Henry limped into the Lodge House, hoping his brothers and sister were asleep by now.
His back ached and the wound on his leg throbbed as he poked his head into the Lodge, looking around.
The lights were off, which was a good sign. To him at least.
He snuck in and cringed at the creakiness of the door as it closed.
Someone laid their hand on his should, making him jump and scream.
"Shh! You want to wake everyone up?" hissed Race.
"Race! What're you doing up?! It's midnight!" Henry whispered.
"I could say the same for you," Race said and Henry could see in the dark the older boy crossing his arms.
Henry shrunk a bit and mumbled, "I-I just got a bit lost, that's all."
Race paused and Henry could practically feel him frowning at him.
"Get to bed, Henry. We have to sell tomorrow," Race said, clapping his brother on the clap, making Henry nearly cry out in pain.
"Henry, are you ok?" Race asked, concern filling his voice.
"I'm fine, Race. I just fell, that's all."
I guess that's part of the truth, Henry thought to himself.
"Hmm. OK, well get to bed," Race said.
Henry nodded and tried to hide his limping as he went to his bed.
The next morning, Henry was woken to the sounds of Swift's angry yells at Buttons and Albert.
They probably ran into her room again, Henry thought, as he climbed out of bed and started to dress.
"Henry, how'd you get the gash on you'se arm?" Crutchie asked, limping over to his brother.
Henry glanced down at his arm, groaning internally, having completely forgotten about his wound.
"I just fell yesterday. I'm fine, Crutch," he said, quickly shoving on his shirt.
Crutchie frowned. "Henry, you wouldn't have had a gash that big just from fallin'."
"I fell hard," he added. Crutchie's frown deepened but before he could question it more, Henry walked off.
He didn't want to be rude to his brothers, but he couldn't tell him. He had to handle this himself.
He walked out the door and headed to the distribution center.
"Hiya, Henry!" Les's happy voice shouted.
He ran up to the older boy, slowing down as he caught up with him.
"Hey, Les. Where's Davey?" he asked, turning and seeing no sign of said boy.
"He's talking with Jack and Race. He told me I could come sell with you today! Is that ok?" he asked.
"Les, maybe not today. Why don't you go sell with Elmer? He could use the help." He whispered the last part, making the ten yr. old giggle a bit and say, "Sure!"
Les ran ahead to catch up with Elmer, who was talking with Swift.
Henry sighed happy he could keep his secret safe bit longer. Well, it's not much a secret, more-
Henry grunted as he was pulled into an alleyway by his shirt collar.
"What's up squirt?" Oscar growled.
Henry struggled against Oscar's tight grip.
"Don't even try moving. You're not going to get anywhere," he growled, pushing him harder against the wall.
"Just leave me alone," Henry managed to choke out, his neck being pressed against by Oscar's arm.
"No way, runt. You're too fun to mess with," Oscar said with an evil chuckle.
He threw Henry to the ground, Henry's already wounded arm sliding against the brick wall, re-opening said wound.
"We'll continue this tonight," he whispered as voices of Henry's brothers became closer and closer.
Oscar ran off and Henry scooted back into the shadows of the alleyway so his brothers wouldn't see him. They couldn't find him like this.
Albert, Buttons, and Mush walked by, chatting happily and not noticing the wounded boy in the shadows.
Henry sighed a sigh of relief.
He stood, not giving a second glance to his arm.
He walked out of the alley and down to the distribution center.
"Hey, Henry, where'd you go? You're never late," Albert frowned in confusion.
"I- uh, took a wrong turn," he lied.
Albert shrugged it off, knowing that he himself had done that several times before.
"50 papes," Henry said, laying is money on the counter.
"50 papes for Henry," Wiesel said.
Henry avoided Oscar's deadly glance and gave Morris a small nod and a, "Thank you," before quickly walking off.
Morris frowned in confusion. Henry would normally be very chatty when he picked up his papes. He glanced at his brother, who was watching Henry walk off with an evil glint in his eyes.
Morris frowned, this time in anger, grabbing his older but small brother by the arm and dragging him behind the building.
"What'd you do Oscar?" he said, pressing his brother against the building,
"Nothing, Morris! Get off a me!" he said, shoving his brother's hand off and walking back into the building.
Morris knew it wasn't nothing. He just hoped his brother didn't do anything stupid do get on the Newsies' bad side. He knew it would never turn out well with that army of brothers against them.
Henry had just finished selling his papes and was about to make a break for the Lodge when a hand grabbed his arm, pulling him into the alley once again.
"Ready to finish this thing, runt?" Oscar asked, fists up.
"Just leave me alone, Oscar," he said, starting to walk away.
He suddenly felt a blow to the head and fell unconscious.
"How long has he been like this?" a voice asked.
"I don't know, we found him in the alley," another voice said.
Henry opened his eyes instantly felt a pounding headache.
"Henry," Swift said, worry filling her voice.
"You're lucky you're not dead. We found you in the alley with Oscar Delancey beating you to a pulp! How long has this been going on, Henry," Race said.
"Race, let him wake up first. We need to make sure there's no permanent damage," Swift said, pulling her brother away by the shoulders.
She sat on the edge of the bed, gently touching Henry's now bandaged arm.
"Henry, you know where you are right?" she said, her voice soft.
He nodded softly.
"You know your name?"
Another nod.
"How long has this been going on."
"Two weeks," he mumbled.
"What?!" the boys shouted, making Henry cringe.
Swift sent them a glare, then turned back to her brother.
"Henry, why is Oscar doing this?" she asked.
"'Cause he's a jerk," Henry mumbled, turning away.
They were silent.
"Anyone up for selling today?" Jack asked, tiredness filling his voice.
Henry looked out the window, seeing the sun pouring in.
He must've been out a while.
When no one replied, Jack said, "Alright, everyone stay here today."
The boys nodded and Henry started to protest when Albert cut him off saying, "It's all our decision Henry."
"Henry, no moving today, ok? You were nearly dead when we found you," Race said. Henry nodded.
The boys spent the rest of the day turns helping their brother.
And boy was Oscar in for it when the Newsies went out to sell the next day. Let's just say, Morris and the Newsies taught Oscar a very important lesson on what happens when you mess with one of them.
A/N: Shout-out to Guest for giving me the idea for this! If any of you have an idea or character or prompt you would like to see, please share! Hope you enjoyed this!