Work Text:
The walk was simply part of his routine.
Every morning, Aaron Burr would arrive at his office at the same time, work until lunch, then go on a short walk before returning to his desk.
Today followed such routine. Burr strolled outside his office on a lukewarm, spring afternoon, clearing his mind before he was bogged down in work again. There was nothing out of the ordinary about the way he wandered down the cobblestone path with his hands behind his back, observing the flowering vegetation, admiring a butterfly that flitted by.
Until he slowed his gait to a halt, and stared at the door of an office that was not his own.
For as long as he and Alexander had worked next door to each other, Burr had never once seen the man leave his office for lunch, or anything for that matter. He was always in there, shadow solid behind the windows in the day, darkened by candle light at night. Alex arrived before Burr and left after. Interaction between them nowadays was slim.
Burr hesitated, but pushed the door open with a quiet creak.
He didn't knock before entering anymore; Alex usually didn't hear it anyway he was so focused, so insisted he let himself in.
Burr entered to a quaint office space nearly identical to his own. But where he had knickknacks and supplies on his bookshelves and desk, Alex's were bare. Besides the ashes in the fireplace, he was the only thing that hadn't come with the office.
Alexander was hunched over some documents and loose pieces of parchment on his desk, writing diligently. Burr didn't want to take another step and disturb him, so he remained where he was.
He was sure he could watch Alex scribble all day, his quill moving quicker than the ink could dry, the sound of the thing scratching the paper pleasing to Burr's ears. But it wasn't just the noises and efficiency that made him stay. It was Alex himself.
His eyebrows were knitted in deep concentration, eyes glued to his papers—even when he lifted his quill to the inkwell—the line of his mouth quivering ever so slightly. Then he sighed quietly and rested his face in his free hand, curling his fingers in his hair, that little line appearing between his eyebrows.
It took everything in Burr not to laugh. He was just so adorable.
Visiting Alexander's office wasn't a thing he did often—only to drop off documents or bring him mail that had wrongly been delivered to his box. But when he did, he always lingered, just for a glimpse of the faces Alex would make when he was writing. Although Alex didn't know it, he always managed to make Burr's day.
Alexander looked up at him briefly before bringing his gaze back to his work.
“Burr,” Alex acknowledged him. “Sit them on my desk, I'll get to them later.”
Burr smiled. “I don't have anything in my hand.”
Alex paused his writing, and looked up, blinking when he saw that it was so.
“Oh…” He shook his head and went back to his papers. “What can I help you with?”
“Nothing.” Burr shrugged. “Just thought I'd…come by and say hi.”
Alex nodded. “I'm honored to know you've been thinking of me.”
Burr let out a little laugh, but didn't leave just yet. Alex noticed.
“Is that all?” Alexander asked, staring at his papers like an incomplete puzzle. Burr almost said yes, wished him a good day, and left. But…
“You make the cutest faces while you're concentrating, you know that?” Burr said.
Alex paused, clutching his hair and quill as he looked up, wide eyed. “I-I'm sorry?”
Burr's smile widened. “I think you heard me well enough.”
Alexander was still sitting at his desk, frozen, his face that of adorable shock, his cheeks turning pink. He sputtered as he tried to come up with a response. Burr thought he'd broken him.
“I-I don't understand,” Alex finally said.
“It's very simple,” Burr told him. “I didn't come here to say hi; I came here to look at you.”
Alex's grip tightened on his quill. “Are you…flirting with me?”
Burr hadn't planned on it—he hadn't planned any of this, whatever this was. He didn't know what this was called, him walking closer to Alexander's desk, and the man trembling like Burr was going to pounce on him. He didn't know what this interaction qualified as. He only knew that he liked it, and there was no turning back.
“And if I was?” Burr asked. “Would you explode?”
“Burr!” Alex bit his name like a curse, hiding his flushed face in his hands. Burr had to bite back a laugh.
“Yes?”
“Now isn't the time for-” Alex huffed, motioning all around. “I-I'm working right now! Very busy!”
“I see.” Burr tilted his head at him. “I'll come back after dark, how does that sound? You should be done by then.”
“I'm never done,” Alex scoffed.
“Then I'm not flirting.”
Alexander's eyes flew to his. Exhausted, but definitely interested. Not quite ready to let Burr go. He tapped his fingers on the desk in thought.
“I'll come meet you after dark,” Alex finally decided. “For a drink.”
Burr liked the sound of that.
“I'll be waiting,” he promised, then brushed his fingertips over Alex's. “Don't forget.”
“Never,” Alex breathed.
Burr shot him one last look and left the office.