You Help Me, I'll Help You /// Mullette

1 - Noose

Song: Whatever It Takes - Imagine Dragons

At this stage, Lafayette was pretty much finished with this life.
So he made a decision and a noose, standing on a chair and tying the end of the rope to a pipe on the ceiling.
He had never really questioned the reason behind why the pipes were exposed in his house's ceiling, although he was thankful they were there so he could pull this off.
The ceiling or rope weren't the correct proportions to snap his neck when he fell, so it looked like it was going to be a slow and painful death, possibly filled with regret, maybe a little peacefulness.
Before he stepped off the chair, he sent a text to his friend John, probably the only person who actually cared about him.

Laf: John, I'm sorry. I can't take living here anymore. Thank you for being a good friend. Tell Alex he isn't that much of an asshole.

Lafayette, confident with his message, threw his phone on the floor. It landed screen up, the light illuminating the dark room.
As he stepped off the chair, smiling softly, his phone pinged.

JLaur: IM COMING OVER RIGHT NOW

John's heart was pounding as he grabbed Alexander's sleeve and raced to Lafayette's house.
He basically kicked down the front door, sprinting to the Frenchman's room.
He burst into the room and froze.

Before him, Lafayette was hanging suspended from the ceiling, a small smile on his face, his eyes closed, like a scene from a horror movie.
John just stared as Alexander, armed with a kitchen knife he had grabbed, cut the rope and checked Lafayette's pulse when the Frenchman collapsed to the floor.
"It's faint but it's there", Alex said neutrally. "John, call an ambulance. John."

John, still partially frozen in shock, pulled out his phone and dialed 911, speaking to the operator.
Or something. His brain wasn't entirely all there.
Alex got up from where he was kneeling beside the Frenchman and stood next to his boyfriend.
John almost threw a fit at the fact his boyfriend wasn't attempting to comfort him in any way, but kept his mind focused on the present. Insensitive pricks could wait.

The ambulance arrived, not allowing John to ride with Lafayette, saying it was family only.
"Does this boy, Gilbert you said his name was, have any relatives? A parent or guardian?" a paramedic asked.
"His cousin", John said, the words feeling strange on his numb tongue. "Thomas Jefferson. And his father, but he's at work."
That was a lie.
John had no idea where Lafayette's father was.

Alexander drove them both to the hospital.
"Sorry sirs, but Mr Lafayette isn't available for visiting", the receptionist said, chewing gum and winking at John. "Although, you could visit my room, cutie~"
"We'll wait until he's available", Alex growled, putting an arm around John's shoulders and pulling him away from the desk.

"Oh, now you're there for me", John muttered, annoyed.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing."
"Cool."
John shot him a sideways glare that Alex completely missed.
He sighed to himself, knowing it wasn't the time to think about his idiot boyfriend.
He hated to admit it sometimes, but he really loved Alex. Even if the feelings weren't returned, he couldn't leave him.

^•^

"Hey cutie, your friend is ready for viewing or whatever", the receptionist called. "Room 776."
"Thanks", John growled, dragging Alex by the wrist.
Lafayette was sitting up, talking quietly to Thomas Jefferson. A red line of chafed skin was shockingly visible around his neck.
"Laf!" John exclaimed, rushing over to him.
"Thomas", Alex snarled.
Jefferson shrugged at John, squeezing his cousin's hand. "I'll be back soon. Call the nurses if anything happens."
"I'll be fine", Lafayette said hoarsely, grinning and pushing Thomas away towards the door.

Lafayette looked up. "Hey John", he said, smiling. "Alex", he said a bit more cautiously.
John's boyfriend grunted in return.
John took a seat next to his friend's bedside.
Apparently his face said it all, because Lafayette's smile dropped, replaced with a soft frown.
"I did it because I'm useless, John", he said quietly. "I'm a bother to everyone on this Earth. It would be easier for me to go and never come back."

"It wouldn't! I care about you! I would miss you. My parents would damn well miss you! What about my siblings? Mary can barely sleep most nights because 'Uncle Laffy isn't here, I want to wait for him'!" John exclaimed.
Lafayette bit his lip, looking down at his fidgeting hands. "John-" he started.
He hesitated, unsure of how to best phrase it. "That is your family", Lafayette said gently. "My family is... difficult."
"They don't have to be your family, Laf!" John said frustratedly. "You could live with us!"

"You've said it before, John, and every time, I appreciate it, but I cannot leave my father just yet", Lafayette said quietly.
"But why?!" John exclaimed.
Lafayette looked down, didn't answer.
Surprisingly, it was Alex who spoke next.

"Leave it, John", he said, slightly spitefully.
Lafayette and John exchanged a worried look.
"Could you go? I want to talk to Lafayette alone", Alex said emotionlessly.
John raised his eyebrows, a slightly saddened look on his face. He made to leave, kissing Alex on the cheek as he passed and firmly closing the door behind him.

Lafayette looked up, a little nervously. Alex and he had never really gotten along. There were some times when they acted like brothers, and other times when they fought like angry cats trapped in a box together.
"Wrists", Alex said, advancing to the bed and holding his hands out.
Lafayette slowly raised his hands.
Alexander grabbed his wrists and rolled up the sleeves.

He tutted when he was the thin, raised white lines on the skin.
"How old?"
"A couple of months", Lafayette answered.
Alex dropped his arms.
"Do you ever feel empty, not in control of your emotions?"
Lafayette was confused. Alexander's tone was professional, slightly sympathetic. Why did he care about Lafayette's health?

"Um, yes, sometimes", Lafayette mumbled.
"What did you use?"
"Kitchen knives, my own fingernails, anything sharp I could get my hands on."
"Anywhere else?"
"Thighs and upper arms."
"Alright", Alex concluded. His tone softened and his gaze was gentle and empathetic as he looked at Lafayette. "We're going to get you help. You probably have depression. We can get you medicine that will help."

Lafayette nodded wordlessly.
"Visiting hours are almost up for us", Alex said, straightening up. "We'll be back as soon as we can."
"Why do you want to help me?" Lafayette blurted.
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"I thought you hate me! You're always so cold and distant! Sometimes it's like this and we're fine, other times you hate my guts!" the Frenchman said angrily.
Alex looked taken aback by his outburst.
"It doesn't matter", he said finally, his tone cold.
Lafayette looked saddened by this as Alex left the room.