Art is Healing (a sequel to Art is Broken)

Summary

[this is a summary of Art is Dead and Art is Broken, for context for this story. I highly suggest, however, that you read at least art is broken, since this is a sequel. It will only really summarise parts of Dead that relate to Broken in some way.]

Art is Dead, originally named The AU Where Alexander Dies While Holding John's Hand, is an au which is pretty much is explained in the original title. Alexander and John have been dating for a long time. John is a painter, and Alexander is a writer. They are at a book signing for Alexander's most recent book about their relationship, when they are asked to sign a book for one Aaron Burr, who Alexander dissed in a previous book. Aaron asks John to sign first, and while he is doing so, pulls a gun on Alexander and shoots him, killing him almost instantly. John is holding Alex's hand under the table the whole time, and is heartbroken. He becomes quiet and secluded, moving into Lafayette and Hercules' home and never leaving his room. He's basically broken.

During the book signing, John had a ring in his pocket, intending to propose to Alexander afterwards, but, of course, that didn't happen. He wore the ring he was going to give Alexander on a string around his neck in memory.

Art is Broken is an AU of Art is Dead made by yours truly. It never had an "original name" because I'm better at naming things than the King of Angst™. I proposed it early October.

The book signing goes just as it did in Dead, right until the moment Burr shot. Instead of killing Alexander, it hit his side. Alex was rushed to the hospital, accompanied by Hercules. John stayed at the library the signing was being held in, until Lafayette showed up and took him to the hospital, where Hercules tries to warn John of something, but John's an impatient jackass and ignores him, rushing into Alex's room, only to find that he's got amnesia, remembering John, Lafayette and Hercules as if they were friends from preschool that he hadn't talked to since. John is unreasonably angry with him and everyone involved. He breaks some shit then Lafayette tells him to suck it up. Alex moves in with Hercules and Lafayette for time being, and for the next 100 days, many shenanigans ensue, including John trying to get to know the "new Alexander" and resenting him for not being "his Alexander", deliberately making himself almost-cry by reading a letter, and punching Theodosia Burr (sr).

106 days after Alexander was shot, it's John's birthday, and Alexander comes to give him a letter. A letter that heavily resembles the one John made himself almost-cry by reading, a letter from long, long ago, something clicks in John's brain and he vanishes to his room and comes back out with the ring box from all that time ago, with a small note that simply says "106 days late". Alexander happily accepts and they're married in January.

Now, links to the Instagram posts with the original story, in order, parts 1-14:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XCXjUzDAgWIFzmB_YnY_pO-MPUDUbvBp6zcQWSxN2Jk/edit?usp=sharing (also should be commented on this because uhh, links working is flimsy.)

(alternatively, go to @/living.to.see.glory on instagram and scroll down to the pastel pink theme. note that they were posted as they were finished, so start from the bottom of that theme and go up.)

NOW TO THE STORY!!