The horizon and the balcony

Chapter twenty-three

"Mon ami you are not looking too good..."Lafayette said lowly. They cautiously walked into Alexander's office trying to get a feel of the room. Thomas was curled up in a rocking chair that had been moved out of storage and placed in the corner of the room. It had been Aaron burr's for when he had to bring Theodosia to work but she had grown out of the nursing chair and Alexander practically begged for it.

Thomas refused to make eye contact and simply set his gaze on the floor, after the initial despair of breaking down set in the utter humiliation of it. It was good to have humility sometimes, step off your high horse and realize you're just like everyone else. For Thomas it was more as though his horse had bucked him off and trampled him into the dirt.

"He's not doing too good"Alexander confirmed in a hushed tone, why even bother? The acoustics of the room reverberated back at them almost at rapid speed. It was too small of a space to whisper and not be heard.

"I think I could see that Alex"Lafayette responded.

Alex shut his mouth and sunk down in his big leather chair. Call it littles intuition but he knew something else was up, they look Thomas had in his eyes. It was the same look John would when he was trying to fight it, completely and utterly helpless.

He let his mind wander to the possibilities, maybe that's why Thomas hated it. He was always such an in control guy, so mature and collected. He didn't giggle, he chuckled. He didn't smile,he smirked. Cold and calculated at all times, a sharp tongue and always a step ahead of the game. Alexander couldn't imagine the hell he'd been through to end up like this, he was probably groomed to be this way.

"Thomas would you like to get going now?"They asked. Their tone was angel soft and gentle, the way they spoke was how cotton candy tasted.

Thomas nodded but made no efforts to move from his spot. Lafayette bit their lip carefully and assessed all their options. Right now Thomas was about as emotionally stable as a feral cat so picking him up was not an option.

Lafayette sat next to the rocking chair crossing their legs and hummed softly.

"Frère Jacques frère Jacques"They sang softly, it was a bit choppy and rough but Thomas peeked his head up in interest.

"Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?"They continued. Thomas sat up a bit and chewed on his bottom lip watching as Lafayette did the little gestures that went along with it.

"Sonnez les matines sonnez les matines"They sang pretending to ring a bell which caused Thomas to giggle softly.

"Ding dang dong ding dang dong!"Lafayette finished and clapped their hands coaxing Thomas to do the same.

"très bon travail, Voulez le chanter de nouveau?"They asked. Thomas nodded his head quickly the frizzy curls falling into his eyes.

"Then we will, on the drive to my house"Lafayette reasoned. Thomas nodded and got out of the chair taking Lafayette's hand in his.

"Frère Jacques..."Thomas mumbled under his breath humming the rest.

"Lafayette....I....how?"Alexander sputtered.
"How did you know Thomas spoke French?"he asked.

"There's a lot of things you do not know about Thomas"They said almost elusively. Alexander quirked up an eyebrow.

"I'm going to phone Madison and see where the hell he is-"

"Daddy est in France...économique stuff"Thomas said quietly playing with his fingers. Alexander's eyes softened and yet again he could relate, he remembers when Lafayette had to go to France for a familial emergency and he refused to speak English to anyone.

"Alexander please!"John cried out gripping onto his hair.

"I can not understand you!"he said

"c'est pas mon problème"he mumbled.

"Listen I don't know what the hell you just said but I'm not feeling the attitude that was behind it"John said crossing his arms.

Alex shrugged.

"Comme je l'ai dit,pas mon problème"he responded and plopped on the couch turning on Netflix.

"Speak English!"John pleaded.

"parler français"Alexander shot back.

"Español mi amor?"John said trying to find a middle ground.

"No"

Needless to say it was a rough start to a months time away.

Alexander shook his head quickly and narrowed his eyes on his partner.

"I except a detailed explanation with sites,sources and citations of how you know my e-..."Alexander had to cut himself off, could he even consider Thomas his enemy anymore?
"...how you know my friend Thomas so well"He said correcting himself.

Thomas' eyes widened in surprise at the thought of having a friend, he never hated Alexander he admired the man but they always rubbed each other the wrong way.

"Enemies for the sake of the company but outside of that...I would like to be your friend"he said softly. Thomas' eyes welled up with tears and he nodded his head rapidly, yes yes he would like that a lot.

Lafayette smiled proudly at Alexander.

"You did a really good thing Alex, I'll see you at home later. 7:00pm sharp and I will have your PowerPoint ready"They said.

Alex smiled fondly and nodded.

"I'll be there"

🌼translation🌼
Mon ami-my friend
Frère Jacques, Dormez-vous ? Sonnez les matines! Ding, daing, dong-French nursery rhyme, my cousin loves this song
très bon travail, Voulez le chanter de nouveau-very good, would you like to sing it again?
Daddy est in France-Daddy is in France
économique-Economics
c'est pas mon problème-That's not my problem
Comme je l'ai dit,pas mon problème-Like I said, not my problem
Español mi amor-Spanish my love?
parler français-speak French