John is sitting in a cabin, writing a letter to Martha. He has just finished writing and sealing the envelope with the family crest when the door opens and his father enters.
"John, this is the ship we are going to raid today." Henry says in a businesslike manner.
John sighs quietly. "Father, do we need to keep raiding ships? You know I disapprove of such behavior."
"Of course! We are pirates! I expect you to carry on my legacy after my death." Henry says rashly.
Seeing no choice, John follows his father out onto the deck to order the soldiers to prepare for attack.
X
John climbs aboard the cargo ship, his cape fluttering behind him in a flattering fashion. Not one thing looks amiss about him, such is his grace.
There is a group of frightened-looking sailors huddled in the corner.
John points his sword toward them, but not in a threatening manner.
"Where is the gold?" He inquires authoritatively.
The leader of the sailors points a shaking finger toward a room in the back, but when John does not immediately move in that direction, the sailor seems to sense John's moral character.
"Pl-pl-please, sir. We will not be able to eat if we do not bring gold back to the mayor." The man stutters.
John softens momentarily. "I have no choice. I am so sorry. But I will try to be kind in my taking."
John then turns toward the direction of the man's pointed finger and walks to the room, his stomach sinking in guilt at his actions.
X
John has taken as small a sum as he thinks will be unquestioned by his father.
Of course, he judges wrong.
"Where's the rest?" Henry demands.
"The rest? That's all there was." John says timidly.
"No, it certainly isn't. Why can't you do one damn thing right?!" Henry contradicts.
"Well, I don't want to be a raider. Just stop this, Father. Please." John pleads.
"Nonsense! We are pirates!" Henry booms.
"But, Father…." John begins.
"NO! I WILL HEAR NO EXCEPTIONS! I EXPECT ULTIMATE SUBORDINATION! OR ELSE GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!" Henry shouts.
John turns and stalks out of the room. This is the opportunity that he has been waiting for.
Henry probably does not expect John to actually leave, but he is wrong.
John gathers up a few books, papers, coins, and clothes before rushing toward the gangway and into a small dinghy that he can use to float to shore.
Just like that, his life began.
Within a few days, he has met the most handsome man he has ever seen, and they quickly get together. It is utter bliss.
X
A banging wakes John, and he looks up blearily at what the noise is.
And then it hits him.
This was all a dream, and he has been captured by the Dark One, who is listlessly banging a bottle against a chair, unaware that he is awake.
Suddenly, John loses his balance on the chair upon which he has been placed.
Shit. John thinks, falling over and alerting the Dark One.
This could be the end of him.
"Ah! Monsieur Laurens! You are awake!" Lafayette exclaims gleefully.
"Wh-what do you want with me?" John stutters, trying to control the headache that Lafayette had induced when he hit John over his head.
"I need your help…." Lafayette hisses.
"For what?" John asks, confused.
"To get Adrienne and Georges back!" Lafayette answers insistently.
"Adrienne and Georges?" John inquires.
"My wife and son!" Lafayette replies impatiently.
"But you are controlled by Thomas Jefferson and the evil dagger!" John exclaims loudly.
"Shh...keep your voice down!" Lafayette reminds him.
Then another thought strikes him. "Wait, how do you know about the dagger? It is a secret, and you are not even from Washington Heights."
John shrugs nonchalantly. "I've been to the library a couple times. I like to stay informed."
Shaking his head to clear it, Lafayette adds one more thing.
"Come on, I will meet you at the mall at 10 o'clock this evening. And bring your husband."
This speech has apparently unaffected John, except for the last one, at which he stiffens.
"I am not going to engage with my husband." John says firmly.
"Ah what? Marriage struggles? You?" Lafayette teases, stopping immediately when he sees that John is not amused.
"Very well. I will hopefully be able to mend that, for two reasons. First, I am French. Second, we need your husband, who I have already spoken to on the matter."
John smiles at the first reason despite himself. The second, however, bothers him again. He went to Alexander before me? The dashing and wealthy John Laurens?
John knows that he is being petty. He tries to focus on the moment.
"Excellent! Let us go!" Lafayette says excitedly sensing John's resignation to the problem at hand.
And before John knows it, Lafayette is speeding away into the dark, his cape fluttering softly in the breeze. John hurries to catch up.
A/N: Thank you for reading! School's been tough, but I'm going to try to update a story every week. Just a note, I will be cutting stories that have little reader interest and/or no interest for me to write to make writing a little easier. This is not one of them. Thank you for your patience!
I don't own anything but the spelling and grammar mistakes. Reviews are appreciated!
-HamiltonAsparagus