“Alexander, you’re exhausted.” Is all Magnus says but it holds a thousand regrets, the most being that this means Alec will be leaving. Returning to the beautiful but cold Institute full of Shadowhunters who respect him but don’t and can’t shower him with warm, adoring affection like Magnus does.
There’s a pause, a slow moment where Alec merely blinks languidly, eyelashes fluttering delicately against the tips of Magnus’ fingers and then he turns. Stretches so he’s on his back, head still pillowed by Magnus’ thigh and one steady hand reaches up to tangle his fingers with Magnus’. He turns just a little more and their hands slide down just enough so that when he speaks, his breath presses tender kisses to Magnus’ knuckles.
“Never.” Magnus says it so softly, yet it holds so much wistful, desperate and aching power for one word. “Do you want to stay?”
Their confessions settle into pleasant silence. Warmth seeping through them both like the sip of a hot drink on a bitingly cold day. It’s a gentle revelation but it holds all the weight of an army marching to battle, those soft admissions as potent as any war cry.
Magnus refuses to break the gentle hold Alec has on his hand, relishes in the feel of calloused, warm fingers flexing and pressing against his own. Instead he silently magics his drink away and uses his other hand to once again gently card Alec’s hair. It makes the Shadowhunter give a quiet, pleased hum, eyes blinking shut in delight and he shifts again. Their hands are now trapped between him and Alec, Alec’s cheek resting on his thigh and his forehead pressed against Magnus’ hip and for a moment Magnus hardly dares to breath for worry of startling him away.
In the end, it’s the way Alec presses delightedly back into the tug of Magnus’ fingers through his hair that has Magnus letting out a sigh of pleasure, utterly charmed by the way this evening has progressed.
The fire dims slowly and while Magnus could easily rekindle the flames, he’s content to watch as they ebb away. The ash calms and the coals spark merrily at him as they settle in their bed, nesting together as the embers fade.
“If you sleep here you’ll be very sore tomorrow,” he finally allows, “not to mention how I’ll feel.” There’s a brush of words against his skin where his shirt has ridden up and it’s more intimate than a kiss. Alec rises slowly, stretches with a roll of muscle and a cracking pop as his spine stretches out. Magnus reaches out and runs a hand through Alec’s hair, brushing it off his face as though that is now his right, something he’s allowed to do. Alec smiles at him, soft corners of his lips curling up and the crinkles of his eyes crisscrossing with the lines on his cheek from where it had been pressed so deeply against the material Magnus’ pants.
“I have a guest-room,” he says because what he wants might not have been what was offered.
Alec leans further into the hand that still cups his cheek, “I’d rather be with you but a guest-room works.” There’s no guile in his words, no hidden test just an sincere comment that holds no traps.
Magnus leans forward and Alec is clearly too sleepy to be at all concerned and Magnus presses his brow to Alec’s, shifting his hand to instead cup the back of Alec’s head. Alec’s hands come up, neither to push or pull at him and simply rest comfortably, thumbs swirling little patterns in the divots of his collarbone.
“I will always want you as close as you allow me Alexander, never further away than even a breath.” It’s dramatic and not nearly as poetic as Magnus would like but his mind feels nearly numb with giddiness and at the way Alec’s hand pets at his spine. It seems like a dream when Alec leans forward and tilts just enough for their lips to brush. They’re too close, noses bumping into each other but it’s perfect and lovely and Magnus follows him for one more kiss. Just one more moment where they share breath and then Magnus rolls his shoulders. Feels Alec flex his hands in response and all then tension that ever affected him feels wiped away.
“To bed then,” and there’s a smile in Alec’s voice.
There’s no expectations, tonight is a night for simple pleasures. For words and trust and the gentle caress of a hand against skin that sparked emotional sensations rather than physical.
When they’re both ready, moving around each other with ease in the bathroom, Alec in some easily lengthened sweat pants, they slide together like this isn’t the first time. Two pieces of a whole reuniting and Alec settles against Magnus’ chest without even a hint of hesitation, lets Magnus curl an arm around him and pull him even closer.
Magnus hums and presses soft kisses to Alec’s hair, feels the press of his lips turn into a blissful grin when Alec presses a kiss against his chest, right over his heart.
His battle-hardened yet sweet Shadowhunter who had trustingly pillowed his head in Magnus’ lap. Who let Magnus play with his hair and smiled when Magnus’ magic sparked against his closed eyelids. Who had offered more than Magnus would have ever dared to ask for.
Tomorrow will be a day for discussion but Magnus no longer fears what the dawn will bring. No matter the surprises, he has all he needs already in his arms.
*Note: this is supposed to be a part of a plot. the problem is... I don’t have a plot and this was purely an excuse to write the last two paragraphs which I wrote first and needed context for. Would love to someday write more but first, plot. Also still working on mafia!au. This has not been edited.
