Partner in Crime || Newsies Fanfiction

Chapter 16 - Once and For All

Stage and Cards smile at each other, before running over to help.

Newsies: This is the story we needed to write
As we kept out of sight, but no more
In a few hours by dawns early light
We'll be ready to fight us a war

Cards: This time we're in it to stay

Stage grabs Cards' hand.

Stage: Talk about seizing the day

Jack: Write it in ink or in blood
It's the same either way
They're gonna damn well pay!

Stage pumps her fist in the air, before turning to Cards.

"I know, I know." Stage puts her hands up. "I'm not fighting."

Cards laughs, ruffling her hair. "No, you aren't."

Stage rolls her eyes again.

Newsies: See old man Pulitzer snug in his bed
He don't care if we're dead or alive
Three satin pillows are under his head
While we's begging for bread to survive

Joe, you can stop counting sheep
We're gonna sing ya to sleep
You've got your thugs with their sticks and their slugs
Yeah! But we got a promise to keep!

The Newsies turn to face Jack.

Jack: Once and for all if they don't find their manners
We'll bleed 'em!

Newsies: Bleed 'em!

Race: Once and for all we won't carry no banners that don't spell freedom!

"Okay," Sniper starts, turning to Stage, Cards, and a few other Newsies. "But I love that Cards sang 'bleed em' and Stage only sung 'freedom'."

Stage points to Cards. "She won't let me fight."

"And that's a good thing" Spot adds.

Stage rolls her eyes.

Newsies: Finally we's raising the stakes
This time whatever it takes!
This time the union awakes, once and for all!

"Come on boys!" Jack shouts.

"Hey!" Stage, Cards, Sniper, and Smalls shout.

"Sorry," Jack cheekily smiles at them. "And girls!"

Newsies: This is for kids shining shoes on the street
With no shoes on their feet everyday
This is for guys sweating blood in the shops
While their bosses and cops look away

I'm seeing kids standing tall
Glaring and raring to brawl
Armies of guys who are sick of the lies
Getting ready to rise to the call!

Once and for all there'll be blood on the wall if they doubt us

Stage and Cards share a determined look.

Newsies: They think they're running this town
But this town will shut down without us

Ten thousand kids in the square
(Ten thousand kids in the square)
Ten thousand fists in the air!
(Ten thousand fists)
Joe, you is gonna play fair, once and for all!

The Newsies start grabbing stacks of papers.

Newsies: Once and for all! (Once and for all)
Once and for all!! (Once and for all)
Once and for all!!! (Once and for all)

There's change coming once and for all
You're getting too old, too weak to keep holding on
A new world is gunning for you, and Joe, we is too!
'Til once and for all you're gone!

Cards smirks at Stage, who rolls her eyes. "I get it, I've learned that I'm not allowed to fight."

"Wait-" Stage starts. Cards mentally groans. "Can Smokes teach me how to use a slingshot?"

Cards shakes her head. "No."

Stage frowns, rolling her eyes, though she probably saw that coming.

Davey: Once and for all!

Jack: Once and for all!!

Cards, Stage, Race, Davey, Spot, Ace, Smokes, Blink: Once and for all!

All: Once and for all!

Stage and Cards run out of the building, hand in hand.

"Oh yeah, heads up," Cards starts. "I'm not leaving you alone again for a while."

Stage rolls his eyes. "You are so overprotective."

"If you want to complain about it, go talk to Race" Cards responds, causing Stage to roll her eyes again.

Bonus

Cards, Bill, Katherine, Spot, Race, Albert, Jack, Davey, and a few others stood chuckling.

Stage and Darcy laid, asleep, sitting up against a wall on the carriage the Newsies were using while they were distributing papes.

"Okay, that's seriously adorable" Katherine chuckles, looking at them.

The Newsies (and Bill) nod in agreement.

"Wait, is Stage smaller than me?" Smalls questions, a bit shocked.

Sniper rolls her eyes a bit. "Yes."

Smalls smirks.

"Anyway, we have an early morning tomorrow, so we should go" Davey tells the group, who all nod.

Bill picks up Darcy, and he and Katherine leave, waving goodbye to the group.

"Who's carrying Stage?" Spot questions, looking around the group.

Cards shrugs. She couldn't. Stage might be smaller than her, but she wasn't that much. Maybe 3 inches.

"Do you even have to ask?" Race questions, pointing to Jack, who picks up Stage.

The group smiles.

1160 Words