Fearless // Lafayette x Reader

(A/N: If you don't mind, it would be fabulous if you'd read the author's note at the bottom. Thanks!)

~~~

Right when the makeshift tin can bell was rung, (Y/N) sprang out of bed, rolling up her sleeping bag and packing her belongings. She changed into her uniform and swung the blue jacket over her arms.

A true soldier.

She snorted, almost disgusted with herself. If Washington knew what she really was, he wouldn't have called her that in a million years.

She shivered.

They were headed towards the storm.

Funnily enough, she was a lot calmer than she'd been last night. This was surprisingly due mostly to Alex, who had taken a walk with her before dawn.

They'd walked in silence for a little while, but then he'd told her, "Lafayette told me what worries you."

She'd felt her face burning with embarrassment. Why did he have to tell everyone? They would think she was weak, being scared to kill.

He'd shaken his head, as though reading his thoughts. "You're not weak. You're one of the bravest people I know by far."

She'd looked up at him. "What's wrong with me?" (Y/N) whispered.

He'd scratched his chin. "It's called sonder," he told her. "I get it too, a lot. It's the feeling one gets when they understand that everyone has a life as complex as their own. A story."

"A story," she'd repeated. Somehow the thought made her more comforted. She wasn't the only one who knew the truth.

Every life has a story.

The second chime of the bell snapped her from her thoughts and she raced outside.

Lafayette was waiting for her by the handsome pinto horse. "Good sleep, mon amie?"

"As much as I could get," (Y/N) replied, trying not to think about the fact that he'd called her my dear last night.

Stop that, she scolded herself. It's probably just a French thing to call all your close friends.

She suddenly realized just how close she'd gotten with all these people, over the course of the past few weeks. Herc, John, Alex, Laf - even Aaron Burr, in a way - had become some of her closest friends.

She wasn't ready to face the fact that they most likely wouldn't all make it.

(Y/N) clambered on the horse in front of Lafayette, still completely lost in thought.

"Do you want me to take the reigns first?" He asked.

"I've got it," She answered.

Without thinking, she leaned back against his chest as she took the reigns and the little group moved out.

~~~

It was a longer journey to the new camp by the New York Harbor than they'd anticipated, but they got there with time to spare. They all unloaded their horses and set up tents, but the air around them was more serious and gloomy.  (Y/N) didn't bother unpacking much in her tent - she'd have plenty of time to do that later if she was still alive.

She emerged from her newly set up tent to see soldiers lining up with their muskets.

(Y/N) grabbed her gun, well aware that it may soon be the first time one of the lead bullets impacted flesh.