Chapter Text
John was definitely not having a good day.
He was supposed to meet Lafayette for a coffee, but, of course, the guy was fashionably late again. After sending another text that would most likely be left unread, he tucked his phone in his pocket. He started walking, wondering why he'd agreed to hang out with his very unreliable friend on a Friday instead of getting some well-deserved rest. He debated going back home, but after realizing that, if sleep may be secondary, coffee is very much not so, he headed towards the cafè. He flopped on one of the tiny chairs and quickly ordered. He was mindlessly scrolling through his texts when a call came through.
That fucker.
"Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier Lafayette, if you don't hurry the fuck up-"
"Don't full-name me, John, it's impolite. Also, I'm afraid I can't make it."
"What’s really impolite is being over an hour late only to stand me up last minute, you imbécile."
"I knew that teaching you French cuss words was a bad idea."
John approached the counter and paid for his coffee with a warm smile. "Betrayal aside, have you met your roommate yet?"
"Not yet, he's on his way. I hope he's not as messy as you were, mon ami."
He walked towards the door. "You filthy liar, you know I'm the best roommate you've ever lived with. Goodbye, you traitor, I'll stop by after lunch." He was still looking at his phone when he opened the door and-
"Watch where you're going, will you?"
The guy he'd spilled his coffee on almost yelled.
"Fuck, I'm so sorry, man, I didn't see you."
"We'd have a problem if you did." He glared at him.
"Look," he huffed, annoyed. "I said I was sorry. What, do you want me to kiss the sole of your shoe and beg for your forgiveness?"
The fucker considered it.
"Yes."
John laughed in disbelief. "The fuck's wrong with you?"
"You're the one who poured his coffee on my shirt."
"And you're the one acting like a pretentious dick even after I apologized." John huffed again as the man simply shrugged, and he left without a word, purposely bumping into his shoulder.
He headed towards his house with a baffled expression on his face, thinking about the unpleasant encounter. He shook his head and hurried home, trying not to think about the rude and absolutely not cute stranger. He opened the door and quickly went inside.
"Hercules, you home?"
Hercules sat on the couch reading a book. He looked up, took a good look at him, and frowned. Of course, as soon as he had stepped foot in the living room, his roommate had immediately noticed something was off. "John, my boy, are you alright?"
"Quit it, Herc, you sound like my father." He grumbled and threw himself on the couch while his friend stared at him, an amused smile on his face.
"Alright," he said, putting his book down. "What happened?"
John immediately sat up.
"I met this guy at the cafè-” Hercules raised his eyebrows suggestively. John threw a pillow at him. “Stop looking at me like that, Herc, it's not what you think."
"As I was saying, I accidentally bumped into this guy and spilled half my fucking coffee on his shirt."
"And Your Majesty is upset because you didn't drink enough coffee?"
"Can I finish the fucking story?"
"No, I'm having more fun like this." John threw another pillow at him.
"Anyways, the guy was righteously pissed, so I apologized, and he just started acting like such a dick, Herc. I asked him if I had to lick the sole of your shoe and beg for his forgiveness-"
"Because you're that dramatic."
"Because I'm that dramatic, and he said yes. Can you believe that?"
Hercules looked surprised. "Seriously?"
"I was this close to punching him in front of everyone."
"I’m glad you didn't, you idiot." He got up. "How about we pay Lafayette a surprise visit and we raid his fridge? That always cheers you up."
John smiled. "You're right, it does. Besides, he deserves it, he stood me up again."
Hercules chuckled. "Bad day, huh?"
"You have no idea."
They arrived at their friend's apartment after a few minutes ˗˗ and a very threatening text to Lafayette that said "watch your back, French guy, we're hungry and in a bad mood". The hallway was crowded with boxes, and the door was slightly open.
"It must be Laf's new roommate, yet another mind I can corrupt."
John snorted. "Try not to scare the guy off."
"No promises."
John chuckled again as he pushed the door open and called out for his friend.
Lafayette poked his head out of the kitchen.
"I'll have you know, I'm offended by you two calling me French guy."
"I'll have you know, I'm hungry and you owe me. Now, where's your roommate? We could help him settle in…"
A figure emerged from Laf's spare room. A familiar figure with a very familiar coffee stain on his shirt.
You.
He stopped in his tracks and smirked. John glared at him.
"Pretentious dick."
"Thales."
"No, his name is-" Hercules elbowed Lafayette, which caused him to yelp and spit a string of curses in French.
John turned to Lafayette. "Is this your new roommate?"
He nodded. "I'm confused, do you two know each other?"
"Yes. No. Sort of."
Hercules looked like he was about to start laughing.
"I need a drink," John decided, and he approached the liquor cabinet.
"It's ten in the morning."
John ignored him.
"Try not to spill it." He could hear the smirk in the stranger's voice. John silently gave him the finger.
Hercules hurriedly extended his hand towards the stranger.
"Hi, I'm Hercules Mulligan, nice to meet you."
He shook his hand. "Alexander Hamilton."
Alexander turned his head towards him. "I didn't catch your name, Thales."
"That's because I didn't throw it."
"Well, I think I'm going to need it."
"You seem to live just fine without it."
"Children, please." Said Lafayette, exasperated. "Alexander, this is John Laurens."
Alexander stared at him for a few moments. "Yeah, no, I'll just stick with Thales."
John glared at him again while Alexander simply smiled.
Sometimes chance just seems to know where and how to strike, doesn't it?
Besides, who the fuck is Thales?