Chapter Text
When George gets home from work, he hears Alex arguing on the phone.
At first it's just murmurs, low growls from his voice. But as Washington gets closer he can form the words.
“Did you tell him where I went? Yes I know you have no idea where I am, you know what I mean. Did you tell him who I left with? Is he still looking for me? God John I don't know! I'm thinking about it I just don't know. Give me an hour I'll be there. Just give me an hour!” The young boy then groans and hangs up. When he turns around Washington is standing there staring at him.
Normally he would try to hide his eavesdropping, especially with Alexander-the boy could get so mad about that sometimes- but Washington doesn't care anymore. Alexander gets snappy either way so he might as well do as he pleases.
“Who was that?” Washington asks. He takes off his coat and unwraps his scarf to try to hide the new found anxiety forming in his body from the look on Alexander’s face.
The boy looks scared shitless.
He clears his throat, shaking his head a little and looks down.
“The boy you spoke to that night...John.” He puts the phone down and walks to get his own coat-Washington bought him a new one, along with a whole new wardrobe- and begins dressing.
“What's happening?” Washington asks again.
And though he can see the growing annoyance on Alexander’s face he doesn't stop, and Alexander answers anyway.
“Nothing, he just needs my help.” He simply says.
“Alexander we talked about this-” Washington starts but Alex is shaking his head.
“Not like that.” Alex interrupts. He buttons up the coat and reaches for his keys. His own set of keys to the house.
He has keys.
And Washington can't remember when he got them.
“Let me drive you.” Washington reaches for his coat.
“NO!” Alex squeaks, and though it's not in anger it still freaks Washington out a little.
The boy looks a bit panicked, shaky and the reality of the situation is starting to set into Washington.
“Alexander what's wrong.” His brows knit together at the sight of the young boy.
“Nothing. I just don't want you to come, it's too...it will be too much. For John that is.” He looks away and Washington knows he is lying.
They've been living like this for two weeks and Washington has slowly but surely been memorizing Alexander. And one of the things he’s memorized is Alexander's facial expressions when he lies.
He’ll turn his head slightly to the left, and he’ll press his lips together almost like he’s trying to stop the truth from coming out.
He knows Alexander.
He knows he is lying.
“Alexander.” He says softly, he slowly walks towards the boy making it known that he wants to touch him and when the boy shakes his head he puts his hand on his shoulder.
He knows Alexander.
He knows that he doesn't like to be touched. And that to touch him, you have to hover your hand over the part of his body you want to touch. If he nods or doesn't move that means it's ok. If he glares or move away that means no.
He gives his shoulder a squeeze.
“Let me help you.” Washington says quietly and the boy is silent for a moment.
“Really. It's fine George. I just need to go back and get something. And I have to help John. Please. You have helped me so much. But, I really need you to stay here. It's for everyone's safety.”
And Washington’s stomach drops at that.
“What do you mean?” He says tightly.
And Alexander is shaking his head.
“Nothing.” The boy says.
And yea, Washington knows Alexander.
He knows when he is scared.
And as much as he wants to help. Wants to go with Alexander to Brooklyn street and see what's so ‘dangerous’ but he knows that Alexander is a big boy when it comes to this, and he knows more than Washington will ever know on this subject. He has to trust him.
“Ok.” The older man says. And he can see Alexander physically relax and it kind of makes him feel bad.
“Thank you.” Alexander smiles and Washington can't help but to feel good at that, making him smile.
He offers Alexander his car but the boy refuses, saying it’ll attract too much attention. He said something else under his breath but Washington didn't catch it.
Sometimes they're just too low for him to hear it.
He goes to the kitchen, looking for something to eat though he’s too nervous to eat. He sees that Alexander has again, made dinner. He makes dinner every night now. And Washington didn't even know he could cook. But every time he comes home from work, Alexander has some type of meal on the table. Washington’s favorite is still the spaghetti.
From the first night.
But tonight it's, rice and beans and chicken and Washington can't help but to feel something warm inside of him when he sees a plate full of the food at his seat with a fork and a glass of water.
He sits down, but he doesn't eat.
Instead he listens to Alexander as the boy looks around for his left boot and a hair tie for his signature ponytail.
Eventually, Washington gets lost in his thoughts.
All about Alexander, his thoughts they are.
It's like he thinks he’s getting closer to the boy, closer to unlocking the enigma that makes him up, but then Alexander is changing the game, and Washington is forced to climb even higher, work even harder to get to him, to understand him.
This isn't a healthy relationship.
Washington knows Alexander.
He knows that Alexander has never had one.
He stares out the window, at the city of New York and wonders how many men Alexander has slept with here. How many of those streets Alexander has walked on. How many park benches has he sat on. How long he's been on the streets.
He just wants to know.
“I'll see you later George.” Alexander says quietly from the doorway.
He stands there for a moment.
Then leaves.
And George knows Alexander.
He knows that he will never know Alexander.
*__*__*
He asks Lafayette to meet him at the local bar they used to go to when they were still young boys.
He sits on the stool staring at the beer he purchased though he knows he’s not going to drink it.
He still hasn't eaten the food.
And Alexander has been gone for a long time. 4 hours to be exact. And Washington can't take being at home alone, not without Alexander.
As weird as it sounds, he is so used to hearing Alexander cursing under his breath about something, or the sound of his blow dryer going off after he gets out of the shower. Full house playing in the background from the living room, Alexander likes to keep it on, even when no ones watching it.
The emptiness that takes over the house isn't his normal anymore and he doesn't want it anyway.
So he tries to run back to the past where it was much more full. Much more sweet.
“ Mon amie Boire la bière pas la regarder.” Washington hears. And he smiles at it.
He’s quite shocked at how much he understands Lafayette when he speaks French. He doesn't even know how he understands or when he started to. He just knows it now, though he still can't speak it.
“I'm not in the mood for drinking I suppose.” Washington chuckles pushing the glass towards his friend who takes it without a word.
“Nonsense, my friend. We only come to a bar for one reason , être ivre.” Laf chuckles.
“That was along time Gilbert, I don't think we can do that anymore.” Washington smiles fondly at him and Laf is shaking his head.
“Well we can try.” he simply says.
They sit in a comfortable silence for a few minutes. Lafayette drinking his beer in content and Washington wondering about Alexander and hoping he is alright. Finally Lafayette speaks.
“So why did you call me down here so late in the day?” He asks, and Washington clears his throat.
“Sorry if I was disrupting something, it just seemed as if my home-”
“Silence was getting too loud.” Laf finishes and Washington gives a nod of approval.
“Took the words right out of my mouth.” Washington says quietly and Lafayette hums in response.
“I figured this would happen. You never liked being by yourself.” He finishes the beer and tells the bartender to keep them coming.
“We have work tomorrow.” Washington quirks an eyebrow at his friend as he begins a new bottle.
“We do, but we also own it so I think we’ll survive.” He pushes a bottle to Washington and though the man isn't in the mood for drinking, he drinks it anyway.
After, they go through three bottles Washington makes a noise.
“I have found a new secretary.” Washington says a little loose. When did he start getting tipsy off of three bottles of beer? God he’s getting old.
Lafayette smiles.
“Really? And did you warn them that they're going to have a uh…. crises de panique everyday?” He says with a smirk and Washington is shaking his head.
“I told him that and more, and he still wants it. He actually can't wait to start. But I wanted to give him a few weeks to settle in before he goes to work.” Washington stares at the shot that's put in front of him.
“I'm not drinking vodka.” He closes his eyes.
“Settle in?” Lafayette asks. He has already took his shot. As soon as it was put in front of him and Washington wonders how he can do that.
“Yea.” Washington says, picking up the tiny glass and throws his head back, flinching at the burn on his tongue and throat.
But it kind of feels good.
“What's he settling into if he isn't settling into work?” Laf asks though he isn't really paying attention. A new shot glass has been placed in front of him.
Washington doesn't answer.
Instead he takes the shot.
He gets his driver to drop both of them off at their homes.
As soon as Lafayette opens the door, Washington can hear the yelling of Adrienne.
“Que fais-tu stupide!” She screams and then he hears Lafayette groan and he can't help but to chuckle at the two of them.
Lafayette is gonna get it though.
As the car makes it's way to his home, he leans against the window, relaxing into the coldness of it and watching the street lights as they blend together to make a string of crushed colorful orbs. And he can't help but to feel so empty while watching them. Wishing some of the orbs would find a way into his mouth and let him swallow them.
He feels so empty.
So bland and colorless.
So alone.
And no, right now he doesn't miss Alexander.
He misses his wife.
He couldn't help but to feel a little bit of jealousy, watching Laf walk through that door, getting yelled at by his other half.
He misses that.
He presses even harder into the window. Missing the way she would wrap her hands around the back of his neck to kiss him, she was always too short.
He begins counting the telephone poles that go bye.
He misses how she kissed him underneath the one on 7th street.
That first goodbye.
When he was leaving for the war. A month after the wedding.
Underneath that telephone pole.
You come back here. She said to him.
You come back here and come home with me. Just us and everything will be alright. And everything will go back to our normal. Just make sure you come back here George. Don't be the hero. I need you here.
And though Washington did become the hero, he still followed everything she said.
He came back home.
And it was her that left.
She didn't come back when she left. And it was only him and nothing was alright. And his new normal was the silence of a New York city apartment. Martha didn't come back to George. She was a hero. And George needed her here. But she didn't come back.
George swallowed.
Why didn't she come back?
“Mr. Washington.”
She was so strong.
George doesn't answer. He just nods as a thank you and gets out of the car. Trying to walk in a straight line to seem not a drunk as he really was.
When he does get in the house he is met by a meowing cat.
“Hi Mickey.” He mumbles, taking off his coat and shoes.
The cat rubs against him in response and he looks down to see her matted tail and muddy paws.
“Gosh look at you.” He picks her up, and she begins to purr loudly.
He blindly starts walking towards the bathroom, holding the cat close to him.
He sees no sign of Alexander.
He can't really care.
He turns the tub on and brings out some soap and no he has no idea what he’s doing but he still does it anyway. He rolls up his sleeves as the cat stares at him, her green eyes greener than before.
When the water is warm enough and his hands are soapy Washington puts Mickey into the tub.
To his surprise the cat doesn't cry or try to run, she just sits there and let's George clean her.
“What kind of cat are you? Do you not clean yourself? And aren't you supposed to hate water? God you're a weird cat.” And Mickey is talking to him again, he just knows it.
Shut up old man and just clean me. She is saying.
“George?”
And his eyes go wide.
“Martha!” He gasps, turning around but no it's not Martha.
It's Alexander.
He’s rubbing at his eyes and yawning.
“No, it's me. Alex. What are you doing?” He walks in and sees Mickey covered in soap, a displeased and bored expression now on her face.
“Oh.”
“She was dirty. I thought she would clean herself but...” He gets some water in his hand and drops it over her head.
“George are you alright? You're talking kind of weird.” Alex stands a little closer.
He shakes his head. Soaping up his hands again.
“I'm fine. I just went out for drinks with Lafayette, we used to do that a lot. And it was funny because every time I came home Martha would be sleep. She didn't even wait for me.” He laughs. “ She would be sleep, and I'd get into bed and then she would move closer to me, still fast asleep.” He scrubs behind Mickey's ear.
“Oh George.” Alexander moves closer, touching his shoulder. Just like George would do to him.
“I thought that maybe, if I went out drinking and got drunk enough I could come home and get into bed and she would be there. She would be there and she would scoot closer to me in the wiggly worm way she always did.” He rinses off Mickey.
“George. George lets go to sleep ok?” Alexander says gently and this is the softest George has ever heard him talk.
“Is she in the bed?” George asks.
Alexander goes silent for a moment.
“Mickey is all clean.” He says, reaching in the tub to get her from George's hands.
She meows and runs from the bathroom, leaving nothing but a trail of water.
“Tell me she’s in bed.” George says.
“Underneath the telephone pole. She didn't come back here.” Washington doesn't know he’s walking until he gets to his bedroom door. Alexanders arm wrapped around his waist.
“Go to bed darling.” Alexander says.
“I want to kiss her underneath the telephone pole. Just like before. I want her to come home.” George is saying and Alexander is nodding as he gets him out of his suit.
“Yes George.” Is all he’s saying.
“She’s here, sleeping, waiting for me Alexander.”
Alexander is silent.
When George is finally dressed, he gets into bed.
Alexander doesn't say anything else.
He just leaves.
Washington lays his head on the pillow, he pulls the covers up and he waits for Martha to tuck herself around him, he waits for her warmth.
However it doesn't come.