Newsies Oneshots

The Newsies Were Never the Same-Davey angst

(Word count: 888
Au: normal
Characters: Davey, Crutchie
TW: Death, grief, depression, hints to suicide, very minor violence)

The newsies were all waiting down at the square for their papers as usual. But something had been wrong for the last few days, both Davey and Les were missing and had been for close 3 days. Crutchie was the most worried, having been in love with Davey since day one, and he wanted to know he was safe. 

Finally Davey was there but something was off about him. He wasn't with Les at all... His eyes were slightly red and puffy, he kept his head down and he stayed far from the other newsies. Crutchie could just...tell something was seriously wrong. He stood up and got his crutch under his arm and made his way to Davey.

"Davey..?" Crutchie asked softly as he approached 

Davey didn't look up or say a word...he always talked to Crutchie so something was up..

"Davey.." Crutchie repeats "are you okay?" 

Davey shook his head, unable to form a sentence. Crutchie paused and furrowed his eyebrows, now incredibly worried. Nothing good ever comes from Davey being unable to speak...

"You...want a hug..?" 

Davey gave only a tiny nod. Crutchie sat down and opened his arms for Davey, he immediately collapsed into Crutchie's arms. He was just a trembling mess in Crutchie's arms. 

"Davey what happened..? you're never like this unless something really bad happens..."

"I-I can't talk about it...n-not here....th-theres....theres t-t-too many people around here..." Davey stammered out

"How about we go to an alley a little away from here so nobody hears...I can go a day without selling..."  

Davey took a moment to stand and helped Crutchie up as he usually did. Once Crutchie had his crutch under his arm they snuck off from the square. Crutchie kept a close eye on Davey as they walked, just incredibly worried about what could've happened and why Davey was so upset. He hated seeing Davey in a state like this.

Eventually they had found their way to the alleway.

"Alright Davey...Nobody can hear us or see us...Please....tell me what's going on..."

Davey hung his head and the shaking started again...

"Crutchie....I cant sugar coat this scarily...but L-les...hes...hes gone..." Davey said his voice starting to tremble

"What...? Davey what do you mean gone..?"

"Charles. He...he died..." Davey said as tears began to stream down his face

Crutchie tensed and gasped "Oh Davey....I'm so beyond sorry...do you want to talk about what happened..? It might help you feel better.."

Davey was pratically sobbing at this point, he slowly moved to sit on the ground against the wall. Crutchie sat next to him

"Les and I were...were on our way home after selling a few days ago...and...the delanceys started bothering us...and they threw a punch at Les so...so..I quickly got les out of the way and hit back...it only got worse from there and when my back was turned....Les ran in to fight too...And..."

Davey broke down even further and put his head in his hands, trying to calm down

Crutchie lightly rubbed his back, calmingly. "You don't need to finish the story if you don't think you can.."

Davey was crying so hard to the point he couldn't speak very much...He was crying for a while before he finally blurted out:

"I COULD'VE SAVED HIM CRUTCHIE!!" Davey cried "If I turned around just a second sooner I could've pushed him out of the way! Then it would've been me...And I wish it was me."

Crutchie's jaw had to be on the floor at this point hearing Davey saying he wished he was the one who died....

"Davey please don't talk like that...I know your upset and grieving but we all need you....I need you here.." 

"My family is absolutely broken without Les... I know nothing would change if it was me rather than him that died." Davey says, hanging his head "Les was only 10... he had his whole life ahead of him...then there's me. I'm 17 and not making much of a change.."

"David. You were the brains behind the strike and the rally that saved our rears!" Crutchie exclaimed "The newsies wouldn't be what we are without you Davey..."

Davey gave a tiny smile that lasted barely two seconds. It pained Crutchie's heart to see Davey in this state.            

"Hey Crutchie...I think I'm gonna head home... You might be able to still get your papers so you don't lose your pay..."

"You want me to walk you home?" Crutchie asked kindly

Davey quickly shook his head "no no! Its okay! It's not that far of a walk."

Davey helped Crutchie up and gave him a small hug goodbye. Little did Crutchie know...this might be the last hug for awhile...

---------------------A few days later---------------------------------------

Davey wasn't seen or heard from. Crutchie knew what happened to Davey but he'd never tell...

Sometimes Crutchie goes to the Brooklyn Bridge and thinks what he could've done to stop what happened...and some days he can't even look at or talk about the bridge because the thought of what he'd seen haunted him...

He missed Davey dearly and hadn't been the same since the very last time he saw Davey... He tried to talk him down that night...but it was to no avail...

Crutchie was now sat on the edge of the Bridge crying a little, his gaze moving from a wood cross by the water with the name "David Jacobs; 1882-1900" to the sky

"I'll see you again soon Davey...Maybe even fall in love..." Crutchie said shakily to himself...

Scarily, those were the last words spoken by Charles "Crutchie" Morris.....