TW: talk of medical procedures
AN: Here the next chapter! I'm sorry if it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I recently went to my annual doctor's appointment and was told I would need a Pap smear eventually, and have been thinking about it on and off since, so I needed to dump all my feelings into something and this is what came out of all of that. It definitely feels like no one understands why I'm scared and worried, and I can't voice all of my worries, so that makes everything harder. Thank you for reading!
AN: "Thessa" refers to Thessalonike of Macedon, one of Alexander's half sisters. Just to clarify.
Hephaestion took the phone away from their ear and found Alexander in the kitchen preparing dinner, their eyes wide and their face pale.
Alexander looked up to greet them as he heard them enter the room, his content smile quickly becoming a worried frown a he took in his partner's expression, "Hephaestion? What is it? That was just Dr. Watts confirming your annual, wasn't it?"
Hephaestion nodded, body going weak as they collapsed into a chair at the small island, "She… She said she doesn't want to put off my Pap smear anymore…"
Alexander grimaced sympathetically, "I'm sorry, Love. Is there anything I can do?"
Hephaestion went to shake their head, then crumpled and put their head in their hands, sobbing. Alexander abandoned the vegetables he had been cutting up for a salad and went to them, holding them close, understanding the reason for the emotions Hephaestion was experiencing.
When they had had a moment to cry into Alexander's chest, they sat up, venting, "It's not fair! Even making sure I'm healthy reminds me that my body isn't right! And a fuckin' Pap smear? Checking your health shouldn't be so invasive and painful! I'm so tired!"
"I know, Love, I know…" Alexander pet their hair, taking most of their weight as the tears kept coming with no sign of stopping anytime soon, "It will be okay. I am sure Dr. Watts knows how uncomfortable this is, and can help you through it. We will make it okay."
Hephaestion shook their head, pulling away from Alexander's comfort, "You don't understand… No one understands…"
Alexander wasn't hurt at that; he could never fully understand what Hephaestion went through or felt, he knew that. He could only be there for when Hephaestion needed him.
"I don't understand, Love, that's true. But I think you need to vent, and I'm here if you need me for that. And please remember that I love you no matter what. I don't care how your body is, what it needs, or what others say that you are or aren't. You are my Phai. That is all that matters to me. Please remember that."
Hephaestion nodded, only halfway listening, their body language showing how exhausted they were, "Can you please just call Thessa for me? I just want to talk to someone who understands. Sorry."
"No, no need to be sorry. I'll call her. You just go to bed and rest."
"I am sorry I'm making this so hard…" Hephaestion mourned, their head bent in shame.
"Hey, hey. Loving you is no hardship. It never has been and never will be. I'm sorry you have to go through this, even if it is necessary. It's not fair and I hate seeing you so afraid. But it will be okay, I promise," Alexander set a quick kiss to their brow just before the phone was picked up on the other side of the line and his attention was split, "Thessa! How are you?"
Hephaestion smiled the smallest bit watching their boyfriend do this for them, and decided to believe him for the time being, at least until their anxiety took over again next time and they had to go through the same old song and dance, just like always. They really were loved.