Chapter Text
The United States was nothing like Saint Kitts and Nevis. Back home, the sun was always shining, and the flowers were always in bloom. Now, here in New York, it was loud. People bustling about, trying to get to their intended destination as fast as possible. People talking loudly as car horns blasted in the background- all of this happening underneath a partly cloudy sky.
While, yes, there were significantly less greenery in the city compared to Saint Kitts, it was somewhat made up in part for the bushes and flowers planted about the the parks and corner stores Alexander had passed earlier.
But now, Alexander was currently standing in front of his dorm building’s lawn; a faint smile curling his lips as he watched a crowd of students with their families. In scanning the area, Alexander could already tell who was a freshman, and who was not. Freshman looked just like him: young, scrappy, and hungry to achieve their dream of something bigger and better. And they also tended to over pack. But that didn't concern Alexander very much. He knew that if he had many things to remind him of a place of comfort that he once called home, he'd bring everything he possibly could. Actually...no, no he wouldn't.
What he had brought with him was escorted away to his dorm by a friendly-looking volunteer over twenty minutes ago.
Figuring that he should start heading to his dorm to get settled and meet his roommate- (whose name was Hercules Mulligan, Alex had soon learned as the two had gotten a hold of one another and began texting). Speaking of Hercules, Alexander felt his phone buzz in his pocket.
Taking in a deep breath, and exhaling slowly, Alexander began walking in the direction of his dorm building.
Feeling his phone buzz for a second time, Alexander fished his phone out of his pocket and realized he had two unread text messages from Hercules.
From Hercules: hey your stuff’s here
From Hercules: Is it alright if I have the bed on the right side?
Still walking, Alexander shifted his eyes upward to make sure he wasn't going to run into anyone, before typing out his response.
To Hercules: thanks. And sure, take whichever side you'd like.
Hercules’ response was almost instant.
From Hercules: :) thanks!
A small smile curled Alexander’s lip at Hercules’ use of an emoticon. Fingers tapping rapidly at his phone’s screen- his attention no longer on his intended path- Alexander quickly found himself knocked to the ground, phone knocked out of his hand. Hissing a string of curses, Alexander pushed back the few strands of hair that had fallen in his face, and looked up at the person he had collided with.
“Shit, I'm sorry! Are you alright?” Asked the male who was currently meeting his gaze.
Now, there were three things that Alexander noticed in that moment.
The first was the concerned, southern tone in the man’s voice.
The second was how disheveled the man looked. Between his hair- which Alexander felt a strong urge to run his hand through- that was going in all directions, and his rumpled shirt- that showed obvious signs that it's been worn several times- Alexander didn't know if he was in a rush, or simply didn't care. (Not that he found himself in any place to judge others on their appearance.)
The third thing he noticed was that his phone was no longer in his hands.
Meeting the worried gazed of the concerned, and heavily freckled man, Alexander realized that he was waiting for a response.
“Oh- oh, yes. I'm fine, thank you. I apologize, I wasn't looking where I was going.” He rambled.
Watching as the other seemed to just brush off his apology with a warming smile and an extended hand, Alexander couldn't help but smile.
Taking the other’s hand in his own, he pulled himself up and proceeded to brush himself off.
“Are you sure you're alright? I ran into you pretty hard…” The stranger inquired once again, making Alexander chuckle.
“Yes, I'm fine, I promise. I just- oh shit!" Alexander exclaimed, as he began looking rapidly around the two of them.
“What is it?” The other asked, looking where Alex did, unsure of what he was looking for.
“My phone, must've dropped it when we ran into each other.” He grumbled, desperately trying to ignore the feeling of panic that was beginning to rise in his chest as he couldn't find it.
“Let me help you- ah-ha!” Alexander watched as the taller man bent over and picked up what he soon realized was his phone, and hand it to him.
“There you go!” He smiled.
Alexander didn't know if the sudden feeling of serenity that washed over him was because of getting his phone back, or because of the way the man was smiling at him.
“Th-thank you, ah...uh…” Alexander trailed off, his thanks falling into silence.
“John. John Laurens.” The other responded.
“Thank you, John.”
“No problem-”
“Alexander Hamilton.” Alexander interjected.
“Alexander Hamilton.” John repeated slowly, a grin on his face.
Alexander doesn't know what it is about John that makes him smile, but in feeling the edges of his lips curl, he chooses not to question it.
The feeling of his phone buzzing, pulls Alexander back into reality, and reminds him of what he was going to do.
“Hey, John?”
“Yes, Alexander?”
“I'm afraid I have to get going- my stuff’s at my dorm, and it's not going to unpack itself.” Alexander could help but feel a small pang of guilt in watching John’s smile falter.
“I suppose I should be doing the same; I heard that the Revolutionary building is surprisingly full this year- like, to the point of almost overcrowded.” He replied, running his fingers through his hair.
Nodding his head in agreement, Alexander froze as he processed what John had just said. “Did you say you're staying in the Revolutionary building?” He asked, and before John could reply he quickly added, “That's where I'm staying.” The excitement that grew in his tone was impossible to miss, and so was the beaming smile on John’s face.
“Really? What hall?” John asked, eyes twinkling.
“Rochambeau!” Alexander responded excitedly, and in watching John’s beaming smile grow, and his eyes shine with excitement, Alexander knew that the two would be in the same hall.
“Well,” John started, taking a step forward and standing next to a giddy Alexander. “how’s about we walk together?”
Sending a toothy smile up in John’s direction- Alexander now suddenly aware of their height difference- he nodded, and led the two of them towards dorm building Revolutionary.
The two men dabbled in meaningless conversation as the entered the building- almost running into other students in the process.
With the conversation dying, and walking pace slowing, Alexander stopped in front of his dorm room, and the look of content on John’s face was easily recognizable.
“My dorm’s just a few doors down,” John nodded his head down the hall in the general direction of his room. “so if you'd like to talk again soon-” John was suddenly cut off as an angry, and heavily French accent yelled,
“Hercules Mulligan, give me my shirt back!”
The two men watched as a man with thick, coily hair, and tawny brown skin exited from- what Alexander would soon realize- John’s dorm, and stride passed the two of them, and entered Alexander’s dorm.
“Hercules!” The Frenchman exclaimed once again, both John and Alexander watched as he snatched a t-shirt from Hercules’ hands.
“Laf, c’mon,” Hercules chuckled, crossing his arms. “just let me study the shirt for a little bit, the material’s very nice.”
Alexander doesn't miss the smile on his roommate’s face, nor does he miss the amused scoff that comes from ‘Laf’.
“Do you remember what happened the last time I let you ‘study’ an article of my clothing?” The amusement in the Frenchman’s voice was impossible to miss, and neither was the embarrassed look on Hercules’s face.
“Laf, oh my god,” he groaned, momentarily burying his face in his hands. “How many times must I apologize? I replaced the shirt! How was I supposed to know that the stain would grow and the color was going to fade?”
Neither John or Alexander could hold back the snorts that passed their lips, causing Hercules and the Frenchman to turn around and look at them.
“Ah, mon cher, I believe your- well, I believe that both of our roommates are here; John, how are you?”
Alexander turned his head and offered a friendly smile at his own roommate- which Hercules returned with a smile of his own- as he heard John answer, “I'm well, thanks. And yourself?”
Alexander doesn't pay too close attention to the small talk between John and ‘Laf’, as he quickly slips by and walks into the dorm room.
“It's nice to finally be able to put a name to a face.” Joked Hercules, as he rose from his chair and made his way over to the shorter male.
“Likewise, it's nice to meet you, Hercules.”
Hercules nodded, in agreement. “It's nice to meet you too, Alexander.”
The two men stood in comfortable silence, until a heavily French accent interrupted them.
“Mon cher, si vulgaire!”
Alexander doesn't even try to hide the confused look on his face as he tried to figure out what either man had done that would've been considered rude.
“How can you stand here and not introduce me to your roommate?”
Alexander feels him grin at the feigned hurt in the man’s voice.
“Well,” Hercules starts slowly, tone smug. “you haven't introduced me to your roommate either, so,” he lets his sentence trail off into a shrug, as Alexander and John share an amused look.
“Touché, Hercules Mulligan, touché.” The group watched as the Frenchman took a step to the side and make jazz hands at John. “John?” He encourages, motioning for John to step up and introduce himself.
“I'm John Laurens, Lafayette’s roommate.” He says to Hercules and Alexander- who is listening intently.
“I'm from South Carolina, and I’m studying to be a lawyer.” Alexander can't help but pick up the tone of disappointment in John’s voice at the mention of becoming a lawyer, and dozens of questions pop up in his head.
“Nice to meet you John Laurens. I'm Hercules Mulligan, born in Ireland, but moved to Brooklyn when I was three; and I'm studying to be a fashion designer.” He beams, hand motioning to the desk behind him- which had fashion and marketing books piled upon it.
Alexander could feel the pride radiating from Hercules’ person, and he smiled.
“Oui, oui, mon Hercules, both you and John are going to do great things, I'm sure of it!” Turning to Alexander, the Frenchman continued, “My name is Gilbert de Lafayette- and that's not even my full name- but you can just call me Lafayette.”
Pausing for a single moment, he continued. “I dream of becoming a teacher- particularly a history teacher-- American history. Born and raised in France; moved here because, well-” he motions aimlessly about the room. “-what makes you think they're going to teach American history in France?” Lafayette chucked at his own statement, and that prompted small bits of laughter from the other three men.
“Happy to be here though; it’s nice to live somewhere different.” He concluded.
Now, all eyes were on Alexander; all of them patiently waiting for him to introduce himself.
“The name’s Alexander Hamilton, there are a million things I haven't done- and one of those is become a lawyer. But just you wait, I plan on being the best lawyer in New York State!” His voice grew in both volume and pride as he spoke, which made the three men smile wildly, feeding off his enthusiastic energy. And Alexander couldn't help but notice the look of...dare he say, admiration, in John's eyes, and it made his heart pound.
“Oh!” Alexander turned to Lafayette and said, “Et je parle couramment français.” And the look of surprise on Lafayette’s face was amusing, and the loud, exaggerated groan that erupted from Hercules, caused him to let out a barking laugh.
“Great, now there's another one.”
Flashing a confused look between Lafayette and Hercules- primarily focusing on Hercules- Lafayette brushed off Hercules’ complain with a wave of his hand.
“Hercules that's no way to speak to a fellow French speaker.”
Hercules only responded with a glare. “John,” Hercules called. “Please, tell me you don't speak French.”
Grinning, Alexander watched as John shook his head, and quickly followed it with laugh at the look of relief on Hercules’ face.
“But why the complaint at Alexander speaking French?” John asked.
Letting out a laugh, Lafayette offered a small explanation: telling the two of them of the time where he only spoke French to Hercules for a week straight. “Ah yes,” he hummed, as if he was reflecting on the memory. “it was a very fun week.”
Alexander watched as Lafayette turned to Hercules and gave him a wink, while the other simply rolled his eyes, but smiled nonetheless.
For a few moments the four men relished in the amused feeling that hung in the air, before John turned to Alex and said, “Alexander, you never said where you were from.” To which the other two men nodded, and turned to him.
“Oui, d’où êtes-vous?” Lafayette asked.
At that moment, all hope of avoiding that question, vanished in that very moment; and Alexander felt his stomach drop.
“Unimportant.” He responded coldly, hands subconsciously fiddling with the hem of his shirt as his lips dipped into a frown.
As if sensing Alexander’s discomfort, John turned to him and said, “All that matters is that you're here, yes?”
Turning to John as his question settled deep inside of him, Alexander nodded, feeling his anxieties simmer into nothingness at the smile John gave him in response.
“Right.” Alexander lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding and he visibly relaxes
A few silent moments pass and nobody knows what to say until John clears his throat in saying, “Well, it was most certainly getting to know you all,” Alexander watched as John turned to him once again and smile. “but, Alexander, as you said earlier ‘my stuff won't unpack itself’, and I'm sure we all have things to unpack.”
Agreeing murmurs erupted from Hercules and Lafayette, and Alexander nodded.
“So I'm sure I’ll see you all later? Maybe we could all grab something to eat or something?”
Again, John was met with a chorus of agreeing hums from the three men. And with that, both John and Lafayette said their goodbye’s and turned around to exit Alexander and Hercules’ dorm.
Following behind them to close the door. Alexander was confused to see Lafayette standing in the doorway then turn around to face him.
“Everything alright?” He asked.
“I apologize my question made you uncomfortable, mon ami.” Lafayette's apology was sincere and Alexander knew it.
Accepting the apology with a nod, Alexander said, “I know it wasn't your intention, I forgive you,” Lafayette smiled wide at being forgiven. “If you could just...not...bring it up, that'd be more than incroyable.” A small smile of his own forming, Lafayette nodded and sent Alexander another goodbye, and proceeded to follow
John to their dorm.
Closing the door behind him, Alexander turned back around and focused on his current task at hand; unpacking and getting settled.
His stuff had been placed neatly on the side of his bed, and in glancing over at all the boxes of thing Hercules had with him, Alexander suddenly didn't want to unpack and show how little stuff he’d brought with him. It's not like he had much to bring with him; between the dozens of books he had, and a closet’s amount of clothes, he didn't have much else. Everything else he either left back in St. Kitts, or had been destroyed.
Alexander felt as if Hercules was watching him, and his suspicions were confirmed as he heard him ask, “You alright, Alexander?”
Nodding, Alexander fuddled with the hem of his shirt before mumbling a “yeah, just thinking, I suppose..”
Hercules giving him nothing more than a hum of a response- which Alexander was grateful for- both men focused back on their own belongings.
It took Alexander no more than an hour and a half to fully unpack and store away all his belongings. He'd put away all his clothes, and set up his desk with paper, his textbook, and laptop- excited for the nights of staying up and writing papers when the time came.
Looking over at Hercules- who was still frantically unpacking- Alexander offered to help him. Accepting his help, Hercules pointed Alex in the right direction of where he wanted certain things to go; and the two of them were done within the next hour.
Watching Hercules look around the room, smile, and thank Alexander for the help, Alex responded with a grin and a ‘happy to help.’
The two men stood around in comfortable silence, until thoughts of a certain southerner named John Laurens, entered Alexander’s mind. “Hey, Hercules?” He called.
“Yeah?”
‘This is stupid, he probably doesn't even know John.’ Alexander thought.
“So, how long have you and Lafayette been friends?” He asks, deciding to avoid talking about John for now.
“Only a year. I met him last year when we were freshmen. We met through the mutual dislike of a man named ‘King George’-” giving the man a confused look, Hercules held a finger up before continuing. “-he was just some major douchebag we both had the misfortune of meeting. We both joked of the idea of getting him kicked out of class, been friends ever since”.
Corners on his lips twitching upward, Alexander took the moment’s pause to ask, “And John?”
Hercule gave him a confused look. “What about John?”
“How long have you known John?”
Alexander couldn't help but feel a little disappointed when Hercules shook his head.
“As long as you have I'm afraid. I believe he's a freshman- like you.”
Giving him a nod and a shrug, Alexander continued making small talk; avoiding talking about himself about personal matters. But other than that, the man’s need for conversation grew as he spoke a mile a minute, and it wasn't until he paused to take a breath did Hercules say, “Hey, Lafayette just texted me, he wants to know if you want to join us on a trip to the cafe on campus- John’s coming too.”
Despite the hesitancy he felt at first- knowing he probably wouldn't be able to pay for anything- knowing that John was coming along, made Alexander’s stomach do somersaults.
“Sure, I'd love to.” He responded, watching Hercules grin, and tap his fingers rapidly on his phone before sliding it back into his pocket, then motion for Alex to follow him.
“C’mon we’re leaving now”.
Following behind Hercules as they walked out of their dorm and met up with John and Lafayette- who stood waiting for them at their own dorm.
Following in step with John, and Lafayette with Hercules, the four engaged in conversation of first impressions of the campus, and unpacking.
Lafayette had arrived two days ago, so he was already done unpacking. John on the other hand was still unpacking. There were still clothes that needed to be hung and put away, things to hang on the wall, and other things that currently slipped his mind.
“Alexander here moves like lightning; he was done unpacking in no time.” Hercules commented.
Shy smile grazing his lips, Alexander shrugged.
“Just wanted to get it out of the way I suppose.”
John nodded, turning to look at him. “Best to get it done as soon as possible, right?”
Nodding, Alexander let out a him of agreement. “Exactly.”
By the time they four of them got to their desired destination, Alexander’s stomach was growling loudly. His face flushed with a dusty pink, when John asked, “You hungry?”
Mumbling a yes as they all entered the cafe John turned to him and asked, “What would you like? My treat.”
Alexander’s head snapped up at John’s offer. “What- I can't, you don't have to. But thank you- that's very kind, but you- you don't have to, you don't-” Alexander’s nervous rambling was cut off by a hand- John’s hand- on his shoulder, and a southern accent voice saying, “Alexander, relax, it's fine.” And by the way John was smiling at him, Alexander almost wanted to believe him.
“Consider it as an apology for running into you earlier.”
Shaking his head and opening his mouth to to protest some more, John cut him off. “Alexander, I'm going to buy something for you whether you like it or not.”
Stopping behind Lafayette and Hercules, John motioned up towards the menu that hung behind the cashier. “What would you like?”
Eyes scanning the menu, only one thing caught Alex’s attention. “Smoked ham and Swiss sandwich..?” He replied, almost sounding unsure of his choice.
“Is that what you want?” John asked.
Nodding, Alexander watched as the three men ordered and paid for their food, and then sit down at a nearby empty table.
In waiting for their food, the four engaged in small talk; at first asking one another what they had ordered, then moving onto topic of likes and dislikes until their food was brought to them
when Alexander’s food was placed in front of him, he’s quickly reminded how hungry he is; and he doesn't pay any attention to his three friends who stare at him- aghast at how fast he's eating.
“Wow, you really were hungry.” John commented with a smile.
Alex doesn't offer up a reply- hardly paying any attention, as he's busy chewing away at a bite of his sandwich.
Watching absentmindedly at the others eat their food, Alexander swears he hasn't eaten something this good in a long time...a long, long time.
Not much is said between the four of them as they all finish their food- Alex and Hercules being the only one’s to actually finish- and walk back to their dorm, but they all to agree to go one again someday soon when they're all free.
In departing into their respective dorms and saying their goodbyes, Alex feels his heart pound hard against his chest as his mind reflects on the couple of times he seen John’s eyes light up with interest and attention as he spoke. And it wasn't as if Alexander was saying anything remotely interesting, but the way John looked at him- such hyper focus- made him feel like he was.
As he packed up his backpack for his eight am class tomorrow, Alex remembers to plug in his phone and set an alarm to get himself up early to review his professor’s syllabus.
Zipping up his backpack and climbing into bed- literally- Alex shoots a ‘goodnight’ in Hercules’ direction- who only responds with a small snore- and positions himself comfortably underneath his sheets.
And as he feels himself drifting off into what he soon decides is the best night’s sleep he's bad in years, he thinks that this is the best day he's had in a long, long time. And that this is his first time having a group of friends who...well, this is first time actually having a group of friends. As that thought sinks deep into his mind, a strong feeling of belonging and love bursts in his chest, a wide smile curling at his lips. And that's how, for the first time, Alexander falls asleep with a smile on his face.