John Laurens x Reader: Belle

Chapter 1

Albany... New York... America... Such a beautiful place. A place of dreams and opportunity. A new country is exactly what I needed.

The carriage stops right in front of a beautiful white house in a calm neighborhood, I assume this is Marie-Joseph's house. I peer through the carriage windows to see beautiful rococo ornaments settled on the window sill, one of them gifted to him by myself.

The footman opens the door of the carriage for me and helps me out just as Marie-Joseph opens the door with as much more enthusiasm than when I last saw my cousin. He runs up to me and with the aristocratic etiquette we were taught at a young age, he takes my right hand in his and gently kisses my knuckles. I can feel the bright smile on my hand. He releases my hand.

"My dear cousin," I smile up at him "It's been a while since our last meeting"

His smile is evidence of how much he missed me, "Mon cher, tomorrow marks the four year anniversary of our last meeting and although your letters brought me joy it is not the same as having you here in person"

His accent is less thick than the last time I heard him. He picks up my heavy luggage with ease. "(F/N), your luggage gets heavier every time I see you. Do you plan on staying a while?"

I walk by his side as we stroll through the front garden to the oak door, "If you must know, I also received a letter from Monsieur Washington and my father along with yours. He requested my uhhh.... what is the word, cousin? Aidez-moi?"

"Help," He says.

"Ah yes, pardon my English, Marie-Joseph. He requested my help in battle plans due to my father falling ill and being unable to help," I say as he sets down the luggage next to a side table in the parlor. He stands up straight as I close the door behind me.

"Now that we are lone, let's drop formalities" He smile hadn't dimmed since he first saw me. He hugs me tightly, kissing the top of my (H/C) (hair color) hair, "How is your father?"

"He's as best as he can be as of now but I'm not sure he will make it through winter," I look over at his grandfather clock placed next to a door to what I assume was the living room: five pm here, eleven pm in Paris. I pull away and hold Lafayette at arm's length and he studies me for a few seconds.

"Taking his place in this revolution is a brave act, (F/N) and I admire you for that. You've grown so much in the past few years. Look at you now! Twenty! I've missed so much of your life... and no powdered wigs or caked makeup, thank the lord!" He laughs and I laugh along with him.

"I decided to ditch them when I turned sixteen, I wasn't under the pressures of my mother anymore." I roll my eyes. He leads me into the living room decorated in blues and whites and sits me down on the couch.

"I'm sorry about your mother but speaking of them wigs and makeup," He starts as he pours himself a glass of whiskey "The winter's ball is tomorrow and I want you to get know your new comrades."

"Are they wigs and makeup mandatory?" I ask.

"Absolutely not."

"Then yes, I will attend"

"Good, I wasn't going to give you an option. You're coming whether you wanted to or not, mon cher," He smiled innocently. I shake my head at his playfulness.

I scan the room as we sit in silence, enjoying each others company. Paintings of our family scattered the furthest wall and right in the center, us. Us at the young age of eight and nine, him being only ten months older than me.

A loud, obnoxious sip sounded from Lafayette. I give my full attention to him to see that he has a cheeky smile plastered on his face, "Monnn cherrr," he drags out each syllable, "I know you just got here today but may I pleaseee go to the bar with a few friends?"

I laughed, "are you planning on getting really drunk?"

He innocently nods his head... I swear he's a child.

"I'll come round to the bar at midnight to pick you up, I want to make sure you get home safely." I can't let him get hurt, not before we are deployed to the camps. He sighed and kissed my temple.

"I'm so glad you're with me, (F/N). I can't explain how much I've missed you," He whispers.

Lafayette and I had grown up like siblings rather and cousins, making us extremely close, especially with the small age gap. Our fathers were close brothers and our families would visit each other often. When Lafayette went off to join the war in America, I missed him immensely, cried for days and wrote him letters constantly and he claimed he did the same although him not sure of it. We weren't just cousins, we were best friends.
"I've missed you too, Laf" I smile warmly up at him.
~~~
I strolled down the street, keeping close to the lighted candle lamps as midnight rapidly approached. Tightening the grip on my shawl, I look around at the signs attached to buildings. Common village shops like libraries, clothing stores, bakeries... and then I saw it Sam Adam's Bar.

I peered in the small window to see Lafayette standing on an unsteady table, drink in hand and yelling. I decided to head in before something bad could happen to him or the table.

Upon my entrance, he saw me and slurred his words, "mon cher, Comment tu m'as manqué! Vous méritez un verre, un toast à l'arrivée de la belle (F/N)!" He shouts at a group consisting of four men. (My dear, How i have missed you! You deserve a drink, a toast to the arrival of the beautiful (F/N)!)

The men stare at him with blank faces, obviously, they do not speak French. Laf rolls his eyes and repeats what he said in English as I observe the men. One, who seemed to be the tallest had dark skin and a bandana wrapped around his short black hair. To the left of him was a short man with a goatee and a small frame, looking as if he hadn't had the right nutrition. Across from the short man was a man of what seemed to be of average height, his tanned face with littered with freackles and his tight curls were pulled back into a low ponytail. Finally, the man next to the previous was dark skinned with cropped hair and held his tall frame with confindence.

All five men stood up and raised their glasses, "To (F/N)!" they shouted and the rest of the bar followed. My face heated as the attenetion is focused on me. I felt an arm wrap around my shoulders and I look up to see the man with freckles smiling down at him. I couldn't help but notice how nice and comforting his smile was.

"Well, Laf, you were right. She is most indeed beautiful," He slurs but doesn't break eye contact once.

"Mon ami, I am always right," Lafayette laughs from the direction of the table his friends were at.

He smirks broadly before whispering in my ear, "I'd love draw you like one of my French Lafayette's"

I could feel my cheeks instantly burn and I knew I was red. As he pulls away, I smell the alcohol on his breath and I pull back. I pull out of his grip and turn to Lafayette, "Its midnight, cousin and you need your sleep before the ball tomorrow."

He turns to me abrubtly, "Ah of course! How could I forget Washington's Winter Ball? I hope to see you all courting a beautiful lady tomorrow, gentleman." Lafayette does a mockingly low bow and wraps his arm around me before leading us out of the bar.

~~~~

Word count: 1,360
Date finished: 1/3/2019
Date published: 1/4/2019
I want to give a special thanks to my friend for helping me out on this story!