"Sir, actions need to be taken. There's not another moment to lose and you must move forward on the field or-"

Cutting himself short, the young lieutenant, Alexander, watched in surprise as his commander strolled out of the tent. He felt his throat tighten up and all he wanted to do was punch something.

He had spent hours planning that and it just went to waste with a swish of the General's glorious cape.

"Dammit," he whispered under his breath. His hands curled up into fists, as he muttered the profanity. Washington spoke of how swearing wasn't appropriate in his army. Isn't walking out on someone just as inappropriate, he thought to himself, as he bit his lip tightly.

No one ever listened. Everything he threw out in the open like a scarlet letter in the wind was just snatched from his reach. Torn apart like his entire life. Clutching his chest with one hand, Alexander let out a growl and slammed his body against a shelf.

Please, he begged silently, feeling the side of his face beginning to throb uncontrollably.

Only droplets of blood appeared on his cheekbone. But it wasn't enough for the soldier. He began to heave himself to his feet when the sound of crunching footsteps neared the tent.

Sunlight streamed in and blinded him briefly before he recognized the visitor. "John," he cried in relief. His friend paused in the opening of the tent, looking around to find the voice and it's body.

The moment he spotted Alexander curled up by the shelf, his eyes widened instinctively.

Without speaking, Laurens practically sprinted across the tent and collapsed beside the other man. Uncomfortably shifting around, he let his friend exclaim all that happened.

"I'm useless here, aren't I? All that comes out of my mouth is taken as an insult against this entire army and I-"

John placed his hand over his friend's mouth, letting him shrink down at the touch. "You know that's not true. Washington values your information and word just as much as any other person. You're getting awfully worked up over something so pointless."

"Pointless?" Muffled by the sweaty palm on his mouth, Alexander tried to say anything to bring himself higher on the invisible podium he always challenged himself with. He tried scrambling to his feet, feeling too close to Laurens, who hadn't let go yet.

But the second he backed up, someone outside the tent laughed loudly. Threatened by the sound of someone being so close to finding them in such a position, Alexander pushed himself further across the grass covered floor.

John chuckled, clearing pleasing himself with the amount of control he had. Not bothered by the noises of protest his friend made, he kept his hand pressed against the mouth, as well as the upper thigh.

Alexander gave him a helpless look, face turning a blossoming red. With Laurens in control, the situation could be taken in any possible direction.

"You need to learn how to not be such a fool all the time. Washington could have ignored your speech because he's tired of you throwing yourself into the open. Bite your tongue, if you must." Laurens taunted his significant other by tracing a finger down the front of his jacket.

No, please. Alexander let out an involuntary moan, praying that no one decided to walk in at that moment. He couldn't be caught plastered to the floor of his tent, breathless, and in the clutches of another lieutenant.

"Bite your tongue, won't you?"

Without any control or strength, Alexander sighed and closed his eyes. As much as he knew Laurens could simply clear his head with pleasure, he also knew that wasn't always the solution. Controlling what little he could of his hips, all he could see was the top of the tent and the fluttering canopy.

Listening to the sound of his own breathing, he concentrated on seriously biting his tongue and then thrusting the both of them to their feet.

Thrown off guard, John wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Thought it would've helped you to take a breath from all your bottled up emotions about Washington, but I suppose you'll handle it on your own." Despite his sharp tone, he gave a smirk in return.

"Ah, your passions are the finest, but not even that can cure me from what happened today and-" He let out an unsteady breath and covered his face.

"I'm nothing to him. He hasn't given me a bloody command since we've arrived and I don't know what to do next to impress him or just keep my place here."

John, still breathless from their exchange of a moment before, shook his head. "You're just about everything to him. He's only concerned for your safety. You know how much he values your information, and he doesn't want to lose that. You're the light that keeps this army going, Alexander."

Sorting through his dispersed papers, throwing them behind him, Alexander groaned. Utterly confused and lost, he didn't know where to even start.

Something had to be done to keep the British in line and Washington was depending on him to do so. The pressure threatened too much on him, but he wasn't declining any offers.

"You need to believe in yourself before you gain that from-"

"What are you insinuating? I already believe in myself enough to get-" Alexander cut himself him off, knowing if he went any further he'd begin a swearing storm with Laurens. He pondered on the thought, before breaking free and letting out his true colors.

"I need him to understand that there's so much more to me than what meets the eye. To hell with it, if he thinks I'm not worthy of such a position or that my wife at home needs me at her side! I'm needed here, aren't I?" God, what are you saying? Alexander let out a heavy sigh.

"We could've prevented you from being such an ass, if you gave into my affections." His hands brushed over his friend's, with a sympathetic look spinning in his eyes.

Alexander pressed the other man up against the table, feeling a fire inside his chest begin to burn. Warm breath tickling Laurens's cheeks, he whispered, "Later. Not now, not when I'm like this." He backed up from the table.

John's mouth curled up into a smile. "Would it be something to say you're quite attractive when you're heated about such things?" Eyes widening and barely blinking, he eyed his friend up and down knowingly.

Hot thorns scratched at Alexander's throat as he stared back. Finally a raspy whisper was heard just loud enough for only the other person in the tent to hear. "Later, John." He turned his back, not even seeing his exit.

After the lieutenant had left, Alexander ripped off the cloth that wrapped around his neck. His body felt all at once lighter. It felt almost too well, for in the next thirty seconds, he found himself stripped of most of his clothes.

Untying the ribbon from his hair, everything seemed to fall apart and settle into place once more. He hadn't felt so free and alive in all the months they'd been stationed at the camp. To finally be able to be alone with his thoughts was both a beautiful and dangerous thing.

Alexander held a hand to his sweat covered chest, breathing heavily. Head tilting up to the top of the canopy, the man prayed for some sort of miracle to come. For the worthless feeling to be washed away and a meaningful one to be in its place.

Or else he surely knew he'd break at the seams and not be able to go on.

. . . . . . . . . .
A/N: Due to the countless amounts of asks for more Alexander/Laurens one shots, I decided to write one for everyone to satisfy the need for lams. Took an idea and ran with it, creating this in the end. I'm currently working on several requests as well, so don't think I've forgotten, they'll be up soon!