Hephaistion couldn't bring himself to watch the mayhem that was going on around him. His beloved Alexander was crazed; he had no other confidant to rely upon. He was very much alone, and very much aware of it. His eyes rested on Alexander as Alexander brushed past the gathering crowd, and into his tent - again.

He wondered where Roxane had gone, he saw her run. Hephaistion knew that Roxane was never going to give Alexander the security, the love and the companionship that he needed, yet he foolishly believed Alexander would see those things in him.

Hephaistion noted other familiar faces in the crowd, and every time he saw Cassander his heart went that little bit faster until a swirling sensation would call him, causing him to stop. How could he ever want to be with him? How did he ever want that? He thought, but as Alexander spent more and more time wreaking havoc, Hephaistion's mind wandered to the possibility of more - more freedom, more romance, more hope.

Darkness fell quickly. As Hephaistion went down the path to Alexander's tent, ready to tell Alexander that he loved him and needed him, didn't care that people saw him as weak and stupid - he was stopped by a hand. Long slender fingers enveloped his shoulder and he stopped. He knew those hands well.

"You seem so lonely and lost" Cassander whispered softly, as Hephaistion remained where he was standing.

"Only you would make that assumption" Hephaistion said quietly, "I am going to visit someone, someone that I care about"

"Funny, it doesn't appear he cares for you anymore" Cassander said harshly, as Hephaistion's steely blue eyes met his,

"Jealousy consumes men, Cassander" Hephaistion replied, "I know Alexander is having troubles at late, but it still doesn't change how I feel for him"

"I care for you, I have always cared..." Cassander said softly as Hephaistion nodded; "If you cared you wouldn't have assaulted me to prove your point" Cassander sighed and pulled Hephaistion around to look at him.

"Since you've become part of Alexander's game; you've lost your spark" Cassander said solemnly, "You were the best at wrestling, the best at writing... the best"

"I can be second to my lover if I choose, Cassander" Hephaistion said gently, "I do not need to win"

"But you can't lose all the time" Cassander insisted, dropping his hand off Hephaistion's shoulder,

"Why does loving Alexander take so much from you? Don't you want him to give anything back?"

Hephaistion thought for a moment,

"Alexander gives back what I give him..."

"He used to but what now Hephaistion? Violence, threats, anger?"

"He is my King, Cassander. I understand his frustrations"

"You're being the pawn"

"Its love" Hephaistion said finally, walking briskly away from Cassander when Cassander's arm had dropped significantly,

"It's blindness" Cassander muttered angrily, "What is stopping you from seeing the truth?"

"The same thing that is stopping you from seeing your own" Hephaistion said sternly and Cassander retreated, defeated with the idea that Hephaistion could still love Alexander after the tyrant he had become.

"Soon, Cassander. Very soon" he said softly and went back to his tent.

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