This Ain't Just Newsies No More ~ Sprace & Javid

26 | Captives | David

So we explored the Jack and Spot dynamic. Now it's the Race and Davey dynamic. Enjoy! :)

David makes a tally mark on the wall to go with the one from the day previous.

He's no longer tethered tightly to the wall; yesterday the Delanceys came in, supplied him and Race with food and water. That and a few new bruises. They haven't come back today.

"Why do you think we're here, Racetrack?" David asks suddenly.

Race just shrugs.

"We're not staying in here forever, I know that," David continues confidently. "We'll get out. Someone'll find us, if we can't get ourselves out."

Race still doesn't respond.

"Come on, Race," David tries. "Just say somethin'."

At first, there's nothing. And then, quietly, so David has to strain to hear, "It's a rigged deck. They got all the marbles."

"We can't let them know that they got to us," David tells him.

Race makes the gesture of about to throw his hands up, but not being able to move his hands, it's just a big shoulder shrug. "How? I don't feel like I'm in the winnin' position, Davey."

David sighs. Then, he says (not in song form), "Nothing can break us."

Race looks up.

Now that he's got Race's attention, he continues (more song-like), "No one can make us give our rights away."

"Don't know how I can seize the day," Race says before David can continue, humoring him by in the same sing-song voice that had slowly grown in the past few words David said.

David sighs again. "Race. Why are you being like this? I've never known you to be one to give up so easily."

"It's a rigged deck," Race repeats. "I have it figured out. They know about us. Now, I don't know how they know, but they do. Jack's leader of Manhattan. Spot's the leader of Brooklyn. Two of the most powerful newsies. Now the Delanceys want somethin' from them. They know you'se close to Jack. They know I'se close to Spot. So, we're here. And so, if Jack and Spot try to come get us, then it's a trap: they'll get Jack and Spot. I don't know if they just want 'em or want somethin' from 'em, but either way, it ain't good." He sinks down a little. "And if anythin' bad happens to 'em, and if it's because I'm here, I'll never forgive myself."

The thing is, is that Race is right. He has a pretty good point.

They're in silence for David doesn't know how long. He looks at Race, and sees that he truly believes every word he said, that this is a lost cause.

But David refuses to believe that this is it.

"Hey, Race," David says after awhile. Race barely lifts his head up. "What exactly happened in Brooklyn at sunset last night?"

That gets Race to smile. That's when David knows that he finally got at least a little bit closer to him.

"It was great. I ran the whole way. I  thought that I was gonna totally miss him. Then, when I reached the docks, I saw that he was just leavin'! I called out to him to wait, and he turned around. I couldn't stop running, so I accidentally ran into him and we both ended up on the ground." He and David both chuckle at that. "We talked a while. We had some deep conversations." Race smiles back on it fondly. Then smirks. "Then I stole his cap."

David snorts. "Of course."

"I ran with it, and when he caught up to me, he says, 'I don't know if I wanna kiss you or push you off the Bridge.'"