- Chapter 122 - Sprace Cuddles and Sleep-Filled Nights -
Warnings: Loss of sleep, mentions of nightmares, nothing too bad
Canon Era
Third Person POV

A/N, requested by bright_raes . It's inspired by the Albert and Race part of chapter 116.

Race groaned as Albert and Elmer dragged him along. "Why'd Jack send me with you three again?" he grumbled.

Finch rolled his eyes as he walked ahead of them.

Albert shot Race a look. "Because you're tired - and it's obvious, so don't even try to deny it -" he added, "and he knows Spot can help because you haven't slept in a few days - like I pointed out! - and so, he sent us to take you to Brooklyn - not mad! May I add - so that Spot can help you," he explained.

Race groaned softly, stumbling after them as they pulled him. "But I'm fineee," he complained. "Why do we have to bother Spot? I'm sure he's-" he started.

"You're not bothering him," a voice from next to them commented.

They all stopped, looking at the voice.

Race groaned softly.

Ace stood there. "He says this time and time again and you never understand," he commented.

Race shook his head. "I just don't want to bother him, Ace," he responded. "He's probably busy and stressed," he tried to tell him.

Ace shook his head. "Doesn't he also say that he's never too busy for you?" he asked Race.

Race grumbled something in Italian under his breath.

"Answer me, Racetrack," Ace told him sternly, his arms crossed.

Race kicked a pebble. "Yes," he answered begrudgingly, "but-"

"Stop." Ace sighed deeply. "What's the problem?" he asked, looking over at Albert and Finch.

"Me... I'm the problem," Race muttered grumpily.

Albert elbowed him abruptly, causing the younger boy to yelp in pain.

Race glared at Albert, rubbing his stomach where Albert elbowed him.

Albert ignored him and turned back to Ace. "As you may be able to tell," he started, "Race hasn't been sleeping well. He hasn't gotten very much sleep and Jack and I are worried about him, so we're taking him to see Spot," he informed Ace. "I have to talk to him for Jack and make a plan to try to help Race sleep," he explained.

Race looked at him. "You're doing what?" he questioned.

Finch patted his head lightly.

Race pushed his hand away.

Ace nodded. "Alright," he stepped back, "you know where the lodge is."

Albert nodded. "Thanks, Ace."

Ace nodded. He watched the three boys start dragging Race off again, heading towards the lodge.

"You didn't tell me Jack put you in charge of putting together a plan to make me sleep better," Race said as he got dragged towards the Brooklyn lodge.

"Oh well, now you know." Albert shrugged, still dragging him forward.

Race forced his arm out of Albert's grip, stopping in his tracks. "You're not making any plan without me," he stated stubbornly.

Albert sighed, turning around to face him. "You aren't going agree with any ideas we have," he responded knowingly.

"I am fine," Race told him.

Albert shook his head. "You're lying to try to make us not worry," he pointed out. "Race, we're trying to help you. Let me talk to Spot - you know he'd want to help - and let's figure this out, okay?" he suggested.

Race sighed. "Fine," he agreed, "but quit dragging me around. It hurts," he grumbled, rubbing his wrists.

Albert, Elmer, and Finch laughed.

"Alright," Albert agreed.

"Let's go!" Elmer exclaimed, skipping ahead.

Finch, Race, and Albert chuckled.

In Brooklyn

Spot looked confused when his boyfriend and three of his best friends walked into the Brooklyn Lodge. He stood up. "Hey."

Race looked at him. "Hi." He waved.

"Not that I don't love seeing you, but why are you here?" Spot asked, walking over to them. "You don't usually just drop by, especially not with them." He gestured to Albert, Finch, and Elmer.

Elmer waved excitedly.

Spot chuckled, waving back.

"I need to talk to you for Jack," Albert informed Spot.

Spot's eyebrows furrowed, but he nodded. He lead Albert outside. "What's up?" he asked.

Albert sighed. "I'm sure you know Race has nightmares," he started, "I'm not sure if they've been acting up or getting worse or whatever, but he's been having a hard time sleeping recently and hasn't been getting much sleep," he explained. "I'm not even sure if it is nightmares. All I know is he hasn't been sleeping," he informed him.

Spot frowned.

"Jack wanted me to try to make a plan with you for what to do to try to help him," Albert informed Spot.

Spot sighed. "He's definitely staying here tonight, yeah?" he asked, hoping the answer was yes.

Albert nodded.

Spot nodded. "Okay. Give me tonight to figure out what's going on," he told Albert. "Then, I'll make a plan with Jack and update him."

Albert nodded.

A bit later

Albert, Elmer, and Finch left a bit after.

Spot went over to Race, gently holding his hand. He pressed a soft kiss to Race's forehead. "Why don't we go lay down?" he suggested.

Race frowned. "It's only around 6pm," he pointed out.

"It's 7:20," Spot responded, pointing to the clock.

Race looked at the clock.

Spot was, indeed, correct.

Race's frown deepened. "Okay..." he mumbled.

Spot presses a soft kiss to Race's forehead and lead him upstairs.

Race followed him wordlessly.

Spot laid down on the bed when they got to his room. He looked at Race and gestured for him to lay with him.

Race sighed deeply, laying down next to Spot. He laid his head on Spot's chest. "You know I'm fine, right?" he mumbled to him, propping his chin up.

Spot gently ran his hands through Race's hair. "I know that you're trying to be fine and that I'm proud of you," he whispered in response. "I also know that it's okay to not be fine."

Race looked him in the eyes, his blue eyes shining. "But you don't let yourself not be fine," he responded. "Why should I?"

Spot sighed a bit. "And that's something I need to work on, I know that," he responded.

Race laid his head fully down on Spot's chest and closed his eyes. "I love you," he whispered.

Spot presses a soft kiss to Race's curls. "I love you too..."

Race was asleep within five minutes, which both concerned and relieved Spot.

It concerned him because Race never fell asleep that quickly and easily, but at least he was finally getting the sleep he needed.

A bit into the night

Spot woke up to crying and violent shaking.

Almost instantly knowing what it was, Spot quickly sat up.

Race was asleep next to him, tears streaming down his face as his body shook violently. Sobs and whimpers escaped his lips.

Spot quickly grabbed an extra blanket and picked Race up with it, sitting the smaller boy in his lap and resting him against Spot's chest.

Spot helps him close, rocking him. "Hey, hey, Racer," he whispered soothingly. "It's okay. It's just a dream. I'm here and you're safe," he assured him softly.

It took Spot a few minutes, but he eventually calmed Race down and lulled him back to sleep.

Once Race was back to sleep peacefully, Spot laid down as well. He held Race in his arms and against his chest and just cuddled him.

Spot's mind was racing (haha) however.

Nightmares.

They should've realized it was nightmares the moment they found out Race was having trouble sleeping.

However, these ones were pretty silent nightmares. He wasn't waking up screaming like he had during his past ones, which was both good and bad.

Manhattan probably had no idea that he was even waking up sobbing in the middle of the night, or even that he was going through any of this.

Race had a top bunk. That made it a ton harder to see him during the night.

Now, Spot just needed to figure out what the nightmares were about and how to help.

The next morning

Race woke up to sun shining through the windows and a warm body holding him. He smiled, blushing a bit as he laid in Spot's arms.

He was slightly surprised since he had no recollection of waking up during the night and he felt like he had gotten a decent amount of sleep.

Of course, he was still tired, but it was the first night he had actually gotten sleep in a while.

After a few minutes, Race was snapped out of his thoughts by a voice.

"Morning, beautiful," Spot's low and tired voice broke through his thoughts, "how'd you sleep?"

Race blushed. He smiled and cuddled against Spot. "For the first time in a while, I slept pretty well," he mumbled in response, genuinely happy.

Spot smiled, opening his eyes. He pressed a soft kiss to Race's forehead. "I'm glad," he whispered.

1552 Words
Sorry this took forever to get out. I hope it's good, or at least good enough.

Like I've said before, if I am not 100% feeling the idea/request, it'll take me a bit and if I have to force myself, it won't be as good (as like the last chapter, which I thought was great). I feel so bad, but that's the truth.