Chapter Text
“Go, go, go!” Oscar whisper-yelled to you as you rounded a corner into an alleyway.
Morris ran up behind him a few moments later. Oscar straightened up when he saw Morris come up behind him.
“Where’s the damned street rat ran off to?!” Morris demanded while catching his breath.
“I got tripped up on my shoes while chasing them, and they knocked a bunch of stuff over. So, they got away before I could catch them and then I didn’t see where they ran off to,” Oscar explained sheepishly.
Morris was the older of the two, stricter, but less violent than his little brother. Oscar came to be more violent because he was tired of being bossed around at home by Morris. So, he took it out on the newsies. Plus, he got paid for it.
After Oscar explained what had happened, Morris looked about on his last nerve. “So, you let them get away?” He asked.
“No-no that!” He cut himself off before he could make his brother even angrier.
Oscar sighed and clenched his fists. “Look, why don’t I go down this alley,” he gestured to the one you’d gone down.
“And you go down that other one? Best bets if we want to find them,” Oscar tried, hoping to calm his brother down.
Morris nodded and walked down an alley. Oscar sighed again, this time in relief, and turned to the alleyway you’d gone down.
Oscar kept walking and made sure that Morris had left before he spoke into the cramped space of the alleyway.
“(Name)?” He echoed through the alley. “(Name)! It’s just me now. Morris ran off the other way. You can come out.”
Out of the corner of his eye he saw some movement from below some boxes. “(Name)!” He exclaimed. He ran over to where you were hiding.
“I didn’t give you too bad a chase right? I figure you’re used to it though, being a newsie and all,” he joked.
You laughed in reply. “No, not at all! I was just scared of Morris seeing you intentionally giving me space or you tellin’ me to go down the alley,” you replied.
Oscar got on his knees in front of you, since you were on your knees. You took his hands in yours.
“Thanks for helping me out,” you muttered. “Really. Morris’d probably skinned me if he caught up to me.” You laughed.
Oscar didn’t notice you talking. He was so focused on how your hands held his.
Sure, you were his partner but he just hadn’t adjusted to it yet. It was so surreal for him. Especially since you were a newsie, damn it!
You eventually noticed his mouth hanging slightly open, and a bright pink dusting his cheeks and ears.
You giggled a bit. “Oscar?” You drew the end of the name out. Your hands moved up to his shoulders and shook him. “Yoo-hoo, Oscar! You still there?” You yelled at him.
He shook his head realizing what was happening. “Wha-!” He gasped.
“I-I’m sorry, (Name). I just-I just..I,” he gave up on trying to explain himself, which embarrassed him more, making him blush harder.
He looked like a stawberry! The leaves were his hair and the strawberry was his face.
“Oh don’t apologize. Yous a Delancey, for Pete’s sakes! I’ain ever heard no Delancey apologize. Especially not to a newsie!” You teased him, laughing a bit. God, he loved your laugh. You laughed all the time, too.
You got this glint in your eyes, Oscar knew it didn’t mean good. “Now what are you plan-“ he was cut off by you grabbing his hat and kissing him.
He tensed up before kissing you back. You both pulled away, you grinning and he flustered. “When did. When did you. When,” he stuttered out. “When did you get so…so bold?”
Normally, Oscar was the one who would always show you affection. You two would always flirt through looks at morning distribution. He would stare at you after you’d bought your papers, even!
One time, you two were at morning distribution and he intentionally held on to the papers so you couldn’t grab them. He did this just so you’d touch his wrists and hands. He just wanted attention, and couldn’t wait ‘til after you’d had finished selling.
“Well, I’s gotta get goin’ now. Can’t have my boys thinkin’ you two killed me,” you joked.
“But seriously, Oscar. I love you. Oh-and!”
You pulled the stolen papers out of your news bag.
“Here’s the two I stole. I’ll make without them, I just wanted to cause some trouble. Mess with Morris. I’ll catch yous at mornin’ distribution? Or…” you trailed off.
“Or we could meet up tonight? At the Manhattan Bridge? Or one of the parks? I think park!” You stood up, stretching.
“Again, I love yous.”
And with that you ran off, tossing the stolen papers behind you.
“I..” Oscar started as you ran off. “I love you too!” He called out.
He stood up and turned, right as he began walking Morris came around the corner. “Well?” Morris demanded. “Nope. They got away,” Oscar muttered.
Morris pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed through his nose. He didn’t say anything. Oscar wished he did. It wouldn’t leave him guessing as much.
“Well…they didn’t entirely get away,” Oscar started. “I forced them to hand the stolen papers over, and let them go”