Snitch watched the dancers, fascinated with their liquid, graceful movements, something he only desired to possess.

Skittery watched Snitch, and desired that which he could not posses, the dreamy-eyed, slick-fingered newsboy/pickpocket of Manhattan New York.

Snoddy watched the other newsboys, and pondered how to get away from Snitch's bed that night, and whose bed to be in instead.

When the newsies left Irving Hall late that night, a large group of them were exhaustedly listening to Snitch obsess about the dancers.

"I t'ot youse wasn't fer goils, Snitchers." Kid Blink teased, his voice soft in his sleepiness.

Snitch shook his head. "Dat ain't what I's sayin', Blinkers. What I's sayin' is dat dose dansahs! Dey's got ev'rythin' I only wish I coul' 'ave! Grace! Style!"

"Now 'oo's sayin' youse ain't got grace 'n style, Snitch?" Jack asked from his place near the front of the group.

Snitch shrugged. "Nobody. I jus' ain't got any a dat."

"Says youse. Who heah t'inks Snitchet's got grace n style?"

Several of the newsboys shouted. Or, shouted as loud as they could. They were all exhausted.

Except for Snitch, it seemed. He couldn't stop talking about how much he admired the dancers. His final word on the subject, just before he went to sleep, was that he wanted to be a dancer too.

Only two people heard him: his best friend Itey, and the boy that loved him secretly, Skittery Tatum.

Snitch looked shiftily around the storage room under Irving Hall, and shut the door softly behind him.

"Hello?" he called into the semi-darkness as he removed his hat. "Medda? 'Sme, Snitch!" He slowly climbed the stairs up to the backstage area, where he noticed the red-haired woman that played mother to the newsies. "Medda!"

She looked up at Snitch and smiled. "Snitch! How can I help you, darling?"

Snitch smiled uncertainly down at her. "Uh…Medda? I's wondrin'…how's ya get ta be a dansah heah?'

Medda blinked at him. "Sorry?"

Snitch wrung his hat in his boxy hands, embarrassed. "I…I'd like ta be a dansah heah."

Medda smiled hesitantly, thinking maybe he was pulling her leg. "Well…what previous dancing experience have you had?"

"What?"

"Have you ever danced before?"

Snitch shook his head. "But…but I'd really like ta, Medda! N…I t'ink I coul', if youse jus' let me try." He widened his eyes into what he hoped was a pitiful, hopeful puppy dog face.

Apparently, it was. Her face melted into one of motherly reluctance. "Oh…all right. There are a few girls taking lessons. You can work with them." She gestured for him to follow her, then led him to a room in the back. He bit his lip and flushed slightly when he realized that all his classmates were girls. Not that he wanted girls or anything. He was in a relationship with Snoddy right now. But to be the only boy…

Medda smiled at him. "Snitch, this is Rafferty, your teacher."

The tiny woman smiled. "Dey call me Heels." she said. She was a pretty girl, with bright blue eyes and dark brown hair. "'Cause I can dance."

Snitch smiled. "Pleased ta meetcha, Heels."

Medda nodded at Heels. "He wants to learn to dance, Rafferty. Could you teach him?"

Heels studied Snitch, who was surprised to notice it was the serious, scrutinizing eye of a dance teacher, not the drooling leer of his fellow students. Heels looked up at him. "I'll t'ink you'll do." she said with a firm smile. "Youse got the legs for it. The height may be a problem, but I t'ink we can manage."

Medda was pleased. "I'll leave you to it then, Rafferty." she put a comforting hand on Snitch's shoulder. "Good luck." Snitch nodded in response, and flinched when Medda shut the door.

Heels smiled at that. "Don't worry 'bout a t'ing, Snitch." she said. "I won't let dose goils touch ya."

Snitch eyed her. "Howdya know I doan wannem ta boddah me?"

His teacher's smile faded into a knowing smirk. "Trus' me. I know these t'ings." she clapped her hands, and the five girls on the other side of the room stopped inspecting Snitch and went to join him.

"Snitch, these are your fellow students. This is Mani."

Mani was a tiny, Oriental girl with dark eyes and black hair. She looked like she didn't really want to be there.

"That's Lute."

Lute was another small girl, though only in height, and even then she was still taller than Mani and Heels. Her hair was dark and her green eyes couldn't stop roving up and down Snitch's lithe body. He shuddered at her stare.

"This is Mandy."

Snitch couldn't avoid noticing the blush that flamed through the Italian girl's cheek when Heels touched her shoulder. Mandy had night-black hair and dark eyes. She was easily the tallest girl there. As Heels moved on, Snitch noticed that Mandy's bright blue eyes followed her.

Heels clapped her hands again. "Now that we're all introduced, le's get ta woik. Are ya ready for the roughest beating youse ever taken, Snitch?"

Snitch frowned. "Dancing cain't be dat hard…can it?"

The girls burst into hysterical laughter.

Snitch collapsed onto Snoddy's bunk after lessons a week later.

"Da pain! Da pain! I cain't feel nuthin'…make da bad lady stop, Snoddy!" he whined. "Cain't feel mah legs!"

Snoddy, leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed, shook his head, smiling. "Whaddaya doin' dat makes ya hoit so much, Snitch?"

Snitch hesitated. He hadn't told anyone about his lessons. Why? Because he knew he'd get teased.

But Snoddy was his boyfriend, right? Snoddy wouldn't tease him.

"I's been takin' dancin' lessons at Irvin' 'All." Snitch said, trying to rub the knots out of his calf muscles and wincing with every move.

Snoddy's jaw dropped. "Youse kiddin' me, aintcha, Snitch?"

Snitch shook his head.

Snoddy stared for a moment, then burst into insane laughter. "Ah! Youse cain't be serious!"

Snitch scowled. "Whaddaya laughin' at, Snoddy?"

"Youse! A dansah! Snitch, youse a pickpocket! A newsie! Youse ain't s'posed ta dance!" Snoddy continued to laugh as if the thought of Snitch dancing was the stupidest thing he'd ever thought of.

Snitch bristled. "N why not?"

"'Cause youse a boy. Boys doan dance." Snoddy said, his laughter starting to subside. He wiped his eyes on the sleeve of his shirt. "Dey jus' doan."

Snitch pouted. "I's been doin' it fer a week now. Heels says I's 'er bes' student."

Snoddy started to laugh again. "Howdya know she doan say dat ta all 'er students?"

"Youse doan know dese goils…" Snitch muttered. They all seemed to be interested in other things. Mani, whose tiny height made her mentally insane, was only there because Lute was there, and Lute was only there because her parents made her go (although she seemed to have developed an unhealthy devotion to Snitch). Mandy had a strange fascination with Heels (who, in turn, seemed to have a strange fascination with Mandy)…the list of oddities went on

"Goils? Youse mean youse da only boy?" Snoddy questioned, a wicked smile playing at his lips.

Snitch didn't reply.

"I'll take dat as a yes." Snoddy said, that smile taking over the whole of his face. Snitch refused to look at him.

"Wha's goin' on in heah?" Snitch looked up at the sound of Dutchy's voice. "Wha's so funny, Snoddy?"

"Snitch!" Snoddy jeered, pointing at his lover. "'Ee's a dansah!"

Dutchy looked at Snoddy, then at Snitch. "Youse ain't serious!" the blonde said, his blue eyes shining with a cruel delight. Snitch buried his burning face in his hands as Dutchy called the news down the staircase as if it were a good headline.

Snitch decided he didn't want to take the teasing that was inevitably coming to him, and stood up to leave. Snoddy grabbed his wrist to try and stop him, but when Snitch turned to look at his lover and saw, instead of the worried, apologetic eyes he'd hoped for, a cruel, teasing smile. The thief roughly threw Snoddy's hand from his arm.

"Bye Snoddy." He said, his words dripping with disgust.

Snoddy's eyes widened. "Wait…Snitch, wait!"

"No! Youse 'ad yer chance!" Snitch called, ignoring his friends' catcalls, which followed him as he grabbed his tattered jacket and headed out into the winter air. At least outside was only cold because it had to be. His friends were cold because they wanted to be.

"Heya, Skitcha. How's it rollin'?"

Snitch looked up, and smiled slightly, his face flushed. "Heya, Skittery."

"Youse okay?" Skittery asked, jogging up to his friend.

Snitch nodded. "Yeh. I guess so."

"Jus' guess?"

The thief sighed. "Well, youse gonna heah 'bout it soon's ya go in, so I moight 'swell tell ya; I's takin' dancin' lessons at Irvin' 'All."

Skittery just blinked at him. "…So?"

Snitch's face lit up. "Youse doan care?"

Skittery shrugged. "Nah. If youse wants ta dance, what c'n I do ta stop ya?" A smile played at the moody newsie's mouth. "'Sides, I's sho' youse a good dansah. If youse good at somethin', why keep from doin' it?"

Snitch beamed at Skittery, and embraced him gratefully. There was no need to deny the heated attraction between the two boys. They'd felt something for each other since that first meeting seven years ago, when Snitch arrived at the Lodging House. Skittery was in love with Snitch, deeply, but the young pickpocket had no idea of this. Snitch wasn't sure about himself, but he knew that he would much rather be Skittery's boy than Snoddy's.

But he wasn't Snoddy's boy anymore…was he?

The boys separated and looked at each other. Snitch's face took another shade of pink. "Snoddy n me's ovah." he said softly.

Skittery's eyes lit up. "Really? Why?"

"'Cause 'e stahted it. Da oddas all teasin' me, Snoddy stahted it, n he didn' un'nahstand." Snitch explained calmly.

"Youse doan look too upset 'bout it." Skittery observed, amused.

Snitch shrugged. "I's only widdim 'cause 'e asked."

There was a short silence between them, until Skittery grabbed Snitch's long face and kissed him softly. Snitch let him, but only for a moment. He then pushed Skittery away, gently.

"Skitts, I cain't." He said.

Skittery's face fell. "But…why?"

Snitch sighed. "I jus' left Snoddy. 'Sides, I doan 'ave too much time no moah, wit' me lessons."

"We c'n make time." Skittery said, taking Snitch's hands and leaning in to kiss Snitch again. The young thief leaned back, out of the way.

"No! I needs time ta t'ink, Skitts!" Snitch said, standing and starting to leave. Skittery's eyes widened, and he grabbed Snitch's wrist.

"Snitch, wait! Doan be mad…" he said softly.

Snitch stopped. "I ain't mad." he replied after a brief silence. "Jus'… frustrated." He looked at Skittery over his shoulder. "Right now, Skitts, all I wanna do is dance. I doan have time in me day or space in me head fer too much else."

Skittery stared at him, hurt and surprised. "But…I loves ya, Snitch. Youse doan 'ave space in yer heart fer me?"

"Shh." Snitch smiled. "I said nuthin' 'bout me heart. Dat, well…we'll see, but t'ings is lookin' good fer youse." He kissed Skittery's forehead, released his wrist, and took off down the street to Irving Hall. His legs and joints were screaming at him, but the rush from Skittery's confession was so great, that Snitch needed a good dash, and a special lesson from Heels to work it off.

Time moves strangely. Sometimes, weeks shoot by like seconds. Other times, minutes drag on like hours. It depends on what you're doing, and how it looks on hindsight. The three weeks that Snitch spent in lessons seemed more like three years as he was working through them, at least five hours a day because he didn't have school, unlike the girls, who therefore only had two hours a day. But once those weeks had passed, he looked back on them and was shocked to find they felt more like mere minutes.

But, minutes or weeks, they all came rushing back to him when Heels announced that they were ready to perform.

Snitch sat on the ground in shock, his jaw open and his eyes wide while his classmates squealed and giggled in excitement. Heels rolled her blue eyes, and clapped her hands for attention. Mani had to smack Snitch with his own hat to get him out of his stupor.

Heels smiled. "Thank you Mani, and thank youse Snitch for joining us." Snitch flushed, and rubbed his head where Mani had smacked him. "Anyway, I was talkin' to Medda dis morning, and she says that she has a few openings for the new dancers one night next week. We's been woikin' on a few routines, and I told her we'd fill up dose openings. So! Next Friday night, youse kids will be in your foist performance."

Snitch put his head in his hands, and sighed heavily as Mani and Lute embraced on one side of him, and Mandy shrieked with the thrill of show business.

"So we're gonna be stars?" the Italian girl asked, getting to her feet.

Heels chuckled. "Maybe not stars, Mandy. But youse gonna perform, and that's close enough for right now."

"Will there be solos?" Lute asked, releasing Mani.

"Yes. One solo, for our hardest woikah." Heels said with a smile.

Snitch froze. He knew she meant him.

"Snitch, youse gonna dance in a solo next Friday." Heels said, bending over slightly, and chucking Snitch's chin. "That one song we's been woiking on togethah."

Snitch shook his head. "Heels, I doan t'ink I c'n do dat…"

Heels smiled at him. "And why cantcha?"

"Me pals…dey's all gonna be dere Friday night, like dey always is. I c'n dance wit' dese goils in front a dem, but…I doan t'ink I coul' do it on me own. I ain't ready."

Heels scowled. "Well, youse gonna be ready for it by next Friday night. Six hours a day, just to make sure."

Snitch's jaw dropped. Mani and Mandy snickered. Lute kissed Snitch's cheek.

"Six hours a day can't be that bad." She said with a smile.

Snitch glowered at nobody in particular. "Lemme alone, Lute."

The brunette wrinkled her nose and stood up. "Well fine. Be that way."

Snitch shook his head, and rested his chin on his hands, facing the large mirror they warmed up by. Heels seemed positive that he could dance well enough to perform on his next Friday. He'd felt his classmates' resentful eyes on him when Heels used him to demonstrate techniques, because he'd learned them weeks ago, and the girls hadn't. He'd heard Heels's delighted compliments during his alone practice time with her (that's what they called it, on Medda's insistence, so he wouldn't have to pay for private lessons), and he'd believed them then. This was the ultimate compliment; so why didn't he believe he could do this?

He sighed, and clenched his long jaw.

He didn't think he could do it, but he'd sure as hell try.

The weeks flew by quickly, much too quickly for Snitch. He stood backstage in brand new clothes, purchased for him by Medda, a gift for his first performance: Black suspenders, new black pants, a stiff new shirt, and harsh new shoes that practically blinded him with their shine. He wanted his old clothes back, especially his hat, but Medda and Heels both had put their feet down on that: he was not going to wear it.

He wrung his hands together, chewing his lip until it started to bleed slightly. He'd already done two dances with the girls, and as soon as Medda's orchestra finished their song, he'd be up for his solo.

All the Manhattan newsies had come. Brooklyn too. A fresh layer of sweat broke over Snitch's body as he thought of Spot Conlon, Mister Man himself, watching, pointing and laughing as 'that young thief from Manhattan' attempted to dance on Medda's stage.

A hand fell on his shoulder, and he surpressed a cry of surprise.

Heels and Mandy smiled at him, their blue eyes shining with the same encouraging light.

"Don't be scared Snitch." Heels said. "I's seen you dance, and youse got somethin' special in you. You're good."

Mandy nodded her agreement. "Snitch, I've been dancing for two years now, and I'm no where near as good as you are."

Snitch licked his lips, cleaning them of blood. "But I's been dancin' five hours a day. Six, dis pas' week."

Mandy nodded. "Yes, I understand that, but two hours a day for two years is much more than five to six hours a day for a month. You've got talent. You're naturally good."

Snitch sighed, and looked back out at the crowd. In the far back were the newsies, almost hidden in the darkness, but in the soft candlelight, Skittery's face could be just barely made out. "Da guy I love is out dere." he said softly. "What if 'e laughs at me?"

Heels smirked. "He won't. Trus' me."

The orchestra stopped playing, and applause filled the room. Snitch's breath caught in his throat.

Mandy smiled and grabbed his shoulders. "It's time, Snitch!"

He coughed roughly, and turned to Heels. "Lemme 'ave me hat. Please, Heels!"

Heels sighed, resigned. "All right, all right. Don't start cryin' on me." She pulled the grungy hat from her pocket, shook it out, and gave it to him. "Good luck."

Snitch put his hat on, and the comfort of it's cloth loosened him slightly. Mandy took advantage of this and pushed him onto the stage. "Good luck!" she said, taking Heels's hand.

Snitch took a deep breath and exhaled as he stared out over the audience. He could hear his friends commenting on his new attire, but only the barest mumblings. The orchestra conductor watched him patiently, waiting for the cue that he was ready to begin. Snitch took another deep breath, and gave the conductor his cue. Trembling all over, he got into his beginning position.

Once the music started, however, he forgot all about the audience watching him intently, about his friends and peers mumbling about him, he just shut his eyes and let the music embrace him, lead him into the routine that he knew so well he could do it in his deepest of sleeps. The music grew steadily louder, into a fanfare of sorrow and desire, and Snitch rose with it into a climax of sheer beauty, the song playing for it's namesake Cora, Snitch dancing for Skittery and for himself.

The music ended, and Snitch finally opened his eyes. He was breathing hard, and his shirt stuck to his back from sweat, but he couldn't help but smile, especially when the room erupted in applause, and Heels rushed forward to congratulate him with a hug. In the noise, Snitch looked at Heels.

"I said earliah dat I's in love wit' a boy. Youse didn' seem ta moind. Why?" He asked.

Heels gave him a knowing smirk. "I believe the term fer boys like youse is 'boy-kissah'? Well…" She winked. "In that sense, I'm a goil-kissah."

Snitch just stared at her, his mouth taking a shocked 'O' shape as she giggled, kissed his cheek, and went backstage to re-join Mandy.

Snitch stared after her, then shook his head to clear it. He looked out over the crowd, and smiled when he saw Bumlets standing on a table, waving his hat around like a maniac, whooping. All of his friends, he noticed, were standing, cheering loudly.

Except for Snoddy. Snitch smirked, and took his bow as Snoddy sat alone in a dark corner, sulking at his former lover's success.

When Snitch stood fully, he saw Skittery's smile, shining as he clapped his hands together.

Snitch smiled back, and left the stage.

Once he'd changed back into his usual clothes, he went out into the spectator's area, to join his fellow newsies. They all cheered and congratulated him as he appeared among them, clapping him on the back and shouting in his ear.

He struggled to make his way through the swarm until he saw Skittery, standing on his own against the wall, smiling proudly. Snitch went to him, and stood self-consciously before his love.

He coughed slightly. "Heya, Skitts. So, whaddya t'ink?"

Skittery continued smiling. "Youse got talen', Snitch. Youse bettah keep doin' dis dancin' stuff, or I's gonna hafta soak ya fer not doin' what youse been put on dis Earth ta do."

Snitch laughed. "I doan t'ink dancin's what I's put on da Earth fer, Skitts."

"Den whaddaya doin' heah?"

Snitch leaned down to kiss Skittery briefly. "I's heah ta do dat, Skitts."

Skittery's smile widened. "Ta love me?"

The young thief nodded. "Yeh. Well put."

They embraced and kissed sweetly, enjoying each other's taste. The band started to play a soft song, and the boys were pulled from their living dream by the sounds of Lute and Mani celebrating their first performance with drunken howls.

Skittery and Snitch exchanged glances, and started to laugh.

"So, how 'bout a dance?" Snitch asked. "Wit' da star a da show?"

Skittery smiled. "Snitch, righ' now, all I wanna do is dance wit' youse."

And they danced, creating a whirlwind of love and purity and melody, a whirlwind that swept them up and away from their poverty-stricken worlds and into a dream-like heaven better suited for lovers of their kind.

***AUTHOR'S NOTE***

This took me longer to write than I thought it would, but that's okay I guess. I'm really happy with it.

The song Snitch danced to is a song called 'Cora'. The brassies in the marching band with me used to play it at every home game until Brian (our old brass instructor) left. Now they don't play it anymore, and it makes me sad, 'cause it's such a beautiful song! But I have it on last year's band CD (Yes, I own the band CD AHAHAHA), so it's okay. ^^;

What else…um, I think that's it. I dedicated this to Falco and Keza, but I suppose I oughta dedicate it to my good friend Comet-hime too. She's done so much for me, and I've done so little for her. She needs some recognition, 'cause I love her so much. **glomps comet-hime** So I plug her stuff! Comet-hime is her pen name, now go read Age of Iris and Age of Eurynome! REALLY REALLY GOOD. ^^

Um, that's all. ^^ Chow!