#if i stay committed w watching races ill just keep on going to the end of the v8 era so dw my wailing can only get worse :D

[skitskatdacat63]

I literally can't stop thinking about this sequence of pictures, actually completely brainrotting me

[all-hail-the-witcher]

ill always be there for you

ship: ralbert yeet genre: some angst, mostly fluff, lots of worrying warnings: mentions of someone getting beat up, potential hypothermia, minor mentions of blood, worrying, the works word count: 3565 oof editing: eh _______________________________ It was the night before thanksgiving and Albert had just curled up in his grandmas big comfy armchair with an oversized sweatshirt, a cup of hot chocolate and a brand new book when his phone rang. Albert smiled seeing his boyfriend Races picture pop up on his screen. He and Race had been dating for almost 9 months, but race had opted to stay at his apartment in Manhattan for thanksgiving instead of tagging along with Albert because he had rehearsal and because Albert wasn’t out to his family yet. “Hey Racer,” he answered, flipping his book closed as he watched his cousins and younger siblings play monopoly on the floor in front of him. “Albie?” Races voice was quiet on the other end of the phone. “Can you speak up, I can’t really hear you.” One of Alberts cousins let out a load groan after going bankrupt. “It’s kinda loud here.” “I know, sorry.” Race cleared his throat and Albert head several loud car honks in the background. Was Race outside? Albert checked the time: it was almost 9. Race should have been home from rehearsal by now. “And I’m sorry for interrupting, but I didn’t know who else to call.” A pit of worry began to form in Alberts stomach. Had something happened? Did Race get fired? Did something happen at rehearsal? Did something happen while he was walking home? Had he been hit by a car? Was he bleeding out in an alley somewhere? A million scenarios flooded Albert’s head and he squeezed the arm of the chair to ground himself. Race was okay, he had to be. “What happened, Race? Are you alright?” Alberts voice took on a worried tone as one of his cousins looked up at him, no doubt having heard his half of the conversation. Albert waved her off and she - thankfully - returned to monopoly. “Don’t freak out, alright? I’m fine, I promise.” Somehow Albert didn’t believe him. “Antonio.” This time it was Alberts aunt who looked over at him questioningly. Albert shook his head, letting her know that it was nothing and she turned back to the adult conversation. “Fine! Geez! I got jumped walking home from rehearsal!” Race groaned. “Happy now?” Albert’s stomach dropped to his feet. Someone had hurt his beautiful Race and he wasn’t there for him. “Fuck, Tony. Why didn’t you fucking say something? Are you alright?” “Albert Dasilva! Language!” His mom yelled at him, but he ignored her, jumping up and pacing in the joined dining room. “I told you not to freak out,” Race said forcefully before bursting into a fit of coughing. “I said I’m fine. They got spooked before they could finish, which is why I still have my phone. But while I was running away my foot got caught in a sewer grate and I think I twisted my ankle cause I can’t really walk and I think one of them knocked me in the head cause I’m feeling a little dizzy and disoriented.” Albert tried not to think about his poor boyfriend, alone, cold, and hurt somewhere in Manhattan. “Oh, Race…” He was acutely aware that most of his family was watching him. “So,” Race continued, “I was going to ask you to call one of our friends who are still in the city to come get me, cause I can’t quite remember who didn’t go home for the holiday.” “What are you crazy?” Albert walked over to the counter and picked up his car keys. Luckily for him, his grandmas house was just outside Jersey City, a mere 20 minutes away from Manhattan. “I’m coming to get you.” “No you’re not!” Race immediately protested. “I’m not going to let you leave your family on account of me. Call JoJo or Spot or Elmer or whoever’s still here to come get me.” “Absolutely not,” Albert refused as he laced up his sneakers. “Cause if one of them comes to get you I’ll just be distracted thinking about you the whole time and wondering if you’re okay and won’t be able to enjoy anything here.” “Aww you’re such a sap.” Race made kissy noises into the phone. Albert felt himself blush as he walked back into the living room, ignoring the various stares he got from his family, grabbing his phone charger. “Just tell me where you are so I can come get you.” Albert heard muffled hisses and groans of pain as Race shifted to look for a street sign and he could feel his heart clench with worry. “Uh, I think it says east 23rd street. I’m across from a deli of some sort.” “Alright.” Albert grabbed an extra sweatshirt of his from the pegs by the door, he knew Race would want it. “I’ll be there in 30 minutes tops. Stay put. I love you.” Shit. Albert sucked in a breath. That was the first time he’d ever said that to Race, and it wasn’t even in person. What if Race wasn’t ready for that? What if he yelled at him? The silence on the other end was concerning. Finally, he heard Races breathy laughter and allowed himself to exhale. “I love you too, you dork. And to think I thought I would be the first to say that.” Albert laughed along with him. “Oh shut up. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Then he disconnected the call. “Albert, honey,” his mom called out from the living room. “Who was that on the phone? And where are you going in such a hurry? You’re supposed to be with us tonight.” “It was just Race, ma,” Albert said from the kitchen as he grabbed his wallet. “Who’s Race?” His uncle asked. “My boyfriend,” Albert said, without thinking. Shit. Oh shit fuck crap goddamn shit shit shit. Albert banged his head on the wall in the kitchen. Why had he said that? “You have a boyfriend?” This time it was his grandma talking to him. Well. Now he was committed. “Yes,” he said, walking as confidently as he could into the living room where all of his family was sitting. At least he would only have to do this once since everyone was in one spot. “His name is Antonio Higgins, but we all call him Race. We’ve been dating for 9 months. He’s a dancer. We met at that coffee shop I used to work in cause he used to order these complicated drinks. He’s from Pennsylvania. We both go to NYU.” Alberts brain was swimming as he rambled and he could feel tears springing up behind his eyes. He was going to get kicked out, disowned, he might as well say it all. “And he just got jumped on the way back to his apartment and he’s cold and hurt and somewhere on the lower east side and I’m going to get him and bring him back to his place because I love him.” A tear dropped down his face as he stared at the mildly shocked expressions on his family’s faces. Albert’s grandmother was the first to speak up. “Why don’t you bring him back here?” Albert brushed away his tears with the sleeve of his hoodie, not quite believing what his grandma had just said. “What?” “Yeah,” his mom said. “Bring Race here, he’s more than welcome to stay with us.” “We have plenty of food and space.” His uncle added. “And no one should be alone on thanksgiving,” his aunt said. Albert was still in a state of shock. “Wait, you- you guys aren’t mad that I’m gay? You’re not- you’re not kicking me out?” Albert’s mom got up off the couch and engulfed him in a tight hug. “I would never kick you out for something like that. Now go get Race and bring him back before he freezes to death. I want to meet this boyfriend of yours.” Boyfriend. Race. Freeze to death. Shit. In the midst of his accidental coming out, Albert had managed to forget about his poor, immobile boyfriend. “Right. Race. I have to go get him.” He pulled away from his mom and bolted toward the door. “I’ll be back in a few hours, thanks for not kicking me out!” Albert flew out to door and flung open the door to his beat up Jeep Cherokee. Time to go get Race. ••• Nearly 40 minutes later, and after cursing up and down about the excess traffic - of course Race had to get jumped on the biggest traveling day of the year - Albert made it to lower Manhattan. Frantically, he drove up and down the streets, cursing every time he hit a red light. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Albert reached 23rd Street. He drove down it carefully, looking from side to side for a familiar head of blonde hair. Albert breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted his boyfriend sitting halfway down the block, leaned up against a building, curled in a little ball, his dance bags and various belongings strewn on the sidewalk. Haphazardly, he pulled his truck over to the curb, not caring that it wasn’t remotely straight or even in a spot, threw on his hazards and bounded out of the car. “Race!” He called, not bothering to shut his door. Races head lifted at the sound of his boyfriend’s voice and Albert ran over toward him. “Oh, Race, thank god, I was so worried about you.” Albert enveloped Race’s shivering body in a tight hug, kissing the top of his curls. “That- that was lo-longer than 30 min-minutes,” Races teeth chattered. “S-st-stop sq-squeezing so h-h-hard, it hur-hurts.” Albert immediately let go, pulling back to assess Race for injuries. In the light provided by his headlights he could see a nasty bruise forming on his left eye, and the right sleeve of his jacket was torn open, the blood tingeing the edges of the rip making Albert’s stomach flip. He would bet good money that Race’s ribs were bruised as well, based on the way he had complained about being embraced. “Why didn’t you at least go into one of the shops to wait for me, that way you wouldn’t be so cold right now?” Albert tried to keep his voice level as he began to rub feeling back into Races right hand, being extra careful not to disturb the flowering bruises and cuts on his knuckles. Race shook his head. “C-can’t move.” “Jeez, Race, you said you were fine.” Albert switched to Races left hand, pushing down the growing worry rising in his throat. “Well, I’m not g-going to d-d-die, th-therefore I’m f-fine.” Race rolled his eyes. “You’re such a w-w-worrier. You di-didn’t h-have to co-come all this way. H-h-help me to the c-car so I can g-go ho-home and t-take a nice b-bath.” “Yeah, about that,” Albert said, sitting back on his heels. “You’re coming with me to my grandmas house.” “W-why?” Race pulled his hands inside his jacket again. “Cause they heard me talking to you on the phone and asked who it was and I told them and long story short I accidentally came out to my entire family, thanks for that.” Albert snaked his arm around Races upper back, beginning to pull him up. “W-were th-they accept-t-ting?” Race asked worriedly, looking up at Alberts face in question. “Of course. Do you think we would be going back there if they weren’t?” Albert grinned at Races lopsided smile. “It was just very inconvenient.” “S-says the b-b-boy who s-s-said I l-love yo-you for the fir-first time o-over the ph-phone.” Race glared at him, leaning more on Albert’s shoulder. “C-couldnt y-you have w-w-waited un-until you s-s-saw me in p-per-person?” Albert leaned down to kiss Races ice cold cheek. “Sorry, I was caught up in making sure you were okay.” Race gave him another smile. “Let’s get you back to your place so we can clean you up, okay?” Race nodded. They took one step forward and Race nearly fell over. He looked up at Albert, tears threatening to spill over. “I-I’m s-s-sorry.” “Not your fault.” Albert pressed a kiss into Races hair before scooping him up in his arms and deposited him gently in the passenger seat before going back to gather his strewn belongings before hopping in the car and turning up the heat. “Take that jacket off, it looks damp,” Albert instructed. Race carefully peeled off his black jacket revealing the plain gray T-shirt he had worn to rehearsal. Albert’s eyes immediately went to the shallow gash in his forearm. “Don’t w-worry, it’s not as bad as it l-looks,” Race reassured him. “He b-barely g-got me.” Albert nodded, wordlessly handing Race the blanket he kept in the backseat. The two of them sat in the car in silence, Albert calmly and systematically rubbing Races arms and hands until his teeth stopped chattering. The ride to Races apartment was short and uneventful. The two talked quietly about Races dancing and what Albert’s extended family was like while they traveled the darkened streets of Manhattan. Albert parked his Jeep in the garage under Races apartment building and came around the car to collect his boyfriend. Once he was in his arms, Race nuzzled his face into Albert’s neck. Albert was quite relieved to discover that it was no longer ice cold, but his worry soon spiked again when he shifted a still blanket-clad Race in his arms and he squeaked in pain. “Sorry, sorry,” Albert apologized, adjusting his grip slightly. “It’s fine, it’s just a bruise,” Race reassured him. That didn’t stop Albert from worrying and he worried and worried and worried about the boy in his arms until they made it up to Races apartment and Race was seated on the bathroom counter, calmly taking off his shirt, revealing several flowering bruises in different stages of forming. “Oh, Race,” he sighed. “I’d give you ice for those but you already almost froze to death, so I’m not sure if that’s a good idea.” “Yeah, no, probably not,” Race frowned, taking a sip of the tea Albert had made him to warm him up. “How about we wait until I finish thawing and then if they still hurt I’ll ice them?” “Fine by me,” Albert shrugged, ignoring Races lackluster jokes and sarcastic attitude. “Let’s just make sure they’re not broken.” “Haven’t I been through enough already?” Race groaned as Albert placed his hands on his torso, mentally thanking Mush for the crash course he’d given him in first aid. “Must you put me through more pain? Oh fuck, that hurts, stop it!” Race threw his hands onto Albert’s shoulders, squeezing them until his knuckles were white to combat the pain. “It’s okay, it’s okay Tony,” Albert said, finishing checking Race for broken ribs. “You’re all good.” “I know, I could have told you that before you almost made me blackout!” Race glared at him. “Sometimes I don’t know why I put up with you.” “If you didn’t put up with me, you would still be suffering from hypothermia on the street.” Albert dampened some toilet paper with rubbing alcohol and began dabbing it on the cut on Races arm. The blood had clotted before Albert had gotten there - thank god - and it was shallow enough that it didn’t need stitches, just a nice tight bandage and some ointment. “Nah, someone would have taken pity on me and brought me in,” Race said, flinching as the alcohol touched his skin. “No they wouldn’t have,” Albert rummaged around in Races first aid kit, coming up with some gauze to wrap his forearm with. “You’re a pain in the ass.” “That may be so,” Race agreed. “But I’m your pain in the ass.” “Sadly.” Albert took a damp washcloth to Races face, wiping away the dirt and grime, being extra careful around his blackening eye. “What do you mean, ‘sadly’?” Race protested crossly. “I’m a delight.” “Whatever you say pretty boy,” Albert said dismissively. “Now which ankle is screwed up?” “This one.” Race stuck out his left leg. Albert carefully rolled up his pants and gingerly pulled off his sock, revealing a black and blue, swollen mess of an an ankle. “Damn, Race. Are you sure this isn’t broken?” “I know a broken ankle when I see one,” Race said. “And that’s is most likely a bad sprain.” “‘Most likely’?” Albert was already pulling out his phone to text Mush. It really was a good thing that someone in their friend group had decided to go into pre med. “What’s wrong with most likely?” “Most likely means it could be broken and I really don’t want to drive you to the hospital tonight.” Albert glanced down at his phone, seeing that Mush had responded. Race groaned. “Noooo, no hospitals, not tonight.” “Well, luckily for you Mush says that it looks like you’ll be fine and he’ll look at it when we get back from break Monday, alright? In the meantime he says ice it and don’t put weight on it” Albert began to loom under the sink where he knew Race kept various bandages, braces and tape that he used for dance. “So you trust Mush, but not me?” Race stuck out his lower lip and poured.” “Mush is training to be a doctor. You’re just a dancer.” Albert came up with an ankle brace and carefully placed it around Races swollen ankle. “Just a dancer?” Race protested. “Do you know how hard it is to dance?” “Yes, I’ve watched you do it countless times,” Albert rolled his eyes, noting that Race was beginning to shiver again. “Stay here I’m going to go grab you some clothes.” Albert returned a few minutes later with a pair of sweats, a long sleeve shirt, the sweatshirt of his he had grabbed from home and a pair of fuzzy socks. He helped Race don the clothes before carrying him to the couch and laying him on top of his chest, pulling a blanket over the two of them. “Don't we have to go back to your grandma's place?” Race mumbled, pulling the blanket up to his chin and relaxing into Albert’s chest. “Yes, but that can wait,” Albert combed his fingers through Races hair in a soothing pattern. “I’d rather not have you get hypothermia in the car.” “I’ll be fine,” Race mumbled into Albert’s chest. “Well I don’t see you getting up and going so we’re gonna cuddle for awhile, okay?” Albert laughed as Race stuck his cold hands underneath his sweatshirt in response, the gauze he had wrapped around his knuckles scratchy against his bare skin. ••• About an hour of cuddling later, Race was no longer shivering out of his skin and Albert was confident he could take him back to his grandmas house without him freezing to death. Albert packed Race a bag of some clothes for the weekend and carried him down to the car. “Why do we have to go, I was so comfortable on the couch,” Race mumbled, winding his arms around Albert’s neck. “We can cuddle more tonight, okay?” Albert promised him, shifting Race so that he could open the passenger door for him. Once they were both in the car, Race grabbed the aux cord, immediately plugging in his phone and playing some ancient Taylor Swift. Albert shot him a look. “Hey, I’m the one who almost died today, I get to pick the tunes.” He leaned back in his seat, looking very pleased with himself. “Fine,” Albert agreed. “But only cause you’re hurt. On any and all other occasions, Taylor Swift is banned in my car.” Race shot him a dazzling smile. “I love you, Albie.” “I know.” Race leaned over and slapped him. “Now is not the time for that ridiculous Han Solo shit! Just because you said I love you first does not permit you to be an asshole about it!” “Fine fine,” Albert laughed. “I love you too, Antonio Higgins. Are you satisfied now?” “...Yes.” Race pouted. Then the song changed and he perked up. “Albie! This is our song!” “We don’t have a song, Racer, and if we did, it sure as heck wouldn’t be a Taylor Swift song.” Albert put on his turn signal. “Oh shut up and sing with me.” Reluctantly, Albert sang along with Race to “I’m Only Me When I’m With You.” And of he sang along to the rest of the album, no one had to know. ••• Later that night when the two of them were curled up in Albert’s bed at his grandma’s house, Race spoke up. “Albie?” “Hm?” Albert ran his fingers through Races hair absently. “I like your family. They’re fun.” Albert smiled in the dark. He was glad Race liked his family. His mom and grandma especially had adored Race and fussed over him the entire night, making sure that he was comfortable and icing his ankle and warm after his incident. Race had mocked Albert, saying that now he knew where he got his worrying habit from. “I’m glad Race,” he yawned. “They really seemed to like you too.” It was quiet for a few moments. Albert thought Race had gone to sleep when he spoke up again. “Albie?” “What is it Race?” “Thanks for coming to get me.” Albert wrapped his arms tighter around his boyfriend. “Of course,” he said. “I’ll always be there for you.” _______________________________ the promised ralbert fic yeet well that turned out way longer than I thought it would be, but it’s not bad so ;) feedback is always appreciated and if you wanna be on the tag list ask/message me !! tag list

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