The horizon and the balcony

Chapter one

3:01am the clock read.
Lafayette had woken up in a dehydrated daze. They don't even remember falling asleep from the night prior but here they were sandwiched between their lovers. Slowly they sat up and held their breath feeling a slow but steady wave of sadness wash over them.

What had they been dreaming about?

They thought long and hard about it. Their eyes screwed shut in frustration as they let out the breath they were holding. With a sigh of defeat they slumped back against the pillow and looked to either side of them, their lovers were fast asleep.

They yawned and smiled as they counted their blessings, three men loved them for who they were and helped them through the many trials and errors of their identity.

Three men...their eyebrows furrowed. Hercules was to their left and John was to their right. They lifted up the duvet revealing only their shirtless body and the legs of their lovers intertwined with their own.

Where was Alexander?

They had woken up for a reason and this must be it. Paternal instincts came naturally to Lafayette no matter their audience and this wasn't any different, something was wrong.

They gently shimmied under the duvet and army crawled until the mass of curls on their head popped out the other side. They braced themselves and tucked rolling onto the floor keeping their body stiff trying to produce minimal sound.  Once they were sure that no one even stirred they army crawled out of the room shutting the door.

"mon Dieu"they whispered and ran a hand through their hair fluffing it back up. The amount of trouble they went through to keep their lovers comfortable will be the death of them.

Slowly tip toeing around the house they hummer softly hoping to give off the notion that someone else was awake, the last thing they wanted to do was frighten him. They heard the rapid jingling of a bell and jumped in surprise practically leaping onto the kitchen counter.

"My goodness you gave me a fright Mon petit chaton"They whispered gently stroking the cats cheek.

"I thought that was my nickname"a voice rasped from what sounded like the balcony.

"donne-moi la force"They looked up to the sky and crossed themselves over before hurriedly opening the door and walking outside.

Alex sat on the railing looking down at the active city below him. He wouldn't fall, no. He's done this much too many times to fall but that didn't stop Laf from pulling him off the railing and slamming the smaller man close to his chest.

"Mon petit chaton doux pourquoi considéreriez-vous même une telle chose!?"They exclaimed running a hand through his hair.

Alex looked up at them a smiled.

"You know you look beautiful from this angle"he said.

Lafayette looked down at him baffled and slightly bashful.

"W-what! This is not about my beauty, what were you doing Alexander?"They asked.

There was silence. The only sound was the life of the city beneath them, always going never stopping. It was terrifying.

"I imagine death so much it feels just like a memory, when's it gonna get me?"he breathed out.

"I...I do not understand..."Lafayette said in defeat. They always prided themselves on being able to understand him but this was the one thing that was not their expertise.

"This is about the hurricane, no?"They asked softly. He simply nodded and pressed his head further into Laf's chest.

"I should get John..."They said and went to pull away but Alexander tightened his grip around Laf's torso and pressed his face even closer into their chest breathing them in. They smelled like home.

"Don't you dare get John, you know he makes me talk" he tried to say it sternly but his voice wavered in and out cracking at the very end.

"Mon amour if you are sitting on the...how you say?"They said in frustration snapping your fingers. Alexander stared up at them waiting before Lafayette huffed.

"The balcon I think you are needing to talk to him"They said and yawned again rubbing their eyes. Alex knew this sound and this look, Lafayette's English vocabulary diminished greatly when they were tired.

Alex sighed and pulled away running a hand over his face.

"You're tired Laf, you should go back to sleep...tell John or don't but if he chews me out don't go and ask pourquoi tu fais cette tête?"he said and puffed his chest out mimicking his lover.

Lafayette smiled and gently cupped Alexander's cheek.

"Your French is improving my love, you are almost as good as me"They said.

Alex's eyes glazed over with pride and he blushed at the praise.

"I am wanting to ask one more question before sleep"They said leaning against the doorway.

Alex folded his arms and nodded.

Lafayette took a deep breath and tried to regain their composure.

"Were you going to commit...suicide?" They asked whispering the last part almost under their breath. Maybe if they didn't say it loud enough it wouldn't be real.

Alexander stared back at them with his mouth slightly agape. For once in his life the man who left Aaron burr frustrated and at lost for words was feeling the same pain.

"I...I don't have an answer for that"he said.

Lafayette's expression hardened.

"Goodnight Alexander, come back to bed soon"They said and stumbled back to the bedroom.

🌼translations🌼
Mon dieu-my god
Mon petit chaton- my small kitten
donne-moi la force- give me the strength
Mon petit chaton doux pourquoi considéreriez-vous même une telle chose-My sweet little kitten why would you even consider such a thing
Balcon-balcony
pourquoi tu fais cette tête-why the long face