[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/210728/e1f91ade49b31d57d28fd8a405f35854.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/jof7K4B.png[/img]
[b][color=darkgray]December 11, 2016, South Boston Juvenile Detention Facility[/color][/b]
[sub]A [@LovelyComplex] & [@Aces Away] Collaboration
Featuring: [b][color=FE6F5E]Penelope "Poppy" James[/color][/b] & [b][color=dc143c]Mordechai "Decky" Boaz[/color][/b]
Also featuring: [b][color=ff7f50]Danny Boaz[/color][/b], [b][color=f5d42e]Sonny[/color][/b], [b][color=b3e7f4]Prof[/color][/b], [b][color=104e09]Creed[/color][/b], & [b][color=d3baff]Jokes[/color][/b][/sub]
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[indent][I][color=f5d42e]“ReyRey just gave me a call about Charlie boy,”[/color] Sonny says, nodding at Prof who had cut off his reading of Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse upon the other's entrance into the cell. The third boy makes no move to respond, just grunts a bit and tries not to shift too much. They had let him out of the hospital wing too early- just a day and a half after being stabbed- and everyone knows it. There’s blood in the water and his crew taking shifts to watch him in his cell was the only thing saving him right now. Fuck Hatchet, his shiv, and his weird interest in Decky. 

But Charlie hasn't been by since just before it happened, and thoughts of the usually communicative boy had kept him up last night. No one’s heard anything from outside for the past three days. With steady eyes, Sonny walked over and put his forearms across the top bunk, just close enough for Decky to grab if he wanted. [color=f5d42e]"He fucked up, Mob, got some Northie cheerleader dead on a dirty cut."[/color]

Decky tensed, one arm still slung over his face to keep the harsh light from piercing his still sensitive eyes. [color=dc143c]"He what?”[/color] He whispered through clenched teeth. [color=dc143c]“Bullshit, he knew my rule; always confirm your stash. [I]Bullshit!"[/I][/color] The words were a sharp hiss of rage and denial, but before he could push himself up, both Prof and Sonny were there keeping him down.

[color=b3e7f4]"Relax, twerp, or you'll pull your stitches,"[/color] the older boy warned, hand tightening on Decky's shoulder for just a second until the other's shoulders relaxed. He kept steady eyes on the injured boy as he ordered, [color=b3e7f4]"Sonny, give the man details."[/color]

[color=f5d42e]"Right,”[/color] Sonny replied warily, intertwining his fingers with Decky’s free hand. [color=f5d42e]“so…"[/color][/I]

[hr]

[color=dc143c]“It’s visitation day, asshole, let me the fuck up,”[/color] Decky growled at his other half, white knuckle grip practically creaking the metal of the top bunk. Sonny rolled his eyes and gently shoved Decky’s chest, grimacing at how harshly the usually strong boy fell back. [color=dc143c]“[I]Bitch.[/I]”[/color]

[color=f5d42e]“Ya have a fever, asshole, stay the fuck down,”[/color] He retorted in kind, stretching up on his tiptoes and giving the other a quick kiss to convey a guiltless apology. [color=f5d42e]“Jesus, Mordechai,”[/color] Sonny whispered, knocking his forehead against Decky’s sweaty and feverish one. The use of his full name got the stubborn boy to rest his glazed eyes on his Sunshine. [color=f5d42e]“you’re stab wound’s infected ‘n’ they didn’t give ya any treatment or meds. Fuckin’ rest and heal up the ol’ fashioned way. ‘M not ready ta lose ya.”[/color] The last part was said in a broken whisper, his hand gripping Decky’s tight so the other boy could feel his shaking.

Studying Sunshine’s worried but determined face, Decky felt his own tense features relaxing as he ceded to his other half. He was about to reply when a snort broke its way through the silence, causing both boys to crane their necks to get a look at Prof, once again sitting in the corner of their cell with a book in hand.

[color=b3e7f4]“You’re real name’s Mordechai?”[/color] He asked in a monotone, but the twitching smirk on his face gave him away. Decky’s already feverish face turned even redder as he glared at the older boy, any gratefulness for his constant guard forgotten.

[color=dc143c]“Shut the fuck up, [I]Xavier!”[/I][/color] He snapped. [color=dc143c]“The fuck’s wrong with my name? Don’t go fuckin’ usin’ it like ya got the right, no one fuckin’ calls me that you here me?”[/color] he ranted, getting more riled up as Prof continued to snicker as though he was a lion being yelled at by a mouse. He was going to continue, but suddenly he realized how out of breath he was, and that his vision was swimming. Did it get hotter in here?

[color=b3e7f4]“Relax you little punk, I’m just surprised I’ve never heard it in the past four years,”[/color] Prof spoke up, hands up in a placating gesture. [color=b3e7f4]“fuckin’ hell, are you trying to make yourself worse? Take a breath.”[/color] He walked over to the little sink on the cell wall opposite the bunks and grabbed the white t-shirt hanging over its side, turning on the faucet and dunking the cloth under before ringing it out and heading over to Decky and Sonny. He rolled up the shirt and laid it over Decky’s forehead, lifting his head gently to wrap it all the way around while the younger boy grumbled and flexed his hand in Sonny’s grip.

[color=f5d42e]“Seriously, Mob, we all need ya ta relax and get better,”[/color] Sonny spoke up again, his voice low as he tried to soothe the raised hackles of the injured boy. [color=f5d42e]“Creed’s gonna be here in a second ta watch ya, and Jokes, Prof an’ me are gonna field your visitors for today, yeah?”[/color]

[color=dc143c]“...Yeah,”[/color] He breathlessly replied after another moment of silence. [color=dc143c]“Just...if Danny’s there... tell ‘im I love ‘im, yeah?”[/color]

[color=f5d42e]“Of course, dummy.”[/color] Sonny reassured, turning at a knock on the cell bars. Creed and Jokes stood in the open doorway, and after a few quick words Creed took up Prof’s recently vacated seat and the others filtered out towards the visitation area. Decky was asleep before they’d even left.

Danny Boaz was indeed there, alongside Penelope James, his token babysitter, who was dressed by her mother in something [i]cutesy[/i]. With a loose braid to her side and her face void of any sadness she felt the week before, Poppy watched the guard check her backpack filled with the classics like [i]Treasure Island[/i], [i]To Kill a Mockingbird[/i], and [i]Of Mice & Men[/i]. He glanced up at her, the bag, and back at her, as if he was debating his next move. 

[color=fe6f5e]“Here, I’ll help you,”[/color] Penelope reached for her bag and took out one of the many books she stuffed in it. Opening [i]The Outsiders[/i] in front of the guard, she flipped through the pages, [color=fe6f5e]“I’m not going to let my friend get bored in there and you should know, [i]reading is fundamental[/i].” [/color]

For a moment, her green eyes became sharp like daggers and the guard gulped, thinking of another James who had shown him that same kind of glare. Even if this girl didn’t get [i]involved[/i] with those kinds of people, she certainly had it in her blood. She was the child of an infamous legend in the southside. Whether Sly was reformed or not, getting on his bad side was a recipe for disaster, or worse, death. The man in uniform was here trying to make a paycheck, not be a target to snakes.  

Turning away from the guard to look at the young boy clinging to her, she grinned, [color=fe6f5e]“Isn’t that right, Danny? Wouldn’t you like your big brother to have all the cool books to read?”[/color]

Gripping her sleeve tighter and moving to hide half behind her from the large guard, a twelve year old Danny nodded meekly and spoke up in a small voice, eyes glued to the ground. [color=ff7f50]"Decky can read a year above his grade. He reads stuff to me before bed. I don't always understand it though…"[/color]

[color=fe6f5e]“That’s okay, we’ll keep practicing so you can grow just as smart! You’re already so smart to even understand these books, Danny. Trust me. If it wasn’t for Charlie and Decky, I would’ve stood back a grade.”[/color] The guard was quick to zip the girl’s bag, giving her clearance to pass, not even patting her down. [color=fe6f5e]“Thanks so much. Come on, little rascal. Don’t want to lose any second of our thirty minutes.”[/color]

The younger boy blushed at her praise, fingers still twisting in her sleeve. The fabric was definitely stretched out at this point, and it's also not the first time one of her sleeves fell victim to the boy's nervous habit. Still avoiding looking at the guard, Danny lifted his head and directed a small grin her way. [color=ff7f50]"He's gonna be sad Phil's still sick, but I'm making sure he gets soup."[/color] He stated proudly, following just behind Poppy as they passed through the double doors and into the visitation area.

When they entered the cafeteria, her green gaze searched the room for one face and one face only. When she didn’t see him, she made a subtle frown, making sure Danny didn’t notice her disappointment. With no Decky in sight, she surveyed the room for [i]his friends[/i]. Sighing, she caught sight of Sonny, Prof, and Jokes. Masking the twisting gut feeling of worry behind a smile, she softly and warmly spoke, [color=fe6f5e]“Oh look over there, maybe Decky is using the bathroom or something? Let’s go say hi.”[/color] After a deep breath in and out, she led her ‘little brother’ to the junior serpents.  

When they got close enough, Danny melted away from Poppy slowly before leaving her side all at once, running the last few feet to the three Serpents and slamming into Jokes' stomach, wrapping his arms around the older boy's waist as he returned the hug with a small smile. Prof pulled Danny into a quick hug before stepping back and ruffling the young child's hair with great affection. Had it been anyone else but the Serpents, he would have been flinching left and right; even with Poppy, Charlie, and Jade he sometimes forgot himself and flinched if he caught something coming at him in his peripherals, but not the Serpents.

[color=ff7f50]"Where's Decky?"[/color] Danny asked as he moved in to hug Sonny, a little more life to voice after the positive physical contact. Sonny's arms around him tightened a bit possessively, and Danny leaned into it as he always did. Why was he angry?

The guard on the wall closest to them cleared his throat, glaring at Sonny and tapping his nightstick in warning. Sonny let go of Danny but kept his glare on the guard.

[color=f5d42e]"Oh so now ya wanna do your fuckin' job?"[/color] He sneered. [color=f5d42e]"Where the fuck were ya last week, huh?"[/color]

The guard scowled and took a step forward, but Jokes and Prof beat him to it and pulled Sonny down into his seat, whispering harsh words into his ear until he calmed down. When he regained his composure, and with another glare at the guard, Sonny answered Danny's question.

[color=f5d42e]"Mob's back in his cell with a stab wound, infection, and fever because [i]someone[/i] wasn't aware of their fuckin' job title."[/color] He explained, never one to sugar coat things. He was still glaring daggers at the guard as he raised his voice on the last part. Jokes winced at the harsh description, and Prof rolled his eyes while kicking Sonny's ankle. [color=f5d42e]"What? He asked."[/color]

[color=ff7f50]"Is he gonna be ok?"[/color] Danny asked back, not even seeming to flinch at the listed issues his brother apparently had. He'd had worse. Their whole lives were worse. Of course Danny hated hearing Decky was hurt, but he was realistic and experienced enough to know that right now the important thing is if he'll fully recover.

[color=f5d42e]"It's touch an' go right now,"[/color] Sonny admitted, nails scratching at the plastic tabletop. [color=f5d42e]"They barely kept him in medical for a day before tossin' 'im out, but we got a sentry on him at all times an' we're keepin' him cool with a wet shirt on his forehead."[/color] Danny sat back, going silent as he absorbed the information. He'd be back in the conversation in a moment, but the boy always seemed to check out completely as he processed new things, coming back into chats like he hadn't gone unresponsive at all. [color=f5d42e]"He said ta tell ya he loves ya, bud, he's sorry he couldn't make it but we enforced bed rest."[/color]

With the sudden news of Decky’s condition, Penelope’s heart sank. If she didn’t wait for Charlie all day Friday, she could’ve made time to visit her friend. The guilt of her carelessness and prioritizing her foolish, dumb crush over a forever friendship caused her to bite the bottom of her lip. Even the fact that Danny could take this information in, without batting his eyes, without losing his cool, deeply saddened her. All she could do was be a constant for the Boaz brothers, Charlie, and Jade. Their lives kept moving in ways she had no idea how to protect them. 

Their lives kept moving… 

In this moment, Poppy realized how fortunate she was. She didn’t need to work a corner to pay for her mother’s medical bills. She didn’t need to house hop to stay away from abusive parents. Her parents weren’t drunks or junkies or just pure evil. Her life never led her to the point that she needed to rely on a gang because she was constantly protected. Poppy was put in a position where she had no choice but to make everyone else proud for having parents that worked their asses off to give her and her older sister a better life. 

And yet, she couldn’t help but find herself magnifying everyone’s issues and her own. She couldn’t help but carry all this weight on her shoulders and feel tongue tied. Trapped inside her mind and suffering from all the sins of her friends, all who needed saving, she wished she could say fuck it all. Fuck it all to hell. Why was she the one that everyone decided to break the southie curse? Why was she the one that everyone believed in? Why was she the one kept safe when everyone was hurting? Why? 

Tightly, she clenched onto the straps of her backpack. Not only was Charlie getting blamed for the death of Allison Davies but Decky was bleeding in prison with little to no medical care. The last thing any of the serpents needed to hear was how Charlie was doing. She wasn’t dumb. They probably already made up their minds with one side of the story. Not even she was confident of the rumors and the words being twisted in the streets. She left the party early and she didn’t even know Charlie was there. Charlie wasn’t the type to explain himself when it came to things like this, so this would be one thing she would never have an answer for because that’s just the role everyone wanted her to play— the southsider left in the dark because they thought she deserved better. 

Gritting her teeth, she took the backpack off and slid it on the table to Sonny, [color=fe6f5e]“Give this to Decky when he isn’t knocked out. You’re all free to read any book besides Hard Times by Charles Dickens. I want him to have that one first.”[/color] 

All three Serpent's eyes lit up in vague understanding as they stared at the hardcover novel Sonny pulled halfway out the bag. The snakes had never had the best relationship with Penelope James, as Decky didn't bring her around like he did with Danny, or even Jade Taylor and Charlie before the boy had joined the Serpents himself. There had never been much conversation between them, just the jagged edges of two separate worlds catching and chipping at each other.

[color=d3baff]"We could probably read all these by the time we get out,"[/color] Jokes said, a gleam in his eye that had the other two snakes wary and Danny hop a bit in his seat in anticipation. [color=d3baff]"You know, if we really book it."[/color]

Danny unleashed a torrent of giggles at the stupid pun while Sonny and Prof groaned in dismay, far more exposed to the wordplay than anyone ever deserved to be. The rest of the visit was spent talking about Danny's school, time with Phil and the others, and going over all the safety protocols and options for when Danny ends up anywhere near alone, be it walking from school or being tossed out by his parents.

[color=b3e7f4]"How'd you like that little science experiment I told you about?"[/color]

[color=ff7f50]"It was so cool! The clean up was a little hard so it made sense ya told me to do it in an abandoned area!"[/color]

[color=f5d42e]"your parents give you another back eye? I'll fuckin' kill 'em."[/color]

[color=b3e7f4]"Sonny there's a guard right there-"[/color]

[color=f5d42e]"Do I look like I give a fuck? Look at 'is face, Prof, tell me you're not thinkin'a murder too."[/color]

[color=d3baff]"Hey let's change the conversation! Guard's lookin' twitchy."[/color]

[color=f5d42e]"Ya still have your knife on ya right? Mace in your pocket?"[/color]

[color=ff7f50]"Every time I go out, never leave without 'em just like you said."[/color]

[color=b3e7f4]"Have you been keeping up on your reading?"[/color]

[color=ff7f50]"Mhmm! Poppy's letting me read ta her ta help! I just finished Outsiders, and we put it in the bookbag for Decky."[/color]

[color=d3baff]"Did you know that bees will even sting other bees?"[/color]

[color=ff7f50]"Really?"[/color]

[color=d3baff]"Mhm, bee-lieve it."[/color]

[color=f5d42e]"Jesus Christ Jokes shut the fuck up-"[/color]

And just like that, their thirty minutes were up, and the Serpents were each yanked up from their seats and shoved harshly towards the door, not even given a chance to say goodbye as the two free Southies were left at the table.

Watching Decky’s friends get pulled away, Penelope looked at their backs, dropping the strong mask for a moment. She yearned to be accepted by her neighborhood but knew they were light years away. With a weakened smile, she glanced back at Danny and asked, [color=fe6f5e]“Where do you want to go next?”[/color] Once she and the young boy left the building, she would bring up the discussion on what they should bring Decky next.

Maybe she could get Danny to practice his writing for the next week and together they can write letters. Maybe they can give Decky more toys to keep him entertained. Maybe they can make a practical joke pop out of the book. But one thing she knew for sure she was putting in the next book, it would be a switchblade. He had something now to get in contact with whoever if he needed anything specific but she’d be damned if she found out he was harmed or dead. Maybe she should tip her father… [color=fe6f5e]“Anywhere you want! We still have the whole afternoon ahead of us.”[/color]

[color=ff7f50]"Can we go to Lyon park? Decky was showing me how ta do a flip off’a the swing before everything."[/color] Danny asked, his more timid side returning without his big brother snakes around. He hated watching them get manhandled by the guards, and he didn't even get to say goodbye! Why were they so mean? 

[hr]

[color=f5d42e]"Delivery from two very small and pale children!"[/color] Sonny chirped cheerily as he traipsed through the cell door, dropping the books from his arms to the bed right next to Decky's hip. The copy of Hard Times stared up at him and Decky scowled at the reminder of Charlie Decker. He was still sore over the boy. [color=f5d42e]"You've been ordered to read this first."[/color]

[color=dc143c]"Was he here?"[/color] Decky asked as he carefully propped himself up with help from Creed, the older boy stuffing both Decky and Prof's pillows behind his back for support. Sonny replied in the negative, explaining their visitation and that only Poppy and Danny had showed today. Decky grunted in acknowledgment and opened the only hardcover of the books.

As expected, the inside of the book had a hollowed out pocket with contraband inside. Slowly, he pulled out a small burner cell, a picture of him and Danny that Poppy had taken of them at Lyon park almost two whole years ago, a battered yo-yo they use to all share and try to learn tricks on, and a pair of beaten up and scuffed old dice that he had taught them how to gamble with. Beneath all these, each of which he carefully placed to his side on the small bed, was a layer of Mary Jane candies, making Decky's eyes light up.

[color=f5d42e]"I know that look, there's something disgusting in there."[/color]

[color=dc143c]"They're delicious,"[/color] he snapped back, picking one up and trying to unwrap it. His hands were still too shaky and just as his frustration was beginning to grow, Creed yanked the candy out of his hand and handed it back unwrapped within a second. Decky popped it in his mouth happily and practically melted back into the thin pillows. He began slowly toying with the Yo-yo, practically feeling the memories flood his mind. 

[color=f5d42e]"Just 'cause it was the first candy ya ever had doesn't mean it has to be your favorite. The only reason Mrs. Digari gave ‘em to us is because they had finally expired after [i]years[/i] of ‘em sittin’ on the shelf. The crackheads won’t even try ta steal ‘em, dude.”[/color]

Jokes began laughing behind his hand and Creed walked over to stand at his side, smirk of his own on his face. They all laughed as Decky sputtered angrily for a second before going to cross his arms, catching himself from the painful move at the last second.

[color=dc143c]”None of y’all are gettin’ any, ya fuckin’ traitors!”[/color]

[color=104e09]”In case you didn’t notice, ain’t nobody here that [i]wants[/i] one, Boaz.”[/color]


[/indent]