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"ALEXANDER, GET DOWN!"
Thomas tackled Alex to the ground, and twisted so his body took the impact. He hugged the younger man tight to his chest, gasping for breath. Gunshots popped all around them, their men falling faster than the enemy.
"Jefferson, I can take care of myself." Alex muttered as he pushed Thomas's arms off himself.
"Obviously not, as you just almost got yourself killed."
They got out of the immediate danger and ducked into a side room. They crouched behind a nearby storage crate. Shouts for reinforcements rang across the warehouse from both sides.
The screaming civilians could no longer be heard.
They were either evacuated or-
No. Thomas couldn't think that way. Agent Schuyler-Church and Lieutenant Laurens got them all out. He looked around trying to spot anyone he recognized.
Suddenly, Alex gripped Thomas's arm tight.
"They are coming near. We have to fight or escape. They are going to find us soon." He whispered.
"Alexander if they catch us, if they catch you-" Thomas hissed, looking at him with a terrified expression.
The bounty - I can't lose him. There's so much he doesn't know and if he dies, I'll be alone.
"I know. But there's no other way out."
Thomas knew he was right, deep down.
"Okay." He mumbled.
Footsteps were approaching outside the room, but Thomas calculated the echoes. They had a minute or so. Probably less.
"I trust you." Thomas promised, and prepared himself to run. He put his hand at his hip and slid his gun from his holster.
Alex looked at him with his signature smirk, but his eyes shined with genuine happiness at those words, even amidst the stressful situation.
"You're the only person here that I have ever trusted, Teej. And Tom, I need to tell you-"
Thomas's breath hitched as Alex scooted closer to him.
The doorknob turned.
Shit.
Alex looked at him and mouthed,
Later .
Thomas's heart was racing in anticipation and fear as the footsteps neared.
The person was in the room. Alex and Thomas tucker themselves together, and Thomas was surprised when Alex's left arm encircled his right. Thomas looked down to see Alex held his gun in his right hand, his knuckles white from the grip.
Thomas had a looming, overbearing feeling of dread.
They were going to die.
So Thomas hugged Alex's arm in return and waited.
Footsteps paced around the room.
Finally a voice said, "I know you're in here, Hamilton." Familiar. Horribly, devastatingly, frighteningly familiar.
It had to be a bluff, Thomas knew. But even so, hearing that man's cool, calculated tone, sweet but not like Alex's silky static. It was instead like gross, sticky syrup.
Thomas and Alex looked at one other.
Alex's face wore a schooled expression of concealed panic and rage.
Thomas was freaking out.
But he had to keep calm, for Alex.
How difficult it was to keep his cool when the man who threatened Alex's life just three weeks ago was standing right there, waiting to harm him again.
"Come on out, Alexander. I won't hurt you. I don't want to have to do that."
Liar.
Alex tensed and looked at Thomas.
There was a shift. Alex was no longer frightened. He had a determined expression set in his features. He had a plan.
Knowing Alexander, it was reckless and rash and dangerous.
Thomas tried to communicate with his eyes, " Please don't ."
But Alex pulled away with a quirk of his lip that probably was screaming, " I'm so sorry ."
Alex pulled from Thomas's grip and that's when Thomas lost him forever.
Alex stood confidently and turned towards the voice. Thomas curled into himself further and shut his eyes tight. He couldn't try to stop Alex or they would both be killed and this mission would all be in vain.
He zoned back in at the sound of Alex's voice, beautiful as ever.
"Mr. Burr, sir." He announced, and Thomas could imagine the huge Cheshire grin on his face. Snarky and prideful. The same smile that used to make Thomas want to smack him across the mouth.
"How delightful that we can meet again, my dear Hamilton."
Shivers ran down Thomas's spine and he felt nausea begin to rise. The possessive tone in Burr's voice, like he had any claim on Alex.
Thomas was wise enough to know that no one could ever come close to even suggesting something so ridiculous.
"The pleasure is all mine." Alex replied, as he spread his arms wide, his gun still in his hand. His voice sounded…steady. Calm.
"Where is Jefferson? He never seems to be far when you are around…"
Alex didn't miss a beat, "He's not my servant. He is his own man and went to scout the next room."
Burr seemed to contemplate this for a moment.
"Of course. I'll just have to deal with him later."
The implications of that statement terrified Thomas. Like Burr planned on 'dealing with' Alex first.
And Thomas would be powerless to stop it.
"I suppose so."
Maybe they could both get out of here alive. Alex told him to stay put, so Thomas would have to listen.
And he was a coward. Thomas knew damn well what Aaron Burr was capable of. And he was flooded with guilt that he was not strong enough to do what Alex was about to do.
"C'mon, Mr. Burr, sir. We both know I have a bounty on my head. We both know why you are here. So let's get this over with, hm?"
Mocking. Provoking. Oh, darling- Alexander, NO.
Burr huffed a forced chuckle. "I suppose we could come to some compromise. You come with me now. No struggle. And I will spare both yourself and Agent Jefferson. That's more than generous, no?"
Don't trust a word he says. Thomas wants to scream.
"Okay." Is all Alex said. He stepped forward, closer to where Burr's voice came from.
"Oh, Alexander. My dear, you never learn do you?"
Time seemed to slow.
BANG
Thomas shot up and whipped around, gun up.
He saw a glimpse of annoyance on Burr's face, but not surprise. He knew Thomas had been there.
He didn't try to run.
Thomas tried to ignore Alex's dying groans and whimpers, focusing on pulling the trigger.
BANG
Burr crumpled to the floor, dead with a bullethole in between his eyebrows. He died with a cruel smile on his face.
Almost as if he knew he was going to be shot. He expected to be killed. Invited it, even.
Thomas brushed those thoughts off, dropping to Alex's side. He collected Alex's body into his arms.
The man was clutching his stomach, dark red blood stained his now rumpled white button-up. His hands looked like they had been doused in red paint.
Oh, but if it were only paint.
So many thoughts ran through Thomas's mind. He tore off his shirt and pressed it to the wound. Alex sobbed in pain as Thomas made a poor attempt at mopping up the blood.
"Hey…Hey, I'm with you, okay? Always. I'm right here with you. It's going to be okay."
"Shut up." Alex hissed, his voice a whisper, "Just shut up."
"Alex, I need to tell you- I need to-" Desperate and frantic, he held Alex closer.
Alex's laugh was hollow and pessimistic, and he winced in pain, "What, Teej? Tell me how I became your best… friend? And how ya wish we hadn' started off hating each other? And th-that - Shit, it hurts- That you…regret-" He started coughing, and coughing, and he would not stop.
The pain and hurt Thomas picked up on in those words.
Best friend.
God. So much that he didn't know that Thomas had to tell him or else it would be too late.
Thomas was running out of time.
"No - god, no- Alex…please, just…I'll figure something out. Just - stay with me, and I'll tell you. Just stay alive, please."
He started searching through his suit jacket, because he had bandages somewhere-
Got 'em.
He brought out the white strips and started attempting to wrap up the open wound. He had to get Alex to a medic.
Alex pushed Thomas's hands off and shook his head.
"No." He croaked, "It's n..oo…use, Teej. Just - just stay here with me. 'Kay?"
Thomas gasped, trying to keep from sobbing. He finally allowed his hands to stop moving, holding Alex in his arms again.
"Okay. Whatever you need, Alex."
"Thomazz…" Alex slurred, "I needa…t…ell…you-" Alex gasped for breath and his whole body shook with pain.
"What is it?"
"I love you." Alex whispered.
"Wh..What?"
"I love you. Like…Y'know."
"Oh." Thomas said quietly.
"I love you too."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Okay."
"I'm gonna die." Alex said, his eyes starting to unfocus. His breathing was slowing.
Thomas was choked up as he nodded, "Yeah. I'm so sorry."
"Don't be. I was being an idiot."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Okay. I'm gon' go to sleep, 'kay?"
Thomas tried to smile, and tears ran down his face.
"Okay, darlin'. Sleep well."
Alex smiled and then his breathing stopped.
Thomas's smile dropped and his whole body racked with sobs.
"Please…no - I can't do this…I can't. I can't -"
Thomas hugged Alex closer and turned to glare at Aaron Burr's corpse.
This was all Burr's fault.
But Thomas knew.
If it hadn't been for Thomas, Alex wouldn't be on this mission in the first place.
So Thomas just held his best friend.
He held his love and cried.