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Billy Hargrove is okay in fanon because he got the things shitty canon Billy never got:
- A chance to escape his abusive dad.
- An okay relationship with Max.
- A chance to stay alive and redeem himself.
- A chance to redeem himself.
Canon Billy and Fanon Billy are NOT the same. Thank you for coming to my TEDtalk.
The Thumbsucker needs more love. I feel like this guy is the least-loved of the 92sies, but I've always had a soft spot for him. So, here's an elaborate backstory with main character energy that no one asked for:
Snitch was born Nathaniel Kester, the eldest son of William Kester, a ruthless railroad magnate who built his fortune by exploiting laborers and crushing unions. Growing up in a sprawling mansion in upstate New York, Nathaniel was destined to inherit his father’s empire. However, from an early age, he witnessed the harsh realities behind his family’s wealth: workers facing unsafe conditions, children his age breaking their backs, and his father’s disregard for human life.
His father was equally cruel at home, enforcing strict discipline and punishing any sign of weakness or rebellion. Nathaniel's younger siblings looked to him for protection, but even he couldn’t shield them from their father’s wrath. As Nathaniel grew older, he began to challenge his father’s authority, which only escalated the abuse.
At age 15, after a particularly brutal confrontation where his father beat him for voicing sympathy for striking workers, Nathaniel fled. He hopped a freight train to Manhattan, taking only the clothes on his back and a stolen pocketful of cash. In the city, he quickly realized that survival required more than money; he needed allies.
When he stumbled upon a group of newsies in a heated argument with a policeman, Nathaniel immediately admired their courage and sense of camaraderie. They took him in, dubbing him "Snitch" as he was a bit of a tattle tale (hard to shed the lessons of a "proper" upbringing!)—though they soon realized he could use his knack for observation to gather valuable information.
Snitch thrived among the newsies, and he developed a fierce loyalty to Jack and the Manhattan crew. His privileged upbringing made him resourceful; he taught the others how to recognize counterfeit coins and find loopholes in rules.
Despite fitting in, Snitch kept his past a secret. He feared his father’s influence and worried the newsies would reject him if they knew the truth. The only person who knows part of his story is Itey. Feeling he could trust him, Snitch admitted that he came from a wealthy family, but didn’t reveal his father’s identity. A loyal friend, Itey never said a word to the others.
When Pulitzer raises the price of papes, Snitch is torn. He knows all too well how powerful men like Pulitzer operate—they won’t yield without a fight. The strike becomes personal when he learns that Pulitzer is working with his father to block union efforts across the city.
Snitch’s dual identity leaves him in a tense state. On one hand, he is fiercely loyal to the newsies and their cause. On the other, he fears that his past could ruin everything if he's exposed as being linked to the enemy. His father's shadow looms large; Snitch knows that if he’s discovered, his father will do whatever it takes to drag him back and crush the efforts of his friends.
As the strike escalates, Snitch discovers critical information: his father is planning to bring in scab workers by train to replace striking laborers across the city. This knowledge gives the newsies an advantage, but revealing it means confessing his true identity.
Eventually, Snitch admits his lineage to the group, expecting rejection. Instead, Jack and the others rally around him, recognizing the courage it took to stand up to his father and risk everything for his found family. Armed with Snitch’s insider knowledge, the newsies execute a daring plan to sabotage the scab train, forcing Kester into a corner. Pulitzer is made weaker by it, and the rest of the strike plays out in the favor of the newsies.
By the end of the strike, Snitch has fully embraced his new family and shed his past. Though he knows his father won’t stop searching for him, he is ready to face whatever comes next, as long as he has his fellow newsies. Family isn’t just about blood—it’s about the bonds you choose to fight for.