Title : Nothing is ever finished


Pairing : Hephaistion/Alexander

Disclaimer : Characters are not owned by me . Only the ones, I have created.

Rating : T for the most with some M chapters

Warning : Historical and alternative universe. It's a M chapter

Summary : Myth and reality come together to complicate the love between Alexander and Hephaistion.

A/N : Comments are loved and appreciated.

I know, it took me long time before to update this story. I apologize but time escape more quickly than I should expect, especially when I am very busy.

I want to thank all reviewers and followers for your comments and your patience. It means a lot for me !


CHAPITRE 6 : The rumor

Arriving near the palace, Hephaistion crosses Cleitos who is leaving.

- What is our pretty Princess doing downtown without an escort ? Cleitos says.

Furious, Hephaistion takes him by an arm.

- What did you call me ?

- So what ! With your long hair, your virgin skin and what you hide between your thighs, you look like a beautiful Princess, don't you ?

At these words, Hephaistion grows pale.

- Cleitos, I already told you I am not a woman. And I plead you to not talk about what you think you know. It's not to the General that I speak but to the friend.

Cleitos looks at Hephastion with solemnity and says ;

I saw Alexander and you grow up. I will never try to hurt or harm you.

Hephaistion is touched by his words.

- Thank you. And stop calling me Princess !

- Sure… Princess !

Cleitos laughs, going away. Hephaistion rolls his eyes, exasperated but a little reassured.


Hephaistion enters the palace and joins his room. He asks his page to prepare a bath. He wants to take some time before going to the council with Alexander and the other officers. The page says his bath is ready. Hephaistion sends him off. When alone, he thinks of Vulco. Troubled by the ardour and the force of the Celt. His mouth on his. He closes his eyes and passes a finger on his lips still swelled by the kiss. As if he wanted to find the feeling again. Two strong arms hug him from behind, disturbing his thoughts. Alexander puts a light kiss on his shoulder. Hephaistion smiles and let his head go back.

- Where were you ? Alexander asks.

- Downtown, — Hephaistion answers a little absent-minded, letting himself be invaded by the heat of the body against him and the tender lips on his skin. Stroking absently the arms around him.

- Alone ?

Hephaistion sighs. This sole word brakes all the charm of the moment.

- Alexander, please, don't begin !

Hephaistion doesn't want to fight now.

- Were you alone ? Alexander asks on a rough tone.

- Yes I was.

He answers with weariness, freeing himself from the embrasse with rudeness. Even if he feels a little bit guilty not speaking about Vulco.

- I worry for you. Can you understand that ? Alexander defends himself.

- You worry or you're jealous ? Don't take me for a moron Alexander, I know you. He notes without acrimony.

- Whatever. I think you should not go in to town alone. Alexander says without thinking.

- What !? And why do you not lock me in a cage, like a bird ? What am I for you Alexander ? Your wife ? I. AM. NOT. I am a soldier and an officer. What credibility do you think I would have with my men if you mother me like a child ? Why do you make things more difficult for me?

Hephaistion this time is furious.

- Can't you trust me ?

- I trust you.

- So let me breath. Ok ! Let me act as I please. Let me be myself. Your attitude closes me off from the rest of the world, from my friends, for God's sake !

- I don't want to lose you Phai.

- I love you Alexander. You and nobody else. So why would you lost me ? Except, of course, if you act like a moron jealous and stubborn. I am tired of all this.

Hephaistion says, passing a hand on his face with weariness.

Alexander moves to Hephaistion and tries to hug him. But he dodges, not in the mood. Alexander takes him by the arm and pulls him abruptly. He locks him in his arms in spite of his resistance and kisses him full on the lips. Then allways kissing him, he pushs Hephaistion against the wall. His hands undo Hephaistions chiton. His mouth leaves the lips and drifts away on the soft skin of his neck.

- No… Alexander… Hum… The council. Hephaistion moans.

- They… will… wait. Alexander answers breathless, unable to think of anything else in that moment.

Alexander strokes the thighs of Hephaistion. Then his hands lift up to untie the belt which hold the chiton and makes him slide it over his head. Alexander looks at Hephaistion, brings two fingers to his mouth. After a short moment, Phai takes them in his mouth and sucks them sensuously looking into Alexander's eyes. Then, suddenly Alexander flips over his love and pins him against the wall. He moves aside Hephasition's hair and strokes his back, switching between kisses and bites on his shoulder. He takes time to prepare Hephaistion then he pushes his sex inside him with a strong move making his companion moan.

- Alex…

Hephaisiton lets his head go back languorously against Alexander. His two hands on the hips of Phai, Alexander thrusts deeper inside, leaving his love breathless and open mouth. And the dance begins between the men. A sensual dance which becomes more and more rough and stronger, taken by the passion. Alexander slows down his coming and going. Grasping a handful of hair, he pulls back violently the head of Hephaistion to kiss him on his lips. A slow and deeper kiss which leaves them both winded. Hephaistion moves back his hips wanting to accelarate the rythm. With each thrust Alexander touchs his sensitive point, making him to touch heaven and moan without restraint. Hephaistion wants to pleasure himself but Alexander doesn't let him do it. He takes the erected sex of his love in a hand and strokes him, making him lose control. When the ultimate moment comes, Alexander and Hephaistion reach an orgasm at the same time. Exhausted and sated, they slide on the ground enlaced. For a while, they stay quiet trying to catch their breath. Trading some languid caresses. Then, Hephaistion turns over facing Alexander.

- By Zeus, Alexander ! You are incorrigible. You take always advantage of a situation — Hephaistion laughs hitting with his fist the shoulder of his lover — I should hate you for that.

Alexander laughs and kisses him. They both rise and go to the room where the bath, now cold, awaits them. After a quick wash, they get dressed and join the council room where the others officers await them eagerly.

When they enter, all the people watch them. Hephaistion tries not to blush thinking ofthe reason why they are late. Alexander always at ease, smiles satisfied and in no way guilty.

- Sorry Sirs I was busy. An urgent affair to solve which didn't suffer any delay. Alexander says winking at Hephaistion.

This latter lowers his head and tighten up his lips so not to laugh. Cleitos and Perdiccas note it and exchange a jeering gaze.

- So now you are here, we can attack some… serious things. Cleitos answers with double-entendre. He laughs of the reaction of Hephaistion when he shoots a dirty look. And for his displeasure, he is obliged to sit beside Cleitos.

- Pretty mark, Cleitos whispers looking at a bite on his neck, not duped.

Hephaistion shrugs his shoulder annoyed, cloaking himself in his dignity. But he slides a long lock of hair to the front to hide the mark. His gesture makes Cleitos laugh.

The game between them didn't pass unoticed by Crateros. Who can't detach his eyes from Hephaistion. Parmenion can't stop to looking at Hephaistion with stupefaction. It was a long time since he last saw him. He had heard gossip about his physical changes, but it is astonish to see them. Soon his attention turns to the words of Alexander. He makes the assessment of the campaign's first part. They had conquered a part of the Asian Empire to the edge of Halys. Then The king says that he wants to continue. His objective is to conquer all the Persian Empire. Parmenion reacts with acrimony to this news.

- Alexander, the initial project of your father was to conquer Asia to Halys. We achieved this. So why not be satisfied with this achievement. It is time for us to return in Macedonia. Our land needs his king. A large part of the army is hesitant to go on. They want only one thing to return to Macedonia.

- My brave Parmenion, When Isostrate met my father and proposed to him to conquer Asia. He presented two projects. My father choose to go to the Halys. But I am not my father and I chose his second project : the wipeout of the Persian Empire.

He says by hammering the map on the table with each word.

- But Alexander, during this time the Macedon would be more vulnerable to a counter-attack. Why, in first, don't we consolidate our position and in a second time we can come again and pursue the second campaign ?

- And let Darius take time to reinforce his army ! Strange way to think in my opinion ! — says Hephaistion — If we return in Macedon now, Darius will have enough time to put in place new forces. But if we stay and keep the pressure on him, he will have less room for maneuver. And he will be easier to vanquish.

Hephaistion and Alexander exchange looks.

- I could not say better myself, answer Alexander.

Parmenion says nothing even if he doesn't appreciate being snubbed by a boy. Seeing the exchange of looks between the two, he undertands that, under his angelic face, Hephaistion is more dangerous that it seems. He has a lot of power through Alexander.

- And it's the reason why I want to make an impact once and for all, by resolving the Gordian knot, Says Alexander.

- How can this quest can help us ? asks Parmenion.

- It will legitimate Alexanders claim to the Persian throne, to oppose Darius. This will allow us to meet less opposition in statrapies who are not totally gained by Darius. And allow us to remotivate our army at the same time. Hephaistion answers.

- that's right — continues Alexander — The legend says that the one who will resolve the Gordian Knot, will gain the Persian Empire. I have to resolve this quest. The news will spread like wildfire through Persia. Open us some doors without doubts.

- So, when do you want to do it ? asks Cleitos.

- Tomorrow in the morning. Spread the news from now. We have to offer a great show and I want as many people as possible to be present, answers Alexander.


When the session ends, Parmenion offers Crateros to share a drink. They decide to join the first nearby tavern.

- You seem upset Parmenion.

- I think the choice of Alexander is foolish. But Alexander is more stubborn than a mule to listen us and Hephaistion supports him in this way. Have you see how this little snot put me in place ? What a cheek ! As long as Hephaistion will be close to Alexander, we have no way to change his mind. He has a strong influence on him.

- What are you thinking ?

- We have one way to get Alexander to listen to reason : to exclude Hephaistion. Alexander has a blind trust in his lover. We have to break this trust.

- Maybe I have an idea. Have you heard the rumors that run about Hephaistion since Hallicarnass ?

- Saying that Hephaistion is in reality a woman ? It's ridiculous, we know him since he was a child. And you know it's not true. And I don't see how the rumor can help us.

- Not this rumor but the one which says that Hephaistion is unfaithful.

- What do you mean ?

- If we are directly implicated in this, Alexander will not be duped. He will understand quickly our objective. And we will pay the consequences. No, we have to play with more subtleties and push Alexander himself to remove Hephaistion. It's our only choice. We have to bring the proof that the rumor is true and find the way to let Alexander know. So having no responsibilities in this affair, we can become closer to Alexander and assuring our faith, we could sway his positions.

- My dear Crateros, I didn't know you could be so clever but I can say your idea is excellent. But how do you want to proceed? You know like me Hephaistion always was and is absolutely faithful to Alexander.

- Not that much! I stumbled upon an interesting scene before my arrival to the palace. Hephaistion was in the arms of another man. So for our plan to be effective, I need to find this man and the way to put the two in each other's presence again. After that, we decide what to do.

- Tomorrow, during the show, you will have the chance to find this man.

- This is what I expect.

What Crateros doesn't say is that he wants to take advantage of the situation to get Hephaistion in his bed, when he falls from grace. He wants to use his situation to conquer the young man.