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

37 | Tend To You | David

"Hey." Jack lifts David's chin up with his thumb. "Everything is going to be okay. I promise." He gives him a chaste kiss. "Ya ready to move?"

"Are you still going to carry me?"

"Only if you insist-"

"I'm okay."

"Walking it is."

Back at the lodging house, everyone is super happy for the two to return safe. The pair are nearly ambushed at the front door, though; bombarded with a bunch of questions and happy exclamations of how happy they are for them to be back.

"Okay, okay," Jack waves people away. "Break it up, break it up. Give him some space."

"We'se glad ya back an' safe, Davey!" Crutchie says. "are ya stayin' a little?"

"I'm staying tonight," David informs him.

"Ya hear, that, fellas?" Crutchie exclaims. "Davey's stayin' with us tonight!"

"'Bout time!" Mush says.

"You're gonna have to deal with all of us, though, David!" Blink adds.

David grins. "Maybe a little excitement is what I need after five days of nearly nothing."

Not too much time later, Les comes in, accompanied by Sarah.

"Davey!" she throws her arms around her brother. "Thank goodness you're safe!"

David is surprised to see her, but is still happy to see her nonetheless and wraps his arms around her. "Yeah, I'm good."

She pulls back. "Les wouldn't tell me where you were. Are you alright?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm okay. Really."

"Do you guys have the stuff?" Jack asks.

"Here." Les holds out some of David's clothes. "Sarah has food in her bag."

David sighs with relief as he takes the clothes in one hand and food in the other. "I'm eating first, then changing afterwards."

"I'll find ya a glass of water in the meantime," Jack says, before leaving David for the first time since they first reunited.

It's been a few hours. All the newsies are going out to eat dinner. Jack and David are eating at their own table, ignoring all the other newsies calling out to them, wiggling their eyebrows, and doing other things. At least they're okay with Jack and David being together.

"Eat as much as you want," Jack instructs. "Take more than you'll think you need."

"Okay, okay," David laughs. 

Jack gives him a stern look. "I'm serious. Very serious. Drink more water. Drink it until it's empty. Then I'll refill it. Don't leave anything on that plate neither!"

David hasn't been able to catch a break. Jack has just been hashing on him since they left the Refuge at noon. Still, he doesn't regret his decision of wanting to spend the night with Jack and the newsies. He'll see his parents tomorrow. After a day of selling, that is.

"Jack, I don't want to overstuff myself."

"Well, it's better than the starvin' you've been through."

"If I don't eat enough food will cause my stomach to ache, but so will eating too much food. Can't I eat the right amount and not get a stomachache?"

"I'd rather you have a stomach ache because you've eaten so much food. I want you to eat more in this one meal than in the three meals you have daily."

"Jack, that's way over excessive."

"I'm only gonna pretend like I know what that means."

"Fine, you see this?" David raises his eyebrows as he takes another bite. "Watch me. I'll eat."

"Good."

Then, thankfully, there are a few minutes of comfortable silence between them as Jack finally stops talking and eats his food too.

Back at the lodge, it's not as rowdy as David was expecting. Most of them have been tired out from everything that's happened. Well, not overly tired--but it hasn't been an easy day for anyone.

He did get in a nice conversation with Kloppman though. A really nice guy. David knew he would be in good hands here.

"So there are a few options," Jack tells David as they climb up the stairs. "Race's bunk is open. There are a couple spare bunks, or there's another room that we can convert into a sorta-bedroom for the night."

"What about the option where I spend the night with you?"

Jack is silent for a second. "Ya want that?"

"Of course."

"I get to tuck you in."

David chuckles. "Deal."

Jack opens the door to reveal many bunk beds, and many newsies to occupy them. Everyone has some sort of different thing to do before bed.

"Goodnight!" someone calls out.

"G'night!" echoes from various parts of the room back.

"Here it is," Jack motions David to his top bunk. "This is where I stay."

David smiles. "It's perfect."

Jack smiles with him.

Within a few minutes, they're both in bed, cuddling.

"Goodnight, Davey."

"Goodnight, Jack."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"I get to take care of you in the morning too."

"Really?"

"Really. And guess what?"

"What?"

"You ain't workin' tomorrow."

"What?"

"It's gonna be a day off for ya."

"What about Denton?"

"Don't worry 'bout that until it's noon."

"Okay then."

"Yep."

"Well, goodnight."

"Goodnight."

And then both have the best good night's rest that neither have had in a good long time.

I sorta had a direction to go in but I really like this too.

39 minutes to write this! I like thinking I'm a speedy writer.

Except by the time I finish this it'll probably be more than that. Plus I'm writing the other chapter first haha.

I really like seeing Jack want to really take care of David. David needs it. Especially since the whole fandom has sort of agreed that David is the mom friend.

The Soft Spot and Race chapter is next! :)

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!!! :)    <3

Please, no homophobia, profanities, hate etc in the comment section.

Best,

~Your Beloved Author (who ships Jack/David, Spot/Race, and Kid Blink/Mush maybe a tad bit too much)