Newsies One-Shots

Chapter 33 - Race x Albert

Albert Would Appreciate It If People Wouldn't Soak His Boyfriend.
Ship - Ralbert
Era - Cannon
Triggers - Implied soaking, mentions of blood and injuries.

"Racer," Albert exclaimed as he saw the love of his life.

Race smiled weakly as he was propped up in between Jack and Spot.

Albert rushed over and pulled him into a tight hug.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "They wouldn't let me come help you. I tried but they made Specs and JoJo stop me if I tried."

At the same time, Race whispered, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have made you worry about me."

Both boys looked at each other and giggled.

"We are bad at boyfriending," Race said.

Albert nodded. "We really are," he agreed.

Race leaned back into Albert and breathed in the smell of his boyfriend's clothes.

Albert brushed the hair off of Race's forehead. He frowned at the dried blood at his scalp.

"Let's go inside love," Albert whispered. "Get Specs to check you over."

He lifted Race up bridal style and started to carry him inside.

Race tried to insist that he didn't need Albert to bring him inside and that he was perfectly capable of doing it himself.

His insisting died down after a forehead kiss and Albert started rubbing circles into his back.

He lay Race down on their bunk for Specs to look him over.

Albert tried to leave Race for a minute to get some wet cloths to wipe some of the blood away but was stopped by Race grabbing firmly onto his hand.

"Please don't leave me," Race begged. "Please. I need you to stay beside me. Please."

"Okay," he agreed. "I'll stay."

He looked up at Specs unsure but a nod from the resident medic reassured him.

He sat down beside Race and brushed the hair away from his forehead.

Specs started to tell the other boys what to do and what to get.

Albert zoned him out as he focused his attention solely on Race.

Race didn't look away from Albert's eyes, letting himself get lost in them.

It felt like a walk through deep, thick woods whenever he looked in Albert's eyes.

The brown of the soil dotted with the green and light browns of the leaves that have fallen frown the trees that crunch underfoot.

Specs finished wrapping up Race's injuries and left them both.

Albert laid down beside Race and rested his head directly beside his boyfriend's.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you," he whispered as he ran a finger along Race's jaw.

"No, I told you to run and get Jack and you did. You did everything I asked you."

Albert nodded. He wasn't fully convinced but didn't want Race to be upset.

"One question I do have," Race started. "How did Spot end up coming?"

"He was visiting Jack for a meeting and when he heard he couldn't leave his baby brother to be hurt," Albert explained. "They both knew the area so they made JoJo and Specs stop me from leaving."

Race curled up into Albert's side, resting his head above Albert's heart.

The beating of his boyfriend's heart reminded him that he was home and that he was safe.

And where sager could he be than in the arms of the person he trusted most in the world.

Albert gently pressed a kiss to his boyfriend's forehead.

"Hey Race," he whispered. He brushed the hair away from his forehead to find that Race had drifted asleep. "Race."

He looked up to see where Specs was. He breathed in relief that the boy he was looking for was just a few bunks down with his boyfriend.

"Hey Specs, is it okay if he goes asleep now?" he asked.

Specs nodded. "Yeah, he'll be fine as long as he's with you. I trust you'll keep him safe."

Albert nodded and lay down beside Race, planning to fall asleep himself.

His plans went away when he noticed a figure lurking in the doorway.

"Jo, you can come over," he told JoJo. "I'm sure Race would love to hear you visited him. He's asleep now."

JoJo crossed the room and stood above Race, watching him with a gentle face.

"I feel like it's my fault he got hurt," he explained. "Maybe if I hadn't held you back or if I was with him."

"Jo, you did everything you could have done to help him. I needed to be here to help him when he got back and without you who knows what could have happened."

JoJo shrugged and looked down at Race. "Will he be okay?" he asked. "He's my best friend and I can't stand to see him hurt."

"Why don't you give him a hug. Even if he's asleep, I'm sure it'll make him feel much better," he suggested.

"What if I hurt him."

"You won't," Albert told him. "I promise."

JoJo leaned down and hugged Race tightly, making sure to be careful of his injuries.

He kissed him on the forehead before standing up.

"Why don't you go to sleep and then when you wake up Race will be there, knowing him, screaming at you to get up," he suggested.

JoJo nodded. "I guess you're right. Night Al, night Race."

"Night JoJo."

Albert closed his eyes once JoJo had gone away.

He lay his head above Race's, listening to the blonde boy's steady and slow breaths as he drifted off to join Race in the land of sleep.

~~~
911 words