Defining Factors

Partners

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Warnings: Jefferson is done with Hamilton's bullshit.

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Hamilton knocked on Aaron's door, sure he was inside from hearing his voice talking to someone on the other side. After a few moments with no answer, he knocked again, readjusting the bag on him back. Still no answer.

"Burr!" Hamilton shouted through the door. "Answer the fucking door!"

Nothing. Huh. Well, only one option left then. Hamilton let himself in and looked around. No Aaron. Huh. Wait a second, is that a journal sitting so tantalizingly on his desk? Hamilton reached for it and then thought better. He had stuff to do, which meant he didn't have time to snoop around Aaron's personal thoughts. Even if it was so goddamned hard not to.

He sighed and left it alone, turning instead for the door and letting himself back out.

Tallmadge told him he had to take someone with him. Someone. Hamilton had been betting on Aaron, but Aaron wasn't currently available and Hamilton wasn't patient enough to wait until he was. He could ask Kinloch, he'd be more than willing to go with Hamilton on this. But for some reason, Hamilton couldn't stomach the thought.

And it absolutely had nothing to do with Laurens.

Absolutely not.

Nope.

So Hamilton went to the only other person he knew who cared enough to go looking for James.

Thankfully, when he knocked, that door opened.

Jefferson looked down at him and his face morphed into a look like he just ate something overly sour. "Hamilton."

"Before you close the door in my-damnit Thomas!" Hamilton managed to wedge his foot in the door before Jefferson could close it completely.

"Immature. Get your foot out of the way."

"Not until you listen to me!" Alex persisted. He could hear electricity humming and the near silent pops of static he'd become accustomed to around Jefferson. Mental note, don't touch the door knob, which Jefferson was gripping tightly from the other side.

"I've listened to you enough. Now move your foot or I swear I'll break it and you'll have to hobble to Kinloch's room to get it fixed," Jefferson threatened.

"I've already apologized! Several times! Okay? He doesn't text me back." Hamilton didn't budge. "I don't know how you feel about him, but it's obvious he doesn't care."

The lights inside the room all exploded with loud pops and sparks. Jefferson swore as hot glass rained down upon him and Hamilton used the opportunity to slam his body into the door and gain entrance. Jefferson swore more, stumbling back in an attempt to regain his balance. "Just listen to me for one goddamned second!" Hamilton seethed.

"I'm tired of listening to you," Thomas said, limping over to his bed. It was then that Hamilton realized he pushed Jefferson back into the shards of glass, and he wasn't wearing any shoes. "Get out," Thomas said flatly, inspecting his feet and trying to pull out shards in the lightless room.

"Thomas- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"I said, out."

"Let me help with the glass-"

"Out."

"I can get Kinloch-"

"I said. Get. Out."

"Thomas-"

"Now."

Hamilton fell silent for a moment but didn't budge. "Just let me say one thing, and if nothing changes, I'll go."

Thomas sighed, setting his foot back down on the ground and inspecting the other one. "Fine."

"I came to ask you to come with me to look for James and bring him home."

Thomas slowly looked up at him. "Say again."

"I came to ask you to help me find James."

"Why?"

"To bring him home?"

"And then?" Thomas asked.

"Not to kill him, if that's what you're getting at. Look, Thomas, it's my fault that he left. I know he means a lot to you, and you heard Fredericks. It's just something I have to do. Are you in or not?"

"Of course I'm coming, dimwit," Thomas scoffed, standing. "Just let me get my shoes."

Hamilton snorted, crossing his arms. "That was fast."

He was met with a leveled stare. "You're pushing your luck," Thomas said. "I could leave your ass here and look myself."

"If you were going to, you would have by now," Hamilton retorted.

"You know what?" Thomas asked as he finished tying his shoes. "I don't have to put up with this shit." Jefferson grabbed an already packed back, slung it onto his shoulder and stalked out of the room. Wait, did he have that bag packed because he was planning on going out looking too?"

Hamilton found himself running after Jefferson. "Dude! You're being a little bitch," Hamilton panted, having finally caught up with Jefferson's long ass strides.

"No, I swallowed down my immense distaste for you to work with you to find my best friend, who, mind you, I've lost once already. I'm unwilling to do it again. Only to find, to my ultimate surprise," he drawled sarcastically, "that even when I do decide to give you a shot at redeeming yourself, you're irreversibly, an incredible prick. I'll find James faster on my own than spending all my time bickering with a brat like you."

His response was a scoff and a roll of the eyes. "Listen, sparky, you need my help whether you like it or not. Tallmadge promised to send me any and all information pertaining to James' location. Sightings, rumors, known aquaintences. What do you have?"

"His number," Jefferson replied, pulling out his phone and using that to ignore Hamilton.

"Oh, great! Perfect plan! 'Cause he's responded to anyone's texts since he disappeared. I can't wait to see how well this plan works out."

"I'm appalled by myself," Jefferson muttered. "To think that I could've liked someone like you."

"You do like me. You're just a pissbag that doesn't know how to forgive someone for making a mistake."

"No, Hamilton. I don't like you. Maybe if you had actually looked my direction instead of making doe eyes at Laurens, we could maybe work through this. Or, even more likely, if you hadn't tried to kill my friend."

"I thought he was a danger to the Society!"

"You know what? Fuck you and fuck the Society."

Hamilton paused. "You don't mean that."

"I do. I hate unnecessary violence. I came here thinking I was helping the rest of the world, but we're not. You, Fredericks, all of us, are just fucking it up more and I'm done. Get whatever intel you want from Tallmadge. You're not getting my help."

"The Society saved my life," Hamilton said.

"The Society took away what really matters in life. Freedom," Jefferson said. "Stop following me."

"No. You're just emotional and confused."

"Jefferson!" Andre called, trotting down the hall. "I need to speak with you," he said as he came to a stop in front of them. His gaze shifted to Hamilton. It'd be entirely too easily for a man like Andre to see they were having a disagreement. Jefferson was already charged with electricity again despite blowing out his lights a couple minutes ago. "Hamilton, you're dismissed. I must talk with Jefferson alone, if you don't mind."

Hamilton grumbled and pointed at Jefferson. "This isn't over," he said before briskly walking off. Jefferson would no doubt try to leave without him, so Hamilton camped by the exit, waiting for him to show up to leave the compound.

Hours passed and no one came. Hamilton fidgeted.

A couple more hours.

Jefferson never showed up.

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