Disclaimer: If you haven't figured it out by now, I don't own Newsies. Disney owns Newsies. I just own the plots. Or lack thereof.

Swifty and the Magical Pink Brownies

(AKA I Hate Valentine's)

Damn. I am sooo. Freakin'. HUNGRY! Not as hungry as I could be, though. I've been selling pretty good lately, and I've got the money. It's just I haven't had the time for breakfast, and it's already well past lunch. Selling papes is more important than eating, because selling papes IS eating.

Oh look. There's a bakery across the street. I cringe as I realize the whole place is decked out for Valentine's, but cross the street anyway to look in the window. Valentine's Day is a pain in the rear. First of all 'cause usually there isn't enough money to buy presents and sweets. Second, I don't have a girlfriend. I have a boyfriend. And you certainly don't see two guys on the tops of those cakes.

Wow. Those brownies look good. Big, fat brownie hearts with red icing. I bet Skittery'd like one. Hell, I'd like one. I smiled as I felt my pockets. Who said Valentine's Day had to be expensive? I pulled open the door and went to talk with the annoyingly fat lady at the counter who was icing a cake.

"Ma'am…" She didn't notice me, or was trying not to. "…ma'am?"

Finally, she looked up. "Yes?"

"C'n I get one'ah dem… y'know…" I gestured with my hand as she smirked at me. "…arch-shaped thingies?"

"A croissant?"

"Yeah shoah." I mumbled. How was I supposed to know how to say the stupid French word? I waited as she wrapped it up, then looked up at her and asked, "How much're those brownies in da windah?"

"Three pennies."

Three pennies. More than had expected, but I could afford it. It was for Skittery, after all. He hadn't been selling well lately (something about insulting customers), so he'd really appreciate it. "I'll take one've tha red ones, then."

"We're out of red, but I've still got a few pink ones. Will that work?"

"Yeah, dat'll be fine." Skitts liked pink. Anyone who had underwear that color had to, I guess. It was like a rule. I just thought the red ones looked better. More natural-like.

"Five cents."

"Heah."

"Thank you."

"Thanks." Then a pause. "Hey lady, wanna papah?"

"Sorry, I already got one."

"Oh. Okay. T'anks anyhow." I left and walked back to the square to find Skittery, eating my croha- forget it. It was just some stupid bread anyways. And I had found Skitts.

He was sitting alone on one of the benches, tearing the hell out of a heart-shaped doily. I grinned. He really was glum and dumb.

"Heya Skittery!"

He looked up at me mid-tear. "Hey Swifty." Then suspiciously as I sat down beside in, "What's in th'bag?"

I dropped it in his lap. "A present."

He thought a moment, then found something to complain about. "Early, ain't'cha?"

"Couldn't wait."

"Of course." He picked up a similar bag next to him and dropped it on me quite unceremoniously. "Foah Mr. Impatient. I liked the pink ones but figurate if I liked dem den you'd like da red, so-" he explained as I pulled one of the red brownie hearts out of the bag. And immediately burst out laughing. Skitts looked hurt and a few of the others glanced our way curiously, so I tried to stop quickly. We couldn't attract too much attention to ourselves as a couple, or they might start to catch on. They aren't too friendly about that. Last time there was a kid in the lodging house who admitted to liking guys, he got soaked real bad, and then thrown out. Skittery and I are careful. I wouldn't want that to happen to him.

"No, Skitts, I was laughin' 'cause… well, look!" he looked inside the bag and started to smirk, but then he fought it back, feigning offense.

"It's pink!"

I grinned. "I know. Happy Valentine's, Skitts."

"It's not Valentine's."

"Stop complaining."