Orphanage AU: Lams

Chapter 4: A Whole lot of Talking

So basically making arguments of my opinions with my terrible argumentative skills on the pretense of attempting to make Alex appear an intellectual badass.... Except that I'm not so idk how to write someone as such.

---Alex's POV---

John jerked a thumb towards Maria. "Maria dropped off the coffee so we could get to know each other," he reminded me. I almost felt his tension melting away with every smile. "We shouldn't let that be for nothing."

"Oh, right, of course!" I exclaimed. Oops. "Should we just, uh, take turns asking questions or...?" I already know not to ask super deep or prying ones. With a past like mine, I rather people stay at surface level.

He shrugged with an easy smile. "Yeah, sure."

"I think I can guess, but favorite animal?" Turtles.

"TURTLES!!!!" I swear I could live by the light of his happiness in this one second for forever.

"Mine's a platypus," I declared after a short break of awkward smiles. "Wait. Before you hate on me, because I see you love turtles, let me explain. First of all, can we agree to disagree? Because I know you won't give up turtles and I don't want to argue for the rest of my life about which is the best animal."

John nodded formally, eyes twinkling. "Agree to disagree," he conceded.

I launched into an explanation. "First off, I love them because they are weird."

John burst out laughing. "I have a feeling I'm going to love my new roommate," he commented, winking at me.

I blushed lightly. "The feeling is mutual."

A short silence followed this statement, and we smiled at each other and blushed. Gorgeous.

"A-anyway, yeah. I love platypuses because they're different. They're weird and unique. If it was normal, there would be nothing there to make it special, you know? Duck bill, beaver tail, mammals, and yet they lay eggs, they're totally different. They deviate from expectations. If you look at the right pictures, they can be cute, although admittedly not as cute as turtles. And, they have a poisonous barb on their webbed feet so they're badass as well."

I was used to people gaping after I finished speaking, but somehow, when John did it it felt special. He looked so sweet and pure in that moment that I lost my strand. "So, um, yeah." I consequently lost my capability to end with a genius conclusion. "We forgot the basics," I reminded him belatedly.

"John Laurens, South Carolina, 22, Hufflepuff, male, ...gay." John rattled off promptly, trailing off at the end. I didn't really hear the last word, but it sounded like "gay"? Maybe I just wanted to believe it's true, so my mind is trying to make it true.

"What was the last one?" Please, please, please...

"GUY! I-I said guy! I mean, you know, like, male? Guys, gals, nonbinary pals, I identify as a boy-"

"Yeah, yeah, pronouns he/him. Got it." Jesus Christ. I don't know what he said, but from the way he rambled, it was anything but "guy".

"Alexander Hamilton," I started. Shoot. Where you're from... I blocked out thoughts of Nevis. Move on. I skipped the question. "...20, Slytherin AND PROUD, male. Guy." I added slyly. "So. Hufflepuff. Obviously inferior then."

John reacted immediately with and indignant sound. "Excuse me, the door is over there, Alexander. Hufflepuffs are the most underrated group in existence."
I smiled. This boy was fun. "Ok, fine. I won't place your house lower of higher depending on the outcome. Of course, Slytherin is the best regardless so..." (I am a proud Hufflepuff and though I can argue both, do know my position on the matter. Hufflepuff FTW!!!")