Requested by a good friend of mine, historicfics_101! (I know circuses and disinfectant supplies weren't exactly a thing during this time period but it fit what I wanted to do so yeah)

TW
-mentions of blood

~

Alexander Hamilton and John Laurens had only began to secretly court each other two months ago, often cuddling late at night in their tent, sharing a cot when it got cold, and exchanging short, sweet kisses whenever they could.

Both men knew it was against the law, but neither cared. Obviously, ever story must have a beggining, and this is how theirs started.

---

The morning was a bit chilly, but Alexander was warm. Sitting on his horse, Peacock, he had wrapped himself in both his and John's waistcoat, watching with half-closed eyes and the man in question climbed onto his own horse- an appaloosa horse with the name 'Apple'.

Grunting, John settled himself in the saddle then turned to Alexander, a wide smile on his usually stoic face. "You ready?" He asked.

Alexander nodded, grabbing the reins of his own bay horse with a smile of his own. "Yup. The river?"

"Of course, my dear heart." John confirmed, flashing Alexander yet another smile that made his heart turn over and his stomach do summersaults.

The two took off into a canter, reaching the edge of the forest easily. Once they were past the treeline, they slowed to a trot, just enjoying each other's company.

It was still early morning, around 7 o'clock if Alexander had to guess. The sun was just barely above the horizon, bathing the forest in an array of colors as golden light streamed through the tree cover.

Shades of golds and greens dappled the forest floor as well as the two men riding peacefully. Alexander could hear the landscape waking up and he smiled, listening to John's rambling blend into the woodland around them, birds chirping, wind rustling the leaves, the scent of spring flowers filling his nose.

Alexander watched as John rode under a gap in the leaves and sunlight lit up his features. Grinning so wide it hurt, Alexander took the opportunity to study his crush's features. He took in the dirty blonde hair, dazzling blue eyes that turned green when the light hit them just right, his strong jawline and rounded chin with the smallest hint of facial hair decorating the underside of his cupid's bow lips. In total, Alexander thought that John was utterly georgous.

John's loud laughter brought Alexander out of his thoughts and he looked back at John to see him attempting to balance on his horse, standing in his stirrups, his bottom 6 inches of the saddle at least.

"Alex!" John shouted, grinning from ear to ear. The one thing that could make John even more beautiful, Alexander thought, was when a rare, truly joyful smile slipped onto John's face. "Alex look!"

Alexander let out a loud barking laugh as he watched John attempt to climb onto his saddle- as in standing on the saddle.

"Lexi, look, I'm a circus performer!" John wobbled a bit, making Alexander laugh. John, however, caught himself and steadied his movements, his knees slightly bent and his arms splayed out like an eagle's wings. John giggled and looked up at Alexander, a childish glint in his eyes and a lopsided grin splattered across his face.

"Presenting, John Laurens, on horseback!" Alexander finished, grinning broadly.

John slowly straightened his posture and tried to take a bow but was unsuccessful as he promptly tumbled off of his horse's back with a shrill shriek of laughter.

Alexander watched John fall with a snort. He pulled on Peacock's reins and rode up to where John was laying in a large thicket of hawthorn bushes.

Apple had wandered away without her rider and was grazing on some nearby patch of grass under a large cedar tree. Alexander watched her out of tbe corner of his eye as he struggled to contain his laughter at John's predicament.

The blonde had fallen into the thicker and was laying on the ground, small scratches and scrapes littering his face and arms. His clothing was ripped in a few places but they weren't too bad. Alexander noticed a few cuts were a bit deeper than the others causing drops of dark red blood to well up.

Alexander felt bad for his friend, but he also found it hilarious- it wasn't every day you watched someone you care about plunge into a hawthorn bush.

Alexander watched with amusement as John began to struggle, trying to pull free of the nagging thorns pulling at his clothing. "Alex-" John whined, finding himself unable to break free.

"John-" Alexander whined back, hopping off his horse and gently rolling some of the hawthorn berries into the palm of his hand. Slipping one into his mouth he looked back at John who let out a heavy sigh.

"Alexander, could you help me out of this bush? It appears I'm stuck..." John rolled his eyes, his face red.

"It appears so." Alexander sassed, popping another berry into his mouth in a vain attempt to hide his laughter as John's face grew all the redder.

"Alexander Hamilton, just help me already-"

"Geez, calm down, John." Alexander cut John off before he could let out one of his infamous strings of violent curses.

Throwing the remaining berries into his mouth, Alexander chewed and swallowed as he positioned himself in front of John and held his hand out. John grasped Alexander's hand and the ladder planted his feet before tearing the blonde free.

John climbed to his feet next to Alex and grinned, wincing slightly. "Well."

Alexander returned his own matching grin. "Yes?"

Snorting, John's smile faded. "That wasn't very fun."

Alexander laughed. "But you have to admit, it was pretty funny."

John shook his head. "Alright... it was kind of funny." Rolling his shoulders back, John looked around. "We should probably get back to camp. Don't want these scratches to get infected."

Alexander nodded, ignoring John's grin. "We should and no, we wouldn't want that happening, now would we?"

John rolled his eyes and called Apple over, settling in the saddle with a hiss of pain but no major difficulties. The two men started back the way they came and half an hour later they were back at camp.

Giggling like mad schoolgirls, the two soldiers led their horses into the small clearing the other aide-de-camp's horses were tied up.

As soon as they has finished, Alexander tried to shush John as be grabbed the blonde by his wrist and practically dragged him to the empty medical tent.

Sitting the giggling blonde down, Alexander concealed his own laughter as he dug around for some disinfectant and spare bandages. John's scrapes weren't that bad, but Alexander didn't want to take any chances with the man he loved. Especially since a little infected scrape was what gave him and his mother yellow fever years ago and killed the red-heads mother.

Letting out a shout of triumph, Alexander pushed the thoughts of his mother out of his mind and approached John.

Alexander set the disinfectant to tbe side and was about to open it when he noticed that John's white undershirt had bloodstains all over it abd was ripped in quite a few places.

Awkwardly clearing his throat, Alexander requested John take his shirt off. John snorted but complied.

Alexander watched as John threw his shirt to the side, forcing himself not to stare at John's muscular abdomen.

Busying himself with the disinfectant, Alexander only turned back to John to locate the deepest cuts and dab them with the rag he has found.

John winced at the touch, but remained still, allowing Alexander to continue working.

---

Alexander had requested John to take his shirt off. Dumbfounded, John bit back a sharp retort as he realized that the worst of his scratches were on his stomach.

Blushing slightly, John unbuttoned his shirt and threw it to the side. He watched Alexander's reaction and saw his tanned face grow red. John also noticed how Alexander refused to look at the taller man until it was time to cleanse John's scrapes.

John felt the Alexander's thin fingers delicately brush over his warm skin and John's heart fluttered at the touch. It didn't last long, however, as it had disappeared as soon as it had come and in it's place was a searing pain in his side as Alexander pressed his disinfectant-soaked rag into John's side.

John winced and Alexander immediately removed his hand and apologized. John told his it was alright and that it was okay to keep going.

John closed his eyes and heard Alexander take a deep breath before pressing his rag against the scrape yet again, earning a quiet hiss from John.

It continued like that for a while until Alexander made John opened his eyes and informed him that all his wounds had been taken care of.

Sighing in relief, John grabbed his shirt and shrugged it over his shoulders, not wanting to move.

Suddenly, John found his eyes drifting from Alexander's captivating indigo eyes down to his thin, cupid's bow lips. They looked soft and John found himself wondering what they would feel like against his own.

"I, er..." John started, unsure of what to do. His eyes trailed to the corner of Alexander's lips where a smidge of hawthorn berry juice had remained. "You have some juice... on your lip."

Alexander's eyes widened and he covered his mouth with a small hand. "What? Where-"

John reached out a larger hand and gently pulled Alexander's hand away from his face. "Here, I'll get it."

John pulled Alexander closer to his chest and used his other hand to tuck a stray copper curl behind the shorter man's ear. Leaning down, John pressed his lips to Alexander's.

The kiss didn't last long, but it was sweet and filled with love. Alexander tasted like strawberries and coffee, with a hint of the hawthorn berries he had eaten earlier.

John pulled away and looked down at Alexander. He had a glazed look in his eyes as if he couldn't concentrate. Alexander's perfect lips fell into a kind of 'o' shape as he stared at John.

Feeling increasingly uncomfortable, John quickly apologized and shuffled past Alexander, hoping to leave the tent before things got awkward between the two of them.

Whatever he was expecting, it was a hand on his shoulder. It was Alexander turning him around, wrapping his small fists around John's shirt color and pulling his face down, slamming John's lips against his own.

This time, John didn't know what to do, but he quickly came to his senses and melted into the kiss, pressing back with all the force he could muster, wrapping an arm around Alexander's lower back and using the other to pull Alexander's head closer, deepening the kiss substantially.

John felt Alexander's cold hands cup his cheeks and he closed his eyes, nibbling at Alexander's bottom lip, asking for entrance.

Alexander granted it to him and they faught for dominance inside their mouths, John winning easily. It didn't last, however, as humans still needed to breath.

Alexander pulled back, a string of saliva connecting them still. Alexander dropped his hands and wiped his mouth, his lips red and slightly swollen, his face flushed.

"I'm sorry-" Alexander started. John grabbed his arm.

"No, don't go. And don't apologize because I- Alexander, I love you." He finally blurted out, his cheeks burning.

Alexander's eyes lit up and he looked up at John. "You do?" He asked in a small voice. John nodded, close to tears.

"I love you, Alexander Hamilton." John whispered, taking Alexander's hands in his own. "I love you. Do you? Love me, I mean?"

Instead of a verbal reply, John got a gentle, slow and sweet, closed-mouth kiss. "I think that answers your question." Alexander breathed.

John grinned, wanting to wrap his arms around Alexander and kiss him until his lips were numb but, before he could fulfill his wishes, Alexander was gone, leaving John standing alone in the medical tent, his lips drawn into a giddy smile and his face still flushed.

He should fall into hawthorn bushes more often.