- Chapter 5 - One Last Time -
Ship - None. Jack and Race brotherly fluff
Canon Era
Song: One Last Time - Hamilton (the Broadway Musical)

Race climbs up to Jack and Crutchie's 'penthouse'. Most of the leaders had stayed in the 'penthouse'. It was their place to think. Jack just usually let Crutchie there too, since they were close.

"Mr. President, you asked to see me?" Race questions, laughing a bit to himself. Jack sadly smiles, Race had started jokingly calling him 'Mr. President' when Crutchie suggested him being the 'President' of the strike.

"I know you're busy" Jack starts, as Race sits down next to him. Race shakes his head, laughing a bit.

"Just selling papes like everyday." Race responds. "What do you need, Jack? Jack?"

Jack: I wanna give you a word of warning

Race looks at Jack, confused.
Race: Jack, I don't know what you heard
But whatever it is, Albert started it

Jack: Snyder was arrested this morning

Race's eyes widen, as he grins.
You're kidding

Jack nods, happily, before sighing as he remembers his problem.
I need a favor

Race: Whatever you say, Jack, maybe Snyder will pay for his behavior

Jack: Shh. Talk less

Race stands up, starting to get both excited and anxious. It was somewhere in the middle.
I'll ask to use Kath's press
I'll write under a pseudonym, we'll see what we can do to him—

Jack gets up, so that he, like Race, is standing up now. "I need you to draft an address."

Race: Yes! He gone. Maybe we'll finally be safe-

"No, I need to write something to Spot" Jack tells Race, who turns to Jack, confused.

"Why? You barely ever talk to Spot about anything. Well, you do more now" Race rants a little bit. Jack sighs, putting his hand on Race's shoulder.

"I'm stepping down. I'm not being the leader anymore" Jack informs Race, closing his eyes tightly so he doesn't have to see Race's reaction.

Race's face drops, as realization dawns on him.
"I'm sorry, what?"

Jack looks longingly over the city of Manhattan.
One last time
Relax, have a drink with me

Jack playfully nudges Race, who was still in shock.
One last time
Let's take a break tonight
And then we'll teach them how to say goodbye
To say goodbye
You and I

Jack takes Race's hands in his, but Race pulls away.
"No, sir, why?"

Jack: I wanna talk about neutrality

Race: Jack, with Brooklyn and Queens on the verge of war, is this the best time—

Jack: I want to warn against partisan fighting

Race: But—

Jack grabs a pen and hands it to Race.
Pick up a pen, start writing
I wanna talk about what I have learned
The hard-won wisdom I have earned

Race: As far as the Newsies are concerned
You have to serve, you could continue to serve—

Jack sighs, before continuing.
No!

Race steps back, a little shocked. Jack sends an apologetic look his way for snapping at him.

Jack: One last time
The Newsies will hear from me
One last time
And if we get this right
We're gonna teach 'em how to say
Goodbye
You and I—

Race: Jack, they will say you're weak

Jack: No, they will see we're strong

Race: Your position is so unique

Jack laughs a bit, Race was exaggerating there, but he knew that Race and a few other boys had said that he was the best Manhattan leader ever. It wasn't true, but he was happy they thought that.

Jack: So I'll use it to move them along

Race finally breaks. He didn't want Jack to leave.
Why do you have to say goodbye?

Jack sighs, grabbing Race in a hug. Race leans his head against Jack's chest, as Jack rubs his back lightly.

Jack: If I say goodbye, the Newsies learn to move on
They outlives me when I'm gone

Like the scripture says:
"Everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree
And no one shall make them afraid."
They'll be safe in the Newsie nation we've made

Jack and Race laugh a little bit through the tears. Newsie nation.

Jack: I wanna sit under my own vine and fig tree
A moment alone in the shade
At home in this nation we've made
One last time

Race: One last time

"So," Race starts, pulling away from Jack. He wipes tears off of his face with his shirt sleeve. "Who are you leaving as the leader?"

Jack throws him a look.
"Racer, you're my second. I think- no- I know you'll make a great leader. You've done it before, when I was sick and Davey and Crutchie forced me to stay in bed." Jack and Race laugh a little bit.

"I- I don't know Jack- I'm one of the youngest Newsies- and- and I won't be able to run it as well as you have" Race responds. Jack puts his hand on Race's shoulder.

"Racer, I know you can run it better than I did. I have complete faith in you. Plus, it's only a matter of time before more of the Newsies age out- as much as I hate to say it- and you're the oldest. Plus, it's not like I'm leaving New York. I'm staying here, and I'll visit the Distribution Window every morning before I go to work at 'the World'" Jack assures Race, who smiles.

"Wait- you're still working at 'the World'?" Race asks Jack, who nods, grinning.

"Mr. Pulitzer's drawing offer from the strike is still standing. I start in a month" Jack informs Race, who grins at him.

"That's great Jacky! I'm so happy for you!" Race exclaims, hugging Jack again. Jack chuckles. Race pulls away, sorrowfully. "I'm just- concerned that you're making the wrong decision by choosing me to be the next leader."

"Racer," Jack starts, making Race look in his eyes. "I chose you as my Second for a reason. We all knew this day was coming soon- sadly- and besides, you'll have Blink right by your side, and whoever you chose to be your Third, and all the other Newsies, no matter if we're aged out or not. I love you, I know I made the right choice. Plus, it's okay to make mistakes. I do."

"Thanks Jacky. I love you so much. I promise I'll make you proud" Race assures Jack, who smiles, pulling him into another hug.

"I know you will, Racer, I know" Jack responds. Race smiles.

Jack: One last time

He quietly sings as he wipes the new tears that stream down Race's face, even though Race was smiling.

Race: Teach 'em how to say goodbye

Jack: You and I

History has its eyes on you

(Race is in (), and Jack isn't.)

Race, Jack: We're gonna teach 'em how to
Say goodbye! (Teach 'em how to say goodbye!)
Teach 'em how to (Teach 'em how!)
Say goodbye! (Say goodbye!)
To say goodbye! (Say goodbye!)
Say goodbye!
One last time! (One last time!)

The two boys finish, both crying again. They were hugging again too.
"I'll made you proud Jacky, I promise. I love you so much."

"You always make me proud, Racer. I love you too."

1218 Words
This hurt my heart to write. I hate thinking about Jack leaving- or any of the boys for that matter.