Newsies One-Shots

Chapter 32 - Jack, Crutchie and Race

Brotherly Talks and Self Care Nights
Ship - Jack, Crutchie and Race (brotherly)
Era - Modern
Triggers - Mentions of bullying and crying.

Jack was sitting at his desk, attempting to do homework.

He'd finished all the work due the next day so he deemed that to be a success.

He knew it would be a good idea to get some of the stuff due in the next few days done so he tried.

He really did try but it was just so boring.

He'd honestly rather watch paint dry.

That thought finally dragged him fully from his homework and to his art corner.

It wouldn't hurt to do some art, he did have a project due soon and it would be helpful.

And so Jack shoved his homework into his bag and grabbed as many of his paints, brushes and canvasses as he could manage.

He climbed out of his window and up the fire escape onto the roof.

Once he was up there he laid everything out around where he was going to sit.

He always sat in the same spot. It wasn't too cold in the winter, it had a nice breeze in the summer and Jack thought it had the greatest view of the sun setting in all of New York.

He picked out a brush and started painting Santa Fe.

He had finished about a quarter of the painting when he thought he heard something.

He looked over his shoulder to find Race standing at the top of the ladder, looking unsure.

"Hey Race," he greeted with a smile. "What are you doing up here?"

"I'm sorry. I'll go back down,"  he said quickly.

Jack shook his head and held his hand out to Race. "Why don't you come sit with me? You can tell me about your day or if you don't want to we can just sit."

Race nodded and awkwardly made his way over to his big brother.

Jack cleared some of his art things and patted the area beside him.

"I'm sorry for interrupting your painting. It looks really good though."

Race didn't want to look Jack in the eyes, instead he focused his gaze on the sky.

"Are you doing okay? You haven't been acting like yourself lately," he asked.

Race shrugged and wrapped his arms around himself.

"Why do you put up with me?" he asked quietly.

Jack frowned. "I don't put up with you, I love you so much."

Race rested his head on Jack's shoulder. He let out a small sigh.

"Why do you think that?" The worry on Jack's face wasn't noticed by Race who shrugged again.

"I hate the Delanceys," he said angrily. "Why can't they just leave me alone?"

"Did they say something to you? Because whatever they said I promise you it was a lie," Jack told him.