#jack avoiding Davey so Pulitzer won’t go after him

[daveysjackie]

Based on this prompt I found on Instagram

Alternate timeline where Davey never becomes a newsie and Jack unsuccessfully leads the strike.

Jack leads the strike as in canon but after he scabs and has sense knocked into him, he turns on Pulitzer again but is ultimately arrested and sent to The Refuge. He isn’t there too long bc he’s close to 18 and the Newsies (through a more long-winded approach) ��win” the strike, but with a lot of loss. During the strike, many of them are sent to The Refuge where the guards (including our favourite Spider: Snyder) hurt and abuse the kids, resulting is many of them dying before the strike is over.

When Jack is freed, he’s an outcast; no one will give him an honest job, and his time in The Refuge has made him more short-tempered and flighty, meaning that people won’t even give him dishonest jobs. His life effectively ruined, he decides that the least he can do before he dies is eliminate Snyder and his ilk, avenging his fallen boys. This, over time, turns him into an almost vigilante figure: hiding in the shadows and getting rid of those who harm innocents.

Davey is a school teacher who only graduated two years ago. He teaches all day and offers tuition all evening so night is the only time he has to himself. One day, he cant sleep so he decides to go for a late night stroll and maybe get a drink. He comes across Jack and the body of his latest victim. Jack has never harmed an innocent before. But, he’s also never been caught. So he corners Davey, knife in hand, and practically growls the line at him, daring Davey to speak up and save himself.

Davey slowly asks Jack what the man’s crime was and Jack is stunned before he lays out the man’s crimes, stalking and preying on young women leaving school and work. Neither move once Jack confesses. Then Davey asks Jack what he plans on doing next. When Jack doesn’t answer, Davey tells him about a teacher he used to have, now his colleague, who always made him extremely uncomfortable and who Davey’s always suspected of harming the younger children he teaches. Davey is no longer in danger: he has Jack’s interest. So despite knowing how dangerous Jack is, Davey lets him hide out at his apartment.

The next few weeks, Davey tries to find evidence that his colleague really is as awful as he suspects and his confirmation comes as a confession from the man himself who, while absolutely wasted while the teachers are out for evening drinks, tells Davey that his little brother was a prospective of his that he never got around to (thankfully Davey had told Les how uncomfortable the teacher made him and Les did everything he could to avoid him). He goes home and tells Jack, who disappears for a week. He returns one night a week later and the news of the teacher’s murder is the morning headline.

But over those few weeks, while Jack is staying hidden in Davey’s apartment, the two, inevitably get to talking. Davey tells Jack about his family’s struggle being immigrants and Jewish, how he was always destined to teach because is was the only stable job easily accessible to him. In return, Jack shares his failures: failed to lead the strike to success, failed to protect his boys. Once Jack has killed taken care of Davey’s colleague, the two become partners of sorts. Jack continues his vigilante work and protecting the innocents of the city, Davey offers him a listening ear, and a place to hide. When they’re caught, it’s not because Jack had killed. It’s because Davey’s (usually absent) landlord decides to come over one morning to discuss raising the rent and lets himself in, finding Jack and Davey…in bed together. Jack’s lifetime of experience avoiding and dodging the law helps them escape and when Davey realises his life is over, Jack assures him that he’ll be safe, because Jack will always protect him.

They spend the night in one of Jack’s old hideouts and when Davey wakes up he’s alone and the police are banging on the door. He soon discovers that when he’d fallen asleep, Jack had left and turned himself in, confessing to every single murder. He also confesses to threatening Davey, forcefully bedding him and using his home to hide. Jack is arrested and sentenced to death.

And Davey, “the victim of it all”, is free and clear, at the expense of losing the only person he’s ever loved.

[heliads]

Leaving Town

Jack Kelly disappears immediately after the newsie strike goes south. It’s up to you to find your boyfriend and convince him to stick around for a little longer.

masterlist

You can’t sit straight. You can’t sit at all for longer than the span of a few seconds before your feet start tapping and your hands start rapping at your sides, desperate for something to help you focus on anything other than what you’ve just seen. If you don’t find any task to do, no matter how small, you’ll start thinking, and if you start thinking, you’ll remember the strike from earlier today.

That you can’t do, because you won’t just be remembering the way your friends all stood together and chanted at Pulitzer to reset the prices of papes or face the ungodly wrath of the newsies, you’ll be remembering the way the bulls showed up and tore everyone you knew to ribbons. You’d been so happy, so proud, and then you’d watched Romeo get punched straight in the face, and you’d seen Crutchie get dragged away to the Refuge. Now you can’t think about it at all.

You’ve been able to stay busy for the last few hours, bandaging up your friends. You’ve wrapped cloth around the arms and legs and heads of your fellow newsies, watching mutely as the white bandages quickly soaked through with red. No matter; you changed the bandages just as quickly, wrapping even tighter and more expertly until the blood finally stopped seeping through. You helped set bones and fix sprains, everything you could do to help. Now you’re out of patients, and you don’t know what to do.

You’re sitting by yourself now, telling yourself that you’re watching over the motley crew of newsies. Your eyes flicker over the rows of boys, taking in those who’ll need medicine you don’t have and those that will be able to help if you need it. You make silent notes on which boys need to rest and which have too much energy, which should be escorted away to their bunks and which ones should go take a lap around the streets to burn off excess adrenaline before they head indoors again.

Eventually, Davey comes over to you, putting a hand gently on your shoulder to get your attention, not that it would ever be so deeply lost to need the gesture. “You need some rest, Y/N. Go back upstairs, get some sleep. We’ll hold down the fort until later.” 

You scoff, although the sound from your throat is jittery and in need of reassurance. “It’s the middle of the afternoon, Davey. I slept just fine last night.”

Davey gives you a look, eyebrows raised. 

“I just watched you hyperactively sort out every newsie on this side of the Brooklyn Bridge to make sure they all had medical care. I think you accomplished what a dozen doctors couldn’t. Besides, it’s less about sleep and more about relaxation. Y/N, you’ve worn yourself ragged. You have to let your guard down at some point. You’re with friends, we’ll be safe. Let yourself rest.”

You sigh, rubbing a hand over your face. “I am letting myself rest, I’m sitting down.” 

Davey rolls his eyes. “Y/N, I say this with all of the respect I have, but we both know that’s a lie. You haven’t let yourself rest since the second those cops started pouring out of the alleyways to soak us. We’re going to be alright, you have to let yourself rest at some point. Really, truly rest.” 

His voice drops. “None of us know when Jack is coming back. Don’t run yourself into the ground waiting for him.”

You wince. That’s it, the blow you’ve been doing your best to avoid. “He might come back soon,” you say lamely, “You don’t know that.” 

Davey’s lips stiffen in sympathy. “I do, Y/N. I saw his face as he took off. None of us know where he is, and we’ve been looking for hours. He’s not going to come for a little longer, and that means you need to get some downtime to yourself. We’re going to be alright. No one else is going to attack us, and that means you need to go get some rest. I’ll hold down the fort if it makes you feel better.”

You can feel yourself wavering. “You’re sure? You’ll get me if Jack comes?” 

You can sense the regret in Davey’s eyes, as if he can’t stand to lie to you but doesn’t want to crush the last bit of hope from you. “Sure I will. I’ll send the fastest squad of boys to track you down.” 

You laugh weakly. “Sounds like a plan. I’m heading out.” 

Davey waves. “I’ll get you as soon as I see him.” 

You both know it’s a lie- Davey’s right, Jack won’t be coming back for a while. At least this falsehood sounds good to your bleeding ears.

You walk out the door of the deli, heading through the streets and back towards the newsie lodging house. You can feel the stares of passersby collecting on your torn dress, stained hems, the cuts and bruises dotting your skin, but you can’t find the strength to care. The strike happened this morning, the bulls attacked you all this morning. You’ve watched your friends get knocked down into the dirt and your own boyfriend sprint away from you. The gaping mouths of New Yorkers don’t really matter now.

You can’t help but curl your hands into fists around the fabric of your skirt. You don’t think you’ve felt this alone since you first showed up in Manhattan, a girl alone in New York with no job and no family and no way to make it out of the gutters. Jack Kelly had been the first to welcome you then, making sure you had a bed and clean clothes and everything you could need. He’d been the first to speak out in favor of you becoming a newsie, even promising to fistfight Spot Conlon himself if anyone tried to stop a girl from being a newsie. 

You’d fallen in love with him in between the selling days and the long nights, when the two of you would climb up the fire escapes to the very top of the newsie lodging house to stare at the stars and whisper dreams of the future. He wanted to go to Santa Fe to get away from the smoke-clogged streets of New York. You’d wanted to go to school and make something of yourself. Jack had sworn that he’d see you through it, and you’d bet that he’d find a train ticket west at some point in his future. He’d smiled and pulled you close then, your head against his shoulder while he told you that he loved you. You’d believed him.

You’d always known that Jack’s first instinct was to run. It’s your first instinct too, the same with any newsie on the streets of New York. In a world where a snatching by Snyder or the cops can land you in the Refuge for months or even years, you have to run whenever you face even the smallest of issues. That’s the only way to live. That being said, you can’t help but wish Jack was here. Just once, couldn’t he stop thinking with his feet and focus on his heart and head instead? Maybe then he’d be here with you.

You’re slipping inside the door of the lodging house by now, ignoring the heavy silence of the empty room to go up the stairs, where your bunk awaits you. You fling yourself down on the cot, staring up at the ceiling. How different this room had looked this morning, back when you’d actually had high hopes for the strike. How different everything seems now, when your only hope at getting your money back for the papes has been dashed at your heels.

A sudden knock sounds at the window, and you flinch before realizing who it could be. Quickly, you jump to the floor, darting to the window. Sure enough, Jack is crouching on the fire escape, beckoning for you to open the sash. You fling it open, and then he’s there, pulling you into his arms as if he can’t be sure that you’re real. You hold him close to you, snapping your eyes shut and only opening them once you feel his heartbeat sounding jaggedly against his palms.

Then you step away from him, the metal of the fire escape cold against the soles of your shoes. “Where have you been? Jack, we’se been looking for you for hours.” 

Jack winces. “I know, I’m sorry. I just had to get away.” 

You had wanted to be upset at him, but from the sheer agony in his voice, you know you can’t hold it for long. 

You reach out a hand to rest upon his shoulder. “I’m sorry about Crutchie. So sorry.”

Jack stares at you for another second, then his face crumples and he holds you tight once more. “I didn’t do anything to help him. He called out to me and I did nothing.” 

You shake your head. “There was nothing you could have done. He was caught and he knew it. By the time you got down there, they would have taken him away and captured you, too. I’d rather have you here with me.”

Jack nods, desperate to hear the words and delude himself into thinking that he might have made the right call. He seizes your hands, pulling them close to his chest. 

“Come with me. I can finish the last painting for Medda and get enough money for two train tickets west. We can go to Santa Fe and be safe at last. I’ll get a job, you can go to school just like we talked about. We’ll be free, Y/N, and no one will hurt us again.”

You want to stare at the pain in his eyes. You’ve heard Jack talk about leaving New York many times before, but you never thought he’d actually act on it. 

“Are you sure about this?” 

Jack nods fervently. “I know we can make it. We’re survivors, Y/N. We can live out there and make it good, better than we’d ever have in this city. Come with me. Please.” 

His voice breaks on the last word. You don’t think Jack’s ever seemed as vulnerable as he does at this moment.

You know this, and you know what it means to him, but you shake your head slowly. You swear you can see Jack’s heart break right before your eyes. 

“I can’t go with you, Jack. You know that. What about the rest of the boys? What are they going to do in this city by themselves? We have to help them. You and me both.”

Jack draws back for a second. “What about our dreams? Would you waste them on this city?” 

You shake your head. “I’m not wasting them, Jack. I’m putting them on hold for a little longer. Once we fix this, once all of our newsies aren’t bleeding out or bruised, we’ll go. Just wait a little while, and we’ll go.” 

Jack tilts his head to the side, as if he can see right through this. “We aren’t ever going to go, are we? There will never be a day when all of our problems stop. Someone will keep on soaking us, and whether that’s the Brooklyn boys or the cops, it never ends. If we go now, we have a way out. I want to have a life with you, Y/N, and I don’t think we’ll ever get it here.”

Your hands are still on his, and you can feel his fingers tapping against yours absentmindedly as the thought of staying here any longer fills him with a terrifying sort of anxiety. 

“That’s not all true, Jack, is it? We’ve been happy here, despite everything. We’ll be happy again. I know you think we’re giving up on our dreams, but we’re not. Stay here with me, Jack. Please. I swear we’ll make a better shot of it than we did before.”

You can tell he still wants to run, but he’s still here. Good- you can’t lose him, not yet. 

“Just- promise me if things get worse, we’ll go. I won’t be able to live with myself if you get hurt.” 

He’s not looking at the bruises on your arms, the cuts on your face. Neither of you talk about the way that you’ve both been hurt far too many times. 

“I will. We’ll go. Let’s just see this through, alright? It’ll get better, I know it will, just so long as I have you.” 

Jack nods. “I’ll stay.” 

You smile. “Good. I’m not leaving you, Jack. Not ever.” 

He leans forward to press a kiss to your forehead. “I won’t leave you either.” 

And, despite everything, despite the fact that both of you would like nothing more than to run away and leave all of this behind, you know he won’t go. It’s the two of you together. That’s the way it will always be.

[newsiepedia]

Character Profile: Jack (Film Version)

Real Name: Francis Sullivan. (Newsies Film script, page 77) In an earlier draft, his middle name was Malcom (Highlights of the 1991 Script)

Nickname and Meaning: Jack Kelly (alias, to avoid Warden Snyder), Cowboy (because he wants to leave for the wild wild west) 

Age: 17. (Newsies Film script, page 34)

Gender: Jack is always played by a man.

Family: Jack used to have a mother and father, (and possibly a little brother named Michael) but they are all heavily implied to be dead. (Newsies Film script, page 36) (Highlights of the 1991 Script) 

Jack…:

Is the leader of the Manhattan Newsies. He takes a much more authoritative but still friendly role than his musical counterpart. Jack tells the newsies what to do, (Newsies Film script, pages 40, 46, 65) but he also helps them out. (Newsies Film script, pages 2, 60) Crutchy trusts him enough to come to him for advice and guidance. (Newsies Film script, page 4) The boys are stated outright to “listen carefully” and “respect his opinion”. (Newsies Film script, page 8)

Jack isn’t close with any particular newsie- he spreads his attention equally between most of them. He sells with a different one each day, as when Crutchy asks who he’s selling with, he says he “Ain't decided yet.” (Newsies Film script, page 5) 

Loves telling and hearing jokes. In the very beginning of the movie, Jack is seen joking with Mush. (Newsies Film script, pages 3, 7)  He even jokes with Spot, (Newsies Film script, page 51) not to mention all the practical jokes he plays on the adults and the Delancey brothers.

Sticks up for the little guy. Jack sticks his neck out for the newsies, Davey, and Les multiple times. When the Delanceys target Snipeshooter for no reason, Jack stays by his side as he walks him back to his place in line. (Newsies Film script, page 13) Later, when Wiesel refuses to give Davey all his papers, Jack makes him give him another, and then buys Davey some more. (Newsies Film script, page 17) He also doesn’t let anything slide inside his group- when Kid Blink calls Crutchy a crip, Jack stands by Crutchy’s side, refuses to sell with Blink, and pushes him to the back of the line when the nuns give them food. (Newsies Film script, pages 8, 9) 

Is naturally charismatic. The newsies deeply respect Jack, even when they won’t obey any other authority figure. He is also described as like “Robin Hood and Br'er Rabbit rolled into one” and “his new hero” by Les, showing that people don’t even need to know him to be drawn to him. (Newsies Film script, page 15) During the fight at the theatre, Jack’s call of “Carryin’ the banner!” inspires the newsies to fight harder as well. (Newsies Film script, page 89) 

Loves kids. He immediately takes a shining to Les, offering to sell with him and paying special attention to him. (Newsies Film script, pages 18, 19) Although he and Davey originally agree to split their money 40-60, Jack can’t bring himself to take Les’s earnings, (Newsies Film script, page 22) and ends up splitting it evenly. (Newsies Film script, page 31) Later, when he goes to rescue Crutchy from the Refuge, he makes sure to greet a younger inmate and joke with him, even though it was wasting valuable seconds. (Newsies Film script, page 59) 

Puts on a big show of being tough, but cares a lot. Whenever the opportunity presents itself, Jack shows off. He deliberately wastes Wiesel’s time, (Newsies Film script, page 16) mocks Pulitzer and other important folk to their faces, (Newsies Film script, pages 48, 92, 93, 98, 128) and antagonizes the famous Spot Conlon. (Newsies Film script, page 53) But although he claims to not be afraid of striking, (Newsies Film script, page 49) he really is. Jack is terrified that someone will end up hurt, and eventually scabs out to avoid it. (Newsies Film script, page 104)

Is a pathological liar. Jack’s main strategy to sell his papes is lying, or as he puts it “improving the truth”. (Newsies Film script, page 23) But the lies don’t stop there- he lies to Davey and Les about his family, saying that they live “out West” when they’re almost certainly dead. (Newsies Film script, page 29) He lies to himself about not wanting his family back, singing “ain’t you glad that no one’s waiting up for you?” when he clearly longs for the closeness he saw in Davey’s family. (Newsies Film script, page 34)

Desperately wants a family. When Jack is invited over to the Jacobs’ apartment, he relishes in the experience. However, when he leaves, he pines over them, desperately trying to convince himself he doesn’t miss this. The whole of Santa Fe is pretty much about Jack’s need for a family. (Newsies Film script, pages 34, 35) Later, when Sarah tells him that her family is worried about him, he can barely believe what she’s saying, implying that he’s imagined some family wanting to take him in before but had little hope of it actually happening. He seems disappointed when she brings up his fictional family as well. (Newsies Film script, page 75) In the end, it’s the Jacobs inviting Jack into their family (not any of the newsies) that makes him decide to stay in New York. (Newsies Film script, pages 135, 136) This is probably because his parents were the ones who told him tales of the wild west, and now that he has a family he doesn’t need to fulfill their dreams for them anymore. (Newsies Film script, page 36)

Wants to be free. Jack is not afraid of Warden Snyder- he risks being caught by him multiple times in order to make the other newsies laugh. (Newsies Film script, pages 61, 73) However, when he’s sentenced to jail time, Jack is terrified. (Newsies Film script, page 93) He doesn’t fear Snyder- he fears not being able to achieve his dreams of going out west. However, Jack doesn’t want to abandon the people he loves- he gives up his ticket money to Medda to rent the theatre for the strike, even after she says he doesn’t have to. (Newsies Film script, pages 71, 72)

Is smart. Although he has probably never gone to school, Jack can summon eloquent speeches on the spot. (Newsies Film script, pages 41, 42, 69, 81) He can also count his papes with his eyes closed. (Newsies Film script, page 16) 

Can’t talk to girls. Despite being eloquent when faced with starvation, beatings, and stress, Jack literally cannot talk when Sarah enters the room. (Newsies Film script, page 31)

Headcanon Fuel:

What happened to Jack’s family?

Why does Jack love kids?

Why does Jack care about helping people so much?

How did Jack become leader of the Manhattan newsies?

Why isn’t Jack afraid of Spot?

Where did Jack learn rhetoric and public speaking?

Why doesn’t Jack have any best friends within the newsies’ group?

Actors and Physical Appearance:

Christian Bale

Jack is tall and masculine, with longish blonde hair and deep set eyes. He wears a red bandanna, alluding to his dreams of being a cowboy.

[hauntedbyvisionsof-flight]

Ms. Claus

Katherine lay in her bed, listening for the footsteps to fade. It was around midnight, and the Pulitzer household was finally settling. The night shift maids were settling down in their rooms, and soon Katherine would strike.

As the clock outside chimed one in the morning, Katherine slipped quietly from her bed. She opened her closet and pulled out the pair of pants and socks she had taken from the pile in the Lodging House. She pulled on a blouse and red overcoat before twisting her hair up and shoving it in a matching cap. Glancing in the mirror she nodded, her identity concealed as long as no one looked at her face.

She grabbed the two brown sacks in her wardrobe, slung them over her shoulders, and stalked towards the window.

After the last fire that destroyed the Pulitzer mansion, Joseph had fire escapes installed at every window, which made it incredibly easy for his children to sneak out. Especially when one made sure to oil the whole thing once a week like Katherine did.

Making sure to leave the window unlocked and slightly cracked, Katherine went on her way. She had no time to waste. Unfortunately, she couldn’t risk being out long enough to go to all the houses, but she did have time for one. The Lodging House.

Katherine walked surely, staring straight ahead. Her sacks bumped against her legs, causing a rhythm and slight discomfort to work their way into her gait. Luckily, she was only a few blocks away from Duane Street.

She made it to the building soon enough. As per tradition, a candle was lit in every window of the building, to guide weary souls home. Katherine knew that a lot of older kids thought it was bullshit and hated lighting them every night, but the little ones believed it would bring Santa to their house.

Most kids knew the truth about Santa, though. It only took a few Christmases with nothing under the tree and an empty stomach to ruin their faith in the immortal being. So tonight, Katherine was giving them a little bit of faith back.

She climbed up the fire escape that Jack used when he came to visit her in the dead of night. Since Davey and Les were staying the night, she’d asked the older to make sure the window was unlocked. He knew about her plan, but no one else. He may have a horrid poker face, but when it came down to it, Davey could keep a secret.

Sure enough, the window was unlocked, and she crawled through with ease. There was a slight thud as her boots hit the floor, and the nearest newsie stirred, but they didn’t wake. Exhaling silently in relief, she hoisted the bags inside and set them gently on the floor.

Taking the packages out one by one, she stacked them under the tree, making sure that the tags were clearly visible. She wished she could tie them to the tree like in her house, but the poor thing was so spindly that she was surprised the popcorn strings didn’t fall off.

Readjusting all the bows, she leaned back and surveyed her work. She straightened a few more things before she stood, satisfied. There was one last thing to do, and then Ms. Claus needed to get back home.

She took a sack in her hand and walked to every bunk in the lodge. Each boy had a sock on the end, for Santa to put some little toys in. Jack and Davey and a few of the older ones had already tried to fill them as best they could, but they were still dreadfully empty compared to hers at home.

Pulling out two items, Katherine went around the room and dropped them in the stockings. A few newsies stirred as she passed, but none woke. When she came upon the bunk Jack and Davey were sharing, she put two of each in Jack’s stocking.

When she finished with all the stockings, she was pleased to notice that there were still quite a few leftover. Smiling, she took out a ribbon and note from her pocket, before tying them together and setting them under the tree.

Still grinning to herself, Katherine slipped out the window and into the night.

~~

She showed up to the Lodging House around eight that morning, wondering how many boys had found their treats yet. It was silent when she entered, which she found quite alarming until she remembered that Christmas was their one day to sleep in. Come to think of it, she didn’t think the bell had even tolled that morning.

Kloppman wasn’t even at his desk as she passed, climbing the stairs to where the boys slept. She opened the door and giggled when she saw them all still asleep. When she stepped forward, the door slammed behind her and she winced. A few boys sat straight up in bed, clearly a conditioned response to avoid Kloppman’s bizarre wake-up strategies.

“Hey! Kath’s here!” Elmer called, scrambling out of bed. A few other boys greeted her, and slowly the lodge began to come alive.

Smalls was the first to notice. “Guys! Our stockings!” She grabbed hers from where it was stuck to her bed and quickly upended it to see what was in it.

“Holy shit!” Race yelled. “There’s a whole motherfuckin’ orange in here!”

Jack came up and cuffed him on the head. “Not in front of the kids, Racer.”

Race grumbled an apology before peeling the orange in front of him.

“What’s in this package?” someone called.

“A cake, I think?” someone called back.

Soon it was a cacophony of noise as the newsies tore apart their stockings to get to the treats that many of them could never afford.

“Guys! The tree!” Buttons yelled.

Heads whipped around in fear, obviously expecting the tree to be on fire or something. However, their looks of fear quickly turned to those of delight as they clambered forward to investigate the gifts. Katherine leaned against the doorway and smiled as they handed out packages to each other. They were all wrapped in brightly coloured paper and ribbons, which the newsies appreciated for about twenty seconds before tearing it off to get at the substance beneath.

They oo’d and ahh’d at their new clothing, books, and toys. She had tried to get them one useful thing, and one thing to play with, and it seemed that they all appreciated it.

“Who’s all these from?” Race asked, scanning the room. One by one they all shrugged, nobody owning up to it.

“Why don’t ya read the tag?” Davey sat on Jack’s bed, taking a bite out of his orange.

“From: Santa,” Race read. “But -”

“I told ya Santa was real!” Peanuts shouted, shoving at Sniper. Sniper caught his wrists and the two began wrestling. The other kids moved their presents out of the way.

“So. Santa, eh?” Jack’s arm wrapped around her middle and pulled her close.

“Mmm hmm,” she agreed. “It’s a Christmas miracle. Guess he heard about the strike and wanted to reward the kids for being so good.”

“Must be it,” Jack grinned. “So what are you doin’ over here, Ms. Plumber?”

“Told my family I was taking a walk. We won’t open presents for another hour anyway, have to wait for Ralph and Petunia and our grandparents to make it over. Honestly, Father is probably only now settling down to take his coffee.”

“Should ya scoot, then?”

She hummed. “In a minute.”

Les bounded up to them just then, wrapping his arms around Katherine’s waist. “Hiya, Kath! Didya see what Santa brought me? I ain’t even Christian but he still brought me something!”

Katherine laughed. “Did he?”

“Yeah! I got new boot laces, and a book, and a little wooden duck! It’s great!”

“Maybe Santa wanted to reward you for being so good during the strike this summer. Y’know, I think you being so intimidatin’ was the real reason my father backed down.”

Les’ eyes shone. “Ya think so?”

“Yep!” Kath ruffled his hair. “Why don’t you go see what Tommy Boy got. I think he’s itchin’ to show you.”

With that, Les scampered off, nearly colliding with Davey as he walked over. Davey scolded him, but it was lost in the din of the room and he merely grinned to himself as he continued over.

“Why hello, Ms. Plumber. I’m delighted to see you arrived in time for our Christmas miracle,” Davey greeted, sharing a knowing look.

“Indeed I did,” Katherine replied, smirking.

Jack looked back and forth between them. “Did I miss something?”

“Not at all,” Davey spoke.

Jack looked down at the sack enclosed in his fist. He had grabbed it before the naughtier kids could, and was holding it until the kids who didn’t sleep at the Lodging House would meet up with them after lunch. The tag was written in beautiful and very familiar cursive.

Jack studied the tag as Davey and Katherine shared mirthful glances, silently laughing to themselves as Jack pieced it together.

“You-” he pointed at Kath. “And you-” at Davey, “were in this together? Is that why you were so concerned with making sure the window was ‘locked?’ And why you grinned so hard when you saw that red coat in the store last week?”

Kath and Davey glanced at each other before collapsing into giggles. Jack’s confusion slowly turned into delight as he grinned at his two best friends.

“You’se real smooth, Plumber, I’ll give ya that.”

“Thanks, Jack.” She pressed a quick peck to his lips. “I should be going though. See you around three?”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” he grinned back, waving as she left the door as silently as last night. Come to think of it, this also explained why she’d been so good at sneaking lately.

“Hey, Jack.” Boots pulled at Jack’s vest. “I saw someone in a red coat last night, but I t’ought it was a dream. D’ya reckon it was Santa?”

Jack glanced at the unlocked window across the room. “Y’know what, kid? I betcha it was.”

Tag List: (if you want to be added, reply or shoot me an ask!)

@minikker02

@newsieofnj

@nymphadoratonksx

@races-cigar

@rebecko

@thesmallestbits

@stuckinmyneverendingheadspace

@sparkleystallion

@thatshiscigar

@actually-races-erster​

@albertdasilva

@alixismad

@anna-exe

@ben-cook-can-cook

@thebookofbella

@broadwayandbookblog

@cattt420

@bwaysrose

@daeynore

@daveys-pet-snake

@delanceys-pantsies

@elmers-half-a-cup

@esyazzmean

@fandomscraziness22

@heytheywascoronas

@ishouldprobablyworkoutmore

@i-got-personality

@mcoomcoo

[sunlitblue]

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (5)

yay! part five is here! this part is kind of short, but it’s also kind of dramatic (i hope). i think that there’ll probably be two more chapters after this one, and i am so not ready to let this story go. as always, message me w/ any questions or theories that you have. enjoy! <3

part 1 / part 2 / part 3 / part 4 / part 6 / part 7 / part 8

“I spoke to Jack,” were the first words out of Katherine’s mouth when you answered her call. It was Facetime, this time, so you could see the shiny tears in her eyes. She didn’t give you a chance to reply before she continued.

“He texted me a half hour, or so, ago. He said that you told him that you have no feelings for him anymore. Is that true?”

Her voice was measured when she asked, but you knew her well-enough to know that her calm exterior was a practiced façade. She’d learnt it at her father’s company dinners when old white men grinned down at her condescendingly when she said that she wanted more than to be known as Joe Pulitzer’s rich daughter. She was good at it, but you knew better.

“Katherine, I promise that I feel nothing even remotely romantic for Jack. I would never hurt you like that, you know I wouldn’t.”

There was quiet for a moment, and then she exhaled, and grinned.

“Thank god! Do you know how difficult it was not to talk to you?”

You matched her smile and laughed.

“Yeah, I have some idea. My life has kind of imploded in the past couple weeks.”

You told her the official story of your relationship with Race. You wanted desperately to be honest, but Race had been right. She’d freak out and probably fly down to yell at you. Fake dating was exactly the kind of logistical nightmare that she’d hate.

Two weeks into December and week before the dreaded ski trip, you and Davey found yourselves huddled under the bleachers.

“Davey, remind me again why this is the only place we can cram for history?”

“Uh, duh, because we aren’t supposed to know about the ‘pop’ quiz. If Bunsen catches us learning, he’ll change the date again, and we won’t be able to see it coming!”

You rolled your eyes, at him, but got back to your notes.

“So, what changed in New York state labour laws in 1899?”, you quizzed him.

Before he could answer, you heard footsteps above you, and, then, voices.

“I don’t know, Race, it’s, like, you just don’t have time for me anymore. Whenever I see you, you’re with her!”

“What do you want from me, Spot? You want me to wait around until you’re done playing games? Why don’t you just hang out with your Brooklyn boyfriend?”

You swallowed and nudged Davey, motioning with your head that the two of you should get out of there.

“No way,” he whispered, low enough that you barely heard it. “They’re talking about you!”

Davey was your closest friend, and after Spot had cut the both of you off, neither of you ever found out why. He claimed to be over it, but Davey had a big heart. Spot’s betrayal hit him harder than it did you, and he wasn’t about to miss an opportunity to get some dirt on Conlon.

“He’s not like you, Race! He isn’t a good listener!”

“Yeah, well, maybe that’s because he doesn’t wait on your hand and foot like I used to. I’m done dating someone that I idolise, Spot. Do you think that’s love?”

Race sounded a little out of breath, and you had to strain to hear his next words.

“Spot, you cannot keep doing this to me.”

There was a beat of silence.

“Is she coming on the ski trip? You know that’s been our thing since we started high school, Racer.”

“Why would that be your business? The trip’s in a week and you have a boyfriend.”

Spot sighed.

“I know, but maybe by then… I won’t.”

Something creaked and you heard Race’s scoff and his footsteps stomping away. After a while, Spot followed.

Davey turned to you with wide eyes.

“Dude. Spot is trying his luck with your boyfriend.”

You gave him a small, tight smile.

“We should get to history. Don’t need Bunsen to think we’re bunking.”

The next day, you ran into Jack. Everything was still a little awkward, but it had been a couple weeks since the party and you knew that he and Kath were back on speaking terms. The conversation you’d over heard was still playing itself on a loop in your head. Race was your fake boyfriend, but he wouldn’t cheat on you, right? And, why did the idea of him getting back with Spot put a pit in your stomach? That had been the plan, hadn’t it? Jack must have seen that something was bothering you when he stopped you in the hallway at the end of the school day.

“Hey, you look stressed. Is everything alright with you and Race?”

You suddenly remembered why Jack had meant so much to you. He was kind and intelligent, but it was more than that. It always felt like he could read your mind, before you even figured out what you were thinking.

“Uh, no, but Race-drama is probably the last thing you want to talk about.”

“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t care. Tell me what’s going on.”

So, you did. You told him everything, leaving out the fact that it was all supposed to be fake.

“I guess,” you concluded, “I just feel like the longer I’m with him, the more it’s going to hurt when he inevitably goes running back to Spot. I could kick myself for not seeing this coming.”

“Uh, shit, I don’t know what to tell you. That sucks. I’m sorry you have to go through that.” He reached out an arm and pulled you into a side hug.

“Y/N?”, you heard someone hiss at you from across the hallway. You both looked up to see Race standing there, with a calculus textbook in his hand.

You pulled away from Jack.

“Hey, do you need a lift today? Should I wait?”, he asked kindly

“Thanks, Jack, but you’d better not.”

You headed to Race and pulled him into an emptier corridor. His voice was sharp when he spoke again.

“What the hell? What do you think people will say when they see my girlfriend cozying up with Jack Kelly?”

“Excuse me? What do you think people will say when they hear that you’re practically begging to get back with Spot?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I heard you talking on the bleachers.”

“Oh, so you’re spying on me now?”

“Not intentionally!”

He scoffed.

“Okay, so I was talking to Spot. So, what?”

“Yeah, exactly. So, what? Look, neither of us expected this to go on for so long. Spot obviously wants you back, Jack and I are cool. I think we can call it.”

He looked hurt.

“I cannot believe that you’re trying to end this before the ski trip. It’s in the contract!”

“Yeah, only if we’re still together.”

“We are still together! You’re just trying to pull out because you’re scared.”

You stepped nearer to him, and you could see his chest rising and falling.

“What do I have to be scared of, Higgins?”

“I don’t know. You tell me.”

Somewhere, you hear a bell ring.

How do you tell your fake boyfriend that you can’t go skiing with him because you’re developing real feelings? You can’t. Instead, you take a step back. From a little further away, it’s easier to avoid the sparkle in his eyes, or to stop your hand from grabbing onto his fidgeting one.

“Fine. Whatever. I’ll see you on Friday. The bus leaves at seven, right?”

He looks a little shocked that you’ve given in.

“I, uh. Yeah.”

“Cool. Don’t save me a seat.”

TAGLIST: @the-kool-aid-man-is-real @broadwayloser @newsies-nuisance @bennie-badeend @all-american-fangirl @hungoverhellhound @seriously-ceci @ben-cook-can-cook @pinecovewoods @brendonuriehimself @races-erster @the-butterfly-anon

[lovethyfanperson]

Being a Deaf Girlsie Headcanons

Request: I was wondering if you were interested in a deaf girlsie x any newsie boy ? It doesn’t have to be romantic but I would love to see her interact with the newsies

I hope this is something close to what you wanted sweetie! Also, if anything in this is offensive of insensitive, let me know and I’ll fix it! I don’t want to offend anyone.

Also, this ended up being about 5 pages long hehe

Warnnings: Cussing, name-calling

@sincereythenewsies @-episkey- @partylikeits1899  @to-many-fandoms-halp @girlslikefoodandwifi

Being a Deaf Girlsie Headcanons:

- You’re a Newsie (obviously)

- So, you haven’t been deaf all your life

- And you lost your hearing under circumstances you’d rather never mention again

- Jack met you in the refuge

- And when he escapes, he brings you with him

- By this time you’ve become accustomed to reading lips

- Being poor, you can’t afford to learn ASL

- But that’s okay

- Because even if you did, no one else in the lodging house knew it

- They just become accustomed to looking at you and speaking clearly

- Okay, so

- You get very insecure about being deaf

- Because you can still speak

- But you don’t know what you sound like anymore, after all these years

- But Buttons and Finch assure you repeatedly that you have a lovely voice

- Also, even though you escaped the refuge with Jack, you’re best friends with Crutchie

- Because he understands what it’s like to not be “100% there” as he sometimes puts it

- Also, Crutchie’s not much of a crier.

- But there was one thing you said that made him shed a tear

- “I wish I could hear your voice.”

- You just sounded so sad

- So he held you for the longest time, humming

- You like being held while people hum

- Because you can feel the vibrations in their chest

- Anyways

- The boys get very protective when someone tries to flirt with you

- Boys out there on the street have no idea you’re deaf

- And you’ll often get hit on without knowing it

- Then suddenly you see Romeo standing over some bum, who’s holding his broken nose

- Specs adored you btw

- He doesn’t know why

- It’s just something about your kind and gentle nature

- Also the fact that when your clueless it is adorable

- Like, every once in awhile (it doesn’t happen too often) one of the boys will tell a joke

- But you’re not paying attention

- Then everyone around you is busting out laughing

- And you jump back, surprised

- Why is everyone throwing themselves around

- They look like they’re in pain

- Are they laughing?

- And all you say is “What?”

- When Davey meets you, he has no idea you’re deaf

- So he introduces himself rather quickly

- This boy talks FAST

- Not only that, but you’re also not looking at him

- All you see is a hand suddenly thrusting out towards you for a shake

- So when you look up you do that little “What?”

- And he’s really confused

- Like “she didn’t hear me?”

- “Uh. Hi, I’m new. I’m Davey.”

- He says it just as fast, so you catch nothing he says

- “Sorry, I’s… Didn’t quite get that. Can you’s say that again, a bit slower?”

- “…what do you mean?”

- “Sorry, sorry. I’s is deaf. And I need you’s ta talk a bit slower. So I’s can read yah lips.”

- “You don’t sound deaf!”

- You can’t hear Les, but Davey smacks his brother with his hat nonetheless

- “Sorry. I’m, Davey.’

- “Okay, not that slow.”

- You two become fast friends.

- SO

- You have a small crush on the Spot Conlon

- He visits every once in a while, since the strike ended

- You avoid him like the plague

- Because every time he tries to talk to you, your face goes red

- Because his lips look so soft

- And you’re so busy thinking about kissing him that you don’t pay attention to what he’s saying

- The only one who’s picked up on this is Elmer

- “Be careful with ‘im, (F/N).”

- “What you mean?”

- “That Spot Conlon’s a handful. I just don’t want you’s gettin’ hurt. Might start a terf war.’

- “I’s ‘ll be fine, Elmer. Sides, not like he likes me back.”

- “Why you’s say that?”

- “He’s Spot Conlon.”

- You once saw Baby flirting with him

- And that hurt you the most

- You couldn’t see his responses, since his back was turned to you

- But you could see everything she was saying to him

- And you end up crying that night

- Little did you know that he was blowing her off

- #BabyGotRejected

- Anyway

- Pulitzer was having a party one time

- And Katherine invited some of you

- And you didn’t plan on going

- Until Spot turned up and asked if you were going

- Because he was “hoping to see you there.”

- This is when the rest of the newsies pick up on your crush

- And they warn you

- And you’re just like “I’s already got this lecture from Elmer, shuddup.”

- Katherine, the sweetheart, let you borrow one of her old party dresses

- It was a little big

- But Tipper fixed it up so it fit you

- You, Race, and Jojo, and Tipper walked there together

- When you arrive, you feel so out of place

- Most people there are wealthy

- Or they have enough money to get by, then some

- Meanwhile you and your friends are basically dirt poor

- And you start to regret coming

- Because everyone looked like they were having a nice time listening to music, and listening to each other

- And the one person you’d come for, you couldn’t find

- So you tell Race that you’re heading back to the lodging house

- And he tells you that he’ll walk you

- And you shake your head

- “You’s have a good time. I’ll be fine.”

- “It’s dark outside, and- Oh, look who it is.”

- He turns you around, and your heart stops

- Spot has just arrived, fashionably late

- And he’s wearing his nicest pants, and a blue button up you’ve never seen on him before

- And he’s walking in your direction.

- “(F/N), you look great.”

- “S-so do you!” You blush, because some people turn to you

- You’d spoken rather loud.

- Race says something from behind you

- Spot just shrugs

- “I ain’t late. Party just started early.”

- Then he starts leading you towards the dancefloor

- “Spot, what are yah doin’?”

- He stops and turns to you, saying once three words

- “Dance with me.”

- “I can’t hear the music.”

- “Just follow my lead.”

- It isn’t that easy

- You trip over him multiple times

- So he brings you closer to the band

- “Vibrations, right?”

- Your heart fucking melts

- It’s all you can talk about for the next couple days

- And the other girlsies think it’s adorable

- The boys?

- Not so much

- Not to say they aren’t happy for you

- But you and Crutchie are their little rays of sunshine

- And if Spot ended up hurting you

- Elmer was not joking when he said there would be a terf war

- The next time Spot visits, Crutchie pulls him off to the side

- And gives him a warning

- “If you’s hurt ma sistah-”

- “(F/N)’s your sistah?”

- It takes a moment for Crutchie to realize what he’s said

- “N-no… But still-!”

- “Hey, hey, calm down. I ain’t gonna hurt no one.”

- He places a hand gently on Crutchie’s shoulder

- “You’s promise?”

- “I’s swear on tha life’a Brooklyn.”

- You two have Crutchie’s blessing

- Back to the “Sistah” thing

- Most of the boys see you as a sister

- Especially Specs, Jack, and Crutchie

- Crutchie is the first one to refer to you as his sister though

- And you see them as your brothers

- You’re all one big, (mostly) happy family

- This part

- This gets a bit angsty

- The Delancey Brothers

- Those bastards think they’re funny

- Because they think you don’t know what they’re saying

- So they call you names

- Their favorite so far is “Poor Deaf Bitch”

- But they make sure none of the others are around when they use them

- And you couldn’t bring yourself to tell anyone for the longest time

- Because you didn’t want to start a fight

- But then they picked up on your crush

- And they start calling you “Brooklyn’s little slut”

- And you’d had enough

- You ran away from them, and back to the lodging house

- And You break down, and tell Crutchie immediately

- You’d never seen Crutchie so mad

- And you can’t bring yourself to tell him how long it’s been happening

- “How long, (F/N)?

- “… A while.”

- “Goddamn them!”

- “Crutchie!”

- You just want to be held

- So he holds you while you cry

- And you eventually fall asleep

- When Jack gets back, Crutchie tells him immediately.

- He doesn’t even say hello

- And Jack is beyond pissed

- He marches straight out of the lodging house, grabbing the two closest newsies (Mush and Tipper)

- And the three aren’t seen for hours

- You’re awake by the time they get back

- Tipper’s lip is busted and a bloody nose

- Her clothes are torn

- Mush has cuts and bruises

- His clothes are fine though

- Jack has a black eye forming, his nose is bleeding, and he’s limping just a little

- They went to go soak up the Delancey’s

- But they had a couple friends with them

- Regardless, it was obvious who had won

- You started to cry again

- The next time Spot is over, you beg the guys not to tell him

- But Race does anyway

- And Spot gets so mad

- He turns to leave the lodging house

- You have to run after him to stop him from trying to take on the Delancey’s by himself

- “Spot! Spot stop!”

- “They don’t ‘ave the right ta call yah that!”

- “Jack, Mush, and Tipper already took care’a ‘em.”

- “I don’t care. No one messes with my goirl!”

- He’s talking so fast, you almost don’t catch what he says. And your heart just stops.

- “What did you’s say?”

- Your voice is so quiet

- And he stares at you

- And you can see him calming down

- He pulls you into the tightest hug you’ve ever been in

- And you two just stand there for a while, hugging

- These boys will do anything for you

- Though you remind them constantly that, despite your disability, you can hold your own

- But boys will be boys

- You’ll just have to show them

- Won’t you?

[achaoticeternal]

From Past to Present

Request: Hi there! May I have a Jack Kelly (Jeremy Jordan) x reader where he's 17 and she's 15 and she's a mother to everyone at the refuge. Jack fell in love with her when he was at the refuge and still talks to her when he brings the refuge food and water and stuff like that. He thinks the reader grew up too fast, and tried to get her to be happy again? At the end he tells her the refuge was shut down and they kiss? I'm sorry this was so long 😣😣

A/n: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh! I loved writing this yesyesyesyesyesyes

Warnings: one curse word? this is like 1500 words :)

Tags: @last-an-eon @helplessfor-fictionalcharacters

(Y/N) has had the pleasure of knowing the infamous newsie, Jack Kelly, since the moment he first entered the refuge. His mother had just passed and his father was thrown into jail and he was 12 years old, 2 years older than her; that’s the extent of what she knew when he came into the refuge. She was 10 and an orphan, but in the refuge because Synder found her walking aimlessly one night and threw her in there for loitering. 

So even what little time (Y/N) spent in the refuge before Jack came, she had already made a name for herself, like a mother to the boys, even who were older than her. But when Jack came in and would steal food and clothes for the boys, he became the father figure to the boys.

It took a couple of months for the pair to become the mother and father duo that was so well-known entering and leaving the refuge. She didn’t fully trust him at first since his father was a convict and Jack, technically, was a criminal. But soon, both saw eye to eye. 

Fast forward five years later and now neither of them are held captive by Synder in the refuge. Jack, now 17 years old, had made a swift escaped and had been doing his best to avoid Synder ever since. Yet, he would still bring stolen food and clothes to the boys at the refuge.

As for (Y/N), she now worked at the refuge after serving her time. She couldn’t let the poor boys stuck in the refuge deal with the unruly Synder for a great deal of time. So she assumed motherly duties of feeding, waking up, and nurturing all the boys, even though she was only fifteen. 

Jack would often visit the refuge, just to see his girl, (Y/N). Well, she wasn’t his girl, not yet at least.

“(Y/N), you’ve grown up too fast” Jack said to her one night on the rooftop of the refuge.

“What do you mean, Jack?” she raised a brow, turning her gaze to him.

“I mean you should be livin’ life, having fun! Acting like a girl, wearin’ a pretty dress,” he exclaimed then sighed, “we- you should be enjoy your youth and not concerning yourself with playing mother for these boys in the refuge. You deserve happiness that this stinkin’ city can’t give you.”

“But I am happy, Jack. I’m happy that I’ve been able to help all the boys who have come and gone through this refuge. I’m glad that I can save them from Synder’s wrath most of the time. I’m happy that I met you all those years ago and I’m happy that you still care for these boys,” (Y/N) tried to assure Jack, “we have a decent life here for now.”

“One day, I’m gonna leave New York, (Y/N), and I want you to come with me. Just so you can see how much better fresh air will be for us- you in Santa Fe,” Jack softly rubbed circles onto (Y/N)’s back. Both of them basked in this moment of stillness.

Barely a week had passed and the whole world had taken such a turn. Every newspaper in town had raised the price of papes from $.50 to $.60 per hundred and if you don’t think it infuriated Jack, well you’re wrong. He made sure to visit the refuge that night and brought a long his new friend, Davey, with him. (the poor guy looked like he was dragged into it)

“Pulitzer has done it now, (Y/N)! All the boys are lookin’ to Dave and I’se for guidance. A-and we got this stupid strike and union thing goin’ on. Ya know, I want to Brooklyn today and asked Spot Conlon to join in on the strike and he said... he said-” Jack was cut of from a hug from (Y/N) in an attempt to calm him so he wouldn’t get to loud. She didn’t want Synder to catch him and from what he said earlier, they had a little run in the day before. 

“Deep breathes, Jack,” she pulled away but held onto his large hands while he took in a lung-full of air and slowly breathed it out, “What did Conlon say?”

“He told us he didn’t want to join in if we were going to run at the first sign of trouble. So now we have to prove that we are taking a stand until Pulitzer and Hearst respect our rights as a union,” Davey had finally spoken up. 

“Well then, tomorrow give ‘em hell in Newsie Square,” (Y/N) commanded and all three laughed together.

The next day held no laughter. In the span of 24 hours, too much had happened to the poor newsboys during the next day’s strike. A fight had broken out and the bulls really soaked the newsies. (Y/N) knew all this because Synder went to the strike and brought back Jack’s oldest friend, Crutchie, who told her everything.

Crutchie told (Y/N) about how they had scarred of the Delancy’s brothers but they came back with reinforcements. And then the police showed up. And that they had caught Crutchie and dragged him to the refuge by his gimp leg. After receiving many blows from his crutch and the Delancy’s fist, (Y/N) did her best to patch up Crutchie.

Soon after, she left the refuge to pick up more food for the starving boys and to find Jack to make sure he was okay.

That night, (Y/N) found Jack in his penthouse, clothes and body tattered from the fight that day. 

“I messed up, (Y/N). Those boys got hurt because of me!”

:it isn’t your fault! They chose to be part of the strike! This is what happens when you stand up for what you believe in, Jack! It can suck ass but the reward will be so sweet, trust me.”

There was a break of silence between them.

“I want to go to Santa Fe. I can’t stay here anymore. I can’t deal with a constant reminder of failure! So c’mon, (Y/N), let’s go, far away. Somewhere they won’t ever find us and tomorrow won’t remind me of today.”

“Jack, things will get better, I promise,” i took his hand and he just shook his head

“And I’m gone, And I’m done. No more running, no more lying.” He faced away from her and looked out at the city and continued his little speech. She carefully approached him and softly lay a hand on his shoulder. He swiftly turned around, which frightened the poor girl.

“Where’s it say you gotta live and die here? Where’s it say a guy can’t catch a break? Why should you only take what you’re given? Why should you spend your whole life livin’-” Jack had (Y/N) pushed up against the railing of his penthouse. She could see the frustration and sadness in his eyes”- trapped where there ain’t no future? Even at seventeen.” He walked away from her, focusing on his little rant.

(Y/N) took this as her opportunity to escape, seeing that the best way she could help Jack was to leave him alone for now.

By now, news had spread about the rally, how all of the New York City newsies were all on strike, and the plan to surround the gates at the World with every working child in New York. However, (Y/N) was stuck in the refuge because Synder decided to lock everyone in while he ran off to catch Jack. Silently, she prayed everything would turn out okay.

And it seems her prayers came true, because someone unlocked the door of the refuge. Two police men walked in and asked for a Crutchie Morris and a (Y/N) (Y/L/N) to  accompany them. Of course, both children followed the police into a new coach which took them to Newsie Square. 

Both of them looked out the coach and saw Newsies from every borough hugging and acting like fools. Some chanted “we won, we won, we won!” But (Y/N) couldn’t spot Jack in the sea of boys. 

Finally the coach came to a stop, to which (Y/N) closed the blinds of the coach so that the officers didn’t get the wrong impression. She first helped Crutchie out and he waddled off to join his friends he missed so badly while being stuck at the refuge.

(Y/N) had only taken 5 steps away from the coach when Jack Kelly lifted her up and twirled, then pulled her in close for a hug.

“We dids it, (Y/N),we dids it.”

“No, Jack, you did it.” He pulled away from her and beamed down at her.

“No, we dids it! The refuge is closing, (Y/N), those boys won’t be abused anymore! I gave the governor and the police your letters you gave me where you wrote about the terrible place! We dids it!” Jack pulled her into another tight hug, spinning her around again before once again, pulling away, “and (Y/N), I’se love ya so much.”

“I love you too, Jack Kelly,” and with that, (Y/N) and Jack shared their first kiss. The first of many.

[rbbalmung]

Quiddsies: Chapter 3

Hey guys! This chapter is in Katherine’s perspective and picks up near the end of the last chapter. I will warn you that this chapter is even longer than the last one, but I think that’s a good thing!

What What Happens:

“Come on, boys! Are we really going to let Wiesel and Pulitzer walk all over us?” Katherine briskly followed the rest of her team, ignoring the glares some the surrounding students were giving her,” Anyone? Darcy?”

She desperately reached forward and pulled her childhood friend back by his sleeve,” Come on, Kitty,” He gently pried her hand off of his sweater,” You and I both know that our fathers would murder us if we joined this strike. I’m in enough trouble with him as it is.”

Mr. Reid had always been too tough on his only child and was practically forcing him to take over the family business as soon as he graduated. Katherine’s father, on the other hand, was the exact opposite; he practically ignored his daughter and actually discouraged her from following in his footsteps. Katherine cringed when the mental image of Darcy’s father roughly grabbing him and threatening that he’d disown him if he didn’t get an outstanding in his O.W.L.s.  If he found out that Darcy was purposely skipping class...

The boy with glasses sighed. He obviously didn’t want her to get involved in something that could get her in in trouble, but he recognized the determined glint in her eyes and knew she wouldn’t be giving in. With a worried frown, he pulled her into a tight hug,” Are you really going to do this? It’s not your best idea.”

“We both know that it’s my fault quidditch was taken away in the first place,” Katherine buried her face in her friend’s jacket, instantly being taken back to long nights hiding away from dinner parties and Christmases spent at Hogwarts in order to avoid their families. In many ways, Darcy was the brother Katherine never had, and every fiber of her being didn’t want him to sacrifice his well-being for her,” I have to fight to make things right again. I won’t let everyone suffer because of me; If I’m the last person standing, I’m going to stand firm.”

“....Fine,” She blinked in surprise when her friend pulled away from the hug and waved towards the retreating Slytherin team,” You always have had a way with words, Kitty,” When she sent him an even more confused look, he elaborated,” I will help you, but I can’t do it openly. If you ever need someone to bounce an idea off of, I’d be more than happy to help.”

    While it wasn’t full support, the small amount was more than enough for Katherine,” I don’t deserve you, Darcy.”

    “I think you’ve got that backwards, but I’ll take the compliment,” He grinned cheekily,” Now go and get the rest of the team to back you up before they make it too far.”

    She gave him one last hug before taking his advice and racing to catch up with the Slytherins,” Hey! Hey guys! Wait up! I need to talk to you!” When they showed no signs of stopping, she moved onto her second form of persuasion; a threat,” I swear to god, if you don’t stop right now-”

    “You’ll do what, Captain?” Oscar sent her a warning glance, but much to her relief, he stopped to face her,” Or should I call you Princess instead, since that’s what we all know you are.”

    She clenched her fists and forced the urge to hex him into tomorrow away. While she would never admit it to anyone, she used to be fairly good friends with the Delanceys. Their dad used to be her father’s bodyguard, meaning that most of their childhood was spent killing time outside of his office. The three’s friendship broke off, however, when they began to attend Hogwarts; The Delanceys got involved with the wrong people, and Katherine didn’t stand for their transition into becoming bullies. There was also a misunderstanding between herself and Morris, but she prefered to forget that ever happened,” I know that you’re all scared, but you heard what Crutchie said; if we stand together, we can fight Pulitzer!” Oscar’s glare intensified, urging her to back away. Sadly, Katherine was never one accept defeat,” And as much as we hate the reputation we have and the glares we get at school for our house colors, we have to stand beside them to get quidditch back.”

    Morris stepped forward,” I’d shut up if I were you, Princess.”

    “Is that a threat?”

    “You heard me loud and clear.”

    Suddenly, a short boy with deep black hair stepped between the two. He couldn’t have been past his fourth year, but the amount of gusto he was showing was fairly impressive,” Hey now, is that any way to treat a beautiful lady? I’d back away if I were you.”

    She tried to hide her laughter. Was this kid flirting with her? Had something happened between her fifth and sixth year that suddenly made her a boy magnet? Katherine chuckled,” While I appreciate your spunk, Romeo, I can protect myself.”

    He gave her a cheeky wink before trudging over to Jojo, nudging his shoulder in excitement,” How did she know my name was Romeo?”

    Without the 4th year to be a barrier between them anymore, Morris had no problem getting right in her face. She held her ground firmly, staring straight into his wild eyes with a sense of defiance. The two held each other’s gaze for what felt like an eternity, only breaking the stare-off when Morris emitted a condescending laugh,” You heard what she said, Oscar; She doesn’t need anyone to protect her anymore,” He turned to leave, making sure to purposely knock her aside,” Don’t come running back to me when your Daddy hears about this.”

    The brothers, once again, left without sending so much as a glance at Katherine. She mentally chastised herself as she regained her footing; a part of her knew that the Delanceys wouldn’t be on her side, but she couldn’t help but feel her hope dashed as they left her in the dust. Darcy, who had caught up by this point, send her an encouraging thumbs up before following after his friend Bill. Much like the two of them, Bill was raised in a wealthy family and held to almost unreachable standards. Him stepping away from the strike was reasonable.

    Katherine sighed, waiting to watch the rest of her team follow suit. It was starting to look like she was going to be the only Slytherin to join the strike, which would not turn out well for her at all. Oh well. Someone had to do it, and if it was going to be her-

    “So what now, cap?”

    The girl’s heart fluttered when she turned to find two of her teammates smiling back at her,” Wait, you guys are going to strike with me?”

    Romeo grinned cheerfully,” Of course! What kind of a gentlemen would I be if I let you do this alone? Plus, I heard that girls like bad boys. I’ll have the ladies all over me in a matter of hours once word gets around.”

    She let out a watery laugh, relief filling her up like a balloon,” Thanks, Romeo. What about your friend?”

    The fifth year, Jojo, shrugged with an even bigger smile on his face,” I really wanted to strike for quidditch, I just didn’t want to be the only one. I was waiting for someone else to join with me.”

    “...Really?”

    “You said it yourself,” His smile shifted into a more bittersweet one,” The other houses don’t exactly like us.”

    She couldn’t say he didn’t have a point,” I’ll take it! Now, let’s go meet back up with the others before they assume we dropped out altogether.”

 ==============================================================

    By the time Katherine, Romeo, and Jojo had returned to the pitch, the strikers were all talking over each other. The words “Weasel”, “Detention”, “Durmstrang”, and several profanities popped out of the conversations like neon signs, drawing Katherine closer to the group. She couldn’t say she was surprised when Jack’s voice rang out above the rest,” Come on, Finch, are you telling me you’re scared of Durmstrang?”

    “I’m not scared of anything!” The boy replied defensively. Many of the students in on the conversation sent him incredulous looks, causing him to shrivel up slightly,” But the last time I sent my owl there, he returned missing a ton of feathers!”

    “Why don’t you just send your owl, Jack?” One of the Ravenclaws, Specs, pointed out,” You’re friends with Spot Conlon, aren’t you?”

    “You know Spot Conlon?” Katherine felt the words leave her lips before she could stop them. Spot Conlon was the youngest professional quidditch player in Europe, and had gained himself quite the reputation from playing as a beater for the Hungarian Horntails. While he wasn’t her favorite quidditch player, she couldn’t deny the giddy feeling that bubbled inside of her at the thought of interacting with him,” How do you know Spot Conlon?”

    A slight smirk snuck its way onto Jack’s face as he hopped forward to meet her,” Well, what are you doing here?”

    “Asking a question,” Good answer, Kat. Keep him on his toes,” Do you have an answer?”

    “Spot Conlon and I are both from New York City. I met him at the Quidditch World Cup last year, so we write each other back and forth to keep in touch. Since he goes to Durmstrang, we’re trying to decide whose owl we’re sending to him,” When she waved for him to explain, his grin grew even wider,” We’re trying to spread the word to the other schools to get their support for the cause. We figured that if we can get everyone on board, we’ll make a bigger commotion,” The brunet stuffed his hands in his pockets and retreated back to the group, silently baiting her to tag along,” You know, for someone who doesn’t care about quidditch, you sure spend a lot of time on the pitch. What is that about?” He winked,” Are you following me?”

    “Who said I didn’t care about quidditch? I am the captain of the Slytherin team, aren’t I?” Katherine crossed her arms,” And no, I’m not following you: I’m here to join the strike.”

    She tried to ignore the weirdly adorable way Jack’s eyes lit up when she said that and flipped to face an extremely skeptical Davey,” Didn’t you just walk away an hour ago?”

    “I was getting reinforcements,” She motioned towards the two boys behind her, both of whom waved eagerly,” Jojo and Romeo also want to join the cause. We figured that you wouldn’t properly gain Headmaster Wiesel’s attention without all four houses participating.”

    “I wouldn’t call three people joining participation,” Albert backed his captain up.

    “Hey now, any help is good help,” Katherine both relaxed and tensed up when she felt Jack clap his hand on her shoulder,” You heard what Crutchie said earlier; if we stand together, we can accomplish anything.”

    She nodded politely while simultaneously shrugging his hand away. To say that she had mixed feelings about Jack was an understatement. While she wanted to believe that she didn’t care about the stupid flirt with the outrageously large ego, the playbill with a beautiful sketch of her consistently burned a hole in her bag as a reminder of her confliction. No matter. Now wasn’t the time to mull over feelings, it was the time to make a difference,” Speaking of help, I’ve got a way to spread the word not only to the students, but other wizards as well.”

    Crutchie rose his eyebrow,” What do you mean?”

    “I’m a writer,” To prove her point, she pulled a notepad and quill out of her bag,” If you guys will let me interview you, I’ll whip together an article and send it to the quibbler.”

    “The quibbler?” Davey choked out a laugh,” They’re not exactly the most respected news source around.”

    Much to her surprise, a Hufflepuff girl with mousy brown hair stood up for her,” What are you suggesting we do instead? Send it in to the Daily Prophet? I’m not sure if you’ve noticed or not, but they’re the reason we’re striking in the first place.”

    “But nobody reads the Quibbler,” Elmer pointed out,” How much help will a failing paper be?”

    “More help than no paper,” Katherine retorted as she squared her shoulders. Jojo wasn’t kidding when he said the other houses didn’t trust them, for at the moment, Jack and the hufflepuff girl seemed to be the only two people onboard with her,” Look, I know that this doesn’t look ideal, but I promise, I will get us the space.”

    There were a few beats of silence with every quidditch player mulling her proposition over. Finally, Crutchie spoke up,” You really think you could get us in a paper?”

    “With a story like this?” A small smile flitted over her lips,” We’re gonna make the front page.”

    A collective gasp rang throughout the crowd as the group turned to see each other: Mush and Kid Blink instinctively grabbed each other's shoulders, Specs’s glasses had slipped down to the brim of his nose, Dutchey was bouncing on the balls of her feet in excitement, and Davey had reached behind himself to grab Crutchie’s hand. If Jack was excited, he was good at hiding it,” Well, are we all in collective agreement to allow the Slytherins to join the strike?”

    A huge grin broke across Katherine’s face when all of the quidditch students cheered in unison.

 =============================================================

    The rest of the afternoon was spent either planning, socializing, or in Katherine’s case, starting interviews. While she was nervous at first, some of the things she learned put her at ease. For example, Elmer wanted to play quidditch because it was tradition for his family to try out. He was hoping to become co-captain the following year and eventually take over the team once Race graduated.

    Buttons, the Hufflepuff chaser, was also a prefect and quite possibly the sweetest person Katherine had ever met. The first thing he asked was if he could still help the kids in his house during the strike, to which she couldn’t say no to. It was oddly refreshing to see someone put others before themselves, especially when she came from a house of self-sufficient students.

    However, the student she was most curious about was a Mr. Jack Kelly: He had spent a good majority of the day working on his letter to Spot, using his free time to check on the newly formed union members. With Katherine spending every available moment to interview the others, it was starting to look like the two wouldn’t meet up until the next day.

    Katherine had been interviewing Davey and his little brother, Les, up until the sun had nearly set. When it became evident that Bunson, the groundskeeper, would come after them if they didn’t leave soon, the two bid her goodbye and headed back up to their rooms. She was about to follow suit when the silhouette of a certain strike leader caught her eye. The auburn haired girl made sure to straighten her shoulders and keep her chin held high before heading in his direction,” So what’s your story? Are you planning on playing quidditch professionally to pay for art school?”

    He visibly lit up when she approached him, but scoffed at her question,” Art school? Are you kidding me?”

    “But you’re an artist. You’ve got real talent,” To prove her point, she dug an extremely familiar playbill out of her bag and held it out. Katherine watched his expression shift from confusion to a touch of bashfulness as he observed his work,” You should be pursuing art-”

    “You kept it?”

    “-instead of focusing on-” Her heart leapt straight into her throat when she finally processed what he asked and the way he was looking at her. Damn, how was she supposed to react when he was staring at her with that much admiration? Katherine cleared her throat and regained her bearings,” O-Of course. I wasn’t kidding when I said you had real talent,” Reel it in, Kat. You’re supposed to be interviewing him, not tripping over yourself like a silly schoolgirl,” You should place your focus on your art instead of quidditch.”

    He shrugged half-heartedly,” Maybe that’s not what I want.”

    She eagerly pulled her notepad and quill out of her bag, ready to record,“ Then tell me what you want.”

    “...Can’t you see it in my eyes?” Katherine glanced up from her writings to see him sending her the cheekiest grin she had ever laid eyes on. That was more like it; this was the Jack Kelly she had heard hushed rumors about in the hallways. The same boy that had jumped into so many people’s pants that nobody could keep count and slacked in all of his classes because he enjoyed vexing the professors. She had been fooling herself when she thought he gave a damn about anything but himself.

    With newly found confidence, Katherine rolled her eyes and walked straight past him,” Yeah, okay,” She was about to put her supplies away and call it a day, but the Gryffindor reached forward and gently grabbed her by her elbow. As much as she wanted to deny it, the look Jack was giving her was the exact same look she had given Darcy earlier that day. With a deep breath, she decided to give him a second chance,” Have you always been their leader?”

    “Davey’s the brains, I’m just the blowhard,” The brunet replied honestly,” He actually knows what he’s doing.”

    The voice in the back of her head insisting that there was more to Jack that meant the eye was screaming at her to say something, but she was honestly too shocked to investigate,” Modesty is not a quality I would’ve pinned on you.”

    “Gee, thanks,” She chuckled at his response, but was not at all ready for his next question,” What about you, huh? Why’re you striking with us?”

    She hoped that she hid the wave of nerves that rolled into her stomach well and nonchalantly crossed her arms,” I’m standing up for...,” Katherine frantically searched her brain for any excuse that could get him off her back for at least a little while,”...women’s rights.”

    Unfortunately, he seemed to catch on,” What, aren’t you sure?”

    “We live in a world where witches are barely placed on quidditch teams. It’s bad enough that there are barely any girls on in general, but if we take quidditch away for good, there’s no guarantee that they’ll let ladies play in professional teams,” Well, it wasn’t a lie. Katherine felt strongly about equal rights, and the surge of pride that swelled in her chest whenever she announced she was the Slytherin quidditch captain was a feeling she didn’t want to be taken away from other girls,” Don’t you feel the same?”

    The familiar look of admiration crept back into Jack’s eyes as he smiled at her,” ‘Course. I’ve seen you, Smalls, and Sniper play. You girls are a force to be reckoned with.”

    She shook her blush away and quickly changed the subject,” So tell me about this week. What are you hoping for?”

    “I’d rather tell you what I was hoping for tonight.”

    Man, this boy really knew how to screw himself over in her mind,” Mr. Kelly.”

    Much to her surprise, he held her eye contact for another few seconds before sighing and giving up,” This week, we’re testing out our boundaries and how easy they’ll give in. If that doesn’t work, we head straight to Pulitzer’s office and protest.”

    The auburn haired girl’s heart stopped. Why the heck were they planning on doing that?! That was dangerous! If her father so much as caught word that she was going to be there-

    “Are you okay, Ace?”

    She snapped away from her snare of negative thoughts to find Jack looking directly at her, his eyes laced with worry,” I’m fine. It’s just...aren’t you scared?”

    “Do I look scared?” He waited a beat, subtly slipping his hands in his pockets before whispering,” Ask me again in a week.”

    To say she was impressed would be an understatement. As a Gryffindor, she figured that he would brashly declared that nothing could scare him. To her, admitting that he was just as nervous as she was was a sign of true bravery,” Good answer,” Katherine stated honestly, hoping that the genuineness of her words shone through her smile. It seemed that they had, because the same lovestruck look that she constantly caught him sending her returned in a snap. The more that she saw the pure bliss shining in his gorgeous, green eyes, the more she-

    Katherine shook her head, mentally berating herself for thinking such things and frantically stuffing her supplies back in her bag,” Goodnight, Jack Kelly.”

    He blinked in confusion, seemingly not fully processing her words until she was exiting the pitch,” Hey--Hey Plumber! Where’re you going? It’s not even dinner yet!”

    “I’ve got an article to start. I’ll see you in the morning,” She replied cheekily,” And off the record...,” Katherine decided against listening to the voice in her head warning her to stay away and sent Jack one last grin,” I’m pulling for us to win.”

    A wave of relief washed over her when the boy’s familiar smirk settled back on his face,” Yeah, alright. Make sure you write it good, Plumber.”