A/N I don't know if much is historically accurate except for the time period typical homophobia. Trigger warnings for suicide mentions and character death. Sorry in advance.

John's POV

There's a sting on my cheek and my eyes spring open. Blinking I try to look around the room, but I can't see. Shaking my head I come to senses and realize that I'm bound to a chair. Blindfolded. Great. Suddenly, I hear a voice.

"Well if it isn't the famous Lt. Col Laurens." he sneers and I can hear him walk closer. "You're going to be of some use to us today" he sounds closer, close enough… I go for it and spit at, what I hope, the center of his face. Maybe he recoils, I don't know, but his voice is farther away next time he speaks.

"Such disobedience. Can't we all get along?" And then I double over, the best I can tied up, when I get a hard swing to the gut. Faceless person number two, I presume, then gets a nice one right to my jaw. I grunt through the pain that's now a dull throb. Really not how I planned my evening.

"What do you want?" I relent, knowing I might as well get the request out of the way. I mentally snort, knowing I'd rather die than do what they ask.

"You and Lieutenant Colonel Hamilton are close, yes?" He says instead of answering. I tense up, not replying. They couldn't know…

"Because at exactly 0600 yesterday, you and Hamilton had breakfast together. Then at 0625, he went back to his tent." I froze. Did they... "The Marquis entered at precisely 0658, and together they met up with Major General Washington. You went and met Hamilton to work with him after his meeting at 0845." Mentally I went through the entire morning that day, slowly coming to a conclusion I didn't like. They were tailing Alexander, my Alexander.

"You're tailing him?"

"And he hit the jackpot, first try. I thought I would have to go all the way to 1040 where you and-"

"Ok, I get it. How does this affect me?" I lie right through my teeth. Just knowing the information affected me more than I would like to admit. As he replied, I could practically hear the smirk on his face.

"He's 'the closest friend you've got' according to you. Now keep this information in mind when we ask you our favor." I grit my teeth.

"We need you to assassinate Major General Washington." I take a sharp breath in and hang my head. My Alexander… The revolution… God this shouldn't even be hard choice, but Alexander…. I pick my head up and look straight forward.

"Fuck you and everything you stand for."

"Does that mean we kill you and ole' violet eyes or-"

"I'll do it, bastard." My eyes harden, face set. Fuck.

Washington's POV

I've always considered myself a good judge of character. I always thought I was good at reading emotions, people's intention, the truth. So how the hell did I not see this coming? Lieutenant Colonel Laurens. One of my aide de camps. A spy. Who is now aiming a gun at my head. In my defense he fooled everyone. He even had close friends within camp. I keep my face neutral, not wanting to lose my facade that is so similar to his current stony face.

"You really fooled everyone Lt. Col" he doesn't respond so I continue, "You were near the bottom on the list on suspected spies. Eve-" He cuts me off.

"You know, when one is about be to be killed they don't usually continue to talk"

"When one is about to assassinate someone they don't usually hesitate" I counter.

"It's not hesitation"

"Guards are posted outside. I could just as easily shout rather than conversing with you"

"Then I would shoot you." There's no emotion in his tone. Not fear, glee, arrogance, remorse. Nothing.

"You're going to shoot me anyway, I thought." No reply. I have to stall till someone comes in.

"Why? Why would you throw your life away for the King's cause?" He flinches. Why? "Call it a dying wish for an answer."

"I have to." He whispers. His voice is the only tell of emotion, for his stony expression remain. "Or they'll-" My eyes widen. Is he being threatened?

"They'll what? Laurens wha-" His face lights up like he's suddenly had a realization.

"I'm going to miss, sir."

"Wait-"

"I'm going to shoot at you and miss." he pauses, looking morose, then continues. "Sir, I want you to know that I am dedicated to this cause, I am for freedom. I am am on the side of America. I don't want my legacy to be a traitor. Sir please. Call it a dying man's wish"

"Laurens, just tell me why you feel you must shoot me."

"I can't sir. But you must promise me I won't become a traitor, not like this. I don't want- I" He sighs, "It's the only way.." He seems to be convincing himself more than me.

"This is suicide. If they're threatening you, I can help you. I-"

"I'm not worth it if your plan doesn't work. The consequences-" he cuts himself off again. "Look, there are actually spies in this camp who are going to rush in here the moment I 'shoot you.' One of them is t-" he's interrupted by the sound of boots outside the tent. The flap opens and a familiar voice speaks. Hamilton has entered the tent.

"His excellency, sir, I have-" He freezes at the sight of Lt. Col Laurens, mouth open wide in shock. His almost violet eyes he's so famous for stare at Lt. Col, full of betrayal. At the sound of Hamilton's voice Laurens wilts, eyes shut in defeat.

"John-"

"I wouldn't move if I were you." His voice is emotionless, so unlike Hamilton's pleading tone. And we're back to square one.

"John what-"

"Alexander please don't make this harder."

"Harder? Why are you-"

"Stop."

"No! You don't get to do that. Was all it a lie, were they all lies? We wrote side by side, we fought side by side, we've even dueled side by side! I confided in you! You were the closest friend I had, so spy or not I sure as hell deserve an explanation!"

"I don't have choice!" He strangles out of his throat. While his body hasn't moved from the threatening stance, but his face has broken with defeat.

"He says he was going to miss on purpose." I finally speak. Hamilton seems like he hears me, but his eyes haven't left Laurens.

"I don't understand, that's suicide. Why must you do this?" I would laugh at the deja vu if the situation weren't so dire and his tone wasn't pleading...desperate. Gun still raised, Laurens turns to face Hamilton. Detachedly once more, he spoke.

"You have a trail. He's been following you for days now and they had proof." Our eyes widen. "I suspect he's there now and he will feel suspicious if a gun doesn't go off soon."

"My dearest laurens I'm not worth that." I raise my eyebrows. His dearest? Hamilton continues, "My past, my current status, money situ-"

"Despite that you'll change the world. I've sinned far too much. I've got no chance of redemption."

"Laurens-"

"I sinned with Martha, my beliefs, my family, my father." He pauses. "With you." Wait, what?

"That was not a sin, that was-"

"But you're a genius. You've got drive, ambition, you'll change the world. I won't, I won-" He sounds resigned to his fate, like he accepted it already.

"I thought we were gonna change the world together?" Hamilton voice cracks at the end. Laurens sighs.

"That was fool man's dream. One made during happier hours, when were so full of hope." Now Laurens voice is the one wavering.

"But does it have to be a dream!" He cries.

"Get ready for the spies that will evidently enter once I miss" He seemed to be trying to reign in his emotions.

"John-"

"I'm sorry my dearest"

"Don't do it."

"I love you" John croaks out so quietly I almost miss it.

"John please!" Laurens turn back and faces me.

"I'm not worth it!" He points the gun to right of my head.

"There has to be another way!" He takes a deep breath, a determined look on his face.

"What about your promise!" At this plead Laurens falters slightly, but quickly recovers.

"I love you too…" Then, quicker than we could process, Laurens turns the gun unto himself and fires.

AH. I'm sorry, this ending is so bad! If it wasn't clear, at the end it's Alexander speaking and John doing the actions. Not going to leave it open ended, they'll be another chapter. There will be flashbacks and maybe I'll even add Lafayette.