Chapter Text
Magnus is speed walking towards the elevator, so quickly that he almost bumps into Alec as he steps around the corner. Alec frowns in confusion at the collision before he sees who it is, opening his mouth to say something that’s shut down by Magnus, who would really love to stay but doesn’t have the time to stop and chat. He shoots Alec an apologetic glance and continues on his way. He’s only partially surprised when Alec jogs to catch up to him.
“What’s happening?” Alec asks. He’s looking around like he half expects the building to be on fire. Magnus pushes the call button for the elevator and taps his foot impatiently, glaring at the display screen as it takes it perfect time coming up to this floor.
“Camille ‘accidentally’ got a really important order wrong, and the only place in the city that has the correct one in stock right now doesn’t do deliveries on Fridays, which means I now have to go collect it myself. Except it’s halfway across the fucking city and I have approximately-”
The elevator doors swing open and Magnus jumps in, followed by a still confused looking Alec.
“-I have approximately two hours before the model gets here for their shoot. And we better fucking hope that everything fits the way it’s supposed to because we’re not getting them booked again if it doesn't.”
Magnus throws his head against the elevator wall and exhales loudly. He loves his job. He really does.
His boss however.
Alec reaches out and squeezes his shoulder.
“Do you want me to come with?” He asks.
Magnus’ eyes fly open, “Don’t you have anything to do?”
“Not at the moment, no. Nothing urgent, anyway.” Alec shrugs, and then hesitates fractionally before adding, “Also, I wanna spend time with you.”
Magnus smiles for the way that Alec’s face turns red with the admission. But whatever joy he’d felt is suddenly wiped away when the elevator jolts and then slows to a stop- the display screen freezing way above their intended floor before shutting off completely. Magnus stares at the now blank screen in horror before lurching himself towards the door and attempting to pry them open with his hands.
“Shit-” Alec fishes his phone out of his pocket and dials a number. Magnus listens to it ring for what feels like an eternity before finally … finally, someone picks up.
He listens to Alec explain the problem, shooting furious daggers at the display screen to threaten it into compliance. When Alec hangs up, Magnus spins around to face him and his face falls in despair.
“They can’t have it fixed for another hour.”
Magnus wants to scream, but he doesn’t; for which he’s proud of himself.
“Does it need to be you who collects the pieces?” Alec asks cautiously, apparently sensing the very thin line Magnus’ stability is threading at the moment, “Why don’t you call one of the interns? That is what they’re here for, despite what Camille seems to think.”
Magnus does scream then. Or something like a scream. A short, garbled noise punctuated by his kicking the elevator doors and then sinking to the floor with his back against the wall and his head in his hands.
“Alexander…” He begins slowly, “I am an intern.”
There isn’t any immediate response, and Magnus keeps his eyes trained to the ground. He doesn’t want to face Alec.
“I… you said-”
“I know what I said. I lied. I wanted- I wanted to impress you.” Magnus admits. He has no idea why he kept this stupid lie up for so long. He’s probably just ruined Alec’s entire opinion of him. And why did he say it now ? When he’s going to have to sit here in the awkward aftermath for an hour -
But then Alec is laughing, bringing Magnus’ internal self depreciation to a surprised halt as he asks, “ Magnus , why?”
Magnus feels like an idiot, and it must be evident on his face because Alec smiles reassuringly and sinks to the floor next to him. He shakes his head with a small chuckle.
“Magnus."
“I didn’t plan to, okay.” Magnus tries to defend himself, realizing now how ridiculous he had been, “But it just… came up. And then it was too late to correct it. And I just… I didn’t want you to think it was… weird.”
Alec frowns, “Think what was weird?”
“It’s not exactly a major life accomplishment to be an intern at 29.” Magnus says, avoiding looking directly at Alec. He suddenly feels very small, and being stuck in an elevator isn’t making his predicament any easier.
Alec is quiet for a long enough moment that Magnus contemplates saying something else to make himself seem less pathetic, but just as he opens his mouth, Alec takes his hand in his own.
“Magnus, I don’t care about that.”
“It’s not-”
“You clearly have a passion for what you do. There’s no… time limit to getting things done.” Alec tells him.
Magnus knows this. Of course he does. He’d known that when he applied for this position, but that didn’t make it any easier.
“I worked for my father, before.” Magnus explains, “But we don’t exactly have a… great relationship.”
Alec scoffs, “I can relate to that.”
“You can?”
“My dad is…” Alec trails off as though he can’t find an appropriate word to express what he thinks of his father, and it is sentiment that Magnus does understand.
“Yeah.” He says with a small smile, “Yeah, I get that. I stayed for so long because I thought I was doing the right thing, trying so hard to impress him and make him happy. But eventually I realized that it wasn’t the best decision for me and so I left, to go back to school, and pursue what I was actually passionate about.”
“And you thought I wouldn’t understand that?”
Magnus flushes, twirling the rings on his hand sheepishly, “I… admittedly didn’t think about that. Just the being an intern at 29 thing.”
Alec rolls his eyes. He settles himself onto the ground in a more comfortable position, urging Magnus to do the same until they are sitting right next to each other, shoulders almost touching.
“I’d love to hear what else you lied to me about.” Alec says, but his tone is teasing.
“I didn’t lie.” Magnus defends himself, “I just… didn’t tell the truth.”
“Well then.” Alec amends with a small laugh, “I’d love to hear more about what you did before you came here. You can tell me on that date you promised me.”
Magnus' brow furrows, “What da- oh .”
Alec raises a brow, “Did you forget about our date?”
“It was over a month ago! I didn’t think you meant it.”
“I definitely meant it." Alec quickly assures him. He frowns, " That is… do you want to?”
It was Alec’s turn to look sheepish, “It’s okay if you don-”
“Alexander.” Magnus cuts him off, “I definitely want to. I would love to. Besides, like you said, coffee is a mandatory part of being a New Yorker.”
Alec’s grin is wide and contagious, tugging up the corners of Magnus’ lips as well. Alec reaches his hand out to entwine it with Magnus'.
Suddenly thoughts of the appointment and Camille are the furthest thing from his mind. She can figure it out herself, for once. Or torment someone else into doing her bidding.
“I know the perfect place.” Alec says.
Magnus hums in acknowledgement, “So long as it’s not an elevator.”
“No.” Alec laughs, “Not this time.”