28Disclaimer: This is a non-commercial work of fanfiction. Any recognizable characters and situations from Newsies belong to Disney and not to me.
A/N: This is a collection of story snippets, character sketches, and missing scenes featuring a variety of main and ensemble characters from Newsies. All of the stories in this collection are set within the universe of Something Worth Winning, but most of them may be read as stand-alones without prior knowledge of that story (unless otherwise noted).
Please note that these one-shots are not in chronological order; any important "scene setting" information will be given in an author's note at the beginning of the chapter.
No. 1
Title: Rapport
Summary: As excitement for the strike grows, one newsboy harbors doubts...and comes to find that he's not alone.
A/N: This story interlocks with Henry's chapter of Kings and Kingdoms, if you're interested in reading a little more of this plot line.
"Let's move it, fellas - we got newsies to visit!" Finch declared, springing off of the table as he and the rest of the eager newsboys filed out of the deli to the sound of Mr. Jacobi's mild grumbling.
Henry, at the back of the crowd, shoved his hands into his pockets. He kept his head down, not wanting to catch the eye of any of his fellow newsies, but most of them seemed too excited to even notice his reticence. As the crowd exited the deli and poured out into the street, most of the boys dispersed, heading off in all directions towards Harlem, Midtown, Queens…
Henry hadn't volunteered to go anywhere, so he merely turned the corner and began walking back towards the lodging house. He'd only gotten a few steps in that direction, however, when an unfamiliar voice called out to him.
"Hey!"
Henry turned in surprise to see the new kid - Davey - jog up to him.
"Sorry to stop you," he said, sounding a little embarrassed. "It's just - you, uh - you forgot your cap." He held it out to Henry.
"Thanks," Henry said, settling it back on top of his head. Lost in his brooding thoughts, he must have left it behind on the table at Jacobi's. He glanced up at the taller boy. "Davey, right?" He held out his hand.
Davey shook it, looking a little relieved that no spitting had been involved. "Yeah...that's me," he answered. "Sorry, I haven't learned everybody's name yet."
Henry introduced himself. "It'll take a while," he said. "It ain't easy to keep track of this bunch of bummers."
"Yeah, I guess not," Davey agreed. The conversation stalled awkwardly for a moment, and Henry was about to take his leave, when Davey suddenly spoke again.
"Hey, I noticed that you were pretty quiet back there," he said, gesturing over his shoulder at Jacobi's.
In fact, Henry had been silent since the moment Davey had first unwittingly proposed the strike.
"What of it?" Henry asked warily, half surprised that Davey had noticed, and half on his guard, unsure of what the other boy was going to say.
"Well…" Davey hesitated a minute before forging ahead, "I guess I just wanted to see if you had any concerns about the strike. I know this is all unfolding really quickly, and I'm sure there are a lot of things we haven't considered, so it would be helpful to know if...if there's something you've thought of that we've missed."
It wasn't the answer Henry had been expecting.
"My brother's one of the trolley workers who went on strike," he answered shortly, deciding to be direct. "Lots of his coworkers have been busted up real bad by the strikebreakers, and every day I worry he's gonna be the next one to be laid up."
Henry paused for a moment, allowing a frown to darken his face. "What Finchy said back there was true," he said, looking Davey in the eye. "We go on strike, and the cops'll come after us for sure. " Shaking his head, he added fiercely, "It ain't no game, goin' up against The World like we're talkin' about!"
To Henry's surprise, Davey didn't back down from the intensity, but answered it with his own.
"I know," he said quietly.
The fervent conviction in his voice took Henry aback. He'd initially pegged Davey as privileged, sheltered, and somewhat naive - book-smart, perhaps, but ignorant when it came to understanding the consequences of undertaking something as serious as a strike...but just now he'd spoken like someone who actually knew what was at stake.
"My dad was in an accident at work a few days ago," Davey said, breaking into Henry's thoughts. "It messed up his leg really badly. He's out of work now because he didn't have a union to protect him the way the trolley workers did."
Henry was silent. He knew that Jack had said something about Davey's father back at the distribution center, but he hadn't bothered to wonder much about what it had meant.
"I know what we're doing could be dangerous," Davey continued quietly. "And I know what it's like to worry about a brother." He paused, his voice suddenly hitching a little. "I honestly don't even know if what we're doing is the right thing...but I don't know what else we can do!" He gave Henry an imploring look, as if pleading with him to understand.
Davey was conflicted. Truly conflicted. More conflicted than he'd let on.
Henry wrestled with his thoughts. As much as he hated the prospect of going on strike, the other boy was right: what else could they do? If they didn't stand up for their rights now while they still could, they'd be pushed aside little by little, and then eventually tossed to the curb, the way Davey's father had been. Striking would be dangerous, and the outcome dubious...but the alternative was far more bleak.
"Look, I understand if you can't get behind the strike, with what's going on with your brother and everything," Davey said, speaking again. "I just…" he took a deep breath, as if trying to dispel the tension in his shoulders before continuing. "I just hope you know that I've thought about the consequences, and that I'm not trying to rush us into this blindly. I know it won't be easy."
The entreating look was there again, and Henry found himself responding.
"Well, we've got no choice but to see it through," he said slowly. "I ain't gonna pretend that I like it...but I know you're right." Davey glanced up in surprise as Henry added staunchly, "And, for the record, I'm behind you, too."
The other boy's anxiousness melted into a look of surprised relief. This time, Davey didn't say anything in response...but in the grateful nod he gave Henry there was a tacit acknowledgement of what this declaration of support had meant.
They stood on opposite sides of a divide, Henry dreading the consequences union affiliation could have on his brother, and Davey desperate for the justice that had been denied his non-union father - but they were both afraid. And it was this fear that allowed them to share an unspoken understanding as brothers and sons who felt the weight of responsibility bearing down on them - silent, heavy...and wholly unknown by the other newsies who no longer had ties to family.
Perhaps, Henry reflected, he and Davey weren't so very different after all.
The sudden sound of raucous laughter reached their ears, and both boys turned to see Les and Race emerge from Jacobi's, the former chattering animatedly while the latter looked on in indulgent amusement.
Davey gave Henry an apologetic look. "Sorry," he said, "I've got to get my brother home. Our folks will be waiting."
Henry nodded his understanding. "Then I'll see ya tomorrow at the circulation gate," he said, sticking out his hand. Davey shook it and gave him another grateful smile, then turned away, calling out for Les as he hurried back the way he'd come.
Henry watched him go for a moment, then continued walking, slowly and thoughtfully, in the direction of the lodging house.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Please let me know what you thought.
