Title: By my side (17 of ?)
Author: Adsagsona
Type: Romance
Rating: PG – PG 13
Disclaimer: Nothing about the movieverse Alexander belongs to me, I don't own a thing, sadly enough. I believe the real Alexander the Great and his companions belong to history and themselves.
Warnings: Slash.
Beta: None.
Pairing: Alexander/Hephaestion
Archive: Right here.
Author's Note: It is a slight AU from the Alexander movie verse. Hephaestion is not the son of Lord Amyntor, but a slave.
Spoilers: For 'Alexander'
Summary: At a young age, a slave gets captured by the soldiers of Philip. Alexander needs someone to wrestle with, because his friends always let him win. Too stubborn for his own good, the slave causes problems.
By my side – Chapter 17
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As a young man brought the relative little luggage the two of them had with them to the rooms, Hephaestion felt that his world had been turned upside down. He should have been the one carrying those small bags, the one to ask the Prince to follow and show him to his room. Now he was walking alongside the Prince, a bit behind since he still had not gotten used to his new status, towards said room.
"Your room, your Highness."
The slave said with a most eloquent bow before he retreated into the small room next to the one reserved for the Prince and his friend. Alexander gave a sigh of relief as he entered. The discussion between his sister and her husband had been brief. Hephaestion could accompany Alexander, since he had made it clear the young man was his trusted friend. Although the King of Epirus would have granted Hephaestion his own room, the teenager would have none of it. He had softly declined the invitation and said that his place was with his Prince. The King could only salute that decision.
"We must cherish this, Hephaestion. Who knows how long it will take to see a real bed again?"
The Prince let himself fall on the bed, but the other young man stood upright, trying hard not to touch anything in fear that it might dissolve right before his eyes. Alexander looked at him with concern… although in the past few years Hephaestion had changed into a more outgoing person, he still couldn't grasp what was going on in his mind at most times.
"Hephaestion?"
He stretched out his hand and almost immediately a warm weight was put in it. The young man had showed no hesitation in giving a sign that he cared for his Prince. As Alexander remained seated and his companion stood, one could not be quite sure in the division of the roles they played.
"Tell me what is wrong. I can see something is troubling you."
"It is nothing, my Prince."
Alexander sighed, it had never been easy to drag words out of him, certainly not when he didn't want to.
"Do you have so little trust in me that you won't tell me?"
The brilliant eyes shimmered as they stared at him in disbelief. How could he even utter the words after Hephaestion had followed him to an unknown land, in fear of his own life? To Alexanders discontent, the young man restrained his emotions.
"You know I trust you, my Prince." Then he sighed and let a bit of the heavy defences he had built up over the years fall, a small piece of his heart could be seen. "But this is not my place. I should be there, in that small room, waiting for your orders."
So that was what was bothering him. Alexander tugged the unwilling body closer towards him and scooted backwards a little, so that Hephaestion could sit on the bed with him. His left eye looked almost black now, a sign of contained rage but also of pure emotion, which betrayed him at times. Cupping both cheeks of the young man in front of him, he forced Hephaestion to look him in the eyes.
"How much I would give to have that stubborn young boy with me again, the one who defied Kings and soldiers to just have his say. I have given you your freedom, Hephaestion, and I meant it. You have come here out of your free will and you deserve this room as much as I."
Hephaestion stubbornly shook his head, but Alexander insisted.
"I need you to be yourself again, not the subdued slave who has joined you in the past years."
The real Hephaestion had been hiding out in his own body, sometimes popping up in heated discussions with Alexander, before he had realised he was talking to his Prince and again crawled into his shell. But the Prince had seen enough and wished for this sassy boy to return to him, to answer him back… their survival depended upon it.
"I don't know what you mean, my Prince."
The young Alexander gave a slight smile at the answer of the other, who had lowered his eyes and gazed intently at the bed linnen. The Prince lifted one of his hands to the chin of the other, so that he had to look at him.
"I need you, my friend. You are the one watching my back when I do something foolish, although my actions today were justified." He paused for a moment before continuing. "There is no reason for you to follow me other than your will. You have proclaimed that yesterday, but I warn you that this is the last palace you will see."
Neither of them were used to a hard life and it seemed like Alexander was speaking the truth. Hephaestion was rattled, confused by the double emotion that the Prince spoke to him about. On one side he wanted his friend with him, on the other he wanted him to leave. But although strong in tactics, there was nothing calculated about the mind of the Prince right now. Finally Alexander let go and laid his arms on the sheets, so that Hephaestion could back away.
"The choice is yours."
Hephaestion didn't know what to do, but there was one thing he was certain about. He couldn't lose Alexander. He had come into his life at a moment he thought everything had been lost. The first time he had thought for sure that his life would end in the prison, after a small amount of torture. At Mieza, he would have never guessed the Prince would look twice at him. Still Alexander sought him out, even now he asked him to join him.
"My answer remains the same as yesterday, my…" He then hesitated and remembered that Alexander had told him that using his name in private was not a problem. In fact, he loved it when his name was said.
"Alexander."
The young prince looked up and gave a bright smile, which left Hephaestion speechless for a moment. Alexander reached up to him and pulled the former slave over him, but Hephaestion leaned on his hands, planted firmly on either side of Alexanders head.
"Kiss me."
It was not an order, but sounded more like a plea. Hephaestion lowered his lips until they touched Alexanders briefly. Their youth and feelings were enough to spark the forgotten lust and soon they were hungrily lapping each others mouth, exploring every part. In the end it was Alexander who took control, nipping at the bottom lip of the other before releasing his mouth.
"It has been too long."
The whispered tone sounded a bit hoarse and rough, but Hephaestion did not care. He too felt that the time spent apart had been long enough, although in reality only a few hours. A firm hand casually turned him onto his back and he enjoyed the attention as Alexander laved his nipples before dipping lower. He tried to stiffle the moans, but was unable to. The soft exclamation only made Alexander want him more.
As the young Prince reached the small line of hair which ran straight to Hephaestions crotch, the slightly older man pulled him up.
"No."
It was said in a firm voice, although he had endured many pleasurable things in that evening. Alexander kissed him deeply however.
"I am but a Prince in second place… let me be simply your lover tonight."
After those words all what Hephaestion could do was nod as Alexanders mouth brought him pleasures he could not dare to grasp.
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Nelia: Of course I can read minds ;-) Where do you think I get my inspiration from?
Xzanayu: Yes, she knew Phai from before.
Queendel: I am working on a sequel as we speak! Well, prequel, in fact.
Lexy: Here's your fluff, luv. –pouts- And the link doesn't work.