Jamilton, a game

Chapter 17: In the closet

Hamilton's POV

I can't see his face, but I know he looks shamed. It must hurt not eating for so long.

"May I ask why?" Again. Softly, I can't throw away this precious information time. Jefferson stands there for a moment.

"You wouldn't understand." He says.

"I will. I've been through a lot Jefferson. I can and I will understand." I reply.

Jefferson stands there silently, then after a minute, answers again.

"I-I lost my family when I was very young. My whole family at once.. because of a stupid illness.... I visit their dirt beds now often, but, I always come back a little more depressed... I can't see them, but I can feel them. But I got so depressed that a couple weeks ago I just stopped eating.."

"Jefferson... I feel awful.. but.. I do have something if you want it."

"What is it?"

"Laf has to let us out first."

We wait for quite a while. Talking, and laughing a little, but trying to be quiet enough that the others think we're just giving each other the silent treatment.

Jefferson's POV

Talking and laughing. In this small little closet. Who could've imagined that this would be the place that would bring us together. I never thought I'd laugh with him, just at him. But even then, I haven't done it for a few weeks at least, that's when I stopped eating. I know my father would be ashamed of me, so I'm ashamed of myself. So I stopped..

"Jefferson?"

I snap out of my thoughts and look in his direction. "Yes Hamilton?"

"Are you okay? You stopped moving and making noise."

"Oh... I'm fine... just thinking..."

Hamilton stays silent for a moment. Then he touches my stomach. "Can I please feel your sides? If I can I'd like to know how much you've lost.."

He's staying subtle. I don't know whether he's trying to get information to get me back, or if he's genuinely concerned. Though, what's the worst? Hamilton getting me back for all those years I tormented him? No, it'd make sense if he wanted to get me back. So I nod, but then remember that he can't see me. So I reply instead. "Yes you can.."

I feel him move his other hand up and find his own. Then they start moving around while I keep my hands against the wall so that I'm not in the way. I think he thinks it hurts though, because it's light. He's only skimming lightly. "H-Hamilton that heh, k-kinda tickles."

"Does it?"

"Y-Yes hmhm. It tickles a little."

"Oh hmhm." I feel him move his fingers a little faster, and only slightly harder than before.

"Hamilton th-that tickles."

"I know." is all he says, and he continues to tickle me.

I back up against the wall as much as I can, but he just tickles me more. I'm almost laughing, it tickles a lot. I know he wants me to laugh, I just haven't yet.

"Please Jefferson? I haven't ever heard a sincere laugh from you!" He tickles more and tickles around where I'm ticklish the most and I cover my mouth with my hands and laugh into them. "Nuu! Don't cover your mouth! Laugh for me!" Hamilton moves his hands a little and then tickles my ticklish spot. I remove my hands from my mouth to grab his forearms and I start laughing out loud. I can't see it, but I can tell there's a smile on Hamilton's face.

Now by feeling at the least he knows where I'm really ticklish, so I guess there's no more hiding that from him. That just depends if he's going to use it to his advantage or not. He tickles more until what feels like forever later, he stops and lets me breathe. 

"You didn't stop me." Hamilton says.

I stand there sort of confused. "Did you want me to?" I ask.

"No, but I thought that you were going to get upset or something then get me off, or maybe worse..."

"Oh.."

"Sorry... you're just um, stronger than I am so that's why I thought that.." He removes his hands, but I put them back up again. His silhouette looks up at me shocked. 

Then I explain, "I know the real reason why you thought I'd hurt you. I'm sorry I've made you think that way.. but please. At least don't stop touching me. I like the feeling."

Hamilton sort of freezes. He's never heard that from me so it might be a bit of a shocker. I feel for his head, then stroke his hair a little once I find it. I'm sort of petting him, but he sounds like he likes it. After I rub his back and back of his head a little he slowly places his head onto my chest, and I continue to sooth him. Then he starts to do the same to me.

I close my eyes and let him do it, he's so careful with his touch, it's quite delightful.

Soon we hear the door nob being twisted and we jerk away as if nothing happened. The door opens and Laf looks at us, "How was it? Was it fun?~" Laf asks.

"No, it was awful!" I groan, but it was weak. 

Hamilton sighs and walks out with me right behind him. He says he's going to use the bathroom and I say the same. After we both walk out, he takes me to his office.

"Here, I have a couple more so I won't be needing this" Hamilton says as he turns around. In his hand is a small box along with a connection cord.

"What is this?" I ask.

"It's a ghost monitor, I use it to see my family, I thought it might be of use to you."

"I... I never thought of this... I've been using a mirror this whole time"

"Ahh, a mirror is effective, but only when the sun is out."

"Right." I say, then look to him again. "I have something for you too." Then make a motion for him to follow me out.

Hamilton does follow me and we get to my office.

"What is for me in here?" He asks, genuine curiosity in his eyes.

"Something special that I should've given back years ago..." I reply. I dig through a box for a moment and then pull out the teddy bear. Hamilton gasps as I give it to him.

"TB!"

"TB? What does that mean?"

"I called it that because I liked the sound and it's short for Teddy Bear." Hamilton answers.

"Ahh, I see." I say.

"And you've fixed him! Thank you so much!!!" Hamilton hugs me with the bear in his hand, and I stumble back against the wall. "Oh, sorry." He says and hugs me softer. I'm not quite sure what to do, but I hug him back. He hugs tightly, but the pulls back a little. I think he realized I'm silently crying. "Jefferson are you okay?!"

"I-I... I'm so sorry Hamilton! I was such a brat when I shouldn't have been. I should've given it back earlier but I didn't! And every day I looked at that bear in the corner of my room and I thought of you and the day I took it." I start to sob a little. "I-I can't even describe how insecure I've become!" as soon as I say that, I pause. Waiting for Hamilton to make fun of me, but he never does...

Hamilton's POV

I watch right after he says that he's insecure. First meeting him, you never would've guessed it, but now I see it more than ever.

Suddenly I notice Jefferson's legs become weak and he almost falls to the ground, but I catch him first and help him into a chair. "Jefferson you need to eat something."