Herc sighed. It was the afternoon after his affair. One he regrets and will regret for the rest of his life. Herc was stressed out, not knowing what to do. He couldn't tell Laf, he couldn't break his heart. His face wouldn't look right without a smile, after all.
Herc sat his desk, trying to come up with a costume design. All he could think about is how much of an idiot he was being yesterday. He couldn't focus at all. He heard the door open behind him.
"Mon amour?", whispered Laf.
Herc could swear on his mother's grave that his heart temporarily stopped when he heard Laf's voice. He had betrayed him. His best friend- his boyfriend, for God's sake! He heard footsteps walk towards him. Herc could feel a drop of sweat trickle down his own face.
Laf smiled, and wrapped his arms around Herc,"I didn't see you at all last night, mon amour! I missed you so much!"
Herc sighed in relief, "M-Me too."
"Are you okay? You seem... unwell?", suggested Laf, looking at his boyfriend whom he adored so much. He could tell he was upset by something, he was good at reading facial expressions. He put his hands on Herc's shoulders and began to knead them, hoping it would make Herc relax.
"...N-No, I'm fine Laf. Just can't f-figure out this design.", whispered Herc. He could feel his heart beat uncontrollably, about to stammer out of his chest. He couldn't take all of this guilt.
Laf pressed a sweet kiss onto Herc's lips, and stepped back, "Mmm.", whispered Laf, "Take a break? I can tell something is bothering you. I don't like to see you like this. We can order a pizza, and snuggle onto the couch. I'll even watch some of those stupid movies you like!"
Herc sighed, "...You don't have to spoil me, I'm okay, really."
"You've always been here for me, mon amour, let me be here for you. I love you so much- I can't see you mope like this. I don't know what's bothering you, but if you want to talk... I am always here.", smiled Laf, planting kisses on the back of Herc's neck.
Herc could feel the whole world crumbling down on his shoulders. The fact that Lafayette was being so loving and sweet to him, when he had just done something horrible to him, made Herc want to cry. I'm such a hypocrite. Worrying about my boyfriend cheating when I'm the one who actually had the affair!
"Come on.", smirked Laf, "I'll go order the pizza."
Herc sighed, trying to process how he could even fall asleep at night. I hate lying to him. It's not like I could tell him the truth! I'm so stupid. I don't deserve Laf- in fact, there's not one person who deserves Lafayette, or anyone who matches his tactical brilliance. Why me? God I'm paranoid. How could I do this? I am ruined! Think of how upset he'd be if this got out! The things I do under alcohol! What the hell was I thinking?!
Herc got up and joined Lafayette on the couch. Laf put some movie in called Growing up Wild, but Herc couldn't concentrate at all due to all of his guilt. The doorbell rang, Lafayette paused the movie, and got up to get the pizza. Herc's phone chimed. Herc opened the message. It was from a number he didn't know.
Unknown Number: PUT 5,000 DOLLARS IN AN ENVELOPE. SEAL IT. AT MIDNIGHT BRING IT TO ME, I WILL BE STANDING BEHIND THE OLIVE TREE IN THE PARK ON AVALON STREET, THE ONE THAT SAYS "J and M" SURROUNDED BY A HEART. DO THIS OR ELSE I SEND LAFAYETTE THIS VIDEO. -JAMES R.
/Attachment:One Video/
Hercules put his phone on mute. He bit his lip and hesitantly opened the video. The video started. Hercules and Maria were in her room. Maria turned like she was about to leave, even though it was obvious she didn't want to. Hercules grabbed Maria at her waist, pinned her to the bed, and kissed her passionately. Maria then unbuttoned Herc's flannel shirt, and slid it off. It wasn't long before Herc began to slide Maria's dress off and-
Hercules paused the video, not wanting to see anymore of it. The video wasn't even close to being halfway over, and he was way too scared to see the rest of it. NO. No... How? No! This isn't happening. This is a dream. This- this can't be happening. 5,000 DOLLARS?! WHAT AM I? A MONEY TREE?! Okay- no! What am I going to do? I- I have to pay this man, he has enough information to ruin my life for eternity. I love Lafayette more than my money... am I really going to pay this man 5,000 dollars?! How am I going to pay my rent when I'm giving away all of my money?!
Karma's a bitch.
Laf brought the pizza over, and took a slice, "What'cha watching?"
Herc turned off his phone so quick it left a mark on Herc's finger, "N-Nothing... thanks for the pizza."
Lafayette smiled, and kissed Herc on the cheek, "Anything for you, mon amour."
Hercules was internally crying. Don't let him know what you know. God, how could I- God, I hate myself. How am I even supposed to sleep at night? I can't handle this! I'm just going to tell him.
NO! Are you crazy? Do you want to see your boyfriend cry? Do you want him to leave you? Do you want to break his heart? Do you want him to move out? What if he commits suicide over this- you never know! People do crazy things when they're heart broken- he could hurt himself! I can't tell him the truth - I love him too much for him to get hurt.
Lafayette noticed the sudden frown on Herc's face. He wrapped his arm around his best friend and lover, "H-Hey.. you okay, mon amour?"
Hercules, startled, turned to Laf, "YES. Why- Why do ya ask?"
Lafayette raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. He was probably working on his design all day. He would never lie to me, ever. He knows how much I adore him, he could never hurt me. He looks so anxious, the poor thing. Now might not be the best time to tell him about Adrienne.. I feel so bad. I've should of known. All I can focus on now is Herc. "Are you sure?", Laf asked, "Because you just seem a little- worried?"
Hercules flinched, I'm- fine. Just.. really tired.", When Herc saw that Laf seemed to buy if, he sighed. I've got to stop lying to him like this.
Laf, trusting his boyfriend completely, closed the pizza box, "If you're truely tired, we shall just go to bed and cuddle, yes?"
Hercules sighed, following Laf into his room. He laid next to his boyfriend and looked at him. Look at his perfect face. I just hurt this perfect face. How could I hurt his perfect face?
"Goodnight.", whispered Laf, snuggling into Herc, enjoying the warmth of their locked bodies.
"G-Goodnight..", said Herc.
Finally, Hercules fell into a deep sleep, with his lover resting on his shoulder. This wasn't a good thing, for when he was sleeping, his mind flooded with nightmares of him breaking Lafayette's heart.
Hercules Mulligan sighed and climbed out of bed. He didn't have his contacts on, so he felt around him to make sure he didn't bump into anything. He grabbed the envelope sitting on his side table next to the bed. This is it. 5,000 dollars about to go down the drain... No- this is a worthy cause!
Why did I do this to myself?
Hercules turned to look at his boyfriend, sleeping comfortably, not stirring the slightest bit. I love you, Laf, I know it may not seem like I do right now, and honestly I don't know how I even deserve you.
Who am I kidding? I DONT deserve him. Not one bit.
Herc used the flashlight on his phone to see where he was going. The park wasn't far away, but his mind was telling him to turn back. But in his heart he knew that hurting Laf is worse than giving his precious money away.
He looked at his watch to see that it was midnight. Herc was about to place the money behind the old olive tree when he saw a shadow in front of him. Hercules slowly shined the flashlight on the figure to see none other than James Reynolds. James held out his hand, eyes glued to the envelope with the money in it.
Hercules cleared his throat and looked at the older, intimidating man in front of him, "S-So..?"
James Reynolds smirked, "Nobody needs to know.", he whispered, his glance shifting from Hercules to the envelope.
Hercules sighed and gave James the envelope. James carefully opened the sealed envelope and inspected the check, "Good. Now, remember, you can keep seein' my whore wife, since the price is right.", James hastily stored the check in his pocket.
Herc looked at him worriedly, "The people won't know what we know?"
James Reynolds couldn't help but smile. And with that, he took off, leaving Hercules Mulligan to mull over his past actions.
Herc slowly creaked the door open. He slowly dimmed the lights a bit on, to see Lafayette curled onto the couch in a blanket, silently crying.
"Babe? What are you doing out of bed?", yawned Herc, slowly walking towards his boyfriend.
Lafayette turned to Herc hastily, "Where have you been?!"
Hercules' expression turned from worried to anxious. Oh God, does he know? He CAN'T know!
"I have been worried sick about you!", whispered Laf, "Do you know how scared I was when you just disappeared in the middle of the night, leaving the door open?"
Hercules sighed in relief, "I'm so sorry.. I didn't mean to scare you. How long have you've been just curled up in a ball crying..?", asked Herc, raising an eyebrow, "If you were that worried you could of called me.."
"As soon as I found out you were missing, I looked everywhere for you! You weren't in the building- I- then I saw the door open. I thought you were kidnapped or- or worse! Herc! I thought something happened to you!", choked Laf, trying hard not to cry but failing.
"Oh- no.. no no no no..", whispered Herc, "No. stop crying. You're breaking my heart. I'm okay.. Oh just- C-Come here!", he said, wrapping his strong arms around the Frenchman, "Shh.. it's okay.. I love you, Laf."
"I love you more than you can imagine, mon amour.", whimpered Laf.
Hercules just felt like he was struck in the heart with a hammer of inevitable guilt,"Let's get back to bed?", whispered Hercules.
"Oui.", sighed Laf, walking into the bedroom.
"Hey..", Herc quietly whispered, "You're the best. Y'know that, right?"
Lafayette sleepily smiled, "Oui, je t'aime."
As Herc crawled into bed, he didn't even notice his phone chiming with another threat from James Reynolds.
12:23 AM
Break Alexander and John up, or your little affair goes viral. I'd just hate to see the humiliated look on your boyfriend's face.
-J.R.
Hercules smiled as Lafayette burried his head into his chest and lightly snored. Everything will go back to normal. I just know it.
A/N: Okay, soooo.. some serious stuff is about to go down. Sorry about no lams in this chapter, I didn't enter it because it would of messed with the flow of this chapter. Ummmm I don't think Hercules' life is going back to normal. What's he going to do? Is he going to break Alex and John up to spare Laf's feelings, or will he stand up to James? Stay tuned!