•Roman•
•Slight Angst•
•Santa Fe from 2017 Newsies, Newsies AU•

*****

Roman sighed shakily as he watched the scene fold under him as he hid on the rooftops. Everything went wrong and his closest friend, Patton, had been taken by Snider. 

"Folks, we finally got our headline: 'Newsies Crushed as Bulls Attack'. Patton's calling me damn crap is just too damn slow!" Roman shouted in a fit of anger. He was angry at himself more so anyone else. "Guys are fightin', bleedin', fallin'. Thanks to good ole' Captain Roman! Captain Roman just wants to close his eyes and go!"

His anger died down a bit. Not a lot but a bit. He looked out onto the lit streets. "Let me go far away where they won't ever find me, and tomorrow won't remind me of today. And the city's finally sleepin' and the moon looks old and grey. I get on a train that's bound for Santa Fe."  He gave a small sad laugh. "And I' m gone! And I'm done! No more runnin', no more lyin'. No more fat old man denyin' me my pay! Just a moon so big and yellow, it turns night right into day! Dreams come true. Yeah they do. In Santa Fe!"

Roman began to pace a bit, as if he was trying to make a tough decision. "Where does it say you gotta live and die here?! Where does it say a guy can't catch a break?! Why should you only take what you're given?! Why should you spend your whole live livin' trapped where there an't no future, even at seventeen. Breaking your back for someone else's sake!" He hopped onto the edge of the rooftop, balancing with practiced grace. He had too many bottled emotions spewing out. "if the life don't seem to suite ya, how 'bout a change of scene? Far from the lousy headlines and the deadlines in between!"

Tears burned his eyes as he took a shaky breath. "Santa Fe, my old friend! I can't spend my whole life dream, though that's all I seem inclined to do. I ain't getting any younger and I wanna start brand new! I need space and fresh air! Let them laugh in my face, I don't care! Save my place, I'll be there..." Roman felt the tears slip down his cheeks as he slowly took off his newsboy hat. "Just be real is all I'm asking, not just some paintin' in my head. Cause I'm dead if I can't count on you today!"

Roman was close to sobbing at this point, "I ain't nothin' if I ain't got Santa Fe!"