Control

-Life and Death-

Hamilton heard from Washington that Eliza was not in control of everything. Every time she's in a mission, she would lose herself, let herself be uncontrollable. At first glance, Hamilton doesn't think it's true. He's looking at Eliza and Arnold standing face to face. She was calm. She had that expression she always wore when she's training another soldier. A face that said I have all of this under control.

Arnold break a smug grin, "Hello Miss Elizabeth Schuyler."

"I see you've done your homework." Eliza answered, bringing her rapier up.

"Well, I never thought you, of all people, would be Mr. Washington's hitman." Arnold teased. He brought his rapier as well. Eliza looked at it, studied it. Arnold didn't realised it but Laurens and Hamilton did. It was something picked up in Eliza's training.

"Now you know." Eliza smiled back.

"Can't say I'm amused."

"Your amusement is none of my concern." Eliza took one step back. She was glaring at her and Hamilton was as well. Arnold took a step to his position. He looked at Eliza from head to toe.

"A scarred body is not desirable in this nation. I think you know this."

Eliza grinned, looked at him like a predator, "You will not be able to scar this body."

One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine-

Hamilton knew now, Washington was wrong. Washington told him she lost control like a snap. But Hamilton saw it. As they counted from one to ten and Eliza took her steps. Her eyes turned from warm to cold. Her hands gripped from loose to tight. Her steps from light to guarded. Then he knew no one would dare stand in Eliza's way now.

Ten.

It was quick, fast. It was lighting as Eliza charged forward. Different than how Hamilton and Laurens had usually seen her. In training, she was always waiting for the soldiers to charge before she retorts. But with a rapier in her hand, Eliza ran forward. It certainly caught Arnold off guard.

A dark smirk was on Eliza's face and Laurens could easily associate with nightmares that will forever haunt Arnold, whether he's asleep or awake.

One thrust perfectly through the gap of his ribs. The rapier didn't hit one bone and easily made a hole into Arnold's body. From the sight, Hamilton was certain Eliza had gone through his heart. Arnold stared at Eliza for a second, his brain taking in her dark smirk. His body had just turned before he took the thrust and it needed a second before his brain processed that his heart was just pierced.

"But it's not over." Hamilton found himself whispering under his breath.

He was right. This is a life and death duel. One lives, one dies. Eliza was still in her trance, eyes piercing cold at him as she pulled her rapier back before thrusting through his left shoulder. This time, Laurens could hear bones breaking from the force.

Three seconds. Arnold screamed in pain.

It was so loud that birds flew from the hills. Eliza, still in her uncontrollable form, pulled the rapier back. Blood spurt out of the shoulder. Eliza looked at him, annoyed that he was screaming. Shut up trash. You have no reason to scream. You did this to yourself. Her rapier thrust through Arnold's throat.

There was no more screaming.

Eliza won.

Arnold never saw another sunrise. John Andre was caught when he tried to run away and was hanged. The doctors there promised never to tell another soul. Laurens tried his best not to tremble in fear as he walked back to the camp.

Hamilton stayed despite Eliza's request to leave her alone to settle down.

Arnold's body was long gone. And since the death of Benedict Arnold, Eliza had been sitting on the ground where the blood was starting to sink in. Hamilton doesn't know what expression she had on, she was looking the opposite way. But Hamilton stayed.

He stayed, moved a few steps and he could see her face from the side. He saw Eliza's eyes slowly turning soft and warm as they watched the sunrise from the hills. Her hands, previously gripping the rapier as if her life depended on it, now let go of it. The rapier clinked as it hit few small rocks. Hamilton knew he shouldn't come over yet. There was still a dangerous atmosphere around her.

Now he knows why Peggy said her sister was scared to love.

Not many men would be okay with their woman being able to lose control like that.

Hamilton's brain replayed the whole duel in his head. How Eliza was able to handle the rapier so expertly and how she was merciless with it. Seconds later, he found himself shouting to Eliza, "Even if you have scars on your body, it's because you fought for this country. Any men who can't see that are idiots. They don't deserve you. I'll take you anytime."

He looked at Eliza. She moved, turning to look at him and the sunrise behind her only made her more beautiful. He couldn't care much about the blood that stained her hands and clothes. He couldn't care much about the horrific scene he just saw.

Hamilton found himself walking over to the woman that had his whole heart in her hand. He knelt to the ground and pulled her into a hug. He whispered, "You did great. Let's go back to the camp."

Eliza nodded. She let him take care of her. Eliza let Hamilton put the coat on her, made sure it won't fall off. Eliza let Hamilton put her mask on. Eliza let Hamilton helped her up the horse. She never thought she wanted to be spoiled like that but she needed it.

They left the bloody place, rode down the hill slowly. Eliza thanked him for avoiding any soldiers. Hamilton just hugged her from behind. They didn't realize Mulligan was on that hill. He saw everything from the very start.

Eliza went back to the Schuyler Mansion after a week. Washington deemed that she did astoundingly perfect. The soldiers are now capable to fight even the mightiest British soldier. Also, Baron von Steuben stepped up to take her place. She also already finished her main mission. The main reason she came back home was her parents missing her so much though.

Most of the soldiers were happy that Eliza was going. Her training was hellish. But some of them was also sad because he trainings were what improve them. Lafayette whined when Eliza announced she was leaving. Laurens was also bummed out, since she was his go to friend to talk about Peggy. Burr was disappointed because he was actually enjoying her company. He was good at hiding it though. Eliza thought he didn't care at all until he came up to her and actually said that. Mulligan wasn't around. After the duel, he was specifically avoiding Eliza. She doesn't know why, and she wasn't sure she had the time to find out why.

Hamilton was a total different sorry.

Burr, Laurens and Lafayette thought, since Eliza and Hamilton's relationship was more than friends but less than courting each other, Hamilton would be latching onto Eliza. They thought he would be begging her to stay. On the day though, Hamilton had a calm face on. He said his goodbyes. He got his hugs and a peck to the cheek.

It was Laurens' turn to say goodbye. He reached for Eliza's ears, "What spell did you put on him that he's able to compose himself like that?"

Eliza giggled. They both looked over at Hamilton who had a smiling face on. Eliza looked back at Laurens, "I told him we could letter each other every night and I'll visit any chance I get."

"And it got him to stay quiet?"

"I may also have added a few conditions that he agreed to."

"I don't know if I should be proud or scared." Laurens whispered. They said goodbye and Eliza took her leave. Hamilton waved her goodbye contently.

Washington, Lafayette and Laurens watched Hamilton waving. Then they heard Burr's subtle counting, "Five… four… three… two… one."

"SHE LEFT!" Hamilton cried, clinging onto Lafayette's back like a koala. Legs around Lafayette's waist and arms around Lafayette's next. It was almost choking him. Tears draining from his eyes, "SHE LEFT ME ALONE!" Hamilton looked at Washington with a pout, "GIVE HER ANOTHER MISSION!"

"No." Washington walked away. Lafayette, Laurens, Burr and Hamilton, still on Lafayette's back, followed Washington.

"Please?" Hamilton asked, pleading like a son to begging for a new toy.

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Please?"

"Son, no."

"Don't call me son. Pleaseeeee?" Hamilton whined.

"Fine"

Laurens, Lafayette and Burr looked at Washington in disbelief. Hamilton's head perked up from Lafayette's shoulder with excitement, "Really?"

"No. I was joking." Washington said deadpanned. Hamilton whined and sadly enjoyed the piggy back ride Lafayette gave him.

"Jokes doesn't fit you quiet well Mr. Washington." Laurens commented, brushing Hamilton's head in attempt to soothe him. Washington looked at Burr to fight for his side. Burr looked away.

"I'm sorry sir, I agree with John." Washington groaned internally and walked inside his tent in disappointment.

So they did. They were writing to each other nightly. It impressed Laurens and Peggy who only wrote to each other four or five times in a week. Eliza quickly helped out his father. The talk about Hamilton and Laurens was frequent in the dining table. It's been weeks and Eliza already settled back to his normal life. The life when there's no mission. But every once in a while her fingers twitched, begging for a fight.

It didn't take long before another letter arrived.

It was exactly one month and two week later. Angelica was the one who received it. Her eyes looking at the wax seal that had a special sign on it. The sign was one that was specifically created for Eliza's mission. She had a fuming anger in her heart. She had always hated Eliza doing this kind of job but Eliza was another case. She needed this kind of job. So she pressed the letter heavily with her finger, wishing somehow that it would disappear. But it didn't, of course it didn't. Angelica sighed and walked into the mansion. She asked the servants where her sisters were. They confirmed that Eliza and Peggy was in their room.

"Eliza." Angelica waltzed in her little sister's room. Peggy and Eliza was inside, talking about the soldiers at camp, mostly about Hamilton and Laurens. The two girls looked with hopeful eyes for new letters from their respective man but Angelica shook her head sadly. Her finger holding onto the letter and she exclaimed, "New mission."

Eliza nodded and Peggy started moving to inform their father.

Angelica gave Eliza a few minutes to read and reread the letter. When Eliza put the letter down, Angelica sat next to her and asked, "What did he say?"

"Mr. Washington want me back in the camp for this. He wanted to speak eye to eye."

Writer's Note:

Um, for those reading this. I will not be posting the next chapter of Control until I finish If Only. It's not that I can't work on it at the same time but If Only is about to finish so I thought I might as well focus on If Only first. Also, thank you for the reviews and telling me what you think of the story. I appreciate it. So... yeah... bye!