Title: Taste of sadness
Prompt: taste
Word Count: 100
His retort sat nestled on the very tip of his tongue, the bitter taste of anger overwhelming all his senses. He wanted to tell Alexander exactly what he thought of the harshness of his words, let him know that no matter what their respective titles were, Alexander had no right to speak to him in that way. He had no reason to tarnish the reputation that Hephaistion had fought so hard to maintain in the army. But Hephaistion knew he must stay silent, so he walked away from Alexander, the taste of disappointment and sadness overtaking the bitterness of his anger.
Title: Taste of youth
Prompt: taste
Word Count: 300
It was hard being a teenager, especially when you were head over heels in love with your best friend, who just happened to be a prince. Hephaistion never had any doubts in his mind about anything he did; he knew he'd always been a good son, and a good student, and he'd make a good soldier one day, too.
But when it came to Alexander, he seemed to lack that security that he felt in the other facets of his life. When Alexander was around, Hephaistion felt jumpy and on edge, his heart beat faster and his palms grew sweaty, and unfortunately, his feelings and reactions seemed to be getting worse.
He'd tried avoiding his friend, but Alexander was persistent and didn't understand the word no, even when Hephaistion said he was feeling sick.
"Are you feeling any better, Phai?" the young prince asked as Hephaistion shifted in his bed, puffed out a breath and tried to look under the weather. He closed his eyes, hoping Alexander would get the hint.
"No, and maybe you should go so you don't catch it."
Hephaistion opened his eyes to find Alexander's face inches from his, then their lips met. "What are you doing?" he groaned when his friend pulled back, brown eyes intent on blue.
"My wet nurse always said people taste different when they're ill, but you don't taste sick," Alexander smirked.
Hephaistion's face reddened to a deep crimson. "But why did you ... kiss me at all?
"I thought it was the perfect chance," Alexander said, eyes still focused on Hephaistion's. "Especially since you've been avoiding me, I had to take the chance when it arose, and I'd like ... to do it, again."
Hephaistion licked his lips, pausing only a moment before slipping his hands in Alexander's curls and pulling him close.
Title: Taste of death
Prompt: taste
Word Count: 300
They couldn't fool him any longer. He knew it was all a hoax, all a big lie to make him succumb to the madness that such a prank would surely push him into. All he needed was proof of their lies, proof that they had gone to such extreme measures to separate him from the only one he truly loved. They were all heartless bastards and if he could, he'd send them all to Hades to live out the remainder of their dishonest, miserable lives.
Just who did they think they were? Thinking they could just tell him that Hephaistion had died, thinking he would just take them at their word, that he wouldn't see through their dishonesty and acting, and just allow them to take Hephaistion from him.
All he needed was one taste, one touch of his lips to Hephaistion's mouth and he could prove he was truly not dead. Hephaistion's taste had always been of great comfort to him, the musky flavor both calming and invigorating, all at the same time. And since Hephaistion's essence was different when he was ill, trying to fool Alexander was truly a preposterous notion.
The importance of his task weighed heavily on his shoulders, his hands shaking as he approached the bed where his lover lay. Hephaistion's skin was cold to the touch, no doubt the result of the evil plotting that was going on around him since they'd surely cooled his beloved's skin to cover up their despicable lies.
Stretching his body out so he lay parallel to Hephaistion, thighs touching, one hand settled on the stillness of his chest, Alexander marveled at the extremes they'd gone to. But one taste and it would all be over. One taste and he'd have his love back, or simply welcome the madness.