Jack was a righteous man. Or at least he thought so. He did what he thought was right and stood by it, wanting just to help others like he wished he'd been helped. Those streets had sucked the life out of his old man, but he refused to let it happen to him. And furthermore, he refused to let it happen to anyone else. That's why you saw him that night, seeing his dimly illuminated face in the window above the fire escape as he knocked on the glass.

You gingerly stood from your uncomfortable bed, shifting past the other two boys as you approached the window. Jack flashed you a smile as you opened it, revealing the warm clothes and food in his arms. You took them graciously, a warm feeling settling in your chest as your hands brushed his. Even in the low light, you could see the stars in his eyes. Oh, how he wanted to take you away from here.

"Thought you might be cold in them beds,"

He spoke in a hushed tone.

"Figured I oughta bring you'se some food, too. I know they won't."

He nodded to the building, referencing the cruel men who run this place. Snyder and his goons, nothing but greedy pigs, they were.

Jack wanted to tell you all the things he felt, show you all the sketches and paintings he'd made of you, sing to you like the sweet songbirds do to their mates. But he didn't know how you'd react. You were both just boys... how could he know what was love and what wasn't? Especially with another boy. His father didn't die for him to be a fairy. He felt that shame in his gut settling deep as he looked at you—his beautiful songbird, his swan song in this hell hole of a city. How could he ever learn to accept his love for you, especially with the uncertainty of your love for him?