Their kiss was stirred with passion like nothing Alexander had ever known. Every smal gasp and every movement ignited a fire within him like he couldn't describe. His nerves were alight. It was akin to the feeling he had in the thick of battle. Absolute fear combined with total bliss. He had known love so much more intense than this, love to last the ages, love to conquer all but nothing so raw and sexual that made him feel so empowered. He felt like a lion. But each time Alexander tried to touch them, they pulled away which frustrated him.

"Anatolios, is it you?"

The man pulled away sharply and for a moment he was confused until he felt a sharp slap to the face.

"What are you doing," he shouted and held his hand to his own cheek, feeling the sting there. He reached for the blindfold and a hand stopped him.

"Anatolios, how dare you strike your King!"

He inhaled sharply upon feeling the strike to his face again. Then he was kissed so ferociously. It was violent and vindictive and everything Alexander craved. He was almost certain that this was not Hephaestion and a guilty voice within him warned him to stop, to be afraid. The only thing that made him stop was to wonder how they got the ring that had just sliced his cheek. Hephaestion never takes it off.

Alexander ripped the piece of cloth from his eyes and backs away.

"How did you get that ring? Who are you, what have you done to Hephaestion," he screams and lunges forward to tackle him to the floor. He wraps his hands around the man's neck and presses down, hard. Below him, the man kicks and gasps, struggling and writhing.

"Alexander," he chokes out as he tries to pry his hands from him.

"It's me...please."

The King releases him and pulls the mask away to reveal Hephaestion, kohl streaming onto his temples as his eyes water and he coughs. They stare at each other for a long moment, both panting with their hearts racing. Then they kiss once more. Hungry. Desperate. It feels as though they are fighting, the pure adrenaline coursing through their veins. It is angry and heated and ferocious. Alexander still can't believe it is Hephaestion, the calm and endearing one. To see him like this is the greatest Aphrodisiac for the King. He bites down on Hephaestion's shoulder and takes pure pleasure in the scream he gives. He stands quickly and drags Hephaestion to his feet, pushing him against the wall and kissing him. He lifts him from the ground, awkward and clumsy but he can't control himself. Every fibre of his being is transfered into the lust he feels for this man. The deep eyes and chiseled jaw. The heart that intertwines with his.

"Why," he says between kisses. Hephaestion smiles. Not in the way that brings warmth to Alexander's soul. There is something wicked in this. Something that reminds him in a way of his mother. Something he never would have imagined would be in Hephaestion. It is something he has in himself that he had always tried to keep hidden from him. He thought he would judge him. Misunderstand him. Hate him. To find it there made him see. He is truly Patroclus. He is me.

"I know you Alexander. You love the fear. The terror and the fight."

He reaches a hand up to cup his cheek that bleeds a little from the ring.

"I see the way you watch the boy. The dancers, the things you want; I am here to give. Body and soul," he whispers lovingly. Alexander thinks on the masked dancer he had watched earlier. The feeling it had given him. It compared to no other. Hephaestion did know him. He knew that the King's love for him ran deeper than love for any other. But not deeper than the love of mystery. He was giving him something to discover.

"And you thought it was the boy," Hephaestion snarled. "How many Alexander? How many more until you will be satisfied? My love is never enough for you. Perhaps you need my lust too," he smirked and scratched his nails down Alexander's chest in the dip of his robe. An angry red mark appeared. "Is this what they do for you, my King? Is this what your whores give you?"

"Don't call them that," Alexander said irritably.

"Don't fuck them," Hephaestion replied defiantly.

The King leaned down to Hephaestion's throat and kissed right above his collar bone, relishing the soft moan he heard. He reached out to take hold of Hephaestion's wrists and appreciated that although he had been given a chase, he was also being allowed to catch. He knew it took a great deal of strength and trust for Hephaestion to submit to him. He barely had to move and Hephaestion was following him to the bed. Alexander's stroked his lovers hair away from his face. He subtly tried to ensure he was comfortable so as not to ruin the atmosphere but Hephaestion just laughed. They kissed slowly, languid and easy. They were in no hurry but the tension was becoming unbearable.

Hephaestion maintained the most sultry expression as he used some oil to cover his hand. He watched Alexander intently as he pleasured him and brought him to full hardness. He adjusted himself beneath him and gave their signal to continue. Alexander reached for the oil but a hand caught his before he could.

"Proceed," Hephaestion whispered in his ear. He looked at Phai almost questioningly. Where had he been learning these things? He'd never seen him like this. Of course he was an incredibly sexual person, but not this dark. It gave Alexander a different feeling of satisfaction. As though his soul was now satisfied that it knew another to the very core.

He was nervous of hurting him as he penetrated him but Hephaestion remained expressionless as he entered, eyes open and watching him. Wicked and challenging. He could almost hear his thoughts. 'Is this enough?' Alexander had never been so turned on. He moved gently and his muscles trembled. He could barely hold himself up the pleasure was so intense. There were sighs and moans from both of them until he couldn't take it any longer.

"I'm sorry," he whispered as he kissed him gently. He knew then that he was being far too rough and he was probably causing his lover so much pain but he had never felt so connected to him before. He sobbed with relief, love, satisfaction. They were lost to the world. Immortal and unending. They were one soul and one mind. Pressing their noses together in a light touch, they lay together after in a light sleep.

Somewhere near dawn Alexander awoke more fully and lightly traced the bruising around Hephaestion's throat. Then he held him closer and returned to sleep.