Win His Heart - Historical Lams

Six - VI

John walked over to Lafayette, the Frenchman noticing him immediately and turning to him with a big smile.

The Frenchman dismissed his soldiers to take a break, watching them all walk away, some collapsing on the ground. Lafayette rolled his eyes at their behavior, "Dramatique," he mumbled in French. He then turned back to John and smiled once more, "Good morning, Laurens."

The blond chuckled at the soldiers' exhaustion and Lafayette's response. "Good morning," he replied with a smile. He wasn't sure why he approached the Frenchman. Maybe it was to get his mind off of Alex. He was growing annoyed with himself.

"Where is Alexander?" Lafayette asked, looking around with confusion, "He's not with you?" The pair was inseparable, hardly ever seen at most ten feet apart. And of course, Lafayette was a part of their friend group, but he wasn't around as much due to being a general.

John's heart sank as the Frenchman asked about Alex, part of him wanting to scoff and ask why he cared. However, he kept his composure and shrugged, "He's with General Washington," he answered with a scowl.

Lafayette furrowed his eyebrows and tilted his head with confusion, "What is wrong?" He asked with a strong accent. Sure it wasn't uncommon to see John scowl or be sarcastic, but not towards someone like Lafayette.

The blond huffed as he saw the Frenchman's worry and confusion in his response. He bit his tongue and shook his head, looking down at the grass below him. "I'm fine," he said quietly, making it obvious that he wasn't.

"Clearly not," Lafayette mumbled, putting a soft hand on John's arm and leading him away from the soldiers. He stopped once they were under a nearby tree, turning to the blond and taking his hand away, "What's wrong?" He asked again.

John allowed the Frenchman to drag him away, however, he crossed his arms and refused to meet his eyes when they stopped. "It's stupid," he said softly, not sure if he wanted to tell Lafayette about this.

The Frenchman sighed and folded his hands in front of him. He didn't like seeing his friends like this, especially one he was close to. "Even if it is, I won't say anything," he promised with a small smile, hoping this is what Americans considered a 'good friend.'

The blond looked up, seeing Lafayette's sincere expression. He sighed and rubbed his forehead, "It's about Alex," he finally mumbled.

Lafayette nodded softly, "I guessed that. You seemed disappointed when you mentioned him being with the general."

John nodded as well, knowing Lafayette wasn't an idiot. He then wondered what the Frenchman would say or think of him when he told him how he felt about Alex, "Can you keep a secret?" He mumbled, looking down once more.

"Oui," Lafayette answered, knowing he would never break a promise like this. He was trustworthy and loyal to John, Alex, and the General.

The blond felt slightly relieved once he heard that, able to trust this man with his life. He swallowed and breathed out, finding the words to tell the Frenchman how he felt. "I think I love him," he started slowly.

Lafayette's eyebrows lifted a little out of surprise. He hadn't seen it coming, but it was obvious at the same time. "But you hate when he shows you affection," he started, "you roll your eyes or tell him it'll never happen, what changed?"

The Frenchman was no stranger to witnessing Alex's attempts of flirting with John, though he always found it amusing when the blond would shove the other or let out sighs.

John continued to avoid eye contact, shifting his weight and thinking of all the times Alex tried to charm him and all the reactions the blond gave him in return. "I know, but I wish not to love him," he replied, "so I continue to reject him."

"Why is that?" Lafayette asked, his eyebrows furrowing again, "Alexander is a good man and loves you very much, not to mention that he is very handsome as well."

John groaned at the compliments that Lafayette gave Alex. His heart sped up as he thought of how handsome Alex was and how the man always tried to make him laugh or smile, which was adorable.

He clenched his fists before replying, "I'm afraid, Laf."

The Frenchman sighed in solemn, wishing John the best. The two could be a perfect match if it weren't so complicated, "But why?" He asked, "Is it your father? Alex? Others?"

John finally looked at Laf, appreciating him for trying to help with this problem. "All of them," he answered, rubbing his forehead once more.

The Frenchman huffed and crossed his arms, both in worry and anger. He wished other people could just be more accepting and that John would just go for it. "Your father has no control over your life, nor does society," he began sternly, but with care, "but why does Alex trouble you?"

The blond sighed as he was lectured, though he had been raised to please his father and society. It had been a struggle his whole life, what he was used to. He mumbled finally, "I don't want to ruin our friendship..."

The Frenchman sighed, understanding that concern. "You won't," he assured, "Alexander is very happy when he's teasing or anywhere near you, I'm certain he will do everything in his power to make you happy. You're already very close, so it'll be the same as now, only with hugging, kissing, and cuddling..."

John blushed as he heard the affection that would come along with a relationship like that. He tried to push away the images of him and Alex doing those things and mumbled back instead, "It's not that easy."

Lafayette giggled and shrugged, "It'll work out," he promised. "Talk to him tonight. If you don't allow this burden to be lifted off of your shoulders and just let him love you, then things will stay the same. He's been waiting for weeks and you know it, you'll be doing him a huge favor."

John huffed as the Frenchman made it sound simple, just talk and get it over with. He wanted to, but there was that feeling that things would go wrong. "Alright," he mumbled, "I'll talk to him," he wasn't too confident when he said that, yet he knew he had to someday.

"Perfect," Lafayette said, patting the blond's shoulder blade, "tell me how it goes tomorrow, Mon Ami." He then turned to his soldiers and yelled, "Sur vos pieds, les hommes! Votre pause est terminée, il est temps de vous entraîner!"

The blond chuckled at the words Lafayette yelled to his soldiers, knowing every word he said. He smiled at the Frenchman before walking away. His mind spun as he thought of the conversation he was going to have with Alex later, still not very confident. He didn't know what would happen after he confessed.