Hiding in plain sight
ames winces as Lafayette put's the earrings in his ear, grabbing onto his pants.
"Hold still, James!" Lafayette says, rubbing James' ear with water. "I'm almost done."
"The last time I got earrings in was Highschool, and that was because-Ow!- because Thomas didn't want to look stupid."
"Was that when he broke up with me, or when we were together? I thought he already had his ears peirced." James yelps as Lafayette put's in the other diamond earring, a grin on his face.
"It was when you guys were together. " James says, sliding far away from Lafayette. "He wanted me to get my ears peirced as well." Lafayette pats James head, headign to his own room to grab clothes.
"You look like Hercules and it's fucking me up, man." Theodosia says, and James nods.
"Hercules is my cousin. His mom and dad are my aunt and uncle." ANgelica stares at him.
"Your related to Hercules?" James nods.
"Suprised you didn't know, You know everything, Angelica." Lafayette runs back over, arms slightly full with clothes.
"I was trying to find out what you should wear- Hercules looks-looked good in everything, really- but I found this!" He drops some clothes on the couch, ruffling through them before pulling some regular clothes out of the pile. He handed James a red shirt, with black pants and a long black coat. A beanie was shoved into the coat. "Boots are by the door."
"Let me go suffer by putting this on." James huffs, grabbing everything. "Bet it's not going to fit."
"James, you and Hercules are the same size. The only reason why we say you arnt is because you hunch over alot." James scoffs, but heads off to the bathroom to change, leaving the three in the living room to talk.
"So, you think they'll buy it?" Angelica says, and Lafayette shrugs.
"As long as James keeps on the beanie, we should be fine. James cuts his hair, Hercules does not. Hercs hair is all over the place and fluffy, while James keeps his hair nice and neat. Still fluffy, tho."
There's a groan from the other room, and James walks back in, a frown on his face. He looked exactly like Hercules Mulligan, albeit a little (or well, alot) shorter and slightly skinnier.
"Il est excellent!!" Lafayette squeals, clapping his hands. "You look exactly like Hercules!" James twirls a bit, long black coat dragging on the floor.
"Do I? I feel stupid."
"Just call everyone bro or guy and shorten your sentences, and deepen your voice, and you've gotten it!" Theodosia checks her watch, cursing.
"Fuck, we gotta go James. We're going to be late."
"We'll wait for you at the coffee shop down the way, James." Lafayette says, grabbing his keys.
"Just be careful you guys." Theodosia hugs both for them. "C'mon James, let's get to work!"
-
James walks through the White house, his heart pounding through his chest. He had left Theodosia at the second floor, as she wasn't allowed to come to the third floor. He had a moment of panick in the elevator, if he should check up on Martha, see if she was alright, but he knew she'd probably kick his ass for not staying on task. Besides, Martha was smart, and strong. She most likely went to Mount Vernon.
James didn't want to get her involved anyway. He strolled through the hallway, getting closer and closer to his office. He could feel the papers in his hands, it wasnt that difficult-
"Mulligan!" James jumps, turning quickly to stare at the man behind him. He was a tall white guy, with blond-ish hair, browm-ish eyes, and what looks like a permeant smirk on his face. He taps his hand against his arm. "I thought I told you to stay away from the republican side. You don't need to be bothered with their politics." James swallows harshly.
"I have a couple of things that NEED to get passed through to Congress, si-er- dude." A frown twist onto the guy's face, and as the guy looks up at the ceiling in anger, James finally remembers who he's talking to.
Benedict Arnold, the asshole who constantly bullied him and Alex their first year here until Alexander manned up and nearly beat the shit out of him. James steps back away from him as Benedict steps forward, grabbing him by the shirt.
"If you goddamn try to get it through to Congress I will make sure to end your life in the worst way possible, do you fucking understand?!" James nods and stumbles back as Benedict shoves him into the wall, straightening his shirt. "Good, great. Good boy." Benedict pats him on the head harshly before walking off, James following him with his eyes.
"Weirdo." He mumbles under his breath, before continuing to his office. He passes by a storage closet and feels someone grab him, covering his mouth so he couldn't speak and dragging him in.
"Madison! Madison! Dude, fucking chill!" James fights back though. Whoever had him KNEW who he was- HE could get killed! "James goddamn Madison!" He glances back at the person, slightly calming down when he sees Hercules. Eliza and Laurens was in the closet as well, Maria sitting beside Eliza, holding her hand. James shoves away from Hercules.
"Listen, I don't want to fight you Hercules-"
"James..."
"But I goddamn will. You know non of this shit that's going on is right! I don't know why you guys just suddenly got pissed off at us- I mean holy shit, Eliza, you pointed a fucking GUN at Theodosia!" He clears his throat, and Hercules jumps in before he could finish.
"I know, okay. We've been assholes." He starts, and James rolls his eyes.
"Says the man who broke up with Lafayette at the fucking hospital, when he needed you the MOST." Hercules winces.
"I know, we've been assholes, okay? But it's for a good reason." When James doesn't say anything, Hercules continues. "When we came back after the meeting at the Capitol, we were informed that Alex, Thomas, Peggy, Aaron, and George had gone missing. Trust me when I say I was the first one trying to find Alex and Aaron, but Benedict Arnold came to us.
He- somehow- had a written note from Washington stating he was vice president. I called bullshit, but his little lackey Andre confirmed. We tried to continue searching while you guys were in the hospital, but Arnold didn't let us. He threatened..." Hercules takes a deep breath.
"He threatened to kill you guys if we continues our research into what happened. We're working for him not because we want to, Madison. It's because we have to. That's why i-i broke up with Laf and Dolly stopped talking with you and Eliza blew off Angelica. We cut contact to make sure you guys didn't get hurt."
"Speaking of which..." Laurens looks at him. "Why are you in Hercules' clothes? Is Laf back at the apartment?" James looks at them.
"I-" He frowns. If they really were being threatened, they still could have told them about this. They could have HELPED. "I'm not allowed to tell you why I'm here. I just need some papers from a safe in my office, which means I need Hercules to stay in here." Hercules nods.
"As long as you do something for me." James raises an eyebrow, and Hercules pulls a envelope out of his pocket. "Give this to Lafayette? Please, I'm sure Angelica didn't tell him what I said. I just- I need him to know I'm sorry." James takes the envelope, shoving it into the coat pocket.
"I'll think about it. You really hurt his feelings." James opens the door, glancing around. "I'll.... See you guys when this is all over, hopefully."
"Be careful James." Eliza says, and James nods.
"Of course." He slips out the door, heading to his office once more. He unlocks the door and slides in, nearly running to the safe under his desk. He puts in the code and opens the door, sighing with relief at the binder.
It was still chock full of Angelica's notes about the theft, and who could have done it. Now all he needed to do was get back out the white house holding a suspicious binder. He could do that. He takes a deep breath before standing up. No sweat.