Later that night:
"Youse ready, (Y/N)?" Crutchie asked as they walked down the street to where the newsies got their papers.
"I still don't get it!" She proclaimed, running her hand through her messy hair. "What are we even going to do to him? Make him eat the leftovers of people's meals?"
"No, but that's a good idea. Save dat' one fo' lata'." He yawped, a gentle smile on his face.
"Then what are we doing?" She demanded, plopping her hat back on her head.
"Well, here's da' plan - we's gonna go to da' skitty, da' building next ta' where we's get papes. Then, when Weasel's out in the open, we's gonna pour all da' food on him!" He exclaimed, gesturing slightly to the bag slung around his shoulder.
(Y/N), at first, had her mouth agape, but then smirked sinisterly.
"Who thought that Crutchie, the gentle newsie, could devise a prank like this.
At first, he was tempted to say that Jack had the whole idea, and explain he didn't even want to prank weasel in the first place, and that he had actually asked her on a date.
Instead, he shook those feelings off and away and replied to her.
"Youse think I'es gentle?" He inquired, flattered.
"Beyond the point." She cut him off, rubbing the back of her neck. "I'm just saying, this is remarkable for a soft guy like you to think up."
Crutchie just nodded awkwardly, unaware of how to reply to this - thus, launching them into an awkward silence.
Conversation between the two was usually so simple, flowing easily - yet now Crutchie was looking for something to say. He racked his brain for ideas.
Maybe he could use the line Jack had prompted? But how did it go? Wasn't it something about answering prayers?
"Uh, (Y/N)?" He meekly spoke up, hobbling a bit faster with his crutch.
"mm?" She responded, seemingly uninterested, with her hands jammed in her pants pockets.
Shit.
He took a breath and remembered the conversation with jack.
"Youse say 'Are youse Jesus? Because youse the answer to all my prayers."
"Crutchie, you okay? You've been quiet for a whole minute now.." (Y/N) trailed off, a slight frown gracing her face.
"D-does Jesus answer prayers?" He rushed out, immediately realizing his mistake and turning a dark red.
Thankful for him, (Y/N) just laughed.
"I sure hope so, bud. Or else people like me and you are beyond screwed."
Crutchie wearily smiled, relieved she found the encounter funny.
Perhaps he hadn't fucked up entirely.
Perhaps things would be alright.
____
(Y/N) could barely contain her laughter as the two dumped the sack of now mushed up leftovers on Weasel's head from the top of the building.
Weasel was only there to clean up after his shift, which he usually didn't do, considering Pulitzer and Hearst had janitors. Alas, today Weasel had to do it, like he always did at random times.
How did Crutchie know he would be there? Truth be told, he didn't whatsoever. A part of him hoped that he wouldn't show there, and the two could just go out to get some sodas or something. Sadly, though he was there.
(Y/N)'s quiet chuckle brought him back to reality.
Crutchie snickered rather loudly along with (Y/N), the two of them catching Weasel's attention from below with said snicker.
"YOU!" He screamed, trying to rid himself of the garbage on his head. "I'll get you for this!"
"Okay, mista' weisel!" Crutchie said in his worst Delancy accent he could muster up, still chuckling. If he was going to get caught, might as well get caught mocking the Delancy's.
"It's WEASEL!" He screeched, running into the building - presumably to get someone to back him up.
(Y/N) and Crutchie both noticed this.
"Guess that's our cue to go." She smirked, setting Crutchie's heart aflutter.
"Er- yea'.." He replied, rather quietly.
The two turned around to be met with the worst thing they could imagine.
"Oscar.."(Y/N) muttered.
"Morris.." Crutchie squeaked, gripping his crutch tighter. A part of him wanted to grab (Y/N)'s hand instead, but he knew her rules on public displays of affection and he respected her limits. So, he was stuck with holding his damned crutch.
"That's us." Morris wickedly smiled, tipping his hat in a mocking way.
"The two and-" Oscar began, only to be cut off.
"The two and only - not like you've used that line every time you introduce yourself to people who are already aware of your existence or anything!" (Y/N) retorted sarcastically.
"You little-" Oscar began, only for morris to push him away.
"Hold on Morris.." He said, looking over (Y/N)'s face. "This is the bitch from the other night!"
(Y/N) clenched her fists as Oscar dawned on the realization, his face twisting into a sinister frown that did not spread like butter.
"Now I see." He scowled. "We should toss her in the refuge just for that."
Crutchie's eyes went wide, realizing how serious the situation had just became with one sentence.
"Nah, let's take the crip instead - he's the one who pulled this crap on Weasel." Morris said, crossing his arms across his chest as he suddenly changed the subject.
(Y/N) and Crutchie's hearts started beating faster than they ever had before - and to think the situation couldn't become more intense.
(Y/N), in a sudden burst of confidence, had an idea.
"No." She snarled, glaring daggers at the brothers. "It was me. I pulled the prank... I-I don't even know this kid - he was just up here when I came.. leave him out of it.
Crutchie was taken aback, but before he could protest Morris spoke up.
"Is that so?" He countered, looking from (Y/N) to Crutchie.
"Y-yes.." (Y/N) stammered, something Crutchie wasn't even aware she could do.
"Fine, then let's take her to the Refuge." Oscar said, getting bored with the situation at hand.
Before Crutchie knew it, (Y/N) was being dragged away by the Delancy's.
___
Jack sat in the lodging house anxiously. It was late, and Crutchie and (Y/N) hadn't returned yet. At first, he hypothesized they had snuck off to, er, fornicate.. but after he realized that (Y/N) would never let Crutchie do so as touch her, he began to worry.
Suddenly, the lodging center doors opened, revealing a sobbing Crutchie.
"Crutchie!" He proclaimed, standing up. "What happened, did she reject ya?"
Crutchie wearily shook his head.
"W-worse.." He stuttered, his body racked with tears.
"What's worse than rejection?" Jack wondered aloud.
"The-the Refuge." Crutchie murmured, almost inaudibly. "T-that's what's worse."
___
A/n
i'm not sorry
YOU ARE READING
A lone newsie
Fanfiction//A Crutchie x reader// There was always one newsie who stood out from the rest - for she was a girl. She went by the name of (Y/N). To her, she wasn't anything special. Though she fascinated a certain newsboy with a crutch. (Cover by twofoxes.tumbl...
