No one ever asked for this. But Heere you go anyways
Newsies AU
•••

"EXTRA EXTRA! TROLLY STRIKE REACHES THIRD DAY!"

Jake waves the pape desperately over his head, hopelessly trying to nab the attention of passerby's. Men and women turn down their noses at the ragged boy, ignoring his attempt to sell papers.

Jake sighs, rubbing his face with his hand. Wealthy people pass by in fine clothes and finer shoes, but they can't spare an odd penny for a starving boy.

"THIRD DAY OF TROLLY STRIKE! READ ALL ABOUT IT!" He yells, but no one pays heed.

Jeremy scoffs from the next corner over. Newbies. They don't get how this business works. With a shake of his head, he hops over to Jake. The boy is still waving the paper over his head, so Jermey snatches it.

"Hey! I'm selling that" Jake protests, but Jeremy just dismissed him with a wave of his hand.

Jeremy opens the newspaper, eyes scanning the bland headline.
"You weren't sellin' nothin', Jakey. Peoples were lookin' at you like you's was yesterday's pape"

Jeremy throws the paper over his shoulder. It flutters and lands on the pavement. Before Jake can grab it, Jeremy throws his arm around his shoulders.

"Look around, Jakey. What'd'ya see?"

Jake pulls a face as Jeremy looks soulfully into the bustling street.
"I see . . . people"

"Wrong. Ya see nothin'" Jeremy claps his back, grabbing Jakes shoulders and turning him, so they're eye to eye.
"And nothin's What ya gonna get if you keep sellin' like that"

"I'm reporting the headline. There's no other way to sell it"

Jeremy smirks.
"Watch and loin"
The cocky asshole snatches another paper form Jakes bag, before hopping into the streets.

"EXTRA EXTRA! THOUSANDS FLEE FROM DANGEROUS INFERNO!" He yells.

A man in a smart hat and coat turns his head, noticing Jeremy's yelling. He stops in front of him. "Hey boy, give me one of those"
He presses a coin into Jeremy's hand and takes the paper.

Jeremy turns on his heel, smirking at Jake with a smirk. "One pape down"

Jake furrows his brows, scoffing.
"I read the headline half a dozen times. It didn't say anything about an inferno"

"That's ya foist lesson kid. It did. You just wasn't lookin' hard enough" Jeremy hops back on the pavement.

Jake produces another paper, scanning the words quickly. He flicks from page to page, before halting. He rolls his eyes, glaring at Jeremy.
"Thousands flee form dangerous inferno? A bunch of seagulls got frightened by a bonfire!"

Jeremy shrugs.
"If I hates a headline, I'll make up a headline"

"You're lying to them"

"That's the business baby" Jeremy tips his Newsies Cap with a smirk.

"Well maybe I wasn't cut out for this business" Jake breathes, too quiet for his superior to hear.

Jeremy finally leaves the boy on the street corner, skipping across the road to his own spot. With a twinkle in his eye and showmanship in his heart, he grabs a pape from his bag and waves it about his head. But before he can holler some bullshit headline, something catches his eye.

Or rather, someone.

A man in a smart, brown blazer that perfectly compliments his tanned skin and dark, curly hair makes his way down the street. He causally walks down the pavement to the lamppost that Jeremy stands next to. The man is linked arms with a much shorter girl, with black hair and a very colourful dress. A smirk creeps across Jeremy's face, and he slaps the newspaper against his palm.

He flattens his cap and attempts to clean some dirt off his face. He skips into the middle of the footpath, gently bringing the man and woman to a stop.

"Aftahnoon, my dear soir, can I interest you in a newspapah'? Maybe as a gift for ya lovely lady friend heyah?" Jeremy charms.

The man raises an eyebrow, and curl falling onto his face.
"You want me to get my friend a newspaper as a present?"

The boys voice spreads like butter

Jeremy looks down at the paper in his hand. He pouts his lips.
"Okay you have a point. Let me just . . ."

Jeremy takes the cover of the newspaper, and holds side over side and corner of corner. With swift and experienced hands he turns the paper into an origami flower. With a sparkling grin, he hands the flower to the girl.

She accepts the flower with a gracious smile, giggling to herself. The boy can't help to crack a smile.

"Would you like a gift too, good soir?"

The boy shrugs.
"The least I can do do by the rest of the newspaper"
His voice is like butter

"No no no" Jeremy presses the paper into the boys hand. "Have it on the house"

The boy chuckles.
"Well thank you, House"

"I prefer to go by Jeremy" the newsie grins.

"I'm Christine" the girl adds, playfully shouldering the boy. "And this awkward flirt is Micheal"

"Pleasure to meet you, Michael"
Micheals name matches him perfectly. It matches his hair, his clothes, his skin, his smile.

Micheal smirks sharply back.
"You too, Jeremy"
He takes the rest of the newspaper, scanning the headline.

"I heard your yelling there a minute ago" he says. "This doesn't say anything about an 'inferno'"

"There's always a headline if you look close enough" Jeremy winks.

Christine giggles at this homosexual encounter.

"Not to ruin your flirting, but Micheal and I are meeting our friends at the theatre" she says apologetically.

"Maybe I'll see you later" Jeremy says.

"Maybe you will" Micheal replies.

And the pair continue on their way. They walk past Jeremy, who turns on his heel to watch them go. He hugs an arm around the lamp post, sighing. He knew Micheals face was nice, but- damn, he wasn't ready for his walk.

⚣

Rain doesn't just fall- it collapses. Sheets and sheets of heavy water smack the pavement. Our beloved newsie seeks shelter pressed against the alcove of a bar. The large windowsill above him provided just enough cover to keep him dry. He sighs.

The door to the bar on his right swings open. For a moment, the cheering and yelling inside becomes louder. The door closes. It's quiet again. Jeremy looks over to see a guy, clearly shocked by the weather.

He tries to put his coat over his head, but it's not working.

Jeremy chuckles.

"Hey" Jeremy calls over to the guy. "Can I interest you in a pape' umbrella?"

The guy laughs loudly, before turning to Jeremy.
"Guess that paper's not just for flowers"

Jeremy smiles at Micheal, gesturing him to come over. Micheal obliges, pressing himself against the wall to stay away from the rain.

"It'll woik a lot bettah than that flimsy overcoat of yois" he drawls, waggling a newspaper in Micheals face.

"Maybe you have a point" Micheal snatches it, before raising an eyebrow. "Free of charge again, I presume?"

Jeremy pretends to be offended.
"Wow Micheal. Always takin' advantage of me"

"And only you, babe"

The rain pounds around them. Jeremy smiles.
"So how was the theatre?"

"Boring is shit. Overrated. I'm not a big fan of plays or musicals or shows. Tonight's performance was just . . . meh" Micheal scrunches up his nose.

"I know a goil in theatre" Jeremy says, looking out at the rain. "Lady Lohst. Eva' hoid of her?"

Micheal sucks in his teeth awkwardly.
"I went to see her tonight. I'm so sorry I didn't know the performer was your girlfriend-"

"Ay" Jeremy snaps his fingers, staring into Micheals soul.
"Brooke ain't my goil. She's a friend. Besides, I'm more into penis myself"

Micheal chokes on air (A.K.A imaginary dick-).
"That's one way to say you're gay"

"Eh I get creative" Jeremy smiles again. He's been smiling so much he thinks his cheeks are gonna fall off.

There's a loud chime of bells. Church bells, of course. They chime once, twice, twelve times.
"Midnight" Jeremy says.

"Already? Shit I gotta get home or my mom will kill me"

Jeremy shoots out an arm, stopping Micheal.
"Don't fahget your pape. It'll keep ya dry"

Micheal looks at the paper.
"I know I joked about it, but I do have to pay for this. I need to keep my conscience clean"

Jeremy shakes his head.
"Nope. On the house"

Micheal frowns.
"I'm paying for this one way or another"

"What's that supposed to mean? You secretly a concubine?"

"You wish"
Micheal has moved increasingly closer. He holds the newspaper over his head, spots of rain smudging the inked paper.

"What you doin' there?" Jeremy breathes.

Micheal kisses him. No warning. No cheesy lead up. Just chaste lips pressed together for a second. Only a second.

"Thanks for the paper"

Micheal vanishes into the rain. Jeremy's head is spinning. His brain can't keep up with what happened. He smiles.

"Hey!" A voice calls from his right.

Jake stands in the doorway of the bar, grinning playfully.
"Looks like someone had a good sales day"

Jeremy chuckles.
"can it Jakey. I'm just a natural"

Jake raises his eyebrows with a smile.
"So? Tell me about him"

"Nah nah nah you're buying me a drink" Jeremy pushes Jakes newsie cap down his face, laughing. They throw their arms around each other, and disappear into the crowded bar.

The hot room adds colour to Jeremy's already blushing cheeks. His hand creeps into his bag, fingering the edge of paper. He can't help but think of the flowers he'll fold with it. He'd fold a whole garden for Micheal. Full of umbrellas and waterfalls and flowers and flowers and flowers.

But for now it's just a paper. For now he'll leave it as that.

⚣
I like this. I really do.
Should I make a part two?

- Avery

Also make sure to stay warm. It's cold outside, buddy