"Okay, don't look at me like that, I'm still working this out," Alec is saying, as one of the cats narrows his (her?) eyes at him, and the one perched at his arm gives a brief warning with claws. "Can you blame me? It hasn't been easy, for either of us, but it almost feels too easy. I know how this sounds, I'm not-- okay, look, I never expected-- it feels too good to be true."
His palms are open in front of him as he gestures animatedly, no more than usual, really, but... sincerely. It doesn't seem to be phasing the cats, if anything it keeps them engaged, and Alec's not sure why he cares, thinks maybe he should feel more crazy that he feels better the cats are paying attention than he would if he was just talking to himself. Regardless, he can't seem to stop talking. Maybe it's something about their eyes. Suddenly he's grinning, and off on another tangent, something awkwardly poetic about Magnus' beautiful eyes he would never, ever say out loud normally and it's almost enough to make him stop. Almost.
He pulls the keys out of his pocket, dangles them in front of the nearest cat, just out of her reach, and keeps talking while she takes a few lazy swipes at the glittering metal.
"He gave me these. He wants me here. It's my second home, too," he announces to the cats like he's one of them now. And then what he said sinks in.
It's enough to finally stop the stream of consciousness rambling. Enough to alert him to eyes on his back he should have sensed sooner. He doesn't startle, however, just swivels in his chair enough to shoot an absolutely blinding grin at Magnus. Who probably heard Angel knows how much of what Alec has been saying.
And there, right there, is one reason why thinking of Alec makes something go a little gooey inside Magnus: that unrehearsed, genuine smile. Alec never looks more lovely than when he's being genuine. "Sorry," he says, actually sounding a little sorry as he pads barefoot onto the patio and reaches out a hand to stroke his fingers through Alec's hair. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I didn't want to interrupt your...seminar," he decides, looking at the cats, all of whom are now pretending disinterest. Sheba even hops down and takes up residence on a different couch for a bath.
"I should also apologize for the chair," he says, leaning to one side and examining it critically. To the naked eye, it looks perfectly ordinary, but... "I sat there last night while I was enchanting a truth-telling amulet for someone, and, well...I suppose I got a little sloppy with things."
That doesn't mean he isn't about to turn gracefully and settle into Alec's lap, however, settling his arms around Alec's shoulders. Should he...address any of the things he'd heard? Would it be easier to let this morning slip away unremarked? But that isn't fair, is it? Alec has revealed what's in his heart, after all. "It could be," he says softly, looking at the keys in Alec's hand. "Your second home. I'd never ask...of course I know how important your work is at the Institute, but if you wanted...to stay."
There's a brief, petty moment where Alec shoots a look at the nearest cat when Magnus runs his fingers through Alec's hair and he nearly purrs, making eye contact with the cat he's pretty sure responds to Church, as if to say hah when he's the only one to receive the attention.
Alec is listening intently, watching Magnus' lips move as the words settle in and he's only half-formed the thought to definitely move to a different chair when Magnus sits on his lap and effectively narrows his thoughts, whether deliberately or otherwise.
"Well, that explains a few things," he replies with a small smile, his arms gently settling around Magnus, fingers still threaded through his keyring. He's more than halfway through considering kissing Magnus good morning, but holds off just long enough that Magnus continues speaking.
Alec never looks away from his face, even as he notices Magnus glancing to the keys dangling from his hand.
Fortunately, the keys are on the hand tugging Magnus just a little closer, which leaves his free hand to reach up and cup Magnus' face gently, always gently, aware of his own strength to a fault. Alec is smiling before he realizes it, bright and real and absolutely unable to hide the depth of the warmth spreading through him at the invitation Magnus just extended. Even if it feels a little like he's still expecting Alec to spook at some moment... maybe that's fair, considering the conversation Alec was just having with the cats...
"I'd love to," he answers, before Magnus can back out of it, or give him an opening to do so himself, stroking his thumb over Magnus' lips without thinking. "I don't... think I can full time. You're right, I need to be present at the Institute, but I'd-- I'd really like to be here. More. With you."
There it goes again, the warm runny thing like chocolate sauce inside his chest, as Alec's fingers brush over his face. He lifts a hand to catch at Alec's, pressing his palm to the back of Alec's hand and turning his head to press a kiss to Alec's palm. It's more than he'd allowed himself to hope for as he tried to move at Alec's more cautious pace, and he says a silent thank-you to his past self for being so messy with his magic the night before.
"I'd like that too, petal," he murmurs, and it must be true, look where he's sitting. "Is everything all right at the Institute, by the way?" he adds, looking up, inquisitive but not worried, not yet. "You're here rather early, even for you."
And Magnus knows the lack of sleep is going to catch up with him, but he's content to stay here for now, curled into Alec's warmth with a strong arm wrapped around him. Alec doesn't need to know, yet, that Magnus hadn't bothered slipping into anything else before slipping into the dressing gown.
The truth is... Alec has always had a hard time lying directly to Magnus, and that was before he'd finally admitted to himself how much Magnus had come to mean to him. But something about this spell, this chair, makes it hard to remember why he wouldn't be truthful. Especially if it keeps bringing that look to Magnus' eyes, his lips against Alec's palm... he'd give the honesty freely for much less. He'd give it just because it's the right thing to do.
But of course, Magnus also appears to be taking advantage and Alec sighs, even though it really feels as though Magnus is giving him the chance to let go of another burden. Alec doesn't really have a lot of healthy relationships to use as a compass, but he's pretty sure that's how it's supposed to be. Or at least how he hoped it would be. What maybe the other couples in his life could benefit from.
Speaking of.
His fingers flutter against Magnus' cheek but he stills them, willfully, though it'd be more natural for him to gesture his way through his lack of words, but he's loathe to break the contact, his other hand gripping Magnus' thigh a little tighter. "Everything's really not all right, with the downworld readying for war, Jace and Clary and their... everything, and everything with Izzy, and Aldertree is a dick and--" and Alec laughs, sharp and humorless.
"Everything there sucks right now," he sums up, but his smile is sincere as he drags his hand down to rest against Magnus' neck, thumb stroking along his jawline. He knows he has to go back at some point, it's not a day off, Valentine is escalating and Alec really should be in the middle of everything.
"But I wanted to see you, remind myself not everything about my life sucks right now." It's inelegant and not even close to the whole truth, Magnus is more than something that doesn't suck, he's all but the only sunlight in Alec's life right now... but he's beginning to feel a bit exhausted by all this open heart surgery via word vomit. He leans in impulsively to kiss Magnus firmly, but briefly, on the lips, finally.
"I'm sorry. I didn't come here to drag you down with me," he apologizes as he slowly trails fingertips down Magnus' throat, stopping with his hand pressed against the other man's heart, fingertips along his collarbone, tapping lightly. “I was on my way here before I even knew where I was going.” And he's grinning before he could even hope of trying to contain it.
Magnus lifts a hand and presses a finger to that grin. It's far more charming than Alec realizes, which in turn only adds to its charm in a cycle that never seems to end, at least not for Magnus. "You, petal, couldn't possibly drag me anywhere I don't want to go," he says, now catching at Alec's face to keep him close. "I'm glad to hear I've been put into the 'doesn't suck' category, even if we both know that's a vicious slander."
He says things like that just to watch Alec blush and duck his head, he's certain he'll never get tired of watching that and hopes it never goes away. In truth, he'd be content to stay here and while away the morning, but this chair is covered in truth serum vibes at the moment, and are they really at the stage yet in their relationship where nothing they say might be best kept as a secret for now?
So instead he leans up and presses a lingering kiss to Alec's cheek as he shifts to stand, pulling Alec along with him. "You're here now," he says simply. "And I'm awake far too early. Let's pretend no one's looking for us, just for a few hours."
Alec's eyes roll back in his head before he can even hope to contain the blush he feels crawling up his neck and he laughs, breathy and a little helpless before he returns to grinning directly back at Magnus. Vicious slander, indeed. "I apologize," he says, somehow managing to channel the heat crawling along his skin into his tone. He's not very practiced at it, but he likes to think he's got a little time to work on it.
There's no masking the moment of relief that washes over Alec as he's gently pried from the chair. He really can't think of anything he has to hide, but that might still be the spell talking, and he crowds gently into Magnus' space, hands dropping to the other man's hips, which alerts him to something he really should have realized sooner, and would you look at that, his blush is definitely a little high in his cheekbones now.
"A few hours?" he asks, unsuccessful attempting to hide his fading any moment now blush by leaning in and pressing his lips against Magnus' forehead, lingering there. "What did you have in mind?" he might have a few ideas, himself, though he's not exactly opposed to being used as a glorified body pillow if Magnus is determined to get his beauty sleep in.
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His palms are open in front of him as he gestures animatedly, no more than usual, really, but... sincerely. It doesn't seem to be phasing the cats, if anything it keeps them engaged, and Alec's not sure why he cares, thinks maybe he should feel more crazy that he feels better the cats are paying attention than he would if he was just talking to himself. Regardless, he can't seem to stop talking. Maybe it's something about their eyes. Suddenly he's grinning, and off on another tangent, something awkwardly poetic about Magnus' beautiful eyes he would never, ever say out loud normally and it's almost enough to make him stop. Almost.
He pulls the keys out of his pocket, dangles them in front of the nearest cat, just out of her reach, and keeps talking while she takes a few lazy swipes at the glittering metal.
"He gave me these. He wants me here. It's my second home, too," he announces to the cats like he's one of them now. And then what he said sinks in.
It's enough to finally stop the stream of consciousness rambling. Enough to alert him to eyes on his back he should have sensed sooner. He doesn't startle, however, just swivels in his chair enough to shoot an absolutely blinding grin at Magnus. Who probably heard Angel knows how much of what Alec has been saying.
But it's been the truth, so... maybe that's okay.
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"I should also apologize for the chair," he says, leaning to one side and examining it critically. To the naked eye, it looks perfectly ordinary, but... "I sat there last night while I was enchanting a truth-telling amulet for someone, and, well...I suppose I got a little sloppy with things."
That doesn't mean he isn't about to turn gracefully and settle into Alec's lap, however, settling his arms around Alec's shoulders. Should he...address any of the things he'd heard? Would it be easier to let this morning slip away unremarked? But that isn't fair, is it? Alec has revealed what's in his heart, after all. "It could be," he says softly, looking at the keys in Alec's hand. "Your second home. I'd never ask...of course I know how important your work is at the Institute, but if you wanted...to stay."
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Alec is listening intently, watching Magnus' lips move as the words settle in and he's only half-formed the thought to definitely move to a different chair when Magnus sits on his lap and effectively narrows his thoughts, whether deliberately or otherwise.
"Well, that explains a few things," he replies with a small smile, his arms gently settling around Magnus, fingers still threaded through his keyring. He's more than halfway through considering kissing Magnus good morning, but holds off just long enough that Magnus continues speaking.
Alec never looks away from his face, even as he notices Magnus glancing to the keys dangling from his hand.
Fortunately, the keys are on the hand tugging Magnus just a little closer, which leaves his free hand to reach up and cup Magnus' face gently, always gently, aware of his own strength to a fault. Alec is smiling before he realizes it, bright and real and absolutely unable to hide the depth of the warmth spreading through him at the invitation Magnus just extended. Even if it feels a little like he's still expecting Alec to spook at some moment... maybe that's fair, considering the conversation Alec was just having with the cats...
"I'd love to," he answers, before Magnus can back out of it, or give him an opening to do so himself, stroking his thumb over Magnus' lips without thinking. "I don't... think I can full time. You're right, I need to be present at the Institute, but I'd-- I'd really like to be here. More. With you."
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"I'd like that too, petal," he murmurs, and it must be true, look where he's sitting. "Is everything all right at the Institute, by the way?" he adds, looking up, inquisitive but not worried, not yet. "You're here rather early, even for you."
And Magnus knows the lack of sleep is going to catch up with him, but he's content to stay here for now, curled into Alec's warmth with a strong arm wrapped around him. Alec doesn't need to know, yet, that Magnus hadn't bothered slipping into anything else before slipping into the dressing gown.
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But of course, Magnus also appears to be taking advantage and Alec sighs, even though it really feels as though Magnus is giving him the chance to let go of another burden. Alec doesn't really have a lot of healthy relationships to use as a compass, but he's pretty sure that's how it's supposed to be. Or at least how he hoped it would be. What maybe the other couples in his life could benefit from.
Speaking of.
His fingers flutter against Magnus' cheek but he stills them, willfully, though it'd be more natural for him to gesture his way through his lack of words, but he's loathe to break the contact, his other hand gripping Magnus' thigh a little tighter. "Everything's really not all right, with the downworld readying for war, Jace and Clary and their... everything, and everything with Izzy, and Aldertree is a dick and--" and Alec laughs, sharp and humorless.
"Everything there sucks right now," he sums up, but his smile is sincere as he drags his hand down to rest against Magnus' neck, thumb stroking along his jawline. He knows he has to go back at some point, it's not a day off, Valentine is escalating and Alec really should be in the middle of everything.
"But I wanted to see you, remind myself not everything about my life sucks right now." It's inelegant and not even close to the whole truth, Magnus is more than something that doesn't suck, he's all but the only sunlight in Alec's life right now... but he's beginning to feel a bit exhausted by all this open heart surgery via word vomit. He leans in impulsively to kiss Magnus firmly, but briefly, on the lips, finally.
"I'm sorry. I didn't come here to drag you down with me," he apologizes as he slowly trails fingertips down Magnus' throat, stopping with his hand pressed against the other man's heart, fingertips along his collarbone, tapping lightly. “I was on my way here before I even knew where I was going.” And he's grinning before he could even hope of trying to contain it.
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He says things like that just to watch Alec blush and duck his head, he's certain he'll never get tired of watching that and hopes it never goes away. In truth, he'd be content to stay here and while away the morning, but this chair is covered in truth serum vibes at the moment, and are they really at the stage yet in their relationship where nothing they say might be best kept as a secret for now?
So instead he leans up and presses a lingering kiss to Alec's cheek as he shifts to stand, pulling Alec along with him. "You're here now," he says simply. "And I'm awake far too early. Let's pretend no one's looking for us, just for a few hours."
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There's no masking the moment of relief that washes over Alec as he's gently pried from the chair. He really can't think of anything he has to hide, but that might still be the spell talking, and he crowds gently into Magnus' space, hands dropping to the other man's hips, which alerts him to something he really should have realized sooner, and would you look at that, his blush is definitely a little high in his cheekbones now.
"A few hours?" he asks, unsuccessful attempting to hide his fading any moment now blush by leaning in and pressing his lips against Magnus' forehead, lingering there. "What did you have in mind?" he might have a few ideas, himself, though he's not exactly opposed to being used as a glorified body pillow if Magnus is determined to get his beauty sleep in.