It is vivid enough that Hamilton thinks he can see the reflections in Burr's eyes, of snow, and rubble, and blood; and he does not know if touching Burr would make this worse or better, but it is all he has, so he does, wrapping Burr in his embrace and stroking through his soft, dark hair. At least he can feel the weight of Burr on him, the solid presence, and know that he is not fading away, not being snatched away by some distant time and captured by the echoes of suffering not fully gone.
"I thought as much," murmurs Hamilton. Then: "Oh, not that you were lying, dearest -- of course, had someone like the General known of the child, he would have supported you. I have no doubt. But I thought perhaps it was best that I not ask so many questions about the ring."
After the direction to the bag, Hamilton briefly extracts himself, not setting Theo down, because her small and warm presence is a sweet, innocent talisman against such a story. He fishes out the letters one-handed -- beneath a pile of his own writing, tied with red ribbon, that he is not displeased to see so carefully preserved.
He returns, folds Burr onto him, again, and begins to read.
"And what does he expect," scoffs Hamilton, "that a man in wartime will miraculously find only the luckiest survivors to witness? That he should wait until after a risky battle is joined, when the battle, and the risk, is the very reason he must write? Absurd."
He skims, and Theodosia yawns, widely; in her tiny world, all is well, Hamilton supposes. Her mother and her adoptive father are both here, scents mingled, warm and safe.
"If nothing else, he is clearly worried," says Hamilton, "which must mean that your claim has merit. But, if I am to preoccupy myself with sentiment, for a moment -- Aaron, this means that he cared for you very deeply. A promise, especially one without a ring, can mean anything, but this means he thought very highly of you." He doesn't sound jealous, just very pleased, on Burr's behalf. He had entertained some uncharitable notions, given Montgomery's age, and Burr's, but this contradicts them entirely. "Even without knowing of the child! Though he may have suspected -- I have heard it said when an omega is very receptive, sometimes the alpha knows... Suspicion is not proof, however, and he did not write that he wanted any potential child provided for, just you."
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"I thought as much," murmurs Hamilton. Then: "Oh, not that you were lying, dearest -- of course, had someone like the General known of the child, he would have supported you. I have no doubt. But I thought perhaps it was best that I not ask so many questions about the ring."
After the direction to the bag, Hamilton briefly extracts himself, not setting Theo down, because her small and warm presence is a sweet, innocent talisman against such a story. He fishes out the letters one-handed -- beneath a pile of his own writing, tied with red ribbon, that he is not displeased to see so carefully preserved.
He returns, folds Burr onto him, again, and begins to read.
"And what does he expect," scoffs Hamilton, "that a man in wartime will miraculously find only the luckiest survivors to witness? That he should wait until after a risky battle is joined, when the battle, and the risk, is the very reason he must write? Absurd."
He skims, and Theodosia yawns, widely; in her tiny world, all is well, Hamilton supposes. Her mother and her adoptive father are both here, scents mingled, warm and safe.
"If nothing else, he is clearly worried," says Hamilton, "which must mean that your claim has merit. But, if I am to preoccupy myself with sentiment, for a moment -- Aaron, this means that he cared for you very deeply. A promise, especially one without a ring, can mean anything, but this means he thought very highly of you." He doesn't sound jealous, just very pleased, on Burr's behalf. He had entertained some uncharitable notions, given Montgomery's age, and Burr's, but this contradicts them entirely. "Even without knowing of the child! Though he may have suspected -- I have heard it said when an omega is very receptive, sometimes the alpha knows... Suspicion is not proof, however, and he did not write that he wanted any potential child provided for, just you."