John led Alexander through the market stalls, smiling at the shroom's enthusiasm.

Alexander clutched John's arm, pointing out every single thing that interested him. They made their way through the stalls, stopping occasionally because something in particular caught John or Alexander's eye (but mainly Alexander).

"So, what do you think of this side of the market?" John asked, leading Alexander through the winding rows of stalls.

"I quite like it." Alexander replied, smiling.

"Well I'm glad you do." The Petalbasket smiled back and took his friend's hand. "I come here every time I need to clear my head."

"Oh so it's not that special for you, is it?"

"No... but do you know what makes it special today?" John lowered his voice into a whisper, stopping and turning towards Alexander.

"No, what?" Alexander raised an eyebrow, tone also hushed.

"Mushroom Boy's here to enjoy it with me." John grinned and hugged his friend tightly.

"Why thank you Mr. Marigold... but umm.... Mushroom Boy needs to breath."

John chuckled and released the shroom, noticing the way his intriguingly beautiful eyes caught the cheery light of the market and his red hair gleamed with streaks of copper from the various lanterns hung around him. The space around Alexander seemed to get... better. It was warmer and brighter around him. The shroom's happy grin made John's heart do a tap dance number and the way his curls framed his wonderful eyes was absolutely perfect.

If John could change one thing, any thing, about Alexander Hamilton, he wouldn't do anything at all; his personality was splendid and he had the looks to match.

No homo though.

John hugged Alexander again, a little less tightly this time, and the shorter boy hugged back, leaning into his friend.

Alexander pulled away and started walking again. John followed suit, grabbing Alexander's hand before the short faerie could get lost in the crowd.

Alexander turned around, meeting John's gaze then glancing at the Petalbasket's hand, which was clutching his tightly.

"I'm not losing you in this crowd." John explained, loosening his grip a little.

"Oh you won't lose me, watch." Alexander stayed, rolling up his sleeves so his wrist was clearly visible and slipping away from John.

John watched as his friend sauntered through the crowd, and noticed that faeries either avoided him or made comments in his direction. The canon of faeries reacting to Alexander's presence was a clear indicator as to where he was.

John hated that his friend could rely on scorn to mark his location and had no doubts that it would follow him through the market, but used said scorn to find Alexander again.

He was standing next to a stall, sleeves pulled back down and looking as inconspicuous as he could in the crowd of dull faces.

John stood next to the shroom and they lingered in silence for a second.

"What did I tell you? You can't lose me the second I roll up my sleeve." Alexander pointed out, breaking the silence. "I display my little mushroom tattoo and suddenly everyone's hissing are me. It's a good tracker system."

"That is one of the saddest things I have ever heard." John pointed out, laughter breaking into his speech.

Alexander shrugged but a smile tugged at his lips and he chuckled with his friend.

"Well one gets used to it after a bit." The shroom replied.

John's eyes saddened and he took the shorter faerie's hands in his. "That's not something you should be used to Alexander."

Alexander looked away momentarily before meeting his gaze again. "If you're not going to call me Mushroom Boy or some other nickname, at least call me Alex. Alexander is far to formal and we've been friends for weeks now."

John cracked a smile. "Ok then Alex."

"Thank you. Now let go of my hands and let's go walk around some more."

John noticed that he was still holding Alex's hands and let go quickly, feeling warmth rise to his cheeks and dust them with a light shade of red.

"Ok, off we go." Alex smiled at John then walked off, causing John to need to run after him and grab his shoulder so as to not lose him.

"I am not losing you." John commented, gripping his friend's shoulder gently.

"Tracking system, remember? If I somehow can't find you, which is improbable because you're tall, I just..." He gestured to the sleeve that was covering the wrist which bore the tattoo.

"It's the most depressing 'tracking system' ever we are not doing that again."

Alex raised an eyebrow.

"What?" John protested, wrapping his friend in a hug. "I don't like seeing my Mushroom Boy being jeered at."

"Ok then Mr. Marigold, do we just rely on your tallness?" Alex chuckled.

"Yes, rely on my tallness." John replied, resting his head on Alex's and hugging the smaller faerie tighter.

"Good plan." Alex was silent for a moment. "Can you let go of me now...?"

"No." John refused, hugging the shroom tighter.

"John." Alex squirmed.

"Okay okay, I see you're not one for hugging."

"Not particularly, no." Alex shrugged. "But hey, if you want to roam around a market and pretend no one's looking at us, I'm totally down for that."

John smiled, focusing on Alex's hand in his and the sparkle in his friend's eyes as they roamed the market.

—~•~—

"That was nice." Alex commented.

They back in the Laurens mansion, leaned against John's bed.

"It sure was." John agreed. "It's much funner to go there with a friend."

"And it's much funner to not fruitlessly try and sell stuff no one really wants." Alex agreed, resting his head on the Petalbasket's shoulder and sighing.

"All good?" John inquired, noticing his friend's distracted gaze.

"I sometimes wonder if I'll ever meet other shrooms." Alex stated. "There are a very small amount of us and so far I've met no one. I wonder if they'll feel a form of comradeship or if they'll have a tight knit circle from which I'll be excluded. Will I be welcomed because we have gone through the same troubles, or will they be like other faeries and not want me. But then I remind myself that they're shrooms too so there's no way they'd dislike me for that, right? What they'd judge me off of is my personality. My personality isn't how I like to be judged because I talk to much, have trouble accepting others opinions and am way to insecure about everything once I've done it. (I've just described myself... oops)" He closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. "I'm sorry, I didn't need to say any of that to you."

John took Alex's face in his hand and stared him in the eyes. "You're wrong. Your personality is great, or I wouldn't be your friend, and if your fellow Mushroom People shun you that's their loss and it means I can keep you to myself. You don't talk to much, I find what you say very interesting and I don't think it's that you can't accept others opinions it's that you're very convinced and stand strong in what you believe. I'm sure you'll meet a great shroom at some point and have lots of mushroom babies or something and they'll love you unconditionally and repeat everything I just told you." John pulled Alex into a hug. "And I know you don't like hugs but you must accept my hugs if you want this friendship to prosper, Mushroom Boy."

Alex sighed and leaned into the embrace, wrapping his arms around John too. "Thanks Mr. Marigold, I don't know what I'd do without you."