A lone newsie

A breath of fresh air

November 5th, 1900.

----

(Y/N) always enjoyed the nighttime. It was quiet in the lodging center, no newsboys running around and making noise. (Y/N) could just unwind in her bed, read some Shakespeare, and get some sleep. She would count her money, making sure none of the newsies swiped any of it while she was gone.

This night, though, (Y/N) felt cramped in her small room, which was strange. Usually she enjoyed being alone in her closet of a room, but not tonight. Sitting up and stretching, (Y/N) pulled on her coat. She needed to get herself a breath of fresh air. Leaving Lilac in the room, she head out.

Crutchie felt the same way that night. It wasn't uncommon to feel cramped, what with all the newsboys that shared a room. He had to handle Jack's obnoxious snoring, Spec's sleep talking, and other issues of newsboys he'd rather not dawdle on for too long.

He attempted to get up, which was quite a feat considering he didn't have his crutch with him. He would have to lean on walls and hop around for a few minutes until he was able to get his crutch from its resting spot under his bed.

Once he did get his crutch, however, he was quicker then most people on two legs. Having spent most of his life on a crutch, he had gotten pretty quick on his feet with it. Sure, it could be a nuisance, but that was only ever so often. He considered grabbing his coat, in case he got cold, but decided against it. He didn't plan on being out long anyways.

Crutch ready, he started hobbling towards the back door to the lodging - which, surprisingly, was creaked open. Had someone broken in? If so, what were they after? Newsboys certainly weren't rich, and didn't have anything to steal. He decided it was just from a newsboy who had forgotten to close the door when coming back in from a day's work.

He would just shut the door when he came back in.

----

(Y/N) was leaned against the wall, her eyes concentrated on the stars. As a little girl, her mom had taught her all about the stars. They always fascinated her, little speckles of light in the darkness. She could name constellations in a heartbeat and when they were best seen during the year. In some sense, the stars were a beam of hope for her. They also reminded her of the strike last year. Like newsboys, alone, they didn't create any light whatsoever and didn't look particularly special. But together, the millions of stars illuminated the entire sky.

She would have spent more time thinking when she heard the door next to her creak open. Turning her head, she could make out a vague figure. Someone lanky, probably one of the newsboys. The boy stepped out, seemingly unaware of (Y/N)'s presence. Upon closer inspection, she noticed he had a crutch at his side.

It took a split-second to put two and two together that it was the boy who she gave papers too earlier. She was somewhat relieved. This boy wouldn't cause any issues and just leave her be. She always saw him selling, waving his papers around. She could see when people called him a 'Crip!' and how he didn't keep grudges, selling them paper the next day.

"Pretty sky, ain't it?" The crutch-bearer said, aware of (Y/N)'s existence - much to her shock.

"I suppose." (Y/N) replied, her voice lacking emotion. She didn't want to get into a conversation with this boy. It was far too late for that.

(Y/N) didn't notice, but the boy had been trying to make out her face. It was dark, but the candles from the lodging house provided some light through the door. He could see she had (H/L) hair, but that was about it. Her cap covered the upper portion of her face in shadow.

(Y/N) spoke up after a good twenty seconds of silence, startling Crutchie.

"Whats your name? I see you around all the time, but I've never actually heard anybody refer to you as a name." (Y/N) said, seemingly uninterested and trying to make conversation. That wasn't completely untrue, but she was curious about this boy. He seemed to have a lot of history behind him.

"You're gon' ask me that?" Crutchie said, an eyebrow raised and a smirk on his face.

"Whats that supposed to mean?" (Y/N) replied, her arms crossed across her chest.

Crutchie nervously sweat. He didn't mean to sound rude, but that's what (Y/N) had thought he meant. He had to mellow out the conversation.

"I mean, ya' the one nobody knows the name 've." He replied, his smirk vanishing.

(Y/N) chuckled, letting Crutchie have a feeling of relief sweep over him. He was glad he didn't piss her off, or else he might need two crutches.

"I suppose you have a point there. Well, for your information, I'm (Y/N)." She stuck out a hand for Crutchie to shake.

"Crutchie." He replied, shaking her hand. She had a firm grasp, but pulled her hand away and stuck it in her coat pocket.

They didn't say much after that. They had the occasional exchange of a few words, but they mostly just stood in silence. The silence wasn't awkward, but it certainly wasn't comfortable silence.

(Y/N) looked up at the moon, then back to the door of the lodging house, reminding Crutchie that he couldn't stay out here forever.

"I should head back in. I still have to sell tomorrow." Crutchie finally said.

(Y/N) just gave a nod to him that said everything. She didn't care weather he went in or not.

Without another word, Crutchie went inside.

----

The next morning was hell for Crutchie. He woke up in a cold sweat with a clogged nose. His throat was scratchy, and his head pounded. It didn't take him long to realize he was sick - most likely due to the fact he had gone out without a coat the night before.

He groaned, muttering curses under his breath. He damn well knew he wouldn't be able to sell that day.
He regretting going out the night before.