AN: I got my haircut on the 15th, and even though it wasn't my first cut since dicovering who I am, it was finally with a hairstylist that understood and gave me exactly what I asked for without any extra effort on my part. It felt so good. This chapter is based on my experience, but isn't a play-by-play. There's a fictional element to this chapter too. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy!
AN: I decided that this is for Hephaestion's death month, because I had no ideas and no energy to come up with omething. I ran out of time too. I hope this will suffice.
Hephaestion opened the door to the salon, jumping a little when the bell above the door jingled to announce their arrival. They had done their research and found this salon, which was supposed to be LGBT+ friendly, but they were alone and unsure, and for safety had left their binder at home and wore the skirt that they had bought a few weeks prior with a white sleeveless blouse.
It took them a few tense moments to approach the reception desk, but when the did, they spoke in nearly a whisper, "Hi. I-I'm here for a three o'clock appointment? I'm not sure who with, it's my first time here. Sorry."
"No need to be sorry, Sweetheart. Name?" The receptionist looked at them patiently.
"H-Hestia Amyntor…"
"Oh," the receptionist smiled, "I was wondering who that name was tied to. Just sit down for a minute and your hairstylist will be with you soon."
Hephaestion gave her a confused look upon hearing her comment, but thanked her politely and went to sit down, wringing their hands nervously.
It was only a few minutes later that a person in skinny jeans, a crop top with a sun printed on it, high heeled gladiator boots and who had platinum blond hair and six earrings in their right ear and a belly button ring that had a bronze sun pendant hanging from it which swayed as they approached their chair. Hephaestion blushed lightly and ducked their head as the hairstylist stopped in front of their chair, nervous and intimidated by this person's obvious larger than life presence.
"Hi, Honey. I'm Apollo. Are you Hestia?"
Hephaestion looked up at the name, surprised that anyone other than their small circle of friends had a Greek or mythological name, and then they remembered that they had been asked a question, and still needed to answer, although Apollo seemed patient, "Y-yes. Sorry…"
"No need to be sorry, Honey. Why don't we go back to my chair? It's the last one, right there," they pointed with a perfectly manicured nail that was painted with an orange and yellow ombré pattern.
"O-okay…" Carefully, Hephaestion made their way across the floor, nearly falling into the chair as their legs gave out just a little.
"You sure you're okay, Hun? Do you want some water?"
"N-no, I'm okay."
"Something's wrong, Hun. Maybe I can help. Okay?"
Hephaestion glanced at this person, trying to gauge if they were safe, then decided to trust them, "M-my n-name…"
"Yes? Baby, you're shaking. I promise whatever it is, you're safe here, okay?"
Hephaestion swallowed thickly and tried again, "M-my name is H-Hephaestion… I'm transmasuline nonbinary. "Hephaestion" isn't legal yet and I wanted to be safe, that's why I used my birth name… I'm so sorry… I-if you want me to leave-"
"Oh Sweetheart, you don't have to leave! I'm bi and my sister here is ace. You're safe, Baby, I promise. What are your pronouns? Mine are he/him/his."
"T-they/them/theirs, please. Thank you for asking…"
Apollo smiled brightly, "It was my pleasure, Sweetheart. Now about this hair of yours, what were you thinking?"
"Short, please. My hair is wavy when it's not this long, but I've had it this long for so long I don't know any different. But I want something more masculine/androgynous, if that's okay," flicking through their phone for the reference picture they had found months prior, they showed it to him. It was shaved short but not completely in the back and long enough on top to have a bit of wave to it.
"That's awesome, Sweetheart. It'll be perfect on you. Just relax, everything is fine," Hephaestion jumped at the first cut of the scissors but a calm hand on their shoulder reassured them, 'It's fine, Baby, you're okay. I know it feels weird right now, but soon we'll have you feeling more yourself, okay? It'll be perfect, you'll see. Relax. Trust me."
"My boyfriend doesn't know I'm doing this, I can't wait to see his face," Hephaestion giggled nervously, "He loves my long hair, but sometimes it reminds of how my body is, so I wanted to try something different."
"Oh, the money I'd pay to see his face. This is definitely different, he'll be in for a shock!"
"I just hope it feels better. I've been to two others salons and they refused to do it."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Baby, that's so unfair. But you are who you say you are, not who others say you are, you know that right?"
"I know. Hurts though."
"I know, Baby, I know. I'm sorry people are so mean and ignorant."
Hephaestion felt tears prick their eyes, but they didn't fall. It felt so good to finally be understood without any effort on their part, "Thank you…"
"No need to thank me, Sweetheart. It's my pleasure. Thank you for trusting me. Okay, so this should be a wash-and-go, but if you want to,you can add a little mousse to define your waves a little more. Sound good?"
Hephaestion smiled brightly, nodding a little as Apollo ran his hands through their fresh cut, checking it over with expert eyes, "Thank you. So much. You have no idea…" their lip quivered.
Apollo chuckled warmly, his smile like the sun, "It really was my pleasure, Sweetheart. Let's get your next appointment set up, okay?" He walked Hephaestion over to the reception desk, getting behind the computer for a moment, "I'll change your name in our system if you want. Is that okay?"
"You can do that?" Hephaestion's mouth dropped open in surprise.
"Of course, if you want."
"Y-yes, please. I'm s-sorry for being so d-difficult…"
"It's no trouble, at all. And I'm going to change this to a men's cut."
"Really?" Hephaestion put a hand over their mouth, and this time, the tears did fall.
"Oh, Sweetheart," Apollo came around the desk, "Can I give you a hug? You look like you need one," when Hephaestion gave a jerky nod, Apollo wrapped them in a tight hug, drawing it out for a few long moments, "You're okay. I'm glad I could do this for you and make you so happy."
"Thank you. Thank you so much," Hephaestion paid with shaky hands, and took Apollo's business card from him before turning on unsteady legs and leaving the salon with a smile on their face.
"Xander, are you here?" They called as they entered the apartment, knowing their boyfriend was most likely home from work by now.
"Kitchen, Love! I missed- Get caught in the rain?" He had turned away from the sink and saw Hephaestion's sweatshirt hood pulled up over their head.
"Just a sprinkle, but yeah. Went out before you got home and wasn't really expecting it. Not too wet though. I'll just go take off my shoes and be right back to help with dinner."
"Uh huh," Alexander nodded, having turned back to the beef he had just washed and was now cutting.
Hephaestion moved back to the front door and toed off their shoes, keeping up the conversation with their partner as they did, "How was your day, Love?"
"Normal, nothing special. Boring. Wanted to just come home to you."
"Aw. I'm sorry I wasn't home when you got home then. I missed you too, Love," still hidden from Alexander's sight, Hephaestion took down their hood and shook their much shorter hair out, grinning at the feeling. When they returned to the kitchen, Alexander had just washed some broccoli and was transferring it to a cutting board before he naturally turned toward Hephaestion. And stopped dead in his tracks, board still in his hands. Hephaestion thanked Demeter that he didn't drop it onto the floor.
"Y-y-y-" he cleared his throat and tried again, "Your hair."
"Yes?" Hephaestion grinned, enjoying their boyfriend's shock.
"Y-you cut your hair?"
"Hair grows, Love. But I quite like it like this."
"It's so short. Different."
"The hairstylist said he would have paid money to see your reaction when I told him I hadn't told you. But- you like it?" Their smile slipped a little, suddenly unsure.
"Yeah. Yes. Just a shock. You look so different. D'you like it?"
"I love it," the grin was back, "Makes me feel more myself.
"Then that's all that matters. I love it, Phai. You're so handsome."
Hephaestion's breath caught in their throat, and the smile on their face slipped the tiniest bit, their voice breaking when they spoke next, "Say that again. Please. Say that again."
Alexander grinned, understanding his Phai's plea for what it was; a need to hear some validation, "I love it, Phai. You're so handsome. My handsome datemate."
Hephaestion closed their eyes, savoring the moment before they spoke next, "Thank you…"
"Anytime, Love. I love you. I always will. Now, let's have dinner so we can cuddle before bed. I need to see your hair up close and personal."
Hephaestion could only chuckle and roll their eyes at Alexander's not-far-from-the-truth almost joke.
"You're impossible, Xander. I love you, so much."
"And I you, Phai. Never question that."