Chapter Text
Lafayette's curiosity only grows.
The days start out normal enough. He comes into Washington's office for his usual ranting and gossip but as time progresses, he starts to ask more questions, and they become more complex as he goes along.
At first they're simple questions like What were you up too last night? or Did you see Alexander? But after a week of those simple questions, the more difficult ones began to form.
How's the renovation in your house going? What are you fixing again?
Exactly where does Alexander live?
How did you find Alexander again?
And Washington tries to answer them to the best that he can, but Lafayette raises his brow and he just knows he has no hope.
Lafayette sees through everything.
And after every answer, Washington is ready for his French man to call him out on the lies. But he never does.
But strangely enough, Lafayette makes no accusations.
When Washington answers the questions, the Frenchman shakes his head and moves on, almost as if he really isn't snooping behind it all and is just generally curious.
Washington chooses to believe the latter.
Laf hasn't said anything. He should just leave it all alone.
It will go away eventually.
Since Jefferson came back to the city, Alexander has been leaving at night, even more than before actually and Washington feels both uneasy and relieved at the same time.
He knows Jefferson is dangerous, from the stories John tells him he knows. And Alexander may always be surviving but it doesn't meant he is invincible to pain. God knows how much makeup he has on in the daytime at work.
But Washington is also relieved because he gets his house back to it's original state of it being only him.
While he does miss the things that have now become a normal setting in his apartment because of Alexander, he misses the silence sometimes.
He needs to think.
To breathe empty air.
He needs to figure out what's happening.
Washington isn't sure what he knows as of right now.
So he makes a list:
- He still knows close to nothing about Alexander. Only how old he is, where he is from and that he had a brother and mother but his mother died. He also went to Colombia but dropped out.
- Lafayette is suspicious that something is happening in Washington's home. He just doesn't know what.
- He still has no idea who Jefferson is and how to stop him and this horrible drug/prostitution service he's got going on.
- John, Angelica and his gut seem to be all telling him the same thing: Maybe Alexander isn't as innocent as he seems.
- Mickey needs more cat litter.
- Alexander burns things.
And that's all he can seem to come up with.
He sits in his car, staring at the apartment complex thinking about everything.
How much life has changed since Alexander came into his life.
And though everything has became more complex and hard, he is still happy with his decision nonetheless.
He is satisfied, for the most part.
And he still can't really give the answer as to why Alexander has became so important. He's not ready to deal with that enigma just yet.
He gets out of the car the same time Alexander is walking towards it.
“DId I scare you?” The boy gives him a corcky smile and Washington suppresses his own.
“Hardly. I haven't seen you around here in a long time.”
Alexander smile fades.
“Yea, sorry about that. I've been busy.”
He thinks of Jefferson.
“Are you alright?” Washington asks and again he already knows the answer before it comes out.
Yes, I'm fine.
“Yes...I'm alright.”
Close enough.
He doesn't push it anymore and without another word makes his way to the building, Alexander following.
The two move at their own pace. In their silence.
They both stand side by side on the elevator.
And Alexander is so close, but so far away.
They get to the apartment.
They go to bed.
___________________________________________
“You have to wear black, Laf.” Washington groans and in response the Frenchman glares at him.
“No I do not. Not if I don't want to.”
“But it's traditional.” Alexander squeaks complete and utter amazement in his face. Washington reckons Alexander has never met anyone as stubborn as him.
“I do not care. Black is not my color.” Lafayette shakes his head and falls onto the couch heavily sighing as he does so.
“I think you would look good in black. Black makes you look slimmer.” comes Alexander and Washington makes a noise of approval.
“I also think that same thing.” He says and he hears the man groan.
“I look good in everything.” Lafayette shrugs “I still don't want to wear it.”
Washington sighs while Alexander rolls his eyes.
“This isn't about you, Gilbert. It's about Peggy, let her shine...in her dress.” Alexander says a little bit bewildered. He recently saw the dress and has had the same reaction of everyone else.
Lafayette goes silent.
“Hamilton is right.” Comes George. “Let Margarita have this. She’s quite a remarkable young woman with a lot to say therefore you should let her say it without any distractions.”
“You should hear her at dinner.” Comes Alexander and he squeaks.
“Dinner?” Lafayette asks incredulously and the other two men just stare at him in shock.
“That's it! Someone tell me what's going on?! Why are you at dinner with the Schuyler sisters!” He asks and though it should be anger there is nothing but but a little bit of hurt and confusion behind it.
Alex answers first.
“When I drop off papers, the girls are over there eating...what would be going on?” He looks Lafayette in the eye when he says this and it even takes Washington back a little.
If he didn't know any better he would have thought Alexander was telling the truth.
But he's been lying for a long time.
It would make sense that he's good at it.
Lafayette stares at the both of them with a blank stare. Something boiling underneath the surface.
He says nothing else.
They all continue their work.
_______________________________________
He’s on the phone with Angelica when he hears it.
At first it's a bump then a groan followed by hushed and quick murmurs.
“Uh..Angelica, I have to go. I'll speak to you later.”
He doesn't even wait for a reply but instead hangs up.
He goes exploring through the back hall, the one that no one really goes to because it's only a few empty closets and Washington's own office.
He walks slowly, listening to every detail that might unlock these odd noises.
“I don't know what you want from me! I'm doing the best I can.”
It's Alexander’s voice.
When he does get to the closest it's coming the loudest from he doesn't bother to wait or speak.
He opens the door.
Alexander squeaks.
“THE FUCK GEORGE!” Alexander grabs at his heart, falling back on the racks behind him.
Washington remains silent, jaw slack and eyes wide.
“What...are you doing?” He asks and Alexander swallows hard, regaining his balance.
“I was trying to have a private conversation.” He hangs up the phone, not even batting an eye.
Washington remains silent.
He wants to ask who the conversation was with but he knows Alexander will only snap at him so there's no use.
“In a closet?” He chooses to ask instead and Alexander sighs.
“Yes, a closet in a hall that no one goes to. I thought I would have some privacy but it seems like I don't.” He glares at Washington.
“My apologies.” Washington says instead and goes to leave.
But Alexander is grabbing onto his shoulders and it makes his body warm up again.
“I...I'm sorry as well.” He says eyes trained on the floor.
Washington looks back, hidden shock in his eyes.
Alexander apologizing? That doesn't happen too often.
“I shouldn't be snapping at you in your own building. It's your building, you have every right to go where ever you please.”
Washington shakes his head not trusting his own voice just yet.
They stand together like that in silence. Alex staring at the floor, George staring at Alexander.
Finally he speaks.
“Do you know a James Reynolds?” Alexander asks and it's quiet and small, unlike his usually powerful way of speaking.
Washington squints his eyes while thinking.
“He sounds familiar yes. Why?”
Alexander shakes his head.
“I go back with him. If you could say that. He’s one of the board members at Colombia.”
Washington nods.
“Yes I do remember him. I met him at a gala so many years before.” He says a little slower this time, noticing the changing facial expressions on Alexander’s face.
“Is everything alright?”
Yes. It's fine.
“No. It's not.”
Washingtons heart drops.
Alexander, admitting defeat.
Something really must be wrong.
“Well what's happening?” Washington asks and before he can even grasp what's happening, Alexander is pulling him into the closet by the tie and shutting the door behind him.
“I...I owe him some money.” Alexander breathes out and he runs his hands through his now messy ponytail.
“Money? Money for what?” Washington asks. He tries to keep his voice steady but it's hard to do that at the new found proximity he has with Alexander.
The young boy shakes his head.
“From school. I owe him some money when I still went to Colombia.”
“Well how much?” Washington asks.
“2,000” He sighs and Washington takes a step back despite not having any space.
“Why did you need to borrow 2,000 dollars from him?” But Alex and shaking his head aggressively.
“Please.” Alex says quietly.
His eyes are on the floor again and Washington realizes what's happening.
“When do you need it by?” He asks suddenly and Alexander is shaking his head.
“Please you don't have to do this I-”
“You're obviously at rock bottom. When do you need it by?” He asks seriously.
“Friday. I need it by Friday.” Alexander answers defeatedly and Washington shakes his head.
“I'll get it for you.”
Alex opens his mouth to protest but suddenly the dooring is flying open and Washington is met with Lafayette's wide eyed gaze.
Alexander does a soft gasp and Washington remains silent.
Lafayette looks at the both of them.
“Sorry.” He says with that same blank expression on his face.
“I was looking for the bathroom.”
____________________________________________
“We need to have a talk.” Lafayette doesn't wait for George to respond but instead closes the man's office door with a soft glare to Alexander.
“I...what's going on?” Washington asks cluelessly though he can already feel, the growing anxiety and sweaty palms.
“It's about you and your assistant.” Laf takes a seat, taking off his suit jacket and Washington just knows he's in for an interrogation.
“Where did you find Alexander? You never told me?” Laf squints his eyes and sits back.
Washington can feel himself getting jittery and nervous. He's a horrible liar.
“A friend told me he was in need of a job so I said I'll take him in, put him under my wing and help him out.”
“What friend?” Laf asks.
“Madison.” Washington says without thinking. Lafayette rolls his eyes at that.
“Of course he had to be part of this.” The Frenchman mumbles under his breath.
“Part of what?” Washington tilts his head a little.
Lafayette looks at him in the eye almost as if he is searching for something.
“Nothing.”
They go silent.
“How long have you known Alexander?” Lafayette questions after a few moments.
“Well about less than two months. I met him in November. Why are you asking all these questions, Gilbert?” George says lightly.
“Nothing just curious.”
And with that, the Frenchman stands and grabs his jacket and strides over to the door.
“ Savez-vous que vous avez été très aimé? ” He asks quietly and it takes a few moments for Washington to put it all together.
“I'm sorry?” He asks voice cracking a little.
“Martha. Elle t'a beaucoup aimé” Lafayette says again, looking Washington in the eyes. “I hope you know that.”
Washington tries to contain the forming anger in his stomach.
“Yes.” He says tightly. “I know my wife loved me greatly, she was my wife after all. And I loved her just as much. I still love her just as much.” He looks Lafayette back in the eye not bothering to hide his angry ora.
Lafayette doesn't say anything.
He just leaves.
Alexander comes in shortly after, looking back into the hallway as he walks.
“What was that about?” He asks a little wary. “I never seen Laf so tense. And why was he scowling at me?”
He takes a seat in the chair Laf previously was occupying.
Washington stares at his desk, trying to figure out what just happened, what Lafayette had been insinuating but like usual, he can come up with nothing.
“I don't know.” He says instead, not meeting Alexander's curious eyes.
“I have the money for you.”