- Chapter 141 - Unbroken Promises -
Warnings: the Refuge, isolation, starvation, beatings, blood, injuries, worry, crying, breaking, Snyder the Spider
Canon Era
Third Person POV

Author's Note: this was technically already in the works, but two people "requested" a part 2 anyways so I'm just going to tag them lol: iwantaferret_ and BrooklynNewsie . I hope you enjoy!

"You're going to tire yourself out, Jo."

It had been two weeks.

Two weeks since JoJo found out why Race was sent to isolation and that he had gotten out.

"Racetrack is out of isolation," Shadows informed the group of Newsies.

A collective sigh of relief came from the group, and JoJo swore he could cry at the news.

"Thank God," Davey muttered.

"Scraps is treating his injuries," Shadows continued. "They don't know the extent of them and they don't have many supplies, but from what Scraps can see, he's bruised and scraped up all over and he suffered some injury to his head. They tried to wash the blood out of his roots, but they don't have enough water and it hurt him too much, so he looks a bit like a redhead now, as he says," he explained.

JoJo felt worry wash over him again. He squeezed Specs's hand.

Shadows turned to JoJo. "He told me to tell you he loved you. 'Ti amo', he said." He let the shadow of a smile grace his lips. "He and Scraps sat by the window talking about you and him, and he promised he'd get out and back to you."

JoJo burst into tears, turning to face Specs and collapsing in his arms.

Shadows frowned a bit. He turned back to the rest of the Newsies. "Scraps say he's going to be fine if he doesn't anger Snyder any more, but he blames you for that." He pointed to Jack.

Jack rolled his eyes fondly. "You teach a kid how to be a good leader and Newsie and protect himself-"

"Actually, that one was Brooklyn," Spot cut in.

Jack rolled his eyes again. "-and everyone blames you because the kid came out stubborn," he grumbled.

Davey raised an eyebrow at him, but didn't say anything.

Sparks looked away, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Yep. I have no idea what you're talking about." He whistled a bit, trying to play it off. "Totally didn't raise both you and Race."

Amused, Sparrow chuckled, shaking his head.

For two weeks, JoJo had been selling double to try and earn enough money to get Race out. He was using both his and Race's paper bags.

And of course, people caught on.

"Jo, I want to get Race out too, but selling double is going to take a toll on you and something could happen to you," Elmer tried to tell him, clearly there because Specs sent him.

JoJo rubbed his eyes, shaking his head dismissively. "No, no, look at the bright side, El!" He pulled out the money he had earned. "I earned a lot today! We can get food for the house and medicine and injury supplies, then once I earn a little more, I can get Race out," he told him, a bright, but tired smile on his face.

Elmer only frowned. "At least let someone help you," he whispered.

JoJo shook his head. "I can't. Jack is already selling overtime, and Al too," he responded, going to the kitchen to put the money he had gotten into his money jar. "We can't have anyone else sell overtime because Manhattan would be defenseless."

Elmer stopped him. "Let me help."

JoJo halted his motions and looked at Elmer.

"I have no re...sponsibilit...ies to Manhattan or anything," Elmer told him, trying to remember the word he had learned from Specs years before. "Manhattan will be fine if I'm a little tired sometimes."

JoJo hesitated. "El, you have your siblings," he reminded him.

Elmer brushed it off. "My siblings can take care of themselves and if my parents wanted my money, they shouldn't have kicked me out." He brushed it off. "Besides, you guys are my siblings and not having Race here... well, it feels wrong."

JoJo nodded softly, looking around the room. "It does feel wrong..." tears filled his eyes, but he wiped them away. He wasn't going to cry again.

Elmer frowned. He placed a hand on JoJo's shoulder. "Let me help you. You can't do it alone, and Race wouldn't want you to," he told him softly.

JoJo swallowed. "Okay." He gave in. He was exhausted, and something in him, deep down below the guilt of making Elmer work harder than he already has to, knew that he couldn't do it alone.

Elmer smiled a bit. He pulled JoJo into a hug.

A hug that both of them really needed.

At the Refuge

Race carefully slid off of the bed that had been holding him and four other street kids. He limped over to the window and sat down in front of him. He laid his head against the bars, looking outside.

A few minutes later, someone sat down next to him.

Race didn't look to see who it was.

"Race? You okay?" Tips asked softly, looking at him in concern.

Race sighed softly. "Yep." He wanted to say more, but decided to keep his mouth shut instead.

Tips frowned. "You're as convincing a liar as Jack is," he commented, his voice quiet so he didn't wake everyone else up.

"Funny." Race cracked a small, sad smile. "I learned how to lie from him."

Tips shook his head, smiling softly. "Manhattan and their lies." He chuckled quietly. "You all could just charm people into buying papes, you know."

Race shrugged. "Most of us do anyway."

Tips shook his head, amused. "Shocking." He looked behind him, before back at Race. "Scraps wouldn't be happy you're awake. You already look exhausted."

"Yeah... isolation does that to you."

Tips frowned. "What did he do to you, Racer?" he mumbled.

"He didn't break me, I'll have you know," Race told him, finally looking up at him. "I'm just... having trouble sleeping, that's all."

Tips opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, the door to the room opened.

Both boys' eyes widened.

Snyder stood in the doorway with a guard, a snide grin on his face that told both boys that this wasn't going to be good.

Back at the Lodge
(A day later)

JoJo dragged himself back in after a long day. He was greeted by multiple Newsies sitting in the front room, waiting for him. His eyebrows furrowed as he shut the door. "Hi?"

Jack stood up. There were very clearly bags under his eyes and he looked as exhausted as JoJo felt. "Jo, we got some not great news about Race..."

JoJo felt his heart drop into his stomach. "What news? I thought he was out of isolation."

Jack took a deep breath. "He was..." He looked at Specs, not knowing if he could say it.

JoJo looked around.

Crutchie wasn't in the room.

Albert wasn't in the room.

JoJo frowned, nerves kicking in. "What happened?" he asked. "Please tell me. Don't hold off. I need to know."

Specs frowned, breaking his eye contact with Jack to turn to JoJo. He took a deep breath. "Snyder heard Race say that he hadn't broken him while talking to Tips at night, so he soaked both of them and sent Race back to isolation," he informed him.

JoJo felt a sob bubble in his throat. "No," he whispered, his eyes wide.

Specs looked over at Jack, wondering whether or not to keep going. He frowned when Jack nodded. "Tips was soaked badly, but from what we heard from him, Snyder had a lot of anger to take out on Race, especially when Race refused to admit he broke him," he finished quietly.

JoJo tried to control his breathing. His heartbeat was pounding in his ears. "I have- I have to get enough money," he mumbled to himself. He nodded a bit. "I need to."

Specs frowned. "Come here." He opened his arms for him.

JoJo hugged him. "I will get him out," he quietly promised both of them.

Specs didn't respond, just held him.

At the Refuge

Race sat with his hands cuffed in front of him. He stared at the wall in front of him.

Remember JoJo's voice.

Remember the memories of chasing Albert around the lodge and Henry getting JoJo to stop me and getting cuddles from him.

Remember teasing Jack about his and Davey's relationship, and seeing Davey blush more when we teased him.

Remember the Newsies.

Remember JoJo.

Race's mind went back to Tips. He gritted his teeth. It's my fault Tips got hurt.

I hope he's okay.

He looked around the dark, bare room. Tears stung his eyes. "I just want to get out of here," the blond boy whispered.

The door opened.

Race gritted his teeth. "Are you just always listening?" he grumbled.

Snyder ignored his question. He smirked. "Are you crying? Did I finally get you to break?"

Race would've wiped his eyes if he could, but seeing as he couldn't, he just scowled. "No. Crying doesn't mean I'm broken," he snapped.

But Snyder knew him all too well. "Have you finally accepted that your Newsie friends aren't coming after you?" he questioned, stepping closer to him. "Have you realized that they don't love you?"

Race flinched at his words, trying to move away from him and the sound of his voice. "Stop it. I know they love me."

Snyder grinned evilly. "No, they don't, and you know it." He walked back over to the door. "They don't care about you. They hate you. You're nothing but a nuisance to them, like you were to your mother and father." He looked at Race one last time, then left and shut the door behind him.

Race swallowed hard. "No, you know you weren't," he whispered to himself. "They love you," he tried to convince himself. But all he could hear was Snyder's voice ringing through his ears.

"They hate you."

"You're nothing but a nuisance to them, like you were to your mother and father."

"This boy got hurt because of you. Because you can't keep your mouth shut and don't give up."

"Your mother died to get away from you."

Race bit his lip as tears slid down his cheeks. He didn't want Snyder to win.

He couldn't let him win.

But it was so hard to keep fighting.

At the lodge

"Jack! Jack!" JoJo ran into Newsie Square, Elmer following behind him. "Al! Crutchie! Specs! I did it!"

Most of the Newsies in the square turned to look at him.

"Did what?" Henry asked, looking confused.

"I got enough money to get Race out!" JoJo grinned, jumping up and down. "And I got money for food for the littles and for you, Jack, because I know you don't eat, and- and supplies to help treat injuries!" he exclaimed. "Knobs did the math for me today!"

Crutchie looked at Jack, his eyes wide. "We can get Race out?" he whispered.

Jack's eyes were wide as well. He snapped his mouth shut when he realized it was open and nodded slightly, swallowing as he tried to process this.

Crutchie let a relieved sigh escape his lips. He looked at JoJo, tears brimming his eyes and a smile on his face. "Thank you, JoJo."

JoJo nodded. He turned to face Elmer, a relieved smile on his face knowing he could get Race out. "Thank you, El." He hugged him close.

Elmer smiled. "Thank you, JoJo."

JoJo tightened his grip on Elmer. He couldn't believe it. He had done it.

He was going to help Race and get him out, just like he promised.

At the Refuge

Race was lead down the hallway with his hands behind his back.

He was being let out and he had no idea how. The Newsies definitely didn't have enough money to get him out.

Either way, he was grateful to get out

Race and the guard who was leading him out passed the room Race had been in. He saw Scraps and Tips. "Guys!"

Tips looked up. "Race?"

Scraps's eyebrows furrowed. "Racetrack?"

"I'm getting out." Race managed a small smile, still feeling guilty about getting Tips hurt. "I'll get you guys out soon. I promise."

"Oh my god!" Tips grinned. "They got you out?!"

Scraps smiled slightly. "Don't make stupid promises like that," he told him. "We'll be fine. Get yourself safe and TREAT THOSE INJURIES!"

Race laughed quietly. "I will."

The guard shoved him along. "Get moving, rat," he grumbled.

Race rolled his eyes, but kept limping along.

Eventually, they made it to the front entrance.

Snyder stood by it, an angry glare piercing through his stare.

Race looked down at his hands as the guard uncuffed him, not wanting to look at Snyder. He felt relief flood through him when he realized he was actually getting out.

"I will get you again, Higgins," Snyder promised him, his voice low. "You will break."

"In your rodent-filled dreams, Spider," Race snapped back, finally looking back at him. He glared back at Snyder with as much hatred as he could.

Snyder gritted his teeth and moved as if he wanted to hurt Race, but stopped. He took a deep breath and nodded towards Race.

The guard shoved Race outside, causing Race to stumble down and land on his knees.

Race hissed in pain when his already cut and bruised knees hit the ground. He watched as the guard slammed the door shut.

And he was out.

Race looked up when he heard pounding feet. A very familiar whisk of light purple ran up to him and collapsed next to him.

"Race!"

Arms wrapped around him and pulled him close.

Race felt tears sting his eyes. "JoJo." He held onto the boy and crawled more-so onto him.

JoJo felt tears of relief run down his cheeks. "Toni, I've got you now," he whispered, burying his head into Race's neck. "I got you out, like I promised I would."

"Thank you." Race felt a sob leave his throat, but he didn't care. He wasn't going to cry in front of Snyder, but he could cry in front of JoJo. He knew that.

Bonus
Back at the lodge

Race laid next to JoJo, on his bunk. His head laid on JoJo's chest and his arms laid around him as he slept peacefully.

JoJo watched his boyfriend carefully, still processing that he was back and they had gotten him out.

Treating Race's injuries had been torture for both of them, but they had gotten through it.

They had gotten through all of it, and they still had each other and their love.

And JoJo wasn't letting that — or Race, for that matter — go anytime soon.

That was another promise; one he wasn't going to break.

2534 Words
I hope this was a good enough part 2 for y'all. I feel like some parts weren't as good as others, but I usually feel that way with my stuff lol. I hope you all enjoyed (and that I didn't break your hearts too much lol)