- Chapter 145 - King of my Heart -
Warnings: mentions of injuries and sad stuff, but mostly good, fluffy stuff! Yay!
Modern AU
Third Person POV

A/N, this was requested by Bubbles-are-nice . This is a new ship for me and I hope I did it justice. I hope you enjoyed!

Race slouched in his chair, feeling like death.

He had bandages tied around his whole chest/rib/stomach area (and other places) and would no doubly get scolded by Specs for sitting that way whenever Specs noticed.

Race's eyes wandered over to Henry.

Henry, who looked amazing despite the fact that he was also pretty banged up like Race was, was sat across the table from him.

Race's attention was pulled from Henry when Mr. Jacobi walked into the room. "Aye, drink up, boys," he told them, gesturing to Race to drink his water.

Drink up? Race's face scrunched up in disgust. He definitely was not in the mood to drink water at the moment.

"And don't ever say I don't give ya nothing," Mr. Jacobi told them, looking around at them. "And before you say water is nothing, just ask a fish... in the desert." He smiled, clearly proud of his joke.

Race rolled his eyes as multiple other boys groan in annoyance.

Finch sat up on the table he had previously been laying on. "Why do old people talk?" He questioned as he looks down at the water in his cup.

Race sat up a bit as well, pulling his cigar out of his mouth. "To prove they'se still alive."

Finch pointed to him, nodding.

Race looked over at Henry, who had cracked a smile at his joke.

It made him feel good knowing he got him to laugh in the hopeless time they weee going through.

But alas, Race's attention was again pulled away from Henry when Katherine walked into the deli. "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen!" Katherine's happiness soon deflated when she saw them. "Would you get a load of these glum mugs?" She frowned a bit. "Can these really be the same Newsies who made front page of the New York Sun?" Her grin returned as she held up a newspaper.

Race jumped up, along with some of the other Newsies around him. He ran over to her and grabbed the paper. "Would you lookit?!" He grinned. "That's me!!" He tapped himself with his cigar.

Henry stood next to him. He smirked and crossed his arms. "Front page and you ain't even dead," he commented.

Race rolled his eyes at him. "Please. I'm pretty enough to be on the front page any day, Henry," he responded. He smirked at him. "Don't you think?" He winked.

Henry blushed a bit, but rolled his eyes in response.

Race's attention was quickly taken away from him when Romeo snatched the paper out of his hands.

"Where's me?! Where's me?!" Romeo exclaimed.

Buttons stole the paper from Romeo, letting out a gasp. "I won't be last in line for the tub tonight!" He grinned.

Race and Henry exchanged a look, the two of them laughing.

Race pat Buttons's shoulder as the boy looked over the paper in excitement. Race read it over his shoulder. "Crazy."

"Crazy?" Both Henry and Buttons looked at him.

Race stuck his cigar back into his mouth. "Isn't it? We just met her yesterday," he reminded them. "Who'd a thunk?"

Henry nodded in agreement. "True."

"I wouldn't have thunk it," Buttons agreed, still admiring the paper. Out of nowhere, it was snatched out of his hands. His head shot up. "Hey! Be careful with that!"

"I will!" Mush exclaimed, climbing onto the table. "'Newsies Stop The World'," he read, causing him to grin. "Now there's a headline even Elmer could sell!" He elbowed Elmer.

Elmer threw his hands up in the air playfully, rolling his eyes.

Race laughed, and Henry smiled, ruffling Elmer's hair.

Race looked at him as he did it, smiling. He quickly shook it off when he noticed he was staring, shaking his head. "Quit it, would ya?" he muttered to himself. He looked up again when he heard Katherine.

"I heard they arrested Crutchie," Katherine started, "did they get Jack, too?"

Race frowned a bit.

Albert apparently heard her too, since he walked over to them. "Awe, the Delanceys are spreading a story that he took it on the lam, first sight of the cops." He rolled his eyes.

Les's eyebrows furrowed and he frowned. "Hey! Jack don't run from no fight!" he defended him, pushing Albert a bit.

Albert pointed his finger in Les' chest. "Take it down, short-stop," he told him. "I'm just reporting the news." He ruffled his hair.

Race heard murmured talk about where Jack could be. He gritted his teeth. "For jumping Jack's sake," he started, slightly annoyed as he walked over to Katherine, Albert, and Davey, "can we stow with the seriousity long enough to just- drink- in- the- moment?!" He pulled Albert into a side hug, grinning at Katherine and Davey. "I'm famous!" He beamed.

Albert's face scrunched up in annoyance. "And you're far too close to me."

Race ignored him, his grin never faltering as he stuck his cigar into his mouth.

Henry crossed his arms. "What of it?"

Race raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you stupid or what?" he questioned. When you're famous, the woild is yer erster!" He grinned.

The Newsies around him exchange looks.

"Your what?" Henry asked.

Race looked at him, slightly confused at the fact that they didn't know what he was saying. "Yer erster?" His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Yer erster? Ey! You know the fancy calm with the pearl inside!" He tried to show what he meant with his hands.

A bunch of groans rang out in the room.

"Your oyster, Race!"

"Race!"

"Oyster!"

"We already taught you how to say 'your'!"

"Race! It's pronounced oyster!"

"Alright! Alright!" Henry shouted stopping everyone. He turned back to Race. "How much does being famous pay?" he asked, crossing his arms.

Race smirked as he walked over to him. "You don't need money when you're famous," he told him, snatching the paper from him. "They gives you whatever you want." He playfully (and lightly) smacked Henry on the head with the paper.

Henry rolled his eyes.

Race grinned, fixing his hat. "Gratis!" He winked at Henry

Henry blushed a bit. "Such as?" he questioned, still skeptical.

Race smirked at him. "A pair of new shoes with matching laces!" he sang, playfully pretending to keep hitting Henry with the paper and play fight him.

Romeo popped in between them and took the paper from Race. "A permanent box at the Sheepshead Races." He smirked at the two of them, wiggling his eyebrows.

Race blushed a bit.

Henry rolled his eyes at Romeo, grabbing the paper and holding it against his chest. "A pastrami on rye with a sour pickle," he sang with a cocky grin as he locked eyes with Race.

Race smirked a bit.

Finch stole the paper and stood half on a chair, half on the table. "My personal puss on a wooden nickel!" he sang, holding a cup.

Race grabbed the paper from Finch, going into the middle of the group. "Look at me!" he sang. "I'm the King of New York!"

Henry chuckled when Race started tap dancing.

"Suddenly," Race started singing again, "I'm respectable, staring right at'cha, lousy with stature!" He did a spin and tipped his hat at Henry, clearly trying to impress him.

Henry raised an eyebrow at him. "That the best you got?"

Race smirked. "Is that a challenge?"

Henry's response was interrupted by Albert grabbing the paper from Race, stealing their attention.

Albert strut across the deli with his stick. "Nobbin' with all the muckety-mucks, I'm blowing my dough and going deluxe," he sang, fanning himself with the paper.

Race smirked at Henry again, before taking the paper from Albert and climbing onto the table. There was a cup in his hands now and he held the paper above his head. "And there I be!" He grinned. "Ain't I pretty?" He bat his eyelashes at Henry.

Henry pretended to fawn over him.

Race laughed. "It's my city, I'm the King of New York!" he sang.

JoJo stepped onto the table and grabbed the paper. "A solid gold watch with a chain to twirl it." He twirled his stick.

"My very own bed and an indoor terlet," Les sang next.

Mush jumped onto the table. "A barbershop haircut that costs a quarter," he sang jokingly.

Race laughed with him, ruffling his hair before jumping off of the table with him and JoJo. Race cringed a bit in pain, but quickly covered it up.

He'd be damned if he let a stupid injury from the Delanceys ruin his good time with his brothers.

Davey took the paper from Mush. He admired it for another moment, before shaking his head. "A regular beat for the star reporter," he joined in.

Race grinned to himself. "Am-scray punk, she's the king of New York!" He pointed at Katherine.

Katherine laughs. "Who'd a thunk? I'm the King of New York," she sang.

Manhattan Newsies: We was sunk, pale and pitiful

Katherine: Bunch of wet noodles

Newsies, Katherine: Pulitzer's poodles

The group laughs at the weird dog impressions they had made.

Les got up, walking in front of everyone. "Almost about to drown in the drink," he sang.

Buttons joined him. "When she fished us out." He smiled at Les.

Race joined the two of them, making a picture with his hands. "And drowned us in ink." He stick his cigar in his mouth.

Katherine ran to the middle of the group. "So let's get drunk!" she exclaims, clearly not knowing who she was saying this to.

The Newsies (or most of them) cheer.

Katherine almost instantly realized that they did not understand what she meant. She quickly shook her head. "Not with liquor," she corrected them, causing most of the Newsies to groan. She chuckled weakly. "Fame works quicker, when your King of New York!" she sang.

Newsies: I gotta be either dead or dreaming, cause look at that pape with my face beaming.
Tomorrow they may wrap fishes in it, but I was a star for one whole minute.

Race smiled when some of the Newsies started dancing. He watched them for a few minutes, before Henry came over to him.

Henry held up a pair of spoons. "Spoon fight?" he asked with a smile.

Race grinned, pulling his cigar out of his mouth. "Spoon fight," he agreed, taking a spoon from him. He took Henry's hand and dragged him to the center of the room, pushing the other Newsies out of the way.

Henry chuckled. He did a few tricks.

"Impressive, but is that really the best you've got?" Race teased when he was finished.

Henry rolled his eyes fondly. "I'd like to see you do better, Racetrack," he responded.

"Well, I will." Race did a few tricks, then tapped Henry with the spoon.

Henry laughed and blocked his attempts to hit him with the spoon again.

Race laughed with him as the boys shouted "spoon fight" and all started their own fights in pairs.

Eventually, Henry poked Race in the chest with his spoon.

"Awe-" Race slumped down onto the ground, "Henry- no-" he pretended to get the air knocked out of him.

Henry laughed. "It's over for you, Higgins," he told him.

"Henry, I- I-" Race pretended to make a pained sound, clutching his chest where Henry had tapped him, "I- my heart- will go on for you- even if my soul... cannot." His body slumped on the floor.

Henry laughed. "So dramatic."

Race lifted his head up to look at him, grinning. "But you love me for it, don't you?"

Henry rolled his eyes fondly. "Sure." He helped Race up.

Race grinned. Although, he couldn't deny the fact that his cheeks felt a bit warm afterwards.

Newsies: Look at me, I'm the King of New York
Wait and see! This is gonna make both the Delanceys pee their pansies!

Flash pots are shooting bright as a sun
I'm one highfalutin' son of a gun

I guarantee
Though I clapped out,
I ain't tapped out
I'm the King of New-

Friends may flee
Let 'em ditch us
Snap one picture
You're the king of New-

History!
Front page story
Guts and glory
I'm the King-

Of New York!

Race grinned as he posed.

The Newsies all laughed when they finished.

"That was fun," Henry said, fixing his hair.

Race smiled a bit. "Yeah." He nodded, a bit breathless. "It was fun."

Henry looked over at him. He frowned a bit. "You're in pain, aren't you?"

Race turned his head to face him. "Henry-"

"Racetrack."

Race frowned. "Yeah, just a bit."

Henry frowned. "Race, can I-"

Race quickly shook his head. "No, no," he cut him off. "You were just happy. I want you to keep smiling. Don't worry about me; I'm fine," he assured him, trying to shoot him a reassuring smile.

Henry raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you really?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

Race hesitated. "Less so."

Henry nodded, knowing that was the answer. He walked over to him, moving Race's hands so he didn't hurt himself further. "Well, since you like seeing me happy so much... why don't you agree to let me take care of you and be my boyfriend?" he suggested. "That'll make me happy."

Race paused for a moment, processing what he said. His cheeks reddened. "What-"

Henry looked at him. "You heard me."

Race blushed again, but grinned. "Yes, of course." He paused and quickly coughed dismissively. "I mean... yeah, sure. Sounds dope."

"Dope?" Henry laughed.

Race's cheeks turned bright red. "Look, I panicked!" he tried weakly to defend himself.

Henry chuckled. "It's alright, Racer." He patted his head, looking into his eyes. "We both know you're whipped for me, you don't need to try to hide it." He gently gripped his chin.

Race blushed more. "Henry, please kiss me," he whispered.

Henry smiled and connected their lips.

Race felt sparks shoot through him and he grinned against Henry's lips.

Everything felt perfect... until...

"Daveyyy! Henry and Race are kissing!"

"Henry and Race are what-"

Henry and Race pulled away, both of their cheeks bright red as the Newsies in the room started cheering and whistling.

Race hid his face in Henry's shoulder. "Damn kids," he muttered.

Henry laughed, nodding in agreement. "It also wasn't like we were very subtle," he reminded him.

"Hush." Race pressed a finger to his lips.

Henry chuckled.

2478 Words
I'm not sure how well I wrote Race and Henry, but I think this was okay.

(I'm also not sure if I used the words "smirked" and "grinned" too much lol because it feels like I did haha.)