Chapter Text
“Here.” A hot drink is set on his desk, and Alexander pauses in his writing to stare at the cup suspiciously. He pokes it with his pen, almost as if the cup itself was toxic waste.
“... What is it?” He asks, looking up from the cup to the provider of his caffeine. His brown eyes narrow ever so slightly.
“Clearly, it’s poison in a cup. I’ve finally decided to put you out of your misery and force you to stop studying. You’re going to work yourself into an early grave anyways.” Thomas answers him, walking over to his bed and setting a bag down on it.
“Are you that scared of losing to me in any and all future debates? So scared that you’d truly try to poison me? You’d stoop that lowly?” Alexander asks with a mock gasp, not making any move to even touch the drink.
“I’m only stooping that low to look at you, Hamilton.” Thomas fires back smoothly. removing that god awful magenta coat from himself.
“I’m hurt, truly. I’m hurt. Besides, I don’t want to look at your ugly mug.” Alexander glances at the drink, pulling the lid to examine it with a curious look.
“I’m not a mirror.” His ungodly tall roommate goes back over to him, looming above him.
Alexander pauses dramatically, looking up from the dark, abyss like liquid. He narrows his eyes slightly, examining Thomas briefly. “Oh dear God. That’s what I look like?! No wonder I can’t get a date!” He exclaims with mock horror.
“Fine I’ll take that damn drink back then.” His hand reaches for the coffee, and Alexander carefully but quickly snatches it away from him. He holds it to his mouth and takes a sip, mentally cringing at the taste.
“... An Americano with two extra shots of espresso?” He asks, borderline hopefully.
“For a total of six shots, just enough to stop the heart that I assumed you have. Or had. I’m not sure if coffee has just replaced the space where it should be or not.” Thomas lowers his hand, setting it on the desk.
Alexander lets out a soft hum as he chugs the liquid, setting the cup down on the desk after. “So what do you want?”
“What?”
“Every time you’ve brought me coffee, you’ve wanted something. The more shots of espresso, the bigger the favour because you loathe wasting a single dollar on me. Not only is this six shots of espresso, it’s a venti, and from a pricey as fuck coffee chain. Whatever you want, it must be big.” He looks up at Thomas with a smug look.
“Am I wrong?”
“... Fuck you.” He scowls, grabbing Alexander’s cheap spinning chair that he got from a thrift store and spinning him around to face him. “Just, listen.”
Alexander lets out a laugh. “Damn you must be desperate if you’re swallowing your pride and begging me.”
“Oh shut it, Hamilton and listen.” He snaps, looking down at him. Alexander rolls his eyes, but gestures for Thomas to continue.
“My siblings and mother have been on top of me about meeting a nice girl or boy, about dating and all of that. I got sick of it and told them I got a boyfriend.” Thomas says awkwardly as he looks at the other.
“Oh! And let me guess! You told them it’s the roommate that, coincidentally, hates you?” He says with a shit eating grin on his face. That smile slowly fades as he takes in Thomas.
Thomas shifts a bit, his gaze falling from his face to his shoes. He clears his throat. “… it was believable.”
“Are- you told them, that- that you’re dating me?” He asks, staring at Thomas with a shocked look. He can’t help the sputtered laugh that leaves him.
He winds up wheezing, doubled over in his desk chair. “It’s not funny, Hamilton! My family thinks I have this wonderful boyfriend and in reality I only have a roommate that hates everything about me and will disagree with me about the stupidest things!” Thomas snaps, face heating up slightly.
He only laughs harder at his misery and embarrassment. Once he calms down enough, he asks the question that started this as he tries to catch his breath, “so what’s the favour?”
“… I’m going home for Christmas break.” Thomas says tentatively looking at his hands. “They… asked me, if my boyfriend was going to spend it with his family. I stupidly uhm…”
“… oh my god you told them I don’t have a family.” It’s not like it’s not true, and they both know it.
“I’m hindsight, I should have just said yes and faked a dramatic break up with my boyfriend so they would just leave it be.” He clears his throat. “So they asked me if you’d come. I said that you weren’t sure about meeting so many people. They said they’d take it easy on you. I said that you have school work to get done. They said they’d make sure you still have time. I told them that you can’t afford tickets.”
“Gee. Thanks for making me seem like a loser in front of your family. If I’m going to be your husband one day, how will they ever accept me?” Alexander asks dramatically, teasingly. He wrinkles his nose up a moment after. “Alexander Jefferson sounds weird. So does Thomas Hamilton.”
“Sorry to dash your dreams then, darlin’ , we aren’t ever getting married.” Thomas leans back, and Alexander has to hide the slight chill that goes down his spine at the pet name. He may hate his roommate, but he can find things like that hot.
“Shucks I would pay money to see the ghastly suit that you would somehow think is okay.” He leans back.
“… in any case, mama offered to pay your tickets in full and I ran out of excuses. And if my… boyfriend doesn’t show up they will claim I lied.” He admits.
“But you are a filthy liar.”
“That’s not the point, Hamilton. Fuck I knew you’d say no- you probably have plans.” Thomas gets up to leave the room, to try and forget about this… awkward mess of a question.
“Oh come on, Jefferson. I never said I wouldn’t help you. I just need incentive.” He gives him his signature shit eating grin. “So, gimme the incentive. I know you didn’t just have a coffee planned.”
“… I’ll pay for your textbooks next semester.” Thomas grumbles out unhappily. “… and I’ll make arrangements if you need the dorm for yourself- whether it’s a study group, or you want to… bring someone over, I won’t put up a fuss.” He runs a hand through his hair slightly, clearly unhappy with this. “Hell, I’ll even throw in coffee runs for you if I’m not too busy.”
“I have some conditions.” Alexander looks up at him. “It’s Christmas gifts are expected. Anything for your family you claim is from us both. Because frankly you have- how many siblings that’s a lot.”
“Let me guess, asshole. You expect me to buy something that would be from you to me.” He grumbles out, already clearly regretting this.
“Yep. Or at least give me a list of things you want and money to do it, ya know?” He looks up at him. “Because uh, you have expensive taste. And you better make sure I look good in front of your family with this gift. If I’m going, I'm making your mother love me more than she loves you.”
Thomas’ eyes narrow a bit at that, and he crosses his arms over his chest. “… asshole.”
“Who’s asking me for a favour?”
“Hm.”
“… so?”
“ Fine. ” He snaps out, getting up. “I’ll text you everything you need to know as I find things out, and we’ll talk about this more as we get closer.”
“Perfect! You’re still the worst, Jefferson.” Alexander says with a grin, watching the other storm out. His smile fades ever so slightly.
This is going to be his first proper Christmas in a very long time. He buries his head in his hands slightly as the realization. ‘Why did I agree to this?’