Newsies x First Avengers

Thank you to FabulousDalek for saving my butt and giving me a writing prompt because I was totally screwed. Also, fun fact! During WW II, the 104th infantry was named the Timberwolves. Naming the 107th the Howling Commandoes in The First Avenger is what I think might be a nod to this.

Race was seriously regretting signing up.

The sixteen year old had lied about his age to join the army. He wanted to serve his country. 

Race made a good scout. He looked younger then he was, and had the traditional blonde hair and blue eyes of the Germans. He was sneaky, too, and was fairly fast.

He was assigned to the 107th, and was imprisoned. The experiments that had been preformed on him were more painful then any soaking he'd ever recieved. Thankfully, he escaped with Captain America when he stormed the prison the night before.

Race sat on a log by a fire, trying to stay warm. It was the morning after the rescue. He ached everywhere, and was exhausted. However, he couldn't sleep. Every time the teen tried, he saw a vision of a man standing over him with a needle and a maniacal grin as Race thrashed, attempting to get out of the ropes that held him down.

He felt a hand on his shoulder, and someone sat next to him. "Hey, kid."

Race looked over to see Sergeant Bucky Barnes looking at him. "Sir."

The man laughed. "Call me Bucky, kid. You're a scout, right?"
"Yessir. The name's Race."
"How ya doin after imprisonment?"

Race shrugged. "Okay," he lied.

Bucky frowned. "Kid, that place was hell. There's no way you're okay. Want to try that again?"

"Not particularly."

Bucky sighed. "Look kid-"
"I'm not a kid."

"-were you in the cells or somewhere else?"

Race shut his eyes. "I wasn't in the cells. I was in a weird room. They were about to do a test when the alarm went off. They thought I was still knocked out, and didn't tie me up. I saw my chance."

He opened his eyes to see Bucky staring at him. "Damn, kid. They did the same to me, 'cept I was still half out when the alarms started. How old are you?"

"Eight-"

Bucky rolled his eyes. "Cut the bullshit, kid. You ain't eighteen." Race looked at the ground. "Sixteen," he murmured.

Bucky shook his head. "You shouldn't be here."

Race shrugged. "Oh well."

The man studied him. "What's your rank?"
"Scout."

Bucky smiled. "How do you feel about becoming a spy?"

****

Race followed Bucky to a room where the General, Captain America, and a dark haired woman were looking at a map. He hid a the doorway, worried he'd say something rude.

Bucky cleared his throat. "Steve. You know how you were looking for a spy?"

The man looked up. "You find a good one?"

Bucky nodded. "He will be." The man turned around. "Damnit, Race, get in here."

The blonde haired boy stepped into the room, slightly hiding in the shadows.

The General sighed in annoyance. "Barnes, this is a kid. A scrawny, young kid. He's skin and bones! No muscle. He wouldn't be able to fight his way out if he got caught. He's too young. Probably lied about his age."

Race narrowed his eyes. "I'd rather be young then a dinosaur like you," he muttered. Bucky heard him, and glanced over at him, with a stern face. However, Race could see his eyes sparkling with amusement.

The dark haired woman approached him, looking the teen up and down. "You get caught. Your captors threaten to kill your family. What do you do?"

"Spit on 'em and laugh. I ain't got a family," Race answered.

"Alright, they say they'll kill you if you don't give up army information."

"Spit on 'em and tell them to shoot me. I'm no mole."

"What if they have your best friend and are going to kill him if you don't?"

Race froze, then looked her in the eyes. "Die before they can. "

The dark haired woman held out her hand. "Peggy Carter."

Race moved to spit into his hand, but remebered proper folk didn't do that sort of thing.

As he shook, Peggy looked back at the General. "He has the characteristics we need, General. He'd be an excellent spy."

****

Race stared over the edge of the cliff they were camped on, three miles from 'Heron Academy for Young Men,' a German military school in league with Hydra. Race's mission was to get in and out with information.

***

The blonde boy stared at the tower that resembled a prison. He pulled a worn picture out of his pocket; he and his honorary brothers back in Manhattan. Race studied it for a moment, and then a thought hit him like a train;

If he failed, he might never see them again.

A tap on his shoulder broke him out of his thoughts. "Ready?" Bucky looked down at him.

Race re-folded the paper and slid it into the inside breast pocket of his jacket.

I won't fail. I'll see them again.

"Let's go."

Part two?