Chapter 2: (749 words)

With a rocky breath, Hamilton opened his eyes. He definitely wasn't expecting his rival there in his hidden 'cave', and he definitely wasn't expecting him to have a look of concern upon his face.

"Jefferson?" he whispered in confusion.

Surprise crossed the mentioned man's face, and was soon replaced with one of sympathy. Of course he wouldn't want his rival to see him at his weakest moment. "Yeah?"

"What are you doing here?" a determined gleam in his eyes, as he poked his finger at Jefferson.

Said man looked surprised at the question, thinking that Hamilton would be a lot more traumatised. Whatever just happened, it happens often.

"Well darlin', I was reading right over there when you dashed to whatever-the-hell-this-is at the speed of light, which at your height is a real accomplishment." At the unconscious nickname, a light pink tint appeared on Hamilton's cheeks, which soon disappeared as Hamilton glared at the giant in front of him for the jest at his height.

Here, Jefferson paused as his face soon filled with worry. "I've never seen you like that, you always look so cocky and proud." A sad smile than graced his features.

"I followed you here to this place and saw you having a panic attack when I gracefully came to your rescue." He ended with a polite smile on his face.

Never had he seen Jefferson smile like that to anyone before, so he was sure to cherish it, especially if it was for him and him only.

After a few moments of looking at each other, the democratic-republican asked, "Are you afraid of storms?"

Not expecting the question, he answered clumsily, "Um… no? I mean… yeah? I mean… ugh, I don't know. It's not that it scares me or anything, it just, um, brings bad memories."

'Why did I say that!' he thought. 'I haven't told anyone yet, and I almost confessed to my… rival? Yeah, he's still my rival, just an unusually friendly one, that's all. Stupid Jefferson, acting all nice and comforting, the idiot.'

Frowning, Jefferson opened his mouth to respond but on second thought closed it again as he thought it was better to avoid the subject until later, he just had a feeling that Hamilton wouldn't want him to ask about it, they only started being friendly for a few minutes, after all, he shouldn't impose, or the man would just push him away.

He didn't know why he cared so much about the prideful motormouth, but he couldn't deny that something was wrong, and if not know, then in the past. He was extremely worried for the short man in front of him. What could have made him so terrified that he had a panic attack because of it?

After a few minutes of thinking about the absurdity of the situation, he burst out laughing out of nowhere.

Hamilton glared at the giant and huffed before going, "Whaaaaaat!" as he shoved the chuckling idiot away.

Jefferson was laughing so much that he was wriggling all over the floor of the hideaway, it was a wonder that no one heard them.

"Sorry, sorry! It's just… of course it took a storm and a full-blown panic attack for us to act civilly around each other," he ended, a few chuckles escaping his lips.

Thinking about it, it was true. "Huh, guess you're right for once," Hamilton mumbled to himself, snorting at the picture in front of him.

"Well, as pleasant as this has been, I should probably go."

"Wait!" interrupted Hamilton as he grabbed Jefferson's wrist. "Please don't leave me alone with the storm!" he explained, an adorably cute pout on his fa- 'wait what?'

"Umm, sure." Jefferson articulately responded

Hey! Don't blame him, he was too busy trying to ignore his previous thoughts.

Thomas huffed with mock-annoyance and sat back down, sitting quite snuggly with Hamilton, and if the immigrant realised so, he sure didn't say anything about it.

Hamilton chuckled at his expression and saw the cook book that Thomas had unconsciously brought to the little hide-away when he was following him. The little shrimp of a human being grinned and asked the man sitting slightly too close – yet not close enough ;) – about it.

Simultaneously, the giant asked him about what he had been reading lately.

So that is how Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton ended up discussing if the founding fathers of America enjoyed macaroni and cheese (the answer is, and always will be, yes!).