Archive of Our Own ^beta

New York, 1899

“Hey Davey, you looking for Jack?” Race asked when Davey strolled into the lodging house after a long day at school.
“Yeah, have you seen him?” The boy asked while keeping a hand behind his back.
Race pointed up towards the stairs with his cigar and Davey walked up to surprise his best friend.

“Come on, Come on.” Jack said as he tried to wrap the piece of cloth around his chest.
Crutchie had advised him to take off the cloth when they were done selling, but Jack couldn't handle having it off for even an hour.
He stopped trying to even wrap the cloth around his chest and just started crying.
And then he heard the door.

Davey was so ready. He had been hyping himself up all day for this! He was so ready.
What he was not ready for, to see his best friend crying holding a piece of cloth, shirtless.
“Davey! GET OUT!” Jack screamed as he pushed Davey out.

Davey sat on the floor for a while as he waited for Jack to calm down and let him back in the room.
“Davey.”
Davey looked up from the floor and saw Jack standing there.
Davey got up and hugged Jack.
“It's okay, It's okay.” Davey stroked Jack’s hair as he cried.

“You weren't supposed to know. No one is.” Jack cried as the two melted to the floor.
“I was born a girl Davey, I'm just a liar.” Jack cried.
Davey pushed Jack’s head up.
“You’re no more of a liar than me….” Davey trailed off as he lifted his shirt up a bit to show his binding.
“You ....you too?” Jack cried.
Davey nodded.
“I have a gift for you Jackie.” Davey cooed.
“What is it?”
Davey handed Jack a rose.

“For you.”

The next thing Davey knew, Jack’s lip were crashing into his and they were making out.

Little did they know that downstairs Spot was paying Race in a makeout session because Race was right.
“I hate you.” Spot growled.
“No you don't Spotty.”