Title: "The Other Persian"
Author: BalianswordA/N: To my fans, thank you for reading.
Hephaestion did not feel like getting out of bed. The sun was blinding him as he slept curled in his blanket on the balcony. He felt the rays burning the side of his cheek. Even shifting position seemed like a waste of effort for the moment. So instead of awakening he kept his eyes closed, moaning softly, praying to Apollo for the sun to be taken away for the moment.
"My Lord," a voice said, keeping him from sleeping.
Hephaestion opened his eyes and turned his head so that he could look at the man over his shoulder. It was not whom he assumed it would be. Instead, it was Arias. Hephaestion tried to recall if he had mentioned that he did not need a slave and Arias was free. He sighed in his head, no, he had not.
"Alexander would like to see you," the eunuch said in nothing more than a whisper. "He says that he will wait with the others. You know where."
Hephaestion pushed himself off of the stone and stood, stretching and arm over his chest. He turned to look out at Babylon. In all honesty it was a beautiful city. Hephaestion only hoped that it would not grow gray, as many cities did. The culture here thrived, and he prayed Macedonian rule would not disturb things, otherwise he himself would too be at fault for the destruction of this civilization.
"Do you require anything," Arias asked as Hephaestion stepped past him. It was odd, most slaves were preparing baths for their masters, if not breakfast at this time. However this man had asked for nothing. Arias did not know whether to respect him for such, or worry. Perhaps later he would ask for many things from him.
"I need nothing," Hephaestion said as he stripped his chieftain away from his body. He was not shy of his form. Arias glanced at him even though he should not have. He would be not shy either if he had such muscles in his chest. The few scars that covered his elegant body did not take away, but added valorous charm to his body.
Everything about this man seemed to be perfect. He was lovely, but it was much deeper, what Arias saw in him. He saw a man beneath those cerulean eyes that was not afraid to feel, not afraid to be strong, or in this moment to be broken. He had a spirit. He was not hollow like many of the Greeks walking up and down the hall were.
"Arias," Hephaestion said suddenly, "you are free to go. I have no use for you. I am sure that you have somewhere that you would rather be."
Arias shook his head, "No, my Lord."
"I don't need a slave," Hephaestion said quietly, "but I will settle for a friend. The conditions are that you call me by my name, and stop offering me your assistance. There is nothing that I need from you."
"Hephaestion," a voice said, as there was a knock at the door. "Hurry! Alexander does not want to be kept waiting. And bring your slave."
It was Cassander. At the moment there were only two people that Hephaestion truly and deeply hated. Bagoas was one, and Cassander was the other. If he were any lower to the ground he would be beneath it. That was how Hephaestion commonly thought of him. He was not far from the truth either.
Hephaestion glanced up as he finished pulling a shirt over his shoulders. He rolled his eyes even though he did not mean to. He then glanced at Arias. There was something distracting about him. Perhaps it was his eyes, those large emerald eyes that constantly watched him, or the shadow behind them. There was something that he was withholding behind his verdant eyes. Hephaestion could only imagine what he would hide from his master if he were a slave.
Hephaestion took a few steps and Arias was instantly following behind. He left the room, hoping that perhaps the door would shut, and Arias would not have to go. However he managed to follow. When they reached the dining room Hephaestion entered first. He crossed across the room and sat down at a grand table, beside Alexander, because it was the only chair left. Arias took his place behind him, standing in the close shadows of the wall, beside Bagoas.
"They're pretty," Cassander teased from his seat across the table. Alexander, already having a conversation with Ptolemy, did not notice. Hephaestion glared at Cassander but could think of nothing else to do at the moment. Perhaps later he would sprawl with him and shove his face into the mud. It sounded like a good plan.
Alexander had ended the conversation with Ptolemy. He turned, glanced at the table; satisfied that everyone was already there. He glanced at Hephaestion. There was a pain in his eyes, a deep emotion that Hephaestion decided to ignore.
"The empire grows," Cassander said, raising a cup. "Congratulations Alexander, we own the world!"
"Not quite yet," Alexander laughed, "but enough for now."
Arias noticed that during the entire meeting in which Alexander spoke of how to go about finding Darius, Hephaestion, his closest advisor of the past, never uttered a single word. His breath was so quiet there was no noise. He sat as if he were a statue. When Alexander dismissed the men Cassander was the first to leave, but Hephaestion was not the last, as he had been before. He was out the door third, with Arias quickly following.
"Go," Hephaestion seemed to plead as he entered his rooms, Arias still following. "I am going to take a bath so that I can pretend to relax."
Arias did not listen. Instead he began to pour the bath water. At first Hephaestion had thought he had actually left as he slid out of his clothes and into a robe in the other room. When he entered the bathing room Arias looked up. He had just finished checking the temperature of the water. He stood and came closer to Hephaestion.
He came so close that their chests touched as Arias reached behind him and closed the door. The eunuch then turned and went back to standing by the tub. Hephaestion came to the side of the tub and turned. Delicate hands were slowly sliding the silken robe from his shoulders. There was no way that Hephaestion could stop the tingling he felt in his body as Arias' hands touched him.
The eunuch held out a hand and Hephaestion took it. He then carefully stepped into the tub and slid beneath the water. He thought that perhaps Arias would leave, but he did not. Instead, Arias positioned himself behind him, and picked up a pitcher. He poured water of Hephaestion's body, wetting his soft skin, and his thick hair. As soon as Hephaestion was wet he picked up a cloth and began to rub the commander's back.
Hephaestion found that he could not complain. He put a hand on either side of the tub and leaned back as Arias continued. Somewhere in his work he put the cloth aside and began to massage Hephaestion's back. He felt the tension beneath his skin even before he touched him. Arias put his hands on Hephaestion's neck and gently ran his fingers up and down his skin. Yet as he made a move to touch lower down the front of his chest Hephaestion's hand stopped him.
"Don't," Hephaestion said under his breath. However he found himself letting go of Arias' hand. The Persian ran both hands over the tensed muscles of his chest. To do so he had to move close. His chin was on Hephaestion's shoulder, his breath on his neck, his chest pressed against his back. Hephaestion felt temptation pulling at his body.
Arias waited for Hephaestion to turn his head before he caught his lips with his own. He softly kissed Hephaestion, knowing that this was what he needed. The Persian moved around the side of the tub while he kissed Hephaestion. He sat on the edge, putting a hand on the commander's cheek. The other he put on Hephaestion's chest. As he kissed him he slid his hand beneath the water.
However, Hephaestion caught his hand before he could touch him. Their kiss broke off and Hephaestion breathlessly stared at Arias. He then got out of the tub with his back turned to the Persian and put on his robe. Without saying another word he left the room. Arias knew that this was not rejection, it was just Hephaestion moving to another room, thinking as he did so.
Arias left the room as well and as soon as he came into the light of the bedchamber Hephaestion's lips were pressed against his again. Arias felt Hephaestion's erection against his thigh as he continued to kiss him. Arias parted their lips with his tongue. He probed Hephaestion's mouth, wanting to know everything about him, including his secrets.
Hephaestion put his hands on Arias' back and pulled him closer. Arias was already pulling the robe away from Hephaestion's body as he did this. As the commander's robe fell to the ground Arias broke away from his lips and began to lick at his neck. His tongue left blistering burns it seemed as Hephaestion held him. What had started off slowly was beginning to build up with a passion that Arias knew would lead to a few bruises in the morning, but for this man, it would be worth it.
Arias bit Hephaestion's shoulder, causing Hephaestion to dig his nails into his back. Arias then began to kiss Hephaestion's shoulder once more. He put a hand between them then, taking Hephaestion's firmness in his hand. As he touched him Hephaestion began to kiss him hard on the lips once more. Arias liked the feeling of having Hephaestion grab him and roughly pull him forward. He liked the feeling of having Hephaestion's erection pressed against his thigh, grinding against him as their lips met.
Hephaestion felt Arias slid out of his grasp. The Persian crawled onto the bed, placing his hands on the headboard, and his knees in the pillows. Hephaestion followed, putting his hands on both of Arias' hips, kissing his back. Arias felt Hephaestion shift behind him before he pressed his length against him. Hephaestion pushed himself slowly inside of Arias, letting out his own breath as he did so. Arias felt like biting his lower lip, and did so, because Hephaestion was stretching him far more than Darius ever had.
Arias cried out quietly as Hephaestion pushed himself up against him, entering him as much as he could. The pain lasted for a moment but was washed away as Hephaestion kissed his shoulder. The Macedonian then ran a hand over Arias' chest. He then lowered his hand to Arias' own erection. At first he did not touch Arias' cock, but the smooth skin around him. He lightly ran the tips of his fingers over the two scars that were where Arias' sacs should have been.
He then lightly put a hand over Arias' length and began to stroke him. As he did this Hephaestion began to move inside of him. He brought the two of them into an eagerly rapid motion. Arias had to keep both hands securely planted on the headboard. His breath was soon gone from him and perspiration was beading on his forehead, and the rest of his body for the matter.
Yet he would give everything to be in this moment. The feeling of Hephaestion pushed against him was marvelous. Hephaestion's sacs ground against Arias' buttocks in such a way it made him mad. Hephaestion ground against him, pushing himself deep into Arias, then pulling slightly away only to shove back into him. This was the rough lovemaking that Arias had envisioned.
As he shoved in and out of him Hephaestion kissed his back. His tongue burned, leaving a trail of his passions, his teeth lightly marking Arias here and there. The bruises did not matter though. The euphoria was worth every bite, every scratch, and every tear in the flesh that Hephaestion made.
Hephaestion growled deep in his throat when he pushed into Arias once more, this time stopping. Arias felt Hephaestion spill inside of him. It was like a fire had entered his body, burning his insides before cooling. Arias struggled to catch his breath. Never before had he been made love to in such a way. Never before had he not been able to begin to move, as Hephaestion moved away from him. It took him a minute, but Arias let go of the headboard, and turned –making a movement to leave the bed.
It was what he had always done, what he had been trained to do, and what he expected Hephaestion would have wanted. Instead, Hephaestion caught his wrist and pulled him down against the bed. Hephaestion at first positioned himself on top of Arias, and Arias moved his legs apart so that he could do so comfortably and even bent his knees.
Hephaestion kissed Arias deeply and wrapped a hand in his hair. Arias kissed back, wanting deeply to please Hephaestion. He let his tongue meet with Hephaestion's in a dance. The Macedonian in a simple movement rolled the two of them on the bed so that Arias ended up above him. The Persian leaned down, kissing Hephaestion, taking in every inch of him and every moment of this experience.
After some time of just kissing Arias moved off of Hephaestion and lay down beside him. There was space between them and Hephaestion put a hand on the back of Arias' side so that he could pull him close. Arias liked the feeling of having his cock pressed in between the valley of Hephaestion's strong thighs. Hephaestion lightly touched the side of the Persian's face, staring intently at him. He played with his hair, letting silence linger between them.
Arias let him touch him. He did not want to loose him. It was not as if he did not know that Hephaestion belonged in some manner to Alexander. Yet Alexander was not here. Not to mention –Alexander had Bagoas. Now was not the time to think of such things though. Instead, Arias put his forehead against Hephaestion's chest, and kissed him lightly.
Exhausted, Arias let his eyes close softly. Being wrapped in Hephaestion's strong arms soothed him. He did not feel like he had lost a piece of his soul tonight. In fact, he felt as if he had gained it back. Yet for every blissful moment, the proverbs say, there must be two miserable moments.
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