- Chapter 107 - I Don't Have a Title lol -
Warnings: Mentions of abuse and death, hospitals, crying, scared, injuries
Modern/Soulmate AU
Third Person POV

"What if they hate me?" Race asks nervously, looking into Jack's eyes, his blue eyes big.

Jack blinks. "They ain't gonna hate you," he tells him. "to be fair, they'll probably fall headfirst if they look into your eyes for even one second." He comments.

Race blushes.

Crutchie chuckles. "He's not wrong."

Race rolls his eyes. "My eyes aren't that special." He responds grumpily, laying back against the pillow that was propped up against the wall.

"Why don't we let them in and ask them?" Jack suggests.

Race looks at the wall behind Jack, avoiding his eyes. "My mama and dad were Soulmates," he whispers. "Look how that turned out..." his eyes drop, a sadness filling them.

Crutchie's eyes soften. "Your mom passed away after fighting a brave battle with cancer." He reminds him, bobbling over to the bed and sitting down next to Race. "Your dad is grieving. It doesn't make what he's done okay, but your parents," he gently lifts Race's chin to stare into his eyes. "Were perfect for each other when she was alive. Believe that you can have that." Crutchie tells him.

Race sighs softly. "It's just hard," he whispers, staring into Crutchie's blue eyes.

The brown-haired boy smiles sadly. "I know it is." He uses his other hand to gently rub circles into the back of Race's hand. "But we're here for you and as far as I know, they're really nice and willing to do anything to help you and each other." He assures him.

Race nods, before cringing again. His hand immediately shoots up to his head.

"Alright, I have rules for them." Jack states, his arms crossed as he watches Race.

"Dear God." Race mutters as he looks up at his oldest brother.

Jack shoots him a look. "Only hand touches, I don't want them hurting you." He states.

Race deadpans at him. "But if you won't give me cuddles, how will I get cuddles?" He asks him.

Jack ignores his question. "Rule two-" he starts.

"Or we could lay off on the rules for today." Crutchie suggests, looking up at Jack from where he sat next to Race.

Jack looks at him. "But Charlie..." he whines. "Safetyyyy, they could be evillllll." He tells him, looking desperate, and kinda pathetic.

Crutchie shoots him a look. "You're so helpful when getting him to trust them." He deadpans.

Jack mutters a 'sorry'.

"They're not evil. You just want to hold onto Race a little bit longer because Soulmates means he's growing up." Crutchie comments.

Jack doesn't respond.

"Aww!" Race smirks. "You do care about me!" He exclaims.

Jack rolls his eyes. "So annoying." He grumbles.

"Why don't you go cuddle Davey while Race and his Soulmates get to know each other?" Cructhie suggests.

Jack begrudgingly leaves the room.

Crutchie hugs Race, squeezing his hand, before following Jack out.

Race leans back against the pillow, sighing softly. Now I just wait.

With Jack

Jack walks up to Elmer, Spot, and Albert. He glares at Spot. "Hurt him, and you'll be in the hospital for a lot longer than he will be." He threatens.

Spot blinks. Wow, first impression on point, huh? He thinks.

Jack turns to Albert, his glare still strong. "Hurt him, and I will make sure you can't move for months." He threatens.

Albert looks over at Spot.

Crutchie sets his hand on Jack's arm. "Jacky, that's a bit much." He tells him softly.

Jack's eyes land on Elmer. His stance relaxes. "Yeah, you're not hurting him." He comments. He looks at Albert and Spot. "Hurt him," he points to Elmer. "And I'll hurt you just as bad." Jack warns them.

Albert and Spot share a look. Did he just 'adopt' Elmer into their family?

Elmer turns to them, beaming.

Crutchie chuckles.

In Race's room

Race looks up when the door slowly opens and a redheaded boy slowly steps in.

The redheaded boy's eyes land on Race. A small smile tugs on the corners of his lips. "You're so much prettier when you're awake and not bleeding." He says.

Race blushes. "Thanks. I've been told red really isn't my color." He jokes, smiling.

Albert chuckles. "I'm Albert DaSilva," he sticks his hand out.

Race shakes his hand. "Racetrack Higgins, or Antonio, if you want to use my actual name." He introduces himself.

Albert nods. "I'll admit that the name 'Race' is a little unusual, but I can get used to calling you that." He responds.

Race bites back a grin.

Albert steps out of the way to reveal two more boys.

Race looks at them, feeling their eyes on him.

"I 'met' you," Albert uses air quotes. "By bumping into you while Blink- I think it was?- and Mush were carrying you. I met them earlier today by bumping into them." He informs Race.

"Yeah," Race scratches the back of his neck. "Sorry about that whole incident by the way," he apologizes. "some family drama went down." He mutters.

"Wanna talk about it?" The dark brown-haired boy speaks up.

Race shakes his head. "Maybe later." He mutters. He looks at Albert out of the corner of his eye. "You can ask Jack about it if you want," the curly blonde-haired boy whispers.

The first brown-haired boy touches Race's arm.

Both of their arms light up.

The brown-haired boy beams. "Soulmates." He whispers.

As happy as Race was, he couldn't help but feel slightly nervous.

The second brown-haired boy touches Race's other arm.

Their arms started glowing as well.

Race looks down at the heart on his wrist. It was full. Awed, he stares at it.

The first brown-haired boy, the younger-looking one, giggles. "You seem shocked."

Race looks at him. He shrugs, cringing in pain a bit after. "I-" he falls silent, his mouth open as if he was going to say something. There was a million things Race wanted to say, but he didn't know how and he wasn't sure how they'd react. "I was always scared of meeting my Soulmate, I never even though I could ever have three." He admits, staring at his hands.

"I mean, I didn't think I'd meet my Soulmates in the situations I did, but it's fate, right?" Spot asks, his hands in his pockets as he looks at Race.

Race sinks down against his pillow. "I guess..." he mutters. He cringes in pain.

Albert sits down in a chair next to him, looking concerned. "You should stop doing that; you're hurting yourself." He tells him.

Race shrugs. He immediately cringes again.

Albert sighs softly. "Why don't you lay down?" He suggests, patting the pillow at the end of the bed.

Race purses his lips. "I just woke up from a..." he hesitates. "Does it count as a coma?" He asks.

Albert nods. "You we're out for two days," he reminds him. "I think it does."

Race shrugs. He cringes again.

Albert rests his hand on Race's, staring into his eyes. "Please stop doing that," he whispers.

"It's habit," the blonde-haired boy mutters, staring into Albert's eyes. "Your eyes are pretty." He whispers.

Albert blushes. He looks at Spot. 'Please help me,' he mouths to him.

Spot chuckles, walking over to the bed. He sits down next to the bed. "Why don't you rest for a bit?" He suggests.

Race sighs, looking over at him. "I'd feel bad and sleeping is hard." He admits.

"Why?" Spot asks, gently resting his hand on Race and Albert's.

Race looks at his lap to avoid his eyes. "Cause it hurts and I don't want to deal with memories and I'd feel bad that I didn't get to know you." He mutters.

Spot looks at Albert. He nods.

Albert nods, squeezing Race's hand once, before getting up and leaving the room.

"First," Spot starts, gently lifting Race's chin to turn Race's attention to him. "Don't feel bad. We get it. We're just glad we met you," he tells him.

Race doesn't respond.

"Second, why don't we let El cuddle with you?" Spot suggests. "Maybe that will help." He says. "We'll make sure you don't get hurt."

Elmer perks up.

With Albert

Jack leads Albert to a more private area. "What do you need?" He asks.

Albert bites his lip, before sighing. "Race told us that we could ask you and after saying something, we'd just like to know what the family drama he's talking about is?" He asks.

Jack's eyes went wide.

"We're just worried and we want to be able to help him, but we can't if we don't know how," Albert whispers.

Jack looks behind them nervously, before looking back at Albert. "He, for sure, gave me permission to tell you?" He asks him. "Cause he only does that when he can't handle it." He states.

"He's in the hospital because of this 'family drama'." Albert comments.

Jack raises an eyebrow at the younger boy.

Albert sighs, stepping backwards. "Sorry, sometimes I don't think." He mutters. "Yes, he gave you permission." He assures him.

Jack nods. "It's okay, I get it." He mutters.

The two boys fell silent for a minute.

Then, Jack spoke up. "Race's mother died when he was six," he starts.

Concerned, Albert looks up at him. That was a strong start. This sounds bad.

"And Race's father... grieving... became abusive." Jack swallows hard. "We think it's because Race looks exactly like his mother," he informs Albert. "But we don't know for sure. Either way, Race's grandmother died when he was nine and he was stuck with his father." He continues, a sad look on his face. "We met him about two years ago, Crutchie and I first, and have tried to help him and convince him to tell someone." Jack explains. "He never did..." he trails off.

Albert stares at him, his eyes wide. "And that's how he ended up here?!" He exclaims.

Jack shushes him.

"He can't stay there." Albert whispers, looking really concerned.

"And he's not going to." Jack responds. "He's coming home with Crutchie and I as soon as he's released." He informs him.

Albert nods.

A few minutes later

Albert sits down next to Spot in a chair next to Race's hospital bed.

Race and Elmer were asleep in Race's bed, facing each other. Elmers arms were wrapped lightly around Race as the youngest two slept.

Spot looks at Albert, raising an eyebrow.

"Abuse." Albert whispers, staring at Race intensely.

Spot's eyes widen.

The two boys fell silent for a few minutes.

Spot wraps his arms around Albert. "He'll be safe with us," he whispers to him.

Albert nods, leaning against his oldest Soulmate.

1804 Words
Sorry that this is bad lol.