o n e . r e a s o n

One Reason
[by victoria p.]

Rating: PG

Summary: There are many reasons to love Alexander, though Hephaistion doesn't need one.

Notes: Written for Devil Doll, requested by cschoolgirl.

Date: July 8, 2005

As Philip is sewing up Hephaistion's arm, Alexander appears, glowing with victory even in the dim light of the hospital tent. He hasn't taken the time to bathe or change, though his face has been washed clean of dirt and blood and his hair is damp and curling in soft tendrils at his temples.

He begins with the first man he sees and moves from bed to bed, holding this one's hand, stroking that one's hair, refighting the battle with a third.

This is why they love him, of course, one reason, anyway, and one reason Hephaistion loves him too, one reason out of many, if love can ever be said to be explained by reason. Hephaistion isn't sure it can, though the philosophers try.

Philip doses him with some foul-tasting tincture and rattles off some directions about the changing of his bandage that Hephaistion pays no heed to, all his attention focused, as always when he is present, on Alexander.

He is truly the Great King now, the King of Kings, though Darius turned coward and ran again, and eludes them still. It's only a matter of time before they catch him and Alexander takes the diadem and mitra from him personally.

But he will always be Alexander first to Hephaistion, and it is Alexander who is at his bedside now, concern in his eyes.

Hephaistion slides off the gurney to his feet, swaying slightly, and Philip yells at him.

"We did it," Alexander says softly, reaching out to cup his cheek.

"You did it," Hephaistion counters with a fierce, proud smile.

"We," Alexander repeats. "I couldn't do it without you."

Hephaistion's smile softens and he turns his face to kiss Alexander's palm, eyes fluttering closed at the taste of warm, familiar skin against his lips. He sways again, and Alexander curses.

"You've lost a lot of blood."

"And been fed some awful potion of Philip's. Really," he says as Alexander pushes him back down onto the bed, "I think the medicine is worse than the wound. It was a scratch, nothing more." A lie, and they both know it, but it feels better to say it, now that the immediate danger is past.

Alexander laughs at that. "I think the problem is that you don't seem to realize you've been wounded at all."

Hephaistion works to keep his face straight and says, "Well, you would know all about that."

Alexander shakes his head, but continues to smile. He brushes his thumb over Hephaistion's lips and then follows it with his own, a soft, sweet kiss of comfort, though he is clearly vibrating with leftover energy from the battle.

Hephaistion returns the kiss, opening his mouth, yielding, as all things must, to Alexander, the glide of his tongue against Alexander's a promise for later.

There's a roaring in his ears that may be the men cheering them, or may be the rush of his own blood. His heart is racing when Alexander pulls away, and Alexander's breath is a little short. One more reason to love him, though Hephaistion knows he needs no reason at all.

end

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Disclaimer: This version of these characters is inspired by a combination of Mary Renault’s Fire from Heaven and Judith Tarr's Lord of the Two Lands. This piece of fan-written fiction intends no infringement on any copyrights.