After the battle was over and his own shallow wounds were seen to, Alexander went to the medical tent where the wounded men he had just fought with had been kept safe. Going around to each and every man and praising their actions that day and easing their pain with soothing words, Alexander eventually came upon Hephaestion's cot. Instead of saying anything to him though, Alexander kissed his friend's brow and smoothed away the tear tracks that still adorned Hephaestion's flushed cheeks.
"I will return," he whispered to the traumatized boy. With that, he helped Hephaestion lay back with little pain, and then he stood favoring his right leg a little, as his left thigh had a not-too-deep cut on it given to him at the very end of the battle, going to the next cot over. He could feel Hephaestion's eyes on him, and knew his friend was wondering why he was being neglected when all of the other wounded men were getting his friend's undivided attention. Alexander hoped that he understood that he was not neglecting him but instead that he was only saving the best for last.
When he had finally made the last of his rounds, he did as he had promised and returned to Hephaestion's bedside. When he got there, he was both worried and saddened to hear quiet sobs coming from his friend.
"Phai? Does your wound bother you?" even though his voice was only a whisper, Hephaestion startled so much that his face gave away his pain as his freshly bandaged wound pulled a bit.
"No..." his voice was weak due to the screams he had let out during his surgery.
"It pains you," Alexander decided for himself, "I will get Eirenaios to prepare a Boswellia tincture for you."
"I am fine, Alexander, really..."
Alexander turned around from where he had started to walk toward the back of the tent, where the herbs and medicines were kept, "You can hardly move, and I heard you crying earlier."
Hephaestion's eyes widened at the realization that Alexander had heard his tears. Finally, he hung his head, "I was crying because I felt forgotten..."
"By who? Eirenaios?"
Hephaestion shook his head slowly, still not looking at Alexander, "By you, Xander..."
"What do you mean? I did not forget you."
"Then why was I the only one you did not talk to when it was my turn?"
Alexander's eyes were the next to widen when he realized that his friend had taken his neglect the wrong way, having not understood what Alexander was really doing.
"I was not ignoring you, Phai. I only wanted to save you until the end," with a small smile, Alexander swept a lock of sweaty hair from Hephaestion's eyes, "'Save the best for last.' Is that not how the saying goes?"
Hephaestion bowed his head quickly as he realized his mistake and felt utterly stupid and embarrassed because of it, "That is how the saying goes," he verified, "I am sorry, Xander..."
"Phai, there is no reason for you to feel sorry. If anyone should feel sorry, it is me. And I am. It is because of me that you were hurt at all, and then my not making my intention clear earlier hurt you even further. I am sorry."
"Can you fetch my tinture please? My arm is hurting."
Seeing that he was dismissed and that Hephaestion wanted to drop the subject, Alexander nodded silently and carefully and quietly went over to Eirenaios to have the mixture made.
"It is coming my Phai," without noticing that he had done it, Alexander sat on the other side of Hephaestion's cot and took Hephaestion's injured hand in his own instead of his good one. But the reaction that it brought from Hephaestion was unexpected.
"Alexander, you're touching me."
Alexander smiled at the obvious remark, "Yes. Do you not want me to?"
"No... It's just..." Hephaestion continued to stare down at where their hands were joined, "I... I can not feel it..."
AN: Boswellia is another name for Frankincense. Hope you all enjoyed!