race and albert did typical boy things. most of it was play fighting and making fun of each other.
albert was significantly taller than race was, but that didn't stop him from stealing his cap. he'd snatch it when albert was distracted by talking to another newsie, and dash off. he'd climb up onto a table of where ever they were and hold it above his head.
albert would run after him, seemingly frustrated. "give it back!" he shouted jumping up and trying to grab it. race giggled, placing his own hat on alberts head and alberts hat on his head.
"'looks bett'a on me," he stuck his tongue out, twirling his unlit cigar between his fingers. he then began mocking his friend, pretending he was holding a broom stick and saying dumb things albert typically would say.
albert pouted, hating how races hat flattened his hair. "nothin' looks good on you idiot," albert joked, pulling race off the table harshly and tackling him to the floor.
no hard feelings, only an eruption of laughter from the two of them, wrestling for each other's hats.
later that night they'd end up at the lodging house if they weren't there already. on days albert didn't want to go home they'd share a bed and fall fast asleep in each other's arms.
just guys being dudes, right?
~~
"yous got a cruuush?" crutchie leaned over races's shoulder. race had been writing alberts name on the table, zoning out on the conversations around him.
race jumped, "what? no!" he scolded and moved over so the crip could sit."what makes ya think that?!" he defended.
crutchie rolled his eyes and pointed at the table, "i may not be able to walk, but i ain't stupid."
race but down on his lip, not having time to say another word before a familiar red head began approaching them.
"racer! you'll nev'a guess what i saw today!" albert called, halfway across the room.
race panicked, desperately erasing the table. when it wouldn't completely fade he tried playing it cool by covering it with his arm and showing a nervous smile.
"what's up?" race chuckled, rubbing his neck. albert noticed the familiar nervous habit and sat down.
"somethin' wrong racer?" albert asked with a soft expression, resting his hand on races arm.
race felt his face heat up even more. "nothin'!" he stuttered. "tell us what happened!"
albert laughed. "i was sellin' my last pape..."
race seemed to zone out at some point, entranced by how albert looked, he was a sweaty, dirty mess from the summers sweltering heat. it it never changed his mood. he was on one hell of an exasperated trip of a story. race loved how his face lit up when he was teinte him about his day. and how his smile perfectly shaped his face and how his eyes squinted when he was laughing. albert wasn't typically a very open boy compared to a lot of them but he did have as much as a big personality as race did. they were perfect for each other.
as best friends of course.
"...then she fell off the damn chair and got the goons afta me! so i ran all the way here! chase of my life?" albert finished his big event of the day. "ain't that great?"
race blinked out of his trance and laughed, pretending like he heard everything and was totally not focused on how gorgeous his friend was. that was not what he was doing.
"what happened to ya today?" albert asked. "how was brooklyn?"
"i didn't go ta brooklyn today. 'sold with the little ones. nothin' much but saw an old dude trip over a crack and face plant," he snickered. albert nudged him, laughing along.
