𝙻𝚊𝚖𝚜 𝙾𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚝𝚜

ᕼOᗰᗴᗯᗩᖇᗪ ᗷOᑌᑎᗪ

Alexander sat by the piano, gingerly pressing the keys.

He loved music. It's what got him through his childhood. When his parents would argue, his older brother would teach him to play. He remembered the yelling would seemingly just fade away when they would play. When his father left, his mother would play with him.

He thought about the Caribbean as he played. He loved it in America. He had freedoms here. Nobody knew he was a bastard. Nobody knew his age. Nobody knew anyone about him, and that's a wonderful thing. He could look at the sky and hope for a better life that is actually reachable.

But, that little island was his childhood, rather bad or good. The strong smells of streets and the beach. The taste of fish and all those lovely seasonings he missed so terribly. Sometimes, if he was around a body of water, he'll dip his feet in it. It almost feels like home. He could smell the salt water and see the green trees.

He looked over at the piano. He pressed the keys and began to play a medley he knew from long ago. He looked around before singing in French.

He could feel his mother's embrace and hear his brother clapping. He-

"Hamilton, get your head out the clouds! There's a war to win!" He jumped as Meade ran to him in uniform. "Up now, we must go!"

He glanced at the piano before turning to head outside. He remained quiet as he rode on his horse, something his friend wasn't shy on commenting on.

"You were singing a song before, what was it called?" His hair was blowing in the wind, smiling as they almost reached base.

He looked away. "Oh, I just made it up."

----

Work was tiredsome, and he didn't get time to himself until night.

He walked over to the water. Nobody trusts him around it because of what happened at Schuykill. It really wasn't his fault. If anything, they should be proud of him because he was able to swim instead of sinking like a stone. It's one of the scariest days in the entire war for him, yet he survived it.

He rolled up his pants to expose his pale ankles as he took off his boots. How scandalous. He dipped his toes in, sighing when he felt the cold water on his skin. He missed this feeling.

A part of him wanted to swim again. He's fairly good at it. That's how he survived the hurricane. He slowly itched his long fingers to the water, smiling when he touched it. He started to put his arm in, seeing his little red hairs floating.

"Hamilton, what are you doing?!" He jumped again before turning around and seeing Laurens running to him. "May you mind yourself!"

"My humblest apologies, fellow cadet." He batted his eyelashes. He knew he could away with murder if he showed his eyes.

John huffed and sat next to him. "You know better than to be alone with the waves."

"It only happened once, dear."

"Once was enough for me." He swung his arm around his shoulders, rubbing his sweaty forehead. "The water is calming, however. Allow me to draw?"

"Certainly, allow me to see once you finish."

"Yes."

The only sounds were the waves crashing on the stones, Alexander's light splashing, and John's pencils.

"Do you miss South Carolina?"

John didn't look up. "No."

"Why not?"

"No good came from such a hellish place, dear boy."

"But that was your home, wasn't it?"

"No, home was my mother." He paused before continuing to draw. "Why are you asking such questions?"

"I feel homesick, I can't fathom where it came from." He kicked the water around. "I miss the Caribbean."

"I'm terribly sorry to hear of such a thing, but you're in the finest land on blue earth. Surely you will find your place here." He smiled and leaned over to show him his drawing. "Beautiful, no? I even captured the seaform."

"It's very lovely." He touched it, longing to feel the real seaform in-between his fingers. It felt like bubbly cream.

They sat together in silence, stargazing and playing with the water. Alexander thought of his mother. She loved the water. They used to go swimming together when he was a little boy. She didn't go out much when she got sick. He didn't either.

He suddenly embraced Laurens, burying his face in his chest. It surprised the other, but he enjoyed it nonetheless. He heard sniffles.

"Mustn't weep, Hammy. This is your home now." He rubbed his back, feeling his pointy bones.

"I'm aware, just miss it, tis all." He sat up, the other wiping his fat tears.

He kissed his head. "I believe that jackfruit is from the Caribbean, correct?" Alexander nodded. "I'll find some for you, dear boy."

"Thank you, Jack."

----

He snuck off again, going back to the water.

He longed for his mother. He longed to be home.

He looked down and jumped in. He laughed, getting his curly hair out of his eyes. This is what he truly needed, just a quick swim. He duck his head below, feeling like a child again. He remembered counting the pebbles below. Unfortunately, he couldn't see none.

He heard a yell and a splash, making him go up again. John was lifting him up and putting him back on the edge.

"What were you doing?!" Hamilton blushed when he realized John was shirtless.

"I'm swell, Laurens! I'm having a grand time!"

"You must be careful! When you wish to swim, you need to alert me!" He hugged him. "I don't want to lose you once more."

He embraced him, kissing his wet skin. "Please do not dread. It will never happen again."

John didn't let go of him as he looked down. Tiny waves were crushing into him. He gently lowered him back into the water, still in his grasp.

"We may swim together." He smiled when Hamilton hugged his neck. "Only for a short time."

"Yes, my love."

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A/N: A HAPPY ENDING?! 😲