(This is on the subject of sea turtles if you want to read it.)
Albert is accepted into a university and he takes up Marine Biology.
Race continues to make videos and his latest project is with Romeo and it’s a short psychological thriller film.
He has been cooped up for so long in his apartment – well, except for when he has to do grocery runs – that he begins to feel stuffy in his own space.
Albert knows because he just does. So, one night, he calls Race to meet him outside of the building.
“I’m finished with my classes. Do you want to eat?” he asks.
“You’re tricking me so that I would experience face-to-face interactions with real humans,” is what comes from the other line.
“Oh no, you caught me. I guess I’ll just eat alone.”
“Fine then.”
“Just come out here.”
And Race does within five minutes and he sees Albert waiting for him.
It should be old news by now and he should get used to it but his heart still does a stupid thing. It’s worse today because they haven’t seen each other for a while now with them being busy with their own schedules.
So, Race hugs Albert and he hears him laugh lightly in his ear as he is pulled closer.
“Missed you.” It’s muffled and silent but they hear it all the same.
They go to Jacobi’s because why not? JoJo is not working but he is there in a booth, hunched low and typing in his laptop. They greet him briefly and JoJo says something incoherently in return. They take it anyway and give him his space.
They order and Jacobi even serves them their food and talks with them for a while because they haven’t seen each other for so long.
They eat. Albert talks about his classes, Race talks about his work in progress. They eat some more. They talk some more.
They smile some more and Race lets his shoe bump into Albert’s.
“It’s terrible how much I miss you,” he says.
Albert scoffs at him. “I’m going to say bye to Jacobi in the back.”
He leaves but Race catches him smiling.
Race is waiting in their booth when he looks outside and across the street. He sees a pet store. He squints and there is a little girl carrying her cat.
He remembers that video he posted.
The top comment in it was: you should adopt turtles together
After they left the diner, they stroll around for a while and look through stores. Race takes out his phone, films Albert between the shelves and he gets the middle finger in return.
“Want to see how little progress I made?” asks Race as he tugs on Albert’s jacket. It’s Race’s, actually. Albert never got around to returning it. Race is not in a hurry to ask for it back.
“Fine,” Albert sighs, shrugging off Race only so he could hold on to his hand properly. “You’re lucky I even give you my time.”
They get to the apartment and settle in Race’s bed with his laptop in front of them. Race explains everything and Albert listens from behind with his chin on Race’s shoulder.
After watching the draft, they fall back into the bed and it’s one of their many nights where they don’t run out of conversations and they don’t feel uncomfortable either way with the silence.
Race was going to convince Albert to stay but when he glances at him, the other is already asleep.
He sets aside his laptop, turns off the light and pulls the blanket on both of them. He takes out his phone and researches on baby turtles.
He falls asleep much later but he is roused up quite earlier than expected when he felt movement from beside him.
Race reaches for Albert and they sigh in unison.
“No class today?” Race manages to mumble.
“None,” Albert answers sleepily.
“Love you.”
Race wasn’t even aware that he said it or if Albert heard it because they are still in that headspace where they are half-dreaming and half-conscious.
Race remembers it much later, though. He had just finished a call and the draft is waiting for it to not be a draft and he remembers the words he had said so he lets himself faceplant on his couch with a groan.
He moves on because what else can he do? (He calls Jack and tells him. Jack hums like he expected it to happen.)
Albert and Race meet several more times. The moment with the ‘love’ thing wasn’t mentioned once.
Until it was.
Race made sure to call Albert on his vacant time.
“Come to the apartment after class,” he said.
“Who’s this again?” asked Albert from the other line.
“Your landlord. You forgot to pay your rent.”
“Oh no, I guess I won’t show up.”
“I will tell Elmer you broke the coffee machine.”
“… please, don’t.”
Fast forward to Albert knocking on the door, Race opens it and tells him to close his eyes.
“No.”
“Come on, it’s a surprise.”
“Is surprise another word for ‘sacrifice’?”
“Don’t be dramatic. I will sacrifice you on our fifth year.”
“You’re pretty confident with those five years. You think we’ll be together for that long?”
“Longer. I’m pretty lovable.”
“You’re tolerable.”
“And lovable. Did I mention that already? Now, close your eyes.”
Albert does and Race leads him inside carefully. There’s a lot of maneuvering around because Race has boxes everywhere. He leads him to a corner and stands beside him.
“And now.”
There’s an aquarium in front of them.
There’s two baby turtles swimming in it.
“Oh no,” Albert says.
It should be alarming but then Albert is inching closer to the aquarium, almost pressed up against the glass and Race joins him.
Baby turtles. They have baby turtles. Race knows they will settle for the names of the Ninja Turtles.
They sit there for a moment, just watching.
Race glances at Albert after a while and it’s never going to be old news and he’s never going to get used to it. His heart does the stupid thing again and he’s worried he’ll open his mouth and say –
“Love you.”
It doesn’t come from him.
Albert turns to him. “I really love you, Tonio.”
It takes a moment before the silence is broken.
“It’s terrible how much I love you, too.”
Instead of scoffing or pushing his face away, Albert smiles and he leans forward to kiss him.
Race kisses him back but he pulls away shortly to say, “No public display of affection in front of Raphael and Donatello.”
“Shut up, Race.”
Somewhere down the line, Race posts a video about their turtles and their new home.
