(A/N): For how much I hate to read OC and character ships, I sure write a ton of them. I honestly don't know why I wrote this or why I'm publishing it now... but whatever.
"Hey, little Missy." Your body seizes up and you whirl around to face two familiar men. You knew this was coming, but Oscarʼs voice surprised you nonetheless. "What are you doing out so late at night?"
"I could ask you the same." You start backing away. "Any reason youʼve been following me for the past three blocks?"
"Oh, no reason. Just because you have something we want," Morris says.
"And what would that be?"
Morris grins, and you take another step back. "Because your friends with Kelly and those other newsies, arenʼt ya?"
"So?"
Oscar grins. "Thatʼs all the answer we need."
They take off towards you and you gasp, turning and running away from them.
You almost beat them out of the alley, but the stupid Victorian boots your mom makes you wear slows you down. Oscar grabs your hair and pulls you back into him. You yelp at the sudden pain and scratch at him, scrabbling at the cobblestones with your feet, trying to find any way to get out.
Oscar yanks at your hair again and you scream at the stinging pain. He clamps a hand over your mouth, but you keep screaming. Youʼre not strong enough to overpower them, not that you know how. Morris takes hold of your shoulders and slams you back into one of the alley walls, and you wheeze as the wind is knocked out of you.
"Really?" You cough. "Youʼve sunk so low youʼre going to beat up a woman?"
"Itʼs funny that you think we care." Morris grins. His elbow still digs into your chest, and you fight against showing them any pain. You wonʼt give these thugs the satisfaction.
Instead, you lean forward and spit in his face.
Morris recoils and then wipes off his face. He scowls and raises his hand, "Why, you little-"
Before he can hit you, a voice at the end of the alley yells, "Hey!" Morris freezes, and you sigh in relief as you see Jackʼs familiar outline walking into the alley. It looks like Specs and Albert are behind him. "What do you two think youʼre doin?ʼ"
"Kelly!" Morris smiles falsely and pulls you back into his chest, pressing something cold to your throat. "Just in time. Take another step and we kill her."
Alright. That does it for you. Gritting your teeth, you stamp down with your foot hard on the inside of Morrisʼs foot. Thank God for Victorian heels. Not great for running, but good for stomping. You swing your bag at Oscar, hitting him solidly in the chest before taking off to your group of friends. Albert catches you by the shoulders and pushes you behind him.
"You alright?" he asks. You nod. "Yeah. Fine."
"You little b-!" Morris screams, still hopping on one foot but you cut him off.
"Thatʼs for calling me 'Little Missy!ʼ" you yell. Specs laughs and Al claps you on the shoulder at that.
Jack takes a step forward and cracks his knuckles. "Al, take her back to the Lodging House. Specs and I got this."
Albert nods and puts a hand on your back to lead you out of the alley, but before he can, you step forward and take hold of Jackʼs arm. "Jack, you donʼt have to do this," you mutter lowly. "Itʼs not worth the fight. Iʼm fine."
He looks down at you, and you swallow nervously. Youʼve never been this close to Jack before. "No one messes with my girl," he promises. His eyes widen at his mistake and he yells, "Our girl! No one messes with our girl."
You frown before taking a step back and nodding. "Be careful," you order, watching as Specs takes off his glasses and sticks them in his pocket.
Jack grins. "Always."