The horizon and the balcony

Chapter thirty-two

"Lafayette!"Burr greeted standing up from his desk. He held out his hand in greeting. Lafayette turned their nose up and straightened up locking their shoulders. Burr seemingly shrunk under their hard gaze, Lafayette smirked. They have him right where they want him.

"Gilbert"They said sharply. Aaron lowered his hand slowly furrowing his brows.

"What?"He asked softly.

"My name is Gilbert, Lafayette is what my friends call me"They said.

"Gilbert I'm not understanding, you and I are cool...aren't we?"He asked.

"I'm not 'cool' with people who bring up my boyfriend's dead mother."They said. Aaron looked as if he had seen a ghost, his mouth fell agape.

"Oh Gilbert, I think you've mistaken our friendly banter-"

"Cut the shit Aaron, 'friendly banter' doesn't make people have a breakdown and try to jump out of a window"They said. Aaron's face fell even further and he brought his hand up to cover his mouth.

"I'm so so-"

"Cut the fucking shit, you know damn well how words affect people. You can be sorry now, but sorry won't erase what you've said and what it's done!"They exclaimed. A few heads turned but the glare they sent quickly turned the heads back to their rightful position.

"Gilbert, there is no reason to be hostile in my work environment."He said carefully. Lafayette chuckled and crossed their arms.

"Then let's take this outside because I am not done with you"They said.

"Hit me."Burr said. Lafayette raised an eyebrow and shrugged pulling up the sleeves on their shirt.

"But just to let me know if you do assault me at my place of work Alexander can lose his job and wouldn't that be throwing all of his hard work?"He said.

"You wouldn't dare burr"Lafayette sneered.

"Oh but I would, if you couldn't already tell I don't play fair"he said regaining his confidence. Lafayette weighed the pros and cons, did Alexander really need this job? It was his dream job, he's been dreaming of working with Mr Washington since he stepped foot on American soil.

Lafayette grabbed the mug on Aaron's desk and slammed it against the wall watching it shatter into fragments.

"T-tha-"

"That's not assault is it? It's destruction of personal property and if you knew what was good for you you wouldn't take a matter this petty to Washington or to court. How would that reflect on you Aaron?"They said.

Aaron took a shaky breath and gripped the side of his desk.

"What I just did to that mug will get done to you if you keep pestering Alexander. Keep it professional."They said.

"Are you threatening me Gilbert?"Aaron asked.

"Hm, it appears I am. Have a great day Aaron and watch your step, ceramic is a bitch to step on"They said and swiftly walked down the hall and out of the building.