It wasn’t as though A.Lightwood was wrong (Magnus hoped he’d learn his name at some point)–it was fall, soon to turn to winter, and despite how much they both must be shelling out for their expensive, top floor apartments, the hallways were just as freezing as the lobby was when the front door was ajar. Magnus was vaguely surprised that he hadn’t been shivering, especially because of his own discomfort when faced with cold, but at the mention of it by the other, a small shiver ran up the nurses’ spine.
Blushing at the offer, a bit of panic rising in him at the idea of being alone with his mysterious and crushworthy neighbor when he’s barely been able to get three words out without stuttering in the past. “O-okay, thanks.” Standing on his feet, Magnus brushed his palms on the back of his scrubs and followed the man into his apartment.
Alec smiled as Magnus accepted his invitation to a warm place, closing the door behind them and taking his scarf and jacket off. “I can get you something to wear for now. My stuff might be a little big on you, but I doubt you’d want to wear my brother or sister’s clothes.” he chuckled a little. “I’m Alec, by the way. The blonde you’ve probably seen is my brother Jace and Izzy is our sister. Their rooms are down to the left. The guest room is to the right near me.” he replied, pointing as he spoke. “Let me put on some tea, it’ll help warm you up.” he offered, going to the kitchen and moving his sketchbook of designs.
“Well, have you tried telling them that?” Magnus barely looked up from his tarot reading, knowing that if he did look at Alec fully, he wouldn’t be able to look away. “You could always ask for more funds. Or figure out DIY versions of what they want. If anyone can figure out a way to plan a fantastic party on even the shittiest of budgets, I know you could.”
“Telling the daughter that is the hardest point of my career.” Alec rolled his eyes as he shook his head. “It’s just an engagement party, but she wants diamond encrusted champagne glasses. There’s no way to simply DIY those into existence, babe. It’s convincing her father to see me without her that’s the problem. He seems to understand the situation and she….she’s an absolute bride-zilla already and the engagement was a month ago.”
Oh, God. This was…so incredibly embarrassing. What sort of grown ass adult forgot their keys at home? What sort of grown adult got locked out of their own apartment? Definitely Magnus Bane, who tended to have poor luck most of the time, and if one believed in karma, it made no sense for all the good he did saving others. Alas, c’est la vie. Eyes making a slow and shy accent up to the other’s gaze, Magnus swallowed hard and nodded, blinking away the bit of daze he got whenever he looked at A.Lightwood.
“Yeah, hi, I’m okay,” He managed, head tilting extremely far back just so he could meet his eyes; sitting on the floor didn’t always have its advantages. Chewing on the inside of his cheek, Magnus heaved a sigh, “I kind of…locked myself out? And my brother isn’t answering, so I’m stuck out here. But don’t worry about me–I’m sure he’ll be home soon.” Magnus offered the other a smile.
Alec was never one to turn away when people needed help. And despite the words, he couldn’t help but be concerned for his neighbor. This was Magnus, if he wasn’t mistaken; the one he observed from afar and his siblings teased him about asking him out instead if watching. But Alec wasn’t sure if he was ready for that. He had to finish college so he could start his business and then he could worry about coming out.
“Well, it’s a little chilly, you can get sick if you stay out here too long.” He began. “There’s a guest room and a spare bathroom if you’d like to come in and stay warm?” He offered with a faint blush.
Magnus was not a happy bean, not a happy bean at all. He’d just returned home from an exhausting all-night shift at the hospital, that had had a multiple GSW incident that included a child and honestly, all he wanted to do was take a long bath and crash for ten hours straight. Sadly, his roommate and best friend/adoptive brother, Ragnor, had locked him out. Andddddd Magnus had forgotten his damn key inside, and on top of that, Ragnor wasn’t answering his phone. Damn his lawyer best friend.
Leaning against his apartment door, Magnus stared numbly between his phone and the wall. God, this had to be the worst day of his life! Well, it was up there, at least. But now–there was a chance it was getting worse. Who else would come up the hall other than his unattainable, yet incredibly gorgeous neighbor, A. Lightwood? (Magnus had never actually talked to him, but that was beside the point).
Alec had been waiting for the result of his latest test and had spent an unlawful amount of time at his favorite cafe just three doors down from the building waiting for the score to post so he knew if he could start his next set of classes. The professor had taken way too long and now Alec was basically exhausted for no other reason than relief and ready to get home, warm up some of the lasagna he’d made and get a good night’s sleep before work the next night.
He was walking up the stairs when he realized there was someone sitting in the hall. It was odd since the apartment was fairly high up, so he paused to look before he realized it was his neighbor. “Hey you alright?” he asked, tilting his head. “Need help?”
“I wouldn’t mind. I could carry you out.” Magnus enjoyed that they could be sweet with each other. It was one of the things that he loved the most about being with Alec. In the beginning there had been caution with the relationship, but now they both went for it all and he knew that they were happier for it. “That sounds like a deal,” Magnus replied as he sank back against Alec’s touch. He could lay there all day with Alec’s hands in his hair if he let him. “I love you,” Magnus said with a smile. Those words had been easier to say too and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Once his hair was done being washed and he was all clean, Magnus stepped out of the now empty tub and reached for his towel. He dried off, slipped on some pajama pants and a robe and then said, “Let’s get going to bed. Perhaps we’ll catch something interesting on tv before we truly fall asleep.”
Alec laughed softly, enjoying the way Magnus relaxed under his touch. It made him so happy to be able to be who he was – to love Magnus and not hide it, especially. “I know you wouldn’t mind.” he promised. “But I would still feel bad for falling asleep while trying to share a bath, Mags.” he chuckled. HEaring those three words still made his heart race and he smiled, leaning to press a skin on a dampened shoulder. “I love you, too.” he replied, unable ot help the curve of his lips as he finished washing Magnus’ hair.
He let the water out and dried his hands and arms while MAgnus dried off, pausing to lean in and kiss him. “Maybe. Or we could just lay in bed and talk.” he teased, sliding one hand beneath the robe to rest on Magnus’ side.
Magnus wasn’t used to being pampered, though that didn’t mean that he’d say no to it either. Alec had come into the bathroom while he’d been laying in the tub. If it hadn’t been for him having heard his footsteps, he might not have noticed him enter. He’d closed his eyes after he’d finished washing himself off and now he felt hands in his hair. Apparently Alec had decided he’d do the hair washing for him.
“You could have just joined me, you know. The tub is big enough for the two of us.” It was more than big enough. Magnus’s bathroom was large in general. He had a fancy shower that could turn into a steam room and then the bathtub was one of those giant jet tubs. Bubbles hid everything under the water, not that that matter to Magnus. “Shampoo is over there,” Magnus said as he gestured toward it. He didn’t use magic because he’d already exhausted enough of it for the day. “Next time we’ll have to shower together.”
Alec gave a soft smile, leaning to press a kiss to Magnus’ shoulder. “I still could, but I’d probably fall asleep.” he admitted, reaching to grab the bottle and put some into his hands before massaging the shampoo into his hair. “So next time it is. For now, now let do this and then we can go to bed, okay?” he offered, smiling at Magnus as he moved.
themusechronicles 