Hephaestion laid down his quill and sat back, stretching his arms and arching his back, now sore from so much time bent over his desk. He glanced out window, noting with surprise that the orange glow of sunset painted the sky. The day had slipped by so quickly, and the gentle rumbling in his stomach reminded him that he hadn't eaten since early that morning.

Was he satisfied with what he had written? Looking around at the scattering of wadded up parchments tossed casually around the desk, it certainly seemed that he had put a great deal of effort into getting it just right. He picked up the finished parchment and began to read over what he had written.

"Not bad" he thought. Not bad, but a lot of work for nothing really. He wasn't really sure why he had written it in the first place. It wasn't like anyone would even read it and, if they did, he doubted it would matter much. People would believe whatever they wanted to believe.

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice that someone was standing in the doorway to his room, leaning against the doorframe and silently watching him.

"What has you so deep in thought?"

Hephaestion jumped slightly, startled from his reverie. "Alexander! I didn't hear you come in!"

Alexander smiled and walked across the room, sitting down casually on the edge of Hephaestion's desk and glancing down at the mess of papers scattered on the floor. "What on earth have you been working on? I thought you were taking a day off today."

"I was. This wasn't work. It's just something…personal. Nothing of importance really."

Alexander cocked an eyebrow and looked pointedly the mess around the desk. "Doesn't look like something unimportant to me." He reached up and tenderly tucked a strand of hair behind Hephaestion's ear. "You seemed pretty intense when I came in. Talk to me, love. What troubles you?"

Hephaestion held Alexander's gaze for a moment, pondering his response. There was no sense in hiding anything from the other man. They knew each other too well for that. Picking up the finished parchment, he handed it to Alexander with a nod. "Here. Read it."

Alexander was silent as he read, his eyebrows knitting as he absorbed everything Hephaestion had written. After reading over a few parts a second time, he looked up to find Hephaestion watching him apprehensively. He cocked his head, as he had a habit of doing. "Why?"

"Why did I write it?" Hephaestion leaned forward, his elbows on the table, and rested his chin in his hands. "I'm not really sure." He shrugged. "I suppose I get tired of being the butt of everyone's jokes and crude remarks sometimes. I suppose sometimes the lack of respect and downright animosity from some gets old. I grow tired of having to bite my tongue and walk away when I really want to lash out at them, but I know that would only make things worse. I don't dignify their idiocy with a response, but sometimes…." Hephaestion sighed.

Alexander frowned, carefully laying the parchment down on the desk. "I'm sorry, Hephaestion. If I could stop it, I would, but we both know if I interfered it would make things far worse for you. I hate that, but it's true." He met Hephaestion's gaze, smiling gently. "You are the bravest man I know, and more regal and refined than I will ever be. I just wish everyone saw you as I did."

"It's fine, Alexander. I don't need their approval. I guess I just wrote this to get it out of my system. I'm not going to do anything with it." He inclined his head towards the parchment where it lay on the desk. "You can burn it if you want. I don't care. It's not important." Hephaestion stood and half-smiled at Alexander. "Let's go get some supper, and I think I could use a bit of your good wine, too."

Alexander nodded. "You go ahead. I need to take care of something first, but I'll be right behind you."

With a soft smile and a nod, Hephaestion turned and left the room, making his way down the hall. Alexander waited, listening to Hephaestion's footsteps as they grew fainter. Once he was sure Hephaestion was gone, he reached down and picked up the parchment. He carefully rolled it up and used Hephaestion's own wax seal to seal it. Alexander opened the carved wooden chest where Hephaestion kept his some of his personal things and tucked the rolled paper under the old, faded cloak Alexander had given him years ago when they had become lovers.

Whether anyone would ever read it or not, Alexander did not know, but he knew he couldn't throw it away. "It's important to me. And so are you." He smiled to himself. "And I know who you really are."

Satisfied, he turned and left the room to join Hephaestion.