Seize The Day [Roceit/Newsies AU]

Chapter 1 - The Call

Scratch, scratch, scratch.

Roman awoke to the persistent sounds of graphite on paper, nuzzling happily against the paper. He rubbed the sleepiness from his face, sitting up. "You're up early," he muttered, glancing to his left.

The figure leaning against the north side of the building shrugged, a crutch lying next to his outstretched leg as he scribbled against the paper. "Inspiration struck."

Roman grabbed his jacket from beside him, shrugging it on as he went to sit beside his friend. "What are you writing?"

"Music," Remus answered simply, passing the sheet to Roman. 

He glanced it over, looking at the lyrics underneath the haphazard notes. "Santa Fe?" he asked.

"You always talk about it," he answered, smiling.

Roman looked back at the paper, offering it back. "Sing it," he said.

"I...wrote I for you."

Roman paused, a smile crawling onto his face. "Close your eyes," he hummed. "Come with me, where it gleams and the beams are pretty." He nodded. "I like it."

"Thanks," Remus said, taking it back. "It just.... doesn't quite sound right to me, though."

"I think it sounds great," Roman argued, standing up and leaning against the railing, squinting in the sun. as he motioned past the skyscrapers around them. "It's out there, and it's in here-" He pointed to his heart. "It just-" He shook his head. "I can't explain it, Rem."

"It's like a city of clay," he answered, giving him a knowing smile.

"Yeah," he said, looking back at Remus.

The other boy's smile fell and he quickly gathered up his things. "We should go. The morning bell-"

Before he could continue, a bell rang. Roman shook his head and walked over to Remus, offering his hand and helping him up, letting him tuck the crutch under one arm as he slid the paper and pencil carefully under his pillow with his foot.

Roman walked to the edge, carefully going down the fire escape. "Thomas!"

A boy stuck his head around the corner, clearly having just woken up. "What's up?"  he yawned.

"Wake everyone up! The papes won't sell themselves, right?" he said, flashing a smile as he adjusted his jacket in the broken mirror.

A few minutes later, the crowd of boys was trotting down the street, whooping and hollering as they got to the gate. "Hey, Specs, what's it say?" someone yelled.

"Trolley strike," the boy answered. "Again." 

A chorus of angry groans and hissed swears were heard as two men strolled up to the gate. "Hey, looks like Joe forgot to take out the trash last night," Thomas snickered, smirking at the Delancey brothers.

"Move along," they answered tiredly, shooting them all a glare.

Roman led the boys towards the window. "Hundred," he said as he smacked change onto the money box. "Thanks, Weasel."

"It's Wise-elle," he corrected as Roman snickered, stuffing his papers into his cloth sack, the familiar weight pulling at his shoulder. He jumped up, sitting on the back of a wagon and watching the line slowly disappear as more of them got their papers.

Until, suddenly, there was a new voice. "...You gave us nineteen."

Roman looked over, seeing an unfamiliar face holding a stack of newspapers. He jumped off the wagon, coming over to sort it out before realizing that someone had beaten him to it. They were clearly of a higher class, their bronze collared shirt pressed.

"Did you see how nice I was to the new kid?" Oscar muttered. 

"I just want what I paid for," he answered, his fingers tightening around the shorter ones'.

Roman, glancing between the two of them and the third, who turned, his pale eyes glinting in the morning sun. "He's right," he said. "He's one short."

Wiesel glared, smacking an extra paper straight into the new kid's chest, making him wince. "Get out of here, Plummer," he sneered. 

Plummer walked over to the new kid, handing him his remaining papers, and Roman walked over. "What are you trying to pull?" he asked.

He looked back, tilting his head a bit and raising an eyebrow. "Me?" Plummer asked.

"Do you see anyone else around here as heroic and beautiful as you?" he asked, eyes narrowing as he grinned.

The boy looked like he was going to retaliate, but simply let out a quiet "Fair's fair." before turning away, briskly walking out of the yard.

Roman turned to the new kid. "Sorry about that." He pulled out a quarter, handing it to him. "Go take fifty more. On me."

They boy shook his head dragging the younger one away. "We aren't a charity case," he murmured.

"Wait, Virgil," the shorter one said. "That's Roman Kelly!"

Virgil stopped and turned, staring at Roman, who did a little curtsey in the long silence. "At your service."

"We-"

"You seem like a smart fellow," Roman said to Virgil's companion, making him roll his eyes. "What's your name?"

"I'm Patton," he announced. "And this is my brother Virgil!"

"Yell it to the world, why don't you," he remarked.

"Look, since you're new, I'll let you sell with me today. I'll help you, and in return you let me use your brother. Deal?"

"What do you want him for?" he asked defensively.

"Look at that face, bud. Do you know how many papes we could sell?" He squeezed Patton's cheek lightly. "He's adorable." The kid smiled brightly and Virgil chuckled. "So I'll help you sell today. Seventy-thirty?" he asked Patton.

"I'm young, not stupid," he huffed, crossing his arms. 

Roman sighed with a smile. This kid reminded him of Remus. "Sixty-fourty, then."

Patton looked back at Virgil, who shrugged and nodded.

Roman spit into his hand, offering it to Patton who gleefully did the same.

"That's disgusting," Virgil muttered. 

"No, it's business," Roman corrected, waving all the newsies over. "Hit the streets!" he cheered, running with the crowd out of the gates.

He held the gate open, realizing that the Plummer guy from before was still here. "Hello, there," he smirked.

"What do you want," he answered, voice dripping with indifference.

Roman couldn't help but admire his jawline and eyes, how his hair looked like it had been recently tousled. He guessed it was a nervous habit. 

"Can't you tell?" he whispered over the roar of the newsboys, letting his eyes hungrily drift down and back up before he smiled again.

The boy rolled his eyes and walked away just as Patton grabbed his hand and attention. "Come on, Roman!" he said happily.