Modern AU (post strike obviously)

All of the Newsies have some kind of talent. Jack can draw, Davey is  very persuasive, Race can win at poker with his eyes closed (not that anyone questioned that), Romeo is good with the ladies, Les is the master of the puppy dog eyes, Specs can read a 500 page book in a day, Finch can point out every bird that sits on the rooftop of the apartment building, Snipeshooter never misses his target with a slingshot, Mush is good with advice, Kid Blink can sing to any rock song, Boots could play marbles and win a million times in a row, but Crutchy never can figure out what his special talent is. He can kinda dance with his crutch, but he thinks it looks weird and is never very impressive. Crutchy realizes one thing that none of the boys can do that he used to be very good. He can cook well. One hot summer day, Crutchy decides to try his hand at cooking. He decides to make cookies. Crutchy finds a recipe that he likes in the old cookbook that sits in the corner of the kitchen. He begins to gather his ingredients and Jack wanders into the kitchen looking for breakfast. Jack notices all of the sugar and flour sitting out and cocks his head at his best friend. 

"Whatcha doin, Crutch?" He asks and Crutchy beams back at him.

"Makin cookies and tryin my hand at cookin. Maybe if I'se real good, we'se will get spaghetti for dinnah!" Crutchy announces dreaming of all of his cooking plans. "Den we'se can have dese for dessert." Jack nods his head and starts rummaging around in the kitchen cabinet for some cereal. He pulls out some cereal and fills up a bowl. Sitting down at the small island with his breakfast, Jack watches Crutchy move around the kitchen. He glances over at the clock on the wall and his eyes widen in surprise.

"I'se gotta get ta woirk. See ya later! Good luck wid the cookies and don't let da boys anywhere near em. You'se knows how dey's gets around sugah," Jack says as he wolfs down his cereal and rushes toward the door. "See ya, kid!"

"See ya, Jack!" Crutchy calls back and turns back to his recipe. Suddenly, as he measures his brown sugar, he thinks he hears a shuffling sound down by the floor. He peeks around the corner and when he doesn't see anyone, he goes back to making his cookies. Making his cookie dough, he starts to mix everything together when suddenly, Elmer pops out from behind the counter.

"Hey, Crutchy! Could I have some of da cookie dough?" The younger boy asks, a twinkle in his eye that Crutchy knows all too well to be mischievous. He shakes his head and turns away from Elmer as he reaches for the cookie dough. As he turns, he nearly runs into Tumbler and Boots who, from the looks of it, have just woken up.  

"Crutchy, I want some cookie dough, can I have some?" Tumbler asks and Crutchy immediately shakes his head.

"Jack said," Crutchy starts, but Boots says,

"Jackie doesn't hafta ta know and besides we can have just a liddle." Crutchy frowns at that.

"I'm not about ta go behind Cowboy's back like dat. It ain't fair an' besides, I'se needs dis for my cookies. If Jack says ya can have one latah, ya can, but ya ain't gettin in my cookie dough right now. I'se sorry, but it ain't happenin," He says. Suddenly, his phone vibrates on the counter which causes some of the boys to groan in the other room. Crutchy picks it up and sees that is a text message from Davey.

Davey: So, Les and I are bored. I know Jack's at work, but can we come over?

Crutchy: Yea, I need Les's help keeping the boys out of the cookie dough.

Davey: Cookie dough? This sounds bad.

Crutchy: What's wrong with that? I'm just making cookies and Jack told me not to let them get the cookie dough.

Davey: Okay. We'll be over soon.

Crutchy: Knock on the door, don't buzz in. People are still sleeping around here.

Davey: People are sleeping, the younger ones are trying to get hold of the cookie dough that you are making cookies with. Where's Jack fit into all of this?

Crutchy: Just come up and we'll talk, okay?

Davey: Okay.

About ten minutes later, Crutchy hears a knock on the door. Since Jack is at work and Race is sleeping, Crutchy gets to be in charge of the apartment for awhile. He opens the door to see Davey and Les on the other side.

"Mornin' fellas!" Crutchy greets his two friends as they come into the apartment.  He holds the cookie dough in the crook of one arm and his crutch in the other.

"Hey, Crutchy," Davey and Les both greet him.  Suddenly, Boots, Tumbler and Elmer materialize at Crutchy's side.

"Crutchy, give us da cookie dough," The three boys pester and Crutchy threatens them with his crutch.

"NO! Jack said no!!!" Crutchy exclaims, "Dis is my cookie dough!"

"I've never seen someone be so possessive of their cookie dough," Davey declares and the boys stare at him in shock. Suddenly, Crutchy gets an idea.

"What if you fellas help me make da cookies?" He asks and Henry, who appears from Crutchy's other side sticks his finger in the cookie dough.

"HENRY!!" Crutchy yells and Skittery yells from the other room,

"The next poirson ta steal Crutchy's cookie dough and wake da rest o us, who'se are just tryin ta get sleep, is gonna get a poirsonal soakin from me."

"Me too!"  Race echoes.

"Count me in!" Mush adds.

"I'se will gladly soak somebody," Kid Blink adds.

"You'se gonna get it from me," Specs says.

"Who evah is doin dat is gonna wish dey hadn't," Albert says and eventually Crutchy calls out,

"I tink dey get it, fellas." The angry shouts from the sleepy boys die down dramatically as they fall back asleep.

"Wow," Davey exclaims, "That was amazing."

"Tank you. I'se tries my hardest," Crutchy answers. Then he turns and starts directing the boys to the cookie recipe. "You two wanna help?" He asks the Jacobs brothers. The two boys nod and Crutchy gathers his cookie helpers behind the counter.

"Okay, I'se gonna give Davey da cookie dough cuz I'se trusts him. Elmer, ya need ta add da chocolate chips, kay?" Crutchy starts telling people what to do around the kitchen. Making cookies was not really a six person task, but Crutchy wanted to involve as many people as he could, so he didn't have to worry about keeping the boys out of the sugar. Davey starts mixing the cookie dough and Les asks a question,

"Crutchy, could we add M&Ms to the cookie dough?" The younger boys begin to reply excitedly.

"OOO, yeah, could we, please, Crutchy? Da oddah boys would love em!" Tumbler begs pulling on Crutchy's sleeve.

"Yea, Jack stress eats M&Ms," Elmer says, "He'd love dese cookies if ya put M&Ms in em." Crutchy rolls his eyes.

"How did ya find dat one out, Elmer?" He asks as he pulls the M&Ms out of the freezer and hands them to Henry.

"We'se seen wid our own eyes, Crutchy," Boots answers, "I've seen im do it myself."

"An' don't tell us Jack don't get stressed," Henry says, "We'se seen dat too." He pauses for a second before holding up the large bag of M&Ms. "So, dese are goin in, right?" Davey and Crutchy exchange looks.

"I don't know if we should. What if Jack...?" Davey starts and Les chimes in,

"Jack is not going to care, David. In fact, they might make him happier."

"Whoa whoa whoa, whose in charge o makin da cookies again?" And all five of the younger helpers point at him. Crutchy complies and opens up the bag of M&Ms. Suddenly, Romeo, Tommy Boy and Jojo appear out of nowhere.

"Oooo, Crutchy, can we'se have some M&Ms?" Romeo asks and Crutchy holds them away from the three boys.

"Jack said no sugah. What about dat do you'se not undahstand?" Crutchy asks. Davey shrugs and says,

"Well, Crutch, I don't things could get any worse." Right as he says this, Racetrack walks into the room and his eyes light up at the sight of cookie dough and M&Ms. Crutchy shoots Davey a look and Davey puts a hand in the air. Both boys know that they are in big trouble now.

"Wow, I'se didn't know M&Ms was part o da deal," Race says and Crutchy shoots him a look.

"Not for da likes o you'se," He replies and Elmer gets the chocolate chips out of the freezer.

"Jack's never going to let us make cookies again, is he?" Davey asks and Crutchy shrugs. Boots, Romeo, Jojo, and Tumbler get out six different sprinkle containers and start putting in sprinkles. Tommy Boy and Elmer have poured in three quarters of the chocolate chip bag, and Race, Henry, and Les are pouring ridiculous amounts of M&Ms into the cookie dough while Davey and Crutchy have their conversation.

"Well, if dey's good an e likes em, maybe," Crutchy answers and catches the boys in their various acts.

"An' da peanut buttah!" Romeo shouts and Davey peeks over the lid of the cookie dough bowl. Romeo drops a big glob of peanut butter in before Davey can stop him.

"Well, dat wasn't in da recipe. But dat's okay, dis is just da recipe Newsies style, right, Dave?" Crutchy declares trying to turn this into a good thing. The bullies around said that the large family of boys talked like Newsies and that since they all acted like Newsies, that's what they should be called. The name stuck to the boys and they liked it which turned the bullies' plans right around on top of them.

"Can I put more peanut buttah in, Crutchy?" Romeo asks and Race yells,

"YEA!!" at the same time Crutchy and Davey yell,

"NO!!" The boys in the other room began to grumble again.

"Sorry, fellas," Crutchy whispers and shushes Race, who is trying to help Romeo put more peanut butter in the cookie dough. One obvious fact that should be known about Romeo, he loves peanut butter. Crutchy looks at what they need to do next. Scooping the cookies and putting them on a cookie sheet will be interesting with this many people wanting the cookie dough and wanting the help. Crutchy hands Davey a scoop and grabs one out for himself and starts scooping the cookie dough. Race instantly starts to whine.

"Why's didn't I'se get one, Crutchy? Why's can't I help, Crutchy?" Race whines as he steals a stray green sprinkle. 

"Cuz none o da cookie dough would still be here if ya decided ta do it. Ya can preheat da oven if ya need someting ta do," Crutchy instructs.

"What do I heat it up ta?" Race asks as he presses several buttons on the oven.

"350," Davey answers, reading the recipe. Race sets it up and after a few moments, it beeps again, confirming that it is up to 350. Crutchy has Race put the cookies in the oven and he completes the task successfully.

"Ya know, dat's da most helpful you'se been taday," Crutchy tells his big brother and Race dramatically wipes sweat off of his forehead.

"It was nothin, Crutchy. Just made me sweat a bit," Race says and both Crutchy and Davey roll their eyes. Davey closes the door and they set a timer for fifteen minutes. The younger boys, with the exception of Les, fight over the cereal. Romeo suddenly stands up.

"I'se knows where Race keeps da Cap'n Crunch an da Reeses Puffs!" He declares and sneaks past the older boys. Romeo stands up on his tiptoes and silently grabs the two promised cereals and beams when he sees that one of the older boys has stashed Fruit Loops in the secret cereal stash. Sneaking past the three boys, Race threatens,

"Ya bettah not be sneakin da sugah cereal, Rome." Romeo's eyes widen and he scurries the rest of the way over to the table. As soon as he sets the cereal boxes down, the boys tear them open and grab cereal. Crutchy, Davey, and Race all look over and give a collective groan.

"Jack's nevah gonna forgive us for dis one, boys," Race says sadly. Les sits down and steals some cereal from Tumbler's bowl and the boy swats his hand away.

"What's goin on?" A voice grumbles and the owner emerges from the other room. Skittery leans against the doorframe running a hand through his wild sleep ridden hair. Suddenly, he sniffs and stops running his hand through his hair. "Is someting burnin?" He asks, his face suddenly written with concern. Crutchy sniffs the air and his eyes widen.

"Da cookies!" He exclaims and the four older boys peek in the oven.

"What should we do? We could set the whole complex on fire!" Davey declares and put his head in his hands.

"Be reasonable, Dave. It's probly just da sprinkles, it'll be okay," Race tries to reassure him and Crutchy shrugs and agrees with him,

"Da cookies probably ain't actually burnin, Race's probly right." Davey still does not look convinced by his friend's reassurance.

"I'se says ya just leave em in dere til da timer beeps and go eat some cereal," Skittery says, taking a look at the oven. Race, Crutchy, and Skittery search in the cabinet for the secret sugar cereal stash(try saying that ten times), only to find it empty.

"Romeo! Dat was supposed ta be a secret, not a get outta eatin Cheerios free card," Race scolds the boy who is like a little brother to him. 

"Yea, an' what happened ta da Fruit Loops I'se just bought? I'se knows Jack hates em, but deys don't need ta disappear!" Skittery grumbles as he sees Tumbler reaching for more Fruit Loops. Skittery steals the box from the younger boy and hands it to Crutchy. Race walks over to the table and snatches the other two boxes away.

"Just cuz I slipped ya some once, Rome, don't mean dat you go an share it wid everybody," Race scolds and Romeo starts to protest. Race walks over to the kitchen island with his cereal and slams the boxes down. "Ya want some, Davey? Tink Les has had his fair share already." Davey shakes his head and the three older boys dig into the cereal. About ten minutes later, all of the boys who are awake wait around the oven for their masterpiece to be complete.

"How about we play a game while we wait?" Les asks excitedly.

"We'se got Uno!" Boots announces and takes off to go find it. He comes back with two sets of Uno cards. Les, Boots, Tumbler, Jojo, Romeo, Elmer, Henry, and Tommy Boy all sit down to play. The game is surprisingly peaceful for having seven Newsies playing it. The four older boys watch as their brothers play the game. Race peeks over Romeo's shoulder and then he peeks over oblivious Elmer's shoulder. He begins to whisper in Romeo's ear. When no one, except for Race, is looking, Romeo slides a card under his leg where it cannot be seen. All of the other boys notice Race however and start to shout at him.

"Ey! NO HELPIN!!" Jojo shouts.

"Yea, not unless you'se helpin all o us," Tommy Boy agrees. After a short while, Boots shouts,

"UNO!" Romeo and Race exchange a devious grin behind everyone else's backs. Elmer also shouts,

"UNO!" Play circles back to Romeo and he swiftly pulls the a draw four out from under his leg. He tosses it onto the pile and the other boys' mouths drop open.

"Dat's cheatin!" Elmer fumes and Romeo chirps back with,

"Race said I'se could." Elmer glares at Romeo and then Race. He pulls a fist back ready to fight the two schemers. To Crutchy's relief, the timer for the cookies beep. That still doesn't stop Elmer. His fist meets Race's face and the two begin to brawl. Davey and Skittery try to break up the fight, but Race's fist toward Elmer. Elmer ducks and Skittery does not move quickly enough to get out of the way. Skittery takes one to the face and starts delivering them with ferocity. Crutchy pulls one of the boys back with his crutch and Davey gets in between the other two.

"It's just a game, boys. Get a hold of yourselves!" Davey commands and the two boys stop fighting. He looks at both Skittery and Race. Skittery absentmindedly tugs at a piece of string hanging off the elbow of his pink long johns and Race fiddles with his hands as Davey scolds them. Crutchy still holds Elmer back with his crutch. The two spit shake on it and suddenly, smoke pours out of the oven.

"Oh no!" Les gasps and the smoke detector begins to wail. The boys in the other room start to shout and chaos erupts in the small apartment.

"Da windows!" Crutchy yelps as Race starts to open the oven door. Smoke belches out of the open oven and everyone begins to cough. The boys in the other room are now wide awake.

"Someone bettah make da smoke alarm shut up 'fore I soaks somebody," Kid Blink yells in between fits of coughing. 

"I gots it," Finch yells in reply as he reaches for his sling shot. He pulls back and fires a marble at the smoke detector. It hit square on and falls to the ground. The boys who were sleeping come into the kitchen. Mush, Specs, and Crutchy manage to get some of the windows open and the coughing begins to die down. Davey, Crutchy, and Race all exchange looks. They were most definitely never making cookies again. Crutchy decides that he will make his own team of cookie helpers next time he makes anything in the kitchen. Race pulls the slightly blackened cookies out of the oven.

"Well," Crutchy begins, "Deys ain't dat bad."

"What happened to em, Crutchy?" Albert asks.

"Jack ain't gonna like dis," Mush says from his place over by the windows. Davey tries to pick one up with a spatula. It is burnt enough that Davey cannot get it off. Suddenly, the group in the kitchen can hear the sound of keys in the front door. It can only mean one thing. Jack is home from work and he will not be happy. The boys all start to pretend like they had nothing to do with the cookies. Jack walks through the door and frowns at the sight in the kitchen. A smoky haze lingers over the boys and half of them look like they just rolled out of bed. Jack walks into the kitchen and notices the burnt cookies. He looks at the boys and asks,

"What in da woirld have you fellas done?" Each and every boy turns to Crutchy and Davey. The two exchange looks and Crutchy finally says,

"It's a really long story."

AN:/ Poor Crutchy. This one made me laugh as I was writing it a little bit! I figured making cookies and Newsies would result in something like this. Jack will not take it out on Crutchy, I promise. Crutchy just happens to be in the center of this whole literal mess.  I had a ton of fun writing this one and I hope you enjoyed it. Did you like having Crutchy make cookies? I figured it couldn't go perfectly, because there are other Newsies around. And when you live in an apartment with twenty or more other boys...well. Disaster ensues. Lol. I hope you enjoyed it and I hope everyone is still enjoying these. Thank you to my followers for supporting me and just hanging out! You guys are great! I love to hear what you guys think of these, so please let me know in the comments or on my wall(or whatever you call it on the profile page). Also please vote on the poll for what you would like to see in the next one shot! Flavi or Davey driving? A little note: Any of my OCs can be appear in a Modern AU or any other AU besides 1899/1900. You might see a certain OC appear in a certain Modern AU story I've got going on. Hint Hint. ;) Anyways, I hope you enjoy this one! Feel free to tell me what you think in the comments. Happy reading! See you soon, friends!