Newsies oneshots

Albert (Redfinch) // Reading

(Tw- escapism. Another educational post)

Little Albert lay his head on his moms shoulder as she read him his favourite story book. They sat on his bed in a room he shared with his two older brothers, Sean and Kieran, Albert shared a bunk bed with his Kieran while Sean had his own bed, so sometimes his mom would tie a sheet around Albert's bed and make a little fort for her and her baby to have plenty of snuggles in. Albert is tiny compared to his brothers, after all, he's the baby of the family, he's the youngest at only 5 years old while Sean is 13 and Kieran is 10. "And they lived happily ever after..." his mom finished, her voice echoing in a sing-song way as her accent blessed her sons ears. "Can you read me another one, mammy?" Albert asked, clearly not tired.
His mother softly smiled, "Tommorow, my darling." She softly kissed his forehead and was about to leave their little tent, but Albert was not having it, "No- another! I want another story!" He yelled, "I'm not tired!"
But his mom didn't yell back, she softly held his arms, "Hey- Albert, stop, your gonna wake your brothers up-"
Albert started crying, which wasn't unusual, he was a very openly emotional kid, "Please, mammy, one more?"
"I know you want another story, baby, but it's late, let me tuck you in." She brought the blanket to his shoulders and wiped his tears and gave his a kiss on the forehead.

Now, Albert sat up on his bed at the lodging house, reading his favourite adventure novel as Finch snuggled up against his side.
"Albie...its past midnight..." Finch mumbled. "Just one more chapter..." Albert mumbled.
"Baby," Finch sat up and slowly lowered the book, causing Albert look at him, his face showed a mixture of annoyance and exhaustion, "It's time to go to sleep."
"I'm not tired..." Albert mumbled.
"Yes you are, I can tell, baby." Finch put the book away and opened up his arms, leading Albert into a pleasant hug. They then lay down and snuggled eachother. But Albert's mind kept racing, it was actually the anniversary of his moms death and he's been put on a brave face all day yesterday, but he couldn't sleep that night, and now the clock stroke midnight, it was the inevitable. It all came back to him and he just wanted to get lost in his own world of books. Finch didn't understand, nobody understands. He just wanted to leave, he didn't want to deal with today, he just wanted to escape. He slowly got up, making sure to not wake Finch up.

He grabbed his book and snuck out onto the fire escape, he sat down and opened his book, greatful that the stars were bright enough so he could read. On every word, he slowly became less and less sad, because his brain was concentrating less and less on his mom. Its a subject that is barely talked about at his house, because its a house hold full of 'men' and 'men don't cry' and what not. He could always cry infront of his mom, and she'd never made him feel like his emotions weren't valid, even if he was throwing a tantrum because he wanted one more story before bed. His dad never knew what to do when he cried, so he learnt to just, not cry at home, and keep it all in until he's back at the lodging house, where he can be safe in his boyfriends arm and cry openly, but tonight, he didn't feel like crying. It's been almost 5 years since she died, and his whole family has seemed to move on. Alot of the newsies have lost a parent and they don't cry about it or get upset, hell, Race lost both his parents and he never seemed to care, Henry lost his dad and he jokes about it, it's not a big deal to them, so why is it a big deal to him? He kept reading when he heard the window open, he looked up and instantly snapped back to reality when he saw Finch, "I thought you went to the bathroom, what are you doing out here?" He sat infront of him. Albert looked down and started tearing up, he was no longer lost in his book, he was in his own reality, the reality where he mom is dead. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to read a little longer..." Albert said, his voice broken and desperate.
Finch took the book from him and held his hand,"Albie, what's wrong?"
"I just... I just want to be alone..." He sniffled. Finch nodded, "Usually id give you space, but it's past midnight and your on the fire escape crying... whatever it is, you know you can talk to me right?"
Albert sighed, "You know how I get lost... and distracted at times?"
Finch nodded, "Yeah, a lot." He chuckled, 1000% know he was 10 times worse.
Albert laughed a little, "Well, sometimes, I like to distract myself, just... for a moment... not be here, be lost in my book..."
Finch nodded, "Ok..."
"Today, almost 5 years ago, my mom passed away..." Albert teared up and started crying even more. Finch was quick to hug his boyfriend and comfort him, "And your trying to distract yourself from that?"
"Yeah... like it never happened..." Albert lay his head on Finch's shoulder as Finch rubbed his back comfortingly. Finch sighed, "Albie, if you try and suppress how you feel, your just going to feel worse in the end."
"I know, but it's so easy to hide and so hard to... open up, you know- especially to my dad and brothers... they never want to talk about her, my dad just goes quiet, like she never existed."
"...so your whole family is just a bunch of stubborn red heads?" Finch asked jokingly.
Albert frowned at him, but knew it was true, so he laughed. Finch smiled and kissed his cheek, "You know I love you, right? And I wouldn't be telling you to not open up if I was not willing to help you... If you wanna talk that is."
Albert sighed, "Fine."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah..." Albert took a deep breath, and got ready to open up.