Huge shoutout to DragonLCC for the idea for this chapter! Your review had me drumming the table in excitement to write this!

Also, while writing this I noticed a few plot holes, one of the biggest being that I forgot a few characters and locations. Let's just say that Jefferson lives near Alex's apartment rather than in Monticello and that Hamilton's other friends are visiting Lafayette or something, and Alex declined in favor of advancing in his work.

I honestly don't even know about Eliza.

Sorry about that, I just realized that two-thousand words into this chapter and I'm too lazy to change it all.


He looked down at the paper in his hands, proving what he'd suspected for the past while.

After Alexander Hamilton's dramatic flee in the congress meeting about slavery he'd wracked his brains, wondering where he'd heard that name.

Even though he wasn't one to follow politics, everyone had been talking about his violent reaction.

So he'd gone to his old records.

Alexander Hamilton, from Nevis, the Caribbean Islands. Escaped several years back.

Indow grinned malevolently. He never let a slave escape.


Alex snorted, the wine he'd previously been swallowing rushing up out his nose and onto the couch. Had he been anyone else, Thomas might've berated Alex viciously for it.

"Gaaah, fuck you Jefferson!" he laughed, attempting in vain to rid himself of the burning in his face, courtesy of the wine. "Fuck you and your stupid face!"

"You wish," Thomas snarked. Alex spluttered for a few seconds, searching for a comeback but to no avail. Thomas smirked and took a swig of his own wine.

"You little shit," he eventually decided on.

"You know you love me," Thomas said sweetly, grinning widely. Alex huffed, crossing his arms dramatically.

"The question is, how the hell did I fall for someone as-" Alex paused, frowning, searching for the right word.

"What's wrong, is the master of words finally stumped?" Thomas teased.

"Writing words is easier than saying them," Alex answered, still trying to find a good enough word.

"Oh really."

"You repulsive person!" Alex crowed triumphantly after a couple more seconds of thinking. "The question is, how the hell did I fall for someone as repulsive as you!"

"Is that really the word for me?" Thomas mused, sipping from his glass. "I was thinking beautiful, amazing, splendid, mysterious-"

"Mysterious?" Alex snorted.

"I can be mysterious when I want to be," Thomas said stiffly, drawing himself up to his full height and holding the pose for a few seconds before breaking down laughing.

"Right."

They both burst out laughing, Alex leaning his head on Thomas' chest. His heart nearly burst as he looked down at Alex, eyes closed in bliss and pulled an arm around his torso, pulling him closer. He was thankful that they were sitting on the sofa rather than at the table as the hard, wooden chairs would quickly become uncomfortable whilst the soft cushions enveloped them in a soft warmth.

"Alex," Thomas murmured hesitantly.

"Mmm?"

"I'm going to move you to our bed, mkay?" Thomas asked. Alex responded by snuggling further into Thomas' arms, causing him to chuckle a little. He changed his grip a bit then lifted Alex, causing the smaller man to scrabble at Thomas' shoulders, clinging on tightly, eyes shooting open.

"Thomas!" he squeaked. "Don't drop me!"

"I'd never drop you," Thomas said, smiling.

He carried Alex to the bed in the hallway and laid him down gently onto it. After removing his woolen overcoat, he laid down next to Alexander, who hadn't even bothered to remove his shoes before burying himself under the covers and shoving himself under Thomas' arm.

Thomas smiled and hugged him close to him, which was how they both fell asleep that night.


Thomas was the first to awake that morning for once and took the chance to see sun rays from a nearby window stream down onto Alexander's face, lighting it up beautifully.

"Hey, sweetie, it's time to wake up," he murmured quietly, placing his hand on Alex's chest, smiling.

"Nuh-uh," Alex groaned, shaking his head slightly.

"It's time to get ready to go to work," Thomas insisted.

Alex smirked and half-opened his eyes. "Only if you'll be my boyfriend." Thomas squeaked, a huge grin spreading over his face. He was frozen in that pose, a messy grin slapped across his face.

"Yes," he breathed. Alex smirked even more and pulled Thomas closer and kissed him, both of them positively melting into the other.

The kiss lasted for a good minute or so before they both retracted, breathing hard.

"That was the best damn kiss of my life," Thomas said, eliciting a laugh from Alex.

"C'm'on, was gotta get ready," Alex said, smiling widely.

"How should we tell Washington?" Thomas asked offhandedly while dressing himself. "I mean, he's practically your father."

"He's not my father!" Alex insisted.

"Ya, sure," Thomas snickered.

"Shut up Jefferson."

"You love me!" Thomas called.

"I do," Alex said, smiling instantaneously. Thomas finished pulling on his magenta overcoat and walked over to him, kissing his cheek before going out to get some breakfast around.

When Alex walked into the kitchen Thomas immediately ushered him out.

"You manage to burn water," he said. "I'm worried that your mere presence might ruin our meal."

"That was one time," Alex grumbled, crossing his arms and turning around to face Thomas.

"I didn't even know you could burn water!" Thomas exclaimed. "No, you being in a kitchen is a disaster waiting to-"

He was cut off by Alex's lips on his own, any argument he could make effectively silenced.

"I'm sure I'll be fine in there," Alex said, waltzing in. Thomas steamed for a few seconds before walking back to where he was attempting to make toast, his own cooking skills not much better than his boyfriend's.

My boyfriend, Thomas thought with a wide grin.

"Oh, how were we going to tell Washington again?" Thomas asked, realizing that his question had never been answered.

"We should hint at it then, then once he figures it out we can act all innocent when he starts seething about how we didn't tell him right away," Alex suggested, grinning malevolently.

"You're so evil, you know that?" Thomas laughed.

"Of course I know it," Alex drawled. "I've used to my advantage many times before."

"Like just now, when you snuck back in here?" Thomas challenged.

"You mean like this?" Alex asked, slamming himself into Thomas before he could process what he'd just said. He flipped the bread and strolled casually back to where he'd previously been leaning against the wall.

"You little shit," Thomas spluttered. Alex laughed, shrugging.

"You looked like you needed it, and look, I actually saved the toast from burning," Alex pointed out. While Thomas marveled at how he'd somehow saved breakfast rather than ruin it, Alex took the opportunity to swoop in behind him and hug him, leaning his head on his back.

Thomas started a bit at the unexpected contact, bringing his arm up sharply, hitting the pan's handle and causing it to go flying, falling to the floor with a clatter.

"Now who's ruined breakfast," Alex snorted, moving to Thomas' side, never losing contact with him.

"Oh, be quiet, you," Thomas laughed. He tried in vain to get something around for them to eat for the next half hour, and they ended up rushing to a coffee shop and grabbing something to go before practically sprinting to work. The arrived disheveled and out of breath, one bag for each clutched in hand, laughing rather loudly. They'd just barely made it on time, possibly the closest call Alexander had even had.

They each went to their offices, slumping down in their chairs and snickering a bit. Alex bit into his sandwich enthusiastically once he'd caught his breath, finishing it quickly. Thomas ate whilst writing, nibbling at it every few minutes.

Their smiles lasted throughout the entire day.


Indow asked around town as to where it lived, eventually finding out by going under the disguise of being a friend of it.

He tried the knob, twisting it back and forth, but it was locked. He glanced around to see if bashing the door down was an option, but too many people were nearby. He'd just have to wait for it to come home.


Alex walked home with Thomas, talking animatedly, using his hands to paint images in the air.

"Oh, and I've been meaning to go home to get a couple more inkwells. I'm nearly out of my current ones," Alex said, cutting himself off.

"I thought it was just full a few days ago?" Thomas asked skeptically.

"I write a lot," Alex reminded him.

"Ah, I see, you've been writing your poor hands off," Thomas concluded.

"I'll go home and get those, you can go ahead. I'll be just ten minutes behind you," Alex assured him.

"Ok, see you later," Thomas said as their paths split ways. Alex followed the left road, counting down houses until he reached his dingy apartment. He readied his keys to let himself into his house, feeling the cold metal slid over his fingers.

Someone was loitering outside his door, someone who struck fear into his very bones. He felt his blood run cold as Indow growled, "found you."

He'd been caught he'd been caught he'd been caught he'd been caught-

He didn't notice his keys clattering to the ground, slipping from his trembling hands.

They were going to torture him, kill him slowly and painfully-

His heart was racing as Indow strolled up to him, eyes shining malevolently.

Thomas isn't here to protect me. He won't know where I am once he takes me-

He didn't realize he was running for several seconds, dry sobs escaping him. Indow grabbed onto his arm, jerking him back roughly. Alex cried out, falling limply, chest heaving.

Should've kept your fucking big head down-

He was being taken away, and he dimly registering that he was hyperventilating.

Maybe if I'm lucky I'll die now.

Luck never was on his side, he would reflect ruefully later.


Thomas was starting to worry. Alex had said he'd arrive ten minutes after Thomas, yet twenty later he couldn't see hide nor hare of him. Thomas glanced at the clock for the fifth time in the past minute. He moved out to the deck, looking down each direction of the street.

He forced down the gnawing worry - it's only been five minutes, he tried to tell himself, he's probably just searching through a huge mess for his inkwells, knowing how unorganized he is - and sat himself down inside, only to get up and resume pacing a mere five seconds later.

Alex's apartment wasn't that far away, though.

Thomas set out for Alex's apartment, knowing that he was being irrational but worrying nonetheless. He didn't give a flying shit about whether or not Alex would tease him about how worried he was, he was going to find out what was taking him so long.


Thomas saw Alex being dragged off by a man, pale and hyperventilating. They were nearly fifteen feet away from him. His long legs reached new speeds that day.

They got into the carriage before he could reach them.

He called his own carriage and ordered them to follow Alex.

They couldn't catch up.


Fear consumed him, leaving no room for air. It seemed as if he were drowning in terror. Indow was gloating to him at how he'd found him, even after all these years. He was pondering possible punishments, already choosing between whips. Alex remembered the whip that had come down on his back before and shuddered.

'Hurry Thomas,' he thought desperately.


"Can't you go any faster?" Thomas asked the driver anxiously.

"We can try," he replied, urging the horses to even greater speeds. Thomas prayed that the horses could keep their current speed long enough to get Alex back. Their horseplay of the morning seemed a million years away, and Alex's lips on his seemed a dream in the haze of terror currently plaguing Thomas.


"I think we'll stop here, just to make sure you know that you're mine," Indow suggested offhandedly. He withdrew a length of knotted rope from his satchel. Alex nearly fainted from terror at the sight of it alone, heart hammering.

He was forced out into a clearing in the woods by the road they were previously traveling on. The whip was hanging malevolently by Indow's side. His shirt was being forced off.


He couldn't stop himself from counting.

One,

- It was much worse than he remembered it to be -

Two,

Three,

- Alex fell to his knees -

Four,

Five,

Six,

- He curled in on himself as if that might help him escape the pain -

Seven,

Eight,

Nine,

Ten.

Alex passed out.


Thomas saw the carriage pulled over long before they approached it. He had the driver stop and pull over and ran into the woods, hoping against hope that he was heading in the right direction.


He saw Alex on the ground, bleeding and at the feet of that man whom had a length of knotted rope in his hands.

The rope was bloody.


His fist was flying into the man's face, knocking him back.

The rope was raised, but Thomas dodged it.

He got behind him and wrapped his arm around his neck, pulling until he fell to the ground unconscious.

He was at Alex's side - his poor, poor Alexander.


Thomas wouldn't leave Alex's side until the doctors said that he was just in the way. He made them promise to tell him of Alex so much as twitched.

He paced in the waiting room, fidgeting with his sleeve, striding across the length of the room in one, two, three, four, five, six strides - turn - one, two, three, four, five, six strides.

He eventually fell asleep in a chair, head lolling to the side.


Thomas was woken by a nurse who brought news of an awake Alex. He rushed to Alex's room, narrowly dodging several people in the hallway.

"Alex, honey, I'm here," Thomas assured.

He couldn't stop from trembling wildly in Thomas' arms, curled into his embrace. He kept him pulled close, terrified that this was all just a dream that would soon be snatched away.

"Sweetie, you're ok, it's okay, I'm here," Thomas repeated, kissing Alex's forehead. "I'll always find you, no matter how far away you are."

"Where is he? Tell me," Alex begged, brown eyes big and pleading.

"He's in jail right now awaiting his trial," Thomas said.

"What if he gets let off?" Alex worried.

"Then I'll never let him get to you again, ever," Thomas promised, planting another kiss on Alex's forehead.

"But what if he-" Thomas cut Alex off with a kiss on his lips. He would've smirked had it been under any other circumstances. He could learn from his boyfriend, no problem.

"I'll never let him get you," Thomas repeated, pulling away after a few seconds. "Never again."

He couldn't get the image of Alex laying limp on the ground, back soaked in blood. He shook his head a smiled reassuringly, for Alex.

"Never again."


They both skipped the next few weeks of work, Thomas refusing to leave Alex alone. Besides worrying about Alex's old master (the word still sounded ugly) coming back, he was also anxious about panic attacks. He wanted to be near Alex, make him feel safe. They spent the majority of their time in bed, snuggled up and talking about anything and everything.

Mostly Thomas assured Alex that he was never going back, that he would always be there, and that he loved him to the moon and back.

Everything he said during those few weeks was true.

Soon though, people began to speculate on why they were both missing so much work. Everyone was particularly curious on why Alex was vacant from his office, when once needing Washington to literally pick him up and move him outside to get him to go home when sick.

The people who'd been on Alex's street when it had happened began to talk, prideful on knowing something only a select number of people knew, happy to have a big piece of the puzzle that was this whole mystery involving Hamilton and Jefferson.

"We're going to have to tell Washington, aren't we." It was not a question.

"Only if you're ready, sweetie," Thomas crooned.

"I might have to be," Alex murmured, ducking his head down into Thomas' chest.

"Why? No one is going to force you," Thomas promised.

Alex couldn't find a response to that and instead curled tighter into Thomas, careful to not aggravate the wounds on his back and shoulders.


Alex wrung his hands nervously, heart pounding.

"You don't have to go unless you really want to," Thomas assured him.

"I do have to go though, to count as a witness. I can't do that from home," Alex said, eyes full of fear at the prospect of coming face to face with Indow willingly.

"I count as a witness too," Thomas said. "I- I saw him do...that."

Thomas winced while saying it, remembering how he'd stopped in his tracks for a full second, horrified by what was happening. He shut his eyes and shook his head slightly as if that would help get the image out of his head.

Alex closed the remaining space between them and hugged him, nestling his head into Thomas' chest. They both needed it, to know that they weren't alone.

"You shouldn't be the one comforting me," Thomas mumbled. Alex made a small sound in the back of his throat, squeezing closer.

"Doesn't matter," Alex murmured. "We both need help."

Thomas chuckled a bit, savoring this moment of calm, being sure to return as much as he was receiving.

"You sayin' we're both broken?" he teased.

"Mhmm, you know it," Alex said, and in that moment in time they almost forgot about everything that had happened to them both in recent times. All the trauma, the pain and terror, everything.

"We'd better go now," Alex said quietly after a few seconds.

Thomas reluctantly stepped back, stretching out his hand. Alex clasped it, grateful for the connection.

When they walked into the court, Alex was forcing himself to breath evenly and deeply, stomach clenching up. He was clutching Thomas' hand hard enough to make him wince, though he kept his face devoid of any sign of pain. He was aware that if Alex knew that his grip hurt, he'd pull away, and that would cut off both of their main source of comfort.

For Thomas needed Alex's presence as well. He was just as terrified as Alex to confront Indow, knowing that if he got to Alex again, Thomas might not get there in time.

He forced that thought out of his head, knowing that it would only serve to scare him. He was nervous enough as it was.

The judge read the charges against Indow (torture of a former slave, kidnapping of a former slave) and had Alex speak against him. As Alex stood, Thomas couldn't help but mull over the fact that he'd kept drawing attention to his former status, rather than the fact that he was currently free.

"He confronted me at my doorstep and-" Alex bit his lip and gathered up the will to proceed "-and forced me into his carriage. He then proceeded to-" Thomas, who was sitting by Alex grabbed his hand and rubbed it soothingly "-to whip me ten times before I passed out. I awoke in the hospital."

"Next witness," the judge called. Thomas stood, letting his hands hang limp at his side. Alex seated himself, clenching his trembling hands.

"I went to Al- Hamilton's apartment when he was late to a meeting at my house. I saw him being hauled off and followed them." Thomas didn't say how terrified he'd been that he'd never see Alex again, how scared he was when they started falling behind, how he'd pleaded with the driver to go faster. "When they got out at the side of the road I followed the two of them into the woods and found Hamilton on the ground, unconscious." His voice wavered and he forced tears down. "I got him-" he nodded his head at Indow "-under control and got Hamilton to the nearest hospital."

"Defender?" The judge invited. Indow stood loosely, clearly confident.

"Alexander Hamilton is a runaway slave of mine, escaped in the year seventeen-seventy-three. As you know, if caught they are put to death. I was being merciful," Indow purred.

"You call beating someone ten times with a knotted whip merciful?" Thomas burst out, scoffing. "At that point, I think death would be preferable. No one deserves to be put through that sort of treatment, no matter their class."

"Says the man who owns nearly six hundred slaves," Indow shot back.

"I've released most of them, and the people who are left have been given pay for their work," Thomas spat. "I hadn't known how badly they were treated until recently. If I had known earlier I would've done something to change it sooner."

"Do you have proof of this?" Indow asked sweetly.

"Order in the court!" the judge shouted, slamming the gavel down on the hardwood block placed for that purpose.

"Sorry, your honor," Thomas said, bowing his head meekly. Indow merely nodded, a contemptuous look flashing in his eyes directed at Thomas.

Alex forced his hands to stop shaking, knowing that they were fighting a losing battle. The judge was obviously someone who supported slavery, by the manner in which he spoke to and about him.

Alex whispered that much to Thomas, hoping to prepare him so he wouldn't do something he might regret.

"Your honor," Thomas said, standing once Alex stopped speaking in whispered tones. Alex shot a fearful look at him, telling him to sit back down and to shut up, that it wasn't worth it. "Just so I may remind you, Hamilton is a free man, and he is a registered citizen of the United States. To force him to go back to where he came from, that's be like someone forcing me to go into slavery despite the fact that I am free."

"I will keep that in mind," the judge drawled. Alex winced as Thomas sat back down once more.

"You shouldn't've done that," Alex breathed.

"He looked like he needed to be reminded. Besides, by bringing myself into the equation in that manner is a powerful move - I know that I'm a fairly big figure in this country," Thomas replied equally quiet, shrugging his shoulders by the smallest fraction.

"Now, for the charges against Hamilton," the judge said. Alex's heart skipped a beat. He had charges against himself?

"He has been accused of being a runaway slave - and so far, in all the times he's been called that, none of you have denied it, so he's obviously guilty of that," the judge continued.

Alex began trembling again. He'd screwed up again. He should've remembered to deny being a slave, as running away is punishable by death. But he'd been too caught up in his determination to lock Indow away to remember to deny it, deny it.

Thomas took Alex's hand and squeezed it, looking into his eyes. Alex met his after a moment and nearly melted. Even through all this trouble he'd caused, Thomas was still here. What could he ever have done to deserve such an amazing boyfriend?

"As I'm sure you all know, that is punishable by death, though the master of the slave must ultimately decide."

Alex began trembling harder, clutching Thomas' hand like a lifeline.

"I just want it back."

Alex's heart stopped for a good five seconds, or so it seemed.

"Dismissed," the judge decreed, slamming the gavel down once more.

"Wait!" Thomas said, standing. Alex stayed sitting, breathing harder and harder by the minute, panic threatening to overwhelm him. "Sir!"

"Yes?" The judge asked tiredly.

"Alex is a free man, you can't just make him go back now! He's been free for over decade!" Thomas pleaded.

"Illegally free," the judge pointed out.

"But free nonetheless," Thomas countered.

"Look, in the way I see it, he's just another runaway slave, no matter how many years he's managed to slip under our radar," the judge said tiredly.

"But he's not just another slave, he's a real human with real thoughts and hopes and dreams and feelings, just like all the others back there!" Thomas protested.

"He's not going to change his mind," Alex whispered, hating himself for the tear that escaped. "I'm not worth it."

"But you are worth it," Thomas argued.

"I'm just another person, what difference does it make?" Alex asked quietly. Thomas knelt down so he could look Alex in the eye, who kept his eyes downcast.

"You are not just another person. You have worth - and no, not just in the way that you can provide free labor," Thomas said to Alex, looking him in the eyes even though the gaze wasn't being returned.

"He'll be put into custody until further notice," the judge said, interrupting the little moment in between the two men.

"I'm going to ask Washington for help," Thomas said as Alex stood up to be led out.

Alex whipped around to face him, something alighting in his eyes. Hope, Thomas realized. Washington might just be the only way out of this.

Alex hugged Thomas tightly, just in case it didn't work out. Thomas held him as tight as he could, pushing away the unimaginable.


There was still time to catch him before the day was over, Thomas thought as he desperately ran towards the big white building, shoving open the doors. He ran into someone carrying quite a few papers, continuing on even as papers flew to the floor and the man cursed.

"Jefferson here to see the pres- president," he panted as he reached the door to Washington's office. The security guards glanced at each other, wondering what could possibly have made Jefferson appear so out of breath before letting him through.

"Sir, I- Alex- we, I mean, needs your help, that is Alex and I," Thomas rambled as soon as he was in. Washington looked up, a concerned, questioning look on his face. "I'll explain on the way over, but sir, we must hurry. I don't know how long we have."

"Was Alex hurt?" Washington asked.

"No, but he's going to be if we don't get there in time. Sir, you have to convince the judge to let him go!" Thomas exclaimed.

"What'd he do this time?" Washington asked worriedly.

"Nothing, this once. Sir, I have to prepare you-" Thomas stopped, pulling Washington over to the side. He lowered his voice so that only he could hear it and said, "Alex, he- his past isn't what might be expected. I wanted him to be able to tell you this, but under the circumstances, he can't.

"Alex used to be a slave, and his master has returned for him. The judge has got him in custody until he can get the papers signed to get him back," Thomas said gravely. Washington nodded and they took off running once more. And thank the lord for small miracles, the courthouse was nearby.

Washington slowed to a walk only when they were outside the room where Alex had been condemned. He straightened his jacket and walked in, pushing the doors out in quite the dramatic entrance.

"Of for goodness sakes," they could hear the judge muttering. "What is it this time, Mr. Jefferson? Oh-" the judge straightened up, quickly adjusting his overcoat. "-President Washington, a pleasure to see you!"

"Where are you holding Alex?" he asked coldly.

"Just down the hall," the judge squeaked. "Last door on your right."

Jefferson sprinted out instantaneously, long legs covering ground easily. He tried the door handle frantically, but it was locked. Then Washington arrived and slid the key into the lock, turning it quickly.

The room was made of cold grey stone with nothing decorating it, which produced the feeling of distress and despair. Alex was sitting despondently on the hard bench, shoulders slumped in defeat, head down in submission before they arrived.

Thomas saw his head snap up fearfully, already retreating farther back on the bench. Thomas could see the exact moment Alex realized who'd come, the exact moment his eyes lit up in hope, filling every inch of Alex's face.

Alex shot up and launched himself at Thomas, nearly knocking him off his feet.

"Shh, it's alright, you're okay," Thomas crooned, rubbing soothing circles into his back. He could feel Alex's whole being trembling and sobs ripped themselves from his throat. He clutched at Thomas as if were he to let go, even for a millisecond, he would lose Thomas forever.

Washington watched from the other side of the doorway, smiling in thankfully. Hamilton was going to be okay.

"It's alright, everything's fine," Thomas repeated in the same comforting tone. "You're never going back. I promised you that, didn't I? You're staying with me, whether you like it or not."

Alex's only reply was clutching Thomas tighter, sobbing in utter relief.


"Are you sure?' Thomas asked quietly, searching Alex's face for a hint that he might be lying.

"I think we should come clean about everything," Alex mumbled, clasping Thomas' hands in his own. "He deserves that much, after saving me 'n all."

"Only if you're ready," Thomas promised. Alex nodded and they left the house to go to work for the first time in nearly two months.

They were quickly admitted into Washington's office, the guards instantly recognizing them.

"Sir, I'd like to officially thank you for...everything, really," Alex murmured, standing close enough to Thomas that he couldn't see them holding hands behind their backs.

"No need, I take care of those I care about," Washington said, smiling reassuringly. "I trust that you're doing fine?"

Alex nodded and swallowed his nervousness. If Washington was accepting of his past, he'd surely be fine with this.

"Also, there's one more thing you should know," he said quietly. Washington looked at him questioningly and the two of them stepped apart, revealing their clasped hands. He blinked for a second before smiling once again.

"You two boys have come so far," he chuckled. Alex chose to ignore the fact that the president of the United States of America seemed to be tearing up a bit.

"We'll get back to work then," Thomas said awkwardly after a couple of seconds, shifting on his feet. He wasn't expecting this bit to be nearly this emotional.

"No, no, you boys take the day off. You deserve it," Washington said.

"With all due respect, we've been sitting on our asses for nearly two months." Washington let out a short bark of laughter at this and waved them off.

"If you're really that determined to work, go ahead. Do you want to work in the same office?" he asked. Alex looked up at Thomas, smiling excitedly. Thomas' heart nearly melted at the sight of it and quickly nodded.

"That'd be great."


If anyone has any more ideas for this, please please please tell me! I've loved writing this, and I'd love writing even more for it! It's always fun to have the readers be able to interact with how the story turns out, in my opinion.

Constructive criticism is always welcomed! Again, special thanks to DragonsLCC for the idea for this chapter!

May your inspiration be plenty,

-Ranger Corpses