Friends.

Now, obviously, everyone has friends. To some degree.

Be it good term coworkers, or even spouses or loved ones, there was always somebody.

And at these times, people grew close. Very close.

But few came as close as Alexander Hamilton, Marquis de Lafayette, Hercules Mulligan, and John Laurens did to each other.

Now, Hamilton, Lafayette, Mulligan and Laurens had met at a bar one day in, what, 1776? (Burr was also there, but Burr is … Burr. Uh … just ignore him, ‘kay?)

The friendship had been normal at first; some jokes, some teasing, frankly, it really was nothing that was too special.

But soon enough, the group went from your average run of the mill sort of friend group to I-will-kill-you-if-you-look-at-them-wrong-group.

And boy, did they not care to try to hide the fact.

For one, when they had all enlisted into the Continental Army, they begged Washington to allow them to share a tent together - mainly by Hamilton, Laurens and Lafayette playing the ‘ Oh, but I’m basically your son ‘ card, but hey, whatever works!

And despite the fact they all were given separate beds, the four most commonly slept together on the same bed, cuddled up together as if they weren’t mid-war.

Now, as deceiving as looks were - the four still only saw each other platonically rather then romantically, and were all still faithful to their own wives and families. (Most of them. Cough, cough …)

Other men would catch them even speaking of their families and wives to each other - which was really the only thing keeping back any accusations of it being a real relationship.

The four would commonly mumble sweet nothings to each other, kind murmurs like they really were lovers despite true feelings saying otherwise.

Whenever Hamilton had to work (which he very, very often did, being Washington’s ‘ right hand man ‘ and all), Laurens, Mulligan and Lafayette would usually watch him, sometimes giving him small kisses on the hand or head while he was busy.

And, bonus points, they were one of the few people who were able to coax Hamilton into taking a break without needing to threaten him (or be threatened by him in return).

One particular day, Washington had assigned them to a small patrol around the rim of their current camp - allowing Lafayette, Laurens, Mulligan and Hamilton to be the ones to go as one group of four.

Washington was well aware that the four were able to work separately just fine - for example, whenever Laurens went South, or Lafayette ran a ‘ quick ‘ visit to France, Mulligan acted a bit more as a spy, etc etc. They could go hours, or days if they had to.

… well, not that they wanted to do anything like that, but they were able to if they need be!

No, Washington sent them together because they made a wonderful team.

Laurens’ passion. Hamilton’s bravery. Lafayette’s snark. Mulligan’s power. The traits of each of them complemented one another nicely, both in relationships and in genuine combat.

And, while they were much more boring, it helped on patrols too.

Hamilton finished up his writing for the day, putting his quill back into its inkpot and sliding over some of the finished papers to Washington’s desk.

With a huff of (half) contentment, Hamilton stored away all his personal items that had been left chaotically on his desk, pushing open the flap of the tent to see his friends awaiting for him to do patrol by the edge of camp,

Laurens noticed him first, snapping around and waving. “ Oh - Alex! “