A/N: Pre-Strike.
"Crutchie, c'mon!" little seven yr. old Jack shouted.
Little five yr. old Crutchie limped after his best friend, the two boys running as fast as their legs would allow.
Jack did a double take at an open door and grabbed his best friend by the arm, practically dragging him inside.
The two heard the angry store owner run past before sitting on the floor, catching their breath.
"You'se ok?" Crutchie asked, his voice quivering slightly.
Jack nodded. "You?"
Crutchie nodded and said, "How far away is da Lodge?"
Jack shrugged. "I'se never been here before."
The five year old slowly got up, leaning heavily on his crutch. "How's your leg?" Jack asked, standing as well.
"It's fine," Crutchie muttered, looking around the large theater.
Jack saw another hall and said, "C'mon."
"Jack you'se sure this is a good idea?" Crutchie asked but he followed Jack anyway.
"It doesn't even look like anyone's here," he whispered.
The two went down the hall and somehow made it to a large stage. "Whoa," both boys breathed.
"Crutchie, look!" Jack said, running over to something.
Crutchie turned from his awe of the large place and looked at his best friend, who was in front of a very messily painted back drop.
"Jack, don't. W-we don't know who this belongs to or-or."
"Crutchie it'll be fine. It need the help," Jack said as he picked up a paint brush.
After about ten minutes, he'd touched up the back drop and added a little – as he put it – 'Jack Kelly style to it'.
Crutchie began to say something when they heard footsteps along with two people talking. "Crutch, c'mon!" Jack whispered.
The two took off and ran back outside, somehow finding their way back to the Lodging House.
"Where've you two been?" eight year old Specs asked, looking up from his card game with eight year old Race.
"Got chased by the bulls," Jack explained.
"We found a theater," Crutchie added.
The boys shrugged and continued their previous activities.
Two days passed and Crutchie and Jack somehow found their way back to the theater. Jack was itching to paint another backdrop, and once he saw another messy one, he couldn't resist.
That continued for about two weeks before the boys were finally caught.
"So. You're the two that've been fixing my back drops," a voice said, causing Jack and Crutchie to jump and spin around, seeing a woman standing behind them.
"Run!" Jack shouted. The brothers began to run off when the woman stopped them.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down. I'm not gonna hurt you," she said, kneeling down so she was eye-level with the boys. Crutchie hid behind Jack, who put a protective arm in front of him.
"Please don't take us to the Refuge," Crutchie said quietly.
The woman's face softened. "I'm not going to take you to the Refuge. Where's your boys folks?"
"They died a few years ago," Jack said quietly. "Mine sent me away cause a' my leg," Crutchie muttered.
The woman's face softened even more and she instantly felt bad for these two. "Are you Newsies?" she asked.
They nodded.
"I'm Medda. Medda Larkin. What're your names?" she asked.
"I'm Crutchie. This is my brother Jack," Crutchie said. He wouldn't come out from behind Jack, but poked his head out a little more.
"Nice to meet you. Jack, I'm assuming you're the one who's been fixing my backdrops for me?" Medda asked.
Jack nodded and quickly said, "I'm sorry, Miss Medda. I won't do it again."
Medda chuckled softly. "It's alright, Jack. They've actually been much nicer since you've been fixing them. You're quite the artist."
Jack grinned. "Thanks!"
She nodded softly and Crutchie had fully come out from behind Jack now.
"Tell you what. You boys stop by once and a while, and Jack you can paint my backdrops as much as you want. Only, if you stay and talk with me for a bit. I get lonely, you know," Medda smiled.
"Deal!" Jack grinned.
The two shook hands.
"Well, I'll see you next time then, Jack. You two, Crutchie. And feel free to bring any of your friends. The more the merrier, am I right?" she asked. The brothers nodded, smiling as Medda stood back up.
"Bye, Miss Medda!" Jack and Crutchie said in unison before leaving.
Medda never had kids of her own, but ever since she met the Newsies, she felt like she did.
A/N: Hope y'all liked this one! It was fun to right the little Newsies. You know the drill. Any characters, prompts, or anything of the sort put in the comments below! I'd love some feedback on this chapter! Next week's will be a very special Christmas one! Swift might even make reappearance. :)
TTFN!