burning red

- 11 -

It seemed that Lilly and Albert were practically inseparable; the two couldn't even go three seconds without being by each other's side. Not that anybody could blame them. In such little time, Lilly has been taken away from Albert twice.

And each time, he grew more and more guilty. He felt as if he could've done more to protect her, to keep her from being taken from the Delanceys and her uncle. So right now, he held her in a way that it seemed that she might turn to dust in any second. He held her tight as a silent reminder to her that no one would take her from him anymore.

He rested his head on her's as sat beside him, her shoulder against his and back against the wall as she leaned her head on his shoulder. "you okay?" He didn't even know why he had asked such a question for he already knew the answer, despite what she would say. So, as he regretted even asking her, he rubbed her shoulder in a comforting manner.

"no, not really." Lilly whispered, speaking slowly. She had only spoken to Albert; Spot, Hot Shot and even Felix couldn't get through to her.

"I know, princess." Albert sighed, speaking at the same level as her.

"I will be." She added in which a small smile appeared on Albert's face. He looked down at her as she looked up at him, her now lifeless brown eyes still sparkling as they always did. She still had hope.

His smile widened, bringing comfort to the Brooklyn girlsie. "I know, princess."

Race and Jojo bickered in the background, per usual, but this time Harley had been caught in the middle of it, pathetically trying to make peace between them. Poor girl; as long as Race was around, so was Jojo. However in Albert's opinion, Jojo wasn't the worst part of the deal.

"Red?" Lilly addressed, speaking so quietly that it was almost inaudible. "you know I trust ya, right?"

Albert gave her head a kiss. "'course I do, I's sorry that I evah doubted it." He matched her volume and tone.

"he's also tha reason I moved ta Brooklyn, ya know." Lilly informed and separated herself from the redhead, to his demise. She sat up and shifted closer to him before leaning forward. "aftah Cosmo took me in, they started search parties 'round 'Hattan fah me, he knew that it wouldn't be long 'til they would find me, so he sent me off ta Brooklyn an' told 'em it was fah safety reasons."

"how old was you?" Albert wondered, taking one of her hands and squeezing it tightly. If he were honest, he was surprised that Race and Jojo hadn't butted in and interrupted their time together. Not that he was complaining.

She timidly replied "I left fah Brooklyn tha same year I turned 11."

"I would'a been 12 already." Albert muttered, earning a small smile from his girlfriend. He wasn't the greatest at birthdays, there was so so much to remember, but he made sure to always remember her's. It's coming soon, he told himself.

"they didn't want me ta play at tha baseball game that followin' August 'cause I's a girl." Lilly chuckled at the then-sour, now-fond memory. "they thought I couldn't do it."

"I's guessin' ya did." Albert assumed with raised eyebrows.

"have ya heard about tha time when 'Hattan won tha baseball tournament two times in a row?" Her head tilted to the side as she pushed her palms onto the hard mattress below her, hyperextending her elbows behind her. Albert simply nodded in response. "well I hate ta brag, but it was me who brought them those two victories." It seemed that the memory brightened up her mood as she now had on a cheeky grin that Albert couldn't help but mirror.