- Chapter 9 - Sick Day -
Warning: Mentions of Abuse
Modern AU
Third Person POV

Elmer had been taking care of sick Race for a few days, as Albert and Spot had to go to work. The next day, Albert woke up to Elmer feeling sick as well.

"Albert, I'm fine" Elmer assures him, trying to get up and get to Race. Albert pushes him back onto the bed.

Albert's job, from Spot, is that he's supposed to keep Elmer in bed, so that he doesn't hurt himself, or get more sick trying to help Race.

Spot's job is to keep Race from trying to get to Elmer, as he felt bad when he figured out that Elmer got sick, and wanted to see him.

The problem was, Elmer was getting worried since Race kept seeing hallucinations of his father, who had been abusive.

"You're not okay. You're gonna stay here" Albert replies, a sorta of stern and comfort mix in his voice.

"No Albie, you don't understand" Elmer starts, continuing to try to get to Race, and Albert cuts him off.

"I do understand" Albert tells him, pushing Elmer back onto the bed.

"No-" Elmer starts again, and Spot comes bursting into the room.

"Race is crying saying he's seeing his father!" Spot exclaims, looking really worried. Elmer looks at Albert like he's stupid.

"Is there something you aren't telling us?" Albert asks.

"I've been trying to tell you. He's hallucinating" Elmer explains, getting up. This time, Albert doesn't stop him.

Elmer almost falls when he tries to walk, because of how dizzy he feels, and Albert helps him walk to the living room where Race is. Race is curled into a ball, crying and begging for his father not to hurt him.

Elmer goes over to Race, and wraps his arms around him, gently rocking him.
"Hey Racer. It's okay. I promise. He'll never get you again."

After a few minutes Race finally responds, snapping out of his trance.
"T-Thanks El."

"I'm calling out of work" Spot decides, starting to walk out of the room.

"Call me out too!" Albert exclaims, and Spot nods.

"No!" Elmer and Race intervene, and Albert and Spot stop, looking at them.

"Why not?" Albert asks, confused.

"You don't have to call out of work to take care of us" Race starts, and Elmer nods. Spot and Albert look at each other, before looking back at the two boys on the couch, smiling slightly.

"We can take care of ourselves" Elmer finishes. Spot and Albert roll their eyes at his statement, knowing it's not true. They take can take of each other when only one is sick, but not when both of them are sick.

"I'm gonna call us out" Spot responds, not changing his decision, as he exits the room.

"Spot!" Race and Elmer groan. Albert laughs at them. Elmer gets up, trying to follow Spot, when he falls.

Albert catches him, pulling Elmer to his chest. Elmer holds his head.
"Why is the world spinning?" Elmer asks no one in particular. Albert chuckles at him, half concerned, half amused.

"And this is why we're calling out of work today" Albert tells Elmer and Race. Race nods, sniffling.

"No, no. I'm fine" Elmer assures Albert, trying to get out of Albert's arms, but he can't.

"Maybe you should stay seated" Albert suggests, laying Elmer down on the couch, Elmer's head in Race's lap. Elmer holds his head, as Spot comes back in.

"We're all good. Need anything?" Spot asks, mainly Elmer and Race.

"I don't feel good, and I want hugs, but I don't want you to get sick" Race complains, throwing his hands over his eyes.

Spot smirks.
"That's a risk I'll have to take." He picks Race up, one arm under his neck, and the other under Race's legs. Race squeals, Spot, Albert, and Elmer laugh at him.

Albert picks up Elmer the same, and they walk to the bedroom. They lay down Race and Elmer on the bed.

"You two are gonna get sick" Elmer points out. Albert and Spot shrug.

"That's fine with us" Albert responds, laying down next to Race.

"Are you sure? You guys are miserable when you're sick" Race reminds Albert, who rolls his eyes again.

"You guys aren't any better" Spot points out, and they roll their eyes.

"Being sick is no fun. I'm just worried about you" Elmer replies, as Spot puts his arm around Elmer.

"We'll be okay. You guys are sick and we're gonna take care of you" Spot tells him, and he smiles.

They all lie down. Spot playing with Elmer's hair, and Albert playing with Race's. Race's head in Elmer's chest, and Elmer's just above Race's head.

When Race and Elmer wake up

Race and Elmer wake up feeling worse than before. Elmer's head hurts, and he feels more dizzy than earlier, and Race's throat hurts, and he's more sniffily.

When they woke up, Albert and Spot weren't where they were when they fell asleep.

The two boys just cuddle together, not wanting to go find their boyfriends, until Albert and Spot came back.

"We brought tea!" Albert exclaims, coming in with Spot, holding 4 mugs with tea, two each.

"Aww" Race takes his mug, as Spot sits next to him.

"You guys are the best" Elmer tells them, taking his mug as Albert sits next to him.

"How do you two feel?" Spot asks, taking a sip of his tea.

"My throat hurts, and it hurts to talk. Also, I hate having a stuffy nose" Race answers. His voice sounds raspy.

"Sorry baby" Spot responds, lightly rubbing Race's back.

"How about you?" Albert asks Elmer, who puts down his cup.

"I feel really dizzy, like more than earlier." Elmer explains, his voice softer than usual.

"Sorry bub" Albert apologizes, lightly rubbing Elmer's back as Elmer sips his tea.

"It's fine. I'll be fine" Elmer assures them. Spot and Albert look at him, not believing/taking this right now, and Race holds back a laugh.

"Nu uh, not doing this now" Albert responds, and Elmer looks at him.

"Not doing the "I'll be fine" thing, where you don't let us help you" Spot continues, and Elmer sighs.

"Sorry. I'm just used to being on my own, independent, and not having anyone" Elmer reminds them.

"I get it, but this is different. You have us now, and we're your boyfriends. We love you" Albert tells him, smiling.

"I know. I wouldn't have said "yes" to being boyfriends with you if I didn't love you" Elmer laughs, and the other boys laugh with him.

"Love you El" Race kisses him, and Elmer blushes.

"I want kisses!" Spot pouts. Elmer and Race lean their foreheads against each others, laughing.

"We don't want you to get sick too" Race responds, turning to look at Spot. Spot just rolls his eyes.

"I'll be fine. Besides, it just means more time with you."

"Okay, here are your kisses."

1162 Words