Author: Phaelas

Title: The world gone mad

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Sillyness and seriousness mixed. Alexander is in a depressed mood and Hephaistion finds a way to cheer him up.

Author's notes: A friend suggested I'd call this 'Phaelas gone mad'… Anyway… Just to make things a little less dramatic, I thought I'd add some humour. Can be considered a part of my other series in some way, can be read separately. Have fun, this is part 1!

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There were those days when everything seemed wrong. Even when you had just conquered the great city of Babylon. Alexander pulled his blanket up higher to shut the morning out, praying it would leave him alone and allow the dark and warmth of the night to stay with him.

For one day, he wished he could just step out of the world, leave it all behind. No one understood him anyway. Yes, he had Hephaistion who loved him, but his lover just shared his dreams because Alexander wanted it so badly. If Hephaistion had a choice, he would have them both go back to Macedonia. Or perhaps not Macedonia. Somewhere far away from his mother…

He loved her, despite all. She was his mother. He couldn't blame Hephaistion for not sharing his feelings concerning her. He did not understand her… nor him… When it came down to it, his long time friend and lover did not understand him. At all. It was a bitter fact. He wished his mother was here… No, he did not. He wanted no one to be here. He just wanted this day to be over. He groaned.

Footsteps. Just lay quiet, whoever it was would go away once realising his king was asleep. Except if it was… Alexander sighed as he felt a body press up close to his back, and a tentative hand slipping beneath the covers to stroke his neck. This would not be the quiet morning he had hoped for.

"Wake up, beauty, it's morning," Hephaistion's hushed voice drifted through the air.

"Go away," he tried with the most annoyed voice he could muster. He was serious about this.

His lover laughed quietly. "Now why would I? I'm perfectly fine with just laying here until you will give in."

"I'm not in the mood, Hephaistion. Not for whatever it is you have mind. Can't you give me some peace and quiet?"

Hephaistion pretended to think. "Hmmm… No."

With an annoyed sigh, Alexander pulled the blanket down and turned around to face a grinning and very much awake Hephaistion. He let out a soft moan and closed his eyes in frustration. No peace, no quiet. Not this morning.

Lips found his forehead and pressed a gentle kiss to it. "What is wrong, little warrior?"

A gasp left Alexander's mouth. "Little warrior?"

"Sorry, sorry, I meant little worrier, my mistake." The dark-haired man grinned cheekily. "So why are you looking so glum this fine morning?"

"Because you are here?" Alexander tried.

"Give it up, Alexander." Hephaistion snorted and pulled away the blanket to reveal his lover's naked form.

"Hey! That's cold!"

The blue-eyed frowned with a glitter in his eyes, sat up and moved to lay down on top of Alexander. He raised his eyebrows. "Better?"

Alexander groaned. "Now I don't only have a headache, but I also have trouble breathing."

"Strange, I've never heard you complaining about such a thing before when we were in the same position. Perhaps it's because I'm clothed-"

"Phai, please!"

"A begging king? I truly think you should drink less, darling."

"Hephaistion, I did not drink! And even if I had, I will not have you-"

He stopped mid-sentence when he heard the other laugh, and a hand came up stroke his cheek. "Ah, little one, you are so eager to anger… It's adoring, really." Blue eyes stared down at him full of mirth.

Those where the exact words Hephaistion had used so many years ago. When they had still been children. When he had hated Hephaistion for his patronising tone, for always knowing everything better with such arrogance… Alexander rolled his eyes. "You are still like a twelve-year-old, Phai. Will you ever change?"

Hephaistion leaned forward and whispered in his ear: "You know I won't." A tongue reached down and slid along the edge of his ear. "And you know you don't want me to."

Alexander's breathing sped up as the tongue moved from his ear to his neck. Hephaistion's clothing was just providing the right amount of friction- "Phai, stop! By the gods… ahh… can't you have mercy on such a poor man… ah-" His fingers clawed in Hephaistion's hair and pulled him away. "Can't I be in a glum mood just for once?"

"You've had your chance! Come, we're going outside this day, the sun is shining and duties can wait." He rose and pulled his lover along, who sighed deeply.

"So demanding you are… I thought you were going to stop doing that."

Hephaistion looked at him full of sympathy. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart. It must be so hard being you."

"It is. Do you truly think I can do anything in this state?"

"What state?" Hephaistion's gaze moved down and rested between his lover's legs. "Oh. I see."

Alexander raised an eyebrow. "You started it, you finish it."

Hephaistion sighed. "It is so hard being me." With quick steps he approached Alexander and let his lips find the other's in a demanding kiss, a warm arm sliding around his back.

Perhaps, Alexander thought, this was not the worst morning after all. That thought intensified as a hand reached down and began stroking him, but… very softly. "Phai you're a tease," he managed to growl out between kisses.

"Aye," Hephaistion agreed, and rolled his hips against his lover's, eliciting a moan. "Not in for teasing? Then let's get this over with, shall we?"

A few minutes later, a dazzled Alexander let himself fall back upon his bed. "I think I need… another night's sleep before… I can do anything else now," he panted.

"Nonsense." Hephaistion chuckled. "When I get back, I expect you fully clothed and ready to go. On horseback."

Alexander looked up, and when seeing his lover's enthusiastic face he couldn't help but grin.

Hephaistion moved closer and bent down to press another kiss on his lips. "I love you."

"Yeah yeah," Alexander mumbled and pushed the other away playfully. "You just hurry up with whatever it is you're going to do, I'll be dressed in no time."

Hephaistion smiled victoriously. "That's the spirit. Don't go anywhere!"

Alexander smiled and shook his head as his lover disappeared into the corridor. Even for Hephaistion this was an insane mood. He should be happy if he survived this day… yet he could not deny he was looking forward to it. He knew they would be kids again if only for now, and Hephaistion would take the lead as ever. Who could remain depressed if he had a personal sun to brighten his day?