"In the kitchen, Alexander!" Magnus calls back, sprinkling an exact measurement of ground dragonfly wings into a tiny copper cauldron, then stirring it with a glass rod exactly four times clockwise. The other ingredients have been parceled out into small dishes, lined up in order of addition. It's an intricate, tricky potion, but if he gets it right, it might be a surefire substitute for yin fen, same effects, nonaddictive.
He straightens up and inhales, the scent of the food creeping ahead of Alec himself. "Oh, that smells amazing. It's been far longer than I thought since I ate something, you're a lifesaver."
Alec is careful about entering the kitchen — he always is when Magnus is brewing potions — setting the bag down far from the potion ingredients but not keeping far from its creator at all. He reaches for Magnus' hand, drawing close enough to kiss his cheek.
"I do enjoy saving your life," he murmurs, teasingly. And suddenly glad he got more than Magnus had asked for. "Do you have time for a break?"
With a happy smile, Magnus allows himself to be distracted, catching Alec's cheek in his free hand to turn that cheek kiss into a proper one. "You're very good at it," he says lightly. "I have"—he checks a pocket watch with little glowing marks around the face—"thirteen minutes and forty seconds until I need to add the next ingredient."
He sighs a little, looking harassed, though this is his own recipe. "If this works, I very much hope I can come up with a simpler way to brew it, or it won't be much good."
A proper kiss that lingers a little, bit not too much. Magnus is on a schedule after all, and Alec isn't going to disrupt that. "What you should do is relax for a few of those minutes. I'll get out some plates and feed you."
Possibly literally, because most of what he's got — the mystery of the heavy bag is a surprise order of crab rangoons — is able to be fed from fingers or the ends of chopsticks.
"You mean when it works. You're brilliant at potions, you know you are." And if it's something that does work, Alec will help him figure out how to brew it more simply.
"You spoil me, Alexander," he says happily, entirely at home with the idea. He glances at the row of ingredients, another four hours' worth of work in increments, and kisses Alec again before perching on a stool again. "I haven't attempted something this complex in decades," he admits, sobering a little. "If it comes together, it should be a workable substitute for yin fen. Without its addictive properties."
Something he knows Alec in particular will appreciate the importance of. Isabelle has managed to kick her habit, but she should never have needed to.
"I know." And if he sounds entirely unapologetic, it's with good reason. Alec smiles into the kiss and busies himself unpacking plastic takeout containers while Magnus settles. He's almost tempted to pour his boyfriend a glass of wine save that he knows Magnus prefers to keep a clear head when he works, and he honestly hasn't seen the warlock this worked up over a potion in a while. "Sit. Relax. For twelve more minutes."
He can't hide the softening in his expression when Magnus talks about the potion though. Alec is still upset with himself over Izzy's addiction and not having seen the signs, but he knows Magnus will tell him again not to beat himself up over it. Still, a potion that could do what yin fen does, without the side effects? It's almost too good to be true. "You're amazing. You know that, right?"
"I'm sitting, I'm sitting." And he does sit, after setting the watch on the table next to the ingredients. He'll keep track, and Alec will too, Magnus knows. He watches Alec move around his kitchen as though it's his own, with a faint smile. Alec has made himself at home in Magnus's life, hasn't he?
He ducks his head and shrugs a little. "Tell me that once it works," he says wryly. "And if I can find a better way of making it. I doubt most people will go through all of this."
Maybe he's fussing a little too much but it's honestly rare that they do get to fuss like this, over something as simple as sitting while brewing a potion. Normally it's been post-demon-attack fussing, or something equally as bad, so this is a nice change.
Retrieving the chopsticks and the little containers of sauces from the takeout bag, Alec maneuvers a mini spring roll temptingly in front of Magnus's mouth. "It's going to work," he reassures his boyfriend once the treat is taken, following it up with a kiss to his temple. "And I'll help you, you know that."
It's rare that Alec gets to fuss like this, and it's rare that Magnus gets to be fussed over. It's a nice change, and he wouldn't trade it, especially if it comes with a few kisses in between bites of excellent mini spring rolls fed to him by hand for no reason at all.
He spares a glance at the watch, then tugs Alec closer for a follow-up kiss, soft and sweet. "Thank you, my dear," he murmurs. "What did I do to deserve you, and is it possible for me to do more of it?"
Alec would argue that there is plenty of reason, in fact, the primary of which is his attraction to Magnus. He's keeping an eye on the watch just as much as Magnus is though, which is why each kiss they share is kept soft, sweet and brief.
"You exist," he murmurs simply in between kisses, letting his words linger against Magnus' lips. "You're here, in my life. Just keep doing that."
"I'd like nothing better," Magnus breathes, standing and looping his arms around Alec's waist, uncaring about dinner for the moment. He doesn't have the time before he needs to add the next ingredient anyway, he'd rather spend the time tucked into Alec's arms. "It's been a long time since I felt this way about anyone. I'm not giving you up without a fight. Maybe not even with a fight."
Another lingering kiss before he reluctantly slides out of Alec's arms, back to the potion. To his credit, he's instantly focused as he adds the next ingredient, thirty seconds pouring a white, glittery powder, and seven stirs with the glass rod. Then he's free for another twelve minutes.
"Fortunately there's no fight tonight." Alec won't even fight to hold onto Magnus when he pulls away, just lets him go to tend his potion. In the meantime he fills a kettle with water, putting it on a far burner to heat. Even if Magnus doesn't want tea, sometimes just holding a warm cup helps soothe tiredness in the hands.
When the next part of the potion is accomplished and Magnus has reset the watch, Alec slides arms around him again, leaning in for a kiss while gently kneading at his shoulders. "I do love watching you work."
Gratefully, Magnus relaxes into those magic hands, letting his head fall against Alec's shoulder. "Good," he says wryly. "You'll get your fill of it if you stay."
If, he says, as though he doesn't know Alec already plans on staying until the potion is completely finished. In all his years, Magnus had never imagined a Shadowhunter would care so much about his magic. About him.
"How did you know I'd want tea right about now?" he adds with a smile. "I'm going to need to take you somewhere especially nice after this. Where would you like to go? Florence? Rio? Mm, you at Carnival..."
He does plan on staying until the potion is completely done, both to help Magnus and to keep him company. His boyfriend overextends himself from time to time and Alec has learned to see the signs. Taking care of him at times like this is no chore at all.
"I guess it comes with knowing you." Which tickles Alec as much as anything else, the idea that he's gotten to know Magnus well enough to pick up on these little preferences of his. It's a herbal tea, one that will blend well with Chinese food, and he leans in for another kiss. "If the potion works, you can take me anywhere you please."
It's easier, having Alec in his life. The weight, the burden of his years is easier to lie aside when he sees Alec's smile, feels his arms slipping around his waist, when he wakes in the middle of the night and has Alec there, breathing slowly, fast asleep and at peace.
"What if I want to take you somewhere you please?" he counters, but lightly. There are a dozen places he'd like to go with Alexander: Florence, Rio, Nice, Cairo, Oahu, a little cabin all to themselves in the Alps. But they're all places he's been before. He wants to give Alec the gift of going somewhere he's always wanted to see. Experiences are what matter in life.
"Then I guess I should start researching vacation destinations?" Dating a warlock does of course make it easier, what with portals and all, and Magnus certainly knows enough languages to assure that they're able to get around easily wherever they go. But the prospect is still a little exciting; Alec's world has opened up so much since the warlock came into his life, and in so many different ways. He marvels at it every day.
Glancing at the watch, he gently nudges Magnus back to the stool and presses a cup of tea into his hands. Snagging a fried wonton out of the container he drags it through the sweet dipping sauce before offering it on his fingertips. "Tonight you can take me to your bed, where I'm going to rub those shoulders until all the knots disappear."
"I guess you should," Magnus says lightly. Just about anywhere Alec might pick, Magnus is sure he can conjure a portal nearby. If he has a little advance notice, especially. And in truth, he's curious. He can take Alec on as many shopping trips to Tokyo and Rome as he wants, but he'd like to know where Alec would choose to go, if he could go anywhere in the world.
The tea is hot, fragrant, one of his favorite blends, and he takes a delicate bite of the wonton and smiles as he washes it down with tea. "Is it terrible if that sounds even better than other things we could do in bed?"
"Mmm. Tomorrow maybe." Tonight he's got more pressing concerns, namely the hours of potion brewing Magnus has left and his self-appointed task of making it as easy as possible for the warlock. He's got an interest in it working, they both do, and he wants to help in any way that he can.
Alec's laughter is soft and fond, holding the wonton until Magnus takes the second half, then licking the remainder of the sauce off his own fingers. It's a little bit of a tease but his next words are sincere. "It's not terrible at all. You work so hard, you should let me spoil you."
"Tomorrow is soon enough." He isn't in any particular rush to go anywhere, but the idea of getting away with Alec, just the two of them, is enough to perk him up. He'll make it through the last few hours of this potion, leaning happily on Alec.
The tease gets his attention, but he loves the way Alec is so casual with his flirtation these days. He's made such progress since the first time Magnus had expressed obvious interest and he'd responded with a nervous smile and a shrug. "I'll let you spoil me, I'd be delighted to let you spoil me," he murmurs. "Get these knots out of my shoulders first, then I'll show you how grateful I am."
“Then I’ll make sure I think really hard tomorrow.” Not that they’ll rush right off into a vacation right away but maybe over the weekend they can consider it. Or even during the week if Alec doesn’t have any responsibilities tying him down. They’ll have to see. “Tonight I’m just thinking about you.”
Teasing and even more overt flirting is definitely something he’s more comfortable with in private and Magnus still says things that make him blush. But he leans right in for another kiss before pushing himself out of the way for the next ingredient additions. “I’ll get those knots out of your shoulders and we’ll see how you’re feeling.”
Magnus catches him just in time to drop a kiss to the back of his hand before returning to the line of ingredients, feeling much lighter and more cheerful about the hours remaining. He's meticulous as always, precise measurements and precise timing at precise intervals, and in between each one, Alec feeds him tidbits from dinner and makes sure he sits and relaxes.
It helps immensely. By the end of the night, as Magnus drips magic from his fingertips into the potion and it flares white and settles into a steady glow, he's exhausted, but he isn't as bone-tired as he would have been if he hadn't had Alec looking after him. "There," he breathes, dropping his arms and rolling his shoulders. "Finished."
It's no chore to stay by Magnus' side, making sure he eats, making sure he rests as he can. Alec knows how much his boyfriend will put into his work for others, how he'll push himself past the point of exhaustion, using up all of his magic to help others. He wouldn't change it, the generosity is a beautiful part of Magnus' soul, but he will do his best to ease the burden Magnus takes on his shoulders.
When the potion is done Alec moves close again, hugging Magnus from behind, chin hooked over his shoulder as he looks at the glowing liquid. Hopefully it works as Magnus had predicted; hopefully it's worth the strain he'd given himself. "Does this mean I get to take you to bed?" he murmurs, and there's nothing of innuendo in it, just concern for energy expelled.
With a sigh, Magnus leans back into that supportive embrace, but he's not quite finished. "Almost," Magnus says, turning his head to press a kiss against Alec's cheek, and he doesn't need to pull away for this. With a few gestures, he draws a protective ward around the little cauldron and nods. "There. It can simmer overnight. I'll test it in the morning. Potency will only increase the longer I let it sit, so that's best."
That, and he has no real desire to test it right now. He can feel his magic levels sitting lower than he'd like them, and really, he'd like nothing more than for Alec to take him to bed. "All right, Alexander, take me to bed and have your way with me," he says, smiling and tipping his head back against Alec's shoulder. "I surrender, Shadowhunter."
He accepts that kiss gracefully, hands tracing softly along Magnus' sides as he wards off the cauldron. Part of the reason he'd come so close had been to offer his strength if Magnus needed it, but the warlock is clearly more than equal to the task.
He smiles more when the spell is finished and when Magnus relaxes a little more into his arms. "Having my wicked way with you," he teases, "starts with carrying you to bed and getting all those knots out of your shoulders." And he'll do just that, scooping Magnus into his arms with no small amount of laughter.
"Alexander," Magnus yelps, laughing, flailing a little until he gets a grip on Alec's shoulders, and then he settles in to enjoy the ride, smiling. "I could have walked," he points out, waving a hand at the candles to snuff them from a distance. He could have walked, but this is far more fun.
It's a relief to have that potion finished. Even if it isn't a substitute for yin fen, the way it's glowing shows that it's still a success, and it will be good for something. He'll find out in the morning what properties it has. For now, he wants to focus on this, on them. Alec is so good to him. Magnus does wonder sometimes what he'd done to deserve this. And a Shadowhunter. His first, in centuries of mundanes, Seelies, vampires, fellow warlocks.
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He straightens up and inhales, the scent of the food creeping ahead of Alec himself. "Oh, that smells amazing. It's been far longer than I thought since I ate something, you're a lifesaver."
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"I do enjoy saving your life," he murmurs, teasingly. And suddenly glad he got more than Magnus had asked for. "Do you have time for a break?"
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He sighs a little, looking harassed, though this is his own recipe. "If this works, I very much hope I can come up with a simpler way to brew it, or it won't be much good."
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Possibly literally, because most of what he's got — the mystery of the heavy bag is a surprise order of crab rangoons — is able to be fed from fingers or the ends of chopsticks.
"You mean when it works. You're brilliant at potions, you know you are." And if it's something that does work, Alec will help him figure out how to brew it more simply.
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Something he knows Alec in particular will appreciate the importance of. Isabelle has managed to kick her habit, but she should never have needed to.
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He can't hide the softening in his expression when Magnus talks about the potion though. Alec is still upset with himself over Izzy's addiction and not having seen the signs, but he knows Magnus will tell him again not to beat himself up over it. Still, a potion that could do what yin fen does, without the side effects? It's almost too good to be true. "You're amazing. You know that, right?"
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He ducks his head and shrugs a little. "Tell me that once it works," he says wryly. "And if I can find a better way of making it. I doubt most people will go through all of this."
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Retrieving the chopsticks and the little containers of sauces from the takeout bag, Alec maneuvers a mini spring roll temptingly in front of Magnus's mouth. "It's going to work," he reassures his boyfriend once the treat is taken, following it up with a kiss to his temple. "And I'll help you, you know that."
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He spares a glance at the watch, then tugs Alec closer for a follow-up kiss, soft and sweet. "Thank you, my dear," he murmurs. "What did I do to deserve you, and is it possible for me to do more of it?"
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"You exist," he murmurs simply in between kisses, letting his words linger against Magnus' lips. "You're here, in my life. Just keep doing that."
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Another lingering kiss before he reluctantly slides out of Alec's arms, back to the potion. To his credit, he's instantly focused as he adds the next ingredient, thirty seconds pouring a white, glittery powder, and seven stirs with the glass rod. Then he's free for another twelve minutes.
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When the next part of the potion is accomplished and Magnus has reset the watch, Alec slides arms around him again, leaning in for a kiss while gently kneading at his shoulders. "I do love watching you work."
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If, he says, as though he doesn't know Alec already plans on staying until the potion is completely finished. In all his years, Magnus had never imagined a Shadowhunter would care so much about his magic. About him.
"How did you know I'd want tea right about now?" he adds with a smile. "I'm going to need to take you somewhere especially nice after this. Where would you like to go? Florence? Rio? Mm, you at Carnival..."
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"I guess it comes with knowing you." Which tickles Alec as much as anything else, the idea that he's gotten to know Magnus well enough to pick up on these little preferences of his. It's a herbal tea, one that will blend well with Chinese food, and he leans in for another kiss. "If the potion works, you can take me anywhere you please."
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"What if I want to take you somewhere you please?" he counters, but lightly. There are a dozen places he'd like to go with Alexander: Florence, Rio, Nice, Cairo, Oahu, a little cabin all to themselves in the Alps. But they're all places he's been before. He wants to give Alec the gift of going somewhere he's always wanted to see. Experiences are what matter in life.
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Glancing at the watch, he gently nudges Magnus back to the stool and presses a cup of tea into his hands. Snagging a fried wonton out of the container he drags it through the sweet dipping sauce before offering it on his fingertips. "Tonight you can take me to your bed, where I'm going to rub those shoulders until all the knots disappear."
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The tea is hot, fragrant, one of his favorite blends, and he takes a delicate bite of the wonton and smiles as he washes it down with tea. "Is it terrible if that sounds even better than other things we could do in bed?"
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Alec's laughter is soft and fond, holding the wonton until Magnus takes the second half, then licking the remainder of the sauce off his own fingers. It's a little bit of a tease but his next words are sincere. "It's not terrible at all. You work so hard, you should let me spoil you."
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The tease gets his attention, but he loves the way Alec is so casual with his flirtation these days. He's made such progress since the first time Magnus had expressed obvious interest and he'd responded with a nervous smile and a shrug. "I'll let you spoil me, I'd be delighted to let you spoil me," he murmurs. "Get these knots out of my shoulders first, then I'll show you how grateful I am."
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Teasing and even more overt flirting is definitely something he’s more comfortable with in private and Magnus still says things that make him blush. But he leans right in for another kiss before pushing himself out of the way for the next ingredient additions. “I’ll get those knots out of your shoulders and we’ll see how you’re feeling.”
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It helps immensely. By the end of the night, as Magnus drips magic from his fingertips into the potion and it flares white and settles into a steady glow, he's exhausted, but he isn't as bone-tired as he would have been if he hadn't had Alec looking after him. "There," he breathes, dropping his arms and rolling his shoulders. "Finished."
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When the potion is done Alec moves close again, hugging Magnus from behind, chin hooked over his shoulder as he looks at the glowing liquid. Hopefully it works as Magnus had predicted; hopefully it's worth the strain he'd given himself. "Does this mean I get to take you to bed?" he murmurs, and there's nothing of innuendo in it, just concern for energy expelled.
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That, and he has no real desire to test it right now. He can feel his magic levels sitting lower than he'd like them, and really, he'd like nothing more than for Alec to take him to bed. "All right, Alexander, take me to bed and have your way with me," he says, smiling and tipping his head back against Alec's shoulder. "I surrender, Shadowhunter."
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He smiles more when the spell is finished and when Magnus relaxes a little more into his arms. "Having my wicked way with you," he teases, "starts with carrying you to bed and getting all those knots out of your shoulders." And he'll do just that, scooping Magnus into his arms with no small amount of laughter.
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It's a relief to have that potion finished. Even if it isn't a substitute for yin fen, the way it's glowing shows that it's still a success, and it will be good for something. He'll find out in the morning what properties it has. For now, he wants to focus on this, on them. Alec is so good to him. Magnus does wonder sometimes what he'd done to deserve this. And a Shadowhunter. His first, in centuries of mundanes, Seelies, vampires, fellow warlocks.
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