Chapter Text
Albert wakes up sometime early on Friday, and somehow he’s ended up wrapped around Race, his back to Albert’s chest, fingers laced together. The sun isn’t up yet, Race is warm, and neither of them have anything they need to do today, so Albert adjusts the covers, kisses the back of Race’s neck lazily, and drifts back to sleep.
Race tenses and shifts, moving away from Albert and pulling their fingers apart. Albert rolls to fill the empty space, still half asleep, and as their shoulders brush Race flinches away further, tumbling off the bed. Albert sits up groggily at the thud and looks around blearily.
“Babe?” he asks quietly and Race groans from the floor. Albert leans over the side of the bed and sees Race curled up on the floor
“What ‘re you doing?” he asks, standing and kneeling next to him on the floor, running a hand down his arm and Race frowns slightly at the contact. “Hey,” Albert says, poking him on the cheek, “wake up.” Race doesn’t move.
“Yeah, you’re lucky you’re light,” Albert grumbles under his breath as he scoops him up and dumps him back on the bed. Albert flops down next to him and yanks the blankets back over them.
“Hot,” Race mumbles, and Albert laughs,
“Yeah I know I am-” he starts, but Race shoves the blankets off of him, frowning,
“ Hot ,” he mumbles again, and Albert looks down at him,
“It’s like twenty degrees outside,” he says and Race groans, shoving his face into the pillow.
“Hey,” Albert says softly, running his fingers through Races’ hair, “What’s up?” Race doesn’t respond and Albert slides an arm around his waist, holding Race against him, chest to chest. He runs his fingers over Races’ face, tracing his cheekbones, jawline, brow bone. He pauses after a moment, noticing the heat radiating off his forehead.
“Racer?” he asks softly, “You feelin’ alright?” Race just pulls himself closer to Albert and shakes his head. Albert props himself up on his elbow and strokes Races’ hair out of his face.
“Head hurts,” Race mumbles and Albert rubs Race’s nose with his thumb repetitively. (Years ago, Race had gotten pneumonia and ended up in the hospital. While he was delirious, he’d told Albert that when he was younger, before he ended up in foster care, his mom used to rub his nose when he got sick and it always made him feel better, and shortly after, Albert had adopted the practice as well)
“I’m gonna go grab some medicine, okay?” Race reluctantly lets go of Albert and he heads to the bathroom to get the cold medicine and a glass of water.
“This is what you get for not wearing a jacket yesterday,” he comments as Race sits up to take the medicine.
“Don’t remind me,” Race groans, “Annoying Guy in criminal justice was insufferable about it.”
“Maybe he was actually worried? It was a pretty dumb move,” Albert comments, and Race grimaces around the taste of the DayQuil.
“Nah,” he offers no further explanation and Albert watches him down the whole glass of water before going to fill it again.
When he gets back, Race has lain back down and is shivering under the multitude of blankets Albert had gotten for them yesterday. Race snuggles into Albert as soon as he gets back in bed, yawning.
“Do you want to sleep more?” Albert asks, carding his fingers through his hair.
“Mm,” Race says, eyes fluttering closed. Albert shifts, pulling the blankets tighter around Race and kissing his forehead gently, resigning himself to a day spent in bed, holding his sick boyfriend. Well, there are worse things to be doing.
Race sneezes and startles awake. Albert jumps as well, smacking his head on the bedframe and wincing. “Whas’ wrong?” Albert mumbles, reaching out to touch Race’s face. (he misjudges a little, but Race isn’t totally awake yet and if he doesn't notice Al hitting him in the face, then it didn't happen)
“Sneeze,” Race says, “Loud. Sorry. Love. Night,” he rolls back over and starts snoring again. Albert stares at him for a few seconds, before shaking his head and wrapping an arm around his waist again. “Love you too.” He brushes Races’ hair out of his face and feels his forehead, noting that his fever seems to have broken before Race’s mobile starts ringing. “Shut up,” Albert hisses, rolling out of bed and grabbing the phone. “Hello?” he asks quietly, walking to the kitchen so as not to disturb Race.
“Racer, you have to get over here, Davey is literally going to kill Jack in about twenty seconds and I need someone to watch the fireworks with,” Crutchie says and Albert kinda really wants to see that, but it’s not like he can just leave Race… can he? He probably shouldn’t.
“Race is sick, but I’ll put twenty on Dave kicking his ass for him,” he says and Crutchie laughs,
“Alright, tell him I said feel better, okay?” he says and just before Albert hangs up he hears a crash and Jack yelling,
“Hey! No, wait Dave-”
Albert leaves Race’s phone on the counter in case someone else calls with an update on Jack’s subsequent ass-kicking and grabs another glass of water and more medicine before heading back to the bedroom.
“Hey Racer,” he says softly, setting the water and bottle on the side table and patting him on the head before walking back over to his side. He grabs his computer from the floor and flicks it on, settling back into bed and pulling up his research paper. Pretty soon, his studying playlist is playing softly as he goes through and edits his paper, putting the final touches on it and spending a few hours on coursework for his various classes. Usually he doesn’t start his homework until right around nine o’clock on Sunday, but he’s got nothing better to do, and the apartment is actually really boring with Race just sleeping.
Eventually, Race stirs, stretching languidly and rolling over. He smiles hazily at Albert and he pauses the music, poking at his face. Race pushes his hand away, grabbing onto Albert and wrapping himself around him.
“Feeling better?” Albert asks and Race nods sleepily. “Maybe you should try to stay awake then, or else you’ll be up all night,” he says and Race wrinkles his nose.
“No, sleep,” he says petulantly and Albert smiles, turning the music back on and going back to his work, leaving one arm settled around Race’s shoulders.
3 AM
Crash
"Oh my God, go to SLEEP!"
"I CAN'T!"