Coffee and Cigarettes

Sept Huit Neuf

      "I said shut up!"
James flinched and kept talking, even though he noticed Thomas going over the edge. "I love you-"
"Don't fucking say that!" Jefferson practically screamed. James went silent and looked up at him. "You don't need me, I get that! I'll leave you alone but don't you say you love me now!"
"No.." James bit his lip nervously. "I-I do... Please... Tommy-"
"And don't fucking call me that!"
Thomas raised his fist and-
    "....I... I can't..."
     He looked down at James and his heart wretched as he caught a glance of the absolutely terrified expression on his "boyfriend"s face.
     "W.. What..?" James squeaked, eventually calming enough to look back at Thomas.
"I.. Can't.. Do this, Madison.. I.. As angry as I am at you, I cannot hurt you too... You already live with enough of that.."
     James blinked and reached out as Thomas continued walking to the door.
    "P.. Please... Don't go... Please.. I'm sorry.. Let's just.. Let's just, p-please... Talk this o-out..."
Thomas scoffed, pushing past the smaller student. "'Talk this out'? James, I'm trying not to slap you right now. Please don't make it any harder."
Madison flinched a bit but quickly tried to stop the other once more. "Thomas— Thomas, wh-where are you even going..? Please.. Just stay.. Y-You don't have to talk to me just-"
"I can't do this anymore, Madison!"
     Thomas pushed James aside as he approached him again and quickly ran to the door. "I can't be here with you! I can't.. Can't do it!" he slipped his coat on quickly and put a hand on the doorknob.
"W-Where are you going..?"
"I.. I just.. need some space by myself... Some time away from you-" he ignored the way James drooped and looked at Thomas with a kind of sadness he never wanted to see again. "-just.. Just some room to think.."
Jefferson quickly walked out, yet stopped as James grabbed on to his hand. He looked back one last time.
"P... Please.." Madison begged helplessly.
     "...I need to go..."
     Thomas shoved James off and-
     -And James Madison was alone for the first time in years.
      The walls closed in around him as he fumbled with the blade.
    He hates you!
    His mind screamed at him.
     He hates you! He hates you! He hates you! He hates you! He hates you! He hates you--! Why can't you do anything right?!
     James choked out a sob and bit his lip harder. The metallic taste of blood came to his senses yet he didn't seem to care as he pressed the blade against his skin.
      "I'm... Sorry... Thomas..."
     At that moment, the only thought Madison could focus on (that didn't crush his soul further) was:
    ...blood.. is a really nice color...
   The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth after a moment and he let out strangled coughs, leaning back against the wall as the world got darker.
     "JAMES!"
    Before he could process the shouts and begging from the other side, the door slammed open and someone (Herc? John? Burr...? He couldn't tell..) ran over to him. Another stood at the door, letting out a terrified "merde!" before scrambling out of the room.
     "James? James?!" The taller figure leaned over Madison, shaking him to try to keep him awake. "James?! Fuck! James it.. It's me, it's Hercules and-- and, shit! Shit! Stay awake, man.. Just.. Just keep your eyes open!"
      As he continued shouting, the world began to blur and James' eyes drooped. He felt the other shake him but couldn't make out what he was saying.
     The other figure came back with someone taller. They let out a loud exclamation of (what James thought was) "FUCK!" before rushing over to Madison, stumbling over sentences that he could only pick up fragments of.
     "Jemmy?!..we need you to!...please!"
    Jemmy... Jemmy?
     James' eyes widened slightly as he made out the mess of curly hair topping the other's head. The purple tint of his coat, the way the corners of his eyes scrunched up as tears rolled down his cheeks.
      ...My love...
    "...T...Tom..?"
    A look of desperation and then-