Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Alex was definitely a girl today, Magnus knows this because she was complaining to him the whole time during Calculus. She hated Calculus. But when Alex was a boy, he liked it but hated English instead. One thing Magnus noticed however, was that no matter what gender Alex was, she still liked art on any given day. And the reason Magnus noticed, was because he liked Alex.

Magnus was never an observant person, he tripped himself in the hallways more often than not, failing to place his feet successfully. He was also very shy, not the outgoing type, that was why he didnt' have many friends at Valhalla high, but even then was never the one to do most of the talking. And until now, it hasn’t been a problem, he didn’t mind being a recluse, not going to events, staying home and watching Netflix. All that changed when he met Alex.

Artistic, colorful, and outgoing Alex. It’s safe to say, that Magnus almost died the moment Alex walked into his Calculus classroom, dressed in a pink shirt, pink/green sweaters, forest green slim jeans, and rose high tops. While Alex Fierro was busy introducing himself, explaining the “He/his” pin that was strapped to his shirt, Magnus was sitting there wondering if he’d ever saw a more perfect human being. At the back of his mind, however, it did strike Magnus that Alex was a boy, and Magnus was pondering the problem when Alex sat down next to him and erased any and all doubts from his mind.

“Hey I’m Alex. What’s your name?” He held out a hand. If it was possible, seeing Alex up close was even more breathtaking for Magnus, and he sat there for a couple of seconds, his overloaded brain struggling to comprehend the beautiful creature in front of him. When he finally saw Alex’s hand, Magnus’s brain started working again. He reached out and shook it, trying to ignore the jolts of electricity running up his spine.

“I’m M- Mag- Magnus. Magnus Chase. Nice to meet you” He managed. Magnus was hoping to talk more, but just then the bell rang, and so he turned away from Alex and tried to concentrate on Calculus.

He really, really didn’t managed it. Alex was like a smoke bomb, his very presence, hindering Magnus’s ability to focus on anything, anything but the smoke, anything but him.

He was grateful they didn’t have the next class together, he wouldn’t have been able to concentrate otherwise. Over the course of the week Magnus got to know Alex a little better, and fell even more entranced by her, if that was possible. Again, he was never an observant person, but he couldn’t help noticing all the little things that made up Alex. His/Her on and off love of Calculus and English, depending on the day, even though Alex was good at both subjects. His amazing artistic abilities, and the passion with which he would tackle each piece of work. Her amazing speeds at getting down to the cafeteria before everybody else. His decision to talk to Magnus despite a dozen others not to. He enjoyed their chats, and friendly conversation, even if those were brief but they were sweet nonetheless. Alex was lovely as a girl and cute as a boy, Magnus don't mind what gender Alex is. He’s just truly truly in love with Alex.

While the feeling was nothing new, his previous love interests have ended in heartbreak, so he was not too hopeful that Alex would reciprocate his feelings. Afterall, why would smart, popular, and gorgeous Alex waste any time with a clumsy and shy nobody like him? Like, they did sit together in Calculus class, but Alex probably wouldn’t think of them as anything but friends, and Magnus knew this, that’s why he didn’t keep his hopes up. But deep deep down, Magnus secretly hope that Alex would return his feelings, just a little bit.

Just this once.

Chapter Text

At lunch the next Monday, Magnus sat down at his friend’s table. He didn’t quite feel like eating though, and was toying with his mashed potato. He saw Alex and was probably zoning out staring at him, because TJ, his tiny friend who was dressed like he just came out of the American Civil War, was nudging him worriedly. Thomas Jefferson Jr., or as his friends called him, TJ, was a history nerd, and he had a body to match. Thin as a stalk, often called “Tiny TJ” by his friends, the African American was looking concerningly at his friend as he nudged him.

“Dude, you okay?”

“Define ok.” 

“Like are you feeling sick sort of ok?” Magnus pondered whether or not to tell his friends about his crush. After a minute of mulling it over, he finally replied,

“Nah, I’m not feeling sick.”

“Then what is it?”

“Well….. I---, uh, nevermind.”

“Come on dude. We’re just trying to help, we’re friends right? But in order to help, we need to know what’s the problem you’re facing first.” TJ didn’t pause from shoving his throwback civil war food into his mouth. The guy’s a devout civil war fan.

“I guess.” Magnus glanced at Alex, briefly, and the thought of spilling crossed his mind. The mashed potato was sitting neglected on the table.

“A crush? Is it a crush?” TJ asked after seeing Magnus’s glance.

“Maybe, maybe not.”

“Ooohhh, who?”

“TJ, we all know who, that green-haired boy/girl Magnus sits next to in Calculus class.” Halfborn Gunderson chimed in, he’d just finished his huge bottle of protein shake and is starting on banana, his “lunch”. Halfborn was a beast of a man, standing over 7 feet tall and probably about half as wide. The stud plays Linebacker for Valhalla High. Off the pitch, however, this jock could speak 12 different languages, and is acing classes for 4 of them. “What was her name again? Alice?” he asked between mouthfuls of the banana

“Alex, and he’s a boy today.” Magnus corrected Halfborn, face coloring, confirming his friends’ suspicion.

 “Well? Why don’t you just go tell him/her then? Just go up and say ‘I like you’ problem solved.” It was Mallory Keen, Halfborn’s 5’5 tall blonde girlfriend. She’s quiet, and never talks much, but when she does, she seems to have a way of captivating her audience. She prefers to do most of her talking through writing though, and is in the writings club. Her friends have read some of her past works, one of which got featured on the school’s website. She was busy finishing her plate of broccoli.

“And get bit back by a nasty sarcastic retort? No thanks.” said Magnus, because afterall, why would Alex want Magnus right? He’s just Magnus Chase, a 6’2 blonde Kurt Cobain look alike, who’s clumsy and shy, but likes hiking and music. Who’s sarcastic and witty but you wouldn’t know because he’s shy, who likes English, but hates Calculus, except when he sits next to Alex.

“Wow, way to introduce me man.”

What.

“Could I get some love here? Also what’s with waiting so long to introduce my friends?”

Really, are we going there?

“Magnus? Who are you talking to?” TJ asked.

Oh that would be me, the author.

“The author? What do you mean the author?”

Nevermind. Anyways, Magnus, you really must stop complaining. Also please don’t interrupt my narrating OK? You’ll get a happy ending. Besides, I do like you. :- )

“Ok….” said Magnus.

Anyways, on with the story. Where were we? Oh right, Magnus and Alex. I’m telling you Magnus, just be patient and don’t rush it.

“You advising me? To be patient?”

Well, it’s for your own good, and for the sake of content I guess. Anyways, back to the story for real.

“So, Magnus, how do you plan to ask him out?”

“How do you know Alex’s even going to like me?”

“Pretend.”

“Well I don’t know.” Magnus replied in an Oh-so-smooth voice.

“Movies?" 

“Oh that’s so creative. And like, not cliche at all.” despite his words, Magnus couldn’t help but imagine how amazing it would be to cuddle in a movie theater with Alex Fierro, eating popcorn and just ignoring the world. Please, he thought Just this Once. Just let me have a lucky break. The bell rang.

Just this once.

Chapter Text

Come Tuesday, Magnus didn’t feel awake yet during his first period Biology class. He tried to look awake, but it didn’t really work and the teacher was glaring at him. But who could blame him? He didn’t get enough sleep last night, and TJ’s lame civil war puns weren’t helping any.

“Dude, have you heard about how the south used to treat soldiers with wounds?”

“How?” Bored as he was, Magnus still had to humor TJ, because he’s a friend.

“They General- LEE, amputate them.” TJ was struggling not to crack up at this point. “Get it? General Lee?”

“Haha” Magnus faked a laugh he definitely was not feeling, damn the puns man, damn the puns. “But wouldn’t they howl in pain? Don’t they have anesthesia?”

“Anesthesia? Oh painkillers right? Nah, they just chuck Bourbon and scream away.” TJ deadpanned.

Ok, Magnus had to admit, he did actually laugh at that one, because it was funny. But still, he did have an attitude to uphold. “Very funny man, very funny.” his voice was dripping with sarcasm.

“Maybe you should go try it on Alex sometime man.”

“I just might, I just might.”

Come English, and Magnus had a very, very male Alex Fierro staring at the back of his head.

“You know Magnus, I would like it if you weren’t so tall, maybe then English wouldn’t be so miserable.” He teased. Magnus rolled his eyes.

“I’m soooo sorry, for being tall,” Magnus deadpanned. “I was totally able to control my genetics.”

Alex just snorted. And was silent the whole remainder of class. Leaving Magnus to wonder if he overplayed his sarcasm. In fact, by the time the bell rang, Alex was out of class so fast, he could’ve teleported.

“Alex, wait!” he stopped, Magnus, out of breath, managed to catch up with him. “Did I make you mad? I’m so sorry.”

“You think it’s funny huh? That I’m short?” Alex fumed. “You think that I’m a genetic mistake don’t you? Being born small and short, just because of genetics.”

“I don’t, I was just playing with you, I’m so sorry Alex, I didn’t meant to make you feel insecure.” Magnus looked down at his feet. He didn’t dared meet Alex’s eyes, didn’t dare stare into those chocolate brown and amber irises of his, for fear of what they say about what Alex thought of him. “I’m really sorry.” Magnus repeated, his lips quivering, he just wanted to shrink away into oblivion, Alex’s stare was really boring into him. Magnus could stand anyone being angry, anyone but Alex. He heard Alex sigh.

“Ok… I guess I forgive you, just don’t ever joke about height with me again.” Magnus glanced up, and discovered that Alex was gone, dashing to be the first at the cafeteria, as usual.

He was failing to burst the bubble, as usual. Well, Magnus decided, he was going to try something unusual. He made his way to the cafeteria, got his lunch, and went to Alex’s table.

“Can I sit with you?”

“What makes you think I’d let you? Besides, don’t you already have your friends for that?” Alex shot back.

“I- I- I was just trying to make up for what I did earlier, besides, you’re my friend too Alex.”

“No.”

“Please?”

“Just no.”

“Please, please. Look, are you still mad? I’m sorry ok? Can I please sit with you?”

“Why are you trying so hard?”

“I just feel guilty?”

“Hmph,” Alex snorted. “Fine.” He gestured at the seat across from him, and Magnus eagerly took it. Just happy that he could sit across from his crush. “Oh, and I’m female now.” Magnus nodded, and Alex dug in, willfully ignoring Magnus. Until, Magnus couldn’t take it anymore. He couldn’t take the silence but also, he was curious.

“Alex?” He saw Alex lookup. “How was history class?”

“It was fun, more or less.”

“TJ told me some funny civil war puns, do you want to hear them?”

“Well, it's not like you can bore me anymore than you already are, shoot.”

“Dude, have you heard about how the south used to treat soldiers with wounds?” Magnus said in his most sarcastic voice.

“Look, Magnus, I'm female right now, so no dudes please, other than that, How?”

“They General- LEE, amputate them. Get it? General Lee?”

“Haha, TJ has a very weird sense of humor, Magnus.”

“But you know what they’d give them to help them get through the pain?”

“What? Anesthesia?”

“Nah, Bourbon, and a stick for them to bite on.” Alex actually laughed at that one. Magnus thought he was in heaven when he heard her laugh, it made him feel like jumping into a pond of caramel, sweet and all buttery while also turning his insides into jelly.

“Ok, that’s at least funny, I’ll give you that.”

He smiled. And they went on talking again, just like they did that first week.

Magnus was beaming by the time the bell rang, beaming because they had Calculus next. Beaming because he gets to sit next to Alex.

“I thought you hated Calculus, Maggie.” Alex teased.

“I'm just happy I get to sit and complain about it to someone who shares my opinion.” Alex giggled. She needn't know the true reason behind the smile.

And he did complain to her and her to him, they, jibed about everything, from how hard the homework was to how unhelpful the lessons were. Magnus did it half heartedly, he was just looking for an excuse to talk to Alex. They drew a couple of glares from the teacher.

But they kept talking. So Alex was totally unprepared for when the teacher called on her.

“Fierro, what is the horizontal asymptote of this graph?”

“Ummm….. Uhhh…..”

“Chase, do you know the answer?” the teacher said as she turned to Magnus.

“No, Ms. Judy.” He replied, looking down at the table, fear in his eyes.

“Chase, Fierro, you two would’ve known the answer had you been paying attention instead of chatting. Be sure to pay attention next time.”

“Yes, Ms. Judy” they chorused.

“And come see me after class, both of you.” Alex and Magnus turned to each other, a confused look on both their faces. The class was filled with ooh’s and aah’s and “You’re in trouble!”

After class, they were at Ms. Judy’s desk after the bell rang, a fearful slash quizzical expression on their faces, staring at their feet as though their shoes are the most interesting things in the world (Magnus found Alex’s mismatched pink and green sneakers very amusing).

“You two,” Ms. Judy started. “For not paying attention today, I’m going to give you both a project, make a poster about the problem you did not answer today, and another one of your own choosing. You must graph them-” Magnus tuned her out, he was sweating rivers thinking of the trouble he’s in, how could he finish an extra assignment amidst the shoulder deep homework he was already in? More to his concern, he’s screwed up in front of Alex, granted Alex did screw up too, but it was still embarrassing nonetheless.

His mind caught on the word “together” however. They were going to have to do this project together? He was suddenly thinking that this might not be so bad afterall, getting to work on a project with Alex. Well, maybe he should start paying attention then, he looked up at the teacher as she continued.

“-And you must turn this in by this Friday, if you do a good job, I’ll give you your participation points back, and maybe extra credit as well, if it’s really good. Ok dismissed.”

They walked out the door together, and Magnus turned to Alex the moment the door closed.
“Well,” he began.

“I guessed we fucked up, big time.” she finished.

Chapter Text

Alex was filled with mixed emotions, she doesn’t even know what to do with them anymore. It’s a mess of feelings, and at the center of them is the boy called Magnus. Well, most likely the Calculus project they’re going to be doing together, or so she keeps telling herself. Thinking about it she can’t help but blame him, he was the one who was complaining after all, and if he wasn’t too loud then none of this wouldn’t have happened. And she knows that he’s not going to be much help because he’s not a calculus whiz, so yeah, she’s feeling a little bit unsatisfied. Oh, how she would love shoving a fist into that adorable face. Wait, adorable? Did she just call Magnus adorable? How is she finding someone’s who’s as thin as a beanstalk and as oblivious as a blind man adorable? No, she totally did not find his stupid grin adorable, nor did her heart skip a beat every time he flashes her said grin. She definitely could not possi-

Crack!!

The piece of pottery she’s been working on cracks. Maybe that’s supposed to symbolize my mean demeanor these days. She thought, and how I’m never able to keep it up around him. Whenever she tries, Magnus would say something stupid, or just be his sunshiney little self, and she can’t help but slip into a smile. His laughs turn her insides into pudding and make her face feels warm. She glances over to Magnus, whose brows are furrowed in concentration as he tries to shape his pot, and tries to tell herself that he doesn’t look cute like that.

Alex blushes at the thought. Shit. she thought. What am I supposed to do? He caught sight of her looking and smiled, making Alex turn even redder.

Alex puts the pottery away, trying to ignore the warm and weird feeling rising up in her stomach. She failed. How do you fall head over heels for someone within a week? She can’t believe it, but the butterflies in her stomach tell a different story. As right as the butterflies in her stomach tell her she is, she refuses to fuel the feeling, after all, she doesn’t deserve him. She doesn’t deserve a kind, caring, funny, and endearing person.

The bell rings, and for once Alex is grateful to get out of art class, to go anywhere without Magnus. Her revelations aside, she needed some time to sort through her priorities and plan what to do next. Thankfully, it’s the last class of the day, so she runs to the library. Just then her phone beeps. It’s Magnus.

Magnus: Alex, do you want to do the Calculus thing today?

Alex: Actually, I kinda have to study for something, can it wait?

Magnus: I really want to finish it though.

Overenthusiastic, as usual. However, she needs some time alone, to sort out her feelings.

Alex: How bout a little later this evening?

Magnus: Where tho

Alex: Idk, any suggestions?

Magnus: We could go to my place?

Magnus’s offering to let her go to his house? Alex wouldn’t admit it, but internally she’s about to combust, how can she handle such close proximity with Magnus? Like, she doesn’t like him (that’s what she wants to believe for now, at least), but someone’s house is kinda their personal space, and they just got to know each other.

Alex: Are you sure? Your parents wouldn’t mind? Besides we just know each other, do YOU not mind?

Magnus: I-

I actually live alone.

Alex: What!!?? Why???

Magnus: ……… My dad and mom died when I was 10, a car accident. I live with my uncle and he’s also always away on business trips, so I have the house to myself.

Alex: Oh……

I’m sorry….. I didn’t know. :-(

Magnus: It’s alright, I shouldn’t have burdened you with this, because like you said, we just got to know each other.

Alex: It’s ok, I’m sorry I asked, that was… Insensitive. Well, I know it must be hard, so if you need to talk, I’m here.

Alex reread the message again, it’s a total opposite of the cold, uncaring identity she has established. She doesn't know why she’s going soft with Magnus, but for crying out loud, he lost his parents, the least she could do is offer support. She pressed send. Couple seconds later came Magnus’s reply:

Magnus: Thanks, it means a lot. Alright, I’ll let you do whatever it is you have to do, how bout we meet in front of the school at 5?

Alex looked at the clock, it’s 4:30, that gives her exactly 30 minutes to figure out her feelings about him, she hopes it’s enough.

Alex: Ok, cya then.

Alex closed her phone and went back to the big question in her mind. After a thoughtful minute she finally admits that yes, her heart skips a beat whenever Magnus smiles. It does a backflip every time he laughs. And she gets that warm and fuzzy feeling whenever she’s with him. Welp shit. She thought. I do like him. Despite her revelation, however, she can’t really allow herself to hope, because as she has thought before, she doesn’t deserve him. Besides, why would Magnus even like her? She’s well aware of her personality, and how it’s not exactly sociable. She thinks she doesn’t look that bad, but how can Magnus like a genderfluid person? Alex’s lucky enough he doesn’t seem to shun her, and ever more so that he doesn’t tease her about it. It would be next to impossible for them to get together, not to mention he has to like her first for that to happen. But despite that, it’s not totally hopeless, they like the same movies, and they hate the same subjects. He also seems pretty accepting of her gender fluidity. So maybe, just maybe, it’ll happen.

And they’ll be together. Just this once.

Chapter Text

Alex’s phone buzzed.

Magnus: Yo, u done?

Alex: Yea

Magnus: K, I’m in front of the school

Alex: aight, also.

Alex changed Magnus’s name to falafelmaster

Falafelmaster: heyyyyyy

Alex: It suits you

Falafelmaster: Welllll…..

Falafelmaster changed Alex’s name to PinkGreen&everythinginbetween

PinkGreen&everythinginbetween: Now that is just too long

PinkGreen&everythinginbetween changed their name to Pinktastic

Falafelmaster: ewwww.

Pinktastic: What?

Falafelmaster: It’s so…… you… Btw where are you

Pinktastic: In front o school

Falafelmaster: Where….

Falafelmaster: Oh wait I see u.

Magnus waved at Alex and tapped his foot impatiently as Alex took her time walking to him.

“So how are we going to your house?”

“We can walk, it’s not that far away.” And it also gives me time to admire how perfectly your sweater suits you. Ok that might have been borderline creepy, but Magnus couldn’t help himself, Alex looks hot in that sweater. “You know this wouldn’t be happening if we weren’t complaining about Ms. Judy’s class during class time.”

“It’s not our fault, her class was very boring, and-” Magnus wasn’t really listening, he was just admiring Alex and how passionate she can be about something. Oh, he’s so screwed, he’s just so well and truly whipped for Alex Fierro. Everything about her is way too perfect, from the way her amber and chocolate brown eyes gleam with an intense fire, to the way she holds herself. Confident, and passionate, just like the fire in her eyes. They scare him as much as they draw him to her. It’s been a week, but he’s in deep. I’m so screwed. Magnus thought. I’ve fallen in love with somebody who probably wouldn’t hesitate twice to throw me out the window the minute somebody even marginally better than me comes around.

A short while later, they arrived at Magnus’s home, and Alex’s mouth immediately formed an O.

“Wow, when you said home, I didn’t think it was this big.” Yeah, Magnus might’ve undersold the size of his mansion a *cough* little *cough* bit. “And you live alone most of the time?”

“Yeah, it gets lonely sometimes, so I’m glad to have company.” He beamed. And maybe she was just tired, or something else, but Alex’s face looked flushed.

They went up to Magnus’s room and after Magnus brought out his supplies Alex told him: “So how do you want to divide it up?”

“I think I sorta understand the problem, so I’ll do that and maybe you decorate?”

“Ok, I’ll also help you graph one of them too,” Alex replied. “Let’s get started. And I’m going to put on some music if you don’t mind.”

“Go on ahead.”

Alex put on Fly Me to the Moon and started humming to it. Magnus can’t help but notice how at peace and totally focused Alex looks. Well, time to get to work. Magnus went about drawing the graph and solving the problem, despite not being a Calculus whiz, he managed to plot out the graph in no time at all. He handed the poster over to Alex and said, “I’m gonna take a little nap if you don’t mind.”

“Sure,” said Alex. “I’ll wake you once I finish.”

“Alright.” Magnus put his head down and was fast asleep soon after.

Alex went on working to the tune of even more Frank Sinatra songs. Art, like pottery, came naturally to her. It was as second nature to her as breathing, and even though this was just a poster, she still wanted to make it look the very best she could possibly do. So she drew just about everything she could think of and poured her very heart and soul into this just-a-poster-she-had-to-do-because-she-wasn’t-listening-in-class. That was her, always going all out on everything she was tasked to do. Except, well, except maybe her crush on Magnus. Not crush, she tells herself, just this little weird feeling I have for a very close friend who’s not even supposed to be on Earth, but heaven. Because he’s way too kind and accepting for his own good. After all the times I’ve been mean he’s still talking to me. Despite most people shunning me, he’s ok with me for being genderfluid, accepting too, in fact. How can you not get all the feels with a person like that?

She really shouldn’t be thinking about this. Turning attention back to the poster, Alex went on decorating. First, she decided to beautify the title adding twirls and whirls in the title. Then considering Magnus’s nature, she decided to add a sunshine to the title, you know, just for the fun of it.

As she was finishing, she took a moment to observe Magnus’s sleeping face, he really reminds her of Sleeping Beauty, only he’s a guy, and more handsome than beautiful.

It was as though her gaze summoned it, but in that very moment, Magnus’s face suddenly contorted in an expression of pain and helplessness.

And at the very next moment, he screamed.

Chapter Text

In his dream, Magnus saw the car accident that killed his parents. What he didn’t tell Alex was that it happened just one week before Christmas.

He saw the car his parents were in, his dad at the wheel and his mom riding in the front seat. They stopped at a red light, his mom humming to the Christmasy tunes playing on the radio. Snow fell around them, and the streets were bustling, but they couldn’t care less. Just two couples, enjoying their time with each other in the car.

Magnus smiled, he remembered how joyous those two were, especially his mom. She taught him to find joy in every moment, that happiness is everywhere, and we only ever need to be content to be happy. His dad was a loving Husband and awesome parent, Magnus can’t remember how many times he saw a world’s best dad mug and wanted to give it to a dad he no longer had.

The street light turned green, and Dad eased the car forward, oblivious of what was about to happen. A truck didn’t stop and crashed head on into the side of his parent’s car. Everything happened in slow motion, he could see the mixture of emotion on his parent’s face. His dad’s a mixture of confusion, pain, and anger. His mom’s, for once is contorted and no longer smiling, which is almost painful to see. And then their car flipped them out of view. Magnus screamed. He didn’t know why he’s seeing this, but it doesn’t make it any less painful. He shut his eyes and cried, the pain too much to bear.

When he opened them, he saw the homeless shelter he used to have to live in before Uncle Randolph came around and took him to the mansion. It was a sad, sad place. The caretaker was cold and grumbly. The kids, well they weren’t much better. Worse, they bullied him like it was the only thing they knew how to do. He couldn’t recall how many time he’s had his underwear yanked out, his food tray tipped over, or how many names he’s been called. Moreover, he’s had his first crush there, it was a girl just about his age. She was a brunette, with brown eyes and just slightly shorter than him. The first time he met her, he couldn’t take his eyes off her for a full 10 seconds. When she greeted him, all he could manage to get out was a meekly voiced “Hey,”. They talk nicely at first, but once the head bully found out, there was a meeting (like do bullies even meet? Or is this organized crime? No, it’s just fiction. And my shameless attempt at being humorous) and it seems they reached a consensus to make his love life as hell as possible. Which involved Magnus tripping in front of her a couple times, it doesn’t take much for him to give up. Oh, and also her kissing another boy under the mistletoe.

It’s safe to say, that Christmas was not a memory he held onto fondly. As if seeing that wasn’t enough. There was also this special bonus dream round of her face popping up, telling him he’s worthless and that she’ll never be with him. But, she does it with Alex’s voice. And before he knew it, the dream shifted to Alex’s face, saying the same thing. And that was his limit, he broke down and started crying.

He kept on crying.

.

.

.

Until he heard a distant voice, “Magnus?”

“Magnus, Wake up!” was it Alex? Was she calling to him? He didn’t know, and he didn’t want to know, he’s fine on his own like this. Alone, in a dark place. Except, the voice didn’t stop. And now his whole world was shaking, it felt like an Earthquake. Guess good things can’t last.

Magnus woke with a start, the first thing he saw was a face full of green hair.

“Alex?” He reached up to touched Alex’s hands, ones that had shaken him awake. “It’s really you right?”

“Yes,” Alex replied, “Are you ok?”

“I’m-” was all Magnus could manage before he collapsed into tears. Burying his nose into Alex’s neck. A sobbing, pathetic mess. He really can’t bear the pain of all that. Seeing his parents die and reliving the horrors of the homeless shelter.

Alex, for her part, held onto him and made soothing noises, all the while rubbing his back gently. He was grateful that she was there, and that she didn’t push him away. After a couple of minutes, he finally calmed down, his breathing finally slowed, and he moved off her. She gave him a few moments more to settle before opening her mouth to ask,

“Nightmares?”

“Yes,”

“But you were just napping, guess it must be really deep.” Alex tried to cheer him up, Magnus managed a bland smile.

“Probably.”

“Look, I know I’m not really good with feelings, and stuff. But if you’re in the mood to tell me, I’m here.” She emphasized her point by placing a firm hand on his shoulders and putting on a reassuring smile.

“Thanks, it means a lot.” He grinned. “But right now, you staying here is all I need.” Magnus regretted it the moment the words left his mouth. He might have noticed a blush tinging Alex’s cheeks too if he wasn’t so caught up in his mistake. To fix it, he quickly added: “Sorry, didn’t mean it in a weird way.”

“No, it’s alright,” she replied, placing a hand on his for emphasis. “Don’t you worry, I’ll stay right here.”

“Thanks,” Magnus replied, despite getting over the initial shock, he isn’t exactly ready to tell Alex the story yet. Mostly because it would cause him too much pain having to relive those moments all over again.

The room was silent.

“It was about my parents,” He finally spoke, feeling that maybe he should at least give her a vague idea of what’s it’s about, and also explain the reason as to why the more detailed version won’t be following said vague idea. Alex looked up. “And the night they died. I really couldn’t bring myself to say any more right now, it’s too painful.”

“That’s ok, take your time, I’m not so keen about talking about mines either.”

“Yeah?”

“They’re not exactly the best parents in the world,” Alex inhaled deeply before continuing, “But they paid my school bills, and gave me a roof to live under, so I guess I can’t really complain. Even though they don’t accept me for who I am.”

“About you being Genderfluid?”

“Yeah,” Alex sighed. “My dad isn’t exactly the accepting type, he’s also very mean. But thanks to mom’s protests, he won’t disown me.”

“Wow, ok,” Magnus replied, stunned. “That’s tragic.” Alex giggled.

“Ya think?” She smiled, and Magnus felt his world lit up. And just for a single moment, he was able to forget all his grief, Alex had that effect on him. With her, he was able to forget everything except how blessed he was to have this stunning green-haired individual as his friend, and his crush.

“I think I’m ready to tell you about my dream now.” He said.

“Ok, if you need to stop at some point it’s ok, I totally understand this must be very hard for you,” She gripped Magnus’s shoulders. “Thanks for trusting me with this.”

He proceeded to tell her. About his parents, and about his time at the orphanage. But he left out the part about Alex, he didn’t feel like he was brave enough to tell her just yet. After he was finished, Alex expressed her condolences and got up to leave when Magnus caught her arm.

“Could you err, stay over? I’ll even let you take the bed.” He looked pleadingly at Alex. “Please?” Needless to say, Alex couldn’t resist her crush. So she agreed to stay, borrowing Magnus’s pajamas. She disagreed however, on Magnus letting her take the bed. So they both settled into Magnus's bed. Alex on one side, Magnus on the other. She whispered a quick "good night." And was soon sound asleep.

Magnus didn’t have any more nightmares that night.

Chapter Text

Magnus woke up the next morning, feeling… At peace, savoring the brief bliss of worrying about nothing that happens when you wake up. He was glad he got in a restful night.

Then he remembered. He remembered the reason for it, that reason being a certain green-haired individual who even now is snoring cutely on the other side of his bed. Well, we didn’t cuddle but we slept in the same bed. That’s… Something… He thought dreamily. I wish I could tell her how I feel but I’m just afraid she’s gonna reject me, and I don’t know if I can live with that. At that moment Alex stirred, yawning sleepily and turning around to face Magnus.

“ Good morning Maggie.” Magnus didn’t reply, mostly because he was reeling from Alex’s just-wake-up face. Like, how can a person look so cute with bed hair? She’s just a little green-haired angel, wait no, He’s a little green-haired angel.

“Say, Alex, are you a guy today?” Alex blinked a couple of times in surprise, then replied.

“Yeah, he and him.” He said after seemingly getting over the shock. “How do you always know Magnus?”

“I don’t know, it just like the air around you feels…. Kinda, different.”

“Well, that’s… convenient.” Alex said hesitantly, after a moment they both laughed at how awkward that sounded. “You don’t mind being in the same bed as a boy do you?” he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, resulting in a giggling and blushing Magnus.

“No! I mean it’s ok ‘cause it’s you.” He blushed redder mentally chiding himself for how cheesy he made that sound. “Not in an awkward sense! I-- Um.. Ok, you know what? I’m just gonna stop before I embarrass myself even more.” Alex was giggling uncontrollably at this point, he found it funny how adorably cheesy this sunshine boi could be.

“Maggie… I’m flattered... “ Alex said in the most over the top voice possible. Magnus broke down laughing.

He hit Alex lightly in the arm, “I hate you, I hate you so fucking much.” He managed between fits of laughter. Alex feigned an expression of hurt, he knew Magnus didn’t mean it but it was still fun to play along.

They were both having fun, enjoying being in the respective company of their crushes. Yes, even Alex, even if he’s not showing it, he loves being around his sunshiny crush.

“But seriously though, thanks for helping me last night, I really appreciate it.”

“Don’t mention it,” Alex said nonchalantly, even though secretly his heart was warming inside at Magnus’s words. It’s good to know your crush appreciates what you’ve done.

“How could I repay you?”

“How bout you buy me dinner and we’ll call it even?” It was out of Alex’s mouth before he realized it sounded like a date. Thankfully, Magnus, being Magnus, didn’t notice.

“Sure,” He smiled. “Where?”

“I’m thinking that Picco pizza place on Tremont sounds nice,” Alex said. “They serve ice cream as well.”

“You’re suggesting the place because of the ice cream aren’t you?” Magnus asked knowingly.

“Well, pizza and ice cream is a satisfying combination.” He conceded, shrugging innocently.

“I’m not going to argue with that,” Magnus replied. “So, today after school then?”

“Sure,” Alex nodded.

------

We’re going to get dinner together. Alex still can’t believe himself. Where did he get all the courage to ask Magnus out? While it wasn’t exactly a date, it was at least something. Just two teens spending time with one another.

A part of Alex still isn’t sure of what to feel about this. While he’s currently carrying the label “crush” Alex is not so sure whether the fact he asked Magnus out on a date means he wants to take things farther. Even if he gets all the warm and fuzzies when he looks at Magnus smiling, feeling and accepting the feeling are two separate stages to Alex. He knows the feelings he has for Magnus, but accepting and acknowledging that those feelings are something more than just simple attraction is something entirely different. It’s also scary. Scary that Magnus might reject him, scary that even if he accepts Alex’s feelings, there’s nothing stopping Alex from losing him. It’s hard to let yourself go when you whole life you’ve been faced with nothing but hurt when you do. To Alex, bottling up your feelings is the best way to save yourself from the resulting pain. 

No one has ever accepted him for who he is. That is, everyone but his Abuelo. He remembered when he was still young, how he used to run to abuelo and ask abuelo to teach him to do pottery. ‘Our destiny is like pottery, Alex, it’s ours to shape’ . Abuelo did really believe that you control your own destiny, and that, like the fluidity of clay, a person’s gender can also be fluid. He was the one Alex ran to when she got into an argument with her father. He brought dresses and skirts for the little boy who sometimes felt like he was a girl. When papa would get mad, and slap or yell at him, it was into Abuelo’s warm embrace that he ran into and on his shoulders that Alex cried on. Alex loved his Abuelo so much.

And that was why, when he died, the pain was unbearable.

She cried for days and days and didn’t eat for longer. His words when he talked to Papa were curt and earned him several red marks. They were curt because he lost the one person in life who truly loved him for what he was, not for what they want him to be. The one person in life who he needn’t act a certain way, be a certain gender, or wear a certain look to please.

It was then, that he realized he was well and truly alone.

 From that moment on, Alex was afraid to open up, to let someone in, to lower his walls. He was afraid to feel. While a crush is nothing new, love is. It’s… complicated and somewhat unknown to him. He’s been rejected so many times, he’s built up his walls as a result. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see, not like I won’t give him a chance, but I don’t want to let down my walls till I’m sure he won’t hurt me. Alex decides. I’ll try figuring out what he likes first.

“Anyway,” Magnus piped up, snapping Alex out of her reverie. “We should make sure this project gets to Ms. Judy first, eh?”

“Right,” Alex replied, resolving to see the dinner through and see what happens from there. “Let’s shower and get dressed for school.”

Chapter Text

It’s hard letting your guard down, Alex remarked silently to himself. Even as far as being friends, or letting him know I struggle to do so. While a part of him is screaming for him to just confess his feelings to Magnus already, another part of him says that the walls he has put up are there for a reason. When you open yourself up to love, you open yourself up to pain, and even though he’s willing to admit that he has a crush on Magnus, Alex’s not sure if he’s ready to risk having his heartbroken all over again by this boy yet. 

Alex feels heavy, and not just because of the bag he was carrying, his little nostalgic session this morning weighed down on him like lead, not to mention the fact that Alex Fierro is not a feelings person. At any rate, he was still looking forward to their dinner this evening, while it wasn’t quite exactly a date, and again he’s not quite sure yet how he feels about Magnus, it was a welcome change to the monotony his life has fallen into after a while at school. With him, it’s always about doing something new or trying something different, Alex could never stay in one place for long. It’s not exactly hyperactivity, just, this slight urge to switch it up. Which isn’t all that weird, considering he himself is the physical embodiment of change.

------

“Are you ok, Alex?” Magnus asked after noticing Alex’s normally cheerful demeanor not showing itself today. 

“I’m fine,” replied Alex “I was just thinking.” 

Magnus raised an eyebrow in mock curiosity, “You can think?” Alex gave him a really? Look and playfully punched his arm. Magnus held onto his expression a while longer before finally breaking into a laughing fit, Alex joined him soon after.

“But,” he said after he caught his breath. “If you need to get something off your chest, I’m more than happy to listen.”

“Thank you, Magnus, it means more than you think.” Alex’s smile sent Magnus’s heart on a double backflip. 

“It’s the least I could do after last night Alex, it’s the least I could do.” Magnus sighed dreamily as he shifted his gaze to the floor. Gosh, Alex is just so cute, sometimes I really doubt if he’s not an angel. Because I really feel like I’m in heaven every time he shoots me one of those smiles. I’m not sure how long I can stand this. I might die from over-exposure to Alex Fierro!

On the other side of the conversation, Alex was also having an internally screaming moment. Oh my gawdddd!!!!! I can’t believe he’s offering to listen to me! I mean, that’s what friends are for, but I wished he would offer it as my boyfriend.

They walked the rest of the way to school in comforting silence, both thinking of each other. Arriving in time for Art class. The teacher, Mr. Johnson, came in right after the bell rang. They all called him ol’ Grumpy because this guy had a frown about him that seems to be wearing him more than he wears it. “Ok class,” He spoke. “After pottery, today we’re going to be doing oil color painting.” Alex snorted.

He didn’t sound too happy. Magnus thought, he spared a glance over at Alex, And neither is he. Alex seems to be just as grumpy, probably from the fact that the pottery portion of the course is gonna be over, Magnus decided. I mean, he still has a Pottery elective next period so I don’t understand why he’s grumpy, Magnus thought . Mr. Johnson droned on, but Magnus didn’t really hear him, as he was lost in thought, looking to the future on a lot of things, but one in particular: His mind kept drifting to the dinner he and Alex will be getting together this evening, he was really looking forward to it. I mean who wouldn’t be? Alex’s at worst incredibly attractive, and today he was acting downright irresistible. And despite how he was a bit cold when they first met, now that they know each other better, he finds Alex very enjoyable to talk to and be around, especially after last night.

Last night, oh gods, he couldn’t really bear to think about it. The nightmare, then the little heart-to-heart, and then sleeping in the same bed. If he closes his eyes, he can still picture Alex’s face as he saw it in the morning with the bed hair and the just woken up face. Adorable. How he wished they would be together, lying under the night sky, or holding hands while watching movies. How Alex would say his name lovingly as he looks into Magnus’s eyes, “Magnus,”

“Magnus! Hellooooo Earth to Magnus!!!” Alex’s- the real Alex’s voice snapped him out of the daydream. 

“Yes?” He said, raising his head up from the table he somehow was resting his head against.

“Wow, somebody really has been sleeping it off,” Alex remarked, handing him a tissue. “Here, wipe that away.” Magnus took it, flushing, and realizing just now that he was drooling. In front of his crush. Great, he thought. I now look like a total dork. Sparing a glance at his watch, and realizing that he only has half an hour to finish Mr. Johnson’s assignment, Magnus rushes to the paint table to collect his supplies and set to work.

Two bottles of red paint, a very messy spill, and 20 minutes later, he now has a very crude rendering of his subject, an apple. 

“Well, it’s…. Artistic…” Alex commented as he glanced over Magnus’s shoulder to look at the painting, trying very hard not to laugh. 

“Not everybody’s a natural, you know.” Magnus snorts.

“Teasing you is so fun.” Alex giggled, to which Magnus rolled his eyes. 

“Don’t get used to it.”

Alex just smirked at him, but inside he was thinking, Magnus is extremely cute when he’s all riled up like this.  

________Time Skip_______

“So he asked you out on a date? Well, congratulations!” Halfborn said while patting Magnus on the back, which felt more like Halfborn trying to shake Magnus’s skin off his bones. 

“It’s just dinner, not a date,” Magnus replied, they were waiting their turn on an obstacle course in outdoor survival class, which Magnus wasn’t so excited for. Halfborn, on the other hand, was ready to run it in record time. 

“Oh it most definitely is a date, Magnus,” said TJ. “Look, we all saw the way Alex looks at you, and we’re pretty sure he-” TJ paused, “-is he male today?” 

“Yeah,”

“-he likes you.” TJ finished.

“Huh,” Magnus snorts. “I sincerely doubt it.”

“Well let’s see, he did ask you to dinner now didn’t he?”

“Yes, but-”

“And he did agree to stay with you after talking you out of a nightmare didn’t he?”

“Yes, but that’s only because his parents aren’t exactly the most accepting type, and he did get kicked out of the house that day. And the dinner was just me repaying him for that, so we’re even and I don’t think he sees it as anything more than favor for favor anyways.”

//A.N.: Just one of those small details I left out and so this is live canon editing you guys. XD

As they were talking it got to Halfborn’s turn to go on the course, and then Magnus, so the conversation concluded. Magnus ran onto the course.

It was a three parts obstacle course designed to test your survival skills. The first one was Archery, the second one was a campfire making challenge complete with material gathering, and lastly was the outrun a bear test (a teacher wearing a bear costume of course).

By the end of the course Magnus was wheezing, he was never the fittest of the bunch, and that course took a lot out of him.

_____Time Skip to end of day ______

Magnus was still catching his breath on the gym bench 10 minutes after the end of the 6th period, his head resting on the next row’s seat. Why do I pick a physical elective that has classes on the same day as PE? He thought to himself, at that moment, a flash of green caught his eye.

“Well, somebody forgot to shower.” Alex poked him lightly in the ribs, his other hands playfully pinching his own nose in mock disgust. “Come on Mr. Chase, chop-chop, you’re late for our dinner. I already texted you twice you big doofus.”

Magnus barely managed to breathe out a “Heyyyyy” and went back to panting.

“Gosh, did the teacher have you run 10 miles or something?” Alex asked.

“No,” Magnus managed. “Just…. Outdoor survival this morning too.”

“Oh you poor child, here let me help you.” Alex heaved Magnus up by the arm and together they managed to make it to the showers. 

A couple moments later Magnus came out dressed, and ready. Alex was waiting for him outside. 

“Ready?” Alex asked, to which Magnus nodded. 

“You do know the way right?” 

“Of course,” Alex snorted. “What do you take me for?” At that moment he opened up Google Maps on his phone, to which Magnus just laughed knowingly. They bantered and bickered the whole way to the restaurant.

Upon arriving, however, they discovered that the restaurant was temporarily closed due to maintenance. 

“Oh come on!” Alex protested. 

“Guess we’re finding a coffee shop then,” Magnus said resignedly.

"Sure looks that way," Alex nodded disappointingly. "Which is sad, I could've used some pizza and ice cream in my life."

"Me too, but a man's got to eat right?"

Chapter Text

After a couple of minutes of aimless wandering, Alex spoke up, “So where exactly should we go eat?”

“Have you ever tried falafel?”

“You mean your most favorite food in the whole wide world, that you’ve been spouting to me about since we met? No, where to?”

“Just a couple minutes walk from here, I know a place, come on. You’ll love it.” fifteen minutes of walking later they arrived at something of a coffee shop and traditional restaurant hybrid that says “Fadlan’s Falafel” in front.

As they walked inside, a voice called out, “Magnus? Alex? Well isn’t the earth round!” 

“Amir?” Magnus and Alex both said.

“The one and only.” replied Amir.

Then turning to look at each other in unison, Magnus and Alex said, “You know him?” After a moment of awkward staring, they both broke out in laughter.

“Remember I told you I was homeless for a while after my parents died and before Randolph came along? Yeah, I used to come here all the time for falafel. Amir here is kind enough to pass them along to me for free, sometimes. That was way before the place got this big though. What’s your excuse?”

“Well… Funny story, my half-sister Samirah al-Abbas is actually engaged to Amir, so yeah. But I don’t see Amir that often, I vaguely know Amir has a restaurant, but never been here before.”

“Never knew you had a sister.” said Magnus, looking surprised.

“You never asked,” Alex replied, then turning to Amir, “how is she by the way?”

“She’s doing fine, she’s just extremely stressed with all the exams she has to juggle around. Where did you two meet?”

“School, we have some of the same classes.” Alex replied.

“That’s cool.”

“I do like what you’ve done with the place too, by the way. Now if you don’t mind us, we’re gonna go get ourselves a table, I’m starving,” Magnus chimed in, then turning to Alex, “Alex? Let’s go.”

“The atmosphere is nice,” Magnus commented as they sat down at a table. The alluring aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, along with that mouth-watering smell of freshly-cooked falafels. Coffee machines hum mutedly, they, along with their similarly overtaxed operators, are finally getting a much-needed break after being hard at work all day serving hundreds of customers. Despite that, the weary baristas manning the counter still somehow managed to smile at the people coming in and going out.

“It is,” Alex nodded, also feeling the calm of the place seeping into him slowly, giving him a sense of peacefulness he hasn’t felt in a long, long time. Between the crazy things at school, Magnus, his parents, it feels nice to be able to let his worries go. At least, for a while. He felt himself slowly starting to smile as the knot of tension that he didn’t realize was inside of him started to unwind a little.

“What is it?” Magnus asked suddenly, snapping Alex out of his moment of peace.

“What?”

“Well, you started to smile all of a sudden?”

“Oh,” replied Alex, “it’s… just…  I feel relaxed and peaceful, for probably the first time this week. Between school, my parents, and a dozen other things, it’s nice to be able to step back and enjoy the moment for a while,” he looked at Magnus and smiled at him. “I’m kinda not sorry that the pizza place was closed and thankful that you invited me to dinner,” Alex realized what he said too late and blushed. Thankfully, Magnus didn’t seem to notice, as he seemed to be staring very intently into Alex’s eyes. Alex also found himself mesmerized by Magnus’s stormy grey irises and couldn’t help but stare. 

“I am as well,” Magnus replied, still not breaking eye contact with Alex. The two teens somehow found themselves slowly moving closer to one another, both refusing to look away. Closer and closer they drew until their faces were inches apart from one another, so close that Alex could smell the breath mints that Magnus so often likes to take. The distance between them was about to shrink to nothing, when…  

CLANG!!!

A glass fell to the floor, accidentally elbowed over by the person sitting at the table next to them. Just like that, the moment was broken, the two teens looked away from one another and moved apart, blushing.

“Uh, I think we should order,” said Alex, but internally he was seething. That damn guy with his clumsy elbow ruined my chance to kiss Magnus . He waved over the waiter, who came over quickly. “Magnus, you want to order first?” He asked.

“Nah, I’m still deciding,” Magnus replied, but in truth he was also trying to keep it together after some random guy ruined his chances at kissing Alex. “You can go first.”

“Okay,” turning to the waiter, Alex ordered. “I’ll have some of these world famous falafel sandwiches, please, uh…” he glanced at the waiter’s name tag, “... Adrian?” Alex did a double-take. While Alex was reeling, Magnus placed his order, oblivious to the internal turmoil Alex was experiencing. Surely it couldn’t be that Adrian. Alex thought. No, he died, I saw it with my own eyes. He could feel tears welling up at the thought.

“Alex? Is everything alright?” Magnus’s concerned voice drew Alex out from the vortex he was spiraling into. 

“Yeah,” Alex managed, discreetly wiping the tears on his face by pretending to rub his eyes. 

“Are you sure?” Magnus pressed. “You seemed a bit… Off… after seeing that waiter’s name, did he remind you of someone?” Alex nodded.

“I used to be in a relationship with another genderfluid person, his/her name was Adrian. Seeing the tag, I simply thought for a moment that it was him/her, but I realized I must be seeing things.”

“Why?”

“ ‘Cause Adrian killed himself.”

“Oh,” was all Magnus could manage. Alex don’t blame him, hearing your friend’s last fling ended because his ex committed suicide shouldn’t sit well with anyone. Least of all because it would speak volumes as to the kind of person that Alex was.

“And despite knowing the fact that nothing I could’ve said or done would’ve been able to save him, I still felt guilty all the same,” Alex continued, his voice breaking, but he needed to get it out. “At that moment it almost felt like my whole world was crumbling down, and all I could do was watch.” By the end of it he was sobbing, the painful memory now all too fresh in his mind again. It was also around this time that Magnus took his hand.

“Look,” he began, “First of all, thanks for trusting me enough to share this with me, and secondly, I won’t pretend to understand what you’re going through, or what it must’ve been like when you found out. And I don’t know what was the reason Adrian did what he/she did, but I’m sure you’re not one of them.”

“You’re the most amazing person I’ve ever met, and sure I was scared of you at first, but that changed as I got to know you. I found that deep down, you have a caring side about you, despite being full of sass on the outside,” 

“Ugh, cheesy.” Alex snorted. 

Magnus continued, “and you’re considerate of other people’s feelings despite that, too. Like how you first made sure that it was ok for you to come over to my house to do the project even though we just got to know each other, or how you waited for me to be comfortable enough to tell you about my parents.”

“And I know that the death of a loved one is a great burden to carry, and I won’t push you to say anything. But if you need someone to help share the burden, I’m always here for you Alex, I always will be.” 

Alex wiped his tears away and was getting ready to speak, but at that moment the food came. “How ‘bout we eat first?” Magnus piped up. “Things always sound better on a full stomach.”

Alex managed a meek “ok,” and gestured to the bathroom, “I’m gonna go wash my face, and thank you, Magnus. Thank you so much.”

Alex went into the men’s room. Splashing water on himself, Alex looked back at his tear-stained reflection in the mirror. 

--Flashback--

Losing Adrian was one of the most traumatic moments of his life. Adrian was the first person he had a crush on who loved him no matter his gender, he/she was someone that Alex could see himself spending the rest of his life with. For the first time in a long time, Alex was happy, almost as happy as he was when Abuelo was still alive. Finally, he had someone that loved and cherished him for his true self. 

And that was why, when he lost Adrian, it hurt even more than normal. It felt like his whole world was crashing down around him, all his hopes snuffed out and his dreams crushed and he’s left a broken mess of anger, sadness, guilt, regret, and pain. So. Much. Pain. Wondering what could I have done differently? And where did I go wrong? Those two questions repeated themselves over and over inside his head filled it with doubts and for months after the incident he found himself second-guessing even the tiniest of decisions that he made. Going over plans dozens of times in his head before ever putting a single step into motion, desperate to never, ever get anything wrong again.

Alex didn’t know how long it was that day before he stopped crying and screaming over Adrian’s dead body, only that his throat was hoarse and his face was all sticky with dried tears by the time he gathered enough strength to lumber over to his half-sister Samirah’s house. Looking back on it now, Alex was grateful for how patient and understanding Samirah was for him in that difficult time, how she didn’t question the fact that Alex basically jumped on her when she opened the door and broke down on her shoulder, how she quietly held Alex until he calmed down enough to tearfully croak out three of the most painful words: Adrian killed himself, three words that felt more like twisting a very big knife into his heart. He was also forever grateful that Sam’s family let him crash on the couch without much protest, and even insisted that he at least stayed for breakfast the next day before going back home. He remained in contact with Sam after that, their daily phone calls being the only thing keeping him together.

--End of Flashback--

It was fair to say that after such a tragic and mentally-scarring experience, Alex Fierro didn’t ever feel like he was ever gonna find love ever again. Everytime he would try to make a move on someone, voices in his head would spring up and he would be stopped in his tracks, crippled by anxiety and paralyzed by fear. Fear that if he made one wrong move, he was gonna have to experience all that pain and all that sadness over again. And so he built up a facade, one that seemed cold and uncaring to anyone who would try for him, when really inside he was overwhelmed by anxiety over how to react.

But then, along came Magnus. Kind and understanding Magnus. Who was shy, but when you got to know him he was really talkative. Who somehow, with his stupid ponytail and stupidly cute smile still manages to look cute and adorable at the same time. And despite how hard he tried to deny or resist it, he couldn’t help but feel himself falling for the blonde. Alex couldn’t help it really, whenever Magnus smiled or laughed he felt like his whole world lit up. And everytime Magnus would express his concern for Alex or ask if he/she was okay Alex could feel his insides turn into a puddle, like today for example. He really appreciated the fact that even though they didn’t even really know each other that well yet, Magnus still tried his very best to comfort Alex.

As he thought of the words that Magnus said to him earlier, he couldn’t help but feel all warm inside. It was a nice kind of warmth. The kind you get when you drink hot chocolate, that nice, internal warmth from your throat down to your stomach. Yeah, Magnus is his hot chocolate. Ugh cheesy, stupid brain, why are you doing this to me? Alex thought. But don’t stop, I kinda like it. 

As Alex walked out the bathroom, Magnus could feel immediately that something was different. To confirm his suspicions, he asked as soon as Alex sat down, “Say Alex, are you female right now?”

Alex looked surprised for a moment before replying, “Yep, she and her. It tends to change a lot like that when I’m upset or otherwise unsettled. Seriously though, how do you do it? Like I know you said I just felt different, but what does that even mean?” 

Magnus, not having a response and starving, just shrugged awkwardly. “Let’s just eat?”

Turning his attention to the food in front of him, he then proceeded to wolf down the contents of his plate like there was no tomorrow. Having two physically demanding classes in one day really had him working up quite the appetite. Between bites, Magnus sneaked a glance at Alex and saw that she too was busy eating her own falafel sandwich. That combined with her saying, “I now regret not having Sam take me to this restaurant earlier, these things are delicious,” lead him to believe that she too has converted into the religion of falafel. Internally, he smiled (his mouth was still full so he couldn’t really physically smile), he was glad that he got to share something he loved with the person he liked.

Having both finished their plates in record time, and their mouths now free, the two teens started chatting. 

“So are you feeling better now?” Magnus asked.

“Yeah I am,” replied Alex, “The falafels are really good, and everything does look better on a full stomach.”

“Great, also you mentioned your parents, are you in trouble with them again?”

“Kinda, yeah my dad just called to scold me for disappearing last night, even though technically he did kick me out himself, and we got into it a bit this evening before I went to see you. So basically, it’s probably not gonna be safe for me to go home for a while.” 

“Whoa, harsh,” Magnus was surprised, “and do you have a place to stay yet?”

“I was thinking of crashing on the sofa at my sister’s place, she lives with her own parents who are ok with me so there’s that. I will probably call my mom and see if I can sneak in and get my things.”

“Or y- you c- could take one of the empty rooms at my mansion?”  Magnus stuttered out, a little nervous himself at the proposal. Damn it, why do I have to stutter? “N-no one ever uses them anyways and it’s lonely being in such a large house by myself all the time.” He managed, although his head was dipped down slightly and he was tomato red at this point. 

“Are you sure you’re not just trying to bed me, Maggie?” Alex wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. 

“What? No! Of course not!” Magnus said, completely falling for Alex’s joke and blushing even redder “I’m just trying to help is all! I swear!” 

“Relax, I’m just teasing you.” Alex chuckled and she couldn’t help but notice how cute Magnus looks all riled up like that. 

“Well, it looks like the old Alex is back.” Magnus said with a smile.

“Yep, feeling much better now.” replied Alex with a smile of her own. “Anyways, I’ll probably sneak back into my house to get my clothes and stuff and then meet you at your place later tonight, sounds good?”

“Does this mean you’re accepting my offer?” When Alex nodded, Magnus continued, “And you’re sure you don’t want me to come along? It is getting pretty late in the night.” He's genuinely concerned that Alex will run into some creep along the way and get herself hurt.

“Awww, are you actually concerned about me Mags? I’m touched” Alex replied in her most over-the-top voice possible, making even Magnus giggle a bit at how overly, well, over-the-top it sounds. “Honestly? I’ll be fine, but if you really want to, you can come along, just be sure my dad doesn’t see you. Because you would not want to get to know angry Mr. Fierro. Nope.”

“Copy that, shall we pay and leave then?” Magnus replied.

“Let’s” They waved a waitress over and after she (thankfully not another Adrian) came back from behind the counter with their change and saying goodbye to Amir, they left for Alex’s house.

Chapter Text

After leaving the restaurant, the two teens walked hurriedly to the bus stop to go to Alex’s home. The Sun was setting and if they didn’t get there in time for the last bus, it’s at least another hour and a half worth of walking. 

(A/N I’m assuming that the Fierro’s mansion is in Lexington, Massachusetts, not Salem cuz otherwise the trip becomes so long that they most likely would not get back to Magnus’s mansion on Commonwealth Avenue until morning (Not that it’ll take the entire night but they’ll miss the late bus and have to wait for the morning one). And that Amir’s restaurant is somewhere in the middle between that and the Chase Mansion on Commonwealth Avenue. I’m also choosing to ignore the fact that if we go by it like that, there’s literally no way that Alex would be able to get to school by walking from her/his home everyday since in the fic they walked from Magnus’s mansion to school.) 

(A/N 2: These locations are based on canon information I pulled from the Wiki.)

Arriving just in time to catch the last bus, Alex and Magnus stepped onto one that was averagely crowded, the only people on being overtime workers going home and those on the nightshift just preparing to start their journey. Quiet conversations, whispered words, and the muted hum of the bus’s engine filled the bus as the two teens found themselves a seat right next to each other. 

“Better make yourself comfortable Mags, we’re gonna be quite a while yet.” Alex piped up as she settled onto her seat.

“How many stops exactly are we talking about here?”

“Hmmm, let’s see,” Alex paused to look at the map on her phone. “Well according to this, we’re in for somewhere around 20 stops.”

“Oh, that’s just great.” Magnus sighed and shifted in his seat a bit so that he was in a more comfortable position. “Say, Alex, did you tell your mom that you’ll be coming by to pick up your clothes yet?”

“Uhh, not yet, I figured we’d be a while so I plan to tell her when we’re a little bit closer to getting there. So umm, since we’ve got so much time to kill, want to play Mario Kart?”

“Sure,”

45 minutes later, Magnus is very much regretting that decision. Alex, as he has so painfully discovered, is extremely good at Mario Kart. Oh, and also at aiming the stupid little turtle shells at him. Magnus got hit So. Many. Times. 

Although, now that he looks back at it he was probably getting a little (read: a lot) distracted by Alex’s cute smirk every time she hit him with one of those shells. And in his opinion, getting to see her celebrate so much when she won (which he did get to see a lot, as Alex won almost all the games they played) was well worth losing his dignity so many times. At this point, however, they’ve arrived at their stop, and so the two hopped off the bus, trotting the few blocks from the bus stop to Fierro's mansion.

Magnus’s mouth hung open in surprise. “And you were saying that my mansion was big.” Yeah, Alex may have *cough* undersold *cough* the size of her family estate a bit too. Well, it’s not an estate, what with the big ass factory sitting behind it along with a massive sign that reads “Fierro Ceramics” in the front of the main factory building. Unlike Magnus’s mansion, however, the Fierro’s home doesn’t give off a warm and cozy feel at all. Built with Brutalist-style architecture, the mansion was all grey and blocky. Where Magnus’s mansion had a little bit of curves here and there, the Fierro’s home was filled with so many squares and straight edges that gave it a completely inorganic feel. Nothing about the house’s design gives off warmth. 

“I mean, it’s big considering that you live alone and you have no one else with you,” Alex replied “My whole family lives here, and so does the family business.” 

“You never told me your parents own a whole freaking company,” Magnus shot back, his brain still processing the fact that Alex’s parents own a company. 

“Well, you never asked.” Alex shrugged nonchalantly. The two teens are now in front of the path leading to the front door of the Fierro mansion. That no one has come out to greet them yet only further added to the cold and unwelcoming demeanor of the house.

“So are we gonna knock?”

“Obviously not, I don’t want to get another lecture by my dad, so we’re going around back, mom said she’s gonna send someone out with my clothes.” It was a short walk out back and before she knocked Alex told Magnus to go hide out of eyesight “Just in case.” she said. 

Knocking on the door three times, Alex waited patiently for a few minutes, then the door opened and a cleaning lady came out and silently handed her the clothes. Alex muttered a quick “thanks” to her before turning around. As she walked past the spot Magnus was hiding he came out and joined her.

“Alright then, let’s head to your house,” Alex said.

It was late into the night by the time their tram got to the stop closest to Magnus’s house. As the two teens were getting off, however, a passerby was at the same time trying to step on, forcing Magnus to squeeze closer to Alex to accommodate the other man. As he did, his hand lightly brushed against Alex’s by accident. Electricity jolted through his body from the point of contact, and Magnus could feel a shiver running down his spine. He quickly pulled his hand away from her though, fearing that leaving them touching any longer would’ve been awkward. Then he quickly muttered, “Sorry,” to which Alex just shrugged nonchalantly, he may have been seeing things, but Magnus could’ve sworn that a light shade of pink touched Alex’s cheek.

A short walk later, Magnus and Alex were now in front of the Chase Mansion and walking in.

“You know Magnus, you didn’t have to do all this for me, I could’ve just crashed at my sister’s house.” Alex protested half-heartedly. Mainly so she could get the warm and fuzzy feeling she got when Magnus offered to do so out of her head and to ignore the fact that such a simple gesture made her heart skip a few too many beats. 

“I know,” Magnus replied, then deciding to get brave, he added. “But I wanted to, you’re my friend Alex, and friends help each other, don’t they? Plus, as I said, it gets lonely sometimes living all alone in this house.” 

Alex couldn’t stop her stomach from doing a front flip at those words. He’s so sweet, gods I might explode from over-exposure to Magnus Chase.  

As the two teens head inside, Magnus hurriedly walks up to and past Alex to lead her to her room, which was just opposite of his. 

“I didn’t have time to change the sheets yet, how about you unpack and go take a shower while I do it?” Once again, Alex was just taken aback by how nice the blonde was. Here he was, late at night, and offering to make the bed for a guest? How is it possible that someone is so nice? Alex thought. As lazy and tired as I may feel, I probably should help him, though.

“Umm, Mags? It’s only fair that I help you out with it, after all, I’m a guest and the person who’s going to be sleeping in that bed.” Perhaps it was the look on her face or the tone of her voice that left no room for argument or simply how late it was, but Magnus just simply shrugged and with a simple “Ok” let Alex help him change the sheets and remake the bed.

A couple of minutes later they now have a nicely made bed with a neatly unfurled blanket on top of it.

“OK, I’ll leave you to shower and go to bed, if you need anything, feel free to knock on my door alright?” Magnus said as he was walking out. As he was opening the door though, Alex piped up.

“Magnus?” 

“Yeah?”

“Thank you, thank you so much, I appreciate you doing this, and goodnight,” Alex said, smiling brightly at him. 

“No problem and good night to you too” Magnus replied, looking away and bringing a hand up to rub his neck, seeming slightly embarrassed, and Alex could’ve sworn that his cheeks were tinted a light shade of pink as he walked out the room.

As Magnus was showering his mind couldn’t help but wander into thinking about Alex and how just a couple of simple words and a bright smile from her could turn him into a blushing and sputtering mess so easily. He also couldn’t help but wonder about all the things that have happened in the past few days and what they mean. What with Alex sleeping in the same bed with him the other night, then opening up to him about her hurtful past and the suicide of her ex, and now agreeing to stay over at his house even though they only just recently got to know each other and she could’ve easily just stayed at her half-sister’s house instead. Could this mean that she has grown to trust him and that he might now have a chance with her? Everything is so confusing. So very confusing.

Maybe I need a second opinion on this, Magnus thought as he stepped out of the shower and dried himself with a towel, but who would be up at this hour? Maybe TJ? Or Halfborn? Who would be better for advice? Halfborn is already in a relationship but it’s so on and off I’m not entirely sure that any advice he gives is reliable. 

…

…

…

Looks like TJ it is then.

After getting dressed in his pajamas, Magnus plopped down onto his bed and buzzed TJ

Magnus: Yo, Teej, you up?

After a couple of minutes, his phone rang with TJ’s reply:

TinyTJ: Yeah, mate whaddup?

Magnus: I need some advice, relationship advice.

TinyTJ; Huh, is this about that green-haired boy/girl you said you don’t have a chance with?

Magnus: Well yes, I’m pretty sure I’m way out of Alex’s league

TinyTJ: what’s this about then?

Magnus: she’s sleeping in the room opposite of me and idk what to do

TinyTJ: WAIT WHATTTTTT???????

TinyTJ: why she’s sleeping in the room opposite of you? SPILL!!!!!

Magnus: calm down dude 

TinyTJ: I AM CALM!!!

Magnus: …

TinyTJ: NOW SPILL!

Magnus: OK, so we went to get dinner like I told you this afternoon, and then at dinner, she told me that her parents kicked her out for yet another night.

Magnus: And so she was gonna go sleep at her half-sister’s house.

TinyTJ: AND?????

Magnus: Well I told her that there’s a bunch of rooms at my mansion no one ever uses anyways, and that she’s welcome to stay in one of them instead if she wants to.

TinyTJ: And she said yes?

Magnus: yeah

TinyTJ: *massive amounts of whooping noises* Way to go, mate!!! 

Magnus: So, yeah, after all that idk, does this mean I have a chance with her now? What do you think?

TinyTJ: Well, she’s a hard person to read, that’s for sure but I think so. Maybe? Idk

Magnus: Not helping

TinyTJ: Look mate, you’ve been with her since yesterday, which is a whole hell of a lot more than any of us so I really can’t say. 

Magnus: ....

TinyTJ: Oh I know, how bout u invite her to our table during lunch tomorrow? Then maybe we’ll get to talk to her a little bit and I might be able to tell u then. No promises tho

Magnus: sure…. IDK if she’ll say yes tho

TinyTJ: Well she agreed to a sleepover at our house, mate, I think she’ll agree to lunch 

Magnus: Aight, thx a lot Teej, granite

TinyTJ: Np, and good night, mate

Putting his phone away, Magnus settled into his bed, exhausted from a very long day. He quickly slipped off into sleep.

Unsurprisingly he was woken up three hours later by a scream.