Newsies One-Shots

Chapter 37 - Jack and Crutchie (Pt. 1)

Brothers Make Everything A Lot Better (Pt. 1)
Ship - Jack and Crutchie (brotherly)
Era - Cannon
Triggers - Abuse and mentions of injuries.

Jack tried to shrink in on himself as much as he could.

He always made sure to stand tall but the man looming over made him want to shrivel up and disappear.

"Kelly, stand up. You might be a pathetic brat but at least act like a man," he sneered.

"I'm not a brat and I'm not pathetic. If anyone is pathetic it's you," Jack spat back.

It was one thing he hated about himself, he could talk all he wanted but when it came down to reality, he couldn't even put on a brave face.

"You never learn do you?"

"What is there to learn?" Jack asked. "You're wrong, I'm not pathetic and I'm not a brat. If anyone needs to learn something it's you. Maybe you could learn to not be horri-"

Jack was cut off by a slap across the face.

"That was just rude."

"Kelly, I'd recommend you shut your mouth but then I wouldn't have as much fun," Snyder sneered.

"Who calls beating innocent children fun?" Jack looked up at the man in defiance. "That sounds like something a person with some real problems would say."

Jack's eyes widened as he noticed Snyder reach for the keys hanging beside the door.

"No please. I was joking. Don't send me down there. I won't talk back, I swear," he begged.

"You say that every time yet every time you talk back. I think it's high time you learnt your lesson." Snyder loomed above Jack. "A few weeks in isolation should sort you out. If your lucky I might come visit you."

"It won't work," Jack argued. "No matter how hard you try you won't break me."

"Oh Kelly, everyone has a breaking point. In no time you'll be begging at my feet."

Jack scoffed. "The day that happens is the day Hell freezes over."

"Well, it has been growing colder lately."

Jack tried to get another word in but was slapped hard on the other cheek.

Jack held his face as Snyder talked to the Delancey brothers.

Apparently they'd been outside the door the entire time, Jack hadn't even noticed.

"The brothers will take you to the basement, I would but," he commented, "I don't care about you enough to waste my energy on you."

Jack was pulled roughly off the ground by the Delancey brothers and dragged through the halls of the Refuge.

"Oscar, Morris, we've known each other for years, you don't have to listen to him. If you let me go, I'll make sure that none of the Newsies ever bother you again," Jack pleaded. "I promise, just let me leave."

Oscar and Morris shared a look. "Kelly, why would we do that?" Oscar asked.

"We've known each other since we were kids. Surely you don't want to see someone you've known so long left down there."