AN: This took forever to write, and will lead into the next chapter, just to give you all a heads up. Please be aware of the warnings on this story when reading this chapter, and stay safe. Otherwise, enjoy!
The shriek of Hephaestion's cellphone on the kitchenette island distracted them from preparing dinner. Picking it up and immediately seeing that it was Alexander calling, they began to worry. Alexander was at work. He would be home soon, but he never called during work unless it was urgent. Not wanting to stall, whatever the problem was, Hephaestion quickly answered the continuous ring.
"Xander? What's wrong? The car alright?" There was an exasperated, sad sigh on the other end of the call, and that made Hephaestion's anxiety rear its head, their heart starting to pound in their chest, "Xander? What happened? You're not hurt are you?"
"No, Love, everything's fine. I'm fine, just peeved. I have a mandatory meeting tomorrow after work, so I can't take you to your appointment at four. I already called Thessa, Ptolemy, and Roxana, and they're all busy tomorrow, so the only person who can take you is Cassander…"
As soon as Hephaestion heard that, they were upset, "I'd rather skip a week than have Cassander take me! He hates me! No, I refuse!"
"Love, I know, but if you don't want to go on your own- and I know you don't- he's our only option. And you can't skip, you'll be miserable. Thessa already promised he won't say anything."
"Oh, he will, I know he will," they sighed, suddenly exhausted, "Fine, whatever. Hurry home."
Just before they could hang up the phone and end the call, Alexander, clearly hurt, whispered, "I love you, Phai."
"Love you too," they disconnected the call quickly after that.
Hephaestion hadn't slept well that night, even though Alexander had made sure to hold them extra tight and kiss them even more than usual before finally falling asleep beside them. And when Alexander had left for work, Hephaestion was tempted to ask him to just skip for a day, even though they knew they couldn't cost their boyfriend his job over something so minuscule.
It didn't feel minuscule though when Cassander stopped in front of their apartment building where Hephaestion was waiting on a bench near the front doors.
"Hestia! Let's go! I have other things to do today!" Hephaestion felt tears well up as they got in the passenger seat of the red sports car, but refused to cry. Not in front of Cassander. It was just one appointment anyway. After this, they could make sure Alexander always had the day off and it could become their thing- and only their thing- again, "What's with the lady get up?"
Having been in their own world for a moment, Hephaestion didn't notice Cassander- a freshly lit cigarette in between his lips, staring at the short baby blue circle skirt Hephaestion had chosen to wear.
"Makes things easier," was all that Hephaestion offered in explanation, silently praying that that would be the end of it as they tried to get comfortable enough to sleep for the hour drive to the doctor.
"You fakin' the whole thing?" Cassander wondered.
Hephaestion stiffened at that, and immediately sat up straight in the seat. They wouldn't be getting any sleep after all, "W-what do you mean?"
"You're wearing a skirt. You must be fakin' it. No real man would be caught dead in a skirt. I know I wouldn't," he took a long drag from his cigarette and blew the smoke out between his lips slowly, taking hi eyes off the road just briefly enough to give Hephaestion a telling look, "Alexander wouldn't."
"I don't- um, I don't..."
"It's true," Cassander argued matter-of-factly before he finally went quiet for the rest of the ride. Not that Hephaestion noticed. They were trying not to throw up.
Cassander got to the reception desk before Hephaestion could stop him once they entered the building full of separate offices, "Hestia Amyntor, here for her four o'clock appointment? Hurry up, I'm busy! I haven't got all day!"
Hephaestion approached the desk with a sigh; they were so tired, "Cassander, please, just, go sit down. I can do this part. Hephaestion Amyntor, please, here for four?"
The receptionist nodded once and then eyed them before glancing at Cassander, now sitting quiet in a chair, "You okay, Hun? Alexander not here today?"
"He had a meeting he couldn't get out of. And actually, can I just wait in the hall? I can't-"
She nodded and waved them along, "Someone will come out and get you when it's your turn."
Hephaestion was able to breathe for the first time in just over an hour, "Thank you. Thank you."
Their shot was more painful than usual, but it was over quickly, and Hephaestion hurried back out to the car, limping a little from the injection, wanting to get home to their boyfriend as quickly as possible. Just as they got into the passenger seat of Cassander's car, though, their phone vibrated to alert the to a new text.
"How's my handsome datemate doing? Shot go okay? The doctor say anything?"
Hephaestion smiled, heart warmed by the fact that, even when they were apart, Alexander cared enough to text them and ask how they were.
"Be ready when I get home; I need to scream and cry for about a year. Shot went okay. Hurts more than usual, but that's to be expected with how bad I feel right now."
"I'll run out and get the biggest tubs of ice cream I can find, and chocolate of course. Peri is here, warm and ready for snuggles. What did Cassander say?"
"When I get home. We're in the car, on our way home now."
"Hugs and kisses are yours as soon as you get here. You know I love you, don't you?"
"I know. I'm going to take a nap now. Cassander's giving me a look and I can't stand it."
"Okay. Sleep well, and soon you will be in my arms. I love you, so, so much."
"Love you too. Goodnight."
It wasn't long before Cassander had parked in front of Hephaestion and Alexander's apartment building, and Hephaestion was surprised to see Alexander outside waiting for them.
"Come here, Love," Alexander welcomed them home with open arms, and while Hephaestion couldn't exactly see the glare he sent Cassander's way, they certainly felt it, "Massage and ice cream upstairs? Sound good?" They could only nod, their emotions starting to choke them up now that they knew they were safe, "Thank you for getting them home safely, Cassander. I appreciate it. Come on, Love. Slow. You're limping, don't rush."
"Shot was a bitch this time."
"I know, Love, I know. Just go slow."
After a hot, soothing bath, Hephaestion and Alexander sat on opposite side ends of the couch, legs tangled together, spoons deep in their respective ice cream containers. Hephaestion was happily surprised when Alexander had presented them with the container of mint chocolate chip, even though they hadn't asked for it. It was their favorite flavor of ice cream. They supposed however that after so long together, Alexander knew that and kept that kind of information for times just like this.
"Love," Alexander sat up from where he had been relaxing against one of the couch's armrests, "If you want to, do you need to talk about Cassander did today? I know he upset you."
The mood changed instantly as Hephaestion stiffened upon hearing the question, "I-it was nothing… I don't want to talk about it…" They got up then, going to the kitchen to quickly put what was left of their ice cream in the freezer before disappearing into the bedroom, ignoring a concerned, "Phai?" from their boyfriend.
Hephaestion must have fallen into an uneasy sleep after crying in the bedroom alone for maybe a good hour or two, because they were woken up by angry hissing from the living room. Concerned, they were about to call out to their boyfriend when the words finally reached them.
"Hephaestion is a wonderful human being and you are a sad human being if you can't see that, Cassander."
Now that Hephaestion was listening, they could just make out Cassander screaming from his side of the call, "Hestia is a liar and you are crazy for believing her and going along with her delusion!"
Hephaestion had heard enough and stormed out of the bedroom, reaching for their boyfriend's cellphone from their stunned-to-silence boyfriend, putting it to their own ear before speaking politely but with deadly venom, "Cassander? You can say what you like about me, but don't you dare speak to my boyfriend like that again. You are ignorant and small-minded, not to mention rude. You need to grow up and realize the world has changed and is always changing. I am beyond done with being your doormat and still being kind to you, because in all honesty I shouldn't have to be after the way you've treated me and our friends. Don't call here anymore or speak to me until you learn, if ever."
"Hestia," Cassander was clearly bored and annoyed, and it was clear that what Hephaestion had just said went in one ear and out the other.
"You know what, Cassander? Since you clearly didn't hear me, I'll break it down so you can understand: Suck. My. Dick," They heard and saw Alexander gasp and cover his mouth in surprise as they ended the call before Cassander could say anything more.
"Phai-" Alexander was cautious.
"What? He pissed me off."
As they started to walk away, Alexander grabbed their hand and pulled them back, shining like the Sun, "I'm proud of you."
"He deserved it."
"I'm not saying he didn't. But you finally found the strength to defend yourself. That's no small feat. You're becoming comfortable with who you are. I'm proud of you, and I love you, so, so much."
Hephaestion sighed, "Can we just go to bed? I know it's still early, but I had a long, hard day and I just want to sleep right now."
"Of course," Alexander kissed them softly on the lips, "To bed, my love."
They went to bed soon after that, but instead of sleeping, Hephaestion waited until Alexander's breathing was slow and even before letting the first tear fall.