- Chapter 72 - A Mistaken Emotion -
Warnings (major): Abuse, murder, kidnapping, bullying, blood, tears, needles
Modern/Idek AU
Third Person POV

Tears stream down Race's face. "Oscar!!" He yells, struggling to pull out of the two men's grip.

One of the men holding him scowls at him. "Quit moving." He snaps.

Race let's out a cry of pain as he's jerked backwards.

"Toni!" Oscar shouts, tears streaming down his face.

"Let go of me!" Race shouts, trying to kick his way away from the two men.

Race felt a pinch in his neck.

He immediately stopped struggling, his eyes growing heavy.

"Antonio!" Oscar screams, tears streaming down his face.

Race felt pain spread throughout his body like fire, his body giving out without his consent.

Let's go to the beginning
A few months before

"Ew." Oscar's face scrunches up in disgust. "You're still happy?" He questions.

Race turns to face Oscar, a sarcastic smile on his face. "It's my emotion, Delancey." He reminds him. "I'll be happy for as long as you'll be angry."

Oscar glares at him.

Race shoots him a polite and half sarcastic smile.

"Come on, Race." Elmer tells him, gesturing for him to follow.

Oscar couldn't help but feel angry as he watched him walk off.

It was what he was supposed to feel, but there was something else lingering in his mind as he watched Race.

A sense of longing? Admiration?

Whatever it was, Oscar didn't know and he knew he shouldn't feel it.

JoJo, Elmer, and Race walk into a back alley near the school.

"God, I hate him." Race mutters, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

Elmer and JoJo nod.

"Come on," Race starts. "Let's go find our friends." He states.

Their group was made up of misfit kids, or at least, that's what they were called.

One thing everyone else didn't know was that they all could feel every emotion.

Not just the one they were assigned at birth.

~~

"I hate him so much." Race grumbles, taking his hat off and throwing it at the wall of the warehouse.

Albert looks up at him, taking the cigar out of his mouth. "Or are you in love with him?" He questions, pointing the cigar at Race.

The blonde boy looks at him, his eyes wide, cheeks bright red, and face appalled. "What?!" He almost screeches. "I hate him! Not love! Hate!"

"That's a strong word for someone who's cheeks are bright red at the mention of loving him." Finch comments, taking the cigar from his boyfriend.

Race rolls his eyes, turning to his bed to grab his cigar.

His eyes widen. "Albert! Patrick!" He shouts, turning back around to face them. "That's my cigar!-"

Albert and Finch were already running, the cigar on the crates they had been sitting on.

The other boys laugh.

Race grumbles, snatching the cigar from off of the crate and placing it in his mouth. "Swear I might hate them just as much sometimes." He mutters.

"Just so you know," Henry starts, looking up from his cookbook. "The cigar is lit."

Race looks at it, before his eyes widen and he throws the cigar. "Frick!" He exclaims.

The boys laugh again.

Henry shakes his head, looking back at his cookbook/history of cooking book that he was reading to JoJo and Mike.

More like just to JoJo, who was really interest in it while he paid attention to Mike's hand and all of its greatest.

And Mike was sleeping.

"You two owe me a new cigar!" Race shouts, his hands cupped over his mouth like a microphone.

He plops himself down on the crate beside him, his arms crossed.

I hate them more than life sometimes, he rolls his eyes again.

~~

Race walks the opposite way Oscar was going.

Oscar, noticing that he was walking away, smirks and follows him.

Race looks behind him, grumbling to himself when he sees Oscar and speeding up.

Oscar notices, starting to run after him.

Race ended up getting cornered in an alleyway.

"Well, well," Oscar starts. "Looks like you're cornered." He comments, cracking his knuckles as he steps towards Race.

Race silently curses, turning to face Oscar with a smile on his face. "Looks like your still obsessed with me." He responds snarkily.

Oscar glares at him. "What if I am?!" He snaps.

Race's eyes widen. "What?" He asks, his face a bit flushed.

"What if I am obsessed with you?" Oscar questions, stepping towards Race.

"That's creepy." Race responds, his voice quieter than he wanted it to be as he slowly steps back.

Oscar steps towards him. "You're blushing and quieter than usual." He points out.

Race stares at him, not knowing what to think when his back hit a wall.

"We've known each other for seven years." Oscar starts softly, standing about an inch away from Race. "And it's taken me six to accept my feelings for you."

"Then," Race looks up at him. "Why do you bully me?" He asks.

"Cause I'm supposed to." Oscar mutters. "I'm not supposed to fall for a happy."

Race bites his lip, avoiding Spot's eyes.

"Wait..." the younger Delancey brother starts slowly, his eyes widening. "You're nervous! And I'm not angry!" He exclaims.

Race's hand shoots over Oscar's mouth, muffling his voice. "Shut up!" He hisses. "Someone will hear you!"

Oscar licks his hand.

Race pulls away, wiping his hand off.

"Do you like pushing me against the wall?" Oscar questions. "And man, you're strong." He mutters, cringing a bit in pain.

Race hadn't even noticed he'd pushed Oscar against the wall.

Race blushes, brushing his hair out of his eyes. "I- I- I was just- trying to- ta- to- make sure no- one heard you." He stammers.

Oscar chuckles.

Race looks out of the alleyway before grabbing Oscar's wrist and dragging him to the warehouse Race and the Newsies stayed in.

He quickly opens the door, pulling Oscar in and quickly locking it again.

Race shoves Oscar so that he was sitting on a crate, pointing to him. "Explain to him." He looks up at his brothers.

They were staring at him, their eyes wide.

"He's one of us." Race explains.

Oscar looks at him. "One of what?" He asks.

"He's not angry." Knobs mumbles in amazement. "I never thought I'd see the day when a Delancey would be calm." He comments.

Oscar rolls his eyes. "I can still hear you." He responds, annoyed.

Race rolls his eyes, walking away from Oscar.

"Hey!" Oscar exclaims, standing up.

Race let's an exasperated breath out of his nose, turning back around to face Oscar.

"You can't just drag me here and leave me!" Oscar tells him, a bit annoyed. "Especially not after what I just confessed."

Albert raised an eyebrow at raise.

Race brushes it off. "I can and I will." He responds, crossing his arms.

Oscar stomps over to Race.

"I take back my previous statement." Knobs mutters, going back to reading his book.

Oscar grabs Race's wrist. "Stay here and talk to me, or so help me, Race, I will kiss you." He states.

Jack and Crutchie share looks.

Race stares him dead in the eyes. "Make me." He responds, his voice deadly calm.

Oscar grabs Race by the collar of his shirt, kissing hims harshly.

Race squeaks a bit, his eyes widening.

"It's like a romance novel." Specs whispers, staring in awe at the two boys.

"It's much better than a romance novel." Romeo responds, leaning back, his feet crossed as he pulls a bowl of popcorn out of the fourth wall.

Knobs and Specs eat the popcorn with him, Boots sitting next to his crate, on the floor, and joining them.

Oscar pulls away from Race, both of their faces bright red.

"We all feel emotions." Race explains quietly, his eyes looking at the ground so he didn't have to look into Oscar's eyes. "Like- all of the emotions."

"Oh my God," Oscar whispers, his eyes widening. "Morris told me to hide this."

Race looks up at him.

"Wait..." Jack starts, quickly walking over to Oscar. "Morris can feel all of the emotions, too?" He asks.

Oscar nods.

The door bursts open. "Hurt my brother and I'll slice your face off quicker than chef can chop a tomato!" They heard someone shout.

Everyone turns to face them, their eyes wide.

Finch quickly shuts the door behind him.

"Oh!" Morris drops his knife. "He's okay. Thank God, I thought you were all kidnappers." He laughs to himself. "At least it's the Newsies."

Oscar and Race exchange a look.

"I'm getting a headache." Race mutters, starting to walk off.

Oscar points to him, still staring at his brother. "I just kissed him and am in need of cuddles, so I'm going to follow him." He adds, waving at his brother before walking off.

Morris grins, waving back at him.

"What is happening?" Jack mutters, rubbing the temples of his forehead.

"Romeo's content watching what he claims to be is a 'real life rom-com' and eating popcorn with Specs, Boots, and Knobs." Buttons starts. "Henry is reading to Jomike, and Tommy boy fell asleep in a crate while waiting for him." He points to Tommy boy, who was indeed in a crate, curled up with a blanket. "Blink and Mush are being adorably couplily and sleeping. Oscar and Race are having some sort of affair, Finch is teasing Albert,"

Albert rolls his eyes, his face still bright red and his arms crossed.

"Morris was threatening to slice our faces off," Buttons continues. "And Jack's confused, and-"

"Thanks, Buttons." Jack mutters, not any less exasperated.

"Does it count as an affair if they're not dating anyone?" Morris questions, looking confused.

Romeo shakes his head.

"Why are you here?" Jack asks, looking up at him.

"I thought you guys were kidnappers who kidnapped my brother so I tracked him and came to save him." Morris explains.

"Tracked?" Crutchie questions, a bit concerned.

"The same way Davey tracks you guys." Morris answers with an innocent smile.

Davey looks away, feeling his face heat up.

Jack mentally decides to question it later. "Okay." He sighs softly.

Morris looks up, his eyes lighting up when he sees Elmer. "My favorite bubby!" He exclaims, making grabby hands for Elmer.

Elmer walks over to him, letting Morris hug him.

Jack raises an eyebrow at them.

"We're dating." Morris mumbles against Elmer's neck, causing the Polish boy to squirm a bit.

Jack exhales deeply, deciding to again not question anything for the sake of his sanity.

~~

Race follows Oscar around the school.

The two had gotten closer over the past few weeks.

And now, they were dating.

They walk into a room that no one else was in.

(Crackers (Author) really forgot what the word 'empty' was for a moment.
You're so annoying, Albert.
I agree.)
Hey!)

Oscar gently cups Race's cheeks, pulling him into a soft kiss.

Race smiles against Oscar's lips when they pull away, leaning his forehead against Oscar's forehead. "We're the same height." He whispers.

"Nope." Oscar chuckles softly. "You're still about an inch or two shorter than me." He tells him.

Race pouts a bit.

They heard people walking past the room.

"We hav two go." Race whispers, quickly pulling away.

Oscar nods.

~~

"That's him!" Race and Oscar heard a shout. "The happy who showed sad emotions!"

Before they could react, arms grabbed Race.

Two men dressed in lab coats pull Race away from Oscar, another man, one the two boys knew all too well, pull Oscar away, holding him against his chest and stomach.

"What?" Oscar questions. He looks up at the person holding him, his eyes immediately widening. "Snyder!" He exclaims.

Snyder just smirks, looking at Race.

Race looks up at him, tears stinging his eyes.

"We'll take him away, sir." One of the men in lab coats tell Snyder. "Don't worry."

Snyder nods, faking a caring face as he hugs Oscar close to him, pretending to look concerned for his 'child'.

Oscar starts struggling against his grip.

Tears stream down Race's face. "Oscar!" He yells, struggling against the two men's grip.

One of the men holding him scowls at him. "Quit moving." He snaps.

Race let's out a cry of pain as he's jerked backwards.

"Toni!" Oscar shouts, tears streaming down his face.

How did they find out?

Who told them?

Where will they take him?

Oscar's mind was racing.

"Let go of me!" Race shouts, trying to kick his way away from the two men.

Race felt a pinch in his neck.

He immediately stopped struggling, his eyes growing heavy.

"Antonio!" Oscar screams, tears streaming down his face.

Race felt pain spread throughout his body like fire, his body giving out without his consent.

Time skip

Race woke up in a lot of pain and also feeling really dizzy and weak.

He tried to pull his hands so he could curl up in a ball and hold himself, but they were restrained and the cuffs were digging into his skin.

He felt them start to bleed.

Race felt warm tears slide down his cheeks when a light flicked on, his eyes squeezed closed.

He heard footsteps walking towards him.

Race slowly opens his eyes to find a man in a lab coat staring down at him.

The man grins evilly. "He's awake." He says in some sort of sing-songy voice.

"Where-" talking hurt Race's throat. "Am- am I?" He chokes out.

"This, this is where all mistakes go." The man states.

Race stays silent to process that.

A mistake...

Like my father said.

"Anyway," the man takes a needle, unscrewing the cap. "You won't be a mistake for much longer."

"What do you mean?" Race whispers, scared to know the answer.

The man smirks, staring at the needle. "Mistakes like you need to be removed from the world." He states.

Race's eyes widen in fear, his hands tugging at the restraints again.

The man pats Race's shoulder again. "Just stay calm." He comforts as if he wasn't just about to kill Race. "It'll all be over quickly."

Race screams, tugging at the restraints.

The man tightens the restraints on his right arm, lining the needle up with his vein.

Tears stream down Race's face. "Please! Stop!" He screams.

His screams were ignored.

2396 Words
Sooooo, how's everyone's days going? I need to go to sleep lol