Lafayette took a deep inhale, running a hand through his hair. He stared in the mirror of his apartment, pulling his hair up, then letting it fall again. He reached out to his small desk, keeping one hand wrapped around his hair, holding it back in a bun. Lafayette grabbed a dark blue ribbon, tying it around his bountiful locks, holding them back. He let a few curls hang by his face, framing it nicely. He was wearing a stylish outfit, consisting of a long brown jacket, white trousers and a white, untucked shirt. His white flats were clean, new, fresh. Everything he was, his shoes were too. Clean, new, fresh. Yes, that's him.
His phone rung with the ringtone that was growing increasingly annoying. Lafayette picked it up, the name reading Sammyđź‘Ś. "Bonjour, Samuel!" He cheered.
"Hi, Laf! How's it going?" Samuel bounced back. "You have the car, right?"
"Oui, I 'ave it." He smiled, fiddling with the bottom of his shirt.
There was some background music on Samuel's side. "Oh, okay, cool! Doing anything tonight?"
Lafayette chortled. "Sure am! Remember that Hercules guy?"
"The guy that called you a whore?" Samuel sounded concerned.
Lafayette sighed. "Don't remind me..."
"You're going out with him?" Samuel coughed.
"Well... Yes, and no. I'm going out to dinner with 'im and 'is friends." Lafayette looked in his mirror, scratching the stubble along his jaw.
"Oh."
"Where are you?" He pursed his lips.
There was a long pause. "Out."
"Where!" Lafayette teased.
"Uhh... I've locked myself in the bathroom to call you. I'm... on a date."
"Aww! I'll let you go then!"
"Bye, Laf!"
"Bye, Sam!"
Lafayette went to unlock his car when there was a honking. He turned, and was greeted with a window rolling down. "Hercules!"
He stuck his head out the window a little. "Hey, Laf!" John yelled from the back.
"I know my cars not as nice as yours, but get in." Hercules smirked. Lafayette chuckled, walking around the car and opening the passenger door. "Hey, you look great."
"Merci!" Lafayette flushed a soft crimson. He gave a small gesture to Hercules. "Is that ze chain I got you?"
Hercules nodded. "I wear it all the time." Lafayette blushed a little more at that.
Alex turned to John, whispering in his ear, still keeping an eye on the two in the front. "Just kiss already..." John agreed, the two were helpless.
They could hear the two in front making small talk and jokes, as every so often Lafayette would giggle quietly. Yup, helpless.
"Kiss, kiss, fall in love!" John hummed to himself.
"Did you say something, John?" Lafayette turned around in his seat, smiling stupidly.
"No."
Lafayette chuckled to himself, turning back around, fiddling with his hair as he did so. "We have arrived." Hercules stopped the car with a jutter, and the other three climbed out.
"Zis is where we went for your birthday, non?" Lafayette asked Hercules with a sheepish smile as he closed the car door.
Hercules locked it before replying. "Yeah, it is."
John pulled Alex towards the front door, "come on, slow pokes!" He shouted back at the two. They scurried up to meet him, whilst Alex opened the door and walked in.
"Hey, you three!" Angelica greeted them. "Four? Hercules, you have friends?" She teased, poking the man on the arm.
"It's only been four months, did you really forget me that quickly?" Lafayette chuckled as Angelica glanced up at him, slightly taken aback.
She gasped. "Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Mortier Marqui de Lafayette?"
"How'd you remember that!?" John burst and hooked his arm with Alexander's, kissing the man's temple.
Angelica laughed with a wink. "I've got a good memory."
"You sure do, if you can get this guys full name!" Hercules gazed up at Lafayette dreamily, and the slightly taller man set his hand on Mulligan's shoulder heartfully.
Angelica led them to a booth, making them sit. "Like I said, good memory." She prepped her notebook. "Drinks?"
John looked up. "Coca cola." He smiled.
"Me too!" Alex grinned.
"Me three!" Lafayette snickered, glad he was sitting next to Hercules.
Hercules just sighed at the childishness. "I'll have a water." Lafayette shook his head. "What?"
"Zat's so boring!" He pushed Hercules playfully on the arm with his tongue stuck out.
Hercules shoved him lightly back. "So, I think I need something not so... out there."
John shook his head, and turned to Alex, whispering in his ear. "Helpless." Alexander nodded, watching them. He took notice of the bread basket on the table and grabbed a bit, rolling his eyes.
Lafayette poked his tongue out, giggling stupidly. Angelica placed the four drinks by them before leaning down to whisper in Alexander's ear. "Are they together yet?"
Alex shook his head, and watched Angelica shake her head. "They're helpless." John joined in. Hercules and Lafayette seemed to take no notice, still arguing flirtasiously. Wether they were flirting deliberately or not, it was abundantly clear they were clueles towards the other.
"Right, do you know what you what?"
Each ordered and Angelica scribbled it down in her neat handwriting. She walked off again, and the four engaged in polite, friendly conversation. Finally, Alex brought up, "what's Paris like, Laf?"
He smacked his hands on the table, eyes widening in excitement. "Paris? C'est incroyable! Amazing! It's beautiful, grassy and flowers! The high streets are busy, but fashion is great, if a little odd. It's a lot of the jackets I'm wearing, and quite colourful. Of course there's the Eiffel Tower, which lights up at night, and that's gorgeous! The streets are quite thin, and it's always loud. But, then again, France isn't quiet..." Lafayette began to trail off, slowly slipping into French. It seemed like talking about France, made him start speaking in his native language.
"C'est tellement romantique, la ville de la romance! La nourriture est excellente et les pâtisseries sont vraiment bonnes! Bien sûr, les croissants et le pain au chocolat sont parmi les meilleures choses qui soient! Ils vont bien ici, mais pas autant que la France." (Translation below.) Lafayette dreamed, already missing his home country.
Hercules blinked, as did John. Alex nodded along, although he was struggling to keep up with Lafayette's rapid French. Of course, Alexander was fluent, but Lafayette spoke so fast. "Slow down, and... English?" Hercules asked gently, taking a sip from his water glass.
"It's so romantic, the city of romance! The food is great, and the pastries are so good! Of course, croissants and chocolate bread are some of the best things ever! They're alright here, but not nearly as good as France." Lafayette translated, smiling widely. He seemed so passionate talking about his home country, his eyes sparkled as he spoke excitedly.
Hercules gushed silently inside, he couldn't help but feel so interested whenever Lafayette spoke. What was this man doing to him?
Angelica slid over to their table, placing meals before them. She pushed Alex's shoulder. "Budge up, I'm on my break."
Alexander looked at her fearfully before shifting over, nudging John up too as Angelica sat in the space. Lafayette smiled. "'Ow are you, Angie?" He questioned, taking a small drink of Coke.
Angelica grinned back. "I'm good, how was your time in Paris? I saw an interview with you in it not long ago."
Lafayette flushed a soft scarlet, chuckling. "Its 'ome, I love it there. Although, I did miss is 'ere." He confessed, shuffling in his seat.
Hercules discreetly shifted closer to Lafayette, it wasn't much, but it was closer. "Where about in France are you from, Laf?" John asked, despite his side being pushed against a wall.
"Chavaniac." He smiled in thought of his childhood home. Hercules took a bite of his food, keeping his attention on the talking Frenchman. He wasn't really listening, but knew it was about something to do with his childhood.
John nodded along. "My dad's finally coming around to accepting my sexuality." He raised his fork triumphantly, giving it a small wave.
Alex grinned. "That's great, Jackie!" Angelica smiled too before she stood.
"Right, I'm gonna go. Thanks for letting me listen in, but I need to text Pegs." She scattered off to the kitchen and the others chuckled, continuing their conversation.
"My Ma's fallen ill." Hercules added in, taking a drink.
"With what?" Alexander was brought into a faint sense of panic, illnesses always made him scared, especially after his mother.
Hercules glanced up. "It's just influenza. She'll be alright, gave me a hell of a fright."
Lafayette placed a hand on his shoulder comfortingly. "Send my condolences, I 'ope she's better soon." He gave a warm smile, removing his hand. Hercules had to admit, he missed the touch. As did Lafayette, damn it. He'd just gotten over this fear, what was Hercules doing to him!
"From me too." John placed his head to look down, shovelling some vegetarian concoction into his gaping jaw.
Alexander watched in mild disgust. "What the fuck, John?"
"What?" He swallowed first before winking.
Lafayette shook his head with a chortle, beaming. Hercules looked over at Lafayette. He was so perfect. His smile, his voice, hair, personality. Everything.
This could only lead to trouble.
Yup, this man was going to break his heart.
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