tw/ subtle homophobia, beating, and implications of death
maybe it was the bubbly laugh that erupted from the blonde every time he snatched a few extra bits from an innocent person buying his papes, or how bright blue eyes lit up and created a whole new world when he talked about something he was passionate about....possibly it was the charismatic smirk that sat in his face when he knew he did something that would result in jack yelling at him later.
Whatever it was, it didn't matter. Because all that mattered was that albert had fallen hopelessly in love with his best friend.
race's giggles echoed through the empty alleyway as he pulled albert along in the cold night on the perfect fall evening. he held on tightly to race, their fingers intertwined and perfectly in between one another. the way they held hands like this, there was enough electricity bursting from the simple action that a million cities could light up for days.
their spot was on top of an abandoned shop. it was for them, no one else. no one even knew they escaped there each night and stayed until the crack of dawn. they only noticed how exhausted they were the next day. but, it never stopped them.
"hey," race would say once they were situated shoulder to shoulder on the edge of the building.
"hi," albert would say back with a much softer grin than race's beaming one. despite the dark, empty streets, race seemed to glow brighter than the shining moon. the stars aligned in those blue eyes. a whole universe created from the most beautiful galaxies were buried in those eyes.
"good day, huh?"
"only because i was with you."
"you're too much," race gently shoved him with a light snicker. "that's why i love you."
albert rolled his eyes. "you know you can't say stuff like that."
"why not?"
"because i love you too." albert pressed a chaste kiss to race's cheek, his lips lingering longer than they needed to.
race adjusted himself on the ledge, moving his head forward so their lips would connect. their kisses could pause the entire world. what else really existed when it was just albert and race. together. on the rooftop kissing. it was just them and nothing could break it apart. every passing moment was another lifetime—another world. neither of them would have it any other way.
since the first time albert made the move one night on the rooftop to where they were in that very moment. just albert and race, race and albert. in love.
albert pulled race's waist closer to him, creating almost no space between them. races hands found their way up to alberts hair, his fingers running through the back of the red hair he adored so much. intimate, passionate kisses that lasted for ages.
"racer." albert whispered against his lovers lips.
"al." race answered, grinning ear to ear.
"i have never known anyone as beautiful as you. i could sail across the seven seas, and, still, i would never find a person who could compare to you."
"god, i wish i could make out with your sweet, smoothing talking lips every second of my life," race closed the gap between their lips again, now one hand with a fistful of alberts shirt.
everything was perfect.
the door to the roof slammed open, causing the boys to jump away from each other quickly. albert lost his balance and fell onto the floor next to him.
"antonio higgins. first you're caught stealin' down main street and now you're kissin' boys," snyder hissed. one or two policemen stood behind him, prepared with handcuffs and batons.
"albert, run," race whispered down at him quickly.
"why didn't you tell me you were stealing again?"
"i did it for you, idiot. go."
"i'm not going to leave you."
race bent down and kissed albert hastily. "go!"
everything happened so fast. the yelling, the banging, the fighting. albert hated it. he felt guilty. he watched. he watched race get beaten until he could no longer stand. when the goons turned to him, he dashed down the ladder and booked it down the street.
race's voice echoed throughout the block. pained, strained... "albert!"
when he was finally made it far enough away, he hid in an alley and fell to his knees.
he didn't know how long he cried. he didn't know how long he yelled. he didn't know how long he pleaded and begged for a different ending.
....
so he sat on that roof every night, looking up into the shining stars that hung over his head. it was their spot.
"hey racer," he'd muster through tears. "i miss you everyday, i hope you know that. i tell everyone about our stories—about you. they miss you a lot too. but, not like i do. i just want to hold your hand again because you held it so tenderly. i felt safe in your hands. you held it like it could snap if you held it too tight. you held it like it was the most valuable item you had ever owned."
"i miss your lips. i miss how they fit into mine. i miss how you treated every one like our last. i miss how you'd kiss my nose after making a stupid little joke. or how you'd push my hair out of the way when you thought i was asleep and gently press your lips to my forehead."
"i miss your laugh. your silly little hysterical fits when you thought you were the funniest boy alive. i thought you were. i may not have shown it, but each time you said some ridiculous little comment i thought it was the funniest thing i had ever heard. your laugh. it lit up the whole world. there wasn't one person not smiling when you were. your joy was contagious and wrapped whoever was around into it."
"i miss the way you talked to me. the softness in your voice when we had a moment. the love in your tone. how much you cared about me. how i was your world like you were mine. you saw me. the real me. all of me."
albert wiped his face of the stray tears that escaped his eyes. he didn't cry every night.
but it had been two years since the last time he saw his best friend. the love of his life. his universe.
he hoped that somewhere race was listening; was watching. he hoped the ghost of him was right there beside him, reaching out to him.
"i'll never forget you. i'll never forget the time we shared. i'll never forget the way you loved me for me. i'll never forget the first time you kissed me back. i'll never forget the last time you kissed me."
albert inhaled slowly.
"i stayed alive. i stayed alive for you. because i knew that's what you wanted me to do. i'm here for you. and hey! coming here every night never changed...the only thing that changed was your presence."
"you know...the...the day after. i came back. and for days after that i kept coming back. hoping you'd be there. waiting to wrap me in your arms. to warm me up. to erase all of my fears. to wipe away the tears on my face from endless days of mourning."
"i just wish you were here. i didn't get to say goodbye. i just want to hug you one last time. i want to hold your hand so tightly and kiss you so tenderly one last time. it's all i ask."
alberts breathing was shaky. he held onto himself tightly, wishing those arms were races.
"i love you so much and i will continue to love you until the end of time. i'll see you again one day."
"...albert?"
