put down on the table. She wasn't used to having someone pay for her and she wasn't sure she liked it but she wasn't going to argue with him about it right now. Standing, she nodded before starting towards the door. "Yeah I'll be seeing you tomorrow." She didn't want to have to wait until then but it was only a day, not even a full day.

[David Jacobs]

David followed her out the door and then glanced down the street in the direction he should be heading, back towards the lodging house and his friends and his family. Away from Fighter and what they shared and he hated it, but knew that at least they had some set plans to see each as soon as the next morning. "Until then..." He said finally, shoving his hands in his pockets to help him fight the urge to sweep er into a hug.

He turned to walk away and then stopped looking back over his shoulder at her and smiling a little. "Hey Fight? Take care of yourself, okay?" It was the best way that he could think of to tell her how he felt while they were standing on a street in the heart of the city they both lived and survived.

[Fighter Mallory]

She nodded slightly and began to turn away when David called after her, glancing over her shoulder she smiled and nodded. "Always do, Dave." Pausing for a moment she turned and walked over towards him, after a scan of the street she leaned up and kissed his cheek. "See you tomorrow," She whispered and then turned and started back towards Brooklyn.

[David Jacobs]

David froze when she leaned up to kiss him, the soft brush of her lips against his cheek bringing back a flood of memories and he battled to keep the blush away. The moment passed almost before he realized what had happened and she was already off down the street, David left with no choice but to watch her petite frame until he couldn't see her any longer before turning and heading back towards Manhattan. As far as he was concerned, tomorrow couldn't come fast enough.