to crutchie, him and jack were as thick as thieves. they kept all the newsies in check, they were basically their parents for gods sake. so it hurts, getting sent to the refuge, away from jack. he isn't sure how he feels about jack, more than friends that was for sure. so his love for jack had to be familial, right? what other options were there? so he signs his letter as jack's brother, even though it doesn't feel completely right
to jack, him and crutchie are ride or dies, crutchie has always been there for him and jack has done the same. there could be something more, jack thinks, that given enough time, him and crutchie could hide away on their rooftop, blind to the world except each other. but then davey shows up, crutchie is sent away to the refuge, and jack falls like a meteor to earth for davey, and when crutchie signs his letter to him as a brother, jack takes that as his cue, catching davey when he eventually falls into his arms as well
to davey, jack is no one like he's ever met before, completely original and unapologetic. and crutchie is sent to the refuge, so he doesn't have a chance to see the budding relationship, so it isn't his fault for getting swept off his feet, right? and if he tries to ignore crutchie's glances whenever he and jack kiss post strike, well that's no one's business but his own
