Newsies Oneshots

Brothers (Race & Crutchie)

newsiestober day 11 - backgrounds modern au
this one i,,,,,, surprisingly don't hate!!!
tw: car accident
Crutchie new that Jack would always be his big brother.

Race's big brother.

Heck, he was everyone's big brother.

Maybe it was selfish of the fifteen-year-old to think, but he sometimes wished the younger boy would see him in that light too.

His hero.

"Heya Crutch! Do you know where Jack is?" The blonde peaked his head through the door.

"Uh, I think he's with Dave." Crutchie looked up from his desk. "What do you need?"

"Oh..." Race looked away. "Never mind, it's nothing."

"Oh, okay." Crutchie's face fell when the door closed.

"You can't get me!" Six-year-old Antonio Higgins screamed teasingly, throwing his hands up in the air.

"Yes I can!" Charlie screamed, his nine-year-old legs faster. "And I'll tickle you!"

"No! You can't!" Tony shrieked in delight.

"Hey Jack! You sure ya don't wanna join?" Charlie paused, looking up to the window of his newest foster brother's room. The older boy was quiet, always grumpy.

The brown-haired-eleven-year-old ignored Charlie, promptly walking away.

"Look at me! I'm faster than my big brother!" Tony sing-songed.

"No you aren't!" Charlie grinned, running after the blonde.

Tony sent the older boy a sly smirk, stopping to stick his tongue out.

HONK HONK

Stopping to stick his tongue out in the middle of the road.

"TONY WATCH OUT!"

Charlie's eyes widened, pushing the blonde out of the way of the incoming car.

"CHARLIE!" The high-pitch squeak of his little brother rung out.

The city that never slept seemed to freeze in that moment.

"Oh my god! I'm so-"

"Shut up!" Tony barked, dropping to his knees next to his older brother. "Charlie! Charlie." He shook the older boy's shoulders.

"Hey, I got you, didn't I?" Charlie chuckled softly.

"I'm gonna get you help!" Tony squeezed the older boy's hand. "JACK!" He screamed to the apartment.

It was a miracle.

The older boy finally listened, coming to the window to see the two younger kid's on the street.

"HOLY SHIT!" Jack cursed, slamming the window shut and running out. "Are you okay?" He turned to the blonde.

"I'm fine, but you gotta help him! You just gotta!" Race cried. "He's my big brother I can't lose him Jack!"

"Help is coming." The man said hurriedly. "I'm so sorry! I didn't-"

"It's fine!" Jack waved the older man off. "Charlie, can you hear me." He gently patted the younger boy's face.

"Too loud." Charlie whispered.

"How much pain do you feel, one to ten?" Jack held onto the boy's other hand.

"A hundred." He mumbled, a soft sob followed.

The next few hours were a blur.

-

"Charlie you gotta be okay, please?"

-

"Look, I'm sorry I ignored ya all the time. Came from rough foster homes, y'know. Kids there weren't as nice as you or blondie. I wanna get to know you guys though, but you have'ta get better for me to do that."

-

"His leg might never work again, he-"

"No!"

"...he might need to permanently use a crutch."

-

"Hey Race?"

Crutchie didn't know what prompted him to start speaking, but he did.

"Yeah?" The twelve year old looked up from the dining room table.

"Are you... ashamed? Of me being your brother?"

"What!? No!" Race jumped, sliding away his English homework. "Why would you say something like that!?"

"It's just... my leg, I'm not exactly normal-"

He stopped when he saw tears forming in the younger boy's eyes.

"Wait! No- I didn't mean-"

"Don't say that about yourself!" Race wiped his eyes. "I don't like when you think about yourself like that! You're the best big brother, and I hate when people talk down to you."

"But-"

Race walked over to the older boy, throwing his arms around him for a tight hug.

"I'm sorry." Crutchie hugged back with one arm. "It's stupid, I just- you always go to Jack for help so I thought-"

"Jack and you are different." Race spoke into the crook of the older boy's neck. "You're a lover, he's a fighter- and no, it's not because of your crutch. You're just better with advice, softer, more empathetic."

"...oh."

"I love you Charlie, you're my big brother, how could I not?" Race whispered. "I hate when people look at you and only see your crutch. I hate when you look at you and only see your crutch."

"I'm sorry." Crutchie shook his head.

"No, I'm sorry. It's my fault you have a crutch!" The blonde-haired-boy cried.

"No it's not." Crutchie frowned. "It was my choice, I took my eyes off of you."

"But-"

"Nope." Crutchie pulled away from the embrace. "It's your job to be stupid, you're a kid." Crutchie bopped the younger boy's nose, "And you're my little brother."

Crutchie smiled when he saw the younger boy beam.

Race held up his pinky. "Brothers?"

"Brothers." Crutchie internlocked their pinkies, a bright grin on his face.

Sorry for the recent late updates y'all! Life is cRaZy!
Anyway, Sunday was 9/11 so i hope you guys took some time to think/reflect upon that! I have a 9/11 little blurb coming out soon!