Abandoning Responsibility (Open)

[aliceroosevelt]

((I guess your characters are the kings of relationships in 12 hours or less? ))

"I resent that."

Alice gave a laugh. "Well, that's a shame. Because it's true. If you were ever elected to a position of power..." She shook her head chuckling. She could only imagine. But the question was an interesting one. She wondered how Mike's mind really worked, and how someone like him would work as the governor. She inclined her head to one side in inquiry. "Now there's a question. What would you do?" she asked, interested to hear his response.

"Well, you certainly are a mystery."

She returned his coyness with a smile. "What? You're not pretending to have me all figured out? That's what most people I meet do..." Often, to either impress her or get on her good side (and thus, they thought, getting in with her father) people would try to act as if they had known Alice for years, or knew everything about her there was to know. Apparently, they didn't, because no one could figure out that people who did that irked her to no end, and they weren't getting anywhere with her father through her, either.

"I think I'm falling for you, Alice."

He placed his brow against hers, and Alice lingered for a moment before pulling away slightly. "But...but how can you? You couldn't just...just like that?" She was overwhelmed with the idea that you could fall for someone so quickly and be sincere about it. For some odd reason, there wasn't a shadow of doubt in her mind (even though, she realized, there very well should have been) that Mike was totally sincere. Because she felt the same way, and if she could feel it, so could he. "But...somehow...me, too..." she said quietly, almost to herself.

"Alice, stop talking..."

She was cut short as his lips pressed to hers with a sweeping passion. She pressed back into the kiss, adding the intensity and pouring herself out into the energy of it before pulling away many moments later, breathless and with a newborn fire in her blue eyes. Her rebellion was complete, and yet at the same time it had just begun. Take that, Governor Roosevelt, she thought savagely as she pulled Mike to her again in a tight embrace.

[Mike D. Greaser]

"Well, that's a shame. Because it's true. If you were ever elected to a position of power..."

Mike narrowed his eyes at her. How dare she insult him?! Mike's glare turned into a playful expression of mischief. Without missing a beat, Mike lunged for her. Once he had his hands on her, Mike began to tickle her. "Take that back, or else!" He threatened, while he tickled her mercilessly.

"Now there's a question. What would you do?"

Mike's smirk faded at her serious words. What would he do? Mike thought for a moment, a very serious expression on his face. After thinking for several moments, Mike opened his mouth to respond. "I would... Well, I would try my very hardest to be the best governor I could be. I would try to help everyone and please everyone." Mike's face suddenly darkened as he continued, "And I would keep all murders off the street..."

Mike suddenly realized that he was talking about himself. He was a murder, wasn't he? He'd killed innocent people, hadn't he? No, he hadn't. He hadn't murdered anyone, he had simply removed them from this earth because they were a threat to mankind. And he hadn't killed innocent people. They were far from innocent. Mike D. Greaser wasn't a murder and he would never place himself in the same category as the person who took his parents from him.

"What? You're not pretending to have me all figured out? That's what most people I meet do..."

Mike shrugged and replied, "I'm not like normal people..." He shrugged again and made a 'hmph' sound. He silently wondered what she meant by that comment. Most people? Who was she talking about?

"But...but how can you? You couldn't just...just like that?"

Mike swallowed the lump in his throat. Maybe he shouldn't have said anything. It was on an impulse. But now he regretted it. She was second guessing him; she didn't believe that he actually cared for her! How could he show her he actually cared for her? He could kiss her again, but that wouldn't be right. He didn't want to be one of those guys who only showed their emotions by actions. But right now he couldn't think of anything to do, so he just stared at her, waiting for her to continue.

"But...somehow...me, too..."

Mike felt his breathing stop. She... She had feelings? Mike smiled, so big that his face hurt. "You do?" Wow, he was acting like an idiot! But this is what love was... he guessed.

She pressed back into the kiss, adding the intensity and pouring herself out into the energy of it before pulling away many moments later, breathless and with a newborn fire in her blue eyes.

Mike smiled as they pulled apart. He pulled her into a warm embrace, inhaling her scent. His smile never left his face.

[aliceroosevelt]

"Take that back, or else!"

He started tickling her. Alice flailed around trying to get away from him, screaming with laughter. No one had tickled her since she'd first worn a corset (she wouldn't be able to laugh about it, anyway), and she found the sensation slightly annoying, but also slightly missed. Her father had done it to her as a child, and when she was younger she would get into tickle fights with Teddy Jr. and Kermit all the time. "No!" she cried, and stumbled away from him, her smile broad and her eyes sparkling.

"I would... Well, I would try my very hardest to be the best governor I could be. I would try to help everyone and please everyone."

Alice nodded knowingly at him. "That's your first mistake. My father tells us all the time. It's completely impossible to please everyone." Theodore often told his children during dinners about his career, and he would often say that trying to please everyone was the key to failure for a politician. There was a reason there were two parties and they differed in platform: people could choose what they wanted, and whether they got it or not was up to them.

"And I would keep all murders off the street..."

"Admirable," Alice said with a nod. But she had noticed a change in Mike when he said that. It was almost as if his face withdrew itself. There was something notably different about his eyes...yes, this was it. It was like a shadow was drawn across his face, but in a moment it was gone again, and Alice decided not to puzzle about it.

"I'm not like normal people..."

She smiled softly, and looked at him thoughtfully. "No," she said after a moment. "You're not..."

"You do?"

Taking a breath, Alice nodded. "Yes. I know I do. I don't know how, but I know I do. Mike..." she trailed off, shaking her head in bewilderment. She hoped he was at least a little confused, because so was she. He embraced her tightly, and she did likewise, merely enjoying the sensation of nonjudgmental arms around her. She kissed his cheek swiftly and closed her eyes, relaxing in his arms.

Oh, dear Lord, what in the world was she going to tell her father?

[Mike D. Greaser]

"No!"

When she pulled away from him, Mike chuckled. Oh, it's on... Mike's expression matched hers as he crouched down, prepared to tackled her. Mike figured she would run, and he didn't care. She was going to get it. Mike realized just then how childish they were acting. Both of them, almost adults, acting like 5 year-old, tickling each other and laughing gaily.

"That's your first mistake. My father tells us all the time. It's completely impossible to please everyone."

Mike shrugged, "Hmm, well you could at least try." Mike honestly didn't know what he would do if he was elected governor. He would never run, to much work and not enough time. Besides, he wasn't worried about his future right now, just what was happening at this moment.

"Admirable,"

Mike smiled, thankful that she had not pushed the matter. If she had, he probably would have talked to her about it, but he was just thankful she didn't try to force him to talk about things like that.

"No, You're not..."

A small smiled played at his lips as she said this. He wasn't like other people, many would vouch for that. He was proud of that fact, sometimes.

"Yes. I know I do. I don't know how, but I know I do. Mike..."

Mike smiled as she kissed him on the cheek and hugged him back. Acting on an impulse, Mike pulled away and grabbed her hand, heading for the door. "Let's go on a moonlight walk. That's romantic, right?" Mike knew that he was pushing it, but he really wanted to prove to her that he was worthy of her love. But they had to be careful, just in case. Mike knew not a lot of people were out this late, so they were safe.

{{Eh, that wasn't very good....}}

[aliceroosevelt]

"Hmm, well you could at least try."

Alice only shrugged. You could try, she supposed. But it was a tough call seeing if you would succeed or not. Pleasing everyone was like trying to have both sides win in a game of chess. No matter how down to the wire the game was, eventually someone would win, and someone would lose. You couldn't make both happy, because ultimately they both wanted different things, and there was no middle ground on some issues. When Alice thought about this, somehow, her and her father and stepmother came to mind. A thoughtful expression came over her face, and she leaned against the counter.

"You could try," she said. "But sometimes...people just want different things. And sometimes those things are so different, there can't be any compromise made." Alice knew that when it came to her father, they both wanted totally different things. Alice desired to do her own things her own way, and Theodore was intent on keeping her reigned in. Well, how much longer could he do that? With a glance at Mike, Alice realized: not much.

"Let's go on a moonlight walk. That's romantic, right?"

He pulled Alice toward the door. Alice stopped him, faced him, kissed him warmly, and smiled as she drew back. She reached for the door when suddenly she stopped again. She had just realized she was still in Mike's shirt and trousers. She gasped a little and rounded to face him. "My clothes!" she exclaimed. She didn't mind them for the apartment, but now that they would be outside, Alice at least wanted a dress to wear. She was spoiled, and she would admit it. But honestly, was a dress too much to ask for so she didn't have to walk around in Mike's clothes...? "Is there anyone," Alice asked, "in the building that might loan me a dress? Because...well, it's an odd story. I was making a dinner when suddenly I stained my frock with vinegar. And I desperately need a replacement..." She made up the lie on the spot, hoping Mike would agree to it.

[Mike D. Greaser]

"You could try, But sometimes...people just want different things. And sometimes those things are so different, there can't be any compromise made."

Mike thought for a moment. "But would those people be willing to sacrifice what they wanted for the good of others?" Mike was enjoying this laid back, yet thoughtful, conversation. He was glad that they could do this so comfortably.

He pulled Alice toward the door. Alice stopped him, faced him, kissed him warmly, and smiled as she drew back.

Mike, who wanted to deepen the kiss, groaned as she pulled away. "I hate you..." He mumbled, still standing with his eyes closed and his lips somewhat puckered. She turned to the door and Mike followed, but she stopped.

"My clothes!"

Mike furrowed his eyebrows. "What do you mean?" To him, she looked perfect. But then again, Alice could pull off anything. He actually liked her better in his clothes. But of course, Mike liked it when girls looked feminine. But what was she talking about?

"Is there anyone, in the building that might loan me a dress? Because...well, it's an odd story. I was making a dinner when suddenly I stained my frock with vinegar. And I desperately need a replacement..."

Mike pouted his lips and crossed his arms. "Oh, I see. So, you are embarrassed to be in my clothes?" Mike winked at her playfully and then nodded. "Yeah, I'll find someone. Stay here." He didn't want her to be caught or for someone to recognize her. When they went walking, they would just have to be really careful.

Mike walked out of the apartment and shut the door before Alic could protest. Within five minutes, Mike had returned with a dress. It was actually pretty easy. His landlord's wife had a bunch of different sizes of dresses, claiming that one day she was going to fit in the smallest size. Mike doubted that.

It was a simple frock, but Alice would have to deal with it. He slipped back into the apartment and held up the dress. "Ta da!" He shook the dress a few times and then tossed it to her.

[aliceroosevelt]

"But would those people be willing to sacrifice what they wanted for the good of others?"

Alice shook her head, slightly forlorn. She knew that neither she nor her parents would be willing to relent. Mostly because they were both dead-sure they were right. "People can be very headstrong sometimes..." she said vaguely. Both she and Edith could be equally stubborn, but Alice had to double her efforts, because she had both her father and Edith telling her what to do. She was bitter toward them, but sometimes she wondered if she should be... After all, they had never given her real insult. All they did was prevent her from doing what she wanted to do.

"I hate you..."

"Hm," Alice said. "Then you've certainly been sending the wrong signals..." She smiled at him and kissed him again to appease him, allowing the kiss to deepen significantly before pulling away again. "Better?" she asked coyly.

"Oh, I see. So, you are embarrassed to be in my clothes?"

"To be frank, yes," Alice said freshly. "I don't mind trousers for the apartment, but in public I prefer a skirt."

"Yeah, I'll find someone. Stay here."

She nodded and sat in a rickety chair near the door. She probably wouldn't have come with him if he'd asked her to. She didn't want to be recognized yet, and while still in the apartment she knew people would be looking closely. She wasn't worried about going out with Mike...in the dark, who would be looking? She waited until Mike returned, a dress in his hands that looked as if it would fit her nicely.

"Ta da!"

Mike showed her the dress. At the sight of it, Alice chuckled. "That is the ugliest damn thing I've ever seen. But I'll wear it..." She took the dress, kissed Mike on the cheek, and ducked into the bedroom to change quickly. The dress was slightly large on her, but nothing that she would complain about. It was a plain, brown thing, with frayed hems and patches on the skirt. Atrocious, really. But at least it was a dress. She took a moment to pin her hair back up into an updo and emerged to join Mike again. "Let's go," she said.

[Mike D. Greaser]

"People can be very headstrong sometimes..."

Mike thought for a moment before making a disgusted sound from the back of his throat. People could be so bloody obnoxious sometimes. They were so selfish and conceited. But would they change their plans last minute for the sake of others? Mike voiced his thoughts, "But if it came down to it, would someone sacrifice their selfish ways for the sake of another?" Now, there was a question. Mike was intrigued and excited to hear her answer.

"Hm, Then you've certainly been sending the wrong signals..."

Mike opened his mouth to reply but was cut off by her lips meeting his. Mike groaned quietly while he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her towards him. How could she do this to him? She had won him over in one simple day. In one day she had his heart. Maybe they were going to fast with this? Maybe they needed to slow down. As if reading his mind, Alice pulled away. Mike pulled away as well, his arms still wrapped around her. Well, that was nice.

"Better?"

Mike chuckled and nodded, taking one hand off her waist, but leaving the other there. "Much."

"To be frank, yes, I don't mind trousers for the apartment, but in public I prefer a skirt."

Mike frowned playfully at her comment. But he understood. She was cute in his clothing, but he thought she looked even cuter in her skirts. That is one thing that frustrated Mike. Girls should be girls, and boys should be boys. Of course, Mike liked it when girls were tough and could fight and hold their ground, but something, some girls went to far. "Okay, okay."

"Thatis the ugliest damn thing I've ever seen. But I'll wear it...Let's go,"

Mike smirked and waited for her to change. When she emerged from his room, Mike smiled. "You look lovely!" He exclaimed, loving how the dirty and old frock looked on her. It was something a made would wear, or even a newsie. Nothing like Alice was used to. Mike found extreme humor in this situation.

He nodded and took her hand, entwining their fingers. He pulled them out of his apartment, locking it on the way out.

{Argh, that was rushed. I wanted to get it out there before I left.}

[aliceroosevelt]

"But if it came down to it, would someone sacrifice their selfish ways for the sake of another?"

Alice thought for a moment. If it came down to it, would she bow down to the demands of her father and stepmother? Well, sometimes she had to, considering that they were her parents, and ultimately she had to listen to them. The root of her conflicts was that she was tired of listening to them. And there was no way they would ever give in and stop telling her what to do, Alice knew that much. She turned to Mike and said, "It wouldn't happen. And if it did...there's no way that both people could be happy." She bit her lip and set her jaw.

"You look lovely!"

Alice smiled, and turned as if modeling the dress. "You like it? It's the most recent fashion in ugly landlady frocks." She grinned at Mike and took his hand. "Let's go," she said, and pulled him out the door and down the stairs of the tenement building, until they reached the street. The street lamps were lit, burning dimly, lining the otherwise dark streets. They were deserted for the most part, with only the occasional bum walking down the sidewalk. Alice smiled, glad that no one would recognize her in this darkness.

She turned to Mike and pulled him along. "Where should we go?" she asked. She knew that he would know the area better than her. The only thing was, she would prefer to stay away from any main roads. She didn't know who she would run into, but was willing to risk it.

((Kinda bleh...))

[Mike D. Greaser]

"It wouldn't happen. And if it did...there's no way that both people could be happy."

Mike made a disgusted noise in the back of his throat. "Well, that is depressing." Truthfully, none of this bothered him. He knew that humanity was falling apart. It was happening all around him. But this didn't bother him. He had other issues. Paying his rent, finding edible food, the newsies...

It was the first time in a long time that Mike had thought about the newsies. Being with Alice had caused him to completely forget about them. All day his mind had been filled with thoughts of Alice, not of revenge. Mike wasn't sure if this was a good thing or not.

"You like it? It's the most recent fashion in ugly landlady frocks."

Mike chuckled as she spun and allowed his eyes to linger on her for a brief moment. She really was beautiful; frock or not. Mike had seen her pictures before, in the papers and such, but this was the first time he had really seen her. This was the real Alice. The fun one and the one with the quick wit. The one who made him laugh. The one he was falling for.

Mike nodded absently and responded, "Very much so."

She grinned at Mike and took his hand. "Let's go,"

Mike beamed as she grabbed his hand. Grinning down at her, Mike entwined their fingers. Suddenly, he felt like a school boy. Hand in hand with a girl he had just met, grinning like a fool. It was so surreal and almost foolish that Mike began to doubt it. But he pushed the thoughts aside and decided to enjoy what little time he had left with Alice.

The epiphany hit him hard. What little time he had left with Alice. After tonight, would they ever see each other again? What was going to happen? They couldn't continue to go on their merry way, unaware of the headlines screaming about the abduction of the governor's daughter. Something had to be done, but what? Mike felt his stomach churn at the thought of losing Alice. Call him a hopeless romantic, but he was worried. He gave her hand a quick squeeze, not sure if he was doing it for himself as much as he was for her.

"Where should we go?"

Mike grinned, took a few steps forward and spun around so he was facing her. Their hands were still connected, but they were stretched out in front of them. "We could go swimming," he suggested, grinning mischievously. He was referring to their earlier swimming trip. That seemed like forever ago, and yet it was only a few hours. But Mike was pretty sure that neither of them wanted to go swimming.

{Two words! Kabam! And now everyone can go "aw"}

[aliceroosevelt]

"Well, that is depressing."

Alice rolled her eyes, unamused. "Tell me about it..." she mumbled. It was more than depressing, it was downright upsetting to her. Although she would never allow her real feelings about the matter out, she would at least admit them to herself. She could be in secrecy, but in denial was one thing she refused to be. Because, she reasoned, if she denied what she was feeling, soon she would stop feeling at all. She could predict that she would just fold away inside herself and become this empty shell of a person, which she didn't want for herself. Never.

She shook her head and walked closer to Mike. "But now...enough about that. I don't want to talk about my father any more than I have to..." She looked around his apartment, the mess still in the kitchen. "We'll take care of than when we get back," she said with a nod. She knew she was assuming that they would indeed be coming back to Mike's apartment before the night was over. Of course they would, though. They had arranged that Alice would stay over there for the night, in order to give her father sufficient time to go from "angry" to "worried".

"We could go swimming,"

Her smile slipped, and she gave Mike a harsh glare. "You're kidding me..." she said darkly, but soon the corners of her mouth tugged up in a smile, and she chuckled. "Let's see if we can go somewhere where we...ah..." Once more she moved closer to him and held both his hands "Won't have to suffer interruptions?" She had to admit: she liked kissing him. It was a plus, for sure, and although her mind was going at ninety miles an hour, she was also sure that she liked him for more reasons than she could maybe name at the moment. There was something about him that...well, it was so unspecific. But it was there, she couldn't ignore it...

[Mike D. Greaser]

"Tell me about it..."

Mike pursed his lips and shook his head. What was wrong with this world? It seemed that everyone was in it for themselves. Some would say that Mike was a hypocrite. That he was only doing what he was doing for himself. In a way, that was true. But in other ways it wasn't. Mike was helping the newsies, beyond what they think, Mike was helping them. He is about to knock them from their mighty high throne and show them some humbleness. Everyone could use that every so often, right?

"But now...enough about that. I don't want to talk about my father any more than I have to... We'll take care of than when we get back,"

Mike smirked as she took a step toward. Coyly, he took a step closer to her as well. But he agreed. If he was in her position he would try to forget his dad. But right now, for Mike, he just tried to forget everything and just be with Alice. For some reason, though, Mike could just not get out of his mind that something was wrong. How long were they going to be able to keep this relasitonship up? She couldn't stay with Mike forever. The thought made Mike's stomach drop.

"You're kidding me..."

Mike smirked and shoved her playfully. "No, I am completely serious." He smirked bigger, laughter filling his eyes. Mike had to laugh at her face. Alice looked completely shocked. Like Mike really meant that. He wouldn't probably go near water for a few months. He figured as much for Alice.

"Let's see if we can go somewhere where we...ah... Won't have to suffer interruptions?"

Mike raised his eyebrows and took a step closer, leaving hardly any space between them. His eyes flicked over Alice's shoulder and saw an alley. He smiled down at her and slowly guided her to the mouth of the alley. Right as they approached it, Mike began to kiss Alice. He smiled against her mouth and pressed her against the wall. He didn't expect or want this kiss to go anywhere, not here and not yet, but it was just an innocent little kiss. Sorta.


{ }

[aliceroosevelt]

"No, I am completely serious."

Alice didn't have a comment. She knew he was kidding, of course, and merely gave him a smirking look. Honestly, though, right now a swim wouldn't be as bad as it had been the last time. She didn't have layers of petticoats to weigh her down, and more importantly, no corset to suffocate her. But another dip in the river was far from her mind at the moment. A pond would be nice, rather, anything that couldn't sweep her under the current. But the night was fairly cool, and she predicted that any swimming would be unenjoyable, no matter what she was (or wasn't!) wearing. Swimming was out, then.

However, she enjoyed Mike's second idea much more. He guided her into the alley, and she felt her back press against a wall and Mike's mouth press against hers in a kiss. She inhaled deeply, swept up in blind passion, and fixed her hands on the back of Mike's neck, driving the kiss deeper. Both she and Mike were oblivious to a small pair of eyes, standing across the street from the alley. The tiny eight-year-old, far from his home in Queens, narrowed his eyes. He wouldn't be gawking if he didn't have the feeling there was something very wrong.

Diesel watched as the girl involved pulled away, and smiled at the boy. His eyes widened when he saw the girl's features in the dim light from the gas lamps that lined the streets. That was Miss Roosevelt; he had seen her picture in the papers. That was Governor Roosevelt's daughter! And then, he shifted so he could see that face of the boy...

Golly!

Diesel gasped aloud, and he stood rooted to the spot for a moment, wondering what he should do. Finally, he opted to run. He dashed off toward Queens, hoping to talk to Jordan as soon as he could. He'd been told by the Professor, another Queens newsie, as he was addressing some of the others. Everyone knew the Professor was smart and knew what he was talking about, even if he didn't speak English perfectly, and Diesel had memorized what was said: "If you see Mike Greaser, it would be good to tell someone right away. We cannot allow him to get away with anything." Diesel planned to do just that.

Alice heard a sound that caused her to glance sideways in time to see a young boy staring at them, and then darting away when their gazes met. She was slightly amused by it, a kid gaping at her and Mike's kiss, and thought nothing more of it. She resumed kissing Mike, forgetting about anything else. In the back of her mind, she registered the sound of footfalls, undoubtedly by more than one person. But she ignored them. She couldn't look up at every sound she heard.

Meanwhile, Chief of Police Isaac Oldridge was getting tired of the search. He and his young deputy, John Wren, had been leading the search party for the governor's daughter for many hours. He was coming close to calling it in for the night and issuing an ad in the World, Journal and Sun newspapers, illustrating Alice Roosevelt as missing. Bystanders at the Harlem River had reported an abduction, perpetrator unable the be identified.

Accompanying Oldridge and Wren was the governor himself. Theodore Roosevelt, his features aged considerably with concern, had insisted on coming with the Chief of Police and deputy on their search. He lagged behind, his eyes forever scanning and searching, as if he expected his daughter to materialize out of thin air. Oldridge was at the front of the group, with Wren winging him.

Oldridge passed an alleyway and did a double take when he spotted a young couple...doing what young couples were prone to doing. Oldridge may have had the extremely important assignment of locating Governor Roosevelt's daughter, but he was still a police officer on the beat. He said in a gruff voice to the couple, "Let's go, children. Find somewhere else, eh?"

The girl jumped away from her boyfriend, and when she saw who had been speaking, slowly her eyes grew surprised and fearful. Oldridge's expression became equally surprised when he became aware of who he was speaking to. "Miss Roosevelt!" he exclaimed. John Wren gasped a little, and even flushed with a slight color. Upon hearing this, Theodore Roosevelt pushed his way to the mouth of the alley to meet his daughter's eyes. "Lee!" he cried out.

"Father!" Alice pushed Mike from her, and stood with her body tense, yet cowering slightly. Her face had turned red with a blush, and she cast her eyes downward. One hand went to her mouth, her lips undoubtedly swollen from kissing. Oh, what would happen now...?

[Mike D. Greaser]

She inhaled deeply, swept up in blind passion, and fixed her hands on the back of Mike's neck, driving the kiss deeper.

Mike smiled against her lips. This was going better then planned. Mike pushed himself against her, leaving no space in between them. He wrapped his hands around her waist. As the kiss deepened, Mike ran his hands along her back and up into her hair. Meanwhile, a small pair of eyes watched them. Mike was blindly unaware, and honestly didn't care. Even if he did realize all the trouble this was going to get him in, Mike didn't care. He continued to kiss Alice.

Diesel gasped aloud, and he stood rooted to the spot for a moment, wondering what he should do. Finally, he opted to run.
Mike pulled away just as Alice did. They both saw the same thing and had the same reaction. Except Mike wasn't as forgiving as Alice. He grew impatient as Alice watched the small boy and smiled. Come on, he thought. Let's continue what we were doing.

She resumed kissing Mike, forgetting about anything else.

Thanks you, Mike thought as he deepened the kiss almost immediately. Over the next for moments, the kiss got pretty heated. Neither of the two were aware, or choose to be aware, of the people approaching. Mike ignored the footsteps until he heard a gruff voice.

"Let's go, children. Find somewhere else, eh?"

Alice jumped and pulled away from him. Mike pulled away as well, but kept his hands around her. Mike was angry. Whoever interrupted them was going to pay. Mike glanced to his right and saw an officer. That didn't matter. Mike opened his mouth to reply curtly when he saw Alice's eyes widened. She obviously knew this man.

"Miss Roosevelt!""Lee!"

This confirmed Mike's thoughts. Then Mike saw him. The Governor. Mike's eyes widened. This was not good. He wasn't near as worried about himself as Alice. She was going to have hell to pay. Mike groaned at this thought. She was in so much trouble.

"Father!" Alice pushed Mike from her.

Mike took a step away from her and cast his eye downward as well. Think, Mike, think! He began to look around frantically. They could make a break for it. They could run back to Mike's apartment and grab some money. Then hop a train to someplace. Anywhere but here. But would Alice be willing to leave everything behind? Was he?

The Governor was astonished. His little girl, kissing a young man he had never seen before? The Governor's eyes flicked toward the boy who stood next to his daughter. He immediately narrowed his eyes in disgust. There must have been a mistake. Her daughter would not be kissing... this thing. He looked over at his daughter, he gaze still hard. Now he was going to play the angry father. "What the hell, Alice?" He voice came out a lot softer than he had wanted, but he was just unbelieving. He took a step toward her.

Mike winced as the Governor confronted his daughter. Then he took a step forward and Mike immediately got protective. Mike countered the Governor's steps and took a step in front of Alice. "Sir, she was choking." That was the only thing that Mike could think of. He just blurted it out.

[aliceroosevelt]

"What the hell, Alice?"

She was surprised that her father had called her by her first name. But she didn't have the inclination to bring it up. She glanced up to see her father's usually gentle, loving eyes blazing with fury, a sight that she had seen only a few times before. As rebellious and independent as she was, she still habitually cowered beneath her father's harsh gaze. She had nothing to say to him, so she kept silent. What could she say? This wasn't how she had planned it, not at all. She couldn't believe she had been so careless. She should have known her father would be looking for her all over New York. How stupid of her to think he would just be sitting at home, worrying. That wasn't her father.

"Sir, she was choking."

Alice strangled a scoff at Mike's attempted explanation. No nitwit would believe that, certainly not her father. For all the flaws that Alice saw in her father, he was not a stupid or shallow man. He was a great man...but the harness he had on her forced her to look upon him with some contempt. Indeed, Governor Roosevelt's eyes went to the vagabond that had spoken. He regarded him with some kind of disgust before snapping, "Save your pitiful excuses, boy."

As if on cue, Chief of Police Oldridge stepped forward, handcuffs dangling from his fist. He grabbed Mike by the shoulder firmly, meaning to turn him around and cuff his hands behind his back. Deputy Wren, observing the considerable strength the young man seemed to possess, moved toward them as well, in order to aid Oldridge if needed. Oldridge said briskly to Mike, "In the name of the state of New York, I charge you with abduction, harassment, and attempted assault."

Alice looked at the officers and Mike. Attempted assault? Abduction? How could they charge him with that? A lot of it sounded like sinister-sounding words that someone made up. She couldn't let them take Mike to jail, thinking he had forced her into all of this when she had really gone along willingly. Her eyes darted from the officers to her father, and she spoke up. "Don't arrest him."

Wren looked up to meet the young girl's eyes. He was only a young adult, new on the job, so he didn't know better. But Oldridge kept his eyes locked on Mike, in case he tried anything funny. He was listening, however, as Alice went on. "He didn't abduct me. I went with him. He never harassed me in any way, and he certainly never assaulted me, or attempted to. I willingly went with him...so you can't arrest him for anything."

She looked away from the young deputy and turned back to her father, who glared at her, shocked. She held up a hand to stop him from speaking. "I'll be going home, Father..."

"Damn right you will, Lee!" Roosevelt cut her off.

"Stop it!" Alice shot back, a fire lit in her eyes. Her temper had been shot off by her father's sudden curtness. And if he called her Lee one more time, she was sure she was going to hit someone or something. "My name is Alice, goddamn it! You named me Alice, so call me Alice! And I am going home. But not with you. I'm going on my own when I damn well feel like it and you can't force to me. I'd like to see you try..."

She was getting in deep, deep trouble. She knew it. And she immediately started regretting everything the was saying. Of course he could force her. He was her father. So she trailed off and waited for the explosion. She turned back to Mike, trying to catch his eye. She couldn't speak to him, but maybe the apologetic look in her eyes would suffice. She wished she hadn't gotten him into all this...