Disclaimer: Do not own the Newsies. Do not own the song 'Run to Me' by Clay Aiken. Do not own Twitch, though I want to marry his loverly gay Cajun-ness XD

Run to Me

Do not own the Newsies. Do not own the song 'Run to Me' by Clay Aiken. Do not own Twitch, though I want to marry his loverly gay Cajun-ness XD

"No."

Davey looked at Twitch, surprised. "...No? But... Twitch, you-"

"Dave, you ain't ready."

Davey sat up and studied the floor, confused. The boys were situated in the Jacobs's apartment, where Twitch had found dinner and a warm bed being offered to him on this stormy night. Alongside these was a chance to be in Davey's arms. Twitch had wanted that for a while, ever since he had arrived at the Lodging House two weeks prior and had met Davey; since he found out Davey was taken by Jack; since Jack broke Davey's heart.

So why was Twitch turning this chance away?

"I'm afraid I don't understand," Davey said, wringing his hands together in the dark, wondering if sweat would soak his long-johns. "You seemed so eager when I kissed you just now..." He jumped when he felt Twitch's strong hand in his hair.

"Davey, I was eager," Twitch assured, grinning. "It's just that it's too soon after Jack leavin' ya for you to be ready for another guy."

"How do you know that?" David demanded. "I kissed you, remember?"

"Yeah," Twitch said, running his fingers over Davey's cheek and watching the rapid movement of those big blue eyes. "But you flinched when I kissed back."

Davey said nothing.

"I'll go back to the Lodging House," Twitch said, standing and reaching for his breeches.

"But Twitch!" Davey cried, his eyes wide. "There's a storm! You can't-"

"Davey, hon, I come from New Orleans!" Twitch grinned. "I've lived through worse than this little thing. 'Sides, the Lodging House is only a couple minutes away if I run."

"I don't think-"

"That's right," Twitch interrupted, buttoning his vest. "You don't think. I don't want to make you push yourself into something you ain't ready for. So I gotta leave."

Davey stared at him, unsure of how to respond.

Twitch smiled and opened the door. "See you in the morning," he grinned, exiting the apartment.

Davey sat on the bed for a moment longer, then crawled over it to look out the window. He was just in time to see Twitch emerge from the building and run off down the street, clutching his cap to his head.

Davey pulled away from the window and licked his lips, sighing. He fell into a temperamental sleep an hour later.

It was Les who led the way into the Distribution Center that drizzly morning. David was only half awake, yawning and rubbing his face in an attempt to bring more life into himself. Les, bored with his exhausted brother, pushed ahead, pulling himself onto the boardwalk to talk with Race and Jack. Davey stumbled up behind him, yawning hugely.

"Woah, Dave!" Race grinned. "Rough night last night?"

"I had trouble getting to sleep. Too many thoughts to think."

"Ah, been there," Race nodded sympathetically. "You're not the only one today, though. The new kid, Twitch, dragged himself in last night after one, soaking wet. And look at him," The dark-haired newsie pointed to the end of the line, where Twitch was leaning against the wall, his dark hair jutting up at odd angles and his soft brown eyes drooping. "See? He didn't get a lot of sleep either."

Davey watched Twitch for a moment, then looked up as Les dragged Jack past. A shudder of pain and desire flooded through him from his curls to his tows, and hated that. What he hated more was that Twitch was right: he wasn't ready to start anew. Not just yet.

A week later, Davey was sitting on the curb, watching Snitch do what he did best: pick pockets. It was hot and humid; the storm from the previous week had dried up, but had brought a few friends along behind. These clouds now drifted overhead, waiting for the opportune moment to split open and release their load.

Davey's clothes clung to him, and sweat dripped over the curves and angles of his face. He still had a few papers left, but they were wilted, and they smeared when he touched them, so he doubted they would be sold.

So he sat on the curb and allowed his mind to wander.

He was so deep in thought that it took several minutes for him to realize that someone was calling his name.

'Hey, yeah, what?" He said, sitting up. "I'm listening."

Twitch stood over him, grinning. "Thought I'd lost you there for a minute," he said, showing a good amount of his bright teeth. "How do?"

"Doing okay," Davey replied, looking back out at the street. Snitch had momentarily stopped stealing, and was talking animatedly to Skittery. "I can't sell all my papes today."

"Aw, too bad," Twitch sighed and used the sleeve of his shirt to wipe sweat from his forehead as he sat down. "Hey, ah, Dave?"

"Hm?" Davey responded, knowing what was coming next. "What is it?"

"I've been thinkin... y'know, you said I was right, you wasn't ready... and I been thinkin about that..."

Davey sighed. "Me too..."

"And?" Davey paused, which caused Twitch to sigh. "Davey, I ain't gonna push you to somethin-"

"-I'm not ready for. I know," Davey sighed as well. "I don't know. I just don't know."

Twitch looked across the street. Snitch and Skittery had their arms around each others shoulders and were heading off down the street, singing a bawdy drinking song as loud as their voices could go.

"I'm sorry, Twitch," Davey continued after a few minutes.

"What for?"

"For making you wait for me. I'm just... I don't know. I like you. I'm attracted to you... but I'm waiting for something to tell me I'm ready. A feeling, I guess."

Raindrops started to fall, twisting and turning through the roller-coaster of Davey's curls. Twitch stared at the street. Both could still hear the faint sound of Snitch and Skittery's voices.

"Well, Dave," Twitch grunted as he stood up, "soon as you get that feeling, you run to me." He smiled. "Okay?"

Davey blinked up at him, surprised that he was still willing to wait. "...Okay..."

Twitch briefly ruffled Davey's hair, then ambled back down the street, his hands in his pockets, a whistle escaping his lips.

Davey smiled to himself. It would be so easy to love Twitch... if he could just get the hell over Jack.

"Dammit," he breathed, a word he'd become fond of after so many months with the street kids. He ran his fingers through his hair and stood up. After a quick stretch, he started to jog home, leaving his ruined papers in the street for the rain to pick up.

Two weeks later, Davey strolled into the Distribution Center late, and on his own. The newsies that were still around exchanged glances and muttered amongst themselves.

Jack was smoking a cigarette by the boardwalk, waiting for Davey to arrive with his baby-faced selling partner. He frowned when he saw Davey's lack of a younger brother. "Where's Les?" he demanded, their first words in over a month.

David blinked evenly at him. "Sick. Mama made him stay home." He smiled. "This wet weather," he sighed, holding his arms out in a gesture towards the gray-cotton sky. "Les doesn't take to it too well."

Jack stared at Davey for a minute, then swore and threw his cigarette to the ground. He left the Center in a huff.

Davey stood by the boardwalk, looking mildly surprised with himself. He chewed softly on his lower lip, then took off running, forgetting all about the gawking newsies and his un-bought papers.

The sky opened up, and he was soaked by the time he reached his destination, but he hardly cared. Just as he'd suspected, Twitch was here, halfway up the block, searching the empty street for the non-existent customer.

"Twitch!" Davy shouted, still running. The other boy turned, and his mouth shaped an 'o' of surprise as Davey ran into him, made him stumble backwards.

"Woah, Dave!" Twitch blinked as Davey embraced him. "What's going on?"

Davey didn't answer, but rather placed his head in the curve of Twitch's neck, feeling the trembles of the other boy's pulse on his cheek.

"Dave?" Twitch asked again, his voice unsteady. "What's all this?"

Davey kissed his neck, then his mouth. "Confirm my feelings, Twitch," he said, grinning largely. "Am I ready?"

Twitch's eyebrows flew up, and a hopeful half-smile grew on his face. "I dunno. Let's try that kiss again."

Their mouths met once more under the shadows of a green awning, the store bearing a 'Closed Until Further Notice' sign in the window. Twitch's hands rested like a sigh in the curve of Davey's back as Dave clutched the collar of Twitch's shirt.

Davey pulled away after a while, grinning at Twitch. "Well?"

Twitch blinked solemnly, then broke into a charming smile. "You're ready," he said, and they kissed again, happy to be together at last.

As soon as you get that feeling
You can start to live again
As soon as the worst is over
You can make it all makes sense
Right now I can't give you what you need
As soon as you get that feeling
Run to me

END

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Wow, that was cheesy. But I liked it anyway! XD Yay. Boylurve. XD

Okay, I'm gonna go eat something now before Krys's party. YAY PARTY. XD