Okay, for Tonight || Newsies Race x Oscar

Chapter 5 - Race - The Rooftop

- Chapter 5 - The Rooftop -
Warning: Abuse, soaking
Third Person POV

"Why are you here?" Race asks, arms crossed as he stares at the boy in front of him.

"Hii Racer" Smokes greets, innocently smiling at Race, who facepalms.

"Smokes" He groans. Smokes cheekily smiles at him.

"Spot sent me to check up on you, make sure you were okay. Where is your selling partner?" Smokes asks, looking around for another boy.

It was now five days later. Race was allowed to sell again, but only if he had a selling partner, which is what Davey said.

Spot had sent a new person to check up on Race almost each day, except for yesterday, so Race thought he was in the clear.

He was wrong.

Now it was Race's turn to cheekily smile at Smokes, who deadpans at Race. "Race."

"I kinda begged Jack to let me sell on my own." Race slowly, and hesitantly, admits. Smokes' eyes widen, as he goes to speak. "Don't tell Davey, Specs, Spot, or even anyone else. They'd kill us." Race hisses, shhing Smokes.

Smokes looks at him like he's crazy. "And they should! Race! You are not okay to sell on your own."

"I'll be fine, besides, I'm not in Brooklyn, so I'm not that far from someone." Race assures Smokes, brushing it off. "Besides, Jack said it was only a one-day thing till Davey says it okay, so we didn't get caught or hurt."

"Well, you got caught alright" Smokes mumbles, rubbing the temples of his forehead.

"You don't have to tell anyone, especially not Spot" Race responds. Smokes looks at him again.

"Spot knows when I'm hiding something. Heck, all of the Brooklyn Newsies do!" Smokes exclaims. Race puts his hands up in a surrendering motion.

"So, were done-for?" Race questions, squinting his eyes and crossing his fingers.

"Yup, pretty much." Smokes agrees. Race let's out a breath that he had been holding in defeat. "I will try not to tell anyone, but I can't promise it."

"Thanks Smokes!" Race exclaims. Smokes smiles, shaking his head. "I would hug you, but I don't know you like hugs and I'm in pain, plus we have to sell."

"Yeah, I'll see you around Racer" Smokes responds, walking off. Race waves to Smokes, as he disappears from Race's sight. Race sighs, turning back to start selling again.

A few hours later

Race climbed onto the rooftop that he usually sat on. It was right next to the Lodge, so he could still hear if someone called to him, but he could still have peace and quiet when he needed it.

He saw a shadow sitting on the roof, looking over the city of Manhattan. "Hi?" He starts, and the shadow whips around, shocked to see Race.

"Uh, hi Racer" The shadow greets. Race stops. Who is this? They sound familiar.

The shadow steps into into the moonlight, and Race immediately recognizes the boy.