To Be or Not to Be | hamilton

twelve : lafayette

{tws: refusal to eat}

He didn't mean to intrude, but once he overheard what was being said, he couldn't leave.

It was Alexander, Aaron, and Hercules, all crowded over John. Like always, Alexander was holding John's limp, lifeless hand tight.

Alexander was explaining the court case, and a feeling of sickness washed over Lafayette. He needed to warn Alexander, he needed to warn Alexander, he needed-

"Baguette!" Hercules called, before being shushed by Aaron.

"Zat is a food, Herc..." Lafayette trailed off, blushing at his inability to say his friend's name and the fact he was caught.

"Hello, Laf."

"Bonjour, Aaron."

Alexander didn't say anything. "Alexander?"

"Hm?" he blinked. "Oh. Hello, Lafayette."

"Are you okay?"

"I-I think they should go," he whispered, pointing at Hercules and Aaron. He was acting broken when he was telling his story, and it set Lafayette on edge. Was he okay?

Lafayette looked at the two. "I'll call you later. I thinks it best you go..."

"You put the s on the wrong word, Laf," Aaron laughed as he left. Hercules gave one last look at Alexander before leaving.

"What's wrong, ami?"

Alexander waited until the door was closed, gripping John's hand tighter. "I won the case."

"That's good." Lafayette bit back his words.

"Yeah... but... people still believe those fake articles. I'm ruined." His stomach growled, and Alexander punched his stomach with his free hand.

"Have you eaten?"

"Don't need food. Don't want food."

"Yes, you do. I'll make you some food."

"Stay," he pleaded.

Alexander looked helpless. Lafayette sank back in his chair. "What are you going to do?"

"What can I do?!"

"Find them, maybe... then you can ze world you aren't fake?"

Alexander hung his head. "Can't. That's court evidence."

"Zen you need to show zem anozer way. Zat you are great." Lafayette wondered of he should tell Alexander. If he should tell Alexander.

"I suppose."

"I think you're good, if that matters."

"Thanks, Laf."

"Sourire? For me?"

Alexander gave a small smile. "They say if he's not gonna wake up in the next month he's gonna be euthanised."

Lafayette, who didn't know what euthanised meant, assumed a bad thing was going to happen to John. "My mum used to tell me that life is made in memories." Laf smiled at Alexander. "People come 'n' go... but zis" -he reached and touched Alexander's chest- "zis is forever. Sometimes ze people aren't there but ze memories are. 'Zat is what matters. Ze memories. Not the people." Lafayette realised his words weren't helping Alexander, so he quieted.

"Thank you, Lafayette."

"De rien."

The two sat in silence for a while. Finally, Lafayette cleared his throat anxiously. "I does not have good news."

"Do not, not does not. Continue?"

"T-Thomas... h-he-"

"What about him?!" Alexander growled.

"He gave 'zat boy's father my number."

"Why-"

"Let me finish. I got a text, last night."

"What did it say." It wasn't a question. It was a statement. A demand. A threat.

"Watch your back."