Chapter Text
Katherine and Matthew walk hand in hand down the street, and Katherine grows more nervous by the second. They were getting close to Jack’s usual selling spot. Katherine usually doesn’t go out of her way to ignore him, but today of all days, the morning after Matthew came home with bloody knuckles after him and a couple of his “friends” beat up and robbed some poor newsie, she knew he wouldn’t ignore it.
Jack was very protective of his boys and if he saw the perpetrator in the streets, no doubt it’d be a brawl. She doesn’t want to think about what he’d do after finding out she was with Matthew instead of him.
Honestly, Katherine reluctantly admits to herself that she’d rather be with Jack, but with her father's threats of kicking her out, she couldn’t risk it. Jack barely makes enough to support him and the boys; she can’t add herself to that list. The truth of the matter is girl reporters just don’t make enough.
They rounded the corner and Katherine all but froze at the sound of Jack yelling out the new headline, though she knows full well he probably made it all up.
But when she spotted Jack, she actually did freeze. His walking was a little funny as he obviously favored his left side. There was also a poorly wrapped bandage around his arm that no doubt crutchie did for him. But it was his face that made Katherine realize. The bruises around his neck and the black eye.
The newsie Matthew attacked was Jack.
Here she thought it was one of the gambling boys, and that maybe they got themselves into that position, but it was their leader. The guy who ties crutchie’s shoe and stays up all night with Romeo after a nightmare. And her fiancé beat him up.
Then, like it all happened in slow motion, Matthew and Jack made eye contact. Jack scowled, and Matthew smirked, obviously proud of what he’d done to the poor boy.
Then Jack looked at her and Katherine’s heart broke. It was far worse than the day she called it quits. He looked at her so hurt and confused. No anger.
Matthew made some rude comment Katherine ignored, before sending him off to the store down the road to fetch something for her.
Reluctantly, Katherine walked over to Jack. Neither said anything.
“Are you-,” Jack started, shifting between feet a few times, “Are you happy?”
“I think so,” Katherine replied a little so quickly, not really believing her own words.
Jack gave a sad nod and looked down, and for the first time since they’ve met, Katherine didn’t see any of that confidence that he used to exude.
She noticed the large number of papers still in his bag, “Slow day?” She asked, going for small talk.
“Hm?” He seemed startled by the question, before realizing what she was talking about, “Oh no. Um- Crutch ain’t been feeling too good lately. You know with the cold and all that, so I’m covering for him. Just till he gets good again.”
“Oh.” There she goes feeling bad again, “Well I’ll take one.” She handed him and dime (even though a paper would normally only cost her a penny), and he shoved it into his pocket, handing her the newest edition of the World. Even though they both knew she could just get a copy for free from her father.
It was then when their hands touched that she realized how cold he really was. It was only 20 degrees outside, and he didn’t even have his vest on.
“Jack!” She exclaimed, grabbing his hands, “You’re freezing!”
“Yeah well-“ Jack pulled his hands back roughly, stepping back from her, “That’s what happens when someone takes 2 Days pay, and your jacket from ya.”
She followed his glare over to Matthew, who was walking out of the store now, looking for Katherine. She felt an anger for Matthew she never had before. That’s just mean. It’s common sense that newsies don't have much, why take a kids clothing and money when they obviously needed it more than he did.
And now Jack is working longer, with double the load and 1/2 the pay just to keep Crutchie and himself alive. Although she knows that he’ll spend all that money on the boys first before even thinking about himself.
Matthew spotted her and started walking over; Jack took this as his cue to get the hell out of dodge.
Katherine grabbed his arm stopping him, “Jack. I’m so sorry. Really. I won’t let this happen again I promise. I’ll talk to him.”
Jack scoffed and gave her a sad smile, “Ace look,” she smiled at the nickname, “I ain’t stupid. I know how this world works. And I know that I could never have the things you do or be the man he is. So as long as you’re happy- don’t worry about me.”
Katherine went to tell him that he’s wrong that he didn’t deserve that hand that was dealt him.
He didn’t deserve to be working harder and longer than anybody else in this city. He didn’t deserve to be plagued by nightmares of the refuge every night. He didn’t deserve to be beat up and robbed just because he’s poor. He didn’t deserve to practically be a human icesicle on the street. But she didn’t say any of that because soon enough Matthew had caught up to them.
“Hey,” Matthew said pushing Jack away from her, “Get outta here you stupid gutter rat.”
Jack looked angry but reeled it in quickly and shot a resigned look over to Katherine, before walking (or rather, hobbling) away.
She wanted nothing more than to yell out to him, tell him all she couldn’t before, but Matthew being there stopped her. She had no idea what he’d do to jack if she did.