Work Text:
"Albert go to rehab.”
Albert didn't want to go to rehab, he was fine. Nothing bad has happened yet! What's the point of going if he was okay?
That wasn't the point, sure he “looked” okay, but doing drugs cocktails about 20 times a day fucks you up man. It wasn't anything simple or small either, he'd injected Heroin, Cocaine, and ketamine all at once. It was a dangerous trio, not to mention highly deadly.
Heroin, and Cocaine cause an intense amount of euphoria, and dopamine, which probably made him feel high out of his mind whenever he used them. Ketamine helps take away the “painful” side effects.
And during the peak of Albert's drug abuse, The Strokes were in production of angles which probably did not help much especially with the often absence of Julian. So most of the time it would be Nick, Fab, and Nikolai would end up doing most of the work while Julian was somewhere but the studio, and Albert was probably throwing up in a bucket.
—---
“What’s going on in here man? Tell me about the songs you're working on.” Nick walks into the studio room and finds Nikolai practicing his bass line for a song. Nick records Nikolai as he walks up to him smiling.
“Well, It's a little tune written by Nick Valensi, called Taken for a Fool.” Nikolai says into the camera smiling. “Alright, show me your part.” Nick points the camera down to Nikolai’s bass as he starts playing the beginning of take it or leave it.
“Woowee, look at those fingers move.” Nick whistles teasingly and laughs breathily, as Nikolai plays. “Thank you,” Nick says, moving the camera back to Nikolai. “Thank you for taking the time.” Nick smiles behind the camera. Nikolai nods, and smiles “Absolutely any time take care.” Nick turns off the camera, and chuckles before Fab barges into the studio dramatically.
“Guys, Alberts throwing up again.” Fab says like it's the first time he's thrown up this entire process. “Uh oh.” Nick replied. Nikolai looks up to Fab standing at the doorway, he holds the door open as he stands. You could hear Albert retching all the way from the bathroom to here. “Oh god.” Nikolai winces slightly as he listens.
“He's really gotta cut it with the drugs man, he's been doing them too much.” Nick shakes his head disappointingly, and rewatches the clip he just recorded of Nikolai. “I keep telling him to go to rehab… but he won't go.” Nikolai pointed out to the two of them. “How are we gonna get the album done in these conditions? Julian barely shows up to record vocals, and Albert’s always high.” Fab sighs and closes the door, muffling Albert's sounds.
In the bathroom Albert was vomiting bile and spit, he hadn't eaten anything all day so there wasn't any to throw up. Albert grumbled, and leaned against the wall next to the trash can. He was dizzy and everything was spinning. ”I…I just need…More, Ketamine…” muttered to himself breathily, he crawled to the couch where his stuff was on. He fumbled with his sweater pocket reaching in and grabbing the bag in with the syringe inside.
Albert's hands shook as he slowly opened it, his hand reached in to grab the syringe. Before he was able to pull it out Nick grabbed Albert's wrist, and yanked it away from the bag. Albert felt another wave of nausea crash over him at the sudden action, he looked at Nick, his eyebrows knitted and vision unsteady.
“Albert. Stop.” Nick said firmly, no room for argument in the thick air between them. Albert looked away ashamed he was about to take more drugs, he held his head with his free hand because his head ached. “Look at you, you're falling apart man…”
A pause.
Nick sighed, and let go of Albert's wrist. “Look… Just go home, get some rest. Don't do anything stupid please…” Nick muttered softly, and took a step back. He grabbed Albert from under his shoulder, helping him get on his feet. Albert swayed slightly as his vision went black for a minute but then came back soon.
Albert, grabbed his sweater and took a step away from Nick. He backed up into the emergency exit, the cold air hit him as he opened the door. He shivered instinctively and tugged his sweater on, Albert's curls were frizzy, and his clothes were wrinkled slightly, the cold NYC air hitting him like a wall. Albert continued stumbling down the street, to his house for the night.
So Albert made it his mission to walk to his house 5 minutes away in a car, walking probably 10 minutes.
Albert practically dragged himself down the street, his feet grazing the floor with each step. Albert bumped into other people that were out partying occasionally, he muttered sorry a few times but it just came out as a slurred -"Sorry"
Albert's head was spinning, clinging onto whatever adrenaline he had left from the 20 lines he did inside the studio. Albert stared straight ahead, looking but not looking at the same time. He was staring, but not processing what was in front of him.
Albert kept waddling along the dimly lit sidewalk, until a sharp pain in his chest cut through him like a knife. His breath hitched and he tripped over his feet stumbling into the brick wall besides him. Albert clutched his shirt covering his chest hoping it would ease the pain at least a little.
-"Ughhh-" Albert groaned, he doubled over leaning forward while leaning on the wall. He looked up, just a little longer until he could see into his apartment, it was right there… Just a few more steps
Albert carefully walked, now even slower than before. It felt like Albert's world was tilting with every step. Albert panted, he didn't know why he felt like this, after all the times he's done this never once has it been this bad…
Albert shuffled across the crosswalk, he swayed with every step. He reached the other side and finally with a couple more steps he made it to the front of his apartment. Albert pulled the door open, it felt like he needed to use all his strength to pull it. -"Come on.." Albert panted, he finally opened the door and stepped inside.
He felt like he was on the verge of passing out.
The bright fluorescent lights of the lobby made Albert suck in air through his teeth. He shut his eyes, and brought his hand up to shield the light from his eyes, he shuffled towards the stairs.
Great stairs…
Thankfully Albert's apartment was just on the second floor, so he didn't have to climb that much. Finally, after what felt like an eternity Albert made it to the second floor and to his apartment door, he reached into his pockets looking for the key, he finally pulled out the keys to the room. He fumbled with the keys trying to open the door, he twisted the key in the lock opening the door.
He pushed the door to their room open, he tripped, almost falling face flat onto the floor but he held onto the door handle not letting him fall. He closed the door and locked it, he stumbled into the apartment catching himself on the counter of the kitchen.
Albert was taking fast shaky breaths, he shut his eyes and wiped the sweat away from his forehead lazily. He held himself up on the counter, Basically the only thing supporting him. Albert moved to the sink, once he touched the rim he vomited.
The world spinning while Albert kept retching in the sink, spewing spit, and bile. He hadn't eaten anything today, which was normal for him now, but also wasn't good.Albert trembled as he held himself up against the sink, he stopped throwing up but he still felt nauseous.
He turned away from the sink, and to the couch.
“I just need sleep...Yeah, that's it just like Nick said...I'm just tired.”Albert swayed barely taking a step before he tripped over himself, Albert fell forward onto the cold wooden floor of his apartment.-"Hpmh-!" Albert grunted when he hit the floor. He coughed, still tasting the after taste of his stomach acid in his mouth.
By some miracle, when he was falling his phone fell out of his pocket and infront of him, Luckily within reach. Albert stared at the phone, his vision becoming blurry with tears welding in his eyes. Albert quivered, and slowly reached out to grab the phone. His vision was blurry from his tears, it looked like everything was stretching in real time.
Albert grabbed the phone, he could barely lift it up. He held the phone with one hand, he clicked the button to turn on his phone but his hands were too weak to function anything anymore. All Albert saw was his reflection on the black screen of his phone, he looked like a mess...Dark eyebags, messy hair, the tears now streaming down his eyes as he trembled on the floor.
Now Albert got it.
Every time Nikolai told him to go to rehab. When Nick said this much drugs would ruin you. This is what happens. Albert dropped his phone, his hand going ever so slightly limp. Albert sobbed on the ground trembling, his heart rate was probably through the roof right now. He was panicking internally.
He didn't want to die yet.
He had so much to live for.
And now he was on the floor.
Convulsing.
.
.
.
Albert stared straight ahead, looking into the void. His breathing slows, and it becomes more shallow than panicked. The tears streaming down his face stop slow, everything feels numb except for the cold floor pressed against his side. Albert could feel his body making a gurgling noise automatically, it just feels like he's watching through someone else's eyes.
Albert closes his eyes, and the last thing that he feels is the floor vibrating as an incoming call comes from his phone.
It was Nick.