Defining Factors

Chapter 15: Upheaval

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Warnings: Nsfw, violence, angst

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Francis' outstretched hand dropped to his side, still staring at the spot James had been standing moments before. He looked back to John and Angelica as the sleeping medicine he forced into their systems wore off. Thomas stepped forward next to Francis, "He's gone," he whispered. Francis couldn't even bring himself to nod.

"What is going on here?" Fredericks asked.

Hamilton shrank back, not wanting to take the blame for everything and lose his ranking, but Burr stepped forward. As the leader of the group, it was his responsibility. "There's a lot to explain, sir. I think it would be best discussed privately."

Fredericks nodded. "Get cleaned up. My office, eight sharp, tomorrow morning."

Burr nodded and glanced at his group before striding down the hall. Thomas looked at Hamilton, now letting the anger set in from what Alex had done to James. Hamilton realized exactly the same thing under Jefferson's hard glare. "Thomas, wait," he pleaded, reaching out for him. Thomas had already turned on his heel and was marching from the room as well, the door closing loudly behind him.

Francis was kneeling over John, gently patting his face to bring him back to consciousness, Eliza and Peggy doing the same for their sister. Hamilton dumped water on their faces before walking off to see if he could find Thomas.

John and Angelica sputtered awake, both launching instantly into fight mode but were quickly calmed down. Francis immediately dragged Laurens away, leaving the three sisters alone with everyone still watching.

"Francis, where're you taking me?" he asked as Francis dragged him along. "What happened? Did we get James?"

"No. James is gone, mostly unharmed, as he should be."

"As he should be? Francis, you know who he is. You said yourself, no one should have that kind of power over death. It's wrong." Francis opened a door and shoved John inside, entering behind him and closing it afterward as the lights automatically flickered on. "Is this your room?" John asked, a grin spreading across his face.

"Yes." John stalked forward like a predator and grabbed Francis by the waist, pulling them together. Francis crossed his arms and leaned slightly away. "No. I'm mad at you."

"Come on, Frankey. You know James deserved it. He manipulated us all. He lied to us."

"He may have manipulated us, but he didn't lie to us and he was doing it for his own protection."

"He's a necromancer."

"He's a person."

"A bad person."

"No, just a person in a bad circumstance."

John leaned closer to Francis. "We've been hunting him for years."

"He's been hunted for years."

"What would you rather have had me do?" Laurens asked, starting to plant kisses up his neck.

"Not just start attacking someone who couldn't even say anything to defend himself."

"So, what? Just stare at him in silence forever? Something needed to be done. Hamilton and Angelica agreed with me."

"Angelica was only thinking about protecting her sisters and the threat James posed to their safety and Hamilton is hot-headed and jumps to action without thinking things through. So do you."

Laurens pushed them over to the bed and laid them down and Francis wrapped his arms around him. "Did you just call me hot-headed?"

"Yes."