more of us (hamilton x laurens)

"Alexander?"

The small voice barely pulled Hamilton away from his essay.
"Yeah, John?" He answered, not looking anywhere but his laptop screen.
"S- Somebody in Henry and James' gang got shot again." John murmured.
Alexander spun his chair around to face his boyfriend. "Babe, I-"
John ran to Alex, instantly collapsing into him and sobbing.
"I'm so scared, Alexander."
"Sh, I know, darling, I know."
Ever since their mom died and their dad had to leave the country for work, the Laurens children faced numerous hardships, one of them being forced into seperate foster families. Henry and James then took it upon themselves to run away and join a gang of other troubled street youths. As they grew older, the level of violence in their activities escalated, and John, unable to keep in touch with them, had to watch from the sidelines and various newspapers and websites reporting on gang activity in South Carolina. Alexander, having no family, tried to help in the best way he knew how. Listening.
"Those are my little brothers, I can't- I won't- let them die. They're teenagers, Alex."
"I know, baby." Alexander cooed, rubbing the back of the man latched unto him. "I have an idea."
John sniffled and looked up. "Huh?"
"Come with me."
*
Knock knock.
"Oui?" Marquis called, swinging his door open, revealing a red-eyed Laurens and a scowling Hamilton towering over him.
"Lafayette, can we talk to you?" Alexander asked, resting his hands on John's hips from behind.
"Eh? Sure. Come in." The frenchman stepped to the side and gestured his friends in.
The three sat down around each other.
"What's up? Is there something wrong?" Lafayette asked, concern showing all over his face.
"Marquis .. I hate to ask you this, but, can.. can you lend me enough money for a round trip to South Carolina?" John sighed, his head down.
"May I find out the reason why?" Lafayette questioned.
"I - I have to find my brothers."
"Okay. Give me your paypal name again." Lafayette breathed, eager to help his friend, even without explanation.
*
"Hey, John?" Alexander asked from the doorway.
"Yeah?" John took a break from his packing and turned to face his
boyfriend.
"Find your brothers. Please, stay safe, though. I love you, John. So much, a- and we're only sophmores in college, and the big debate club thing is two weeks away and-" John shut Alexander up by standing on his tip-toes and pecking him on the lips.
"You're worrying over nothing, babe. I love you too, Alexander. More than life itself. I actually am a little bit excited to introduce you to my lil bros. I'll text you constantly, okay? and don't worry about debate club- with how good you guys are, by tommorow, there'll be more of us."
"Okay." Alex smiled.
Before Alexander knew it, he was saying goodbye to the love of his life as he set off on his Lifetime Tv Channel DocuDrama-esque adventure "to reunite his family after all these years" at the airport.
He texted John as soon he was out of his sight.
"Miss you already :-("
"Be back soon, ya teddy bear <3" John replied.
*
"Any luck?" Typed Alex.
"Yeah, just need to know where they're staying. Can't believe Henry went with just 'Junior' as his street name while James' is 'Lil Nasty'."
That made Alexander laugh.
"Report all your findings to me."
"Aye, aye, cap'n. I have to find a phone charger somewhere, too. Love ya, talk to ya soon." John replied.
"I love you." Alexander sent back.
*
A few more people joined debate club that week. (Hercules mused, "John was right, there ARE more of us!")
Alexander almost got in a full-on fist fight with Thomas Jefferson that same week, but he didn't, which he decided he had to tell John about.
So, that Thursday, Alexander compiled the seven day's events into a single text and planned to send it to Laurens.
It was then, however, he got a text from Eliza Schuyler.
"Urgent. Something from debate club came up, we need you in Herc's dorm."
Putting his phone in his back pocket, Alexander set off to the Reynolds building on campus to Hercules' room.
*
Knock knock.
knock knock.
knock kno-
The door swung open, and Alex was surprised to see a cowering Eliza behind it.
"C-come in." She said.
All of Hamilton's friends were inside. Hell, Burr was inside.
"What is the meaning of this ..?" Alexander questioned.
Hercules approached Alex and placed an opened envelope in his hands.
"An invitation to visitation and funeral service of John Laurens on October 12, 2016."
"No." Hamilton breathed. "This isn't real."
"Peggy fo- found a South Carolina news network. It's everywhere. Newspapers, websites, TV... Innocent civillian shot and mutilated just because he had siblings in a rival gang." Eliza explained, taking time between her words to stifle sobs and let her tears flow.
Alexander was choking. He had collapsed onto his knees and was just
staring blankly forward. Everyone in the room kneeled around Alexander, comforting him. He couldn't think, he couldn't breathe.
The one person who kept his overworking mind grounded and not in the clouds, was gone.
"I- I have to finish my essay." Alexander said. He got up, and just like that, he was out of the Reynolds building and trekking his way to his and Lauren's shared dorm.
"I have so much to do." He whispered, sitting back down in front of his computer.
Hamilton sat and worked for hours. His tears kept getting in the way of his writing, which upset him more than he already was.
He still had the envelope, with a hand written message on the back of the funeral invitation from John's father.
It read; "Mr. Hamilton, John loved you more than anything. Will you write his obituary for us? Much love to you in our troubling times, Henry Laurens, Sr."
With that request, Hamilton remembered everything he had listened to. He funneled everything in his mind about the beautiful freckled Laurens into an obituary, no- a novel of sorts.
And yet, he didn't even go to the funeral.