Chapter Text
Alec stared at his computer screen, feeling a gaping hole where his chest had been as he re-read the words. He knew they wouldn’t change and he’d read them so many times he knew them word for word off by heart. But maybe, just maybe, he’d missed something. Missed some clue that they hinted at.
Can’t make it this year, sorry, I’ll miss you.
For two weeks, every year, Alec went on holiday to a little known cottage in the middle of the countryside. No one knew how to contact him. He had his phone with him but kept it turned off. For two weeks, he had no work, no communication with the outside world. He relaxed and was a completely different man. For two weeks out of fifty two, he was himself.
Just him and Magnus. Fields, mountains and the sea.
Only Magnus had just emailed him. Fucking emailed him.
Was this it? Was it over? Had Magnus met someone? They didn’t correspond the rest of the year, Magnus’ rule. Alec hated it.
But a one lined email? What did that mean?
Alec pulled up a picture of the cottage. Their cottage.
To hell with it. He was still going. It had been booked. Well, he had booked it. He did every year. The second they left. It gave him something to look forward to.
And now? Now he realised just how much he hated his life. How bland his life was, how bereft. He wasn’t really living. Well, he only lived for two weeks out of every year.
And now, for those two weeks a year, he would mourn, mourn and remember the only man he had ever loved. He knew that Magnus hadn’t felt the same, after all he was the one who had put the restrictions on their relationship. And he understood, truly he did. No one could come out of dating Camille Belcourt without scars and serious issues. But it hadn’t stopped him from falling in love. There was no force on earth that could have stopped him from falling in love with Magnus Bane.
It was just the story of his life that Magnus hadn’t fallen in love with him, hadn’t wanted those restrictions lifted, hadn’t wanted to see where life could have taken them, what love could do. Not with him anyway.
Alec took a breath, he knew he shouldn’t make big important decisions like this, but screw it. He’d given up so much of his life and where had it gotten him? Alone and miserable, that’s where.
He pulled up a new document and started typing. He had savings, he could survive for a while with no job. He finished the document and re-read his resignation to double check it. He nodded, feeling a weight lift off of him as he sent it. Idly, wondering how much it would hurt, he pulled up the website for the cottage.
He blinked as he stared at the words.
For sale.
Well, wasn’t that serendipitous.