Newsies Oneshots/Crack

5- Spot's Family

Trigger warnings: A lot of really sad themes regarding family, implied abuse/trauma

AU: Close to Canon (in fact this might be semi-canon) but an AU where the woman looking for her son in the beginning of the movie was actually Spot's mother

Ships: Sprace

Editor's note: I was blasting Lullaby For A Princess while I wrote this so yeah be ready

-

"Spot? Hey, there's some woman outside lookin' for ya."

"What?"

Spot sat up from his bed, rubbing his eyes. Who could be looking for him this early?

"She's all upset about somethin'- Cryin', yellin', the whole act. She said some shit about you leavin' her?"

Spot shrugged. "I don't know."

"Do you still wanna see her?"

"Eh- What harm could it do?"

Spot quickly got dressed and walked outside, keeping his cane close and ready in case he needed it. But as he walked out, his face went dead pale and the cane slipped from his grasp.

"Patrick... How I've missed you..."

"M-Mom?"

All of the Brooklyn Newsies gasped, as murmurs spread through the crowd that had grown around the woman.

"He told us he ain't got no family!"

"Well, who is this then?!"

"Clearly, he got some family somewhere!"

"He ain't even a real Newsie! He got a family!"

"Why don't he live with his housefolk?"

Spot, trembling, froze in fear as the comments came at him, trying desperately not to cry so he may preserve the small reputation he had left for himself. Slowly, he picked up his cane and pointed it at his mother.

"Go. I told you I was leavin' for a damn good reason, and I ain't comin' back. Go."

"Patrick! Please- I've been distraught with you gone! You have a family that loves you, why can't you see that?!"

"I ain't got no family no more! I'm a Newsie now! All you and Dad ever gave me was a shit ton of bruises and a fear of standing up for myself. Well, guess what?! I'm happier here than I ever have been. Now get the hell out, and stop callin' me by that name, or I'll make you."

"Patrick, don't make up lies about people! It's not kind! Your Father never hit you intentionally. All he did was play a bit rough with you as a kid!"

"BULLSHIT!" Spot raised his cane, preparing to swing it, as the other Newsies gasped. "I'm not afraid of you anymore! I don't have to listen to your goddamn excuses! Now GET THE FUCK OUT!"

Spot's mother stood there, shocked, shaking. "You wouldn't hit your own mother."

"You're right. If I still had a mother, I wouldn't." Spot replied coldly, keeping the cane raised.

"You do have one! I love you, Patrick."

"That's not my GODDAMN NAME!"

Spot swung the cane as a warning, coming inches from his mother's side. Looking betrayed, his mother turned and strolled away angrily without another word, and Spot dropped the cane.

"Spot... Who was that?!"

Spot turned and ran away without another word, leaving his cane, across the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan. There was only one person he knew wouldn't judge him about this.

Finally, he spot Racetrack standing around outside, lighting his cigar. He sprinted to Race and tackled him in a hug, as Race instantly felt something wasn't right.

"S-Spot? What are you doin' here?! What's wrong?!"

Spot tried to answer, but couldn't. Racetrack silently understood and led Spot inside the Newsboys lounge, which was empty as the boys were out working. Racetrack brought Spot to his bed and hugged him, and Spot instantly started sobbing. Race was very concerned but waited patiently until Spot was emotionally in the correct state to talk. Spot's crying finally got quieter, and Racetrack gently pulled away, still holding Spot's hand and keeping him close.

"Are you ready to talk about it?"

"Y-Yes."

"What happened? Who do I need to soak?"

"M-My Mother, she-"

Racetrack's eyes widened. "You have a mother?!"

Spot's eyes began to swell with tears once more, and Racetrack realised that wasn't quite the best thing to say right then.

"I-Im sorry, Spot! Please don't be upset, I was just... Surprised, is all."

"It's fine... She came by, yellin' and hollerin', and she demanded I come home with her because she misses me or some shit..."

"If you don't mind me askin'... Why didn't ya go? I would kill to have a family."

"Just because I used to have a family doesn't mean I had a good family, Racetrack."

"Oh... Sorry."

"I-Its fine, I just- She messed everythin' up! Ain't none of my Newsies respect me now because they think I got a family!"

Racetrack's eyes widened. Spot Conlon, The King Of Brooklyn, had lost the respect of his Newsies? A zombie apocalypse was more likely to happen than that. Spot was the most famous and well-respected Newsie in all of New York- Racetrack had never known it any other way.

"Hey, I'll never stop respectin' ya, at least."

Spot smiled. "Thanks, Race."

"And as far as I'm concerned? If you don't consider her as family, she ain't your family. If your Newsies don't believe that I'll happily soak them myself."

Spot sighed and leaned into Racetrack's shoulder. "How'd I get so lucky and end up with someone as amazing as you?"

Racetrack stroked his hair soothingly and lovingly. "I dunno. How'd I get so lucky and find you?"

Spot laughed. "I dunno either... I love you, Racetrack Higgins. And you're the only family I got as far as I'm concerned."

"I love you too, Spot Conlon... and you're the only family I've got too."