Work Text:
December 23rd 1778 ~ (modern) Port Richmond
The cold was still blistering, despite the thawing of the snow and the sun looming above them. The two men walked side-by-side, unusually tense and quiet. The upcoming duel an unknown darkness approaching to engulf them.
“Think you’ll win?” Alexander bluntly asked, his boots making a satisfying crunch in the little remaining snow. He was staring down at the pathway before him.
“Hopefully.” John smirked and let out a small chuckle. “Lee has proven quite incompetent in battles, let’s pray he’s just as during duels.”
Alexander didn’t laugh, he just kept looking down at his feet and continued walking alongside the taller man as if nothing had been said at all.
He was worried, really worried. It was severely obvious, anyone with eyes and ears could tell.
As they grew closer to the makeshift duelling ground which both Lee and Laurens had agreed upon, John had started mirroring Alexander’s tense, unresponsiveness.
“Laurens?”
No response.
“Laurens.”
“What, Alexander?” John suddenly snapped, his blonde hair, which was neatly tied back just hours before now slightly hung out from the ribbon at the nape of his neck, he glared down into Alexander’s violet eyes.
God, he had to admit, even now, they were still the most unique, and captivating pair he had ever seen.
Alexander placed his hands on John’s shoulders, looking up at the taller man with such a combination of adoration and seriousness only he could possess.
“Laurens, You’re my best, most dearest friend. I have been at your side for the last few months, and during that period, I’ve grown to love you oh so dearly...”
He paused, and took a deep exhale, looking back down at the ground and sighing, as if the weight of the words were a deep, physical pressure.
“I can’t lose you too.”
He admitted, meeting his own violet eyes with john’s blue eyes. The regular clearness had been overtaken by a thin sheen of unshed tears.
“Alex…”
“Jack…”
Alexander swiftly stood up on his toes, putting a hand on the back of his head and pulled John into a deep kiss, to which he immediately reciprocated. The pair stumbled back slightly, lost in each other. John’s back gently slamming into a nearby tree.
It felt like nearly a century had passed before the pair finally broke apart, staring into each other's eyes with such a love most wouldn’t believe it. They gently kneeled to lay under the tree. John propped himself up on his elbow on one of the various tree roots.
Alexander was leaning on his right hip; legs curled to the side. Head resting on John’s chest. One hand on his thigh, another still on the back of his head.
The pair shared another kiss, though significantly less passionate and lustful, held possibly more adoration and love than the last, if possible.
Both men had continuously been staring into each other’s eyes, their gazes soft, as both carried small, content smiles on their faces. Their stares and facial expressions practically identical.
The duel had long been forgotten by the pair. The only important thing was each other. They learned in to kiss again, this time nearly as passionate and eager as the first. John had one arm around Alexander and the other entangled in his long, auburn curls, that, like John’s had been neatly tied in a queue that morning.
Alexander and John simply made out for as long as they possibly could before slightly separating, both slightly breathless and flushed with a baby pink hue across both of their faces.
It was then that Alexander randomly and abruptly, that remembered the most important part of the day.
The duel.
They had been out solely for Laurens to duel with Lee. They had scheduled it for 3:30 sharp. They had left at just the right time for them to be precisely on time.
“Fuck! The duel!” Alexander blurted out. John’s eyes widened, his blush still not yet receding.
Without any more words spoken between them, Alexander quickly grabbed John’s hand and aided in pulling him up.
The pair started speed walking towards the woods near the four mile stone on the Point No Point Road, where they were already meant to be situated and prepared to duel.
As they breathlessly arrived, late, Major General Charles Lee, and his second, Major Evan Edwards, were already standing in their designated positions.
“Oh, well look who decided to show up, Col. Laurens, and Col. Hamilton. You’re only...” He reached for his pocket watch, briefly surveying the time. “Thirty minutes late.”
John’s jaw clenched, though he kept his, albeit deserved, opinions and comments to himself, a miracle, in his eyes.
“Deepest apologies, General Lee.” He said flatly, the lack of remorse and respect for him extremely evident in his tone.
Before any further arrangements were to be made, both men were provided with their brace and immediately began questioning each other on which way the other would prefer to handle the affair, and what protocol would be upheld.
“I propose.”
Lee said, pausing, he sneered into John’s eyes and then down at Alexander, both younger men standing before him.
“That we, instead of standing in a fixed position and firing at each other, we advance upon one another and take aim at the distance and time we see fit, do you agree, Col. Laurens?”
“I agree, in fact, I believe I prefer this method above all else.” Laurens smirked. Lee’s face hadn’t faltered.
As the duel began to commence. Laurens began counting the paces in his head, the only way to survive.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Si-
Two gunshots rang out.