Thanks so much for all the reviews guys. This is also probably my least favourite boy to write about so it will probably be the most OCC and weakest of all the boys' stories. This is mainly about his and Curly's reaction to meeting each other as I couldn't think of anything else to write for him. The other boys will be better though. Promise.

Spinning Mule was a machine that was used in factories during the 18th and 19th century to spin cotton and other fibres.

A Scavenger was a job given to young children which involved picking up pieces of cotton from beneath the Spinning Mule.

X-X-X

Fox and Curly looked over at Nibs who had the same serious expression he always wore engraved into his features. "Nibs arrived second," Curly confirmed.

Nibs just nodded in agreement before he spoke. "Yes, I did, however there are some minor details that I must leave out. You would view me differently."

Peter smiled, "No we won't..."

"...Peter, don't say you won't if you don't know what I am talking about," Nibs responded bitterly. Nibs had always been like that towards most of the boys, besides Curly with whom he was closest with. He acted cold. Although he was a good person at heart, that didn't seem to change his heartless vibe.

Nibs glanced around at the group before he began. "All my life, I have had to work to keep alive and had to work tirelessly at that. Life has been hard. This started when I was just three years old. However, I met Jimmy when I was five. During the two years before I met him, I worked in a cotton mill and this is all you really need to know before I begin..."

X-X-X

Five-year-old Nibs outstretched his arm beneath the machine, coughing as dust filled his lungs. Shutting his eyes, Nibs stretched his fingers out and grabbed the piece of cotton that lay on the ground a few metres away from him before getting out from beneath the Spinning Mule. The five-year old hated this job with a passion. It was dangerous (since they never turned off the machine when he was beneath it) unhygienic and caused a massive amount of pain for his back with all the leaning over he did. That wasn't all. He also had to work for sixteen hours a day where he barely made enough money to buy a loaf of bread.

"I thought it was against the law for children under fourteen to work in factories at that time," Twins stroked his chin as he tried to recall if he had heard or read differently.

Nibs nodded. "That's right, but factory owners would do anything to get more people to work for them and I needed money. So the owner snuck me in. Numerous times I was forced to hide beneath the machine for many hours when inspectors arrived to check on the conditions of the factory. They were pretty bad, but not bad enough to close the factory. Luckily, I never got caught."

"However, one day I left the factory but this is the part I mentioned earlier that I had to leave out..."

"Why? Was it that bad?" Peter crossed his arms as he pryed the dark-skinned boy for information. Nibs scowled.

"Yes, Peter. It was very bad what I did."

Fox, who was starting to seem just as curious as Peter now, spoke up. "Nibs. We are your friends. We won't judge you. Promise. Right boys?" Fox gestured to the rest of the group who nodded their heads and murmured 'Yeah's and 'Right'

Nibs glancing down at the floor. Curly heard him friend gulp. Then, the boy spoke. "I... um..." Nibs took a deep breath to calm himself. "I killed someone... I pushed one of the line monitors beneath the machine when he was hitting this little girl who looked as if she was about to pass out and his head got caught between the Roller beam and the carriage... and... well... let's just say his head got smashed in."

Nibs glanced up from the floor, fully expecting to see looks of disgust; horror and disbelief but those looks weren't there. Instead, his friends faces had smiles and looks of empathy. "Well done mate," Fox congratulated. Grabbing the surprised boy's hand and shaking it, a dazzling smile playing on his lips. "For teaching that bastard for hitting a kid."

Nibs raised a brow. "So me killing someone , bother you guys?"

Everyone shook their heads. "You had a good reason. You were protecting that girl. Not that killing someone was right," Tootles explained.

The dark-skinned boy just gave them a look of disbelief. "Well okay then... well anyways, I left that factory because of that so I now had no job or money. Since I never knew my parents, I took to the streets and started looking for work. However, most places by now no longer employed children and that brings me to how I met Jimmy."

The five-year-old glanced up at the Fencing Academy with awe, amazed by the building. It seemed so homely to him. The cherry red bricks, clean windows and the words 'White Chapel Fencing Academy' might not make the building that interesting but it was like stepping into heaven for the five-year-old. This would be an awesome place to work everyday. He just hoped they employed and had a position for a child his age. The boy couldn't fence, but maybe he could clean or something. He was good at cleaning thanks to his work at the factory.

The dark-skinned boy opened the door, feeling anticipated and a little worried. He had been turned down for so many jobs that he now couldn't afford food. If he didn't get a job fast he would surely starve.

Inside the building was a large room and there was a tall man in a black jacket and matching bowler hat with a young child. The child looked slightly older than him with a lot of blonde curly hair.

"Fair play, your hair hasn't changed much Curly." Nibs laughed as he punched his best friend's shoulder playfully. Curly laughed.

"I don't think my name would make much sense if I changed it."

"Fair point."

The man and the child were both holding swords. Though, Nibs wasn't much of a fencer so he didn't know what they were called. "Okay Curly, this time I want you to move your feet. If this was a real fencing match then you wouldn't just stand stock still. You would try to move. So, this time, when you attack me move forward as well." The man instructed as they both readied their swords. The boy who Nibs' guessed name was Curly nodded.

The boy suddenly starting walking forward as he swung the sword at the man. The man backing away as the boy continued to attack him. When the man's back hit the wall the boy stopped. "Well done." The man congratulated. "That is enough for today." Curly nodded in response. That is when Curly noticed him standing at the door.

"Jimmy. There is someone here." He murmured to the man whose name was Jimmy. The man glanced over at him.

"Hello," He greeted warmly. Nibs suddenly felt extremely awkward. He wasn't a fan of attention. "Do you need help with something?"

The dark-skinned boy gulped, his hands starting to shake. It wasn't an easy task to ask for a job. The thought itself even made him cringe. Jimmy however, seemed to read him like a book. "You need a job don't you?" The man guessed with a smile. "I can tell by how skinny you are."

"Yeah," The boy replied in a monotone voice. The boy was good at hiding his emotions, a trait that became stronger as he increased in age. Jimmy smiled a little wider.

"Well, little lad, why don't you come over here for a moment and fence with Curly while I check if we have anything open. Don't worry about not being able to fence. Curly is a beginner also but he knows the basics. He should be able to help you.

Curly stepped forward and nodded towards Jimmy as he vanished out of the room and into the basement. There was a moment of silence as both boys just stared at each other, like they were trying to guess what the other's personality was. It was Curly who broke the silence. "Have you fenced before?" He asked, sounding just as awkward as Nibs felt. The dark-skinned boy shook his head. "Okay then."

Curly walked over to a chest in the corner of the room and picked up a sword before tossing it to the latter, Nibs just about caught it. "I have only just started learning so I am not the best but I can teach you what I know." The boy seemed a little weary of him but Nibs felt mutual so it didn't really matter.

"Wait... so you and Curly didn't trust each other immediately?" Fox sounded surprised. Both boys nodded.

"We actually didn't trust each other for a long time. Only about two months before you arrived did we start trusting each other fully. By then, it had been almost a year." Curly admitted.

After Curly showed him how to hold the sword and what to do, a fencing match began. At first, Nibs wasn't very good. Curly would beat him in a matter of seconds. However, he soon started to get better untill he could last a decent about of time with Curly. It was actually pretty fun. That is when Jimmy walked back into the room.

"Well... I am sorry I didn't catch you name."

"Its Nibs," Nibs replied.

"Thanks. Well Nibs, I am afraid I don't have any positions for a job open at the moment. However, you are free to stick around for a bit until you get a job."

Though he was disappointed about not getting a job, he was also happy about having a shelter for a few nights. So, he gratefully excepted Jimmy's offer.

X-X-X

"...I did eventually get a job but... I don't know. I guess leaving just never happened. So, I stayed around and that is the end of the story."

The boys smiled at the dark-skinned boy as he finished his tale. "See, that wasn't so bad." Peter grinned. Nibs nodded his head slightly.

"Yeah I guess your right."

Fox glanced down at the floor." I guess it is my turn now then, eh?"

The other boys will be much better. It is just that I couldn't think of anything to write for Nibs. I like the other boy's backgrounds though and I think you will prefer the other boy's too