Title: Impatience
Author: Qaddafi the Ripper
Summary: Alexander doesn't like waiting for Hephaistion.

Hephaistion was late. He'd gone to help the engineers inspect the catapults. It shouldn't have taken much time, but Alexander knew that the engineers would probably find a new problem as soon as they had someone in charge nearby and prater on about supplies for hours. He expected it, but it didn't make things any easier.

Of all the people dining together, only he reclined alone on his couch. They celebrated the feast of Dionysus, where things were permitted that otherwise wouldn't be; dancers, singers, and musicians crowded the large tent, performing. Some men lay back, laps full of one or more hetaira, while others had men or boys for company. A few were trying their luck with one of the performers. The party had been going on long enough, with plenty enough wine in the Macedonian fashion, for the men to have lost most of their inhibitions. Why, just two couches over, a couple had given into passion, unconcerned by watchers.

The Greek speakers would have loved to see this, Alexander thought darkly. Demosthenes had preached often enough on the vices of Macedonians. He'd claimed they got drunk every night and indulged in orgies every other night. He would have felt justified in his prejudices if he'd seen this.

Alexander sighed. What was taking Hephaistion so long? His gaze drifted over to another couple that had given up propriety in preference to passion. A twinge of jealousy shot through him. Not for that couple, he had no interest in sleeping with a painted courtesan. Right now, he desperately missed his own lover.

The night dragged on slowly. Whenever someone passed him by, he worked a smile onto his face; this was a celebration after all. It became harder and harder to do, the later it became and still no sign of Hephaistion. More couples lay on couches or the floor, drunkenly taking whatever pleasure they could think of. Over there in the corner, he could count at least five different heads in the bundle of limbs.

Alexander drained his cup. He was quickly getting drunk and should probably stop, but he didn't want to watch this sober. A couple fell off their couch and onto the floor. He watched with interest; he hadn't known that was possible. Others couples were still going after all this time. He wondered if something had been slipped into the wine.

The flap at the entrance moved aside and a familiar figure entered the tent. Alexander turned to look slowly; he was having a hard time focusing with all that wine in him. At last, he saw, Hephaistion had arrived. He raised a hand to catch his attention and gestured for Hephaistion to join him.

Hephaistion scowled as he surveyed the scene before him. He'd been to many revelries before, but this one topped them all. One would think they were all whores, not a mighty army that had just beaten all its opponents. He sat down next to Alexander and noted the hazy look in his lover's eyes. "Are you drunk?" he asked.

Alexander smiled. "Yes. What took you so long?" His words were barely slurred, but Alexander had always had a strong head for wine.

"The engineers gave me a complete lesson on how to construct a catapult," he answered dryly. It had been interesting and he wondered if he'd be able to remember all of it. He reached over and poured himself a cup of wine before Alexander could do so for him and make a mess of it. "I'd ask how the celebration was going, but--" his gaze traveled once over the room "--I don't think I need to." His face grew hot after seeing one couple not too far from where he was seated.

"Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to watch this," Alexander waved vaguely at the rest of the room, "and not join in?"

"Why didn't you join in?" Hephaistion asked. Even if he hadn't been king, Alexander wouldn't have had too hard a time finding company for the night.

Alexander glared, annoyed. "Because you weren't here," he said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Hephaistion grinned; in some ways, he supposed, it was the most obvious thing in the world.

But that didn't mean he was going to make love to Alexander in public. No matter that everyone who might see was drunk, there were certain things he'd rather keep private. He saw the way Alexander was looking at him and took a large swallow of wine. Surely Alexander wouldn't really...

Alexander pushed him back and moved to sit in Hephaistion's lap. He took the cup from Hephaistion's hand, placed it on the table next to the couch without spilling too much, and kissed Hephaistion. The wine was so strong on his lips that Hephaistion could barely taste Alexander. He couldn't help but kiss Alexander back; those kisses were far more potent than any wine.

He felt Alexander's hand push his chiton up his leg. He froze for a moment, then made to push Alexander's hand away. Alexander pushed him down into the couch, strong despite how much he'd drunk, and returned his hand to where it had been. He found Hephaistion's manhood and caressed it, causing Hephaistion to sigh in longing.

As he grew unconscious of his surroundings, he returned Alexander's affection, reveling in the feelings his friend woke in him. But when Alexander's hand left his cock and slid between his legs searching, he froze again. "I want you," Alexander mumbled against his mouth. "I need you."

He smiled and consciously loosened again. It was rare for Alexander to be so dominating with him. Since, as king, Alexander was always in control, in command, when they lay together at night, Alexander usually let him take control. A rare thing indeed, for Alexander to want to take him; rare but not unwanted. "Take me," Hephaistion said, kissing Alexander thoroughly.

Alexander smiled in triumph and set about preparing Hephaistion for him. When he finally slid into him, Hephaistion moaned in pleasure, wrapping his legs around Alexander. Neither of them had managed to remove all their clothes, and the soft cloth rubbed between them as Alexander began to move.

It didn't take long before they came, Hephaistion first, Alexander right after, crying out in ecstasy. Exhausted, Alexander collapsed on top of him, almost immediately asleep. He promptly started snoring, as he did whenever he had had too much wine to drink, and Hephaistion barely stifled a laugh. He shifted to a more comfortable position, wincing a little as he moved, sore from their lovemaking. He cradled Alexander in his arms, smiling quietly as Alexander slept on, oblivious and all but unconscious. He heard someone moving and looked up. To his horror, he saw again all the other people spread around the tent, most naked and asleep from drink as Alexander was. He'd completely forgotten he wasn't alone with Alexander and he felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment. Well, at least he was fairly sure he was the only one here who was sober, and could hope that, had anyone seen him and Alexander, they'd be too drunk to remember any of it.

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