Helpless (John Laurens x reader)

I Need You-Part 1

John stepped out of the carriage with his bag, walking with his friends to the tent they shared. Herc threw himself onto his bunk and sighed in relief. "I'm never getting up." 

Lafayette laughed and sat down on his bed. "I wish, mon ami. But the general said he would like to see us when we returned." Hercules pouted and turned to John, seeking his opinion.

"Laf's right, " said John. "If the general says something, we need to obey," Herc grunted but nevertheless got up and headed towards the entrance of the tent. Laf followed suit, which left Alex and John in the tent. 

Alex turned to his friend and smiled, setting his bags down on the bunk he shared with John. "So, are you going to tell (Y/N) about your feelings for her?" John bit his lip.

"I don't know," he mumbled, his cheeks going red as he sat down on his bunk. "I mean, I kissed her. What could be more obvious than that? I just wish I'd said something to her, instead of just leaving without a word." John buried his face in his hands and groaned. "I'm such an idiot."

Alex sat down next to John and patted his back reassuringly. "You're not an idiot, John. You were nervous." Hamilton stood up. "We should probably go join the others."

John nodded weakly and followed his friend out to the general's tent. Lafayette and Hercules were standing outside, speaking with the general. "You wanted to see us, sir?" said Alex, taking his place beside Lafayette. John took his place on Hamilton's other side and the general sighed.

"Yes, I did. We don't have too many supplies, so we're going to have to start rationing our food. We don't want to end up eating our horses. I'm telling you four because I trust you the most. Don't tell anyone else about this, alright?"

"Yes, sir!" chorused the four soldiers, raising their hands to their foreheads in a salute. Washington waved his hand.

"You're dismissed. I'll see you tomorrow morning." The four men turned and returned to their tent in silence.

"So...." Alex said as he and his three friends lay on their beds. "D'you want to grab a couple drinks?"

Herc sighed and sat up. "Why not, it's not like we have anything else to do. You want to come, Laf?"

"D'accord.  I really need a break," he mumbled from his bunk. Mulligan smirked and turned to John.

"What about you, John?" John shook his head and sat down on his bunk. 

"You guys go on. I'm going to go to bed, I'm pretty tired." Herc shrugged and motioned to Laf and Alex. The three men walked out the door and John was left alone in the tent.

John undressed and lay on his cot, listening to the muffled sounds of the aide-de-camp. He could hear soldiers laughing around a crackling fire and the owls whooing softly in the nearby forest. He sighed and closed his eyes, his thoughts drifting to (Y/N). Her beautiful (e/c) eyes and the way they'd light up when she got excited. Her sweet, kind and generous personality. Her beautiful smile. John bit his lip and blinked away the tears that had slipped out.

"I wish I could see her again," he thought sadly, "so I could tell her how I feel." He rolled over and closed his eyes, slowly drifting into a somber slumber. 

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The next couple of weeks were anything but calm. As Washington predicted, the army soon ran out of food supplies. Local merchants denied the troops equipment and food, as they only accepted British money. Alex, John, Hercules, and Lafayette sat in the general's tent as Washington paced the room.