Title: Resolutions To Keep
Author: Wisecracks
Rating: PG
Pairing: Jack/David. Sorry, kids, variety is not my middle name. There's hinting to other couples, tho, if you just look for it.
Status: Complete. Probably a PWP.
Feedback: It depends. Are you as lazy as I am?
Archive: STN, naturally. Everyone else gets to ask me.
Summary: Yes, New Year's resolutions can be fun!
Disclaimer: They're only mine in my dreams. All the boys belong to Disney forever. Once they've got their claws in they don't come out. Lucky dogs.
Notes: Augh. I wrote this when I was WAY too tired to think straight. There should be a law: No writing after your eyes turn a certain shade of red. Happy New Year, everyone! May your tolerance for me remain strong!

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"Snipes! If ya don't stop blowin' dat thing in me ear, I'se gonna choke you with it!"

Snipes immediately stopped at Skittery's threat. He pocketed the small party horn and shuffled away as Skittery sneered one last warning in his direction.

"Yeah, I thought so. Damn, I hate holidays!"

"Oh, shut up! We're da ones that had ta put up with you at Christmas!" Specs tried to sound frustrated but couldn't help smiling at his gloomy friend. "At least try ta be pleasant? Jus' until midnight?" Skitts crossed his arms.

"Fine, fine. Bettah pass da liquor."

Specs grinned, ignoring the last part.

"Happy New Year!" A bright, annoyingly familiar voice shouted from the entrance. Jack visibly flinched but recovered quickly.

"Hey, Les!" A few newsies casually scooted over to the far side of the room. "Uh, you'se didn't come heah alone, i hope?"

Just then David all but flew through the door. "Les! If you ever take off like that again I'm gonna k -- Oh, uh, happy New Year's Eve, guys...Jack." Jack smiled and hugged him with one arm in the usual sudden and awkward way that made Dave's head collide with Jack's chest every time.

Dave coughed nervously, "Mama and Papa send their love and Sarah told me to give you a kiss for her, but...heh, I'm sure you won't mind if I don't." He had to blink hard when he thought he saw a flash of disappointment in his friend's eyes, but it went by too fast and then Jack was laughing.

"Yeah, I think I'll live."

He tried to hold contact with Jack's eyes to see if the look would pass over them again, but the only expression he received was something like a rabbit searching for a way out of a fox's den. Dave decided to let it go and change the mood. "Les, why don't you go grab a noisemaker."

Specs had a mischievous glint in his eye. "Yeah, den go sit on Skittery's lap. He LOVES 'em!"

"Aftah midnight, Four-Eyes, you're dead."

A short figure opened the door, breathing heavy, and walked in. "New Year's in Brooklyn is wild! I shoulda gone soonah!" Boots smiled. "Spot wishes ya all a great one and he says one of ya's resolutions bettah be ta pay him back some money ya borrowed."

All eyes fell on Racetrack. "Ohhhh no! I learned me lesson last time! Punishment was severe enough, thanks."

"Hey!" Jack plopped down on the floor, pulling Dave down beside him ungracefully. "Time ta tell our New Year's resolutions! And don't--" Everyone groaned. "--groan."  

"Who's foist?"

"Uh," Dave looked lost.

"Thanks foah volunteerin', Davey! Tell us what ya got!"

Dave's eyes went wide and he looked at the floor for a moment. "To get the courage to do everything I'm afraid to. To have more 'guts', so-to-speak."

"Aw, dat was beautiful. Can we get dat on a plaque?" Skittery started to snicker but stopped when he saw Jack glaring at him.

"Okay, Chuckles, let's have yers."

Skitts grumbled, "Ta plan horrible revenge on all'a ya's."

"Skittery!"

"OR, I was gonna say, OR I could smile at least once this year. How's dat?"

"I'd say dat's a miracle, but I'll take what I can get. Race?"

Racetrack stood up proudly, holding his chest out and his head high. "My New Year's resolution is ta win at da races!" A fit of laughter went up in the lodging house. Blink wiped a tear from his good eye.

"You say dat ev'ry year, Race!"

"Well, dis time I means it!"

"You say DAT ev'ry year too!" The laughter continued until Race grumpily sat down again, a wave of his hand telling them to go to the next person.

**************

"How 'bout you, Kloppman?" Everyone had their turn but Jack kept finding new victims.

Kloppman smiled at his kids, "I'll try ta stop wakin' you all up by hitting you."

A round of cheers sounded then Dave tapped Jack's arm. "Okay, Jack, you've postponed long enough. What's yours?"

All the others in the room called out at once, "To go ta Santa Fe!"

"Sorry, fellahs, not dis time," Jack grinned. Their jaws all hit the floor and Kloppman used the desk to steady himself.

"I think I'm havin' a haht attack!" He dropped to the floor. Jack just kept grinning at them.

"My resolution is ta always try to be honest with all of ya from now on." He looked over at David. "I won't lie if I can help it." A slow smile crept over Dave's face.

"You promise, FRANCIS?"

"Heh, I promise. But I'm beggin' ya, keep callin' me Jack."

Kloppman broke what would have been awkward silence by standing up with his pocket watch in his hand. "Oh, you only have a few minutes, boys. Bettah get to yer stations."

Kid Blink was the first to jump to his feet, dragging Mush out the door by the hand. The rest of the gang either went outside, to an upstairs window, or the roof. That's where Jack headed, making sure his best friend was following him and trying not to trip over his shadow, Les.

The roof was hardly crowded. Sure, it was the best spot for seeing the fireworks and all the young newsies loved the view, but there was a slight wind up there during the winter that the others tried to avoid. There were people below them talking or making other celebrating noises as well as a few gazing from the roofs of other buildings.

Les automatically ran around with his friends as Jack and Dave walked to the ledge and leaned on it.

"Can ya believe tamorrow is the staht of a new cen'try? I wondah what da future will bring us." Jack mused, almost to himself, looking up at the sky. David took a deep breath and leaned closer.

"I guess it's time to find out." He pressed his lips lightly to Jack's, not getting any response at first, but then two calloused hands cupped his face and he felt Jack return the gesture. His body relaxed, the many bad reactions he'd thought might happen disappeared and a soft sound came from his throat. Jack smiled, he could get used to that sound. He snuck his tongue passed Dave's lips, licking over one of his canines and causing him to come closer, resting his hands on Jack's hips.

"...5...4...3...2...1...HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

Cheers and singing surrounded them but they were oblivious. Thank goodness the kids were oblivious to THEM, choosing to stare at the fireworks or pop everyone's ear drums with their noisemakers. The thing that did separate them was the fireworks going up. Jack pulled back and glared at them like they were some cliche from hell.

"Dat is not even close ta funny." He turned back to Dave who rolled his eyes then half-smiled. "So, um, was dat kiss from you or Sarah?" He got a pinch for that question. "Ow!"

"Me, it's all from me. I've wanted to do that for a long time, Jack. Happy New Year." He stared up into his partner's dark eyes and brushed a hand through his hair. Jack caught his hand, bringing it up to his mouth and kissing the hollow of it.

"I wish you knew you were welcome ta do it soonah."

"Mm, me too. Does that mean I'm welcome to do it later also?"

"Moah than welcome." He kissed David once more, gently tugging on his bottom lip before breaking their connection. "Happy New Year, Dave."

Dave slowly opened dilated eyes and smirked. "Oh, I think it'll be a very happy one indeed."

THE END