- Chapter 63 - "Your Boyfriend." -
Warnings: Snyder, Pulitzer, betrayal, injuries, abuse, threats
Canon Era
Third Person POV

Jack stares at the man ahead of him.

He hated him with a burning passion.

No, he despised him.

So, glares would be a better word.

Jack glares at the man ahead of him. "There ain't a person in this room who don't know you stink." He snarls, backing up, but only slightly as he knew the Delanceys were still behind him.

"And if they know me, they know I don't care." Pulitzer responds. "Mark my words, boy. Defy me, and I will have you and every one of your friends locked up in the Refuge." He threatens.

Snyder's smirk only grew at this.

Jack almost gasped audibly at the threat, knowing how much all of his brothers hated the Refuge.

"Now," Pulitzer starts again.

I wish you would just shut your terrible mouth.

Your horrible, ugly, fat, annoying-

"I know that you are Mr. Touch Guy." Pulitzer starts, smirking as well. "But it's not right to condemn that crippled boy to conditions like that." His voice was full of fake sympathy.

('I didn't know it was this bad' huh, Pulitzer?
It's a one-shot, Jack. That was a different one-shot.
*to Davey* what's a one-shot?)

Jack clenches his fists to stop himself from lashing out at Pulitzer.

He could feel Katherine's pitiful eyes on him, but he avoided them at all costs.

She was the reason he was in this mess.

"And what about your pal- uh- Davey!- and his little brother," Pulitzer fakes sympathy again. "Ripped from their loving family. Would they ever be able to thank you enough?" Jack hated the venom in his voice. "And Race-"

Jack's head shot up at that name.

Pulitzer smirks at his reaction. "Antonio, I think you said it was," he spared Katherine a side-glance. "Your boyfriend." His face scrunches up in disgust. "I heard from Mr. Snyder that he's already been to the Refuge." He comments. "How would he react going back-"

"Don't you talk about him." Jack almost growls, his glare strong as he stares Pulitzer in the eyes.

Pulitzer, smirking: Time's running out, kid
So what do you say?
Cowboy or convict
I win either way

Jack hated the smirk on his face and the tone of his voice that made it sound like he'd already won.

But he knew that he probably had already won.

Your abject surrender
Was always the bottom line

"Gentlemen," Pulitzer turns to face the Delanceys. "Escort our guest to the cellar so he might reflect in solitude." He states.

Pulitzer: Too bad you've no job, Jack
But you did resign
Too bad you've no family
But you can't have mine

He almost growls that line.

Be glad you're alive, boy
I'd say that's the bottom line

Seitz: Like the Pied Piper you knew what to play

Pulitzer: 'Till those kids all believed you were right

Mayor: Lucky for them all but one got away

Pulitzer: They may not be so lucky tonight...

Oscar and Morris lead Jack to the basement.

Jack sits down on the printing press, defeated.

"I'm so sorry, Jack." Oscar whispers, his eyes full of pity.

"Don't." Jack responds. "I know that you couldn't let me leave because you're protecting each other." He whispers.

"I'm sorry." Oscar whispers again.

Morris places his hands on his younger brother's shoulders, guiding him out of the room.

Jack watches them leave, tears stinging his eyes.

The Manhattan leader doesn't cry.

Strike leaders don't cry.

Union leaders don't cry.

But Race would tell me it's okay to cry...

Jack laid on the printing press, curling himself in a ball as sobs gently shook his body.

The next day

Jack walks out on the stage.

He was already hating himself for what he was going to say.

"Alright! Alright!" He exclaims, quieting everyone down.

He saw Race whisper something to Ace and Blink.

He closed his eyes, sighing softly.

"Pulitzer raised the price of papes without so much as a word to us and that was a lousy thing to do." Jack starts.

The Newsies cheer.

Jack hated this.

"So we go on and strike. Then what happens?" He asks. "Pulitzer lowers the prices so we go back to work." He tells them.

He saw some boys smile, but he could hear whispering.

He could easily pick out the concerned whispers from the Manhattan boys, who knew something was wrong because they knew him.

"And a few weeks later, he hikes the price is back up." Jack tells them. "And don't think that he won't, so what do we do then?" He questions. "And what do we do if he raised his prices again after that?" He asks.

He saw confused looks shared between the Newsies, driving the knife, that was already in his heart, further into it.

"Fellas, we gotta be realistic." Jack sighs. "We don't work, we don't get paid." He reminds them. "How many days can you go without getting paid?" He asks. "However long, believe me, Pulitzer can go longer."

Jack saw some Newsies starting to realize what was happening.

Some boo.

Others still looked confused.

"But I have spoken to Mr. Pulitzer," Jack starts again. "He has given me his word; if we disband the Union, he will not raise the prices again for two years." He tells them. "He will even put it in writing!"

The Newsies boo.

Certain Manhattan Newsies looked betrayed.

Others, he couldn't bare to look at.

"I say we take the deal!" Jack's voice was louder now. "Go back to work knowing that our price is secure!" He tries to sound enthusiastic, but he couldn't. "All we have to do is vote 'No'! Vote 'No'!"

Newsies started leaving the Theater, others still booing Jack.

Spot tries to attack Jack, but was pulled away from him.

Jack felt himself get pushed towards Bunsen, who shoves him the money.

There were more outbursts from the Newsies.

Jack turns around to find Davey leaving, shaking his head, and Race staring at him.

"Race-" he starts, reaching out for him.

Tears fill Race's blue eyes, something Jack hated to see, especially when it was his fault.

Blink wraps his arm around Race's shoulder, guiding him away and giving Jack the stink eye with the one eye he had.

Albert glares at Jack, making threatening gestures, before he follows his brothers off.

Jack looks up at Katherine, who just shakes her head.

The rooftop

Jack stomps up to the rooftop, the events of the week messing with his head.

He was so loud that he almost didn't hear quiet sobbing in the corner.

He stops, recognizing the cries.

He hated that he could recognize his boyfriend's sobs.

Jack slowly makes his way over to where he was.

He was hidden behind the two extra pairs of clothes Jack and Crutchie had. They were hung up.

However, one of Jack's undershirts were missing.

Jack slowly moves the clothes.

Race shot up when he saw Jack, backing up slightly.

Jack reaches out for him, but stops when more tears slide down Race's face and the boy stumbles as he continues to back up.

"Antonio..." the older boy starts softly.

Race looks at Jack's undershirt that he was wearing, quickly pulling it off.

That stung Jack's heart a bit.

"You betrayed us..." his Second's voice was soft, but angry. "Why are you here?" His voice started getting louder. "You betrayed us!"

"I'm sorry!" Jack exclaims, tears filling his eyes as well.

"You didn't look very sorry when you were taking that money from-" Race chokes back a sob. "From Bunsen!"

"I didn't have a choice!" Jack defends himself.

"I understand how much you hate this life, but I thought that we- I- meant something to you!" Race exclaims. "I know Crutchie's stuck in the Refuge, but you promised me you wouldn't give him up and that we'd get him out!" He shouts, tears spilling down his face.

"You mean the world to me!" Jack responds, trying to defend himself.

"Really?!" Race's head shot to look up at him. "Everyone thinks Manhattan betrayed the strike because of you! You betrayed us!" He exclaims.

"I know! I'm sorry!" Jack exclaims. "Just let me explain!" He almost pleads.

"What is there to explain?" Race's voice was almost silent now.

Race turns to the edge of the rooftop, looking at Jack's shirt that he had balled up in his hand.

He raises it above his head, preparing to throw it.

Jack quickly grabs his arm, bringing it down to his side.

Race tries to pull out of his grip, wincing in pain at every move he made.

Jack let's him go, because even though he wanted to hold him forever and just cry, he knew consent was a huge part of his and Race's relationship, and if Race wanted him to let go, he should.

He'd lose everything he had with Race if he ignored consent, and he didn't want that to happen, if he even had anything left with him.

Race seemed to notice this detail as well, his eyes softening. "You have five minutes..." he mutters. "Then, I throw your shirt off of this roof and punch you flat in the nose."

"I'm so sorry for what I'm about to mention." Jack starts softly. "He threatened to send all of you to the Refuge." He explains quickly.

Race gasps at that, memories flashing through his mind.

"I only wanted it protect you!" Jack tells him, almost crying. "I didn't want you going back, and Pulitzer knew that you had been there, and Snyder was there with that horrible smirk!" He almost cries out.

Race steps back slightly.

Jack thought Race didn't forgive him, but he heard sobs.

"I'm sorry." Race whispers, tears spilling from his eyes as he hugged himself.

"Oh, Racer." Jack whispers. "I'm so sorry."

Race just shakes his head, wiping away the tears.

The two boys stand there in silence.

"You went to the rally." Jack mutters, rubbing the back of his neck. "I thought I told you that you shouldn't go."

A small smirk tugs on Race's lips. "And I told you that I was going whether you wanted me to or not." He responds softly.

Jack chuckles weakly. "Always a stubborn one, aren't you, Racetrack Higgins?"

Race shrugs, wincing a bit in pain.

Jack notices. "I'm also pretty sure I wasn't your bandages changed every four hours and you not straining them." He comments.

Race shoots him a weak smirk. "It's hard to follow instructions when no one's enforcing them." He responds.

Jack purses his lips. And that means what...?

Race facepalms. "Makes sure they happen." He reiterates.

Jack nods.

They were silent for another minute.

"I should really put this on now, shouldn't I?" Race mutters, looking at the shirt in his hands.

Jack chuckles softly. "Not that I don't like seeing you in just your pants and socks, but it's kinda cold up here and I might start clinging to you if you keep showing off your chest like that." He states.

Race blushes a bit.

He tries to put the shirt on himself, but couldn't.

He struggles to try to, but he just couldn't.

It hurt too much.

Jack frowns, kneeling down in front of him to help him put it on.

He lays with Race on the roof. "How'd you get it on before?" He whispers.

"Pure stubbornness that I've lost as the day has gone on." Race mutters in response, his eyes struggling to stay open.

Jack nods.

He carefully snakes his arms around Race's waist after Race slowly moves closer to him.

He rests his head in the crook of his boyfriend's, happy to be finally with him again.

"I love you, Antonio. I will always be here for you, Io prometto."

A small smile lights Race's face. "I love you, Jacky. Io prometto."

Highlights from the next day
(In no specific order)

Katherine looks up when she hears people enter the room.

She smirks when she sees Jack, with an annoyed looking Race on his back.

She shakes hands with Jack.

Race just rolls his eyes when her eyes meet his and she wiggles her eyebrows.

Jack and Katherine chuckle.

~~

Spot smirks at Race.

Race rolls his eyes, resting his head on Jack's shoulder.

~~

"Why is Race on your back, Jack?" Davey asks, turning to face the two boys.

Race rolls his eyes, turning his head to face away form the group, though it was still laying on Jack's shoulder.

Jack chuckles softly. "Healing injuries in his ribs, knee, and some other places. I'm carrying him because he doesn't want to stay home." He explains.

Davey nods.

"And it's also partially cause I don't want to let him go." Jack adds softly.

Race's face turns a bit pink.

A wave of 'awe's flies around the group.

Race's face turns even more pink.

~~

"Hello, Mr. Pulitzer." Race shakes his hand, still on Jack's back. "I've heard horrible things about you."

Jack and Spot's eyes widen, and they cover their mouths to stifle their laughs.

Davey stares, shocked, at Race.

Pulitzer stares at Race, offended.

Race just shrugs innocently.

Spot subtly high-fives him behind their backs.

~~

Jack pulls Race into a kiss, Race finally being allowed to stand up for the first time that day.

Race's face turns bright red, and he melts into the kiss.

His knee, mainly the injured one, gave out.

Jack caught him before he could fall and hit the ground.

He pulls the younger boy into a hug. "I love you." He whispers with a soft chuckle.

Race rolls his eyes. "Love you too." He responds.

Jack chuckles again, ignoring the boys cheering around them.

Based on the blush on Race's face, Jack could tell that he couldn't ignore the boy's cheering, causing him to chuckle more.

Race pulls him into another kiss.

2324 Words