(Mute! Laf AU - Lafayette is an elective mute, not that he'd tell you that. Alexander is the only one out of the Rev. Set that knows ASL - other than Laf, of course. Hercules is in the process of learning ASL so he can talk to his best friend - and major crush.)

(Also a little self-loathing trigger warning but that's all.)

Lafayette's P.O.V.

I moved to my desk, sitting down and resting my head on my desk. Today has sucked. It was another typical day at our stupid little college, myself getting roughed up by James Reynolds and his crew, unable to speak up for myself, and no-one else willing to do so for me.

We got a new kid in Washington's class, not that I was paying that much attention. I didn't care. He would be just like everyone else; either watching Reynolds or joining him. I hated this place and I couldn't wait to get out.

I was snapped out of my thoughts by a voice from beside me.

"Hello." I turned to the new kid, who sat next to me, despite all the other seats in the room. My spot was in the corner, next to the window. No-one sat around me. No-one liked me in this stupid high school except John and Alex, my roommates, but even then they didn't hang around me. They barely tolerated me.

I gave him a small wave before looking out the window. It's quiet for a bit, except for Washington blabbing on about one of the Founding Fathers - Lin-Manuel Miranda, if I was paying attention properly.

"I'm Hercules, the new kid. What about you?" I turned to face him, rolling my eyes and spelling out "Lafayette" to humour him. He looked confused, but I just turned back to look at the window with zero shits about the world around me.

Hercules P.O.V. (there's a lot of P.O.V. changes, bear with me here)

I walked into class, standing awkwardly in the front of the room with the dark skinned teacher, Mr. Washington. I shifted my weight as I watched people file into their seats, engaging in conversation, not paying me any attention.

Only one student caught my eye. He was a caramel skinned, curly haired male who sat alone in the back corner by the window. No-one sat even remotely close to him. It made me feel horrible.

After I had introduced myself, I was told to find an open seat and sit down. It wasn't hard to find one, there were multiple. I chose to sit right by the curly haired male I spotted earlier, sitting quietly for a few minutes before striking up a conversation. "Hello." He turned to look at me, confusion crossing his dark chocolate eyes. The sun shimmered off his dark hair and made his caramel skin glow. I felt my stomach churn and my heart flutter. I had always been one to believe in love at first sight, and this right here was it.

He gave a small wave before turning away from me and looking out the window. I sighed, calming my nerves and jotting down a few notes on Lin, our subject in history at the time. I looked back at the male who had made my heart flutter without even speaking to me before speaking once again.

"I'm Hercules, the new kid. What about you?" He turned to me, rolling his eyes and moving his fingers quickly, spelling out something in what I recognized to be American Sign Language. I didn't know what he spelled out, but it was probably his name.

I must've looked pretty damn confused because someone tapped on my shoulder from next to me. I turned to the female, a short girl with long, straight, flowing black hair that lay on her shoulders. She wore a blue shirt with long, off the shoulder sleeves and black jeans.

"His name's Lafayette." She whispered, leaning across the aisle inbetween our desks to me. "He's a mute."

I looked at the male who was staring out the window, then back to the girl. "My names Eliza, by the way. Over there's my older sister, Angelica, and in a different class, with Mr. King, is my little sister, Peggy." I looked to where she was pointing, and a girl with dark, curly hair who wore a peach crop top (despite school codes), and light blue skinny jeans.

I nodded, looking back to Eliza. "Hercules Mulligan." She nodded. "I know." She jotted down something on a paper before passing it over. "Call me sometime, 'kay?"

I looked down at the paper, seeing a phone number and a smiley face, along with Eliza written in neat cursive. I looked to the female and nodded, putting her number in my binder before actually paying attention to what Mr. Washington was teaching us.

~time skup~

I walked into my dorm, looking around. This was the first time I had been in here, and it was huge. It was a four person dorm, and I shared it with three other men, whose names I didn't know.

I looked around, walking past the kitchen, into the common room. Only two men sat on the couch, one who wore a magenta T-shirt with a bow tie and black jeans, the other with a navy blue shirt and dark blue jeans. Both had curly hair, only one had his pulled back into a ponytail. I soon recognized him to be Lafayette, the mute from earlier.

The magenta one looked almost exactly like him, so I figured they must be related somehow. Magenta looked up to me, a wide smirk on his face.

"Laffy, is this your new roomie?" Lafayette turned and saw me, his eyes widening as he nodded, signing something with his hands. Magenta stood up, holding out his hand to me.

"Thomas Jefferson. Lafayette's cousin. You break his heart, I break you." I nodded, confused.

"I... What? I w-wasn't going t-to...?" Thomas nodded. "You're not gay?" I shook my head. "Now, I didn't say that...." He nodded. "Great. John and Alexander are in their room, probably making out if I had to say." I nodded, looking around.

"I'll show you to your room, then." Thomas moved towards the hallway, and I followed, not wanting to get my ass kicked already.

Lafayette's P.O.V.

I walked to the dorm with Thomas after classes. Thomas was not only my cousin, but probably the only person Reynolds wouldn't fuck with. Of course, Thomas was only visiting from France and would be going back home soon, but I would have to deal with it. He always said to just tell him if Reynolds tried anything, and he would come out and take care of it, but I never wanted to bother Thomas and make him come all the way out to New York just for me. I wasn't that important.

Before I met up with Thomas and left the school, however, I still got thrown into a locker and called a few names I wouldn't repeat to anyone else. No-one deserves what I get except me. If I could take away everyone else's pain for myself, I would. I would do anything to make everyone else happy.

I currently sat on the couch while Hercules and Thomas were in Hercules' room that me and him shared. Thomas was just teasing me for liking the new kid, and even if I wouldn't admit it, he was right. I did like Hercules, but I barely knew him, and it scared me that he could just take my affections like that. I had quit letting people into my life since before I threw away my voice, and then he thinks he can just waltz in and steal my heart like that? Not to mention that I have no say in this.

The two came back out, Thomas sitting next to me and Hercules sitting on my other side, on the arm of the couch. I tried to keep my focus away from him, ultimately failing. Something about him drew me to him, but I couldn't figure out what.

I looked at him, studying his features. He had dark, almost black eyes that, if I had time, I could get lost in. He wore a grey beanie that hid most of his black hair. His dark skin reminded me of chocolate that went together perfectly with the rest of his features. His thick, Irish accent was sexy in itself, but combined with his body could make any straight man gay and any gay woman straight.

I only had one question: Was he into me as much as I was into him?

Hercules P.O.V.

I sat on the arm of the couch, watching a picture on the wall. It was of Lafayette, Thomas, and two other males that I didn't recognize, although if I had to take a guess, it was probably the other two roommates. Everyone was smiling in the picture. Everyone, except Lafayette. I hadn't seen him smile at all yet, but I'm sure I will soon. I wondered why he didn't smile; I'm sure his smile would be beautiful.

I heard Thomas say something in a low tone, low enough all I heard was a low hum, then chuckling from him. I turned to look at them, seeing Lafayette's caramel skin a bright shade of red as he held Thomas' face away from him. I chuckled at the sight, both men looking at me.

I looked away once again, hiding my face, which had turned red from embarrassment. I cleared my throat awkwardly before getting up, deciding I should probably go unpack and leave the two alone.

I didn't have much to unpack, so I finished not too long after. I sighed, not wanting to make it awkward again by leaving my room. I looked through my binder, deciding that I should probably do my homework.

I saw a small piece of paper flip out of my binder. I quirked my eyebrow, catching it as it gracefully fell through the air. I looked at the paper. Eliza was written in a neat cursive, as well as ten numbers. Eliza's phone number. I grabbed my phone out, figuring hanging with Eliza would probably be a lot less boring than mind-numbing schoolwork. I input Eliza's number into my phone, dialing the number.

It took a few tones before she picked up.

"Hello?"

It didn't sound like Eliza. This voice was still female, but it was slightly deeper than Eliza's. Of course, voices always sound weirder over the phone.

I took a breath before speaking. "Eliza?"

The female know the other side suddenly yelled, "Eliza! You have a call!" I snickered slightly before the voice returned, "Sorry, she left her phone down here. I'm her sister, Angelica." Oh, that makes sense.

After a moment of waiting in awkward silence, a different voice answered the phone. "Yes?" The voice was softer and sweeter than the first. "Eliza."

Betsy giggled, "Yes. And this is...?" Oh, right, stupid. She wouldn't recognize the number.

"Oh! This is.. This is Hercules. Mulligan. We met in class earlier." The female suddenly gasped. "Oh, right! The new kid! That would explain why I didn't recognize the number. Did ya wanna hang out?"

Is that a question?

"Please?" Eliza giggled. "Hate your roommate that much?" I rolled my eyes. "No. I'm just... Bored." She giggled again. "Well, you can come over. It's just me, my sisters, and my girlfriend right now."

She's gay too? Nice. Gay people make the best friends. (Truth. We do.)

"Well, see you soon, Mulligan." After that she hung up.

I got up, throwing on a flannel before walking out, putting my shoes on.

"Where're you headed in a hurry?" I turned to look at the two neatly identical men on the couch.

"The Schuylers' place." Thomas quirked an eyebrow. "Nice, man. Newbie and you're already closer to the girls than most boys ever get." I looked at him questionably. "What do you mean?"

Thomas and Lafayette exchanged looks before they both looked at me in a sort of creepy twin way. I backed up a bit.

"Well, you see, the Schuylers are really friendly girls. They're not like all those rich snobs like Chloé." I quirked an eyebrow at the two. "Who?" Thomas looked to Lafayette, signing something I didn't understand before looking back to me.

"French television show. Great show, by the way. No time to explain though. Anyways, the sisters may be friendly, but more towards the female gender. They're feminists, at least, Angelica is and she's kinda... The ringleader. Eliza's a fucking cinnimon roll and Peggy is... Well, Peggy. The younger sisters just go along with Angelica and live their lives that way; Peggy's super social with everyone and Eliza's fine as long as she's with her girlfriend, Maria Lewis. Anyways, they're basically a much nicer version of the Heathers. You following?" I nodded hesitantly.

The Heathers? Man, I got some catching up to do.

Thomas continued, "Basically, what I'm saying is that guys don't hang around the girls often because they don't let them. So, the fact that a Sister invited you over is great. Which one?" I blinked, trying to comprehend everything Thomas had said. "Uh... Eliza." Thomas nodded. "Cool, cool." I nodded. "Uhm... I'm gonna... Go, then. Uhm... Bye?" The magenta coloured male nodded. "See ya."

~time skup because I'm lazy and I really gotta move this story along so... About two months c:~

Lafayette's P.O.V.

Hercules walked over to me, wrapping his burly arms around my waist and softly brushing his lips against my own. "I love you Lafayette. Whether you talk to me or not. I love you. I really do." He rested his chin on my shoulder, holding me close as I soon brought my arms up to hug him back. "I... I l-love you t-too, Hercules..." My voice was scratchy and hoarse from little use as I spoke for the first time in years.

I suddenly heard an alarm, and Hercules pulled away from me. "I have to go now. But I love you. Don't forget that."

With these words, I woke up.

~~~

I bolted upright in my bed, looking around to see an empty room, my alarm screeching for me to wake up. I threw my hand on top of it to silence it before getting up and walking into the bathroom.

Woah!

I look like I've been through hell and back.

I quickly took a shower before fixing my appearance and walking out of the bathroom, glancing at my arm and noticing I still didn't have a watch.

I walked into the kitchen, starting up coffee in the coffee machine before making French toast. Cooking often took my mind off of things going on in my life, and I knew Hercules loved to wake up and have breakfast ready, so I often began cooking as soon as I woke up.

Hercules soon stumbled into the kitchen, looking tired as hell, as he usually did in the mornings. I set a plate of French toast, scrambled eggs, and bacon in front of him as he took a seat at the counter.

He smiled at me, his eyes tired but excited at the same time. "Thanks, Laf." He ruffled my hair and I chuckled, moving to get him coffee.

"You really don't have to do this every morning, you know that, right?" I nodded before smiling as I signed out "My pleasure", setting the cup of coffee in front of him as well.

Hercules had been struggling to learn sign language ever since he moved in, and was doing a great job at it. He wasn't fluent, but he new more than most people would. A little longer and he'd be better than I was.

"No, I'm serious. Don't get me wrong, I really love your cooking, but you do it every day. Don't you ever get tired of it?" A smile tugged at my lips as I shook my head, signing "eat" to him and he smiled and began to eat.

"I'm really glad to have you as a roommate, Laf." Herc had his mouth full while he spoke and I just shook my head, turning away from him, making my own food.

"Yeah, I always thought that I'd have some really loud and annoying roommate or someone super creepy but-" He paused, and I put a finger to my lips, telling him to be quiet before signaling him to eat once again. He only nodded and continued to 'multitask'.

"-But I mean, you're probably the best roommate I could ask for..." I rolled my eyes, tuning out for a few seconds, admiring his tired features as he continued to talk. Soon, I had enough of his bad manners and put a finger to his lips, immediately quieting him down. I signaled him to eat once more, and it was quiet for the rest of breakfast.

As soon as he finished, he got up, disappearing into his room. He reappeared moments later, adjusting his grey beanie. I sighed deeply, admiring his features for what seemed to be the fifth time today.

He slipped on his shoes, making me wonder where he was going. It was Saturday; neither of us had class and we typically just hung out around the dorm.

I snapped, getting his attention. "Where you headed?" He grabbed his keys before responding. "I'm gonna go hang out with the Schuylers. Did you wanna come?" I shrugged in response. "C'mon. You need to get out more."

He moved over to me, grabbing my arm and dragging me over to the door. I sighed, pulling on my boots and following him out of the dorm.

We drove the mall, walking to a Starbucks to meet up with the Schuylers. Eliza quickly ran up to hug Hercules while the other two giggled in the background. I looked away, a burning feeling spreading through my body. It was something I had never felt before. It was... Strange. It made me hate Eliza. It was wrong.

Eliza soon let go and we joined the other two girls at the table for four. "Wanna get something? I'll pay." Eliza asked, more to Hercules than to me, but I shook my head anyways. I didn't like Starbucks' coffee; it always seemed to make me sick. I could drink other coffee, but never Starbucks.

"No, thanks, Liza. I already had coffee today." Eliza looked back at the shop. "Well you don't have to get coffee, silly." Hercules shook his head. "I'm alright. Thanks." Eliza nodded. "Alright then. In that case, let's go."

We walked around the mall for a few hours before stopping in the food court to get food (obviously). We got Taco John's because it was there, the sisters making a few jokes about Laurens and tacos, Hercules laughing along.

After ordering, we found a table with enough chairs to seat the five of us. Eliza sat next to Hercules, and I sat across from him. Peggy sat next to me, leaving Angelica on the end. I ate my food in silence as the four conversed between each other, Peggy and Angelica laughing at something on Peggy's phone, Eliza and Hercules talking about... Well, something. I didn't know.

I shouldn't be here.

I felt like an outsider. Like I shouldn't be here. I never fit in anywhere. Maybe I just didn't belong on the Earth. Maybe that's why life hates me so much. Why I lost everyone who ever loved me.

I pushed my food away from me and laid my head down. I didn't feel like eating.

"Hey, you alright?" I looked up at Hercules, who was watching me with a worried face. I just nodded in response, looking away again.

"Laf, can I talk to you? Alone?" I looked at him before shrugging and standing. Eliza watched me with a hateful glint in her eye as we stepped away from the group.

"What's wrong?" Hercules didn't beat around the bush. I heard concern laced in with his voice as he questioned me. It reminded me of why I'm still living; for him.

I shook my head. "Nothing." He obviously wasn't buying it. "You know you can tell me, right? I'm here for you." I nodded softly, looking down. "Please, Lafayette. Tell me." I simply wrapped my arms around him, burying my face into his chest. He hesitated before wrapping his arms around me, rubbing my back.

I wanted to cry, to let it all go, but I couldn't. I wanted to tell him how much he meant to me, to be able to kiss him without a care in the world, but I couldn't. I wish I could let go of all my problems, but I can't. I wish I could be with Hercules, but I can't.

He wouldn't want to be with me. He doesn't like me like that. Hell, I doubt he even likes me period. He just puts up with me because I'm his roommate. He would have nothing to do with me if I weren't.

I felt a tear slip out of my eye as I clutched onto Hercules like a life line. He was a life line. He was my only life line; the only reason I was living. The only reason I was living was the small glimmer of hope that one day, maybe he could see past my faults and even remotely want to be with me. The only reason I was living was because I loved him, even if he didn't love me back.

I soon pulled away, wiping tears from my glossy eyes and looking away. "You sure you're okay, Laf?" I nodded, looking back at Hercules. In his eyes I saw an intense feeling of worry that clouded any other emotion. I figured he wasn't only worried about me. I didn't think it was possible for anyone to be so worried about someone like me.

"We can talk about this later, okay?" I sighed, nodding. He wasn't going to let this go.

Herc led me back to the table, moving my chair over to the end so I sat next to him before sitting down. I looked between him, my seat, and Eliza before sitting down. He gently rubbed my back for a bit before conversing with Eliza once again.

~time skep~

Hercules and I got home a couple of hours later. I sat on the couch, Hercules sitting next to me.

"Talk to me, Laf." I raised my eyebrow, glaring pointedly at him. "Right. Well, tell me what's wrong. If you want to sign, so be it. If you want to text, go for it. But something's wrong and I don't like it. I absolutely hate seeing you in such a down mood."

I wonder if he's being serious. I wonder if he's really concerned about me. I wonder if he even likes me.

I pulled out my phone, deciding that texting would be easier on both of us.

LargeBaguette:
I'm not sure you'd care.

Hercules looked at me. "I do care. Please tell me..." I sighed deeply before nodding.

LargeBaguette:
Well...

LargeBaguette:
I don't think I should hang out with the Sisters anymore.

"Why not?" I looked at Herc, who was glancing from his phone to me with a confused look.

LargeBaguette:
I don't really fit in. I've never fit in anywhere. I just can't seem to.

Hercules nodded. "Of course you do." I shook my head.

LargeBaguette:
No, I don't.

LargeBaguette:
Unless being ignored is 'fitting in', in which case, I don't want to.

Hercules gave me a pitiful look. "Laf... I'm so sorry... I didn't know you felt that way... Why didn't you tell me?"

LargeBaguette:
It's kind of hard to when you don't talk.

Hercules furrowed his brow. "Don't talk?" My eyes widened. I had gotten so upset I had forgotten one thing:

I was an elective mute. But that wasn't the problem. The problem was that no-one knew. Everyone thought I was physically mute, not selectively.

LargeBaguette:
Nothing. It's more of... Can't. I can't.

Herc looked confused. "Oh. Can I ask what happened? Like, why you're mute?" I looked away, sighing. He's my best friend. I should tell him.

LargeBaguette:
Fine.

LargeBaguette:
I... It's an anxiety disorder. I don't talk in situations that uncomfortable. It's been that way since... Since I was a kid.

He's going to hate me now. He's going to request a room change so he'll never have to see me again. We'll never talk. I won't have a reason to live anymore. I'll... I won't have to be miserable ever again. I could see my mom again...

I suddenly came back to reality when strong arms wrapped around me, bringing me into a crushing embrace. I felt tears fall onto my cheeks and I soon found myself sobbing into Hercules' chest. For the first time since she left me here on this damned earth, I cried.

Hercules rubbed my back, holding me tight. "I'm sorry to make you uncomfortable. I... I really want you to be comfortable around me. I... I really like you Lafayette. I really, really do. I couldn't see how anyone couldn't."

His words made me sob harder, staining his shirt with tears. He held me close, rubbing my back and letting me cry. "Shh... Just let it all out."

I clutched onto his arm, grasping onto him for dear life. I cried until I had no more tears left. I cried until I couldn't cry any longer.

Hercules pulled back from the embrace, resting his hand on my cheek and wiping tears off my cheeks with his thumb.

"You can talk to me, you know? You can try." I nodded, my heart skipping beats and my head spinning. I opened my mouth, but I couldn't find my voice. I couldn't find words. I didn't know what I could say.

"How are you, Laf? Say something."

"H-Her-Hercules..." My voice wavered and squeaked as I spoke for the first time in a long time.

Hercules seemed overjoyed at this. His face lit up, his smile grew bright, and he did the last thing I would expect anyone to do.

He kissed me.

He pressed his lips against mine, holding me close. I was shocked, my heart beating a thousand times per minute, my head spinning faster than ever before, my blood rushing to my face. I soon found myself falling into the kiss, caressing Hercules face as our lips were connected.

I was the one to pull back, realizing what had happened; what I had done. My breath quickened as I moved back, scrambling away from him.

He watched me move away with a hurt look in his eyes. "L-Laf, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to... I just got so excited. I... Please... I'm so sorry..." I shook my head.

LargeBaguette:
I... You didn't mean it, did you?

He looked at me with so much hurt in his eyes it was unbearable. "Laf... Of course I did. I... I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. You can keep talking to me... I won't do it again. I just... Please don't leave me, Laf. You're everything I have... Everything I have ever needed in my life and... I can't lose that."

LargeBaguette:
What about Eliza?

LargeBaguette:
Or the other Schuylers? Or Alexander or Laurens?

Hercules sighed and looked at me. "I don't need them like I need you. Look, I love you Lafayette. Whether you talk to me or not. I love you. I really do. You can go your whole life and... Cut ties with me... And... I would never stop loving you."

My heart stopped. He was really, really being sincere about this... Or maybe he's not and I'm just being naive, but I was willing to give it a chance. "I... H-Hercules... I-I-I l-l-love you t-too." I stammered and my voice wavered as I said it, but I couldn't believe I had gotten the words out.

Hercules smiled widely. "Thank god. I was so scared you wouldn't." He pulled me into a large embrace, holding me closely until we both soon fell asleep.

Just stay with me. That would be enough...

Word count: 4725

HOLY MOTHER OF GOD LOOK WHO'S MOTHERFUCKING BACK BITCHES!

YEAH THATS RIGHT! ME!

Sorry for not updating guys :l

I just kind... Took a break for April. I'll try to keep it up but I need ideas. So if you guys got a request... PLEASE HELP ME.

I'll be getting the one out with John and the turtle next, by the way. Whether we get the last vote or not doesn't matter I'm still doing it.

Song: When You Say Nothing at All by Alison Krauss

So, yeah! That's it folks! Hope you enjoyed this one! See you guys later. Stay cool my little chicklets! Peace out!!