Disclaimer: Disney owns all the characters from Newsies. All the other characters are mine, except for the ones mentioned at the end of the chapter.
"I quit!"
Hull-Shore's voice rang throughout the factory, causing the other boys to pause. They looked up, happy for an excuse to rest their blistered and singed hands.
"Ya can't quit, Hull!"
The boys flinched and got back to work, pounding pieces of steel. Malamute's tone was potent, like it usually was, but angry and impatient. But then again, that was pretty familiar, too.
"I can't take this job anymore, Mal!"
"Hull, come on! Ya can't give up like that!"
Hull-Shore stood up and thrust his chest forward, trying to seem bigger. Still, Hull's appearance didn't change: he was still lean and scrawny. Nothing compared to the broad shouldered, tall, Canadian in front of him. Malamute's eyes briefly flickered with slight humor, but after a moment continued radiating in irritation.
"Ya can't go back to Massachusetts, boy." Malamute breathed. His voice wasn't mad, but empathic. "Ya can't go back…"
"I know that! I could stay here and help fisherman like I used to!" Hull bleated.
"We don't fish here in New York, Hull."
Hull looked down at his boots as a feeling of sharp defeat was injected through his body. Reality, Malamute had once told him, was like a rabid animal. Foaming at the mouth and biting the most brittle part of your body when you weren't ready.
"Hey…" Malamute soothed. "It's alright…"
He tilted up Hull's chin with his thumb and smiled at him. It was an old joke they shared. Hull refused to look at him and drove his head back down.
"Don't turn this into a queer moment…" Hull said with a smirk.
"Youse the queer!" Malamute laughed as he punched his blonde friend's shoulder.
"Youse both queers!" interjected Pantomime. Hull-Shore and Malamute whirled around, gawking at the almost always silent boy. Ever since his brother Curtain Call had been thrown in the refuge, Pantomime stopped talking. Realizing that he spoke, Pantomime blushed and ran out of the factory. Malamute glanced at the exit, trying to catch a glimpse of the sun. It was bright yellow and the sky was a pure blue.
"It's noon, come on, break starts in a minute anyways!"
Hull snickered and followed Malamute and Pantomime outside. All three of them went into a coughing fit when the clean air filled their lungs. Their bodies had adapted to breathing in smoke and dust from the factory. Although, New York air still wasn't that clean.
"Wait up!" a voice from behind called. Hull smiled as Marbles ran out the door, panting in fury. "Ya left without me!" she growled.
"Sorry, it ain't our fault if ya too busy playing with marbles to hear us leave!" Malamute teased.
"Aw, shut up, I least I don't go around playin' with puppies!" Marbles snapped.
"Sled dogs, Jackie! Not puppies, sled dogs! They're like wolves, and they'll tear ya to pieces!" Malamute did a snarling imitation and grabbed Marbles.
"Get off me, ya stupid dog!"
Malamute shook his head and mouthed 'Can't take a joke' to Pantomime. The boy grinned. Pantomime loved hearing how Malamute spent 7 of his 17 years in Canada, helping to train sled dogs. In general, he just liked dogs, because they were so expressive without making a sound. Like him.
"Youse all dogs!" chuckled Jack as he approached the factory workers.
"JACK!" Pantomime shouted as he flung himself into Jack's arms. When Curtain Call was in jail, he'd met Jack and made him promise to take care of his younger brother.
"Hiya, kid!" Jack greeted as he put Pantomime back on the ground. "Are ya guys ready? We're heading over to Brooklyn today. It's Spot's birthday..." Jack's eyes shifted over to Hull, waiting for his expected reply.
"Will we go swimming?" he asked.
Alright, so here's chapter one. I'd like to thank NewYorkQueen for letting me use her character Marbles in my story. I'll use all the others in the next chapters, so be patient, and send in more characters.