Title: "Fire and Signs" Chapter 6.

Author: too_beauty

Feedback: yes, please any kind of them will help me to improve my writing or leave it forever.

Pairing: Alexander & Hephaestion. Kronos and Athina were born from my imagination and I really loved creating them.

Rating: PG for first chapters.

Category: Historical AU so some personages will appear to serve the purpose of this story.

Disclaimer: I don't know the people involved; A&H belonged to themselves and to History, if not Hephaestion would be still among us, living under my "protection".

No beta so all mistakes are mine.

Builder and Prince never crossed a word or a sign again. When the construction was over and proved in battle, it was a real success, so Hephaestion was released of his work with a very nice payment and the thanks of his King.

Six months later, when that little war was over and won, there was a banquet to celebrate the new war weapon and its effectiveness and Hephaestion and his parents were invited. They had a nice evening and Athina and Kronos saw gladly how their son had gained the respect of the king and his army.

But Hephaestion was not happy, his cerulean eyes were sad and empty and wandered around the room as if they were looking for his brown partners , a match which he would never again have the opportunity to look at because he had been stupid enough to slap the Macedonian Prince.

Athina, as any good mother, had her eyes set on her son and followed his every movement, that's how she realized about the glances between his son and the young prince, both showing tons of frustration and unrequited desire; now she could understand which the cause of Hephaestion's sorrow was and she really felt sorry for both teenagers.

As usual, after the banquet, there were some entertainments and while the elder were listening to a boy playing the flute, Hephaestion led himself to the nearest balcony to breathe some fresh air; to his misfortune, there was another person perched on the rail of the balcony, who was sobbing his heart out.

Hephaestion was a natural comforter so he stood behind the person and put his right hand on the shoulder, of course he couldn't ask how the person was so he tapped the shoulder to make it turn; to his dismay the person was the Prince and when he saw him, he stepped backwards, staring at each other.

The Prince dried his tears with the back of his hand and asked him, with his eyes locked at the floor:

"Is there anything you need, Hephaestion?

The balcony was dark and he couldn't read Hephaestion's lips, so he took the builder's hand and moved him till a ray of moonlight lit those lips, which have given him many sweet dreams and a few nightmares.

Hephaestion mouthed "Nothing" and remained quiet; Alexander was still holding his hand and unconsciously caressing with his thumb the inner of his wrist. Hephaestion mouthed "Sorry" and caressed the cheek he had slapped six months before. Alexander nodded and putting a hand behind Hephaestion's nape, brought their foreheads together and both teens released a deep sigh. After a moment, Alexander asked: "Friends?" and Hephaestion nodded and smiled. The Prince and his just recovered friend went back to the banquet and enjoyed it till the end.

From that moment, a strong relationship bonded both teenagers and they spent together as much time as it was possible, but sometimes it was quite little as Alexander was getting more and more involved in his father's army and Hephaestion was in charge of the buildings as Kronos was getting old.

Months went by and the day before Alexander's 17th birthday, a Royal messenger arrived at Hephaestion's house requesting the builder's presence at the Palace, Hephaestion's mother asked what the reason was and the man said that it was Alexander's birthday and the Prince had asked for his friend's company. Athina let her son go back to the palace after preparing some new clothes and kissing her son.

Both friends hadn't seen each other for the last eight months and Hephaestion really wanted to see his friend and "tell" him about all the things he had done and listen to all the stories about Alexander's experiences with the Army.

When he arrived there, Hephaestion was sent to a small chamber and there was a hot bath waiting for him. The young builder took his time enjoying his bath, then he dried himself and put a towel around his slender waist. He was facing the wall, near the small balcony and stretching his body; he was so absorbed in his movements that he listened to neither the door opening nor the Prince entering the chamber.

Alexander stood there frozen, staring at the view of his friend who was still stretching his muscles by putting his arms up in the air and rotating his waist to both sides. The Prince saw how the strong back muscles moved under the tanned skin; he wanted to outstretch his hand to caress that back when suddenly the towel fell to the floor revealing tight buttocks and slender thighs and legs. Alexander went backwards and hit his head against the wall but managed to run out of the room.

Listening to the noise, Hephaestion picked up the towel and fastened it again and then he listened to a knock on the door and Alexander peeping inside asking:

"Hephaestion, may I come in?"

The brunette turned round and nodded to his friend smiling.

"I've just arrived and I was on my way to my room" Alexander said without being able to look away from the muscled naked chest of his friend.

Hephaestion mouthed "Wait" and went back to the bathing area and came back minutes later with a fresh chiton on.

Alexander didn't know what to do, he felt his hands sweat and his heart beating so strong that he thought Hephaestion was able to listen to it.

Hephaestion was worried, Alexander had a serious expression on his face and he was looking at him as if it were the first time he saw Hephaestion.

The brunette youth approached his friend and putting a strong hand on his shoulder, he mouthed "Fine?"

"Yes, yes, I'm fine, just a bit tired, that's all" said the prince coming back from his daydreaming.

Hephaestion took Alexander's face between his hands and Alexander gulped, their mouths were so near that only his strong will avoided the urge of kissing him; Alexander had realized long ago that he was in love with Hephaestion but Hephaestion wasn't, in fact he had confessed his love for a farm girl whom lived near his house; Alexander was rather disappointed with the confession but he continued loving his friend in silence.

Hephaestion caressed Alexander's temples with his thumbs and mouthed "Not well, tell me" but Alexander caught Hephaestion's hands between his and kissing them said:

"Nothing is wrong because you are here, Phai" and the prince could have sworn that Hephaestion blushed a little.

"I am going to take a bath and I will meet you in the garden" the prince said and left the chamber.

Hephaestion nodded and as soon as he saw his friend leaving the room, his knees went weak because for a moment he thought that Alexander was going to kiss him and fulfill his deepest dream, but he didn't and Hephaestion remained standing, in the middle of the room, trying to bring his heart to a quieter rhythm.

TBC.