TRIGGER WARNING! Depression, Anxiety, Self-Harm, Suicide. I do not own Newsies
It started, as most things do, while Jack was painting. Davey was sitting on a stool next to him, doing his homework. Jack had just put the finishing touches on another sunset when he noticed a rather annoying clicking noise.
"Davey?!"
"Ya, Jack," Davey responded without looking up at him.
Jack rolled his eyes and reached over to push Davey's hand away from his mouth.
"Shhh."
Davey smiled sheepishly and lowered his hand. "Sorry."
After that, the routine became a habit; Davey would start biting his nails and Jack would reach over and push his hand away.
After a while, Jack started to figure out when Davey was going to start biting his nails. So there Jack was for the college and the job fairs, right by Davey's side for every late night study session and every early morning homework rush.
Eventually, Jack spent enough time with Davey to figure out why he was biting his finger nails. Jack found out about the constant doubt that resided in Davey; the ever present worry and fear that seemed to weigh Davey down. Jack learned about all the anxiety that kept Davey on the edge, and so Jack was there as a strong hand to hold. Jack was there, holding Davey's hand for all the highs, and all the lows.
Jack was still there for Davey when he started to yank his hand away; holding out his hand when Davey started to pull his sleeves down further, and Jack squeezed harder than ever when Davey rolled his sleeves back up, revealing the raw cuts on his wrists.
Jack was there within seconds of getting the text from Les; standing next to the hospital bed, gripping Davey's lifeless hand. Jack was there, silently screaming at the pamphlets that he had read, internally cursing all the websites with pictures of gray storm clouds and crying teenagers. They had all lied. They had all failed to show the horrifying bruises around Davey's neck. None of them had mentioned the horrible despair hanging in the hospital room. Not a single one of them had mentioned the indescribable adulation of finally feeling Davey squeeze his hand back.
After that, Jack was there more than ever. He was there for every doctor's appointment and every therapy session. He was Davey's stronghold through all the junk doctors and the medication trials. Jack was there when everything finally clicked and Davey started on the road to recovery.
Then, everything switched and Davey was there for Jack. Davey sat, hand-in-hand, with Jack as he came out to the boys. Davey never left Jack's side as Crutchie went through his surgeries and then, Davey was there to hold out his hand as Jack dropped down onto one knee.
Then, they were there for each other; side-by-side, hand-in-hand, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, into death and beyond.
Hello! Thanks for reading! Please leave behind reviews, tell me what you liked or didn't like. Happy Tuck Day! So obviously the song for this story has to be my favorite song from the Tuck Soundtrack, "Top of the World". Video is Missy Elliott- Lose Control OASIS Dance Camp 2016 Choreography by Susia Ruddell & Dominic Matas on Youtube. I'm the dude in the white visor. It is 11:17 AM HAST so good night, good morning, and good everything-in-between!