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In Burr’s opinion, there was nothing worse than being on the battlefield with Hamilton.
The loud, brash, bastard son giving orders and commands as if he was the leader. Jealousy or not, it enraged the man to the point where his knuckles would turn white from clenching them out of anger so hard. Needless to say, there was nothing Burr could say or do about it since he was the general’s right hand man. ‘He may as well be his own damn son from how he treats him...’ he often thought.
Today was one of those unfortunate times when he was paired up with the said man on an infiltration mission at one of the enemy camps. It was a simple plan - divide and conquer. They had split into four group each taking a side, Burr and Hamilton had taken east. Unfortunately, they had been spotted just as they were getting into position and the shooting started immediately.
The two were pushed back by the shots into the depths of the forest with no other way to retreat and having run out of bullets. There was no way they could regroup and there was no way they could go back either. The duo was lost in enemy territory - no horses, no backup, just them and their unloaded guns. “Oh! Great! This is just amazing.” the older laughed humorlessly.
He paced around as the other way lying down, a tree supporting his back. “Brilliant plan, Ha-” the man was shocked to silence with what he saw when he turned around. Blood - Burr saw blood gushing out of the right hand man’s side. “Shit...” the younger muttered, pressing his hand against the wound which did little to stop the bleeding, simply pouring through it and staining it red.
“Oh my god... I just killed the general’s son.”
“Burr, it wasn’t you who shot me.”
“Well it may as well have been! You think Washington’s gonna care? He’ll have my head for-”
“Stop being dramatic, it’s only a scratch. Barely even grazed the surface...”
“HAMILTON, YOU’RE LOSING BLOOD FOR GOD’S SAKE!”
Burr crouches down in front of him, hastily tearing a part of his coat and wrapping it around. “I’ll be fine. I just need to see a doctor to patch me up, that’s all.”
The other stares back incredulously. “A doctor? Hamilton, the closest doctor is probably hours away from here!”
He huffs out, back to pacing. “We’re lost in-in this forest and... the red coats are right on our tail. We-We have no bullets and-”
“Burr.” the man turns to him again. “Come here.” he obliges and kneels in front of him.
Hamilton slaps him.
“Shut up and help me stand up.” Burr blankly stares at him for a movement. Surprisingly, he was a lot calmer and outstretched his hand to the younger, helping him up. Hamilton winces, a grimace in place when he tries to take a couple steps alone. “The bullet went straight through, it’s just a bit more difficult to walk.” he tries to act normal, but hisses at each larger step.
There was no way they could get anywhere like this. Momentarily, he considered every possible scenario in his head and none of them were good, except for one which would be almost impossible. Burr should’ve been a lot more upset than he was, but right now, he could only help himself by helping Hamilton. So, begrudgingly, he wrapped an arm around the younger to support a part of his weight.
“What are you!?-”
“Just. Walk.”
The two started their slow trek through the woods, no particular direction in mind except getting as far away from the enemy camp as possible. There were two ways things could go right now, well, three actually. One, best case scenario, Washington manages to find them. Two, the red coats find them first. And three, Hamilton bleeds out and Burr is left alone with the other two scenarios.
Of course, there were many more than just those three, but the man considered them the most likely as of right now.
“We’ll be alright, Burr.” his speech was starting to get slurred, not a good sign. “The general’ll find us when he notices we haven’t gotten back. We just... just gotta keep going, y’know?”
The older risks a glance at his wound. The blood had stopped pouring out, but the cloth was a dark crimson and god, there was just so much of it. “Of course.” Burr replies after a long silence. It was easier to lie than to argue with Hamilton. “Maybe we’ll find a doctor on the way... lost in the forest... like us...” Oh no. If even he was seemingly losing hope than it was not looking good for either of them.
“You can’t die on me now, you hear me Hamilton? This is not how I get your right hand man position!”
“No matter how badly you want it?”
Burr froze.
“I’m not blind. You could just lie and say I was dead on the spot. No one would know, Burr. I probably won’t make it so-”
“Hamilton.”
The man looks up to meet his eyes.
Burr slaps him.
“Shut up and keep walking.”
Truthfully, the man would never leave him behind. No matter how much he hated Hamilton, he couldn’t do something so cruel. They may not agree on a lot of things and he does annoy Burr to no end, but... There was something about him. Even when they first met, it was there and was what made him have a drink with the younger. In hindsight, it was the biggest mistake he’d made in his life.
Burr chuckles.
“Why’re you laughing?”
“I was just thinking about when we first met.”
“That bad, huh? You don’t think I’ll make it out either.”
“I already told you to shut up. And you will make it... Even if I have to carry you all the way back on my hands.”
Hamilton smiles and the pain in his side suddenly hurts a bit less.
“Thanks, Burr.”
“Don’t thank me yet. We still need to get you to a doctor.”
The two slowly get to a clearing by the time the sun’s an hour away from setting. The red coats seemed to have left them for dead as they surely would’ve caught up to them already. Hamilton was lying down, Burr’s whole coat wrapped around his side now in hopes of preventing any additional bleeding. It was a hell lot of pain, but the older was sure he would live through it as long as he got him to a doctor.
Fortunately, the general and his troupes managed to find both of them before dark and he was smart enough to bring a doctor with him. Hamilton was a bit delirious still, but would be fine just as Burr suspected he would. “Luck was on your side.” Washington said, clasping him solemnly on the shoulder. “Thank you, Burr... for staying with him.” the man smiled, Hamilton together with him on his horse.
“I told you I’d be fine. You worry too much.” the wounded spoke almost half sleep.
“You did.” the older gently smiled. “I should trust you more.”